Geoarchaeology-An International Journal最新文献

{"title":"Lower Palaeolithic Site Kamianka in Eastern Ukraine: Geoarchaeological Assessments","authors":"Vadim N. Stepanchuk,&nbsp;Yurii M. Veklych","doi":"10.1002/gea.22036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.22036","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The paper presents an initial attempt to assess ancient findings in Eastern Ukraine through a synthesis of archaeological and geomorphological data. It focuses on a newly discovered Lower Palaeolithic site on a valley slope of a right-bank tributary of the Seversky Donets River, cutting into the Jarkiv stage terrace (Pliocene) of the Ukrainian stratigraphic scale. Flint, quartzite, quartz flakes, and modified pebbles were found in the clastic material from the upper cover layer. The artefacts date from 2.6 to 0.6 Ma, corresponding to the interval between the boundary separating Bogdanivka and Beregove stages (i.e., Reuverian and Tiglian, respectively) and the Lubny (Cromerian) stage. A new terrace analysis method identified the lower boundary near the Pliocene-Quaternary transition, with the upper boundary based on regional archaeological analogies. Deflationary processes prevent further narrowing of the timeframe. Taphonomic evidence indicates prolonged exposure in aquatic and wetland environments before surface deposition. The collection includes hammerstones, choppers, scrapers, and retouched flakes, predominantly shaped using the bipolar-on-anvil technique with some free-hand flaking. Technological and typological features classify the assemblage as an archaic Mode I core-and-flake industry. Geological–geomorphological age assessments confirm these findings, refining correlations between archaeological industries and palaeogeographic stages.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55117,"journal":{"name":"Geoarchaeology-An International Journal","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143248897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Formation Processes and Environments in the Hinojo-Las Tunas Shallow Lake System, Argentina Pampas: The Laguna Chica Archaeological Locality as a Case Study","authors":"Nahuel A. Scheifler,&nbsp;Ivana L. Ozán,&nbsp;Alfonsina Tripaldi,&nbsp;Mariela E. González,&nbsp;Florencia S. Valero,&nbsp;Narella Marini,&nbsp;Gustavo G. Politis,&nbsp;Pablo G. Messineo","doi":"10.1002/gea.22034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.22034","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This work integrates taphonomic (archaeofaunistics and bioarchaeology) and geoarchaeological (geormorphology, pedologic, sedimentological and micromorphological analyses) information to discuss the depositional and postdepositional history of both surface and buried archaeological record related to past hunter–gatherer populations from the Central Pampean Dunefields of Argentina (South America). Radiocarbon and optically stimulated luminescence dating suggest three temporal clusters of occupations in the Laguna Chica locality: one during the middle Holocene (~8050–6535 years cal. B.P.) and two in the late Holocene (~3350–2870 and ~1640–1535 years cal. B.P.). Middle Holocene burials found at the present lake shore are hosted in aeolian sediments that accumulated under arid/semiarid conditions. Modern lacustrine dynamics derived from contraction/expansion cycles have exposed burials, archaeofauna, and stone tools, resulting in displacements, fragmentation and loss. A palimpsest of cultural and natural material spanning ~8000 years resulted from this paleoenvironmental setting. Late Holocene human activities might have been related to a transitional landscape, where aeolian processes took place under an expanding lacustrine scenario (i.e., relatively wetter conditions). Our stratigraphic assessment suggests that human occupations were syndepositional agents with episodes of aeolian sand activity and landscape stability. The taphonomic and geoarchaeological evidence from Laguna Chica locality show that the empirical evidence traditionally used to evaluate hunter–gatherer settlement patterns (e.g., abundance and diversity of archaeological evidence and their spatial association in surface or stratigraphic units) and human diet breadth changes (e.g., Ntaxa) may simply reflect the cumulative action of lacustrine erosion of dunes. While both the Laguna Chica surface and stratigraphic records have complex formation histories, the buried context could be interpreted with greater detail through taphonomic and sedimentological analyses.