Search

Through a case study of the coastal Mesolithic site of Port Neuf (Hoedic), this article aims to introduce archaeologists to the use of geomagnetic prospection methods in the context of irregular vegetation cover and topography inherent to this type of coastal site. The constraints and limitations of the method are discussed, e.g. the negative influence of pollution by a large metal mass on the information obtained. The data processing carried out to attenuate the disturbance induced by this magnetic pollution does not allow relevant information to be extracted over the entire polluted area. It is also shown that in the context of the presence of dune cover, such as that covering the archaeological levels, it is necessary to study the variation in magnetic field intensity rather than its vertical gradient by gradiometry. The use of other complementary geophysical methods provides information to refine the proposed interpretations, particularly concerning the presence of hearths. For example, electromagnetic methods, such as the use of conductivity meters, provide information on the spatial variation of the substrate's capacity to conduct electricity or a magnetic field at the site scale, or the use of contact sensors, which at the scale of the excavation help to determine areas of potential hearths by detecting zones of magnetic enhancement. The need for archaeologists and geophysicists to work together and for excavators to adopt these tools is discussed.

This is an abstract from the session entitled "In Small Islands Forgotten: Insular Historical Archaeologies of a Globalizing World", at the 2023 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. Interdisciplinary approaches from maritime, coastal, island, nautical and underwater archaeology have been developed in recent years in Colombia, particularly on the island of Tierrabomba in Cartagena de Indias, the islands of Providencia and Santa Catalina and La Guajira Peninsula (Caribbean Sea). The results of these integral investigations aim to understand these seascapes and sandscapes as nautical spaces for mobility, control and territorial defense of the region. The documentary and material evidences have allowed to characterize the relationship of socio-cultural development, between the 18th and 19th centuries, with its aquatic spaces. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to present a comparative analysis of the control and maritime defense of insular and coastal nautical spaces in these three study areas of the Colombian Caribbean Sea through the archaeological contexts.

Mining operations in Africa have played a considerable role in the reconstruction of human evolution. These contributions would not have been possible without co-operation between the mining industry, archaeology and palaeontology. However, closer scrutiny of their initially fortuitous relationship reveals limitations and fundamental differences in approach. A compelling case study is that of palaeontologist and archaeologist Gudrun Corvinus, employed by Consolidated Diamond Mines in the Sperrgebiet region of Namibia between 1976 and 1980. Corvinus wrote numerous internal mine reports and scientific publications, but also left behind an exhaustive body of private records along with palaeontological and archaeological museum collections. By contrasting this legacy, this paper presents a rich narrative of her attempt to reconcile the fulfilment of her contract requirements with her scientific principles. It sketches a progressively conflict-laden relationship between her and the profit-centred management of a multi-national company. The scientific legacy of Gudrun Corvinus and the historiographical facts and ramifications of this loss of co-operation are discussed in terms of cultural heritage, scientific knowledge and dissemination. Assessing her fight in the naturally and culturally rich environment of the Sperrgebiet, the paper concludes by considering the threat that mining poses to Pleistocene heritage sites in Namibia. ED227 info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Masteroppgave i geografi GEO350 MASV-MEHA MASV-GEOG MASV-PHYG MPGEOGR

Understanding the processes that govern the transformation of the landscape through time is essential for exploring the evolution of a coastal area. Coastal landscapes are dynamic sites, with their evolution strongly linked with waves and sea-level variations. Geomorphological features in the coastal area, such as beachrock formations and dune fields, can function as indicators of the coastal landscape evolution through time. However, our knowledge of the chronological framework of coastal deposits on the Aegean coasts is limited. Optically stimulated luminescence dating techniques are deemed to be very promising indirect dating of the coastal sediments, especially when they are linked with archaeological evidence. The dating of the sediments from different sediment core depths, as they are determined by the method of luminosity, allows us to calculate the rate of sediment deposition over time. Additionally, the coastal evolution and stability were studied from 1945 until today, with the use of aerial photographs and satellite images. This paper presents the 6000 ka years evolution of a coastal landscape based on geomorphological, archaeological, and radio-chronological data. Based on the results, the early stages of the Ammoudara beach dune field appear to be formed ~9.0 – 9.6 ka BP, while the OSL ages from 6 m depth represented the timing of its stabilization (OSL ages ~5–6 ka). This indicates that the dune field appears to already have been formed long before the Bronze Age (5-10 ka BP) and became stabilized with only localized episodes of dune reactivation occurring, while high coastal erosion rates are found in modern times.

