1st Millennium BCE Research Articles

Diets, stress, and disease in the Etruscan society: Isotope analysis and infantile skeletal palaeopathology from Pontecagnano (Campania, southern Italy, 730-580 BCE).

Susceptibility to morbidity and mortality is increased in early life, yet proactive measures, such as breastfeeding and weaning practices, can be taken through specific investments from parents and wider society. The extent to which such biosocialcultural investment was achieved within 1st millennium BCE Etruscan society, of whom little written sources are available, is unkown. This research investigates life histories in non-adults and adults from Pontecagnano (southern Italy, 730-580 BCE) in order to track cross-sectional and longitudinal breastfeeding and weaning patterns and to characterize the diet more broadly. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis of incrementally-sampled deciduous and permanent dentine (n = 15), bulk bone collagen (n = 38), and tooth enamel bioapatite (n = 21) reveal the diet was largely based on C3 staple crops with marginal contributions of animal protein. Millet was found to play a role for maternal diet and trajectories of breastfeeding and feeding for some infants and children at the site. The combination of multiple isotope systems and tissues demonstrates exclusive breastfeeding was pursued until 0.6 years, followed by progressive introduction of proteanocius supplementary foods during weaning that lasted between approximately 0.7 and 2.6 years. The combination of biochemical data with macroscopic skeletal lesions of infantile metabolic diseases and physiological stress markers showed high δ15Ndentine in the months prior to death consistent with the isotopic pattern of opposing covariance.

A new inscribed Aramaic potsherd from Tell al-Assara, Jordan

Recent fieldwork undertaken by the joint Finnish-Jordanian Tell Yaˁmoun Regional Archaeological Survey (TYRAS) in the northern part of the Jordanian plateau explored the unexcavated site of Tell al-Assara. An initial survey of the site and its surface pottery indicates that it was occupied for much of the 1st millennium BCE. The initial survey also found an inscribed Aramaic potsherd, which we present and analyse here. This analysis of the inscription builds both on digital techniques like photogrammetry and traditional philological approaches. Despite its brevity, the al-Assara inscription is an important new datum in the corpus of Transjordanian Iron Age texts and palaeography. It can be dated to the middle of the 1st millennium BCE and links Tell al-Assara to broader regional practices of writing and administration.

Kurgan Phenomenon in the Southern Caucasus: Results of an Interdisciplinary Multi‐Method Remote Sensing Survey Along the Kurekçay Valley (Goranboy Province, Western Azerbaijan)

ABSTRACTThis paper presents the results of a pilot study that combines findings from satellite remote sensing analyses and an intensive interdisciplinary survey conducted in November 2021 on kurgans along the Kurekçay Valley, in western Azerbaijan. Through the integration of various methods, including historical and contemporary satellite and aerial imagery analysis, topographic mapping and geophysical prospections, this research remotely maps and quantifies the density, size, morphology and distribution of the burial mounds in the area. Unlike previous studies focusing solely on individual burial mounds, this investigation adopts a broader approach by contextualizing the kurgans within their respective landscapes. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of the physical and symbolic aspects and relationships of these structures, providing valuable insights into the enduring burial practices that shaped the funerary traditions of the Southern Caucasus during the 4th and 1st millennium BCE. Furthermore, this approach supports an assessment of the condition of the individual kurgans, thereby opening new perspectives to develop innovative plans to protect these burial mounds and their settings.

Challenging reconstruction of the plurimillennial morphodynamics of hybrid urban deltas: Trajectory from a wave-dominated delta to a human-dominated delta in the Western Mediterranean area

The reconstruction of the human impacts on the morphodynamics of river deltas in the long term is challenging. The ternary diagram of Galloway (1975) used to classify morphodynamics of deltas does not include direct human influence which is now affecting most of the deltas of the world. The study of human-dominated deltas requires specific approaches and consideration of human processes and morphologies in interaction with more commonly studied natural processes and morphologies. This study demonstrates how to combine different datasets from natural and social sciences to reconstruct long term temporal trajectories of hybrid urban deltas. The Francolí delta, associated with the UNESCO city of Tarragona, offers a perfect case study to identify the different steps of a wave-dominated delta leading to a human-dominated delta over a long-term perspective. Tarragona emerged in the 1st millennium BCE and became a significant port city in the Roman period. This study identifies the evidence of a semi-protected harbour built 2000 years ago that initiates the evolution of a hybrid urban delta towards a human-dominated delta. Until the end 19th c. CE, cyclical changes at the river mouth are observed due to natural fluvial and coastal dynamics while progradation stages are partly affected by anthropogenic structures over time. The 19th c. CE is a major turning point. Morphodynamics controlled by anthropogenic factors strongly increase while fluvial and coastal sedimentation is partly erased by dredgings. The systematic approach proposed for the Francolí delta can be standardised and applied to other hybrid urban deltas allowing better comparison between urbanised deltas.

