This paper explores the application of use-wear analysis on flint tools for the reconstruction of bone-working toolkits. Lithics from three Neolithic Vlaardingen Culture (3400–2500 BCE) sites were... Show moreThis paper explores the application of use-wear analysis on flint tools for the reconstruction of bone-working toolkits. Lithics from three Neolithic Vlaardingen Culture (3400–2500 BCE) sites were analysed. We successfully identified toolkits used in the production of bone tools. Combining our results with zooarchaeological data, we conclude that the metapodium technique was only practiced on sites where deer was hunted, and deer bones were thus available. When deer were not, or barely, hunted, bone-working was limited to ad hoc tool production. Widely available cattle metapodia, which could provide a substitute for deer metapodia, especially for the production of chisels, were generally not used to make tools using the metapodium technique. Culturally determined preferences, for the use of specific raw materials, thus determined technological choices made by the inhabitants of these sites. Show less
Casna, M.; Roelofs, J.J.H.; Schats, R.; Verbist, B.M.; Bruintjes, T.D. 2024
Infectious Middle Ear Disease (IMED) is a group of infections that frequently afflict individuals across all age groups worldwide. Although in today’s clinical practice IMED is efficiently managed,... Show moreInfectious Middle Ear Disease (IMED) is a group of infections that frequently afflict individuals across all age groups worldwide. Although in today’s clinical practice IMED is efficiently managed, in the past it probably caused severe complications (e.g., hearing loss, balance problems, and facial nerve paralysis), heavily impacting the everyday life of many people. However, despite the valuable insights that studying ear infections in the past can bring, bioarcheology presently lacks a standardized methodology to assess their prevalence in skeletal populations. This can lead to several issues, including incomparability of results, difficulties in replications, and methodological biases.Recently, straightforward and accessible criteria for the observation of the cochlear promontory were presented to successfully assess IMED on skeletal remains. Yet, as otologists rarely examine the impact of ear infections on the bony structures of the middle ear, the results were not supported clinically, and could therefore not be validated. To fill this gap, we propose a study in which computed tomography (CT) of the mastoid process was utilized on the skulls of 50 individuals to verify the results obtained through gross observation of the cochlear promontory. Statistical analysis revealed significant correlation between hypopneumatization (indicative of childhood IMED) and bony changes of the promontory at the level of the individual. This suggests a potential correlation that warrants further investigation to determine whether the observation of the cochlear promontory should be used as a method for IMED assessment. Overall, our study contributes to the study of IMED in past populations, and underscores the importance of clear, standardized scoring criteria in paleopathology. Show less
Kassianidou, V.; Iacovou, M.; Charalambous, A.; Ioannides, D.; Degryse, P.A.I.H.; Agapiou, A.; ... ; Georgiou, A. 2023
This paper presents the results of the chemical, microscopic and isotopic analysis of an archaeometallurgical assemblage consisting of slag and metal samples from two Cypro-Classical monuments... Show moreThis paper presents the results of the chemical, microscopic and isotopic analysis of an archaeometallurgical assemblage consisting of slag and metal samples from two Cypro-Classical monuments recently located within the urban landscape of the polity of Paphos, and from two slag heaps in the metalliferous region of the Paphos hinterland. The project identified technological changes and innovations, such as the introduction of new types of fluxes and the optimization of the smelting technology. Furthermore, the analysis of slag samples from one of the two monuments, identified as workshop complex on the plateau of the Paphian citadel, revealed the presence of an iron smithy. This pioneering interdisciplinary study paves the way for the development of a comparative archaeo-metallurgical project that will define the fingerprint of the Paphos copper deposits. The study was carried out in the context of the University of Cyprus-Leventis Foundation Project, “From the metalliferous sources to the citadel complex of ancient Paphos: Archaeo-environmental analysis of the mining and the built environment” (acronym MEANING 2017–2019). Show less
