Christian Schepers

The Last Glacial Maximum in the Tropics: Human Responses to Global Change, 30–10 ka - Journal of World Prehistory The world at 18,000 BP, published by Gamble and Soffer (The world at 18,000 BP. Vol. 2: low latitude, Unwin Hyman, 1990), represents the first, and so far the only, attempt at characterising and discussing the impact of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) on human societies on a global scale. At the time, they highlighted that research and data on the LGM in southern latitudes and the tropics in particular were scant. Since 1990, however, many sites dated to the LGM and located in tropical latitudes have been published. Many paradigms have changed regarding the peopling of the Americas, which allows the archaeology of this continent to be integrated into global scale studies of the LGM. The development of Pleistocene archaeology in tropical contexts, in parallel with methodological advances in cultural, geosciences and palaeoenvironmental studies have strongly reshaped what we know of the antiquity of human occupation in tropical regions and specific human–environment interactions. This article provides for the first time a pan-tropical perspective on the impact of the LGM on human groups living within the tropical latitudes, drawing from case studies in Southeast Asia, Africa and South America, specifically regions which have up until now never been discussed together. To this end, we focus on six different tropical regions between 30 and 10 ka. We present the archaeological and paleoenvironmental data available in these areas, along with proposed relationships for variations in these two records. Finally, we discuss at the regional scale the presence or absence of human changes (site density and techno-cultural change or continuity) before, during and immediately after the LGM.

📣New paper alert

doi.org/10.1007/s109...

How did populations in tropical regions cope with the global climatic change around the LGM?

While the tropics are often perceived as having been less impacted by the LGM, we show that -as is often the case - it is more complex than it seems!

Das "Momentum um den Friedensplan für Gaza" und in diesem Kontext die deutschen Interessen an Profit unterstreichen mit einer Bezeichnung von Ägypten als "Tor zu Afrika und zur arabischen Welt". Interessantes Timing.

Ministerstwo Spraw Wewnętrznych i Administracji - Portal Gov.pl

www.gov.pl/web/mswia

Can't find anything stating that there though.

For every €1 of public money invested in the pilot, society received €1.39 in return The net cost of the BIA pilot went from €105m to under €72m due to tax generated and savings on social welfare payments

It also finds that recipients’ arts-related income increased by over €500 per month on average, while their income from non-arts work decreased by around €280. Dependence on social protection declined, with recipients receiving €100 less per month on average, and 38 percentage points less likely to receive Jobseeker’s payments.

Ireland just released a report showing the huge success of the unconditional basic income it provided to artists. Each $1 spent led to society gaining $1.39. Artists' earned incomes went up more than their side job incomes fell. And they were happier and used less welfare

www.gov.ie/en/departmen...

YouTube video by Berliner Antike-Kolleg Arier, Aliens und Atlantis: Archäologische Wissenschaftskommunikation zwischen Popkultur & Ideologie

Meinen Vortrag über "Archäologische #Wissenschaftskommunikation zwischen #Popkultur & #Ideologie" anläßlich der Ringvorlesung "Antike im Zerrspiegel politischer Ideologien" von @freieuniversitaet.bsky.social & @antike-kolleg.bsky.social gibt's jetzt auch als Videomittschnitt:

🏺 youtu.be/i5TQRBlgKP4

Ocean, ocean foam, cliffs, silex in a hand. Cote Sauvage

Côte Sauvage, Quiberon in Bretagne is full of silex, at least in one area. All pebbles, no modification. Could be original, could be from external sand used to make the walking path? Does anyone know? Or close silex sources? (Every flint put back on point of origin)

Neolithic Megalith of Kerzérho near Erdeven, Bretagne, France. Stones on green grass.

Map showing the Kerzérho structure from above and cut by a street.

Kerzéro, Neolithic Megalith at Erdeven, Bretagne. Before the road construction there were around 1000 stones, stretching over 2 km.

Any prehistoric and geomorphological must-sees in Brittany/Bretagne that you would recommend?

Collage of three images. The first reads: "Max Planck Institute for the history of Science. Career. We're hiring." The second image shows a researcher presenting at the March 2025 Publications Slam. The third shows a group of people at the institute's courtyard. Second image by Anna Ruhnow, MPIWG 2025. Third image by MPIWG, 2021.

Department "Knowledge Systems and Collective Life" seeks a Collaborative Research Coordinator!

🤝 Help expand its community-based, publicly engaged research
🎤 Advise researchers on cooperative methods
📋 Coordinate cooperation agreements

🗓️ Deadline: Sep 28, 2025
🔗 bit.ly/45FXu8R

#HistSci #EnvHist

YouTube video by Deutsches Archäologisches Institut Edo|cation

The project from 2022 to 2024 is explained in this video: youtu.be/IS4TCR30hcI

Current Condition of the Iya in Benin City, the Gates and Future Preservation Strategies - African Archaeological Review This paper investigates the preservation and morphology of the Inner City Iya of Benin in southern Nigeria, Edo State. The Iya have been the focus of research in the 1960s and 1970s by archaeologists ...

