Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Cristina Fornacelli, Vanessa Volpi, Elisabetta Ponta, Luisa Russo, Arianna Briano, Alessandro Donati, Marco Giamello, Giovanna Bianchi
Summary: The study combined chemical and statistical analysis to investigate a large number of ceramic fragments, grouping the assemblage by identifying geochemical clusters. By studying 141 samples from different sites, new clues were provided, revealing a well-defined organization of pottery manufacturing and circulation in southern Tuscany during the early medieval period.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Veronika Brychova, Melanie Roffet-Salque, Ivan Pavlu, Jan Kyselka, Pavlina Kyjakova, Vladimir Filip, Svetlik Ivo, Richard P. Evershed
Summary: The Neolithic site of Bylany in Central Europe, known for its comprehensive understanding of household development and pottery assemblage, had little knowledge about household economies, dietary practices, and animal exploitation strategies. Through analysis of organic lipid residues preserved in porous walls of archaeological potsherds, it was found that the early phases of Bylany mainly processed ruminant carcass products and plant products, with a confirmed absence of dairy fat residues.
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Anthropology
Rivka Chasan, Cynthianne Spiteri, Danny Rosenberg
Summary: This paper presents a comprehensive study of culinary practices in the southern Levant from the Pottery Neolithic to the Late Chalcolithic period. The results suggest that there was a fairly uniform diet during this time, with a preference for meat from domestic ruminants and cultivated vegetal resources. Some variation was noted in the use of dairy products. Overall, the research shows that social and economic developments did not significantly influence what people ate and how they used vessels for food preparation and consumption.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jasmine Lundy, Lea Drieu, Antonino Meo, Viva Sacco, Lucia Arcifa, Elena Pezzini, Veronica Aniceti, Girolamo Fiorentino, Michelle Alexander, Paola Orecchioni, Alessandra Mollinari, Martin O. H. Carver, Oliver E. Craig
Summary: This paper presents the first organic residue analysis of ceramics from Sicily during the 9th-12th century, shedding new light on the culinary practices and resource use patterns in urban and rural contexts. The identification of various commodities and the complex mixing of resources across different sites provide insight into the diverse cuisine and socio-economic environments of medieval Sicily.
Article
Anthropology
Lisa Briggs, Jago Cooper, Oliver E. Craig, Carl Heron, Alexandre Lucquin, Maria Mercedes Martinez Milantchi, Alice Samson
Summary: Ceramic objects make up more than 90% of the archaeological finds in the Caribbean, but there has been limited research on the molecular evidence for food production from these vessels. This study analyzed 40 ceramic sherds from Isla de Mona using GC-MS and GC-C-IRMS to examine changes in foodways before and after European arrival. The results showed plant residues and both non-ruminant and ruminant fats in various pottery forms, suggesting a diverse diet. The presence of cassava residues indicates large-scale cultivation and exportation, while the detection of wine residues in a Spanish olive jar may be the earliest in the Americas.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Peter Toth, Jan Petrik, Penny Bickle, Katarina Adamekova, Solene Denis, Karel Slavicek, Libor Petr, Dalia Pokutta, Sven Isaksson
Summary: In the absence of wood, bone, and other organics, radiocarbon dating of pottery can be used to determine the age of a site. However, direct dating of organic inclusions in pottery raises methodological issues. To solve this problem, a novel method of separating organic content from grass-tempered pottery from Santovka (Slovakia) is presented. The obtained radiocarbon dates are coherent and suggest that the grass-tempered pottery from Santovka dates back to the first half of the 6th millennium cal BC, making it the earliest pottery north of the Danube.
