The entry of a high number of large animals from Africa, North America and Asia into Europe during the Plio‐Pleistocene provided a rich diversity of both herbivore and carnivore populations. These...Show moreThe entry of a high number of large animals from Africa, North America and Asia into Europe during the Plio‐Pleistocene provided a rich diversity of both herbivore and carnivore populations. These high numbers of animal dispersals into Europe indicate that the continent was a sink habitat during the Plio‐Pleistocene and probably open to way of hominid entry into the continent. Studying of these dispersals is important for understanding the late Neogene and the Quaternary environment of Europe, particularly the timing of the establishment and collapsing of the land bridges as well as developments in climate and vegetation. Moreover, a high number of long distance animal dispersals also give to opportunity of a studying the animal dispersals’ behaviors and modes which represent the occurrence of a dispersal in ‘space’, ‘time’ and ‘form’. The Plio‐Pleistocene long distance dispersals of animals into Europe reveal four distinct movement patterns as ‘geodispersal,’ ‘secular migration’, ‘diffusion’ and ‘jump dispersal’. At the same time, variation in the dispersal behaviors of animals as ‘migration’ and ‘immigration’ were observed in which, the duration of species were much longer by ‘immigration’ between the Late Pliocene and Cromerian, however, after the establishment of the 100 kyr climate cyclicity, the ‘migration’ behavior of herbivores were the dominant pattern which reveal short term duration and repeated back and forward movements of the species into the continent.Show less
The main subject of this thesis is the research of traditional pottery workshops in present-day Egypt. Pottery workshops producing pottery in a traditional way are disappearing due to several...Show moreThe main subject of this thesis is the research of traditional pottery workshops in present-day Egypt. Pottery workshops producing pottery in a traditional way are disappearing due to several factors discussed in this thesis. The author decided to study a selection of workshops in Egypt, covering a large part of the Nile Valley: in the Fustat area in Cairo, in the Fayum, at Deir Mawas, and in the Qena-Ballas area. The research is intended to document one of the aspects of the heritage of Egypt on the one hand. On the other hand, the description of the workshops also serves ethnoarchaeological research. By creating a general view of the workshops, the information gathered with the descriptions, can be used to interpret archaeological remains of pottery workshops. As a framework to the description of the workshops a chapter is devoted to the production technologies of pottery, the so-called chaîne d’opératoire, to understand the activities usually occurring in a workshop. After that, the practice of studying pottery is discussed with special focus on ethnoarchaeological research as one of the possible study methods. The description of the workshops covers the largest part of this thesis. Every area is described in a separate chapter and per workshop the production technologies and the spatial distribution of the activities within the workshop are described. The layout and architecture of the workshops are treated as well. After that, one chapter is concerned with the comparison of the workshops in order to create a general view of the workshops and the activities therein. From this general discussion it becomes clear that the activities are conducted in the most convenient location in or outside the workshop. Also, certain features and activities appear to have a fixed location within a workshop, while others are not allocated in a specific area. The use of this general view of workshops in present-day Egypt to interpret archaeological remains is tested in a case study of site O45.1 in el-Amarna. The remains in this area have been identified as pottery workshops and will be compared to the general plan of the workshops created in this thesis. As the archaeological remains appeared to be scarce, it proved to be difficult to interpret the architecture and layout of the workshops and the activities conducted in the workshops as well as their distribution. The general description of the present-day workshops can then be used to fill in the gaps of the remains of the past as will become clear after the evaluation. Therefore, in the opinion of the author, the description of the workshops is necessary to document the heritage of Egypt as well as to aid archaeologists in interpreting the subject of their research.Show less
