Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences最新文献

Ifriqiya (roughly Tunisia and eastern Algeria) is believed to have played a significant role in the diffusion of ceramic glazed technologies into other regions of the Western Mediterranean. However, due to limited analysis on North African glazed ceramics, its role in technology transfer remains poorly understood. This paper uses SEM–EDS and petrographic analyses to understand the technology employed in the production of Tunisian ceramics through the study of 30 polychrome glazed ceramics from a medieval settlement at the site of Chimtou (ancient Simitthus), Tunisia, dated to the late ninth-twelfth century. The results show that these are lead-rich glazes with varying contents of alkalis, coloured with copper, iron and manganese oxide and applied over a calcareous body. Opaque glazes were obtained using cassiterite crystals as opacifier or by adding crushed quartz. The use of lead stannate as a colourant and opacifier in one light yellow glaze raises questions about the mechanisms of introduction of tin opacification technology in North Africa. Scrap metal seems to have been used as a source of lead for the glazes; while iron slag was probably used as a source of iron to colour the glaze in one sample, pointing to a cross-craft interaction between glazemaking and metallurgy.

The paper presents the results of an interim analytical approach to the Late Roman shipwreck of Ses Fontanelles recently found in the island of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). The excellent state of preservation of the hull and the cargo, including amphorae with painted inscriptions (tituli picti), and its location in shallow waters offshore of one of the main touristic beaches of the island makes this a unique finding in the Mediterranean. A first season of excavations and study of the cargo triggered an analytical approach to solve some of the problems pose by archaeological research, mainly related to the possible origin of the vessel. The analytical strategy combines petrographic analysis for the study of the provenance of the amphorae, archaeozoology and residue analysis to identify their content, and analysis of the wood and plant remains to understand the use of vegetal resources in shipbuilding and in the stow of the cargo. The results of the combination of the petrographic analysis, the study of the ichthyofauna and the organic residue analysis suggest that the boat probably departed from the area of Cartagena in the southeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula, carrying a cargo of fish sauce (liquaminis flos), oil, and wine (probably also some olives preserved in grape derivatives), transported in three main types of amphorae. The analysis of the wood shows, as known in Roman shipbuilding, a clear selection of forest resources. The shipbuilders used pine for longitudinal parts of the hull, while for the small pieces related to the assemblage system (pegged, mortise and tenons) and subjected to a great stress they selected harder woods mainly Cupressaceae, Olea europaea, and Laurus nobilis. In addition, the study reveals that mainly branches of Vitis vinifera, but also other herbaceous plants were used as dunnage protecting the cargo during the journey. The results help to shed some light into different aspects of this unique vessel sunk in Mallorcan waters and contributes to show the benefit of applying archaeological sciences in maritime archaeology.

The founding of Qart-Hadasht, or ‘New Carthage’, in 228/227 BC reaffirmed the Carthaginian presence on the Iberian Peninsula. The city would serve as its main political base and military port in the Western Mediterranean before being lost to Rome in the Second Punic War. Although the conquest was led on the ground by the Barcid family, the town’s flourishing also led to an increase in the metropolis’s economic and commercial activities. In this study, a total of 37 amphorae of Central Mediterranean typology and located in different Punic contexts of the town were analysed using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), thermogravimetry (TG), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thin-section petrography (OM). The analyses reveal that a significant number of them originated in North Africa, mainly in the area of Tunisia, though some originated from other production centres on the island of Sicily and probably Algeria. The results also confirm the existence of shared amphora types produced in different Punic production areas and workshops. Thus, the central argument here is that the arrival of containers from such diverse provenances allows us to identify the economic opportunity that this foundation represented for the metropolis as a whole and to explore how this new trade relationship was structured.

