Archaeological Occupation Research Articles

Quarrying volcanic landscapes: territory and strategies of metate production in Turícuaro (Michoacan)

In the Michoacán region of central-western Mexico, the village of Turícuaro has for centuries been a center for metate production based on andesites exploited on the slopes of Hoya Urutzen and 'El Metate' volcanoes. Surveys have been conducted in this volcanic landscape, with the invaluable help of one of the last metateros (craftsmen) family of the village, the Vidalès, in order to reconstruct the strategies adopted through time to extract this andesite over a large territory. It has been possible to propose a first mapping as well as a relative dating of the various quarrying areas. Different types of exploitations have been described, from ancient quarries, associated with archaeological occupations, to current extraction sites. The morphology of the outcrops (walls, isolated blocks) partly conditioned the organization of the quarries (flat, organized on terraces, etc). It has also been possible to observe the different strategies and organization of work associated with this activity, through the observation of the abandoned blocks, waste and roughouts. Finally, this work offers a new perspective on Mesoamerican metate quarrying strategies.

Geoarchaeology of open-air sites of the Foz do Chapecó area in the upper Uruguay river, southern Brazil

This paper presents the results of the investigations that defined the formation of the sedimentary deposits and the chronological sequence of the Foz do Chapecó archaeological area in the Volta Grande of the Upper Uruguay River, Southern Brazil. This research was undertaken to contribute to the definition of the diachronic, sedimentary and stratigraphic context of the archaeological occupations. To achieve these goals a geoarchaeological prospection by land and water was conducted, focusing on the valley bottoms, in the whole Volta Grande area. It comprehended the characterization of surface sedimentary deposits, the exposure and analysis of stratigraphic profiles, and sedimentological analysis. Four superficially exposed deposits were identified: i.e., fluvial conglomerates, fine sediments with sandy texture, clay colluviums and current and recent alluvial deposits. Six interesting points for the opening of stratigraphic profiles were identified, and subsequently resulted in the identification of sedimentary facies associated with river-bed, colluvial and colluvial-alluvial deposits. Three of these points presented a clear sequence of archaeological levels in the stratigraphic context. The results indicated that the local sediments are predominantly composed of a variable mixture of silt and clay, with sands occurring predominantly in an interdigitated form. The stratigraphic structure of the identified layers led to the establishment of 7 sedimentary facies, associated with colluvium (Cm), colluvium-alluvium (Sm) and alluvium and fluvial channels (Sm, Fl, Gms, Gt, Gp, Gh). The radiocarbon dating gives an age between 12.0 and 0.3 cal kBP, indicating that the filling of the local valley occurred during the end of the Pleistocene and throughout the Holocene by means of both fluvial and colluvial systems. Nine distinct archaeological levels, with a clear stratigraphic, chronological, and technological characterization were identified. The pre-ceramic archaeological sequence shows the following chronology: the oldest occupation occurred between 12.0 and 11.0 cal kBP (Cm facies); this was followed by an occupation between 10.5 and 9.5 cal kBP (Cm, Gt, Gp and Gh facies in three archaeological sites with eleven 14C data), then an occupation between 8.7 and 8.5 cal kBP (Cm facies), another between 5.7 and 5.5 cal kBP, one more between 4.8 and 4.6 cal kBP (Cm facies), and the last between 3.4 and 3.3 cal kBP (Cm and Sm facies). The ceramic phase seems to form a single dense component with the anthropogenic soil formation, and was dated between 0.5 and 0.3 cal kBP (Sm facies). These data present a previously unpublished chronostratigraphic sequence that is unique for the context of open-air sites in inner southern Brazil.

The shaping of social and symbolic capital during the transition to farming in the Western Mediterranean: Archaeological network analyses of pottery decorations and personal ornaments.

