Journal of Archaeological Science最新文献

英文中文

Pompeian pigments. A glimpse into ancient Roman colouring materials

IF 2.6 1区地球科学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

Journal of Archaeological Science

Pub Date : 2025-03-15 DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2025.106201

Celestino Grifa , Chiara Germinario , Sabrina Pagano , Andrea Lepore , Alberto De Bonis , Mariano Mercurio , Vincenzo Morra , Gabriel Zuchtriegel , Sophie Hay , Domenico Esposito , Valeria Amoretti

Pigments played a vital technological role by enabling the development of advanced artistic techniques, preserving cultural heritage through durable materials like frescoes and facilitating innovations in early chemistry, such as the creation of synthetic colouring compounds. This paper examines pigments found in some exceptional Pompeian contexts spanning the 3rd century BCE to the 79 CE eruption, covering almost the entire palette of an ancient painter made of natural and synthetic, inorganic and organic pigments.

Their composition has been revealed thanks to a non-invasive analytical approach designed to preserve these invaluable archaeological resources, illuminating that the artists skillfully mixed the colouring materials to achieve an uncountable range of colour tones.

Quantifying any individual colouring compound enables a review of recipes as reported by ancient sources and modern scientific literature and opens new scenarios in the artistic process that likely started in the pigmentarium. In the analysis of the mixtures, the role of Egyptian blue and red lead in the variation of shades, which are almost ubiquitous as additional components in paint mixtures, is worth noting. Ultimately, one of the samples uncovered the earliest known use of a light green compound containing baryte and alunite, providing the first definitive evidence of barium sulphate being utilized in the Mediterranean during ancient times.

{"title":"Pompeian pigments. A glimpse into ancient Roman colouring materials","authors":"Celestino Grifa , Chiara Germinario , Sabrina Pagano , Andrea Lepore , Alberto De Bonis , Mariano Mercurio , Vincenzo Morra , Gabriel Zuchtriegel , Sophie Hay , Domenico Esposito , Valeria Amoretti","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106201","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106201","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pigments played a vital technological role by enabling the development of advanced artistic techniques, preserving cultural heritage through durable materials like frescoes and facilitating innovations in early chemistry, such as the creation of synthetic colouring compounds. This paper examines pigments found in some exceptional Pompeian contexts spanning the 3rd century BCE to the 79 CE eruption, covering almost the entire palette of an ancient painter made of natural and synthetic, inorganic and organic pigments.</div><div>Their composition has been revealed thanks to a non-invasive analytical approach designed to preserve these invaluable archaeological resources, illuminating that the artists skillfully mixed the colouring materials to achieve an uncountable range of colour tones.</div><div>Quantifying any individual colouring compound enables a review of recipes as reported by ancient sources and modern scientific literature and opens new scenarios in the artistic process that likely started in the <em>pigmentarium</em>. In the analysis of the mixtures, the role of Egyptian blue and red lead in the variation of shades, which are almost ubiquitous as additional components in paint mixtures, is worth noting. Ultimately, one of the samples uncovered the earliest known use of a light green compound containing baryte and alunite, providing the first definitive evidence of barium sulphate being utilized in the Mediterranean during ancient times.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"177 ","pages":"Article 106201"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143628762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Phosphatic crusts as macroscopic and microscopic proxies for identifying archaeological animal penning areas

IF 2.6 1区地球科学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

Journal of Archaeological Science

Pub Date : 2025-03-14 DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2025.106207

Federico Polisca , Marta Dal Corso , Maela Baldan , Mara Bortolini , Dario Battistel , Gregorio Dal Sasso , Francesca Gherardi , Matthew Canti , Giorgio Piazzalunga , Cristiano Nicosia

This study introduces new macroscopic and microscopic evidence for identifying archaeological animal penning areas: phosphatic crusts. Despite the importance of herding activities for reconstructing the social, economic, and ecological aspects of ancient communities, evidence for animal penning areas has traditionally relied on faint architectural traces or microscopic indicators that are often challenging to identify in the field. By employing a multidisciplinary approach that combines field observations, geoarchaeology, lipid biomarker, and microbotanical analyses, this research examines the phosphatic crusts recently identified at the Middle Bronze Age (1650-1300 BCE) site of La Muraiola di Povegliano (Verona, north-eastern Italy).

