William Taylor (CIRES)

INSTAAR Seminar Series. Hybrid event, in person and via Zoom

Location: Sievers Conference Room (SEEC S228). 4001 Discovery Drive, Boulder, CO

Audience: All are welcome

Abstract: Although archaeological clues suggest that high mountain zones played a central role in the first emergence of mobile pastoralism in the eastern steppes of Eurasia, the region's vast expanses and fragmentary archaeological record have prevented a nuanced understanding of early lifeways in this important region. In the 21st century, ice melt driven by climate warming has begun to expose organic materials frozen within permanent snow and ice features in the Altai Mountain range of western Mongolia, revealing a rich archaeological record of mountain hunting and herding activities stretching back four millennia. These secrets of the "eternal ice" reveal new insights into early pastoral lifeways, including the importance of big game hunting and new clues into the earliest domestic horse dispersals and origins of mounted horseback riding in eastern Eurasia. Rapid melt continues to threaten these fragile and rare archaeological discoveries as well as the viability of modern herding, as ice loss changes the hydrology and ecology of montane Inner Asia.

After presentation: There will be time for informal discussion with the speaker after the presentation; cookies and coffee will be served. As an anthropologist, Dr. Taylor is particularly interested in connecting with scientists at INSTAAR. He can stay after his seminar to talk about potential collaborations!