Százhalombatta-Földvár is one of the biggest and most extensively studied Bronze Age tell sites in Hungary. Due to its location on a dry loessy high bluff zone on the Western bank of the river...Show moreSzázhalombatta-Földvár is one of the biggest and most extensively studied Bronze Age tell sites in Hungary. Due to its location on a dry loessy high bluff zone on the Western bank of the river Danube, a sedimentary environment that is appropriate for pollen preservation to conduct pollen analysis was not found around the site (Sumegi & Bodor, 2000). Instead, regional pollen analysis has been conducted to study the environment relating to the Százhalombatta-Földvár site. This regional sediment sample was obtained by coring from an oxbow lake about 500 m away from the site. During the Százhalombatta-Földvár excavation in 2022, however, the lithological examination of the floor sediment from [House] 9000 indicated the possibility for pollen preservation, followed by palynological investigation including the comparison to the regional pollen record. This unconventional method of pollen analysis was successfully conducted, yielding a well-preserved pollen assemblage. The methods of pollen analysis applied are pollen counts, taxonomic identification and states of preservation analysis. These methods indicate that the well-preserved pollen assemblage obtained from the unconventional context does not reflect the pollen assemblage from the oxbow lake pollen record. Especially the absence of arboreal pollen at the site compared to that recorded in the regional pollen data is conspicuous. These results allow us to discuss and investigate the sample from [House] 9000. Specifically, in the sample, taphonomic agents contributing to the absence of arboreal pollen in contrast with the regional palynological signal are analysed and the predominance of Poaceae is explained with taphonomic processes. Furthermore, the taphonomic agents causing the primary pollen preservation states are investigated and the taphonomic processes resulting in the preservation biases are explored in archaeological interpretation. In consequence, the investigation of the taphonomic processes suggests anthropogenic agents causing the discrepancy and bias in the pollen assemblage with the construction and materials used for [House] 9000. The pollen preservation state analysis revealed that the primary states of pollen preservation are degraded and folded. These in turn are evidence of the taphonomic processes of oxidisation and physical stress, which in combination with archaeological evidence suggests anthropogenic activities as cause. To conclude, this thesis could contribute to multi-disciplinary research and greater understanding of the Bronze Age site, Százhalombatta-Földvár. Moreover, it demonstrates new potential of palynological analysis employing an innovative sampling method that directly relates to the human activities at the site. The results of this thesis have the potential to stimulate further application of this new approach.Show less
Tegenwoordig worden ambtenaren geconfronteerd met een intrigerende paradox: enerzijds wordt van hen verwacht dat ze ambtelijke neutraliteit en neutrale bureaucratische competenties bezitten,...Show moreTegenwoordig worden ambtenaren geconfronteerd met een intrigerende paradox: enerzijds wordt van hen verwacht dat ze ambtelijke neutraliteit en neutrale bureaucratische competenties bezitten, anderzijds neemt de druk toe om politiek sensitief en responsief te zijn. Deze paradox weerspiegelt een verschuiving in de rol van ambtenaren, waarbij zij steeds meer dienen als instrument voor de bewindspersoon in diens politieke ambities. De ambtenaar in kwestie balanceert tussen traditionele bureaucratische normen verweven in het ministeriële bestel en de loyale uitvoering van de wil van verkozen politici, waarbij de ambtenaar zich in politieke aangelegenheden mengt. Dit onderzoek richt zich op de ambtenaren die zich bezighouden met overheidscommunicatie via de sociale media van bewindspersonen op Nederlandse ministeries. Er wordt onderzocht in welke mate functionele politisering van hun werkzaamheden plaatsvindt en wat dit veroorzaakt.Show less
In scientific research, interpretability and high predictive performance are difficult to combine: while black-box models perform better than interpretable models, only the latter allow for...Show moreIn scientific research, interpretability and high predictive performance are difficult to combine: while black-box models perform better than interpretable models, only the latter allow for transparency and inference, which are necessary tools when these models are used in decision-making or in hypothesis testing. Models such as RuleFit combine the flexibility of a black-box tree ensemble with the interpretability of a sparse, LASSO linear regression. Later work substitutes Bayesian regression for the LASSO regression, thus further improving the model’s prediction (Horserule). The work in this thesis was two-sided: on the one hand, we applied a different Bayesian prior (the informative Horseshoe prior) to the linear step of the RuleFit model, which can naturally take the structure of RuleFit into account. On the other hand, we used Shapley values to measure the contribution of each predictor in the RuleFit model and combined these values with the Bayesian regression to build inferential tools. The new machinery was tested on both synthetic data and the dataset from the Helius study. The predictive performance of the resulting model was observed to be higher than that of the original RuleFit model, but lower than that of Horserule. Compared to Horserule, the proposed model excessively favours trees over linearity, but in doing so it more strongly enforces the choice of simpler trees. Shapley values were also compared to other importance measures mentioned in the RuleFit literature, and shown to be more accurate in reconstructing the contributions as defined in the synthetic datasets.Show less