An Archaeometric Analysis of Black-Appearing Iron Age Glass Beads from Vinha das Caliças 4 (Portugal)

Phoenician colonisation of the Iberian Peninsula in the 1st millennium BCE introduced many novel and luxurious goods to the local populations of the Western Mediterranean. Among them, black-appearing glass beads are characteristic of indigenous female burials in Southern Portugal during the 6th century BCE. This study presents the results of the first comprehensive archaeometric investigation of black-appearing glass from Vinha das Caliças 4 (Portugal), and of black-appearing glass from the Iberian Peninsula in general. A multi-analytical approach employing Stereomicroscopic observation of manufacture and use traces, VP-SEM-EDS, μ-XRD, and LA-ICP-MS was used to cover a wide range of questions regarding technology and provenance. All analysed samples are natron glass. All samples of black and white beads are characterized by high Zr and low Sr values typically ascribed to the use of Egyptian sands. A comparison of the results of previous studies from the same site clearly demonstrates at least two geochemical provenances for Phoenician-traded glass beads, located in the Levantine region and Egypt, respectively. Furthermore, different colours of glass in individual polychrome beads exhibit similar trace element patterns, which might suggest these beads could have been produced close to glassmaking sites/regions.

Эртний нүүдэлчдийн дунд нарийн зохион байгуулалт бүрэлдэх үйл явцыг археологийн баримтаар тодруулах нь

The issue regarding social complexity among pastoral nomads has been a long-lasting puzzle for historian, anthropologists, and archaeologists. Such problems arises from the approach to look at past nomadic societies through narrow ecological and economic lenses. Even the concept of “social complexity” among archaeologists is problematic. Initially derived from system theories and political economy, the definition of social complexity places heavy emphasis on social stratification, industrialized economies, and centralized governance of sedentary societies. We argue that such approach to social complexity is not suitable to explain stages of social complexity among pastoral nomads. This is why we are introducing a different approach that considers integration, scale, and mobility. By explaining initial stages of social complexity of early pastoral communities in the case of two neighboring valleys in north central Mongolia, we can begin to understand how one of the first states in eastern Eurasian steppe emerged at the end of the 1st millennium BCE.

Origins and evolution of oasis agriculture in the Sahara: Evidence from morphometric analyses of archaeological date palm seeds

Oasis agriculture has been a critical means of sustenance for humans in arid regions in North Africa and West Asia. The date palm ( Phoenix dactylifera L.) holds immense significance as one of the most vital species in these agroecosystems. It was domesticated in the Gulf region over 6000 years ago and later spread to other regions. In the Sahara, the origins of the germplasm and the diffusion history in terms of dating and routes remain largely unknown. To explore these questions, we employed traditional and geometric morphometric methods to analyse 312 well-preserved Phoenix seeds from three Libyan sites, dating from the 1st millennium BCE to the modern period. We compared them with a large modern reference collection and Egyptian archaeological seeds from a previous study. The identification of domesticated morphotypes in the oldest site, Zinkekra, confirms that the date palm was already cultivated in the Central Sahara during the 1st millennium BCE, probably through an introduction from Egypt. The large proportion of wild morphotypes however indicates that they represent early domesticates. By comparing seeds at sites in Libya and Egypt dating from different periods, evidence was found of a decrease in unclassified seeds and wild morphotypes over time, along with a simultaneous increase in seed elongation. These results likely reflect the intensification of date palm cultivation, coinciding with the growing prevalence of human selection and vegetative propagation. Our study highlights the potential of seed morphometric analyses in uncovering the domestication and diffusion history of crops, shedding light on how humans have adapted to challenging environments.