We develop a study protocol to efficiently and accurately identify the raw material categories constituting the lithic assemblages at Umhlatuzana rockshelter, South Africa. We combine visual and... Show moreWe develop a study protocol to efficiently and accurately identify the raw material categories constituting the lithic assemblages at Umhlatuzana rockshelter, South Africa. We combine visual and analytical methods to establish a raw material database and to provide a more accurate insight into raw material selection during the Pleistocene Middle and Later Stone Age occupational sequence of Umhlatuzana. The protocol combines petrological properties (as studied on micromorphological samples), elemental composition of the specimens (as measured with p-XRF) and visual characterization by lithic analysts. We tested the protocol by applying it to a sample of piece-plotted lithics from four spits across the stratigraphic sequence. We document the intensive use of sandstone accounting for 25% of the tested sample. We also report a larger importance of hornfels and lower proportion of quartz than was reported in previous analyses (Kaplan 1990). The combination of micromorphological and p-XRF analysis of the Umhlatuzana assemblages demonstrates that with only visual inspection, the variability of raw materials used may be misinterpreted. With accurate raw material datasets, we are better equipped to answer techno-economic questions of the southern African Stone Age. Show less
Huisman, H.; Ackermann, R.; Claes, L.M.G.F.E.; Eijck, L. van; Groot, T. de; Joosten, I.; ... ; Zhou, Z. 2023
We studied the corrosion of Roman copper alloy coins that experienced alternations or progressive changes in their burial environment. We used coins that were still embedded in soil or in a... Show moreWe studied the corrosion of Roman copper alloy coins that experienced alternations or progressive changes in their burial environment. We used coins that were still embedded in soil or in a concretion selected from three professional excataved sites - Berlicum and Krommenie in the Netherlands and Kempraten in Switserland. mCT scanning and neutron scanning were used to record the 3-D properties of these coins prior to (destructive) analyses. It proved possible to tentatively identify the coins. Microscope observations and SEM-EDX analyses revealed complex corrosion processes, related to changing burial environments. In soil horizon with fluctuating groundwater levels in a region with upwelling reducing, iron-rich groundwater, the copper in a gunmetal coin is essentially replaced by iron oxides while tin remains and forms tin-oxide bands. Fluctuating redox conditions in marine-influenced environments was shown to transform a copper-alloy coin into strongly laminated copper sulphides with embedded gypsum crystals, with an outer surface of copper and copper-iron sulphides. Burial of bronze in a charcoal rich layer probably caused temporary highly alkaline soil conditions. This caused most of the copper to leach from this coin, leaving behind a laminated tin-dominated mass, with only a limited amount of (malachite) corrosion products remaining in the surrounding groundmass. In all three cases, corrosion processes tend to be anisotropic, probably because of cold-hammering of the coins during their manufacture. Such corrosion processes on massive copper alloy coins may produce features that may lead to their incorrect classification as subferrati, i.e. copper alloy coins with an iron core. Our results may help in future to distinguish strongly corroded massive coins from subferrati. Show less
Reynaert, J.; Chorus, J.; Llorente Rodriguez, L. 2023
The Dutch Roman frontier is known for providing a great deal of archaeozoological research, but the real potential has not been reached yet as there are data from many excavated sites that have... Show moreThe Dutch Roman frontier is known for providing a great deal of archaeozoological research, but the real potential has not been reached yet as there are data from many excavated sites that have still not been analysed in detail or are ́buried́ as grey literature. The research project Romeinse vicus aan de Rijn aims at filling this gap through the study and publication of Roman military vici along the Dutch part of the Rhine to better understand the development and significance of these key locations. Within this frame, archaeozoological remains from various sites are being re-analysed in order to reinforce the knowledge of economic and cultural patterns, to better understand supply networks and to study how these activities shaped the surrounding environment and impacted the landscape.One of the studied sites is the Roman fort and vicus of Zwammerdam-Nigrum Pullum, located on the Rhine in the West Netherlands. Archaeozoological remains were collected during excavations in 1968–1971 and in 2003–2004, but some of the material was not studied, and a thorough synthesis was still missing. Because of this, certain aspects within this Roman settlement remain poorly analysed.With a thorough analysis of the archaeozoological remains from both excavations at Zwammerdam, integrated with contextual and chronological data, this study brings forward new archaeozoological information for this Roman settlement. The new data not only make it possible to compare animal exploitation in the vicus with that of the fort, but it also provides an opportunity to analyse these patterns throughout time both locally and regionally. While limited to a small area in the Roman Empire, the data from Zwammerdam can provide a further step for new, broader archaeozoological research towards the role of animals in the Roman culture and economy. Show less