Storing information and circulating it between individuals and groups is a critical behaviour that signals a tipping point in our evolutionary history. Such practices enabled the preservation and consolidation of knowledge over extended periods, facilitating the accumulation of cultural innovations across generations. In this study, we used Social Network Analysis methods to explore how knowledge circulated during the transition to agriculture in the Western Mediterranean region. Previous studies have shown that specific elements of the material culture reveal distinct patterns of cultural interaction among early farming communities. Here, we investigated if two archaeological proxies, personal ornaments and pottery decorations, both with an exclusively symbolic function, reveal different network structures, and if the different degree of connexions acted equally on the transmission of styles, symbols, and network changes over time. Our results relied on cultural data recorded from 77 archaeological occupations covering Italy, France, and Spain, spanning over 1,500 years (ca. 7950~6450 cal BP). By utilizing a chronological dataset comprising 114 radiocarbon dates, we revealed that pottery decorative techniques networks exhibited stronger connexions over space and time, with nodes organized in clear cluster, when compared to personal ornaments networks. The findings highlight the regionalization and fragmentation of cultural networks during the Early Neolithic, and that the transmission of cultural traits within each category of artefact operated through varying cultural and social mechanisms. Pottery expressed a dynamic regional identity, continuously shaped by geographical and chronological proximity, while bead-type associations contributed to enduring identities shared across vast geographical scales. These networks shed light on the multifaceted shaping of social and symbolic capital among the Mediterranean's early farmers, emphasizing the strength and quality of social ties that existed between communities and the level of reciprocity and cooperation required to foster these diverse social, economic, and cultural development strategies.

BrGDGT temperature reconstruction from interior Alaska: Assessing 14,000 years of deglacial to Holocene temperature variability and potential effects on early human settlement

Aeolian deposits in the middle Tanana Valley of central Alaska offer a well-preserved record of paleoenvironmental change since the deglacial period (c. 16,000–11,000 cal yr BP). These deposits also contain some of North America's oldest archaeological occupations (c. 14,000–13,000 cal yr BP), making this region critically important for understanding human migration into the high latitudes and the Americas. Major research questions involve assessing the magnitude of deglacial climatic change and the influence of climate on early human groups. This study uses branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs) from six loess-paleosol sequences to develop a quantitative paleotemperature record within terrestrial locations in the Tanana basin that are close to archaeological sites. BrGDGT-derived temperatures demonstrate a lack of cooler temperatures associated with deglacial conditions, making this region relatively “warm” compared to other parts of the globe. Additionally, our brGDGT record shows little coherent temperature change associated with deglacial climate variability (e.g., Bølling-Allerød, Younger Dryas), and Holocene temperatures are relatively stable as well, indicating that temperature fluctuation was not the main driver of environmental or archaeological change over time. We recommend averaging data across multiple terrestrial exposures to produce regional temperature reconstrutions.

Human–environment interactions at Yangguanzhai, a Middle Neolithic site in the Wei River Valley, northern China: A comprehensive soil‐stratigraphic analysis

AbstractYangguanzhai, a Middle Neolithic archaeological site (c. 5500–5000 cal year BP) in the Wei River Valley of China, contains a well‐preserved record of environmental fluctuation, landscape evolution, and human–environment interaction over the Holocene. We examined eight stratigraphic profiles across the site and identified an alternating sequence of sediment and buried soils, indicative of multiple changes in landscape stability. Through this study, we provide a more detailed soil‐stratigraphic framework for the site. Buried soils are well developed, with a subangular blocky structure, high organic matter content, and pedogenic carbonate. There are clear associations between buried soils and the two main archaeological occupations (the Middle Neolithic and a later historic period occupation, c. 600–300 cal year BP). Lower soil horizons contain abundant Middle Neolithic ceramics and archaeological features, and the upper soil horizon contains historic period artifacts and features. Sediment between these soils lacks any artifacts or evidence of occupation, suggesting that Yangguanzhai was abandoned as a residential area for over 3000 years. Heightened sediment deposition and landscape instability contributed to Late Holocene shifts in human land use and settlement patterns at the site. Our work is consistent with previous stratigraphic investigations at the site, while refining descriptions of buried soil horizons.

