Animal remains from twelve Iron Age (ca. 500 BC–1200/1300AD) sites from Southern and Western Finland, showing a mixture of finds and features typical of both settlement sites and cemeteries, were investigated using a zooarchaeological, taphonomic and contextual approach. Rarefaction analysis of the species richness and anatomical distribution indicates that the samples included both general domestic

In recent decades, the nutritional transition has been encroaching on remote rural areas of developing countries where feeding patterns are shifting from unprocessed foods to industrialized processed goods. Such changes in the Amazon region have been detected, for instance, by comparing the natural carbon (13C:12C) and nitrogen (15N:14N) isotopic ratios of people living in riverine communities with

Surface treatment techniques, that is, smoothing and burnishing, help to define the cultural, traditional, and economical state of an ancient society. They prove artistic feelings combined with practical skills were used to obtain more attractive and highly functional objects. This paper aims to prepare the reader to investigate ceramic surfaces and discern between different treatments. Interpretation

To date, few large-scale bronze foundry sites of the Bronze Age have been found in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in Southern China, but highly developed bronze cultures have occurred here. For instance, in Qiaojiayuan, Yunxian County, northwestern Hubei Province, on the border of Southern and Northern China, a high-level tomb cluster of Spring and Autumn period (8th–5th c. BC) has

Ceramics are a key indicator for the study of cultural heritage: – A valuable technological indicator because (a) ceramics mark the passage from the simple exploitation to the complex control of fire; (b) they represent the first pyrotechnological product of a certain complexity; and (c) they are able of triggering the development of other technologies such as those involving the processing of metal

Analysis of individual animal bodies can provide numerous useful insights in archeology, including how humans provisioned such animals, which in turn informs on a variety of other past behaviors such as human dietary patterns. In this study, we conducted stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope analysis of collagen and keratin from four types of tissues from a dog burial at the Ust’-Polui site

This chapter provides insights into Chinese ceramic technologies of both bodies and glazes as well as provenance by using isotopes applied to a number of case studies. The use of Sr isotopes to investigate Chinese high-fired Celadon wares and blue-and-white Jingdezhen porcelain (Jiangxi province) has revealed a clear distinction associated with the fluxes used in the glazes: plant ash in celadons and

Author “Uzi Avner” asked to remove the name in the list of authors of the paper. The request was agreed by the co-authors. Given in this article is the corrected list.

After they have been abandoned, ceramic materials may undergo substantial transformations, all of which may change their macroscopic aspect, mineralogy, chemical composition and microstructure. The intensity and pervasiveness of these transformations on both macro- and micro-scales depend to a great extent not only on their compositional and microstructural features but also on the chemical-physical

Domestication is the process in which preferred genetic changes in wild plants and animals have been selected by humans. In other words, domesticated plants have become adapted to being part of human-managed ecosystems. Asian cultivated rice, Oryza sativa L., is one of the most important crops in the world and is known to have been domesticated from its wild ancestor, O. rufipogon. Many morphological

Different agricultural and metallurgical systems had developed at the eastern and western ends of Eurasia continent before 3000 BC. As one of the earliest Bronze Age cultures in the Eurasian steppe, the Afanasyevo Culture originating from Southern Siberia, Russia, had played an extremely significant role in facilitating cultural interactions and the spread of domestic species in Eurasia. Hence, investigating

This paper aims to define the dietary profile of the population of early medieval Rome (fifth–eleventh centuries CE) by carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. This period was characterized by deep changes in the city’s economic, demographic, and social patterns, probably affecting its inhabitants’ nutritional habits. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of bone collagen was used to detect

The Late Glacial and early Holocene (ca. 15,000–6,000 cal BP) witnessed major changes in the environmental conditions which led to the establishment of temperate vegetation and animal species, thereby offering new subsistence opportunities to the population of hunter-gatherers. Measurements of the relative abundances in 13C and 15N were applied to large herbivores from northern France to document the

In many cases, the study of archaeological fossil surfaces is not possible without prior intervention by conservation-restoration specialists. This is most notable in the required cleaning process that facilitates detailed analyses of osteological remains. This experimental study develops a methodology that can be used to evaluate the possible effects that mechanical cleaning applications and tools

Ostrich eggshell and gastropod shell beads provide important evidence for understanding how past peoples decorated and cultured their bodies and may also be used as proxy evidence for interpreting the nature and extent of past social networks. This study focuses on the ostrich eggshell and gastropod shell bead assemblages from the terminal Pleistocene (~ 13.5 to 11.6 ka) and mid-Holocene (~ 7.3 to

