| 1. |
- Olausson, Deborah, et al.
(författare)
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Testing for the Presence of Thermal Pretreatment of Flint in the Mesolithic and Neolithic of Sweden
- 1982
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 1095-9238 .- 0305-4403. ; 9, s. 275-285
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Through ethnographic accounts, the method of heat treatment of silica materials to improve the flaking qualities is shown to have been known almost worldwide. Some mesolithic and neolithic flint artifacts from southern Sweden were examined in order to determine if they too were heat treated. From several methods proving or indicating thermal alteration of flint, analysis using scanning electron microscopy was chosen. Two samples were taken from each artifact, one being examined unaltered, the other being heat treated. No two samples from the same artifact had the same kind of surface appearance. Thus these analyses prove that the atrifacts examined had not been heat treated.
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| 2. |
- Bergman, Ingela, et al.
(författare)
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Isostatic land uplift and Mesolithic landscapes : lake tilting, a key to the discovery of Mesolithic sites in the interior of Northern Sweden
- 2003
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 30:11, s. 1451-1458
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Until recently only a few Mesolithic sites were known from the interior of N. Sweden, although extensive archaeological surveys have been carried out since the 1950s. The lack of archaeological data made every attempt to interpret the process of pioneer colonization quite fruitless. In this paper we present a model of non-uniform glacio-isostatic uplift and lake-tilting used to identify potential areas of Mesolithic habitation. By reconstructing shoreline displacement of ancient lakes, archaeological, palaeoecological and geological studies have resulted in the discovery of a significant number of Mesolithic sites and of an early post-glacial landscape previously unknown.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Ahlin Sundman, Elin, et al.
(författare)
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Signs of sinusitis in times of urbanization in Viking Age-early Medieval Sweden
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 40:12, s. 4457-4465
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The influence and possible negative impact on sinus health of living conditions in rural and urban environments in Viking Age (AD 800–1050) and Early Medieval Sweden (AD 1050–1200) is investigated. Skeletal samples from 32 rural settlements in the Mälaren Valley (AD 750–1200) and burials in the nearby proto-urban port of trade Birka (AD 750–960) are examined. Based on the diagnostic criteria for maxillary sinusitis used in earlier studies, the results show that there is no significant difference in the prevalence of signs of sinusitis between the two materials (i.e. the Mälaren Valley versus Birka). Consequently, this provides no evidence that living in a proto-urban environment had a negative impact on sinus health. However, when compared with previously studied samples from the early medieval town Sigtuna, dated to AD 970–1100, the populations of the Mälaren Valley and Birka show significantly lower frequencies of bone changes interpreted as chronic maxillary sinusitis (95%, 70% and 82% respectively). This implies that the urban environment of Sigtuna could have led to impaired sinus health. There is also a significant difference between males and females in the Birka material, in which more females (100%) than males (68%) were affected. A gender based differentiation in work tasks is suggested by this, or exposure to environmental risk factors that affect sinus health. No difference between males and females could be detected in the samples from the Mälaren Valley and Sigtuna.
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| 5. |
- Álvarez-Fernández, Noemi, et al.
(författare)
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Atmospheric mercury pollution deciphered through archaeological bones
- 2020
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 119
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mercury is a major environmental pollutant extensively used by humans, whose pollution dates back at least to c. 3250 BCE (South Iberian Peninsula). As it happens today, past populations were mostly affected by low dose chronic mercury exposure, with levels that varied with the intensity of some anthropogenic activities (mining and metallurgy in particular). Despite its toxic nature, mercury impact in humans themselves has been hardly addressed by Archaeology. The aim of this research is to increase our knowledge on mercury levels in past populations by 1) analysing human (cortical) bone from skeletons recovered in a necropolis from NW Iberia covering contrasting periods of atmospheric pollution: Roman, AD 1st to 4th centuries, and post-Roman, AD 5th to 7th centuries; 2) considering bone type variability; 3) contextualizing our findings with previous works. Samples from 3 types of bone (n = 143) as well as soils/sediments associated to the burials (n = 34) were analysed. Mercury concentrations in soil were below 5 ng g(-1), while the average in bone was 36 +/- 52 ng g(-1), making post-depositional incorporation unlikely. We found significant differences between the two periods (Romans: 54 +/- 60 ng g(-1), post-Romans: 21 +/- 23 ng g(-1)), but no effect of type of bone, sex, age, social status or diet of the individuals. Our results agree with the chronology of mercury pollution reconstructed from a local peatland, which suggests a predominant atmospheric source. This fact contrasts with previous research in which high mercury concentrations were mainly related to post-mortem burial customs and pre-mortem medical treatment and poisoning. Thus, mercury distribution in past communities was possibly more complex than previously thought, with different pre- and post-mortem sources interacting. Furthermore, our research also supports the use of archaeological bone as environmental archive of metal pollution, when metal cultural exposure is low.
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| 6. |
- Asplund, Linnea, et al.
(författare)
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Re-evaluating the history of the wheat domestication gene NAM-B1 using historical plant material
- 2010
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Ingår i: JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE. - : Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 37:9, s. 2303-2307
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The development of agriculture is closely associated with the domestication of wheat, one of the earliest crop species. During domestication key genes underlying traits important to Neolithic agriculture were targeted by selection. One gene believed to be such a domestication gene is NAM-B1, affecting both nutritional quality and yield but with opposite effects. A null mutation, first arisen in emmer wheat, decreases the nutritional quality but delays maturity and increases grain size; previously the ancestral allele was believed lost during the domestication of durum and bread wheat by indirect selection for larger grain. By genotyping 63 historical seed samples originating from the 1862 International Exhibition in London, we found that the ancestral allele was present in two spelt wheat and two bread wheat cultivars widely cultivated at the time. This suggests that fixation of the mutated allele of NAM-B1 in bread wheat, if at all, occurred during modern crop improvement rather than during domestication. We also discuss the value of using archaeological and historical plant material to further the understanding of the development of agriculture.
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| 7. |
- Bindler, Richard, et al.