Hommes et climats au Paléolithique supérieur dans le bassin de la Somme (France)

Nearly 40 years of intensive research conducted in the Somme basin has demonstrated the discontinuity in the human occupation of the area during the Upper Palaeolithic. The northern position of the Somme basin within the loessic region appears to be an explanatory factor in this discontinuity, the nature of which increasingly appears related to climate and environmental factors. Archaeological occupations have been systematically attributed to phases of warming or climate improvement. On the other hand, an absence of human occupation has been consistently observed during the coldest periods. The extreme poverty of the biomass contemporary to the loessic deposits of the Upper Pleniglacial could partly explain this discontinuity specific to the far northwest of Europe (southern England, northern Belgium, Netherlands, and northern Germany). Although only 150 or 200km away, the southern Paris Basin, which is located on the fringes of the loessic region of northern France and Normandy, presents a more continuous human occupation, which appears to have benefitted from more favourable conditions.

From section to landscape(s): reconstructions of environmental and landscape changes for the past 8000 years around the site of Wakarida (Ethiopia) using chronostratigraphy

In Northern Tigray (Ethiopia), the combined presence in the valley bottoms of sedimentary fills several meters thick and of archaeological remains of human settlements (homes, camps) raises the question of the socio-environmental processes at the origin of these deposits and their interactions with human populations. However, in certain (national, legislative) contexts, it can be difficult to apply very advanced techniques or to perform a large number of analyses. This paper shows that a chronostratigraphic approach based on laser granulometry, loss on ignition and radiocarbon dating provides satisfactory answers to the main geoarchaeological questions. Our specific objective was to reconstruct the landscape and environmental changes in the region around the Wakarida archaeological site, based on the sedimentary deposits in the valley bottoms. These deposits are now cultivated by the inhabitants, thanks to the construction of agricultural terraces in the 20th century. Archaeological excavations unearthed an urban settlement at Wakarida which dates from the classical Aksumite (150–400/450 AD) and post-Aksumite (800/850 AD) periods, and traces of earlier archaeological occupations (pre- and proto-Aksumite periods, 800–50 BC) in the study area. These remains raise questions about the influence of societies on their environment. A method based on a combination of fieldwork, sedimentological analyses and dating was used to answer these questions. This chronostratigraphic study is partially based on the identification of chronological inversions, revealing ablation and depositional phases in the sedimentary cascades, which have to be taken into account to understand the evolution of the site. We identified several phases in the establishment of the present-day landscape around the Wakarida site. During the Northgrippian (Early Holocene), the valleys were progressively filled by low-energy alluvial and/or colluvial processes. During the Meghalayan (Middle Holocene), ablation processes alternated with depositions resulting from climatic processes and possible anthropogenic influences. From the 1st millennium BC, the impact of the population on its environment (deforestation) has resulted in chronological inversions in the deposits, particularly around the 14th and 17th centuries AD.

The problem of undersampling for models of archaeological occupations derived from shovel testing and its consequences for significance determinations

Archaeologists working in the Eastern United States routinely employ shovel testing as a method for site discovery and delineation in areas of dense ground cover, and as a means of collecting information on the kinds and numbers of artifacts and features present at a site. This sampling strategy is employed in the context of Section 106 compliance, as well as in academic research. This paper presents findings on the relationship between shovel-testing strategies and the accuracy and usefulness of the models of archaeological occupations that result from the information collected during shovel testing. These results demonstrate that some common approaches to shovel testing lead to faulty models that fail to accurately represent important occupational variables, thus compromising our ability to make valid significance determinations.