International audience; In the southeastern part of Arabian Gulf, evidence of Neolithic human occupation was reported after the 1990’ first surveys carried out in the early 1990s (Uerpmann and Uerpmann, 1996). A substantial investment in a multi-year program of excavation was required, as it represents he only realistic means of documenting a detailed stratigraphic and cultural sequence and to establish a first typology of sites, from simple way stations to encampments and possibly more sedentary sites. For such a demanding task to be accomplished, extensive planimetric excavations were necessary instead of small trenches, combined with the study and accurate drawing of relevant sections. This strategy was applied by different teams of the French Archaeological Mission in the UAE (FAM-UAE) at Akab, UAQ36, and more extensively at UAQ2, today the major Neolithic site known in the Umm al-Quwain Emirate (18 surveyed sections document 146 linear meters of stratigraphic sequences overall). Small-scale excavations were also carried out at UAQ17 (a Neolithic site), and UAQ52 (a site occupied from Neolithic to the Iron Age). The two latter sites are unpublished yet, but can be mapped together with the other sites surveyed by the FAM-UAE in order to gain a perception of the diffuse Neolithic human occupationin the area. In late 2018, a new stratified site was excavated following the same methodology at UAQ38, a shell midden located c. 2 Km from UAQ2, with the aim of collecting further data to compare and contrast with the results obtained from the UAQ2 (2011-2014, 2017) and UAQ36 (2017-2018) excavations. Over the last almost thirty years, archaeological investigations have shown that the Neolithic occupation in the coastal area of the Umm al-Quwain Emirate can be dated back to the middle of the 6th millennium. The mentioned projects carried out at Akab in the 2000s, and more recently at UAQ2 and UAQ36 also started to shed some light on the nature of the 5th millennium human presence in the same area. While radiometric analyses of charcoal and shell samples are awaited, which will help to more solidly ground the absolute chronology of the site, the preliminary results of UAQ38’s excavation will be presented here, as they add significant data for the discussion of Neolithic human occupation in the region.

The Sauce cove, located on the north coast of the Río de La Plata river has been the aim of study of an archaeological research project applied to tourism and territorial development in Juan Lacaze, Colonia. Based on the fact that archaeology is a social activity that takes place in multiple contexts -historical, political, economic and institutional- different strategies, from research to protection, from popularization to economic development, have been carried out in order to position the role of archaeology from a perspective not only in function of the past but also in function of the present. This paper presents the project´s different lines of work together with their partial results, as well as reflects on the potential of archaeology and heritage approaches to face critical socio-economic contexts. La ensenada del Sauce, tramo medio del Río de La Plata en su costa norte, viene siendo objeto de un proyecto de investigación arqueológica aplicada al desarrollo turístico y territorial. Partiendo de la base de que la arqueología es una actividad social que tiene lugar en múltiples contextos, tanto históricos, como políticos, económicos e institucionales, el proyecto busca a través de diferentes estrategias –investigación, protección, divulgación, desarrollo económico–, posicionar el rol de la arqueología desde una perspectiva no únicamente en función del pasado sino también en función del presente. Se presentan aquí las distintas líneas de trabajo y sus resultados parciales, y se reflexiona en torno al potencial de la arqueología y los enfoques patrimoniales para afrontar contextos socio-económicos críticos. A Ensenada del Sauce, zona média do Rio da Prata, em sua costa norte, foi objeto de um projeto de pesquisa arqueológica aplicada ao desenvolvimento turístico e territorial. Com base no fato de que a arqueologia é uma atividade social que ocorre em múltiplos contextos, históricos, políticos, econômicos e institucionais, o projeto busca, por meio de diferentes estratégias - pesquisa, proteção, disseminação, desenvolvimento econômico - posicionar o papel da arqueologia de uma perspectiva não apenas em função do passado, mas também em função do presente. As diferentes linhas de trabalho e seus resultados parciais são apresentados aqui, bem como a reflexão sobre o potencial das abordagens arqueológicas e patrimoniais para enfrentar contextos socioeconômicos críticos.

International audience; Maritime adaptation is a key component of the Neolithization process in Eastern Arabia. It is expressed by the development of diversified fishing techniques, the exploitation of hard marine animal materials (e.g., seashells, shark teeth, stingray's barbs, etc.) for both tools and personal adornments production, advanced seafaring, and colonization of offshore islands. Although a diet based mainly on the consumption of marine fish and molluscs, the importance of other seafood have been greatly underestimated in previous zooarchaeological studies. Large quantities of marine crabs (NISP = 10,619) and sea urchins (NISP = 2454) have been retrieved from newly excavated Neolithic sites in the United Arab Emirates. These data highlight local developments of interest for specific seafood and their intensive exploitation over several centuries of human occupation. This study focuses on methods for identifying the main edible marine crab and sea urchin species retrieved from archaeological sites in Eastern Arabia. Results from the Neolithic sites of Delma island and the Umm al-Quwain lagoon are discussed.

