Un yacimiento y tres historias. Biografía de un megalito gallego. El túmulo de Perravella 1 (Cerceda, A Coruña)

Los trabajos de limpieza y un sondeo valorativo superficial realizado sobre el túmulo de Perravella 1 (Acevedo, Cerceda, A Coruña) para evaluar su estado de conservación han sacado a la luz fragmentos de un vaso campaniforme y algunas muestras que pudieron datarse. El estudio combinado de la estratigrafía, los resultados radiocarbónicos y el estudio de la cerámica (formal y arqueométrico) ha permitido constatar un uso prolongado y complejo de un túmulo que apenas se percibe en el terreno. Nuestro objetivo es realizar una síntesis de los datos que tenemos del yacimiento, siendo estos referentes a las reutilizaciones del monumento a lo largo del tiempo, y no a la construcción del mismo. De esta forma, hemos podido identificar tres momentos de uso: por un lado, el III milenio BC, gracias a los restos de una vasija campaniforme, y, por otro lado, la Época Altomedieval y el Periodo Moderno, reflejados en las dataciones radiocarbónicas y la estratigrafía del túmulo. [gl] Os traballos de limpeza e unha sondaxe valorativa superficial realizada sobre o túmulo de Perravella 1 (Acevedo, Cerceda, A Coruña) para avaliar o seu estado de conservación sacaron á luz fragmentos dun vaso campaniforme e algunhas mostras que puideron datarse. O estudo combinado da estratigrafía, os resultados radiocarbónicos e o estudo da cerámica (formal e arqueométrico) permitiron constatar un uso prolongado e complexo dun túmulo que apenas é perceptible no terreo. O noso obxectivo é realizar unha síntese dos datos obtidos do xacemento, sendo estes referentes ás reutilizacións do monumento ao longo do tempo, e non á construción do mesmo. Deste modo, puidemos identificar tres momentos de uso: por unha banda, o III milenio BC, grazas aos restos dun vaso campaniforme, e, doutra, a Época Altomedieval e o Período Moderno, reflectidos nas datacións radiocarbónicas e na estratigrafía do túmulo

Shared technologies for pottery and acorns processing? Multidisciplinary and functional approach to modular kilns

This paper deals with the so-called modular kilns, ceramic structures characteristic of the Bronze and Iron Age periods in various regions of Europe. Despite the interest shown in these material forms in recent years, their exact function is still unclear. However, the dominant interpretation within archaeological research has tended to associate them with pottery production. While this hypothesis has been based mainly on macro-observations derived from settlement surveys and excavations, our aim is to go further by exploring through a material- analytical approach. A set of samples from the sites of A Fontela and Castromao, in northwestern Iberia, have been analysed using a set of methods (mineralogical, geochemical, archaeobotanical and organic chemical) to evaluate the hypotheses on production and use. Although the samples share a similar morphology and tech- nology, the analytical results reveal differences in the manufacturing processes between the two sites studied. Local clays, crop by-products and wild plants from the surrounding areas were used in the modelling, but with different purposes. In some cases, cereal chaff was added as a temper. Organic-chemical analysis revealed traces of oils of vegetal origin, with high levels of C18:1 fatty acid (probably mostly oleic acid) and its degradation products, together with phytosterols, such as β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, and δ-5-avenasterol. The organic compounds are compatible with the processing or culinary transformation of acorns, that appeared persistently in hearths, pots, and storage structures during Late Prehistory in the regio

Medieval luxury ceramics in two castles of the ‘Compostela’s Miter’

[ES] Los castillos de Rocha Branca y Rocha Forte son todo un referente dentro del arzobispado medieval de Santiago, en ellos residirían varios arzobispos, convirtiéndose principalmente Rocha Branca en un auténtico recinto palacial. Debido a ese contexto, los materiales recuperados en los mismos son piezas vidriadas de lujo importadas. Se busca contribuir al estudio de estas piezas, así como a la posible definición de sus lugares de fabricación y técnicas, mediante la aplicación de la arqueometría. Gracias a los análisis sobre cinco piezas hemos podido retrotraernos a las producciones cerámicas de época bajomedieval y moderna documentadas en ambos recintos fortificados.[EN] The castles of Rocha Branca and Rocha Forte are an important reference point with regard to the mediaeval archbishopric of Santiago, which were home to several archbishops, with the castle of Rocha Branca in particular becoming a truly palatial compound. Because of this context, the materials that have been found are luxurious, imported glazed pieces. The aim os this paper is to contribute towards the study of these pieces, as well as helping to possibly define where they were made and the techniques used, through the application of archaeometry. Thanks to an analysis of five pieces, we have been able to categorise ceramic products from the late mediaeval and modern period found in both fortified compounds