The analyses uncover the processes behind phosphatic crust formation, highlighting the key role of the concentration of animal ejecta in the cementation of the deposit by nanocrystalline partially carbonated hydroxylapatite. This multi-proxy approach further demonstrates that phosphatic crusts serve as crucial archives for investigating the use of space, livestock management (e.g., free grazing/confinement, livestock species, foddering), and human-animal-environment interactions.

{"title":"Phosphatic crusts as macroscopic and microscopic proxies for identifying archaeological animal penning areas","authors":"Federico Polisca , Marta Dal Corso , Maela Baldan , Mara Bortolini , Dario Battistel , Gregorio Dal Sasso , Francesca Gherardi , Matthew Canti , Giorgio Piazzalunga , Cristiano Nicosia","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106207","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106207","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study introduces new macroscopic and microscopic evidence for identifying archaeological animal penning areas: phosphatic crusts. Despite the importance of herding activities for reconstructing the social, economic, and ecological aspects of ancient communities, evidence for animal penning areas has traditionally relied on faint architectural traces or microscopic indicators that are often challenging to identify in the field. By employing a multidisciplinary approach that combines field observations, geoarchaeology, lipid biomarker, and microbotanical analyses, this research examines the phosphatic crusts recently identified at the Middle Bronze Age (1650-1300 BCE) site of La Muraiola di Povegliano (Verona, north-eastern Italy).</div><div>The analyses uncover the processes behind phosphatic crust formation, highlighting the key role of the concentration of animal ejecta in the cementation of the deposit by nanocrystalline partially carbonated hydroxylapatite. This multi-proxy approach further demonstrates that phosphatic crusts serve as crucial archives for investigating the use of space, livestock management (e.g., free grazing/confinement, livestock species, foddering), and human-animal-environment interactions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"177 ","pages":"Article 106207"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143620850","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Identifying habitual sled-pulling in dogs through the study of entheseal changes

IF 2.6 1区地球科学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

Journal of Archaeological Science

Pub Date : 2025-03-12 DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2025.106204

Jessica Sick , Angela R. Lieverse , Tatiana Nomokonova , Robert J. Losey

Sled dogs are among the most iconic animals of the North, and their efforts in pulling sleds facilitated trade and subsistence practices that sustained many Indigenous groups for thousands of years. Unfortunately, the history of dog sledding is difficult to trace in archaeology. The identification of dog sledding in the past has been mostly addressed through the association of dog skeletal remains with material parts of sleds and harnessing equipment. However, there is currently no method for identifying sled-pulling activity directly from canid remains. This article introduces a new visual scoring manual for entheseal changes to address this gap in knowledge. Entheseal changes are morphological variations to entheses, which are muscle, tendon, and ligament attachment sites on bone. They have been used to reconstruct past activity in humans and, more recently, reindeer and equid remains, but never in canids. This method was developed for thirteen entheses on the forelimb and hindlimb using 74 working sled dogs, non-working pet dogs, and wild canids. Visual scores were compared to examine the effect of activity on entheseal changes, but also confounding biological factors such as age, sex, and body size. Observer error tests were also conducted to determine the method's precision and repeatability. The results show that sled dogs have significantly higher scores than non-working canids, especially for seven attachments. This suggests that entheses are morphologically sensitive to habitual sled-pulling, though some attachments are better indicators of working activity than others. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the method can differentiate sled dogs from pet dogs and wild canids and is a useful tool for identifying sled-pulling activity in archaeological canid remains. Furthermore, this method will help to better understand the history and development of human-dog relationships in the North.

