Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences最新文献

Traditional research approaches on pottery production based on typological and morphometric classifications have changed in favour of new lines of research. One of them is based on the study of the technological equipment used in ceramic manufacturing processes. For example, ethnographic evidence shows the use of shell tools as technological equipment in different phases of ceramic production. In this study, the methodology of use-wear analysis has been applied to the archaeomalacological material from the Neolithic site of Cabecicos Negros (Andalusia, Spain) to establish if the shells were used as work tools. This analysis has been completed with the development of an experimental program composed of two analytical and one prospective experiments, carried out to provide new data about the cardial decorative technique and to define the use-wear traces that appear on the active area of the shells after their technological use. The results obtained in this investigation show the use of shells in different stages of pottery production. On the one hand, during the modelling and regularization phase of the ceramic surface and, on the other hand, during the cardial decorative phase. In this way, through this work, it has been possible to establish that the archaeological site of Cabecicos Negros was a pottery production center where domestic pieces were made during its Neolithic occupation. In addition, these findings reaffirm the importance of shells in ceramic manufacture during the Neolithic period, mainly in terms of the technical process linked to the cardial-type of ceramic decoration.

Technological skills associated with the Paleolithic culture have been explored extensively in recent years, with regard to the production of stone tools. Aspects of skill related to the use of these tools, however, have yet to be comprehensively explored. In this paper, we use a combined experimental-traceological approach to explore aspects of skill in the use of Lower Paleolithic (LP) shaped stone balls (SSBs) as percussion tools for marrow extraction. We examine the effect of skill, or lack thereof, on the accumulation of distinctive use wear traces upon these implements, while also considering handling, grip, and body posture of skilled versus unskilled participants in our experiment. In addition, we investigate possible indicative morphologies attesting to skill level on the processed bones. The results show that the observed differences in body posture, gestures, tool gripping and handling of skilled versus unskilled individuals influenced the intensity and dispersion of wear traces on the tools. Moreover, differences were also detected with regard to the processed bones. Thus, our study shows that while we tend to think that bone-breaking is intuitive, it in fact requires planning, knowledge of bone anatomy and tool use, as well as skill and experience. We hope that these experimental insights will offer a better grounding for understanding human skill and its visible expression on material culture.

Sustained archaeometallurgical research since 2008 has permitted the Southeast Asian Lead Isotope Project (SEALIP) to establish the general anthropological and geochemical parameters of late prehistoric and early historic regional nonferrous base metal exchange networks. A 79 artefact assemblage from the mid-late Iron Age (2^nd-8^th c. AD) settlement and residential burial site of Non Ban Jak (NBJ) in lower northeast Thailand gave an opportunity to generate a fine-grained interpretation of copper-base metal supply and demand at the cusp of mainland state formation. Previous hints that the central Thai copper production centres in the Khao Wong Prachan Valley (KWPV) were only weakly active during the Iron Age, were reinforced by the near total absence of the KWPV signature at NBJ, only 165 km to the east. Since 2011, copper production at the Vilabouly Complex (VC) in central Laos has dominated regional consumption signatures, and a simple reading of the NBJ dataset would support this thesis. However, a high-density sampling shows that VC production is not actually consistent with much of NBJ consumption, and thus we must search for other Southeast Asian copper production loci. Finally, being able to analyse multiple artefacts of a range of typologies enables us to identify material culture associations between individuals at NBJ, those at other lower northeast Thai sites, and even between individuals at contemporary sites in northwest Cambodia. Intriguingly, these potential consistencies between individuals at an international scale all concern middle-aged men, possibly reinforcing regional bioarchaeological interpretations of matrilocality.

In recent years, archaeological research has demonstrated the presence of abstract non-utilitarian behaviour amongst palaeolithic hominins, fuelling discussions concerning the origin and implications of such complex behaviours. A key component in these discussions is the aesthetic and symbolic character of intentionally incised artefacts. In this study, we emphasize the geometry of the incisions as clues to intentionality. Using 3D surface analysis, we characterised incisions found on a Levallois core from Manot cave, and on a flake and retouched blade from Amud cave. In addition, we applied the same methodology to the previously published engraved Levallois core from Qafzeh and the plaquette from Quneitra. The incisions on the Manot, Qafzeh and Quneitra artefacts show similar geometric characteristics. Notably in each of these cases, the incisions form patterns that align with the artefact’s surface topography and shape. In contrast, the incisions on the Amud artefacts are shallower, with no clear orientation or patterning. The methodology applied thus creates a comparative context for MP incised items, reinforcing the interpretation of the Manot, Qafzeh and Quneitra artefacts as deliberate engravings, whereas the marks on the items from Amud are consistent with their functional use as abraders. While the Qafzeh, Quneitra and Manot items are isolated initiatives in their chronological and geographic contexts, the shared traits of the intentional engravings underscore their predetermined nature.

On the basis of multivariate statistical methods, the present paper analyzed slag inclusions trapped in iron samples from the Baozishan cemetery site in Chengdu Plain of the Eastern Han dynasty (25 AD – 220 AD). The results reveal that forged iron tools from the site were all made from bloomery iron and the only weapon was forged from fined iron. As Chengdu Plain was believed to be an iron production center with cast iron tradition, the technology change revealed in the study may be due to the abolition of the iron monopoly policy and then bloomery process became another choice for independent handicraftsmen.