(författare)
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Early medieval origins of iron mining and settlement in central Sweden : multiproxy analysis of sediment and peat records from the Norberg mining district
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 38:2, s. 291-300
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The historical Norberg mining district in central Sweden with its shallow, easily accessible iron ores figures prominently in the earliest documents from the 14th century concerning mining or metallurgy. This 1000-km2 district is considered to be one of the first areas in Sweden exploited for iron ores and, in fact, Europe’s oldest known blast furnace, Lapphyttan, is located in the Norberg district about 10 km from the mines in the village of Norberg (Norbergsby). Earlier archaeological excavations suggest the furnace was in operation as early as the 11th or 12th century (870 and 930 14C yr BP), and a number of other sites in the district have been dated to the 13th–15th centuries. Here, we have analyzed two lake sediment records (Kalven and Noren) from the village of Norberg and a peat record from Lapphyttan. The Lapphyttan peat record was radiocarbon dated, whereas the sediment from Kalven is annually laminated, which provides a fairly precise chronology. Our pollen data indicate that land use in the area began gradually as forest grazing by at least c. AD 1050, with indications of more widespread forest disturbance and cultivation from c. 1180 at Lapphyttan and 1250 at Kalven. Based on 206Pb/207Pb isotope ratios in Kalven’s varved sediment record, there is an indication of mining or metallurgy in the area c. 960, but likely not in immediate connection to our sites. Evidence of mining and metallurgy increases gradually from c. 1180 when there is a decline in 206Pb/207Pb ratios and an increase in charcoal particles at Lapphyttan, followed by increasing inputs of lithogenic elements in Noren’s sediment record indicating soil disturbance, which we attribute to the onset of mining the iron ore bodies surrounding Noren. From AD 1295 onwards evidence of mining and metallurgy are ubiquitous, and activities accelerate especially during the late 15th century; the maximum influence of Bergslagen ore lead (i.e., the minimum in 206Pb/207Pb isotope ratios) in both Kalven and Noren occurs c. 1490–1500, when also varve properties change in Kalven and in Noren sharp increases occur in the concentrations of a range of other ore-related metals (e.g., arsenic, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, mercury and zinc). From the 15th century onwards mining and metallurgy are the dominant feature of the sediment records.
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| 8. |
- Bro-Jørgensen, Maiken Hemme, et al.
(författare)
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Ancient DNA analysis of Scandinavian medieval drinking horns and the horn of the last aurochs bull
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 99, s. 47-54
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aurochs (Bos primigenius) was once widespread in Europe, Asia and North Africa. The aurochs was both the ancestor of domestic cattle, and co-existed alongside them for millennia post domestication, before going extinct in 1627. Several studies have suggested that admixture occurred between wild aurochs populations and domestic cattle. To contribute towards our understanding of this process, we generated near complete mitochondrial genomes (between 15063 and 16338 nucleotides) from material derived from the horn of the last aurochs bull (died in 1620) as well as five medieval period Scandinavian drinking horns that have been attributed to aurochs based on their size. Phylogenetic analysis on the data shows that three drinking horns carry European aurochs haplotype P, while two of the drinking horns and the horn of the last aurochs bull carry modern domestic taurine cattle T haplotypes. Our results therefore demonstrate that drinking horns may represent a unique source of material with which to study aurochs genetics, and that the last European aurochs likely underwent a degree of admixture with domestic cattle. We anticipate that future analysis of the nuclear DNA content of such horns will be able to shed further light into the specifics of these admixture events.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Brown, Alex D., et al.
(författare)
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The environmental context of a prehistoric rock carving on the Bjare Peninsula, Scania, southern Sweden
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 1095-9238 .- 0305-4403. ; 38:3, s. 746-752
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Palaeoecological analysis of peat deposits from a small bog at Lingarden, southern Sweden, have been used to examine the nature and timing of vegetation changes and anthropogenic activity associated with a nearby rock carving located close to the edge of the wetland. This study is the first of its type to investigate the environmental context of rock carvings in southern Sweden. Debate has tended to focus on chronology and iconography, with little consideration of the environmental relationships of rock carvings and how vegetation may help construct a site within its surrounding landscape. The pollen evidence from Lingarden demonstrates that the rock carving was located in an isolated semi-wooded setting during the late Bronze Age. This is in stark contrast to several other pollen studies from the Bjare Peninsula that record widespread woodland clearance and agricultural activity from the late Neolithic Bronze Age transition. The results of this study support hypotheses that suggest complex rock carvings, such as Lingarden, were separated from settled areas. This sense of separation and isolation is reinforced by the vegetation surrounding the rock carving. This paper also discusses the relationship between charcoal in the pollen sequence and evidence that the decorated outcrop had been burnt. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 11. |
- Buckland, Philip I., et al.
(författare)
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Integrating human dimensions of Arctic palaeoenvironmental science : SEAD – the strategic environmental archaeology database
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 38:2, s. 345-351
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Environmental change has a human dimension, and has had so for at least the last 10 000 years. The prehistoric impact of people on the Arctic landscape has occasionally left visible traces, such as house and field structures. More often than not, however, the only evidence available is at the microscopic or geochemical level, such as fossil insect and seed assemblages or changes in the physical and chemical properties of soils and sediments. These records are the subject of SEAD, a multidisciplinary database and software project currently underway at Umeå University, Sweden, which aims to create an online database and set of tools for investigating these traces, as part of an international research infrastructure for palaeoecology and environmental archaeology.
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| 12. |
- Buckley, Michael, et al.
(författare)
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Comparing the survival of osteocalcin and mtDNA in archaeological bone from four European sites
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 35:6, s. 1756-1764
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The small mineral-binding bone protein, osteocalcin, has been applied in a number of studies on ancient bone due to predictions of its long-term stability. However, the intact protein has not been shown to survive in ancient bone devoid of DNA, which is a much more phylogenetically informative biomolecule. In this investigation, the survival of osteocalcin is directly compared to the amplification of mtDNA in a set of 34 archaeological samples from four sites throughout Europe. We also present unpublished osteocalcin sequences of seven mammalian species in addition to the 19 published sequences to highlight phylogenetic limitations of this protein. The results indicate that the intact osteocalcin molecule survives less in archaeological samples than mtDNA and is more subject to the temperature of the archaeological site. Amino acid analyses show the persistence of the dominant protein collagen in samples that failed both osteocalcin and mtDNA analyses. The implications these findings present for biomolecular species identification in archaeological and palaeontological material are that, although proteins do survive beyond ancient DNA, osteocalcin does not appear to be the most ideal target
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| 13. |
- Bäckström, Ylva, et al.
(författare)
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Social Identity and Mobility at a Pre-industrial Mining Complex, Sweden
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 1095-9238 .- 0305-4403. ; 66, s. 154-168
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The early modern period has so far received little attention from archaeologists and anthropologists in Sweden. This study explores demographic patterns, social differences, family structure and mobility in a 16th-century skeletal population (n=102) from a preindustrial mining community (Salberget) in Bergslagen, Sweden, using a bioarchaeological perspective. Methodologically, the results of strontium and oxygen isotope analysis in tooth enamel (n=38) were added to archaeological, anthropological and documentary evidence to detect demographic and/or social differences in mobility. Historical documents provided some indications of the kinds of people working at the mine. Archaeological evidence indicated two distinct grave types and the anthropological analysis documented differences in the age and sex of these individuals. The analysis of strontium, oxygen and carbon isotopes in teeth was used to infer possible place of origin information about these individuals. Various lines of evidence suggest that the cemetery held a mix of family groups, foreign workers and prisoners of war, all associated with the Sala silver mine. Together, the archaeology, osteology and isotope chemistry confirmed the documentary evidence of internal and external migration in the region. Furthermore, this study displays signs of matrilocality and a socially stratified society.
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| 14. |
- Charpentier Ljungqvist, Fredrik, et al.
