Article
Archaeology
Francesca Alhaique, Claudia Moricca, Lia Barelli, Alessia Masi, Raffaele Pugliese, Laura Sadori, Giuseppe Romagnoli, Lavinia Piermartini, Luca Brancazi, Federica Gabbianelli, Giovanni Chillemi, Alessio Valentini
Summary: The study of plant and animal remains from archaeological sites provides crucial evidence about past human diets and habits, including species selection, food preparation, consumption, disposal practices, and even social status inferences. Data from elite contexts in central Italy reveal different ways people expressed wealth through food from the late Middle Ages to the Renaissance using archaeobotanical, archaeozoological, and genetic data.
ENVIRONMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Anthropology
Basira Mir-Makhamad, Soren Stark, Sirojidin Mirzaakhmedov, Husniddin Rahmonov, Robert N. N. Spengler III
Summary: The Silk Road, a global phenomenon in ancient times, facilitated extensive communication and trade between Asia and Central Asia, leading to the development of prosperous urban centers. Bukhara, one of the key mercantile cities along the medieval trade routes, flourished as an educational, artistic, and commercial hub.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Colin Duval, Benoit Clavel
Summary: Boves Castle in northern France, occupied between the 9th and 16th centuries, has provided valuable insights into the supply and consumption strategies of the region during the High Middle Ages. Excavations have uncovered a significant amount of faunal remains, particularly birds, including both domestic and wild species from various environments. The site is notable for its emphasis on freshwater birds, particularly large waders, which held status and symbolic value during the medieval period. This research contributes to our understanding of the link between power and consumption in the medieval period by studying controlled hunting areas and high-status consumer sites.
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Muhammad Majeed, Arshad Mahmood Khan, Tariq Habib, Muhammad Mushahid Anwar, Hakim Ali Sahito, Nasrullah Khan, Kishwar Ali
Summary: The composition and co-existence of vegetation are influenced by environmental variations in any region. This study explored the vegetation types and their driving environmental factors in the arid-tropical zone of district Jhelum, Pakistan. The findings revealed the significance of various environmental variables such as distance from the river, altitude, latitude, slope, temperature, rainfall, distance from cropland, grazing and deforestation pressure, and soil pollutants in determining plant species composition and diversity. The study also emphasized the need for immediate attention to protect the local biodiversity from anthropogenic disturbances and potentially toxic metals.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yucheng Wang, Mikkel Winther Pedersen, Inger Greve Alsos, Bianca De Sanctis, Fernando Racimo, Ana Prohaska, Eric Coissac, Hannah Lois Owens, Marie Kristine Foreid Merkel, Antonio Fernandez-Guerra, Alexandra Rouillard, Youri Lammers, Adriana Alberti, France Denoeud, Daniel Money, Anthony H. Ruter, Hugh McColl, Nicolaj Krog Larsen, Anna A. Cherezova, Mary E. Edwards, Grigory B. Fedorov, James Haile, Ludovic Orlando, Lasse Vinner, Thorfinn Sand Korneliussen, David W. Beilman, Anders A. Bjork, Jialu Cao, Christoph Dockter, Julie Esdale, Galina Gusarova, Kristian K. Kjeldsen, Jan Mangerud, Jeffrey T. Rasic, Birgitte Skadhauge, John Inge Svendsen, Alexei Tikhonov, Patrick Wincker, Yingchun Xing, Yubin Zhang, Duane G. Froese, Carsten Rahbek, David Bravo Nogues, Philip B. Holden, Neil R. Edwards, Richard Durbin, David J. Meltzer, Kurt H. Kjaer, Per Moller, Eske Willerslev
Summary: A large-scale metagenomic analysis of plant and mammal environmental DNA in the circumpolar region over the past 50,000 years shows complex ecological changes, including the extinction of large mammals postglacially and the emergence of modern ecosystems. The study provides insights into the long-term dynamics of Arctic biota at both circumpolar and regional scales, highlighting the power of ancient environmental metagenomics analyses in understanding population histories and long-term ecological dynamics.
