Faunal remains associated with human cremations: The chalcolithic pits 16 and 40 from the Perdigões ditched enclosures (Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal)

Different funerary behaviors are recorded in the Iberian Peninsula during Late Prehistory. Cremation is not the most common practice and the association between human cremains and fauna is even scarcer. We present two Chalcolithic pits (pits 16 and 40) from the Perdigoes ditched enclosures, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal. Humans were accompanied by animals and other votive materials such as arrowheads, ivory anthropomorphic figurines, and marble idols. Differences between the two contexts are discussed regarding the selection of faunal anatomical parts, the abundance of species, and the manipulation of remains. The results obtained were compared to previously published data from anthropological analysis. Burning damage intensity is different among pits and between humans and fauna. Hence, this suggests that the latter also resulted from diverse practices, including the possible selection of animal body portions for cremation and/or the deposition of selected burned bones or even related to patterns existing in the contexts of the provenance of the cremated materials before the cremation events.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Geomagnetic investigations at Monte da Contenda, Arronches, Portugal – Results from the 2018 campaign

In light of the current interest in climate change and its effects on modern economies, several projects have highlighted the role of climate forcing on past societies. In particular, there has been focus on the role of climate forcing in the Iberian Peninsula, during the 4.2 k event, which roughly coincides with the Chalcolithic to Bronze Age transition (c. 2200–2000 BCE).While much of this research has focused on the South-eastern regions, given its long and rich history of archaeological research, some attention has shifted to the Southwest Iberia, which has revealed in recent years a clearer picture of its societies during the Chalcolithic period. More specifically, Southwest Iberia has disclosed very interesting social dynamics when it comes to ditched-enclosure sites, dynamics that came to a rather abrupt end around the same time of the 4.2 k event. The current paper reports the results of the 2018 geomagnetic survey campaign at the ditched-enclosure site of Monte da Contenda, in Arronches, Portugal. While these results are not directly related to climate forcing per se, they do provide more insight into the Chalcolithic communities that could have been directly affected by climate events.Whereas the first campaign, in 2013, revealed a very complex ditch system but was unable to expose the site’s full layout, the 2018 campaign was able to reveal the site’s ditch systems in their entirety. Many of the assumptions established in the first campaign concerning the layout of the site were confirmed during this second campaign, namely that the ditch system is delimited to the south by the ribeira das Argamassas and that the site contains two distinct ditch systems, comprising a total of 17 to 19 ditches, establishing Monte da Contenda as the site with the highest number of ditches currently known in Portugal

O Fragmento, A Metade e O Todo : aproximação às deposições de cerâmica e fauna da Fossa 50 do recinto dos Perdigões (primeira metade do 3º milénio AC)

This paper presents the sequence of depositions inside Pit 50 of Perdigões ditched enclosure, dating from the first half of the 3rd millennium BC, and discusses the patterning that emerges from the detailed analysis of the distribution and levels of integrity of pottery and faunal remains along the infilling sequence. It is argued that these patterns are intentional and incorporate metaphorical meanings. Some interpretative hypothesis are put forward, taking in consideration the global scenario provided by Perdigões enclosure, from which this particular context recursively retrieves and provides significance.O Fragmento, A Metade e O Todo: aproximação às deposições de cerâmica e fauna da Fossa 50 do recinto dos Perdigões (primeira metade do 3º milénio AC). Este artigo apresenta a sequência de deposições no interior da Fossa 50 do recinto de fossos dos Perdigões, datada da primeira metade do 3º milénio AC, e discute o padrão que emerge de uma análise detalhada da distribuição e níveis de integralidade da cerâmica e restos faunísticos ao longo da sequência. Algumas hipóteses interpretativas são avançadas, tendo em consideração o cenário global proporcionado pelos Perdigões, do qual este contexto específico recursivamente retira e providencia sentido.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Use of Monte Carlo Simulation as a Tool for the Nondestructive Energy Dispersive X- ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) Spectroscopy Analysis of Archaeological Copper-Based Artifacts from the Chalcolithic Site of Perdigões, Southern Portugal

This work is part of a broader research line that aims to develop and implement a nondestructive methodology for the chemical characterization of archaeological metals based on a protocol that combines energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (ED-XRF) with a Monte Carlo (MC) simulation algorithm. In this paper, the ED-XRF/MC protocol has been applied to estimate the chemical composition of a selected group of 26 copper-based artifacts and fragments recovered at Perdigões, one of the larger Chalcolithic sites of Southwest Iberia. All the analyzed artifacts have a multilayered structure composed by the alloy substrate and by a superficial layer common in each metal buried for hundreds of years and consisting of the patina mixed with soil. Due to the difficulty in determining the quantitative composition of these alloys in the presence of this complex patina/encrustation layer, the spectrometric

El Complexo Arqueológico dos Perdigões (Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal). Prospecciones Geofísicas - Campañas 2008-09

In 1997, under the coordination of Era-Arqueología, aerial photographs, surface prospections and archaeological excavations were carried out at the Neolithic-Calcolithic site at Perdigões (Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal). As a result, a quite accurate idea of the general layout of the site was achieved, allowing archaeologists to continue working there for more than ten years. In 2006, a new collaboration project was started to boost research at Perdigões, with the participation of several international public and private institutions, amongst which is the University of Málaga. The earliest contribution of the Spanish-Portuguese cooperation is the geophysical prospections performed in 2008 and 2009, which show Perdigões as a juxtaposition of several subcircular ditched enclosures, articulated with a funerary area and a cromlec