De transformatie van tempel naar kerk, ook wel tempel conversie genoemd, is een interessant verschijnsel dat zich vooral heeft geuit tussen de derde en de zesde eeuw. In deze periode incorporeren...Show moreDe transformatie van tempel naar kerk, ook wel tempel conversie genoemd, is een interessant verschijnsel dat zich vooral heeft geuit tussen de derde en de zesde eeuw. In deze periode incorporeren christelijke groeperingen (vaak leegstaande) tempels, en gebruiken het als plek voor de uitvoering van hun eigen religieuze praktijken. Egypte, dat een heel lange periode van complexe beschaving kent, bergt talloze tempels en kent een belangrijke periode van christelijke cultuur. Daarom is Egypte belangrijk in het onderzoek naar de verspreiding van het christendom en beschikt over veel materiaal dat de transformatie van tempel naar kerk kan toelichten. Friedrich Deichmann heeft als pionier een catalogus opgesteld met tempels die christelijke resten vertonen (inscripties etc.), verspreid over het gehele Romeinse Oosten. Door deze te vergelijken met teksten van antieke schrijvers, interpreteert hij de christelijke aanwezigheid in tempels als een overheersing van het heidendom. In de decennia na Deichmann is er veel onderzoek gedaan naar de vroegchristelijke gemeenschap. Echter, deze onderzoeken betreffen vaak alleen de gemeenschap en niet de archeologische resten die ze hebben achter gelaten. Afgezien van een aantal publicaties uit de afgelopen 15 jaar, is Deichmann de enige die het fenomeen tempel-conversie en de beweegredenen achter deze kwestie op heeft genomen in zijn onderzoek. De bronnen die in dit onderzoek gebruikt worden betreffen archeologische en geschreven bronnen. Het zwaartepunt ligt op de geschreven bronnen, omdat deze categorie omvangrijker is dan de archeologische bronnen welke zelfs als ‘schaars’ worden aangeduid. De geschreven bronnen vormen echter geen goede basis voor het onderzoek, omdat deze gekleurd zijn door de mening van de auteur. Verder zijn deze bronnen vaak niet contemporain en (meerdere malen) gekopieerd. Ook zijn, en dat geldt voor beide categorieën bronnen, de bronnen multiinterpretabel. Dit bemoeilijkt het onderzoek en daarom is het lastig om, met behulp van de beschikbare bronnen, tot een weloverwogen conclusie te komen. Ook Deichmann’s interpretatie en conclusie brengen problemen met zich mee. Ten eerste, doordat Deichmann het zwaartepunt van zijn argumentatie legt op de antieke bronnen, baseert hij zich eigenlijk op een heel gekleurd beeld, namelijk het beeld wat de antieke schrijver (in zijn geval Eusebius van Caesarea) wil schetsen. Ten tweede, Deichmann’s argumentatie is op een dusdanige manier geconstrueerd dat er een cirkelredenering ontstaat. Ten derde, zijn theorie suggereert een generalisatie: dat de conversie van tempels overal in het Romeinse Rijk op dezelfde manier wordt uitgevoerd. Op deze manier worden dus meerdere manieren van conversie uitgesloten, en het debat over de relaties tussen heidenen en christenen in een bepaald hoekje gedrukt. Het is daarom nodig om een andere (theoretische) insteek te nemen in het onderzoek. Het antwoord ligt in de sociale wetenschap: Social Memory, als een concept wat in eerste instantie gebruikt wordt om contemporaine gemeenschappen te interpreteren. Doordat Social Memory breed ingezet wordt (in de verschillende takken van de sociale wetenschap), biedt het brede perspectieven voor interpretatie. Social memory bespreekt het proces van herinneren en vergeten binnen het collectieve geheugen van een gemeenschap, en concentreert zich op (belangrijke) historische gebeurtenissen in het (dagelijks) leven van de mensen. Religie is ook een belangrijke vorm van social memory, omdat het een belangrijke factor in het dagelijks leven van de mensen is. De tempel is het meest belangrijkste instituut betreffende de religie. Doordat social memory de tempel en zijn uiterlijke vorm bespreken, is het mogelijk om ‘from the bottom up’-view te creëren. De tempel (en de archeologische bronnen) worden hiermee als onderwerp behandeld, en niet als lijdend bewijs. Omdat de bronnen multi-interpretabel zijn, is het nog steeds lastig om een compleet beeld te vormen betreffende de conversie van tempels, en de relaties tussen heidenen en christenen. De bronnen confirmeren beide benaderingen, en daarom biedt social memory (als theoretisch) concept nog geen uitkomst in het onderzoek naar de conversie van tempels. Het is daarom nodig om verder te kijken dan alleen de tempels, bijvoorbeeld naar de context en de gemeenschap. Omdat de christenen een rustige gemeenschap leken te zijn die niet te onderscheiden was van een normale ‘heiden’ (als beschreven in de oude bronnen), lijkt het vrij lastig om aan te nemen dat er een soort collectieve haat bestond tussen heidenen en christenen. Er kunnen verscheidene redenen genoemd worden die dit beeld versterken, zoals begrafenissen op de zelfde plekken en gezamenlijke liturgische en kunstzinnige aspecten. Deze feiten weerleggen de theorie dat de christenen en heidenen op vijandige voet leefden enigszins, maar verklaren nog steeds niet de redenen betreffende de conversie van tempels naar christelijke kerken, hoe deze conversie in zijn werk ging, en waarom. Om hier achter te komen zou elke tempel (in Egypte) op zich zelf bestudeerd moeten worden, om te kijken wat er is precies gebeurd is. Op deze manier kan er een driedimensionaal model gecreëerd worden, dat beide de conversie van tempels bespreekt, als de (veranderende) relatie tussen heidenen en christenen.Show less
Egyptian seafaring in the second millennium BCE is examined in its social and economic aspects simultaneously, using an integrated approach relying on archaeological, iconographic, textual, and...Show moreEgyptian seafaring in the second millennium BCE is examined in its social and economic aspects simultaneously, using an integrated approach relying on archaeological, iconographic, textual, and ethnographic evidence. Geography and technology are considered, along with status, the Egyptian world view, and the regional power structure. Particular attention is given to trade and exchange and the role of institutions and individuals in society and the economy. Social organisation in the dangerous conditions of seafaring is essential to the discussion, as are the insights provided by the evidence into life at sea. Seafaring is shown to have depended upon hierarchical order and the cooperation of others. The high point of second millennium seafaring is characterised, together with the role of seafaring in the decline of the Bronze Age palace system. It is shown that travel and trade, along with subsistence, military, and diplomatic activities, ultimately transformed social, political, and economic power relationships in Egypt and the region.Show less
This research discusses the analysis of the stable isotopes 13C and 15N which were extracted from faunal bone material, dating from the seventh and early sixth millennium BC (the Late Neolithic)...Show moreThis research discusses the analysis of the stable isotopes 13C and 15N which were extracted from faunal bone material, dating from the seventh and early sixth millennium BC (the Late Neolithic) from Tell Sabi Abyad, Syria. The aim of this stable isotope analysis was to learn more about domestication of the animals and their diet, but also to see if there is a connection between the observed cultural change which is supposed to be related to a climate signal (the 8.2 ka event) and the zoological record. To perform this analysis, a broad sample of faunal bone material was collected and processed at Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RUG) in the Centre for Isotope Research (CIO). The material appeared to be very fragile and not all samples contained enough collagen to provide reliable data. After a quality control, 35 samples remained as the final selection. Due to the reduction of the sample, it appeared to be impossible to draw any conclusions on the domestication of cattle. The 13C values of the successful samples suggest that there was a difference between the diet of wild herbivores (Gazelle), which seem to have been feeding almost exclusively on C3 plants and domesticated herbivores (caprines: Ovis and Capra) which show signals of a diet based on both C3 and C4 plants. The flocks were most likely herded over and extensive territory. The 15N values seem do indicate arid conditions in the area of Tell Sabi Abyad and possibly the practice of manuring. A significant change within the diet of the caprine group seem to have occurred exactly around the shift of the two Sequences of the settlement, which coincide with the assumed climate change of the 8.2 ka event. While the carbon and nitrogen values of early caprines indicate a broad diet and wide-ranged herding practices, the late caprines seem to point towards a diet consisting of mainly C3 plants and there is reason to believe that the flocks were kept closer to the settlement.Show less
Jaina figurines are ceramic statuettes of approximately 25-30cm high, the majority of which is found on Jaina Island, near the coastline of Campeche, Mexico. They are produced between 500-900AD and...Show moreJaina figurines are ceramic statuettes of approximately 25-30cm high, the majority of which is found on Jaina Island, near the coastline of Campeche, Mexico. They are produced between 500-900AD and belong to the Classic/(Late)-Classic period of Maya civilization. The far majority of the statuettes is found in a burial context. Because of the favourable preservation conditions in the burial, the colours (red, white, Maya blue, and yellow) are still clearly visible. This study focuses on the social identities visible in the Jaina