Pub Date : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105538
Piotr Makowski , Maciej Kałaska , Rafał Siuda , Grzegorz Kaproń , Julia M. Chyla
The ceramic repertoire of Jordan, as well as that of the wider Bilad al-Sham, underwent significant evolution after the mid-8th century. One of the key aspects of this transformation was the emergence and spread of various types of cream wares, reflecting new typological solutions that marked a clear break with Late Antique traditions. The present study, which includes archaeometric analyses (pXRF, XRD, and petrography) of samples from eight sites across Jordan, demonstrates that this class of pottery constitutes a regionally diverse and heterogeneous group, characterized by complex patterns of production and distribution. It is evident that between the mid-8th and 11th centuries, new typological forms—likely introduced from the regions of Iraq and Iran—began to develop independently in multiple locations across Jordan, responding to the socio-cultural needs of local communities.
{"title":"More than a ware. Preliminary observations on the typological, mineralogical, and chemical diversity of cream wares from Jordan (mid-8th to 11th centuries)","authors":"Piotr Makowski , Maciej Kałaska , Rafał Siuda , Grzegorz Kaproń , Julia M. Chyla","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105538","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105538","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ceramic repertoire of Jordan, as well as that of the wider Bilad al-Sham, underwent significant evolution after the mid-8th century. One of the key aspects of this transformation was the emergence and spread of various types of cream wares, reflecting new typological solutions that marked a clear break with Late Antique traditions. The present study, which includes archaeometric analyses (pXRF, XRD, and petrography) of samples from eight sites across Jordan, demonstrates that this class of pottery constitutes a regionally diverse and heterogeneous group, characterized by complex patterns of production and distribution. It is evident that between the mid-8th and 11th centuries, new typological forms—likely introduced from the regions of Iraq and Iran—began to develop independently in multiple locations across Jordan, responding to the socio-cultural needs of local communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 105538"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145747741","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}
During the 5th millennium BCE the Neolithic way of life was gradually established in the Adige Valley (northeastern Italy). This process was also linked to the appearance of pottery production. While ceramic assemblages from this region have traditionally been investigated through a stylistic approach, their technological aspects have not been addressed. This study tackles this gap by focusing on two key sites located in the Adige Valley, Riparo Gaban and La Vela. These sites provide a diachronic perspective on ceramic production from the early to the middle Neolithic. Petrographic analysis was conducted on 46 sherds to investigate technological choices, particularly the selection of raw materials. The aim is to reconstruct the relationship between Neolithic communities and the natural resources available in their environment and to understand how this changed during the considered timespan. The results highlight a significant variability in raw materials choices, reflecting a knowledge of the different resources available in the area. They also reveal continuity and change in the selection and processing of raw materials across the two considered phases. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the exploitation of geological resources in the Adige Valley during the Neolithic period and provide a basis for future comparative studies in the region and beyond.
