In 2019, the skeletal remains of over fifty individuals were excavated in Koudekerke, Zeeland, the Netherlands. These individuals were buried at a former cemetery around the Michaëlskerk (Michael’s...Show moreIn 2019, the skeletal remains of over fifty individuals were excavated in Koudekerke, Zeeland, the Netherlands. These individuals were buried at a former cemetery around the Michaëlskerk (Michael’s Church) which was in use for several centuries during the Late and post-Medieval period, in approximately four burial phases. In order to gain a better understanding of the lives of these individuals, this thesis attempts to reconstruct the diet of the Koudekerke population using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis. Nine individuals have been selected for analysis of both dentine and bone collagen. Of all nine, two different molar samples and one bone sample have been collected. Because these tissues form during different life phases, the protein intake in childhood, adolescence and adulthood can be compared to gain insight into diet shifts over the life course of each individual. Additionally, overall diet between the four burial phases is also compared to investigate dietary changes within the population throughout the centuries. Previous research into contemporaneous diet in countries around the North Sea has shown that while diet predominantly remained based on terrestrial C3 sources, the contribution of marine fish increased over time with the widespread trade in predominantly cod products. In England, this process is theorised to have occurred quite quickly and suddenly starting around the year 1000 CE. This phenomenon is known as the ‘fish event horizon’. The results from Koudekerke are compared with those of other studies on a local (Domburg, Klaaskinderkerke and Vlissingen), regional (Slijpe, Koksijde, Alkmaar, Blokhuizen, Arnhem, Eindhoven and Zwolle) and international (Ipswich, Auldhame and Ribe) scale to better contextualise the findings. Comparison focuses on contemporaneous coastal sites around the North Sea, as well as a broader comparison within the Netherlands. This thesis shows that the protein intake at Koudekerke was at all times mostly derived from terrestrial C3 food, including plant sources such as cereals, vegetables and fruit, and herbivore and omnivore sources like dairy, mutton, eggs, pork and chicken. One individual from the first burial phase has significantly lower δ15N values than the rest of the group, which means this person relied more on plant protein and herbivore products than the others, who regularly consumed animal protein of a higher trophic level. Five individuals have higher stable nitrogen isotope ratios than would be expected from a purely terrestrial diet. These individuals therefore may regularly have eaten marine food. This is most convincingly the case for one of them, as this individual has both elevated δ15N and δ13C values. Freshwater fish consumption is also possible, as three individuals have at least one dentine sample that is high in 15N but low in 13C. Overall, the group exhibits an elevation in δ15N values over the four burial phases (with the highest values in phase 3 and the lowest in phase 1), which could indicate a rise in marine food consumption. However, comparison to Early Medieval Domburg does not reveal a sudden ‘fish event horizon’ as has been suggested for England. Alternative explanations for increasing δ15N are supplementing feed of terrestrial omnivores with seafood, intensification of manuring and/or an increase in freshwater fish consumption. There is no strong evidence for personal shifts in diet over individual lifetimes, but some tentative exceptions may exist. Comparison of Koudekerke to other contemporaneous sites shows that within the Netherlands, the Koudekerke population likely consumed more seafood than was average. It also shows a divide in isotope values between the two Belgian sites and the Dutch ones, as the Belgian sites have higher δ13C but lower δ15N values. Generally, an increase in δ15N likely linked to marine consumption over time can be seen at the sites used for comparison.Show less
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
The mid-third millennium BCE marks the first major globalization episode in the Eastern Mediterranean, during which Cyprus underwent a cultural transformation that resulted in the advent of the...Show moreThe mid-third millennium BCE marks the first major globalization episode in the Eastern Mediterranean, during which Cyprus underwent a cultural transformation that resulted in the advent of the Cypriot Bronze Age. The transitional period between the Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age is known as the Philia period and is defined by changes associated with connectivity with the mainland. Among these changes is an upheaval in mortuary practices characterized by extramural cemeteries composed of rock-cut chamber tombs featuring multiple internments and metal-rich grave good assemblages. This study contextualizes these changes in mortuary practice with inter-regional mortuary trends on the mainland by systematically comparing burial types between Cyprus and West, Central, and Southeast Anatolia and Northern Syria. Through comparing inter-regional burial type variability, this study distinguishes between which aspects of Philia period mortuary practice relate to mainland connectivity, and which reflect continuities with the Chalcolithic. This study’s results demonstrate Philia period burial types are generally dissimilar to Anatolia, instead Cypriot mortuary practices compare on a modular level to the mainland, featuring a unique combination of local continuities and novel innovations related to connectivity, constituting a hybridized mortuary program.Show less
Sex/gender is a topic that is on the rise, also in archaeology. However, research into the topic can be used politically, therefore researchers must be conscious about potentially pushing...Show moreSex/gender is a topic that is on the rise, also in archaeology. However, research into the topic can be used politically, therefore researchers must be conscious about potentially pushing problematic rhetoric in their discourse. In this thesis, it is analyzed how gender theory has become integrated into archaeological research about sex/gender in the 3rd millennium BCE Europe of the past 10. Furthermore, handholds are provided to bridge the gap between gender theory and archaeological research through suggestions based on the points where archaeology struggles to integrate gender theory. In gender theory, the general discourse has placed the origins of the modern gender system in the 17th century Enlightenment period. It is from this period that the colonial conception of European sex/gender starts to develop, which is also exported around the world, becoming caught up in a network of oppression. Furthermore, in the Enlightenment period, sex/gender also becomes a part of science. This entanglement with science creates the cycle between science and society, wherein science reinforces societal ideas about sex/gender, thus legitimizing it as a natural, inherent, ahistorical category. This can also be observed in archaeology, wherein 19th century ideas of osteological remains and grave goods still circulate in the discourse. Currently there is push back against such narratives originating from second wave feminism that birthed gender theory as an academic field. The 3rd millennium BCE Europe is chosen as case study for this thesis, due to the perceived start of binary and strict gender divisions in this area and period. This interpretation is based on the burial ritual of three Single Grave Burial cultures (Yamnaya, CWC and BB) as well as the settlement patterns that are observed; a patrilocal society with female exogamy and a male warrior elite. Through a meta-study it is observed that archaeological sex/gender research has not yet incorporated gender theory in many instances. Furthermore, deterministic and binary narratives are often perpetuated and sex/gender determination often hinges solely on osteological remains. Overall, biases are also present in around 34.7% to 46.9% of the 98 publications. When converting to a numerical assessment, it can be stated that archaeological sex/gender research is not integrating gender theory and thus subpar in quality. It can also be stated that the state of archaeological sex/gender research has remained mostly stagnant over the past 10 years, especially outside the gender archaeology specialization. As a result, archaeological sex/gender research currently feeds into the cycle between science and society that has preconceived notions of how people act based on their sex/gender category, while those categories themselves are thought to be inherent and ahistorical. Suggestions are done for future research are made in relation to areas that result in interpretations not properly grounded in gender theory discourse; namely biological sex, biases that are expected thus found, and the records that are cited. The suggestions that are proposed are an intersectional approach, a more cautious use of language, the exploration of alternative interpretations, an awareness of biases and assumptions in the modern gender system, a caution when citing colonial and post-colonial records and other archaeologists, as well as an acknowledgment of the limits of the archaeological record that allows for space for multiple interpretations of the same data. Furthermore, archaeologists are requested to put in work in decolonizing their own work, without which the discourse will not change.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
My thesis, titled "Looking at the Painted Plaster of Knossos: A Visibility Analysis on 2D and 3D Representations of Decorated Space", explores the interplay between architectural space and the...Show moreMy thesis, titled "Looking at the Painted Plaster of Knossos: A Visibility Analysis on 2D and 3D Representations of Decorated Space", explores the interplay between architectural space and the visual perception of the painted plaster images of two selected study cases from the Bronze Age site of Knossos. Among the plethora of painted plaster decoration of the Knossian palatial complex, I chose to focus on the only figurative decorations found in situ, that of the West Entrance and the Throne room complex, dating back to the mid-15th century BC. To provide a comprehensive evaluation of my two study cases, I approach them as part of the Knossian ‘artscape’, a new theoretical framework inspired by Tim Ingold’s ‘taskscape’, which views art decoration as part of the, constantly under construction, human environment. To reconstruct the visual integration of the paintings, I utilized new computational tools and conducted two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) visibility analysis.Show less
The aim of this presentation is to provide an overview of the capabilities and challenges of the implementation of Mixed Reality (MR) technology in archaeological research. The hardware option that...Show moreThe aim of this presentation is to provide an overview of the capabilities and challenges of the implementation of Mixed Reality (MR) technology in archaeological research. The hardware option that is used for this project is Microsoft’s HoloLens 2, released in 2019. In order to evaluate it, two distinct case-studies have been chosen, the one related to archaeological fieldwork and the other linked to laboratory work, and more specifically for zooarchaeological purposes. In regards to the first case-study, the aim is to test the ability of the HoloLens 2 to document and record archaeological features in situ. Another target was to assess how and to what extent this tool can be implemented in the workflow of an archaeological survey and/or excavation. As far as the second case-study is concerned, the target was to create a prototype of a virtual reference collection for animal bones in a MR environment which is focused more on rare and wild animal species, as these are, in most cases, not adequately represented in conventional reference collections. The Documenting And Triaging Cultural Heritage (DATCH) open-source software was used for the first case study, in Chalcis, Greece. It was used at the medieval towers found in the hinterland of Chalcis with the aim to make drawings of the masonry, but also make measurements and add interpretations that could be useful for the study of these structures. As far as the MR animal reference collection is concerned, this platform was developed using the Mixed Reality Toolkit (MRTK) open-source software in the Unity game development engine. Imported 3D models of wild animals from Sketchfab (https://sketchfab.com/), available for free from the Lapworth Museum’s collection, are used as the basis for this digital reference collection with the aim to create a prototype of a supplementary edition for the physical reference collection. DATCH offers a quick and efficient way to create simple drawings of structures, following the contour of the masonry blocks. Making measurements and creating tags for highlighting and/ or identifying certain features, such as postholes or inscriptions found on the tower’s masonry, can enhance these drawings and be a valuable tool for visualizing features in a more intuitive manner, even after fieldwork is over. Regarding the MR reference collection, the 3D content was viewed in tandem with real specimens of the same species – a male Hippopotamus amphibius in this case. Working with both types of objects at the same time was seamless, manipulating the 3D model in such a way that was similar to the specimens of the conventional collection. Both case-studies highlight the potential of implementing MR technology in archaeological research, serving a multitude of different research problems. Not only is it used to visualize digitized structures, it can also provide novel ways to interact and interpret them. When dealing with animal bones it can assist the identification of animal remains and/or academic teaching of anatomy too. As more hardware solutions are becoming available, MR could become an integral part in testing hypotheses and creating new knowledge when studying the past, movable or not.Show less
This thesis focuses on the study of the faunal material provided by recent excavations in Hellenistic and Roman substrates of Building K, located inside the Sanctuary of Asklepios in Epidaurus. The...Show moreThis thesis focuses on the study of the faunal material provided by recent excavations in Hellenistic and Roman substrates of Building K, located inside the Sanctuary of Asklepios in Epidaurus. The building experienced a series of modifications between the 3rd century BCE and the 5th century CE, suggesting a gradual move away from a ritual to a domestic or economic character. However, the lack of floor deposits complicates interpretation. Consumption in the sanctuary has never been directly studied in a systematic manner. Moreover, the late phase of its use is only partially understood due to biases of early research on the site. The faunal material is examined with a triple goal to investigate potential insights into husbandry, ritual practices and the trajectory of Building K. Macroscopic methods standard to Archaeozoology are employed to identify specimens and their attributes. Basic statistic manipulation is applied to assess the question of differences between studied assemblages. The fauna is presented in its entirety to attempt a holistic reconstruction of the human-animal relationships, including domestic and wild mammals, birds, fish and marine mollusks, as well as a small series of processed bones and bone artefacts. Data on taxonomic and age classes and sexual representation, as well as anatomical representation, butchery profiles, pathological and taphonomical alterations are obtained and analyzed. These insights are tested first against domestic and then ritual published Hellenistic and Roman contexts from Greek sites, focusing on taxonomic representations, mortality profiles and animal management in general. Extensive similarities with Hellenistic elite consumption are noted, while the domination of the Middle Roman sample by pig proves hard to correlate with husbandry practices. Conversely, the Late Roman assemblage shows a closer connection to husbandry. The role of hunting, fishing and shellfishing is additionally examined in its Aegean context. The contribution of hunting seems to have been linked to environmental limitations. Fish and mollusks are suggested to have entered the diet of the building inhabitants through market provision by professional fishermen. A link to a specific religious process is not corroborated by the comparative study. Instead, one or more events of special importance, perhaps involving several individuals can lie behind the formation of the assemblages. Theoretical modeling provides a tool to attempt a preliminary conceptualization of the distribution of human activities in the landscape, focusing on the nature of their delimiting areas. Available data support a change of this system of organization over time, affecting both the sanctuary as a whole and Building K in specific. The fluctuating degree of liminality that stemmed from this process affords different interpretations of the intertwining between ritual and domestic roles of fauna in the building. Finally, different classes of data are combined to attempt an insight into the historical trajectory of the building. A multiplicity of functions is suggested, while the faunal material is interpreted as the end result of a series of consumption and discard processes over time.Show less
