Pub Date : 2024-07-19DOI: 10.1007/s10816-024-09662-9
Spencer R. Pelton, Todd A. Surovell, Sarah A. Allaun, McKenna L. Litynski, Paul H. Sanders, Robert L. Kelly, Madeline E. Mackie, Matthew J. O’Brien
The La Prele site (ca. 12,940 cal BP) is a deeply buried, single-component mammoth kill and campsite in Wyoming (USA). The site was discovered eroding from a creek bank 3 m deep within a 7-m tall terrace scarp, and prior investigations have primarily focused on excavations accessible from the creek bank, using heavy machinery to remove sterile overburden to access the deeply buried deposits. This approach has allowed excavations to occur safely outside of deep pits, but it has limited our ability to assess the total size and density of the site. To determine total site extent, we conducted systematic bucket auger testing of the La Prele site terrace, attempting 189 augers between 1.6 m and 6.2 m deep across the landform. We use a simulation and other mathematical procedures to infer artifact density from auger artifact counts and interpolate artifact densities across the site using GIS. We determine that La Prele is around 4500 m2 in area and likely contains a buried bison bonebed and two additional artifact concentrations comparable to or exceeding the size and density of previously excavated areas. We use these insights to infer Early Paleoindian group size, concluding that around 30 people occupied La Prele.
La Prele 遗址(约公元前 12,940 年)是位于怀俄明州(美国)的一个深埋的单体猛犸象猎杀地和营地。该遗址是在一个 7 米高的阶地峭壁上从 3 米深的溪岸侵蚀而发现的,之前的调查主要集中在从溪岸进行挖掘,使用重型机械清除无菌覆盖层,以进入深埋的沉积物。这种方法使挖掘工作能够安全地在深坑之外进行,但却限制了我们评估遗址总规模和密度的能力。为了确定遗址的总范围,我们对 La Prele 遗址阶地进行了系统的斗钻测试,在整个地貌上尝试了 189 个深度在 1.6 米到 6.2 米之间的钻。我们使用模拟和其他数学方法,从钻探器物数量推断器物密度,并使用地理信息系统对整个遗址的器物密度进行内插。我们确定 La Prele 的面积约为 4500 平方米,很可能包含一个埋藏的野牛骨床和另外两个文物集中区,其面积和密度相当于或超过之前发掘的区域。我们利用这些洞察力推断出早期古印第安人的群体规模,得出的结论是大约有 30 人居住在 La Prele。
{"title":"Estimating the Size and Density of the La Prele Site: Implications for Early Paleoindian Group Size","authors":"Spencer R. Pelton, Todd A. Surovell, Sarah A. Allaun, McKenna L. Litynski, Paul H. Sanders, Robert L. Kelly, Madeline E. Mackie, Matthew J. O’Brien","doi":"10.1007/s10816-024-09662-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-024-09662-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The La Prele site (ca. 12,940 cal BP) is a deeply buried, single-component mammoth kill and campsite in Wyoming (USA). The site was discovered eroding from a creek bank 3 m deep within a 7-m tall terrace scarp, and prior investigations have primarily focused on excavations accessible from the creek bank, using heavy machinery to remove sterile overburden to access the deeply buried deposits. This approach has allowed excavations to occur safely outside of deep pits, but it has limited our ability to assess the total size and density of the site. To determine total site extent, we conducted systematic bucket auger testing of the La Prele site terrace, attempting 189 augers between 1.6 m and 6.2 m deep across the landform. We use a simulation and other mathematical procedures to infer artifact density from auger artifact counts and interpolate artifact densities across the site using GIS. We determine that La Prele is around 4500 m<sup>2</sup> in area and likely contains a buried bison bonebed and two additional artifact concentrations comparable to or exceeding the size and density of previously excavated areas. We use these insights to infer Early Paleoindian group size, concluding that around 30 people occupied La Prele.\u0000</p>","PeriodicalId":47725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141730575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-18DOI: 10.1007/s10816-024-09663-8
Lena Asryan, Veerle Rots
Basalt is a widely used raw material for tool manufacture at prehistoric sites, but a unified methodology for assessing how hominfins used basalt in prehistory is lacking. A comprehensive experimental investigation of basalt tools is, thus, necessary to establish a reliable methodological framework that can be used to explore the functional properties of archaeological basalt assemblages.
The aim of this study is to contribute to the development of a methodological framework for the analysis of use-wear on basalt tools. Basalt, characterised by its distinct mechanical and structural properties and unique response to mechanical stress, requires specialised treatment and investigation.
To address this, our basalt varieties were characterised using SEM–EDS analysis. Sequential experiments were conducted, using the experimental basalt tools in different activities, including butchery, hide, bone and woodworking to determine use-wear formation patterns. Subsequentially, various analytical tools, including optical and scanning electron microscopes, were used to analyse macro- and micro-wear traces on basalt.
Our results provide useful information on methodological aspects of use-wear formation on basalt. The inclusion of detailed cleaning and experimental protocols enhanced the robustness of our methodology. Furthermore, the combined utilisation of various microscopes enabled to compile a comprehensive and complementary information on such a complex raw material such as basalt and to characterise thoroughly the diagnostic features of the micro-wear traces (e.g. edge damage, rounding, polish).
{"title":"Exploring Basalt: A Methodological Framework for Analysing Wear Traces on Basalt Tools","authors":"Lena Asryan, Veerle Rots","doi":"10.1007/s10816-024-09663-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-024-09663-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Basalt is a widely used raw material for tool manufacture at prehistoric sites, but a unified methodology for assessing how hominfins used basalt in prehistory is lacking. A comprehensive experimental investigation of basalt tools is, thus, necessary to establish a reliable methodological framework that can be used to explore the functional properties of archaeological basalt assemblages.</p><p>The aim of this study is to contribute to the development of a methodological framework for the analysis of use-wear on basalt tools. Basalt, characterised by its distinct mechanical and structural properties and unique response to mechanical stress, requires specialised treatment and investigation.</p><p>To address this, our basalt varieties were characterised using SEM–EDS analysis. Sequential experiments were conducted, using the experimental basalt tools in different activities, including butchery, hide, bone and woodworking to determine use-wear formation patterns. Subsequentially, various analytical tools, including optical and scanning electron microscopes, were used to analyse macro- and micro-wear traces on basalt.</p><p>Our results provide useful information on methodological aspects of use-wear formation on basalt. The inclusion of detailed cleaning and experimental protocols enhanced the robustness of our methodology. Furthermore, the combined utilisation of various microscopes enabled to compile a comprehensive and complementary information on such a complex raw material such as basalt and to characterise thoroughly the diagnostic features of the micro-wear traces (<i>e.g.</i> edge damage, rounding, polish).</p>","PeriodicalId":47725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141726165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-07-03DOI: 10.1007/s10816-024-09658-5
Lena Dubinsky, Leore Grosman
Traditionally, rock engravings were studied through their visual characteristics. They have been analyzed with comparative and interpretative methodologies of iconography and iconology. However, there has been a recent shift towards identifying production processes, allowing reconstruction of operational characteristics through various methods. Nevertheless, the studies of the technological aspects typically focus on the operational and the mechanical, often omitting the visuality of the outcome. In the current paper, we are using ArchCUT3-D software for computational analysis of 3-D data acquired from various rock engravings located in Timna Park, southern Israel. We show how micro-morphological evidence, extracted from the engraved lines, can decode technical trends and variabilities in a technique’s particular implementation. Then, we conduct a focused examination of one group of engraved figures in order to establish a link between execution techniques and visual considerations. Based on our results and the following discussion, we suggest the term Techné to indicate the choice of technique that goes beyond the instrumental or purely operative perspectives. We highlight the intentional choice, which designs the visual rhetoric of the engraved marks and suggests cultural concepts that contrived the procedural processes.
