SUSTAINABLE AND UNSUSTAINABLE ADAPTATIONS BY EARLY FARMING COMMUNITIES OF NORTHERN POLAND

This paper considers the abandonment of several Neolithic sites in nor th-central Poland from the perspective of the sustainability or unsust ainability of their overall adaptive strategy. The proposition will be advanced that although they were very successful short-term adaptatio ns, their long-term chances were compromised by their intensive local land use and the dense network of social obligations both within the s ettlements and with nearby communities. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.