This study presents the results of a preliminary investigation on micro-botanical remains preserved on Tolai hare (Lepus tolai) teeth recovered from Yangjiesha, a site located on the north of the... Show moreThis study presents the results of a preliminary investigation on micro-botanical remains preserved on Tolai hare (Lepus tolai) teeth recovered from Yangjiesha, a site located on the north of the Loess Plateau in China, dated circa. 4900B.P. The microscopic analysis reveal that starch grains from Triticeae, millets and their wild relatives as well as wood tissue fragments were identified in dental residues This implies that, in the context of the intensive development of millet farming at about 5000B.P., hares at Yangjiesha may have been active inside or near the agricultural settlement areas and formed long-term interactions with humans against the new agricultural ecology of the north Loess Plateau. Show less
The Zerqa Triangle in Jordan is a steppe zone with low annual precipitation and high potential evaporation. The region is not suited to dry farming, at least not on a reliable scale. This applies... Show moreThe Zerqa Triangle in Jordan is a steppe zone with low annual precipitation and high potential evaporation. The region is not suited to dry farming, at least not on a reliable scale. This applies not only to the present, but also to a long stretch of the past. From c. 2300 BCE onwards, the climate was comparable, with the exception of a number of short wetter intervals. The prevailing assumption is that from the Late Bronze Age onwards the inhabitants of the Zerqa Triangle subsisted on products from irrigated land. A means to test the validity of this assumption is to measure the Δ13C value of their crops. This figure offers insight into the water availability during the growth of the plants. Barley crops from three sites in the Zerqa Triangle with dates from 1100 BCE to CE 1225 were analysed. The grain was grown during periods with dry climatic conditions. The outcome is that the barley fields were not well-watered, but were not as dry as the present-day rainfed fields in dry south-west Morocco (Styring et al., 2016) or the runoff fed fields in tributary wadis in the Negev Desert (Van Bommel et al., 2021). It might be that truly rainfed fields were cultivated in addition to irrigated fields and gardens during the successive periods. That irrigation systems existed is known (Kaptijn, 2009). An alternative is the combination of crop raising based on precipitation with some boosts from irrigation. Anyhow, the assumption that crops could only be obtained through a well-functioning irrigation system should be questioned. Show less
Paleoethnobotanical and stable isotope studies have demonstrated that the indigenous groups that populated the Antilles, traditionally understood as dependent exclusively on wild resources,... Show morePaleoethnobotanical and stable isotope studies have demonstrated that the indigenous groups that populated the Antilles, traditionally understood as dependent exclusively on wild resources, cultivated and consumed both C3 and C4 plants even before the arrival of the ceramic-bearing Arawak groups. However, the relative importance of cultigens and the differential use of plants, especially maize, between populations and individuals remains un-known. In this paper we combined the analysis of stable isotopes (delta 15N, delta 13Cco, delta 13Cen, delta 13Cap, delta 34S) of 27 in-dividuals from the archaeological site of Playa del Mango, Cuba with the identification of starch grains in dental calculus. The stable isotope results indicate that the sampled population had a 70:30 C3/C4 diet, where at least 65 % was based on C3 protein. Starches from C3 (e.g., Marantaceae, Ipomoea batatas) and C4 plants (Zea mays) were found in similar proportions (50:50). These results support that the lack or abundance of starch grains cannot be used to infer directly the frequency at which C3 and C4 plants were consumed within a small popu-lation. Statistically significant differences between females and males in the carbon isotope composition of diet, and its energy portion, suggests a differential consumption of plants by sex. Playa del Mango individual diets were statistically different from those of coeval sites, supporting our previous findings that groups with different dietary traditions concurrently inhabited Cuba in precolonial times. The study demonstrates the power of combined use of stable isotope models, and starch analysis, to provide a more nuanced reconstruction of dietary practices in past human populations. Show less
