Settlement Sites Research Articles

Large-scale genotypic identification reveals density-dependent natal dispersal patterns in an elusive bird of prey

BackgroundNatal dispersal, the distance between site of birth and site of first breeding, has a fundamental role in population dynamics and species’ responses to environmental changes. Population density is considered a key driver of natal dispersal. However, few studies have been able to examine densities at both the natal and the settlement site, which is critical for understanding the role of density in dispersal. Additionally, the role of density on natal dispersal remains poorly understood in long-lived and slowly reproducing species, due to their prolonged dispersal periods and often elusive nature. We studied the natal dispersal of the white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in response to local breeder densities. We investigated the effects of the number of active territories around the natal site on (a) natal dispersal distance and (b) the difference between natal and settlement site breeder density. We were interested in whether eagles showed tendencies of conspecific attraction (positive density-dependence) or intraspecific competition (negative density-dependence) and how this related to settlement site breeder density.MethodsWe used a combination of long-term visual and genotypic identification to match individuals from their breeding site to their natal nest. We identified natal dispersal events for 355 individuals hatched between 1984 and 2015 in the Baltic Sea coast and Arctic areas of Finland. Of those, 251 were identified by their genotype.ResultsIndividuals born in high-density areas dispersed shorter distances than those born in low-density areas, but settled at lower density breeding sites in comparison to their natal site. Eagles born in low natal area densities dispersed farther but settled in higher density breeding sites compared to their natal site.ConclusionsWe show that eagles might be attracted by conspecifics (positive density-dependence) to identify high-quality habitats or find mates, but do not settle in the most densely populated areas. This indicates that natal dispersal is affected by an interplay of conspecific attraction and intraspecific competition, which has implications for population dynamics of white-tailed eagles, but also other top predators. Furthermore, our study demonstrates the value of long-term collection of both nestling and (non-invasive) adult DNA samples, and thereafter using genotype matching to identify individuals in long-lived and elusive species.

Daily age, growth rate, and pelagic larval duration of commercially important snapper species in Abrolhos National Marine Park.

The age and daily growth of fish are registered through the deposition of increments in their otoliths, which are concretions formed by the precipitation of substances present in the endolymphatic fluid, mainly calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Faced with the need to fill some of the gaps in the knowledge on the occurrence and duration of the initial stages of snapper species' life cycles in the Abrolhos Bank, this study aimed to describe the growth rates, age, and period of pelagic larval duration (PLD) of three snapper species during the larval pre-settlement phase, in the Abrolhos Bank region. The post-larvae were captured using light traps. Otoliths were removed from 117 samples of snapper species; however, only 69 were viable for age estimation, of which 15 were Lutjanus analis, 25 were Lutjanus jocu, and 29 were Lutjanus synagris. Together, the samples presented individuals with total lengths ranging from 16.14 to 24.76 mm and ages from 21 to 39 days. Settlement marks were found for all three species, and the average PLD was ~25 days. The somatic growth of the snapper species was positively correlated with otolith growth. L. jocu presented the greatest daily growth compared to the other species. The three species use the Abrolhos Bank as a larval settlement site, demonstrating plasticity by using different habitats throughout their lives.

Polymodal sensory perception drives settlement and metamorphosis of Ciona larvae

The Earth's oceans brim with an incredible diversity of microscopic lifeforms, including motile planktonic larvae, whose survival critically depends on effective dispersal in the water column and subsequent exploration of the seafloor to identify a suitable settlement site. How their nervous systems mediate sensing of diverse multimodal cues remains enigmatic. Here, we uncover that the tunicate Ciona intestinalis larvae employ ectodermal sensory cells to sense various mechanical and chemical cues. Combining whole-brain imaging and chemogenetics, we demonstrate that stimuli encoded at the periphery are sufficient to drive global brain-state changes to promote or impede both larval attachment and metamorphosis behaviors. The ability of C.intestinalis larvae to leverage polymodal sensory perception to support information coding and chemotactile behaviors may explain how marine larvae make complex decisions despite streamlined nervous systems.

Agricultural Development in the Context of the 6th Century Crisis – A Synthesis of Plant-Macrofossil Data from Southwestern Norway

ABSTRACT The transition between the Early and Late Iron Age in Southwestern Norway, around AD 550, is a transformative time when the archaeological material displays major changes and the number of finds and settlement sites decreases significantly. This period coincides with the 6th century crisis when volcanic cooling and subsequent plague pandemic caused famine, demographic decline and disruption in Europe. Recent research suggests harsh conditions for crop cultivation in southwestern Norway, with up to 3.5° C lower temperatures. This paper synthesizes plant macrofossil data and radiocarbon dates from 20 settlement sites to explore agricultural development from AD 400–1050 and to investigate whether the crisis influenced the agricultural practices and strategies. Reduced settlement activity is suggsted from the time of the cooling. The plant macrofossil compilation shows a focus on barley and oat cultivation , but a decrease in oats in favour of barley is seen from AD 550 forward. Rye was temporarily introduced in the 7th century. An indicated increased focus on animal husbandry is most prominent from the late Merovingian Period (AD 650–800). A comparison between sites based on their main crop suggests that sites with a high ratio of oats relative to barley had a lower chance of surviving the crisis. .

Raw materials for Neolithic ground tools from the extraction fields at Bílý Kámen Hill, Central Bohemia

The assemblage of ground tools and their fragments from the site of Bílý Kámen Hill near the town of Sázava (Czech Republic, Central Bohemia) is one of the largest chronologically uniform collections in Central Europe. Based on the dominant representation of bored axe-hammers, we date it to the late phase of the Stroked Pottery culture (SBK; 5100/5000–4500/4400 cal BC). Their connection to the extraction of local marble and the production of prestigious bracelets raises many questions. The material composition of the assemblage could be the key to understanding the origin of the artefacts. In this article, we examined 912 samples using optical and electron microscopy methods. This points to the dominant representation of amphibole-rich Jizera Mountains-type metabasites. Other rocks are represented only in small quantities and raw materials of local origin are probably missing in the assemblage. It is thus comparable to assemblages from contemporaneous settlement sites, although we do not yet know of stable occupation in the vicinity of the site, nor do we even anticipate its existence.

Redefining “Collapse” in the Early Bronze Age: New Evidence for Recovery, Resilience, and Societal Transformation at Khirbat Iskandar, Jordan

Abstract This paper provides a new perspective on the long-debated issue of “collapse” at the end of the urban Early Bronze Age III (EB III, traditionally ca. 2300 BCE) in the southern Levant. In the past, the facts on the ground – manifesting the classic characteristics of a devastating collapse (destruction/abandonment) at the end of EB III – appeared to be followed by a rural “dark age” or “pastoral-nomadic” interlude in Early Bronze IV (EB IV), also known as the Intermediate Bronze Age (IBA). The “dark age” then ended upon the regeneration of urbanism after 2000 BCE in the Middle Bronze Age (MBA). This conceptualization of dramatic culture change in the Early Bronze Age has dominated the scholarly literature since the mid-20th century, bolstered by the widespread acceptance of evolutionary theories on the collapse of nations and civilizations. Current theoretical constructs on collapse look to the post-collapse period for insights on the process itself. A post-collapse urban-to-rural process, documented by nine continuous occupational phases at the EB III/IV transition, has recently come to light at Khirbat Iskandar, Jordan. This archaeological profile suggests strong local resilience in the aftermath of collapse, evident in the maintenance of traditions and social memory of settled life at the ancestral home. This adaptive cycle militates against traditional “collapse” modeling positing an apocalyptic break in Early Bronze Age civilization; instead, it resonates with resilience and resilience theory. Moreover, a plethora of new evidence has accumulated illuminating a type of “rural complexity” witnessed by a considerable database of EB IV permanent, multi-phased agricultural settlement sites belying the so-called pastoral-nomadic interlude rubric. Applying the construct of societal transformation, the hypothesis driving this research is that archaeological stratification at Khirbat Iskandar supports a process of recovery, resilience, and societal transformation, a reevaluation particularly apropos when contextualized in the new higher Early Bronze Age chronology.

