Pub Date : 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105611
Kai Chen , Yingbin Niu , Qing Wang , Xing Gong , Qingyu Lu , Jiujiang Bai
The Three Gorges region was one of the major centers of prehistoric salt production in China, yet the provenance of salt-making pottery remains poorly understood. Pointed-bottom vats are characteristic vessels of the Zhongba Culture(2500–1750 BCE) and are closely associated with salt-production activities. This study investigates the provenance of pointed-bottom vats from five Zhongba Culture sites in the eastern and western Three Gorges using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) and petrographic analysis. The results identify three compositional and petrographic groups that correspond closely to regional geological settings. Vats from the Zhongba, Wazhadi, and Shaopengzui sites in the western Three Gorges share similar chemical and petrographic characteristics, indicating local production within a common geological framework. In contrast, vats from the Laoguanmiao and Daxi sites in the eastern Three Gorges exhibit distinct compositions consistent with independent local production. These findings reveal at least two production areas for pointed-bottom vats in the Three Gorges region and demonstrate a locally grounded production strategy constrained by geological conditions. This study provides new empirical evidence for understanding pottery production organization and the prehistoric salt economy of the Three Gorges region.
{"title":"Provenance analysis of pointed-bottom vats of the Zhongba Culture from the Three Gorges region, China: Perspectives from ED-XRF and petrography","authors":"Kai Chen , Yingbin Niu , Qing Wang , Xing Gong , Qingyu Lu , Jiujiang Bai","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105611","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105611","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Three Gorges region was one of the major centers of prehistoric salt production in China, yet the provenance of salt-making pottery remains poorly understood. Pointed-bottom vats are characteristic vessels of the Zhongba Culture(2500–1750 BCE) and are closely associated with salt-production activities. This study investigates the provenance of pointed-bottom vats from five Zhongba Culture sites in the eastern and western Three Gorges using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) and petrographic analysis. The results identify three compositional and petrographic groups that correspond closely to regional geological settings. Vats from the Zhongba, Wazhadi, and Shaopengzui sites in the western Three Gorges share similar chemical and petrographic characteristics, indicating local production within a common geological framework. In contrast, vats from the Laoguanmiao and Daxi sites in the eastern Three Gorges exhibit distinct compositions consistent with independent local production. These findings reveal at least two production areas for pointed-bottom vats in the Three Gorges region and demonstrate a locally grounded production strategy constrained by geological conditions. This study provides new empirical evidence for understanding pottery production organization and the prehistoric salt economy of the Three Gorges region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 105611"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-31DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105612
Jingxian Feng , Xingjun Hu , Tong Zhang , Xingyi Wang , Lianghong Ni
The recurrent discovery of Ephedra remains at the Bronze Age Xiaohe Cemetery (ca. 4000–3500 BP) in Lop Nor highlights the plant’s cultural importance in prehistoric Xinjiang. Accurate species identification of these ancient remains has proven difficult because of the high morphological similarity among congeners. To address this issue, we conducted an integrated pharmacognostic investigation of three archaeological specimens, employing systematic morphological analysis, microscopic examination, and molecular genetic techniques. After optimizing protocols for ancient DNA extraction and amplification, we successfully sequenced four DNA barcode regions. Among these markers, the ITS2 region yielded sufficient phylogenetic resolution and was used to construct a Neighbor-Joining tree in comparison with sequences from eight native Xinjiang Ephedra species. The results show that the archaeological specimens exhibit diagnostic characteristics of Ephedra intermedia. Critically, the ITS2 sequences clustered in a robust clade with E. intermedia. These findings provide the definitive identification of the Xiaohe Ephedra as E. intermedia, thereby resolving longstanding taxonomic uncertainties. Moreover, this study establishes a replicable morphological–molecular framework for the analysis of desiccated botanical remains, offering a methodological foundation for future archaeobotanical research on medicinal plants.
