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 2024-10-19
2024-10-19T00:00:00Z
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)
under embargo until 2024-08-31
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
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
closed access
Towards the end of the third millennium BC, Europe underwent significant transformations. The production of bronze would change the economic, social, and political landscape, and marked the period...Show moreTowards the end of the third millennium BC, Europe underwent significant transformations. The production of bronze would change the economic, social, and political landscape, and marked the period known as the Bronze Age. The Bronze Age witnessed the establishment of a globalized network, facilitated by extensive exchange networks. Bronze, a highly sought-after alloy made of copper and tin, played a crucial role in these developments. It became the predominant material for crafting tools, weapons, and ornaments, leading to its widespread use across Europe, even in regions far from the sources of copper and tin. The increase in trade led to theories that human mobility increased significantly during this period. Bronze Age human has been subject to many studies, which generally seem to indicate that mobility did increase, and that it was mainly females who were mobile. To investigate mobility patterns during the Bronze Age, strontium isotope analysis has proven invaluable. Although the process of cremation, which was the dominant burial method at the time, posed challenges for mobility studies, recent findings have shown that strontium isotope analysis on calcined bone can yield reliable results. This discovery has opened the door for studying mobility in cremation contexts. Despite speculation about population movement in the Netherlands during the Bronze Age based on the analysis of non-local objects, no research has been conducted in the country utilizing strontium isotope analysis to study it. For this research, strontium isotope analysis was performed on a Middle Bronze Age population from Apeldoorn-Wieselseweg. Samples of the pars petrosa, long bone, rib, and dentine were used where possible. By providing new strontium isotope data, this research hopes to gain a better understanding of human mobility during the Bronze Age in the Netherlands, and place it in a wider European context. The patterns that were observed in the results, align with the broader discussions on Bronze Age human mobility in Europe. The presence of non-local females supports the theories on female exogamy and patrilocal organisation, suggesting that these females likely migrated to the community through marriage exchange. The presence of a non-local male and child could be evidence for a fostering system. Intra-individual variation has also been observed at the site, which could be an indication of mobility. These results are similar to those from other studies on Bronze Age human mobility. However, more research is needed on Bronze Age populations in the Netherlands to gain a better understanding of the movement of people in local, and global contexts.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
This thesis focuses on the use of experimental archaeology and residues analysis to further our understanding of the plant exploitation possibilities on the Crimean Peninsula during the Late...Show moreThis thesis focuses on the use of experimental archaeology and residues analysis to further our understanding of the plant exploitation possibilities on the Crimean Peninsula during the Late Pleniglacial period (19 -15 cal BP). Crimean plant exploitation during this period is not well understood despite palaeoenvironmental, archaeological and ethnobotanical data being available. The aim was to elicit the types of residues that would have been collected and how these residues could be made useful in archaeological applications. This was done by executing several experiments with stone tools and plants likely to have been on the peninsula during that period. The results showed interesting plant specific correlations with the tools as well as a consistent performance of starch accumulation across all tools. These results are a vital step towards creating a broader and a more inclusive reference collection for wild plants in order to understand the residues and what we need to look for in the field from an archaeological and palaeobotanical perspective.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
The human hand is a complex structure that is heavily involved in many everyday activities. As such, it can serve as a useful area for activity reconstruction in the past. Though its function and...Show moreThe human hand is a complex structure that is heavily involved in many everyday activities. As such, it can serve as a useful area for activity reconstruction in the past. Though its function and evolution have long been studied, parts of it still need to be better understood. There is evidence to suggest that the fifth ray of the hand contributes significantly to grip strength and stability in a way that has so far gone largely ignored. The aim of this study is two-fold. First, it seeks to gain a better understanding of the function and use of the fifth digit in habitual activity on the basis of three postmedieval Dutch populations. Second, it investigates habitual activity and occupation among the individuals that belonged to these communities to gain a better understanding of the lives led by people in the post-medieval Netherlands. In order to achieve those goals, the study analyses activity patterns among hand entheses through the “Validated Entheses-based Reconstruction of Activity” (VERA) method. The method is applied to 3D scans of the hand bones of 43 adult individuals. Multivariate statistics, including principal component analysis, are used for the analysis of the entheseal attachment sizes. The analysis showed that the muscles of the fifth ray are recruited in both precision and power grips in different capacities. It suggests that the fifth ray is