Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
This thesis explores the application of Deep Learning techniques for automated feature detection within GIS maps in the context of digital archaeology. Specifically, it focuses on leveraging the...Show moreThis thesis explores the application of Deep Learning techniques for automated feature detection within GIS maps in the context of digital archaeology. Specifically, it focuses on leveraging the YOLOv8s algorithm to automate the detection of prehistoric granaries on archaeological excavation maps. Traditional manual analysis methods in archaeological research are often time-consuming and labour-intensive, particularly when dealing with large spatial datasets. Moreover, the overall convoluted nature of archaeological excavations and the diverse range of features they contain present significant challenges for traditional methods. To address these challenges, this research investigates the potential of Deep Learning algorithms to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of automated feature detection on archaeological GIS maps. The results of this study demonstrate the effectiveness and potential of Deep Learning algorithms to accurately identify prehistoric granaries within archaeological excavation maps. The analysis reveals that the algorithm is able to detect and classify prehistoric granaries with a relative high degree of precision. Despite these promising results, the study underscores the challenges associated with the opacity of DL models, particularly regarding their interpretability and biases. The thesis highlights the importance of addressing issues such as data imbalance, background noise, and the inclusion of contextual information to improve the accuracy and reliability of automated detection models. While the current model demonstrates potential, further research is needed to refine these methodologies, ensuring they contribute meaningfully to archaeological analysis. This work tries to lay some foundation for future advancements in the field, advocating for the development of more comprehensive DL models that can enhance the efficiency and depth of archaeological investigations.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
This study addresses challenges in Ottoman archaeology, where sites and materials are often neglected due to the complex legacy of Ottoman heritage. From its foundation in the 14th century to its...Show moreThis study addresses challenges in Ottoman archaeology, where sites and materials are often neglected due to the complex legacy of Ottoman heritage. From its foundation in the 14th century to its dissolution in 1922, the Ottoman Empire left an lasting mark on the heritage of three continents: Southeast Europe, West Asia, and North Africa. Yet, in many of the successor states, Ottoman heritage is regarded as problematic, resulting in limited excavations and a sparse archaeological record that restricts our understanding of its material culture. In contrast, historical analyses of the Ottoman period provide significant insights into trade, economy, and global economic trends. However, historical sources cannot always be taken at face value, as they may disregard certain details or reflect subjective perspectives. While historical accounts often present the broader picture, archaeology has the potential to uncover specific details that could both support and challenge these narratives. The scarcity of Ottoman archaeological data, however, makes it difficult to critically evaluate historical hypotheses. This research examines the use of network analysis to reconstruct domestic and international trade networks within the Ottoman Empire, with the aim of comparing archaeological findings with historical scenarios and identifying their areas of overlap and divergence. The study focuses on pottery data from five cities: Belgrade, Sofia, and Varna in the Balkans, and Mytilini and Izmir in the Aegean. These cities were strategically chosen as they are located in the heart of Ottoman political and economic influence. They represent regions closest to the imperial capital of Istanbul and thus central to the empire’s economy. By incorporating pottery data into network models and aligning these with historical sources on economic trends and trade routes, the study assesses both the strengths and limitations of network methods in archaeology. The findings reveal that both historical and archaeological data capture broad trade patterns and shifts in economic focus over the centuries. However, archaeological data uniquely uncovers site-specific connections and can provide valuable insights into periods for which historical records are sparse. Additionally, archaeology offers concrete evidence of interactions between certain regions even when there is no historical information on such exchanges. This allows for new analyses that would not have been possible without the archaeological record. Nonetheless, the study highlights limitations inherent in archaeological methods. For instance, certain international trade relationships are challenging to detect archaeologically due to the nature of commerce, as some goods leave no material trace. Additionally, the role of middlemen (traders dealing in goods from third-party regions) is hard to detect archaeologically. These gaps underscore the importance of integrating multiple sources of evidence to develop a fuller understanding of trade networks. This research not only offers insights into Ottoman economic networks, but also to the broader methodological discourse in archaeology. It demonstrates how network analysis can be effectively employed with limited archaeological data to enrich historical narratives. However, it advises against depending too heavily on these models, stressing that they should support, not replace, archaeological interpretation. This approach offers future researchers a way to combine archaeological evidence with historical records, improving our understanding of less-studied times and places.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
under embargo until 2027-03-06
2027-03-06T00:00:00Z
Paleoenvironmental studies offer essential insights into the ecological and developmental contexts of human evolution, focusing on how climate-induced habitat changes have influenced hominin...Show morePaleoenvironmental studies offer essential insights into the ecological and developmental contexts of human evolution, focusing on how climate-induced habitat changes have influenced hominin behavior and evolution over millions of years. Homo erectus, one of the most resilient hominins, dispersed from Africa across Europe and Asia during the Early Pleistocene, with significant findings from various regions, including the island of Java. Java’s environmental conditions differed from other Homo erectus sites in Africa and northern Asia, providing a unique context for understanding hominin adaptation to diverse habitats. The Sogen site, located along the Solo River and approximately 8 km from the renowned Trinil site, offers a stratigraphically intact context with well-preserved vertebrate fossils and archaeological artifacts, providing a valuable case study for environmental reconstruction in Southeast Asia. Utilizing stable isotope analysis of δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values from soil carbonate nodules and herbivore tooth enamel, combined with sedimentological and faunal data, this study reconstructs vegetation patterns, hydroclimate variability, and landscape heterogeneity during the Middle Pleistocene. The isotopic analysis reveals significant environmental shifts between wetter, C3 vegetation-dominated periods and drier, mixed C3/C4 ecosystems, reflecting both glacial-interglacial cycles and localized basin dynamics. While δ¹³C values for soil carbonate nodules indicate localised signals for vegetation cover and hydroclimate, with δ¹⁸O values reflecting variations in precipitation and evaporation. Herbivore tooth enamel data further corroborate these findings, offering insights into the diet and foraging behaviors of fauna, which mirrored broader environmental trends. Faunal and sedimentological evidence supports the existence of a mosaic landscape at Sogen, characterized by grasslands, woodlands, and aquatic habitats, which likely provided diverse ecological niches for Homo erectus and other Pleistocene species. Comparative analysis situates the Sogen site within a global context, highlighting similarities and differences between Homo erectus environments in Africa, Europe, and Asia. While Java’s stable tropical climate differed from higher-latitude Pleistocene sites, Homo erectus demonstrated remarkable adaptability, utilizing a variety of resources through hunting, scavenging, and possibly non-lithic tool use. The presence of stone artifacts and Homo erectus fossil fragment at Sogen underscores the archaeological significance of the site and its potential to enhance our understanding of hominin behavior in island Southeast Asia. This research contributes to ongoing debates about the environmental pressures shaping Homo erectus evolution and dispersal. By integrating high-resolution isotopic data with geological and faunal analyses, the study bridges gaps in our understanding of the Middle Pleistocene paleoenvironment in Java. Furthermore, the findings illuminate the interplay between climate variability, landscape heterogeneity, and hominin adaptation, providing a comprehensive framework for interpreting early human-environment interactions in tropical regions. The Sogen site not only offers new insights into the ecological context of Homo erectus in Java but also establishes a foundation for future interdisciplinary studies on Middle Pleistocene environments in Southeast Asia.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
under embargo until 2027-03-06
2027-03-06T00:00:00Z
Breastfeeding and weaning practices (BWPs) have always been closely intertwined with cultural and religious practices. Following the arrival of the Spaniards in Cuba (1492 CE), the indigenous Taíno...Show moreBreastfeeding and weaning practices (BWPs) have always been closely intertwined with cultural and religious practices. Following the arrival of the Spaniards in Cuba (1492 CE), the indigenous Taíno were quickly introduced to new foods, diseases, and above all, Christianity. This influx of exchange between the Old World and the New World, known as the Columbian Exchange, was not the only thing that changed for the Cuban Taíno, as so-called encomiendas were established around the island, where the indigenous people were forced to work for the Spanish oppressors. One of the towns where encomiendado laborers lived when they were not working for the Spaniards is known today as El Chorro de Maíta, an archaeological site located in the northeastern Cuban municipality of Holguín. As this town had a habitation history preceding the arrival of the Spaniards and continuing into the early colonial period (ca. 1300–1550 CE), it is an archaeological goldmine to study the impact of colonialism on the indigenous Cuban Taíno. In this thesis, I aimed to study if and how the Columbian Exchange and encomienda system influenced BWPs at Chorro de Maíta though incremental stable carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen isotope analysis of dentine collagen and bioapatite, as well as test three new incremental sampling techniques. To reconstruct BWPs at Chorro de Maíta, permanent first molars (M1s) of 38 individuals, as well as two permanent second molars (M2) and two deciduous second molars (dM2), were incrementally sampled for collagen nitrogen and carbon analysis. The molars were thin-sectioned and incrementally sampled from the enamel dentine junction (EDJ) to the apex of the root using a biopsy punch with a plunger. Additionally, seven of these M1s were also sampled for bioapatite carbon and oxygen analysis using a handheld drill and a MicroMill2. The results of the collagen and bioapatite analysis indicated that all three methodologies are well-suited for BWP studies, with advantages and disadvantages for each methodology. The statistical analysis of the isotope results from this study indicated that there were no significant correlations between the distribution of BWPs and the studied biological and mortuary traits. It did, however, indicate that there was a statistically significant correlation between mean weaning ages (WAs) and both deposition and cranial modifications, two traits that have been connected to pre- and post-contact practices. Although it was not possible to definitively say whether there was a direct correlation between the introduction of the encomienda system and BWPs at Chorro de Maíta based on these results alone, there were some additional observations related to age-at-death and depositions that suggest there might have been a shift to shorter breastfeeding during the colonial period. However, future inclusion of ancient DNA analysis of the individuals included in this study could provide more information regarding these observations.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
closed access
Archaeological investigation in Greece has long been mainly focused on remains of Antiquity. The interest in the Latin and Ottoman periods, on the other hand, is much more recent. Much has been...Show moreArchaeological investigation in Greece has long been mainly focused on remains of Antiquity. The interest in the Latin and Ottoman periods, on the other hand, is much more recent. Much has been done in that respect, and large scale diachronic field survey projects in particular brought insights into settlement patterns, domestic architecture, exchange networks, rural economy and other aspects of daily life in these periods thanks to the establishment and refinement of pottery chronologies for the Post-Roman periods. However, our picture of society, culture and daily life during the Latin period, especially in rural areas, is still hazy. Until recently, the only approach to Medieval central Έvia (Euboia) as a landscape rather than a collection of isolated sites and monuments was J. Koder’s study of Negroponte under Venetian rule, published in 1973. Building on it and on recent excavations, the intensive and extensive survey project investigating the landscape and socio-economic transformations of the hinterland of modern Chalkída (Byzantine Euripos, Latin Negroponte), begun in summer 2022, researches the ties between this urban centre and its hinterland. Situated in western central Έvia, the Messápios plain