This thesis examines a new way of tracing individual life histories in the context of slavery in the Caribbean during the colonial period. The carbon stable isotopes in bioapatite were compared to...Show moreThis thesis examines a new way of tracing individual life histories in the context of slavery in the Caribbean during the colonial period. The carbon stable isotopes in bioapatite were compared to carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in collagen of serial dentine samples in the case study of an enslaved African found on the island of Saba. Five dental elements were found out of anatomical context in a lockbox at Spring Bay Flat plantation. The use of bioapatite and collagen in tandem has been proved to provide extra valuable information in dietary studies and doing so in dentine increments yields an individual and high temporal resolution new to bioarchaeology. The individual studied here forcibly migrated from the African Sahel during the formation of the first molar, suffering from a period of nutritional stress before experiencing a dramatic dietary change. Multi-isotope analysis of both organic and inorganic matrixes in dentine increments is proven to be a valuable and innovative method of reconstructing individual life histories in unprecedented detail. The production of osteobiographies such as this one helps us to understand individual experiences during periods of slavery, captivity, and exploitation on a level that we can empathise with and therefore offers important and profound contributions to discussions on slavery and colonialism in a broader sense.Show less
The origin of speech is one of the biggest unanswered questions in the evolution of mankind. Scientist from all over the world from different disciplines using different methodologies have been...Show moreThe origin of speech is one of the biggest unanswered questions in the evolution of mankind. Scientist from all over the world from different disciplines using different methodologies have been trying to solve the mystery that is the origin of speech. An unambiguous answer however, remains absent. Using the method of comparative morphology and microbiomechanical studies, it can be studied when in our evolutionary history the anatomy fit to support speech production first arose, and thus which species first had the ability to talk. This thesis looks at published data on different hard structures of the vocal tract, in particular the hyoid, hard palate and mandible, of Australopithecus afarensis, Homo erectus, the SH hominins and Homo neanderthalensis to compare them to those of the modern human and non-human great apes vocal tract, in order to discover what we can infer about the origin speech based on the evolution of the vocal tract. This comparison has shown that based on their features, these hominins can be divided into two categories. The first category is that of archaic morphology and is characterized by a hyoid, hard palate and mandible that most closely resembles the anatomical features of the non-human great apes, in particular, chimpanzees. This means they possessed a bullashaped hyoid body, a long and broad hard palate and a long and narrow, chinless mandible. To this group belong the Australopithecus afarensis and Homo erectus. The second category is that of modern morphology and is characterized by the hyoid, hard palate and mandible that most closely resembles the anatomical features of modern humans. This means a bar-like hyoid body, a shorter and more narrow hard palate and a short and broad mandible with a bony protuberance, the chin. To this groups belongs the SH hominins the Homo neanderthalensis. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the anatomical features of the vocal tract fit to support the production of speech were already in place with, at least, Neanderthals. Therefore, Neanderthals could speak. The way forward for future studies into the origin of speech mainly is more data, both in terms of quantity and more species, though this is not something that can be forced. Establishing the origin of speech might open up a new path into studying the origin of language, a related, but not identical topic.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
