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China was one of the earliest domestication centres for pigs in the Old World. Since their domestication, pigs have been significantly involved in human societies from both economic and ceremonial perspectives, so the investigation of pig domestication is key to understand the development process of ancient communities. However, the pig domestication process has not been fully explored in Shandong, one of the earliest regions for exploiting pig resources, such as canine teeth, in China. We use geometric morphometry to analyse the second lower molars of pigs associated with diverse periods, including the Longshan, Yueshi, and Shang and Zhou, at Dinggong, China. The results show that while there was a relatively consistent pig phenotype in this region from the Longshan to the Shang and Zhou periods, the centroid sizes of pigs experienced a moderate decrease over time. A certain number of wild boars were harvested by humans, but their proportions declined chronologically along with the gradually intensification of pig management. Apart from household refuse, fodders similar to the staple plants for humans were provisioned to those managed pigs, suggesting a close relationship between humans and pigs. In spite of more time and energy required for managing pigs, human societies could have benefited from this investment with a better secured meat supply and more ceremonial materials, which helped strengthen the human–pig bond from the Neolithic period to today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trepanation, a surgical procedure performed on the skull, finds its roots in prehistoric times. This investigation delves into the analysis of the trepanned skulls housed at the Musée de l'Homme in Paris, focusing on those found in France, a region abundant in archaeological evidence of early neurosurgical techniques. With the opportunity to scrutinize these human remains, our study aimed to analyze the dimensions of Neolithic trepanations across 41 skulls. We particularly explored the relationships between minimum and maximum hole diameters, revealing a strong interrelation. Additionally, we successfully applied a straightforward protocol to determine the perforation area in ten Neolithic trepanations. These findings shed light on the medical practices of ancient civilizations, particularly in France during the Neolithic era. Moreover, this study underscores the significance of museum collections as valuable resources for scientific inquiry and the historical understanding of medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age sites located in the Ras al-Hadd cape and Ras al-Jinz Bay area (Ash-Sharqiyyah South Governorate, Sultanate of Oman) have provided thousands of zooarchaeological dolphin remains suggesting a strong reliance on the exploitation of these animals. Dolphins are hard to identify to the species level due to a highly comparable interspecies osteological morphology as well as a general lack of extensive osteological reference collections. As a result, such remains are frequently identified as "dolphin", without any further species identification being undertaken. In this study, we assess whether an osteometric method for distinguishing the nine dolphin species that are present in Omani waters can be used to identify the zooarchaeological specimens. Zooarchaeology by Mass-Spectrometry (ZooMS) was also undertaken on a subset of the specimens but proved ineffective due to the poor preservation of the material in an arid climate. This evidence strengthens the need for effective species identification methods based on traditional zooarchaeological methods. This research is based on our ongoing analysis of the thousands of dolphin remains from the Omani zooarchaeological assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a new archaeobotanical synthesis for prehistoric Crete. It brings together all the published plant records from Neolithic and Bronze Age sites across the island, as well as unpublished archaeobotanical information for nine other prehistoric sites: Aposelemi, Chalepa, Mesorachi, Mesorachi Akri, Sopata, Chryssi, Chalasmenos, Juktas, and Alonaki. Following a previous synthesis in 2013, the records were compiled into a single database and the data synthesized according to plant type (cereals, legumes, fruits and nuts, oily plant taxa/condiments, and other wild/herbaceous plant taxa). The results of this synthesis are presented in comparison with those from the earlier one in order to highlight both consistent and new trends evident in recorded plant data over the previous decade. The comparison shows that the number of archaeobotanical records for prehistoric Crete has doubled in the last 10 years, augmenting plant data for certain cultural periods (such as Postpalatial) and types of contexts (such as ritual). This synthesis also reviews the methodological practices and lines of research associated with the new records, providing an up-to-date account of the archaeobotanical discipline. Overall, this synthesis acts as a current and comprehensive base reference point for both archaeologists and archaeobotanists studying prehistoric Crete. 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore the ways in which residents of Neolithic Çatalhöyük in Anatolia differentiated themselves as well as the ways in which they did not. We integrate numerous data sets in order to assess patterns of inequality (A) across buildings with contemporaneous occupations, (B) between buildings that did or did not burn at abandonment, and (C) through time. We use Gini coefficients so as to maximize comparability with other studies of inequality in the ancient and modern worlds, discussing the underlying data and our results to clarify and enhance the value of the quantitative analyses. We evaluate whether or not trajectories of inequality align across data sets in order to determine how far success in one realm correlated with success in another. Our results indicate no unified trajectory of inequality through time. We perceive broadly similar access to staple foods, but not to goods less directly related to survival; relatively elevated income inequality during the middle portion of the site's occupation, plausibly deliberately tamped down; and no evidence for institutionalized or lasting economic or social inequality. These findings shed light on Neolithic social dynamics and also contribute to broader discussions of inequality and the social ramifications of early agropastoralism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct 14C accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dates obtained on a selection of pottery sherds recovered from surface sites in the Western Sahara have confirmed that the first potteries of this region appeared at the middle of the seventh millennium cal. BP. From the geographical point of view, these early results are detected all along the latitudinal gradient and from the Atlantic to the inland regions, which indicates that adoption of the new ware was fast and uniform in the entire territory. The decorative motifs are dominated by herringbones and series of short segments, always impressed with combs. These graphisms do not correspond with the abundant and widely distributed rock art motifs of the same region. However, they do appear incised on the surfaces of the pierced ostrich eggs used as containers since the Epipaleolithic. This may indicate a certain degree of symbolic continuity between the Epipaleolithic and the Neolithic in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate if ImageJ could be used to quantify the severity of external auditory exostoses (EAEs) in archaeological human skeletal remains. Thirty‐seven