constitutes the northern hinterland of modern Chalkída. As a contribution to the larger survey project, the present study of Medieval churches of the Messápios plain aims to add some detail to the current picture of this region in Medieval times and thereby gain some insight into the societies that built these churches and shaped that landscape. In our extensive survey we used drone imagery, documented the building techniques, architectural form and decoration of medieval buildings and infrastructure in ruinous state or still in use, and analysed local collections of archaeological finds. This new data provided us with a more detailed and nuanced view of this landscape in medieval times. The churches built in the Messapios plain during the Byzantine and Latin periods are all known and have been previously investigated. The novelty here is that in this study they were analysed as different elements of one Medieval landscape, based on the extensive survey and photographic documentation of these monuments as well as on the critical review of prior archaeological research. Some interesting patterns could be revealed, notably the fact that all known churches of the cross-vaulted type, a church type that appeared during the Latin period, are restricted to the eastern end of the valley. Furthermore, this study showed that the Messápios plain can hardly be considered only as the hinterland of Chalkída, as the straight connects it to northern Central Greece rather than isolating it. To gain more significant insights on aspects of society and daily life on Έvia during the Byzantine and Latin periods, the scope of this study should be at least widened to the whole scale of the larger survey project. It should also include data from neighbouring regions connected to Έvia by the straight.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
closed access
The medieval period marks a turning point in the history of human-animal relationships, since the proliferation of medieval cities throughout Europe resulted in an ever-increasing demand for animal...Show moreThe medieval period marks a turning point in the history of human-animal relationships, since the proliferation of medieval cities throughout Europe resulted in an ever-increasing demand for animal products, like foodstuffs and raw materials. However, in comparison with the prehistoric period, medieval human-animal relationships have received considerably less attention and have often primarily been focused on the economic aspects of these relationships. This thesis used radiocarbon- dated material from the medieval castle of Albarracín (Teruel, Spain) to study the intensity and character of human-animal relationships through time by comparing material from the Islamic (10th-11th century CE) and Christian (15th-16th century CE) periods. The results demonstrated the importance of functional animals, especially of domestic livestock, at the site in both periods and show how the role of these animals changed through time. The assemblage is dominated by caprines, particularly by sheep who played an important role in the development of transhumant movement in medieval Spain. Furthermore, the archaeofaunal data also shed light on non- economic relationships between humans and nonhuman animals, for instance on the role of domestic carnivores and wild birds as scavengers of organic debris deposited by humans in urban environments. These results highlight the importance of archaeozoological studies on medieval contexts, since they have the potential to contribute more than a purely economic perspective on historical human-animal relationships and how these developed through time.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
under embargo until 2025-08-31
2025-08-31T00:00:00Z
This thesis discusses the first study of stone tools in the Darién region of eastern Panama and northwestern Colombia by examining the collection of objects from the sites of San Antonio and Santa...Show moreThis thesis discusses the first study of stone tools in the Darién region of eastern Panama and northwestern Colombia by examining the collection of objects from the sites of San Antonio and Santa Maria la Antigua del Darién. No prior archaeological analysis of lithic material has been conducted in the region while the study of the stone tools has been pushed by a limited number of scholars and investigations in adjacent Panama. As such, the clean canvas of the Darién region allows for a renegotiation of the theoretical, conceptual and methodological approaches to lithic investigations in the region. To renegotiate the approach to the study of lithic material, the thesis introduces several case studies illustrating the state of affairs in Panama as well as the entire lack of work of this kind conducted in northwestern Colombia. Through these case studies the key aspects of typological-driven approaches in Panama are identified and inform the formulation of a methodological approach to renegotiating the conceptualisation of the material category from the perspective of Darién. In subjecting the materials from San Antonio and Santa Maria to the same typological analytical approaches, key issues are identified while additionally forming the first discussion of lithics from the Darién. By renegotiating the key issues of lithic analysis in Panama, the aspects of nonlithic material for similar tool tasks as well as the extensive presence of expedient, multiuse and redesigned are identified as core aspects in creating a new conceptualisation and methodological framework for studying stone tools. As such, the thesis proposes the concept of strategic expedience as a hypothesis for the discussion of lithic in Darién and adjacent areas as well as proposing a task and assemblage-based approach to the study of tools that goes beyond the confines of typology and incorporates the site or regional level as the key unit of analysing tool task rather than focusing on form. In this, the thesis identifies the ‘clean canvas’ of the Darién as a unique opportunity to push archaeological discourse through broader hypothecation and refocus on the creation of archaeological narratives rather than hunting for intrinsic Truths in the archaeological record.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
closed access
The Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in Western Eurasia took place between 50,000 and 35,000 years ago. At the start of the transition, the region was inhabited by Neanderthals, and perhaps...Show moreThe Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in Western Eurasia took place between 50,000 and 35,000 years ago. At the start of the transition, the region was inhabited by Neanderthals, and perhaps by a few scattered groups of Anatomically Modern Humans. However, by the end of the transition, only Anatomically Modern Humans remained. Our understanding of how this came to be is fragmentary, as sites without preserved organic remains cannot be dated with high-precision methods. However, around 41,000 years ago there was a profound temporary change in the Earth’s magnetic field, named the Laschamps event. This event can be identified through using paleomagnetism and can potentially help in greatly constraining the chronologies of archaeological sites by offering a margin of error of less than 1,000 years. This thesis assesses the potential benefits and pitfalls of using the Laschamps event as a geochronological marker in archaeology. This is done by combining a literature study with a paleomagnetic case study. The literature study focuses on assessing the quality of the previous identifications of the Laschamps event at archaeological sites. This literature study is the first ever on the Laschamps event at archaeological sites and found that most of the previous claims were not well supported by the available evidence. In particular, the methods used for demagnetising the paleomagnetic samples and recognising the potential effects of post-depositional processes was found to be important for interpreting the paleomagnetic signal. The paleomagnetic study uncovered reversed directions in several of the lower units at the cave site at Quinçay, France. This thesis shows the first record of the Laschamps event ever found at an archaeological site in Western Europe. The likely position of the Laschamps event in the site stratigraphy straddled the final Mousterian and Châtelperronian layers, which could indicate that the cultural succession at the site happened rapidly. But this interpretation is made with several caveats, particularly the need for better age control of the lower levels at the site.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
closed access
The Quina Mousterian is a Late Middle Palaeolithic technocomplex recognised mainly in Southern and Western Europe. It has been argued that Neanderthal groups developed this technology to cope with...Show moreThe Quina Mousterian is a Late Middle Palaeolithic technocomplex recognised mainly in Southern and Western Europe. It has been argued that Neanderthal groups developed this technology to cope with the decreasing global temperatures and the environmental changes of the last glaciation (Weichselian). The Quina system is so far unattested in North Europe, where the climatic fluctuations derived from the Weichselian glaciation were arguably more pronounced and quicker. This research studies the stone tool assemblage from the open-air surface site of Colmont-Ponderosa (South Limburg, The Netherlands). The techno-typological study of the lithics from the site reveals that some Middle Palaeolithic groups of the region were users of versatile and less prepared technologies, with short flaking sequences to produce blanks with a long use-life potential. The tool typologies of the assemblage are dominated by denticulates and notches rather than “Quina” scrapers. The study of the lithics depicts a strong presence of Quina technology over Discoid and Levallois flaking systems, which are virtually absent in the assemblage of Colmont-Ponderosa. The stone tools from the site show a high degree of reduction and ramification. This is evident in the characteristics of the flakes, modified pieces as well as the cores. This thesis demonstrates that the Quina technology was indeed present at some point in time in the Northern latitudes but it was more focused on the recycling and re-using of tools and blanks rather than on the production of specific tool typologies as is the case in typical Quina sites in Southwestern France, for example. This research further employs a behavioural ecological approach to the archaeological record of the case study to demonstrate that the variability within the Quina entity as portrayed in the assemblage of the site might be related to a specific behavioural pattern consisting of a highly mobile, logistic, and economic lifestyle. This ecological approach to lithic technology further shows that the economic behaviour visible in the lateral and secondary recycling embedded within the technological production cycle, contributed to the creation of the archaeological record, generating a feedback loop in which the archaeological record is shaped by and shapes behaviours. This thesis illustrates that, at some point in time, Middle Palaeolithic groups in Northern Europe were indeed users of the Quina technological system, adding more diversity to the studies that link Northern Europe to a Levallois-based technology, Discoid flaking systems, and bifacial shaping. The presence of the Quina technology in the northern fringes of the Neanderthals’ ecological niche shows the diversity and adaptive flexibility of Neanderthal behaviour at the time of the Weichselian glaciation. This work further proposes that a more behavioural ecological approach to the study of lithic technology can help in understanding the variability within the Mousterian archaeological record.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
The rural world and farming activities were a crucial part of Roman life. The majority of the Roman population was in some way involved in agriculture, meaning that socio-economic developments...Show moreThe rural world and farming activities were a crucial part of Roman life. The majority of the Roman population was in some way involved in agriculture, meaning that socio-economic developments depended for a large part on what happened in the countryside, away from city life. Much of what we know about the rural world is based on information gathered during archaeological surveying. Over the years, incredible amounts of data have been gathered in this way. However, older projects suffer from issues in consistency and representability. As a result, they are often disregarded in the current academic climate. Nevertheless, much information can still be inferred from this older data, also known as legacy survey data. This research studied the organisation of the rural world through legacy survey data on the hand of the Biferno Valley. This region in central-eastern Italy saw much surveying. The Biferno Valley survey charted many sites in the period of activity, from the 1970s through the 1990s, but suffered from the same problems mentioned above. Therefore, it forms the perfect case-study for this research. Through the application of a theory-based sequence of predictive modelling, this legacy survey data was used to gain new insights into the Roman rural world. Firstly, ancient literature and other research were used to build hypotheses on the locations of rural farms and villas. These hypotheses were subsequently tested through the archaeological data gathered in the Biferno Valley Survey. Influential variables were assessed and combined into a model which visualises the probability of site presence. Four maps were created in this way, representing two main site types, farms and villas, in two time frames, the Roman Republican and Imperial periods. Results were statistically tested through the legacy survey data. As such, this data functioned as a validation tool for the study of the Roman past. The models were adjusted until each map represented the probability of site presence with significant accuracy. The results allowed for a reconstruction of the Roman rural world, which gives an indication as to how Roman agriculture was organised. It was found that the impact of most variables fell within expectations. Logically, steep slopes and areas of high elevation were avoided. Locations near waterways, roads and towns were preferred. Especially in the Imperial period, roads and towns must have been a great force of attraction, especially for villas. Two variables mainly deviated in practice from what was expected. The types of soils that seem to have been preferred point towards a high degree of cash crop cultivation. Similarly, the fact that south-facing slopes were not as popular as initially hypothesised indicates the same thing. It is possible that a large degree of crop rotation was in part responsible for these findings, although this cannot be said with certainty. Regardless, results indicate that the Biferno Valley must have had a strong reliance on trade over larger distances. Cash crops could be exported, whilst imported cereals fed the region’s urban population. Within the research area itself, strong spatial and social relations must have existed between owners of farms and villas. This all points towards a highly interconnected Roman rural world. These results thus show that significant gains can be made from the usage of legacy survey data in modern archaeology.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