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55117,"journal":{"name":"Geoarchaeology-An International Journal","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143120288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Of Fire and Water Microarchaeological Evidence of Mining, Rituals and Floods in North Tyrol's Kropfsberg Mine (Austria)","authors":"Susanna Cereda,&nbsp;Gert Goldenberg,&nbsp;Markus Staudt,&nbsp;Peter Tropper","doi":"10.1002/gea.22033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.22033","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Kropfsberg, located near Reith im Alpbachtal, in North Tyrol (Austria), has been exploited for its copper ores for centuries, since at least the Early Iron Age. Excavations conducted in 2020 by the University of Innsbruck exposed the detailed stratigraphic sequence of the mine, leading to a surprising discovery: what was initially believed to be only a site for mineral extraction showed clear indications of ritual use during the Roman period and Late Antiquity. These cultic layers are characterised by abundant charcoals, animal bones and almost 200 votive coins, and suggest that the mine served during this period as a Mithraeum. Using micromorphology and µXRF, along with macroscopic, hydro- and geomorphological information about the mine and its surroundings, we reconstructed the processes that led to the deposition of sediments within this artificial cave. Our analyses indicate that remains of ceremonial fires and offerings were deposited within a cultic pit, rather than being spread over the floor. Also, evidence suggests that the cultic use of the mine likely ceased before the area surrounding the mine was flooded, potentially due to the damming of the Inn River caused by a significant rock fall during the Roman period. We also traced the phases following the inundation, including the cave's reopening after a period of abandonment, and identified a sequence of mining backfills that provide evidence of the site's subsequent secular use. Ultimately, the study sheds new light on the cultural and geomorphological dynamics of the Inn Valley during the Roman Period and the Late Antiquity, while underscoring the importance of integrating microarchaeological approaches to disentangle the complex interaction of cultural and environmental influences, even in historical (artificial) cave contexts.</p>","PeriodicalId":55117,"journal":{"name":"Geoarchaeology-An International Journal","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gea.22033","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143119714","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Legacies of Past Land Use: Mapping Anthropogenic Landforms in Forest Areas of Eastern Bavaria, Germany","authors":"Anna Schneider,&nbsp;Thomas Raab,&nbsp;Alexandra Raab,&nbsp;Alexander Bonhage","doi":"10.1002/gea.22032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.22032","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Reconstructing (pre-)historic land use distribution is essential for understanding past human societies and their impacts on the environment. Various land use forms result in distinct alterations of surface morphology, which are often well preserved but rarely described within forest areas. The interpretation of LiDAR Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) can greatly enhance our insight into the geoarchaeological records of woodlands. This study examines the legacies of past land use in forested areas of Upper Palatinate, Germany, utilizing LiDAR DEMs to map anthropogenic relief features. We comprehensively mapped land use legacy landforms (LULLs) that occur with considerable frequency in the study area, that is, former agricultural field systems, road remnants, abandoned ponds, relict charcoal hearths, mining legacies, and indicators of anthropogenically induced soil erosion. Results reveal that 17% of the forested area is affected by LULLs, with the largest areas covered by former field systems, roads, and ponds. Characteristic LULL associations reflect past agricultural and charcoal production landscapes. While erosion indicators often coincide with field systems and roads, natural factors mainly influence their distribution. Comparison with historical maps suggests pre-19th-century abandonment of most LULLs and good preservation of anthropogenic relief modifications. Our results underscore the enduring impact of past land use on present woodland ecosystems and emphasize the importance of considering forest areas in the analysis of past human–landscape interactions.</p>","PeriodicalId":55117,"journal":{"name":"Geoarchaeology-An International Journal","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gea.22032","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142861174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Germanic Rampart or Roman Encampment?—New Geoarchaeological Evidence at the Roman Conflict Site at Kalkriese (NW-Germany)","authors":"Joachim W. Härtling,&nbsp;Andreas Stele,&nbsp;Salvatore Ortisi,&nbsp;Andre Jepsen,&nbsp;Marc Rappe,&nbsp;Jens Bussmann,&nbsp;Alexander Fülling","doi":"10.1002/gea.22031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.22031","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Kalkriese, near Osnabrueck (NW Germany), is considered the location of the ‘Battle of Varus’, where a coalition of Germanic tribes, under the leadership of Arminius, defeated three Legions under the command of Varus in 9 <span>ad</span>. Roman coinage and remains of military equipment prove that the Oberesch site at Kalkriese saw military operations between Germanic tribes and the Roman legions during Early Imperial times, but the sequence and magnitude of the military operations still remain unclear. In this study, we present for the first time absolute dates from the Oberesch site to decipher the general sequence of the Holocene landscape development at Kalkriese, identify the antique surface, and evaluate the ‘Germanic Rampart Theory’ and the ‘Roman Encampment Theory’. The geoprofile encompasses the entire stratigraphic sequence from the Pleistocene base, indicating intensive agricultural use of the area since the Early Neolithic. A fossil topsoil of late Pre-Roman Iron Age to Roman Imperial Age was identified, which probably represents the antique surface of the Roman conflict site. Our results do not support either the ‘Germanic Rampart Theory’ or the ‘Roman Encampment Theory’, as both linear structures seem to be of High Middle Age origin.