external auditory canals (EACs) with EAEs present (22 right, 15 left) of 100% completeness derived from individuals from archaeological sites on Cyprus dating from the Neolithic to the Roman period were available for analyses. EAC area and EAE area were measured three times as an intra‐observer error test using ImageJ in a two‐dimensional plane. The level of agreement between measurements was assessed using a paired T‐test, Bland–Altman plot, technical error of measurement, and coefficient of reliability. No statistically significant differences were found between measurements of EAC area and EAE area and a high technical measurement of error and coefficient of reliability resulted. ImageJ can be used with a high level of reliability for quantifying the severity of EAEs. This approach enables detailed quantification of EAEs in two‐dimensions, as well as specific measurement of EAE severity to evaluate differences between individuals and assemblages. The percentage of occlusion of the EAC by EAEs may contribute data to interpretations of the potential secondary clinical symptoms encountered by the individual, such as conductive hearing loss. This technique can only be applied to EACs that are of 100% preservation and in EACs where the EAEs are located laterally. Future studies should aim to incorporate the use of ImageJ for quantifying EAE severity in order to develop more detailed comparisons between individuals and assemblages in relation to their duration of exposure to wet and/or wet and windy environments and to evaluate the potential secondary symptoms that individuals with severe EAEs may have encountered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harris lines (HLs) are radiographically visible transverse lines of thickened bone that develop from temporary growth cessation during early life. Often attributed to physiological stress during development, HLs are frequently observed in the long bones of adolescents and become less visible over time due to bone remodeling. In recent years, the validity of HL as a sign of stress has been called into question and the methods used in studying HL through X‐ray analysis scrutinized. In this study, 80 individuals from the Middle Holocene Cis‐Baikal region of Siberia, from the Early Neolithic (EN; 7560–6660 HPD cal. BP) and Late Neolithic (LN; 6060–4970 HPD cal. BP), were studied for the presence and severity of HL. Radiographic analysis employed both the traditional clinical anteroposterior (A–P) orientation and a potentially improved mediolateral (M–L) orientation. EN groups in the Cis‐Baikal are known to have experienced higher levels than their LN counterparts; thus, if HL reflect stress experiences, we expected to see more HL in the EN population compared with the LN population. We also expected more visible HL in the M–L orientation due to the suggested improvement in capturing more lines compared with the A–P orientation. While the results support the use of M–L orientation during X‐ray capture of HL, there was not a higher number of HL in the EN population as expected. Instead, no significant differences were found in HL severity between the EN and LN populations, and age‐at‐death resulted in a greater effect on HL counts regardless of mortuary site. The results from this study align not with known stress data from the Middle Holocene Cis‐Baikal populations but rather with data pertaining to known growth patterns. We therefore advocate against the use of HL as a sign of physiological stress and instead suggest HL as a reflection of bone growth trajectory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal domestication led to changes in the interaction between animals and humans, including new ways of exploitation, which could potentially leave lesions on the animals' bones. This study aims to examine changes in the prevalence of pathological manifestation following changes in human‐animal interactions as a result their domestication. For this purpose, we studied 19,565 animal remains recovered from archaeological excavations, dated from the Pre‐Pottery Neolithic period to historical periods and assigned the pathologies into types. Of these, 60 animal remains presented pathological lesions. The suspected pathological cases were validated using a microscope, X‐ray, and/or micro‐CT scan. Lesions were divided into four categories: trauma, aging/musculoskeletal stress marks (MSM), periodontal diseases, and inflammatory processes. Then, our database was combined with previously published data to a total of 26,596 animal remains, out of which 128 demonstrated pathological lesions. We found that the prevalence of lesions in animals was higher in the historical periods compared with prehistoric periods. Moreover, based on a comparison between recent gazelles living in captivity and those living in the wild, we found that captivity resulted in the deterioration of the animals' health. We concluded that pathologies were more frequent in livestock in historic periods, in comparison with wild species and livestock from earlier periods. Such lesions were common not only in working livestock (cattle and donkeys) but also in non‐working domesticates (caprines and chickens) and companion animals (dogs and cats). Variations in the pathological frequencies between these three categories may be attributed to differences in exploitation, including the intensification of farming and herding. Finally, this study provides a unique reference dataset for zooarchaeologists when studying ancient animal assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the discovery of megalithic tombs in the Ahlen-Falkenberger Moor in Germany. As part of a research project, three passage graves were examined, in which well-preserved elements of the burial constructions were found. Various burial activities of the Funnel Beaker Culture could be identified and dated. The excavations and scientific analyses provide insights into the complex architecture and use, as well as the environmental development around the megalithic grave Wanna 1592. Various identifiable phases are presented, including the construction of the monument, the burial level and activities in the entrance area, human impacts in the surroundings, destruction and sealing of the chamber, disturbance of the outer stone packing, and the disappearance in the bog. The text describes archaeological finds and soil analyses at a burial mound in Wanna. Two deposits were found, one outside the chamber and one inside the chamber, which can be dated to the Late Bronze Age. Ceramic fragments and flint artifacts were also discovered. The soil analyses show that the burial mound was built on a Luvisol surface, which has transformed into a Podsol outside the mound. Micro-morphological analyses were also conducted, revealing further details about the soil development. The article describes the results of an investigation of megalithic graves in Ahlen-Falkenberg, Denmark. It is noted that the graves have similar construction features and fit into the regional distribution of passage graves. It is speculated that the graves were built in a continuous working process, with social aspects playing a role in the choice and construction of the megaliths. The graves were likely built within a short construction period, and the materials came from the immediate surroundings. The graves were used during the Early Neolithic period and later abandoned in the Late Neolithic period. In Schleswig-Holstein, the entrance of a dolmen was destroyed in the Late Neolithic period. With the continuous rise of the bog water level, Wanna 1591 and 1592 were situated in wet contexts at the end of the Neolithic period, and Wanna 1588 at the latest in the EBA. Human activities increasingly focused on the higher Ahlen Geests, which included landscape clearances. The last practices were carried out during the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age in Wanna 1588, when pottery vessels were placed between two capstones. In conclusion, it can be said that the megalithic landscape of Ahlen-Falkenberg has been well-preserved thanks to peat growth over the past thousands of years, providing insights into the original building elements and techniques, as well as burial practices of the FBC megaliths in the Neolithic period. Further excavations are necessary to clarify open questions. [Extracted from the article]

