Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences最新文献

{"title":"A Late Iron Age hillfort under the magnifying glass. Microarchaeological research at Icedo fortified site (Burgos, Spain)","authors":"Jesús García Sánchez,&nbsp;Alejandra Sanchez-Polo,&nbsp;Miguel Ángel Sánchez-Carro,&nbsp;Marta Portillo,&nbsp;Guillermo Marín García,&nbsp;María Pastor Quiles,&nbsp;María Martín-Seijo,&nbsp;Eduardo Arancón-Torrecilla,&nbsp;Victor Vicente-García","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02299-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02299-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study focuses on domestic architecture from the Early-Late Iron Age (5th to first centuries BCE) at the hillfort of Icedo, which is located in the Las Loras Geopark in Burgos, Spain. The most up-to-date methodological approaches to macro and micro analysis are used to explore the topic. In other words, it examines the architectural, social and ecological characteristics of the so-called Late Iron Age oppida. This approach aims to shed light on mountain occupation and resource acquisition during the late 1st millennium BCE. Microcontextual geoarchaeological methods were employed to analyse the domestic architecture of the site, which consists mainly of a circular hut built with a limestone base, clay, lime and vegetal materials. These methods included micromorphology, in addition to integrated phytolith, calcitic microfossil and charcoal analysis. Previous stratigraphic excavations revealed well-preserved construction remains, such as wooden frameworks covered with lime and clay plasters. The paper's results emphasise the use of agricultural by-products, notably cereal straw, as stabilisers in earthern building materials. Radiocarbon dating indicates that the hillfort was constructed between 515 and 385 cal BCE, which correlates with neighbouring Late Iron Age sites, such as the La Ulaña <i>oppidum</i>. Further analyses of charcoal, phytoliths, and calcitic microremains suggest a reliance on local plant resources and an advanced understanding of the selection and preparation of materials. Integrating macro- and microarchaeological evidence, such as charcoal, pottery, bone, pollen, phytoliths, and geomorphology, has provided insights into the socio-economic practices of the inhabitants and their adaptation to the mountainous landscape. This interdisciplinary approach improves our understanding of the domestic and spatial organisation of protohistoric settlements and their cultural significance in the Cantabrian Mountains. The case-study contributes to broader discussions on societal resilience and the interactions between indigenous communities and their environments during the Late Iron Age.</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/s12520-025-02299-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144888105","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":"Domestic activities at Las eras del Alcázar (Úbeda-Jaén, Southern Iberia) through phytolith and calcitic microfossil evidence","authors":"Victoria García-Martínez,&nbsp;Marta Portillo,&nbsp;Montserrat Llorente,&nbsp;Rafael Lizcano,&nbsp;Francisco Contreras","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02300-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02300-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The archaeological site of Las Eras del Alcázar is situated in Úbeda (Jaén) and its chronological sequence spans from the second quarter of the 4th millennium BC to the first quarter of the 2nd millennium BC. This study aims to present the findings obtained from integrated microfossil analyses, including phytoliths, calcitic plant and faecal microremains, from a Bronze Age dwelling displaying three well-defined stony floor sequences and a hearth from sector 16. The phytolith assemblages were in general well-preserved. Elongated dendritic phytoliths and epidermal appendages, often considered fragile morphologies, were frequently observed in the samples. The phytolith assemblages were dominated by grass silica short cells produced from the Pooideae subfamily, which includes cereals such as wheat (<i>Triticum</i> sp.) and barley (<i>Hordeum</i> sp.), species found at the site in macrobotanical records. Of particular note is the presence of echinate spheroid phytoliths, characteristic of palms (Arecaceae), likely from <i>Chamaerops humilis</i>, which is native to Mediterranean regions. This is significant as these fragile plant remains are largely absent from macrobotanical assemblages. In addition to phytoliths, calcitic wood ash pseudomorphs, morphologically resembling those produced by the <i>Quercus</i> genus were also recorded, which could relate to the use of these plants for fuel, among other purposes. Overall, these findings provide a more comprehensive understanding of plant use and domestic activities within Argaric households from a diachronic perspective.</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/s12520-025-02300-9.