Pictographs, and the landscape formations they are featured upon, are culturally significant places among Indigenous communities. Here, we present the results of a field survey and compositional analysis of pictographs and the mineral pigments used to produce them at Babine Lake (British Columbia), in the traditional territory claimed by the Lake Babine Nation, the Tl’azt’en Nation, and the Yekooche Nation. The monochrome motifs are produced with iron oxide mineral pigments (red ochre), and are all painted on prominent, open-air rock faces overlooking deep water. This study also includes collection and analysis of red ochre pigment sources within the area for comparison to the pictographs. Using a series of microanalytical methods applied to the local raw materials and rock art paints, we offer insights into characteristics of pigment materiality, such as artistic selection of minerals with different physicochemical properties and the chaîne opératoire of paint preparation. Our results show that rock art painters active at Babine Lake chose a diversity of iron oxide types to produce different pigment mixtures with distinctive properties, including the harvesting and thermal enhancement of iron-rich biominerals from colonies of aquatic, iron-oxide-producing bacteria.

Limb amputation is a surgical procedure used during a medical operation or to manage trauma. Besides its therapeutic potential, amputation is a cruel punishment, with punitive body reduction practiced in ancient societies and even some modern ones. Victims of punitive amputation would face impaired locomotion and public shame. In this study, two individuals with signs of lower limb amputation were excavated from the Xiagantang site in Sanmengxia, Henan Province, China. The two skeletons were studied using bioarcheological approaches to determine consequences of amputation, identify possible patient care, and reconstruct circumstances of the amputation events. M693 had a lower limb amputation on the left side, while M432 was amputated on the right. Macroscopic observations and image analyses indicated healing and functional adaptations. Grave goods and the isotopic analysis suggested that the amputees had relatively high socioeconomic status. It is postulated that M693 and M432 had punitive amputation for felonies; this bioarchaeological evidence corroborated with historic written records of law and punishment from the penal system of the Zhou Dynasty. Post-execution, the individuals were allowed to recover, and they continued to live for years. These cases enrich our understanding of the physical consequences of lower limb amputation and illuminate the social context of amputation during ancient times.

The evolution of Neolithic to Bronze Age settlement organization in Central Europe has revealed ditches as an important component of settlement structures. The various shapes and sizes of these features contribute to different understandings of their functions, mainly referring to ditches as elements of fortifications or ritual practices. Based on a newly discovered Copper Age feature at Kamianets-Podilskyi (Tatarysky), Ukraine, our paper contributes to the discussion on the function of ditches in their relation to prehistoric technologies. This study presents evidence on tanning techniques and technologies associated with a section of ditch belonging to the Western Trypillia culture. Due to the uniqueness of this discovery, we applied various analyses, including GIS spatial analyses, palynological, anthracological, archeozoological, malacological, and use-wear studies. The obtained results enable us to recognize the complex practices of Copper Age communities, skillfully combining technical knowledge with an understanding of environmental conditions.

In this paper, dietary patterns are reconstructed across two phases represented at the Copper Age of Scaba ’e Arriu (Sardinia, Italy) via isotopic analysis of human and animal skeletal remains. Collagen carbon, nitrogen, and bioapatite carbon, and oxygen isotopes were used to infer diet, economic practices, and possibly different climatic conditions. Differential management of cattle, sheep/goats, and pigs was detected, with scarce animal products in the human diet in the Early Copper Age, followed by an increase in animal products identifiable in herbivore livestock, coincident with more rainy conditions in the Late Copper Age. Dietary information was then considered in light of the climatic periods already known for the period and compatible with the data presented. The study’s outcome indicates generally sedentary and endogamous groups with only a few outliers in both phases.

Our studies focus on the production background of early standardized coinage in Qi state before Qin empire’s unification of currency. These mold samples have considerable clay content, possibly to limit thermal expansion and enhance casting strength. Slag types include plate slag and ceramic slag attached on blowpipes. The matrix composition of plate slag is characterized by a high content of iron and calcium, with significant quantities of matte (CuPbFeS) and bronze droplets. The matrix composition of ceramic slag exhibits low content of iron and calcium with some copper droplets. It may be inferred that a smelting process is utilized to extract matte from sulfur-containing copper-lead ores, with the addition of tin occurring nearly concurrently. It is also possible to introduce a distinct step that smelting and alloying are totally separated. The lead isotope ratios of slag and mold samples overlap with each other and concentrate in the range with high ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratios. The change of lead resources in Qi knives was synchronized with the change of its alloy composition. We can’t exclude that the lead resources of high ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratios used in Qi state came from local areas, and some uranogenic-rich lead resources might be brought in after Yan state’ s conquest. The above research demonstrates that the production of Qi knives exhibited a significant degree of standardization in terms of molding technology, smelting technology, alloying technology and ore source. The implementation of unified coinage system during the Tian Qi period can be seen as a strategic approach to monopolize the minting rights and foster the growth of the commodities economy.