Amber appears in the archaeological material of the Eastern Baltic region in the Middle Neolithic and continues in intensive use until the end of the Neolithic. Four major amber-working centres are known in the Eastern Baltic, the least studied of which is the settlement of Siliņupe (4th mill. BC). Not yet widely applied in research on Stone Age amber technologies, but very promising, is an analytical approach combining experimental archaeology and traceology to study processing choices made in specific production stages (i. e., individual technological elements), revealing that fine-grained sandstone was favoured for surface grinding, while flint tools were most widely used for shaping and surface treatment, distinguishing three techniques, namely shaving, scraping and pressure flaking, each identifiable by characteristic features. The study suggests that amber and flint processing were largely intertwined, as pressure flaking along with indirect percussion (used for splitting amber) derive from flint processing, and in the case of pressure flaking, required specific know-how. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study presents biological affinities between the last hunter‐fisher‐gatherers and first food‐producing societies from the Nile Valley. We investigate odontometric and dental tissue proportion changes between these populations from the Middle Nile Valley and acknowledge the biological processes behind them. Materials and Methods: Dental remains of 329 individuals from Nubia and Central Sudan that date from the Late Pleistocene to the mid‐Holocene are studied. Using 3D imaging techniques, we investigated outer and inner metric aspects of upper central incisors, and first and second upper molars. Results: Late Paleolithic and Mesolithic foragers display homogeneous crown dimensions, dental tissue proportions, and enamel thickness distribution. This contrasts with Neolithic trends for significant differences from earlier samples on inner and outer aspects. Finally, within the Neolithic sample differences are found between Nubian and Central Sudanese sites. Discussion: Substantial dental variation appears to have occurred around 6000 bce in the Nile Valley, coinciding with the emergence of food‐producing societies in the region. Archeological and biological records suggest little differences in dietary habits and dental health during this transition. Furthermore, the substantial variations identified here would have happened in an extremely short time, a few centuries at most. This does not support in situ diet‐related adaptation. Rather, we suggest these data are consistent with some level of population discontinuity between the Mesolithic and Neolithic samples considered here. Complex settlement processes could also explain the differences between Nubia and Central Sudan, and with previous results based on nonmetric traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a previous Current Anthropology article considering the Scandinavian Bronze Age (Ling, Earle, and Kristiansen 2018), a model was proposed to explain the concentration of metal wealth and social stratification under conditions of low population density. This model is now considered to help understand anomalies in the archaeological sequence of eastern Taiwan during the Neolithic and Early Metal Ages. In contrast to Taiwan's agriculturally richer western coast, evidence of complexity arose unexpectedly early on the east despite its more limited agricultural soils and lower populations. We propose that these outcomes resulted from a maritime economy, in which local agricultural surpluses finance distant voyaging that an emergent elite might control. Travels carried a substantial amount of rare nephrite from Taiwan's eastern coast to Island Southeast Asia and the South China Sea. Subsequently, metals and glass technologies were introduced from there into Taiwan. This trade and technological transfer were earliest on the eastern coast, perhaps unexpected because it was more removed from the Chinese mainland, a likely source for cultural transfers. We propose that eastern coast Taiwanese populations developed an entrepreneurial raiding-trading political economy, perhaps involving slaves, that would explain these anomalies. Predating specialized merchant trading, a raiding-trading complex, not unlike later piracy, may have provided broadscale maritime interactions partially responsible for patterned developments of political complexity in this region of the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study of ceramics from Northwest China from the Neolithic and Bronze Age (c. 3300–600 BCE), providing insights into variations in human–ceramic interactions over time and space. Based on macroscopic and petrographic analysis of ceramics from 10 sites, this paper shows that there is much more complexity in ceramic technology than previously thought. It identifies a development from a bi‐modal distinction between painted fine ware and rusticated coarse wares shared among communities across Northwest China to strongly localised ceramic traditions with new fabrics, vessel shapes, and decorations, some of them potentially of outside origin, reflecting considerable societal change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on understanding the use of space at Aşıklı Höyük in central Turkey through the geochemical analyses of five overlying floors of a quadrangular mudbrick building dating to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic Period. The research allows us to follow the process on a micro-scale, from the design and construction of the structure to its abandonment. We aim to perceive the role of plastered floors to gain insights into the producers and users of the building and those who kept it alive and maintained it. We will treat floors as one of the main actors of these spaces and zero in on entangled relationships by addressing a range of other aspects in the building. The analyses enable the identification of use patterns. Based on our results, we attempt to provide suggestions about the location of the roof hatches and hence the main access of the inhabitants to the external world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiocarbon dating and Bayesian chronology modeling have provided precise dating for the rondel at Nowe Objezierze (northwestern Poland). This monument, located in the farthest reaches of the "Danubian World," sheds new light on rondels and the way they functioned. A total of 44 radiocarbon dates are now available for the site, and modeling of these (taking into account depositional processes and the results of palynological analysis) has identified plausible scenarios for its construction and use. The rondel was built around 4800 cal b.c. and operated for about three centuries. The cyclical digging and filling of ditches and the sequential establishment of new ones characterized the historical development of the site. The long duration of use of the site served as a base to analyze the potential construction technology and to propose the