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144887969","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":"Bronze production and lead resource circulation in the Yuhuangmiao Culture of the Eastern Zhou dynasty","authors":"Tiancheng Zhou,&nbsp;Meng Hong,&nbsp;Jieyi Zuo,&nbsp;Wenrui Zhang,&nbsp;Yanxiang Li,&nbsp;Chengyuan Li","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02273-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02273-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The Yuhuangmiao Culture is regarded as a key representative example of the Late Bronze Age in northern China. This paper presents findings from a project conducted by the Hebei Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology, which re-evaluated artifacts excavated from significant Yuhuangmiao Culture sites, particularly the Manzigou Cemetery and the Paotaishan Cemetery. The study focused on various bronze samples, which underwent multiple analytical techniques to conduct an in-depth analysis of the production process of bronze and the source of the lead materials used. The evidence suggests that a casting system for a copper-tin-lead ternary alloy was established by the maturity phase of the Yuhuangmiao Culture, and bronze production primarily utilized B lead, supplemented by C lead sources from the Central Plains. The findings indicate a complex network of exchange and interaction between the Central Plains and the Eurasian steppe, shaped by the interplay of these two distinct cultural regions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144880887","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":"Like a burning British neck: red to brown slipped vessels in Early Bronze Age Kontopigado-Alimos, Attica","authors":"Che-Hsien Tsai,&nbsp;Konstantina Kaza-Papageorgiou,&nbsp;Anno Hein,&nbsp;Peter M. Day","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02293-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02293-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study examines Early Helladic I-II (EH I-II) pottery from Kontopigado, Alimos, located in the Attica Peninsula. The EH I assemblage is dominated by pottery with red to brown surfaces and/or compact burnished finishes, a distinctive feature of EH I Attica that persisted in smaller numbers into the EH II period. Macroscopic analysis identified various fabrics of these visually similar but compositionally distinct ceramics within the assemblages. To characterise these, and to investigate their provenance and production technology, thin-section petrography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were employed to analyse the ceramic fabrics and surface treatments. The results indicate that these vessels were produced by a number of production centres in Attica and Aegina, each employing distinct raw materials and technological approaches to create similar aesthetic surface effects. Examination of surface layers and microstructures revealed variations in finishing techniques and firing conditions that contributed to their visual and physical characteristics. Continuity in the production and consumption of these wares is observed into the EH II period, but with some technological changes. We suggest the existence of multiple production centres of these vessels during the EH I-II periods, and the regular exchange between sites of comparable pottery types, contributing to our understanding of technological diversity, regional interactions and patterns of consumption within the region of Attica during the Early Bronze Age.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144880886","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":"Zooarchaeological perspectives on the medieval consumptionscape at Monte Iato (Sicily)","authors":"Benjamin Wimmer","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02306-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02306-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This paper presents faunal remains from medieval Monte Iato in Western Sicily. Five assemblages from independent architectural structures in close spatial proximity are discussed. The architectural features from which the material was recovered date to the 13th century AD. At this time Monte Iato was a stronghold of insurrectionists under Arab leadership against Emperor Frederick II. During the ensuing power struggles the settlement on the mountain plateau was destroyed twice according to literary sources – in 1222/1223 AD and again in 1246 AD. Faunal remains from this time highlight different synchronous consumption patterns in close proximity. Three architectural units show a basic subsistence strategy focussing predominantly on sheep and goat. The other two units diverge significantly. Faunal remains from one house show a high percentage of deer and equid remains which can tentatively be linked to an elevated social status. The material from another house is dominated by pig, possibly due to a high proportion of residual bones. While the assemblages’ diverging patterns were in part created by contrasting taphonomic pathways, they may also reflect the different socio-economic status of the consumers involved.