Infantile scurvy as a consequence of agricultural intensification in the 1st millennium BCE Etruria Campana

The 1st millennium BCE in Italy was a time of agricultural intensification of staple cereal production which shaped sociocultural, political, and economic spheres of pre-Roman groups. The lifeways and foodways of the Etruscans, the greatest civilization in western Europe before Roman hegemony, are traditionally inferred from secondary written sources, funerary archaeology, archaeobotany, and zooarchaeology. However, no direct data extrapolated from the study of human skeletal remains are available to evaluate the extent to which agricultural intensification and decreased dietary diversity impacted health and the expression of skeletal indicators of metabolic disease. Macroscopic and radiological analyses were conducted on an archaeological skeletal sample of non-adults (n = 29) recovered from Pontecagnano (southern Italy) dating to the Orientalizing period (730–580 BCE). This allowed us to identify five cases of scorbutic non-adults and to assign diagnostic values to skeletal lesions of scurvy that have not been previously described in the literature. The onset of scurvy in the examined sample is related to the increased reliance of Etruscans on crops lacking vitamin C in this period of agricultural intensification. The skeletal expression of scurvy varied among the non-adults, with differences in location and disease severity; these were interpreted considering the age-at-death of the individuals coupled with feeding behaviors and interindividual variability.

Biblical Genealogy and Nationalism

The chronological/genealogical narrative structure of the Hebrew Bible points to an editorial aim: to give a history of Israel as a nation from Creation to the 6th century BCE Babylonian exile and the return to the land of Israel, and in so doing to bring to life and unite two dead Near Eastern kingdoms. This article considers the scribes and editors who created the structure of the Hebrew Bible as forerunners of modern cultural nationalists, especially of defeated or endangered peoples, who sought the survival and growth of the nation in literature. However, the monotheisms that derived from Judaism, and adopted Hebrew scripture as sacred, rarely accepted the Bible as the translation or adaptation of a Jewish work in the Jewish national language mostly on Jewish soil and under Jewish government in the 1st millennium BCE. Rather, anti-Semites taught a genealogy of Jewish guilt to the world, with extra charges based on supersessionist theology and anti-Jewish fantasies.

A New Pottery Collection from Jabal Dādān (al-Khurayba) in al-ʿUlā

Abstract This article discusses a group of outstanding pottery fragments from the summit of Jabal Dādān (al-Khurayba) at al-ʿUlā in Saudi Arabia. The importance of these fragments comes from the absence of published material from the Dādān site, the lack of color-decorated ceramic vessels among the published material, and the diversity in the bases and shapes of the vessels. Comparative studies indicate that this collection falls within the group of colored pottery from northwestern Saudi Arabia, generally dated to between the end of the 2nd and beginning of the 1st millennium bce. The collection appears similar to the Taymāʾ pottery in a number of decorative elements, such as: the chessboard element. These collections indicate that al-Khurayba was in contact with several sites within Saudi Arabia, such as the sites of Taymāʾ and Qurayya in the northwest, and the sites of al-Sīḥ and al-Banna in the center, as well as sites elsewhere in the Arabian Peninsula, such as the al-Muwayliḥ site in the United Arab Emirates, and sites outside the Arabian Peninsula, including Tall al-Khalīfa in the Levant.

“A land whose stones are iron...”—Iron ore sources in the Southern Levant

Recent discoveries of iron production remains in multiple Iron Age sites throughout the Southern Levant indicate the significance of iron production in the region during this time. However, one main question remains unanswered—that is, provenance: Where were the iron resources located? Were they local or brought from afar? Answering these questions would allow great potential for reconstructing iron-ore procurement strategies and exploitation practices in the social, political, and economic context of the Southern Levant in the early 1st millennium BCE. It has long been assumed that iron ore, prevalent in the Earth's crust, is widely available. However, since high-grade ore was required for the smelting technology of the time, the bloomery process, only selected iron ore deposits in the region were suitable. This study aims to identify and characterize chemically and isotopically enriched iron-ore sources in the Southern Levant. Samples were collected from sedimentary and hydrothermal sources and analyzed for their iron content, trace elements composition, and osmium (Os) isotopic ratios. Here, we present the results of this preliminary investigation, introducing several substantial ore sources in the region and demonstrating the possibility of differentiating between these sources based on their chemical and Os isotopic composition. Finally, hematite objects from selected Iron Age archaeological sites are compared against the analyzed ore sources, showing inconsistency with the sampled ores.

Early Iranian Riders and Cavarly

The expansion of the Iranian peoples in first centuries of the 1st millennium BCE coincides with the creation and further development of the cavalry warfare in western Eurasia, as well as with the creation of the pastoral nomadic life-style which dominated the Great Steppe for millennia to come. The mounted warriors replaced the light chariots which dominated the Bronze Age battlefields which required perfect horsemanship however application of the recurved, double reflex. composite bow for mounted combat seemed another important factor in development of the cavalry force. Mounted archery which doubled the fire power of the mobile troops, earlier dominated by the chariots triggered the evolution of the various forms of cavalry, both as a response to a threat of the horse archers and independent forces used by the sedentary societies. Iranian contribution in spreading (and most likely invention) of the new technology is undeniable. Although horse riding and recurved composite bows were known earlier they could not overcome the power of the chariot force separately. Only the combination of the factors allowed fielding large and efficient cavalry troops as was practiced by the Scythians and became the success factor for the Achaemenid Empire. Survival of the chariots as late as the Seleucid times was possible because of changing their tactical function from the highly mobile shooting platform to heavy, at least partially, armored terror and shock weapon.

Continuous evolvement of constant diet in the 3rd−1st millennium BCE southern Levant: Macro-botanical proxies from Tell eṣ-Ṣâfī/Gath

This study employs new macrobotanical evidence to discuss agricultural developments at the site of Tell es-Safi/Gath through Early Bronze Age II-III to Iron Age IIB periods. This was the time period of the Canaanite, Philistine and Judahite cultures’ development, flourishing and falls, a time of droughts and war, appearance of fortified cities and their abandonment, and resettling. We studied species’ turnover over time, from the humid Early Bronze II-III to the dry final phase of the Late Bronze Age and then to the humid Iron Age II. We propose that the diet stability and changes in the fertile zone of southern Levant are evident through the macrobotanical data. Cultural developments are mirrored in the list of crops, yet the dominance of wheat is continuous. The results suggest a continuity in the human culture and the sustainable type of agriculture in this region throughout the Bronze and Iron Ages.

The Holocene history of grapevine (Vitis vinifera) and viticulture in France retraced from a large-scale archaeobotanical dataset

Grapevine and wine have deeply shaped the landscapes, economy and cultures of Europe and the Mediterranean. In France, it is considered that viticulture started in the south via contacts with Mediterranean populations (Greeks, Etruscans, Phoenicians), during the second half of the 1st millennium BCE, and spread further with the Romans. Wild grapevines were nevertheless present in various areas of the country all through the Holocene. No archaeological or historical source allows us to follow the history of grapevine and viticulture over the entire Holocene period and over the whole territory.In this paper we investigate the potential of archaeological plant macroremains (seed/fruits and wood) to trace the history of the vine on a large scale. We have assembled the largest possible database of published and unpublished archaeobotanical data, comprising 4449 site-phases for seed and fruits and 1356 site-phases for wood remains. In spite of taphonomic discrepancies and imbalances in the datasets, the different types of macroremains and modes of preservation produce consistent patterns. They provide the first comprehensive picture of the spread of grapevine, fluctuations in the economic role of viticulture and grape uses over time, although some periods and regions are less documented.Grapevine remains are regularly recorded from the Mesolithic to the Iron Age in most regions showing that human societies were already familiar with the wild plant and its fruits, especially in the Mediterranean. In this region, Vitis remains become considerably more frequent and numerous during the Iron Age, from around 500 BCE onwards, testifying to the rapid and strong implantation of viticulture. Grapevine macroremains confirm that the spread of viticulture outside the Mediterranean area occurred mainly during the Roman period. However, this expansion was limited and mainly focused on the South. The main expansion into the temperate zone took place during the Middle Ages. However, the more detailed fluctuations of viticulture, particularly in relation to climate oscillations are still difficult to follow. Pip remains are mainly associated with urban sites. This is a consequence of the actual consumption of grapes and may be evidence of a viticulture centered around urban areas.

Giardia duodenalis and dysentery in Iron Age Jerusalem (7th-6th century BCE).

The aim of this study was to determine if the protozoa that cause dysentery might have been present in Jerusalem, the capital of the Kingdom of Judah, during the Iron Age. Sediments from 2 latrines pertaining to this time period were obtained, 1 dating from the 7th century BCE and another from the 7th to early 6th century BCE. Microscopic investigations have previously shown that the users were infected by whipworm (Trichuris trichiura), roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), Taenia sp. tapeworm and pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis). However, the protozoa that cause dysentery are fragile and do not survive well in ancient samples in a form recognizable using light microscopy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits designed to detect the antigens of Entamoeba histolytica, Cryptosporidium sp. and Giardia duodenalis were used. Results for Entamoeba and Cryptosporidium were negative, while Giardia was positive for both latrine sediments when the analysis was repeated three times. This provides our first microbiological evidence for infective diarrhoeal illnesses that would have affected the populations of the ancient near east. When we integrate descriptions from 2nd and 1st millennium BCE Mesopotamian medical texts, it seems likely that outbreaks of dysentery due to giardiasis may have caused ill health throughout early towns across the region.

Known Glass Compositions in Iron Age Europe—Current Synthesis and Emerging Questions

Ancient glass has been extensively studied from a technological and raw material provenance perspective since the middle of the 20th century. With the rising applications of analytical techniques in the field of Heritage Studies, the last two decades saw an exponential increase in publications on ancient and historical glass technology from around the globe. Given the amount of works on glass chemical composition, it is surprising to note that the long-held production model for Iron Age glasses found in Europe has only recently been challenged by the publication of uncharacteristic glass compositions. Traditionally, LBA glass industries based on plant-ash fluxes/HMG (Egypt and the Levant) and mixed-alkali fluxes/LMHK (Italy) are thought to be supplanted by natron-fluxed/LMG production operating in Egypt and the Levant since around the 9th century BCE. Recently, however, arguments have been put forth for a more diversified network of glassmaking traditions, including small-scale autonomous European workshops. This article reviews the current state of research into Iron Age (1st millennium BCE) glasses in Europe by examining the available published data on glass compositions to critically assess some practical and theoretical issues stemming from this heterogenous field of research. Key questions are addressed, and future lanes of research are proposed.

The Saka ‘Animal Style’ in Context: Material, Technology, Form and Use

The Iron Age Saka population of the eastern Eurasian Steppe is considered one of the earliest of the Scythian groups to emerge at the beginning of the 1st millennium BCE, consequently producing some of the earliest expressions of ‘animal style’ art. Recent excavations of burial mounds (kurgans) in the East Kazakhstan region have provided invaluable data on the depositional contexts of such objects. This paper combines contextual archaeological data and visual analysis with data on the chemical composition and technological production (through X-ray fluorescence and optical microscopy) of some of the gold artefacts from the Eleke Sazy funerary complex in East Kazakhstan. It is demonstrated that the positioning of wearable ornaments within undisturbed archaeological contexts can give vital information about their form and function, while evidence of production techniques and use-wear indicate the time investment and status the objects may have held. It is concluded that the Saka engaged in a complex process of design and execution of their art, depicting many different elements of the natural world. Further research is needed into understanding Saka lifeways and belief systems in relation to large-scale processes of climate change, land use, time, and society from securely dated and well-documented funerary and domestic archaeological contexts.

Theban Glass Traditions in the 1st Millennium BCE, Greece: New LA-ICP-MS Data and Their Archaeological Implications

Thebes, located in Boeotia in central Greece, is archaeologically and historically attested to have been an important centre ever since the Early Bronze Age. Regularly sustained glass working, testified by numerous finds in burial and settlement contexts, must have taken place since the Mycenaean times. In the current study, 35 samples of glass beads (30) and vessels (5), dating roughly from the 7th to 1st cent. BCE (Archaic to the Hellenistic/Early Roman era) are the subject of research. The aim was to assess some technological aspects of the assemblage, provide a chemical fingerprint for it and suggest a likely provenance, in an attempt to discuss issues of glass consumption and trade at a given era and culture. A combination of quasi-destructive techniques was applied, namely LA-ICP-MS and SEM-EDS for the identification of the major, minor and trace element composition. The results have provided evidence for different technological choices, reflected in the choice of raw materials and different origins are suggested for the subgroups identified in the course of the study.

India’s soft power diplomacy in West Asia

India’s soft power in West Asia has been shaped by a combination of cultural, historical, economic, and political factors. India’s cultural influence can be seen through the popularity of Bollywood movies, music, dance, and cuisine in the region. Historical ties between India and West Asia date back to ancient times, with trade and cultural exchanges being recorded as early as the 1st millennium BCE. India’s economic ties with West Asia have been strengthened through the import of crude oil, the presence of Indian IT companies, and investments in infrastructure projects. India’s non-alignment policy and involvement in peacekeeping efforts in the region have also contributed to its positive image in the region. Overall, India’s soft power in West Asia has helped establish it as a reliable partner and a source of inspiration for many in the region.

The Problem of Greek Influence on Egyptian Pottery during 1st Millennium BCE

The paper is devoted to the issue of Greek impact on ancient Egyptian pottery during the Late period (7th–4th c. BCE). According to evidence of various historical sources at that period a lot of Greeks lived in many Egyptian cities. They maintained a customary way of life. Moreover a lot of Greek pottery (amphorae, various black glazed pottery, and etc.) was imported to Egypt due to extensive trade with various Greek colonies. Cultural and political contacts were maintained as well. As a result of this active interaction with Greek civilization there was cross-cultural exchange between Egyptians and Greeks. Potters could try to meet the needs of Greeks, adapting new shapes of vessels which were unusual for Egyptians. Egyptians could also be interested in the vessels which imitated Greek shapes.