reconstruction of the appearance of the rondel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the profound impact of waters, seas, and oceans on the historical trajectory of Southeast Asia, challenging the prevailing narratives that have often overlooked the vital contributions of the region’s seafaring ancestors. Traditionally dismissed as mere sources of inspiration, these maritime expanses were instrumental in shaping the transition from traditional kingdoms to modern nationstates in Southeast Asia. While historical theories such as the Out of Yunan and Out of Taiwan paradigms proposed by Western scholars have dominated discussions on the development of traditional civilizations in the Southeast Asian Archipelago (Nusantara), this paper advocates for a Southeast Asia-centric perspective to rectify the marginalization of historical realities. The narrative encompasses the ancient epoch and prehistoric eras marked by the migrations of Homo erectus and Homo sapiens from mainland Asia, providing a comprehensive understanding of the early evolution of maritime civilizations in the region. This exploration highlights the risks and sacrifices made by seafaring communities from B.C. to A.D., as they navigated treacherous waters and stormy weathers to ensure the legacy and continuity of future generations. Far from being trivial, their millennia-long contributions have been likened to “shipwrecks laying at the bottom of the sea in their forgotten watery graves.” By elucidating how these communities utilized seas and oceans as sources of emancipation and development, this study aims to reposition Southeast Asia as an epicentre of civilization, rivalling any in the ancient world. Ultimately, this research provides a nuanced perspective on the region’s maritime history, challenging existing paradigms and contributing to the broader international discourse on the development of civilizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper reconstructs the population dynamics within the Hyllie Mosse region (Scania, Sweden) from 2400 to 1600 BC. South‐western Scania is particularly well‐known thanks to extensive archaeological work in the past decades, making it one of the most thoroughly investigated areas in Sweden. The Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age periods are of paramount importance in understanding the socio‐cultural transformations within the Baltic region. By integrating a comprehensive database of longhouses from Scania with the available archaeological data from the Hyllie Mosse area, this study provides absolute demographic estimates through a transparent and replicable methodology. It highlights that the region experienced a significant peak in human occupation between 2000 and 1800 BC, followed by a decline. In prehistoric times, the area was covered by a relatively large bog, and was therefore not uniformly settled. At its peak, it is estimated that the region, approximately 9.7 km2 in size – 4 km2 of which have been archaeologically investigated – could have supported 75 to 150 inhabitants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Oman, many coastal sites dated to the Neolithic have yielded material culture related to ornament manufacture. These sites are the remnants of fishermen occupations, developing an economy mainly based on maritime and mangrove resources. The Omani islands of Maṣīrah and Al‐Ḥallāniyah are both situated in the Arabian Sea. Today, Maṣīrah is located about 20 km from the continent, while Al‐Ḥallāniyah is part of the Khurīyā Murīyā archipelago off the southern coast of Oman. On Maṣīrah, workshops have been discovered in Neolithic shell middens, revealing the work of stone and Spondylus sp. shells for bead production, using lithic tools. Separated by approximately 400 km from Maṣīrah, Al‐Ḥallāniyah yielded several Neolithic sites with similar evidence for shell bead production. The main lithic tools discovered are micro‐drills, pièces esquillées (splintered pieces) made of local chert, and multitasking tools made of stone, used as anvils, hammerstone and/or polishing stone. Most of the micro‐drills are made from bladelets either with sharped edges or with steep edges and testify to predetermined knapping operations. However, others created on undifferentiated flakes appear to be more opportunistic (or expedient). Micro‐drills of the Maṣīrah and Al‐Ḥallāniyah types seem to be quite new to the Neolithic toolkit of coastal Oman. Pièces esquillées demonstrate the use of bipolar flaking (performed on an anvil) but functional questions remain. These could be cores, but also chisels used between a hammer and a material (shell) placed on an anvil. Stone tools show marks that are characteristic of use as hammers, anvils and as tools used to polish the beads after perforation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In western Asia, the Zagros foothills played a fundamental role in the formulation of early explanatory hypotheses on the origins of agriculture. The excavations at the emblematic Neolithic site of Ali Kosh, Deh Luran, led to the development of the so-called "marginal zone hypothesis." However, some chronological inconsistencies remained until a new stratigraphic excavation was carried out in 2017 to revise the findings. According to the new evaluation, Ali Kosh was occupied from ca. 7500–6500 cal b.c. During the Boz Mordeh phase (ca. 7500–7350 b.c.), the inhabitants occupied the site seasonally, but they became increasingly sedentary in the succeeding Ali Kosh phase (ca. 7350–7000 b.c.). In addition to obsidian, they also imported beads of stone and sea shell. Moreover, they increasingly relied on herding sheep and fully domesticated goats. The emergence of Neolithic life in the lowlands was a direct consequence of cultural changes in the central Zagros. It is not yet known whether this was a result of climatic deterioration or population pressure in the highlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Qicheng city wall is located in Puyang, Henan Province, China, and it is an important archaeological site from the Neolithic period in the North China Plain region. A trench across the northwest corner of the city wall revealed an 11 m thick sediment sequence, closely associated with human activities, which provides valuable records for the dating and environmental evolution of the site. In this study, we have applied field geological investigation, grain size analysis, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, and radiocarbon (14C) dating to reveal the history and changes in the site. The ancient city wall was built on the sedimentary sequence (U1) of the high terrace of the Ancient Yellow River. The upper 11 m thick sedimentary sequence (U2) recorded early moat sedimentation (U2 L) and was followed by three cycles of paleosol-flooding deposits (U2 U). The quartz OSL signals of the U2 silts are extremely bright, indicating high sensitivity. Partial bleaching was observed as well. The quartz OSL single-grain SAR dating results are consistent with that of charcoal 14C dating and are closer to the 'true' burial ages of the sediments than those obtained with multiple grains. By using a Bayesian statistical model, a chronological framework for the U2 sedimentary sequence was established. The earliest construction date of the Qicheng city wall is dating to 2100–1300 BC, during the late Longshan period, which is consistent with archaeological evidence (Li et al., 2015). The Qicheng city was not significantly affected by paleo-flooding prior to 870–960 AD, but experiences frequent flooding thereafter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brucella melitensis is a major livestock bacterial pathogen and zoonosis, causing disease and