Analysis of Marine Sediment of Prehispanic Maya Saltworks 24 and 35 in Paynes Creek National Park, Southern Belize

Through the study of four marine sediment columns taken at two different underwater Classic Maya sites identified as saltworks facilities in southern Belize, this research had the objective of provide some insights on the occupation of these sites and the formation of their archaeological record. The marine sediment studied in this research was composed of partially decomposed plant matter, inorganic minerals, and water in different proportions, with mangrove roots composing the major organic component of the mangrove peat. This research included macroscopic descriptions of the marine sediment, loss-on ignition of 32 samples uniformly distributed throughout the sediment columns to determine the percentage of organic content, and microscopic characterizations of samples throughout the column samples. The results obtained through loss-on ignition suggest clear patterns of organic content distribution throughout the marine sediment columns that, along with macroscopic and microscopic characterizations of the marine sediment, suggest the effects of human activities in the areas where the sediment was collected. Occupation levels at these sites were tentatively identified at 35 cm to 55 cm depth from the modern sea floor at Site 24, and 45 cm to 60 cm at Site 35. Since archaeological artifacts are found at the modern sea floor in these sites, bioturbation was likely an important element in the formation of the archaeological record at both underwater sites

Towards a historical ecology of intertidal foraging in the Mafia Archipelago: archaeomalacology and implications for marine resource management

Understanding the timing and nature of human influence on coastal and island ecosystems is becoming a central concern in archaeological research, particularly when investigated within a historical ecology framework. Unfortunately, the coast and islands of eastern Africa have not figured significantly within this growing body of literature, but are important given their historically contingent environmental, social, and political contexts, as well as the considerable threats now posed to marine ecosystems. Here, we begin developing a longer-term understanding of past marine resource use in the Mafia Archipelago (eastern Africa), an area of high ecological importance containing the Mafia Island Marine Park. Focusing on the comparatively less researched marine invertebrates provides a means for initiating discussion on potential past marine ecosystem structure, human foraging and environmental shifts, and the implications for contemporary marine resource management. The available evidence suggests that human-environment interactions over the last 2000 years were complex and dynamic; however, these data raise more questions than answers regarding the specific drivers of changes observed in the archaeomalacological record. This is encouraging as a baseline investigation and emphasizes the need for further engagement with historical ecology by a range of cognate disciplines to enhance our understanding of these complex issues

A cultural resource overview and preservation plan for the Timberneck Farm property and Catlett Islands, Gloucester County, Virginia

In January and February, 1992, the William and Mary Center for Archaeological Research (WMCAR) conducted an archaeological overview study of the Timberneck Farm and Catlett Islands in Gloucester County, Virginia under an agreement with the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia (CBNERRVA), Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). The purpose of the investigation was to assess the archaeological potential of the area and to formulate a framework for management of those cultural resources present

Estimating marine reservoir effects in archaeological chronologies: Comparing ΔR calculations in Prince Rupert Harbour, British Columbia, Canada

The best method for quantifying the marine reservoir effect (MRE) using the global IntCal Marine13 calibration curve remains unresolved. Archaeologists frequently quantify uncertainty on MRE values as errors computed from single pairs of marineterrestrial radiocarbon ages, which we argue significantly overstates their accuracy and precision. Here, we review the assumptions, methods, and applications of estimating MRE via an estimate of the additional regional offset between the marine and terrestrial calibration curves (ΔR) for the Prince Rupert Harbour (PRH) region of British Columbia, Canada.We acknowledge the influence on ΔR of MRE variation as (1) a dynamic oceanographic process, (2) its variable expression in biochemical and geochemical pathways, and (3) compounding errors in sample selection, measurement, and calculation. We examine a large set of marine-terrestrial pairs (n = 63) from PRH to compare a common archaeological practice of estimating uncertainty from means that generate an uncertainty value of ±49 years with a revised, more appropriate estimate of error of ± 230 years. However, we argue that the use of multiple-pair samples estimates the PRH ΔR as 273 ± 38 years for the last 5,000 years. Calculations of error that do not consider these issues may generate more inaccurate age estimates with unjustifiable precision

A phase I archaeological survey of a new site for the Environmental Toxicology and Pathology Research Center at Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester County, Virginia

A Phase I archaeological survey of a new site for the proposed Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) Environmental Toxicology and Pathology Research Center in Gloucester County, Virginia, was undertaken by staff of the William and Mary Center for Archaeological Research (WMCAR) on September 28, 1993. This investigation was intended to provide specific information concerning the nature and distribution of potential archaeological resources within the project area (approximately 11,933 m2 [39,150 ft.2]). The work included a review of the existing archaeological sites and an evaluation of extant documentary and cartographic sources pertaining to the project area

A phase I cultural resource survey of the proposed sites for the VIMS Environmental Toxicology and Pathology Research Center, Gloucester Point, Virginia

In July 1990, the William and Mary Center for Archaeological Research (WMCAR) of the Department of Anthropology at the College of William and Mary entered into an agreement with the Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences (VIMS) to conduct - a Phase I archaeological investigation at three proposed candidate parcels for the Environmental Toxicology and Pathology Research Center on the VIMS campus, Gloucester Point, Virginia. The purpose of the investigation was to identify the presence of archaeological resources that may exist within the each area

A phase I archaeological survey and monitoring of the fire protection/water lines, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester County, Virginia

In February 1992, the William and Mary Center for Archaeological Research (WMCAR) entered into an agreement with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) to conduct a Phase I archaeological investigation of the Fire Protection Facilities/Water Lines project area on the VIMS campus. This investigation, designed by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (VDHR) (Appendix A), is intended to provide specific information concerning the nature and distribution of potential archaeological resources within the project area in order to place the water lines without impact to sensitive archaeological resources within the Gloucester Point Archaeological District

Radiocarbon dating of burials from the Teouma Lapita cemetery, Efate, Vanuatu

The discovery of a cemetery at Teouma on the island of Efate in Vanuatu dated to c. 3000 years ago increased the number of early Pacific human remains available for study by nearly an order of magnitude and provided for the first time the ability to study the population dynamics of these early colonizers. The cemetery also provided an opportunity to investigate the chronological development of such a unique site. Although identified short-lived plant materials are favoured for dating archaeological sites, the reality of research in the Pacific region is that such materials are often rare, difficult to identify to species because of an absence of suitable reference collections, and dates on other materials often have greater potential to refine and focus ¹⁴C chronologies that deal with specific research questions. At Teouma, dates on the burial remains themselves are the best means to answer questions about the age and duration of the burial ground. Human bone, however, is one of the most complicated materials to date reliably because of dietary ¹⁴C offsets and bone preservation. One commonly used methodology for calibrating dates on human bone from Pacific human skeletal remains, based on linear interpolation between δ¹³C endpoints and δ¹⁵N values, is complicated by the wide range of foods available (marine, reef, C₄ and C₃), and remains largely untested in Pacific contexts. Radiocarbon dating of the Teouma site, including 36 Lapita-age burials, 5 dates on Conus sp. ring artefacts, and dates from the associated midden deposit, has enabled further evaluation of ¹⁴C dietary offsets and the reliability of calibrated radiocarbon ages on human bone. Bayesian evaluation of the ¹⁴C dates suggests the burial ground was in regular use by c. 2940-2880 cal BP, with the last interments occurring c. 2770-2710 cal BP. A number of burials could indicate possible earlier use, perhaps as early as 3110-2930 cal BP as indicated by the calibrated age range of Burial 57. This cannot be independently substantiated using other radiocarbon dates or context at the present time. Overall, these results suggest the burial ground was in use over a possible 150 to 240 years during the formative phase of Lapita expansion into Remote Oceania

Gestión del patrimonio arqueológico subacuático y costero en los mares de Israel (II): los yacimientos litorales en riesgo

The two articles titled Management of the underwater and coastal archaeological heritage in Israel's seas – parts A and B aim at presenting the diversity, nature and significance of an important cultural resource at risk, namely the underwater and coastal archaeological sites of Israel. Part I introduces the typology of the sites on the Mediterranean coast and the inland seas (The Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea). Part II presents the main endangered sites along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, their archaeological and historical significance, the risks they are facing and the measures that have to be taken in order to ensure their long term preservation.Los dos artículos presentados con el título “Gestión del patrimonio arqueológico subacuático y costero en los mares de Israel” apuntan a la diversidad, naturaleza y trascendencia de un importante recurso cultural en riesgo, concretamente los yacimientos arqueológicos submarinos y costeros de Israel. En la primera parte introducíamos la tipología de los asentamientos sobre la costa mediterránea y los mares interiores (el Mar de Galilea y el Mar Muerto). Esta segunda parte presenta los yacimientos más amenazados a lo largo de las costas israelíes del Mediterráneo, su histórica y arqueológica importancia, los riesgos a los que se enfrentan y las medias que deben ser tomadas con objeto de asegurar su preservación a largo plazo

Mussels with Meat: Bivalve Tissue-Shell Radiocarbon Age Differences and Archaeological Implications

Local reservoir ages are often estimated from the difference between the radiocarbon ages of aquatic material and associated terrestrial samples for which no reservoir effect is expected. Frequently, the selected aquatic material consists of bivalve shells that are typically well preserved in the archaeological record. For instance, large shell middens attest to the importance of mussel consumption at both coastal and inland sites. However, different physiological mechanisms associated with tissue and shell growth may result in differences in reservoir effects between the surviving component (shell) and the component relevant to dietary reservoir effects in consumers (tissue). The current study examines bivalve tissue-shell age differences both from freshwater and marine contexts close to archaeological sites where human consumption of mollusks has been attested. Results exhibited significant 14C age differences between bivalve tissue and shell in a freshwater context. In a marine context, no significant bivalve tissue-shell age differences were observed. The results also showed that riverine and lacustrine shells show large and variable freshwater reservoir effects. The results have important implications for establishing local reservoir effects especially in a freshwater environment. For good a priori knowledge of expected 14C differences in organic and inorganic water, carbon is thus necessary. Furthermore, the high variability in freshwater shell 14C ages implies the need for representative sampling from the archaeological record