{"title":"A pharmacognostic approach to identifying Ephedra intermedia Schrenk ex Mey. in burials at the Xiaohe Cemetery, Lop Nor, Xinjiang","authors":"Jingxian Feng , Xingjun Hu , Tong Zhang , Xingyi Wang , Lianghong Ni","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105612","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The recurrent discovery of <em>Ephedra</em> remains at the Bronze Age Xiaohe Cemetery (ca. 4000–3500 BP) in Lop Nor highlights the plant’s cultural importance in prehistoric Xinjiang. Accurate species identification of these ancient remains has proven difficult because of the high morphological similarity among congeners. To address this issue, we conducted an integrated pharmacognostic investigation of three archaeological specimens, employing systematic morphological analysis, microscopic examination, and molecular genetic techniques. After optimizing protocols for ancient DNA extraction and amplification, we successfully sequenced four DNA barcode regions. Among these markers, the ITS2 region yielded sufficient phylogenetic resolution and was used to construct a Neighbor-Joining tree in comparison with sequences from eight native Xinjiang <em>Ephedra</em> species. The results show that the archaeological specimens exhibit diagnostic characteristics of <em>Ephedra intermedia</em>. Critically, the ITS2 sequences clustered in a robust clade with <em>E. intermedia</em>. These findings provide the definitive identification of the Xiaohe <em>Ephedra</em> as <em>E. intermedia</em>, thereby resolving longstanding taxonomic uncertainties. Moreover, this study establishes a replicable morphological–molecular framework for the analysis of desiccated botanical remains, offering a methodological foundation for future archaeobotanical research on medicinal plants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 105612"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105599
Nicolás M. Guardia , E. Martín Pérez , Guillermo Chiaradia , José Manuel López
Archaeological research in the Andes has traditionally focused on stratified sites, while the role of natural agents in the formation of faunal assemblages remains underexplored. This study presents a neotaphonomic analysis of prey remains accumulated by the mountain caracara (Phalcoboenus megalopterus), a facultative scavenger widely distributed across highland Andean environments. Fieldwork was conducted in the southern Puna of central-western Argentina, where pellets and non-ingested materials were collected from a caracara nest and roost located near guanaco (Lama guanicoe) kill sites attributed to puma (Puma concolor) predation. Laboratory analyses included taxonomic identification and taphonomic assessment, focusing on skeletal element representation, breakage patterns, chemical digestion, and mechanical modifications.
The assemblage is dominated by large-sized mammals, particularly guanaco, alongside smaller proportions of southern mountain viscachas (Lagidium viscacia), rodents, leporids, small birds, and reptiles. Guanaco remains were primarily represented by cervical vertebrae and basipodial elements, with cranial bones notably absent. Ingested specimens exhibited heavy to extreme digestion, while non-ingested remains showed tooth marks, crenulated edges, and helical fractures indicative of both carnivore predation and avian scavenging. The high frequency of juvenile guanaco individuals, the selective representation of skeletal elements, and the combination of mechanical and chemical modifications produced by P. megalopterus constitute a distinctive taphonomic signature.
These findings demonstrate that mountain caracaras can significantly contribute to the formation and alteration of bone assemblages in Andean environments. By highlighting the interplay between carnivore hunting and raptor scavenging, this study provides a comparative framework for distinguishing natural from cultural formation processes in zooarchaeological contexts, thereby refining interpretations of human–faunal interactions in highland South America.