The corded bell beaker of Forno dos Mouros (Toques, A Coruña)

21 páxinas, 1 táboa, 9 figuras.[ES] En este artículo se da a conocer el vaso campaniforme cordado del dolmen de Forno dos Mouros (Toques, A Coruña) como una pieza excepcional en el contexto regional. Se aportan novedades sobre las técnicas decorativas empleadas e información arqueométrica que nos permite conocer otros aspectos del recipiente hasta ahora inéditos. Destaca su fabricación cuidada, elaborada y local pero con influencias decorativas vinculadas íntimamente con la Bretaña francesa, consecuencia de las complejas redes de circulación existentes en III milenio BC en Europa.[EN] In this paper we present the corded zone maritime bell beaker of Forno dos Mouros Dolmen (Toques, A Coruña), an exceptional piece in the regional context. New features of the decorative techniques used and archaeometric determinations (i.e. mineralogical and geochemical composition) allowed to know other aspects of this vase, until now unpublished. The results emphasize a local manufacture but with strong decorative influences linked to Britanny (France), consequence of the complex networks of circulation in III millenium BC in Europe.Este artículo foi realizado no marco do proxecto titulado “Aplicación de técnicas arqueométricas ao estudo da cerámica antiga de Galicia” (código: PGIDIT07PXIB236075PR) concedido pola Dirección Xeral de Investigación, Desenvolvimento e Innovación (I+C+I), Xunta de Galicia dentro del Programa de Promoción Xeral de Investigación do Plan Galego de Investigación, Desenvolvemento e Innovación Tecnolóxica (INCITE) de 2007 e tamén coa axuda dunha beca de investigación postdoctoral na Universidade de París X, entre 2006 e 2007 obtida por unha das firmantes, P. Prieto, que foi cofinanciada pola Consellería de Innovación e Industria da Xunta de Galicia e o Programa Operativo Integrado de Galicia (F.S.E.) das UE.Peer reviewe

O campaneiforme cordado de Forno dos Mouros (Toques, A Coruña)

In this paper we present the <i>corded zone maritime</i> bell beaker of Forno dos Mouros Dolmen (Toques, A Coruña), an exceptional piece in the regional context. New features of the decorative techniques used and archaeometric determinations (i.e. mineralogical and geochemical composition) allowed to know other aspects of this vase, until now unpublished. The results emphasize a local manufacture but with strong decorative influences linked to Britanny (France), consequence of the complex networks of circulation in III millenium BC in Europe.<br><br>En este artículo se da a conocer el vaso campaniforme cordado del dolmen de Forno dos Mouros (Toques, A Coruña) como una pieza excepcional en el contexto regional. Se aportan novedades sobre las técnicas decorativas empleadas e información arqueométrica que nos permite conocer otros aspectos del recipiente hasta ahora inéditos. Destaca su fabricación cuidada, elaborada y local pero con influencias decorativas vinculadas íntimamente con la Bretaña francesa, consecuencia de las complejas redes de circulación existentes en III milenio BC en Europa

La cerámica vidriada de A Pousada (Santiago de Compostela): Un estudio estilístico y arqueométrico

El yacimiento de A Pousada, excavado en un contexto de arqueología de urgencia, es un despoblado altomedieval, cuyas fases posteriores suministraron un conjunto de materiales cerámicos vidriados adscribibles a época bajomedieval y moderna. En el presente trabajo se muestran los resultados del estudio de una parte de los mismos, centrándose principalmente en el estudio arqueométrico. Las características de sus pastas nos aportan información sobre sus técnicas de factura así como su posible fabricación exógena, datos de vital importancia para comprender el comercio cerámico del momento

Integración de información geológica en un sistema de información geográfica con objetivos arqueométricos

