Abstract: A new quality assurance framework was developed to assess the reliability of 14C ages from a small-scale legacy dataset from archaeological sites across the Torres Strait (northeastern Australia). Chronometric transparency principles were applied across three stages of data analysis, comprising of a basic, immediate, and advanced assessment of the 14C ages and associated metadata. Reliability ratings (1*, 2*, 3*, and 4*) were assigned to represent data confidence in individual radiocarbon ages. Results demonstrate the utility of radiocarbon ages of high, medium, and low reliability in creating chronological reconstructions. We determine that of the 343 14C ages, 73% were awarded a reliability rating of 3* or above. Published on 2023-02-16 10:22:53
Abstract: The dataset contains a typological catalogue of archaeological small finds of an ancient device known as a “bone rule” or “bone ruler” or “bone spatula,” together with scaled drawing and full metadata for each item in the catalogue. The ancient device has been identified as some type of scribal tool [8, 9, 13, 28, 45]. The dataset is assembled from publications; from online resources; and from individual scholars. The PDF Bone_Rules_Catalogue file records all pertinent available information, including find spots, inventory number, measurements, scaled thumbnails, and notes including inventory numbers, bibliographical references, and citations for plates and drawings. The PDF Bone_Rules_Catalogue file is best for a conspectus of known specimens. The PDF Bone_Rules_Catalogue file also records other bone objects improperly claimed as bone rules, and a full bibliography, both of which are included also as separate PDF files (PDF Other_Bone_Objects, PDF Bibliography) as a convenience. The CSV Catalogue_Proper file contains all fields in the PDF catalogue in csv format, but also breaks spatial and measurement data into separate fields and regularizes field contents. The CSV Catalogue_Proper file is therefore best for data processing. The full-scale drawings with metadata form the remainder of the core dataset. The catalogue and full dataset are meant to accompany the analysis and discussion in William A. Johnson, “Scribal Tools of the Trade: Bone Rules, Dividers, and Lamps as Writing Aids,” Segno e Testo 2023 [41]. Published on 2023-01-13 09:32:44
Abstract: The dataset described in this paper comprises one component of the project ‘EIDOS of a City: simulating the collapse and resilience of ancient Eastern Mediterranean urban environments via agent-based modelling’. The dataset consists of 1559 archaeological settlements from across Cyprus, with dates ranging from the Late Epipalaeolithic (11000 BCE) to the end of the Ottoman Period (1878 CE). Settlement data were gathered primarily from large survey projects as well as from select special purpose publications with the aim of gaining a broad temporal understanding of Cypriot settlement persistence. The dataset is deposited on GitHub and linked to Zenodo to enable future updates to the existing dataset. There is substantial reuse potential for applying to research across Cyprus and comparatively within the wider Mediterranean. Published on 2022-12-20 12:06:38
Abstract: AfriArch is an archaeological and paleoenvironmental data community designed to integrate datasets related to human-environmental interactions in Holocene Africa. Here we present a dataset of bioarchaeological stable isotope (C/N/O) and radiocarbon measurements from African archaeological sites spanning the Holocene. Modern measurements, when reported together with archaeological data in original publications, are also included. The dataset consists of 5568 entries and covers the entirety of Africa, though most isotopic research has been concentrated in southern Africa. The AfriArch isotopic dataset can be used in paleodietary, paleodemography, paleoclimatic, and paleoenvironmental studies. It can also be employed to highlight data gaps across space and time and set future research agendas. Published on 2022-12-08 12:43:54
Abstract: This dataset is comprised of metric and non-metric lithic assemblage data from terminal Pleistocene through late Holocene prehistoric lithic assemblages recovered at nineteen archaeological sites in the upper Susitna River basin, southern Alaska Range. The data is stored in The Digital Archaeological Record public repository. This dataset has the potential to be reused in meta-analyses of demography and land-use patterns over time, aggregate regional lithic research, studies assessing methodological approaches to lithic analysis, and for educational purposes. Published on 2022-08-01 12:12:08