In onderhavig scriptieonderzoek wordt met een kritische blik gekeken naar de toegepaste prospectietechnieken en interpretaties van het drietal prospectieve onderzoeken in Geertjesgolf te Winssen,...Show moreIn onderhavig scriptieonderzoek wordt met een kritische blik gekeken naar de toegepaste prospectietechnieken en interpretaties van het drietal prospectieve onderzoeken in Geertjesgolf te Winssen, Moordhuizen en Angeren. Allen gelegen in het Gelderse deel van het Nederlandse rivierengebied. Tenslotte worden aanbevelingen gedaan voor toekomstige prospectieve onderzoeken binnen het rivierengebied. Aanleiding voor het onderzoek zijn de acties en gevolgen die hebben plaatsgevonden op de locaties Geertjesgolf te Winssen, Moordhuizen en Angeren, waarbij een archeologisch rijk landschap werd aangetroffen nadat de gebieden waren vrijgegeven. Ondanks dat grote delen van Geertjesgolf na deze vrijgave zijn weggegraven kon een groot gedeelte van het archeologische bodemarchief ex situ worden behouden. In het geval van Moordhuizen is zeer veel en met name bijzonder vondstmateriaal tijdens baggerwerkzaamheden verzameld. Echter is de context van het materiaal niet meer te achterhalen. Het onderzoek in Angeren daarentegen kent geen verloren archeologie. Nieuwe verwachtingsmodellen en bijbehorende prospectietechnieken tonen een haast feilloos systeem, waarmee archeologisch vindplaatsen op meerdere landschappelijk niveaus kunnen worden opgespoord. Tijdens het onderzoek veelvuldig gebruik gemaakt van literatuuronderzoek. Hierbij zijn met name (oudere) rapporten met betrekking tot het drietal onderzoeksgebieden geraadpleegd. Daarnaast is zowel analoog als digitaal kaartmateriaal bestudeerd. Het geraadpleegde kaartmateriaal had betrekking op archeologische- en landschappelijke verwachtingskaarten van de individuele onderzoeksgebieden als het Gelderse deel van het Nederlandse rivierengebied. Ten slotte heeft eigen opgedane ervaring tijdens archeologische onderzoeken in het rivierengebied als zeer belangrijke factor meegespeeld tijdens het onderzoek naar deze drietal prospectieve onderzoeken. De resultaten van onderhavig onderzoek laten zien dat relatief eenvoudige oorzaken hebben geleid tot het vrijgeven van twee van de drie onderzoeksgebieden. Een van de belangrijkste hoofdoorzaken is wellicht de misinterpretatie van komgebieden en hun onderliggende landschappen. Al vanaf de aanleg van de Betuweroute in 1995 ging men er van uit dat zij onaantrekkelijk waren voor menselijke activiteiten. Naar aanleiding van deze aanname vond in gebieden met een dergelijke bodemopbouw slechts in geringe mate archeologisch onderzoek plaats. Wanneer vervolgonderzoek wel plaats vond boorde men doorgaans slechts tot 2 a (maximaal) 3 meter, - Mv, waardoor de onderliggende landschappen vrijwel niet tot nauwelijks werden geïnterpreteerd. Daarnaast zorgde een natuurlijke factor voor verkeerde interpretaties van het landschap, namelijk de seizoenen. Doordat de rivieren in herfst en winter een relatief grote waterafvoer kennen, hadden de Maas uiterwaarden te maken met gemiddeld hoge grondwaterstanden. Als gevolg kon het opgeboorde boormonster niet tot nauwelijks worden opgehaald en beschreven. Tijdens latere onderzoeken in 2011 en 2017 werd de verkeerde interpretatie van het landschap bij Moordhuizen door middel van profieldocumentaties weer corrigeert, maar dit was immers al te laat. Groten delen waren in de jaren ervoor afgegraven en opgebaggerd. Zo ook waarschijnlijk de rijkste archeologische vindplaats van Nederland. Ondanks het grootte archeologische verlies in Geertjesgolf en Moordhuizen is een positieve leercurve op het gebied van prospectietechnieken te zien het archeologische werkveld. De landschappelijke kennis is in dermate toegenomen, waardoor archeologische vindplaatsen onder de komgebieden in groten getale tevoorschijn komen, zoals in het tracé van de verlengde Via15. Hieraan ten grondslag ligt het principediagram. Voortaan worden ingezette prospectietechnieken niet meer afgestemd op de nieuwste technieken en innovaties, maar op het type en aard van de verwachtte vindplaatsen in relatie met het landschap. Op basis van de verkregen resultaten van onderhavig onderzoek zijn aanbevelingen gegeven voor prospectief onderzoek in het rivierengebied. Eén van de hoofduitgangspunten is dat het principediagram standaard dient te worden gehandhaafd en te allen tijde dient te worden ingezet bij prospectief onderzoek in het rivierengebied. Daarnaast dient in uiterwaard- en kronkelwaarlandschappen de bodemopbouw enkel nog in kaart te worden gebracht doormiddel van profielkolommen of lengteprofielen, met een voorkeur in drogere seizoenen met een gemiddeld lage grondwaterstand. Ten slotte dienen er meer specifiek gerichte vraagstelling met betrekking het complexe rivierengebied worden opgesteld, zodat onterechte vrijgave van toekomstige onderzoeksgebieden voorkomen kan worden.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