{"title":"The mountain caracara (Phalcoboenus megalopterus) as an accumulator of faunal remains: neotaphonomic insights for the assessment of Andean zooarchaeological records","authors":"Nicolás M. Guardia , E. Martín Pérez , Guillermo Chiaradia , José Manuel López","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105599","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105599","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Archaeological research in the Andes has traditionally focused on stratified sites, while the role of natural agents in the formation of faunal assemblages remains underexplored. This study presents a neotaphonomic analysis of prey remains accumulated by the mountain caracara (<em>Phalcoboenus megalopterus</em>), a facultative scavenger widely distributed across highland Andean environments. Fieldwork was conducted in the southern Puna of central-western Argentina, where pellets and non-ingested materials were collected from a caracara nest and roost located near guanaco (<em>Lama guanicoe</em>) kill sites attributed to puma (Puma concolor) predation. Laboratory analyses included taxonomic identification and taphonomic assessment, focusing on skeletal element representation, breakage patterns, chemical digestion, and mechanical modifications.</div><div>The assemblage is dominated by large-sized mammals, particularly guanaco, alongside smaller proportions of southern mountain viscachas (<em>Lagidium viscacia</em>), rodents, leporids, small birds, and reptiles. Guanaco remains were primarily represented by cervical vertebrae and basipodial elements, with cranial bones notably absent. Ingested specimens exhibited heavy to extreme digestion, while non-ingested remains showed tooth marks, crenulated edges, and helical fractures indicative of both carnivore predation and avian scavenging. The high frequency of juvenile guanaco individuals, the selective representation of skeletal elements, and the combination of mechanical and chemical modifications produced by <em>P. megalopterus</em> constitute a distinctive taphonomic signature.</div><div>These findings demonstrate that mountain caracaras can significantly contribute to the formation and alteration of bone assemblages in Andean environments. By highlighting the interplay between carnivore hunting and raptor scavenging, this study provides a comparative framework for distinguishing natural from cultural formation processes in zooarchaeological contexts, thereby refining interpretations of human–faunal interactions in highland South America.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 105599"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080018","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105567
Souksavath Sanphasouk , Maria Joana Gabucio , Patricia Martín Rodríguez , Montserrat Sanz , Joan Daura
Leporids are an abundant taxon in Upper Pleistocene sites of the Iberian Peninsula, commonly accumulated through various processes, including human activity, animal predation, and natural burrowing. The main objective of this study is to identify the agent(s) responsible for the leporid accumulation in Unit 2 of Cova del Coll Verdaguer, an Upper Pleistocene deposit. A total of 2,606 leporid remains and 25 remains of medium-sized carnivores −Lynx pardinus, Vulpes vulpes, and Felis silvestris- were analysed using zooarchaeological and taphonomic methods. The leporid assemblage is characterized by a predominance of distal appendicular elements, followed by cranial, proximal appendicular, axial, and innominate bones. The results, including breakage patterns and tooth marks, suggest that the accumulation of leporids was primarily the result of lynx activity, with a lesser contribution by foxes, highlighting the significant role of medium-sized carnivores in Pleistocene faunal assemblages.
Leporids是伊比利亚半岛上更新世遗址中丰富的分类群，通常通过各种过程积累，包括人类活动，动物捕食和自然挖洞。本研究的主要目的是确定Cova del Coll Verdaguer上更新世矿床2单元的leporoid成藏的原因。研究人员利用动物考古学和分类学的方法，分析了总共2606具leporid和25具中型食肉动物（山猫、Vulpes Vulpes和Felis silvestris）的遗骸。leporid组合的特点是远端附属骨占优势，其次是颅骨、近端附属骨、轴骨和无名骨。研究结果（包括破碎模式和牙印）表明，狐皮类动物的积累主要是猞猁活动的结果，狐狸的贡献较小，突出了中型食肉动物在更新世动物组合中的重要作用。
{"title":"Following the lynx: taphonomic insights into leporid accumulations from unit 2 of Cova del Coll Verdaguer (Iberian Peninsula)","authors":"Souksavath Sanphasouk , Maria Joana Gabucio , Patricia Martín Rodríguez , Montserrat Sanz , Joan Daura","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105567","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105567","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Leporids are an abundant taxon in Upper Pleistocene sites of the Iberian Peninsula, commonly accumulated through various processes, including human activity, animal predation, and natural burrowing. The main objective of this study is to identify the agent(s) responsible for the leporid accumulation in Unit 2 of Cova del Coll Verdaguer, an Upper Pleistocene deposit. A total of 2,606 leporid remains and 25 remains of medium-sized carnivores −<em>Lynx pardinus</em>, <em>Vulpes vulpes</em>, and <em>Felis silvestris</em>- were analysed using zooarchaeological and taphonomic methods. The leporid assemblage is characterized by a predominance of distal appendicular elements, followed by cranial, proximal appendicular, axial, and innominate bones. The results, including breakage patterns and tooth marks, suggest that the accumulation of leporids was primarily the result of lynx activity, with a lesser contribution by foxes, highlighting the significant role of medium-sized carnivores in Pleistocene faunal assemblages.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 105567"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105610
Dagmara M. Socha , Stephanie Panzer , Johan Reinhard , Albert Zink , Winnie Celeste Martínez Sulca , Franz Grupp , Alice Paladin
A bioarchaeological investigation was conducted on four frozen remains of female non-adults, approximately 500 years old, using non-invasive computed tomography (CT) analysis. These individuals, recovered from the high-altitude sites of Ampato and Sara Sara volcanoes during 1990s expeditions, were sacrificed as part of the Inca capacocha, one of the most significant ceremonial rituals of the Inca Empire. Although extensively documented in later ethnohistorical chronicles, archaeological evidence of such burials remains limited.
