Format: Paper presentations with discussion
Convenors:
Mónica Alonso-Eguiluz,
Archaeology Environmental Changes and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium, Monica.Alonso.Eguiluz@vub.be
Enrique Fernández-Palacios,
Archaeological Micromorphology and Biomarkers Laboratory (AMBI Lab), Instituto de Bio-Orgánica Antonio González, Universidad de La Laguna, Spain
Aroa García-Suárez,
Spanish National Research Council, Milá y Fontanals Institute for Humanities Research, Barcelona, Spain
Luc Vrydaghs,
Archaeology Environmental Changes and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium, luc_vrydaghs@yahoo.co.uk
During the last decades of the 20th century, the study of the past has improved thanks to the emergence of archaeological sciences. Microarchaeology, which brings together disciplines such as bioarchaeology, geoarchaeology, zooarchaeology or archaeobotany, focuses on the study of the archaeological record at the microscopic level. Besides providing valuable information on the archaeological remains, it has shown to be particularly rewarding for understanding archaeological context and taphonomical processes. By applying and combining high-resolution microarchaeological techniques (e.g. micromorphology, phytoliths, mineralogical analyses, lipid analyses, chemical analyses, etc.) we are able to reconstruct past activities and better understand human interactions with their environment.
Its application to the study of pastoralism has led to a new understanding of the management and exploitation of animals, but also of the plant resources used (Alonso-Eguiluz et al. 2024). The aim of this session is to bring together researchers working on:
- The application of microarchaeological high-resolution techniques to the study of agropastoral humans’ activities regardless of time period and geographical region.
- The use of microarchaeology to assess the importance of postdepositional processes affecting the archaeological record of these contexts.
References
Alonso-Eguiluz, M., R.M. Albert and J.M. Vergès 2024 Shepherds and animal husbandry, origins, and development: New theoretical and methodological approaches. Special Issue. Quaternary International 683–684.
Papers:
Isotopic Insights into Iron Age Caprine Management at the Indian Ocean Trading Port of Unguja Ukuu, Zanzibar
Victor Iminjili, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany
Alison Crowther, School of Social Science, The University of Queensland, Australia
Patrick Roberts, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany
Nicole Boivin, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology, Jena, Germany; Griffith University, Australia
Isotope approaches have provided powerful insights into past animal management and mobility. These methodologies have significant potential in eastern Africa, where the interaction between herding strategies, environmental conditions, and other lifeways are known to be complex. However, they have thus far been little applied. Here, we present the results of a multi-isotope study of Iron Age caprines and associated wild fauna from Unguja Ukuu, Zanzibar Island. Goats (Capra hircus) and sheep (Ovis aries), distinguished using Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry, show a high variation in collagen values, with carbon (13C) dominated by values greater than -11‰ (n = 18, -14.3 to -7.3‰; mean -10 ‰) and nitrogen (15N) greater than 10 ‰ (5.8 to 16 ‰; mean 11.1 ‰). These carbon and nitrogen values indicate varying inputs of 15N-enriched C4 crops or, more likely, marine resources in caprine diets relative to those of wild fauna. Furthermore, values seem to become more variable for goats through time. Strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) values suggest that caprines may have been sourced from mainland Africa. Comparison of our isotope data with that available for caprines elsewhere on mainland and interior eastern Africa reveals important insights into herding strategies and resource use across space and time.
The Magnetic Microarchaeological Approach: Integrating Magnetics and Micromorphology to Disentangle Anthropogenic and Environmental Proxies in the Archaeological Record
Ada Dinçkal, Archaeological Micromorphology and Biomarkers (AMBI Lab), Universidad de La Laguna, Spain
Angela Herrejon Lagunilla, Laboratorio de Paleomagnetismo, Universidad de Burgos, Spain
Joshua Feinberg, Laboratorio de Paleomagnetismo, Universidad de Burgos, Spain
Angel Carrancho, Laboratorio de Paleomagnetismo, Universidad de Burgos, Spain
Carolina Mallol, Archaeological Micromorphology and Biomarkers (AMBI Lab), Universidad de La Laguna, Spain
Magnetics has proven to be a highly versatile tool for analysing anthropogenic sediments, yet its integration with geoarchaeological and microarchaeological methods has remained limited. While the past few decades have seen an increase in the use of magnetics within archaeological interpretation, this integration typically occurs at the interpretive stage rather than as part of a fully developed and integrated microarchaeological methodology.
Here, we present results and a theoretical framework for a deeper integration of magnetics with microarchaeology, introducing what we term the Magnetic Microarchaeological Approach, with a discussion on how this method can be applied to the agro-pastoralist context. This approach utilises a combination of magnetic and micromorphological techniques to analyses microstructural sedimentary features alongside their magnetic properties.
Through the integration of magnetics more holistically with microarchaeological techniques, we enhance our ability to reconstruct past human behaviours, site formation processes, and environmental changes with greater resolution and contextual depth. This methodology provides a more nuanced understanding of archaeological deposits, offering new insights into the complex interaction of anthropogenic and environmental factors that contribute to their formation, alteration, and preservation.
Fire Use and Management at 2000 Metres Above Sea Level: Micromorphological Results from the Aboriginal Canary Island Site of Chasogo, Tenerife
Pedro García-Villa, Instituto Universitario de Bio-orgánica Antonio González, Universidad de La Laguna, Islas Canarias, España
Efraín Marrero Salas, Prored Soc. Coop., San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, España
Matilde Arnay de la Rosa, Universidad de La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Tenerife, España
Carolina Mallol, Instituto Universitario de Bio-orgánica Antonio González, Universidad de La Laguna, Islas Canarias, España
The archaeological site of Chasogo, in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain, is an aboriginal open-air site located at 2000 m.a.s.l. It dates to the end of the Aboriginal period and the initial European conquest of the archipelago (14th-16th centuries AD). It consists of a circular stone structure with three combustion structures. Initially thought to be a pen for sheep/goats, our data suggests it was used for shepherds’ domestic activities. A micromorphological study of three undisturbed sediment samples from the central combustion structure and its adjacent archaeological sediment was conducted. The results show that the central hearth preserves a rich anthropogenic deposit made up of charcoal, burnt and unburnt bone fragments, goat teeth, and shell and pottery fragments in a volcanogenic sedimentary matrix. No fecal spherulites/coprolites were observed. The deposit shows signs of bioturbation, trampling, and cryoturbation, as well as vertical and horizontal displacement and recrystallisation of calcitic wood ash. Despite these post-depositional effects, three differentiated combustion episodes were distinguished. Our study presents the first microscopic results on the domestic activities carried out inside high-altitude aboriginal huts, serving as a reference for the expression of human trampling on loose volcanogenic sediment and the impact of high-altitude bioturbation and cryoturbation over several centuries.
Understanding Late Medieval Stabling Practices: An Interdisciplinary Study on Byre Remains from the Historical Centre of Brussels (Belgium)
Luc Vrydaghs, Archaeology Environmental Changes and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium
Cristiano Nicosia, University of Padua, Italy
Jan M. A. van der Valk, independent researcher, Belgium
Lien Speleers, Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences, Belgium
Elena Marinova, Baden-Württemberg State Office for Cultural Heritage, Germany
Mona Court-Picon, Royal Belgian Institute for Natural Sciences, Belgium
Terry B. Ball, Brigham Young University, USA
Christine Pümpin, IPNA, University of Basel, Switzerland
Hugues Doutrelepont, Roots asbl, Belgium
Britt Claes, Royal Museums for Art and History, Belgium
Yannick Devos, Luc Vrydaghs, Archaeology Environmental Changes and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium
During a preventive archaeological excavation in the historical centre of Brussels (Belgium), the waterlogged remains of a 13th century AD sunken byre (potstal) were discovered. The exceptional preservation instigated a multiproxy approach, including micro-archaeology, micromorphology, phytolith and parasite analysis on thin sections, palynology and the study of plant macroremains on the fill of the structure. Beyond detailing the content and multiple origins of the fill (including excremental waste and urines, fodder and bedding material, plaggen and/or soil sods, household and construction waste), this study also provides detailed insights into foddering customs, hygienic conditions within the stable, and the health status of the animals kept. Moreover, historians claim the importance of an agro-pastoral system where animals were kept in stables over winter as part of the explanation for cultivating new and less rich soils in high medieval times. The intensive study of high medieval cultivated fields in the historical centre of Brussels indeed shows that they have intensively been amended. So aside from documenting husbandry practices, this study also informs about late medieval farming practices in Brussels, more specifically the need to collect substantial amounts of manure to add as fertiliser onto cultivated poor sandy soils.
Zoom In. Phytoliths in Bulk Samples and Soil Thin Sections, Revealing Plant Management in the Fumier Deposit of Los Husos II, Spain
Mónica Alonso-Eguiluz, Archaeology Environmental Changes and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium
Ana Polo Díaz, GIZAPRE (IT-1435-22). Universidad del País Vasco; Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Yannick Devos and Luc Vrydaghs, Archaeology Environmental Changes and Geo-Chemistry (AMGC), Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium
Rosa María Albert, Dept of Prehistory, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) Bellaterra, Spain; ICREA (Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies) Barcelona, Spain
Javier Fernández Eraso, GIZAPRE (IT-1435-22). Universidad del País Vasco; Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Combining phytoliths in soil thin sections (STS) and bulk samples (BS) has revealed as an essential tool to better understand the phytolith assemblage. Since phytoliths in BS are observed without their microcontext, important information is lacking. However, when they are analysed in STS it is possible to reconstruct the depositional and post-depositional processes affecting the phytoliths.
In the Neolithic livestock (fumier) of Los Husos II (LHII), Spain, phytolith analyses were performed on BS (Alonso-Eguiluz et al., 2024), yielding important botanical information. However, there are aspects of their (post)depositional history that remain unclear. The aim of this paper is to integrate the information obtained from the phytoliths in BS and STS to better understand practices related to the use of plant material in LHII during the Neolithic, in particular to identify differences between the plants used as bedding from those eaten by the animals. To reach this goal, we compared the phytoliths in BS and STS from each of the representative layers making up the deposits.
Reference
Alonso-Eguiluz, M., R.M. Albert, J.M. Vergès and J. Fernández-Eraso 2024 New insights into shepherds’ activities: Multi-proxy approach applied to fumier deposits from the north of Iberian Peninsula. Quaternary International 683–684:145–161.