{"title":"Inca domination and lithic technology changes at the north of the Hualfín Valley (Catamarca province, Argentina)","authors":"Emiliano Bentivenga , Julieta Lynch","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105049","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105049","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Inca Empire, known for its extensive reach and sophisticated administrative strategies, incorporated diverse Andean populations, such as those in the Northwest Argentina (NWA). This study explores the incorporation of the Hualfín Valley and its impact on local technology, by comparing lithic assemblages from three archaeological sites. Two of them, Villavil 1 (<em>ca</em>. 8th − 16th century CE) and Villavil 2 (<em>ca</em>. 10th − 16th century CE), were pre-Inca settlements, with the latter likely continuing into the Inca period, while Hualfín Inka served as an administrative centre during early Inca rule (<em>ca</em>. 15th − 16th century CE).</div><div>Through typological and raw material analysis, this study identifies significant variations in lithic technology across the sites. Hualfín Inka’s assemblage is characterised by a notable presence of non-local, high-quality materials such as flint and chalcedony, suggesting that visiting groups may have introduced these materials to the site. The highly expeditive strategy of this assemblage is consistent with the site’s ceremonial or festive function.</div><div>Conversely, Villavil 2 predominantly features obsidian, which is absent at Hualfín Inka, indicating a significant meaning ascribed to this raw material. In Villavil 1, the primary use of local raw materials and a greater investment of knapping labour are consistent with the site’s agricultural character.</div><div>This paper argues that lithic technology may have reflected the expression of local populations’ identity. This is read in the light of a likely political strategy carried out by the Inca Empire aimed to achieve alliances with local elites and legitimize its domination over the Hualfín Valley.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 105049"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143437881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Neolithic obsidian mirrors from Southwest Asia: A reflection on their diffusion and manufacture","authors":"Alice Vinet","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105047","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105047","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In Anatolia obsidian has been used since the 8<sup>th</sup> millennium for the production of non-utilitarian artefacts such as ornaments and mirrors. Mirrors are circular objects, slightly convex, with a highly reflective surface. They are rare, as 56 obsidian mirrors were found in the Near East, spread accross six sites in Central Anatolia: Tepecik Çiftlik, Çatalhöyük-East, Sırçalıtepe, Güvercinkayası, Domuztepe and Akarçay Tepe occupied between the 8th and the beginning of the 5<sup>th</sup> millennium. Additionally, one mirror has been found in the Levant at Tel Kabri. Mirrors are found in various contexts, including graves, middens, in the infill of buildings after their abandonment, in caches, or on the surface. To investigate the production and diffusion of these artefacts, an interdisciplinary approach combining typology, technology and use-wear analysis was applied to mirrors and preforms found at Tepecik Çiftlik. This study represents a preliminary step in the analysis, contributing to the identification of a potential mirror manufacturing site and the restitution of the complete <em>chaîne opératoire</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 105047"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143427930","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Madeleine Bleasdale , Ian Armit , Andrew Fitzpatrick , Charlotte Primeau , Christophe Snoeck
{"title":"New rites, local lives: Strontium isotope analysis of cremated human remains from the Late Iron Age cemetery at Westhampnett, West Sussex, UK","authors":"Madeleine Bleasdale , Ian Armit , Andrew Fitzpatrick , Charlotte Primeau , Christophe Snoeck","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105037","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105037","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The emergence of cremation burial during the Late Iron Age in southern Britain (c.150 BCE − AD 43) occurred during a period of social and cultural transformation. Increased cross-channel connections are evident from similarities in funerary practice but, in the absence of preserved DNA, investigating whether these affinities might be directly linked to human mobility or more general cultural contact remains challenging. This paper presents the first strontium isotope analysis (<sup>87</sup>Sr/<sup>86</sup>Sr) of Iron Age cremation burials in Britain. The analysis was conducted on 31 individuals from cremation burials at the Late Iron Age cemetery of Westhampnett, West Sussex, United Kingdom. Contrary to previous interpretations based on funerary treatment and grave goods, the isotope results suggest that the cremated individuals were predominantly local and the narrow range of isotopic variation indicates a homogenous group, emphasising community stability. This research sheds light on social structure and mobility in Iron Age Britain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 105037"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143427929","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A.L. Brock , F. Marra , L. Motta , C. Nicosia , S. Pescio , N. Terrenato