This paper describes the results of the surveys carried out along Ras Muari (Cape Monze, Karachi, Sindh) by the Italian Archaeological Mission in Lower Sindh and Las Bela in 2013 and 2014. The surveyed area coincides with part of the mythical land of the Ichthyophagoi, mentioned by the classical chroniclers. Many archaeological sites, mainly scatters and spots of fragmented marine and mangrove shells, were discovered and AMS dated along the northern part of the cape facing the Hab River mouth. The surveys have shown that fisher and shell gatherer communities temporarily settled in different parts of the headland. They began to exploit the sea resources during the Neolithic. However, the most important discovery consists of a unique fishers’ settlement with rectangular stone-walled structures located on a limestone terrace near Sonari (SNR-1), the first ever found along the northern coast of the Arabian Sea. The AMS dates show that it was settled mainly during the first half of the third millennium cal bc when the Indus Civilisation flourished in the area. Considering the importance of the discovery, all the material culture remains from the Sonari sites have been described and analysed in detail and, whenever possible, framed into the different phases of environmental changes and human adaptation to the coastal environment that have been interpreted thanks to a good series of AMS dates from marine and mangrove shells.

From the coast to the islands, this thesis deals with the fortified sites attributed to the 1st millennium B.C.E. and recognized along the Channel-Atlantic coast of Europe. In this dynamic study area where people are connected to the sea, these fortified locations can question the socio-economic and strategic issues being attached to them, as well as the means deployed for their defense. In order to achieve this, the study is made up of 89 archaeological sites spread over the 11 selected departments (Seine-Maritime, Eure, Calvados, Manche, Ille-et-Vilaine, Côtes-d'Armor, Finistère, Morbihan, Loire- Atlantic, Vendée and Charente-Maritime).; Depuis le littoral jusqu’aux îles, cette thèse traite des sites fortifiés attribués au Ier millénaire av. n. è. et reconnus le long de la façade Manche-Atlantique de l’Europe. Dans cette zone d’étude dynamique où la mer relie les Hommes, ces emplacements dotés de fortifications permettent de questionner les enjeux socio-économiques et stratégiques leur étant rattachés, ainsi que les moyens déployés pour leur mise en défense. Pour ce faire, le corpus d’étude se compose de 89 sites archéologiques répartis dans les 11 départements retenus (Seine-Maritime, Eure, Calvados, Manche, Ille-et-Vilaine, Côtes-d’Armor, Finistère, Morbihan, Loire-Atlantique, Vendée et Charente-Maritime).

International audience; The Osprey Pandion haliaetus is one of the most widely distributed raptor species in the world, present on all continents except Antarctica. Since its diet is mainly based on fish, this raptor is typically encountered close both to marine and fresh waters. Ospreys are well represented in the Arabian Peninsula where remote islands are the location for some of their key breeding sites. On Marawah Island (Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates), ospreys have been reported to build nests on top of abandoned man-made structures, including archaeological sites. The discovery of fish remains associated with numerous bird bones and eggshell fragments in archaeological deposits raises the question of the potential contamination of ancient faunal accumulations by birds of prey. To date, the possible impact of ospreys on zooarchaeological assemblages has been little considered and the taphonomic signature of this fish-eating raptor has never been described. However, ospreys are effective competitors to traditional and small-scale fisheries and should be considered as potential accumulators of fish remains on archaeological sites located close to water bodies. Indeed, zooarchaeological analyses demonstrate that fish had always played a major role in the daily subsistence of the ancient inhabitants of Marawah Island since the first traces of occupation dating back some 8000 years. The present study will enable researchers working in the region as well as in other geographical area to determine if ospreys are accumulation agents for fish remains on archaeological sites. The present diet assessment of ospreys allows us to specify the taphonomic signature of this raptor: targeted species are mainly medium to large-sized fish swimming just beneath the surface (e.g. needlefish and queenfish) and slow benthic fish occurring in shallow waters such as tripodfish, emperors, and groupers. Bone accumulations are almost entirely composed of skull elements, indicating specific discarding behaviours. Certain traces left on jaw bones, in particular maxillae, can also help to differentiate osprey accumulations from archaeological ones.