(författare)
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Linking European building activity with plague history
- 2018
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 98, s. 81-92
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Variations in building activity reflect demographic, economic and social change during history. Tens of thousands of wooden constructions in Europe have been dendrochronologically dated in recent decades. We use the annually precise evidence from a unique dataset of 49 640 tree felling dates of historical constructions to reconstruct temporal changes in building activity between 1250 and 1699 CE across a large part of western and central Europe largely corresponding to the former Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation. Comparison with annual records of 9772 plague outbreaks shows that construction activity was significantly negatively correlated to the number of plague outbreaks, with the greatest decrease in construction following the larger outbreaks by three to four years after the start of the epidemics. Preceding the Black Death (1346-1353 CE) by five decades and the Great Famine (1315-1322 CE) by two decades, a significant decline in construction activity at c. 1300 CE is indicative of a societal crisis, associated with population stagnation or decline. Another dramatic decline in building activity coincides with the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648 CE) and confirms the devastating nature of this conflict. While construction activity was significantly lower during periods of high grain prices, no statistically robust relationship between the number of felling dates and past temperature or hydroclimate variations is found. This study demonstrates the value of dendrochronological felling dates as an indicator for times of crisis and prosperity during periods when documentary evidence is limited.
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| 15. |
- Darmark, Kim
(författare)
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Measuring skill in the production of bifacial pressure flaked points : a multivariate approach using the flip-test
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 37:9, s. 2308-2315
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Skill is an aspect of prehistoric technology that can inform us on many areas of investigation. This article discusses the notion of skill in prehistoric contexts and how skill is to be formally defined in relation to lithic bifacial tools. The nature of bifacial manufacture entails simultaneous attention to the facial, profile- and cross- section morphology of the core, since each flake removal affects all features. It is argued that bifacial skill can be measured using a multivariate approach, which takes all these features into account. An index measure, the ""Bifacial Skill Score"", is proposed and evaluated using both experimental and archaeological data. This measure is argued to constitute a good proxy for skill in bifacial technology and a useful tool for comparative research.
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| 16. |
- Daskalaki, Evangelia, et al.
(författare)
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Further developments in molecular sex assignment : a blind test of 18th and 19th century human skeletons
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 38:6, s. 1326-1330
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The identification of sex in human remains recovered from archaeological locations is important in order to understand the social and biological structure of past societies, and to reconstruct past population demographic events. Sex determination is usually based on morphological traits of the skeletons, with the drawback that most methods do not apply to juveniles and require well preserved remains. In cases where morphological methods cannot be used, or are ambiguous, methods of molecular sexing systems are an alternative. In this methodological study we tested and validated the accuracy and usefulness of a molecular sexing method based on the amelogenin gene using pyrosequencing. We did this in a double blind study of documented 18th and 19th century human remains.
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| 17. |
- Davis, Simon J. M., et al.
(författare)
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Molecular and osteometric sexing of cattle metacarpals : a case study from 15th century AD Beja, Portugal
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 39:5, s. 1445-1454
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the course of a zooarchaeological survey of Holocene sites in southern Portugal, a substantial size increase of cattle bones was noted following the Christian reconquista of the 11th-13th centuries AD. A size increase in the course of time within a lineage of domestic livestock is usually considered to represent animal improvement. However several other factors including sex may influence the average size of a sample of mammal bones - cattle exhibit considerable sexual size dimorphism, with bulls being larger than cows. A histogram of the distal widths of a large (n = 44) sample of cattle metacarpals from 15th century Beja (Alentejo, Portugal), revealed a bimodal distribution. It was assumed that the large measurements belonged to males and the small to females. In order to rule out the possibility of a post-Moslem change in the sex ratio of cattle, a sub-sample of 21 cattle metacarpals from Beja was selected and we used genetic markers to identify the sex of the animals to which these metacarpals belonged. The ancient DNA sex of all specimens agreed with the previously assumed sex as determined osteometrically. We conclude that the two nearly separated peaks for the metacarpal distal width measurements do indeed indicate sex. A similar bimodal distribution was obtained from another large but earlier sample of cattle metacarpals from Moslem Alcacova de Santarem (9th-12th century AD). Although these have not been molecularly sexed and since osteometric sexing has now been validated, we conclude that both small (female) and large (male) peaks are smaller than the 15th century ones and that there was an overall size increase or improvement of cattle in this region. Why the Christians improved cattle is unclear, but a selection for larger beeves for meat is one possibility as is the selection of more robust cattle for power. The spread of the quadrangular or chariot plough in Iberia is known to have occurred at this time. We then use the genetically sexed metacarpals to determine which measurements provide reasonable distinction between the sexes. Both the distal width (BFd; as already noted by Svensson et al., 2008; in Swedish medieval cattle) and the width of the lateral condyle (WCL) offer the best distinction. We also used them as a reference 'collection' to sex the medieval and post-medieval cattle metacarpals from Launceston Castle in England. This re-visit of the Launceston data corroborates other evidence indicating increased specialisation (milk and veal) in post-medieval cattle husbandry in England.
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| 18. |
- Economou, Christos, et al.
(författare)
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Ancient-DNA reveals an Asian type of Mycobacterium leprae in medieval Scandinavia
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 40:1, s. 465-470
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Leprosy is a chronic infection of the skin and peripheral nerves caused by the pathogen Mycobacterium leprae. Its impact on human populations and societies of the past as well as its phylogeographic patterns around the world – at least in modern times – has been well documented. This slow growing bacterium has been shown to exist in distinct ‘SNP types’ that occur in relatively defined parts of the globe. The routes that the disease followed in the past are, however, still uncertain. This study of ancient-DNA typing of archaeological human remains from Sweden dated to early Medieval times provides genetic evidence that a transmission of M. leprae ‘SNP subtype’ 2G – found mainly in Asia – took or had already taken place at that time from the Middle East to Scandinavia. This finding is unique in the history of leprosy in Europe. All human specimens from this continent – both modern and ancient – that have been tested to date showed that the one responsible for the infection strains of M. leprae belong to ‘SNP type’ 3, whereas our results show that there were some European populations that were hosts to bacteria representing ‘SNP type’ 2 of the species as well.
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| 19. |
- Eklund, Julie A., et al.
(författare)
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Assessing the effects of conservation treatments on short sequences of DNA in vitro
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 37:11, s. 2831-2841
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Little is known about what effects conservation treatments used to preserve human and animal hard and soft tissues have on DNA preservation. We have developed a method to assess quantitatively the extent of lesions or strand breakage caused by conservation treatments on short sequences of DNA in vitro. The method developed enables the determination of the percentage of DNA preserved following exposure to a conservation treatment solution relative to control samples, thereby allowing the direct comparison of treatments based upon their preserving/damaging effects on a DNA sequence. Forty-three chemicals commonly used in the preparation and/or conservation of human and/or animal remains were examined. We found that the majority were damaging, in particular and as expected, acidic treatments and treatments carried out at elevated temperatures. A few, primarily organic solvents, were not damaging. The approach we have adopted can be applied to screen other treatments either used in the past or for future conservation applications as they are developed to assess their effects on DNA. How these results should be interpreted in terms of conservation and sampling is also discussed.
