Search

The early trans-Eurasian exchange and its influence on the dynamics of human-land relationships is an emerging topic involving multiple disciplines. The southwestern part of the Eastern European Plain was a key hub for early East-West interaction. Broomcorn millet, a crop domesticated in China, was introduced into the region about 3,600 years ago, significantly earlier than in other parts of Europe. This research employs systematic archaeobotanical flotation and AMS radiocarbon dating at two sites in Romania: Baia-În Muchie and Dobrovăţ. The findings demonstrate that broomcorn millet cultivation in this region has persisted for over 2,000 years, exhibiting significant diachronic fluctuations. Millet was most intensively utilized during the Late Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age (1200–800 BC) and the Late Roman Empire (AD 250–400), periods which were characterized by rapid climatic changes. It may have been cultivated as a "disaster relief" crop to mitigate the challenges posed by extreme drought and cold. The millet grains from the study area are similar in dimensions to those reported in East Asia; however, grains from the Romanian sites are thinner and longer. The route traversing the Caucasus and the northern Black Sea likely served as a key passage through which millet entered Europe from West Asia. This research provides valuable data on the chronology of millet cultivation in the SW Eastern European Plain and enhances our understanding of early East-West exchanges and their impact on human-environment interactions in critical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reasons for the notable absence of equestrian equipment from both the Bronze Age (2000 BC to 800 BC) and early medieval period (AD 450 to AD 1100) in Ireland have not been explored by archaeology. Yet within traditional vernacular crafts and folkways there are indications of alternatives to metal lorinery recorded within the early medieval texts, with the use of plant materials such as straw and rushes. These would be unlikely to survive centuries in soil or be recognized as equipment. However, the deliberate choice of such materials for connective parts of harness, when leathers and metals were available, indicates agency that has not been considered before. It tends to make the production of the conspicuous metalwork of the Late Iron Age an outlier in Irish equestrian material culture, and the resumption of using rushes and straw a key marker for the end of the Irish Iron Age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North Pontic region, which encompasses present-day Ukraine, was a crossroads of migration, connecting the vast Eurasian Steppe with Central Europe. We generated shotgun-sequenced genomic data for 91 individuals dating from around 7000 BCE to 1800 CE to study migration and mobility history in the region, with a particular focus on historically attested migrating groups during the Iron Age and the medieval period. We infer a high degree of temporal heterogeneity in ancestry, with fluctuating genetic affinities to different present-day Eurasian groups. We also infer high heterogeneity in ancestry within geographically, culturally, and socially defined groups. Despite this, we find that ancestry components which are widespread in Eastern and Central Europe have been present in the Ukraine region since the Bronze Age. In short, our study reveals a diverse range of ancestries in the Ukraine region through time as a result of frequent movements, assimilation, and contacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustained archaeometallurgical research since 2008 has permitted the Southeast Asian Lead Isotope Project (SEALIP) to establish the general anthropological and geochemical parameters of late prehistoric and early historic regional nonferrous base metal exchange networks. A 79 artefact assemblage from the mid-late Iron Age (2nd-8th c. AD) settlement and residential burial site of Non Ban Jak (NBJ) in lower northeast Thailand gave an opportunity to generate a fine-grained interpretation of copper-base metal supply and demand at the cusp of mainland state formation. Previous hints that the central Thai copper production centres in the Khao Wong Prachan Valley (KWPV) were only weakly active during the Iron Age, were reinforced by the near total absence of the KWPV signature at NBJ, only 165 km to the east. Since 2011, copper production at the Vilabouly Complex (VC) in central Laos has dominated regional consumption signatures, and a simple reading of the NBJ dataset would support this thesis. However, a high-density sampling shows that VC production is not actually consistent with much of NBJ consumption, and thus we must search for other Southeast Asian copper production loci. Finally, being able to analyse multiple artefacts of a range of typologies enables us to identify material culture associations between individuals at NBJ, those at other lower northeast Thai sites, and even between individuals at contemporary sites in northwest Cambodia. Intriguingly, these potential consistencies between individuals at an international scale all concern middle-aged men, possibly reinforcing regional bioarchaeological interpretations of matrilocality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its discovery in 1981, the site at Traunkirchen has remained among the very few Iron Age lakeshore settlements in the Circum-Alpine region. Micromorphological and archaeobotanical analyses of drilled cores from the lake bottom help to reconstruct the taphonomy of the Early Iron Age cultural layers and past environmental conditions. Our study also reveals that the water level of Lake Traunsee dropped twice by ca. 2.5/3 m within approximately 100–150 years during the Early Iron Age. The accumulation of well-preserved organic