What was the environmental setting for changes in the settlement pattern of Adaïma, a mid-fourth to early-third millennium site in the Egyptian Nile valley? Analysis of charcoal collected from the archaeological soil was performed on contexts from several periods. The settlement was set up in an environment where the vegetation was probably more extended, with more wooded desert margins. Over 600 years, changes in the charcoal spectrum reflect a possible local desertification and the impact of human activities on the vegetation of the floodplain, perceptible in particular through the development of ruderal Calotropis procera.
Barakat, H.1995: Contribution archéobotanique à l'histoire de la végétation dans le Sahara oriental et dans le Soudan central, Unpublished Ph.D. thesis , Université Aix-MarseilleIII.
2.
——— 1996: Anthracological studies in the Northeastern Sahara: methodology and preliminary results from Nabta Playa. In Krzyzaniak, L., Kroeper, K. and Kobusiewicz, M., editors, Interregional contacts in later prehistory of Northeastern Africa. Poznan Archaeological Museum, 61—69.
3.
Boulos, L.1995: Flora of Egypt checklist. Al Hadara .
4.
——— 1999: Flora of Egypt, volume 1 (Azollaceae-Oxalidaceae). Al Hadara.
5.
——— 2000: Flora of Egypt, volume 2 (Geraniaceae-Boraginaceae). Al Hadara.
6.
Buchez, N. and Bavay, L.2001: La céramique. In Midant-Reynes, B., director, Le site prédynastique d'Adaïma. Rapport de la 13ème campagne de fouilles. Unpublished report.
7.
Butzer, K.1959: Environment and human ecology in Egypt during the Predynastic and early Dynastic times. Bulletin de la Société de Géographie d'Égypte33, 43—87.
8.
Chabal, L., Fabre, L., Terral, J.-F. and Théry-Parisot, I.1999: L'anthracologie. In Bourquin-Mignot, C., Brochier, J.-É., Chabal, L., Crozat, S., Fabre, L. , Guibal, F., Marinval, P., Richard, H., Terral, J.-F. and Théry-Parisot, I., La Botanique. Errance, 43—104.
9.
Couvert, M.1978: Les charbons de bois. In Vermeersch P., editor, L'elkabien, épipaléolithique de la vallée du Nil égyptien. Fondation Egyptologique Reine Elisabeth .
10.
Fahn, A., Werker, E. and Baas, P.1986: Wood anatomy and identification of trees and shrubs from Israel and adjacent regions. The Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities.
11.
Gast, M.2000: Moissons du désert. Utilisation des ressources naturelles au Sahara central. Ibis Press.
12.
Hassan, F.1988: The Predynastic of Egypt. Journal of World Prehistory2, 135—234.
13.
Hobbs, J.1989: Bedouin life in the Egyptian wilderness. AUC Press. Hoffman, M., Hamroush, H. and Allen, R.O.1986: A model of urban development for the Hierakonpolis region from Predynastic through Old Kingdom times. Journal of the American Research Center in Egypt23, 175—97.
14.
Keimer, L.1953: Notes prises chez les Bišarin (Bédouins) et les Nubiens d'Assouan, quatrième partie. Bulletin de l'Institut d'Égypte34, 329—400.
15.
Mathieu, B., editor 2001: Travaux de l'Institut français d'archéologie orientale en 2000—2001. Bulletin de l'Iinstitut Français d'Archéologie Orientale101, 449—610.
16.
——— 2002: Travaux de l'Institut français d'archéologie orientale en 2001—2002. Bulletin de l'Iinstitut Français d'Archéologie Orientale102, 437—614.
17.
——— 2003: Travaux de l'Institut français d'archéologie orientale en 2001—2002. Bulletin de l'Iinstitut Français d'Archéologie Orientale103, 487—664.
18.
Midant-Reynes, B.2003: Aux origines de l'Égypte: Du Néolithique à l'émergence de l'État. Fayard.
19.
Midant-Reynes, B. and Buchez, N., editors 2002: Adaïma I: Économie et habitat . IFAO.
20.
Neumann, K.1989: Zur Vegetationsgeschichte der Ostsahara im Holozän; Holzkohlen aus prähistorischen Fundstellen. In Kuper, R., editor, Forschungen zur Umweltgeschichte der Ostsahara . Heinrich-Barth-Institut, 13—182.
21.
Neumann, K., Schoch, W., Détienne, P., Schweingruber, F.H. and Richter, H.G.2001: Woods of the Sahara and the Sahel. Haupt.
22.
Newton, C.2004: Plant tempering of Predynastic pisé at Adaïma in Upper Egypt: building material and taphonomy. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany13, 55—64.
23.
——— 2005: Upper Egypt: vegetation at the beginning of the 3rd millennium BC inferred from charcoal analysis at Adaïma and Elkab. Journal of Archaeological Science32, 355—67.
24.
——— 2007: Growing, gathering and offering: Predynastic plant economy at Adaïma (Upper Egypt). In Cappers, R., editor, Fields of change. Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop of African Archaeobotany, Barkhuis & Groningen University Library, in press.
25.
Patch, D.1991: The origin and early development of urbanism in Ancient Egypt, A regional study. Ph.D. thesis, Ann Arbor.
26.
Rolando, C.1992: Identification des charbons d'acacias sahéliens de l'ouest africain. Étude préliminaire. In Vernet, J.-L., editor, Charbons de bois et anciens écosystèmes. Bulletin de la Société Botanique de France139, 255—64.
27.
Schweingruber, F.H.1990: Anatomy of European Woods. Haupt. Sidiyene, E.A.1996: Des arbres et des arbustes spontanés de l'Adrar des Iforas (Mali). Étude ethnolinguistique et ethnobotanique, ORSTOM/CIRAD.
28.
Tomczinska, Z.1989: Identification of charcoal fragments from Late Paleolithic sites in Wadi Kubbaniya. In Wendorf, F., Schild, R. and Close, A., editors, The Prehistory of Wadi Kubbaniya. Vol. 2: stratigraphy, palaeoeconomy and environment. Southern Methodist University Press, 252—59.
29.
Van der Veen, M.1999: The food and fodder supply to Roman quarry settlements in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. In Van der Veen, M., editor, The exploitation of plant resources in ancient Africa. Kluwer Academis/ Plenum, 171—83.
30.
Vermeersch, P., Paulissen, E., Huyge, D., Neumann, K., Van Neer, W. and Van Peer, P. 1992: Predynastic hearths in Egypt. In Friedman, R. and Adams, B., editors, The followers of Horus — studies dedicated to Michael Hoffman. Oxbow Books, 163—72.
31.
White, F.1983: The vegetation of Africa. A descriptive memoir to accompany the UNESCO/AEFTAT/UNSO Vegetation map of Africa. UNESCO .
32.
Zahran, M. and Willis, A.1992: The vegetation of Egypt. Chapman and Hall.
