Open-air Archaeological Sites Research Articles

Diagnosis of archaeological bones: Analyzing the state of conservation of lower Pleistocene bones through diagenesis methods

Initial physicochemical assessment of cultural materials plays a critical role in the research and management of cultural heritage, serving as a foundation for comprehending deterioration mechanisms and developing effective conservation treatments. However, this knowledge is more advanced in several cultural materials such as artwork or historic buildings, than in bone and fossils. This study focuses on bone material conservation, applying diagenetic methods for characterizing and assessing the state of conservation of archaeological bones from Pit 1 at Barranc de la Boella (BB), an open-air archaeological site from the late Early Pleistocene, from a conservation perspective.Microstructural analyses, including mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and histological analysis, alongside microchemical analyses through Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR), and FTIR with KBr pellets and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), were conducted to evaluate the decay processes affecting the bones. Results indicated poor bone preservation characterized by high porosity, significant microbial attack, collagen degradation, and the potential recrystallization of bioapatite into fluorapatite. These findings underscore the substantial challenges presented by open-site conditions to preservation efforts and highlight the need for suitable conservation treatments, such as consolidation to reinforce the microstructure.The study emphasizes the importance of characterizing archaeological bones to understand the factors influencing their preservation states and guide conservation works in this material. This work contributes to the knowledge of diagenesis studies to standardize the diagnosis of the state of conservation on archaeological bones.

Multi-isotope reconstruction of Late Pleistocene large-herbivore biogeography and mobility patterns in Central Europe

Interpretations of Late Pleistocene hominin adaptative capacities by archaeologists have focused heavily on their exploitation of certain prey and documented contemporary behaviours for these species. However, we cannot assume that animal prey-taxa ecology and ethology were the same in the past as in the present, or were constant over archaeological timescales. Sequential isotope analysis of herbivore teeth has emerged as a particularly powerful method of directly reconstructing diet, ecology and mobility patterns on sub-annual scales. Here, we apply 87Sr/86Sr isotope analysis, in combination with δ18O and δ13C isotope analysis, to sequentially sampled tooth enamel of prevalent herbivore species that populated Europe during the Last Glacial Period, including Rangifer tarandus, Equus sp. and Mammuthus primigenius. Our samples come from two open-air archaeological sites in Central Germany, Königsaue and Breitenbach, associated with Middle Palaeolithic and early Upper Palaeolithic cultures, respectively. We identify potential inter- and intra-species differences in range size and movement through time, contextualised through insights into diet and the wider environment. However, homogeneous bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr across large parts of the study region prevented the identification of specific migration routes. Finally, we discuss the possible influence of large-herbivore behaviour on hominin hunting decisions at the two sites.

First Assessment of a Pebble Tool Industry in the Pesqueiro River Valley, Upper Uruguay River Basin, Southern Brazil

Abstract This article presents the first findings of a topographic survey plotting the location of archaeological material and of a technological study of the lithic industry at the SC-CHA-030 open-air archaeological site along the Pesqueiro riverbank, located in the upper course of the Uruguay River Basin in southwestern Brazil. We analyzed raw material selection and the production of shaped/façonnage tools (unifacial, bifacial, and trihedral) associated with the production (debitage) of cortical and semi-cortical flakes that were then transformed into tools by simple retouch. From the geoarchaeological point of view, the spatial distribution pattern of the material is meaningful in the context of the geomorphic transition between foothills and alluvial plain. Our study of technological behavior and the formation of archaeological sites finds that raw material and shaped pebble tools are a crucial aspect of the industries on the Paraná Basaltic Plateau of southern Brazil.