This study assesses their preservation, identifies post-depositional taphonomic processes, estimates ages at death, and reconstructs their paleopathological profiles. It also explores possible causes of death and the ritual transformation of these individuals into messengers to the gods. CT analyses revealed distinct taphonomic patterns, including natural mummification, lightning-induced damage, and artificial preservation.
Ampato #4 represents a secondary burial, with missing skeletal and soft tissue elements replaced by textiles. Ampato #1 (the “Lady of Ampato”) exhibited probable peri-mortem trauma to the skull, thorax, and pelvis. Ampato #2 displayed signs of cranial trauma, a potential case of megaesophagus. Sara Sara exhibits signs of head trauma and internal organ calcification.
These findings enhance our understanding of Inca sacrificial practices, highlighting the diversity of ritual treatments and the symbolic transformation of children into sacred intermediaries. Evidence of possible secondary burial (Ampato #4) and continued manipulation suggests that the ritual role of capacocha victims extended beyond death, reinforcing their importance within local religious landscapes and community memory.
{"title":"Paleoradiology opens new insights into frozen mummified children from Ampato and Sara Sara volcanoes, Peru","authors":"Dagmara M. Socha , Stephanie Panzer , Johan Reinhard , Albert Zink , Winnie Celeste Martínez Sulca , Franz Grupp , Alice Paladin","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105610","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105610","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A bioarchaeological investigation was conducted on four frozen remains of female non-adults, approximately 500 years old, using non-invasive computed tomography (CT) analysis. These individuals, recovered from the high-altitude sites of Ampato and Sara Sara volcanoes during 1990s expeditions, were sacrificed as part of the Inca <em>capacocha</em>, one of the most significant ceremonial rituals of the Inca Empire. Although extensively documented in later ethnohistorical chronicles, archaeological evidence of such burials remains limited.</div><div>This study assesses their preservation, identifies post-depositional taphonomic processes, estimates ages at death, and reconstructs their paleopathological profiles. It also explores possible causes of death and the ritual transformation of these individuals into messengers to the gods. CT analyses revealed distinct taphonomic patterns, including natural mummification, lightning-induced damage, and artificial preservation.</div><div>Ampato #4 represents a secondary burial, with missing skeletal and soft tissue elements replaced by textiles. Ampato #1 (the “Lady of Ampato”) exhibited probable peri-mortem trauma to the skull, thorax, and pelvis. Ampato #2 displayed signs of cranial trauma, a potential case of megaesophagus. Sara Sara exhibits signs of head trauma and internal organ calcification.</div><div>These findings enhance our understanding of Inca sacrificial practices, highlighting the diversity of ritual treatments and the symbolic transformation of children into sacred intermediaries. Evidence of possible secondary burial (Ampato #4) and continued manipulation suggests that the ritual role of <em>capacocha</em> victims extended beyond death, reinforcing their importance within local religious landscapes and community memory.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 105610"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146079514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105603
Jie Li , LinYao Du , Qingyan Dai , Jian Xiao , Zhifan Guo , JiFan Yan , YiShi Yang , GuoKe Chen , Ya-Ping Zhang , Yan Li , GuangHui Dong
The domestication of the genus Equus has driven long-distance exchanges along the pre- and historical Silk Roads, but their dispersal history in China, particularly the use of hybrids between horses and donkeys, remains cloudy. Here we analyzed ancient DNA (aDNA) of ten Equus specimens from Mazongshan jade mining site (400–160 BCE, Northwestern China), using the published Zonkey pipeline and our developed method on sequencing coverage/depth. The identified assemblage of three horses, three donkeys, and four hinnies represents the earliest direct archaeological evidence for the presence of donkeys and their hybrids with horses in China to date. We argue that multiple Equus livestock were already integrated into the trans-regional trades between Central Plains and the Western Regions prior to the opening of the Silk Roads. Additionally, the absence of mule was quite different from ancient Roman contexts, highlighting the adaptation of livestock management strategies to environmental constraints and socioeconomic demands.