This thesis investigates the impact of language requirements on migration flows into the European Union (EU). The primary focus is on whether stricter language requirements deter immigrants. Amid...Show moreThis thesis investigates the impact of language requirements on migration flows into the European Union (EU). The primary focus is on whether stricter language requirements deter immigrants. Amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment and persistent labour shortages in many European countries, understanding the determinants of migration is crucial for effective policymaking. Using panel data analysis, this study explores the overall relationship between language requirements and migration inflows. A sub-question addresses the differential effects on EU citizens compared to third-country nationals (TCNs). The research finds no significant overall relationship between language requirements and migration inflows, suggesting that other factors may play more critical roles. However, some models indicate a positive correlation between stricter language requirements and increased migration inflows, challenging conventional assumptions. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on migration policy, highlighting the complex interplay between integration policies and migration patterns. The results have important implications for policymakers aiming to balance labour market needs with integration goals.Show less
The 19th-century Netherlands were characterized by the industrial revolution, increased urbanization, and high mortality, especially for the working class. This caused many children to end up in...Show moreThe 19th-century Netherlands were characterized by the industrial revolution, increased urbanization, and high mortality, especially for the working class. This caused many children to end up in orphanages like the Maagdenhuis in Amsterdam, where the living conditions were generally very poor. While there is archival data concerning the Maagdenhuis orphanage, little is known about the individual life histories of the orphans residing there. In order to better understand the conditions these orphans grew up in, their diet is studied, as this is one of the most influential factors in a child’s life. For this purpose, first molars of six orphans from the Maagdenhuis cemetery were analysed to understand their breastfeeding and weaning patterns, diet, and health. Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values were obtained from incremental dentine samples, enabling dietary reconstruction at high temporal resolution. Five out of six orphans showed a decrease in δ15N in their first years of life, indicating intake of breastmilk, but with varying durations and amounts. The sixth orphan did not show signs of breastfeeding and was likely weaned directly after birth. The post-weaning δ13C and δ15N values fall within the expected range of a terrestrial diet based mainly on C4-plants and a small amount of animal products. Overall elevated δ15N values (ranging between 10‰ and 16‰) likely indicate poor health among the orphans, but were possibly also caused by other factors. These results suggest that breastfeeding was not uncommon among the mothers of orphans from the 19th-century Maagdenhuis, but that the overall diet of the orphans was not sufficient. This pattern clearly contrasts with the results of previous studies of the contemporaneous rural town of Middenbeemster, where evidence for breastfeeding is nearly absent. This indicates that breastfeeding and weaning patterns may have been highly variable in the Netherlands during this time period. Future studies should therefore focus on increasing the sample size and proceeding with incremental sampling studies on different populations in the same area and time period. This could increase our knowledge of breastfeeding and weaning practices in the 19th-century Netherlands on a larger scale.Show less
Archaeological ceramics are often analysed with a portable XRF spectrometer to determine their chemical composition, even though they can be tempered with various different inclusions. To determine...Show moreArchaeological ceramics are often analysed with a portable XRF spectrometer to determine their chemical composition, even though they can be tempered with various different inclusions. To determine the influence of these tempers on the results of XRF measurements an experiment with test bars was set up. These test bars were made out of two distinct types of clay and a mix of these clays, and out of seven different types of temper present in the sizes 0 to 0.6 mm and 1 to 1.6 mm. These tempers make up 0 %, 5 %, 20 %, or 40 % of the test bar. The test bars were then fired at 850 °C and afterwards measured with a portable XRF spectrometer. Each test bar was measured three times so the variability could also be assessed. The temper types of basalt, muscovite, calcite, and plant material had the biggest influence on the XRF measurements and caused test bars to fall outside the 95 % confidence area of their clay type or even all clay types combined in a PCA plot. With basalt temper the influence is especially high in calcium which can be increased, manganese which is increased, and cobalt which can be both increased and higher in variability. With muscovite temper the influence is especially high in phosphorus which has a higher variability, kalium which is increased, and rubidium which is also increased. With calcite temper the influence