figurines. Which information can be derived from the statuettes concerning the social identities that existed in the (Late)-Classic Maya society? For this study 28 Jaina figurines are examined. They are discussed on several focal points to identify the portrayed social identity: colour, clothing, jewellery, position of the body, headdress, face, gender, and emotion. A model by Houston is used for the latter part, emotion can provide information about the social status of the depicted individual. Jaina figurines of this corpus display social identities that were present in (Late)-Classic Maya court life, including supernaturals. In Maya worldview, gods were like any other social identity part of society. Jaina figurines provide insights in the gender division of labour that existed in Maya society as known from that period from other sources. Because of the natural attitude of the depicted individuals, Jaina figurines form a unique 3D source for a study on (Late)-Classic Maya court life. This study has several limitations, the sample is limited and no research was performed on Jaina Island itself. A wider research containing more access to more statuettes and an investigation of its context could answer many new questions risen in this thesis. This study is a good picture of the social identities that occurred in (Late)-Classic Maya court. It shows the potential of information about Maya court life that can be derived from studying Jaina figurines.Show less
Capacity development is a widely used system in international development. As the management of maritime and underwater cultural heritage is a relatively new discipline, so is the use of capacity...Show moreCapacity development is a widely used system in international development. As the management of maritime and underwater cultural heritage is a relatively new discipline, so is the use of capacity development there. One of the most widely used systems for developing capacity in this specialised field of cultural heritage has been created by the Nautical Archaeological Society (NAS). Unfortunately this system, together with most other capacity development projects, does not include a standard measuring method to track results. The aim of this thesis therefore is twofold: first to create a method for measuring the results of NAS based capacity development projects on the management of maritime and underwater cultural heritage, secondly to measure the results of the participants in the development of their capacity. To measure both results, two case studies are presented: one from Sri Lanka and one from South Africa. As no data on the personal development from Sri Lanka could be obtained, the results of this part of the research are based on just the South African case. For measuring the results on the management of maritime and underwater cultural heritage, the 2001 UNESCO convention on the protection of underwater cultural heritage has been transformed into a check list. It the management of this heritage complies more with the 2001 convention, it is regarded as being better. The check list provides an easy tool to clarify which elements have to be measured, in order to measure progress. The conclusion of the first part of the research is that the management of maritime and underwater cultural heritage has seemed to be improved as a result of the NAS courses held on Robben Island and Sri Lanka. But as there have been only two, fairly recent, case studies used, more research is needed to formulate definite conclusions for the system used by the NAS. As there were too few respondents from the questionnaires, no conclusions can be drawn on the role of the NAS course on the development of capacity of the participants. There are however indications that the NAS course did improve the capacities of the participants, from experienced maritime archaeologists to divers with no universal degree at all. Research on participants of other courses would therefore be highly recommended. Also more research is needed to find out if the Western based methods of the NAS are the best answer to the needs of non European countries.Show less
