A high-quality annually laminated sequence from Lake Belau, Northern Germany: Revised chronology and its implications for palynological and tephrochronological studies

The annually laminated record of Lake Belau offers an exceptional opportunity to investigate with high temporal resolution Holocene environmental change, aspects of climate history and human impact on the landscape. A new chronology based on varve counts, 14C-datings and heavy metal history has been established, covering the last 9400 years. Based on multiple varve counting on two core sequences, the easily countable laminated section spans about 7850 varve years (modelled age range c. 9430 to 1630 cal. BP). Not all of the record is of the same quality but approximately 69% of the varves sequence is classified to be of high quality and only c. 5% of low quality. The new chronology suggests dates generally c. 260 years older than previously assumed for the laminated section of the record. The implications for the vegetation and land-use history of the region as well as revised datings for pollen stratigraphical events are discussed. Tephra analysis allowed the identification of several cryptotephra layers. New dates for volcanic eruptions are presented for the Lairg B event (c. 6848 cal. BP, 2s range 6930–6713 cal. BP), the Hekla 4 event (c. 4396 cal. BP, 2s range 4417–4266 cal. BP), and Hekla 3 eruption (c. 3095 cal. BP, 2s range 3120–3068 cal. BP)

A budgeting approach for estimating matter fluxes in archaeosediments, a new method to infer site formation and settlement activity: Examples from a transect of multi-layered Bronze Age settlement mounds

In this paper a novel approach for quantifying matter fluxes into archaeological sites is presented. Using the case studies of two multilayered sites with occupations before, during, and after the Bronze Age (Arslantepe and Niederröblingen), one Bronze Age multilayered site (Fidvár by Vráble), and a trash deposit from a fourth (Bresto), the potential of this method for investigating behavior and settlement activity of prehistoric inhabitants is illustrated. The results are generally in line with archaeological expectations considering the type of compared sites (different sized villages and towns/regional centers). Three examples of using this method for understanding site formation (sedimentation rates), changes in settlement activity, and paleodemography are provided for a discussion of the interpretive possibilities of matter fluxes. Although no cross-regional cultural changes specifically related to the Bronze Age can yet be identified, this quantification allows a better understanding of individual site development, i.e. in the increasing substitution of wood by loam in architecture at Niederröblingen from the Middle Bronze Age onwards. The pattern of calculated population sizes again fits archaeological expectations and is of the same order of magnitude as previously published population estimations based on other methods. At Arslantepe, the unique character of the Chalcolithic “palace period” is underlined by the very low number of inhabitants, suggesting that occupation of the tell during this period may have been restricted and a focus placed on administrative and ritual activities. Besides the illustrated potentials, limitations of the outlined approach are also considered. © 2019 Elsevier Lt

A complex subsistence regime revealed for Cucuteni–Trypillia sites in Chalcolithic eastern Europe based on new and old macrobotanical data

We present a comprehensive data-based characterization of the subsistence economy of Chalcolithic Cucuteni–Trypillia societies (CTS) on the Moldovian and Suceava plateaus and the Podolian and the Dnieper uplands. This study is based on a quantitative evaluation of archaeobotanical samples from 34 settlement sites, with a focus on Trypillia mega-sites and on stable isotopic analysis of ancient crop residues. The isotopic analysis allows us to identify specific cultivation strategies, which show a close relationship with animal husbandry for manure. We describe the economy of the Trypillia mega-sites as having been based on an elaborate agricultural system, in which the inhabitants knew how to grow crops that could withstand the ecological constraints of growth, especially along the forest steppe ecotone. We also argue that the agglomeration of greater population densities at these mega-sites contributed to landscape change from woodland and forest to open grassland and steppe. Following on from this, we suggest that cultivation practices of the CTS were important in the establishment of the present-day cultural steppe in this region