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Abstract: The territory of present-day Croatia, spanning the Western Balkans and Adriatic Sea, was a key corridor for the Neolithic spread into Europe via two main routes: a maritime path along the Adriatic coast and a continental route through the Central Balkans and Pannonian Plain. Adaptation to local climatic and cultural conditions reinforced distinct inland and coastal cultural traditions. However, to date few studies have systematically examined the dietary practices of Neolithic populations in both inland and coastal areas, leaving questions about continuity or divergence in resource use unresolved. This study offers one of the most extensive isotopic analyses of the Neolithic period in the territory of present-day Croatia, examining 78 human (adult and subadult) and 46 faunal remains from eight Early, Middle, and Middle/Late Neolithic sites in coastal (Istria) and inland (Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Syrmia counties) regions. Using δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S isotope analyses, our findings reveal no significant differences in human subsistence strategies over time or between coastal and inland sites. Diets were primarily based on C3 plants and terrestrial animals. Notably, most ovicaprids from our sample exhibit higher δ15N values than other herbivores from the sample, possibly reflecting distinct feeding or husbandry practices. This study enhances understanding of Neolithic dietary patterns in Croatia, shedding light on how agricultural practices were adopted and adapted in this region and contributing to broader discussions on the spread of the Neolithic across Southeastern Europe. PubDate: 2025-04-17
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Abstract: In contrast to predominant narratives of abortion and infanticide with medieval sex workers, this case study testifies to the potential care given to prostitutes’ children. It does so through ancient DNA and dietary stable isotope analyses of an infant buried in a 14th-century brothel in Aalst, Belgium. While no pathogens were identified, elevated δ15N values suggest breastfeeding. Infanticide in the strictest understanding of the term, immediately after birth, is therefore unlikely. Still, the presence of this infant outside of a regular cemetery is remarkable. Based on comparable sites and theological and popular beliefs, this deviant burial is interpreted within its domestic geography, which is suggestive of attachment and of an affective bond between parent and child. Thus, this study nuances the historical focus on abortion and infanticide with medieval sex workers and highlights the multiple roles of these women, including, potentially, that of caring mothers. PubDate: 2025-04-16
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Abstract: Few controlled feeding experiments have investigated the degree to which dietary lipids contribute carbon to structural tissues and influence isotopic signatures, and most studies have focused on soft tissues. This study utilizes a rodent model to examine the effects of a ketogenic diet (high fat, low carbohydrate) on the δ13C values derived from bone tissue (bone collagen and bone apatite). Femora were opportunistically harvested upon conclusion of an unrelated study, where adult rats had received either ketogenic diet (KD) or a micronutrient, protein, and calorie-matched standard diet (SD) for 6 months. Bone samples were prepared for stable isotope ratio analysis and δ13Ccollagen, δ15Ncollagen, δ13Capatite, and Δ13Capatite−collagen values were determined. Observed differences in δ13Ccollagen values between KD and SD groups indicate significant assimilation of lipid-derived carbon among the KD animals. KD-fed rats recorded lower δ13Capatite values and smaller Δ13Capatite−collagen values than those fed the SD, reflecting the respective dietary energy macronutrient profiles. Incomplete equilibration with the experimental diets precluded determination of Δ13Capatite−diet values, and possible group differences in isotopic discrimination associated with the metabolic shift from glycolysis to ketosis among the KD rats could not be evaluated. Experimental outcomes highlight the influence of dietary lipids on metabolic routing and suggest that sampling bone collagen alone could lead to inaccurate dietary interpretations among past human populations where access to carbohydrates was limited and lipids supplied the majority of daily energy needs. Implications for stable isotope analysis (SIA) and dietary reconstruction studies based on archaeological and neontological materials are discussed. PubDate: 2025-04-11