is especially high in calcium which is both increased and has a higher variability, manganese which can be decreased, and zinc which has a lower variability. With temper made from plant material the influence is especially high in phosphorus which is increased and can have a higher variability, calcium which can be both increased or decreased depending on the clay type, and zinc which can be both increased and have a lower variability. The influence of temper sized 0 to 0.6 mm on the XRF measurements was bigger than the influence of temper sized 1 to 1.6 mm. As expected the influence of temper on the XRF measurements increases along with the percentage of temper in which 40 % temper often has an especially noticeable influence. Ceramics tempered with higher percentages of muscovite, calcite, quartz, and plant material in smaller sizes can therefore cause problems in their provenancing. Other temper types and lower percentages of the mentioned temper types in bigger sizes can also cause problems in the differentiation of clay types by PCA, especially if clay types are similar to one another. With granite temper influences can be visible in the amount of sulphur, calcium, manganese, iron, cobalt, and strontium. With quartz temper the influence is especially high in calcium which has a higher variability, manganese which can be increased, and zinc which can be increased and is lower in variability. With grog temper influences can be visible in the amount of calcium, manganese, iron, cobalt, barium, and led.Show less
Fostering trust in organizations is challenging and a central concern for modern-day leaders and academics alike. Trust comes on foot and goes away on horseback, as illustrated by many...Show moreFostering trust in organizations is challenging and a central concern for modern-day leaders and academics alike. Trust comes on foot and goes away on horseback, as illustrated by many organizations that struggle to build trust relationships with employees and external stakeholders. A growing body of management research emphasizes the pivotal role of trust in employee retention, productivity, learning, and more. Often, the focus lies with leadership and culture in relation to trust. This article contributes to this debate by investigating the research gap of what organizational structure elements influence employees’ organizational trust in the Dutch context through a survey conducted among 110 Dutch employees of public and private organizations. The findings revealed that structural design significantly impacts trust dynamics. Specialization and span of control emerged as positive predictors of trust, while centralization and hierarchy negatively influenced trust. Notably, formalization and standardization showed no significant effects, as did the hypothesized sectoral differences, indicating that structural predictors of trust have similar effects across the public and private sectors in the Dutch context. By demonstrating the significance of structural design, this study also emphasizes the need for further investigation on why and how organizational structure elements influence employees’ organizational trust in a general context, in supplement to leadership and culture. In addition, the findings offer several actionable insights for organizational leaders.Show less
This thesis sets out to challenge the narrative of the Romans initiating landscape division in Northwestern Europe by examining indigenous ditch systems in the Meuse-Demer-Scheldt (MDS) and...Show moreThis thesis sets out to challenge the narrative of the Romans initiating landscape division in Northwestern Europe by examining indigenous ditch systems in the Meuse-Demer-Scheldt (MDS) and Flanders regions during the Iron Age and Early Roman period (800 BCE – 69 CE). Although traditional scholarship credits the Roman administration with the introduction of land division elements, such as parcels. This study demonstrates a complex and diverse tradition of indigenous land subdivision that predates Roman influence by at least 800 years. The research specifically focuses on the extent, physical appearance, character, and origin of ditch systems on Northwestern European cover sand soils. This area was chosen due to its frequent, large scale settlement research, thus allowing for the context of the ditch systems to be adequately established. Prior research into these ditch systems is limited, however, as land division elements are often considered bycatch in archaeological research and are therefore omitted from reports. The AGNES (Archaeological Grey Literature Named Entity Search) engine scanned through 70,000 (commercial) archaeological reports from various European databases, yielding 32 sites within the MDS and Flanders regions. Their analysis reveals a native tradition of ditch construction emerging in the Late Bronze through the Early Iron Age, before expanding exponentially in the Late Iron Age, and eventually continuing into the Early Roman period. These ditch systems can be subdivided into three categories: (shallow) field systems, settlement enclosures, and defensive works. The longevity of ditch systems, averaging 491 years, had a profound effect on the traditionally temporary fenced society, often outlasting their original builders, thereby influencing the settlements they enclosed for successive generations. This research highlights the profound impact indigenous societies had on the landscape, as well as the effect their systems had on them. Further it participates in a broader discussion on the idea of a one-sided romanisation process, where indigenous populations are primarily at the receiving end, advocating instead for a framework of cultural exchange between two distinct cultures, emphasizing both indigenous elements as well as Roman ones.Show less
