Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports最新文献

{"title":"Superficial reddening of silcrete may indicate low temperature heat treatment","authors":"Alex Mackay ,&nbsp;Jack L. McGarry ,&nbsp;Ella R.L. Boss ,&nbsp;Sara E. Watson","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.104969","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.104969","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heat treatment of silica rocks has been used to make a range of inferences about past human behaviours, including cognitive evolution. Several measures have been proposed to identify heat treatment, some of which index different kinds of changes, and potentially different underlying behaviours. In this paper we attempt to disentangle the effects of heating on colour change and the surface roughness of silcretes at relatively low temperatures. We demonstrate that colour change is a progressive process initiating at the rock surface before extending into the interior of the rock. Changes to surface roughness, however, occur pervasively throughout the rock even at relatively low temperatures (250 °C). Consequently, low temperature heat treatment may produce different signals in colour change and surface roughness that allow its archaeological identification. We then provide an example from the Middle Stone Age of South Africa.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article 104969"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143148151","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":"Fish processing along the Nile. A shell tool from the Middle Kingdom of Elephantine Island, Egypt","authors":"Giuseppina Mutri ,&nbsp;Johanna Sigl","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104908","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104908","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A valve of Chambardia sp. from the Middle Kingdom levels of the settlement on Elephantine Island showed bare-eye signs of use on the longest margin and a dark-greasy residue on the main use-related scars. Use-wear and residue analysis, verified through a targeted experimental activity, suggested that the shell was used to scrape the skin of a fish to eliminate the scales as well as to cut into the skin and meat in the process of butchering. This paper aims to open a window on the everyday activities carried out in the Middle Kingdom of Elephantine Island.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article 104908"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143146975","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":"Rise and fall: Settlement dynamics of LBK groups in the Middle Belgium loess belt (5150–4950 cal. BC) based on the new Meuse ceramic chronology","authors":"Dominique Bosquet ,&nbsp;Heike Fock","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104940","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104940","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this paper, ceramic chronology based on analyses of decorations (rim, main and secondary motifs) is used to approach population dynamics in the Middle Belgium loess belt at a high degree of resolution. The ‘Meuse chronology’, a new ceramic seriation recently established for the Belgian LBK, allows indeed to propose a first sketch of settlement evolution in the Early Neolithic. It highlights two phases of migration on a regional scale rather than one stated in previous studies. The mapping also clarifies the progressive regression announcing the end of the Belgian LBK accompanied, in Hesbaye, by the emergence of enclosures. The social status of the ‘pioneer’ and the decline of the LBK occupation are then questioned on the basis of available data on raw material supply (ceramic and flint).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article 104940"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143148067","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":"The potential hazards of smoking pots: Quantification of the black paint on the ceramics in the Atacama Desert","authors":"Bernardo Arriaza ,&nbsp;Siân Halcrow ,&nbsp;Arnoldo Vizcarra ,&nbsp;Sebastián Gutiérrez ,&nbsp;Juan Pablo Ogalde ,&nbsp;Vivien Standen ,&nbsp;Mariela Santos","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104955","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104955","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The use of black chromophores, or colored chemical compounds, in pottery is a recurrent theme in post-Formative period ceramics within Andean archaeology. However, the chemical components of these and thus the potential health repercussions for potters during ceramic manufacture are unknown. To test this we analyzed the black stains and paint on Arica ceramics (n = 55) from several periods in northern Chile to assess the presence of manganese (Mn). This mineral can be highly toxic to humans, particularly through the inhalation of Mn dust particles and fumes. The analysis of 11 Formative ceramic containers (ca. 1500 BCE–500 CE) show the absence of Mn paint, which contrasts with the post-Formative ceramics (Middle to Late Periods, n = 44, ca. 900–1530 CE) that reveal black Mn based paint was recurrently used to decorate post-Formative ceramics (Mn mean 19.8 %, range 4.41 % to 42.09 %). All post-Formative cultural periods (Middle to Late) showed Mn concentration greater than 15 %. We posit that the chaîne opératoire of Mn production (acquisition, grinding, painting, etc.) and possibly fumes during firing of pots most likely placed ancient Andean populations at occupational health risks. The potential hazards associated with Mn mining and firing pots need to be considered when investigating the ancient health and economic aspects of pre-Columbian ceramic production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article 104955"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143148069","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":"Beyond tools and weapons: A study of iron supply and nail manufacture in Roman Aldborough, Britain","authors":"Kateřina Stodolová ,&nbsp;Elizabeth La Duc ,&nbsp;Martin Millett ,&nbsp;Marcos