In this study, five archaeological sites across the Netherlands from early medieval to early modern time periods were sampled to reconstruct past diet of the individuals found therein. The sites...Show moreIn this study, five archaeological sites across the Netherlands from early medieval to early modern time periods were sampled to reconstruct past diet of the individuals found therein. The sites chosen for the study were Alkmaar, Arnhem, Eindhoven, Klaaskinderkerke and Zwolle. The focus of the diet reconstruction was to analyze the childhood and adolescent diet using stable isotope analysis of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen isotopes (δ15N). Through the use of tissues which are underutilized in archaeological diet reconstruction, dental enamel (en) and dentine (co) in conjunction, derived from second molars, it was possible to obtain isotopic ratios representative of childhood diet (enamel) and adolescent diet (dentine collagen). The results obtained were then used to analyze trends between the sites, between assigned sex and statistical relationships which served to provide grounds for further improvement of the methodology. Sampling and analysis of enamel was 100% successful, while sampling and analysis of collagen was 89% successful. The respective 76 and 68 samples were analyzed using a mass spectrometer and returned with reliable values. Results of intersite comparison aligned the, obtained results with past published literature regarding historical trends found in across the analyzed time periods, including increased consumption of marine fish in younger and more urban sites. Comparison of male and female assigned individuals has shown significant overlap between their values, suggesting that male and female individuals from the sites analyzed shared very similar diets during their childhood and adolescence. The investigation of isotope spacing of carbon values (Δen-co) allowed for determining that the diets of individuals analyzed was in large portion plant based, with significant inclusion of omnivore and marine foods as determined by isotopic ratios of carbon-13 and nitrogen-15. Analysis of statistical relationships between δ13Cen, δ13Cco and Δen-co has found a lack of correlation between δ13Cen δ13Cco, a positive correlation between Δen-co and δ13Cen and a negative correlation between Δen-co and δ13Cco. Follow-up studies should continue to investigate the recorded isotopic ratios in dental tissues, utilizing first and third molars as sources of further data capable of reconstructing sub-adult diet, as well as analyze local fauna to improve the accuracy of dietary reconstruction. The use of first and third molar isotopic ratios would also prove invaluable for investigating the statistical relationship between the tissues, due to the age of dental development and its relationship to diet reconstruction.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
It is currently believed that there was no hominin presence on the British Isles during the Eemian interglacial stage, which lasted from 130 kya to 115 kya. However it is unclear what the reason...Show moreIt is currently believed that there was no hominin presence on the British Isles during the Eemian interglacial stage, which lasted from 130 kya to 115 kya. However it is unclear what the reason for this apparent absence is. This is especially the case considering that during the Eemian, temperatures in north-west Europe are known to have been several degrees warmer than even today, making it a potent habitat for early hominins. Several theories have existed in order to explain this, which include a complete absence in north-west Europe due to constraints in mental fortitude and an ecology that would have been unsuited for hominins to survive, as well as an early disappearance of the land bridge that connected France to Great Britain during the glacial periods. This was based on the fact that hominin sites that date back to the Eemian are exceedingly rare in north-west Europe, with the first examples only having been discovered relatively recently. This thesis aims to further explore these possibilities by making an ecological reconstruction of the site of Waziers, which is located in northern France and dates back to the Eemian. It does this based on carpological and palynological material that was found at the site. In addition to this a correlation of pollen records was made using several other Eemian type sites located in both France and Great Britain. This data is then combined with pre existing literature of other Eemian sites in north-west Europe with signs of hominin activity, in order to correlate these sites together so that Waziers can be placed in a wider chronological and climatological framework. In addition to this several other biological factors that were encountered at Waziers, are compared to the climatological conditions that were prevalent in the wider region as well. In doing so it was found the hominin activity that was detected at Waziers took place very early in the Eemian, when the stage had just transitioned from the Saalian glacial stage. In addition to this it could also be concluded that this early period was much warmer than originally anticipated. This could be seen in the presence of such indicator taxa as Lemna cf. minor, Hedera helix, and Salvinia natans, which could all be found within the vegetational record of the site. Because of these factors it is concluded that while there was already a hominin presence very early in the Eemian interglacial, which indicates that climatological conditions were at least adequate to sustain a hominin presence. It also shows that these hominins did not lack the mental fortitude to exist in these conditions, as was suggested by earlier theories. Despite this it is likely that, due to the high temperatures melting the land based ice locked in the glaciers during the Saalian, the land bridge that had existed between France and Britain during the glacial stage had already disappeared, inhibiting further hominin dispersal to the British Isles.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