debris indicates the presence of building features in a shallow-water area, protected by a thick layer of lake marl. Carpological remains also provide insights into the local plant diet and land use based on cereals, legumes, edible fruits and nuts, all commonly used during the Iron Age. Our observations contribute to understanding Traunkirchen as an Iron Age key site, which was presumably involved in the distribution of salt from the mine at Hallstatt, down the Traun River and across Lake Traunsee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigate the interplay between relative sea‐level changes, the development of human settlements and land‐cover changes in the Västervik–Gamlebyviken region on the southeast coast of Sweden, an important archaeological area from the Mesolithic until recent times. The reconstruction of shore displacement was based on diatom analysis of radiocarbon‐dated sediment cores from three lake basins combined with previously published lake isolation data. The resulting curve was used to construct palaeogeographical maps for selected time windows. Land‐cover changes were inferred from pollen data from three lakes using the Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm with its two models REVEALS and LOVE. Our data suggest that people took advantage of the land gained due to an overall fall in relative sea level from ~35 to ~3 metres above sea level (m a.s.l.) over the last 10 000 years, interrupted by periods of transgression and highstands. A sea‐level regression of ~16 m occurred between 10 000 and 8500 cal a bp followed by an ~3–4‐m sea‐level rise, reaching ~22 m a.s.l. at ~7500 cal a bp, which corresponds to the maximum Littorina Sea shoreline in the area. The available archaeological findings for the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic (8950–5450 cal a bp) agree well with the shore displacement curve showing that settlements and human activities were concentrated along or above the shorelines as defined from our study. During the transgression after 8500 cal a bp, however, seasonal settlements were submerged (as shown by findings of polished stone tools and hearths buried in sand) and used again during the subsequent regression after 4600 cal a bp. The Iron Age (2450–900 cal a bp) corresponds partly to a highstand at ~11 m a.s.l. between 3600 and 2000 cal a bp and partly to a rapid regression of ~8 m between 2000 and 1500 cal a bp, and both periods coincide with known human activities along the contemporaneous shoreline. The rapid regression after 2000 cal a bp corresponds to an increase of both regional and local landscape openness and the beginning of a continuous record of crop cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents archaeological investigations in the Sacharewo region in the Białowieża Forest in eastern Poland. Finds from the Iron Age and the Roman period suggest a possible revival of settlement between the 1st century BC and the 5th/6th century AD. The study includes geoarchaeological analyses, archaeobotanical investigations, and radiocarbon dating, which identify a stable settlement region. The finds show cultural influences during the Roman period, including the Hatched Pottery Culture and the Wielbark Culture. [Extracted from the article]

The central agglomeration Němčice in Moravia gave the name – the Němčice/Roseldorf type – to the entire gradually recognised group of large lowland settlements with production and distribution functions existing in La Tène Europe in the 3rd–2nd century BC. In addition to settlement and production features, several ditched quadrangular enclosures were also identified at the Němčice settlement. One of these, feature 525, was investigated in 2022. The history of the enclosure is demonstrated by finds and structures found in its inner space and from the individual layers of the fill of its ditch, which document development from the burial and perhaps other ritual functions of the enclosure ending with the deposition of fragments of weapons in the ditch, up to the incorporation of the feature into the space used for settlement activities. Ditched quadrangular enclosures, as are known besides Němčice especially from Roseldorf in eastern Austria and from other settlements in the corridor of the Amber Road, reflect significant changes in the ritual behaviour of the La Tène population in Central Europe in this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The Rhône valley is an important contact point between the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. In Iron Ages (800–50 bc), it was an area of circulation between different material and cultural worlds, where different practices and cultures met. In this particular context, archeozoological studies can offer a different view of these questions of exchange and potential influence, by approaching the issues of food and animal husbandry. This study seeks to approach this question through the prism of animal morphology, the result of a selection of morphotypes by breeders, notably cattle, pig, and sheep, the most common species in the region at the time. Thanks to the log size index method, a certain stability can be demonstrated in pig and cattle morphology over time and space, as well as a slow homogenization of their sizes, which is really visible at La Tène D (125–50 bc). Sheep show a specific pattern with a notable high increase during La Tène C (250–125 bc). Comparison with data from other parts of the Mediterranean world would suggest that the development of local morphotypes owes little or nothing to the influence of Mediterranean breeding practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to re-evaluate Cambaztepe, located approximately 12 km west of the Silivri district center of İstanbul, where rescue excavations led by the İstanbul Archaeology