We present details of the work carried out within the framework of a research project funded by the Regional Government of Galicia, Spain, titled “Pb and Sr Isotopes in archaeological pottery from Galicia: a provenance study of the raw materials and their access,” in order to define the methodology and working protocols required in order to be able to manage archaeological, archaeometric and geological information from the MAGNA50 geological map of Spain as a part of a Geographical Information System. The aim of this study is to define in a faster, more direct and reliable way the sources of the potential raw materials used for ancient pottery recovered from archaeological sites in Galicia. Due to a lack of archaeological research in this field in the region, the working process was complex. Its results are of great benefit and use to archaeometry, the thematic framework for this work. We discuss the potential of this study in relation to future research projects.El trabajo realizado se plantea en el marco de un proyecto de investigación financiado por la Xunta de Galicia titulado ‘Isótopos de Pb y Sr en cerámicas arqueológicas de Galicia: estudio de la procedencia y el acceso a las materias primas’. El objetivo de este trabajo es arqueométrico: determinar de una forma más rápida, directa y fiable las fuentes de materias primas potenciales de las cerámicas antiguas recuperadas en contextos arqueológicos gallegos, a través del establecimiento de una metodología y protocolos de trabajo para la gestión de información arqueológica, arqueométrica y geológica (MAGNA50) dentro de un Sistema de Información Geográfica. Debido a la ausencia de investigación de la arqueología en este ámbito en la región, el proceso de trabajo fue complejo. Sus resultados aportan un gran beneficio y utilidad a la arqueometría, y poseen un gran potencial de cara a futuras investigaciones

How useful is pyrolysis-GC/MS for the assessment of molecular properties of organic matter in archaeological pottery matrix? An exploratory case study from north-west Spain

We applied pyrolysis-GC/MS to archaeological potsherds from prehistoric settlements in north-west Spain, some of which are conspicuously black or exhibit a black inner core from incomplete burn-out. Virtually all pyrolysis products could be related to thermally modified material (partially polycondensed aromatics and short-chain alkyl moieties) that most probably formed during firing (as opposed to cooking). Principal component analysis and supporting evidence (elemental composition, colour parameters and SEM microscopy) showed that the firing conditions (redox conditions and firing intensity) control pyrolysate composition. Laboratory experiments are required to fully understand the pyrolysis fingerprints and sample pre-treatment might enhance the information obtained. © 2013 University of Oxford.This project was partially financed through project Plan Nacional de I+D+i 2008–2011 (Subprograma de Proyectos de Investigación Fundamental, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, code HAR2010-17637) entitled ‘Los estilos cerámicos en la Prehistoria de Galicia: tecnología, materias primas y circulación’. JK was supported by the CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010 program TCP (CSD2007-00058).Peer Reviewe

The colour of ceramics from Bell Beaker contexts in NW Spain: Relation to elemental composition and mineralogy

In this paper we characterise the mineralogical and elemental composition and the colour (CIELab space) of Bronze Age pottery sherds from NW Spain, using X-Ray diffraction, X-Ray fluorescence and reflectance spectroscopy, respectively. For half of the samples we also determined the content in secondary iron oxi-hydroxides (sFe, iron extracted with dithionite-citrate), using atomic absorption. The aim of the investigation was to study the relationship between the colour and the elemental and mineralogical composition, and to explore the intentionality of the resulting colour. Samples had a low luminosity and were located in the quadrant of the CIELab space ranging from red to yellow (hab: 0-90°), showing low hue variability but a wider range of variation in chromaticity. In terms of composition they showed a large mineralogical (12 different minerals were identified) and chemical (from acidic/felsic to basic-ultrabasic/mafic compositions) variation.A principal components analysis using elemental composition and colour parameters demonstrated that luminosity (L*) depends on organic matter (OM) content and to a lesser extent on sFe content. Chromaticity (C*ab) depends on sFe content, but also on the felsic/mafic relative composition and OM content, while hue (hab) is only related to iron mineral phases. We also verified that these general trends differ to a certain extent depending on whether the pottery contains amphibole or not: the effect of sFe on L* and of OM on b* (yellowing) and C*ab was only detected for pottery sherds without amphibole, while an increase in felsic in relation to mafic minerals has a more decisive effect on the chromaticity (C*ab) of the amphibolic clays. Thus, colour seems to result from the interplay between i) the original colour of the raw material/clays, ii) compositional factors (overall composition -felsic vs mafic-, and sFe and OM content), and iii) interactions between composition and processing (sFe and firing conditions controlling yellowing). We interpret that there was an intentional selection of raw materials (felsic or mafic) and their processing (addition of iron oxides and organic matter) and a control over the firing conditions in order to give the vessels a specific colour. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.This article was funded through the project “Ceramic Styles in Galician Prehistory: Technology, Raw Materials and Circulation (HAR2010-17637)” granted by the General Directorate of Research and Management of the National R&D&I Plan, Ministry of Science and Innovation, and project R2014/001 “Red Consiliencia” funded by the Xunta de Galicia.Peer Reviewe