{"title":"When the potter has a choice: New insights into Neolithic pottery production in the Adige Valley (northeastern Italy)","authors":"Giulia Deimichei , Silvia Amicone , Jacopo Armellini , Annaluisa Pedrotti","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105520","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105520","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During the 5th millennium BCE the Neolithic way of life was gradually established in the Adige Valley (northeastern Italy). This process was also linked to the appearance of pottery production. While ceramic assemblages from this region have traditionally been investigated through a stylistic approach, their technological aspects have not been addressed. This study tackles this gap by focusing on two key sites located in the Adige Valley, Riparo Gaban and La Vela. These sites provide a diachronic perspective on ceramic production from the early to the middle Neolithic. Petrographic analysis was conducted on 46 sherds to investigate technological choices, particularly the selection of raw materials. The aim is to reconstruct the relationship between Neolithic communities and the natural resources available in their environment and to understand how this changed during the considered timespan. The results highlight a significant variability in raw materials choices, reflecting a knowledge of the different resources available in the area. They also reveal continuity and change in the selection and processing of raw materials across the two considered phases. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the exploitation of geological resources in the Adige Valley during the Neolithic period and provide a basis for future comparative studies in the region and beyond.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 105520"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145747725","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 : 2025-12-11DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105541
Sushant Begade
This study applies the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modelling approach to predict the spatial distribution of open-air Palaeolithic sites across the Nagpur and Chandrapur districts of eastern Maharashtra, India. A total of 172 verified site locations were analysed against seven environmental variables, geology, geomorphology, lithology, elevation, slope, aspect and distance to river, representing key determinants of prehistoric settlement. Model tuning using cross-validation and AICc optimisation identified the best configuration (feature classes = Linear–Quadratic, regularisation multiplier = 1), achieving a final AUC of 0.9844, Kvamme’s Gain of 0.03148, and a highly significant Kolmogorov–Smirnov test (p = 9.02 × 10−120). Elevation (67.23 %), distance to river (14.84 %), and geology (12.91 %) emerged as the dominant predictors, emphasising the importance of fluvial corridors, raw-material availability, and topographic stability in hominin settlement patterns. The resultant probability surface reveals strong spatial correspondence between high-suitability zones and known archaeological sites, validating the model’s predictive reliability. This reproducible and statistically calibrated framework establishes one of the first regionally optimised MaxEnt models for Indian Palaeolithic archaeology and provides a scalable tool for future prospection in data-scarce tropical contexts.
{"title":"A Predictive Model for the Identification of Open-Air Palaeolithic Sites in Nagpur and Chandrapur Districts, Maharashtra, India","authors":"Sushant Begade","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105541","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105541","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study applies the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modelling approach to predict the spatial distribution of open-air Palaeolithic sites across the Nagpur and Chandrapur districts of eastern Maharashtra, India. A total of 172 verified site locations were analysed against seven environmental variables, geology, geomorphology, lithology, elevation, slope, aspect and distance to river, representing key determinants of prehistoric settlement. Model tuning using cross-validation and AICc optimisation identified the best configuration (feature classes = Linear–Quadratic, regularisation multiplier = 1), achieving a final AUC of 0.9844, Kvamme’s Gain of 0.03148, and a highly significant Kolmogorov–Smirnov test (p = 9.02 × 10<sup>−</sup>12<sup>0</sup>). Elevation (67.23 %), distance to river (14.84 %), and geology (12.91 %) emerged as the dominant predictors, emphasising the importance of fluvial corridors, raw-material availability, and topographic stability in hominin settlement patterns. The resultant probability surface reveals strong spatial correspondence between high-suitability zones and known archaeological sites, validating the model’s predictive reliability. This reproducible and statistically calibrated framework establishes one of the first regionally optimised MaxEnt models for Indian Palaeolithic archaeology and provides a scalable tool for future prospection in data-scarce tropical contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 105541"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145747740","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 : 2025-12-09DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105540
Yui Arimatsu
Bronze-hilted iron swords excavated from northern Iran to the South Caucasus are considered the earliest iron tools discovered in these regions. These swords are important for understanding the adoption of iron in these regions, partly because of the possibility that the iron tangs remain inside the hilts without rusting. However, the details of the iron tangs and production techniques, including the method for combining iron and bronze, remain unclear. It is necessary to examine the internal structure of the bronze hilts. Tomography imaging has been attempted, but no concrete findings were achieved. This study utilized high-resolution X-ray imaging techniques, including three-dimensional Computed Tomography, to analyze the internal structure of bronze-hilted iron swords. This enabled the identification of the unique features of their internal structures, which appeared to differ according to pommel type. These techniques illuminated the limitations of early iron metalworking, the techniques used for bronze casting, and the trial-and-error process involved in these developments. These results indicate the efficacy of these imaging methods and suggest fruitful directions for further research on similar archaeological materials.