{"title":"Identifying habitual sled-pulling in dogs through the study of entheseal changes","authors":"Jessica Sick , Angela R. Lieverse , Tatiana Nomokonova , Robert J. Losey","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106204","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106204","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sled dogs are among the most iconic animals of the North, and their efforts in pulling sleds facilitated trade and subsistence practices that sustained many Indigenous groups for thousands of years. Unfortunately, the history of dog sledding is difficult to trace in archaeology. The identification of dog sledding in the past has been mostly addressed through the association of dog skeletal remains with material parts of sleds and harnessing equipment. However, there is currently no method for identifying sled-pulling activity directly from canid remains. This article introduces a new visual scoring manual for entheseal changes to address this gap in knowledge. Entheseal changes are morphological variations to entheses<em>,</em> which are muscle, tendon, and ligament attachment sites on bone. They have been used to reconstruct past activity in humans and, more recently, reindeer and equid remains, but never in canids. This method was developed for thirteen entheses on the forelimb and hindlimb using 74 working sled dogs, non-working pet dogs, and wild canids. Visual scores were compared to examine the effect of activity on entheseal changes, but also confounding biological factors such as age, sex, and body size. Observer error tests were also conducted to determine the method's precision and repeatability. The results show that sled dogs have significantly higher scores than non-working canids, especially for seven attachments. This suggests that entheses are morphologically sensitive to habitual sled-pulling, though some attachments are better indicators of working activity than others. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the method can differentiate sled dogs from pet dogs and wild canids and is a useful tool for identifying sled-pulling activity in archaeological canid remains. Furthermore, this method will help to better understand the history and development of human-dog relationships in the North.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"177 ","pages":"Article 106204"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143600575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Transport of seashells through Gallia Narbonensis: Archaeobiogeography, provenance and trade of smooth scallop Flexopecten glaber revealed through geometric morphometrics

IF 2.6 1区地球科学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

Journal of Archaeological Science

Pub Date : 2025-03-11 DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2025.106182

Cyprien Mureau , Vianney Forest , Angèle Jeanty , Sarah Ivorra , Gaël Piquès , Vincent Bonhomme , Allowen Evin

The smooth scallop (Flexopecten glaber) is a seafood that was widely consumed in Gallia Narbonensis (Southern France) during Roman times. Harvested from lagoons along the Mediterranean coast, the species was transported to consumers up to a hundred kilometres from the seashore. However, the origins of this fresh produce supplied to the Gallo-Romans remain largely unknown. The variation in size and shape of 1149 shells originating from 27 archaeological sites in Southern France, dating from the 1st c. BC to the 12th c. AD, was quantified using Elliptic Fourier Transforms and analysed through geometric morphometrics. The morphometry of scallop shells is highly structured geographically, showing differences between lagoons of origin regardless of the period. This archaeobiogeographical pattern allows for the estimation of the geographical origin of valves discovered in the hinterland and the reconstruction of marine resource provisioning centres. While most valves were sourced as close as possible to the place of consumption, the exception of the smooth scallops from the city of Nemausus (Nîmes) reveals a structured network dedicated to urban supply. Future research could extend these methodologies to a broader geographical scope, providing a more detailed analysis of trade and supply networks of Mediterranean shellfish.

{"title":"Transport of seashells through Gallia Narbonensis: Archaeobiogeography, provenance and trade of smooth scallop Flexopecten glaber revealed through geometric morphometrics","authors":"Cyprien Mureau , Vianney Forest , Angèle Jeanty , Sarah Ivorra , Gaël Piquès , Vincent Bonhomme , Allowen Evin","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106182","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106182","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The smooth scallop (<em>Flexopecten glaber</em>) is a seafood that was widely consumed in <em>Gallia Narbonensis</em> (Southern France) during Roman times. Harvested from lagoons along the Mediterranean coast, the species was transported to consumers up to a hundred kilometres from the seashore. However, the origins of this fresh produce supplied to the Gallo-Romans remain largely unknown. The variation in size and shape of 1149 shells originating from 27 archaeological sites in Southern France, dating from the 1st c. BC to the 12th c. AD, was quantified using Elliptic Fourier Transforms and analysed through geometric morphometrics. The morphometry of scallop shells is highly structured geographically, showing differences between lagoons of origin regardless of the period. This archaeobiogeographical pattern allows for the estimation of the geographical origin of valves discovered in the hinterland and the reconstruction of marine resource provisioning centres. While most valves were sourced as close as possible to the place of consumption, the exception of the smooth scallops from the city of <em>Nemausus</em> (Nîmes) reveals a structured network dedicated to urban supply. Future research could extend these methodologies to a broader geographical scope, providing a more detailed analysis of trade and supply networks of Mediterranean shellfish.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"177 ","pages":"Article 106182"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143593241","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Unveiling the craftsmanship and knowledge behind iranian stuccoes (11th–14th centuries): New insights from an archaeometric perspective