{"title":"Natural and anthropic influences on the transformation of the landscape in archaic Rome during the 6th c BCE","authors":"A.L. Brock , F. Marra , L. Motta , C. Nicosia , S. Pescio , N. Terrenato","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105055","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105055","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper presents the results of a stratigraphic and micromorphological analysis of selected sediment samples of Tiber River’s alluvial succession. The study is aimed at investigating the source of the significant sedimentary and hydrologic processes that in the 6th-5th century BCE raised the alluvial plain by several meters. The results suggest that, in addition to local inputs, the documented alluviation in archaic Rome is indicative of regional changes in land cover and an increase of erosion more broadly in the Tiber catchment. The micromorphological study shows the occurrence of microcharcoals associated with evidence of accelerated soil erosion (“papulae”) in the 6th century alluvial deposits, and suggests that such regional changes should be associated with deforestation activities in support of urban development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 105055"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143427931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"OSL dating on Late Pleistocene/Holocene deposits from central Uruguay, southeastern South America","authors":"Hugo G. Nami , James Feathers","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105036","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105036","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The north-central region of the Republic of Uruguay, particularly in the Tacuarembó Department, has yielded a rich and diverse archaeological record characterized by significant stone tools. This evidence includes one of the largest collections of artifacts pertinent to early human occupation during the terminal Pleistocene and the onset of the Holocene, approximately 10-11,000 years ago. Systematic surveys and explorations have uncovered and documented a variety of localities and sites, several subjected to extensive sampling and analysis for archaeological, environmental, and chronological purposes.</div><div>Luminescence dating is used to construct a chronostratigraphic framework for the regional archaeological sequence. Given the paucity of organic materials due to the acidity of the sediments, radiocarbon dating played a lesser role. This paper presents the results from 19 Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) −dated samples, which span from the terminal Pleistocene to the Late Holocene across various sedimentary contexts. The OSL dates elucidate the temporal context of sediment layers within alluvial deposits. The older dates align with the prevalent presence of Paleoindian fishtail points along the banks of the Negro Rivers and, to a lesser extent, the Tacuarembó River.</div><div>The terminal Pleistocene OSL dates demonstrate the potential to reach ancient stratigraphic strata. The well-preserved deposits, with their robust temporal resolution, offer significant potential for excavating buried Late Pleistocene archaeological sites, particularly in dune environments. These findings enhance our understanding of the region’s prehistory and landscapes, paving the way for further research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 105036"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143427928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Qingyu Lu , Anne Underhill , Yuanyuan Mei , Yan Gao , Qirui Sun , Mingkui Gao , Fen Wang
{"title":"Analysis of ceramics at a hypothesized special-purpose late neolithic settlement in northern China c. 4400–4000 BP","authors":"Qingyu Lu , Anne Underhill , Yuanyuan Mei , Yan Gao , Qirui Sun , Mingkui Gao , Fen Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105050","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105050","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ximengzhuang, located in the vicinity of Jiehe Town, Tengzhou City, southwestern Shandong Province, is an unusual late Neolithic site in more than one respect. Although it is one of many sites with remains of earthen walls dating to the early and middle Longshan period c. 4400–4000 BP, several lines of evidence support the hypothesis that Ximengzhuang had a specialized function related to defense. Preliminary analyses of plant and animal remains suggest that people living in external areas supplied foodstuffs to the residents of Ximengzhuang. Utilizing XRF, petrographic, and XRD analysis, this study investigates whether different kinds of recovered ceramics from the site were locally produced or imported. Petrographic analysis of vessels from the settlement indicates mostly local production of vessels used for food preparation and consumption. We propose that the more diverse ceramics from the later middle Longshan period were obtained as the specialized function of the settlement began to decline.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 105050"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143427927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Non-metric traits of dental crown morphologies in the gallo-roman collection from La Favorite’s necropolis (Lyon, France) using the Arizona State University dental Anthropology system","authors":"Ceinos Romain , Buchet Luc , Adalian Pascal , Quatrehomme Gérald , Bertrand Marie-France","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105042","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105042","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To describe the non-metric dental traits (NMTs) of the Gallo-Roman collection from La Favorite and explore their implications for understanding biological diversity and migration patterns within the population.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>A total of 1,464 permanent maxillary and mandibular teeth from the craniofacial skeletons of 86 individuals from La Favorite’s necropolis were analyzed. Twenty-eight NMTs were selected to characterize the crowns of permanent teeth using the Arizona State University Dental Anthropology System (ASUDAS). Inter- and intra-operator reproducibility was tested on twenty maxillae and twenty mandibles. Additionally, rASUDAS software was used to estimate the geographical origins of three individuals based on their dental trait profiles.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Inter-operator kappa values ranged from 0.834 to 0.974, and intra-operator kappa values ranged from 0.798 to 1.0. The frequency of non-metric dental traits was analyzed using ASUDAS for presence, scores, and distribution. rASUDAS software was used to estimate the geographical origins of individuals based on dental trait frequencies. The rASUDAS analysis suggests that two individuals from the La Favorite collection may have origins in regions outside of the local Gallo-Roman population, with probabilities indicating Southeast Asia & Polynesia, Western Eurasia, and Sub-Saharan Africa as potential geographical origins.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>The frequency of most NMTs aligns with data from European collections dating from the first centuries CE. The observed variability in dental traits, along with osteo-dental and historical data, suggests a heterogeneous population in Lugdunum, supporting the presence of foreign individuals from regions such as Asia, Africa, and the broader Mediterranean world. The use of rASUDAS for a subset of individuals highlights the potential for dental anthropology to provide insights into ancient population mobility and diversity.