Article
Ecology
Yahui He, Haitao Zhao, Li Liu, Hong Xu
Summary: The Bronze Age in China is characterized by the appearance of bronze ritual vessels, which were likely used in ritual feasting events and symbolized high social status. Microfossil analysis of ceramic vessels from the Erlitou site revealed evidence of the production and consumption of fermented beverages, highlighting the importance of such activities in the social differentiation of the time.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Helen L. Whelton, Simon Hammann, Lucy J. E. Cramp, Julie Dunne, Melanie Roffet-Salque, Richard P. Evershed
Summary: Organic residue analysis is a powerful method for extracting information from lipids and other biomolecules preserved in archaeological artifacts. However, there are significant risks associated with applying this technique, due to lack of experience and knowledge, which can lead to the production of data that may lack value or even perpetuate false knowledge.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Archaeology
Maura M. Bestetti, Veronica Martinez-Ferreras, Josep M. Gurt Esparraguera, Jose L. Jimenez-Salvador
Summary: This paper focuses on the archaeology and archaeometry of Early Medieval coarse wares from two locations in southern Uzbekistan. The study examines the morphological and technological features of different types of ceramic artifacts and aims to detect the changes introduced by nomadic tribes in the region. The investigation reveals that the analyzed vessels are local/regional products, but the procurement and processing of raw materials vary depending on provenance and function. The appearance of new shapes and decorations suggests the spread of nomadic traditions at a regional level.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN ASIA
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
J. Dunne, E. Biddulph, P. Manix, T. Gillard, H. Whelton, S. Teague, C. Champness, L. G. Broderick, R. Nicholson, P. Blinkhorn, E. Craig-Atkins, B. Jervis, R. Madgwick, T. Hodos, L. J. E. Cramp, R. P. Evershed
Summary: Food is often a distinct expression of social, religious, cultural, or ethnic groups, with the Jewish tradition of keeping kosher being identified as one of the most unique religious dietary practices in archaeology. Recent excavations in the Oxford Jewish quarter revealed a significant difference in dietary practices between the Jewish community in the eleventh and twelfth centuries and the previous Saxon phase, showcasing the presence of specific religious dietary practices using lipid residue analysis.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Anthropology
Julie Dunne, Alexa Hoehn, Katharina Neumann, Gabriele Franke, Peter Breunig, Louis Champion, Toby Gillard, Caitlin Walton-Doyle, Richard P. Evershed
Summary: This study uses archaeobotanical evidence from ancient sites and organic residue analysis to reveal the diversity and complexity of plant components in West African cuisine, suggesting an early origin for the plant component of modern-day West African cuisine around the middle of the second millennium BC.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bichen Yan, Siran Liu, Matthew L. Chastain, Shugang Yang, Jianli Chen
Summary: By using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy on ceramic bronze-casting moulds from the Bronze Age, researchers were able to estimate their firing temperatures. The study found that moulds and mould cores from the Early Shang period were fired at extremely low temperatures, providing critical insight into ancient Chinese metallurgical technology.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Anthropology
Marta Valls Llorens, Jaume Buxeda i Garrigos, Marisol Madrid i Fernandez
Summary: The archaeological knowledge of material culture in Cordoba during the late medieval and early modern periods is scarce, but recent studies have started to fill this gap by focusing on ceramic production. This article aims to study the chemical reference groups and production technology of ceramics from workshops in Cordoba during this period.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Karine Tache, Yitzchak Jaffe, Oliver E. Craig, Alexandre Lucquin, Jing Zhou, Hui Wang, Shengpeng Jiang, Edward Standall, Rowan K. Flad
Summary: This passage discusses the diet and cultural characteristics of the Qiang and Rong tribes in the Siwa archaeological culture, using various methods such as ceramic use-wear analysis, molecular and isotopic characterization of food residues, and experimental cooking. The findings suggest that the Siwa community at Zhanqi mainly consumed millet and ruminant dairy, were skilled in making ceramic utensils for cooking, and did not rely solely on meat for their diet, contradicting previous assumptions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lea Drieu, Paola Orecchioni, Claudio Capelli, Antonino Meo, Jasmine Lundy, Viva Sacco, Lucia Arcifa, Alessandra Molinari, Martin Carver, Oliver E. Craig
Summary: Through systematic analysis of grapevine products in archaeological ceramics, researchers have found that wine trade continued in Sicily during the Islamic period, with wine being supplied locally within Sicily and exported from Palermo to Christian-controlled ports. This direct evidence supports the view that Sicilian merchants continued to capitalize on profitable Mediterranean trade networks during the Islamic period, including the trade in products prohibited by Islamic hadiths, and that the relationship between wine and the rise of Islam was complex.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Marja E. Heikkinen, Minna Ruokonen, Thomas A. White, Michelle M. Alexander, Islam Gunduz, Keith M. Dobney, Jouni Aspi, Jeremy B. Searle, Tanja Pyhajarvi