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| 20. |
- Ericson, Per G P, 1956-, et al.
(författare)
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The earliest record of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) in northern Europe
- 1997
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 24:2, s. 183-190
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Remains of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) recovered from a late Bronze Age (1200-800 sc) settlement in central Sweden are described. The house sparrow is conspicuously rare in prehistoric Europe, and this record constitutes the earliest from the northern part. The find predates the introduction of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) to Sweden, a species with which the house sparrow has been assumed to be spread simultaneously. Instead, it is here suggested that house sparrows most likely spread over Europe along with the horse Equus caballus. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited
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| 21. |
- Finné, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Climate in the eastern Mediterranean, and adjacent regions, during the past 6000 years - A review
- 2011
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 38:12, s. 3153-3173
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The eastern Mediterranean, with its long archaeological and historical records, provides a unique opportunity to study human responses to climate variability. We review paleoclimate data and reconstructions from the region with a focus on the last 6000 years. We aim to provide an up-to-date source of information on climate variability and to outline present limitations and future opportunities. The review work is threefold: (1) literature review, (2) spatial and temporal analysis of proxy records, and (3) statistical estimation of uncertainties in present paleoclimate reconstructions (temperature, C). On a regional scale the review reveals a wetter situation from 6000 to 5400 yrs BP (note: all ages in this paper are in calibrated years before present (i.e. before 1950), abbreviated yrs BP, unless otherwise stated). This is followed by a less wet period leading up to one of fully-developed aridity from c. 4600 yrs BP. There is a need for more high-resolution paleoclimate records, in order to (i) better understand regional patterns and trends versus local climate variability and to (ii) fill the gap of data from some regions, such as the Near East, Greece and Egypt. Further, we evaluate the regional occurrence of a proposed widespread climate event at 4200 yrs BP. This proposed climate anomaly has been used to explain profound changes in human societies at different locations in the region around this time. We suggest that although aridity was widespread around 4200 yrs BP in the eastern Mediterranean region, there is not enough evidence to support the notion of a climate event with rapidly drying conditions in this region.
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| 22. |
- Foley, Brendan, et al.
(författare)
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Aspects of ancient Greek trade re-evaluated with amphora DNA evidence
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 1095-9238 .- 0305-4403. ; 39:2, s. 389-398
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ancient DNA trapped in the matrices of ceramic transport jars from Mediterranean shipwrecks can reveal the goods traded in the earliest markets. Scholars generally assume that the amphora cargoes of 5th-3rd century B.C. Greek shipwrecks contained wine, or to a much lesser extent olive oil. Remnant DNA inside empty amphoras allows us to test that assumption. We show that short 100 nucleotides of ancient DNA can be isolated and analyzed from inside the empty jars from either small amounts of physical scrapings or material captured with non-destructive swabs. Our study material is previously inaccessible Classical/ Hellenistic Greek shipwreck amphoras archived at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities in Athens, Greece. Collected DNA samples reveal various combinations of olive, grape, Lamiaceae herbs (mint, rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage), juniper, and terebinth/mastic (genus Pistacia). General DNA targeting analyses also reveal the presence of pine (Pinus), and DNA from Fabaceae (Legume family); Zingiberaceae (Ginger family); and Juglandaceae (Walnut family). Our results demonstrate that amphoras were much more than wine containers. DNA shows that these transport jars contained a wide range of goods, bringing into question long-standing assumptions about amphora use in ancient Greece. Ancient DNA investigations open new research avenues, and will allow accurate reconstruction of ancient diet, medicinal compounds, value-added products, goods brought to market, and food preservation methods. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 23. |
- Fors, Yvonne, et al.
(författare)
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Sulfur and iron analyses of marine archaeological wood in shipwrecks from the Baltic Sea and Scandinavian waters
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 39:7, s. 2521-2532
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Analyses of marine archaeological wood from shipwrecks in the Baltic Sea area, Kronan, Riksnyckeln, Tattran, the Puck Bay Boat and the Ghost wreck, and at the Scandinavian West coast, the Gota wreck, Stora Sofia and the Viking shipwrecks of Skuldelev, show accumulation of sulfur compounds. The penetration profiles of sulfur and iron into the wood and the speciation of characteristic sulfur groups were evaluated by combining X-ray spectroscopic analyses, in particular S K-edge XANES (X-ray absorption near edge structure) and X-ray fluorescence, with ESCA and elemental analyses. The combined analyses support the hypothesis that hydrogen sulfide produced by sulfate-reducing bacteria reacts and accumulates at low iron concentration mainly as organically bound sulfur, which as in previous studies was found by X-ray spectro-microscopy to accumulate in lignin-rich parts of the wood cell walls. The presence of iron(II) ions from corroding iron promotes formation of pyrite and other iron(II) sulfides, which easily oxidise in aerobic conditions with high humidity. No significant differences in sulfur and iron accumulation were found in wood from shipwrecks in the east coast brackish water and the west coast seawater. Sediments from three wreck sites, the Gota wreck, Stora Sofia and Kronan, were analyzed to a depth of a few decimeters and showed especially at the Stora Sofia high sulfur concentrations, exceeding 3 mass%. S K-edge XANES analyses of the sediments showed mainly reduced forms of sulfur, in particular pyrite and iron(II) sulfides together with elemental sulfur.
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| 24. |
- Fraser, Magdalena, et al.
(författare)
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Neolithic Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) from the Island of Gotland show early contacts with the Swedish mainland
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - London : Academic Press. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 39:2, s. 229-233
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Previous research probing early migrations and contacts in the Baltic Sea area is characterized by the analysis of different chronologies and subsistent strategies on all sides of the Sea. Several studies performed on artifact typology, ceramics, grave rituals and physical anthropology ended with varying results. Although the question of human origins remains inconclusive, in this study, we rely on the phylogeography of an animal associated with humans to elucidate findings regarding prehistoric human migration and contacts. Hedgehogs, along with other fauna on Gotland, were brought over to the island by humans. We examined hedgehog mitochondrial DNA from the Pitted Ware Culture (Middle Neolithic). The genetic signatures of the animals on the island were investigated to determine the animals origin. From the 23 bones originally examined, twelve bones from all five locations studied yielded reliable results and resembled published extant Erinaceus europaeus sequences from Sweden, Norway and Denmark. We postulate that a western heritage for the Neolithic hedgehogs on Gotland indicates early human contact with the Swedish mainland.
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| 25. |
- Garrison, Thomas G., et al.
