Geoarchaeology-An International Journal最新文献

This study assesses the threat of soil erosion to the unique Neolithic settlement site of Bylany. Since the 1950s, it has been explored using traditional archaeological methods and, more recently, non-destructive techniques like aerial prospection and geophysics. The archaeo-geophysical survey using magnetometry revealed more frequent fragmented linear magnetic anomalies and decreased magnetic intensities, indicating some differences in the sunken archaeological features. We hypothesised that these differences result from soil erosion. To test this, we conducted field surveys at well-documented archaeological sites, comparing changes in the depths of sunken features. Additionally, erosion modelling was used to reveal whether the field survey results align with the present modelled potential soil erosion. Findings indicate that this unique settlement area is threatened by water and tillage soil erosion to such an extent that some of the sunken features are being destroyed. The rate of soil erosion estimated by the field survey is between 0.6 and 18 mm.year⁻¹; the modelled total soil erosion for the resurveyed features was up to 3.6 mm.year⁻¹ (50.7 t ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). Modelling also suggested even higher erosion on a slope where a smaller rondel was detected by a geophysical survey in 2019 but remains unexcavated. The results highlight the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect this unique archaeological settlement site featuring three rondels on the same land from further degradation. This study thus provides a compelling case of unanticipated soil thickness reduction, as was suggested by geophysical surveys and verified by excavation data.

This study presents the geoarchaeological and chronometric analysis of two Late Pleistocene to Early Holocene archaeological sites: El Peregrino (PAIC-88) and Colina Castor (PAIC-91), located on Cedros Island, Baja California, Mexico. Both sites are situated at the base of fossil spring localities above modern sea level and contain stratified cultural materials associated with now-extinct freshwater sources that likely played a critical role in supporting early human occupation within an otherwise arid coastal setting. Bayesian chronological modelling, predicated on > 40 new radiocarbon measurements, places the onset of occupation at El Peregrino and Colina Castor during the Younger Dryas, with El Peregrino dating from 12,905 to 12,050 cal BP and Colina Castor from 12,780 to 12,105 cal BP. Stratigraphic and sedimentological data indicate site formation through a combination of alluvial fan deposition, aeolian input, and localised floralturbation around spring margins. Marine shell and lithic artifacts were transported inland as far as 15 km from the paleo-coastline during periods of lower sea level. These findings expand the known spatial and temporal range of Late Pleistocene coastal foragers in North America and highlight the importance of freshwater availability in structuring early human mobility and site selection along the Pacific coast. The Cedros Island record provides a rare inland perspective on early maritime adaptations during the transition from the Pleistocene to the Holocene.

To date, no quarries were known on the eastern part of Moloka‘i Island, and it was assumed that the Kaluako‘i quarries on West Moloka‘i supplied the East Moloka‘i communities with adze material. Here, we report on the identification of a major quarry at Honoko‘i Gulch, near Hālawa Valley at the island's eastern tip. Fine-grained basalt (technically hawaiite-mugearite) exposed in a massive cliff was extracted and reduced to adze preforms at the quarry itself as well as at several flaking areas. EDXRF analysis of the quarry material demonstrates that it is identical to the Group A basalt debitage previously analyzed at the Hālawa Dune Site, indicating that the Honoko‘i quarry was a significant source of adze material for the occupants of Hālawa Valley. Radiocarbon dates from Honoko‘i and from the Hālawa Dune Site indicate that the quarry was in use from as early as AD 1366–1610. An unusual feature at the quarry itself is the presence of several anthropomorphic petroglyphs.

Micromorphological analysis of the archaeological sediments at the Neolithic (5300–4800 cal BC) lacustrine site of La Draga (Lake Banyoles) is used to reconstruct the depositional events that formed the site's stratigraphic sequence. By identifying different microfacies types, we have detected occupational surfaces across various sectors of the site and decoded the settlement's formation processes. These findings are discussed in the context of recent Bayesian chronological modeling of depositional events at La Draga. As is typical for lacustrine pile-dwellings, fluctuations in water levels have influenced both the formation and post-depositional alteration of the site's deposits and materials. The two study sectors at La Draga exhibit distinct depositional dynamics, reflected in the varying degrees of organic material preservation. Micromorphological evidence suggests that the inhabitants of the settlement developed different strategies to adapt to environmental changes, depending on the conditions within each occupational area. In the most recent occupational phase, travertine slabs—a local stone—were used differently across the site. In Sector A, these slabs appear to have formed structures or enclosures, possibly for discard activities. In Sector B–D, they were likely used as paving, possibly to insulate the area from water flow.

Geoarchaeological excavations at the Cerro Pedregoso site on Cedros Island, Baja California, Mexico, uncovered a stratified alluvial fan deposit containing well-preserved evidence of repeated human occupation during the Early Holocene, between ~12,000 and 9600 cal BP. We used radiocarbon dating of wood charcoal and marine shell from multiple excavation units to establish a secure chronology for these early coastal forager occupations. These cultural materials lie within the landscape-scale Deposit 3, a unit formed by a combination of alluvial and aeolian processes. Beneath this deposit, a previously unknown paleosol (S1), exposed in excavation Unit 9, suggests the presence of even older sediments that may predate 12,000 cal BP. Although the archaeological content of this paleosol is sparse and affected by floralturbation, it offers a promising target for future investigations into the earliest coastal occupations of the Americas. The Cerro Pedregoso site thus provides a valuable stratified record of Early Holocene human activity and highlights the potential for even earlier evidence to be found in buried landforms on Cedros Island.

This study uses the medieval city of Odense, Denmark, to explore the potential of voxel-based modelling for archaeological heritage management in urban environments. The article highlights the challenges urban development poses to buried cultural heritage and the limitations of current monitoring techniques. By integrating recent and legacy archaeological and geological data, the study demonstrates the advantages of voxel models over traditional 2D and pseudo-3D models. Voxel models provide a more accurate representation of the volume and preservation state of cultural layers, allowing for better assessment and management of archaeological deposits. The findings reveal that modern construction activities significantly affect Odense's subsurface, diminishing the volume of preserved cultural layers. The study highlights the importance of systematic data collection and the need for better accessibility and interoperability of archaeological and geotechnical data. Recommendations include digitising analogue records and establishing national databases to enhance data sharing and preservation efforts. Overall, we advocate for adopting voxel-based modelling as a standard practice in heritage management, emphasising its potential to enhance the preservation and understanding of urban archaeological deposits.