an important supporting structure that aids in the execution of power and precision grips through its opposing position to the thumb. It is also used to provide stability by pulling it towards the other fingers. The results of this study support the assumption that the fifth ray of the hand plays a crucial role in everyday manual activity. They also suggest that a deeper understanding of its role could provide additional insights into different kinds of grasping activities in the past. The analysis further showed that the three different groups exhibit different activity patterns. The lower-class urban individuals or Arnhem exhibit a trend towards more intense power grasping, while the higher-class urban individuals from Zwolle showed a tendency for precision grasping activity. This is consistent with historical records that suggest the Zwolle individuals had worked as merchants, investors, and in similar professions, while the working poor in the city of Arnhem were probably working in factories and in the local tobacco production. The individuals from the rural community of Middenbeemster fell somewhat surprisingly in the middle of the other two groups, with a sizeable number of individuals exhibiting precision gripping patterns. This suggests that, despite this community having mainly revolved around dairy farming, individual life experiences were likely quite varied. Future analyses of the fifth ray should expand on the groundwork laid in this study by increasing the sample size, looking into individuals from different contexts and time periods, and looking into potential connections between the fifth ray and the fourth ray, wrist, and forearm.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
During the Michelsberg period (4,400 to 3,500 cal BC), harvesting tools were rarely discovered at excavations in North-Western Europe, be it in Belgium, Southern Netherlands, Northern France, or...Show moreDuring the Michelsberg period (4,400 to 3,500 cal BC), harvesting tools were rarely discovered at excavations in North-Western Europe, be it in Belgium, Southern Netherlands, Northern France, or Northern Germany. But cereal consumption was widely practiced, as grains discovered in these settlements show. Several researchers have, over the last 50 years, highlighted this discrepancy of missing harvesting tools and presence of cereal grains. They have tried to explain that, during this 900-year Michelsberg period and over a surface of several hundred square kilometres, cereals had to be collected either with the help of bare hands or with tools made from other, organic materials. But so far none of such traces have been detected in excavations. The aim of this paper is to present, through experimental archaeology and the analysis of use-wear traces, that tools made from organic material such as shell, wood and bone could have been used to gather cereal plants. To achieve this aim, a large variety of experimental tools have been created and tested on different fields of typical cereal types of the Michelsberg period. These were Triticum monococcum or einkorn wheat, Triticum dicoccum or emmer wheat, Triticum aestivum or naked wheat, and Hordeum vulgare or barley. The result of these harvest experiments has been analysed quantitatively with regards to the achieved harvested surface, grain yield, and harvesting speed. The use-wear traces created by these different cereal plants during the harvest have also been studied. They are polish, striations, edge rounding and edge damages, which have been evaluated under different microscopes to reveal typical shapes these cereals leave on tools. The results of that harvesting experiment and use-wear analysis are presented in this thesis and could serve as reference to interpret archaeological material differently in the future.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
closed access
The first iron object from the Netherlands dates to the Middle Bronze Age. Yet, it is only at the beginning of the Early Iron Age (around 800 BC) that iron objects increasingly appear in the...Show moreThe first iron object from the Netherlands dates to the Middle Bronze Age. Yet, it is only at the beginning of the Early Iron Age (around 800 BC) that iron objects increasingly appear in the archeological record. By then, the use of metals was not a new concept because bronze was already in use for centuries. One could think that the introduction of iron had complications for the use of bronze and that it perhaps maybe even replaced this material. This was not so. At least not entirely. It seems that some objects that were previously made of bronze (such as tools and weapons) were slowly replaced by iron variants throughout the Iron Age. But bronze also remains. Throughout the entire period, it keeps being used for jewelry and dress items specifically. Iron, therefore, seems to form an addition, rather than a replacement, to the pallet of raw materials. The presence of iron objects in the Iron Age does not mean that they were made from local resources. Whether iron was produced locally or not during this time is a question that remains. The evidence for this is scarce as only one oven and only a few sites with production slags are known from this period. Concerning the working of iron, the smithing process, not much more evidence is known. The evidence for this consists of two hearths and smithing slags. Slags form indirect evidence for the presence of iron production/working as they are almost exclusively found in secondary contexts during the Iron Age: in pits and postholes (of houses). Based on evidence from regions outside the Netherlands (e.g. Scandinavia and Germany), it is thought that the primary contexts (ovens and hearths) were located in the areas outside settlements. These are areas that are generally not researched in the Netherlands. During the Roman period, there were different ideas about iron production/working. The scarce evidence has led to the belief that iron was imported during the Iron Age, but during the Early Roman period, it seems that people were able to locally produce iron