Evaluating Systematic Use of Ground Penetrating Radar and Auger Surveys to Determine Activity Areas at Three Open Air Sites in Central Alaska

ABSTRACT This study explores various testing techniques’ ability to identify activity areas across deeply stratified, open air archaeological sites. To determine the efficacy of different site testing techniques, a systematic ground penetrating radar and auger survey was completed at three sites in central Alaska: Swan Point, Bachner, and Niidhaayh Na’. The results show that both ground penetrating radar and auger survey can indicate subsurface geology, important for sites without exposed vertical deposits. Additionally, systematic auger surveys can be used to identify activity areas at large sites and in components up to 4 m below surface prior to full-scale excavation. This can help archaeologists identify earlier archaeological components and target specific areas that are directly related to their research questions while preserving the rest of the site for future investigations. Compared to traditional shovel testing, auger surveys provide a consistent, efficient, and rigorous method for assessing buried cultural remains.

Symbolic innovation at the onset of the Upper Paleolithic in Eurasia shown by the personal ornaments from Tolbor-21 (Mongolia)

Figurative depictions in art first occur ca. 50,000 years ago in Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Considered by most as an advanced form of symbolic behavior, they are restricted to our species. Here, we report a piece of ornament interpreted as a phallus-like representation. It was found in a 42,000 ca.-year-old Upper Paleolithic archaeological layer at the open-air archaeological site of Tolbor-21, in Mongolia. Mineralogical, microscopic, and rugosimetric analyses points toward the allochthonous origin of the pendant and a complex functional history. Three-dimensional phallic pendants are unknown in the Paleolithic record, and this discovery predates the earliest known sexed anthropomorphic representation. It attests that hunter-gatherer communities used sex anatomical attributes as symbols at a very early stage of their dispersal in the region. The pendant was produced during a period that overlaps with age estimates for early introgression events between Homo sapiens and Denisovans, and in a region where such encounters are plausible.

Who eats What: Unravelling a complex taphonomic scenario in the lacustrine deposits of the late Pleistocene archaeological site, Taguatagua 1, central Chile

Taguatagua 1 is a late Pleistocene open-air archaeological site located on an ancient lakeshore in central Chile and dated to around 12,600 cal BP. It presents clear evidence of human and megafauna (Equidae, Gomphotheriidae and Cervidae) interaction that includes burned, fractured and cut-marked bones, as well as tusk and bone-made instruments. Mixed with artefacts and megafauna bones, an outstanding small vertebrate record (Class Actinopterygii, Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves and Mammalia) has also been reported, which has remained largely unstudied. In this paper, we present the first comprehensive taphonomic study of a selected sample of this ensemble. Birds are the most common taxa, followed by anurans, fish and rodents. Surface modifications, bone breakage, skeletal frequencies and the sample's ecological/biological attributes indicate different taphonomic trajectories for an averaged sample. A portion of the ensemble entered the context via predators and natural deaths, but the presence of anthropogenic marks, especially in aquatic birds, and to a lesser extent in Myocastor coypus and Calyptocephalella sp., indicates cultural exploitation of these taxa. These results portray a more precise image of the late Pleistocene hunter-gatherer subsistence strategies in central Chile, which is consistent with the settlement's lacustrine context.

Issues of phytolith taphonomy at Palaeolithic sites: Investigation and results from Attirampakkam, India

Investigating the taphonomy of phytoliths at open-air archaeological sites is essential for reconstructing past land cover and assessing the plant resources available to hominins, particularly when other indicators (e.g., pollen) are scarce. Here we analyse phytolith abundance and diversity encountered in distinct ‘reservoirs’ at and around the Palaeolithic site of Attirampakkam, South India: (1) in the present-day vegetation (database of 134 species), generating on that basis a fine classification of species-specific phytolith morphotypes; (2) in the topsoil (surface); and (3) at greater soil depths above the archaeological layers (subsurface). We then compare the data to results previously obtained from the deeper underlying archaeological layers. Comparison of the assemblages retrieved from the different reservoirs shows that morphotypes most likely to get carried over from the living plants to the oldest fossil specimens were subsets of herbaceous taxa (Poaceae and Cyperaceae) and a few woody monocotyledons (Arecaceae). The high fidelity of these taxa ranks them among the most reliable for conducting palaeoenvironmental studies at this site, and perhaps more widely in southern India. Provided those taxonomically traceable, non-redundant and non-multiple morphotypes are prioritised over herbaceous dicotyledons and most woody taxa, inferences about environmental conditions and changes at the time of hominin occupation during the Pleistocene can be made with a fair margin of confidence.