Museums in 2015 were carried out. Cambaztepe is a burial mound dated to the Early Bronze Age II (EBA II) within Anatolian chronology. It also has a secondary burial context dated to the Iron Age. Although there is no absolute dating, Cambaztepe is currently believed to be the earliest burial mound in Türkiye’s European territory (also known as Eastern Thrace), considering the burial position and the grave goods and/or finds. The excavation team has published only a preliminary report and two papers, of which one was published in a popular magazine. The possible relationship between Cambaztepe and Yamnaya (Pit-Grave), and other related cultures was not examined in the preliminary report. Furthermore, the preliminary report provides inaccurate and misleading suggestions about the way the deceased were placed in the grave and the grave finds. In addition to other evidence, the way the deceased were placed in the grave as a semi-supine position indicates that the Cambaztepe EBA II grave context is related to the Pit-Grave or other cultures with Pit-Grave traditions in the Balkans. However, the grave structure in round shape with a floor of stone slabs and the grave finds, consisting of a beaked jug of inland Western Anatolian origin and a dagger of Anatolian origin, make Cambaztepe different from contemporary burial mounds in the Balkans. The existence of a cremation burial is sufficient to make concrete suggestions in the context of possible early migrations from Europe to Anatolia in the 3rd millennium BC, even though the exact nature of these migrations remains unknown, whether they involved the population movement or transfer of ideas-ideology-beliefs (or a combination of both). Likewise, the Cambaztepe EBA II grave context has a potential to define the mechanism of migration from Anatolia to Europe more precisely. The Cambaztepe EBA II grave context should be placed at the date range 2700–2500 BC, based on the burial practice observed in the Balkans and the grave finds of Anatolian origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An excavation carried out by H. Ziegert in Assel, Stade district in the 1980s brought to light seven graves, which are presented in detail in this article. There are a total of eight inhumations, some of which were furnished with previously unknown, outstanding grave goods. Grave 1 stands out in particular- the buried woman was given a lavish necklace consisting of over 200 individual glass and amber beads in various colours and shapes as well as 21 amber pendants of unusual size and shape, with her grave. There are also objects made of notched and gilded silver Pressblech with a composed bowl brooch and an equal-armed brooch, as well as a glass nub cup, among other things. This combination creates an unusual ensemble that has only a few parallels and on the one hand emphasises the special status that the woman buried here must have had, but on the other hand also provides a new aspect with regard to the question of the regional and supra-regional significance and the integration of the site in the trade and communication system of the Roman Iron Age and migration period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the presence of small-scale objects (i.e., pottery, scarabs, seals, etc.) in the Late Bronze and Iron Age Levant as a means by which to measure the impact of foreign rule on the nonelites. It concludes that these objects are not useful to discussions of Assyrian, Egyptian, or Hittite hegemony, but rather that they are additional support for the interconnectivity of the Late Bronze and Iron Ages. In fact, these objects are expected to appear in the archaeological record of neighbors. This article, then, cautions against using material culture, especially small-scale material culture, as a means by which to draw large conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perspectives on human–animal relationships are changing in archaeology and related disciplines. Analytical models that distinguish foraging from food production remain popular, but scholars are beginning to recognize greater variability in the ways people understood and engaged with animals in the past. In southern Africa, researchers have observed that wild animals were economically and socially important to recent agropastoral societies. However, archaeological models emphasize cattle keeping and downplay the role of hunting among past farming groups. To address this discrepancy and investigate human–wild animal interactions over the last ~ 2000 years, we examined zooarchaeological data from 54 southern African Iron Age (first and second millennium AD) farming sites. Diversity and taxonomic information highlights how often and what types of animals people hunted. Comparisons with earlier and contemporaneous forager and herder sites in southern and eastern Africa show that hunting for social and economic purposes characterized the spread of farming and rise of complex societies in southern Africa. The long-term cultural integration of wild animals into food-producing societies is unusual from a Global South perspective and warrants reappraisal of forager/farmer dichotomies in non-Western contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the historical significance of Beit Loya, a site in Israel's Shephelah region, and its evolution from a vibrant settlement to a marginal site in late Islamic rural Palestine. Beit Loya has been inhabited since the Iron Age and is notable for its archaeological findings, including a Jewish village from the Hellenistic and Roman periods, Byzantine mosaics, and its connection to the Mormon figure of Prophet Lehi. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating oral histories and local knowledge into archaeological research to better understand the lifeways of the region's past inhabitants, particularly in light of the site's abandonment and the demographic changes during the Ottoman period. The report highlights the need to consider both material culture and local narratives to gain a comprehensive understanding of historical contexts in Palestine. [Extracted from the article]