The study of the ancient black ceramic coating that decorates the surface of Classical and Hellenistic pottery from Attica and other main production centres in the Mediterranean has been the subject of more than three centuries of research. The physicochemical characterisation and analysis of the black glaze/gloss (BG) with the use of a broad spectrum of analytical techniques has gradually revealed

This paper is intended as a compendium of good practices to assess whether luminescence dating can provide researchers with valuable chronological information for ceramic samples. It is organized into two main sections. The first section provides an introduction to luminescence dating, including its physical principles, the applied measurement procedures, and a brief summary on a new dating technique

Glazes add value to ceramic, improve its appearance (colour and shine) and make it waterproof. Through the choice of colours and designs, glazes made ceramics fashionable, even luxurious, and therefore, an object of trade. Each region and ruling dynasty developed its own style or trademark which makes them particularly suitable for dating purposes. Therefore, the study and analysis of glazes offers

Phytoliths from two different wheat species, Triticum monococcum and Triticum durum, known for their long-lasting significance to humans, were studied by a multi-analytical approach. Characterisation of phytoliths assisted in understanding their microstructure and behaviour after extraction from plants by the dry ashing and the wet ashing methods. The phytoliths extracted from different parts of the

Decades of fieldwork in the Frosinone-Ceprano basin (Latin Valley, Latium, central Italy) have shed light on numerous open-air Lower Palaeolithic localities, delivering a human fossil calvarium, thousands of scattered faunal remains and a large collection of lithic industries, including core-and-flake type lithic series (mode 1) and Acheulean assemblages (mode 2). The continuously growing number of

Heat treatment of stone for tool making has important implications for our understanding of the early human history of the Australian continent. New data on the antiquity of Australian heat treatment and its evolution through time in different regions have posed questions about the origin and temporal stability of technical practices. In this paper, we present the first evolutionary sequence of the

This paper presents the results of an international research aimed at investigating the ancient landscape of the Mali Kras plateau, a sector of northern Istria (southwestern Slovenia). The remains of two main protohistoric hill forts, Mali Kras and Socerb, and a few minor sites were already reported from this area. A cemetery, associated with Socerb hill fort, was in use between the sixth century BC

The dental microwear analysis (DMA) focuses on diet reconstructions, being able to provide proxy indicators of some events regarding technological shifts in food processing and social hierarchy and differences between individuals. Although DMA approaches diet characterization in ancient times, medieval samples have received limited attention, especially in Eastern Europe. The aim of this article is

A set of 34 archaeological ceramics, including olive jars, transparent green lead glazed, tin-lead glazed and unglazed ceramics, from seventeenth century Angra D shipwreck found at Terceira Island (Azores Archipelago, Portugal) was archaeometrically characterized by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Ceramic provenance

The aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of raw materials in the production of ceramic artefacts. A brief but in-depth explanation is provided to emphasise the connections between raw materials and ceramic products. A step by step approach is developed with the aim of illustrating the different ceramic raw materials and their features and describing the effects of each component on the

A horncore feature was encountered during excavations at Border Cave, in Member 2 BSL, dated 60–49 ka. The basal half of the horncore lay towards the centre of a combustion feature and was calcined. The tip half lay on a mat of burnt grass bedding towards the edge of the fireplace. It was covered with a black shiny residue, which was also present on nearby stone tools. The feature was jacketed and

Provenance studies of archaeological ceramics by analysis of their elemental composition are based on the assumption that clays can be distinguished, which were used for pottery manufacture in different workshops or production centres. The clay pastes used for the ceramic manufacture were prepared from natural raw materials extracted commonly in the vicinity of the production sites. Due to different

The use of stone materials in cultural heritage and architecture represents a practice that has its roots in ancient times. Stone buildings, depending on the construction materials and their location in the urban context, are particularly vulnerable to weathering phenomena. These can be often accelerated by changes in environmental conditions linked mostly to the anthropic activities. In this way,

The Punic Amphora Building (PAB) at Corinth, Greece, excavated in the late 1970s and dated to the mid-5th century BC, provided a remarkable archaeological context for the study of trade connections between Classical Corinth and the Punic West, based on the finding of hundreds of Punic amphorae and associated fish remains. The first studies indicated that these amphorae were mostly imported from the

The article “Ritual practices and social organisation at the Middle Yayoi culture settlement site of Maenakanishi, eastern Japan”, written by Christian Leipe, Shunsuke Kuramochi, Mayke Wagner and Pavel E. Tarasov.