Resumo Os sambaquis do litoral do Espírito Santo foram pouco estudados pelas pesquisas arqueológicas realizadas no estado. Apesar de serem conhecidos desde finais do século XIX, foram recorrentemente considerados uma extensão marginal dos desenvolvimentos culturais que aconteciam no Rio de Janeiro. À escassez de informações sobre as características dos sítios, soma-se a ausência de datações 14C bem referenciadas, as quais impedem o entendimento da profundidade temporal e da evolução da ocupação humana pré-colonial no litoral do estado. Este artigo apresenta as metas e os resultados da retomada das pesquisas arqueológicas nos sambaquis do litoral norte do Espírito Santo, em Linhares. Até o momento, foram escavados dois sambaquis cuja idade recua em quase 2000 anos o registro de presença humana na costa do estado. As novas pesquisas seguem um método padronizado para escavação dos sítios, especialmente desenhado para a primeira caracterização dos sambaquis, o qual envolve a construção de um banco de dados digital e a incorporação de sistemas informatizados para gerenciamento das escavações. As pesquisas revelaram evidências da ocupação humana na região anterior ao máximo transgressivo holocênico (sítio Suruaca 20, datado em c. 6800 cal. AP), momento em que manguezais, restingas e florestas de tabuleiros constituíam o ambiente costeiro. Abstract The shell mounds (sambaquis) on the coast of Espírito Santo have received little attention in archaeological research. Despite being known to scholars since the end of the nineteenth century, shell mounds were recurrently considered marginal to the cultural developments in the neighboring state of Rio de Janeiro. Scarce information on the contents of the sites and the lack of well-referenced 14C dating prevented a complete understanding of the time-depth and evolution of pre-colonial settlement on this fragment of the Brazilian coast. This paper introduces the aims and preliminary results of renewed archaeological research on the shell mounds of the northern coast of Espírito Santo, in the municipality of Linhares. Two shell mounds have been excavated thus far, pushing the record of human presence on the coast back by almost 2000 years. The new research follows a standardized method of excavation specially designed for initial characterization of shell mound deposits; this method involves creating a digital database and incorporating computerized methods for excavation management. Signs of human presence were seen along the northern coast before the Holocene maximum transgression (Suruaca site, dated c. 6800 cal. BP), when mangroves, restingas, and the Atlantic rainforest comprised the coastal environment.

This research is an interdisciplinary study of changes in relative sea level (RSL) in the Peloponnese and the Aegean Sea during the last 1000 years that links archaeological sea-level indicators, from medieval constructions and historical accounts with geological processes. Site survey was conducted in the south Peloponnese, Crete and Paros Island. The study evaluates the 'functional height' of the archaeological remains and dates them based on archaeological and historical records. The archaeological indicators were compared to other indications made by previous studies and to the predicted RSL. The results correlate with the RSL indications in previous studies, but they are below the predicted curve. The difference can be attributed to both the Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) and to tectonic contributions, which are in agreement with other studies in the area. The current study calculates a low RSL of about −1.3m in the south Peloponnese of the 5th century CE, rising gradually to about −0.5 m at the 15th century. In the Cyclades Plateau RSL of −1.2m is estimated for the end of 13th century, climbing to −0.7m by the beginning of the 16th century. The archaeological sea-level indicators in the south Peloponnese and the Aegean Sea confirm the low medieval sea levels found in other Mediterranean sites.

espanolEste articulo examina la cultura material asociada al yacimiento subacuatico de Rochelongue aportando informacion relevante para entender mejor la discusion tradicional existente sobre la cronologia, la adscripcion cultural y la propia naturaleza del yacimiento. Este articulo, sin embargo, se centra en una nueva perspectiva interpretativa, utilizando el concepto de movilidad costera como contexto que nos ayuda a realizar un examen mucho mas amplio de la relevancia del yacimiento y la poblacion local en terminos de contactos culturales. Las interacciones maritimas asociadas al yacimiento son claves para entender los cambios socioeconomicos y los encuentros entre las poblaciones del Oeste del Languedoc, en un contexto de inicio de la presencia de culturas mediterraneas (griegos, fenicios y etruscos) en la costa del Sur de Francia, que se produce durante los siglos septimo y sexto a.C. Las redes que se identifican en torno al yacimiento de Rochelongue en base a la distribucion de su cargamento de objetos metalicos, permite abrir una discusion en la necesidad de ampliar los estudios sobre las capacidades de la movilidad costera de poblaciones indigenas durante el proceso de colonizacion, para un mejor entendimiento de la conectividad y los encuentros culturales sucedidos entre el Bronce final y el Hierro I en el Mediterraneo Occidental EnglishThis paper examines the material culture of the Rochelongue underwater site by providing key information to better understand traditional discussions about the site, such as its chronology, cultural attribution and nature. This paper, however, focuses on the concept of coastal mobility as an approach that provides access to a much broader assessment of the local population in terms of maritime cultural contact. Maritime interactions are vital in order to understand socio-economic changes and processes in culture contact and colonial settings in western Languedoc, which occurred during the seventh and sixth centuries B.C. The direct network that shows the Rochelongue underwater site by studying the distribution of metallic objects from the assemblage allows the discussion about the necessity of further investigation in the analysis of local coastal mobility to better understand connectivity and cultural encounters during Late Bronze Age–Early Iron Age in Western Mediterranean