Abstract: The dataset1 consists of 3D scans of one cuneiform tablet from Haft Tappeh Iran and one cuneiform tablet of the Hilprecht Collection as well as 3D annotations on these 3D meshes, including metadata. The 3D annotations were created with the annotation software Annotorious2 on 2D renderings and reprojected to the original 3D model. The respective 2D renderings and annotations in 2D are also part of this data publication. The annotations might be used in machine learning tasks for character recognition, linguistic studies, or visualization in Assyriology. We publish these data in different formats and give guidance on how to use them in different usage scenarios and with several software applications. The data serve as the basis for a detailed description, reasoning, and elaboration of a recommendation for the state-of-the-art handling of 3D data in cuneiform research. The data is stored as an archive on Zenodo and may serve as an example for replication by similar 3D scanning. Published on 2022-05-20 11:55:15
Abstract: The NeoNet dataset aims to provide a new research tool for the study of the pioneer farming front (i.e. Neolithisation) in the North Central and North Western Mediterranean basin by focusing on the period of transition from a foraging to a farming economy (ca. 7000 to 3500 cal BC). The complete dataset is formed by the elencoc14.tsv file, a dataframe with tab-separated values, and a connex dataframe: thesaurus.tsv. The dataset contains 2,506 radiocarbon dates from 526 archaeological sites and 1,769 different archaeological records (stratigraphic units, structures, negative features, hearths, etc.). To ensure and facilitate the reuse of the radiocarbon dates, NeoNet’s data structure is based on the Euroevol database layout. Among other fields, particular attention has been paid to homogenisation of the laboratory code, the archaeological context, and the references, in order to facilitate further data extractions. Indeed, the dataset is linked to an opensource R Shiny interactive web app (NeoNet app), and a getter function (R package c14bazAAr, R function get_neonet). Published on 2022-02-24 12:24:58
Abstract: To our knowledge, the dataset described in this paper represents the largest existing repository of uncalibrated radiocarbon dates for the whole Near East from the Late Pleistocene to the Late Holocene (15,000 – 1,500 cal. yr. BP). It is composed of 11,027 radiocarbon dates from 1,023 sites that have been collected comprehensively by cross-checking multiple sources (extant digital archives and databases, edited volumes, monographs, journals papers, archaeological excavation reports, etc.) under the umbrella of the Leverhulme Trust funded project “Changing the Face of the Mediterranean” and of the ERC project “CLASS – Climate, Landscape, Settlement and Society: Exploring Human-Environment Interaction in the Ancient Near East”. This is an ongoing dataset that will be updated step by step with newly published radiocarbon dates. Published on 2022-02-22 11:42:27
Abstract: The dataset contains the first-ever comprehensive biocodicological analysis of medieval library books and charters using Zooarchaeological Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS). Here, we analyze 68 codices and 59 charters (1490+59 samples in total) from one single monastic institution, namely the Cistercian abbey of Orval in present-day Belgium. The data entails both peptide mass fingerprinting (using MALDI-ToF) and peptide sequencing (using LC-MS/MS) analysis of almost the entire library and all the preserved single leaf charters from the monastery. MALDI-ToF data is stored in Zenodo – a multidisciplinary open access repository while the LC-MS/MS data is deposited in ProteomeXchange Consortium via PRIDE – a publicly available repository for MS-based proteomics data. Mass spectrometric data generated from an entire monastic library and archive is of immense value to integrate with multiple case studies aiming at understanding parchment production and use in medieval Europe.Paper linked with data:Ruffini-Ronzani, N., Nieus, J.F., Soncin, S., Hickinbotham, S., Dieu, M., Bouhy, J., Charles, C., Ruzzier, C., Falmagne, T., Hermand, X., Collins, M.J. and Deparis, O 2021. A biocodicological analysis of the medieval library and archive from Orval Abbey, Belgium. Royal Society Open Science, 8(6), p.210210. Published on 2022-02-22 11:34:38
Abstract: This dataset comprises the core spatial and temporal structure of the ‘Lifestyle as an Unintentional Identity in the Neolithic’ project. The data consist of spatial and chronological information on 2,154 Neolithic settlement sites from c. 4900 to 3300 BCE in two separate regions, the eastern part of Bohemia (Czech Republic) and the Morava River basin (Czech Republic, parts of Austria and Slovakia). To gather as much data as possible, all available sources including published works, find and excavation reports in archives, museum collections and unpublished records and both existing and legacy databases were examined. The dataset is deposited at the Zenodo data repository with an open access license. There is a reuse potential in aggregating the data with data from different regions and/or time periods for various spatial and temporal analyses. Published on 2021-12-29 11:42:35
Open Access journal