Intra-site spatial analysis of lithic assemblage and refitting of an open-air site in a lacustrine landscape from central Patagonia

Puesto Roberts 1 -PR1- is an open-air archaeological site emplaced in a deflation sector that offer the possibility to investigate diverse lithic activities carried out by hunter-gatherers in central Patagonia Argentine. The site is located on the coast of Colhué Huapi lake, in Chubut province. In this work, we present a techno-morphological and intra-site spatial analysis of the lithic artifactual assemblage to discuss about stone tool production, lithic raw materials and to explore the activities that were carried out at the site. The action of post-depositional natural agents that may have caused the mobilization of materials and lithic refits are also analysed to bring insights into the spatial distribution of artifacts.The site is the result of the anthropogenic action, and the mobilization of certain materials produced mainly by the action of wind and water it was recognized. Different stages of knapping, lithic raw materials and lithic tools were recognized. Finally, PR1 is interpreted as an open-air campsite of short duration in its occupation on the late Holocene. Evidences of almost exclusive processing and consumption of carcass of Lama guanicoe were identified. This differs from sites recorded around the lake with chronologies similar to PR1, which show evidences of processing and consumption of fish. Therefore, PR1 contributes to the knowledge of the variability of human activities developed in this lacustrine landscape.

Technological diversity in the Late Pleistocene of the Nyanza Rift, Kenya: Archaeological excavations at Kapsarok 1 and Anderea’s Farm 1

The archaeological record of Late Pleistocene Africa is characterized by behavioral diversity and change, notably the technological shift from the Middle Stone Age (MSA) to Later Stone Age (LSA). Recent research shows the MSA-LSA transition was a spatially and temporally complex process. Understanding this transition requires a composite record of archaeological sites from precise chronological and stratigraphic contexts within multiple regions. Here we present excavation and analysis of two open-air Late Pleistocene sites in chronological and geographic association: Anderea’s Farm 1 (GrJe-8) and Kapsarok 1 (GrJe-9), from the Nyanza Rift, Kenya. Volcanic ash correlations of artifact-bearing sediments provide ages of ∼ 45–36 ka for Anderea’s Farm 1 (GrJe-8) and ∼ 50 ka for Kapsarok 1 (GrJe-9). Locally procured lavas were used to produce different stone tools by disparate technological methods. Lithic production at Anderea’s Farm 1 focused on the manufacture of short irregular flakes using expedient and discoidal methods, and tools are dominated by heavy-duty types. In contrast, Kapsarok 1 is characterized by elongated and convergent blanks produced using hierarchical core technologies. Viewed together, Kapsarok 1 and Anderea’s Farm 1 emphasizes high diversity in Late Pleistocene technology of the Victoria Basin. We argue these different technologies are most parsimoniously interpreted as expressions of a broad and flexible behavioral repertoire. Further, our results emphasize how excavation and analysis of open-air archaeological sites in secure chronological and stratigraphic contexts provides the means to sample the necessary range of human behaviours across a landscape commensurate with past forager geographic ranges.

Upper Pleistocene fauna from the Middle Palaeolithic site of Foz do Enxarrique (Vila Velha de Ródão, Naturtejo Unesco Global Geopark)

Foz do Enxarrique (FENX) is an open-air archaeological site from the end of the Middle Palaeolithic, with faunal remains and Mousterian industry, dated 44–32 Ka. The faunal accumulation shows evidence of human intervention. It can be seen as a paradigm for the interpretation of taphonomic processes typical of open-air sites and difficulties of interpretation. Foz do Enxarrique preserves a single archeological horizon accumulated in low energy conditions, as shown by the fragmentary bones, the predominance of remains of human-hunted animals and the presence of cut marks on some bones. The Municipality of Vila Velha de Rodao has been aware of the interest in the patrimonial value of this archaeological site. The local authorities implemented and developed a project of museology, becoming one of the few Portuguese open-air Palaeolithic sites with a musealization in situ.

