Arts and Humanities · History

Amazonian Archaeology and Ethnohistory

Ancient warming intensified wildfires, but later fires were driven by fuel

A study of fossil charcoal from a Palaeocene lake record identifies several phases of wildfire intensification during and after an ancient warming event. Early increases coincided with drying and the spread of flowering plants, but a later rise in fire activity appears to have been linked more to the type of vegetation available than to continued warming.

3 weeks ago·29 views

Society & Economics

US institutions hold Indigenous seeds, with gaps in care and records

A survey of US museums and universities found that many institutions hold Indigenous seeds and plant materials, often collected during earlier ethnobotanical and archaeological work. Researchers identified gaps in recordkeeping, storage and plant-specific stewardship that could increase the risk of further loss of Indigenous control.

4 weeks ago·46 views