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12520-025-02306-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144868908","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":"A morphological, morphometric and geochemical characterization of the El Jobo projectile points – diversity and significance in early human populations across the Americas","authors":"Diego Vargas,&nbsp;Kévin Le Verger,&nbsp;Guido L. B. Wiesenberg,&nbsp;Carlos von Büren,&nbsp;Jorge D. Carrillo-Briceño,&nbsp;Arturo Jaimes,&nbsp;Marcelo R. Sánchez-Villagra","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02296-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02296-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The El Jobo projectile points represent a distinctive design innovation of Late Pleistocene Neotropical human groups. This technology, characterized by its fusiform/lanceolate shape, has been recorded mainly in northwestern Venezuela in a variety of geographical areas and in association with megafauna killing/butchering sites. To characterize it, address its significance, and analyse possible continental relationships, four consecutive approaches were conducted. A representative sample of El Jobo projectile points was subject to technological approximation, morphological classification, outline-based geometric morphometric analysis, and elemental composition analysis. Six morphological types were recognized, for which a common series of manufacture steps was hypothesized. Mainly collateral and irregular flaking patterns were identified, also recording new basal variability, including fluting, fluting-like and reconfiguration techniques. The four most representative morphological types were subjected to morphometric analysis. Elliptic Fourier and Principal Component analyses identified at least three clusters, with width variation mainly distinguishing their shapes, and statistical tests determined significative differences between the main morphological types. The elemental analysis revealed the main use of quarzitic rocks, with variations in elemental composition indicative of diverse sources. The observed variability and cumulative evidence of El Jobo projectile points suggests their adaptation to diverse hunting strategies. The wide geographic distribution of tools and the morphometric comparison with a Monte Verde projectile suggest potential long-distance connections of El Jobo with other projectile point technologies across the continent.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12520-025-02296-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144853596","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":"Resilience of traditional pottery practices in the face of change: clay recipes and technological shifts in early medieval Southern Pannonia","authors":"Andreja Kudelić,&nbsp;Tajana Sekelj Ivančan,&nbsp;Natali Neral,&nbsp;Ivan Valent","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02291-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02291-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study examines pottery production and technological shifts in the southwestern Pannonian Basin during the Early Middle Ages, focusing on the transition from Late Antiquity to the Early Medieval period, characterised by changes in social, cultural, and economic structures. The research targets two key settlement phases from the lowland region along the Drava River—one from the late 6th to early 7th century (Phase 1), and the other from the mid-7th to mid-8th century (Phase 2). By analysing ceramic samples from sites like Hlebine-Dedanovice and Torčec-Prečno pole I, the study investigates changes in raw material selection, tempering practices, and technological techniques, employing a techno-petrographic approach, including X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and optical microscopy (OM). These methods provide insights into how pottery production evolved, reflecting broader cultural adaptations in the region. The study also explores how traditional craft practices, particularly the handmade production of cooking pots, persisted even with the introduction of the potter's wheel, highlighting the resilience of local traditions. By addressing technological and cultural continuities and changes, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how local communities navigated transitions during this transformative period, offering a comprehensive view of the socio-cultural dynamics reflected in pottery production. This research contributes to the broader understanding of material culture and technological transitions in early medieval Europe.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144853595","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":"Homo erectus technological behaviors during the Middle Pleistocene Transition: Engaji Nanyori, Oldupai Gorge","authors":"Arturo Cueva-Temprana,&nbsp;María Soto,&nbsp;Pamela Akuku,&nbsp;Raquel Hernando,&nbsp;Siobhán Clarke,&nbsp;Julien Favreau,&nbsp;Stephen Magohe,&nbsp;Abdallah Mohamed,&nbsp;Aloyce Mwambwiga,&nbsp;Nicole Boivin,&nbsp;Michael Petraglia,&nbsp;Julio Mercader","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02285-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02285-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The Acheulean technocomplex is a milestone in the evolutionary adaptability, technological development, and dispersal of <i>Homo