TY - JOUR
T1 - Traditional adhesive production systems in Zambia and their archaeological implications
AU - Fajardo, Sebastian
AU - Zeekaf, Jelte
AU - van Andel, Tinde
AU - Maombe, Christabel
AU - Nyambe, Terry
AU - Mudenda, George
AU - Aleo, Alessandro
AU - Kayuni, Martha Nchimunya
AU - Langejans, Geeske H.J.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - This study explores traditional adhesives using an ethnobiological approach within a multisocioecological context in Zambia. Through semi-structured interviews, videotaped demonstrations, and herbarium collections, we investigated the traditional adhesives people know and use, the flexibility of production processes, resource usage, and knowledge transmission in adhesive production. Our findings reveal flexibility in adhesive production systems. People use a wide range of organic and inorganic materials in their adhesive recipes. Recipes are flexible, demonstrating the ability to adapt to changes and substitute materials as needed to achieve the desired end product. Additionally, our study reveals a variety of redundant pathways for knowledge transmission typically confined within individual population groups. These include same-sex vertical transmission and distinct learning spaces and processes. Also, we identified material procurement zones showing that people are prepared to travel 70 km for ingredients. We use our findings to review the archaeology and we discuss the identification of archaeological adhesives, the functional roles of adhesive materials, adhesive storage, and the sustained human interaction with species from families such as Euphorbiaceae and Apiade. Our findings underscore the diversity and adaptability of traditional adhesive production and suggest that further research on adhesives would reveal similar diversity within the archaeological record.
AB - This study explores traditional adhesives using an ethnobiological approach within a multisocioecological context in Zambia. Through semi-structured interviews, videotaped demonstrations, and herbarium collections, we investigated the traditional adhesives people know and use, the flexibility of production processes, resource usage, and knowledge transmission in adhesive production. Our findings reveal flexibility in adhesive production systems. People use a wide range of organic and inorganic materials in their adhesive recipes. Recipes are flexible, demonstrating the ability to adapt to changes and substitute materials as needed to achieve the desired end product. Additionally, our study reveals a variety of redundant pathways for knowledge transmission typically confined within individual population groups. These include same-sex vertical transmission and distinct learning spaces and processes. Also, we identified material procurement zones showing that people are prepared to travel 70 km for ingredients. We use our findings to review the archaeology and we discuss the identification of archaeological adhesives, the functional roles of adhesive materials, adhesive storage, and the sustained human interaction with species from families such as Euphorbiaceae and Apiade. Our findings underscore the diversity and adaptability of traditional adhesive production and suggest that further research on adhesives would reveal similar diversity within the archaeological record.
KW - Adaptive systems
KW - Adhesives
KW - Complex technology
KW - Ethnobiology
KW - Euphorbiaceae
KW - Glue
KW - Knowledge transmission
KW - Resilience
KW - Resin
KW - Zambia
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85186418744&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jaa.2024.101586
DO - 10.1016/j.jaa.2024.101586
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85186418744
SN - 0278-4165
VL - 74
JO - Journal of Anthropological Archaeology
JF - Journal of Anthropological Archaeology
M1 - 101586
ER -