Trepanation is a long-lasting ancient practice found around the world with diverse motivations. However, the distribution and motivation of intentional trepanation in China remain unclear. This study presents one of the earliest trepanations on a male adult individual who is unearthed from the Shuanghuaishu site in Gongyi, Henan, dating back to the late Yangshao cultural period (3500–2900 BC). The

This tutorial paper is focused on the mineralogical-petrographic characterization of clayey raw materials with the purpose of sourcing supply basins and answering questions about the provenance of the corresponding archaeological ceramic artefacts. The first part gives general indications of how to profitably study archaeological ceramic thin sections through the polarizing microscope. Brief notes

This paper applies phytolith analysis to bedrock installations at the Early Neolithic site of Paliambela Kolindros in Northern Greece. The phytolith remains retrieved from these installations document for the first time in Greece that the cylindrical cavities dug into the bedrock were used as mortars for pounding and dehusking wheat inflorescences. Shallower basins around, or next to these hollows

To understand the connectivity in human–landscape ecosystems, a multidirectional concept of landscape transformation, sociocultural development, and human response cycles needs to be considered. In this context, societal decision-making is controlled by the ecosystem’s functionality; the human perception, experience, memory, and tradition; and the individual configuration of landscape components: a

A unique archaeological finding of five individuals buried in an early medieval pit house was discovered in Podersdorf am See (Austria). Three of those individuals were buried in narrow grave pits that had been deepened into the house floor; two of them were lying on the pit floor in a crouched position. Pit houses with six-post construction are known since Roman times and were particularly widespread

The article discusses the various options for reconstructing pottery-forming techniques and for making reliable interpretations of forming practices based on archaeological evidence. It begins with a consideration of a classification of forming techniques that provides a framework with a suitable resolution within which observed phenomena can be understood. Such a classification should reflect meaningful

One of the most significant cultural transformations in European prehistory occurred in the middle of the 6th millennium BC in the heart of the Carpathian Basin. The northward expansion of Mediterranean farming groups (Starčevo-Körös-Criş cultural complex) halted and underwent a complete transformation giving rise to a new cultural group carrying an altered form of Neolithic traditions onward to Europe

Reindeer herding probably developed during the Late Iron Age onwards and is still an important part of the subsistence and culture of many peoples in northern Eurasia. However, despite the importance of this husbandry in the history of these Arctic people, the period and place of the origin as well as the spread of domestic reindeer is still highly debated. Besides the existence of different breeding

The estimation of the sex of the individual is a parameter of great value in forensic contexts and, above all, in archaeological contexts, where it is more difficult to apply genetic studies. In contrast with methods based on non-metric variables, we propose the use of a random generalized linear model for the determination of sex, starting from the Howells craniometric database and testing them on

This paper focuses on the statistical comparison between the abundance and grain-size distribution of inclusions in pottery, determined by digital image process on images acquired using different methods (crossed-polarized light optical microscopy, back-scattered scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microchemical mapping also under SEM). The results clearly indicate that the acquisition method deeply

The conservation of ceramics in museums today follows protocols and ethical guidelines developed during the latter half of the twentieth century that are based on respect for the original fabric as well as knowledge gained in the material sciences. Modern conservation incorporates three main areas of activity: (1) preventive conservation, (2) remedial conservation, (3) restoration. Conservators are

The issue of clay processing concerns both provenance and techno-functional ceramic investigations. In the former, the compositional/textural modification of clay alters the petrofacies expressed by the ceramic body and causes a change from the raw material in terms of bulk chemical and mineralogical composition and petrographical features as well. In the latter, identifying the signs of clay processing

The extensive investigation carried out in recent years at the UNESCO site of Al-Khutm (Ibri, Oman) has allowed to uncover the monumental remains of a tower dated back to the third millennium BC and to collect an abundant ceramic assemblage from the associated soil deposits. Eighteen selected pottery samples have been investigated using a multi-analytical approach including microfocus X-ray computed

The major difficulty to study bone preservation is to define which diagenetic parameters need to be taken into account when any information on environmental conditions is missing. Through this research, we contribute towards understanding the complex interplay of factors that affects human bones during diagenetic process. The work focuses on how organic and mineral components influence each other and

Endscrapers, the most abundant tool class at Eastern North American Paleoindian sites, are flaked stone specimens predominately used for scraping hides. They are found broken in high frequencies at these sites, a pattern that has been attributed to use. However, previous experimental and ethnographic research on endscrapers suggests that they are difficult to break. We present a series of replication

This paper presents new zooarcheological data examining the relative abundances of artiodactyl and leporid remains from Holocene-aged sites in the Bonneville basin. Prior scholarship derived largely from sheltered sites suggests favorable climate conditions during the late Holocene increased foraging efficiency and supported a focus on hunting high-value artiodactyls. Using theoretical rationale from