infection-related abortions in small ruminants and humans. A considerable burden to animal-based economies today, the presence of Brucella in Neolithic pastoral communities has been hypothesised but we lack direct genomic evidence thus far. We report a 3.45X B. melitensis genome preserved in an ~8000 year old sheep specimen from Menteşe Höyük, Northwest Türkiye, demonstrating that the pathogen had evolved and was circulating in Neolithic livestock. The genome is basal with respect to all known B. melitensis and allows the calibration of the B. melitensis speciation time from the primarily cattle-infecting B. abortus to approximately 9800 years Before Present (BP), coinciding with a period of consolidation and dispersal of livestock economies. We use the basal genome to timestamp evolutionary events in B. melitensis, including pseudogenization events linked to erythritol response, the supposed determinant of the pathogen's placental tropism in goats and sheep. Our data suggest that the development of herd management and multi-species livestock economies in the 11th–9th millennium BP drove speciation and host adaptation of this zoonotic pathogen. Brucella melitensis is a zoonotic bacterial pathogen of livestock that can infect humans and causes brucellosis. Here, the authors sequence an ancient specimen of B. melitensis and show that the species emerged in the Neolithic period, around the time of development of animal management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine learning algorithms have revolutionized data analysis by uncovering hidden patterns and structures. Clustering algorithms play a crucial role in organizing data into coherent groups. We focused on K-Means, hierarchical, and Self-Organizing Map (SOM) clustering algorithms for analyzing homogeneous datasets based on archaeological finds from the middle phase of Pre-Pottery B Neolithic in Southern Levant (10,500–9500 cal B.P.). We aimed to assess the repeatability of these algorithms in identifying patterns using quantitative and qualitative evaluation criteria. Thorough experimentation and statistical analysis revealed the pros and cons of each algorithm, enabling us to determine their appropriateness for various clustering scenarios and data types. Preliminary results showed that traditional K-Means may not capture datasets' intricate relationships and uncertainties. The hierarchical technique provided a more probabilistic approach, and SOM excelled at maintaining high-dimensional data structures. Our research provides valuable insights into balancing repeatability and interpretability for algorithm selection and allows professionals to identify ideal clustering solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have combined the analysis of use-wear traces, traceology, and the proteomic taxonomic identification method Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS). Traceology provides information on the usage, in this case, of bone artefacts, while ZooMS allows for taxonomic identifications where diagnostic features are otherwise gone. The approaches therefore offer complementary information on bone artefacts, allowing for insights into species selection strategies in bone tool manufacture and their subsequent use. Here we present a case study of 20 bone artefacts, mainly bone points, from the Early Neolithic cave site of Coro Trasito located on the southern slope of the Central Pyrenees. Hitherto, studies on Early Neolithic bone artefacts from the Iberian Peninsula have suggested based on morphological assessments that Ovis aries/Capra hircus constituted the majority of the bone material selected for bone tool production. However, the taxonomic identification in this study suggests that, at this site, Cervidae was selected equally to that of O. aries/C. hircus. Furthermore, bone artefacts made from Cervidae specimens seem to be utilised in a wider range of artefact types compared to O. aries/C. hircus. Coro Trasito's bone artefact species composition is probably site-specific to some degree, however, morphological assessments of bone artefacts might not be representative and could be biased towards certain species. Therefore, research on bone artefacts' usage could possibly gain new insights by implementing ZooMS in combination with traceology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Revivals of public interest in the Neolithic Near East have generally coincided with the emergence of powerful imagery, such as the discovery of Çatalhöyük's striking wall paintings in the 1960s. Now, sixty years later, the sculptures of Göbekli Tepe are ensuring the period's widespread appeal. The capacity of these well-preserved buildings to carry such imagery until today has made them, in turn, an image of the supposed achievements of Neolithic sedentism. But the popularity of these images depends on their decontextualization. This modernist notion that permanent architecture represents the conquest of spatial forms over time is in contradiction with the early Neolithic experience of settled life, which had more to do with the unstable duration of places than with an emancipation from motion. This essay explores the Neolithic preference for earth architecture over more stable construction materials such as stone, its influence on visual culture, and how it contributed to building new living relations to the inhabited landscape. Instead of the sense of fixity and completeness that we, moderns, desperately seek in plans, reconstructions, and monumentality, it is the very transience, repetitiveness, and cumulativeness of earth that determined the transformations of the archaeological record. In other words, rhythms are key to understanding Neolithic sedentism in ways that differ wildly from the static images we have substituted for it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a critical review of all published data on findings of the skeletal elements of sturgeons (Acipenseridae) during archaeological excavations conducted in the territory of Ukraine. Sturgeon remains are present in materials from 41 archaeological sites, the age of which covers the stage from the Neolithic (4 kyr bc) up to the Modern Period (17th century ad). Five species (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, Acipenser nudiventris, Acipenser ruthenus, Acipenser stellatus, and Huso huso) are recognized. Of them, the Russian sturgeon, the sterlet, and the stellate sturgeon are the most abundant, while beluga is somewhat less numerous, and the fringebarbel sturgeon is represented by the smallest number of remains. The presence of the latter species (and the absence of the European sturgeon Acipenser sturio) in the historical past of Ukraine is discussed. We also highlight the importance of original and published data accessibility in archaeozoological research and discuss the issues of species identification, body length, and weight reconstruction of sturgeons based on skeletal elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Konak Asarı is located in a plateau and forested area in the southeast of Eşme district in Uşak, Central Western Anatolia. In the settlement located on a high ridge to the east of Asar Hill, various pottery shards and chipped stone tools that contribute to prehistoric research in the Uşak region were identified. This settlement, dating back to the Neolithic Age, has cultural relations with the settlements in its immediate surroundings and in the Upper Menderes valley. It is also connected to Sarıgöl, Alaşehir plains and Manisa-Gediz region. There is little diversity in form among the brown, red and grey slipped pottery dating back to the 7th millennium BC. Apart from the bowls and pots consisting of undecorated examples, many flint