{"title":"Ancient DNA reveals the co-existence of domestic horses, donkeys, and their hybrids in the prehistorical northwestern China","authors":"Jie Li , LinYao Du , Qingyan Dai , Jian Xiao , Zhifan Guo , JiFan Yan , YiShi Yang , GuoKe Chen , Ya-Ping Zhang , Yan Li , GuangHui Dong","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105603","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105603","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The domestication of the genus <em>Equus</em> has driven long-distance exchanges along the pre- and historical Silk Roads, but their dispersal history in China, particularly the use of hybrids between horses and donkeys, remains cloudy. Here we analyzed ancient DNA (aDNA) of ten <em>Equus</em> specimens from Mazongshan jade mining site (400–160 BCE, Northwestern China), using the published Zonkey pipeline and our developed method on sequencing coverage/depth. The identified assemblage of three horses, three donkeys, and four hinnies represents the earliest direct archaeological evidence for the presence of donkeys and their hybrids with horses in China to date. We argue that multiple <em>Equus</em> livestock were already integrated into the <em>trans</em>-regional trades between Central Plains and the Western Regions prior to the opening of the Silk Roads. Additionally, the absence of mule was quite different from ancient Roman contexts, highlighting the adaptation of livestock management strategies to environmental constraints and socioeconomic demands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 105603"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105604
Victoria Castle , Alex Elvis Badillo , Dante García Ríos , Juan Jarquín Enríquez , Marine Frouin
San Pedro Martir Quiechapa, a municipality in the southern highlands of Oaxaca, preserves evidence of landscape engineering by the ancient Zapotec civilization. At Las Mesillas, the municipality’s largest archaeological site, terraced hillsides and monumental architectural complexes reveal the intensive reshaping of the landscape. Architectural phases show cycles of infilling, resurfacing, and reconfiguration that reflect ritual renewal practices and long-term ceremonial investment in the site. To establish the chronology of construction at Las Mesillas, we applied luminescence dating techniques to sediments sealed beneath two excavated architectural contexts, Operation A and B. Coarse quartz grains were extracted from the sediment and analyzed using a single-grain Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) protocol, while coarse feldspar grains were analyzed using a multi-grain post-Infrared-Infrared luminescence (pIR-IRSL) protocol. Three radiocarbon dates were obtained from charcoals contained in the sediment. The integrated radiocarbon and luminescence-based chronology from Operations A and B reveals a sequence of construction, renovation, and reuse at Las Mesillas from the 1st century BCE through the 11th century CE, from the Terminal Formative through the Early Postclassic periods. Renovations of both the summit and terrace during the 10th-11th centuries CE indicate coordinated planning and continued participation in broader Mesoamerican sociopolitical networks.
