Environmental Archaeology. The journal of human palaeoecology

Volume 10.1 Published April 2005

Research papers

Reconstructing woodland vegetation and its exploitation by past societies, based on the analysis and interpretation of archaeological wood charcoal macro-remains

Eleni Asouti and Phil Austin

Abstract

In this paper the significance of the analysis of archaeological wood charcoal macro-remains as a tool for the reconstruction of woodland vegetation and its exploitation is discussed. Drawing from both older and more recent publications a number of theoretical and methodological approaches are examined. It is suggested that greater integration of charcoal and archaeological data is needed when evaluating charcoal preservation and sample composition, and that a more coherent theory of the complex ecological and cultural processes affecting species availability and firewood management needs to be developed.

Keywords: archaeobotany, charcoal analysis, fuel, subsistence, firewood, woodland vegetation, taphonomy

Prehistoric use of Ringed seals: A zooarchaeological Study From Arctic Canada

Maribeth Suzanne Murray

Abstract

This paper presents new data on ringed seal hunting in the Early Palaeoeskimo period (ca. 4000-3500 B.P.) in the eastern Canadian Arctic. Skeletal age schedules, thin sections of ringed seal canine teeth and skeletal element frequency analysis, provides the means to reconstruct specific seal hunting strategies, especially as regards the selection of particular age classes, season of hunt, and locations for hunting. The zooarchaeological data indicate a human predation pattern similar to the winter hunting pattern of polar bears. M ost remains are from seals between the skeletal ages of four and seven/eight - indicating the selection of juvenile and young adult seals from along ice leads and at refrozen cracks. Skeletal element representation allows for the tentative identification of sharing among households.

Keywords: ringed seal, zooarchaeology, Arctic , prehistoric, subsistence, seasonality

Early Bronze Age Crop Plants from Yenibademli Höyük (Gökçeada), Western Turkey

Emel Oybak Dönmez

Abstract

Carbonised plant remains discovered in the Early Bronze Age (II) levels of Yenibademli Höyük on Gökçeada, one of offshore islands of west Anatolia , are presented. Archaeobotanical analysis of the plant remains dating from ca. 2900-2600 BC yielded a broad spectrum of crop plants comprising cereals and legumes, the latter of which appears to be of greater importance in both range and abundance. A deliberate crop mixture, maslin, consisting of either bitter vetch - wheat or fava bean - barley or wheat - barley is deduced from the pattern of crop storage on the site. It is considered that the seeds of Lathyrus clymenum L. (Spanish vetchling) recovered in large amounts are the most ancient archaeobotanical samples of this crop legume found in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean sites so far.

Keywords: YENIBADEMLI HÖYÜK, ANATOLIA , EARLY BRONZE AGE, CROP PLANTS.

Sub-local differences in Late Holocene land use at Orstad, Jæren in SW Norway , revealed by soil pollen stratigraphy

B. M. Sageidet

Abstract

Four soil profiles along an 84 m transect through a clearance cairn field on podsol soils at Orstad, Jæren, SW-Norway, were investigated. By relating pollen-analytical results to soil stratigraphical and morphological features, it was possible to reconstruct the landuse history of the site, and to reveal differences along the transect, although pollen preservation was poor. Human activity at Orstad began about 4500 uncalibrated 14 C years BP. The reason for an intermediate abandonment of the site between about 4000 and 3600 uncalibrated 14 C years BP was presumably a higher ground-water level, caused by local deforestation and/or by a climatic change. After that period, people seem to have grown cereals ( Triticum and Hordeum ) on at least two different field patches on the site. This land use was presumably occasional, and related to extraordinary needs. Fire-clearance seems to have been practised to prepare the fields for cultivation after long fallow periods. Between 2900 and 3200 uncalibrated 14 C years BP, Orstad was possibly permanently inhabited. The agricultural fields were moved to higher levels, as the initial fields had become nutrient-depleted and too moist. Thin black layers in the profile may be remains of manure.

Keywords: Soil pollen stratigraphy, early agriculture, soil management, sub-local areas, SW Norway , pedology

Short Contributions

Wild and Cultivated Vegetables, Herbs and Spices in Greek Antiquity (900 B.C. to 400 B.C.)

Fragkiska Megaloudi

Abstract

The number of vegetables and condiments that have been recovered from Greek archaeological contexts (dated between 900 and 400 B.C.) allow a discussion of the status of these plants. Although not all plants are preserved equally well or recovered systematically, it is clear that a variety of vegetables and condiments was known and widely used in antiquity. Literary references to these species need to be studied with reference to their archaeobotanical evidence. This paper summarises the data currently known for the remains of vegetables and condiments, retrieved from historical contexts, together with literary evidence (when it is available).

Keywords: VEGETABLES, CONDIMENTS, ARCHAEOBOTANY, WRITTEN EVIDENCE

An Experimental Approach to the Disaggregation of Samples from Waterlogged Deposits.

Joanna Bending

Abstract

The analysis of plant macrofossils from peat deposits is a common procedure, but little work has been undertaken to assess the chemical and mechanical methods of disaggregating samples mentioned by researchers in their methodologies. Experimental work was carried out on material from three peat cores from the Faroe Islands to ascertain the effectiveness of processing using a sonic bath, sodium carbonate and potassium hydroxide for disaggregating the samples. The amount of damage caused to various modern plant parts was also assessed. The results indicate that sodium carbonate and potassium hydroxide are the most effective methods of disaggregation. Damage to the plant parts was caused more quickly by potassium hydroxide than sodium carbonate.

Keywords: Plant macrofossils, peat, chemical processing, disaggregation.

First Discovery of Black Mulberry ( Morus nigra L.) Pollen in a Late Bronze Age Well at Sint-Gillis-Waas (Flanders, Belgium): Contamination or in situ Deposition?

Vanessa Gelorini and Jean Bourgeois

Abstract

During the palynological investigation of the fill of a Late Bronze Age well on the archaeological site of Sint-Gillis-Waas/Kluizemolen ( Flanders , Belgium ), a black mulberry ( Morus nigra L.) pollen grain was identified. Although this find still represents the only evidence available, it could imply that the tree was grown locally in late prehistoric times. Macrobotanical remains of black mulberry (especially seeds) are only known as Roman introductions in nearby regions such as France , Germany and the British Isles .

Keywords: POLLEN, MORUS NIGRA , LATE BRONZE AGE, FLANDERS

'Science is measurement'; ABMAP, a database of domestic animal bone measurements

Dale Serjeantson

Abstract

A database of animal bone measurements, the Animal Bone Metrical Archive Project (ABMAP), is now available on the Web at http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/specColl/abmap. The measurements can be downloaded and imported into a spreadsheet. They are of bones of domestic animals from the Neolithic to the 19 th century AD from assemblages in England, most from southern England. An example is given of the retrieval of measurements of cattle metacarpals and their application in a scatter diagram. The database is a resource for zooarchaeologists and others concerned with research into prehistoric and early historic domestic livestock and animal husbandry.