{"title":"Using high energy X-ray imaging to reveal the internal structure of bronze-hilted Iron swords","authors":"Yui Arimatsu","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105540","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105540","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bronze-hilted iron swords excavated from northern Iran to the South Caucasus are considered the earliest iron tools discovered in these regions. These swords are important for understanding the adoption of iron in these regions, partly because of the possibility that the iron tangs remain inside the hilts without rusting. However, the details of the iron tangs and production techniques, including the method for combining iron and bronze, remain unclear. It is necessary to examine the internal structure of the bronze hilts. Tomography imaging has been attempted, but no concrete findings were achieved. This study utilized high-resolution X-ray imaging techniques, including three-dimensional Computed Tomography, to analyze the internal structure of bronze-hilted iron swords. This enabled the identification of the unique features of their internal structures, which appeared to differ according to pommel type. These techniques illuminated the limitations of early iron metalworking, the techniques used for bronze casting, and the trial-and-error process involved in these developments. These results indicate the efficacy of these imaging methods and suggest fruitful directions for further research on similar archaeological materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 105540"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145747738","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 : 2025-12-09DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105484
Yixin Zhu , Wei Ge , Xinyu Liu , Mingjie Zhu , Feng Lin , Hesheng Zhai , Yuanfei Wu , Zanbin Wei , Jinming Wang
To determine the material composition of the jade artifacts unearthed at Longtougang, this study analyzed 36 samples from the site using DRIFTS, XRD, SEM-EDS, and ED-XRF techniques. The results reveal a clear distinction in material usage: while the jade artifacts are primarily composed of pyrophyllite, the associated processing tools are made of quartz. This indicates that ancient craftsmen possessed a nuanced understanding of mineral properties, particularly in selecting materials based on relative hardness. Additionally, our analysis of four jade material samples from nearby modern deposits confirmed their pyrophyllite composition, closely matching that of the Longtougang artifacts. This finding suggests that during the Western Zhou period (1046–771 BCE), the inhabitants of Longtougang most likely obtained jade from local sources, utilizing raw materials readily available in the surrounding region. Our study shows that, unlike the sporadic use of pyrophyllite jade elsewhere in China, the Longtougang site established a localized tradition of ritual objects by exploiting nearby pyrophyllite deposits and emulating ritual jade forms from the Central Plains. This practice not only reflects patterns of interregional cultural exchange and integration but also highlights the resourcefulness and adaptability of peripheral communities in acquiring jade materials. Ultimately, it underscores the distinctive characteristics of their local jade culture.
{"title":"Material analysis reveals the systematic use of pyrophyllite jade during the Western Zhou period (1046-771 BCE) in Fujian: Evidence from the Longtougang processing site","authors":"Yixin Zhu , Wei Ge , Xinyu Liu , Mingjie Zhu , Feng Lin , Hesheng Zhai , Yuanfei Wu , Zanbin Wei , Jinming Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105484","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105484","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To determine the material composition of the jade artifacts unearthed at Longtougang, this study analyzed 36 samples from the site using DRIFTS, XRD, SEM-EDS, and ED-XRF techniques. The results reveal a clear distinction in material usage: while the jade artifacts are primarily composed of pyrophyllite, the associated processing tools are made of quartz. This indicates that ancient craftsmen possessed a nuanced understanding of mineral properties, particularly in selecting materials based on relative hardness. Additionally, our analysis of four jade material samples from nearby modern deposits confirmed their pyrophyllite composition, closely matching that of the Longtougang artifacts. This finding suggests that during the Western Zhou period (1046–771 BCE), the inhabitants of Longtougang most likely obtained jade from local sources, utilizing raw materials readily available in the surrounding region. Our study shows that, unlike the sporadic use of pyrophyllite jade elsewhere in China, the Longtougang site established a localized tradition of ritual objects by exploiting nearby pyrophyllite deposits and emulating ritual jade forms from the Central Plains. This practice not only reflects patterns of interregional cultural exchange and integration but also highlights the resourcefulness and adaptability of peripheral communities in acquiring jade materials. Ultimately, it underscores the distinctive characteristics of their local jade culture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 105484"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145747739","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 : 2025-12-08DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105539
Tristan Carter , Rose Moir , Georgia Tampakopoulou
It is long known that members of the large Early Bronze Age [EBA] 3rd millennium cal BC coastal community of Poliochne on the northern Aegean island of Lemnos were able to access an array of overseas raw materials, goods, and practices, many of which served to create, and display social status. The socio-economic networks that coalesced at the site facilitated long-distance connections with the larger Aegean world, Anatolia and Mesopotamia beyond, albeit often likely articulated via intermediaries, rather than directly. In this study, we focus on an assemblage of 28 artifacts flaked from obsidian, a relatively rare natural occurrence in the larger region, with the most significant sources being located on Melos (Cyclades), and Cappadocia (central Anatolia). A multi-faceted characterization study of this material, melding elemental data generated by a portable XRF spectrometer [pXRF], and the artifacts’ techno-typological attributes, allow us to show that (a) the assemblage is comprised entirely of obsidian from the Melian source of Sta Nychia, (b) that the material was procured in the form of preformed pressure blade cores and/or ready-made end-products, and (c) that this material was likely brought to Lemnos by Cycladic voyagers, rather than being procured indirectly via western Anatolian intermediaries. The artifacts derive mainly from contexts dated to the first half of the 3rd millennium cal BC, a period of significant overseas Cycladic cultural influence. This Cycladic underpinned ‘international spirit’ involved a range of goods and practices developed by these islanders being accessed, adopted and/or emulated by communities in the surrounding region. This included socially significant modes of body modification, via tattooing and depilation, as evidenced at Poliochne (and elsewhere) by bone tube pigment containers, and obsidian razors pressure flaked from Sta Nychia obsidian.
{"title":"Cycladic connections: Using obsidian characterization studies to detail cultural interactions at Early Bronze Age Poliochne (Lemnos, Greece)","authors":"Tristan Carter , Rose Moir , Georgia Tampakopoulou","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105539","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105539","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>It is long known that members of the large Early Bronze Age [EBA] 3rd millennium cal BC coastal community of Poliochne on the northern Aegean island of Lemnos were able to access an array of overseas raw materials, goods, and practices, many of which served to create, and display social status. The socio-economic networks that coalesced at the site facilitated long-distance connections with the larger Aegean world, Anatolia and Mesopotamia beyond, albeit often likely articulated via intermediaries, rather than directly. In this study, we focus on an assemblage of 28 artifacts flaked from obsidian, a relatively rare natural occurrence in the larger region, with the most significant sources being located on Melos (Cyclades), and Cappadocia (central Anatolia). A multi-faceted characterization study of this material, melding elemental data generated by a portable XRF spectrometer [pXRF], and the artifacts’ techno-typological attributes, allow us to show that (a) the assemblage is comprised entirely of obsidian from the Melian source of Sta Nychia, (b) that the material was procured in the form of preformed pressure blade cores and/or ready-made end-products, and (c) that this material was likely brought to Lemnos by Cycladic voyagers, rather than being procured indirectly via western Anatolian intermediaries. The artifacts derive mainly from contexts dated to the first half of the 3rd millennium cal BC, a period of significant overseas Cycladic cultural influence. This Cycladic underpinned ‘international spirit’ involved a range of goods and practices developed by these islanders being accessed, adopted and/or emulated by communities in the surrounding region. This included socially significant modes of body modification, via tattooing and depilation, as evidenced at Poliochne (and elsewhere) by bone tube pigment containers, and obsidian razors pressure flaked from Sta Nychia obsidian.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 105539"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145747737","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 : 2025-12-06DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105533
Louise Felding , Daniel Berger , Charlotta Lindblom , Heide Wrobel Nørgaard
This article presents the recent discovery of the Late Nordic Bronze Age hoard from Hastrup, Denmark, comprising over 200 bronze fragments from objects typologically dated to the 8th to 6th centuries BCE. The assemblage predominantly consists of decorated bronze sheet elements, including discs, sheet metals, and studs, likely associated with female attire or horse/wagon gear. The most distinctive items are large and small adorned discs (plaques), which have no close parallels in the Nordic area but exhibit stylistic affinities with the Central European Hallstatt Culture, especially the HaD period. Despite typological similarities, the unique clamp features on the Hastrup plaques remain without precedent, complicating direct cultural comparison. Archaeometallurgical analyses reveal the use of mixed copper sources, fahlore and chalcopyrite, originating from multiple Alpine regions, and suggest recycling and remelting of earlier metal in some cases. Certain artefacts, such as some of the large plaques and the metal sheets, appear to have been manufactured from a single batch of copper, indicating their production within the same workshop. These technological and compositional consistencies support the interpretation of the hoard as components of one or several coordinated ensembles, such as garments or horse gear.