Diet has been one of the main drivers in the origin, evolution, and behaviour of our ancestors. Key moments in our evolutionary trajectory have been linked to changes in diet. These evolutionary...Show moreDiet has been one of the main drivers in the origin, evolution, and behaviour of our ancestors. Key moments in our evolutionary trajectory have been linked to changes in diet. These evolutionary developments include an increase in brain size, changes in habitat choice, adaptations in body size, and changes in life history. However, the Pleistocene archaeological record is highly fragmentary. To complement this lack of data, archaeology and ethnography have been combined for over decades. The predominant part of studies investigating early Homo subsistence behaviours and nutrition have focused on extant foraging populations from the African savannas to develop substantial models of human behavioural evolution. Though, studies focusing on hunter-gatherer nutrition have significantly undervalued the variability that is present within foraging diets. Furthermore, the rainforest-type environment is largely rejected its crucial role in the evolution of our lineage. The predominant part of studies have based their analyses on large-scale dietary indexes. Some authors have assumed that taken on aggregate, the average hunter-gatherer dietary profile can be recruited as a universal, ancestral diet. This led to the formation of the so-called Paleodiet movement, that attempts to help solve and understand public health issues known as the diseases of civilization such as obesity, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases. However, it remains unclear what a uniform, ancestral Paleodiet should look like, or whether such a concept is feasible. Here, we show that hunter-gatherer nutrition is highly variable in nature, and that no uniformly applicable Paleodiet exists. By conducting a high-resolution macronutrient analysis on 30 wild edible plant taxa used by the Baka forager-horticulturalists from Southeastern Cameroon, we have shown that the nutritional qualities of wild edible plants are greatly affected by the effects of habitat and plant age, on a within- and between species level. Furthermore, we found that previously established aggregate hunter-gatherer nutritional profiles greatly differ from the reconstructed dietary- and macronutrient profiles established for the Baka. As Baka rainforest nutrition could be reverse-engineered, we illustrate that the Congo Basin rainforest-type environment provides enough macronutrients for hominins to sustain themselves without the aid of agriculture, and that the rainforest-type environment has been a crucial environment for the evolution of our lineage. Carbohydrates from starchy tubers are proposed to play a key role in Baka nutrition. Such underground storage organs are argued to have been important to early hominin nutrition within African rainforests. Public health studies may benefit by shifting their focus towards other components of Western lifestyle as more important contributors to diseases of civilization such as physical activity, stress, time spent outdoor, and overconsumption. We anticipate that future studies on extant foraging diet may greatly benefit from supplementing their use of large-scale hunter-gatherer nutritional indexes with high-resolution chemical nutritional data, as well as data 148 on weight of food brought back to camp, and estimated consumption patterns, to broaden our understanding on Pleistocene subsistence behaviour. We stimulate other research to partake in multi-disciplinary discourse for more increasingly diverse and inclusive narratives on human nutrition, Pleistocene subsistence behaviours, and human evolution. Lastly, to fully understand the influences of hominin dietary practices on the trajectory of our own evolution, it is imperative to acknowledge the plurality of both extant- and extinct hunter-gatherer lifeways, and to project a similar range of variability onto Pleistocene behaviours across different habitats.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
under embargo until 2025-11-01
2025-11-01T00:00:00Z
During the early modern period (1500-1800 CE), Europe was plagued by syphilis, a venereal infection caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum, resulting in chronic and debilitating symptoms....Show moreDuring the early modern period (1500-1800 CE), Europe was plagued by syphilis, a venereal infection caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum, resulting in chronic and debilitating symptoms. Desperate to resolve the infection, patients were often subjected to prolonged and extensive treatments with toxic mercury. Unfortunately, osteoarchaeological study of syphilis is challenging due to the limited skeletal visibility of the infection. Moreover, historical evidence is sparse and often influenced by sociocultural stigma attributed to the venereal nature of the disease. This scarcity of data on syphilis in the early modern period has limited more holistic research into the disease and its treatment. Therefore, this study adopted a multidisciplinary approach to investigate syphilis and its treatment at St. Gertrude’s infirmary (1382 - ca. 1611) in Kampen, the Netherlands, where presence of the disease has been previously reported. Human skeletal remains (n=79) were re-examined with a focus on treponemal disease, following the scoring system laid out by Harper et al. (2011). The potential therapeutical use of mercury was investigated by conducting archival research and multiple trace elemental analyses. Using portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (pXRF) and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), subsamples of the skeletal assemblage were assessed on the presence of mercury in human bone. Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray (SEM-EDX) was conducted to assess the potential uptake of mercury in dental calculus on the teeth. Osteoarchaeological study identified several diagnostic cases of treponemal infection at the site (n=5 or 6.33%), as well as a number of cases with lesions suggestive of treponemal disease. This finding demonstrates the influence of treponemal disease, likely attributable to venereal syphilis, at St. Gertrude’s infirmary in Kampen, especially when compared to the prevalence of the disease in human skeletal assemblages from similar Dutch sites. Research into historical archives indicated that mercury was indeed used therapeutically in Kampen during the 18th century. However, it showed no direct evidence for syphilis or mercury treatment at St. Gertrude’s infirmary in the period of interest (1382 – ca. 1611). Unfortunately, elemental analyses revealed no substantial evidence for significantly elevated mercury concentrations, although interesting trends were found. In particular, both pXRF and SEM-EDX analyses did not result in absolute and quantifiable mercury concentrations. While ICP-MS analysis showed absolute concentrations of mercury in a subsample of bone material, interpreting and contextualising these results remains challenging. These observations may be explained by a lack of available mercury treatment in Kampen or a preference for other treatment methods. Nonetheless, this study helps to understand syphilis and its treatment in the early modern Netherlands and provides an evaluation of chemical analyses to detect mercury in archaeological bone.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