IF 2.6 1区地球科学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

Journal of Archaeological Science

Pub Date : 2025-03-11 DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2025.106199

Moslem Mishmastnehi , Tomasz M. Stawski , Negar Eftekhari , Kathrin P. Schneider , Carmela Vaccaro , Iman Aghajani , Ana Marija Grbanovic , Lorenz Korn

Gypsum-based stucco decorations of 47 monuments in Iran, from the Seljuq to the Ilkhanid period (11th-14th centuries), were studied by multimodal analytical methods, including X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy and image analysis to evaluate their composition properties. The assessment of results shows that stucco masters in those periods exerted control over the setting process of the gypsum-paste and its microstructure by adjusting water-to-plaster ratio, fine-clay addition, and by means of mechanical processing. Furthermore, the presence of anhydrite in the composition of stucco decorations located in the hot-desert climate of Iran provides evidence for the probability of gypsum-anhydrite transition, which has technical and preservation consequences for this less-investigated type of cultural materials.

引用次数: 0

Physicochemical analysis of grey pigments from pre-Columbian archaeological ceramics from the sites of Alto del Cardal and Nuevo Corinto (Costa Rica): First identification of fired bone mixtures in Central America

IF 2.6 1区地球科学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

Journal of Archaeological Science

Pub Date : 2025-03-07 DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2025.106198

Matthieu Ménager , Paula Sibaja Conejo , Patricia Fernandez Esquivel

Ceramic samples from the sites Alto del Cardal and Nuevo Corinto in Costa Rica, dating between 700 and 1500 CE (Common Era), were analysed. These sherds, excavated from domestic, funerary, and workshop contexts, exhibited substantial socio-productive activities, including tool manufacturing. The ceramics were characterized by significant thickness, ranging from 9.25 to 12.46 mm. Analysis using infrared spectroscopy, Raman, and Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed the presence of biogenic hydroxyapatite from fired bones, amorphous carbon, meta-smectite, quartz, anatase, hematite, and traces of magnetite. Finding hydroxyapatite from fired bone as a ceramic pigment or coating is unprecedented in Costa Rica, Central America, and Mexico. This technique suggests a high degree of layer heterogeneity and an application without slip, reminiscent of a singular occurrence documented in southern Argentina and analogous practices in Brazil and Chile. This similarity allowed us to hypothesize a potential use of the studied ceramics in metal production.

{"title":"Physicochemical analysis of grey pigments from pre-Columbian archaeological ceramics from the sites of Alto del Cardal and Nuevo Corinto (Costa Rica): First identification of fired bone mixtures in Central America","authors":"Matthieu Ménager , Paula Sibaja Conejo , Patricia Fernandez Esquivel","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106198","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106198","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ceramic samples from the sites Alto del Cardal and Nuevo Corinto in Costa Rica, dating between 700 and 1500 CE (Common Era), were analysed. These sherds, excavated from domestic, funerary, and workshop contexts, exhibited substantial socio-productive activities, including tool manufacturing. The ceramics were characterized by significant thickness, ranging from 9.25 to 12.46 mm. Analysis using infrared spectroscopy, Raman, and Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed the presence of biogenic hydroxyapatite from fired bones, amorphous carbon, meta-smectite, quartz, anatase, hematite, and traces of magnetite. Finding hydroxyapatite from fired bone as a ceramic pigment or coating is unprecedented in Costa Rica, Central America, and Mexico. This technique suggests a high degree of layer heterogeneity and an application without slip, reminiscent of a singular occurrence documented in southern Argentina and analogous practices in Brazil and Chile. This similarity allowed us to hypothesize a potential use of the studied ceramics in metal production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"177 ","pages":"Article 106198"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143562161","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Bioarchaeological insights into Late Eneolithic violence: Analysing a grave from the Sadowie cemetery, Poland