Study for the documentation of an engraving of Siega Verde (Salamanca, Spain) by low-cost photogrammetry with a mobile phone

In this work, the possibilities of using mobile phones to obtain three-dimensional models using digital photogrammetry of Siega Verde rock engravings are explored. Even though the general characteristics and engraving techniques from the Upper Palaeolithic in different sites could have stablished similarities, the specific nature of the rocks in every open-air archaeological site give place to particular texture of the engravings as well as different colour. This makes it necessary to explore the possibilities of photogrammetry at each specific site and to check what results can be obtained. A figure of a horse has been studied to show that, using a simple procedure, three-dimensional models can be constructed with a quality high enough to generate useful files for dissemination and documentation. The models allow visualizing the details, generating orthophotos with good resolution, obtaining information on the execution process, and producing two-dimensional as well as three-dimensional objective and realistic tracings.

From owl prey to human food: taphonomy of archaeological small mammal remains from the late Holocene wetlands of arid environments in Central Western Argentina

The present study analyses small mammal bone and tooth accumulations recovered in three open-air archaeological sites from northern Mendoza (Argentina) in the central Monte Desert, one of the most arid rangelands of South America. The sites, with radiocarbon dates between ca. 2100 and 400 years BP, are located on the margins of a now-extinct swamp that formed a more widespread wetland environment in the past. In order to recognize the agents responsible for such bone and tooth accumulations, a taphonomic analysis was conducted evaluating relative abundances of skeletal elements, breakage patterns, digestive corrosion, signs of anthropic activity and post-depositional processes. The taphonomic analysis allowed the detection of owls and humans as the agents responsible for small mammal accumulations. On the one hand, the low proportion and degree of digested diagnostic elements, among other taphonomic processes, suggest owl pellet-derived small mammal assemblages. On the other hand, the thermo-altered elements detected, some showing a differential burning pattern, the abundance of large-sized and gregarious small mammals and the identification of cut-marks on a caviid femur shaft are possibly due to human exploitation/consumption of small mammals.

Ancient wetlands in the arid environments of Central Western Argentina: a palaeoecological perspective based on archaeological small mammal remains

The present study analyzes small mammal bone and tooth accumulations recovered in three open-air archaeological sites from the drylands of Northern Mendoza (Argentina), in the northern sector of Central Western Argentina. The sites, dated to the last two millennia (~0.3–2.1 ky BP), are located on the margins of a now-extinct swamp that formed a wetland environment in connection with other former lacustrine landscapes that were more widespread in the past. The taxonomic structure of the archaeological assemblages differs from modern small mammal assemblages from the area. Holochilus lagigliai, a probably recently extinct species, and Cavia aperea, a recently extirpated species, were recorded. These two species are strongly connected to wetland environments, but rare today, as the environment is more arid and in the context of urban development. A widespread decline in the diversity of modern small mammal assemblages was observed in comparison with archaeological ones, probably related to a scenario of greater environmental heterogeneity during the late Holocene than in the present.

Estimating Proportion of Vegetation Cover at the Vicinity of Archaeological Sites Using Sentinel-1 and -2 Data, Supplemented by Crowdsourced OpenStreetMap Geodata

Monitoring vegetation cover is an essential parameter for assessing various natural and anthropogenic hazards that occur at the vicinity of archaeological sites and landscapes. In this study, we used free and open access to Copernicus Earth Observation datasets. In particular, the proportion of vegetation cover is estimated from the analysis of Sentinel-1 radar and Sentinel-2 optical images, upon their radiometric and geometric corrections. Here, the proportion of vegetation based on the Radar Vegetation Index and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index is estimated. Due to the medium resolution of these datasets (10 m resolution), the crowdsourced OpenStreetMap service was used to identify fully and non-vegetated pixels. The case study is focused on the western part of Cyprus, whereas various open-air archaeological sites exist, such as the archaeological site of “Nea Paphos” and the “Tombs of the Kings”. A cross-comparison of the results between the optical and the radar images is presented, as well as a comparison with ready products derived from the Sentinel Hub service such as the Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar Urban and Sentinel-2 Scene classification data. Moreover, the proportion of vegetation cover was evaluated with Google Earth red-green-blue free high-resolution optical images, indicating that a good correlation between the RVI and NDVI can be generated only over vegetated areas. The overall findings indicate that Sentinel-1 and -2 indices can provide a similar pattern only over vegetated areas, which can be further elaborated to estimate temporal changes using integrated optical and radar Sentinel data. This study can support future investigations related to hazard analysis based on the combined use of optical and radar sensors, especially in areas with high cloud-coverage.

