Phases Of Occupation Research Articles

Mesolithic Scandinavian foraging patterns and hunting grounds targeted through laser ablation derived 87Sr/86Sr ratios at the Early-Mid Holocene site of Huseby Klev on the west coast of Sweden

Mobility is one of the most fundamental aspects of a foraging society. Since prehistoric mobility is often difficult to identify in the archaeological record, our understanding is largely based on comparison with ethnographic communities. In recent years the application of 87Sr/86Sr isotope analysis has, however, greatly broadened our knowledge of mobility in the past. Despite this, few studies have been undertaken on faunal remains to explore their mobility patterns and infer human exploitation patterns with more precision. In this contribution we sampled 28 mammal teeth from three different occupation phases at the Early to Mid-Holocene coastal site of Huseby Klev, Sweden. We first established the local baseline for seven geographical areas in the region surrounding Huseby Klev. Then, by applying laser ablation-multi collector-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry to the selected teeth, we identified the likely origins of a range of terrestrial and marine fauna, and the possible human mobility patterns required in their exploitation. Overall, our results demonstrate that the prehistoric communities inhabiting Huseby Klev undertook both short- and long-distance forays for the exploitation of particular species. By relating inferences on hunting grounds, derived from strontium isotope data, to zooarchaeological evidence from the site and ethnographic human mobility patterns, we establish and discuss the prerequisites for landscape utilization. Lastly, we demonstrate that glacial meltwater may have temporally affected the local oceanic Sr ratios – suggesting significantly increased soil and bedrock weathering may influence the Sr values in aquatic ecosystems and, consequently, should be considered in such regions and at times of melting glaciers. By applying the method to additional sites and assemblages in the future, our understanding of prehistoric mobility will be greatly enhanced.

Enlightening the darkness: The potential of charcoal analysis for the study of vegetation dynamics and relative exploitation at Krania during the Iron Age Greece

In the framework of the NWO project “What went into the melting pot? Land-use, agriculture, and craft production as indicators for the contributions of Greek migrants and local inhabitants to the so-called Greek colonization in Italy (ca. 850–550 BC)”, science-based methods are employed to analyze and compare the organization of subsistence strategies in the Greek motherland and in the indigenous and colonial milieus of Italy (Crielaard et al. 2020). As a part of the subproject ‘Flora & Fauna’, which focuses on farming practices, subsistence strategies and surplus production, Iron Age material from the settlement of Krania in the Pieria region of Greece was analyzed. The site was excavated in 2001 and revealed occupation phases from the 3rd millennium BC to the Hellenistic period. The amount of ceramics recovered demonstrates the importance of trade with the rest of Greece, in particular Corinth, providing evidence for long-standing contacts and networks. Two pit structures contained a high concentration of material, notably charcoal and ceramics dating to the 9th-8th centuries BC. This material constitutes an interesting case study in itself but also as a regional comparandum with other Greek assemblages. This paper discusses how anthracological analysis can contribute to our understanding of human-environment interactions, anthropogenic practices and environmental management.

La Cuevona de Avín (Avín, Asturias, North Spain): A new Late Pleistocene site in the lower valley of the River Güeña

The archaeological investigations carried out in the last twenty years in the Lower Valley of the River Güeña (Asturias, central part of northern Spain) have documented different prehistoric sites, particularly with Middle and Upper Palaeolithic occupations. This paper presents the results of the archaeological excavation carried out in the cave of La Cuevona de Avín. From the systematic study of the biotic and abiotic remains, a total of three occupation phases (Phases 1 to 3) have been determined, dated in the Late Pleistocene. The lithic studies indicate the use of local raw materials (mainly quartzite), but also regional ones (different types of flint) in the whole sequence. Retouched implements are typologically representative only during the Upper Magdalenian (Phase II) and use-wear analysis indicates the manufacture and use of artefacts in situ during this phase. Archaeozoological studies reveal continuity in subsistence strategies throughout the sequence, noting specialization in red deer hunting during the Azilian (Phase I), and more diversified prey in the older phases.

Life Histories of Theban Tombs: Transdisciplinary Investigations of a Cluster of Rock-Cut Tombs at Sheikh ‘Abd al-Qurna Edited by Andrea Loprieno-Gnirs (AUC Press Archaeological Reports). Cairo: American University in Cairo Press 2021. Pp. 200. $79.95. ISBN 9781617979910 (paper).

<i>Life Histories of Theban Tombs: Transdisciplinary Investigations of a Cluster of Rock-Cut Tombs at Sheikh ‘Abd al-Qurna</i> Edited by Andrea Loprieno-Gnirs (AUC Press Archaeological Reports). Cairo: American University in Cairo Press 2021. Pp. 200. $79.95. ISBN 9781617979910 (paper).