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The analysis of non-metric dental traits in the rare and well-preserved La Favorite collection provides valuable insights into the biological diversity and cultural interactions in Lugdunum during the first three centuries CE. The findings support the presence of foreign individuals in this Gallo-Roman population and contribute to our understanding of ancient migration patterns.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 105042"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143421604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Ochre and other pigments from the 7th millennium BC: Evidence from painted objects excavated at Tol-e Sangi and Hormangan archaeological sites in southern Iran","authors":"Parviz Holakooei , Morteza Khanipour , Amir-Hossein Karimy","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105041","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105041","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Red, black and white pigments on approximately 70 painted objects including grinding tools, potteries and wall paintings from two Neolithic archaeological sites in southern Iran, namely Tol-e Sangi and Hormangan, dated back to the 7th millennium BC, respectively, were investigated by fibre optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS), polarised light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), micro-Raman spectroscopy (µ-Raman) and micro-X-ray fluorescence (µ-XRF). It is demonstrated that red ochre together with calcium carbonate are used as red and white pigments, respectively, while the black pigments include different manganese oxides and black chromite. We therefore document the first occurrence of chromite used as pigment in decorating archaeological pottery. It is also shown that the red ochre occurred on the objects from Hormangan contains considerable amounts of arsenic in contrast with those found at Tol-e Sangi pointing to different sources used for decorating the painted objects from these archaeological sites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 105041"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143421603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joé Juncker , Ferréol Salomon , Corinne Rousse , Grzegorz Skupinski , Yoann Quesnel , Minoru Uehara , Iscia Codjo , Nicolas Carayon , Benoît Devillers , Claude Vella
{"title":"Geoarchaeological evidence of a buried navigable Roman canal in the Rhône delta (France): The Marius canal hypothesis","authors":"Joé Juncker , Ferréol Salomon , Corinne Rousse , Grzegorz Skupinski , Yoann Quesnel , Minoru Uehara , Iscia Codjo , Nicolas Carayon , Benoît Devillers , Claude Vella","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105034","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105034","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Marius Canal is considered the first significant Roman hydraulic infrastructure in Gaul. This navigable canal, constructed at the end of the 2nd century BCE, was located in the Rhône Delta in southern France, connecting the Rhône River to the Mediterranean Sea. In the period following the construction of the canal, the large port known as Fossae Marianae was built on the coast. Despite numerous references in ancient sources, the precise location of the canal has remained unknown for the last two millennia. However, recent geophysical surveys in the eastern Rhône Delta have revealed a linear anomaly, alongside the discovery of Roman artefacts, which may indicate the presence of a Roman canal. The objective of this study is to examine morphological, sedimentary and chronological attributes of this structure, postulated to be the Canal of Marius. Sedimentary cores extracted from the supposed canal and the banks are studied on a high-resolution scale using a detailed multi-proxy methodology (grain-size, carbonate content, organic matter, magnetic susceptibility) combined with twenty-one <sup>14</sup>C dates. The morphological analyses and palaeoenvironmental data are consistent with the hypothesis of a navigable canal operable during the Roman period, built in a complex area where an ancient lagoon was partly eroded by a palaeochannel of the Rhône dated to the 1st millennium BCE. However, further archaeological research is needed to definitely confirm that this is the canal known as the Marius Canal.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 105034"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143421602","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Matteo Rossini , Antonin Tomasso , Francesco Boschin , Ivan Martini , Jacopo Crezzini , Clarissa Dominici , Adriana Moroni
{"title":"Early Epigravettian backed pieces from layer O of Grotta della Cala (Southern Italy). A techno-typological and use-wear integrated approach","authors":"Matteo Rossini , Antonin Tomasso , Francesco Boschin , Ivan Martini , Jacopo Crezzini , Clarissa Dominici , Adriana Moroni","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105046","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105046","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although hunting was the main subsistence activity of Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers, the analytical data available in the literature on the function and characteristics of Early Epigravettian armatures are still scarce and incomplete. In this paper we present the study of backed pieces from an Early Epigravettian assemblage found in layer O at Grotta della Cala (Campania), carried out by combining techno-typological and use-wear analyses with a low-power approach. This integrated methodology allows us to understand the variability inherent in backed tools, as well as to identify damage/traces due to taphonomic actions and knapping accidents. The Upper Palaeolithic backed pieces are generally considered to be projectiles for mechanically delivered weapons. Our study has made it possible to identify shouldered and backed points that can be associated with this function. However, preliminary macroscopic observations, to be confirmed by future microwear analysis, indicate that some of the backed pieces could be associated with piercing and cutting activity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"62 ","pages":"Article 105046"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143421599","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}