tools were identified. Three flint cores were found, indicating the production of chipped stone tools in the settlement. Additionally, 2 obsidian tools were identified. The settlement findings are similar to the Upper Menderes Valley, Lakes Region and Western Anatolian coastal settlements. Konak Asarı provides descriptive data about the Neolithic Age settlements of the Uşak Region, specifically Western Anatolia, and its pottery typology and chipped stone tool technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the hypothesis that Waun Mawn in West Wales provided the bluestone monoliths that were used at Stonehenge. Some archaeologists believe that the site supports the last remains of a giant stone circle or 'Proto Stonehenge' which was dismantled and transported to Salisbury Plain around 5000 years ago. It was claimed, after three excavation seasons at Waun Mawn in 2017, 2018 and 2021, that there is firm evidence of some standing stones which were later removed or broken up, but it has still not been demonstrated that there ever was a small stone circle here, let alone a 'giant' one. Furthermore, there have been no control studies in the neighbourhood which might demonstrate that the speculative feature has any unique characteristics. There is nothing at Waun Mawn to link this site in any way to Stonehenge, and this is confirmed by recent cited research. No evidence has been brought forward in support of the claim that 'this was one of the great religious and political centres of Neolithic Britain'. It is concluded that at Waun Mawn and elsewhere in West Wales there has been substantial 'interpretative inflation' driven by the desire to demonstrate a Stonehenge connection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combustion features are routinely studied using micro-geoarchaeology in prehistoric sites, providing information on human social life. In submerged prehistory such features have not been studied from the microscopic perspective, and here we present a study of three combustion features from two submerged Neolithic sites from the southeastern Mediterranean: Atlit-Yam (ninth-millennium cal BP) and Neve Yam (eighth-millennium cal BP). Mineralogical analyses were utilized to detect heated clay while quantification of phytoliths, ash pseudomorphs, and dung spherulites allowed determination of fuel sources. Micromorphology was deployed to determine whether or not the features represent in situ combustion activities and to understand formation processes. Two installations from Atlit-Yam contain evidence for short in situ fire events that were fueled by wood and reached 700–900 °C. One installation from Neve Yam contains reworked deposits that bear evidence for combustion at 500–700 °C, includes remains of wood ash and livestock dung. However, this feature cannot be identified with certainty as an in situ combustion feature. This research shows that pyrotechnological, functional, and social information can be gleaned from underwater combustion features using a micro-geoarchaeological approach and techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bitter vetch (Vicia ervilia (L.) Willd.), one of the Near Eastern founder crops, is an annual cleistogamous legume domesticated during the Neolithic period. Originally used for human consumption, over time it was replaced by other pulses and downgraded to a fodder crop. When coupled with a small degree of cross hybridization, cleistogamy confers evolutive plasticity to the plant species. The aim of the present work consisted in setting up optimal conditions to overcome the existing cross hybridization barriers in V. ervilia. Genotypes of Turkish origin, characterized by an erect growth habit were crossed with Italian counterparts characterized by high seed production. A detailed cyto-histological analysis of flower development was undertaken to determine the optimal stage for emasculation and manual cross. Ninety-eight crosses were carried out and the hybrid nature of the putative F1 progenies was assessed by SSR (simple sequence repeat) DNA markers. Fifty-five seeds were obtained of which only five gave rise to hybrid plants. Among these, only three turned out to be fertile and two of which generated a consistent number of F2 seeds whose plants were assessed in greenhouse for seed production and plant growth habit. Most of the evaluated traits showed mean values of the F2 plants intermediate between the two initial parents, confirming that intraspecific hybridization is not only possible but also useful to exploit the diversity confined in different bitter vetch populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is concerned with the spectroscopic analysis of red and brown to black pigments used for decoration on 22 fragments of Early Neolithic pottery from settlements located in today's Western Bulgaria. Two complementary analytical techniques are applied – Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A multivariate statistical method Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to the obtained LIBS spectral data in order to classify the objects according to the elemental composition of the decorations. The results from LIBS and PCA collaboration show that the investigated sherds are separated mainly in two groups – iron-enriched and manganese-enriched. To complement the results from LIBS measurement and identify the minerals in pigments, an FTIR was applied. The FTIR results of the red decorations revealed the presence of the iron-based mineral hematite, while the brown to black pigments were based on iron-bearing minerals such as hematite, magnetite, and maghemite. Additionally, in some of the samples, a mixture of iron and manganese oxides was detected suggesting the use of ferromanganese ores as a raw material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, based on our previous expertise on ceramic artifacts, several archaeometric methods applied to some samples collected from the Dudești archaeological site (Oltenia region, Romania) are reported for the first time in the literature. The chemical composition, and microstructural and morphological characterization of these samples offer important conclusions about the processing conditions. Some specific techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF), optical microscopy (OM), stereomicroscopy, environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy provide compositional information about composition and the decay processes. Additionally, the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method helps to estimate pore sizes and specific surface areas. A thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/TDG) was used to establish details regarding the production technology and also the raw materials source used to make the ceramics. The obtained results indicated that the ceramics are based on a paste of muscovite and feldspar, with high plasticity, together with quartz and hematite/goethite and calcite, the latter in very low concentrations. According to the obtained results, we could assume that clays from the investigated samples had a low concentration of calcium. Gypsum is present as paste in a very low concentration, identified by the presence of a sulphate group in WDXRF. In the same context, iron oxides have a significant impact on the firing atmosphere of iron-rich clay, resulting in blackening under reducing conditions and a reddish coloration under oxidative conditions. The use of hematite and gypsum as pigments further contributes to the color variations in the pottery. The consistent firing temperature range of 200–600 °C in Dudești pottery implies a standardized production process, the variation in color being dependent on the specific