In search for an island – Non-invasive, geoarchaeological investigations in Bruszczewo microregion (Central-western Poland)

Middle part of the Samica Valley in Western Poland, also known as the Bruszczewo microregion, witnessed several occupational phases during the prehistoric times. The archive geoarchaeological research documented presence of the lake in the past which had demise around 250 BCE and it was overgrown by peat deposits. During the LIDAR elevation model analysis a ridge in the central part of the basin was detected and hypothesized as an esker and a probable island during the lake presence. The geoarchaeological research was undertaken in order to verify the potential esker as an island on the lake during prehistoric periods. Aerial and satellite imagery combined with magnetometry, surface survey, drillings and comparison to earlier research provided data supporting the presence of dry episodes in the stratigraphy of the esker. This events might be attributed to the Early Bronze Age when the fortified settlement of Bruszczewo was functioning as well as during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Ages.

The End of the Ubaid Period in the Upper Tigris River Valley

Excavations at Kenan Tepe by the Upper Tigris Archaeological Research Project (UTARP) revealed four phases of Ubaid period occupation. The goal of this paper is to place the final phase of occupation at the site, Kenan Tepe Ubaid phase 4 (KTU phase 4), into a broader regional context, and to situate the KTU phase 4 ceramic assemblage within the Ubaid to post-Ubaid transition (Late Chalcolithic 1) of greater Mesopotamia. Recent excavations and studies from throughout Greater Mesopotamia have highlighted the local variation of this transition. This paper will compare the materials from KTU phase 4 to other sites in the Upper Tigris region to provide an overview of regional character during this time in the Tigris Valley in southeastern Turkey. Additionally, I will present the results of the use-alteration analysis from the KTU phase 4 occupation to outline the function of ceramics and the daily practices of the inhabitants of Kenan Tepe. This analysis could aid in identifying regional variations of ceramic use that can highlight differences in social and economic organizations within communities during the Ubaid to post-Ubaid transition.

Pottery Use and Starchy Foods During the Shuangdun Culture (ca.7.3–6.8 Ka BP) in the Middle Catchment of the Huai River, China

The use of rice and millet has been uncovered at a few archaeological sites associated with the Shuangdun Culture (ca. 7.3–6.8 ka BP) in the middle catchment of the Huai River, China. Nevertheless, the consumption of rice, millet, and other types of plant foods at other contemporaneous sites in the same region still needs supporting information from more case studies. This article examines pottery sherds (n = 21) excavated from another representative Shuangdun Culture site at Houjiazhai with starch grain analysis. Varied types of pottery vessels contain starch remains from rice (Oryza sativa), foxtail millet (Setaria italica), broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), Job’s tears (Coix lacryma-jobi), Triticeae, roots of snake gourd (Trichosanthes kirilowii), lotus root (Nelumbo nucifera), Chinese yam (Dioscorea panthainca), lily bulbs (Lilium sp.), acorns (Quercus sp.), and beans (Vigna sp. or/and Vicia sp.). Further quantitative analysis of the starch data indicates that cereals, including rice and millet, were predominantly consumed in the pottery vessels. Changes and continuities of culinary practices are also present at Houjiazhai, which are reflected in the different pottery assemblages as well as the utilized plant species in different occupation phases at the site. Combining previous studies, this article also reveals the differences and similarities of the past population in choosing their plant food resources during the period of Shuangdun Culture in the middle catchment of the Huai River, China.

Reviewing the Palaeoenvironmental Record to Better Understand Long-Term Human-Environment Interaction in Inner Asia During the Late Holocene

The Middle to Late Holocene spread of agropastoralism throughout Eurasia not only subjected domesticated taxa to stressors associated with novel environments but also induced changes in these environments following the introduction of these social-ecological systems. The mountainous region of Inner Asia comprises various steppe, meadow, and forest landscapes where zooarchaeological evidence suggests occupation by herding populations as early as 7,000 years Before Present (BP). Recent archaeobotanical findings indicate the introduction of cropping and the development of agropastoralism around 4,500 BP. Here, we review and synthesize palaeoenvironmental studies and data to examine anthropogenic impacts and modifications of these landscapes. From around 4,000 BP, we find significant changes in palynomorph, charcoal, sediment, and other proxy data, related to the introduction of agriculture to the region, with later intensifications in land use indicators at around 2,000 and 1,000 BP. We note that these impacts are not uniform or continuous through and across the records and may be evidence of shifting phases of occupation and landscape management. This temporal and spatial variability may also be a response to shifts in moisture availability due to long-term Holocene changes in the intensity of the summer monsoon and Westerly circulation systems. Changes in arboreal pollen indicate the development of intensified use of forest resources in the region, which we identify as a topic for future investigation. Based on these data, we stress the long-term human paleoecology in the study area and argue that traditional agropastoralist systems should be considered in future programs of landscape conservation in the region. This study also emphasizes the importance of future local scale multiproxy studies into past anthropogenic changes within the Inner Asian landscape.

About this title - Quaternary Geoarchaeology of India

The Quaternary Period in South Asia has a very prolonged and diverse history. Within this region, India represents various technological and cultural phases of hominin occupation adapting to different ecological zones throughout the Quaternary Period. The earliest records of this occupation can be traced back to 1.5 Ma ago and possibly to c . 2 Ma ago. Archaeological evidence has been reported from all known phases in India, showing a continuous record of occupation from the Early Pleistocene onwards and reflecting adaptation by multiple hominin species over time. This book aims to highlight recent advances in the Quaternary geoarchaeology by showcasing diverse methods such as archaeology, geology, palaeoclimatology, sedimentology, GIS, remote sensing and taphonomy. It presents a collection of papers that address various geoarchaeological aspects from different regions in India, within the time frame of the Early Pleistocene to Anthropocene. This volume provides an opportunity for new data to be disseminated, particularly by young researchers and, within the framework of worldwide research issues, it promotes new geoarchaeological perspectives from India.

Newly Discovered Mummy Portraits from the Necropolis of Ancient Philadelphia – Fayumبورتريهات لمومياء مُكْتَشَفَة حديثًا في جبانة فيلادلفيا القديمة – الفيوم

Throughout six scientific and systematic excavations season the Egyptian mission working at ancient Philadelphia necropolis, was able to identify the zones of different phases of occupation in the necropolis from the 3rd century BC to the 4th cent CE. Among the main research question of the excavation project was the contextualization of the mummy portrait that were found during the nineteenth century at the site, well known as the mummy portraits from Er-Rubayyât or Philadelphia mummy portraits. The last two seasons revealed a unique and complete mummy portrait as well as other fragments of mummy portraits from some well excavated context and features, this portrait could enable us to understand the original context of mummy portrait in different museum from the same site and to answer many questions regarding the mummy portrait dating.

“A little war that shook the court”: comment on the judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Georgia v. Russia (ii) of 21 January 2021

The long-awaited judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Georgia v. Russia (II) of 21 January 2021 evokes rather ambivalent assessment. On the one hand, the Court found that the Russian authorities were responsible for systematic violations of human rights related to Russia’s participation in the “five-day war”, and on the other hand, the Court limited this responsibility only to the “occupation phase”, i.e. the period after the ceasefire on 12 August 2008. As for the “active phase of hostilities”, i.e. the period of armed clashes from 8 to 12 August 2008, the Court found that due to the lack of “effective control” by Russia, the Court could not apply any model of jurisdiction to any of the alleged violations of the Right to Life under the ECHR. This comment is an analysis of the reasoning of the Court in relation to the most important issues in this case: extraterritorial jurisdiction in the context of international armed conflict (including the issues of effective control over an area and State agent authority and control over individuals), the relationship between the ECHR and international humanitarian law and the investigative obligation under Article 2 of the ECHR.

Human occupation of the Kimberley coast of northwest Australia 50,000 years ago

The peopling of Sahul (the combined landmass of New Guinea and Australia) is a topic of much debate. The Kimberley region of Western Australia holds many of Australia's oldest known archaeological sites. Here, we review the chronological and archaeological data available for the Kimberley from early Marine Isotope Stage 3 to the present, linking episodes of site establishment and the appearance of new technologies with periods of climatic and sea-level change. We report optical ages showing human occupation of Widgingarri 1, a rockshelter located on the Kimberley coast of northwest Australia, as early as 50,000 years ago, when the site was located more than 100 km from the Late Pleistocene coastline. We also present the first detailed analysis of the stone artefacts, including flakes from ground stone axes, grinding stones and ground haematite recovered from the deepest excavated layer. The high proportion of flakes from ground axe production and resharpening in the earliest occupation phase emphasises the importance of this complex technology in the first peopling of northern Sahul. Artefact analyses indicate changes in settlement patterns through time, with an increase in mobility in the terminal Pleistocene and a shift to lower mobility during the late Holocene. The optical ages for Widgingarri 1 mean that the Kimberley now contains the greatest number of sites in Sahul with earliest occupation dated to more than 46,000 years ago, overlapping with the time of initial occupation of sites in other regions across the continent.