Our paper about Edo|cation by MOWAA and
@dai-weltweit.bsky.social is out. We report the current condition of the Iya around Benin City, locate a gate, describe UAV based method for monitoring and propose steps to preserve the remaining 48%. Uwese to the team!
doi.org/10.1007/s104...

I got the book and have to retract my enthusiasm.
The text is fine, gaining much from the direct input of the researchers.
The illustrations are AI generated I think and it's not even stated.

You find in at www.museum.ng

Screenshot of the Digital Museum of Nigeria by NCMM and IHS Nigeria. 3D Model of a museum with sculptures, explanations and audio guide.

Looked at Nigerias new digital museum. It's really impressiv and works well. Abundant objects, detailed information, audio guides, beautiful design. Great work by NCMM, IHS Nigeria and all involved.

Several archaeologists wearing high-vis vests excavating graves. In the background an excavator stands amongst piles of earth. Excavation at the post-Roman cemetery at Worth Matravers cemetery (credit: Lilian Ladle).

NEW West African ancestry in #medieval England? 🏺 #Archaeology
DNA analysis of two unrelated individuals from two seventh-century-AD cemeteries uncovers the first evidence for genetic connections between Britain and Africa during the Early Middle Ages.

#AntiquityThread 1/10 🧵

📷 Lilian Ladle

Dieses Problem wird nicht angesprochen, das stimmt, aber die Tagesschau übernimmt nicht einfach die Meinung der USA Regierung. Es wird kritisiert und erläutert. Der Titel ist vielleicht nicht klar genug, aber nicht falsch. Aber das ist nur meine Sicht als Bürger. Bin kein Experte.

Colourful illustration depicting a view of ethiopian landscape. Green grass, tents, a house and a bigger kitchen tent in blue.

The blue kitchen tent from Sodicho, Ethiopia. To the right team tents. Multiple people enjoying breakfast in the foggy morning.

The house from the old llustration but as photograph. Rammed earth, reddish brown House with metal roof. Enset fields to the right, green grass in the foreground and trees in the background.

Panorama of the excavation Camp at Sodicho, Ethiopia. Sky full of stormy Clouds, reddish brown earth, green trees, blue kitchen tent and smaller tents.

The CRC 806 ended 2021. One of the outcomes is a children's book by Cornelia Ziegler, out now. One of the rich illustrations shows our camp at Sodicho Cave, Ethiopia. Compare to my photos. Amazing site, now a piece of art for children. Love it.
www.aibo-publishing.de/kind-and-jug...

My University has opened a virtual scholar scheme for scholars from Gaza. Please share widely and help stop scholasticide. www.exeter.ac.uk/faculties/ha...

Base of Giralda, Sevilla with reused roman material.

Forgot the roman "Spolien", here in Sevilla, Spain at the base of the Giralda.

Original rammed earth wall of the Kasbah of Silves, Portugal

Old almohad city wall in Sevilla, Spain. Plaza del Cabildo

Old City Wall, Sevilla, Spain

Religious buildings, palaces, ornaments and here different defensive walls of rammed earth and stone in Portugal and Spain. It was an intriguing journey through the Almohad Empire and adjacent times.

Koutoubia Mosque and Minarett in Marrakesh, Morocco. 12th century

Giralda in Sevilla. First minarett of almohad mosque in 12th century. Later bell tower of cathedral.

Real Alcazar in Sevilla

Bab Agnaou, Kasbah of Marrakesh, Morocco.

In the course of a year I visited Marrakesh in Marocco and Sevilla in Spain. Fascinating to see the 12th century connections, similarities, development and admixture of architecture styles till 19th century. So much history and complex processes of exchange in the material.

Mostly archaeologist, sometimes shooting with Flensburger. North German Brewery. www.instagram.com/reel/DMnmU6R...

As a special I met again @osamawi.bsky.social after our first encounter many years ago in Cologne. And, of course many other colleagues. All, enjoy the conference wednesday.

Flamingos on salt field

Gravel bike path

Pink postcard of Planet Africa Exhibition.

Today I took no pictures from the lectures at #SAfA2025. Instead some impressions from my commute to the conference and the new postcard from Planet Africa exhibition.

Hello #SAfA2025. Thanks to @icarehb.bsky.social for the nice Welcome. Looking forward to the presentations starting tomorrow.

Obrigado!

Tuc d'Audoubert Bisons. They are so beautiful.

Evans demonstrates how archive material could help to reveal new discoveries. Reviewing excavation documentation of Goodwin from Benin City, Nigeria (1954/1955) and in depth literature comparison. Stunning details about a gate and gates of the Benin Iya.
rdcu.be/evPVQ

So exciting 😱

INDIANA JONES AND THE LOST INVOICE OF TRAVEL EXPENSE CLAIM