From “Green” to “Brown”

This chapter focuses on the central regions, where a rich and well-preserved environmental and archaeological record allows reconstructing in detail the main events taking place during the Holocene. It addresses more closely the climate sequence, environmental features and especially the cultural phases in the regions of the Tadrart Acacus and the Messak massifs in south-western Libya. The distribution of radiocarbon datings of sites with remains of domestic fauna in North Africa shows that the north-eastern quadrant has the oldest dates, thus confirming a potential introduction from south-western Asia. Hunter-gatherer clans sometimes resist for a considerable time, probably also leading to encapsulation processes, but maintaining their habits and organization, coexisting with herders in many regions of North Africa at least up to 6 ka. The geographical, geomorphological and physiographical features of specific regions also affect how and when the African Humid Period ends, either abruptly or more gradually.