{"title":"Techné of Rock Engravings—the Timna Case Study","authors":"Lena Dubinsky, Leore Grosman","doi":"10.1007/s10816-024-09658-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-024-09658-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Traditionally, rock engravings were studied through their visual characteristics. They have been analyzed with comparative and interpretative methodologies of iconography and iconology. However, there has been a recent shift towards identifying production processes, allowing reconstruction of operational characteristics through various methods. Nevertheless, the studies of the technological aspects typically focus on the operational and the mechanical, often omitting the visuality of the outcome. In the current paper, we are using ArchCUT3-D software for computational analysis of 3-D data acquired from various rock engravings located in Timna Park, southern Israel. We show how micro-morphological evidence, extracted from the engraved lines, can decode technical trends and variabilities in a technique’s particular implementation. Then, we conduct a focused examination of one group of engraved figures in order to establish a link between execution techniques and visual considerations. Based on our results and the following discussion, we suggest the term <i>Techné</i> to indicate the choice of technique that goes beyond the instrumental or purely operative perspectives. We highlight the intentional choice, which designs the visual rhetoric of the engraved marks and suggests cultural concepts that contrived the procedural processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":47725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141521366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-29DOI: 10.1007/s10816-024-09659-4
Idaira Brito-Abrante, Amelia Rodríguez-Rodríguez
This experimental study aims to contribute to functional analysis research on tools which specifically served to work wood and non-woody plants. They were made of obsidian and other volcanic rocks (basalt, trachyte, and phonolite) characterised by an amorphous matrix and phenocrysts of different number and size. In spite of prior functional analysis research resorting to these raw materials, there remain gaps in our understanding of specific activities. The work thus focused on working different types of wood from the Canary Island as well as on harvesting cereals. It is likewise centred on craftwork, especially regarding certain rarely studied contact materials such as palm leaves and rushes. The results reveal use-wear differences stemming from working woody and non-woody plants with both obsidian and other volcanic rocks. A special attention was given to the identification and description of the different features depending on the raw materials and the characteristics of their knapped surfaces. Identifying the combination of attributes has been essential to attain more accurate diagnostics. There are limits to each of the types of raw materials. The surfaces of obsidian are easier to observe and allow more specific identifications. In turn, the heterogeneous surfaces of volcanic rocks with phenocrysts that require more to time to develop diagnostic traces render use-wear amongst these types of rocks more difficult to observe. It is possible to distinguish longitudinal and transversal actions between woody and non-woody plants on every rock. Actions related to basketry, such us splitting and scraping, are more complicated to identify. The state of the worked plant (dry or fresh) and the time of use are key factors to consider in each case.
{"title":"Use-Wear Analysis of Obsidian and Other Volcanic Rocks: An Experimental Approach to Working Plant Resources","authors":"Idaira Brito-Abrante, Amelia Rodríguez-Rodríguez","doi":"10.1007/s10816-024-09659-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-024-09659-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This experimental study aims to contribute to functional analysis research on tools which specifically served to work wood and non-woody plants. They were made of obsidian and other volcanic rocks (basalt, trachyte, and phonolite) characterised by an amorphous matrix and phenocrysts of different number and size. In spite of prior functional analysis research resorting to these raw materials, there remain gaps in our understanding of specific activities. The work thus focused on working different types of wood from the Canary Island as well as on harvesting cereals. It is likewise centred on craftwork, especially regarding certain rarely studied contact materials such as palm leaves and rushes. The results reveal use-wear differences stemming from working woody and non-woody plants with both obsidian and other volcanic rocks. A special attention was given to the identification and description of the different features depending on the raw materials and the characteristics of their knapped surfaces. Identifying the combination of attributes has been essential to attain more accurate diagnostics. There are limits to each of the types of raw materials. The surfaces of obsidian are easier to observe and allow more specific identifications. In turn, the heterogeneous surfaces of volcanic rocks with phenocrysts that require more to time to develop diagnostic traces render use-wear amongst these types of rocks more difficult to observe. It is possible to distinguish longitudinal and transversal actions between woody and non-woody plants on every rock. Actions related to basketry, such us splitting and scraping, are more complicated to identify. The state of the worked plant (dry or fresh) and the time of use are key factors to consider in each case.</p>","PeriodicalId":47725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141489553","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-21DOI: 10.1007/s10816-024-09656-7