Umm Tawabin ('Mother of Bread Ovens' in Arabic) is a large fortress overlooking the Wadi 'Arabah and southern Dead Sea in Jordan. From the time of its discovery by a Palestine Exploration Fund (PEF) expedition in the late 19th century, Umm Tawabin had not been excavated, nor published extensively in spite of its strategically elevated location with panoramic views on all sides, its monumental fortification and numerous and varied archaeological remains until the Ghor as-Safi Project survey (Ariotti 2017) and excavations (Ariotti 2022; 2021; Politis and Ariotti 2020). The goal of this investigation was to determine the extent, function (or multiple functions) and dating of the site, along with the subsistence practices and diet of its inhabitants based on its topographical, architectural and excavated material culture, botanical and faunal remains (Ariotti 2021, Edwell 2023, Hansen and Heinrich, in press). This paper presents an overview of the chronological development and strategic importance of Umm Tawabin from the Hellenistic to Roman periods in view of its stratigraphic evidence, radiocarbon dates and pottery. It also presents some fragmentary remains dated to the Iron Age II. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses a typical Ammonite terracotta figurine discovered during the rescue excavation conducted at Umm Sweiwineh in the periphery of Amman in 2014 by the Department of Antiquities of Jordan (DoA). During the past few decades, excavations in Transjordan, in particular central Jordan, have produced a large corpus of anthropomorphic figurines from various sites dated to the Iron Age. Their excavation contexts varied from funerary to domestic. Male figurines are usually slipped or painted to show a beard or moustache and are characterised by a conical headdress. Although foreign cultural influence is apparent, they show a local stylistic tradition. This paper will discuss the figurine and its findspot, including a description and the forming technique employed to produce it, its typological classification, chronological framework, comparisons, cultural influence, iconography and potential function. The chronology of the figurine was determined by its archaeological context and accompanying pottery assemblage, as well as comparative examples from well-stratified sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the production and trade of Egyptian and Egyptianizing amulets across the Mediterranean during the Iron Age. It analyses the trends and patterns observed for different regions of the Mediterranean, comparing them with the trends in the Egyptian Nile Delta. Furthermore, it discusses different workshops and production groups of amulets participating in the complex web of interregional trade. It attempts to identify certain connections and draw possible parallels between ancient Egypt and the rest of the Mediterranean. Finally, the article opens a conversation on a two sided transmission of cultural values and questions the role of foreigners in Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the petrographic and geochemical characteristics of pottery collected from Mugharat al‐Kahf and WTN02 in Wadi Tanuf, north‐central Oman, to clarify interregional similarities and differences in pottery production techniques and examine the existence of interregional trade in pottery with respect to changes in mobile communities. Potsherds from these sites were characterised using thin‐section petrography and instrumental neutron activation analysis. Results revealed that several clay fabrics and tempers were used during the Wadi Suq period (2000–1600 BCE). A region‐wide similarity exists in pottery‐making techniques in terms of the tempering of specific minerals (Oman ophiolite) used in the Early Iron Age (1300–300 BCE). Geochemical results indicate differences in clay sources between the Wadi Suq period and the Early Iron Age in Wadi Tanuf and the unlikelihood of the interregional trade of domestic pottery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Early Iron Age hillfort in Chotyniec (SE Poland) is the westernmost permanent settlement of the Scythian cultural circle. Recognizing the construction of the fortified settlement's ramparts and their chronology was considered one of the priorities of the systematic research conducted since 2016. Based on 18 radiocarbon dated samples from different parts of the rampart, a chronological model of its functioning was made. It indicates that the construction of this monumental fortifications protecting the settlement in Chotyniec should be dated to between 651–595 or 531–409 BC. This dating synchronizes well with the chronology of the most important ritual and ceremonial object within the Chotyniec settlement—the so-called zolnik and other Scythian settlements from the East European forest-steppe zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to contribute to our knowledge of the chronology of the main cultural entities of the Bronze Age in the Southern Urals. The objectives of this work include the verification of earlier conclusions regarding individual sites, expanding the date series for the key cultures with reliable dates, and creating reference series for the Bayesian modeling of key archaeological sites. Thirty-two samples were selected from reliable contexts. They reflect seven different cultural traditions of the 2nd millennium calBC (Sintashta, Srubnaya, Alakul, Fedorovka, Cherkaskul, Final Bronze Age, Transition to Early Iron Age). Collagen (human and domestic