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- Jerand, Philip, 1985-
(författare)
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Animating soils : geoarchaeological approaches to past human-environment relationships in the Arctic
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In this thesis, soils and sediments have been used as sources of information on past human activity in Arctic environments. The study has combined geoarchaeological methods and techniques with information from historical documents, ethnographic accounts, and archaeological remains to create integrated narratives of human-landscape interactions in the past. The thesis consists of two parts: an introductory text and four research papers.In the first paper, social and cultural aspects of the spatial organisation of Sámi hearth-row sites are presented and discussed through an analysis of the soil from two sites in northern Norway (Steintjørna and Brodtkorbneset) and one from northern Sweden (Hobergsträsk). Based on spatial patterns in the excavated and analysed materials, a socio-spatial ethnographic model of the Sámi goahti (tent/hut) was challenged and new insights into spatial organisation were generated.The second paper revisits Steintjørna in Norway and presented a geoarchaeological methodology for identifying spaces used for corralling or controlling reindeer.The third paper deals with the human impact on soils from two contemporary sites representing short term, low intensity use, but under different socio-economic conditions. Snuvrejohka was a Sámi viste (camp site) in a high-altitude location connected to 19th and 20th century reindeer herding, whilst Maiva, was initially a farmstead that was turned into a tourist station, that later became a holiday cottage and lastly a research outpost. The interaction of humans with soils and sediments was explored using stratigraphic and spatial soil sampling strategies and analysis to provide interpretable data on land use.The fourth paper approaches human impact from a different perspective, namely the introduction of invasive soil fauna in Arctic environments. An integrated cultural and natural historical approach, including soil sampling and analysis, was used to study archaeological and historical information at Maiva. The results suggest that earthworm driven bioturbation is a remnant of 19th and 20th century agricultural settlements, showing that ecological imperialism is present in Arctic Fennoscandia.These studies have collectively and conclusively shown that human impact on soils is detectable, measurable, and essential for interpreting and understanding past events in human-environment relationships.
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| 3. |
- Buckland, Philip I., Dr. 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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The intricate details of using research databases and repositories for environmental archaeology data
- 2022
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Ingår i: ArcheoLogica Data. - Sesto Fiorentino : All’Insegna del Giglio. - 2785-0307. ; 2, s. 15-29
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Environmental archaeology is a complex mix of empirical analysis and qualitative interpretation.It is increasingly data science oriented, and databases and online resources are becoming increasinglyimportant in large scale synthesis research on changes in climate, environments and human activities.Research funders, journals and universities place much emphasis on the use of data repositories toensure transparency and reusability in the research process. Although these are important, researchersthemselves, however, may have more use for research databases which are oriented more towardsadvanced querying and exploratory data analysis than conforming to archiving standards. This paperexplores the pros and cons of these different approaches. It also discusses and problematizes somekey concepts in research data management, including the definitions of data and metadata, along withthe FAIR principles. Research examples are provided from a broad field of environmental archaeologyand palaeoecology. In contrast to most publications, the developer’s perspective is also included, anda worked example using the Strategic Environmental Archaeology Database (SEAD) to investigate fossilbeetle data demonstrates the implementation of some of this in the real world. This example may befollowed online using the SEAD browser, and all described data downloaded from there. After providingboth encouragement and warnings on the use of digital resources for synthesis research, some suggestionsare made for moving forward.
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| 4. |
- Sjölander, Mattias, 1988-
(författare)
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Blinded by the light : developing models of settlement and mobility with the use of spectroscopy and exploratory methods
- 2024
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- In this thesis an exploratory approach has been used to study settlement and mobility among hunter-gatherer societies in Northern Sweden during the 2 000 – 0 BC period. The focus has been on developing the topics of bifacial point use and raw material management of quartzand quartzite materials. The study combines the information generated at multiple analytical scales in order to address knowledge gaps and facilitate new research. The thesis consists of an introductory text and four research papers.The first paper discusses modelling approaches in archaeology. It stresses the interlinked nature of models that are created at different spatial scales, and that weaknesses in lower-lying models may impact higher-level models in a study. The paper also discusses the question of whether an analysis is better suited for modelling in the “variable space”, rather than geographical space, as the data my need to undergo unnecessary simplification that hides certain features.The second paper is an evaluation of the current dating evidence for bifacial points made of quartz or quartzite in Norrland. The study includes 124 radiocarbon datesfrom 30 excavated sites with finds of bifacial points or preforms in the County of Västerbotten. Bayesian modelling is used to evaluate the potential for building a chronological model for bifacial point use in the region. The results indicate that few artefacts can be related to a dated feature, with only 3 dates that may be argued to stem from a secure dating context that dates the points. These dates all fall within the 1 900 – 1 700 BC period.The third paper is a spectroscopic study of quartz and quartzite material. The study is based on a dataset of 126 quartz/quartzite points and preforms from 47 sites along the upper Ångerman River. Non-destructive analysis was performed using three different spectroscopic instrumentations (Near Infrared, Raman, X-Ray Fluorescence). The data were evaluated using Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA). Each instrumentation showed detectable differences in the material, such as the presence or absence of graphite. The study highlights the potential of non-destructive screening methods and lays the foundation for future survey efforts.The fourth paper is a spatial analysis of the distribution of bifacial points and preforms made of quartz and quartzite within the County of Västerbotten. The Ångerman and Ume/Vindel Rivers exhibit different distribution patterns, with higher proportions of preforms closer to the mountains. The distribution pattern is evaluated using Exploratory Data Analysis, including geostatistical methods. The capacity for previous settlement and mobility models to explain the observed patterns are then discussed in the light of factors such as archaeological survey coverage.
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| 5. |
- Sjölander, Mattias, et al.
(författare)
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Quartzite complexities : Non-destructive analysis of bifacial points from Västerbotten, Sweden
- 2024
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier. - 2352-409X .- 2352-4103. ; 53
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Northern Fennoscandia is a geologically complex region affected by both glacial and postglacial processes. Quartzite was a key material type utilized by hunter-gatherers in Northern Sweden around the period 4 000 – 2 000 BP, and is thus critical to the understanding of raw material procurement and material flow within the region. However, there is a severe lack of methodological development in the characterization of these materials, and provenance of locally available geological material is complex and fraught with uncertainty. 126 quartz/quartzite points and preforms were sampled from 47 archaeological sites along the upper Ångerman river valley in Västerbotten, Sweden. The material has been analysed non-destructively using three separate portable spectroscopic instrumentations (Near-infrared, Raman, X-Ray Fluorescence). Evaluation of the spectra and exploratory data analysis using Principal Component Analysis demonstrates detectable differences in the material that likely stem from diagenetic/paragenetic origin. The presence of graphite, muscovite and biotite could likewise provide information on the material’s metamorphic grade. In addition to reaffirming the potential of field-based screening instrumentation, these results will benefit future surveys of geological sources in the region. They also indicate potential for the construction of a predictive model that could classify the quartzite based on its chemical characteristic. Such a model would prove useful in future spatial analysis and testing of models of raw material management.
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