Evaluating erosional impacts on open-air archaeological sites along the Doring River, South Africa: methods and implications for research prioritization

Open-air sites in arid and semi-arid landscapes are often subject to prolonged periods of exposure and episodes of erosion that can lead to the redistribution of artefacts and the loss of behaviorally significant spatial information. This is true along the Doring River, South Africa, where archaeologically rich sediment stacks with records exceeding 200,000 years are undergoing rapid erosion in response to modern climatic conditions and land use practices. This paper evaluates the impacts of past and future erosion on the disaggregation of artefacts from these open-air sites and the resulting loss of stratigraphic context and behaviorally significant spatial information. We use low elevation aerial images of the Klein Hoek 1 locality captured by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to develop a high-resolution local digital terrain model (DTM), which we use to model surface flow paths and quantify the potential for future sediment loss using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). We compare the results of these analyses to the distribution of artefacts of different ages to assess artefact dispersion and to guide future research priorities at the locality. We find that some artefact clusters retain significant spatial integrity, whereas others are dispersed and likely out of primary context. The results also indicate that the geomorphic stability of a large part of Klein Hoek 1 has been compromised by erosion, with limited prospects for long-term survival given the present climate and land use practices.

Earth Observation Contribution to Cultural Heritage Disaster Risk Management: Case Study of Eastern Mediterranean Open Air Archaeological Monuments and Sites

Disaster risk management (DRM) for cultural heritage is a complex task that requires multidisciplinary cooperation. This short communication underlines the critical role of satellite remote sensing (also known as earth observation) in DRM in dealing with various hazards for cultural heritage sites and monuments. Here, satellite observation potential is linked with the different methodological steps of the DRM cycle. This is achieved through a short presentation of recent paradigms retrieved from research studies and the Scopus scientific repository. The communication focuses on the Eastern Mediterranean region, an area with an indisputable wealth of archaeological sites. Regarding the cultural heritage type, this article considers relevant satellite observation studies implemented in open-air archaeological monuments and sites. The necessity of this communication article emerged while trying to bring together earth observation means, cultural heritage needs, and DRM procedures.

Amidst wind, sand and raptors. Small mammal bone remains recovered in open-air archaeological sites from the Monte Desert in Central Western Argentina: taphonomic and palaeoenvironmental implications

The distinctive characteristic of the Monte Desert, the most arid rangeland of Argentina, is reflected in the varied composition of its small mammal fauna. The present study analyses the taphonomic features and the palaeoenvironmental implications of small mammal bone and tooth accumulations recovered in open-air archaeological sites from the Monte Desert plains of northern Mendoza (Central Western Argentina) in the South American arid diagonal. In order to identify the agents responsible for such accumulations relative abundance trends, bone breakage patterns and digestive corrosion were evaluated. The action of postdepositional processes, like weathering and trampling, also were analysed. Taphonomic results allowed the detection of avian raptors—owls in particular—as the principal accumulating agents of small mammal bone and tooth accumulations of open-air archaeological sites from the Monte Desert. In order to make palaeoenvironmental inferences, the taxonomic structure of archaeological and modern small mammal assemblages was analysed and compared, added to the evaluation of taphonomic dynamics in the archaeological sites. The taxonomic composition of archaeological assemblages differed from that of the current assemblages from the study area. Thus, an extinct species (Holochilus lagigliai) and a little-known species highly adapted to desert environments (Tympanoctomys barrerae) were detected in the archaeological record. Recent pellet samples showed major proportions of opportunistic and generalist species as well as the presence of an exotic species (Mus musculus). The general impoverishment of current small mammal assemblages in comparison with past ones (e.g. richness, diversity and evenness) could be attributed to the deep impact of the anthropic perturbations generated by economic activities since the arrival of European conquerors ca. 500 years BP. Small mammal archaeological assemblages could indicate a scenario of greater environmental heterogeneity during the Late Holocene than in the present, and thus, greater availability of patch resources in the landscape.