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Abstract: This paper takes the bronze wares excavated from the Fengpengling-Taohualing Cemetery in Changsha City, Hunan Province, as the research materials. Through scientific and technological analyses of their alloy composition, metallographic organization and lead isotopes, it discusses the production and mineral sources of bronze wares in the Changsha State of the Western Han Dynasty. The compositional analysis shows that the bronze wares excavated from the Changsha Fengpengling-Taohualing Cemetery are mainly lead–tin bronze and tin bronze, which are characterized by the alloy technology of high copper, low tin and low lead. All of the bronzes present cast structures, and some of the bronzes show signs of heat after casting, while no hot forged bronzes are seen. The lead isotope results show that the sources of copper ore in Changsha State in the Western Han Dynasty were diversified, with the Xiaoqinling-Yuxi being the most important source, and the Nanling and the Edong-Ganbei regions also being important supplements. After the middle and late Western Han, although the central government centralized the manufacture and distribution of bronze wares, its control over the local fiefdoms may not have been as strict as imagined. The bronze production of local feudal states should still have had a certain degree of autonomy of choice under the unified management of the central government. The Changsha State in Western Han Dynasty may have had its own independent bronze production workshops, with a wide variety of bronze wares and well-developed manufacturing techniques. PubDate: 2025-04-11
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Abstract: In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of turquoise artifacts excavated from the Xingong site in Beijing using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Initially, examination of polished facets and drilling marks revealed sophisticated ancient techniques. SEM observations identified characteristic mineral inclusions. Based on trace element concentrations, all the turquoise samples were classified as sedimentary metamorphic in origin. A detailed comparison of eight key trace elements (Ba, Cr, Mo, Ni, Sb, U, V, and Zn) allowed us to exclude several turquoise mining regions, pinpointing Shaanxi, Henan, and Hubei as likely sources. Due to generally low lead content, only one sample was suitable for lead isotope analysis. Therefore, we primarily employed strontium isotope analysis to further refine the provenance, ultimately confirming that the samples originated from the southern belt of the Hubei-Henan-Shaanxi turquoise mining area. Our findings highlight the significant role of turquoise in regional trade networks during the Shang Dynasty, emphasizing the Xingong site’s importance in facilitating communication with the south. This research not only deepens our understanding of ancient craftsmanship and trade routes but also demonstrates the potential of integrating trace element and isotopic analyses in archaeological provenance studies, setting a precedent for future investigations. PubDate: 2025-04-11
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Abstract: Understanding taphonomic processes is essential for reconstructing past environmental dynamics and interpreting mixed sites, where successive occupations by different biological agents have occurred and, in many cases, have been modified by post-depositional processes. Such is the case in the western part of Buena Pinta Cave (Pinilla del Valle, Madrid). In this study, three Units with different taphonomic histories were analysed. Unit 32 A contains fossil remains that were incorporated by low-energy water currents during the cave's opening. Unit 23 shows an accumulation of bone remains that were resedimented and reworked by a high-energy current, which illustrates how post-depositional processes can create an assemblage with asynchronous taphocoenoses embedded in the same geological event. Finally, Unit 2/3 contains a bone assemblage that was primarily produced by hyenas, although it may also have been used sporadically by Neanderthals and other small carnivores. These findings provide a reference for comparison and evaluation of other archaeo-palaeontological sites with similar problems in caves and mixed sites. PubDate: 2025-04-10
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Abstract: This study explores and innovatively proposes a paradigm for applying Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) to the micro-analysis of painted pottery production in archaeology. An ethnoarchaeological study of three modern painted pottery workshops reveals that the dot patterns painted by three different potters exhibit distinct structures and degrees of regularity, reflecting their unique painting styles. These stylistic differences are crucial for effectively distinguishing pottery painted by individual potters, and CNN techniques have proven highly effective in identifying potters with distinct styles. Further application of this technique to painted potteries from the second phase of the Miaodigou site demonstrates that the potteries can be categorised into at least three groups, each exhibiting a distinct painting style. This suggests that at least three potters (or three groups of potters) were involved in the production of the pottery, each displaying unique preferences in decorative motifs, overall composition, and stylistic execution. PubDate: 2025-04-09