Miguel García-Bustos, Paula García Bustos, Olivia Rivero
One of the main objectives of Palaeolithic art researchers is to study and systematise the form of artistic representations. Some methodologies include the analysis of qualitative variables, linear measurements or the use of geometric morphometry with landmarks. However, these techniques depend to a large extent on the subjectivity of the researcher, which often leads to biased results. To overcome this issue, we present an application of geometric morphometry using Elliptic Fourier Analysis (EFA), together with multivariate statistics and hypothesis testing, for the first time to the study of form in prehistoric art. In order to explain its use, the “duck-bill” convention of pre-Magdalenian horses, often used as a chronological and geographical marker, has been used as a case study. This formalism is described disparately in the literature, so the main objective is to use EFA to determine whether it is possible to characterise this type of convention according to the definitions given by certain authors. The results indicate a possible classification of the heads of these animals. Through this taxonomic proposal, it has been possible to verify the great diversity of forms in which the authors classify the duck-bill horses and, therefore, to demonstrate that this peculiar form can be considered neither a conventionalism nor a chronological/regional marker. In conclusion, the methodology based on EFA combined with multivariate statistics for the objective study of form in prehistoric art is effective and opens a new avenue of analysis in the art of prehistoric societies.
{"title":"New Methods for Old Questions: The Use of Elliptic Fourier Analysis for the Formal Study of Palaeolithic Art","authors":"Miguel García-Bustos, Paula García Bustos, Olivia Rivero","doi":"10.1007/s10816-024-09656-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-024-09656-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p>One of the main objectives of Palaeolithic art researchers is to study and systematise the form of artistic representations. Some methodologies include the analysis of qualitative variables, linear measurements or the use of geometric morphometry with landmarks. However, these techniques depend to a large extent on the subjectivity of the researcher, which often leads to biased results. To overcome this issue, we present an application of geometric morphometry using Elliptic Fourier Analysis (EFA), together with multivariate statistics and hypothesis testing, for the first time to the study of form in prehistoric art. In order to explain its use, the “duck-bill” convention of pre-Magdalenian horses, often used as a chronological and geographical marker, has been used as a case study. This formalism is described disparately in the literature, so the main objective is to use EFA to determine whether it is possible to characterise this type of convention according to the definitions given by certain authors. The results indicate a possible classification of the heads of these animals. Through this taxonomic proposal, it has been possible to verify the great diversity of forms in which the authors classify the duck-bill horses and, therefore, to demonstrate that this peculiar form can be considered neither a conventionalism nor a chronological/regional marker. In conclusion, the methodology based on EFA combined with multivariate statistics for the objective study of form in prehistoric art is effective and opens a new avenue of analysis in the art of prehistoric societies.</p>","PeriodicalId":47725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-06-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141439860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-18DOI: 10.1007/s10816-024-09655-8
Olga Spaey, Diego Garate, Aritz Irurtzun
We present a revision of the concept of space in Palaeolithic cave art. Previous research attempting to approach this notion encounters several gaps, which surface on multiple levels: subjectivity, vagueness, restrictions on its conceptualisation, its illustration (two-dimensional description and representation), among others. We reassess the key elements at play, interpretative attempts, and theoretical concepts to gain a better understanding of the notion of space as applied to cave art. This is achieved by examining the historiography not only in prehistory but also in related disciplines, integrating new theoretical approaches and insights from ethnoarchaeology, linguistics, cognitive science, and analytic philosophy. Following this analysis of the existing research, we propose a new method to address the aforementioned issues. This method relies on digital quantitative tools for spatial analysis and three-dimensional representation, such as geographic information systems (GIS) and 3D visualisation. Through the application of these advanced technological tools, we aim to offer a more comprehensive and precise representation of the spatial aspects in Palaeolithic cave art, enabling researchers to analyse and comprehend the complexities of spatial distribution in a systematic and quantitative manner.