History of the west coast of North Sumatra before Barus: Preliminary results of archaeological research at the Bongal settlement site

The Bongal area, near Kota Pandan, in the Tapanuli/Sibolga Bay, has been known to archaeologists since 2001 through the identification of the remains of a Ganeśa stone image. Eighteen years later, archaeologists returned to the same area to examine a large number of chance finds uncovered by local gold washers. Their observations led to undertake systematic excavations in 2021 and 2022. The aim of this article is to introduce the main categories of finds revealed since 2019 and to suggest a number of hypotheses. The surface area of the settlement site exceeds 200 hectares, covering part of the Bongal hills as well as the alluvial plain which extends toward the Lumut river. Finds include dozens of coins inscribed in Arabic, glazed and unglazed earthenware, stoneware and porcelain, glassware, various metal and alloy objects, beads, gems and faience jewel, artefacts made of wood, resins, nuts, seeds, cords, as well as ivory. The quantity and diversity of archaeological material suggest the existence of a port site dated between the 4th and 10th c. CE, participating in trade networks covering Southeast Asia, China, South Asia and the Middle East. The end of the occupation of Bongal would coincide with the beginnings of the occupation of Barus on the site of Lobu Tua, which flourished later.

The Stone Fireplaces of Denendeh

Stone fireplaces and chimneys have been documented in nineteenth century Indigenous settlement sites in the Northwest Territories. The cabin and chimney designs were adapted by Dene craftsmen based on examples they encountered when engaging with Euro-Canadian traders and explorers. The Indigenous cabins and chimneys were built during a period of transition in Dene culture, at a time when they began the process of integrating into a fur trade economy. The chimneys and cabins are elements of Euro-Canadian vernacular architecture adapted by Indigenous people in the north. The Indigenous cabins and chimneys are an example of cultural diffusion and, in some instances, might have also been expressions of social status. Together, the Indigenous stone chimneys and the extant chimney features at Fort Confidence and Fort Reliance in the Northwest Territories are part of a shared architectural heritage.

Research on the influence of relocation adaptability on the employment stability of Chinese-style labor immigration: The case of labor migrant communities in Yinchuan City, Ningxia, China.

Achieving full and stable employment is not only one of the goals of macro-control by governments but also a key issue that labor migrants must address. To understand the impact of relocation adaptation on the employment stability of Chinese-style labor migrants, members of the group visited the labor migrant settlement sites in Yinchuan City and used questionnaires to investigate the adaptation and employment status of farmers after relocation. The article attempts to analyze the impact of relocation adaptability, embodied by social adaptability, economic adaptability, and cultural adaptability, on the employment stability of Chinese-style labor migrants using structural equation modeling with the highly representative field research data from the labor migrant community in Yinchuan City as an example. The results of the study show that the social, economic, and cultural adaptability dimensions of relocation adaptability all have a significant positive effect on employment stability. Therefore, to promote the stable employment of Chinese-style labor migrants, it is necessary to enhance economic adaptability to stabilize employment and increase income, enhance social adaptability to proactively adapt and actively participate, and strengthen cultural adaptability to proactively seek change and actively adapt to better improve the employment situation of labor migrants in an orderly manner.

