Abstract
Starting from questions about the nature of cultural diversity, this paper examines the pace and tempo of change and the relative importance of continuity and discontinuity. To unravel the cultural project of the past, we apply chronological modelling of radiocarbon dates within a Bayesian statistical framework, to interrogate the Neolithic cultural sequence in Lower Alsace, in the upper Rhine valley, in broad terms from the later sixth to the end of the fifth millennium cal BC. Detailed formal estimates are provided for the long succession of cultural groups, from the early Neolithic Linear Pottery culture (LBK) to the Bischheim Occidental du Rhin Supérieur (BORS) groups at the end of the Middle Neolithic, using seriation and typology of pottery as the starting point in modelling. The rate of ceramic change, as well as frequent shifts in the nature, location and density of settlements, are documented in detail, down to lifetime and generational timescales. This reveals a Neolithic world in Lower Alsace busy with comings and goings, tinkerings and adjustments, and relocations and realignments. A significant hiatus is identified between the end of the LBK and the start of the Hinkelstein group, in the early part of the fifth millennium cal BC. On the basis of modelling of existing dates for other parts of the Rhineland, this appears to be a wider phenomenon, and possible explanations are discussed; full reoccupation of the landscape is only seen in the Grossgartach phase. Radical shifts are also proposed at the end of the Middle Neolithic.
Highlights
Aims and Approach of This StudyThis dating project aimed to demonstrate the potential for a carefully selected series of radiocarbon dates to be combined with ceramic sequences derived from seriation, to produce refined chronologies for the Neolithic period in situations where vertical stratigraphic sequences are limited
The Middle Neolithic sequence commences with the Hinkelstein, from which just three assemblages could be included in the seriation, with only two graves providing datable material. These results provided unexpectedly late dating for the first Middle Neolithic activity in Lower Alsace, so we obtained further samples from the neighbouring Neckar valley region to assess whether these two dates from Lower Alsace were anomalous
In contrast to the passivity of traditional chronological charts or the smoothed transitions produced by summed probability distributions, the more precise date estimates offered by formal modelling in combination with rigorous seriation and typology have revealed a Neolithic world in Lower Alsace busy with comings and goings, tinkerings and adjustments, and relocations and realignments
Summary
This dating project aimed to demonstrate the potential for a carefully selected series of radiocarbon dates to be combined with ceramic sequences derived from seriation, to produce refined chronologies for the Neolithic period in situations where vertical stratigraphic sequences are limited. 45–57), and so concentrating on these materials adds scientific risk to the dating programme This risk was managed by obtaining replicate measurements from two laboratories on a significant number of samples (see below), through a programme of stable isotopes to investigate the potential for dietary offsets in the samples of human bone, and through statistical approaches which measure the compatibility of the radiocarbon dates with the sequences produced by the correspondence analyses. Thirteen of these samples produced radiocarbon ages that are statistically consistent at 95% confidence, two more have measurements that are statistically inconsistent at 95% confidence, but statistically consistent at 99% confidence, and two have results that are divergent at more than 99% confidence (Ward and Wilson 1978; Tables 1 and 2) This variance is slightly more than would be expected on purely statistical grounds when weighted means are taken of these measurements, all have good individual agreement in the models presented −19.7 ± 0.2 10.5 ± 0.3 3.1 Lefranc et al (2012) −21.2 ± 0.2 8.9 ± 0.3 3.3 Lefranc (2012) −21.1 ± 0.2 6.4 ± 0.3 3.2 Lefranc (2012) −20.8 ± 0.2 7.0 ± 0.3 3.2 Lefranc (2012)
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