{"title":"Space Analysis in Palaeolithic Cave Art: Towards a Multidisciplinary and Integrated Approach","authors":"Olga Spaey, Diego Garate, Aritz Irurtzun","doi":"10.1007/s10816-024-09655-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-024-09655-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p> We present a revision of the concept of space in Palaeolithic cave art. Previous research attempting to approach this notion encounters several gaps, which surface on multiple levels: subjectivity, vagueness, restrictions on its conceptualisation, its illustration (two-dimensional description and representation), among others. We reassess the key elements at play, interpretative attempts, and theoretical concepts to gain a better understanding of the notion of space as applied to cave art. This is achieved by examining the historiography not only in prehistory but also in related disciplines, integrating new theoretical approaches and insights from ethnoarchaeology, linguistics, cognitive science, and analytic philosophy. Following this analysis of the existing research, we propose a new method to address the aforementioned issues. This method relies on digital quantitative tools for spatial analysis and three-dimensional representation, such as geographic information systems (GIS) and 3D visualisation. Through the application of these advanced technological tools, we aim to offer a more comprehensive and precise representation of the spatial aspects in Palaeolithic cave art, enabling researchers to analyse and comprehend the complexities of spatial distribution in a systematic and quantitative manner.\u0000</p>","PeriodicalId":47725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141334397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-10DOI: 10.1007/s10816-024-09657-6
Brian Hayden, Emmanuel Guy
There is relative agreement among many prehistorians that surpluses were an essential factor in the creation of socioeconomic inequalities and that storage was often an important aspect of surplus accumulation per Testart (Les chasseurs-cueilleurs ou l’origine des inégalités 1982a), Testart (Current Anthropology,23, 523–537, 1982b). However, there is little agreement concerning the existence of large-scale kills, storage, surpluses, or inequalities in the deeply incised river valleys of the Southwestern French Upper Paleolithic. We present observations from a number of studies indicating that there were likely large-scale reindeer kills with substantial amounts of meat being filleted, dried, and stored, as well as indications of surpluses that could have resulted in inequalities. We rely on ethnographic observations among the Inuit concerning hunting, butchering, and filleting of meat for drying, as well as on ethnographic patterns of storage, taphonomic observations about bone discard of these activities, the importance of cut marks, and the behavior of reindeer. A critical distinction is made between the treatment of bones from individually killed animals versus the treatment of bones from large-scale kills. We also consider the implications for storage and surpluses of logistical hunting/gathering patterns, relative sedentism, and skeletal indications of heavy reliance on stored meat. On balance, we conclude that these indications favor the existence of mass kills, storage, and surpluses in certain areas of Southwestern France in the Upper Paleolithic.
