[WayneS]

The findings confirm archeological data, which shows that the slowdown in the spreading of farming communities was not, as often assumed, the result of crops needing to adapt to chillier climates, but indeed a consequence of the struggle for space with prevalent hunter-gatherer communities.

And WHY was the the hunter-gatherer more prevalent in the north? Well, perhaps it was because farming was more difficult due to the chillier climates...

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

[rusty millet]

Hunter gatherers take advantage of temporary bounties of nature. A base in more stable locations becomes desirable at some point, at which farming communities develop. As technology advances to the point where farmers can expand into slightly less stable environments, they will do so.

We are now seeing the next encroachment, that of cities and suburbs into farming communities. We could ask a similar question, is city expansion being slowed down by the farming community? In some manner, yes, due to political pressure and some tax laws to restrict “sprawl”.