Palaeoecology and Forager Subsistence Strategies during the Pleistocene – Holocene Transition: A Reinvestigation of the Zooarchaeological Assemblage from Spirit Cave, Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand

This reanalysis uses the zooarchaeological assemblage recovered from Spirit Cave to understand hunter-gatherer use and occupation at the site during the Pleistocene – Holocene transition. We analyze bone fragmentation, sample size, and relative abundance to establish the preservation and overall composition of the remaining fauna. Identification of several new taxa, including roundleaf bats (Hipposideros larvatus and bicolor), elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata), black marsh turtle (Siebenrockiella crassicollis), Burmese hare (Lepus cf. peguensis) and a potential red junglefowl (Phasianidae — ?Gallus gallus) provide insights into hunter-gatherer occupation, palaeoecology, and subsistence strategies between 12,000 and 7000 years b.p. Our results indicate that Spirit Cave was occupied more sporadically than originally suggested; additionally, we identify new evidence for landscape disturbance during the early Holocene. Although this Spirit Cave zooarchaeological assemblage is incomplete, it remains an important component of Southeast Asian prehistory, providing evidence for human adaptations during a period of climatic change and instability

Ancient DNA Analysis and Stable Isotope Ecology of Sea Turtles (Cheloniidae) from the Gold Rush-era (1850s) Eastern Pacific Ocean

Historical and archaeological evidence documents the importation of sea turtles from the eastern Pacific Ocean (Baja California) to California during the Gold Rush (1848–1855) and through the end of 19th century, but it is unknown whether these 19th century sea turtles foraged in similar ways to their modern counterparts. To identify the species of two Gold Rush-era sea turtle specimens recovered from archaeological deposits in San Francisco, California, we first analyze ancient DNA (aDNA). We then analyze carbon (δ13Ccol), nitrogen (δ15N), and hydrogen (δD) stable isotopes of bone collagen and carbon (δ13Cap) and oxygen (δ18Oap) stable isotopes of bone apatite to test if eastern Pacific sea turtle diets have changed over the past 160 years. Ancient DNA confirms that both archaeological specimens are green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas). The stable isotope values from the 19th-century specimens are statistically indistinguishable from the modern comparatives in both δ13Ccoland δ15N, suggesting that green sea turtle dietary intake has remained relatively unchanged since the 1850s. However, the values are unclear for δD and δ18Oapand require additional research.Support for this work came the University of Oklahoma Libraries Open Access Fund.YesOpen Quaternary is an international peer-reviewed venue for contributions that consider the changing environment of the Quaternary, as well as the development of humanity

Open science in archaeology

No abstract available

Faunal Data for Pleistocene-Holocene Archaeological Sites in Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia

A collection of faunal data from mainland Southeast Asia archaeological sites spanning the late Pleistocene and Holocene. Sites are located throughout Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia.Faunal data, R script and figures are provided as a zip file (OQ_SEA-master.zip) created from the repository hosted at https://github.com/cylerc/OQ_SEA. Within this zip file there is a folder called “data,” where all summary and raw faunal counts are included. Original citation information from which this data is derived is included in the Readme document. Tables are presented as number of identified specimens (NISP), minimum number of individuals (MNI) or presence/absence data within each .csv. Column headings represent stratigraphic units or contexts that the original publications use. x=classification present in context/unit. In Thailand, zooarchaeological data is included from Spirit Cave, Banyan Valley Cave, Tham Lod Rockshelter, Sai-Yok Rockshelter, Khao Talu Cave, Ment Cave, Lang Kamnan Cave, Long Rongrien Rockshelter, Khao Toh Chong Rockshelter, Moh Khiew Cave I, Moh Khiew Cave II, Sakai Cave and Thung Nong Nien Rockshelter. In Peninsular Malaysia, zooarchaeological data is included from Gua Gunung Runtuh, Gua Harimau, Gua Ngaum, Gua Teluk Kelawar, Gua Peraling, Gua Cha, Gua Kechil, Gua Tenggek and Gua Sagu. Mollusc faunal data from Lang Kamnan Cave is reported in mass (grams). This repository dataset is described in: Conrad, C. 2015. Archaeozoology in Mainland Southeast Asia: Changing Methodology and Pleistocene to Holocene Forager Subsistence Patterns in Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia. Open Quaternary, 1: 7, pp. 1–23, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5334/oq.a

Archaeological Databases for Spirit Cave, Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand

Archaeological databases, MNI table and R script for the Spirit Cave, Thailand, collections. The faunal, botanical, lithic and ceramic databases (and MNI table) are saved as .csv files. A Readme file is attached describing the column headings and organization of the databases. Collaborating researchers for this project include Charles Higham, Masaki Eda, Ben Marwick, Peter Ng and Rachanie Thosarat. R script is provided as a zip file (AP_SC-master.zip) created from the repository developed and hosted at https://github.com/cylerc/AP_SC. Note: This material does not derive from a new excavation of Spirit Cave; it is the data collected through our reanalysis of the curated assemblage at the University of Otago. This repository dataset is described in the manuscript: Conrad, C., Higham, C., Eda, M. and Marwick, B. (2016) Paleoecology and Forager Subsistence Strategies During the Pleistocene-Holocene Transition: A Reinvestigation of the Zooarchaeological Assemblage from Spirit Cave, Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. Asian Perspectives 55(1)

Mainland Southeast Asia in the Longue Durée: A Zooarchaeological Test of the Broad Spectrum Revolution in Northern Thailand

In northern Thailand, previous zooarchaeological research suggests that hunter-gatherers consumed a broad diversity of animal resources during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition and afterwards (Gorman 1971a). This is a pattern characteristic of Kent Flannery’s (1969) “broad spectrum revolution” hypothesis. Based primarily on presence and absence evidence, faunal assemblages in northern Thailand typically include species of mammals, reptiles, birds, fish and shellfish, suggesting that prehistoric foragers consumed a wide range of taxa within this mainland Southeast Asian tropical environment. Although zooarchaeological analyses commonly identify this pattern within prehistoric cave and rockshelter sites, past investigations have 1) not attempted to formally test Flannery’s hypothesis, 2) understand the regional specifics of indigenous hunter-gatherer diets during this period, and 3) identify the role that foragers played in the ultimate mid Holocene transition to economies based on domesticated plants and animals. In this research, I examine calibrated radiocarbon age distributions, mammalian stable isotope sequences and zooarchaeological data from four sites in northern Thailand – Spirit Cave (Tham Phii Maen), Steep Cliff Cave (Tham Phaa Can), Banyan Valley Cave (Tham Boong Hoong) and Non Nok Tha (Partridge Mound). I investigate whether a broad spectrum revolution occurred in northern Thailand throughout the late Pleistocene and Holocene, as well as how hunter-gatherer paleodemography, subsistence, and paleoenvironments influenced the mid Holocene transition to economies based on domesticated resources. Results suggest that hunter-gatherer demography generally increases, but fluctuates, throughout the late Pleistocene and Holocene and does not substantially increase during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. There is no evidence for paleoenvironmental change during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, and only minor evidence for possible reforestation during the mid Holocene. Finally, zooarchaeological evidence does not provide support for a broad spectrum revolution and instead suggests long-term, consistent and sustainable foraging of specific resources during the late Pleistocene and Holocene

Palaeolithic zooarchaeology in Myanmar: a review and future prospects

The Anyathian culture, one of the prominent stone arte-fact traditions in Mainland Southeast Asia spanning the Pleistocene and Holocene, has been frequently described at archaeological sites in the central belt of Myanmar. Human exploitative patterns of plant and animal re-sources relating to the Anyathian are obscure due to the paucity of systematic stratigraphic excavations in Myan-mar. However, recent research in the States of Shan and Kayin has shown that Myanmar has the potential to contribute to a better understanding of human subsistence economies at hunter-gatherer sites throughout the Pleistocene and Holocene. This study reviews faunal evidence recovered in association with stone artefacts at hunter-gatherer sites throughout Myanmar and illustrates the significance that further, more intensive research and better chronometric dating has for developing our understanding of foraging strategies in the Late Pleistocene and Holocene in Myanmar

Preservation of Mammalian Teeth and Bones Influences Identification of Terminal Pleistocene to Middle Holocene Hunter-Gatherer Subsistence at Ban Rai Rockshelter, Northwest Thailand

Ban Rai Rockshelter in northwest Thailand, dating to the Terminal Pleistocene and Middle Holocene, includes evidence for hunter-gatherer exploitation of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, and arthropods. Abundant faunal remains, identified throughout site deposits, include macaques (Macaca sp.) and Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor), but these identifications are influenced by an assemblage largely comprised of preserved tooth elements and fragmented bone. Area 3 at Ban Rai has the largest abundance and diversity of faunal remains recovered and identified in this study. Here, we examine the zooarchaeological assemblage from Ban Rai Rockshelter, to understand long-term hunter-gatherer subsistence change, influenced by site preservation, during and after the Pleistocene–Holocene transition. Our results support the presence of the exploitation of arboreal taxa during the Early and Middle Holocene in northwest Thailand