</p>","PeriodicalId":55117,"journal":{"name":"Geoarchaeology-An International Journal","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gea.22031","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142764304","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Mesolithic Hunter–Gatherer Camp Site at Sammakko in Norrbotten, Northernmost Sweden—Archeological Finds and Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction","authors":"Per Möller,&nbsp;Frida Palmbo,&nbsp;Anne Birgitte Nielsen,&nbsp;Emma Boman,&nbsp;Haoran Dong,&nbsp;Svante Björck,&nbsp;Yuanyang Cai,&nbsp;Jannica Grimbe,&nbsp;Ruairidh Macleod,&nbsp;Mingjian Shen,&nbsp;Yucheng Wang,&nbsp;Mica Westerlund,&nbsp;Zhe Xue","doi":"10.1002/gea.22030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.22030","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A small Mesolithic camp site near Sammakko in northernmost Sweden has been identified through its abundance of burnt bone and quartz refuse from stone tool manufacturing/maintenance. Radiocarbon dating places hunter–gatherer activity here around 8900 years ago, 1800 years later than the oldest known settlement in Norrbotten, the Aareavaara site. Sediment stratigraphy in nearby lake basins suggests that the final melting of stagnant ice, trapped in the undulating Veiki-moraine landscape, occurred around 9200 years ago. Initially, after deglaciation, the area was covered with arctic heath, transitioning to an open birch forest by 9100 years ago. At the time of the Sammakko settlers, it was an open birch forest with elements of pine, and various dwarf shrubs, including dwarf birch, willow, and juniper. Grasses, sedges, and various herbs in the semi-open grounds were also common. The settlers primarily relied on reindeer, as indicated by burnt bones, with supplementary food sources such as pike and birds. Stalking was likely the main hunting method, possibly aided by dogs. Potential dog gnaw marks on bones suggest early domestication. The site functioned as a temporary hunting station, probably used only during snow-free months.</p>","PeriodicalId":55117,"journal":{"name":"Geoarchaeology-An International Journal","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gea.22030","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142763943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Mediterranean Valleys Revisited","authors":"John Bintliff","doi":"10.1002/gea.22029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.22029","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The publication of The Mediterranean Valleys by Claudio Vita-Finzi in 1969 produced a radical change in research perspectives for our understanding of the timing and causation of erosional and depositional sequences in this macro-region. This article will trace the debates that arose from this book and outline our current understanding of the interaction between human impact, short- and long-term climatic fluctuations and landscape variability in moulding the development of Mediterranean surface landforms during the Holocene era.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55117,"journal":{"name":"Geoarchaeology-An International Journal","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142724180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlation of Seismic Data and Sediment Cores From the Seabed in the Medieval Harbour at Avaldsnes, Norway","authors":"Hallgjerd H. Ravnås,&nbsp;Erik Daniel Fredh","doi":"10.1002/gea.22027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.22027","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This interdisciplinary study demonstrates the successful integration of non-destructive geophysical methods and sediment core analyses for mapping the seabed in the historical harbour at Avaldsnes in south-west Norway. In the Medieval Period, this was a royal manor, with the harbour as a central hub for the Hanseatic League in the 14th to 15th centuries. The use of an Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) mounted with two distinct sub-bottom profiler (SBP) systems facilitated the acquisition of high-resolution seismic data, providing efficient imaging of the seafloor and subsurface layers. Sequence of fifteen sediment cores allowed for the description and dating of stratigraphy and the depositional environment. In combination, these methods provided a multidimensional understanding of the distribution of subsea sediments in the