Martinón-Torres","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104910","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104910","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Our understanding of Romano-British iron metallurgy is mainly based on smelting remains and the analysis of bladed tools and weapons. Complementing previous research, this study examines iron nails from the Roman town of Aldborough, Yorkshire (<em>Isurium Brigantum),</em> where a blacksmith’s workshop featuring extensive remains of coal, a fuel not commonly documented in Roman metallurgy, was excavated. The research investigates the manufacturing technology of the nails, contextualized within broader Roman ironworking, along with potential sources of metal and possible alterations attributable to the use of coal as smithing fuel. The manufacturing technology is explored via metallography while scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) is employed for elemental analysis of the slag inclusions.</div><div>The study reveals that the nails from Aldborough are examples of typical Roman nail production with no advanced techniques such as quenching or piling being used. Carbon content shows no discernible pattern across the dataset, varying from zero to 0.8% C in spots, suggesting a lack of deliberate metal selection. Attempts to determine the origin of the metal through multivariate statistical methods (HCA, PCA, and LDA) applied to slag inclusion compositions suggest a very diverse origin of the metal spanning various regions of Roman Britain. While there is no conclusive evidence indicating the utilization of coal in the smithing process, we suggest the elevated sulfur content in slag inclusions may provide an indirect indicator, which should be further investigated in future work.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article 104910"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143148083","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":"Manufactured, wrapped and deposited: A copper axe from Dąbrówka, Greater Poland. A biography of the artefact in the light of multidisciplinary analyses","authors":"Marzena Szmyt ,&nbsp;Janusz Czebreszuk ,&nbsp;Aldona Garbacz-Klempka ,&nbsp;Patrycja Silska ,&nbsp;Andrzej Sikorski ,&nbsp;Małgorzata Winiarska-Kabacińska ,&nbsp;Marcin Ławniczak ,&nbsp;Janusz Kozana ,&nbsp;Małgorzata Perek-Nowak ,&nbsp;Paweł Pawlak","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104945","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104945","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The article presents a copper axe found at Site 2 in Dąbrówka located on the Polish Lowland. Despite the lack of a clear context of its discovery, multidisciplinary analyses of the axe were performed. As a result a biography of the artefact was reconstructed. The axe probably comes from the second half of the 4th mill. BC and likely belonged to the Funnel Beaker community. It was cast of copper directly smelted from ore, containing small amounts of arsenic, silver, antimony and bismuth. Its cutting edge was forged, giving it a desired shape and increasing its hardness. The axe, therefore, was ready to be a tool but use-wear examinations did not reveal any clear traces of use. Identified on the axe surface, the traces of fabric, cord and wood inform that it was wrapped in cloth and placed in a wooden case or pressed against some wooden structure. So prepared, the axe was deposited in the centre of a large concentration of Funnel Beaker sites, but at the same time in a place free from direct settlement activity. It is thus most likely that its deposition was a carefully prepared and well-thought-out act, having a ritual purpose.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article 104945"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143148148","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":"Cosmic ray muon imaging for the internal structure of the Jiuyan Tower of the Great Wall","authors":"Ran Han ,&nbsp;Zhiwei Li ,&nbsp;Jianming Zhang ,&nbsp;Jie Pang ,&nbsp;Weichang Chen ,&nbsp;Haikuan Yu ,&nbsp;Xinyu Jiang ,&nbsp;Feng Bao ,&nbsp;Bin Liu ,&nbsp;Xiaoping Ouyang ,&nbsp;Sidao Ni","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104911","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104911","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study utilizes cosmic ray muon transmission imaging to explore the internal structure of the Jiuyan Enemy Tower in Beijing. By measuring cosmic ray muon flux variations from two external observation points and integrating these data with a 3D model derived from laser scanning, we mapped the tower’s internal density distribution, showing strong consistency with predicted models. Additionally, four internal observation points revealed low-density areas on the middle platform, explaining previous leakage issues. Cosmic ray muon imaging, with its non-invasive and density-sensitive capabilities, provides a comprehensive “physical examination” of the 500-year-old Jiuyan Tower. This study highlights the potential of muon imaging in the preservation and exploration of cultural relics.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article 104911"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143146977","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":"Occurrence and distribution of biomarkers in loess-paleosol sequences of Tajikistan (Central Asia): Implication for archaeo-ecological studies","authors":"Aljasil Chirakkal ,&nbsp;Calin Constantin Steindal ,&nbsp;Jago Jonathan Birk ,&nbsp;Redzhep Kurbanov ,&nbsp;David K Wright","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104902","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104902","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Finding biomarkers preserved in loess-paleosol sequences is challenging and rarely undertaken in the archaeological studies that occur in these settings. Here, we investigate the preservation of <em>n</em>-alkanes and PAHs collected in association with “Loessic Paleolithic” sites (archaeological sites entrained in fine-grained eolian sediments dating to the Paleolithic era 700,000 to 70,000 years ago) in the Khovaling region of southern Tajikistan. This