In North-western Mediterranean basin, from Southern France to North-eastern Iberia, the transition from the Iron Age to Antiquity is marked by significant political, economic, and cultural changes, as well as a major shift in the body size of livestock, particularly cattle. However, the evolution of suids and caprines during this period has been less thoroughly investigated in the area. This study aims to investigate the morphological variation of sheep, goats, and pigs from the Rhône to the Ebro rivers, from the First Iron Age to Late Antiquity (eighth century BCE to sixth century CE). To this end, 1,099 caprine and 384 suid third lower molars from 96 archaeological sites were analysed using a 2D landmark and sliding semi-landmark based geometric morphometric approach. The impact of a series of socio-economic and environmental factors on the morphometric variation was tested considering time, geography, altitude, topography and urban/rural categorisation of the sites. The results indicate that while sheep teeth increased in size and differ in shape between the Second Iron Age and the end of the Roman Empire, no variation was observed in goat teeth measurements, suggesting different selection patterns for the two species over time. For suids, no differences in teeth size were detected, but differences in shape were observed throughout the chronology, possibly reflecting zootechnical improvements. While little, or no effect of different factors was found for the teeth of suids and goats, the shape of sheep teeth exhibits clear geographical structuring, along with effects of altitude, topography and site type. Thus, changes in tooth shape and size in domestic species are not the result of a single explanatory factor, but rather reflect multifactorial influences including both environmental and anthropological factors. The importance of these influences may vary over time and between species.

A group of metal objects excavated at Qasr-e Abu Nasr in south-central Iran in the 1930s, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, has been analyzed to examine metalworking techniques and metallurgical processes. Thirty-three objects were studied and analyzed by micro-X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and metallography techniques. The results of these analyses show a wide range of copper alloy compositions including impure copper, tin bronze, brass, leaded tin bronze, leaded brass and leaded ternary Cu-Sn-Zn (gunmetal) alloys. Also, two silver-copper and one pewter object were identified among the analyzed objects. The results of this interdisciplinary study provide new insights onto the archaeology of Qasr-e Abu Nasr, as well as present new information about the history and evolution of copper-base metallurgy on the Iranian Plateau during the Sasanian and early Islamic periods.

Bronze coins, starting to be used in the Eastern Zhou period (770 − 221 BC) in China, were produced in ceramic piece molds, a predominant technique for bronze casting in the Chinese Bronze Age. This study examined coin-casting molds unearthed at the Ju Mint and the Linzi Mint in the Qi state, dating to the Eastern Zhou period, to investigate the specialization of early Chinese coin production. The material characteristics, repair and reuse were examined using analytical techniques including SEM-EDS, DIL, FTIR, p-XRF, XRD and specific gravity balance. A simulation experiment was conducted to rebuild the mold production process. The dimensions of both the molds and their cavities were measured. The results showed that the material characteristics of these coin-casting molds significantly differ from those of other types of bronze-casting molds. The coin-casting mold was most likely modified from the conventional bronze-casting molds to increase their lifespan in coin-casting. Moreover, the high degree of uniformity in the material characteristics, the dimensions of molds as well as the cavities, on one hand, indicates a standardization of coin production under unified government control; on the other hand, the differences in minor and trace elements between the coin-casting molds from the two mints suggest that the molds may have been produced independently at each mint using local materials. This paper offers a novel perspective in understanding China’s early monetary system and technical history.

The Later Stone Age site Faraoskop Rock Shelter yielded the human remains of twelve individuals in an ash-rich sedimentary sequence that also preserved anthropogenic bedding features. This geoarchaeological study is concerned with the sedimentary context of the human remains, the reconstruction of the human activities that formed the ash deposits as well as the bedding features and the paleoenvironmental conditions during site occupation. To investigate these topics, we employed micromorphological analyses on the deposits coupled with micro-Fourier-Transform-Infrared spectroscopy and phytolith analysis. This approach enabled us to reconstruct site use patterns as well as paleoenvironmental conditions. Our analysis shows a break in site occupation between the Pleistocene and Holocene deposits at the site and before and after the interment of the 12 individuals. The Holocene ash deposits pre-dating the interments result from continuous use of hearths at a central location of the shelter with an increase in fire intensity over time. Site occupants also repeatedly used plant bedding features as living surfaces around the fires and phytolith analysis revealed the particular use of eudicots for some of these bedding features. The occupation of the site took place during grassland regimes with a shift to a shrubbier environmental context during the Holocene. Unfortunately, the direct interment context of the human remains was not available for this study and it remains open what cultural practises may have been preserved in the burial sediments.

Chemical fingerprinting and spectrophotometry were combined to conduct a provenance analysis of radiolarite artefacts from three Moravian (Czech Republic) Aurignacian sites of Tvarožná I, Nová Dědina I and Milovice I. Of the different methods used, laser ablation with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was the best suited to distinguish the different areas containing radiolarite outcrops. Based on their chemical fingerprint, Moravian Aurignacian radiolarite artefacts were most likely imported from the western Slovak part of the Pieniny Klippen Belt. The abundant radiolarite outcrops in the Vienna region were apparently ignored, with the possible exception of two radiolarite artefacts from the Milovice I site. However, these could also have been manufactured from gravel radiolarites found around the site. Upon assigning other lithologies from Aurignacian sites in Moravia to their areas of provenience, it transpired those imports derived primarily from non-south-western regions. A similar situation was previously observed in the Moravian Szeletian, possibly indicating information exchange between the two Upper Palaeolithic cultures. Although the subsequent Gravettian culture relied more on long-distance imports, north-eastern − south-western movements and transfers were predominant up until the end of the Moravian Upper Palaeolithic, largely due to the communication corridor of the Moravian Gate. Upper Palaeolithic Moravia was an important source of raw materials and a hub for gathering other materials and information from concrete supply zones, while others were neglected.