[Aztlan] dating slash and burn agriculture

[Nick Hopkins]

I have heard it suggested that before metal tools, farmers didn't  
bother to fell all the large trees, just kill them by girdling, so  
that the leaves dropped off, opening up for sunlight.  Then cut and  
burned the smaller vegetation.

It certainly is the case that you could stop modern rain forest  
clearing immediately if you could effectively eliminate the motor- 
driven chain saw.



On Mar 21, 2008, at 11:22 AM, Jules Siegel wrote:

>  Did
> they know tricks of using stone tools more efficiently than we have  
> been
> able to reconstruct? Did they use other methods of clearing land and
> preparing it for cultivation?
>
> -- 
> JULES SIEGEL Apdo. 1764, 77501-Cancun, Q. Roo, Mexico
> http://www.cafecancun.com/bookarts