Biological kinship is a phenomenon inherent in all people. Therefore, it is no wonder that it is an often-researched topic in bioarchaeology. Even though a living person could speak about their kin...Show moreBiological kinship is a phenomenon inherent in all people. Therefore, it is no wonder that it is an often-researched topic in bioarchaeology. Even though a living person could speak about their kin, the bones of people long passed have another way of saying who their relatives are. The approach used in this research examines cranial non-metric traits, the morphological variants appearing on the skull. This study investigated the relationship between biological kinship and cranial non-metric traits in the Middenbemster skeletal collection. Examining these traits aimed to gain further insight into familial connections within the cemetery, adding to previous studies that only focused on dental non-metric traits and foot anomalies. To estimate the familial relationships in the Middenbeemster skeletal collection, the data on 27 cranial non-metric traits were collected in 213 adult individuals. The traits were visually scored as present, absent, or unobservable if skeletal material was missing or poorly preserved. After collection, data were statistically analyzed. Analysis of traits revealed that most traits were represented in the sample and that there is inconsistency in the sex dependence of the traits. The principal finding of this research was the identification of precondylar tubercle as a basis for further hypothesizing about kinship, as it appeared in a significantly higher frequency in the Middenbester sample compared to the reference sample. This finding was further used to form a hypothetical kinship group, which may further be used to explore kinship through the archival data. Moreover, this research adds to the previous research conducted on this topic in Middenbeemster and provides a fresh perspective.Show less
Locally produced incised impasto ware is known to dominate the necropoleis and settlement contexts of Falerii Veteres, modern Civita Castellana, northern Lazio, during the Orientalizing period (8th...Show moreLocally produced incised impasto ware is known to dominate the necropoleis and settlement contexts of Falerii Veteres, modern Civita Castellana, northern Lazio, during the Orientalizing period (8th – 7th centuries). Falerii Veteres is recognized as the main town of a small peripheral region, acting as a middle ground between the Sabine, Capenate, Latin and Etruscan regions. Within this well connected ancient cultural landscape the Faliscan incised impasto production remains crucially its own, adopting the decorative repertoire of the Orientalizing and bucchero wares as the artisans or consumers saw fit. The research of this thesis revolves around the main question “How did potters’ technological choices develop at Falerii during the Orientalizing period (8th – 7th centuries BCE) when it comes to the traditionally produced incised impasto ware?”. Using techniques and methodologies developed by the Archaeological Sciences, pXRF analysis was performed on an assemblage of incised impastos (n = 45). The results confirmed suspected imported vessels, proving its validity, and offered surprising results, showing two different artisanal recipes were used, either contemporaneously or possibly throughout time. These results have offered a first look into the chemical composition of the incised impasto wares and the decorative pastes which filled their incisions from the city of Falerii Veteres and its necropoleis. The results offer high potential for the study of change throughout time of raw material usage and potential provenancing of locally produced impasto for the entire region of the Ager Faliscus and beyond.Show less
The topic of discussion in this thesis is the pre- and post-settlement environment of eastern Iceland, human exploitation of it and its consequences. Materials used are pre-existing publications on...Show moreThe topic of discussion in this thesis is the pre- and post-settlement environment of eastern Iceland, human exploitation of it and its consequences. Materials used are pre-existing publications on macro- and micro-botanical remains retrieved from both archaeological and natural contexts in eastern Iceland along with new archaeobotanical data from the archaeological site of Fjörður, Seyðisfjörður. The aim is to get a comprehensive image of the environment and vegetation in the area and to estimate the scope of human exploitation of it, with special emphasis on domestic use, livestock and cultivation. The results show that most of the sites seem to have been unforested prior to the settlement and characterised by heathland and grassland. Due to this fact the environmental effect of human arrival in the area was not as dramatic as in other more forested parts of the country. The most common influence of the settlement was replacement of taxa that are preferred by grazers by more grazing tolerant taxa and an introduction of anthropogenic indicators. A decrease in woodland was also observed where relevant, as well as increased soil erosion. Evidence of grazing was detected in almost all of the sites, along with anthropogenic fertilization and heathland expansion and exploitation. Insects and fungi reliant on domestic animals were also present in some of the sites. Driftwood seems to have been the most common wood used for construction and local wood most common as fuel. Peat and animal dung were also used as fuel which suggests a versatile fuel utilisation strategy. Cereal pollen was only found at three sites and a barley seed found in Fjörður seems to be the first cereal macrofossil found in an archaeological context in eastern Iceland. Cereal seeds have been found in many archaeological sites in other parts of the island and cultivation suggested for some of them. A possible explanation for the lack of evidence of arable agriculture in eastern Iceland is the lack of archaeological, environmental and archaeobotanical research in this part of the country, especially in environments suitable for cereal cultivation.Show less