{"title":"New chronological framework for Zapotec architecture at Las Mesillas, Oaxaca, Mexico: Integrating radiocarbon and luminescence dating","authors":"Victoria Castle , Alex Elvis Badillo , Dante García Ríos , Juan Jarquín Enríquez , Marine Frouin","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105604","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105604","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>San Pedro Martir Quiechapa, a municipality in the southern highlands of Oaxaca, preserves evidence of landscape engineering by the ancient Zapotec civilization. At Las Mesillas, the municipality’s largest archaeological site, terraced hillsides and monumental architectural complexes reveal the intensive reshaping of the landscape. Architectural phases show cycles of infilling, resurfacing, and reconfiguration that reflect ritual renewal practices and long-term ceremonial investment in the site. To establish the chronology of construction at Las Mesillas, we applied luminescence dating techniques to sediments sealed beneath two excavated architectural contexts, Operation A and B. Coarse quartz grains were extracted from the sediment and analyzed using a single-grain Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) protocol, while coarse feldspar grains were analyzed using a multi-grain post-Infrared-Infrared luminescence (pIR-IRSL) protocol. Three radiocarbon dates were obtained from charcoals contained in the sediment. The integrated radiocarbon and luminescence-based chronology from Operations A and B reveals a sequence of construction, renovation, and reuse at Las Mesillas from the 1st century BCE through the 11th century CE, from the Terminal Formative through the Early Postclassic periods. Renovations of both the summit and terrace during the 10th-11th centuries CE indicate coordinated planning and continued participation in broader Mesoamerican sociopolitical networks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 105604"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-28DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105605
Miranda L. LaZar, Mary C. Stiner
In 1968, Lewis R. Binford published a landmark ethnoarchaeological study of Nunamiut subsistence and land use in Anuktuvuk Pass, Alaska. In addition to interviews and archaeological surveys, the team excavated the Palangana site, a historic winter residence occupied by Nunamiut families with known histories. The families relied mainly on caribou but also pursued ptarmigans (willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus; rock ptarmigan, L. muta) during seasons when large mammals were scarce. The ptarmigan remains have not been reported until now, contextualized within the broader subsistence activities at Palangana. Patterns of exploitation and disposal within and between households are inferred from skeletal part representation, tool marks, spatial distributions, and osteometric data. The dominance of wing and upper leg elements is the result of late-stage butchering and consumption. The remains were concentrated outside of the house entrances. The cut mark distributions and orientations, especially on humeri and femora, indicate a combination of fileting and dismembering actions. Osteometric criteria that we developed from measurements of modern skeletons demonstrate that (a) the hind limb proportions of rock and willow ptarmigans are sufficiently different so that they can be distinguished reliably from skeletal remains, and (b) rock ptarmigans dominate the archaeological assemblage. Palangana’s household, for whom the site is named, had better access to caribou meat (Waguespack, 2002, Binford, 1978b). The family shared some of their meat stores with the neighboring Kapkana household. The latter household responded to this resource asymmetry by supplementing their meat intake with ptarmigans, mainly rock ptarmigans, whereas the Palangana household seldom did so. This study underscores the importance of birds as an invaluable food source, sustaining arctic hunter-gatherers during harsh winters.
1968年，刘易斯·r·宾福德（Lewis R. Binford）发表了一项具有里程碑意义的民族考古学研究，研究了阿拉斯加阿努克图维克山口努纳米特人的生存和土地利用。除了采访和考古调查外，该团队还挖掘了Palangana遗址，这是一个历史悠久的冬季住所，由努纳米特家族居住。这些家族主要以驯鹿为食，但在大型哺乳动物稀少的季节，也会捕食雷鸟（柳雷鸟，Lagopus Lagopus；岩雷鸟，L. muta）。直到现在，在帕兰加纳更广泛的生存活动背景下，还没有报道过雷鸟遗骸。家庭内部和家庭之间的开发和处置模式可以从骨骼部分表示、工具标记、空间分布和骨测量数据中推断出来。翅膀和上肢元素的优势是后期屠宰和消耗的结果。尸体集中在房子入口外。切痕的分布和方向，尤其是肱骨和股骨上的，表明是过滤和肢解的结合。我们从现代骨骼测量中开发的骨测量标准表明：(a)岩石雷鸟和柳树雷鸟的后肢比例有足够的不同，因此可以从骨骼遗骸中可靠地区分出来；(b)岩石雷鸟在考古组合中占主导地位。帕兰加纳的家庭，因为他们的名字而得名，有更好的机会获得驯鹿肉（Waguespack, 2002; Binford, 1978b）。这家人和邻近的Kapkana家共用一些肉店。后一种家庭对这种资源不对称的反应是用雷鸟（主要是岩雷鸟）补充肉类摄入量，而Palangana家庭很少这样做。这项研究强调了鸟类作为宝贵食物来源的重要性，它们支撑着北极狩猎采集者度过严冬。
