Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences最新文献

{"title":"The technology and chronology reflected in the iron assemblage from the Pazyryk-type burials in the Mongolian Altai and the coming of iron in Mongolia","authors":"Jang-Sik Park,&nbsp;Dunburee Batsukh,&nbsp;Noost Bayarkhuu,&nbsp;Tsagaan Turbat","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02318-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02318-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The excavation of the frozen tombs at Pazyryk in the Altai recovered well-preserved archaeological evidence of the Scythian material culture distinguished, among other things, by the early exploitation of iron and horses. The recent recovery of numerous iron objects from similar Pazyryk-type burials in the Mongolian Altai has made it possible to discuss pertinent iron technology and its application to making tools and horse gear, key artifacts defining the Scythian material culture. Metallographic analysis revealed they were made of bloomery iron, frequently carburized. In addition, radiocarbon measurements placed their chronology at around 400 BC, confirming them as one of the practical examples of iron use in the Altai region. We put this early iron technology and its chronology in comparative perspective to discuss the coming of iron, particularly in Mongolia, and its impact on later technological and sociopolitical developments.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145210332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The exchange of the iron process in the northwest of west han empire: a case study of the Xingfucheng cemetery site, Guyuan, Ningxia, Northwest China, ca. 202 BC-113 BC","authors":"Jin Zhu,&nbsp;Quansheng Huang,&nbsp;Guisen Zou,&nbsp;Cunshi Zhu,&nbsp;Yongchun Li,&nbsp;Jialong Guo","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02309-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02309-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The Xingfucheng (XFC) site, unearthed in Pengyang County, Guyuan City, Ningxia, China, in 2013, represents a significant archaeological discovery dating to the early Western Han Dynasty, no later than the 2nd century BC. This site, among the most prestigious unearthed in northwest China from this era, has excavated affluent iron artifacts. The comprehensive analysis of 15 iron artifacts from the XFC site, employing metallographic microscopy, alloy composition assessment, and the examination of slag inclusions, has elucidated the metallurgical technologies of the period. The findings indicate a predominance of cast iron products, including white cast iron, mottled cast iron, and solid-state decarburization of cast iron, at the site. Notably, most unearthed weapons and agricultural implements were made of solid-state decarburization of cast iron, manufactured using carburizing, decarburizing, and quenching processes to fine-tune their properties. An iron axe identified among the artifacts represents one of the earliest puddling steel technologies in the northwestern region before the 2nd century BC, marking a first for the Ningxia area. Additionally, the analysis shows that bloomery carburized steel was used to fabricate a hoop, further contributing to understanding ancient metallurgical practices in this region. These discoveries underscore Ningxia’s significance as a key hub for technological interactions, linking China and Central Asia and promoting the exchange of metallurgical advancements during the Han Dynasty.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145170268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Archaeogenetic analysis sheds light on genomic substructure and kinship practices of Xianbei nobles from the Yihe Nur site","authors":"Jiashuo Zhang,&nbsp;Fan Zhang,&nbsp;Youyang Qu,&nbsp;Mingjie Suo,&nbsp;Guodong Song,&nbsp;Yongzhi Chen,&nbsp;Dawei Cai","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02325-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02325-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The Xianbei confederation was the most powerful among the many historically documented nomadic groups to emerge in northern China. It played a pivotal role in the political, military, and historical landscape of ancient China and even the broader Eurasian region. Recent studies on the Xianbei have shed light on their origins and migration patterns, primarily focusing on Xianbei commoners. However, the genetic structure of Xianbei nobles and their kinship relationships remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we successfully obtained genomic data from four ancient individuals buried in a family tomb associated with Xianbei nobility at the Yihe Nur site in Inner Mongolia. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first recovery of ancient genomic data from the Xianbei nobles. Furthermore, new genomic data were also retrieved from an individual associated with the Liao Dynasty, excavated at the same site. We found that the Xianbei nobles generally carried ancestry components associated with early Xianbei populations. However, one female noble exhibited a predominant genetic profile derived from southern East Asian populations, with only a minor contribution from early Xianbei ancestry, suggesting potential population interactions and genetic influences between Xianbei nobles and other East Asian groups. We also identified a parent-child relationship among the Xianbei nobles, who were buried in close proximity, implying that genetic kinship may have played a role in shaping Xianbei funerary practices. Furthermore, a female servant interred in the passage of the YHNE5 tomb, however, was found to be genetically unrelated to the tomb owner. In addition, an individual from the Liao Dynasty, excavated at the same site, exhibited significant genetic affinity with agricultural populations from the Central Plains of China, indicating that the Xianbei was genetically influenced by the southern of China during the period from the Xianbei to Liao Dynasty.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145078987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Carnelian beads from Noen Din, Central Thailand: new technological features of stone bead drilling from Iron Age Southeast Asia","authors":"Wannaporn Rienjang,&nbsp;Jonathan Mark Kenoyer,&nbsp;Fiorella Rispoli","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02298-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02298-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Iron Age Central Thailand is a dynamic region that participated in Indo-Pacific exchange networks. Detailed study of the technological aspects of stone beads, one type of artifacts that circulated within the exchange system, can help  to better understand the nature of interactions. This research paper examines the manufacturing techniques of carnelian beads found at the Iron Age archaeological site of Noen Din (100 BCE to sixth century CE), in Lopburi province, Central Thailand. Studies of the carnelian raw material variety used to make the beads with their morphological and technological features of production are presented. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) of the drill hole impressions reveals the use of two drilling technologies in the bead assemblage. Some of the beads were drilled with a metal drill and fine abrasive, a technology that is well documented in South Asia but has not been documented on carnelian beads at other sites in Southeast Asia. The other form of drilling seen in the bead assemblage involves the use of single and double diamond tipped drills, also a technology linked to South Asia. However, some of these diamond-drilled beads from Noen Din show drilling features so far undocumented elsewhere. The presence of carnelian beads with different technological features found at Noen Din could indicate that the beads were arriving in Thailand together or from different source areas in South Asia reflecting nuance interactions in the trade networks. The possibility of local production is also considered.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145011922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forged by bones: bonecoal metalworking process in NW Iberia iron age. The case of Borneiro (Galicia, Spain)","authors":"Samuel Nión-Álvarez,&nbsp;Clara Veiga-Rilo","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02307-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02307-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This paper analyses a metalworking area from the fortified site of A Cidá de Borneiro (Cabana de Bergantiños, Galicia, Spain). It is focused on a bronze and iron workshop (C9-12) where, in addition to abundant metallurgical evidence and production remains, a large number of thermally altered bone fragments have been documented. The present work proposes a multifactorial analysis to understand together these bones within the context of metalworking activities. For this purpose, an archaeological and functional analysis of the workshop is combined with a morphological study of the bone remains. First, a contextual analysis is defined, examining the archaeological evidence in order to define what kind of activities were developed in the area. Concurrently, a macroscopic analysis of the characteristics and conditions of the bones is carried out, with the aim of identifying thermal alteration processes. As will be demonstrated, this research will confirm that the bones were used as part of the operational production sequence, particularly during the hardening process of objects that require a strong and sharp edge. Finally, we will define and examine the characteristics of this technique from a point of view that encompasses both the technical and symbolic dimensions of metalworking.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12520-025-02307-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144990507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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 hardness-enhanced technique on the blade of bronze swords in the Wu and Yue States, China","authors":"Yunpeng Wang,&nbsp;Quanlong Dai,&nbsp;Yanchang Liu,&nbsp;Bin Wang,&nbsp;Zhihua Gan,&nbsp;Qinglin Ma","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02303-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02303-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The States of Wu and Yue were regional hegemons in China's late Spring and Autumn Period (fifth century BCE), centered in modern Jiangsu and Zhejiang. The weapons of these States stood at the pinnacle during this period, renowned for bronze swords like the Sword of Gou Jian. The rhombic-patterned swords and bimetallic swords are distinguished examples of bronze swords from the Wu-Yue region. Due to their rarity, obtaining suitable samples is extremely challenging. Fortunately, a rhombic-patterned bronze sword excavated from the Dahan Cemetery in Guanqiao Town, Tengzhou City, Shandong Province, provided viable samples amenable to systematic analytical characterization. Analytical investigations, including metallographic microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), were conducted to examine the microstructural features and elemental composition of the material. The findings reveal that the rhombic pattern on the sword's surface consists of fine δ-phases. Moreover, a layer of corroded δ-phase is present on the surface of the blade edge. Due to honing and polishing during use, the thickness of the δ-phase on the sword's edge was only 1–2 μm. The δ-phase in the bronze alloy is a hard and brittle phase that can significantly increase the alloy's hardness. However, when the δ-phase content becomes too high, the plasticity and strength of the bronze alloy are markedly reduced. To address this challenge, the master swordsmiths of Wu and Yue states demonstrated remarkable innovation and technical expertise. They employed a unique technique to form a dense δ-phase-enhanced layer on the blade surface. This ingenious approach enhanced the hardness of the sword blade while preventing the loss of plasticity and strength caused by excessive δ-phase. Furthermore, this specialized treatment achieved an aesthetic breakthrough, with the practical function seamlessly blending with the artistic beauty of the sword body.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144990512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unwrapping textile culture in southern Italy: evidence from Classical and Hellenistic Sicily","authors":"Gabriella Longhitano,&nbsp;Giovanni Quarta,&nbsp;Maurizio Masieri,&nbsp;Milena Primavera","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02297-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02297-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Archaeological textiles are rare in Sicily, except under specific environmental conditions, as the Sicilian climate is not conducive to the preservation of organic materials. Consequently, the study of textile culture in Sicily has primarily relied on the analysis of textile tools, which, in contrast, are both abundant and ubiquitous. This study presents the results of the analysis of textile remains recovered from the cemeteries of Vassallaggi (San Cataldo-Caltanissetta, Sicily) and Lipari (Aeolian islands, Sicily), located in central and northern Sicily, respectively. It offers the opportunity to examine the fifth-third century BC textile production at two sites on the island. The textiles have survived in a mineralised form as a result of direct contact with metal objects. The fabrics were mainly wrapped around grave goods — including urns containing cremated remains, the ashes, and items such as strigils and knives. The practice of wrapping grave objects was a well-documented funerary custom in Italy and Greece from as early as the Iron Age. In Sicily, it was observed among certain Greek and local communities during the Classical and Hellenistic periods. All textile fragments were examined using a digital microscope to analyse fabric structures, including weave types and thread characteristics. Fibre types were then identified through the use of a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The results allowed us to shed light on the textile culture in Classical and Hellenistic Sicily, placing it in the wider Mediterranean context. Moreover, the funerary practice of wrapping grave goods provided valuable insights into the role of textiles in contexts of cultural interactions, as well as the ways in which local communities expressed their social and cultural affiliations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12520-025-02297-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144896964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Reappraising the Gandhāra still: implications for understanding early distillation technology through experimentation and experimental reconstruction","authors":"Nicholas Groat","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02301-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02301-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The use of experimentation within studies of early distillation technology has largely taken a methodological approach which aims to demonstrate how suggested technical evolutions and apparatus configurations operate. This paper examines the viability of the ‘Gandhāra still’ reconstruction for distillation within a unified campaign of comparative and exploratory experimentation, acting as a framework for critical evaluation. First generated from interpretations on the function of predominately 2nd c. BCE– 4th c. CE ceramic vessels found across South-Central Asia, the Gandhāra still has been a central component in the conceptualisation of an “ancient Indian distillation hypothesis” that has received considerable attention in the historiography of science. This uptake in interest has led to researchers from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds to reinforce the still’s existence and distilling capacity, including through the use of experimentation. In response, this paper details a new campaign of experimental trials which identified functional reasons as to why the apparatus does not operate. Crucially, trials demonstrated how the interpreted set of apparatus components together cannot sufficiently condense produced distilling vapour due to their morphology. In tandem, the campaign revealed practical issues associated with internal reflux actions and pressurisation in the still that had not been identified previously. Further analysing such a pervasive dialogue on technical innovation invites wider re-evaluations of distillation technology chartings and introduces a nuanced suite of considerations in discussing the inception of early distillation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12520-025-02301-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144897172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"From neolithic to contemporary times: persistent use patterns of needle cases in Northeast Asia","authors":"Kozhevnikova Darya,&nbsp;Chistyakov Pavel,&nbsp;Zotkina Lydia,&nbsp;Kolobova Kseniya","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02304-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02304-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This paper presents an analysis of two exceptionally rare archaeological finds: bone needle cases containing loose sediments, within which needles and beads were identified through micro-CT scanning. These artifacts were recovered from Neolithic burials at the Verkholensk cemetery in the Cis-Baikal region of Eastern Siberia. While the discovery of needle cases containing needles is not uncommon, such artifacts are typically cleaned during post-excavation processing, often obscuring their original contents and spatial organization. The significance of these finds lies not merely in the presence of needles, but in their spatial arrangement within the cases. By analyzing the positioning of the needles and beads, we reconstruct how these items were handled and transported during the Neolithic period. Our findings suggest that a long leather strip or fragment was threaded through the needle case and attached to clothing or a belt, reflecting a high degree of daily and seasonal mobility among Neolithic populations. Notably, the presence of beads inside the needle cases provides the first direct evidence that these items served a multifunctional purpose—not only as containers for sewing kits but also for storing and transporting small objects. These findings offer significant insights into the economic practices and funerary rituals of Neolithic populations in Northeast Asia, highlighting the adaptive strategies and material culture of highly mobile communities.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144896965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The cinnabar network of the nobility: sulfur-isotope analysis of cinnabar samples from high-level tombs of the Western Han Dynasty","authors":"Fan Yang,&nbsp;Yong Liu,&nbsp;Wei Huang,&nbsp;Yanjiao Yu,&nbsp;Donghong He,&nbsp;Jun Yang,&nbsp;Wenbin Dong,&nbsp;Guanghui Li,&nbsp;Qingyu Chen,&nbsp;Shuang Zhao,&nbsp;Mingyue Yuan,&nbsp;Xiaotong Wu","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02305-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02305-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Cinnabar, a source of red pigment, was widely used and in high demand during the Han Dynasty of China; however, its primary source and circulation remain unclear. To investigate the provenance and circulation of cinnabar during the Han Dynasty, we collected cinnabar samples from artefacts excavated from five representative Han-dynasty sites—the Haihun Marquis Tomb, Nanyue King Tomb, Mawangdui Tomb, Guankou Han Tomb, and Zonglvcheng Han Tomb—and from the modern Youyang mercury mine near the Guankou Han Tomb. We subjected both the ancient (archaeological) and modern (ore) cinnabar samples to sulfur-isotope analysis. Significant variations in sulfur-isotope values were determined for the Western Han-period cinnabar, with overlapping isotope ranges among samples unearthed from distinct sites. The sulfur-isotope compositions of the cinnabar samples from different locations indicate at least three primary cinnabar production areas during the Han Dynasty. Among these, Wuchuan in Guizhou Province was likely the most important, serving as a production hub, with Xunyang in Shaanxi Province and Xingren in southwestern Guizhou providing supplementary materials for regional cinnabar consumption. This study highlights the substantial demand for cinnabar during the Han Dynasty, which drove the formation of a widespread cinnabar circulation network.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12520-025-02305-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144888111","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}