(författare)
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Discovering ancient Maya settlements using airborne radar elevation data
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 38:7, s. 1655-1662
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This report presents the results of using NASA/JPL airborne synthetic aperture radar data (AIRSAR) to detect ancient Maya settlements beneath jungle canopy in Guatemala. AIRSAR stands out from previous applications of radar remote sensing in the Maya lowlands because of its canopy-penetrating capabilities. The authors offer an overview of the AIRSAR technology, followed by a case study in which the AIRSAR data receive testing in the field. Reconnaissance in the region around the Maya site of El Zotz led to the discovery of two new sites, including the medium-sized settlement of La Avispa. AIRSAR also aided archaeologists in detecting zones of residential settlement around the site core of El Zotz. This research will serve as a guide for future applications of radar remote sensing in Maya archaeology. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 26. |
- Gradoli, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Cyprus and Sardinia in the Late Bronze Age: Nuragic table ware at Hala Sultan Tekke
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238 .- 2352-409X. ; 33
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the course of the Swedish excavations at Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus, table ware and domestic pottery of unknown provenance were discovered in offering pits dating to the 13th century BCE. These vessels comprise six hand-made and black burnished vessels, all of which have close typological parallels in the Nuragic culture of Sardinia. Comparative petrographic investigation confirmed their Sardinian provenance. Other archaeometric analyses include FTIR on the Cypriot and Sardinian material, and NAA on the Sardinian vessels from Hala Sultan Tekke. These vessels further extend the nature of intercultural relations of the site, which comprise a vast area including the Aegean, Anatolia, the Levant and Egypt. The paper presents the archaeometric results and briefly discusses their implication for Cypro-Sardinian connections in the Late Bronze Age.
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| 27. |
- Hagenblad, Jenny, et al.
(författare)
-
Farmer fidelity in the Canary Islands revealed by ancient DNA from prehistoric seeds
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 78, s. 78-87
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Canary Islands were settled in the first millennium AD by colonizers likely originating from North Africa. The settlers developed a farming economy with barley as the main crop. Archaeological evidence suggests the islands then remained isolated until European sea-travellers discovered and colonized them during the 14th and 15th centuries. Here we report a population study of ancient DNA from twenty-one archaeobotanical barley grains from Gran Canaria dating from 1050 to 1440 cal AD. The material showed exceptional DNA preservation and genotyping was carried out for 99 single nucleotide markers. In addition 101 extant landrace accessions from the Canary Islands and the western Mediterranean were genotyped. The archaeological material showed high genetic similarity to extant landraces from the Canary Islands. In contrast, accessions from the Canary Islands were highly differentiated from both Iberian and North African mainland barley. Within the Canary Islands, landraces from the easternmost islands were genetically differentiated from landraces from the western islands, corroborating the presence of pre-Hispanic barley cultivation on Lanzarote. The results demonstrate the potential of population genetic analyses of ancient DNA. They support the hypothesis of an original colonization, possibly from present day Morocco, and subsequent isolation of the islands and reveal a farmer fidelity to the local barley that has lasted for centuries.
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| 28. |
- Hagenblad, Jenny, et al.
(författare)
-
Utilising ancient DNA to understand crop population dynamics across a millennium: A case study of archaeological barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) from Gran Canaria, Spain
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : ACADEMIC PRESS LTD- ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 167
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Landraces are described as genetically diverse, dynamic populations of unimproved crops. However, studying the development of a landrace population over longer periods of time has rarely been done due to a lack of suitable archaeological materials. The indigenous grain silos of Gran Canaria provide a unique opportunity for genetically analysing multiple specimens from the same time period as well as sampling the same population at multiple time points. Here we report a genetic study of a landrace barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) sampled repeatedly over a period of 1400 years. We successfully enriched extracted aDNA for the barley exome using capture techniques and present sequencing data from ten archaeological and six extant samples. The results show that the landrace barley population of Gran Canaria has not undergone any dramatic genetic turnover or influx of new genetic material since the 7th century CE, but that the scale of cultivation seems to have varied. We detect smaller temporal changes of the genetic composition during the studied period and suggest that these changes reflect natural selection for adaptation to a changing climate and a dynamic agricultural society.
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| 29. |
- Hannon, Gina E, et al.
(författare)
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The Bronze Age landscape of the Bjare peninsula, southern Sweden, and its relationship to burial mounds
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 1095-9238 .- 0305-4403. ; 35:3, s. 623-632
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Palaeoecological analyses from a small fen deposit, combined with pollen analysis from buried soil profiles under prehistoric burial mounds, have been used to investigate the timing and vegetation change associated with the Holocene development of a cultural landscape in southern Sweden. Traditional pollen analysis is complemented with plant macrofossil analysis and soil pollen analysis from within and in close proximity to the burial mounds in the coastal Bjare peninsula, well known for its high density of well-preserved Bronze Age monuments. The vegetation development is linked to the construction of the burial mounds. A marked increase of cultural impact on the landscape is recorded during the Neolithic-Bronze Age transition and estimates of landscape openness suggest that by the onset of the Bronze Age, forest cover was only 20-40%, falling to 10% in the immediate vicinity of the burial mounds themselves. The coastal strip appears to have been affected by human activity to a greater extent and at an earlier date than sites from further inland in southern Sweden and the Bronze Age burial mounds were most likely designed to be visible in a largely deforested landscape.
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| 30. |
- Hansson, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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Ancient DNA fragments inside Classical Greek amphoras reveal cargo of 2400-year-old shipwreck
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 1095-9238 .- 0305-4403. ; 35:5, s. 1169-1176
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The origins and spread of eastern Mediterranean civilizations 4000-2000 years ago constitute defining events in human development. Interregional connections across the sea played critical roles in building increasingly sophisticated economies and societies. Research of trade and exchange among these first centers has relied upon ancient societies' archaeological artifacts. The most ubiquitous artifacts recovered from shipwreck sites are ceramic transport jars, amphoras. However, for archaeologists and historians determining the original contents of these containers has been problematic, aided only occasionally by physical evidence (e.g. olive pits, resins) found inside excavated jars. Here, we investigate whether modern DNA analyses can reveal original contents of amphoras containing no visible physical remains. Using chloroplast DNA markers and PCR we analyzed the walls of two amphoras recovered front a 2400 year-old shipwreck off the Greek island of Chios. Our results show that short (<= 100 bp) ancient DNA fragments can be extracted front scrapings taken from amphoras' interior walls. These DNA fragments identify the amphoras' original contents. Our analyses indicate that one of the amphoras most likely contained olive oil and oregano, even though no physical traces of remains are visible inside the jar. The second amphora might have contained mastic resin; resins of various types were preservatives commonly added to ancient wine. Our analyses are the first to demonstrate that ancient DNA fragments can be extracted from the walls of amphoras recovered front underwater shipwreck sites. This opens a new field of molecular archaeology analyses, and provides a powerful tool for obtaining information about the agricultural production, contact networks, and economies of the early civilizations.
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| 31. |
- Hellqvist, Magnus, 1964-, et al.