{"title":"Exploitation of ptarmigans (Lagopus) at Palangana, a historic Nunamiut winter site in Anuktuvuk Pass, Alaska","authors":"Miranda L. LaZar, Mary C. Stiner","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105605","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105605","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In 1968, Lewis R. Binford published a landmark ethnoarchaeological study of Nunamiut subsistence and land use in Anuktuvuk Pass, Alaska. In addition to interviews and archaeological surveys, the team excavated the Palangana site, a historic winter residence occupied by Nunamiut families with known histories. The families relied mainly on caribou but also pursued ptarmigans (willow ptarmigan, Lagopus lagopus; rock ptarmigan, L. muta) during seasons when large mammals were scarce. The ptarmigan remains have not been reported until now, contextualized within the broader subsistence activities at Palangana. Patterns of exploitation and disposal within and between households are inferred from skeletal part representation, tool marks, spatial distributions, and osteometric data. The dominance of wing and upper leg elements is the result of late-stage butchering and consumption. The remains were concentrated outside of the house entrances. The cut mark distributions and orientations, especially on humeri and femora, indicate a combination of fileting and dismembering actions. Osteometric criteria that we developed from measurements of modern skeletons demonstrate that (a) the hind limb proportions of rock and willow ptarmigans are sufficiently different so that they can be distinguished reliably from skeletal remains, and (b) rock ptarmigans dominate the archaeological assemblage. Palangana’s household, for whom the site is named, had better access to caribou meat (<span><span>Waguespack, 2002</span></span>, <span><span>Binford, 1978b</span></span>). The family shared some of their meat stores with the neighboring Kapkana household. The latter household responded to this resource asymmetry by supplementing their meat intake with ptarmigans, mainly rock ptarmigans, whereas the Palangana household seldom did so. This study underscores the importance of birds as an invaluable food source, sustaining arctic hunter-gatherers during harsh winters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 105605"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105590
Vasiliki Anevlavi , Petya Andreeva , Maria Kamisheva , Walter Prochaska , Benjamin Frerix , Micheline Welte , Karl Burkhart , Helmut Schwaiger , Pamela Fragnoli
This paper presents the first archaeometric study of the marble inventory from the Roman villa rustica near Chatalka (Stara Zagora region, Bulgaria), one of the most extensively excavated rural estates in Roman Thrace. Through a multi-proxy approach combining petrographic, isotopic (δ18O and δ13C), and trace element analysis (ICP-MS), we examine the provenance of eleven marble artefacts—including architectural elements, votive reliefs, and statuary—to assess material supply strategies and cultural expression in the context of Roman provincial elite life. Our results indicate the use of both regional and imported marble. One frieze-architrave, decorated with garlands and bull-heads, is identified as Prokonnesian marble and likely originated from Augusta Traiana. In contrast, the remaining marble artefacts—including six votive reliefs, a sculptural head, and a dedicatory inscription—are made of Asenovgrad marble, sourced from the northern slopes of the Rhodope Mountains. The combination of these materials reflects both pragmatic resource use and elite participation in broader cultural and economic networks. The discovery of a sculptural group in alabaster gypsum further underscores the material diversity employed at the site. Situated along the road connecting Augusta Traiana to Philippopolis and proximate to the Via Diagonalis, the villa was strategically embedded in trans-provincial transport routes. The findings contribute to current debates on the regional exploitation of white marble and provide new insights into workshop organisation, distribution systems, and elite representation in Roman Thrace. All analytical data have been integrated into the open-access oeai.METRIX platform to facilitate future comparative studies.
