Echoes of Africa’s Past. Archaeological explorations in the Anthropocene.

Marking the 70th anniversary of the Libyan-Italian archaeological Mission in the Tadrart Acacus and Messak, this volume offers a multidisciplinary reflection on Africa’s deep past and its enduring legacies in the Anthropocene. By tracing the echoes of human-environment interactions across time, it highlights how archaeological research continues to reshape our understanding of adaptation, resilience, and transformation in African societies. Drawing on interdisciplinary approaches — including palaeoecology, bioarchaeology, rock art analysis, the archaeology of food production, and their various connections and networks — this book challenges outdated, Eurocentric narratives by foregrounding African agency and complexity. Key themes include – among others – the Holocene environmental changes that influenced settlement patterns, the significance of rock art in interpreting past belief systems, and the impact of colonial trade and imperial expansion on indigenous communities. Echoes of Africa’s Past serves as a resource for archaeologists, historians, anthropologists, and heritage scholars, offering fresh perspectives on Africa’s dynamic past and its relevance to debates on sustainability and cultural heritage in the Anthropocene.