(författare)
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Insect assemblages and local environment of the medieval town Uppsala, south-eastern Sweden
- 1996
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 23, s. 873-881
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Insect remains from a mediaeval settlement in the town of Uppsala, S. Sweden, were analysed. Eighty-one insect taxa were identified from samples dating from the 12th to the 15th century. The insect assemblages are totally dominated by beetles. Only a few remains of butterflies, true flies and a bumble bee were found. The insects imply that the settlement was situated in open landscape. The settlement most likely consisted mainly of farm buildings throughout the studied period. Crops such as wheat, barley and cabbage were probably cultivated, particularly during the early settlement phases. Later, at the beginning of the 15th century, stock rearing seems to have dominated. The results suggest that the climate, during Mediaeval time in southern Sweden, was similar to the present or characterized by slightly higher summer temperatures. A number of currently very rare species were also recorded. SciVerse ScienceDirect Journals
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| 32. |
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| 33. |
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| 34. |
- Högberg, Anders, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
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Integration of use-wear with protein residue analysis – a study of tool use and function in the south Scandinavian Early Neolithic
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 36:8, s. 1725-1737
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study presents research on how an integration of use-wear analysis with protein residue analysiscan produce new results on prehistoric tool use and function. Thirty flint artefacts from an Early NeolithicTRB site in south Sweden were analysed for both use-wear and protein residues. The results showa positive correlation between the two methods. The Early Neolithic tools analysed were primarily usedto process fish.
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| 35. |
- Hörnberg, Greger, et al.
(författare)
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Heat impact and soil colors beneath hearths in northern Sweden
- 2017
-
Ingår i: Journal of archaeological science. - : Elsevier BV. - 1095-9238 .- 0305-4403. ; 79, s. 62-72
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The archaeological remains of Sami hearths in boreal and subarctic areas of northern Sweden are common finds. Greater understanding of the effects of heat on soil coloration will facilitate interpretation of the main purpose of these hearths, for example as heat sources or for cooking or other processing, and whether they were used seasonally for long or short periods of time. We therefore studied effects of heat on the coloration of natural B-horizons beneath traditional Sami hearths using three approaches: firing with dry pine wood in experimental hearths and measuring the temperature at various levels beneath the hearths; laboratory heating of B-horizon soils at different temperatures (200-900 degrees C) in a muffle oven and; measuring soil color changes in terms of RGB-values, and comparing the experimental results with soil profiles beneath real hearths used by nomadic Sami reindeer herders in northern Sweden. The study shows that the temperature reached beneath hearths strongly depends on the type of fuel used and the length of firing. The temperature can rise rapidly in upper layers of the soil but it takes considerable time for heat to penetrate 20 cm below the hearth surface. Our experimental firings, for 10 h on three consecutive days and for 72 consecutive hours, resulted in bowl-shaped areas of discoloration, with strong red coloration (rubification) towards the edges and dark grey/brown discoloration in the middle of the hearths in both tests. After laboratory heating, soil samples darkened during temperatures of 200-300 degrees C, and rubification at 250-350 degrees C depending on the amount of humus in the soil. The RGB analysis showed a steady increase in rubification from 300 degrees C, peaking at 750-800 degrees C. We believe that the rubification is caused mainly by transformation of iron compounds to maghemite and hematite and that the quantity of hematite is determined by temperature and not by time.Excavations of ancient hearths also revealed examples of bowl-shaped discoloration in B-horizons deeper than 20 cm. These discolorations had a rather uniform red tone with no dark areas. This suggests that the darker areas, probably colored by reduced iron and not by charred particles, could have been altered over time. The main conclusion is that rubification in B-horizons beneath hearths can arise after a relatively short period of firing but-bowl shaped areas of deep coloration can only arise, in boreal and subarctic areas, when hearths have been fired heavily and continuously for long periods of time, indicating winter use. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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| 36. |
- Isaksson, Sven, 1966-, et al.
(författare)
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Ergosterol (5, 7, 22-ergostatrien-3β-ol) as a potential biomarker for alcohol fermentation in lipid residues from prehistoric pottery
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 37:12, s. 3263-3268
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper we explore the potential use of ergosterol (5, 7, 22-ergostatrien-3β-ol) as a possible biomarker for yeast and alcohol fermentation, applying the analytical technique previously used routinely in Swedish archaeology for the analysis of lipid residue in prehistoric pottery. Taking note on the connection between brewing, baking and agriculture the frequency of vessels showing gas chromatography mass spectrometry traces of this compound in lipid residues from a clearly agricultural Bronze Age/Early Iron Age population was compared with the same signal in a clearly non-agricultural Neolithic foragers pottery population. The result shows a small but statistically significant difference between the two populations, indicating a connection between the presence of ergosterol in lipid residues from pottery and agriculture. The results are also discussed in terms of varying cleanliness, degradation, deposition conditions and contamination. Suggestions for future research include the use of a more sensitive analytical protocol in order to improve detection limits and to include materials from clear agricultural Neolithic vessel populations.
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| 37. |
- Isaksson, Sven, et al.
(författare)
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Lipid residue analyses of Early Neolithic funnel-beaker pottery from Skogsmossen, eastern Central Sweden, and the earliest evidence of dairying in Sweden
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 39:12, s. 3600-3609
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This study address the question of the use and function of Early Neolithic (4000-3000 cal. BC) funnel-beaker pots from Malardalen in eastern Central Sweden. The material studied is pottery from a wetland offering at the site Skogsmossen in the province of Vastmanland. While deposited under ritual circumstances in a fen, the pots were likely used in a domestic domain on the settlement adjacent to the offering fen, prior to final deposition. The lipid analysis indicate a varied vessel use, there are traces of aquatic resources, plants, terrestrial animals and milk. The identification of milk residue is the oldest so far from Sweden.
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| 38. |
- Kaal, Joeri, et al.
(författare)
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Diagenetic effects on pyrolysis fingerprints of extracted collagen in archaeological human bones from NW Spain, as determined by pyrolysis-GC-MS
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 65, s. 1-10
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Ancient collagen is used as archive for multiple pre-mortem traits. Testing the quality of the collagen extract is a common concern of those who engage in the reconstruction of ancient diets. The aim of this study is to improve our understanding of the pyrolysis fingerprints of human bone collagen especially in relation with diagenetic alteration. Pyrolysis-GC-MS was applied to 28 collagen samples extracted from archaeological human bone, corresponding to different chronological periods (Bronze Age to post Medieval period; 1900 BC-1800 AD) and different types of burial environment (acidic and alkaline) from NW Spain. Collagen was extracted following the common methodology used in paleodiet analysis, and a commercial gelatin sample was included for comparison. Data evaluation was based on 58 pyrolysis products using Principal Components Analysis (PCA). Principal component 1 (PC1, 45% of total variance) was related to the relative abundances of pyrolysis products of specific amino acids, with relatively degraded samples having larger proportions of the pyrolysis products of Pro/Hyp, Phe and Ala, while more intact samples showed larger proportions of Tyr, Trp and pyrolysis products of unspecific amino acid origin. PC1 scores were related to the period to which the samples corresponded, which reflects differences in diagenetic impact, probably controlled by a combination of age and burial deposit characteristics. PC2 (15%) probably reflects the well-known effects of disruption of the amino acid sequence (depolymerization), causing a decline in dimerization products (diketopiperazines) upon pyrolysis. This process was more intense in the collagen samples from acidic deposits than in the samples from alkaline deposits (a calcareous cave and coastal sand deposits with biogenic carbonates). The relationships between the PCA and individual pyrolysis products with known parameters of collagen quality (% C, % N, C/N ratio, % extractable collagen) were generally insignificant or weak. This might be explained by the rather narrow C/N range (3.19-3.36) of the samples, which had to meet the criteria for suitability for paleodiet analysis. Moreover, there was no significant relation between the isotopic composition of the extracted collagen (613C, 815N) and pyrolyzate composition, suggesting that diagenesis has little effect on the isotopic fingerprints used in palaeodietary studies. Finally, no substantial contamination of microbial or exogenous tissue from the deposition environment to the osteological collagen extracts was identified. It is concluded that the delta C-13 and delta N-15 as proxies of palaeodiet from these diverse necropoleis in NW Spain is sustained.