Article
Geography, Physical
Xin Jia, Shuzhi Wang, Yonggang Sun, Yiyin Li, Yanjing Jiao, Zhijun Zhao, Harry F. Lee
Summary: Fossil charcoals from archaeological sites provide direct evidence for the relationship between environmental change and ancient peoples' livelihoods. The study of the Erdaojingzi site in northeastern China around 3500 years ago revealed temperate deciduous and mixed conifer-broadleaved forests as the dominant vegetation, with Quercus, Pinus, and Ulmus as major representative taxa. Humans at the site likely relied on Quercus nuts as staple foods, Ulmus leaves for dietary fiber, and Amygdalus/Armeniaca and Ziziphus for fruits. The wet climate around 3500 cal yr BP may have facilitated the development of rain-fed agriculture, large settlements, and the birth of civilization.
QUATERNARY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yongwei Zhou, Changhai Liu, Ning Ai, Xianghui Tuo, Zhiyong Zhang, Rui Gao, Jiafeng Qin, Caixia Yuan
Summary: This study aims to reveal the characteristics of the soil macrofauna community and their coupling relationships with the environment in the loess area of northern Shaanxi. The study found that different vegetation types have different effects on soil macrofauna communities, and the diversity of soil macrofauna communities is influenced by multiple environmental factors.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ines Terwayet Bayouli, Houssem Terwayet Bayouli, Aronne Dell'Oca, Erik Meers, Jian Sun
Summary: Industrial pollution, particularly from cement dust, has a significant impact on plant species and vegetation indicators. This study identified potential indicator species for phytoremediation applications and highlighted the importance of using vegetation indicators to assess cement pollution impacts. Surveys utilizing ecological indicators and bioaccumulation/translocation factors revealed the detrimental effects of pollution on perennial species richness, vegetation cover, and species diversity. Specific plant species like Lygeum spartum and Gymnocarpos decander emerged as indicators of heavy metals pollution in the industrial area.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Anthropology
Jaromir Benes, Michaela Ptakova, Lenka Kovacikova, Tereza Majerovicova, Alexandra Bernardova, Kristyna Budilova, Patricia Ayipey, Ivana Sitnerova, Jiri Bumerl, Veronika Komarkova, Jaromir Kovarnik, Adela Pokorna, Yulia Salova, Libor Vobejda, Tereza Salkova, Jarmila Skruzna, Jan Novak
Summary: The Laboratory of Archaeobotany and Palaeoecology (LAPE) at the Faculty of Science of the University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice (USB) has been established for twenty years. This department closely collaborates with the Institute of Archaeology of the USB, focusing on paleoecology, archaeobotany, and archaeozoology. The paper discusses the teaching of environmental archaeology and research projects in Europe and Africa, providing background information on past projects and current research directions.
INTERDISCIPLINARIA ARCHAEOLOGICA-NATURAL SCIENCES IN ARCHAEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nandera Juma Lolila, Deo D. Shirima, Ernest William Mauya
Summary: Understanding the relationship between forest tree composition structure and environmental and disturbance gradients is crucial for conservation and management decisions. This study quantified this relationship in a tropical sub-montane forest, finding that environmental factors explained a significant amount of variation in tree species and community composition, emphasizing the need for site-specific assessments. Additionally, human disturbance had a minor but still noticeable impact on composition, highlighting the importance of minimizing human activities to preserve forest species patterns.
Article
Plant Sciences
Joanna Swieta-Musznicka, Monika Badura, Anna Pedziszewska, Malgorzata Latalowa
Summary: This paper examines the ecological aspects of settlement development in the oldest districts of the city of Gdansk, focusing on the impacts of changing climate and growing human pressure on the local environment. It also explores the use of plants by inhabitants during the Middle Ages. The research shows that as the town expanded, there was a diversification of local flora, but also an increase in ruderal vegetation.
VEGETATION HISTORY AND ARCHAEOBOTANY
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Wenchao Shu, Jinnan Tong, Jianxin Yu, Jason Hilton, Michael J. Benton, Xiao Shi, Jose B. Diez, Paul B. Wignall, Daoliang Chu, Li Tian, Zhixing Yi, Yongdong Mao
Summary: The global pattern of plant evolution during the Permian-Triassic mass extinction is uncertain. Detailed studies in North China reveal five floral transition events, including the disappearance of the gigantopterid flora, the end-Permian mass extinction, and gradual recovery in the Triassic. The record shows the evolution of rainforest and forest communities, followed by herbaceous and shrub marsh communities, and finally the dominance of gymnosperm forest communities in the Middle Triassic.