Beginning around 10,000 years ago, humans gradually shifted away from hunting-and-gathering lifestyles to more sedentary and agricultural lifestyles, which determined a change in their food-sourcing methods. Although the biological effects to changing subsistence patterns are generally well-understood, more recent studies show regional variation in agriculture’s impact on human biology. Archaeology has shown that ancient Baltic populations underwent their own unique transition to agriculture because of their close proximity not only to forests and fertile soils, but also to rivers, lakes and coastlines. This thesis studies the biological implications of coastal living on transitioning communities by examining skeletal variation, dental disease, and indicators of nutritional and general health in Estonian and Latvian individuals dating to the Mesolithic, Neolithic, Bronze Age and Iron Age (9th millennium BC to 1st millennium AD). Biomechanical activity of the upper and lower limbs is shown to be highest in the Baltic Neolithic and Bronze Age relative to earlier hunter-fisher-gatherers and later farming and metallurgic populations. Furthermore, auditory exostoses were identified, perhaps indicative of habitual immersion in cold water for sourcing aquatic foods. These patterns may reflect an increase in manual labor, as well as new suites of food acquisition, with respect to earlier time periods. More recent individuals also exhibit reduced craniofacial and masticatory dimensions, which suggests a decrease in the toughness of food attributable to dietary changes or improvements in food processing. Rates of dental pathologies and indicators of general/nutritional stress show that an unusually high-protein, low-sugar, varied and nutritious diet was consumed by prehistoric Balts in both pre-agricultural and agricultural groups. These various forms of evidence highlight the significance of studying regional variation in agricultural transitions. The reliance on marine and freshwater resources provided Baltic inhabitants with unique types and qualities of food which other transitioning populations elsewhere did not access. This bioarchaeological investigation of the coastal foraging-to-farming transition makes an important contribution to broader scholarship focusing on cultural, technological and biological change at the onset of agriculture., This research was partially funded by the Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research (GIAR) program, and both the Department of Archaeology and St. Catharine's College of the University of Cambridge.

International audience; Consecutively to the global sea-level rise, coastal landscapes significantly changed during the Early Holocene. We explored how coastal mutations have affected ancient human systems in the western Mediterranean. The Pego-Oliva basin (Spain) provides a thick sediment sequence located in proximity to two well-studied Mesolithic and Neolithic archaeological sites. Based on 16 sediment cores, sedimentological analyses, 14 C dates, and integration of previous works, we reconstructed the architecture of the sedimentary facies and the chronology of deposition for the last 9500 years. From 9500 to 8200 cal. BP, the stepwise inland migration of the coastline is characterised by the deposition of peat layers at distinct depths indicating four phases of barrier-lagoon systems development. The marine transgression caused the disappearance of the lagoon at 8200 cal. BP, and reached a maximum inland position at 7300 cal. BP. Since 5800 cal. BP, sea-level stabilisation induced coastal progradation and barrier-lagoon system construction. Five marine flooding phases dated at 9500, 9100-9000, 8750-8650, 8450-8200, and 8100-7300 cal. BP match Atlantic meltwater pulses. Comparison to archaeology shows that the long-lasting Mesolithic occupation corresponds to the presence of coastal offering easily exploitable local intertidal resources. In contrast, during the Late Mesolithic, we observe a lagoon contraction and the reduction of lagoon bivalves size arguing for a decrease in resource productivity. This changes in the lagoon ecosystems negatively impacted to Late Mesolithic populations leading to a less intense occupation of this area. Therefore, the 700 years' temporal hiatus between the last hunter-gatherers and the first farmers occupying this area is explained by the disappearance of the formerly exploited biotopes because of sea-level rise, a situation that may have been aggravated by coincidence of the 8200 cal. BP climate event. The maximal sea transgression corresponded to a shift from intertidal to infralittoral species between the Impressa/Precardial and the Postcardial Neolithic, indicating a good adaptation to changing environments at that time. However, comparison between Late Mesolithic to Early Neolithic suggests that communities with different cultural baggage have had a different perception of the same environment. By the past perspective, it emphasises that perception of the ecosystem value as a benefit or constraint, and of the risks associated with sea-level rise, relies first on the local and regional scales adaptive capacity of society to global changes.

La costa norte del golfo San Matías (Río Negro, Argentina) presenta fuentes secundarias de materias primas líticas aptas para la talla, casi ubicuas en el ambiente. Estos conjuntos constituyen rocas redepositadas por acción marina, fluvial o glacifluvial, son de extensión variable y poseen litología diversa. En este trabajo se describen las fuentes a partir de la información de las cartas geológicas, de bibliografía específica, y de relevamientos propios. Además se analiza la influencia de las variaciones en la línea de costa en la disponibilidad y accesibilidad a las mismas, y se incluye la identificación petrográfica de las rocas. Finalmente, se delinean tendencias generales en su aprovechamiento. Los resultados indican que fueron las rocas silíceas las más utilizadas, seguidas de las vulcanitas y de las calcedonias en tercer lugar. Asimismo, se registraron diferencias en la explotación en los dos bloques temporales reconocidos para el uso de los recursos costeros en este litoral. Palabras clave: costa norte del golfo San Matías; fuentes de materias primas líticas; explotación de rocas; acreción costera. Abstract The northern coast of San Matías Gulf (Río Negro, Argentina) has secondary sources of lithic raw materials suitable for flake activities, which are almost ubiquitous in the environment. These rocks sets have been redeposited by marine, fluvial or glaciofluvial action. Also, they are of variable length and possess diverse lithology. In this paper we describe the sources using information from geological maps, specific bibliography, and our surveys in the field. Furthermore, we examine the influence of variations in the coast line on the availability and accessibility to these sources, and include different rocks petrographic identification. Finally, we outline general trends in their use. The results indicate that siliceous rocks were the most exploited, followed by vulcanites and chalcedonies in third position. There were also differences in the rock exploitation in the two temporary blocks recognized for the coastal resources use in this coast. Keywords: northern coast of San Matías Gulf; lithic raw material sources; rocks exploitation; coastal accretion.

Present climatic change and anthropogenic pressure increasingly affect the coastal zone. The Channel and Atlantic seaboards of France are no exception, with hundreds of archaeological sites currently threatened by the accelerated relative rise in sea level, erosion, and various anthropogenic modifications to the environment. In this article we propose a multidisciplinary approach to assess the vulnerability of archaeological heritage in the West of France. We also aim to establish an original methodology (and specific tools) for the observation of risks and the definition of impacts they may have on heritage sites. This research opens up a theoretical perspective for building a vulnerability model for archaeological heritage that takes into account the evolution of the environment and the specificity of each site over the course of the next 20 to 30 years. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC., Field research for this project was funded by the Fondation Langlois and supported by the UMR 6566 “CReAAH” (CNRS, Ministère de la Culture, Universités de Rennes 1, Rennes 2 et Nantes).

[EN] Beyond the great Hellenistic tower of Alexandria, archaeological studies have revealed an important number of ancient lighthouses through all the Mediterranean Sea since more than fifty years. The consideration of several coastal towers and new discoveries provide data to undertake new issues on this diachronic topic. The study of their architecture can now be completed by the analysis of their implantation in ports, along coasts or on islands. The strategy of their location has to provide secure information for the mariners in day and night time conditions and should be different from other coastal constructions. The study of their specific maritime roles is still an untapped area of research, especially from the sea, from the mariners’ point of view. However, ancient lighthouses are not always exclusive signalling devices for maritime trade. As for later period, coastal towers could ensure several tasks, including surveillance, control and communication. The division between a civilian and military device is not always clearly defined. The study of ancient lighthouses is also a way to deal with structures, which has been used or reused during later period. Indeed, there are clear correlations with later signalling devices as contemporaneous lighthouses built on the same spot of ancient ones. Furthermore, some of them were transformed into mills, granaries or habitations when others have been fortified to address defensive concerns during the modern period.

A total of 17 samples were collected for OSL dating from a Swift Creek archaeological site, known as Harrison Ring, which lies on the Tyndall Air force peninsula in northwest Florida. High-resolution vertical sampling conducted at 10 cm intervals from the surface was performed in order to determine the timing of occupation at the site, and to look for patterns in radiation dosimetry and post-depositional disturbance that can compromise OSL results. We find OSL ages determined using both 0.5 mm aliquots and single grains at the archaeological levels (approximately 1751 ± 339 years ago) to be consistent with the timing of early Swift Creek cultures on the Florida Gulf Coast. The ages we report are both consistent with radiocarbon dates taken at Harrison Ring, and those taken at other Swift Creek sites on the Gulf Coast. In general, we find OSL equivalent doses that show high overdispersion and skewness that we attribute to beta-microdosimetry and possible bioturbation in the profiles. We also present results from a test with a novel dosimetric technique employing Al2O3:C chips. By using Al2O3:C dosimeters, we find that large variability in beta dose rates exist in the sedimentary profile at Harrison Ring. By testing a combination of dosimetric techniques in a site with a well-constrained age, we find that the best agreement with independent age control exists when calculating ages using a beta dose rate from NAA/DNC and gamma dose rate from Al2O3:C dosimetry. Thesis Master of Science (MSc)

International audience

International audience

International audience

This article presents evidence for over 4200 prehistoric shell midden sites distributed on opposite sides of the southern Red Sea. These sites were primarily discovered using survey methods and site location models developed for locating shell midden sites on the Farasan Islands, where over 3000 have been found during previous research. These sites have been extensively excavated in the field and dated. Combining predictive models with remote sensing, an additional 1200 sites have been detected on the opposite side of the Red Sea, centred on the Dahlak Islands in Eritrea. Before these discoveries on the Farasan and Dahlak Archipelagos, the number of published prehistoric shell midden sites in the southern Red Sea was less than twenty. Combined, these sites represent a significant addition to the prehistoric coastal archaeology of the region. These new shell midden sites, and their apparent similarities on the two opposing coastlines, may indicate evidence of cultural contacts across the Red Sea during the Holocene Red Sea.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES The focus of this work is on characterization of occupations precolonial in the Holocene dunes, in other words, formed from and built upon the Holocene Marine Terrace. To develop the proposed theme we chose to analyze the archaeological site Cardoso. Located in the newly presented Sapucaia River Basin, which before would be the boundary between the River Basin of Japaratuba River and the São Francisco River, between two fixed dunes, delimited by the Lagoa Redonda spillway and the plain seaside. Therefore, the overall objective of this dissertation is to understand the occupation of the Sergipe coast by the implantation of precolonial groups in Holocene dunes, considering the bias of Archaeology Landscape. The specific objectives were designed to meet the details regarding the theme worked, where they are divided between (1) Conducting of literature survey on the paleoenvironment period of formation of the physical landscape; (2) Questioning the functionality of coastal sites for groups that occupied them, and (3) analyzing the deployment of sites in the landscape, a perspective microespacial (intrassites), mesoespacial (between landscape and sites) and macroespacial (region). The results obtained (four archaeological sites) were analyzed facing a discussion of the landscape and were identified the visibility strategies based on analysis of the ithic material's spatial distribution analysis, mobility and acquisition of the different raw materials and testing of ceramic material. O foco desse trabalho está centrado na caracterização das ocupações pré-coloniais nas Dunas Holocênicas, ou seja, formadas a partir e construídas em cima do Terraço Marinho Holocênico. Para desenvolver o tema proposto, optamos por analisar o sítio arqueológico Cardoso. Localizado na recém-apresentada Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Sapucaia, onde antes seria o limite entre a Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Japaratuba e da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio São Francisco, entre duas dunas fixas, delimitado pelo sangradouro da Lagoa Redonda e pela planície litorânea. Portanto, o objetivo geral dessa dissertação é compreender a ocupação do litoral sergipano através da implantação de grupos pré-coloniais em Dunas Holocênicas, considerando o viés da Arqueologia da Paisagem. Os objetivos específicos foram pensados para atender as particularidades relativas à temática trabalhada, onde são divididos entre (1) Realizar levantamento bibliográfico sobre o Paleoambiente do período de formação da paisagem física; (2) Questionar funcionalidade dos sítios litorâneos para os grupos que os ocuparam e (3) Analisar a implantação dos sítios na paisagem, de uma perspectiva microespacial (intrassítio), mesoespacial (entre paisagem e sítios) e macroespacial (região). Os resultados obtidos (quatro sítios arqueológicos) foram analisados voltados para uma discussão da Paisagem e identificadas as estratégias de visibilidade com base na análise da distribuição espacial, análise do material lítico, mobilidade e aquisição das distintas matérias-primas e análise do material cerâmico.

Archival maps and other field records from nineteenth century surveys of the Pacific Coast of North America are examined for archaeological information using site records, historical documents and landscape characteristics as context. Over fifty archaeological and historical site locations are depicted in sketches, mapped coordinates, topographic maps and narrative text. Representing the early phase of archaeological use of the US Coast Survey materials at the National Archives, this volume demonstrates the wealth of material yet to be incorporated into West Coast research.

Members of local communities can play a crucial role in the management and rescue of information from sites that are threatened with destruction. Using examples from pioneering work in Scotland, this paper discusses a very real and necessary contribution, without which much archaeological evidence would have been lost, unrecorded. Through such projects as Shorewatch and SCHARP (Scotland’s Coastal Heritage at Risk Project), individuals and community groups have located and recorded sites; selected locally-valued places for further work; undertaken community rescue excavations; and worked on interpretive material to inform a wider audience. In some cases, groups have even moved sites in order to save them from the sea. Publisher PDF

There is a tendency in archaeology dealing with watercraft landing sites in a wider context to assume a direct relationship between sites in coastal and shore-bound areas and the practise of landing, without any deeper practical or theoretical exploration of the reality of any such relationship. This problem has its origins in the poor archaeological and conceptual definitions of watercraft landing sites obstructing any real understanding of the role of these sites in the maritime cultural landscape. Landing sites are taken for granted and they are undervalued as an archaeological source of explanation; notwithstanding, the concept of the landing site is readily used in archaeology in order to underpin archaeological interpretations on the maritime activities of past societies. In order to break away from the simplified understandings of past water-bound strategies based on the undefined concept of the landing site, this dissertation suggests a definition of watercraft landing sites in a wider social sense as water-bound contact zones; places of social interaction that can be archaeologically identified and investigated. This perspective integrates the understanding of the intentional character of human activity related to watercraft landing with the remaining archaeological traces. Archaeological definitions of landing sites that can be tested against the archaeological data are provided, and thereby, the dissertation contributes with the possibility to archaeologically evaluate and approach the social function of watercraft landing sites. This dissertation demonstrates that there can be an archaeology of landing sites.