Following the so-called material turn, in archaeology much attention is devoted to the affective response to objects, the physical affordances of items, or the agency of materials on one another.... Show moreFollowing the so-called material turn, in archaeology much attention is devoted to the affective response to objects, the physical affordances of items, or the agency of materials on one another. However, such aspects have been partially overlooked in experimental use wear research. Issues surrounding contact material selection and its degree of representativity against the larger archaeological sample are some of the problems that a well-considered approach in experimental archaeology and wear analysis should take into account. These problems are inherently linked with the discussion over controlled lab experiments vs actualistic layouts: one of the most contentious debates in experimental archaeology. More broadly, these issues are further tied to the crisis of confidence in experimental results and issues such as replicability and reproducibility. These concerns are even more significant in research attempting to simulate and investigate combat wear traces, where these problems also intertwine with the challenges that these layouts pose in terms of best practices to follow to ensure ethics and sustainability. In this paper, the methodological framework implemented in two experimental campaigns studying prehistoric bronze weaponry is discussed. The examples are then used to illustrate some of the challenges in these types of set-ups and to provide discussion points regarding potential solutions. In addition, steps to take in order to increase confidence in the interpretation of experimental results are proposed. While replication of experimental results is paramount, it is also necessary to reduce the ambiguity of experimental results. Show less
Among archaeological micro-remains, starches can be used as a tool for reconstructing past environments, diets, and trade patterns through the identification of the plants collected and consumed by... Show moreAmong archaeological micro-remains, starches can be used as a tool for reconstructing past environments, diets, and trade patterns through the identification of the plants collected and consumed by ancient populations. Starch grains preserved in dental calculus and on stone tools have been recovered from archaeological material from sites around the world. However, the ability to identify archaeological starch grains relies on having a broad (i.e., many taxa) and deep (i.e., many individuals from the same taxon) reference collection from modern plants. Only a small handful of such reference collections have been published, and thus far none have been created for taxa from the Eastern Mediterranean. This region is rich in plants that have been used for their starch-rich seeds and roots since prehistory, and many of the wild taxa are the progenitors of domesticated species that were cultivated in the Neolithic and remain economically important today. To help document the history of human interactions with these plant taxa, we present here a reference collection based on the analysis of 220 individual plant parts (e.g., seeds, tubers) from 188 modern Levantine plant species (both wild and domestic), and three non-native plants that are frequently found as modern contamination. Of the examined plant samples, 110 from 106 taxa (species and subspecies) contained starches. We also provide a key based on this collection to aid in the identification of archaeological starch remains. Show less
Chinese painted enamel is an artistic tradition of enamelled copperwares developed during the Kangxi period (1662-1722), commonly referred to as Canton enamel after the Wade-Giles spelling of... Show moreChinese painted enamel is an artistic tradition of enamelled copperwares developed during the Kangxi period (1662-1722), commonly referred to as Canton enamel after the Wade-Giles spelling of Guangzhou. In this study, enamel fragments from areas of damage in the decorated surface of ten Chinese painted enamel objects dating to the 18th and early 19th century in the collections of the Ashmolean and Fitzwilliam Museums were nondestructively analysed with ESEM-EDX (Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy - Energy Dispersive XRay Spectroscopy). After analysis, the enamel fragments were reattached to the objects using a conservation grade adhesive. Quantitative EDX elemental analysis is presented for the white enamel, underdrawings, eight painted enamel colours, outlines, and gilding. The enamel-glass composition, opacifier and colourants are discussed and compared to ceramic, glass, and enamelled metal technologies in use during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).The results show that Chinese painted enamels combine Chinese and European technology to create a new and distinct art form. Show less
Álvarez-Fernández Esteban; Martín-Jarque Sergio; Portero Rodrigo; Vadillo Conesa Margarita; Martínez-Villa Alberto; Teresa Aparicio M.; ... ; Pinto-Llona Ana C. 2022
Using a corpus of over 370 compositional analyses of Dutch Bronze Age and Iron Age (c. 2000 BCE AD 0) copper alloy artefacts, long-term patterns in the types of alloys used for specific bronze... Show moreUsing a corpus of over 370 compositional analyses of Dutch Bronze Age and Iron Age (c. 2000 BCE AD 0) copper alloy artefacts, long-term patterns in the types of alloys used for specific bronze objects are identified. As the Low Countries are devoid of copper ores and alloying elements, a combination of typo(chrono)logical and compositional analysis is used to identify through which European contact networks (such as Atlantic, Central European or Nordic exchange networks) these alloys were obtained. We employ a methodology that (following Bray et al., 2015) defines alloy groups by presence of As, Sb, Ag and Ni over 0.1 %wt, but expanded this classification to include Pb and to track high-impurity (>1%wt) alloys. Due to interfering soil-derived iron hydroxides, and preferent dissolution of copper from the objects’ surface, the determination of tin is in most cases overestimated when using p-XRF, so Sn was not systematically reviewed. Objects were assigned a calendar age in years BCE to facilitate chronological sorting. Using this classification, we could show how different alloys (using different base ores) were used in different periods, and in different combinations. Moreover, particular alloys were used for different groups of functional types of objects. Also, we show diachronic differences in the influx of new (or less frequently mixed) alloys and chronological trends in the substitution of As by Sn as main alloying element in the Early Bronze Age as well as the rise of leaded alloys at the close of the Bronze Age. Combining information on the composition of the objects with their typological traits, allowed us to reconstruct the scales and geographic scopes of the European contact networks in which the copper alloys used throughout later prehistory were obtained. Show less
Carmignani, L.; Martini, I.; Spagnolo, V.; Dominici, C.; Rossini, M.; Scaramucci, S.; Moroni, A. 2021
In southern Italy, the number of Acheulean sites in a secure stratigraphic context is small and sites with control over the age of the deposit and of the artefacts are even less. The open-air sites... Show moreIn southern Italy, the number of Acheulean sites in a secure stratigraphic context is small and sites with control over the age of the deposit and of the artefacts are even less. The open-air sites of Cala d’Arconte, Capo Grosso and Cala Bianca, located along the Italian south-west coastline, represent, in this context, an important source of information for the Lower Paleolithic. These sites were discovered and preliminarily studied in 1967–70 by A. Palma di Cesnola and P. Gambassini of the University of Siena, who ascribed them to the Acheulean due to the recovery of several handaxes associated with flaking reduction systems part of which attributed to the Levallois technology. A small number of the handaxes was recovered in its stratigraphic position while Levallois artefacts were collected exclusively on surface, leaving the question about the relations between these two groups unsolved. Here, the sites of Cala d’Arconte, Capo Grosso and Cala Bianca and their lithic collections are reinvestigated by re-evaluating the stratigraphy at each locality and by analyzing the techno-typology of the available artefacts. During a test trench carried out at Cala Bianca, several Levallois artefacts were discovered in situ in the uppermost part of the sequence in a layer located above a tephra recently attributed to the X-6 marker of the Monticchio series dated to 108.33 ± 1.08 ka. We suggest that these in situ Levallois artefacts belong to a Mousterian layer that must be considered as the most plausible origin for the Levallois assemblage previously collected out of context at this site. In turn, we also suggest that the Levallois and biface components collected from the surface at Cala Bianca and Capo Grosso derive from distinct occupations in time. Show less
In this article the authors present the osteobiographical analysis of a unique burial from Saba, an island in the Caribbean Netherlands. Historical, archaeological, osteological, and isotopic... Show moreIn this article the authors present the osteobiographical analysis of a unique burial from Saba, an island in the Caribbean Netherlands. Historical, archaeological, osteological, and isotopic analysis indicate that this is the burial of a first generation enslaved African woman and her unborn child, which occurred between 1762 and 1780. These individuals probably died during protracted preterm labour possibly caused by a variety of factors including infection, malnutrition, and an extremely narrow pelvic inlet. In the past, narratives of enslavement on Saba have often been overlooked because the island did not engage in a full plantation economy. However, these skeletons are able to provide detailed first-hand evidence for the hardships of Saban enslavement, and thereby contribute to wider conversations on slavery and colonialism in the Caribbean. Show less