themselves, on a settlement level. From the Middle Roman period, this changed. It seems that many settlements grow into larger settlements and that production only occasionally takes place. Iron production for instance still takes place at villae settlements. It is believed that they perhaps forfilled a role in the regional distribution of iron to neighboring settlements. At typical ‘Roman’ sites, such as at Nijmegen and Voorburg but also at vici and forts, it seems that only smithing of iron took place throughout the Roman period. In other words, where during the Early Roman period, people produced (a little) iron locally, from the Middle Roman period, iron seems to be imported. During the Late Roman period, when there was instability in the Roman Empire, this import seems to stagnate. Evidence of both production and smithing seems to disappear in the Roman areas of the Netherlands. For the areas outside of the Roman Empire, this is different. Concerning the Early Roman period, not much is known about iron production. However, in contrast to the Roman areas, in the Middle Roman period, there was an 168 increase in iron production sites here– even iron-producing regions can be distinguished. And during the Late Roman period, although less sites are known from this period in comparison to the previous period, even larger production centers appear (Heeten) in some of the already iron-producing regions. In general, how the first use of iron develops in the Netherlands is complex and many questions remain. It is unsure if iron production developed during the Iron Age or whether this technology was brought from somewhere else. It is thought, however, that the influence of the Romans in this was nihil, but how this technology then arrived in the Netherlands is a question that remains, just like many further questions. Hopefully, future research will tell.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, agriculture, and fertility, is one of the twelve main Olympic gods who was worshipped by the Greeks, amongst others, around 2500 years ago. She played an...Show moreDemeter, the goddess of the harvest, agriculture, and fertility, is one of the twelve main Olympic gods who was worshipped by the Greeks, amongst others, around 2500 years ago. She played an important role in Greek religious practices and rituals, as she provides one of the basic necessities of life: food. From the 8th century BC, the Greeks started to venture out of the motherland into the wider area of the Mediterranean, Black Sea, and Asia Minor to create settlements, or as they called it apoikiai: home away from home. When taking location, time and local perceptions of religion into account, it can be concluded that even in Greece, there was no uniform cult of Demeter. Each cult was practised in a sanctuary wherein different aspects and attributes of the goddess were highlighted. This is also the case in the apoikiai, where the Greek settlers encountered different cultures. This thesis aims to analyse the changes in the cult of Demeter after the worship of the goddess spreads across the Mediterranean. Variations in worship practice, rituals and beliefs will be explored, simultaneously highlighting the geographical and temporal development of the cult. It is significant to study the local, regional and Panhellenic varieties of the cult of Demeter, as it allows for a deeper understanding of how religious beliefs and cult practice changed. Furthermore, it shows which elements of cult practice are influenced by either geographical, temporal or cultural aspects. This thesis adds to the current knowledge of the worship of Demeter by comparing cult practice in different sanctuaries dedicated to the goddess to see their similarities and differences. Several case studies were chosen as proxies. Two well-known sanctuaries located in Greece are used for the basis of the comparison: the sanctuary of Demeter and Kore at Eleusis and the sanctuary of Demeter and Kore at Acrocorinth. Three other case studies were chosen from the island of Sicily, where Demeter and her daughter Persephone were very important goddesses. These sanctuaries include the sanctuary of Demeter Malophoros at Selinus, the sanctuary of Demeter Thesmophoros at Bitalemi, Gela and the sanctuary of Demeter at S. Anna, Akragas. By performing literary research, in which literary, epigraphical and archaeological evidence will be considered, it will be studied how cult practice looked like in each sanctuary. An elaborate catalogue will be created, in which several categories, including the cult epithet, place of worship, cult objects, religious feasting and cult participants, will be studied in detail. This catalogue will form the basis of the comparison between the different sanctuaries studied in this thesis. First, the sanctuaries located in the same regions will be compared to one another, followed by the Panhellenic comparison where all sanctuaries are equated to study the likenesses in the worship of the same goddess. It is expected that this research will reveal both similarities and differences in the cult practice of Demeter in Ancient Greece and Sicily, showing the influence of geographical and temporal factors. Through the interaction between the settling Greeks and other (indigenous) cultures, ideas on worship may be exchanged, resulting in a more ‘shared’ world. In this world, the same goddess is worshipped in numerous sanctuaries spread across a vast area in a variety of ways, demonstrating the complexity of the worship of Demeter.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
