Neolithic Layers Research Articles

The occurrence and identification of Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. (foxtail millet) grains from the Chengtoushan site (ca. 5800 cal B.P.) in central China, with reference to the domestication centre in Asia

Archaeobotanical remains of Setaria grains and chaff were found at the Chengtoushan site in south-central China (ca. 5800 cal b.p.). Grain shape was determined, using length to breadth ratios, and morphological variation in the upper lemma of modern domesticated and wild Setaria species were examined using scanning electron microscopy as a basis for identifying archaeobotanical remains. Grains of S. viridis, S. yunnanensis, and S.×pycnocoma are slender, whereas S. italica, S. italica var. germinica, S. lutescenes, S. faberi, S. glauca, S. pallidefusca and S. intermedia are round in shape. The papillae distributed on the upper lemma of S. italica are small (8–15 μm) with a non-ridged base, while other Setaria species have large papillae (15–20 μm) with a widely ridged base. The remains of the Setaria from the Neolithic layers at Chengtoushan included S. italica, based on these identification characters. These new finds of foxtail millet are the earliest discoveries from the Yangtze River basin of southern China and are also the earliest evidence for co-cultivation of foxtail millet with rice. The implications of these findings for understanding foxtail millet domestication centres are discussed.

TL and IRSL dating of Jiahu relics and sediments: clue of 7th millennium BC civilization in central China

Thermoluminescence (TL) dating of pottery and infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) dating of sediments from early Neolithic layers at the Jiahu site, Henan Province, east-central China, have been achieved. The pottery TL ages range from 6800 (±450) to 8900 (±640) years and the sediment IRSL ages from 6750 (±760) to 8860 (±870) years confirming former 14C data. Both TL and IRSL ages agree well with each other. They reinforce the very early existence of a fully developed Neolithic civilization in central China, starting already in the first half of the 7th millennium BC and lasting about 2100 years. From these layers finds of bone flutes and Chinese characters have already been reported [X. Li, G. Harbottle, J. Zhang, C. Wang, The earliest writing? Sign use in the seventh millennium BC at Jiahu, Henan Province, China, Antiquity 77 (2003) 31–44; J. Zhang, G. Harbottle, C. Wang, Z. Kong, Oldest playable musical instruments found at Jiahu early Neolithic site in China, Nature 401 (1999) 366–368.] The Jiahu pottery of the 7th millennium BC belongs to the earliest in China and elsewhere.

L’habitat en grotte au Néolithique : vers une estimation de l’intensité des occupations

The archaeological excavation of the cave of the Gardon has brought to light a dilated and nearly continuous stratigraphy for the Neolithic era. The analysis of lithic industry has showed the existence of variations between those neolithic layers, which are independents of the technological processes of tools productions. Four criteria allow us to characterize the occupation’s type of each layer. Compared to the excavations data and to sedimentological analysis, these results allow us to display the evolution of the intensity of occupations of the cave throughout the whole Neolithic.

The Neolithic and Mesolithic occupation of the cave of Cyclope, Youra, Alonnessos, Greece

The cave of Cyclope is situated on the SW side of the island of Youra, 16 miles from Alonnessos. Systematic research in the cave lasted from 1992 to 1996. The upper layers, which date to the Roman period, contained mainly lamps. In the centre of the cave a Middle Neolithic stratum yielded a mass of pottery of exceptional red-on-white decoration. In cutting C, near the entrance, the upper layers belonged to Late Neolithic I (5th millennium BC) and were underlain by a thin Early and Middle Neolithic layer. Most of the deposits were Mesolithic. These layers consisted of faunal remains and thick-packed living floors in which there were ash hearths and scattered charcoal. Radiocarbon dates from these strata ranged from c. 6800 to 8500 BC. The quantity of fish bones and shells was immense in the Mesolithic levels, suggesting, in association with the variety of bone hooks, high dependance on sea resources. The presence of Mesolithic habitation on a small island in the northern Aegean demonstrates that the cave of Cyclope is the earliest site in the Aegean Sea.

Early Agriculture in Primorye, Russian Far East: New Radiocarbon and Pollen Data from Late Neolithic Sites

Russian Far East as a part of Northeast Asia is one of the centres of early plant domestication, particularly with respect to millet. New radiocarbon AMS dates associated with the pollen of cultivated cereals (Cerealia) from Late Neolithic layers on the Boisman 2 and Novoselische 4 sites allow estimates of the beginning of foxtail millet (Setaria italica(L.) Beauv.) cultivation about 4200-3700BP(2900–2000 cal-BC), and possibly up to 4900BP(4100 cal-BC) in Primorye (southern Russian Far East).

Prénéolithique ou Mésolithique insulaire ?

Abstract In 1966, in the shelter of Curacchiaghju (Levie) situated in the mountainous southern central area of the island, then in 1972 in the site of Araguina (Bonifacio) stone items and structures were discovered in the deepest layer of the stratigraphie sequence, older than the neolithic layer. This industiy was qualified as preneolithic. The discoveiy of two new sites in the Causse of Bonifacio, Longone and Monte Leone, took the number of shelters and open air sites in southern Corsica to four. Research in northern Corsica resulted in the discovery of four new sites : Strette, Petracorbara, Torre d'Aquila and Gritulu, bringing the total number of preneolithic sites in Corsica to eight. Sardinia has also started to contribute to our knowledge of preneolithic times, illustrated by the two sites of Grotta Corbeddu at Oliena, and Porto Lecce in Gallura. The new geographical dimension of this culture in Corsica and Sardinia, recent, more complete information about the predatory economy of these groups, improved knowledge of the lit hie industiy, but also, it must be said, a Sardinian drift with regard to terminology, are all elements which encourage us to revise the concept of preneolithic and replace it with that of insular mesolithic.

First Distinction of Sheep and Goat Archaeological Bones by the Means of their Fossil mtDNA

Fossil mtDNA of 10 ovicaprine bones from Neolithic, Bronze Age and Roman archaeological layers have been extracted in order to test their osteological determination as sheep or goat or to determine them when osteological criteria were absent. Only one sample could not be amplified. The five more reliable osteological determinations (humerus, radius, metacarpus) have been confirmed by fossil mtDNA. A sixth less reliable sheep bone (ulna) has been determined as goat. Three other undetermined bones (young metacarpus and vertebrae) have been determined as goat. Although anecdotal, these results illustrate the possibilities yielded by new molecular methods for special specific determinations with more important scientific implications.