Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences最新文献

Cypriot wall paintings have been a constant object of study since the earliest archaeological discoveries on the island. However, most of the research has been focused on the iconography of these artefacts, rather than on the production technologies. In fact, to date, studies of wall paintings with a multidisciplinary approach remain underperformed in Cyprus. While researching plaster production in the site of Nea Paphos during the Hellenistic to Roman period, the present research team was able to collect twenty samples of wall plaster fragments with traces of pigmented decorations. Taking advantage of the available information about the colour palette and painting techniques for wall paintings in Cyprus, the team carried out analyses on the pigments and their substratum in order to verify the degree of compatibility with the published record. Employing a wide array of analytical techniques, including polarized light microscopy (PLM), scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Raman spectroscopy (RS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and proteomic analysis using nano-liquid chromatography - electrospray ionization - quadrupole - time of flight mass spectrometry (nano-LC-ESI-QTOF MS), this research was able to prove that the wall paintings employed locally available pigments, which are compatible with the well-known ones mentioned by historic sources such as Pliny or Vitruvius. However, in contrast to other research on the same area of Cyprus, the samples under study are not exclusively frescoes sensu stricto, but rather a combination of fresco, secco, and mezzo fresco techniques.

The formation and transformation of medieval castles are key themes in European historical research, providing insights into socio-economic structures and resource management. This paper concentrates on the Castle of Montieri, located in the Colline Metallifere district (Tuscany), to investigate the subsistence practices of a medieval community within a Mediterranean mining district. Known for its extensive mining veins essential for coin minting, Montieri played a pivotal role in the regional economy during its economic peak from the late 12th to the 13th century. Our research employed a multidisciplinary approach, merging archaeological, bioarchaeological, and palaeopathological data to investigate the health and diet of Montieri’s inhabitants. We performed stable carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) isotope analysis on human (n = 56) and animal (n = 15) skeletal remains from the Canonica di San Niccolò, an important religious complex near the castle. The presence of a privileged burial, likely a focal point for numerous other burials, underscores its significant role within the community. Isotopic data revealed distinct dietary patterns across the population, likely reflecting differing access to resources among social strata. Additionally, radiocarbon dating of selected human samples (n = 5) helped refine the chronological framework of the cemetery’s use. Our findings highlight the complex socio-economic landscape and subsistence practices of medieval Montieri in a broader regional context. The employment of a multidisciplinary approach not only allowed us to deepen our understanding of medieval communities but also shed light on the dynamic interplay between social structures and dietary habits in this historically significant mining settlement.

This paper discusses the possible prehistoric exploitation of the local copper ore deposit Mutěnín-Měděnka in the Domažlice region, western Bohemia (Central Europe). The research project deals with a possible relationship of the Bronze Age casting cakes discovered in this region to the historically documented mine of Mutěnín-Měděnka. The study is based on the detailed material analysis of the casting cakes and geochemical characterization of samples of chalcopyrite and secondary copper minerals from this deposit. The results considerably help to extend the so far very limited knowledge of the origin of the Bronze Age copper material in Bohemia and reveal its position in the complex structure of the material distribution network within Central Europe. Provenance analyses of copper raw material combine the determination of lead isotope ratios by HR-MC-ICP-MS with chemical composition data obtained by INAA, ICP-MS and ED-XRF. The research provides new evidence for the origin of the copper material in the threshold of Early and Middle Bronze Age in Bohemia. The origin of the analysed casting cakes can be traced to chalcopyrite deposits in the eastern and South-Eastern Alps. Possible exploitation of sulphidic copper minerals from the Mutěnín-Měděnka local deposit in the Late Bronze Age period has not been proven.

Numerous ancient texts and iconographic evidence point to the frequent use of leopards and other exotic big cats in amphitheatre spectacles. However, due to their scarce presence in archaeofaunal collections, it has been assumed that these fierce beasts, of African and Asian origin, were mainly showcased in the Colosseum in Rome and a few other large Italian amphitheatres. In contrast, provincial amphitheatres were thought to feature more locally accessible animals, such as brown bears and wild boar. During the excavation of the amphitheatre in Viminacium, situated along the Danube Limes in present-day Serbia, a part of a leopard’s front limb was uncovered dated to 240–350 cal CE (95% probability). Genetic analysis indicates that it belonged to a male leopard of African origin, while carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ ¹⁵N) stable isotopes reflect leopard diet in the wild, before captivity. This unique discovery offers new insights into the participation and supply of exotic beasts for provincial amphitheatres and uncovers aspects of animal trading during Roman times.