Investigating post-depositional sediment mixing at an archaeological site on the northern Plains using a portable optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) reader

The Bodo Archaeological locality is a major multicomponent site located in east-central Alberta, Canada, in a fossil aeolian dune landscape. About five decades ago, oilfield-related pipeline construction activity resulted in the post-depositional stratigraphic disturbance of some parts of the site. However, the absence of easily discernible signs of anthropogenic disturbances makes visual identification of the disrupted sequences difficult. As a result, identifying sequences that yield accurate reconstructions of the archaeological occupations is problematic. In an effort to differentiate between areas at the site that are intact from those that have been disturbed, this study employed a portable optically stimulated luminescence reader to construct luminescence profiles that show the variation of luminescence signal intensities with depth. The results show that depositional sequences that have undisrupted stratigraphy display signal intensities that decrease up the sequence, correlable with depositional age. Conversely, areas with disrupted stratigraphy are characterized by signals that fluctuate with depth, which results from mixing of strata of dissimilar age. Luminescence profiling also allows the approximation of relative ages of depositional units and these show that, in the undisturbed sites, sediments at the base of the sequences are about three to four times older than sediments in the upper parts. Overall, the ability to identify stratigraphic sequences that are intact enables investigators to expend time and resources on stratigraphic records that yield accurate archaeological reconstructions.

Tracing land use history using a combination of soil charcoal and soil pollen analysis: An example from colluvial deposits of the Middle Volga region

Gully deposits were studied in the vicinity of Early Medieval archaeological sites in the Volga River Bend region, Russia. Anthropogenic and natural causes of erosion were distinguished by a novel combination of sedimentological, palynological, and pedoanthracological methods. Within the 10 ka-old colluvial fan sequence deposited in the forest-steppe zone, sedimentation rates are reconstructed as negligible in the first half of the Holocene, increasing drastically in the first centuries AD. Seven episodes of erosion and stabilization were distinguished, each beginning with the deposition of coarser sediments enriched in charcoal and gravel. Erosional events were followed by local deforestation; tree taxa found in charcoal assemblages of each cycle generally mirrored the taxa of the previous cycle in the pollen spectra. The cycles chronologically matched known archaeological occupations in the area. First portions of colluvia in the sequence (1st to 3rd cent. AD) contained seeds of zoochores indicative of livestock husbandry; from the 3rd century AD to 16th cent. AD, colluvia contained micro-artifacts (1–20 mm), pollen of cultivated plants and their weeds, and pollen of taxa typical for trails and drove ways. We reconstruct a change in the type of cultivation techniques from pollen spectra in the gully deposits. Cerealia and Onagraceae pollen indicative of swidden agriculture is present in the 3rd-6th cent. AD, while Cerealia, Fagopyrum, Centaurea cyanus pollen and Riccia spores in the 8th- 14th cent. AD are evidence of permanent fields within the catchment.

Jankovichian, Szeletian or a leaf point industry: Analysis of three small lithic assamblages

Abstract The eponymous site of the Jankovichian industry was found at the Öreg kő cliff, in the northern part of the Transdanubia, Western Hungary. From the thick layer complex of the Jankovich cave, however, only 104 lithics were collected and the scarce data showed that the pieces belong to several archaeological entities. At the same time, the nearly total lack of the field documentation allowed the reconstruction of the stratigraphic position of each artefact only in a few cases. The stratigraphic integrity is missing from the archaeological material of the Kiskevély and Szelim caves as well as the Csákvár rock shelter, and according to the recent evaluations the bifacial tools from the Dzeravá skála (Pálffy cave) and Lovas belong to the Micoquian and the Late Palaeolithic period. In this paper we analyse the following three assemblages, excavated after World War II in Transdanubia: the Pilisszántó rock shelter II, the Bivak and the Remete Felső caves. The chronological, basically, bio-stratigraphic data known from these layers are also evaluated. The conclusion of the study is that (1) the chronological data of the studied sites do not permit to place the archaeological occupation of each cave into the Early Würm or to the Late Middle Palaeolithic period and (2) the validity of a distinct Jankovichian industry cannot be proved.