К ВОПРОСУ О ТОПОНИМАХ ИНДОИРАНСКОГО ПРОИСХОЖДЕНИЯ, СВЯЗАННЫХ С ВОДНЫМИ ОБЪЕКТАМИ НА ТЕРРИТОРИИ СРЕДНЕГО ПРИИРТЫШЬЯ (по материалам Павлодарской, Восточно-Казахстанской и Абайской областей)

The article is devoted to the systematization and description of toponyms associated with water bodies on the territory of the Middle Irtysh region, the origin of which may be associated with Indo-Iranian languages. Despite the controversial origin of the names of certain geographical names, their analysis contributes to solving problems not only in terms of studying the chronological layers of toponymy of Kazakhstan, but also in the context of studying the history and culture of the population that once lived here. It indicates the historical binding of toponyms that may be associated with native speakers of Indo-Iranian languages who, according to some researchers, lived in the designated area during the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. Before the era of writing and cartography, orientation in deserted mountains was a problem, recognition of an object on the ground occurred by the oral name of the place, the name of which briefly and succinctly indicated one or two noticeable and distinctive features of the object and the surrounding area. Rivers (hydronyms) have the most stable names in time, as well as some tracts and notable mountains located near ancient communications, near historical places of residence and important in the life support and management of people. The names of villages often came from the names of rivers and from the geomorphological assessment of the settlement site, reflecting the space and terrain, taking into account the properties of the object and its degree of significance for people. Sometimes a toponym denoting a local object can expand its meaning, or the name is transferred to neighboring objects, usually the name of the river is transferred to the name of the gorge, but sometimes vice versa, the name. rivers are often transferred to the name. Toponyms appeared as man mastered the mountains, in the form of "toponymic corridors" corresponding to ancient pack trails, passes and valleys and hollows convenient for settling. The scientific novelty of the study consists in the analysis and interpretation of toponyms of Indo-Iranian origin associated with water bodies in the Middle Priirtysh region, based on materials from Pavlodar, East Kazakhstan and Abay regions. The study makes it possible to trace historical connections and the influence of Indo-Iranian peoples on the formation of the toponymic landscape of this territory, as well as to contribute to the understanding of the processes of migration and cultural exchange in the region. The methodological approach may include a comprehensive examination and comparison of different data sources, interdisciplinary analysis, use of the comparative method, etc. It is also important to consider the context of the study, the resources available and the objectives of the study to select the most appropriate methods and methodology. It is also important to consider the research context, available resources and research objectives in order to select the most appropriate methods and methodology.

ОБОРОНИТЕЛЬНЫЕ СООРУЖЕНИЯ МАРИЙСКИХ ГОРОДИЩ

The article examines materials from studies of the fortification of Mari settlements of the second half of the I millennium AD. The author gives a general description of the visually recorded parameters of ramparts and ditches. Based on the results of field research, options for reconstructing the ramparts structures and structures along the ramparts crest are proposed. Special attention is paid to the artificial fortifications of the settlement site along the side slopes and the cape. The analysis shows that defensive structures on the rampart and along the perimeter of the settlement could not be erected at once, but as needed or when there were conditionally free hands for this type of work. There is also a strong possibility that the fortification was updated/repaired over time. In general, the nature and quality of the defensive structures around the perimeter of the site of the settlement fully take into account the terrain.

Living with the dead: mummification and post-mortem treatment in Bronze Age Britain

A long-recognised problem in British prehistory is the replacement of formal cemeteries and burials from 1600 bce onwards by deposits with disarticulated human remains, many of them found on settlements. At the Bronze Age settlement site of Cladh Hallan in the Outer Hebrides the human remains include cremation deposits, inhumations, disarticulated bones and body parts of formerly mummified remains recombined as composite skeletons. These mortuary practices, including exhumation, curation and reburial, reveal an intimate relationship between the living and the dead. The burial of mummies beneath house floors and the deposition of other human remains within Cladh Hallan’s roundhouses demonstrate how dwellings were places of spiritual and cosmological meaning as well as practical utility. While later Bronze Age mortuary practices generally provide little indication of the social inequalities apparent in other lines of evidence, the practice of mummification may have served as an indicator of social status.