{"title":"The Hastrup hoard: Metallurgical and typological links between South Jutland and Hallstatt Europe in the 8th to 6th centuries BCE","authors":"Louise Felding , Daniel Berger , Charlotta Lindblom , Heide Wrobel Nørgaard","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105533","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105533","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This article presents the recent discovery of the Late Nordic Bronze Age hoard from Hastrup, Denmark, comprising over 200 bronze fragments from objects typologically dated to the 8th to 6th centuries BCE. The assemblage predominantly consists of decorated bronze sheet elements, including discs, sheet metals, and studs, likely associated with female attire or horse/wagon gear. The most distinctive items are large and small adorned discs (plaques), which have no close parallels in the Nordic area but exhibit stylistic affinities with the Central European Hallstatt Culture, especially the HaD period. Despite typological similarities, the unique clamp features on the Hastrup plaques remain without precedent, complicating direct cultural comparison. Archaeometallurgical analyses reveal the use of mixed copper sources, fahlore and chalcopyrite, originating from multiple Alpine regions, and suggest recycling and remelting of earlier metal in some cases. Certain artefacts, such as some of the large plaques and the metal sheets, appear to have been manufactured from a single batch of copper, indicating their production within the same workshop. These technological and compositional consistencies support the interpretation of the hoard as components of one or several coordinated ensembles, such as garments or horse gear.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 105533"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145691362","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}
Carbonized seeds recovered from archaeological sites are commonly identified through manual inspection, a time-consuming and low-throughput process. In particular, many fragmented carbonized seeds cannot be accurately identified by the naked eye. Among these, carbonized millet seeds are especially challenging due to their morphological similarity when charred. This study is the first in archaeobotany to apply and evaluate deep learning techniques for the automatic identification and species-level classification of carbonized millet seeds. A dataset comprising 3,000 images was constructed using modern Panicum miliaceum (broomcorn millet) and Setaria italica (foxtail millet) seeds in three different seed-condition image datasets: intact, fragmented, and carbonized. Three deep learning models—ResNet50d, YOLOv5s, and ViT-Tiny—were assessed systematically. The ResNet50d model performed best, and did so using carbonized seeds as a tranining set, achieving 95 % accuracy for distinguishing carbonized broomcorn millet and foxtail millet after a mere 3-hour training period, demonstrating its suitability for identifying the carbonized millet seeds. Notably, training with only 300 images per carbonized seed type (600 images in total) yielded stable F1-scores exceeding 90%, significantly reducing training costs. Comparative analyses across different seed-condition image datasets and image qualities revealed that carbonized seeds provided the most discriminating features. Removing image backgrounds further improved model accuracy. Grad-CAM visualizations confirmed both the effectiveness and interpretability of the ResNet50d model. This study highlights the transformative potential of deep learning for automating carbonized seed identification at the species level, offering a practical and efficient approach for the analysis of archaeobotanical remains.