In order to reconstruct the vegetation of the Vrouw Vennepolder during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene pollen samples were studied under a microscope and the information was then turned in...Show moreIn order to reconstruct the vegetation of the Vrouw Vennepolder during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene pollen samples were studied under a microscope and the information was then turned in to pollen diagrams. These pollen diagrams showed two distinct local pollen assemblage zones (LPAZ) throughout the sequence. LPAZ VVP-1 showed a Pinus dominated coniferous forest with high amounts of Corylus that was slowly transitioning into a mixed deciduous forest. The steppe landscape was slowly disappearing and the Rhine or one of its tributaries and possibly a lake were likely nearby. LPAZ VVP-2 showed a now Corylus dominated mixed deciduous forest and the likely complete disappearance of the steppe. Alnus marshes now also played a dominant role. The river was likely still nearby. These results provide a more detailed picture of the vegetation of the Vrouw Vennepolder. In order to add a more precise timescale to the sampled sequence the sediments and the biostratigraphy were compared to the geological events and biostratigraphy of the western Netherlands during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene. This revealed that the sequence started with LPAZ VVP-1 in the Late Pleistocene during the Younger Dryas and possibly continued in to the transition to the Holocene Preboreal. After a hiatus in the Preboreal the sequence continued with LPAZ VVP-2 in the Boreal period which probably ended at the transition to the Atlantic period. The depths of the sediments were also correlated to the sea-level curve of the Rhine-Meuse delta in order to provide further dating information. This method suggested a much younger and shorter sequence in the Atlantic, but given the difficulties of this method it is better to rely on the information provided by the sediments and the biostratigraphy. These results provide a more detailed timescale for the sampled sequence. In order to determine the possibility of Paleolithic and Mesolithic groups visiting the Vrouw Vennepolder the Vrouw Vennepolder was analyzed in regards to the resources and the ecological challenges it could provide. The tough ecological challenges it provides in the vicinity of the corings due to wetness mean that it is unlikely that humans built settlements right there. They could have built them elsewhere in the Vrouw Vennepolder or outside of it and then used the area for hunting and foraging. The Vrouw Vennepolder would however have provided a large amount of resources, Corylus nuts in particular, meaning that nearby humans are likely to have exploited the area. The early and dominant presence of Corylus in the pollen diagrams could be the result of humans interacting with the environment through burning, but it is far from definitive. These results do not provide evidence for human occupation or exploitation of the Vrouw Vennepolder, but exploitation at least seems very likely.Show less
This thesis analysed the construction dates of early medieval forts in the Dutch Low Countries to determine their accuracy. The ringforts are generally dated to the last quarter of the 9th century...Show moreThis thesis analysed the construction dates of early medieval forts in the Dutch Low Countries to determine their accuracy. The ringforts are generally dated to the last quarter of the 9th century and placed in an overarching historical narrative that links them to Viking raids. However, recent archaeological research suggests that earlier dates are also possible. For example, the ringfort of Den Burg was recently dated to the 8th or early 9th century with the upcoming OSL (optically stimulated luminescence) method. I selected the forts of Den Burg, Oost-Souburg, Burgh, Domburg, Deventer, and Zutphen and analysed the construction dates based on excavation reports and subsequent data analysis. I also looked at the general characteristics of the forts like shape and the type of inhabitation to determine their similarity. I found that most of the forts, except for Deventer and Domburg, could be older than the late 9th century because they were dated with a terminus ante quem or the methods used indicated a broad construction date. This is because the construction phase of a ringfort is hard to date for 14C- analysis and dendrochronology are almost never possible. This highlights the importance of OSL research in the research of ringforts. I also found that ringforts in the Dutch Low Countries differ in general characteristics. Both findings challenge the narrative of a structured defence system against Viking raids, and show that ringforts have often been interpreted based on assumptions from the historical narrative. Instead, this thesis suggests that the structures were erected at different times, by different actors, and probably for different reasons. Thus, future archaeological research should apply OSL as a dating method and be wary of assumptions from the historical narrative. This way, we can establish accurate construction dates and get closer to uncovering the complex nature of these early medieval fortifications.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