reducing/oxidative regime conditions (reducing atmosphere followed by rapid oxidation). This relationship between clay composition and local sources suggests a connection to Neolithic pottery production in the region and their color depending on the reducing/oxidative regime conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has a 9000-year-long history of cereal-based alcohol production, with the use of molds (filamentous fungi) likely being one of the earliest fermentation techniques. This method later developed into the uniquely East Asian qu (koji) starter compound, containing grains, molds, yeasts, and bacteria. Recent studies have revealed that this method was already widely applied during the Neolithic period. However, much less is known about its development during the early dynastic times, and our knowledge of this innovation has mainly relied on textual materials. Here, we present direct evidence, based on microbotanical, microbial, and chemical analyses, for the fermentation method of a 2300-year-old liquid preserved in a sealed bronze bottle unearthed in a Qin tomb at Yancun, Shaanxi. The results of this research suggest that this liquid is likely a fermented beverage made from wheat/barley, rice, Job's tears, broomcorn millet, and pulses. The fermentation starter may have been a cereal-based qu, consisting of a wide range of microorganisms, including molds (Aspergillus and Monascus), yeasts, and bacteria. Our findings suggest that the tradition of selecting suitable grains and microbial communities for brewing alcohol, possibly with a maiqu starter (primarily wheat/barley-based qu), may have been well established more than two thousand years ago. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Dental microwear (DMA) is a tool used for the palaeodiet reconstruction of animals in Archaeology. The use of this proxy on domestic ungulates provides valuable information to reconstruct livestock strategies, yet it presents several methodological limitations. Most studies have been carried out using low-magnification DMA and the interpretations often relied on comparisons with databases of extant wild ungulates. In addition, several studies have highlighted challenges in discerning diets in extant domestic caprines. In parallel, dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA) – a quantitative methodology based on 3D micro-texture height maps – has shown better discrimination. In this paper, we explore the capacity to distinguish four different management strategies of domestic goats (Capra hircus) and three species of wild ibexes (Capra nubiana, C. pyrenaica and C. ibex) using DMTA. Results revealed good discrimination among extant domestic goat populations and between wild and domestic goats. This new dataset was subsequently used to characterise the palaeodiet of archaeological goats from two Pre-Pottery Neolithic B sites in the southern Levant. Preliminary findings suggest evidence of human intervention in goats at least during the early 8th millennium BCE. In addition, incorporating various current management strategies has enhanced our understanding of early goat domestication in southern Levant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yangshao culture, as the most important Neolithic culture in China, is famous for its finely decorated pottery. In this work, Yangshao potteries excavated in Shanxi province, one of the core distribution areas, were studied by micro‐Raman spectroscopy combined with optical microscopy, X‐ray fluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy. The color of the red decor is derived from hematite and maghemite. The black decorations on the surface are more complex, which could be divided into two types according to the Mn/Fe ratios and crystalline types: (1) low MnO2/Fe2O3 ratio and jacobsite and magnetite and (2) high MnO2/Fe2O3 ratio and hausmannite. The former color is obviously brighter than the latter. This study also demonstrates the potential of micro‐Raman microscopy in analyzing the nature of colorant crystals in Yangshao painted potteries and, therefore, better deciphering the technical details involved in the potteries of Yangshao culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The third millennium BCE was a pivotal period of profound cultural and genomic transformations in Europe associated with migrations from the Pontic-Caspian steppe, which shaped the ancestry patterns in the present-day European genome. We performed a high-resolution whole-genome analysis including haplotype phasing of seven individuals of a collective burial from ~2500 cal BCE and of a Bell Beaker individual from ~2300 cal BCE in the Paris Basin in France. The collective burial revealed the arrival in real time of steppe ancestry in France. We reconstructed the genome of an unsampled individual through its relatives' genomes, enabling us to shed light on the early-stage admixture patterns, dynamics, and propagation of steppe ancestry in Late Neolithic Europe. We identified two major Neolithic/steppe-related ancestry admixture pulses around 3000/2900 BCE and 2600 BCE. These pulses suggest different population expansion dynamics with striking links to the Corded Ware and Bell Beaker cultural complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese civilization, which stands as a shining star in human civilizations, is distinct in its nature and development path. Although it suffered numerous turns of devastation in its 5,000 years of history, it has resiliently remained uninterrupted in its growth and radiance. Characterized by continuity, innovation, unity, inclusiveness, and longstanding commitment to peace, it also exhibits strong cohesion, vitality, flexibility, and adaptability. These characteristics emerged in the Paleolithic Period, indicating that the Chinese civilization did not emerge overnight. Its roots run deep with a long history, sprouting in the Paleolithic Period, breaking ground in the late Neolithic period, and gradually growing into the towering trees it is today. How did the ancient people in China evolve into today's Chinese nation? How did the ancient culture of prehistoric times develop into the current Chinese civilization? What are the connections between the history buried underground and the society we see today? Obviously, there is no clear answer to these questions. There are still many gaps in prehistoric China that need to be filled, and the process of and reasons for the evolution of ethnic groups and cultures still need to be further interpreted. The author tries to trace the roots of the Chinese nation and its civilization back to the Paleolithic Period, using archaeological materials to connect the survival and reproduction process of ancestors and delve into studying the ancient roots of the Huaxia people and Chinese civilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wide diversity of Neolithic funerary practices is increasingly recognised. In Southeast Italy, recent studies have drawn attention to the co-existence of multiple ways of treating the dead within single sites and across the region. In this study, we address how such diverse deathways form a regional framework of ritual practice through histotaphonomic analysis of bone bioerosion. Samples were obtained from articulated, semi-articulated and disarticulated remains from four sites in Apulia which each presented different modes of treatment and disposal of the dead. Bone thin sections were analysed by light microscopy to characterise microstructural preservation through features including bacterial bioerosion, staining, inclusions, and Wedl tunnelling. We investigate the early post-mortem histories of individuals whose remains ended up in various states of dis/articulation and diverse depositional contexts. Disarticulated remains frequently displayed arrested or extensive bacterial bioerosion, which was also found in articulated and semi-articulated skeletons. Additionally, remains deposited in similar contexts, as well as articulated and disarticulated remains deposited together in the same context, often showed different histotaphonomic characteristics, suggesting diverse early post-mortem trajectories. As a result, we argue that Neolithic deathways in southeastern Italy incorporated a high level of diversity in the early post-mortem treatment of the body. A framework for funerary practices emerges, whereby disarticulated remains probably originated from bodies which had been buried previously and subjected to varying extents of shelter, exposure to invertebrates, and duration of burial. However, we acknowledge the ongoing research into the origins of bacterial bioerosion and the problem of equifinality, which leaves open the possibility for further scenarios of early post-mortem treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the development of pottery technology in the Trieste Karst region (North-East Italy) from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age (EBA). It also seeks to identify cultural links with other areas by examining potentially imported vessels. Archaeometric analyses (X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy) reveal significant differences between Neolithic ceramics (Danilo–Vlaška Group) and the majority of Late Copper Age (LCA)/Early Bronze Age (EBA) pottery (primarily associated with the Ljubljana Culture and a few with the Cetina Culture). Neolithic pottery displays consistent characteristics across all vessel types, including coarse grain, prevalent sparry calcite temper, and the absence of grog. In contrast, most LCA and EBA vessels exhibit distinct features such as very fine-grained paste, no sparry calcite, notable use of grog temper, higher quartz, muscovite, and flint content. Notably, from a technological perspective, the analyzed Cetina vessels bear a strong resemblance to the majority of LCA ceramics. The differences between Neolithic and LCA/EBA vessels clearly suggest the use of new raw materials, recipes, and techniques, likely reflecting changes in cultural and social contexts and potential connections with the core area of the Ljubljana Culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of rock cliffs is a longstanding issue and is of practical significance. This case study demonstrates the application and use of advanced 3D modeling techniques, concentrating on the geological formations of the Xrobb l-Ġħaġin peninsula on the south-east coast of Malta, where the Xrobb l-Ġħaġin Neolithic site is located. In order to utilize a static and dynamic analysis of the investigated scenario, a 3D finite element model (FEM) of the geological formation in which the monument is set had to be created. To this end, 3D scanning, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and oblique photogrammetry were first used with state-of-the-art commercial packages for mesh reconstruction. As a result, a geometric and finite element model (FEM) was created, suitable for both static and dynamic analysis. In the second stage, a parametric investigation of the material properties of the structural system of the geological substrate was sought. The structural response of the system was evaluated for different loading scenarios assuming nonlinear finite element analysis. Collapse case scenarios were investigated for standard and weakened materials, predicting which components would collapse first and under which case of weakened materials the collapse occurs. Among other aspects, the main novelty of this paper lies in the integrated approach and multidisciplinary paradigm that supplement the available historical knowledge for this specific cultural heritage Neolithic site towards its conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is not about the archaeological past per se: It is about the archaeological presence, the here and the now and the experiential aspects of archaeological fieldwork. It introduces the concept of an 'experiential archaeological fieldwork' as a means to provoke bodily sensory awareness and the embodiment of the experienced (archaeological) landscape through a vivid sensorial experimentation. At the same time, the experiential fieldwork aspires to re-negotiate the ontology of the archaeological field project, as a social, intellectual, and physical act. The project I present here was practiced in the mountainous landscapes of Lake Plastiras (central Greece), as part of the Neolithic project in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep are among the earliest domesticated livestock species, with a wide variety of breeds present today. However, it remains unclear how far back this diversity goes, with formal documentation only dating back a few centuries. North European short-tailed (NEST) breeds are often assumed to be among the oldest domestic sheep populations, even thought to represent relicts of the earliest sheep expansions during the Neolithic period reaching Scandinavia <6,000 years ago. This study sequenced the genomes (up to 11.6X) of five sheep remains from the Baltic islands of Gotland and Åland, dating from the Late Neolithic (∼4,100 cal BP) to historical times (∼1,600 CE). Our findings indicate that these ancient sheep largely possessed the genetic characteristics of modern NEST breeds, suggesting a substantial degree of long-term continuity of this sheep type in the Baltic Sea region. Despite the wide temporal spread, population genetic analyses show high levels of affinity between the ancient genomes and they also exhibit relatively high genetic diversity when compared to modern NEST breeds, implying a loss of diversity in most breeds during the last centuries associated with breed formation and recent bottlenecks. Our results shed light on the development of breeds in Northern Europe specifically as well as the development of genetic diversity in sheep breeds, and their expansion from the domestication center in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article by Thomas Zimmermann examines the function of decorative plates made of bone or stone in the pre-ceramic Neolithic period in Mesopotamia and the Near East. These plates are referred to as arm protection plates and have a symbolic meaning in relation to hunting. The article also deals with the function of arm protection plates from the late Neolithic period in Europe and finds that they are considered as protection or symbolic jewelry. During this time of transition from hunter-gatherer communities to settled lifestyles, central places with ritual installations played an important role. Hunting had a metaphysical dimension and body ornaments were used to create identities. The text also emphasizes the active role of women in hunting and archery. It is noted that the exact purpose of some archaeological finds remains unclear, but some objects could be interpreted as possible wrist guards. [Extracted from the article]

Big stone artefacts ('macroliths') in the Sahara during Neolithic times. – Supplementary to size classification of lithic artefacts ("microlithic, megalithic") the term "macrolithic" is proposed. The intended application of such Neolithic "macroliths" in the Sahara seems sometimes to be obvious (cf. handmills or stone axes), but others are still under discussion (cf. tethering stones or up to 1 m long stone poles). Additionally, the author describes a new type of flat, up to 30 cm long tools which are characterized mainly by being curved like a pick axe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]