Neolithic Flintworking of the Samborzec-Opatów Group in Lesser Poland in the Light of Settlement Materials from Tonie 9 Site, Kraków Commune

The article presents flint materials obtained from settlement site of Samborzec-Opatów group from the Tonie 9 site in Lesser Poland. The flintworking of this unit is still poorly recognized. In the literature, special attention has mainly been paid to ceramic materials, especially in studies on the genesis of this group and its relations with other taxonomic units of the Neolithic in Lesser Poland (especially with the Malice culture and later groups of the Lendziel). Therefore, it is worth introducing the specificity of Samborzec-Opatów flintworking, especially since the recently arrived inventory from the Tonie 9 site is quite numerous and relatively homogeneous. Therefore, the main goal is to present materials that can be used for further studies, e.g. those of a comparative nature.

Pierit-au avarii? O privire dinspre Europa de răsărit / Have Avars gone? A view from Eastern Europe

The presence of the Avars in Eastern Europe, particularly in the lands between the Carpathian Mountains and the river Dnieper, has so far been a matter of concern for historians. Archaeologists are skeptical: with the exception of a couple of finds from Budureasca, there are no Early Avar belt fittings anywhere to the north, east, and south from the Carpathian Mountains. In Poland, Avar-age finds cluster in the south (Silesia and Lesser Poland) and are dated after AD 700. The vast majority of those finds, however, are from the very end of the 8th or even the early decades of the 9th century. The sudden interest in things Avar in the lands north of the Sudeten and Carpathian Mountains may signal a desire of local elites to employ the modes of status (and, supposedly, power) representation inside the Avar qaganate. It is however truly surprising that such an interest coincides in time with what historians believe to be a period of decline of the Avar polity. The symbolism of the Avar belt fittings was also harnessed by members of communities who buried their dead in cemeteries excavated in southern Romania. By contrast, there are no Avar-age belt fittings anywhere in the lands to the east from the Carpathian Mountains. During the second half of the 8th and the early 9th century, this region experienced something of a demographic boom, as indicated by the large number of settlement sites. There are also hillforts, but a true concern with marking social status in the material culture cannot be dated before the mid-9th century. When such markers of social prominence became necessary, the language of representation was completely different from that employed earlier by elites in southern Poland who wanted to emulate the Avars. In Eastern Europe, after 850, elites emulated the Khazars, not the Avars.

The Colorado Delta, 1771–1776: Rereading Francisco Garcés

The ethnohistory of the Colorado River delta has been substantively misunderstood, owing to the widespread neglect and/or misinterpretations of the writings of Francisco Garcés. In 1771, 1774, and 1775–76, Garcés undertook three entradas into the delta, and wrote a series of valuable ethnographic accounts. Not only have Garcés’s locations and routes frequently been misidentified by earlier scholars, his observations on agricultural production and population size have been ignored or marginalized, enabling misconceptions about delta historical demography and adaptation to flourish. The present paper seeks to restore Garcés’s accounts, making his locations and ethnographic observations intelligible and interpretable, and to show how these can help resolve extant misconceptions. Part I focuses on some key texts, tying his locations to a master map. Part II focuses on ethnolinguistic groups and settlement sites, and discusses the implications for a better understanding of historical demography and agricultural adaptation in the delta.

Evaluating the impact of the Storegga tsunami on Mesolithic communities in Northumberland

ABSTRACTThe Holocene Storegga tsunami, 8120–8175 cal a bp, resulted in run‐up heights of up to 3–6 m around mainland UK and coincided with a suggested large population decline in the coastally focused Mesolithic population in Northern Britain. At Howick, Northumberland, the site of a Mesolithic settlement, a nearby sediment deposit may be of tsunamigenic origin, but this is uncertain. Here, a numerical model was used to simulate the Storegga tsunami in Northumberland. Two scenarios of relative sea‐level change, and a third incorporating high tide, were simulated with mortality estimated within the intertidal zone for the Mesolithic sites in the region. The results showed that only with the addition of high tide could the sediment deposit site have been inundated by the tsunami. At Howick, mortality estimates varied but were up to 100% within the resource‐rich intertidal zone. The tsunami inundated a large area and would have led to the loss of key resources such as hazelnuts prior to the winter months. These combined effects would have probably been replicated throughout coastal settlements in Northern Britain, possibly leading to the contemporary population decline estimated to have occurred at this time.