Drawing on research findings of a fish event horizon in England and extensive work on historical fish consumption in Belgium, this study aims to answer the question: How did fish consumption...Show moreDrawing on research findings of a fish event horizon in England and extensive work on historical fish consumption in Belgium, this study aims to answer the question: How did fish consumption develop in the northern Low Countries during the early and late medieval period (450-1500). This research is conducted using the Dutch Fish Bones (DFB) dataset, which includes the Number of Identified Specimens (NISP) of fish species and families from archaeological sites between 0-2000 CE. The DFB-dataset is subjected to aoristic analysis in 25-year bin categories to create a diachronic timeline. Despite potential biases and limitations, coherent with the presence of uncertainty within each assemblage and the underrepresentation of certain fish species due to differential preservation and the collection methods employed in archaeological excavations, the study offers valuable insights into regional fish consumption dynamics. During the period from 450 to 650, both inland and coastal regions displayed a preference for locally sourced fish. Freshwater eels, cyprinids, and perches were the primary choices inland, while coastal consumption mainly consisted of demersal righteye flounders and small amounts of herring. From 650 to 950, the coastal region continued to heavily rely on righteye flounders, while freshwater fish remained popular inland. However, there was a gradual emergence of marine fish consumption during the "long eighth century," likely influenced by trade and commercial hubs. Between 950 and 1200, the consumption of marine, migratory, and freshwater fish declined in the northern Low Countries, potentially due to the Medieval Warm Period and changes in fish populations. Despite this decline, there was a slight increase in codfish consumption, which may be linked to the growing trade of Norwegian stockfish. Urban areas witnessed a shift towards marine consumption between 1200 and 1375 in a period that can be called a gradual ‘fish event horizon’, rural areas, in contrast, exhibited a delayed increase in marine fish consumption almost a century after urban consumption surged. The development of markets and trade hubs played a crucial role in making marine fish more accessible in inland regions. The rapid growth in smelt consumption during the fourteenth century reflects the broader trend of rising fish consumption, fuelled by urbanization, population growth, and dietary restrictions. The formation of the Zuyderzee facilitated trade of the Hanseatic cities by providing an open waterway to the North Sea. However, human interventions disrupted the distribution of fish species, leading to a decline in freshwater eels. During the late fourteenth to seventeenth centuries, fish consumption experienced significant expansion phases. Herring, cod, and righteye flounders were consumed in larger quantities, driven by technological advancements in fishing techniques and equipment. The herring industry of the northern Low Countries grew rapidly, with Dutch vessels dominating European trade. Between 1650 and 1800, overall fish consumption declined due to conflicts, economic difficulties, and political instability. However, throughout the centuries following the fish event horizon, the pattern of high marine fish consumption has remained steadfast and continues to be relevant in modern times. These findings illuminate historical fish consumption patterns in the region and provide a foundation for future research, including enriching the dataset, calling for additional meta-analyses and isotopic research, and addressing knowledge gaps, such as the significant decrease in overall fish consumption in the period 950-1200.Show less
The aim of this paper is to critically examine the use and validity of the term ‘skull cult’ in academic literature. Since the discovery of the first plastered skull in 1953 by Kenyon, more...Show moreThe aim of this paper is to critically examine the use and validity of the term ‘skull cult’ in academic literature. Since the discovery of the first plastered skull in 1953 by Kenyon, more plastered skulls have been dug up from sites across West-Asia. Due to temptation ideas were opted for a shared tradition, which resulted in a grand narrative called the ‘skull cult’. As a consequence detailed information was overlooked, and local variation ignored. Due to the limited scope of this paper, twelve sites were selected for analysis, including: Jericho, Yiftahel, Kfar Hahoresh, Beisamoun, ‘Ain Ghazal, Nahal Hemar, Tell Ramad, Tell Aswad (Southern Levant), Abu Hureyra, Çayönü, (Northern Levant/ South-east Anatolia), Köşk Höyük, and Çatalhöyük (South-central Anatolia). The sites were