许多史前学家相对一致地认为,剩余是造成社会经济不平等的一个重要因素,而储存往往是剩余积累的一个重要方面,如 Testart(Les chasseurs-cueilleurs ou l'origine des inégalités 1982a)、Testart(Current Anthropology, 23, 523-537, 1982b)。然而,关于法国西南部旧石器时代上层的深槽河谷中是否存在大规模的杀戮、储藏、剩余或不平等现象,人们的看法并不一致。我们从多项研究中观察到,当时很可能存在大规模的驯鹿捕杀活动,大量的驯鹿肉被切片、风干和贮存,也有迹象表明存在可能导致不平等的剩余驯鹿。我们依据的是因纽特人对狩猎、屠宰和切片晒肉的人种学观察,以及人种学上的储存模式、对这些活动中骨头丢弃情况的古生物学观察、切割痕迹的重要性以及驯鹿的行为。我们对单独宰杀和大规模宰杀的驯鹿骨骼处理方式进行了重要区分。我们还考虑了后勤狩猎/采集模式、相对定居以及严重依赖储藏肉类的骨骼迹象对储藏和剩余肉类的影响。总之,我们得出结论,这些迹象表明旧石器时代上古时期法国西南部的某些地区存在大规模杀戮、储藏和过剩。
{"title":"Paleo Storage, Paleo Surplus, and Paleo Inequality in the Périgord","authors":"Brian Hayden, Emmanuel Guy","doi":"10.1007/s10816-024-09657-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-024-09657-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p>There is relative agreement among many prehistorians that surpluses were an essential factor in the creation of socioeconomic inequalities and that storage was often an important aspect of surplus accumulation per Testart (<i>Les chasseurs-cueilleurs ou l’origine des inégalités </i>1982a), Testart (<i>Current Anthropology,</i> <i>23</i>, 523–537, 1982b). However, there is little agreement concerning the existence of large-scale kills, storage, surpluses, or inequalities in the deeply incised river valleys of the Southwestern French Upper Paleolithic. We present observations from a number of studies indicating that there were likely large-scale reindeer kills with substantial amounts of meat being filleted, dried, and stored, as well as indications of surpluses that could have resulted in inequalities. We rely on ethnographic observations among the Inuit concerning hunting, butchering, and filleting of meat for drying, as well as on ethnographic patterns of storage, taphonomic observations about bone discard of these activities, the importance of cut marks, and the behavior of reindeer. A critical distinction is made between the treatment of bones from individually killed animals versus the treatment of bones from large-scale kills. We also consider the implications for storage and surpluses of logistical hunting/gathering patterns, relative sedentism, and skeletal indications of heavy reliance on stored meat. On balance, we conclude that these indications favor the existence of mass kills, storage, and surpluses in certain areas of Southwestern France in the Upper Paleolithic.</p>","PeriodicalId":47725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141304413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-06-04DOI: 10.1007/s10816-024-09653-w
David E. Friesem, Reuven Yeshurun, Zachary C. Dunseth, Shira Gur-Arieh, Dani Nadel
The open-air Epipalaeolithic (Geometric Kebaran) site of Neve David (Mount Carmel, Israel) has played an important role in reconstructing scenarios of sedentarization in the Levant since its initial excavation in the 1980s, and has been seen as heralding later Natufian socioeconomic adaptations. However, little was known about the site’s formation processes and spatial organization, hindering the testing of this view. Employing new field data from Neve David, we present a combined macro- and microscopic analyses of the spatial and temporal distribution of lithics, faunal remains, phytoliths and wood ash, interpreted with the aid of ethnoarchaeological data and comparison to other Palaeolithic sites in the region. Post-depositional disturbance seems to be minimal at Neve David and we therefore suggest that the spatial distribution of the finds mostly represents human use of space. Throughout the thick sequence of occupation episodes, distinct division of space and well-preserved trampled occupation surfaces are generally lacking. We suggest that this pattern represents reduced mobility, as prolonged human activity blurs the primary depositional signal of the activity remains. The density of the finds generally increases in the upper layers of the site. Accordingly, we hypothesize that at the beginning of activity, the duration of occupation was longer and only later in the sequence of events was there an increase in group size. Our findings further highlight the position of the Geometric Kebaran as a pivotal stage in understanding the gap between the preceding highly mobile societies and the succeeding sedentary and demographically-larger Natufian societies.
自 20 世纪 80 年代首次发掘以来,Neve David(以色列卡梅尔山)露天的旧石器时代(几何凯巴兰)遗址在重建黎凡特地区定居情景方面发挥了重要作用,并被认为预示着后来纳图菲社会经济的适应。然而,人们对该遗址的形成过程和空间组织知之甚少,阻碍了对这一观点的检验。我们利用来自内韦达维的新实地数据,对石器、动物遗骸、植物残片和木灰的空间和时间分布进行了宏观和微观分析,并借助民族考古学数据以及与该地区其他旧石器时代遗址的对比进行了解释。在 Neve David,沉积后的扰动似乎很小,因此我们认为发现物的空间分布主要代表了人类对空间的利用。在整个厚厚的占领事件序列中,普遍缺乏明显的空间划分和保存完好的践踏占领表面。我们认为,这种模式代表了流动性的降低,因为长期的人类活动模糊了活动遗迹的主要沉积信号。在遗址的上层,发现物的密度普遍增加。据此,我们推测,在活动初期,占用时间较长,只有在活动序列的后期,群体规模才会扩大。我们的研究结果进一步突出了几何凯巴兰遗址的地位,它是了解前一个高度流动的社会与后一个定居的、人口规模更大的纳图菲社会之间差距的关键阶段。
{"title":"Rethinking Occupation Intensity during the Levantine Middle Epipalaeolithic: The use of Space and Site Formation Processes at the Geometric Kebaran site of Neve David, Israel","authors":"David E. Friesem, Reuven Yeshurun, Zachary C. Dunseth, Shira Gur-Arieh, Dani Nadel","doi":"10.1007/s10816-024-09653-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-024-09653-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The open-air Epipalaeolithic (Geometric Kebaran) site of Neve David (Mount Carmel, Israel) has played an important role in reconstructing scenarios of sedentarization in the Levant since its initial excavation in the 1980s, and has been seen as heralding later Natufian socioeconomic adaptations. However, little was known about the site’s formation processes and spatial organization, hindering the testing of this view. Employing new field data from Neve David, we present a combined macro- and microscopic analyses of the spatial and temporal distribution of lithics, faunal remains, phytoliths and wood ash, interpreted with the aid of ethnoarchaeological data and comparison to other Palaeolithic sites in the region. Post-depositional disturbance seems to be minimal at Neve David and we therefore suggest that the spatial distribution of the finds mostly represents human use of space. Throughout the thick sequence of occupation episodes, distinct division of space and well-preserved trampled occupation surfaces are generally lacking. We suggest that this pattern represents reduced mobility, as prolonged human activity blurs the primary depositional signal of the activity remains. The density of the finds generally increases in the upper layers of the site. Accordingly, we hypothesize that at the beginning of activity, the duration of occupation was longer and only later in the sequence of events was there an increase in group size. Our findings further highlight the position of the Geometric Kebaran as a pivotal stage in understanding the gap between the preceding highly mobile societies and the succeeding sedentary and demographically-larger Natufian societies.</p>","PeriodicalId":47725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141246584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The aim of this paper is to present the methodology used to study the megalithic architecture of Menjez’s monuments (Akkar, Lebanon), as part of the MEG-A Project - “First megalith builders in the northern Levant” (2022–2025). Twenty-four monuments have been investigated since 2018. The primary objective is to pioneer a comprehensive understanding of the unique Levantine megalithic building techniques and re-establish the “chaînes opératoires,” by determining the builders’ sequence of actions. This groundbreaking methodology originally developed for Western European megalithic monuments, notably in Brittany, France, has been innovatively applied and customized to suit the Levantine context, specifically focusing on the distinctive basaltic monuments of Menjez and its surrounding areas. By using photogrammetry as a tool, the researchers are able to de-construct the megalithic architecture by analyzing the different components of these monuments. Moreover, it is then possible to describe monoliths according to their place within the monument and their geological and geomorphological features. Our work has led us to consider the symbolic aspect expressed in the megalithic architecture of Menjez. Employing this groundbreaking methodology not only yields concrete answers regarding the typology of these monuments but also dramatically reshapes our perception of their construction. It establishes a precise relative chronology for the various architectural phases and, most significantly, reveals the hidden details of the raw material supply chain.