closed access
Lithics are often one of the few materials from the Paleolithic that withstood the passage of time. Archeologists rely on them when they try to understand what happened in the past. Over the past...Show moreLithics are often one of the few materials from the Paleolithic that withstood the passage of time. Archeologists rely on them when they try to understand what happened in the past. Over the past centuries, lithic research has changed and in the last decennia the use of Machine Learning and 3D geometric morphometric (3DGM) analysis has been explored. In 2021, Archer et al. published a paper in which they explored the possibility of 3DGM analysis. With the help of Machine Learning, their model was trained with an experimental reference collection consisting of Levallois, discoidal and laminar debitage. As a result, the model could classify the technology of 73 – 77 % of the remaining experimental collection correctly. With a traditional analysis, around 20 – 30 % of the flake assemblage is identified. This would indicate that a much larger percentage of the assemblage could be classified with 3DGM analysis. However, this had never been tested on an archeological collection. In this thesis, the late Middle Paleolithic lithics of sublayers EGB and EGC of Quinçay are studied with a focus on flaking technologies. This is done through a traditional analysis consisting of an attribute analysis and a chaîne opératoire analysis and a 3DGM analysis. This is important for two main reasons: 1. Since 3DGM analysis of flaking technologies has never been applied on an archeological collection before, this research might provide valuable insights on how 3DGM analysis can be useful for understanding flaking technologies of archeological lithic collections, 2. The sublayers EGB and EGC of Quinçay have never been studied in detail before, and might provide more insights into the nature of the archeological sequence at Quinçay. Interestingly, the results of the traditional analysis and the 3DGM analysis revealed quite some differences. In the traditional analysis, discoid seemed to be the most common reduction method in the assemblage, this was followed by laminar reduction. However, in the 3DGM analysis, most of the flakes were classified as Levallois flakes. The model seemed to have the most difficulties with recognizing discoid products. The reason for the differences in classification between the traditional analysis and 3DGM analysis, could possibly be result of how the experimental collection was set up and the model was trained. In this thesis, multiple suggestions are proposed that could potentially help with improving the model in such a way that it could be more beneficial when using it on an archeological collection. The advantages and disadvantages that come with 3DGM analysis are also touched upon. By incorporating this innovative approach when studying the late Middle Paleolithic lithics from Quinçay, it is explored how 3DGM analysis can potentially help researchers with the analysis of lithics. As Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence become more intensively used in the future, it is not unlikely that it will start to play an important role in lithic analysis as well.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
closed access
In recent years, the remains of Napoleonic soldiers have been found with some regularity in the Dutch archaeological record. These range from large mass graves, such as Vianen and Den Bosch, where...Show moreIn recent years, the remains of Napoleonic soldiers have been found with some regularity in the Dutch archaeological record. These range from large mass graves, such as Vianen and Den Bosch, where the remains of 60-80 individuals were found, to individual field graves. Surprisingly, the mass graves have produced little material culture. Interestingly, both mass graves can be connected to military hospitals, which explains why the dead were buried without any personal affects. In contrast, the dune region of Noord-Holland has brought forth about fifteen shallow field graves where the skeletal remains were accompanied with a large amount of artefacts. These graves were hastily dug nearby where the soldiers had died. The graves have been connected to the Anglo-Russian Invasion of 1799, which was part of the War of the Second Coalition. During which the British and Russian tried to invade the Batavian Republic, which had been founded in 1795 with the aid of Revolutionary France. However, this assistance came at a cost, which meant that the Batavian Republic was actually a vassal state of France. However, while the soldiers of Noord-Holland were found with large amount of material culture, it has become clear that it is difficult to properly identify the soldiers, as very specific artefacts need to be preserved for the possibility of any identification. This includes buttons, dress accessories and insignia with the number of the military unit. In the case-studies, the cases of five Batavian soldiers found at sites Grote Kaap and Drooghe Weert are discussed. Multiple individuals were found with buttons with a ‘3’, which has previously been identified as belonging to Batavian soldiers of the 3rd Half Brigade. However, due to changes in uniform regulations, the number might also signify the number of the battalion instead, which makes the identification more complicated. Thus, a new methodology was created to help identify the remains of the Batavian soldiers (and Napoleonic soldiers in general), with specific focus on their nationality and military unit. The methodology combined uniformology and surviving uniforms from the collection of the Dutch National Military Museum, which were then compared with the historical sources of the Anglo-Russian Invasion of 1799. In summary, the combination of historical sources, uniformology, and surviving uniforms made it possible to make an accurate reconstruction of the circumstances surrounding the death of the Batavian soldiers. By using the Napoleonic collection of the Dutch National Military Museum as a reference, it was possible to identify the remains of several clothing items. This gave new ideas about the process of looting the dead as clear evidence was found, as several items were surprisingly missing. Furthermore, it revealed new insights on the mentality of Batavian soldiers surrounding death, burial and mortality.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
2024-08-31T00:00:00Z