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Inayat Ur Rahman, Robbie E. Hart, Farhana Ijaz, Aftab Afzal, Zafar Iqbal, Eduardo S. Calixto, Elsayed Fathi Abd-Allah, Abdulaziz A. Alqarawi, Abeer Hashem, Al-Bandari Fahad Al-Arjani, Rukhsana Kausar, Shiekh Marifatul Haq
Summary: The study identified four major plant communities in the moist temperate zone of Manoor valley in Northwestern Himalaya, Pakistan, with each community having specific environmental drivers. There is significant variation in plant species composition between communities, and differences in diversity indices and beta diversity processes were observed.
Article
Archaeology
Angelo Castrorao Barba, Claudia Speciale, Roberto Micciche, Filippo Pisciotta, Carla Aleo Nero, Pasquale Marino, Giuseppe Bazan
Summary: This paper aims to reconstruct human-environment interactions in the inland areas of Western Sicily during the Early Middle Ages through a comparative analysis of environmental archaeological data. The study focused on the examination of carpological and anthracological finds as well as faunal remains from Contrada Castro rural settlement. The analysis of these materials provided insights into the historical vegetation, agricultural practices, and animal exploitation patterns of the area. The integrated comparison of landscape and archaeological data revealed the dynamics of agricultural strategy, wood exploitation, and animal resource management in an early medieval rural community in Western Sicily.
ENVIRONMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael Kempf
Summary: The Carpathian Basin was a hub for human agricultural development during the Neolithic period, with an emphasis on hydromorphic soils rather than loess-covered areas in Early Neolithic times. There was a significant shift in site preferences during the Late Neolithic period, which correlated with socio-cultural developments and larger mobility patterns across Europe.
Article
Anthropology
Tereza Salkova, Ondrej Chvojka, Daniel Hlasek, Jaroslav Jirik, Jan John, Jan Novak, Lenka Kovacikova, Jaromir Benes
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2019)
Article
Plant Sciences
Michaela Ptakova, Petr Pokorny, Petr Sida, Jan Novak, Ivan Horatek, Lucie Jurickova, Petr Meduna, Ales Bezdek, Eva Myskova, Matthew Walls, Peter Poschlod
Summary: In a stratified sedimentary sequence in northern Bohemia, Czech Republic, biological remains, archaeological features, and artifacts were analyzed, indicating the site was used as a pen and shelter for livestock throughout the Holocene. The findings suggest that such practices have been ongoing since the Neolithic period but are most strongly evidenced in the Iron Age and early Middle Ages.
VEGETATION HISTORY AND ARCHAEOBOTANY
(2021)
Article
Archaeology
L. Kovacikova, S. Drtikolova Kaupova, L. Polacek, P. Veleminsky, P. Limbursky, J. Bruzek
Summary: The archaeozoological analysis reveals the importance of pigs in the subsistence economy of Early Medieval Mikulcice. The study indicates that pigs were a primary source of meat for the population, with extensive husbandry and small-scale household rearing being common practices. Factors such as the length of the fattening period and breeding purposes influence the stable isotopes values in pigs. Differences in collagen values between domestic pigs from different areas within the settlement suggest variations in husbandry management techniques.
ENVIRONMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Lenka Kovacikova, Olga Trojankova, Petr Starec, Petr Meduna, Petr Limbursky
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Geography, Physical
Michaela Ptakova, Petr Sida, Lenka Kovacikova
Summary: The Mesolithic settlements in the northern Bohemian sandstone region were mainly based on utilizing local resources through various forms of fireplaces for cooking, boiling, steaming or smoking procedures. The exploitation of plant and animal resources, such as hazelnuts and edible plants, as well as a diverse range of vertebrates and mollusks, indicate a broad-spectrum economy in the area.
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Katarina Adamekova, Lenka Lisa, Petr Neruda, Jan Petrik, Nela Dolakova, Jan Novak, Jiri Volanek
Summary: This study examines loess-palaeosol sequences in East-Central Europe during the last climatic cycle, focusing on MIS 5 period at the Palaeolithic site Moravsky Krumlov IV. Through multi-proxy analysis, it reveals Eemian luvisol, Early Weichselian chernozem, and other soil types, with evidence of forest, steppe, and tundra vegetation. The intensity of weathering is comparable to Czech records and differs from Hungarian sequences.
Article
Geography, Physical
Jan Novak, Romana Kocarova, Petr Kocar, Vojtech Abraham
Summary: The study focuses on evaluating a large archaeo-anthralogical dataset from Central Europe, analyzing differences in charcoal records among regions, assessing vegetation trends, and distinguishing three types of woodland history based on charcoal taxa composition trends.
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Petr Pokorny, Premysl Bobek, Petr Sida, Jan Novak, Michaela Ptakova, Matthew Walls
Summary: This study examines the forest ecosystem development in a rocky upland area of Central Europe and finds that it had a dynamic development throughout the Holocene, contrary to the assumption of no human disturbance. High-resolution pollen analysis and archaeological evidence indicate both natural and human-induced fire disturbances. The study suggests that applying this approach to other remote forested areas of Central Europe can transform our understanding of prehistoric subsistence and land use strategies, as well as impact nature conservation strategies in the region.
Article
Anthropology
Vaclav Vondrovsky, Lenka Kovacikova, Lubor Smejtek
Summary: This study uses Bayesian modelling of radiocarbon dates to demonstrate the contemporaneity of two rondels at Praha-Kie, Bohemia, contributing to the understanding of their role in symbolic competition between regional communities. The concept of translocality may be fruitful for investigating monumental architecture in other periods and regions.
Article
Anthropology
Tereza Majerovicova, Ladislav Smejda, Jan Novak, Idrissa Manka, Miguel Ballesteros, Jiri Bumerl, Alioune Deme, Jaromir Benes
Summary: The authors present a new interdisciplinary project that focuses on the interaction between people and the landscape in abandoned and populated villages following the establishment of Niokola-Koba National Park in southeastern Senegal. Using geoarchaeological, ethnoarchaeological, and ethnobotanical perspectives, they assess anthropogenic transformations and aim to document and conserve the heritage of both displaced and settled agricultural communities.
Article
Forestry
Jan Novak, Antonin Kusbach, Jan Sebesta, Paul C. Rogers
Summary: This article discusses the reconstruction of forest history in the Pando aspen stand, documenting the presence and abundance of charcoal species. Radiocarbon data shows an increase in fire events over the past 2,000 years, possibly related to human activities. The results of this study have important implications for forest management and the preservation of aspen communities.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tereza Salkova, Libor Vobejda, Ondrej Chvojka, Jaromir Benes, Vaclav Vondrovsky, Martin Kuna, Roman Krivanek, Petr Mensik, Jan Novak
Summary: The study focuses on the reconstruction of the settlement's structure and the environment from which resources were obtained. The analysis of plant macroremains, charcoals, and spatial modeling revealed significant deforestation and intensive land use near the Late Bronze Age site. Various crops were grown in dry or occasionally damp fields, and different types of grasslands and forest habitats were reconstructed. The relatively low population density during the Late Bronze Age limited the impact of human activities on the forested landscape.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Ladislav Varadzin, Lenka Varadzinova, Altayeb Abdallah, Boshra Abdallah Abdallah, Mustafa Abdalla Mohammed, Stanley H. Ambrose, Pavel Burgert, Martin Cerny, Giulia D'Ercole, Dorian Q. Fuller, Elena A. A. Garcea, Jan Hosek, Kristyna Hoskova, Mica B. Jones, Katarina Kapustka, Ikram Madani Ahmed, Jon-Paul Mccool, Hamad Mohamed Hamdeen, Jan Novak, Adela Pokorna, Petr Pokorny, Jaroslav Ridky, Jiri Unger
Summary: The authors present preliminary results from a new research project in Jebel Shaqadud, Sudan. The findings highlight the potential of this region's archaeological record to expand our understanding of human adaptation strategies in arid northeast Africa during the Holocene. Additionally, the authors present early radiocarbon dates pushing human occupation in the eastern Sahel back to the twelfth millennium BP.
Article
Ecology
Vojtech Abraham, Matej Man, Martin Theuerkauf, Petr Pokorny, Premysl Bobek, Jan Novak
Summary: This study aims to infer long-term autecological preferences of trees from reconstructed vegetation and compare the reconstructions based on pollen and charcoal data. The results show significant spatiotemporal patterns between soil-charcoal and pollen-based reconstructions, validating the use of both records in the model. The study successfully links past forest composition to realistic topography and provides a breakthrough in quantitative plant paleoecology.
Article
Archaeology
Lenka Kovacikova, Olga Trojankova, Petr Meduna, Petr Starec, Martin Burian, Jarmila Cihakova, Jan Frolik
ARCHEOLOGICKE ROZHLEDY
(2019)
