Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences最新文献

Northern China has been a crucial region for interactions between agricultural and nomadic populations. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, nomadic groups from the northern steppe frequently migrated southward. However, the genetic interactions between steppe nomadic and agricultural populations in the Central Plains, and the extent of their genetic influence, remain unclear. Here, we obtained the ancient genome of three individuals from two noble tombs dating from the Northern Zhou to the Sui Dynasty. We reconstructed the core family structure of a parent-child relationship for these individuals, shedding light on the family structure and marriage patterns of Northern Zhou aristocrats. Although they bore Xianbei surnames, they shared the closest genetic relationship with sedentary agriculturalists in northern China with subtle genetic admixture from nomadic populations of the Eurasian Steppe. This suggests that they were likely Han aristocrats, consistent with historical records indicating their “bestowed Xianbei surnames.” Different from published Han aristocrats, the genetic profiles of these families demonstrate the subtle genetic influence of the Eurasian Steppe pastoralists on the agricultural populations of northern China. Our study reveals the genetic diversity of Han hereditary nobility under nomadic rule, enhancing the comprehension of dynamic population interactions during this period.

This study evaluates modern and archaeological intra- and interindividual variability in stable isotope values (δ¹³C_coll and δ¹⁵N) of the armadillo species Chaetophractus villosus and Dasypus hybridus from east-central Argentina. Our goals are to contribute to the isotopic ecology of these species, assess the methodological implications of analyzing different skeletal elements, and contribute to the framework for the paleodietary reconstructions of hunter-gatherers in the region. We analyzed 20 modern samples obtained from carcasses collected during naturalistic taphonomic surveys in the Pampas. For each individual, one osteoderm and one endoskeletal element were analyzed. The isotopic values obtained from both elements are similar, supporting the use of osteoderms in isotopic studies due to their higher taxonomic diagnostic potential. Both C. villosus and D. hybridus exhibit wide interindividual variation in δ¹³C_coll and δ¹⁵N values, likely reflecting their omnivorous diets. When compared with available archaeological isotopic data for armadillos (N = 6), no major differences in isotopic niche space were observed. The overlap of armadillo isotopic signatures with those of other omnivorous taxa, and their separation from species with distinct diets or foraging strategies, supports the utility of isotopic analysis for identifying broad taxonomic contributions to human paleodiets in east-central Argentina.

The study of animal domestication and its development is a major challenge in archaeological science, as it integrates knowledge from multiple disciplines. In this sense, distinguishing between wild and domestic pig in archaeological sediments is an important goal in archaeology as it helps to trace the development of domestication in this species. In this manuscript, we report the identification of specific molecular features differentiating wild and domestic pigs using untargeted analysis by high resolution mass spectrometry. Reference samples of modern wild and domestic pigs were collected from various locations to identify characteristic features of each group and to assess their persistence in archaeological sediments samples previously classified as suid using traditional proxies. Distinct resistant to degradation tentative biomarkers for both wild pig and domestic pigs were identified, enabling the classification of archaeological sedimentary remains into these two categories. This work represents the first approach to identifying domestic and wild pig specific, resistant to degradation biomarkers related to animal domestication.

This study explores the site formation and paleoenvironmental evolution of the Songon-M’Brathé shell midden in Ivory Coast through microstratigraphic analysis. Using geoarchaeological and dating techniques—including micromorphology, µ-XRF elemental mapping, radiocarbon dating, and thermoluminescence—the human occupation at the site is dated from the 7th to the 17th centuries CE. The earliest deposits reflect periodic flooding from a paleochannel of the Agnéby River, embedding organic matter and pottery fragments, marking early human activity in a dynamic floodplain. A subsequent phase of prolonged water saturation led to the formation of a hydromorphic gley deposit, indicating a temporarily abandoned wetland. Later layers reveal anthropogenic inputs, with combustion by-products followed by shellfish remains linked to cooking and dumping activities, alongside evidence of trampling. A hiatus in the midden’s formation is marked by overbank sediments with secondary calcitic cementation, signifying discontinuities in human occupation. Post-depositional reworking includes bioturbation and agricultural disturbances. As the first microstratigraphic study of a shell midden in Ivory Coast, this research expands African shell midden data to tropical regions, incorporates open-air contexts that had not previously been examined from this perspective, and refines their chronological framework. These findings enhance the understanding of human–environment interactions in tropical coastal settings, contributing to broader geoarchaeological research on shell middens as a global phenomenon.

This study investigates the possible correspondence between the modern material known as Terra di Nocera, traditionally used in cosmetic and therapeutic applications, and the creta umbrica described by Pliny the Elder as a substance employed in textile treatments. The multidisciplinary approach combined mineralogical and geochemical analyses to characterise samples of Terra di Nocera (Scaglia Cinerea Formation), alongside reference rocks from the Maiolica and Bisciaro Formations, and unfired clay loaves found in burial contexts at Serravalle di Chienti. The results demonstrate that Terra di Nocera is compositionally consistent with parts of the Scaglia Cinerea Formation and is characterised by abundant calcite and a clay fraction dominated by illite and smectites—a group of minerals known for their absorptive properties. These properties support its suitability for the textile and therapeutic uses described in ancient sources. The compositional similarity between the archaeological clay loaves and Scaglia Cinerea samples suggests a likely shared origin, though post-depositional processes or intentional mixing cannot be excluded. While the identification of Terra di Nocera with Pliny’s creta umbrica remains hypothetical, the analytical evidence lends support to this hypothesis and underscores the cultural and functional relevance of this material from antiquity to the present.