Small mammals and paleovironmental context of the terminal pleistocene and early holocene human occupation of central Alaska

AbstractThis paper explores paleoenvironmental and paleoecological information that may be obtained from small‐mammal assemblages recovered at central Alaska archaeological sites dated to the terminal Pleistocene and early Holocene (14,500–8,000 cal B.P.). Small‐mammal remains in these open‐air sites are primarily related to deposition by natural death causes and as such provide information on site paleoenvironments and landscape heterogeneity. Their presence within archaeological occupations likely relates to anthropogenic disturbance and features that would have favored burrow construction. The co‐occurrence of small‐mammal remains and archaeological occupations provides a chronological framework of presence in the locality for most recorded small‐mammal species. Small‐mammal remains document faunal turnover between Pleistocene and Holocene communities. The near‐contemporaneity of species that strongly differ in their ecological requirements suggest that the terminal Pleistocene and early Holocene in central Alaska was a period of dynamic change that may have been characterized by patchy vegetation distribution, rather than the climax communities seen today. In addition to the biogeographical value of small‐mammal remains the paleoenvironmental information that they provide help to characterize the ecology of early human settlers in the region and the processes behind human dispersal in Beringia and the Americas at the end of the Ice Age.

Dating and determination of firing temperature of ancient potteries from Yumina archaeological site, Arequipa, Peru

Pottery fragments from the Yumina archaeological site, Arequipa, Peru, were dated by means of thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique was used to study the firing temperature using the iron signal (Fe3+) as a firing temperature reference. The ages of the samples were found to be between 1190 ± 30 and 1240 ± 80 years (777 ± 80 and 827 ± 30 A.D.) determined by both techniques. The firing temperature of ceramics was found to be around 550 ± 50 °C. Our study, based on the combination of TL and OSL techniques to study Yumina archaeological site pottery, will be helpful for archaeologists in Peru. With the results of this investigation, we can understand the chronology and determine the areas of dispersion and density of the archaeological occupation in the Arequipa Valley. In addition, the calculated ages are consistent with the occupation period of the Yumina archaeological site estimated by stratigraphic analysis of the potteries.

Floodplain Paleosols of Moskva River Basin: Chronology and Paleoenvironment

ABSTRACTSeven main periods of soil formation can be distinguished in the floodplain of the Moskva (Moscow) River, with the oldest paleosols dated to the Allerød age. We analyzed paleosols buried under alluvial deposits, colluvial sediments, and archaeological deposits within the catchment area of the Moskva River. Paleopedological reconstructions were correlated with the results of the pedoanthracological and palynological analyses. Series of radiocarbon (14C) dates were obtained on humic acids and dispersed macro-charcoal from paleosols and archaeological features. Wide time frames of the floodplain paleosol formation were determined at a 95% probability as 14,600–12,600 cal BP for Soil 7; 9500–7000 cal BP for Soils 6 and 5; 6700–5500 cal BP for Soil 4; 5000–4400 cal BP for Soil 3b; 4100–2700 cal BP for Soil 3a; and 2000–700 cal BP for Soil 2. The dates were compared with the age of archaeological sites from the same areas. The comparison revealed a close correspondence between the ages of the soil charcoal and the timing of archaeological occupations. That allowed us to conclude that the fire occurrence on a regional level was associated mainly with the human occupation. The fire record is especially pronounced in floodplain paleosols, due to both the role of rivers as human migration corridors, and the integral accumulation of combustion products from the entire catchment area in these paleosols.