Sengeløv, A.; Wijdeven, G. van de; Snoeck, C.; Laffoon, J.; Hond, R. de; Gnade, M.; Waters-Rist, A. 2020
This paper contributes to the current debate regarding the ethno-cultural identity and origins of the post-Archaic (5th to 4th centuries BCE) population of the town of Satricum by introducing... Show moreThis paper contributes to the current debate regarding the ethno-cultural identity and origins of the post-Archaic (5th to 4th centuries BCE) population of the town of Satricum by introducing bioarchaeologial data including strontium isotope ratios, strontium concentrations, delta C-13 and delta O-18 values of tooth enamel, as well as dental morphological traits. Previous studies suggested a change in the original Latin population of ancient Satricum as a result of migrating groups called the Volscians coming from the eastern mountainous hinterland of Latium. The purportedly relatively short occupation of Satricum (ca. 150 years) by the Volscians during the post-Archaic period increases the chance of identifying the first generation of migrants coming from the mountains. Individuals from three presumable Volscian necropoleis in Satricum are analyzed. Forty-three third molars were sampled for isotope and elemental analyses. All individuals appear to be "local" based on their strontium and oxygen isotope ratios. However, three individuals have statistically lower strontium isotope ratios than the rest, two of which originate from two intersecting graves. These two also have the lowest strontium concentrations, potentially suggesting they are spatially and possibly biologically related. At the group level, the strontium concentration data show a clear difference between the necropoleis. An additional difference is in the dental non-metric trait frequencies, with a biodistance analysis suggesting the necropoleis contain different gene pools (MMD score of 0.789). It is hard to determine if these data suggest (1) a population that experienced fast and marked gene flow between use of the necropoleis, or (2) a population with large, distinct kin groups using different necropoleis. Nonetheless, the data show that the 5th to 4th century BCE was a period of change in Satricum and this work paves the way for future research as we strive to understand the origins and identities of these peoples. Show less
Stable isotope analysis has a long history in Caribbean archaeology. The Caribbean region, however, possesses a highly complex isotopic ecology, including both a large number of isotopically... Show moreStable isotope analysis has a long history in Caribbean archaeology. The Caribbean region, however, possesses a highly complex isotopic ecology, including both a large number of isotopically variable food sources, and a high degree of isotopic overlap between different food groups. As such, to date, most regional paleodietary studies have been limited to descriptive and qualitative conclusions concerning the relative contributions of different food sources. In this study we apply an iterative Bayesian multi-source mixing model (FRUITS) to skeletal stable isotope data from the prehistoric population of Tutu, St. Thomas, USVI, to test the feasibility of such models to generate quantitative and probabilistic individual paleodietary reconstructions. The isotope data set includes both bone collagen (δ13Cco and δ15Nco) and apatite (δ13Cap) data. The results of two different dietary models using four and five distinct food groupings, respectively, are compared and assessed relative to other relevant archaeological evidence pertaining to past diet at the site. We highlight the potentials and limitations of multi-source mixing models for regional paleodietary studies, and their relevance to ongoing debates within Caribbean archaeology concerning the relative importance of different food sources such as manioc, maize, and seafood. Show less
Hyperspectral imaging is applied to a Mixtec codex in order to reveal an abundance of never before seen pictographic scenes hidden underneath a layer of gypsum and chalk gesso. Because of the... Show moreHyperspectral imaging is applied to a Mixtec codex in order to reveal an abundance of never before seen pictographic scenes hidden underneath a layer of gypsum and chalk gesso. Because of the organic nature of these paints, no other technique has been able to reveal them in a non-invasive manner. The results thus far indicate that the covered text contains unique genealogic information which may prove invaluable for the interpretation of archaeological remains from southern Mexico. Show less