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Abstract: The evolutionary significance of the regional Middle Stone Age (MSA) Lupemban industry is explored by applying macroscopic lithic use-wear analysis to a securely stratified sample of core-axes from Kalambo Falls (Zambia). Radiometrically dated to ~ 265 ka BP (Twin Rivers, Zambia), the Lupemban is associated with the first sustained hominin settlement of the Central African woodland and rainforest belt. In this context, the development of sophisticated composite technologies bears directly on longstanding debates about the origins of behavioural and cognitive complexity in early Homo sapiens. The composite heavy-duty woodworking function historically proposed for Lupemban core-axes is a testable hypothesis that bridges the issues of hafting and woodland resource exploitation, which together underpin the industry’s purported evolutionary significance. Kalambo Falls provides the only stratified sample of Lupemban implements from Central Africa. Examination of 115 core-axes however reveals the overall condition of the collection is poor, and that a range of post-depositional surface alterations means neither microscopic traces nor residues are preserved. Functional interpretations thus necessarily rest on the patterning of macroscopic damage. Nineteen artefacts in good condition were identified and subjected to detailed analysis. Their comparison with a 245-piece experimental reference collection including 81 replica core-axes used both hafted and handheld for chopping and adzing wood, and for digging activities, reveals that only two Lupemban core-axes have clear traces, and these are consistent with heavy-duty contact on medium-hard contact materials; a hardness range that includes wood. Digging is not supported but other potential functions cannot be excluded. Direct hafting evidence is absent. This first glimpse into Lupemban core-axe function highlights the extreme difficulty of deriving high-resolution behavioural inferences from the Central African MSA record. PubDate: 2025-04-05
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Abstract: The Waterway Pass known as 'Jinguan' (津关) in China serves as a vital official facility to regulate waterway transportation systems and resources. The references to Jinguan found within historical documents, such as bamboo and wooden slips, have not yet yielded a thorough understanding of its exact location and architectural features. This study presents the first excavated archaeological site of Jinguan located in Southwest China—Chengba site—of which main remains are belong to the period about 2000 years ago. A comprehensive geoarchaeological investigation was conducted at the Chengba site, which included field geomorphological assessments and experimental analytical methods such as dating and sediment analysis (particle size, magnetic susceptibility, chroma, and soil micromorphology). The findings reveal that the sedimentary environment has changed from wet to dry, and the landforms have evolved from riverside beaches and lake marshes into floodplains and terraces. Furthermore, structures within Jinguan have adapted to changes in this region's micro-geomorphological environment. The findings of this research reconstruct the evolutionary process of ancient landforms associated with China's earliest Jinguan site; we also explore relationships between site selection, transformations in architectural styles, and hydrological shifts that occurred in Sichuan during the Han and Jin Dynasties. PubDate: 2025-04-04
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Abstract: The osteological analysis of human skeletal assemblages offers crucial osteobiographical insights into ancient populations, yet remains largely unexplored in past Tunisia. This paper presents the first archaeological investigation of Tunisian medieval burials, unearthed during excavations between 2016–2017 and 2021–2022. This interdisciplinary study, combining archaeology, bioarchaeology, and paleopathology, examines skeletons from Koudiet er Rammadiya, a site in the Wadi Serrat region. The main aim is to investigate the funerary practices, health, and lifestyle of individuals from medieval North-western Tunisia, shedding light on this underexplored population. The focus is on the site’s final phases of use and occupation, exploring funerary practices and rituals from the early Islamic period. The skeletal assemblage dates to two main periods: the seventh century CE and the fifteenth century CE. Osteological analysis revealed a minimum number of individuals (MNI) of 10, including three young females and two foetuses. A preliminary palaeopathological assessment identified a congenital condition in two individuals. An exploratory stable isotope analysis highlighted dietary practices focused on a predominantly terrestrial diet and a possible shared local origin for all the buried individuals. PubDate: 2025-04-04