The Alakul archaeological culture of the Late Bronze Age (c. 1900–1500 BCE) Central Eurasia is renowned for the enormous amount of copper-base artifacts. Previous studies into metallurgical production have been mainly based on finished metal items from burial grounds, which provided only limited insight into the technological and organizational components of the metal economy. In this preliminary study we conduct major and trace element analyses using SEM-EDS and LA-ICP-MS of 92 copper-base items from five extensively excavated Alakul settlements in the southern Trans-Urals aiming to provide the first insight into metal production practices at everyday life sites. The AMS radiocarbon analyses of four settlements are also presented for the first time revealing the narrow timespan of the Alakul culture in the southern Trans-Urals (c. 1700–1600 BCE). The settlements have no signs of metal smelting, although signs of casting, forging, and the remelting of finished items indicate that this period was marked by these production stages. Repair items and household tools dominate; there are much fewer melting wastes, weapons, and items of jewelry. 72 items are made of copper, only 20 of bronze. This completely changes the understanding of the categories and alloys of metal items of the Alakul culture, studied in the burial grounds. The inhabitants of these settlements could obtain finished metal from distant (southern Cis-Urals, Northern and Central Kazakhstan) and nearby locations. In the latter case, the metal could have been supplied from specialized mining and metallurgist settlements located near the copper deposits of the southern Trans-Urals.

This study presents a comprehensive investigation of a Roman bronze steelyard balance excavated from Leptis Magna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and prominent commercial center in Roman-era northwestern Libya. Our aim is to reconstruct the instrument’s manufacturing techniques, diagnose burial-driven corrosion mechanisms alongside component-level alloy heterogeneity, and translate these findings into conservation guidance. Integrated analytical methodologies—including optical microscopy, metallography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy—were employed to characterize the artifact’s material composition, manufacturing techniques, and degradation patterns. The analyses reveal a composite construction employing both copper and leaded tin bronze (Cu-Sn-Pb) components. The main structural fittings were fabricated from bronze using combined casting and hammering techniques, while specialized parts such as suspension chains were constructed from twisted copper foils wrapped around an organic core. While key functional fittings (e.g., counterweight, graduated scale) are missing due to corrosion during burial, preserved components—including the weighing pan, main beam, suspension rings, and mounting brackets—retain partial metallic cores amidst widespread mineralization. Corrosion products identified include cuprite, and chloride-based phases (atacamite and cotunnite), indicative of prolonged burial in chloride-rich soils. These results shed light on the economic and technological aspects of Roman-era trade instruments while emphasizing the importance of preserving such artifacts for historical and cultural understanding.

Determining the relationship between the behavior of human groups, the type of surrounding terrain and the seasonality of occupations is a prerequisite for discussing subsistence strategies. Although recent years have seen new research in the Cantabrian region, the number of Middle Paleolithic sites remains limited, and Arrillor provides a valuable opportunity to improve our understanding of Neanderthal subsistence strategies in the southern Cantabrian Mountains. In this study, a taphonomic and zooarchaeological study of the remains of ungulates recovered at the archaeological site of Arrillor (Murua, Álava) is carried out. The extensive Middle Paleolithic sequence recognised in this cavity allows us to delve into the hunting activities of the Neanderthals, their suitability or independence from external climatic or topographical conditions, their transport and consumption practices and whether there are behavioural changes over time. Arrillor contains 13 archaeological levels with unequal osteological content, formed under different circumstances, with different representations of ungulates and carnivores and with differential treatments of the carcasses by human groups. Humans are identified as the primary taphonomic agent, with little evidence of other predators affecting the bones. Throughout the stratigraphic sequence, Neanderthals predominantly hunted ungulates from forested, grassland, and rocky environments. Hunting strategies varied significantly throughout the sequence, ranging from the apprehension of individuals to the exploitation of herds during mating seasons. Neanderthal groups adapted to environmental and climatic shifts by adjusting the geography of their hunting and food acquisition strategies.

This study investigates mobility during the transition from Muslim to Christian rule in the Algarve, southern Portugal (11th–13th centuries), using multi-isotope analysis to understand population dynamics during this complex conquest period. Skeletal remains from two key populations were analysed: the final Muslims buried in Loulé before the Christian conquest (necropolises of Quinta da Boavista and Hospital da Misericórdia) and the earliest Christians buried in Cacela-a-Velha following the Order of Santiago’s capture in 1240 (necropolis of Poço Antigo). Contemporary faunal remains from trash pits and storage silos were also examined (Loulé: Oficina do Senhor Carrilho; Cacela: Silo 7 of Largo da Fortaleza). Strontium, oxygen, and sulphur isotope analysis of human and animal remains were combined with plant sampling for environmental baselines. Machine learning algorithms integrated this data with published Iberian Peninsula plant isotope ratios to create updated strontium isoscape maps, enabling probabilistic geographic assignment of non-local individuals. Ancient DNA analysis of selected Muslim individuals provided additional mobility insights. Results reveal strikingly different mobility patterns. Muslim individuals were largely local (~ 95%) with a few non-local likely from the Maghreb or eastern Spain. Conversely, the Christian population displayed extensive mobility, greater for males than females, with nearly 50% non-local to the Algarve. Potential origins were diverse and included regions along the Guadiana River and N/NE areas. While Muslims showed no sex-based isotope mobility patterns, paleogenetic analysis suggested patrilocal social structures and highlight the complex genetic landscape of the region. The overall data showcase a colonisation process poorly documented in other sources.

The contribution of multidisciplinary approaches to the study of the lifestyles of ancient populations is now well established in the literature. Mobility, nutrition and physical activity are indicators that, when considered together, can document social organisations such as patrilocality, gender practices or social status. Our study is part of this dynamic scientific work and focuses on the Middle Neolithic human remains from the site of Pontcharaud (excavation 1986; 4300 − 3900 BCE; Auvergne, France). It aims to reconstruct patterns of behaviour, life history, and social organisation, particularly in light of the site’s unique funerary features, which remain a subject of debate. New data from bioanthropological investigations (72 individuals), stable isotope measurements (bone collagen δ³⁴S from 55 individuals; ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr from teeth enamel on 17 individuals) and genetic sex estimation (2 subadult individuals) were collated and integrated with contextual information, including funerary treatments, previously published isotopic data (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N), and archaeological records. Stable isotope data suggest that some females were exposed to more variable environments compared to males. Strontium and sulphur isotope ratios also indicate differences in resource exploitation (water, plants, and animals from different origin or growth conditions) and suggest a different provenance for at least two females, one of whom was buried in a stone coffin. The seven adult and immature male individuals from the site’s only multiple grave yielded distinct stable isotope results (C, N, S and, to a lesser extent, Sr), suggesting different origins and/or animal protein intake, compared to individuals buried in single or double graves. Our multidisciplinary data reveal important variability in diet, provenance, and organisation within the Pontcharaud funerary group. We propose that the seven males from the multiple gathering may have been involved in a shared activity that exposed them to the same environment—perhaps as individuals engaged in a common economic or social practice.

This study investigates natural syn- and post-depositional processes affecting terrestrial mammal bones from the Takarkori rock shelter in the hyper-arid Tadrart Acacus massif, south-western Libya. The site’s Early to Middle Holocene stratigraphy (c. 10,200–4,600 cal BP) enables diachronic and synchronic assessment of taphonomic processes critical for interpreting faunal assemblages. As biomolecular methods, among others, are increasingly applied in archaeology, detailed evaluations of preservation conditions and diagenetic alterations are essential to ensure data reliability. Using macroscopic, microscopic, and SEM-EDX analyses, this research systematically records bone surface modifications attributable to natural agents, including weathering, salt encrustation, and gnawing. The results demonstrate that fine-scale variability in exposure, sedimentation, and geochemistry has created heterogeneous preservation conditions across depositional and chronological contexts. This study aims to characterise principal natural taphonomic traces and assess their stratigraphic and chronological variability, to explore their implications for site formation processes and depositional dynamics. The findings establish a comparative framework to improve interpretations of faunal remains from archaeological contexts in arid environments and highlight the need for multidisciplinary approaches to disentangle natural and anthropogenic taphonomic processes.