animal bones), charcoal, and wood samples were used for radiocarbon dating. Pairs of different-type samples (human bone – animal bone, animal bone – charcoal) were obtained for the same undisturbed burial and the building floor at the time of its abandonment. The data and the composition of δ15N and δ13C isotopes allow the new dates to be considered reliable. Furthermore, the new results do not conflict with the previously obtained accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dates. Determining boundary intervals for the main cultures of the Andronovo cultural community (Alakul and Fedorovka) resulted in statistically reliable conclusions on their relationship. The Alakul culture appeared earlier than the Fedorovka culture. The latter has a migratory origin in the Southern Urals. The two traditions have a long history of interaction, but the Alakul culture ending earlier. The series of dates for the Final Bronze Age, divided into two sub-periods, has been significantly expanded. Bayesian modeling of the chronology of the stratified settlement Sintashta II (Levoberezhnoe) made it possible to determine the intervals of the main phases of its history: 2004–1852 calBC (Sintashta culture) and 1410–1170 calBC (Final Bronze Age). Intermediate Cherkaskul phase is represented by a single date (1731–1541 cal BC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archaeologiai Értesítő is the property of Akademiai Kiado and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research aims to investigate the Celtic presence in Northern Italy and the High Adriatic during the phase prior to the historical invasion of 390 BC. According to the classical sources, at the beginning of the 4th century BC, Celtic communities crossed the Alps and settled in Italy. For ancient writers, this incursion was considered to be a brutal event, but archaeological evidence shows a different situation, suggesting that the Celtic presence in Italy can be traced back to the previous centuries. In the 5th century BC, Northern Italy was organized into large cultural entities which show close relations with the communities north of the Alps, based on the long-distance exchange system. In this diversified context, we observe the progressive diffusion of Late Hallstatt and La Tène elements. We will focus on the example of Adriatic Veneti earrings, found on both sides of the Adriatic Sea. Metal artifacts are an optimal field to reflect on this type of investigation. Their presence shows us the amplitude of individual mobility and allows us to deepen our knowledge about the strategies of cultural transfer, of the transmission of models, and of the circulation of people and goods.

Abstract Background The Italic Iron Age is characterized by the presence of various ethnic groups partially examined from a genomic perspective. To explore the evolution of Iron Age Italic populations and the genetic impact of Romanization, we focus on the Picenes, one of the most fascinating pre-Roman civilizations, who flourished on the Middle Adriatic side of Central Italy between the 9th and the 3rd century BCE, until the Roman colonization. Results More than 50 samples are reported, spanning more than 1000 years of history from the Iron Age to Late Antiquity. Despite cultural diversity, our analysis reveals no major differences between the Picenes and other coeval populations, suggesting a shared genetic history of the Central Italian Iron Age ethnic groups. Nevertheless, a slight genetic differentiation between populations along the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian coasts can be observed, possibly due to different population dynamics in the two sides of Italy and/or genetic contacts across the Adriatic Sea. Additionally, we identify several individuals with ancestries deviating from their general population. Lastly, in our Late Antiquity site, we observe a drastic change in the genetic landscape of the Middle Adriatic region, indicating a relevant influx from the Near East, possibly as a consequence of Romanization. Conclusions Our findings, consistently with archeological hypotheses, suggest genetic interactions across the Adriatic Sea during the Bronze/Iron Age and a high level of individual mobility typical of cosmopolitan societies. Finally, we highlight the role of the Roman Empire in shaping genetic and phenotypic changes that greatly impact the Italian peninsula.

The Varbola hillfort is one of the largest prehistoric fortifications in the eastern Baltic. Although it stands out as a major political centre in literary sources from the 13th century, and the archaeological record points to a proto­-town with almost a hundred households, its location has puzzled scholars for nearly a century. While Varbola has been claimed to be situated in a peripheral area not suited for the emergence of a power centre, this notion of âperipheralityâ has not been examined in a measurable way to allow for comparison with other strongholds. The article explores this issue by employing a GIS­-based methodology inspired by site catchment analysis and quantifying the amount of fertile soils, known archaeological settlement sites, burial places and early modern manors around Late Iron Age forts in northwestern Estonia within four different radii. Results demonstrate that Varbola is actually âaverageâ in terms of centrality, rather than âperipheralâ. As Varbola is located at the edge of the area covered by the large Estonian list of the Liber Census Daniae, an important 13th­-century source for settlement history, it can be argued that perceptions of Varbolaâs peripherality are influenced by the âedge effectâ. Analysis of historical sources suggests that Varbola is more likely to have been a power centre than a trading hub, and its emergence might be related to the Lode magnate family.

Monitoring of the preventive archaeology component of the Nachtigal amont hydroelectric dam project was carried out in two phases, from 2019 to 2023, under two contracts managed by IRD and carried out by a Franco-Cameroonian team. Over 75,148 pottery shards were collected from just over 200 sites. Some forty mass spectrometer radiocarbon dates were performed. Our preliminary typochronological description is based on the examination of some 20,000 fragments from 58 archaeological sites. The sequence appears to be made up of seven different groups, recognized above all by morphological-decorative criteria: Group I (9th-7th centuries BC), Group IIa (8th-5th centuries BC), Group IIb (6th-2nd centuries BC), Group III (AD 2nd-5th centuries), Group IV (AD 12th-14th centuries), Group V (AD 15th-17th centuries) and Group VI (AD 17th century-contemporary).

Abstract The subsistence economies of prehistoric pastoralists of the Eurasian steppes have long been viewed through an oversimplified model of reliance on domesticated animals. This conceptualization has begun to shift dramatically through the introduction of scientific analyses, pivoting towards an evidence-based interpretation of economic flexibility and adaptive heterogeneity. Here we provide insights into the dietary practices of Iron Age pastoralists in Siberia through an archaeoparasitological analysis. Soil samples from the Tunnug 1 site in southern Siberia reveal the presence of helminth eggs of Taenia sp. (likely), Trichuris sp., and Dibothriocephalus sp. This indicates that the diet of the analysed prehistoric population might have included beef and did include freshwater fish, occasionally consumed in undercooked or raw form. Despite the primary reliance on pastoralism and possibly small-scale millet agriculture, these populations engaged in diverse dietary practices, including fish consumption. Additionally, the presence of Trichuris sp. eggs points to poor sanitary conditions, possible consumption of contaminated plant foods, and the contamination of drinking water with feces. By providing direct evidence of dietary habits, archaeoparasitology complements isotopic analyses and contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the subsistence strategies.

ABSTRACT The transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age is one of the most discussed topics in the archaeology of Iran. This includes the processes that led to the formation of the Mannaean Kingdom in the northwestern part of the country, which is considered a forerunner of the famous Median Empire. Here, we investigate the pattern of migration during the four centuries preceding the establishment of the Mannaean Kingdom. The 87Sr/86Sr values were measured in enamel of early developing permanent teeth (first molars and incisors) in a sample of 28 individuals of both sexes from Masjed‐e Kabud cemetery (modern Tabriz). Only two individuals have non‐local strontium isotope values; however, they might have been inhabitants of the region located just a few kilometers south of the cemetery. No evidence of long‐distance migration was identified, suggesting that the establishment of the early states in this region was not a consequence of migration, but rather of social development in the local population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines population dynamics in South Norway during the Iron Age, focusing on the mid-6th century crisis and its aftermath. Analysis of nearly 7,000 dated burials reveals a substantial decline of over 75% post-6th century compared with the preceding period. Set against other archaeological data, this indicates a decline in the population of South Norway. The period of societal turmoil and decline may have started earlier, but was likely catalysed by the volcanic eruptions of 536 and 540 CE and the following colder period, and possible also by plague pandemics. The ramifications of the mid-6th century crisis were exacerbated by the population increase in the preceding periods, where the population may have been nearing its regional carrying capacity. Although devastating, the 6th century crisis may also have opened up new possibilities for those who made it through, perhaps initiating a brief period of relative social and economic equality, similar to the initial consequences of the Black Death. Contrasting with the preceding period, South Norway’s Viking Age saw ample burials, attributed to factors including a warmer climate, advanced agriculture, surplus production, trade expansion and increased slavery. The shift highlights complex interactions between environmental, economic, and social factors in the shaping of population dynamics in Iron Age South Norway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cave pearls are spherical concentric speleothems growing radially around nuclei in shallow pools saturated with calcite. They are very rare in the Southern Levant. We present a unique assemblage of 50 cave pearls found in the Iron Age Joweizeh artificial spring tunnel in the Jerusalem Hills of Israel. Some of these deposits represent the first global evidence of formation on archaeological artefacts: pottery sherds and ancient plaster. Multi‐analyses were conducted to date and characterize the different nuclei and pearls. Charcoal samples extracted from the plaster nuclei of two pearls were 14C dated to the Hellenistic period. Two pearls were formed on sherds of Hellenistic lamps. XPS found Co colour remains, suggesting both had been imported. The Hellenistic date is also supported by archaeomagnetic dates of seven other pottery nuclei. Most Hellenistic remains are probably the outcome of a renovation campaign in the tunnel. Four pearls were sampled for stable isotopes (δ13C and δ18O). The range of δ18O values from the Joweizeh pearls is compatible with the Holocene Soreq and Jerusalem caves’ records. The δ13C differences between Joweizeh and Soreq indicate local