Zooarchaeology of ancient Termez (Uzbekistan): From the Greco-Bactrian period to Islamic times

We present the results of the zooarchaeological analysis carried out on the fauna recovered in five different areas of ancient Termez (Uzbekistan). The sequence analysed covers the period from c 300 BCE to c 1400 CE (Greco-Bactrian/Yuezhi, Kushan, Sassanian, and Islamic periods). The investigation focused on the main animal species raised, the skeletal profiles represented and their age at death. A taphonomic study was also performed to evaluate the processing of the animals' bone carcasses by the human groups in Termez, and to determine other natural and biological agents that have affected the samples. The results reveal a livestock population dominated by sheep and goats throughout the period of occupation of the settlement, from which meat, wool and other dairy products were obtained. Cattle and horses are represented in the whole stratigraphic sequence, although they were particularly important during the Sassanian period. Swine also appears notably, although its frequency significantly decreases in the Islamic period. The diet included roosters and hens, probably also raised for their eggs. Wild species hunted and processed by the inhabitants of Termez appear in all phases of occupation. We should note the presence of gazelle and, in the Greco-Bactrian/Yuezhi phase, saiga antelope. Camelids are scarce and only documented during the Sassanian phase. The use of bones to manufacture game playing pieces or objects for textile production has also been recognised in ancient Termez.

Maritime-oriented foragers during the Late Pleistocene on the eastern costa del sol (Southeast Iberia): Cueva Victoria (Málaga, Spain)

The Mediterranean coast of Spain is marked by several clusters of Palaeolithic sites: to the south of the Pyrenees, in the area around the Ebro River, in the central part, and on the south coast, one of the southernmost regions in Europe. The number of sites is small compared with northern Iberia, but like that region, the Palaeolithic occupations are accompanied by several rock art ensembles. The archaeological material (both biotic and abiotic resources) and radiocarbon dates presented here were obtained during archaeological fieldwork of professor J. Fortea in the Late Pleistocene deposits in Cueva Victoria, located near the modern coastline and about 150 km north of the Strait of Gibraltar. In the three occupation phases, marine resources were acquired by shell-fishing (focusing almost exclusively on the clam Ruditapes decussatus), fishing, and the use of beached marine mammals. This contrasts with the limited data about the exploitation of terrestrial resources by hunting and gathering animals and plants. The study is completed by the study of artefacts (lithic and bone industry and objects of adornment) that help to understand the subsistence strategies of the cave occupants and enable a comparison with other groups inhabiting the Mediterranean coasts of the Iberian Peninsula during Greenland Interstadial 1, between ca. 15.1 and 13.6 cal BP.

Palaeoecological signals for Mesolithic land use in a Central European landscape?

ABSTRACTDuring the Early Holocene, climate was the major factor causing fires, but whether during the Mesolithic (~11.5–7.4 cal ka BP) people co‐shaped their environment by means of fire remains of debate. Few studies have tackled this question by linking high‐resolution multi‐proxy palaeoecological studies from near Mesolithic occupation sites. An Early Holocene sediment record from the Ammer Valley palaeo‐wetland in south‐west Germany was studied using pollen, micro‐ and macrocharcoal, and plant macroremains. Archaeological evidence from Early and Late Mesolithic sites of Rottenburg‐Siebenlinden allowed us to link this palaeoecological record with Mesolithic land use in the same catchment. Between 11.6 and 10.6 cal kabp,intensive wildfires reinforced the persistence of open and pioneer vegetation. A transition from a river‐dominated landscape towards a wetland with open stagnant waters at 10.6–9.5 cal ka bpmade the region attractive to hunter‐gatherers, providing various plant resources (incl. hazel). From 10.1 cal ka bponwards, Mesolithic communities may have shaped their environment by using fire as a tool to expand open areas, which were important for the implementation of their subsistence strategies. After 9.5 cal ka bp, human control over fires cannot be excluded as Mesolithic occupation phases chronologically coincide with frequent low‐intensity fires and vegetation disturbance.

Late Acheulian Jaljulia - Early human occupations in the paleo-landscape of the central coastal plain of Israel.