Legends about Prusian Cities

The Prussian settlements contain archaeological information that can be enriched with data from folk legends about these fortified settlements. In the proposed article, several legends of Sambia (the Kaliningrad peninsula of the Kaliningrad region) are selected, the analysis of which allowed us to draw the following conclusions: in the names of the settlements there are rudiments of the Prussian language, which disappeared from local use in the beginning of the 18th century . In the array of legends about the Prussian settlements, some of which arose already in the 17th century, there are several sorts / types of texts. They have both local, Prussian, and external, Germanic origin. Some of the legends of Sambia are an echo of finds made not earlier than the time of the order on the sites of settlements or near them (treasures, individual valuable artifacts, sacrificial stones, etc.). Indirectly, this indicates that the authors of the legends and their narrators reported that the settlements were once the habitats of the local population. All of the above allows us to consider the legends about the Prussian settlements of Sambia as a special, but, nevertheless, interesting and important source of the settlement history of the center of the Prussian tribal area.

Limonite deposit at the Mikniškiai settlement site (South Lithuania)

A cemented limonite deposit and sunken features recorded at the Mikniškiai settlement site (mid-1st century BC – early 3rd century AD) have been interpreted as potential signs of shallow opencast ore mining. Inhabitants of this area of Lithuania maintained close relations with the Bogaczewo culture, through which knowledge of iron metallurgy spread. However, the archaeometallurgical investigation revealed that the tested samples represent natural bog ore that was insufficiently Fe-enriched material for iron smelting. There were no attempts to increase the iron content by proper pre-processing of the ore. Moreover, the archaeological investigation revealed no traces of ore roasting and not a single piece of iron slag was found at the site. This implies that to assume the occurrence of ore-rich sediments in the vicinity of Iron Age settlements as an indication of iron bloomery might be premature and the circumstances of their discovery allow more than one alternative interpretation.

Animal Use Strategies in the Longshan Mountain Region of Northern China during the First Millennium BC: A Zooarchaeological Analysis of Yucun.

The first millennium BC saw the expansion of the Western Zhou dynasty in its northwestern frontier, alongside the rise and development of the Qin State in the Longshan Mountain region of northern China. Exploring the subsistence practices of these communities is crucial to gaining a better understanding of the social, cultural, and political landscape in this region at the time. While much of the research to date has focused on the Qin people, the subsistence practices of the Zhou people remain poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed animal remains from Yucun, a large settlement site associated with the Zhou people, located to the east of the Longshan Mountain. These animal remains were recovered in the excavation seasons of 2018-2020. Our results show that pigs, dogs, cattle, caprines, and horses, which were the major domestic animals at Yucun, accounted for over 90.8% of the animal remains examined in terms of the number of identified specimens (NISP) and 72.8% in terms of the minimum number of individuals (MNI), with cattle and caprines playing dominant roles. In terms of the taxonomic composition and the mortality profiles of pigs, caprines, and cattle, Yucun shared similarities with Maojiaping and Xishan, two contemporaneous Qin cultural sites located to the west of the Longshan Mountain, and differ from other farming societies in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River valley. Considering the cultural attributes and topographic conditions of these various sites, these findings imply that environmental conditions may have played a more significant role than cultural factors in shaping the animal-related subsistence practices in northern China during the first millennium BC.

Southern province of the first African state: discovery of the Kerman settlement in Letti, Sudan

Discoveries at Letti provide important data on the functioning and reach of one of the oldest African civilisations: the kingdom of Kerma (2500–1500 BC). Extensive surveys and preliminary excavations have recorded numerous settlement and funerary sites in the region. Our results help to expand the economic data and chronology.