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Abstract: The Maltese Temples, built between 3800 and 2400 BC, are unique structures among the prehistoric monuments of Europe. Their consistent architectural style is characterised by straight entrance corridors leading to open courtyards. This led scholars to ask whether there may have been some intention to orientate their entrances in specific, meaningful ways. Previous attempts to answer this question have either proposed explanations without any formal analysis, only looking to disprove randomness, or have jumped to celestial interpretations without first exploring topographical ones. By contrast, we here deploy a single statistical framework to test the orientation of the Maltese temples against a variety of hypotheses, both terrestrial and celestial. Using a new set of orientation measurements for 32 structures (the largest sample ever analysed) the statistical analysis indicates that despite most temples having orientations that can be explained either by chance, terrain aspect, protection from wind or winter sunlight, there are some patterns of orientation that cannot be explained by any of these hypotheses. These patterns are only statistically significant for temples of the earlier, Ġgantija phase of construction and they match the rising or setting of neighbouring stars of the southern celestial hemisphere. It is argued that these stellar matches were unlikely to be coincidences in that they probably were important stars for astronavigation (as they still are today) in the central Mediterranean. Finally, we suggest that the temples, in addition to other symbolic or social purposes may have been places of instruction for young seafarers to learn these important navigational stars. PubDate: 2025-04-03
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Abstract: Ghar-e Boof represents an exceptional Paleolithic site in the southern Zagros Mountains. Due to its long Late Pleistocene sequence that spans from ca. 81 ka until the Epipaleolithic, the site offers a unique opportunity to investigate long-term hominin behavioral patterns on a local scale. In this paper, we examine diachronic trends in prey choice and site occupation intensity during the Middle Paleolithic (MP) through early Upper Paleolithic (UP) at Ghar-e Boof as determined from zooarchaeological data, find densities, accumulation rates, and frequencies of retouched tools. To better understand foraging conditions, variation (or the lack thereof) in species representation and relative abundances are analyzed following the prey choice model of optimal foraging theory. Based on energetic return rates and procurement costs, we distinguish between high-ranked (large and small, slow-moving game) and low-ranked (small-bodied or small, fast-moving game) resources. The occupants of Ghar-e Boof preferentially hunted large game during the MP and early UP and relied on caprines as the main source of meat and marrow. However, there is an increase in the exploitation of fast-moving animals, mostly partridges, relative to small, slow-moving tortoises through the sequence. In addition, site occupation intensity also increased with time. A more intense use of Ghar-e Boof during the early UP may reflect larger groups of people living at the site, more frequent visits, longer periods of occupation, or a combination of some, if not all, of these possibilities. The increased economic importance of lower-ranked prey does not appear to track major environmental or climatic changes, and most likely is tied to higher hunting pressures. The archaeological record of Ghar-e Boof is currently the only example in the Zagros that illustrates the complex interactions between demography, site use, and socioeconomic decisions during the Late Pleistocene, a crucial time period in human evolution. PubDate: 2025-04-03
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Abstract: The types of reindeer hunting, keeping, and herding in Fennoscandia have seen different periods of transformations and have found unique side by side expressions through time. To refine zooarchaeological analysis and scrutinize reindeer domestication and other past ancient human-reindeer relationships in the North, we propose methods for identifying sex, castration status, and ecotype/variety from complete and fragmented reindeer bones. This study examines the leg bones and pelvises of 161 reindeer from the Fennoscandian domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus), Norwegian wild mountain reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) and Finnish wild forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus). We include intact males, castrated males, and females in our study. Ecotype (fennicus versus tarandus), variety (wild versus domestic tarandus), sex, and castration status are shown to influence bone growth in often element- and dimension-dependent ways. We demonstrate that metric variance is highest in fennicus and castrated domestic tarandus. Slenderness as expressed by diaphysis breadth–length index is sex and (albeit less) ecotype dependent, while distal breadth–bone length