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| 39. |
- Kjellström, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Dietary patterns and social structures in medieval Sigtuna, Sweden, as reflected in stable isotope values in human skeletal remains
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 36:12, s. 2689-2699
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Stable isotopes (delta C-13, delta N-15) have been studied in human burials from the medieval town Sigtuna in Sweden. Dietary patterns of 80 adult individuals were analyzed on three cemeteries representing the phases of establishment, prosperity and decline of the town. All analyzed individuals were radiocarbon dated. One of the cemeteries, Church 1, represents a population of higher social status than those at the other two cemeteries. The delta C-13 values are homogenous and showed that the protein intake was mainly of terrestrial origin in the whole population. delta N-15 values varies more and they may indicate a higher input of vegetables in the diet at one of the cemeteries, the Nunnan block. Already in the initial phases of Sigtuna a social hierarchy had been established which is reflected in dietary patterns. Apparently more animal protein was consumed among the high status population of the town. Furthermore, differences in dietary patterns between the sexes were noted. In all phases the females show more clustered values indicating a more homogeneous diet than that of the males.
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| 40. |
- Knutsson, Helena, 1953-, et al.
(författare)
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How shattered flakes were used : Micro-wear analysis of quartz flake fragments
- 2015
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Saunders Elsevier. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238 .- 2352-409X. ; :2, s. 517-531
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Prehistoric quartz assemblages have always posed a special problem for archaeologists. Due to its brittle nature, quartz is hard to understand within lithic classification systems that are based on formally varied flint assemblages. In this paper we explore ways to deal with this problem by applying two analytical methods, fracture analysis and use-wear analysis. A sample of 544 unmodified quartz flakes and flake fragments from Mesolithic and Neolithic sites in Sweden and Finland was analysed. It can be concluded that both whole and fragmented flakes were used as tools. Larger flakes and flake fragments were preferred as tool blanks and the type of use was correlated to variation in edge qualities rather than the formal characteristics of flakes.The results of this investigation suggest that making behavioural inferences from quartz assemblages with low formal variability requires the assemblages to be approached with a focus on functional types.
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| 41. |
- Kofel, Dominika, et al.
(författare)
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Crops and food choices at the Late Bronze Age city of Hala Sultan Tekke
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238 .- 2352-409X. ; 36
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Late Bronze Age city of Hala Sultan Tekke (HST) is located on the south-eastern coast of Cyprus, c. 7 km south of modern-day Larnaca. The most recent excavations revealed four new city quarters (CQ1–4), where domestic and industrial activities took place. While the earliest occupational remains are from c. 1650/1600 BCE, the so far best attested period lasted from the 13th century to its final destruction in the mid-12th century BCE, after which the city was abandoned, never to be occupied again. The find material demonstrates intense industrial and trade activities resulting in an increased wealth. Agricultural products from the city’s hinterland certainly added to its rank as a leading trade hub in the eastern Mediterranean. The most recent archaeobotanical research revealed charred plant remains including that of barley, einkorn and emmer wheat, fig, olive, grape and lentil. These contribute to understanding the function and use of areas, spaces and specific installations at HST, and shed further light on Late Bronze Age agriculture on Cyprus.
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| 42. |
- Landeschi, Giacomo, et al.
(författare)
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3D-GIS as a Platform for Visual Analysis : Investigating a Pompeian House
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 1095-9238 .- 0305-4403. ; 65, s. 103-113
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the present work is to introduce an innovative framework for employing 3D-GIS as an exploratory platform to perform visual analysis. Such a methodology is aimed at detecting patterns of visibility to simulate the past human perception of specific categories of artifacts placed inside a virtually reconstructed three-dimensional space. As a case study, the house of Caecilius Iucundus in Pompeii (regio V, insula 1, entrances 23 and 26) was chosen and two media of visual communication, a painting and a graffito were tested to make an assessment of their visual impact on hypothetical observers. The approach consists of a vector-based line-of-sight (LOS) analysis, now available as an integral component of the 3D-analyst toolkit of the ESRI ArcGIS 10.x software package. This toolkit allowed us to perform the entire process inside a GIS environment, without splitting the tasks among different software platforms. It was thus possible to detect a significant difference in terms of visibility among the observed objects.
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| 43. |
- Lane, Paul, 1957-, et al.
(författare)
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Past perspectives for the future: foundations for sustainable development in East Africa
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 51, s. 12-21
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- East African ecosystems are shaped by long-term interactions with a dynamic climate and increasing human interventions. Whereas in the past the latter have often been regarded solely in a negative light, more recent research from the perspective of historical ecology has shown that there has often been a strong beneficial connection between people and ecosystems in East Africa. These relationships are now being strained by the rapidly developing and growing population, and their associated resource needs. Predicted future climatic and atmospheric change will further impact on human-ecosystem relationships culminating in a host of challenges for their management and sustainable development, compounded by a backdrop of governance, land tenure and economic constraints. Understanding how ecosystem-human interactions have changed over time and space can only be derived from combining archaeological, historical and palaeoecological data. Although crucial gaps remain, the number and resolution of these important archives from East Africa is growing rapidly, and the application of new techniques and proxies is allowing a more comprehensive understanding of past ecosystem response to climate change to be developed. When used in conjunction it is possible to disentangle human from climate change impacts, and assess how the former interacts with major environmental changes such as increased use offire, changing herbivore densities and increased atmospheric CO2 concentration. With forecasted environmental change it is imperative that our understanding of past human-ecosystem interactions is queried to impart effective long term conservation and land use management strategies. Such an approach, that has its foundation in the long term, will enhance possibilities for a sustainable future for East African ecosystems and maximise the livelihoods of the populations that rely on them.
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| 44. |
- Leonard, Jennifer, et al.
(författare)
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Animal DNA in PCR reagents plagues ancient DNA research
- 2007
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Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 34:9, s. 1361-1366
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Molecular archaeology brings the tools of molecular biology to bear on fundamental questions in archaeology, anthropology, evolution, and ecology. Ancient DNA research is becoming widespread as evolutionary biologists and archaeologists discover the power of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify DNA from ancient plant and animal remains. However, the extraordinary susceptibility of PCR to contamination by extraneous DNA is not widely appreciated. We report the independent observation of DNA from domestic animals in PCR reagents and ancient samples in four separate laboratories. Since PCR conditions used in ancient DNA analyses are extremely sensitive, very low concentrations of contaminating DNA can cause false positives. Previously unidentified animal DNA in reagents can confound ancient DNA research on certain domestic animals, especially cows, pigs, and chickens.
