Mesolithic and chalcolithic mandibular morphology: using geometric morphometrics to reconstruct incomplete specimens and analyse morphology

Human skeletal remains are routinely used to examine cultural and biological aspects of past populations. Yet, archaeological specimens are frequently fragmented/incomplete and so excluded from analyses. This leads to decreased sample sizes and to potentially biased results. Digital methods are now frequently used to restore/estimate the original morphology of fragmented/incomplete specimens. Such methods include 3D digitisation and Geometric Morphometrics (GM). The latter is also a solidly established method now to examine morphology. In this study, we use GM-based methods to estimate the original morphology of incomplete Mesolithic and Chalcolithic mandibles originating from present Portugal and perform ensuing morphological analyses. Because mandibular morphology is known to relate to population history and diet, we hypothesised the two samples would differ. Thirty-seven specimens (12 complete and 25 incomplete) were CT-scanned and landmarked. Originally complete specimens were used as reference to estimate the location of absent anatomical landmarks in incomplete specimens. As predicted, our results show shape differences between the two samples which are likely due to the compounded effect of contrasting population histories and diets.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Changes in dental wear magnitude in the last ∼8000 years in southwestern Iberia

Objective: This study examines changes in dental wear magnitude in the past -8000 years, i.e., since Mesolithic until the 19th century, in southwestern Iberia. Thus, it encompasses the transition from hunting-gathering to agro-pastoralism, and then to the industrialization of food production and pre-processing. Design: Dental wear magnitude was scored in a total of 191 individuals and 1557 teeth from Mesolithic (individuals=56; teeth=643), Neolithic (individuals=35; teeth=169), Chalcolithic (individuals =35; teeth=221), Modern Age (individuals=17; teeth=209), and Late Modern Age (individuals=48; teeth=315) samples originating in southwestern Iberia (i.e., present central and southern Portugal) and according to the 8 levels ordinal scale of Smith (1984). Results: Results show a general trend for decreased wear magnitude in these two major transitions and during this timespan (although the hunting-gathering - agro-pastoralism transition had larger impact). The only meaningful differences in wear rate were found between the Late Modern Age and all remaining samples. Conclusion: Dental wear generally decreased during this timespan (although wear magnitude was less impacted by the industrialization of food production and pre-processing). Our results are consistent with studies documenting skull morphological gracilization associated with reduced masticatory demands due to the adoption of softer diets.ALG-01-0145-FEDER29680;info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Arqueologia de Transição: O Mundo Funerário

Apresentam-se os resultados da primeira campanha de escavações efetuada no sítio da Torre Velha (Castro de Avelãs, Bragança), durante o verão de 2012, referentes ao seu espaço funerário. A análise será feita de forma integrada, articulando os (novos) dados de natureza arqueológica (cronologia, contexto estratigráfico e materiais associados) e antropológica (antropologia funerária e estudo paleobiológico da amostra exumada), a par de uma breve contextualização histórica do sítio – um dos mais referidos na bibliografia arqueológica de Trásos- Montes, identificado habitualmente como a capital dos Zoelas em época romana. No domínio antropológico serão caracterizados 19 indivíduos, bem como três ossários (um dos quais associado a um enterramento) e duas reduções, ambas com apenas um indivíduo. Os esqueletos recuperados representam quatro não adultos, um adulto jovem e 16 adultos. Destes últimos, seis pertencem ao sexo feminino, sete ao masculino, sendo que em quatro este parâmetro não pôde ser avaliado.Here we present the results of the first campaign of excavations made in the archaeological site of Torre Velha (Castro de Avelãs , Bragança) , during the summer of 2012, in its funerary space. The analysis will be done in an integrated way, articulating the (new) archaeological data (chronology, stratigraphic context and associated material) and anthropological (paleobiological study of the burials and funerary anthropology), along with a brief historical background of the site - one the most reported in the archaeological literature of Trás-os- Montes, usually identified as the capital of the people “Zoela” in Roman times. In the anthropological study, will be characterized 19 individuals and three ossuaries (one associated to a burial). The skeletons recovered represent four children, a young adult and 16 adults. In the group of the adults we have six females, seven males and four individuals that were impossible to determinate the sex

Outros sabores do passado: um novo olhar sobre as comunidades humanas mesolíticas de Muge e do Sado através de análises químicas dos ossos

Com outros sabores do passado procurou-se aportar um novo olhar sobre as comunidades humanas de Muge e do Sado que ocuparam o território português no Mesolítico final, mais concretamente, entrever o seu modo de subsistência e a adaptação ao meio ambiente sob uma perspectiva diferente, sustentada na análise das paleodietas. Os ossos ao requererem nutrientes, ao longo da vida de um indivíduo, constituem uma ferramenta única na apreciação do regime alimentar, uma vez que neles ficam cativos os sinais relativos à composição elementar e isotópica diferencial dos distintos grupos de alimentos ingeridos (Price, 1989). Mediante a realização de análises químicas, estes podem ser perscrutados, facultando pistas válidas na destrinça das proporções dos principais recursos alimentares, de origem vegetal, animal e marinha, incluídos na dieta das populações do passado

Dehesilla Cave (Cádiz Mountains): returning to a key archaeological site for the Neolithic of the Southern Iberian Peninsula