IF 2.6 1区地球科学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

Journal of Archaeological Science

Pub Date : 2025-03-03 DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2025.106185

Wojciech Pasterkiewicz , Anita Szczepanek , Zdzislaw Belka , Jolanta Dopieralska , Anna Juras , Maciej Chyleński , Danuta Piniewska-Róg , Artur Moskała , Janusz Skrzat , Paweł Jarosz

This study examines a grave of the Złota culture from the Late Eneolithic period (the first half of the 3rd millennium BC), discovered at a cemetery in Sadowie, southeastern Poland. The deliberately constructed grave chamber contained the remains of six individuals of varying sex and age: five males and one female. Evidence of fatal injuries was observed on the skulls of three individuals, while flint arrowheads were embedded in the postcranial skeletons of two others. Interdisciplinary studies were conducted to investigate the biological characteristics of the buried individuals and the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Genetic analyses indicated kinship ties between some of the individuals. Strontium isotope analyses revealed that most of the individuals were local to the Sadowie area, with the exception of one female who was identified as non-local. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in bone collagen revealed that the individuals had similar diets, predominantly based on C3 plants, with notable contributions from animal protein, likely derived from herbivorous meat and/or dairy products. The studied burial provides further evidence of prehistoric violence among Late Eneolithic communities.

{"title":"Bioarchaeological insights into Late Eneolithic violence: Analysing a grave from the Sadowie cemetery, Poland","authors":"Wojciech Pasterkiewicz , Anita Szczepanek , Zdzislaw Belka , Jolanta Dopieralska , Anna Juras , Maciej Chyleński , Danuta Piniewska-Róg , Artur Moskała , Janusz Skrzat , Paweł Jarosz","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106185","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106185","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines a grave of the Złota culture from the Late Eneolithic period (the first half of the 3rd millennium BC), discovered at a cemetery in Sadowie, southeastern Poland. The deliberately constructed grave chamber contained the remains of six individuals of varying sex and age: five males and one female. Evidence of fatal injuries was observed on the skulls of three individuals, while flint arrowheads were embedded in the postcranial skeletons of two others. Interdisciplinary studies were conducted to investigate the biological characteristics of the buried individuals and the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Genetic analyses indicated kinship ties between some of the individuals. Strontium isotope analyses revealed that most of the individuals were local to the Sadowie area, with the exception of one female who was identified as non-local. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in bone collagen revealed that the individuals had similar diets, predominantly based on C3 plants, with notable contributions from animal protein, likely derived from herbivorous meat and/or dairy products. The studied burial provides further evidence of prehistoric violence among Late Eneolithic communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"177 ","pages":"Article 106185"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143528859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Reply to “Burnt ant nests and their parallels with Mesolithic charcoal-rich pits: A comment on Huisman et al. (2024)” By Philippe Crombé and Roger Langohr

IF 2.6 1区地球科学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

Journal of Archaeological Science

Pub Date : 2025-02-27 DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2025.106188

Hans Huisman , Hans Peeters , Jan-Willem de Kort , Jap Smits

Crombé and Langohr (2025) criticize our interpretation (Huisman et al., 2024) that morphological and micromorphological differences between modern ant nest remains and Mesolithic “pit hearth“ features support an anthropogenic origin of the latter. In this response to the main points of their response, we argue that podzols were present during the Mesolithic and could be humus-cemented. Furthermore, the lack of tunnelling features in Mesolithic hearth features cannot be explained by archaeologists not digging deep enough, as such tunnels also extend laterally from an ant nest. The biological features observed in the Doel excavations do not match the morphology of ant tunnels. Moreover, the charred material we observed in a burnt nest does not match that of Mesolithic hearth features. We agree that further research on ant nests as well as on the Mesolithic features would strengthen our case, but this is difficult because of ethical and practical considerations.

引用次数: 0

Facial approximation of a Late Pleistocene human fossil in the Yahuai Cave, southern China

IF 2.6 1区地球科学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

Journal of Archaeological Science

Pub Date : 2025-02-27 DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2025.106180

Wuyang Shui , Guangmao Xie , Letian He , Qiang Lin , Minghui Yu , Jieying Lu , Mingquan Zhou , Xiujie Wu

An almost complete human cranium, alongside a partial mandible dating to approximately 16,000 BP, was discovered in the Yahuai (YH) Cave in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southern China. The estimation of facial appearance has captivated both the academic community and the general public, potentially influencing perceptions of the characteristics and evolutionary history of Homo sapiens. The aim of this research was to explore a computerized method integrating geometric morphometrics and three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics to: 1) examine the morphological variations of the YH skull in comparison to contemporary humans; 2) estimate 3D facial appearance using various facial soft tissue thickness depths and the facial morphology of contemporary humans; and 3) capture morphological variations in the approximated face to provide insights into the facial traits of the Late Pleistocene individual. The results indicate that the YH skull is relatively distinct from contemporary human skulls, and this is reflected in morphological dissimilarities in the approximated face. We discuss the methods involved in computerized facial approximation, which has the potential to contribute to estimating the facial appearances of other Late Pleistocene human skulls.

{"title":"Facial approximation of a Late Pleistocene human fossil in the Yahuai Cave, southern China","authors":"Wuyang Shui , Guangmao Xie , Letian He , Qiang Lin , Minghui Yu , Jieying Lu , Mingquan Zhou , Xiujie Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106180","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jas.2025.106180","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>An almost complete human cranium, alongside a partial mandible dating to approximately 16,000 BP, was discovered in the Yahuai (YH) Cave in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, southern China. The estimation of facial appearance has captivated both the academic community and the general public, potentially influencing perceptions of the characteristics and evolutionary history of <em>Homo sapiens</em>. The aim of this research was to explore a computerized method integrating geometric morphometrics and three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics to: 1) examine the morphological variations of the YH skull in comparison to contemporary humans; 2) estimate 3D facial appearance using various facial soft tissue thickness depths and the facial morphology of contemporary humans; and 3) capture morphological variations in the approximated face to provide insights into the facial traits of the Late Pleistocene individual. The results indicate that the YH skull is relatively distinct from contemporary human skulls, and this is reflected in morphological dissimilarities in the approximated face. We discuss the methods involved in computerized facial approximation, which has the potential to contribute to estimating the facial appearances of other Late Pleistocene human skulls.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50254,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Archaeological Science","volume":"177 ","pages":"Article 106180"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143509012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

From archival historiography to 3D modelling: An accurate reconstruction of the Palaeolithic landscape in El Castillo Cave to explore the spatial dynamics of hand stencil dispersion

IF 2.6 1区地球科学 Q1 ANTHROPOLOGY

Journal of Archaeological Science

Pub Date : 2025-02-27 DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2025.106189

Olga Spaey , Martin Arriolabengoa , Iñaki Intxaurbe , Sergio Salazar , Antonio Torres , Aritz Irurtzun , Diego Garate

We propose a comprehensive approach for the reconstruction of the prehistoric state of El Castillo Cave (Puente Viesgo, Cantabria) that allows a precise spatial analysis of the distribution of its parietal motifs.

The cave has undergone numerous changes over time due to both geological and anthropic processes, which have altered its original appearance. In the aim of understanding how Palaeolithic societies used the space for creating rock art, we combined the study of historical archival data of different types with modern scanning and 3D modelling techniques.

We began carrying out field data recollection, as well as archival research, including historical photographs, maps, excavation records and written and oral sources, supplemented by geomorphological analyses to assess natural and anthropic alterations of the cavity. In a second phase, using a 3D modelling software, we developed a three-dimensional model where we virtually removed modern modifications (e.g., staircases and lighting) and restored ancient soil levels, to reconstruct the cave as it likely appeared during the Upper Palaeolithic period. This work served as a basis for spatial analyses of the hand stencil motifs through Geographic Information Systems. This approach provides promising results in terms of interpretation of different types of space by suggesting they are a motif particularly easily accessible for a large viewership, therefore bringing us closer to the apprehension of prehistoric human behaviour and symbolic practices.

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