{"title":"Deep learning-based identification of carbonized seeds: A case study on Panicum miliaceum (Broomcorn Millet) and Setaria italica (Foxtail Millet)","authors":"Kaixin Huang , Zhaomeng Li , Dorothy Sack , Honghao Niu","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105537","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105537","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Carbonized seeds recovered from archaeological sites are commonly identified through manual inspection, a time-consuming and low-throughput process. In particular, many fragmented carbonized seeds cannot be accurately identified by the naked eye. Among these, carbonized millet seeds are especially challenging due to their morphological similarity when charred. This study is the first in archaeobotany to apply and evaluate deep learning techniques for the automatic identification and species-level classification of carbonized millet seeds. A dataset comprising 3,000 images was constructed using modern <em>Panicum miliaceum</em> (broomcorn millet) and <em>Setaria italica</em> (foxtail millet) seeds in three different seed-condition image datasets: intact, fragmented, and carbonized. Three deep learning models—ResNet50d, YOLOv5s, and ViT-Tiny—were assessed systematically. The ResNet50d model performed best, and did so using carbonized seeds as a tranining set, achieving 95 % accuracy for distinguishing carbonized broomcorn millet and foxtail millet after a mere 3-hour training period, demonstrating its suitability for identifying the carbonized millet seeds. Notably, training with only 300 images per carbonized seed type (600 images in total) yielded stable F1-scores exceeding 90%, significantly reducing training costs. Comparative analyses across different seed-condition image datasets and image qualities revealed that carbonized seeds provided the most discriminating features. Removing image backgrounds further improved model accuracy. Grad-CAM visualizations confirmed both the effectiveness and interpretability of the ResNet50d model. This study highlights the transformative potential of deep learning for automating carbonized seed identification at the species level, offering a practical and efficient approach for the analysis of archaeobotanical remains.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 105537"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145691365","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}
In October 2020 several fragments of human bones were discovered by chance during the construction of a house in Camarones village, on the Patagonian Atlantic coast. Fieldwork and subsequent laboratory studies showed that this was the primary burial of two non-adult individuals of Early Holocene buried at different events: Individual 1 was dated in 9280 BP; 10,210 cal BP, and Individual 2 in 9680 BP; 10,798 cal BP. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N) determined that both individuals consumed marine proteins, which suggests that they use the coastal environment regularly during that period. Concerning mortuary practices, Individual 1 was associated with red ochre and 50 beads made of bird bones. Therefore, this burial stands out for several reasons. On the one hand, it provides Early Holocene evidence supporting the Atlantic route dispersal model, proposed several years ago; on the other hand, it is, for the moment, the earliest burial in Patagonia in which red ochre and bone beads were also deposited. Finally, the reuse of the same funerary space through time indicates that hunter-gatherer populations had a fairly good knowledge of their territory at that period.