New AMS Dates from the Shukubai-Kaso Site (Loc. Sankakuyama), Hokkaido (Japan): Refining the Chronology of Small Flake-Based Assemblages during the Early Upper Paleolithic in the Paleo-Sakhalin-Hokkaido-Kuril Peninsula

ABSTRACTThis paper reports accelerator radiocarbon dates obtained from 14 charcoal specimens recovered from the Shukubai-Kaso site (Loc. Sankakuyama), which was excavated in 1973. The small flake-based assemblage from the site has been chronologically attributed to represent the oldest archaeological occupation in Hokkaido. Because the new radiocarbon dates, stratigraphic sequences, and site context do not contradict each other, we conclude that the ages of the archaeological components in Layer III of Shukubai-Kaso (Loc. Sankakuyama) fall within the interval of 29,530 and 28,480 cal yr BP. These ages are close to previously estimated dates for other small flake-based assemblages including the Wakabanomori, Kamiitaira, and Kyu-Shirataki 3 sites. They are also 1500 years older than last glacial maximum (LGM) assemblages on the Paleo-Sakhalin-Hokkaido-Kuril peninsula. These new ages reliably place the small flake-based assemblages in the chronological phase prior to the onset of the LGM.

The Keystone Dune Site: A Bølling-Allerød Hunting Camp in Eastern Beringia

ABSTRACTThe Keystone Dune site, in central Alaska, contains a well-preserved archaeological occupation that dates to 13,430–13,230 cal yr BP. Archaeological excavations resulted in the recovery of features, and materials include hearths, faunal and lithic specimens, macrobotanical remains, and ocher. These were analyzed and interpreted to reconstruct past activities conducted at the site. Keystone Dune was most likely used for a short time, in the context of a wapiti hunt, and can be placed within a larger economic and mobility system of eastern Beringian people during the Bølling-Allerød chronozone. By continuing to document the archaeological and paleoenvironmental records of the early Beringians, we contribute to a refinement of the models and ideas of human dispersal during the Pleistocene.

Geoarchaeological Investigation of Site Formation and Depositional Environments at the Middle Palaeolithic Open-Air Site of ‘Ein Qashish, Israel

‘Ein Qashish is a Middle Palaeolithic open-air site in the southern Levant, encompassing an excavated area of several hundred square meters and a 4.5-m thick stratigraphic section. Its placement within a fluvial system, combined with the presence of Neanderthal skeletal remains and diverse material culture finds, presents possibilities for understanding human behaviour on the open landscape during the late Middle Palaeolithic. The aim of this study is to investigate the depositional and post-depositional processes at ‘Ein Qashish, based on the stratigraphic section exposed in the 2013 excavation season. We employed field observations, sedimentology, micromorphology, mineralogy, elemental and isotopic analyses. Our results indicate that the sedimentary sequence, including four archaeological occupation levels, accumulated in a generally low-energy alluvial environment with evidence for syn-depositional localised seasonal water bodies. On-going post-depositional processes related to wetting and drying cycles include shrink-swell and calcite and gypsum pedofeatures. Bone mineral is relatively well preserved. The data suggest limited fluvial and argilliturbation reworking of artefacts, indicating that spatial patterning of lithic and bone assemblages is rather well preserved in some areas. The current analyses do not indicate the presence of combustion features or fire-related residues at the site, although burned lithics occur in low frequencies. The absence of combustion features in the large excavated area and deep stratigraphy contrasts with patterns observed in Middle Palaeolithic cave occupations in the region, adding nuance to a dataset that will enable a better understanding of human activities under sheltered and open-air conditions.

Task-Specific Sites and Paleoindian Landscape Use in the Shaw Creek Flats, Alaska

The Shaw Creek Flats and nearby middle Tanana river, in central Alaska, constitute one of the areas in the Americas with the densest known distribution of Late Glacial (about 14,500–11,700 cal. B.P.) archaeological sites. Local high rates of sediment deposition and low post-depositional disturbance allow for the interpretation of the function of archaeological occupations within larger economic and mobility strategies. Residential sites used over the long term seem to be located near critical but immovable resources such as clear water and vegetation. The spatial association of artifacts and faunal remains at other sites in the Flats suggest that they were specialized, short-lived locations dedicated to a single or few activities. For instance, the site of Swan Point Cultural Zone 4b is interpreted as a workshop related to the production of composite tools, particularly on mammoth ivory, and the site of Keystone Dune is interpreted as a camp related to wapiti (Cervus elaphus) hunting. These task-specific sites and others were probably used as part of a predominantly logistical mobility and economy strategy, which maximized efficiency in harvesting and processing resources that were distributed heterogeneously on the landscape.