Mortuary practices in Perdigões (Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal): Bio-anthropological approach to Tomb 2

Tomb 2 belongs to a tholos-type necropolis built in the eastern side of Perdigões enclosure during the Chalcolithic period. The exhaustive analysis of the human remains allowed to obtained various insights about the way this tomb was used during the third millennium BC and data about the individuals found here. In the present study, the samples exhumed from the Atrium and the Chamber of this tomb were considered separately. Both bone assemblages, were recovered commingled, very disturbed and with high levels of fragmentation. The bones were found sprinkled with red pigments, including ochre and cinnabar. A minimal number of, respectively, 26 and 30 individuals were identified in the Atrium and Chamber, including both sexes and all age groups, although an under-representation of non-adults younger than 5 years was identified. A good dental health is suggested by the low prevalence of oral pathologies. Tomb 2 corresponds to a deeply revolved and manipulated funerary context, with several evidences of the co-existence of different mortuary practices. Primary burials, secondary deposition of body parts, and removal of bones are all plausible funerary practices.La Tumba 2 pertenece al tipo tholoi de la necrópolis de la Edad del Cobre localizada en la zona oriental del recinto de fosos de Perdigões. El análisis exhaustivo de los restos óseos humanos ha permitido investigar cómo se utilizó esta tumba durante el tercer milenio AC y obtener información sobre los individuos allí enterrados. En este trabajo se analizan de forma independiente las muestras exhumadas del Atrio y de la Cámara. Las dos colecciones de huesos aparecieron mezcladas, muy alteradas, con un índice muy alto de fragmentación y con restos de pigmentos de color rojo, incluidos ocre y cinabrio. Un número mínimo de 26 y 30 individuos fueron identificados en el Atrio y en la Cámara respectivamente, incluyendo ambos sexos y categorías de edad, aunque se documenta una infrarrepresentación de individuos subadultos menores de cinco años. La poca prevalencia de patologías orales sugiere una buena salud dental. La Tumba 2 se corresponde con un contexto funerario profundamente alterado y manipulado presentando evidencias de coexistencia de diferentes prácticas mortuorias. Enterramientos primarios, depósitos secundarios de partes del cuerpo y remociones de huesos son todas prácticas funerarias plausibles.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bronze Age funerary spaces in Outeiro Alto 2 (Brinches, Serpa, Portugal): the hipogea cemetery

The Outeiro Alto 2 (Brinches, Serpa, Portugal) is part of a wider range of archaeological sites recently excavated on the left bank of the Guadiana River, Baixo Alentejo, in the context of the Empreendimento de Fins Múltiplos de Alqueva - EDIA (Alqueva Dam). The chronology of its occupation extends from the Final Neolithic to the Bronze Age, also through Chalcolithic, and it is located on a gentle hill with a wide view of the landscape. In this study we present the data concerning to the occupation of the site during the Bronze Age, more specifically the hypogea necropolis. It is a cultural reality badly known and scarcely characterized and documented until recently, proper to the region, but where it becomes evi- dent the influence of Argaric Culture, especially in the funerary rituals.Outeiro Alto 2 (Brinches, Serpa) forma parte de un amplio conjunto de yacimientos arqueológicos recientemente excavados en la margen izquierda del río Guadiana, en el Bajo Alentejo, en el contexto de Empreendimento de Fins Múltiplos de Alqueva (EDIA). Su cronología de ocupación se extiende desde el Neolítico final hasta la Edad del Bronce, pasando por el Calcolítico, y se localiza en una suave colina con un amplio dominio del paisaje. En este estudio se presentan los datos relativos a la ocupación del sitio durante la Edad del Bronce, más concretamente la necrópolis de hipogeos. Se trata de una realidad cultural poco conocida, escasamente caracterizada y documentada hasta hace relativamente poco tiempo, propia de la región, pero donde resulta evidente la influencia de la cultura argárica, sobre todo en lo que a los rituales funerarios se refiere

Is enamel the only reliable hard tissue for sex metric estimation of burned skeletal remains in biological anthropology?

Sex diagnosis is a crucial element in the analysis of skeletal remains from forensic and archaeological contexts. Thus, researchers have developed several methods using different anatomical regions to estimate sex. Despite such variety of methods, sexing of collective cremated human skeletal remains is still challenging due to heat-induced size changes and fragmentation, along with the typical commingling of collective contexts. This study aims to examine the potential of burned tooth crowns for odontometric sex estimation. To that end, heat-induced size changes were quantified in experimentally heated teeth. Then, odontometric sex estimation was performed in a set of theoretical samples of pre and post-heated tooth crowns. Results show heated tooth crowns undergo variable but consistent and statistically significant expansion, which is due to micro-fracturing. Such heat induced size changes are of sufficient magnitude to impact odontometric sex diagnosis and sex ratios of the theoretical samples. Yet, sexing using heated/burned tooth crowns may still be useful to estimate the minimum number of females in a given sample. Further, the effect of heat-induced size changes may be calculated and removed using mu CT scanning.Portuguese Foundation for Science and TechnologyPortuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [SFRH/BPD/84268/2012, SFRH/BD/139158/2018, UID/MULTI/00070/2013, PTDC/EPH-ARQ/0798/2014, PTDC/IVC-ANT/1201/2014, POCI-01-0145-FEDER016766, PEst-OE/SADG/UI0283/2013][UID/ECI/04028/2013]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio