Reconstructing the impact of human activities in a NW Iberian Roman mining landscape for the last 2500 years

This article was made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.Little is known about the impact of human activities during Roman times on NW Iberian mining landscapes beyond the geomorphological transformations brought about by the use of hydraulic power for gold extraction. We present the high-resolution pollen record of La Molina mire, located in an area intensely used for gold mining (Asturias, NW Spain), combined with other proxy data from the same peat core to identify different human activities, evaluate the strategies followed for the management of the resources and describe the landscape response to human disturbances. We reconstructed the timing and synchronicity of landscape changes of varying intensity and form occurred before, during and after Roman times. An open landscape was prevalent during the local Late Iron Age, a period of relatively environmental stability. During the Early Roman Empire more significant vegetation shifts took place, reflected by changes in both forest (Corylus and Quercus) and heathland cover, as mining/metallurgy peaked and grazing and cultivation increased. In the Late Roman Empire, the influence of mining/metallurgy on landscape change started to disappear. This decoupling was further consolidated in the Germanic period (i.e., Visigothic and Sueve domination of the region), with a sharp decrease in mining/metallurgy but continued grazing. Although human impact was intense in some periods, mostly during the Early Roman Empire, forest regeneration occurred afterwards: clearances were local and short-lived. However, the Roman mining landscape turned into an agrarian one at the onset of the Middle Ages, characterized by a profound deforestation at a regional level due to a myriad of human activities that resulted in an irreversible openness of the landscape. © 2014 The Authors

Mammal traits and soil biogeochemistry: Functional diversity relates to composition of soil organic matter

Mammal diversity affects carbon concentration in Amazonian soils. It is known that some species traits determine carbon accumulation in organisms (e.g., size and longevity), and are also related to feeding strategies, thus linking species traits to the type of organic remains that are incorporated into the soil. Trait diversity in mammal assemblages – that is, its functional diversity – may therefore constitute another mechanism linking biodiversity to soil organic matter (SOM) accumulation. To address this hypothesis, we analyzed across 83 mammal assemblages in the Amazon biome (Guyana), the elemental (by ED‐XRF and CNH analysis) and molecular (FTIR‐ATR) composition of SOM of topsoils (401 samples) and trait diversity (functional richness, evenness, and divergence) for each mammal assemblage. Lower mammal functional richness but higher functional divergence were related to higher content of carbonyl and aliphatic SOM, potentially affecting SOM recalcitrance. Our results might allow the design of biodiversity management plans that consider the effect of mammal traits on carbon sequestration and accumulation in soils.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2021/32Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481D 2019/024National Science Foundation | Ref. BE/CNH 05 0809

Mammal and tree diversity accumulate different types of soil organic matter in the northern Amazon

Diversity of plants and animals influence soil carbon through their contributions to soil organic matter (SOM). However, we do not know whether mammal and tree communities affect SOM composition in the same manner. This question is relevant because not all forms of carbon are equally resistant to mineralization by microbes and thus, relevant to carbon storage. We analyzed the elemental and molecular composition of 401 soil samples, with relation to the species richness of 83 mammal and tree communities at a landscape scale across 4.8 million hectares in the northern Amazon. We found opposite effects of mammal and tree richness over SOM composition. Mammal diversity is related to SOM rich in nitrogen, sulfur and iron whereas tree diversity is related to SOM rich in aliphatic and carbonyl compounds. These results help us to better understand the role of biodiversity in the carbon cycle and its implications for climate change mitigation.Xunta de Galicia | ED481D 2019/024Xunta de Galicia | ED431C2021/32European Commission | Ref. H2020, n. 947921National Science Foundation (NSF) | BE/CNH 05 0809

Industrial-era lead and mercury contamination in southern Greenland implicates North American sources

We would like to thank Jesús R. Aboal (Universidade de Santiago de Compostela) and Kjell Billström (Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet) for access to the laboratory facilities; Antonio Rodríguez López helped with laboratory work. This research was done under the framework of the projects CGL2010-20672 (Plan Nacional I+D+i, Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad), R2014/001 and GPC2014-009 (Dirección Xeral I+D, Xunta de Galicia). The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the UK Leverhulme Trust Footprints on the Edge of Thule programme award for core collection and associated environmental research.Peer reviewedPostprin

Arqueología en la ACEGA 2: el área arqueológica de O Peto (Vedra, A Coruña)