Fuel origin and firing product preservation in archaeological occupation contexts

Abstract We intend here to examine the range of factors involved in the preservation at short to long-term of firing byproducts with respect to the nature of combustion processes and the fuel origin. Our objective is to refresh the cultural and palaeoenvironmental relevance of combustion deposits. The study is based on the comparison of two recent situations of natural fires and a selection of well preserved firing records from rockshelters and caves in diverse geographical and cultural contexts. The recent analogues comprise a two year investigation of the 2012 July large forest fire at Alt Emporda (Northern Cataluna, Spain) and a study of the 2014 lightning struck pine tree (Allanche, Cantal, France). In situ characterization at micro to nanoscale of firing products has been performed using the SEM–EDS in backscatter mode on individual grains and composite aggregates which were extracted by gentle water-sieving from combustion microstrata and firing products meticulously sampled in the field. The survey of the Alt Emporda firing record confirms the rapid loss of intact ashes and heating scars, leaving after two years a regenerated soil without any obvious evidence of this fire, except for scattered charcoal. The study of Allanche lightning struck pine tree shows that lightning produces a suite of robust components diagnostic of flash-heating and plasma-assisted combustion: polymer filaments, vitreous char, metal coatings and singular minerals. Their durability expresses the refractory and hydrophobic properties of materials formed by transient heating and plasma processes. The identification of similar robust components in all the firing products of the archaeological contexts tested here shows that plasma-assisted combustion and flash heating exert a major role on the durability of firing records. The archaeological combustion contexts are separated into two types of intact firing records: (1) the ones with abundant mineralised charcoal, vitreous char and metal coatings would trace the use of fuel acquired from wood affected by a lightning strike; (2) the thick white ash with polymer films, refractory minerals and metal coatings would indicate wood fuel collected during periods of active aeroplasma processes in the atmosphere due to increased dust loading and intense ionization. The study is suggested to offer a challenging perspective to elucidate further the role that lightning and plasma processes exerted on ancestral pyrotechnology by occasionally providing wood fuel resources of long durability, low degradability and high calorific power.

A methodological approach to the study of microbotanical remains from grinding stones: a case study in northern Gujarat (India)

The thorough reconstruction of subsistence practices throughout human history remains one of the most challenging questions in archaeological research. Analyses of microbotanical remains recovered from archaeological artefacts have greatly contributed to our knowledge of past livelihood strategies. However, certain methodological issues are seldom addressed throughout these analyses, including the integration of multiple proxies, the comparison between samples and the interpretation of control samples. This paper addresses these methodological concerns through the analysis of phytoliths and starch grains from a total of 80 samples from grinding tools from four archaeological occupations (ca. 7150–1900 cal bc) in northern Gujarat (NW India). The results were compared with 26 control samples from the same sedimentary matrix from which the tools were recovered and 12 control samples from laboratory consumables. Multivariate statistics were applied to (a) compare control samples with grinding stones to assess sample contamination and representativeness, (b) compare samples from different sites, and (c) identify tool clusters within a site. This study stresses the importance of the integrated analysis of phytoliths and starch grains and the application of multivariate statistics, which allow for stronger interpretations on the use and post-depositional trajectories of grinding stones, thus offering a solid framework for the reconstruction of past subsistence strategies. Moreover, the results show that the inhabitants of northern Gujarat continuously exploited small millets throughout the Holocene and that pulses, secondary at first, became a fundamental part of their subsistence strategy with the advent of settled life.