A structure from the sixth millennium cal BC with no artifactual content at San Quirce (Palencia, Spain): a multidisciplinary study

During the course of the excavations of the San Quirce open-air archaeological site in Spain, an unusual negative structure was identified in the Holocene level dated ca. sixth millennium cal BC. A fire pit alongside a single post-hole and intense fire-burning activity was recorded. Yet, the most striking feature of the structure is the absence of any artifactual or faunal record associated to it, something without a known archaeological parallel. Its interpretation represents an archaeological challenge addressed through a multidisciplinary approach including geoarchaeological, palaeobotanical techniques and experimental archaeology. Fifteen stratigraphically distinguishable combustion events showing a diachronic fire record, the significant structure’s dimensions and particularly the post-hole, indicate its anthropic origin. Archaeomagnetic and micromorphological data allowed reconstructing and temporally sequencing some formation and post-depositional processes, some involving water flows. Maximum heating temperatures between 480 and 525 °C were determined in one of the combustion features studied. The identification of grassy tufts would suggest a seasonal settlement of the site. We cannot yield a definite explanation for the artifactual absence, but the available data and an experimental archaeology recreation suggest that the structure could be used as a small hut/open-air bivouac, over which short-lived occupations were repeatedly carried out.

Semantic Representation and Location Provenance of Cultural Heritage Information: the National Gallery Collection in London

This paper describes a working example of semantically modelling cultural heritage information and data from the National Gallery collection in London. The paper discusses the process of semantically representing and enriching the available cultural heritage data, and reveals the challenges of semantically expressing interrelations and groupings among the physical items, the venue and the available digital resources. The paper also highlights the challenges in the creation of the conceptual model of the National Gallery as a Venue, which aims to i) describe and understand the correlation between the parts of a building and the whole; ii) to record and express the semantic relationships among the building components with the building as a whole; and iii) to be able to record the accurate location of objects within space and capture their provenance in terms of changes of location. The outcome of this research is the CrossCult venue ontology, a fully International Committee for Documentation Conceptual Reference Model (CIDOC-CRM) compliant structure developed in the context of the CrossCult project. The proposed ontology attempts to model the spatial arrangements of the different types of cultural heritage venues considered in the project: from small museums to open air archaeological sites and whole cities.

Chenopodium Seeds in Open-Air Archaeological Sites – How to Not Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater

ABSTRACTDifferentiating between charred and uncharred plant remains may appear straightforward but for some taxa (here fat-hen, Chenopodium album type) can be very problematic. Recognition of the preservation state is obviously crucial for archaeobotanical data derived from dry, open-air sites. Fat-hen as a common weed, is also one of the most important components of a persistent soil seed bank. It is also a well-known food plant, gathered or cultivated. Numerous findings of fat-hen seeds in unclear states of preservation were noted in the Early Neolithic sites of the Linear Pottery culture in Kuyavia (N Europe). In previous studies such specimens were omitted as probably uncharred. Re-examination of Neolithic finds of fat-hen from that region showed the link of their abundancy with the earliest phases of the Neolithic occupation. The plant probably played an important role in the diet of the early Neolithic settlers there. It may indicate intensive use of local, open, fertile, probably alluvial areas. Distinguishing between ancient and modern specimens of that common weedy plant, producing large amounts of small, black, resistant seeds is thus very important, holding a great potential to shed new light on the origins of agricultural societies in this part of northern Europe.