Stable carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N), and oxygen (δ18O) isotopes are well-established proxies for the reconstruction of past diet and environment. δ13C and δ18O can be used to reconstruct the...Show moreStable carbon (δ13C), nitrogen (δ15N), and oxygen (δ18O) isotopes are well-established proxies for the reconstruction of past diet and environment. δ13C and δ18O can be used to reconstruct the plant-based diets of animals and seasonal environmental patterns. These isotopes are regularly measured in the non-organic component of tooth enamel, which is highly resistant to diagenetic alteration. Likewise, δ15N can be used to reconstruct trophic level and food webs. Up until recently, δ15N could only be measured on relatively young samples (<100,000 years old), because it requires organic material, usually bone collagen or dentin, which rarely preserves in the fossil record. However, in 2021, an oxidation-denitrification method was developed. This method allows for the measurement of the nitrogen isotopic composition of the organic material trapped in the crystalline structure of (fossil) tooth enamel. Thus, we can now measure δ13C, δ15N, and δ18O on the same aliquot of tooth enamel. Here, combined δ13C, δ15N, and δ18O isotope data from tooth enamel of 14 serially-sampled fossil equid (Equus sp.) third molars from the ~120,000-year-old Middle Paleolithic Neanderthal site of Neumark-Nord 2, Germany, is presented. Each tooth was sampled along the growth axis and yielded up to 26 sub-samples (total n = 259). Neumark-Nord is a well-preserved archaeological site with a rich vertebrate fauna. It has yielded a large isotopic dataset, which includes some of the oldest stable carbon and nitrogen isotope measurements on bone collagen. This study allows us to expand the isotopic dataset of Neumark-Nord 2 by serially-sampled data, which enables us to reconstruct seasonality for the Last Interglacial (Eemian; MIS 5e/5d transition). δ13C and δ18O of all enamel samples (n = 259) was measured using the cold trap method. Based on these isotope patterns, 72 samples (including all serial measurements of three of the equid teeth) were selected for δ15N measurement, to assess potential seasonal variation in the δ15N values of the enamel. The enamel δ13C, δ15N, and δ18O results are consistent with previously published equid collagen δ13C, δ15N, and bulk enamel δ18O values. A clear seasonal signal is present in the δ18O values of each tooth, with higher values in summer than in winter. This seasonal signal is absent in both the δ13C and δ15N values. This study shows that there is no strong effect of seasonal variation detectable in the δ15N values of nitrogen isotopes in the enamel of equids in temperate environments. This suggests that, in order to measure an accurate average δ15N value, bulk samples of tooth enamel from equids – and likely other large herbivores – in temperature environments do not need to cover an entire year of growth. In addition, the correlation observed between δ13C and δ15N enamel values seems to indicate that, in such environments, the mechanisms controlling carbon and nitrogen isotope fractionation are positively related. Lastly, this study improves the time-resolution of the Neumark-Nord 2 isotopic dataset, allowing for a better reconstruction of the past ecosystem by providing seasonal data.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
under embargo until 2025-08-31
2025-08-31T00:00:00Z
Northern Gaul in Merovingian times (450-650 CE) is well known for its characteristic pottery assemblages in settlement- and burial sites consisting of wheel-thrown ceramics. Rooted in Roman...Show moreNorthern Gaul in Merovingian times (450-650 CE) is well known for its characteristic pottery assemblages in settlement- and burial sites consisting of wheel-thrown ceramics. Rooted in Roman traditions, these ceramics were produced in specialized potters workshops of which the majority was located along the rivers Rhine and Meuse. Another group of pottery, the handmade ceramics, however, are often given less attention. These handmade pots have often been perceived and described by archaeologists as rudimentary, poorly made and of low quality. In addition, they have been associated with Germanic culture. This is often followed by the assumption that this type of pottery is, in stark contrast to the wheel-thrown ceramics, made by unskilled potters, and therefore made locally on an occasional level in a household setting by woman and children. These claims are however based on modern assumptions only, since the production aspects of these handmade ceramics have hardly been studied. Furthermore, they show a strong bias that is rooted in our history with the industrial revolution and capitalism, and in value-associations and preconceptions regarding Roman and Germanic culture. The way archaeologists perceive and value these handmade ceramics should therefore not be mistaken for the perception and valuation of these ceramics by the early medieval societies that created and used them. By using an integrated chaîne opératoire approach that considers the technological, social and symbolic dimension of the production of ceramic vessels, this thesis attempts to gain insights on the production, perception and value of these handmade ceramics in the early medieval societies of Northern-Gaul. The ceramic assemblage of the recently excavated Merovingian cemetery of Nijmegen-Lentseveld (The Netherlands) was chosen as a case-study. At this site, roughly dating to the 6th century, an notably high concentration of handmade ceramics was found, together with well-known wheel-thrown vessels. This provided the unique opportunity to study both handmade and wheel-thrown ceramics together. A technological analysis, using a combination of macroscopic-, petrographic- and chemical techniques, was performed on the Lentseveld assemblage as well as on several local reference ceramics and clay samples. The results show that the production of the handmade ceramics found at the cemetery of Nijmegen-Lentseveld, was more complex than the assumed local household production. It is demonstrated that a large majority of the handmade ceramics from the site were made with a clay with very similar properties, that does not match with the clay samples collected in the vicinity of the site, nor with the known local ceramic productions. Although it was not possible to conclude with certainty whether the exact same clay source was used to create all ceramics and determine the location of such clay source, it can be concluded that the clay most likely was collected further away from the site and should be sought at a more regional level. The fact that there appears to be a consensus on the type of clay deemed suitable to create these ceramics and a similar or the same clay source was used for a large group of handmade ceramics, suggest the clay collection was rather well organized. This contradicts the previous assumptions of local household production whereby each household collects their own clay at a source near their house. The integrated chaîne opératoire approach used in this thesis has furthermore shown that production entails more than just technological actions, and also has a strong social and symbolic dimension. It uncovered the many material-, social – and imagined values that could have been associated with (the production of) handmade ceramics, such as the act of crafting itself, the transformation by fire and the value of materials. This shows that the perception and values attributed handmade ceramics by the early medieval societies of Northern Gaul who created and used them were mostly likely very different from negative perception and values projected onto these ceramics by archaeologists. This thesis therefore shows that there is a strong need for a re-evaluation and foremost a re-valuation of these handmade ceramics, and has taken the first step in doing so by taking a different approach to analysing them with the help of a case-study.Show less