harbour, while preserving most of the archaeological context. The analysis revealed organic-rich sediments, primarily consisting of fine detritus gyttja, accumulated over the last 1700 years, trapping certain archaeological features. Deposition of the soft sediments likely commenced due to a lower relative sea level, possibly accompanied by intensified land-use and harbour activity. The study identified several minor anomalies in the seismic data, potentially representing artefacts of archaeological importance. An anomaly of significant size might correspond to a buried shipwreck or harbour structure. By providing a comprehensive understanding of sediment dynamics and human-environment interactions in the harbour, the research contributes to the preservation and management of an important cultural heritage site.</p>","PeriodicalId":55117,"journal":{"name":"Geoarchaeology-An International Journal","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gea.22027","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142641689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Land Use Legacy Landforms at the UNESCO Heritage Site Tarnowskie Góry, Upper Silesia, Poland—Stratigraphy, Soils and Age","authors":"Alexander Bonhage,&nbsp;Thomas Raab,&nbsp;Alexandra Raab,&nbsp;Anna Schneider,&nbsp;Ireneusz Malik,&nbsp;Malgorzata Wistuba,&nbsp;Wouter Verschoof-van der Vaart","doi":"10.1002/gea.22028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.22028","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Metallurgy in Upper Silesia (Poland) has a long tradition of international significance, which was emphasized in 2017 when the historic silver mine in Tarnowskie Góry was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The area consists of various anthropogenic landforms, the stratigraphy of which has hardly been studied so far. In this study, we describe five main morphological units: Unit I (RCH) and Unit II (RCH pit), resulting from charcoal production; Unit III (shaft) and Unit IV (shaft heap), resulting from mining; and Unit V (reference forest soil). The first four units are a variation of a Technosol with inherently different properties from the reference forest soil. Unit I exhibits typical properties of a relict charcoal hearth (RCH), whereas Unit II resembles a pit. Unit III consists of a mostly infilled mining shaft remain (MSR), characterized by relocated subsoil. Unit IV consists of material from the adjacent Unit III that has been dumped directly aside. The studied RCH was used no earlier than during the second half of the 17th century, probably between 1725 and 1813. The studied MSR was used most likely between the 3rd and 5th centuries, which is much older than described so far. Together, the units reflect the characteristic heterogeneity of soils in shaft mining and RCH areas.</p>","PeriodicalId":55117,"journal":{"name":"Geoarchaeology-An International Journal","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gea.22028","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142641530","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Holocene Floodplain Transformation Through Catchment-Scale Human-Environment Interactions: An Interdisciplinary Case Study of the Gete Catchment (Belgium)","authors":"Marleen van Zon,&nbsp;Renske Hoevers,&nbsp;Ward Swinnen,&nbsp;Bob Simons,&nbsp;Bart Vanmontfort,&nbsp;Gert Verstraeten","doi":"10.1002/gea.22026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gea.22026","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Floodplains across the European loess region transformed from nature- to human-dominated environments during the Holocene. A general framework of this evolution is well established, but it is less clear how differences in timing—observed within and between catchments—can be explained. Although human impact is an important driver, little attention has thus far been paid to the actual human activities involved, their intensities, and spatiotemporal patterns. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach, this study provides insight into the evolution of both environmental (e.g., local floodplain geoecohydrology and regional land cover) and human dynamics (e.g., demography and land use) in the Belgian Gete catchment. Results show that the observed changes in land cover and floodplain geoecology can indeed be attributed to spatiotemporal variations in human impact. Human-induced vegetation change, driven by population growth and associated agrarian production, resulted in hydrological changes and localized colluviation. Catchment-scale improvement of hillslope-channel connectivity initiated alluviation in the valleys and completed the transformation from forested marsh to open floodplain with overbank sedimentation. In turn, this allowed people to settle in the floodplains in the Early Medieval period, laying the foundations for our present-day landscape.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":55117,"journal":{"name":"Geoarchaeology-An International Journal","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2024-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142587960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}