The Visibility of Mobility: Coprolites, Dung and Neolithic Herders in Central Saharan Rock Shelters

A groundbreaking analysis of coprolites and dung deposits at the Takarkori rock shelter in Tadrart Acacus, SW Libya, reveals intricate details about Neolithic herder mobility and seasonal settlement patterns in the central Sahara. By integrating spatial distribution studies with micromorphological investigations, researchers uncovered nuanced insights into the site's organization, use, and depositional processes, offering a rare window into Late Pastoral Neolithic (5700–4650 cal BP) societal dynamics. Pollen analysis further illuminated seasonal activities and the Middle Holocene palaeoenvironment, enriching our understanding of Saharan pastoralism during this pivotal period.

Rotunno, R., Mercuri, A. M., Florenzano, A., Zerboni, A., & di Lernia, S. (2020). The Visibility of Mobility: Coprolites, Dung and Neolithic Herders in Central Saharan Rock Shelters. Environmental Archaeology, 30(2), 117–132. https://doi.org/10.1080/14614103.2020.1777057