A palaeoenvironmental reconstruction (based on palaeobotanical data and diatoms) of the Middle Pleistocene elephant (Palaeoloxodon antiquus) butchery site at Marathousa, Megalopolis, Greece

Bioarchaeolog

De lo real a lo imaginario. Aproximación a la flora ibérica durante la Edad del Hierro

“From the real to the imagery” is the translation of the project’s title we present in this paper. Our main goal is the study of the Iberian Iron Age flora from several points of view in order to come close to the use and the simbolism of plants among the ancient societies, specially the Iberian Culture. The method we use is a combination of a paleobotanical approach, based on palinology, anthracology and paleocarpology, together with an iconographic one. Then, we record all the representations of plants on pottery, stone sculpture, metallic objects and coins. All these data are catalogued taking in to account the context and chronology of the archaeological remains we are dealing with. The aim of this research project is to create a database of the used and known plants among the Iberians, to reconstruct the possible uses (“the real”) and the images of plants represented on the artefacts (“the imagery”). This paper offers preliminary results of our method by presenting an analytical example based on two species: the poppy (Papaver sp.) and the palm tree (Phoenix datylifera L.).“De lo real a lo imaginario” es el título de un proyecto cuyo objetivo es hacer un estudio de la flora de los iberos desde distintos puntos de vista con el fin de aproximarnos al uso y simbolismo de las plantas por parte de las sociedades antiguas. Para ello se va a combinar una visión estrictamente paleobotánica, basada en estudios palinológicos, antracológicos y paleocarpológicos, con la iconográfica, recogiendo todas las representaciones de plantas que aparecen en cerámica, escultura en piedra, objetos metálicos y monedas. Todos los datos se catalogan teniendo en cuenta su contexto y cronología. Con ello se pretende elaborar un catálogo de plantas conocidas y utilizadas, en diferentes contextos, con todos los usos posibles (lo real) y las imágenes de plantas recogidas en diversos soportes (lo imaginario). Como ejemplo, se presenta el estudio realizado sobre dos plantas: la adormidera (Papaver sp.) y la palmera (Phoenix datylifera L.)

Evolution and environment of the eastern linear pottery culture: A case study in the site of Polgár-Piócási-Dűlő

A salvage excavation preceding a major investment project was conducted in 2006–2007, during which associated settlement features of a Middle Neolithic, Eastern Linear Pottery Culture (Alföld Linearbandkeramik – ALBK) were uncovered in an area called Piócási-dűlő on the eastern outskirts of Polgár. The features of the ALBK settlement date from two periods. The cluster of multi-functional pits yielding a rich assortment of finds, the handful of post-holes and an unusual ritual well found in the southern part of the investigated area formed one unit from the earliest phase of the Middle Neolithic (ALBK I). The settlement’s other occupation can be assigned to the late phase of the Middle Neolithic (ALBK IV). Five houseplans representing the remains of timber-framed buildings outlined a distinct area with three multi-functional pits. Associated with the above features were 8 burials. The preliminary archaeobotanical results from Polgár–Piócási-dűlő are based on the plant material found within the sediments of 11 archaeological structures, which mainly represent pits and a welI. It can be stated that the natural environment offered habitats in which oak trees dominated in the local vegetation, forming floodplain forests and wooded steppes. They also provided food in the form of fruits and formed an optimal habitat for domestic animals. Arable fields were probably also established in the vicinity of the settlements, suggested by findings of macroscopic plant remains that represented cultivated species. In both settlement phases lithic production activities are manifested both by the local on-site lithic production and – most importantly – by the presence of imported, mainly mesolocal, raw materials that point to contacts with deposit areas, or off-site preliminary working of obsidian and limnoquartzites. The kit of harvesting tools and a large number of grinding stones – especially in the younger phase – for the preparation of plant food suggest a major role of plant cultivation

Prehistoric Research in the Area of Samarina in the Pindus, Grevena

In Grec

People and plants: piecing together archaeological and archaeobotanical data to reconstruct plant use and craft activities in Mycenaean Tiryns

Archaeology of the Near East and the Mediterranea

A Transfer Learning approach to Heatmap Regression for Action Unit intensity estimation

Action Units (AUs) are geometrically-based atomic facial muscle movements known to produce appearance changes at specific facial locations. Motivated by this observation we propose a novel AU modelling problem that consists of jointly estimating their localisation and intensity. To this end, we propose a simple yet efficient approach based on Heatmap Regression that merges both problems into a single task. A Heatmap models whether an AU occurs or not at a given spatial location. To accommodate the joint modelling of AUs intensity, we propose variable size heatmaps, with their amplitude and size varying according to the labelled intensity. Using Heatmap Regression, we can inherit from the progress recently witnessed in facial landmark localisation. Building upon the similarities between both problems, we devise a transfer learning approach where we exploit the knowledge of a network trained on large-scale facial landmark datasets. In particular, we explore different alternatives for transfer learning through a) fine-tuning, b) adaptation layers, c) attention maps, and d) reparametrisation. Our approach effectively inherits the rich facial features produced by a strong face alignment network, with minimal extra computational cost. We empirically validate that our system sets a new state-of-the-art on three popular datasets, namely BP4D, DISFA, and FERA2017

Prehistoric Exploitation of Grevena Highland Zones: Hunters and herders along the Pindus Chain of Western Macedonia (Greece)

The surveys and excavations carried out in the highland zone of the Grevena Pindus Mountains have revealed that the watershed that separates western Macedonia from Epirus was (seasonally) inhabited in different prehistoric times, from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age. The highest concentration of 'sites' is known from the surroundings of the modern village of Samarina, which is rich in good-quality chert raw material outcrops. This territory is still nowadays heavily exploited by Vlach shepherds who seasonally carry out pastoral activities, moving their flocks from the eastern lowlands up to the high-altitude pastures. The excavations carried out at three different sites, all lying on a flysch substratum, revealed the presence of a redeposited lower sediment, characterized bya polygonal soil caused by ground freezing that was later effected by erosion canals produced by human interference in the landscape. The results so far obtained from a few charcoal radiocarbon dates indicate that this fact took place in at least three different periods from the middle Bronze Age to the seventh century AD

Integrating archaeology and science in a Greek sanctuary: issues of practise and interpretation in the study of the bioarchaeological remains from the sanctuary of Poseidon at Kalaureia

The archaeological research carried out in the sanctuary of Poseidon at Kalaureia is one of the few cases of a Classical excavation, where a broad and multifaceted program for the retrieval and analysis of bioarchaeological remains has been adopted. The nature and dating of the site presents us with the particular challenge of how to integrate the analysis of the bio-archaeological remains with other aspects of research such as architecture, stratigraphy, pottery, small finds etc. Can the different approaches to the material culture which are most often exercised by the practitioners of Classical archaeology and those of ‘science based’ archaeology produce compatible results? This paper describes certain modes of integration as they have been applied in the Kalaureia Research Program. Emphasis on contextuality, research around certain key themes which are considered relevant to the life in a Greek sanctuary, and the comprehensive use of the ancient written record are some of these mode