{"title":"From quarry to code: provenance investigations of white marble inventory of the villa rustica near Chatalka, Bulgaria","authors":"Vasiliki Anevlavi , Petya Andreeva , Maria Kamisheva , Walter Prochaska , Benjamin Frerix , Micheline Welte , Karl Burkhart , Helmut Schwaiger , Pamela Fragnoli","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105590","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105590","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper presents the first archaeometric study of the marble inventory from the Roman villa rustica near Chatalka (Stara Zagora region, Bulgaria), one of the most extensively excavated rural estates in Roman Thrace. Through a multi-proxy approach combining petrographic, isotopic (δ<sup>18</sup>O and δ<sup>13</sup>C), and trace element analysis (ICP-MS), we examine the provenance of eleven marble artefacts—including architectural elements, votive reliefs, and statuary—to assess material supply strategies and cultural expression in the context of Roman provincial elite life. Our results indicate the use of both regional and imported marble. One frieze-architrave, decorated with garlands and bull-heads, is identified as Prokonnesian marble and likely originated from Augusta Traiana. In contrast, the remaining marble artefacts—including six votive reliefs, a sculptural head, and a dedicatory inscription—are made of Asenovgrad marble, sourced from the northern slopes of the Rhodope Mountains. The combination of these materials reflects both pragmatic resource use and elite participation in broader cultural and economic networks. The discovery of a sculptural group in alabaster gypsum further underscores the material diversity employed at the site. Situated along the road connecting Augusta Traiana to Philippopolis and proximate to the Via Diagonalis, the villa was strategically embedded in trans-provincial transport routes. The findings contribute to current debates on the regional exploitation of white marble and provide new insights into workshop organisation, distribution systems, and elite representation in Roman Thrace. All analytical data have been integrated into the open-access oeai.METRIX platform to facilitate future comparative studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 105590"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080026","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105578
Dimitris Filioglou , Rachel M. Winter , Dimitrios Michailidis , Stephanie Larson , Kevin Daly , Katherine B. Harrington , Alexandra Charami
This study investigates animal husbandry, fishing techniques, diet and their socio-economic implications within the changing political landscape of Late Byzantine Thebes (13th-15th centuries CE) through an integrated zooarchaeological approach. It draws evidence from faunal assemblages from 9 refuse pits (bothroi) on the Ismenion Hill, an area with some habitation in southeastern Thebes. Results indicate a reliance on caprines—especially sheep—as the dominant livestock, suggesting an organized system of mutton production. Pigs and cattle likely played a supplementary role in inhabitants’ diet and economic activities, at least in the examined households. A portion of the herds were likely in-house stalled while deadstock was processed in a standardized way. Fish remains indicate a marked reliance on aquatic resources from near-shore, coastal marine environments, with a notable abundance of the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Furthermore, while Thebes experienced successive foreign rule from the 13th century onward, continuity in animal exploitation during these times suggests resilience in local foodways. Ismenion Hill residents matched the general trends in animal exploitation and meat consumption seen in other regions of the Greek peninsula since the first centuries of the Byzantine Period. These findings contribute significantly to the underexplored field of Byzantine zooarchaeology and shed light on subsistence strategies in medieval Greece.
{"title":"Investigating animal exploitation in Late Byzantine Greece: a zooarchaeological study from Ismenion, Thebes","authors":"Dimitris Filioglou , Rachel M. Winter , Dimitrios Michailidis , Stephanie Larson , Kevin Daly , Katherine B. Harrington , Alexandra Charami","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105578","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2026.105578","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates animal husbandry, fishing techniques, diet and their socio-economic implications within the changing political landscape of Late Byzantine Thebes (13<sup>th</sup>-15<sup>th</sup> centuries CE) through an integrated zooarchaeological approach. It draws evidence from faunal assemblages from 9 refuse pits (<em>bothroi</em>) on the Ismenion Hill, an area with some habitation in southeastern Thebes. Results indicate a reliance on caprines—especially sheep—as the dominant livestock, suggesting an organized system of mutton production. Pigs and cattle likely played a supplementary role in inhabitants’ diet and economic activities, at least in the examined households. A portion of the herds were likely in-house stalled while deadstock was processed in a standardized way. Fish remains indicate a marked reliance on aquatic resources from near-shore, coastal marine environments, with a notable abundance of the gilthead seabream (<em>Sparus aurata</em>). Furthermore, while Thebes experienced successive foreign rule from the 13<sup>th</sup> century onward, continuity in animal exploitation during these times suggests resilience in local foodways. Ismenion Hill residents matched the general trends in animal exploitation and meat consumption seen in other regions of the Greek peninsula since the first centuries of the Byzantine Period. These findings contribute significantly to the underexplored field of Byzantine zooarchaeology and shed light on subsistence strategies in medieval Greece.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"70 ","pages":"Article 105578"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146080016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"历史学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号