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2020)
Article
Anthropology
Alice Toso, Simona Schifano, Charlotte Oxborough, Krista McGrath, Luke Spindler, Anabela Castro, Lucy Evangelista, Vanessa Filipe, Maria Joao Goncalves, Antonio Marques, Ines Mendes da Silva, Raquel Santos, Maria Joao Valente, Iona McCleery, Michelle Alexander
Summary: This study investigated the dietary impact of Islamic and Christian conquests in medieval Portugal through biomolecular analysis of animal and human skeletal remains. The results showed a transition from a terrestrial diet in preconquest Muslim populations to a diet with increased reliance on marine resources in postconquest Muslim and Christian populations, indicating a significant economic change in Portugal during that period.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jasmine Lundy, Lea Drieu, Antonino Meo, Viva Sacco, Lucia Arcifa, Elena Pezzini, Veronica Aniceti, Girolamo Fiorentino, Michelle Alexander, Paola Orecchioni, Alessandra Mollinari, Martin O. H. Carver, Oliver E. Craig
Summary: This paper presents the first organic residue analysis of ceramics from Sicily during the 9th-12th century, shedding new light on the culinary practices and resource use patterns in urban and rural contexts. The identification of various commodities and the complex mixing of resources across different sites provide insight into the diverse cuisine and socio-economic environments of medieval Sicily.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marina Silva, Gonzalo Oteo-Garcia, Rui Martiniano, Joao Guimaraes, Matthew von Tersch, Ali Madour, Tarek Shoeib, Alessandro Fichera, Pierre Justeau, M. George B. Foody, Krista McGrath, Amparo Barrachina, Vicente Palomar, Katharina Dulias, Bobby Yau, Francesca Gandini, Douglas J. Clarke, Alexandra Rosa, Antonio Brehm, Antonia Flaquer, Teresa Rito, Anna Olivieri, Alessandro Achilli, Antonio Torroni, Alberto Gomez-Carballa, Antonio Salas, Jaroslaw Bryk, Peter W. Ditchfield, Michelle Alexander, Maria Pala, Pedro A. Soares, Ceiridwen J. Edwards, Martin B. Richards
Summary: The study presents a low-coverage genome of an eleventh century man from an Islamic necropolis in Spain, showing a mosaic of North African and European-like ancestries distinct from modern populations. It highlights the admixture between recently arrived Amazigh people and the pre-Islamic population, as well as differences with contemporary individuals from Valencia. His genome captures past genetic variation erased by demographic shifts, likely due to the expulsion of Islamic communities in the seventeenth century following the Reconquista.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Silvia Soncin, Helen M. Talbot, Ricardo Fernandes, Alison Harris, Matthew von Tersch, Harry K. Robson, Jan K. Bakker, Kristine K. Richter, Michelle Alexander, Steven Ellis, Gill Thompson, Valeria Amoretti, Massimo Osanna, Marina Caso, Francesco Sirano, Luciano Fattore, Andre C. Colonese, Peter Garnsey, Luca Bondioli, Oliver E. Craig
Summary: By analyzing the stable isotope values of amino acids from bone collagen of 17 adults from Herculaneum in 79 CE, researchers were able to reconstruct their diets with unprecedented resolution. Significant differences in dietary proportions between males and females suggest differentiated access to food based on gender. The study's results not only allow for comparison between ancient and modern diets, but also open up new possibilities for understanding the health implications of ancient diets.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sean P. Doherty, Matthew J. Collins, Alison J. T. Harris, Ainara Sistiaga, Jason Newton, Michelle M. Alexander
Summary: We present a modern baseline for interpreting archaeological isotopic data by analyzing the isotopic discrimination between paired skin and bone collagen from animals of known life history. Our findings suggest that there is a consistent difference in the isotopic composition of skin collagen and bone collagen, which may reflect variations in the routing of dietary protein and lipids between these tissues.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Archaeology
Patxi Perez-Ramallo, Jos Prime E. Ignacio Lorenzo-Lizalde, Alexandra Staniewska, Belen Lopez, Michelle Alexander, Sara Marzo, Mary Lucas, Jana Ilgner, David Chivall, Aurora Grandal-dAnglade, Patrick Roberts
Summary: The Iberian Peninsula was a key player in the religious, economic, and political changes of the Medieval Period, with particular focus on the emergence of Christian Kingdoms in northern regions. Through radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analysis, differences in access to animal protein and marine/freshwater resources between different social groups were identified on a regional scale, shedding light on the development of social inequality in Medieval society.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Blessing Chidimuro, Amy Mundorff, Camilla Speller, Anita Radini, Noemie Boudreault, Mary Lucas, Malin Holst, Angela Lamb, Matthew Collins, Michelle Alexander
Summary: Dental calculus carbonate can be used as an indicator of sugar consumption and an alternative to bone carbonate in isotopic palaeodiet studies.
RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Laura C. Vinas-Caron, Isidro Aguilera, Tina Jakob, Joe W. Walser, Luke Spindler, Maria Fontanals-Coll, Michelle Alexander
Summary: This study investigates human diet and animal management strategies in Late Chalcolithic and Bronze Age sites in the Northern Iberia region. The analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes and zooarchaeology reveals that all humans had a uniform diet of terrestrial plant and animal resources, while animals had a highly variable diet, suggesting diverse feeding and management strategies. Comparison with other sites of similar chronology also reveals regional environmental differentiation.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Rene Kysely, Petr Meduna, David Orton, Michelle Alexander, Jan Frolik, Tomas Prikryl
Summary: Archaeoichthyological research is not well developed in Czech archaeology, but fishing, fish consumption, and fish trade have played important roles in the Czech lands. This paper presents a case study of archaeological bone finds in Prague, analyzes historical records of the marine fish trade, and provides a basic review of archaeozoological knowledge. The use of stable isotope analysis to determine the provenance of cod found at Prague Castle is a significant contribution in Czech archaeology.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katrien Dierickx, Samantha Presslee, Richard Hagan, Tarek Oueslati, Jennifer Harland, Jessica Hendy, David Orton, Michelle Alexander, Virginia L. Harvey
Summary: Due to the lack of diagnostic features on bones, it is challenging to identify the species of Pleuronectiformes (flatfish) in archaeological research. This study successfully described eight peptide biomarkers for 18 different Pleuronectiformes species using mass spectrometry techniques. By analyzing bone samples from archaeological sites in the UK and France, it was revealed that there was a change in targeted flatfish species over time, and the mass spectrometry approach was found to be more reliable and informative than osteological methods alone.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Archaeology
Tom Fitton, Federica Sulas, Mik Lisowski, Michelle Alexander, Abdurahman Juma, Stephanie Wynne-Jones
Summary: Spatial analysis is crucial for understanding, monitoring, and conserving ancient settlements and cultural landscapes. However, remote sensing techniques face challenges in tropical environments, limiting their effectiveness in spatial analysis.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROSPECTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sean P. Doherty, Michelle M. Alexander, Stuart Henderson, Jason Newton, Jonathan Finch, Matthew J. Collins
Summary: The character and timing of an 'Agricultural Revolution' in British agriculture between the sixteenth and nineteenth century remains a subject of debate. To address this, researchers conducted stable isotope analysis on 658 legal documents written on sheepskin parchment, providing a high temporal resolution analysis of changing agricultural practices and episodes of disease. The results suggest that if an 'Agricultural Revolution' occurred, it took place from the mid-nineteenth century, after the Napoleonic Wars.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Carlo Cocozza, Ricardo Fernandes, Alice Ughi, Marcus Gross, Michelle M. Alexander
Summary: The study using Bayesian modelling of isotopic measurements on human dentine increments in Roman-British Bainesse revealed common patterns in infant feeding practices, indicating a social status rise with higher animal protein consumption. However, significant intra-individual differences were also observed, with weaning cessation varying between 2 and 5 years, suggesting family decisions and other factors influencing infant feeding practices in Bainesse.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OSTEOARCHAEOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Archaeology
Sean Doherty, Michelle M. Alexander, Jiri Vnoucek, Jason Newton, Matthew J. Collins
Summary: This study examines the impact of structural and chemical modifications during parchment production on the delta C-13 and delta N-15 values in skin, providing insights for isotopic analysis of parchment in paleodietary and paleoenvironmental studies for the historic period. Additionally, it establishes the acceptable C:N ratios in deamidated collagenous tissues.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Anthropology
Julia Becher, Alex Schoeman, Gavin Whitelaw, Stephen Buckley, Jean-Pierre Celliers, Sara Cafisso, Matthias Belser, Maxime Rageot, Cynthianne Spiteri
Summary: This study represents the first application of Organic Residue Analysis (ORA) to southern African early farming pottery to gain a deeper understanding of past human behavior and subsistence patterns. The study found evidence of dairy processing and multi-purpose functionality of the ceramics. It also discovered potential medicinal use and the involvement of dung in pottery sealing and mending.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Anthropology
Jon Clindaniel, Matthew Magnani
Summary: Large sources of digital trace data have become important in the study of material culture. The authors introduce a computational method to observe digital formation processes and highlight the importance of accounting for these processes in studies utilizing digital trace data.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Anthropology
Rebecca A. G. Reid, Miranda M. E. Jans, Lesley A. Chesson, Rebecca J. Taylor, Gregory E. Berg
Summary: Chemical treatment of skeletal remains can reduce overall DNA quality and quantity but has no significant impact on stable isotope ratio analysis. Examination of treated and untreated human remains through histological and stable isotope analysis reveals that treated remains exhibit better preservation compared to untreated remains. Stable isotope ratio analysis is viable for both treated and untreated remains, regardless of their origin.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Anthropology
Laura Tome, Eneko Iriartec, Antonio Blanco-Gonzalez, Margarita Jambrina-Enriquez, Natalia Eguez, Antonio V. Herrera-Herrera, Carolina Mallola
Summary: This paper presents the outcomes of a microcontextual geoarchaeological study conducted on earthen dwellings from the Early Iron Age village of Cerro de San Vicente. The study employed soil micromorphology, lipid biomarker analysis, XRD, and XRF analyses to investigate various aspects of the dwellings, including construction materials, site formation processes, and daily life practices. The results have shed light on the construction layers, floor use, maintenance, repaving, periods of abandonment and decay, and the presence of lipid biomarkers associated with dwelling functionality. The study significantly contributes to our understanding of ancient construction practices and the utilization of domestic spaces during the Early Iron Age.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2024)