Quantitative, digital statistics, and spatial analysis have proven to be useful tools in landscape archeological research. Herein, GIS-based data storage, manipulation, and visualization of environmental attributes and archeological records are among the most intensely applied methods to evaluate human-landscape interaction, movement patterns, and spatial behavior of past societies. Recent land use

Representations of reptiles are relatively rare in Egyptian rock art. Here, we present a petroglyph found at the site of el-Hosh that closely resembles a chameleon, a morphologically distinct type of lizard. In evaluating the image, we provide a comprehensive review of the limited evidence for chameleons in other Egyptian graphical depictions and texts, revealing previously unrecognised examples found

Recent strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) analyses of bones and teeth have provided useful archeological results for reconstructing past human migration and diet. We report 87Sr/86Sr ratios and DNA analyses of tooth enamel from individuals buried in some necropolises in Nola town, near Napoli (Campania, South Italy). These individuals lived in the period between the Avellino (1925 years BCE) and CE 472

A series of 74 small silver Celtic coins discovered on the territory of the present Slovenia and classified in 7 different types were analyzed using the methods of proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA) to determine the silver and copper concentrations on the surface and in the bulk, respectively. The aim of the research was to determine the purity of the metal

A cluster of melon seeds (Cucumis melo L.) has recently been unearthed in the principal tomb (M1) of Haihun Marquis in Jiangxi Province, China. These seeds were very well preserved in a waterlogged and anoxic condition with clear archaeological strata, which not only provide new evidence to explore the utilization of melons in ancient times but also provide a new perspective in the study of the lifestyle

Fire is an integral part of almost all ecosystems on Earth and an important factor in shaping our surroundings. Based on pedoanthracological research, we have reconstructed part of the past landscape and the paleoenvironmental context in an area that was populated by the Aguada Culture around 1000 CE. Pedoanthracology gives us the opportunity to recreate past fire events, including both natural fires

The southern Iberian Peninsula was under Islamic rule for more than 500 years. Several anthropological studies offer information on the medieval inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula; however, most research focuses on urban necropolises, and rural necropolises are unexplored, resulting in an incomplete picture of medieval Iberia. This study fills this gap via anthropological analysis of the individuals

The Oscurusciuto rock shelter (southern Italy) is crucial for the understanding of Neanderthals’ subsistence and settlement strategies as it contains a ~ 6-m-thick reliable deposit made up of several Middle Palaeolithic levels. This paper focuses on level SU 14, a 60-cm-thick deposit of volcanic tephra containing traces of human occupation only in the few upper centimetres. Geochemical and mineralogical

The southward spread of agriculture in China has long been regarded as a hot topic worldwide, as it is closely related to the further dispersal of farming into Southeast Asia and beyond. However, the absence of Neolithic agriculture evidence in Jiangxi province, the crossroad of the southward dispersal route, makes it difficult to confirm the specific diffusion route and triggers many debates. This

This study of white pottery from the Merovingian and Carolingian periods traces the use of white clay resources in the Middle Meuse valley at the beginning of the Middle Ages. The petrographic study of 56 sherds, the chemical analysis of 40 samples, and XRD study of 12 of them coming from 4 sites reach the changes of the process between the two time periods, characterize the production of three Carolingian

Geometric morphometrics is a powerful set of techniques that can be used to visualize and analyze the shape of artifacts. With the growing use of geometric morphometrics in archaeology, it is important to understand and identify limitations in the method. One such limitation is the accumulation of measurement error. Here, we investigate the impact of parallax or the effect of the position of an object

In this paper we present the experimental results obtained for the formation of use-wear traces on four types of basalt rocks from the Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania) and one from the Deba River (Spain). The objective of this study is to create a reference collection that will allow the posterior analysis and identification of archeological use-wear traces on lithic industries made on these different types

The archaeological evidence from Cova Gran de Santa Linya suggests that during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age, the site was used as a livestock enclosure where the accumulated excrements were burned, generating a sequence known by the term fumier. Here we present the results of an integrated study of silica phytoliths, dung spherulites, and mineral composition of sedimentary matrix from the

This paper focuses on the study of different Roman mortars (renders, finishing coats), used in the construction and restoration of the Forum Traiani thermal baths (Central Sardinia, Italy), a significant example of the Roman-style architecture in Sardinia. The archaeological site is located in a high hydrogeological risk area, due to the cyclical flooding of nearby Tirso river. Moreover, the presence