Deciphering Anthropo-Sedimentary Processes and Ash Micro-Histories at the Neolithic Lakeside Settlement of Dispilio, Greece: A Micro-Geoarchaeological Approach

Abstract

The micro-geoarchaeological research of the Neolithic lakeside settlement at Dispilio, in Northern Greece, highlights unexplored aspects of the formation processes and the micro-histories of the middle and upper Final Neolithic (4500–3200 BCE) horizons of the site. The examination of sediments from the new Trench 48.2 and the Western Sector through a micromorphological approach, complemented by bulk analyses (FTIR, pH, & magnetic susceptibility), confirms the presence of two types of secondary ash deposits. The first group (Trench 48.2) is associated with an open discard area/pit, consisting of episodic deposits, the formation of which is indicative of low rates of anthropogenic accumulation. The second group (Western Sector) encapsulates a series of depositional episodes, usually in the form of compacted laminae, that reflect systematic, high-intensity ash discard practices, often accompanied by traces of trampling, sweeping, and/or raking-out. The evidence of high input of anthropogenic calcite within the cemented upper levels (calcrete), suggests the active role of ash in the formation of these horizons. Overall, this article demonstrates the significance of micro-geoarchaeology as a key approach to decipher anthropo-sedimentary processes and understand the intensity of the use of space, substantially enriching our knowledge of ash discard and maintenance practices.