region has been subject to archaeological inquiry since Soviet research projects in the 1970s found evidence of hominin occupations from Lower and Middle Paleolithic stone tool assemblages in excavations. Questions about the timing and ecological circumstances of putative ancient migrations into the region have prompted new geoarchaeological research at the sites of Lakhuti-IV, Obi-Mazar, Kuldara, and Khonako-II to constrain landscape evolutionary histories better using vegetation (straight-chain [<em>n</em>-]alkanes) and fire (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon [PAH]) biomarkers. We collected sediment samples from on–, sparse on–, near-, and off-site contexts relative to known archaeological sites for biomarker extraction and identification. The homologous series of <em>n</em>-alkanes ranging from <em>n</em>C₁₅-<em>n</em>C₃₃ are identified and quantified, in which the long-chain length of <em>n</em>-alkanes (<em>n</em>C₂₇-<em>n</em>C₃₃) has shown odd-over-even predominance. We found the abundance of PAH compounds with two to five rings in the sedimentary organic matter, in which PAH compounds with four or more rings have shown the highest abundance. The short (≤ nC₂₁) and mid-chain (<em>n</em>C₂₂-<em>n</em>C₂₆) <em>n</em>-alkanes have shown a<!--> <!-->positive correlation with PAH abundance from study sites. This is likely the result of the combustion of terrestrial plant matter on the landscape at elevated temperatures (≥ 400 °C).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article 104902"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143146978","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":"Manufactured individually, performed communally: Variability vs. Consistency in the shaping strategies of neolithic female figurine production","authors":"Ludmila Kaňáková,&nbsp;Vojtěch Nosek","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104915","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104915","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ceramic figurines in Neolithic research have mostly been studied from the perspective of their possible symbolic or religious value in the past. However, we perceive that such insight cannot be achieved through direct analysis; these phenomena are subjective and did not leave any trace on the archaeological record. We lack sufficient knowledge on past societies necessary to make claims in this regard. Therefore, the goal of this research is to understand the manufacturing process in terms of the production complexity and the consistency / variability in their shaping strategies. We seek to discover the existing rules of their shaping, their final appearance and other particularities, and whether they were produced by many separate individuals or multiply produced by one or few persons. This data is based on objective grounds and allows us to understand the role of the figurines in the society in terms of their individual or communal performance, i.e. practical or symbolic handling or use. Our results are based on analysing the largest known figurine collection from the eastern part of Central Europe, which comprises 375 figurines and their fragments from the Lengyel culture (4800–4200 BCE) settlement site Těšetice-Kyjovice–Sutny (Czech Republic). We analysed how they were shaped using high-resolution 3D and micro-CT.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article 104915"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143146980","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":"The effectiveness of geophysical methods in detecting underground tunnels − the case study from the Ponikowska adit in Olkusz, Poland","authors":"J. Pierwoła,&nbsp;I. Stan-Kłeczek,&nbsp;M.J. Mendecki,&nbsp;M. Widawska,&nbsp;D. Pawlik","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104933","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104933","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During the Medieval period, Olkusz (located approximately 50 km northwest of Kraków, southern Poland) was one of the most important European cities. Its development was closely related to silver extracted from lead ores. When shallow deposits were depleted at the end of the 15th century, the construction of drainage adits became necessary to access deeper resources. The Ponikowska Adit was constructed from 1563 to 1621. It was the longest (7860 m) and most utilised. It drained rocks to the west and north of the town until 1712, when it became clogged. In the late 19th century, it was refurbished and partially reactivated. However, insufficient maintenance caused it to close again in the early 20th century.</div><div>The locations of the tunnels are not known accurately. Geophysical surveys have provided insights into the underground areas. Electromagnetic profiling in frequency domain (FDEM) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) were used to locate these tunnels. The FDEM surveys indicated variations in the subsurface conductivity. However, it did not precisely locate the adit. A sequence of low-resistivity anomalies was observed in the ERT cross-sections, rather than the anticipated high-resistivity anomalies originating from voids. The 2D modelling validated this result as an effect of filling the tunnels with deposited clay material. The ERT anomalies are consistent with the likely paths of the adit. Moreover, numerous anomalies originating from higher mining excavations were detected.</div><div>The effectiveness of noninvasive geoelectrical techniques for relatively deep archaeological identification in significantly altered post-industrial areas is an innovative aspect of this study. The results indicate that combining geophysical identification and modelling with historical information is an essential and efficient tool to support the preservation of unique underground mining heritage sites. It would allow for better understanding and securing of effective historical resources for future generations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"61 ","pages":"Article 104933"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143146985","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}