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| 45. |
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| 46. |
- Linderholm, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Stable isotope analysis of a medieval skeletal sample indicative of systemic disease from Sigtuna Sweden
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 38:4, s. 925-933
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In Sigtuna, Sweden, several medieval cemeteries have been excavated, from which approximately 800 skeletons have been excavated and analysed. Archaeological finds and anthropological analyses have exposed social differences between the cemeteries. Stable isotope analyses have shown that the inhabitants of the town consumed a mixed diet. Significant differences in dietary patterns between the cemeteries may be related to social stratification. In the outskirts of a churchyard excavated in 2006, bone changes showing systemic inflammatory disease indicative of leprosy were observed in six individuals. The burial location suggests that the affected belonged to a lower social stratum. Bone samples were taken from these six individuals, 19 other human skeletons and five animals from the same cemetery for analysis of the stable isotope composition of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S). The results showed no significant differences in delta(13)C and delta(15)N values between the groups, i.e. the seemingly healthy humans and the humans affected by severe inflammatory disease appear to have had similar diets. Nor was a significant difference observed in delta(34)S data between the six affected individuals and the rest of the sample, implying that no difference in origins could be observed between the two groups studied. However, a comparison between the present study and the previous analysis resulted in significant differences in carbon values. Based on the results obtained in this investigation it is suggested that if a dietary difference existed between people in the outskirts of a cemetery (for example those suffering from leprosy) and people buried in higher ranked regions, it was not a difference in food source but rather in other parameters. Instead dietary differences and possibly social variations are demonstrated between cemeteries. The results from the present study highlight the hierarchical arrangements of social classes in the early medieval society.
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| 47. |
- Linderholm, Johan, 1963-, et al.
(författare)
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Chemical characterisation of various archaeological soil samples using main and trace elements determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry
- 1994
-
In: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 21:3, s. 303-314
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this study a method has been developed to classify archaeologically related soil samples by means of multivariate statistical analysis (principal component analysis) of determined trace and main component concentrations. The Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES) technique was used for the determination of Fe, As, Cu, P, Mn, V, Co, Mo, Zn, Cr, Pb and Ca, and good accuracy was achieved by calibration against a certified reference material. It was shown that Cu, P, Mn, Zn and Ca were accumulated in feature and dwelling samples from a late bronze age site, Vistad, in southeast Sweden. Elements like Fe, V, Co and Cr characterized the control samples (from a surrounding field). It was also demonstrated that in this case, a simpler pretreatment procedure—acid extraction—could be used instead of total dissolution of the samples. Microwave heating was utilized for both procedures.
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| 48. |
- Ling, Johan, 1968, et al.
(author)
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Moving metals II: Provenancing Scandinavian Bronze Age artefacts by lead isotope and elemental analyses
- 2014
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In: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 41, s. 106-132
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The first part of this research published previously proved without doubt that the metals dated to the Nordic Bronze Age found in Sweden were not smelted from the local copper ores. In this second part we present a detailed interpretation of these analytical data with the aim to identify the ore sources from which these metals originated. The interpretation of lead isotope and chemical data of 71 Swedish Bronze Age metals is based on the direct comparisons between the lead isotope data and geochemistry of ore deposits that are known to have produced copper in the Bronze Age. The presented interpretations of chemical and lead isotope analyses of Swedish metals dated to the Nordic Bronze Age are surprising and bring some information not known from previous work. Apart from a steady supply of copper from the Alpine ores in the North Tyrol, the main sources of copper seem to be ores from the Iberian Peninsula and Sardinia. Thus from the results presented here a new complex picture emerges of possible connectivities and flows in the Bronze Age between Scandinavia and Europe. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
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| 49. |
- Ling, Johan, 1968, et al.
(author)
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Moving metals or indigenous mining? : Provenancing Scandinavian Bronze Age artefacts by leadisotopes and trace elements
- 2013
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In: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 40:1, s. 291-304
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of this study is to further the discussion as to whether copper was extracted locally or imported to Sweden during the Bronze Age or if both of these practices could have coexisted. For this purpose, we have carried out lead isotope and chemical analyses of 33 bronze items, dated between 1600BC and 700BC. Among these are the famous Fröslunda shields and the large scrap hoard from Bräckan and other items from three regions in southern Sweden which are also renowned for their richness in copper ores. It is obvious from a comparison that the element and lead isotope compositions of the studied bronze items diverge greatly from those of spatially associated copper ores. Nor is there any good resemblance with other ores from Scandinavia, and it is concluded that the copper in these items must have been imported from elsewhere. The results furthermore indicate that there are variations in metal supply that are related to chronology, in agreement with other artefacts from Scandinavia as well as from other parts of Europe. Altogether these circumstances open up for a discussion regarding Scandinavia’s role in the maritime networks during the Bronze Age.
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| 50. |
- López-Costas, Olalla, et al.
(author)
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Chemical compositional changes in archaeological human bones due to diagenesis : Type of bone vs soil environment
- 2016
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In: Journal of Archaeological Science. - : Elsevier BV. - 0305-4403 .- 1095-9238. ; 67, s. 43-51
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Diagenesis in human remains is a subject of growing interest due to the increase in bone chemical studies to reconstruct pre- and post-mortem features in archaeological and forensic sciences. The efforts made during the last decades have solidified our understanding of diagenetic processes; however, their high complexity demands more research to address them empirically, specifically considering factors such as types of soil substratum and skeletal element. In this work, a geochemical study of human remains from the archaeological site of A Lanzada (NW Spain) is performed to understand diagenesis (i.e. chemical alteration) and life environmental exposure. Three types of bone (thoracic, long and cranial) from 30 skeletons of two periods (9 Roman, 21 post-Roman) were analysed by X-ray fluorescence. Bones were recovered from burials located in slightly alkaline (Haplic Arenosol (calcaric)) and acidic (Cambic Umbrisol (humic)) soils. Principal components analysis was applied to extract the main chemical signatures, and analysis of variance to determine the influence of different factors. Bone composition was characterized by four chemical signals related to: i) alteration of bone bioapatite; ii) metal sorption from the soil solution; iii) presence of fine (silt-clay) soil particles; and iv) lead incorporation. Thoracic bones were found to be more sensitive to diagenesis and the burial environment; long bones and crania presented a similar response. Skeletons buried in the acidic soil were significantly poorly preserved. Lead content was higher in bones of the Roman period, which seems to be related to pre-mortem conditions. Previous investigations on palaeopollution in NW Spain enable us to hypothesize that Roman individuals may have been subjected to a high exposure of Pb due to elevated atmospheric metal contamination.
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