first examined individually to provide a clear overview of each settlement. They were structured according to several variables associated with plastered skulls and skull retrieval, which are the following: gender, age, individual and/or group burials, findspot, headless and/or intact burials, skulls or cranium, and other skull manipulations (i.e., plain, paint, artificial modification) and decorations applied to the skull. Next, the sites were compared to each other to find potential similarities and differences. Gender, age, and intact burials did not provide sufficient data, and therefore, no speculations have been proposed. Headless burials did produce incomplete data as well, but the presence at most sites supports the act of skull retrieval practices at the site. Overall, the data showed the existence of analogies between sites, but these are outweighed by local diversities. In addition, the significant distance in time and space with regard to a few sites does also contradict the idea of one shared mortuary practice. Skull retrieval might have originated from the late Natufian period onwards, but over time local variations evolved to which people from each site attached their own unique symbolic meanings.Show less
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the shipbuilding traditions in the Baltic Sea and North Sea regions underwent significant transformations. From 1000 to 1300, large cargo ships built in the...Show moreDuring the 13th and 14th centuries, the shipbuilding traditions in the Baltic Sea and North Sea regions underwent significant transformations. From 1000 to 1300, large cargo ships built in the Nordic shipbuilding tradition dominated the maritime trade. After 1300 the supremacy in the region's maritime trade shifted to German merchants and the Hanseatic League, leading to the disappearance of the Nordic shipbuilding tradition and the rise of cogs as the most common cargo vessels in Northern Europe. Initially, the shift from Nordic ships to cogs was attributed to the latter's perceived better performance, as it was believed that it was technically impossible to build large ships in the Nordic tradition. However, this assumption was challenged when large cargo vessels built in the Nordic tradition were discovered. As a result, scholars shifted their focus from technical explanations to socio-economic ones. These socio-economic narratives linked the dominance of cogs mainly to their lower shipbuilding costs, as well as the commercial, political, and military power of the Hanseatic League. Besides the differences in building techniques, Nordic cargo ships and cogs had very different hull shapes and therefore differences in performance are to be expected even when comparing ships of similar sizes. However, a comprehensive performance comparison between Nordic cargo ships and cogs has not been made since most shipwrecks are only partially preserved, and the evaluation of ship performance requires a complete hull. The 3D model reconstruction of shipwrecks provides thus an opportunity to evaluate the performance capabilities of ancient vessels. This thesis aims to apply modern naval engineering approaches, typically used for modern ships, to assess and compare the performance of Nordic cargo ships and cogs using 3D reconstruction models. The goal is to determine whether the socio-economic reasons for the shift from Nordic cargo ships to cogs went hand in hand with an improvement in ship performance. To this purpose weight and stability calculations, as well as speed estimations and seakeeping calculations are conducted on the 3D model reconstructions of the Big Ship of Wismar, a 12th century Nordic cargo ship, and the Bremen cog, a 14th century cog of similar size. The results reveal significant differences between the Big Ship of Wismar and the Bremen cog in all the examined performance characteristics. Overall, the Big Ship of Wismar demonstrates superior transverse stability, speed, and seakeeping behaviour than the Bremen cog. These findings, together with the evidence from calculations on other ships and sea trials on full-scale replicas, indicate that the socio-economic factors had such a substantial impact on shaping the observed transformations in shipbuilding traditions, that they outweighed the reduction in ship performance. Additionally, cogs' key features, such as high freeboard, full hull lines, closed deck, and superstructure, appear to have played a crucial role in their supremacy. These characteristics not only allowed them to transport cargo in bulk, but also provided a defensive advantage against attacks. While Nordic cargo ships exhibited superior speed, stability, and seaworthiness, cogs were more suitable for meeting the social demands of the time. This thesis demonstrates that modern naval architecture methods can effectively be applied to 3D model reconstructions of ancient ships to enhance the understanding of ship performance in maritime archaeology. Additionally, it proves that evaluating ship performance can provide valuable insights on broader research questions, such as understanding the social changes that would have influenced and driven the transformative processes observed in shipbuilding traditions.Show less