The Lower Paleolithic Late Acheulian in the Levant marks a fascinating chapter in human cultural and biological evolution. Nevertheless, many aspects of the Late Acheulian are still undeciphered, hindered by the complex nature of each site on the one hand, a scarcity of wide, multidisciplinary studies on the other, and by difficulties in obtaining absolute chronology for this timeframe. Therefore, subjects such as human subsistence strategies and modes of adaptation, regional diversity, and the possible existence and nature of interactions between hominin groups are largely understudied. The discovery and study of Jaljulia, a large-scale Late Acheulian site at the central Coastal Plain, Israel, add valuable insights to the research of this chapter in human history. Considered to represent recurrent occupations at a favored, water and flint-rich setting, the site has provided extensive lithic assemblages obtained from several localities. Absolute chronology places the human activity on-site at roughly 500-300 ky (and possibly even later), which is suggested to be divided into several main occupation phases. Geomorphological and sedimentological analyses show a change in environmental conditions, from aeolian sand deposition and overlying Hamra soil during the Middle Pleistocene to high energy fluvial regime which transported large gravels in a north-south paleo-channel. Wetland environments, correlating to the human activity on site, developed later due to higher sea levels and a coastline shifts to the eastward, which caused a blockage of the Yarkon stream corridor to the sea by marine sand. In this paper we present results of the study of the site, including geomorphological formation and post-depositional processes, absolute chronology, lithic and faunal analyses. The site's extensive lithic assemblages are currently under study and future investigations are expected to shed more light on the technological nature of Late Acheulian Jaljulia.

Byblos in the Late Bronze Age: Interactions between the Levantine and Egyptian Worlds

Byblos in the Late Bronze Age: Interactions between the Levantine and Egyptian Worlds

Crop manuring on the Beauce plateau (France) during the second iron age

The studied area on the Beauce plateau (France) was densely inhabited during the Iron Age and several archaeological excavations have enriched our knowledge of agrarian systems during this period. This study investigates fertilisation management between 400 and 80 BCE focusing on numerous crop storage remains from three neighbouring farms. We sampled 18 cereal groups with 50 grains to conduct stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses commonly used for reconstructing past agricultural practices, in particular δ15N as a proxy for manuring.The δ15N values range between 1.3‰ and 7.6‰, with an increase over time from 3.2‰ to 5.6‰ (mean by occupation phase), reflecting a continuous use of manure, consistent with the dynamism of agricultural activities during the Second Iron Age. All three farms seem to have applied the same manuring strategies. Barley and emmer may have been manured more often than free-threshing wheats, even when free-threshing wheats are the dominant crop. This contrasts with the neighbouring Ile-de-France region and indicates diversity in agropastoral systems between regions. The analysis of several grain groups from the same silo shows diversified δ15N values between crops, reflecting various manuring rates: some fields were fertilised while others were less so. This is consistent with the description of a large-scale farming system, with a large cultivated area and a mosaic landscape.

The Mycenaean Settlement on Tsoungiza Hill. By James C. Wright and Mary K. Dabney (Nemea Valley Archaeological Project 3). Princeton: American School of Classical Studies at Athens 2020. Pp. 1240. $150. ISBN 978-0-87661-924-7 (cloth).

<i>The Mycenaean Settlement on Tsoungiza Hill</i>. By James C. Wright and Mary K. Dabney (Nemea Valley Archaeological Project 3). Princeton: American School of Classical Studies at Athens 2020. Pp. 1240. $150. ISBN 978-0-87661-924-7 (cloth).

Innovations in Acheulean biface production at la Noira (France) during Middle Pleistocene in Western Europe

The archaeological sequence of la Noira (Centre region, France) yielded two phases of occupation: ca 700 ka (stratum a) and ca 450 ka (stratum c). No site between these two dates has yet been discovered in the area, and this chronological period has thus been interpreted as a gap in settlement from MIS 16 to MIS 12, two crucial phases of occupation in Western Europe. The record before the long glacial event MIS 12 has been traditionally associated with the onset of the Acheulean in Europe. From MIS 12, the record represents the earliest evidence of innovations, a clear shift in human evolution. Here, we compare these two levels (strata a and c), tracking the technological innovations during this time and combining technological analysis with geometric morphometrics with the use of 3D models comparison of the large cutting tools (LCTs). Stratum a yielded an Early Acheulean, one of the few evidences in Europe presents tools with mainly short shaping sequences on local millstone slabs, with special attention to tips, but with clear management of tool volume. Stratum c, dated to the MIS 11, differs in that both local millstone and flints from distant sources show longer shaping sequences, the use of soft hammers for several series of removals on tools, combined with final regularizing retouch on entire edges. The morphometric approach shows a morphological transition from oval to teardrop shapes for the thinnest tools. Our data suggest a clear technological filiation between strata a and c and in la Noira populations from MIS 16 and MIS 12, as suggested for innovations of core technologies and land-use patterns, and raise question on local human behavioural evolution over the Middle Pleistocene in Western Europe.