During the Kofun period (mid-3rd through early 7th century AD) of Japan, earthen mounded tombs were equipped with various burial goods, including numerous iron weapons and tools. While such iron artifacts are sometimes well-preserved, many of them are recovered as heavily mineralized fragments. In these samples it is difficult to derive useful information concerning their original morphology and chemical composition. To acquire meaningful insights into the technological capabilities and manufacturing practices of specific historical periods and regions, archaeometallurgical research must be grounded in the comprehensive statistical analysis of a substantial number of artifacts. It is therefore important to conduct analysis of as many artifacts as possible. Concerning iron sword blade fragments from Kofun-period mounded tombs, it is often the case that almost no metal survives, then it is usually impossible to obtain detailed compositional or microstructural information. It is nevertheless possible to obtain morphological details provided a technique exists to visualize and spatially map the contrast between the iron-rich minerals derived from the blade corrosion and the surrounding non-metal areas. We performed a test experiment to verify the potential of Neutron Tomography to provide such a contrast within heavily mineralized Kofun-period iron sword fragments from Okayama Prefecture, Japan, with excellent results. Moreover, the combination with Neutron Diffraction and X-ray-based techniques has successfully advanced our interpretation of these archaeological finds in a completely non-invasive way.

The study of dogs recovered from archaeological sites in the Southern Cone of South America has seen exponential growth in recent years, encompassing a wide range of thematic areas. Despite the growing interest in archaeological dogs, paleodietary reconstructions remain scarce. This study addresses that gap by analyzing the diets of dogs recovered from burial contexts at the El Olivar Diaguita site (ca. 1190–1536 AD) to evaluate the socioecological dynamics between these animals and humans. We employed two complementary lines of evidence: stable isotope analysis (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) and the study of plant microremains preserved in dental calculus. For the stable isotope analysis, we present measurements of local fauna (n = 28). The results from the Bayesian mixing models (MixSIAR) suggest that these dogs had diverse diets (marine– and camelid–focused), derived from a broad–spectrum feeding behavior that included direct provisioning by humans, access to latrines, predation on small animals, and, to a lesser extent, scavenging of communal middens. The discovery of starch grains (Zea mays, and Nicotiana spp.) showing signs of anthropogenic processing strengthens the evidence of human control over Canis familiaris diet. Notably, the presence of the psychoactive plant Nicotiana spp. in the dental calculus of a violently sacrificed pathological dog raises new questions about the ceremonial/medicinal use of psychoactive substances by canids in the Andes.

The study of raw materials used for making stone tools allows archaeologists to gain insight into the behaviours of ancient people. Raw materials possess different properties, which influence the ability of knappers to flake, shape and use a stone tool. Measuring these properties experimentally requires specialised laboratories and measuring processes that are not straightforward. This makes such analyses a cost-intensive and often inaccessible way to investigate the past. Here, we present an alternative way to evaluate two mechanical properties, stiffness and hardness, using a single indentation test. We also test whether these two isolated measures allow making predictions on raw material selection and tool shape. We analysed tool-stones from the Middle Stone Age site Sibhudu on South Africa’s eastern seaboard. The site has yielded a rich assemblage of tools from different raw materials. We found that a single indentation test allows measuring hardness and stiffness reliably, simplifying the measurement protocol of raw material studies. We also observed weak correlations between those isolated properties and the shape of the finished tools. This has implications for future studies of Stone Age raw materials, proposing a simplified testing protocol. We also discuss the role of stiffness in stone knapping.

This study evaluates geochemical variation in archaeological ceramics from three pre-Columbian sites in La Altagracia, Dominican Republic. We compare compositional variation of ceramics between a submerged site and two terrestrial sites using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) trace element analysis supplemented with thin section microscopy. Contrary to expectations, greater variation in trace element concentrations of the metals vanadium (V), copper (Cu), tantalum (Ta), zirconium (Zr), and uranium (U) exist between submerged and terrestrial sites in close geographic proximity to one another than between more distant terrestrial sites. Thin section analysis identified more void space in submerged than terrestrial samples but no major mineralogical differences. While precise mechanisms driving geochemical variation between sites remain unclear, post-depositional ion exchange between ceramics and the fluid in which they are submerged may have resulted in significant changes to their composition, reflected in discrepancy between ceramics from terrestrial and submerged contexts. Results of this research emphasize the need to consider post-depositional alteration in ceramic provenance studies, especially in submerged contexts.

The Middle Neolithic lakeshore site of Molino Casarotto (4700 − 4400 cal BCE; Vicenza province, northern Italy) preserves some of the most informative deposits related to Neolithic daily life in Italy. The organisation and use of space within the Neolithic domestic contexts remain poorly understood, largely due to the limited preservation of archaeological evidence. At Molino Casarotto, however, these aspects can be explored thanks to the presence of domestic hearth rake-out layers and shell middens, which form substantial accumulations interdigitating with repeatedly renovated cooking plates. Several heated stones were recovered in association with these combustion structures. High-resolution sediment analyses (micromorphology, micro-FTIR, and XRD) allowed for the characterisation of the sediments used to construct the cooking plates, the reconstruction of combustion temperatures, and gave insights into mollusc cooking techniques. In particular, the discarded shells were likely boiled or roasted at low temperatures (< 200 °C), as indicated by the absence of microstructural alterations and the preservation of aragonite, possibly using heated stones. In contrast, thermally altered shells embedded in ash layers suggest exposure to post-depositional heating events. Eventual isotopic analyses should therefore take into account the taphonomic history of the specimens, as differential preservation may occur even across short distances. Finally, although structural remains at the site were limited, microarchaeological evidence indicates that the cooking plates were used within a sheltered area characterised by rapid and continuous sediment accumulation, with no evidence of abandonment.