In the Sicilian maritime town of Acitrezza, the tangible cultural and intangible heritage in the Rodolico’s shipyard has been unrecognised over the past years and rarely promoted as part of...Show moreIn the Sicilian maritime town of Acitrezza, the tangible cultural and intangible heritage in the Rodolico’s shipyard has been unrecognised over the past years and rarely promoted as part of cultural or economic-oriented activities of the area. For a long time, approaches to cultural heritage in Acitrezza have only celebrated the Verga’s greatest masterpiece, I Malavoglia, and the local protected marine area, characterised by the presence of the Faraglioni basaltic rocks. The protracted indifference of the local authority toward the shipyard combined with internal family dynamics seems to condemn this genius loci to oblivion. People believe this misrecognition leads to ignoring a sense of local identity made up of “marine carpentry affairs” and centuries-old tangible and intangible heritage practices that might be meaningful to the local community. This thesis employs a collaborative methodology called Participatory Video (PV) to investigate an alternative past for the town of Acitrezza, possibly incorporating the shipyard and shipwrights into a new local heritage policy and strategy. Two different approaches, underpinning two cases studies, characterise this methodology: the postcolonial author approach, which consists of an equal and peer-to-peer relationship between researchers and informants to create videos about tangible and intangible heritage, and the author as “a fly in the soup” approach, which enables informants to create their own personal and community narrative-commentary about private photographs of Acitrezza (and more!). Through the collaborative video-creation process, the thesis demonstrates that the PV methodology can be suitable for collaboration with people when dealing with local issues.Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
The Tang (唐) dynasty (618 – 907 C.E.), and to a lesser extent the Sui (隋) dynasty (589 – 617 C.E.) that directly preceded it, is often considered to be China’s premier ‘Golden Age’, the height of...Show moreThe Tang (唐) dynasty (618 – 907 C.E.), and to a lesser extent the Sui (隋) dynasty (589 – 617 C.E.) that directly preceded it, is often considered to be China’s premier ‘Golden Age’, the height of its cultural expression and the peak of its international trade. By contrast, the preceding period of disunity, often called the Six Dynasties period (六朝) (220 – 589 C.E.), stands out as a time of great chaos, uncertainty, and isolation in the minds of many both today and at the time of the Tang. A clear schism thus exists in our image of China in the first millennium C.E.. Yet this image comes to us mainly from written sources both ancient and modern, and is rarely independently analysed based on the archaeological remains of the periods. The aim of this thesis is to place archaeological material from China, which played a role in the ancient Silk Road trade network during the first millennium C.E., on a level with the historical sources, to find where they may coincide with or contradict each other, thus enriching our understanding of China’s role in the world of the first millennium C.E.. In order to do so, the thesis poses the question whether this schism of China’s active participation in international trade between the Six Dynasties and Tang periods can be traced in the archaeological evidence of trade from these periods, by studying a selection of Chinese archaeological material dating to the first millennium C.E. and analysing it through the lens of a world-systems and globalisation theoretical framework. The material used comes from Paul Ruitenbeek Art Gallery in Amsterdam, as well as several museum collections and academic and non-academic publications, as this is a topic not widely explored in academia. The Case Studies are organised into the themes of ‘Trade and travel represented’, ‘Exported items: luxury and practicality’, ‘Currency on the Silk Roads’, and ‘Influential style and beauty’. Ultimately, based on the combination of historical context, previous research, the case studies, and the theoretical framework, the conclusion is reached that while significant changes can be observed in China’s political situation and its involvement within the Silk Road trade network throughout the first millennium C.E., and these developments are at times closely influenced by each other, they are not intrinsically linked, as it was in fact the adaptability of the network and its various players that allowed the network to persist over such a long 128 period of time. Further research is needed to gain a true understanding of China’s role in the Silk Road trade network during the first millennium C.E..Show less
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
open access
2024-01-31T00:00:00Z
Urbanization and urban living not only reshaped the social, cultural, political, and economical aspects of European societies, but also had a great impact on people’s health. These effects can be...Show moreUrbanization and urban living not only reshaped the social, cultural, political, and economical aspects of European societies, but also had a great impact on people’s health. These effects can be observed in the archaeological record through the analysis of skeletal remains from urban sites by comparing them to their rural counterparts. Although multiple studies have focused on investigating the effects of urbanization and urban living, few have researched the impact of urban living on infants, children, and maternal health. Therefore, this research focuses on assessing the effects of urban living in infant and maternal health during post medieval times in the Netherlands through the comparison of oral stress indicators from a rural (Middenbeemster) and an urban (Arnhem) collection of post-medieval Dutch non-adults and adults. To do so, frequencies and age-at-formation of linear enamel hypoplasia, as well as frequency of dental caries were recorded and analyzed for permanent and deciduous teeth, using age-categorical data to compare them between rural and urban individuals. The results from this research demonstrate that urban living had a negative impact on infant and maternal health, as found from the dental markers associated to the prenatal period. In addition, this research has shown that analyzing dental caries in deciduous teeth can demonstrate the maternal-infant relationship after birth, and that dental caries can be used as a proxy to determine frailty and resiliency of non-adult individuals.Show less