This report describes the results of a Heritage Council‐funded research project entitled ‘The Fergus estuary and islands project: Discovering a maritime historic landscape in Co. Clare', which was funded by a Heritage Council Heritage Research grant (R00412) for 2010. The project explored the distinctive maritime cultural landscapes of the Fergus estuary, Co. Clare, through an intertidal archaeology of the estuarine channels and the shorelines of the islands found on the lower Fergus estuary, Co. Clare (particularly, in 2010, around Inishloe, Inishtubrid, Horse Island and Shore Island). The project also had a particular focus on the archaeology of the Boarland Rock medieval fishweir complex (Fig.1). The Fergus Estuary and Islands project (2008‐2010) has been remarkably successful, uncovering a range of entirely new archaeological sites: there are 131 archaeological sites listed in the project catalogue (see Appendix 1), 127 of which were completely unknown when the survey began in 2008. Other funder Heritage Council ‘Heritage Research Grants 2010’ R00412 Author has checked copyright kpw6/8/13

This thesis focuses on the erosion of archaeological sites around the shores of Copano Bay. The research data for this project comes from three sites that are on the shore of Copano Bay: 41AS3, 41AS109, and 41RF18. The majority of the data was gathered from site 41RF18 during field work in 2005. A description of methods used in the fieldwork and of the findings is included. Annual rates of erosion and the amount of time these sites have before completely eroding into the bay is determined. The methods used to determine the rates of erosion are discussed and the historical data gathered through archival research is also presented. Finally, preservation efforts for archaeological sites around Copano Bay are proposed.

La arqueología de las costas marinas argentinas experimentó una profunda transformación desde 1936. En aquella época no se esperaba un panorama muy diferenciable del interior ni se advertía el valor de los recursos litorales para la subsistencia humana. Desde 1980 se comenzó a reconocer esa importancia, basada sobre la productividad de los mares y el alto poder nutricional de ciertas especies que se obtienen en las costas, pero advirtiendo diferencias regionales y subregionales en la intensidad de su aprovechamiento. Así, en el litoral bonaerense esos recursos parecen haber cumplido un papel subordinado frente a los terrestres. En Patagonia y Tierra del Fuego hubo lugares donde se los consumió de manera más intensiva y posiblemente continua pero dentro de una estrategia de aprovisionamiento generalizada. En cambio, en el canal Beagle las poblaciones se circunscribieron a la franja litoral, se alimentaron casi por entero con productos marinos y desarrollaron medios especiales para asegurar y acrecentar su obtención., The archaeology of Argentinean maritime coasts has undergone a deep transformation from 1936. In those days a specific panorama, different from that in the interior, was not expected nor were the littoral resources appreciated as somthing valuable for human subsistence. Since 1980 such importance was recognized, based on the productivity of seas and on the high nutritional value of certain species that are obtained in the shores, yet recognizing regional and sub-regional differences in the intensity of their exploitation. Thus, in the Pampean littoral, these resources seem to have been subordinated to the terrestrial ones. In several places of the Patagonian and Fuegian atlantic coasts they were consumed in a more intensive and possibly continuous manner, but within a generalized foraging strategy. On the contrary, in the Beagle Channel people was circunscript to the littoral stripe, their subsistence was almost entirely based on maritime products, and special means to assure and increase their exploitation were developed., Sociedad Argentina de Antropología

El litoral de la Octava Región presenta una intensa ocupación humana manifestada en más de 40 sitios arqueológicos principalmente conchales caracterizados por una profunda densidad vertical de hasta 7,2 metros de profundidad (El visal) con datas que varían desde los 4.350 ± 70 A.P. (equivalentes al Arcaico Medio de la zona centro sur andina) hasta el momento del contacto hispánico. Talcahuano 1 presenta datas de 3.950 ± 70 A.P. hasta el cerámico tardío, y Bellavista 1 presenta fechas entre los 3.300 al 3.880 A.P. que corresponden al momento precerámico (Arcaico Medio). En las zonas periféricas de todos estos conchales se encuentran manifestaciones de prácticas mortuorias las que evidencian similitudes para igual período cronológico y variaciones a través del tiempo. De esta manera, mientras en los períodos tempranos (precerámicos) los restos esqueletales presentan posiciones flectadas (posición fetal) lateral derecha, en los niveles superiores se encuentran en posición de cúbito dorsal e incluso vertical como es el caso de Tubul 1-A The littoral of the 8th Region presents an intense human occupation consisting in more than 40 archaeological sites, principally shell midden sites characterized by a profound depth of up to 7,2 meters (El Visal) with dates that vary from 4,350 ± 70 B.P. (equivalent to the middle archaic of the South Central Andean zone) until the time of Hispanic contact. Talcahuano 1 presents dates of 3,950 ± 70 B.P. until the late ceramic, and Bellavista 1 presents dates between 3,300 and 3,880 B.P. which correspond to the preceramic (Middle Archaic). In the peripheral zones of all the shell sites there is evidence of mortuary practices that present similarities for the same chronological periods and variations throughout time. In this way, while in the early periods (preceramic) the skeletal remains are in the fetal position on their right sides, in the superior levels they are on their backs and vertical as in Tubul 1-A

International audience