indices are mostly ecotype dependent. Scatterplots that combine slenderness with other measurement variables result in independent clustering between groups. The combination of two measurement variables facilitates ecotype/variety, sex, and castration status assignment due to independent clustering of groups. Our classification model based on isometric size and shape can be used to differentiate ecotype/variety, but not sex and castration status, due to limitation of group sizes. This study shows that reindeer ecotype, variety, sex, and castration status can be demonstrated through straightforward osteometric methods. We suggest cautious application in archaeological contexts because of (relative) changes in body size of past reindeer populations and our limited sample size, of especially wild male tarandus. PubDate: 2025-04-01
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Abstract: Sex estimation based on amelogenin peptides in dental enamel has opened up possibilities to study prehistoric demography in a new light. The application of this technique is of particular importance for the analysis of prehistoric collective burials, where the commingled and disarticulated nature of human remains makes sex estimations challenging. This paper presents data on the sex of 35 individuals from the Late Neolithic-Chalcolithic site of Perdigões (Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal), obtained by amelogenin peptide analysis of dental enamel. The results are combined with observations on chronological and spatial distribution of the burial structures as well as strontium isotope data obtained from the same teeth. The new evidence enables the analysis of sex-specific mobility patterns, even at a site where the large majority of human remains discovered to date (MNI = 565) are heavily commingled and highly fragmented. The results show a greater number of males (n = 6) than females (n = 2) among the local individuals, and a balance between males (n = 14) and females (n = 13) among non-local ones, suggesting similar mobility for both sexes. These results are contextualized with the evidence available both for the Iberian Peninsula and the European continent. The greater female mobility observed at sites with similar chronologies in Central Europe, which has been interpreted in terms of female exogamy and patrilocality, is not replicated at Perdigões, where males and females have similar strontium isotope values. PubDate: 2025-03-29
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Abstract: The topography of alluvial plains in Europe has been strongly affected and overprinted by different diachronic human activities, and modern land use has reworked geomorphological and archaeological traces, often hindering the reconstruction of past landscapes and the assessment of ancient environmental impacts. In this work, set in the distal Venetian-Friulian Plain, in northeastern Italy, we took advantage of the presence of the last remnants of semi-natural lowland forests, and we combined high-resolution remotely sensed data to detect and map a specific type of archaeological trace related to clay quarrying. Analysis of digital terrain models (DTMs) obtained from LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) revealed topographic traces underneath forested or recently deforested areas while photointerpretation of satellite and aerial imagery was crucial in detecting levelled traces. Moreover, we used hand augering techniques to assess the depth and infill material of the clay quarry evidence. Our investigation recognized nine Roman sites, consisting of hundreds of quadrangular pits (124.8 m2 size – 1 m depth), which lie on top of Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) alluvial clays. We infer these pits to be Roman quarried workshops connected to nearby kilns, where clays were extracted for ceramic building material (CBM) and pottery production. The unique signature of such traces, coupled with their resilience in the highly anthropized study area, underlines a Roman proto-industrial impact on the landscape, and suggests the existence of similar evidence in other plains under the Roman domain. PubDate: 2025-03-28
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Abstract: The long Middle Palaeolithic sequence of Tabun Cave covers a vital time of human dispersal across the Levant, both from Africa and from Europe. The sequence contains two of the human morphotypes found in the Levant during this period, most usually assigned to Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans, providing a unique opportunity to investigate whether there are behavioural differences between the two human groups. We approach this through the bird remains that offer a novel proxy to examine changes in the palaeoenvironment and potentially, human subsistence at Mount Carmel during the Middle Palaeolithic. We present the first systematic account of avian remains from Tabun layers C and B, along with a detailed taphonomic study. We identified 47 avian species from 27 stratified samples at Tabun