Toward the end of the Late Bronze Age, conflicts, widespread migrations and climate change culminated in the collapse of centers of political power across the Aegean and the Near East. The period...Show moreToward the end of the Late Bronze Age, conflicts, widespread migrations and climate change culminated in the collapse of centers of political power across the Aegean and the Near East. The period that followed, the Early Iron Age, was marked by a decrease in settlement size, population, and interregional contact. These large changes are associated with a change in diet, toward a subsistence strategy of diversification rather than intensification. During the Archaic Period, climate improved, poleis start to form and a period of regeneration begins. By the Hellenistic Period, centralized power in the form of large kingdoms and highly populated urban centers exist, and long distance contact with Egypt and the Near East reaches an unprecedented scale. The question arises therefore if these large societal changes once again are mirrored by a change in diet within Greece. In order to investigate this, stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis is done on human skeletal remains from the Early Iron Age sites of Halos in Thessaly, and Makrigialos in Greek Macedonia. From those same locations, skeletal material dating to the Hellenistic Period in the case of Halos and the Classical Period in the case of Makrigialos is also investigated. Using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis, assessment and comparison of diet within and between the sites is done. Diet reconstruction based on skeletal isotopic data suggests that diet did indeed change from the Early Iron Age into later periods. All examined groups were agropastoral, with a diet based on C3 plant consumption and terrestrial animal products. At Halos, millet was consumed during the Early Iron Age, but not in the Hellenistic Period. As the climate became wetter, millet was no longer a necessary food source. Instead, there is evidence of marine food intake and increased consumption of processed secondary animal products, and possibly greater consumption of luxury goods. This could indicate import of food, as this would alleviate stress related to food production and allow for effort to go toward a more varied diet with luxury additions. At Makrigialos, millet remained a substantial dietary component from the Early Iron Age into the Classical Period, but animal protein intake increased.Show less
This research aims to study the trade networks of the Roman period in three different Italian regions: the Pontine region, the Potenza valley and the Metapontine region. A database was created...Show moreThis research aims to study the trade networks of the Roman period in three different Italian regions: the Pontine region, the Potenza valley and the Metapontine region. A database was created previously, consisting of the compiled data on ceramics sherds encountered during three surveys in each respective region. Assessing where these ceramics were produced, and how the different provenances are distributed throughout the landscape, gives insight into how the regions connected to trade routes, and how ceramics imported along these routes were distributed throughout the landscape. To this end, the proportions of ceramic provenances were visualised for each region and subsequently broken down for the Archaic, Republican, Imperial and Late Antique periods. The patterns observed in provenance proportions and sherd distributions across regions suggest that different regions were affected differently by the changes associated with the increased integration of the Roman economy in the Imperial Period. These changes appear to be reflected in the increased consumption of imported African ceramics. This is in contrast to more locally produced Italian sherds, which maintain a more consistent presence. These trends can be observed to a certain degree in all regions, although the changes are particularly pronounced in the Pontine region. These results lead to the following tentative theory: the Pontine region, as a more centrally located destination, was better connected to more distant trade routes, and thus affected more readily by the large-scale societal and political shifts of the Imperial period. Another notable observation is the increased variance in sherds provenances in the Potenza valley as compared to the Pontine region. This could be potentially explained by the theory that the Potenza valley, as a more isolated and decentral region, relied more on more “off the cuff” trade, while the Pontine region relied more on centrally organised, “streamlined” trade networks. Finally, ceramics imported from outside the Italian peninsula tended to be found at or near the coast in all regions, indicating that ceramics traded along more distant routes were exchanged less in intraregional networks extending further inland. Despite multiple weaknesses, which were mainly related to the necessary standardisation of the database and the resulting loss of detail, this research has granted new insight into the discussion around the degree of integration in the Roman economy and paints a more nuanced image that differs from region to region.Show less
