On-site data cast doubts on the hypothesis of shifting cultivation in the Late Neolithic (c. 4300-2400 cal. BC): Landscape management as an alternative paradigm

This article brings together in a comprehensive way, and for the first time, on- and off-site palaeoenvironmental data from the area of the Central European lake dwellings (a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site since 2011). The types of data considered are as follows: high-resolution off-site pollen cores, including micro-charcoal counts, and on-site data, including botanical macro- and micro-remains, hand-collected animal bones, remains of microfauna, and data on woodland management (dendrotypology). The period considered is the late Neolithic (c. 4300–2400 cal. BC). For this period, especially for its earlier phases, discussions of land-use patterns are contradictory. Based on off-site data, slash-and-burn – as known from tropical regions – is thought to be the only possible way to cultivate the land. On-site data however show a completely different picture: all indications point to the permanent cultivation of cereals (Triticum spp., Hordeum vulgare), pea (Pisum sativum), flax (Linum usitatissimum) and opium-poppy (Papaver somniferum). Cycles of landscape use are traceable, including coppicing and moving around the landscape with animal herds. Archaeobiological studies further indicate also that hunting and gathering were an important component and that the landscape was manipulated accordingly. Late Neolithic land-use systems also included the use of fire as a tool for opening up the landscape. Here we argue that bringing together all the types of palaeoenvironmental proxies in an integrative way allows us to draw a more comprehensive and reliable picture of the land-use systems in the late Neolithic than had been reconstructed previously largely on the basis of off-site data

Découvertes de restes humains dans les niveaux acheuléens de Nadauiyeh Aïn Askar (El Kowm, Syrie Centrale)

An almost complete left parietal bone of Homo erectus some 450,000 years old is described in this report. It came from an acheulian level, characterized by oval-shaped handaxes, at the site of Nadaouiyeh Aïn Askar and was discovered in 1996. This site has an exceptional Acheulian sequence as well as Yabrudian and Hummalian levels. The stratigraphy at N.A.A. is very complex due to a) the variability in sedimentation and b) deformation of the layers in the dolina which was intermittently flooded by a spring. The hominid remains were found in an archaeological layer with both cultural and faunal remains which allow us to draw some interesting palaeо-ethnological conclusions

Données récentes sur la fréquentation des abris naturels dans le canton de Fribourg: l'exemple des abris de Villeneuve/La Baume

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Neanderthals or Early Modern Humans? A revised 14C chronology and geoarchaeological study of the Szeletian sequence in Szeleta Cave (Kom. Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén) in Hungary

Neanderthals or Early Modern Humans? A Revised 14C Chronology and Geoarchaeological Study of the Szeletian Sequence in Szeleta Cave (Kom. Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén) in Hungary Szeleta Cave near Miskolc is the eponymous site for the Szeletian technological group thought to reflect the last occurrence of Neanderthals in Central Europe. Because the Szeletian lithic industry contains both Middle Paleolithic and Upper Paleolithic elements, it is usually regarded as a »transitional« industry. As such, the development of a precise age model for the Szeletian would add substantial information to a period of population replacements in Europe. This concerns the timing of Neanderthal disappearance and their possible cohabitation with Anatomically Modern Humans in Central Europe. Previous age models for the Szeletian either suffered from deficiencies of dating methods and / or poor stratigraphic control of the dated samples. Therefore, population replacement models based on the key archaeological sequence of Szeleta Cave remain ambiguous. For this reason, we developed a new age model for the Szeletian sequence of this cave combined with a geoarchaeological investigation. Our new radiocarbon chronology, based on AMS 14C dating results of in situ bone and charcoal samples, lends support to the argument that the Szeletian does not represent a transition towards, but rather contemporaneity with the Early Upper Paleolithic. The Szeletian now appears to be of the same age as the Early Aurignacian in the region which is linked to the early Anatomically Modern Humans. Consequently, Neanderthals are the likely authors of the famous Szeletian leaf points – bifacially shaped implements that are important cultural markers for the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition

Theorizing the Biographies of Wetland Settlement Utilizing Insights from Micromorphological Analysis

The biographical approach has become a well-recognized and adopted method to theorize the establishment and development of settlements in accord with their human occupation. Recent proposals for such a biographical model for the lake-dwellings of the northern Alpine region have been largely based upon theoretical and hypothetical considerations. Lake-dwelling sites in the Alpine region generally have excellent levels of organic preservation, particularly for artefacts and building foundations, but with poor representation of building superstructures. They do however have high potential for archaeology micromorphological soil analysis, with sediment deposits providing indications of both human activity and environmental conditions within the settlement. Using specific examples from Switzerland, this paper intends to highlight some of the contributions that micromorphology can provide to the consideration of settlement biographies. The biographical approach has become a well-recognized and adoptedmethod to theorize the establishment and development of settlements inaccord with their human occupation. Recent proposals for such abiographical model for the lake-dwellings of the northern Alpine regionhave been largely based upon theoretical and hypothetical considerations.Lake-dwelling sites in the Alpine region generally have excellent levels oforganic preservation, particularly for artefacts and building foundations, butwith poor representation of building superstructures. They do however havehigh potential for archaeology micromorphological soil analysis, withsediment deposits providing indications of both human activity andenvironmental conditions within the settlement. Using specific examplesfrom Switzerland, this paper intends to highlight some of the contributionsthat micromorphology can provide to the consideration of settlementbiographies. Mikromorphologie - Seeufersiedlun

The Hidden Midden: Geoarchaeological investigation of sedimentation processes, waste disposal practices, and resource management at the La Tène settlement of Basel‐Gasfabrik (Switzerland)

To interpret artifact assemblages, it is necessary to understand the processes that have formed and influenced them: layer formation processes, cultural practices, and the way resources were used. In this study, we present our results of micromorphologically analyzed pits, ditches, house floors, and occupation layers found within the younger Iron Age settlement of Basel‐Gasfabrik. We defined 11 microfacies types and put them into a spatial and stratigraphic context. In addition, we quantify waste categories according to the archaeological features and microfacies types. Our results suggest that some ditches played a role in the spatial organization of the settlement, others were used as water canals. Several pits show a secondary use as roofed construction in the context of handicrafts. In addition, mapping the microfacies types reveals a differentiated use of space. Finally, differences between waste categories are visible. Dung was used as fuel and probably as fertilizer, whereas animal bone fragments and ceramic sherds have been stored on rubbish dumps, where they were available as raw material. These new insights into the use of pits, ditches, and settlement areas as well as the handling of resources provide an important basis for understanding everyday life in the settlement of Basel‐Gasfabrik