La Cueva de la Dehesilla contó con dos excavaciones arqueológicas en 1977 y 1981. Desde entonces se conoce el potencial prehistórico del sitio, especialmente en relación con sus fases neolíticas, y se convirtió en uno de los enclaves fundamentales en el sur de la península ibérica. Este artículo presenta los datos procedentes de las recientes intervenciones arqueológicas retomadas cuatro décadas después. Concretamente se da a conocer la secuencia estratigráfica prehistórica de un sondeo efectuado en 2016, sus conjuntos cerámico y lítico, así como cuatro fechas radiocarbónicas. Entre los resultados, destaca la relativa antigüedad de las nuevas dataciones y la presencia de posible cerámica impresa, indicador material de las primeras poblaciones neolíticas en el Mediterráneo occidental. Los datos obtenidos implican diversos puntos de discusión sobre el origen y la evolución de las sociedades campesinas y ganaderas a niveles regional y peninsular.Dehesillako kobazuloan bi indusketa arkeologiko egin zituzten 1977an eta 1981ean. Ordutik, badakigu tokiak historiaurreko potentzial handia duela, bereziki bere fase neolitikoekin lotuta. Hori dela eta, Iberiar penintsulako hegoaldean oinarrizko gune bihurtu zen. Artikulu honek lau hamarkada geroago duela gutxi berriro hasi dituzten lan arkeologikoetatik jasotako datuak aurkezten ditu. Zehatzago esanda, 2016an egindako zundaketa baten historiaurreko segida estratigrafikoa, multzo zeramiko eta litikoa, eta lau data erradiokarboniko biltzen ditu. Emaitza horien artean, nabarmendu beharrekoa da datazio berriak nahiko zaharrak direla eta ceramica impressa delakoa topatu dutela ustez. Mendebaldeko Mediterraneoan lehen populazio neolitikoak zeudela erakusten duen adierazle materiala da hori. Lortutako datuek eskualde eta penintsula mailetako abeltzainen eta nekazarien gizarteek izandako bilakaerari eta jatorriari buruzko eztabaida sorrarazi dute.Two archaeological excavations were carried out at Dehesilla Cave in 1977 and 1981. The site gained a great scientific interest then, especially in relation to the Neolithic, and it became one of the key archaeological sites in the Southern Iberian Peninsula. This paper presents new data from the recent archaeological excavations resumed four decades later. Specifically, it provides the data on the Prehistoric stratigraphic sequence documented in 2016, along with the pottery and lithic assemblages, as well as four radiocarbon dates. Of particular interest is the relative antiquity of the new radiocarbon dates and the presence of possible ceramica impressa, a material proxy of the first Neolithic populations in the Western Mediterranean. These results raise several discussion key points on the origin and the evolution of farming and herding societies in the Southern Iberian Peninsula

The exceptional finding of Locus 2 at Dehesilla Cave and the Middle Neolithic ritual funerary practices of the Iberian Peninsula

There is a significant number of funerary contexts for the Early Neolithic in the Iberian Peninsula, and the body of information is much larger for the Late Neolithic. In contrast, the archaeological information available for the period in between (ca. 4800-4400/4200 cal BC) is scarce. This period, generally called Middle Neolithic, is the least well-known of the peninsular Neolithic sequence, and at present there is no specific synthesis on this topic at the peninsular scale. In 2017, an exceptional funerary context was discovered at Dehesilla Cave (Sierra de Ca ´diz, Southern Iberian Peninsula), providing radiocarbon dates which place it at the beginning of this little-known Middle Neolithic period, specifically between ca. 4800–4550 cal BC. Locus 2 is a deposition constituted by two adult human skulls and the skeleton of a very young sheep/goat, associated with stone structures and a hearth, and a number of pots, stone and bone tools and charred plant remains. The objectives of this paper are, firstly, to present the new archaeological context documented at Dehesilla Cave, supported by a wide range of data provided by interdisciplinary methods. The dataset is diverse in nature: stratigraphic, osteological, isotopic, zoological, artifactual, botanical and radiocarbon results are presented together. Secondly, to place this finding within the general context of the contemporaneous sites known in the Iberian Peninsula through a systematic review of the available evidence. This enables not only the formulation of explanations of the singular new context, but also to infer the possible ritual funerary behaviours and practices in the 5th millennium cal BC in the Iberian Peninsul

La Cueva de la Dehesilla (Sierra de Cádiz): vuelta a un sitio clave para el Neolítico del sur de la península ibérica

La Cueva de la Dehesilla contó con dos excavaciones arqueológicas en 1977 y 1981. Desde entonces se conoce el potencial prehistórico del sitio, especialmente en relación con sus fases neolíticas, y se convirtió en uno de los enclaves fundamentales en el sur de la península ibérica. Este artículo presenta los datos procedentes de las recientes intervenciones arqueológicas retomadas cuatro décadas después. Concretamente se da a conocer la secuencia estratigráfica prehistórica de un sondeo efectuado en 2016, sus conjuntos cerámico y lítico, así como cuatro fechas radiocarbónicas. Entre los resultados, destaca la relativa antigüedad de las nuevas dataciones y la presencia de posible cerámica impressa, indicador material de las primeras poblaciones neolíticas en el Mediterráneo occidental. Los datos obtenidos implican diversos puntos de discusión sobre el origen y la evolución de las sociedades campesinas y ganaderas a niveles regional y peninsular

A 1000-year-old case of Klinefelter's syndrome diagnosed by integrating morphology, osteology, and genetics

We thank the Municipality of Bragança, the University of Coimbra, the University of Adelaide, the Max Planck Society, and the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation for the support provided. ST is supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (SFRH/BD/116363/2016). BL (FT170100448) and JCT (DE210101235) are supported by the Australian Research Council. ABR is supported by the European Research Council (771234-PALEoRIDER)

estudos artísticos

Reuniram-se na Revista CROMA 15, sob o tema maior dos artistas abordando a obra de seus companheiros de profissão, e dentro destes, aqueles com maior intervenção junto das comunidades visando a sua mudança. São 16 artigos que têm em comum a perspetiva sobre um artista interventivo, inquirindo sobre qual a ligação mais forte, e mais fraca, com as ilhas e os continentes locais em necessária descolonização sem abdicar de um “parergom” maior e inclusivo.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio