ASA Seminar with Professor Lisa Janz
In a world where the archaeology of Mongolia often takes a back seat to more globally recognized regions, Professor Lisa Janz brings to light the profound human-ecological balance that defines the Mongolian narrative. Beyond the conventional themes of early hominid evolution and city-states, this seminar delves into the heart of Mongolia's unique trajectory of human development to produce a nuanced exploration of a shared human history, intricately woven with ecological equilibrium.
This presentation centers on a singular site in Mongolia: Zaraa Uul, where the tapestry of human endeavors unfolds across the spectrum from the earliest modern humans to contemporary herders. Delving into the narrative, we witness how shifts in human culture mirror the interplay of environment, far-reaching connections, and, crucially, a resilient equilibrium in the intricate dance between humans and animals.
Refreshments will be provided.
Speakers
Dr. Janz’s research focuses on long-term cultural changes among hunter-gatherers in northern latitudes and arid environments, with emphases on human-animal relationships, palaeoecology, and technology. Her field research in Mongolia is broadly focused on changing environments and lifeways among East Asian hunter-gatherers from Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age, including how these changes impacted community and human-animal relationships. Ongoing projects include research on possible wild cattle management in the far eastern steppes of Mongolia, ostrich ecology and post-glacial megafaunal extinctions, and the role of climate change on human diet ~8500 years ago. Some recent discoveries she has been involved in include evidence for the ritual treatment of extinct megafauna (woolly rhino and giant elk) at a 25-30,000 year old habitation site, the use of domesticated dogs among settled big-game hunters/herders, and evidence for local production of carnelian beads in the Gobi Desert (once thought to have been imported from South Asia).