2020年10月，在巴塔哥尼亚大西洋沿岸的卡马罗内斯村建造房屋时，人们偶然发现了几块人骨碎片。田野调查和随后的实验室研究表明，这是两个全新世早期非成年个体的原始埋葬，埋在不同的事件中：个体1的年代为9280 BP；10210 cal BP，个体2 9680 BP；10,798 cal BP。稳定的碳和氮同位素分析（δ13C和δ15N）确定这两个个体都消耗了海洋蛋白质，这表明它们在那个时期经常使用沿海环境。关于殡葬习俗，个体1与红赭石和50颗鸟骨头制成的珠子有关。因此，这个墓葬之所以引人注目，有几个原因。一方面，它提供了早全新世的证据，支持几年前提出的大西洋路线扩散模型；另一方面，它是目前巴塔哥尼亚最早的埋藏着红赭石和骨珠的墓葬。最后，随着时间的推移，同一墓葬空间的重复使用表明，在那个时期，狩猎采集者对他们的领土有相当好的了解。
{"title":"First archaeological evidence of Early Holocene human settlement on the Atlantic coast of South America. The Camarones burial site, Argentine Patagonia","authors":"Julieta Gómez Otero , Ariadna Svoboda , Ana Gabriela Millán , Hernán Ariel Marani , Anahí Banegas","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105515","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105515","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In October 2020 several fragments of human bones were discovered by chance during the construction of a house in Camarones village, on the Patagonian Atlantic coast. Fieldwork and subsequent laboratory studies showed that this was the primary burial of two non-adult individuals of Early Holocene buried at different events: Individual 1 was dated in 9280 BP; 10,210 cal BP, and Individual 2 in 9680 BP; 10,798 cal BP. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis (δ<sup>13</sup>C and δ<sup>15</sup>N) determined that both individuals consumed marine proteins, which suggests that they use the coastal environment regularly during that period. Concerning mortuary practices, Individual 1 was associated with red ochre and 50 beads made of bird bones. Therefore, this burial stands out for several reasons. On the one hand, it provides Early Holocene evidence supporting the Atlantic route dispersal model, proposed several years ago; on the other hand, it is, for the moment, the earliest burial in Patagonia in which red ochre and bone beads were also deposited. Finally, the reuse of the same funerary space through time indicates that hunter-gatherer populations had a fairly good knowledge of their territory at that period.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 105515"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145691421","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 : 2025-12-05DOI: 10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105534
Xin Weng , Patrick Sean Quinn , Fei Zhang , Xuexiang Chen , Quanyu Wang
Pottery production technology evolved alongside society and productivity development. By the late Neolithic period, a variety of pottery-making techniques had already been in use. In Southwest Shandong province, a key corridor between the Central Plains and the Haidai region, archaeologists have identified multiple cultural traditions spanning from the late Neolithic to the early Bronze Age through pottery typology. In this study 92 pottery sherds from the Qingqiu Mound site have been analyzed using petrography and geochemistry to reconstruct pottery production during this period. The results indicate continuous local pottery production from the late Neolithic (c.2300–1800 BCE) to the early Bronze Age (c.1750–1450 BCE), with relatively consistent clay sources and the frequent use of minerals and rock fragments as temper. For cooking vessels significantly increased temper content was found present in the early Bronze Age wares than in those from the late Neolithic period, suggesting shifts in manufacturing techniques over time. Variation in pottery production across different cultural phases further indicate differences in population groups and technological preferences. These findings contribute valuable insights into technological developments and population dynamics in southwestern Shandong from the late Neolithic to the early Bronze Age.
{"title":"Scientific analysis reveals the technological choice of pottery production in southwestern Shandong province from late Neolithic (c.2300-1800 BCE) to early Bronze Age (c.1750-1450 BCE)","authors":"Xin Weng , Patrick Sean Quinn , Fei Zhang , Xuexiang Chen , Quanyu Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105534","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105534","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pottery production technology evolved alongside society and productivity development. By the late Neolithic period, a variety of pottery-making techniques had already been in use. In Southwest Shandong province, a key corridor between the Central Plains and the Haidai region, archaeologists have identified multiple cultural traditions spanning from the late Neolithic to the early Bronze Age through pottery typology. In this study 92 pottery sherds from the Qingqiu Mound site have been analyzed using petrography and geochemistry to reconstruct pottery production during this period. The results indicate continuous local pottery production from the late Neolithic (<em>c.</em>2300–1800 BCE) to the early Bronze Age (<em>c.</em>1750–1450 BCE), with relatively consistent clay sources and the frequent use of minerals and rock fragments as temper. For cooking vessels significantly increased temper content was found present in the early Bronze Age wares than in those from the late Neolithic period, suggesting shifts in manufacturing techniques over time. Variation in pottery production across different cultural phases further indicate differences in population groups and technological preferences. These findings contribute valuable insights into technological developments and population dynamics in southwestern Shandong from the late Neolithic to the early Bronze Age.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48150,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science-Reports","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 105534"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2025-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145691363","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}
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