Cadernos de Arqueoloxía e Patrimonio (CAPA)[EN] The archaeological area of O Peto was discovered during the construction of the highway Santiago-Alto de Santo de Domingo. This site shows the existence of archaeological structures near of the galician Iron Age hillforts. In fact O Peto is an artificialized space (where a set of several structures was exhumed) that belongs to a prerroman iron mining complex that suffered several changes in the beginning of Romanization.[ES] El área arqueológica de O Peto se descubrió durante el control arqueológico de la construcción de la Autopista Santiago-Alto de Santo Domingo. Se trata de un ejemplo significativo de la existencia de estructuras anejas en el entorno inmediato del recinto habitacional de los castros de la Edad del Hierro. Constituye un espacio claramente artificializado en el que se superponen estructuras excavadas en la roca, de naturaleza y finalidad diferentes. A este respecto se configura un espacio construido –aparentemente multifuncional- que experimentó sucesivos procesos de ampliación, redefinición, sellado intencionado y abandono entre la Edad del Hierro y Época Romana. La información aportada por la excavación indica que este yacimiento albergó un complejo minerometalúrgico caracterizado tecnológicamente por la utilización de hornos bajos prerromanos sin sangrado de escoria que procesarían el mineral extraído en el propio yacimiento.Proyecto financiado por la Dirección Xeral de Investigación e Desenvolvemento da Consellería de Innovación, Industria e Comercio (Xunta de Galicia) con cargo a la convocatoria Programa de Tecnoloxías para a Innovación- Tecnoloxías da Construcción e da Conservación do Patrimonio do ano 2004. Código de Proxecto: PGIDIT04CCP606003PRPeer reviewe

Arqueología en la ACEGA 2: el área arqueológica de O Peto (Vedra, A Coruña)

Cadernos de Arqueoloxía e Patrimonio (CAPA)[EN] The archaeological area of O Peto was discovered during the construction of the highway Santiago-Alto de Santo de Domingo. This site shows the existence of archaeological structures near of the galician Iron Age hillforts. In fact O Peto is an artificialized space (where a set of several structures was exhumed) that belongs to a prerroman iron mining complex that suffered several changes in the beginning of Romanization.[ES] El área arqueológica de O Peto se descubrió durante el control arqueológico de la construcción de la Autopista Santiago-Alto de Santo Domingo. Se trata de un ejemplo significativo de la existencia de estructuras anejas en el entorno inmediato del recinto habitacional de los castros de la Edad del Hierro. Constituye un espacio claramente artificializado en el que se superponen estructuras excavadas en la roca, de naturaleza y finalidad diferentes. A este respecto se configura un espacio construido –aparentemente multifuncional- que experimentó sucesivos procesos de ampliación, redefinición, sellado intencionado y abandono entre la Edad del Hierro y Época Romana. La información aportada por la excavación indica que este yacimiento albergó un complejo minerometalúrgico caracterizado tecnológicamente por la utilización de hornos bajos prerromanos sin sangrado de escoria que procesarían el mineral extraído en el propio yacimiento.Proyecto financiado por la Dirección Xeral de Investigación e Desenvolvemento da Consellería de Innovación, Industria e Comercio (Xunta de Galicia) con cargo a la convocatoria Programa de Tecnoloxías para a Innovación- Tecnoloxías da Construcción e da Conservación do Patrimonio do ano 2004. Código de Proxecto: PGIDIT04CCP606003PRPeer reviewe

Comment on : “A novel approach to peatlands as archives of total cumulative spatial pollution loads from atmospheric deposition of airborne elements complementary to EMEP data: Priority pollutants (Pb, Cd, Hg)” by Ewa Miszczak, Sebastian Stefaniak, Adam Michczyński, Eiliv Steinnes and Irena Twardowska

Acknowledgements We are thankful to P.G. Appleby, R. Bindler, J. Sonke, B. Smieja-Krol and three anonymous reviewers for their constructive comments.Peer reviewedPostprin

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

Late Neolithic pottery from a NW Iberian dolmen: production, use and reject

Trabajo presentado en la 26th EAA Virtual Annual Meeting (European Association of Archaeologists), celebrada online del 24 al 30 de agosto de 2020.This contribution will present the results of the study of the Late Neolithic pottery documented during the excavation of the “Dolmen 4” of the Guidoiro Areoso islet, that is located in Arousa bay (Pontevedra), one of the most important archaeological areas in the Prehistory of Galicia. The site was in constant use from 4600 BC to 800 BC, which includes diverse funerary and ceremonial uses. This study, focuses on the reconstruction of the vessels’s "life" (their manufacture, use and reject), has two basic methodological blocks: one is based on the archeological features of the pottery and another that focus on analytical work. The archaeological part of the study includes the analysis of the morpho-technical features of the pots, their spatial distribution at the site and the type of context in which they were found. The analytical work included archeometric techniques like XRF, XRD, FTIR-ATR, thermochemistry and solid’s colorimetry, allowing us to complete the information about the first steps of the pots biography related to their manufacture. The results of this research will provide us a better understanding of the funerary ritual of this megalithic burial from a material and sociocultural point of view. In addition, a comparative study with other sites in the NW Spain will allow us to start the characterization of the Late Neolithic pottery of the region, a matter that is still poorly addresse

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