erectus</i>. While the earlier phases of the Acheulean have been thoroughly investigated in Eastern Africa, reliably dated assemblages in environmental context spanning the Middle Pleistocene Transition (1.2–0.8 Ma) are extremely rare at a global scale. Engaji Nanyori (Bed III, Oldupai Gorge) is one of a few sites offering a window into Acheulean behavior during this critical period of climatic crisis and aridification. We study lithic assemblages from recent excavations of an Acheulean occupational sequence dated 1.1–0.9 Ma, revealing a stable technological system that focused on flake production by relying on Oldowan-like knapping strategies while rendering infrequent the manufacture of Large Cutting Tools. We present a continental analysis of Acheulean technologies during the Middle Pleistocene transition aimed at exploring the influence of climatic, ecological, and environmental instability on adaptability. Our results underscore the numerous similarities between the technological strategies of Engaji Nanyori and those of the penecontemporary sites, illustrating the uniform character of African Acheulean assemblages regardless of their temporal, geographical or environmental settings.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s12520-025-02285-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144832277","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":"Mining gold and shaping clay: The production and consumption of bronze age pottery at ada tepe goldmine, Bulgaria","authors":"Clare Burke,&nbsp;Laura Burkhardt,&nbsp;Yana Dimitrova,&nbsp;Nicholas Groat,&nbsp;Barbara Horejs,&nbsp;Hristo Popov","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02279-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02279-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This paper examines the production of Late Bronze Age pottery (1480–1150 calBC) from two settlement areas of Ada Tepe, SE Bulgaria, Europe’s oldest goldmine. We present the results of an integrated approach that combines, typology, macroscopic fabric examination, thin section petrography, and small-scale analysis by scanning electron microscopy. The data from these analyses are used to investigate the possible sources of potting raw materials, elements of technological practice, and the repertoire of shapes being produced. Our study suggests the presence of potters who used broadly local raw materials to make a wide range of vessel types catering to a variety of needs that the mining community had, from storage to tableware. The pottery is predominantly characterized by silicate-rich metamorphic fabrics across all periods sampled, indicating long-established paste recipes shared between the two settlement areas. Additionally, we have identified paste recipes that seem to be more chronologically distinct, potentially reflecting the transition towards Iron Age potting practices.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144832276","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":"Ethnic identification of late shang bronze wares from the Guanzhong Plain: scientific analysis of bronze artifacts from M90 at the Xitou Site, Xunyi county, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province","authors":"Tian Zuo,&nbsp;Dian Chen,&nbsp;Haifeng Dou,&nbsp;Wugan Luo","doi":"10.1007/s12520-025-02287-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s12520-025-02287-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The Guanzhong Plain has always been significant in ancient China, particularly during the late Shang period, when the Predynastic Zhou (pre-Zhou) culture and Shang culture intermingled. In order to discuss the ethnicity of some late Shang period bronzes by scientific methods, this study selects bronze wares and casting cores from M90 of the Xitou site in the northwestern Guanzhong Plain. Metallography, SEM–EDS, MC-ICP-MS, LA-ICP-MS and WD-XRF were used to investigate the techniques, metal sources, and casting workshops of the bronze wares. By integrating these findings with published materials from other contemporary sites, the technological analysis can help identify ethnic affiliations between the Shang and pre-Zhou cultures in the Guanzhong Plain during the late Shang period. The samples from M90 with a lead content exceeding 2% generally have higher lead levels and likely to use lead from North China geochemical province. Additionally, the copper ore contains lower zinc levels. The results also indicated that one sample was not locally cast and probably originated from the Yinxu site. Therefore, M90 is closer to the Shang culture of Yinxu in terms of resources and technology, with interaction with the Guanzhong Shang culture. This discovery provides a valuable reference for determining cultural affiliations of bronze in the Guanzhong region during the late Shang period, particularly for incomplete artifacts from severely looted tombs without sufficient typological characteristic.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8214,"journal":{"name":"Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences","volume":"17 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144832278","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}