Ancient fire gilding has been a longstanding traditional Chinese craft, utilizing the unique properties of gold and mercury through chemical methods to embellish a variety of objects with layers of gold. This technique, notably efficient compared to alternative gold decoration methods, showcases the adept utilization of precious resources, highlighting the advanced technological prowess of ancient China. The objective of this study is to replicate historical silver gilding technology within a controlled laboratory environment and conduct a comprehensive analysis of the resulting silver gilded products. Subsequently, a comparative analysis with research findings related to gilded cultural relics is undertaken to confirm and enhance the technological characteristics of the gilding process. The research findings indicate that the presence of residual mercury on the gold layer of gilded products is a consequence of employing gold-mercury alloys. Furthermore, the granular microstructure observed in the gold layer is a distinct outcome of the heating process, both representing typical technical features associated with traditional gilding techniques. Moreover, the Ag-Hg transition layer between the gold layer and the substrate results from the solid solution diffusion of atoms during the gilding process, serving as a unique process feature that securely bonds the two layers. Addressing the controversy surrounding heating temperatures, experimental findings indicate that exceptionally high temperatures are not necessary for the gilding process. The golden-yellow coating on gilded products is a blend of gold and various gold amalgam alloys, achievable through solid-phase transformation within the 122–419 ℃ range or solidification of gold amalgam after melting at temperatures exceeding 419 ℃. The phase composition of the gold layer provides crucial evidence for defining the appropriate heating temperature when exploring the formation mechanism of fire gilding.

Human feeding patterns have been reconstructed in Archaeology by analysing either oral pathology or stable isotope ratios in human skeletal remains. However, no clear agreement has been developed between these two methodologies. The main objective of this study is to determine if we can establish a link between them when analysing a population with a hyper-specialized diet, in this case marine resources (and millet/maize). To reach this goal we developed a conjoined multi-isotope analysis using collagen and bioapatite (δ¹³C_col, δ¹⁵N_col and δ¹³C_car) and a detailed study of oral health (caries, antemortem loss, periapical lesions, periodontal disease, calculus, and wear). All available skeletons with at least one preserved tooth from two cemeteries of the medieval town of Pontevedra (n = 34) were studied. The buried individuals belonged to the guild of fishers and artisans, professions which were dominant among the families of medieval Pontevedra. A detailed FTIR-ATR study of extracted bone bioapatite showed a high correlation between bioapatite carbonate content, carbonate typical vibrations, and FTIR-ATR indices related to bone diagenesis, which is in line with previous research. No significant correlations were found with bioapatite yield and isotopic composition (δ¹³C_car and Δ¹³C), ruling out possible diagenetic effects. The diet was based on marine fish protein with contributions of millets (e.g., δ¹³C_car -11.9 ± 1.8‰) that seems to be slightly higher in individuals linked to artisanal guilds. The oral pathology study shows severe dental wear from an early age (Grade 2–4 in permanent dentition for 20% of infants and 60% of juveniles in M1), as well as moderate-high presence of caries in permanent dentition (64%, 22/34) and dental calculus (72%, 24/33). Both the oral pathology and the isotopic signal differ from that observed in other areas of the Iberian Peninsula. This study points to the existence of connections between findings of the two methodologies, and specifically an association between intense dental wear and high consumption of marine resources and millet. At the same time, this analysis implies the necessity of caution in estimation of age by dental wear in populations linked to the sea.