{"title":"The Levantine Megalithic Building Techniques: A Groundbreaking Method Applied to Menjez’s Monuments (Akkar, Lebanon) from the 4th–3rd Millennium BCE","authors":"Méryl Defours Rivoira, Florian Cousseau, Tara Steimer-Herbet","doi":"10.1007/s10816-024-09654-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-024-09654-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The aim of this paper is to present the methodology used to study the megalithic architecture of Menjez’s monuments (Akkar, Lebanon), as part of the MEG-A Project - “First megalith builders in the northern Levant” (2022–2025). Twenty-four monuments have been investigated since 2018. The primary objective is to pioneer a comprehensive understanding of the unique Levantine megalithic building techniques and re-establish the “chaînes opératoires,” by determining the builders’ sequence of actions. This groundbreaking methodology originally developed for Western European megalithic monuments, notably in Brittany, France, has been innovatively applied and customized to suit the Levantine context, specifically focusing on the distinctive basaltic monuments of Menjez and its surrounding areas. By using photogrammetry as a tool, the researchers are able to de-construct the megalithic architecture by analyzing the different components of these monuments. Moreover, it is then possible to describe monoliths according to their place within the monument and their geological and geomorphological features. Our work has led us to consider the symbolic aspect expressed in the megalithic architecture of Menjez. Employing this groundbreaking methodology not only yields concrete answers regarding the typology of these monuments but also dramatically reshapes our perception of their construction. It establishes a precise relative chronology for the various architectural phases and, most significantly, reveals the hidden details of the raw material supply chain.</p>","PeriodicalId":47725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141236034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-16DOI: 10.1007/s10816-024-09652-x
Hannah M. Herrick, Francesco Berna
Abstract
Lime-based materials are found in archaeological contexts across many world regions. The earliest evidence of lime production was discovered in the Levant dating to about 16,000 cal BP. Methods for transforming limestone, shells, and corals into slaked lime varied depending on region, culture, and period. Similarly, the use of lime had an extensive variation of applications such as hafting, plastering, mortars, flooring, plastering skulls, decorating, and making frescos. Each step of the lime production process—from raw materials sourcing to the mixing of finished materials—results in specific archaeological assemblages, each capable of delivering critical insight into the knowledge of the people who created them. Here, we review approaches and methodologies used to analyze each production step, and, specifically, those targeting raw materials selection and firing conditions. For investigating effectively raw materials selection and firing conditions of archaeological lime-based materials, we propose a methodological approach based on the integration of petrography and Fourier transform infrared microscopy (mFTIR) that uses chemical and mineralogical reference libraries prepared using experimental lime produced with provenienced raw materials.
{"title":"A Review of Methods to Analyze Archaeological Lime Production: Investigating Raw Materials Selection and Firing Conditions","authors":"Hannah M. Herrick, Francesco Berna","doi":"10.1007/s10816-024-09652-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-024-09652-x","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Abstract</h3><p>Lime-based materials are found in archaeological contexts across many world regions. The earliest evidence of lime production was discovered in the Levant dating to about 16,000 cal BP. Methods for transforming limestone, shells, and corals into slaked lime varied depending on region, culture, and period. Similarly, the use of lime had an extensive variation of applications such as hafting, plastering, mortars, flooring, plastering skulls, decorating, and making frescos. Each step of the lime production process—from raw materials sourcing to the mixing of finished materials—results in specific archaeological assemblages, each capable of delivering critical insight into the knowledge of the people who created them. Here, we review approaches and methodologies used to analyze each production step, and, specifically, those targeting raw materials selection and firing conditions. For investigating effectively raw materials selection and firing conditions of archaeological lime-based materials, we propose a methodological approach based on the integration of petrography and Fourier transform infrared microscopy (mFTIR) that uses chemical and mineralogical reference libraries prepared using experimental lime produced with provenienced raw materials.</p>","PeriodicalId":47725,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140949753","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}