changes in the overlying vegetation throughout history. The various lines of evidence enabled us to characterize the pearls’ formation process, reconstruct the Joweizeh spring tunnel's hydraulic environment and detect changes that occurred in its water flow regime throughout history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The site of San Valentino in San Vito al Tagliamento is one of the main urnfield cemeteries in northeastern Italy. Archaeological excavations carried out in the seventies brought to light a cremation cemetery consisting of mainly urn graves with pottery and metal artefacts as grave goods. These materials suggest that the individuals buried in San Valentino were not an isolated local community but had intense contacts with other north-Adriatic communities, in particular with the neighbouring Veneto area, as suggested by the close similarity of the biconical vessels with those recovered in the graves of Este. This paper provides the first osteological study of a preserved sample of individuals buried at San Valentino and uses an innovative multi-proxy approach to refine the chronology of the site through radiocarbon dating of bone apatite, investigate human mobility using strontium isotopes on calcined human remains, and reconstruct the funerary practices by combining FTIR-ATR data with carbon and oxygen isotope ratios on cremated bones. The results date the cemetery to the end of the Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age, with a sporadic occupation in the fourth century BC. Strontium isotopes and concentrations show the analysed individuals buried at San Valentino were a local community that exploited nearby food resources. Interestingly, variations in cremation conditions were detected between San Valentino and the contemporary sites of Velzeke, Blicquy, Grand Bois, and Herstal, located in Belgium, by using FTIR-ATR and carbon and oxygen isotope data. This multi-proxy approach applied to the study of cremated human remains can open new research possibilities, being potentially extendable to the study of many pre- and proto-historic and historic communities that practised cremation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excavations at the site of QA 21 near the village of ʿAyn Banī Saʿdah in the Qumayrā microregion yielded new information on Iron Age (IA) II settlement in the Hajjar mountains. Located halfway between the modern towns of Yanqul and Buraymī, in an area with little‐known Iron Age occupation, QA 21 is a c. 2 ha open site scattered with the remains of numerous buildings. The pottery found on the surface is largely of IA II date even though some of the structures can date from a later, possibly Late Islamic period. Excavations of a large IA II house provided a rich and well‐stratified collection of pottery, some stone tools and marine shells. Analysis of the finds' distribution and the building's construction details revealed functional differences between certain areas of the house. The entire structure can be interpreted as a large village household with domestic, storage and food‐processing areas. The provenance of the ceramic assemblage associated with this household is both regional and local, as indicated by geochemical analysis of the pottery, suggesting that the settlement participated in regional exchange networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 3‐month excavation conducted in Area G at Sarūq al‐Ḥadīd yielded novel insights into the historical occupation, abandonment and utilisation patterns of the site. The archaeological strata unearthed during our excavation dating span a significant timeframe, ranging from the fourth to the first millennium BC. Employing a stratigraphical approach, we systematically established a relative chronological sequence for the area supported by C14 absolute dating. This methodological framework enabled us to discern the temporal evolution of the site, unveiling pertinent information regarding the nature of occupation, the construction phase of the well and its temporal utilisation and the occurrences of natural phenomena such as climatic disruption, alluvial processes and sand accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Later Iron Age in Britain was a transformative period: material culture, settlement patterns, technology, trade networks, and the structures of power changed, ultimately leading to the Roman invasion. This paper examines the significance of investigating animal economies in this period within the broader context of socio‐economic developments. It reviews the available evidence regarding animal economies in this period, integrates new osteometric analyses, and discusses diachronic changes using the Roman evidence on a comparative basis. The investigation shows a broad pattern of continuity of practice, with relatively uniform livestock types and management strategies until the very end of the Iron Age. This suggests that the trajectory of local farming practices was largely independent from Mediterranean developments. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of Iron Age societies and their response to external influences, while also informing future research directions in archaeology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses transformations in human behavior between the Iron Age and the Roman times in the tribal territory of the Treveri, later civitas Treverorum, located between the Rhine and the Ardennes. This aspect has been examined from two perspectives: first, from an anthropological point of view vis‐a‐vis the historical inhabitants, and second, from an archaeozoological perspective regarding domestic animals. Due to small sample sizes and/or difficulty in dating, both regarding humans and domestic animals, transformations in living conditions and animal‐keeping could mostly be outlined only for the La Tène and Roman times. Only the Celtic‐Roman cemetery of Wederath‐Belginum with continued use from middle La Tène to late antiquity offers a more complex insight into human mortality and animal offerings. People lived longer in the Roman times but had more pathologies compared with the previous La Tène period. Body height remained similar in the La Tène and Roman times. However, differences existed within specific human groups (for example, warriors and craftsmen), compared to the normal population. Sex differences in mortality persisted from La Tène to Roman times. The faunal composition in the burials, settlements, and sanctuaries also shows changes. Since the middle La Tène period, chickens have been present. The first oysters can be found in Augustean times, whereas exotic birds such as crested fowls and peacocks are found only in later Roman times and are quite rare. A new direction in animal‐keeping is demonstrated via an increasing logarithmic size index (LSI) in cattle and sheep. The multivariate methods applied in this study offer further insights into the domain and can serve as helpful tools for osteoarchaeological data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A framework based on generative AI to reconstruct the entire vessel from a fragment is proposed. • The framework is applied to a dataset of six Italian Bronze and Early Iron Age burial contexts, including >4500 records. • The method can be applied to all types of fragments. • Results are evaluated by specialists. • All data and code used is fully available in the supplementary materials for replication and further applications (https://github.com/lrncrd/ReconstructionPots). Reconstructing archaeological vessels from their fragments is a complex task that requires a long investment of time as well as in-depth knowledge of specific archaeological material. This paper proposes a framework based on generative artificial intelligence to reconstruct the entire vessel from a fragment. The proposed framework is based on a fragment simulation mechanism and the combination of three different deep learning models that position, reconstruct, and post-process the fragment to obtain a ready-to-use reconstruction. The method is applied as a case-study to a dataset of six Italian Bronze and Early Iron Age burial contexts, including about 4000 complete vessels and over 400 actual fragments. The results are evaluated using statistical metrics and expert human evaluation, showing promising results. The proposed method is a positive application of generative artificial intelligence in archaeology and provides a solution to the use of fragments in the digital and computational analysis of ceramics. The dataset, as well as the code used and the analytical pipeline, are fully available in the supplementary materials. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of complementary techniques in this paper contributes to a better understanding of the long-term evolution of the riparian landscape on the southern banks of the lacus Ligustinus (current Guadalquivir marshlands) through the knowledge of related human settlements. The techniques used included field-transect surveys, malacology, anthracology, radiocarbon dating, and magnetometry. Deep plowing at the archaeological site of Haza de Santa Catalina revealed vestiges of different time periods. Comprehensive datasets based on best archaeological practices were collected to explore holistic ecological perspectives and changes over time. Here, we focus specifically on the transition between the 4th and 3rd millennia (Neolithic) and the 1st millennium b.c. (Iron Age–Early Roman period) in western Andalusia. In addition, the theoretical frameworks related to the concepts of riparia and emptyscape are expanded with the knowledge gained in the archaeological fieldwork. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The skeleton in question derives from the Late Iron Age monument of Nor Armavir and was unearthed from burial No. 19. The deceased was buried in an unusual position. In this article, we characterise the pathological bony changes indicative of tuberculous spondylitis. The skeleton was subject to a detailed macroscopic investigation. Besides age at death estimation and sex determination, a careful palaeopathological evaluation was performed on the bone remains. In addition, volumetric (3D) computed tomography was carried out on four lumbar vertebrae (L2--5) to complement the macromorphology-based diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mountainous topography of the Armenian Highlands and the South Caucasus accentuates the importance of valleys as areas of habitation and as conduits among these interspersed settlement areas. The Vedi River Valley of Armenia, located along the southeastern edge of the Ararat Plateau (Plain), serves as one such important transportation route in and through these highland areas. At the center of the mouth of this valley sits the prominent Vedi Fortress, ideally situated for defense of this route and landscape. The site was first fortified during the Late Bronze Age, perhaps during the centralization of power by a local polity contained within the valley. Burned down and abandoned at the end of the Iron Age I, the fortress would then see varied reuse through several later periods given its prominent location and proximity to other local power centers. Of particular importance is its refortification during the Early Medieval (Late Antique) period, when Armenia was under Sasanian Persian suzerainty. This article presents the results of archaeological fieldwork in this valley and at the fortress, followed by a discussion of the landscape's fortification and refortification during these two periods. The Vedi River Valley provides a case study for examining control, mobility, and the negotiation of local and remote power within the specific contained landscape of a river valley in mountainous terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]