Cave, including game birds, diurnal and nocturnal raptors, waterbirds, pigeons, and small songbirds. All constitute part of the present, or historically documented, avifauna of Israel, though not necessarily in the vicinity of the cave. Raptors seem to be a major depositional agent of birds in the cave, especially in the upper sedimentary unit (Tabun B). In contrast, some human contribution to the avian deposition is suggested in the lower part (Tabun C), based on the taxonomic dominance of rock doves and some evidence for cooking. Humans likely collected and exploited birds from the adjacent coastal plain, too. The identified avian taxa represent a full annual cycle of sedentary and migratory species, indicating largely similar conditions to the present day in Tabun B. Conversely, fluctuations in humidity and temperature in Tabun C were in conjunction to the most substantial human occupation of the examined sequence. PubDate: 2025-03-26
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Abstract: Levallois technology, a hallmark of Middle Palaeolithic stone tool manufacture, involves sophisticated core reduction strategies that have major implications for understanding human cognitive and technological evolution. However, traditional methods of analysing Levallois cores often fail to capture the nuanced variability in their morphology. This study introduces a novel application of three-dimensional geometric morphometrics (GM) to quantify the shape variability of Nubian Levallois cores from the Nile Valley and Dhofar regions. By employing this technique, we analysed core surfaces and preferential scar shapes, identifying distinct regional and technological patterns. Our results reveal significant inter-regional differences in core elongation and surface convexity, highlighting the importance of shape-oriented, rather than metric-based, analysis of prepared cores. This new GM approach offers a robust and replicable tool for investigating lithic variability and holds potential for broader applications in Palaeolithic research, enhancing our understanding of human technological adaptations. PubDate: 2025-03-24
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Abstract: Bioarchaeological studies of faunal remains are an important method for understanding how prehistoric groups utilized mountainous regions, offering the possibility of studying the diversity and complexity of pastoralist practices in high pastures. The Late Bronze Age (1500 − 1100 BCE) in the South Caucasus is an era when the use of high mountain areas was substantially transformed as part of the development of new forms of social, political, and economic organization. Earlier work on herding practices during this time period revealed notable diversity in the diets and birth seasonality of sheep at sites in the Tsaghkahovit Plain. This article presents strontium, carbon, and oxygen isotopes from a new sample of cattle and goat teeth, and uses the expanded assemblage of cattle and goat teeth from the sites of Gegharot and Tsaghkahovit to investigate how cattle and goat isotopic biographies differed from sheep. Stable oxygen and carbon isotope values indicate that cattle and caprines drank from different sources of water and may have had differently patterns of mobility, pointing to diversity in diets and water sources within and between these taxa. Cattle birth seasonality is neither substantially restricted or expanded. Goats show a pattern of extended birth seasonality, but one that differs from the pattern of extended birth season in sheep from these sites. These results indicate the complexity of the pastoralist system that developed at mountainous sites in the Late Bronze Age. PubDate: 2025-03-24
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Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of chronic sinusitis in an osteoarchaeological sample from the Kostolec cemetery in the Ducové village (Slovakia) dated from the Late Bronze Age (1250–1000 BC) to the Modern Age (mid 16th–mid 19th century AD). The skeletons of 1,746 individuals were examined: 13 from the Late Bronze Age (LBA), 28 from the Great Moravian Period (GM), 1,468 from the Medieval Period (M) and 237 from the Modern Age (MA). The prevalence of sinusitis was 11.11% in the LBA, 45.00% in the GM, 38.39% in the M, and 37.16% in the MA population. There were no significant differences between males and females. The hypothesis of an increasing prevalence of sinusitis with increasing age was confirmed in two populations (the M – p = 0.0001; the MA – p = 0.0038). This trend may be due to the longer exposure of older people to adverse external and internal environmental factors. In both adults and non-adults, the maxillary sinuses were the most frequently affected. The high prevalence of inflammation in the maxillary sinuses may be explained by the fact that they are mainly affected by nasal and also odontogenic infections, in contrast to inflammation in the frontal or sphenoidal sinuses, which are rare. PubDate: 2025-03-22
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