West-Frisia is an archeologically rich area of prehistoric remains, that are excellently preserved in the calcareous soil. However, not much is known from this interesting period, although many...Show moreWest-Frisia is an archeologically rich area of prehistoric remains, that are excellently preserved in the calcareous soil. However, not much is known from this interesting period, although many investigations have been carried out in the last several decades. This is mainly the case for the Bronze Age period. Most of these investigations are not elaborated in papers or simply not published at all. The continuous agricultural purposes in the area are a direct threat to the preservation of our past and important information is therefore about to be lost. Yet, we do know that the area became inhabitable around 3000 BC (Van Heeringen and Theunissen 2001; De Mulder and Bosch 1982) and that it did not take long before the first inhabitants settled down. The earliest occupation traces are known from Zandwerven, generally dated around 2600 BC (Hallewas and De Mulder 1987, 170; Hogestijn and Woltering 1990, 155). There exists a general occupation model of West-Frisia. It stresses that as a result of extreme wettening the area became uninhabitable at the end of the Late Neolithic and people were therefore forced to move elsewhere. At the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age, when the area offered excellent circumstances for occupation again, West-Frisia became colonized (Brandt 1980; Brandt 1988; Fokkens 2005b; IJzereef and Van Regteren Altena 1991; Van Wijngaarden-Bakker and Brinkkemper 2005; Woltering 1985; Woltering and Sarfatij 1976). The area remained inhabited until the end of the Late Bronze Age, when wettening circumstances eventually made the area uninhabitable again (IJzereef and Van Regteren Altena 1991). However, indications of Early Bronze Age occupation are known (Van Beek and Hamburg 2002; De Boer and Molenaar 2006; Hallewas and De Mulder 1987). Therefore it seems unlikely to hold on to the outdated occupation models. Chance finds like for instance Barbed Wire sherds are known as well, but these finds seem to become generally ignored. The area of West-Frisia is thus likely to have been continuously inhabited from the Late Neolithic until the Late Bronze Age onwards. Geologically the area was inhabitable during the Early Bronze Age. The fact that not much artefacts or house plans of that particular period (represented as the Barbed Wire Culture) are known, is a similar problem concerning all regions in the Netherlands (Arnoldussen and Fokkens 2008; Fokkens 2005b; Fokkens 2008). The habitation history of West-Frisia is clearly a little more complicated than is previously thought and it is time for new investigations and assumptions about this interesting period and area. The assumed colonization of West-Frisia at the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age is questionable. Indications for Early Bronze Age occupation are inevitable and the arguments that support the colonization theory are no longer up to date. The Hoogkarspel-oud ceramics which date to the Middle Bronze Age are generally seen to originate from the area of Het Gooi because it bears resemblances to the Hilversum-Draken-Laren ceramic sequence (Van Beek and Hamburg 2002; Brandt 1980; Brandt 1988). But in fact the Hoogkarspel ceramics bears resemblances to all Early Bronze Age ceramics in the Netherlands. Only the variations in shape and decoration are much more elaborated compared to other ceramic assemblages at the time of the Late Bronze Age (Butler and Fokkens 2005, 377). Moreover, the Hoogkarspel ceramic assemblage misses the characteristic horseshoe-shaped ears and handles of the Hilversum-Draken-Laren ceramics (Butler and Fokkens 2005, 375-376). As is described above, the lack of Early Bronze Age indications are not restricted to West-Frisia. This problem accounts for the whole Netherlands (Arnoldussen and Fokkens 2008; Fokkens 2005b; Fokkens 2008). The geological processes that took place in West-Frisia from the Late Neolithic period on, are likely to be responsible for the erosion of Early Bronze Age traces (Lohof and Vaars 2005, 14; Woltering 1985, 19). The pattern of gully systems changed over time (De Boer and Molenaar 2006; Van Heeringen and Theunissen 2001; Mol 2002; De Mulder and Bosch 1982; Woltering 1985), forcing inhabitants to move along with the system. As a result, habitation was present at different areas each time the pattern of gullies and creeks had changed. This is reflected in the eastwards movement of habitation during the Middle Bronze Age. It is therefore likely that colonization never happened. The inhabitants of Middle Bronze Age eastern West-Frisia are likely to be the descendants of the Early Bronze Age inhabitants in western West-Frisia. Hence, West-Frisia was never abandoned completely. Most likely the area was continuously inhabited from the Late Neolithic period until, at least, the Late Bronze Age.Show less
This research relates about the “woman at the window” in the Near Eastern art. The “woman at the window” is a notorious iconographic theme which depicts a woman looking frontally out of a window....Show moreThis research relates about the “woman at the window” in the Near Eastern art. The “woman at the window” is a notorious iconographic theme which depicts a woman looking frontally out of a window. This motif is best known from the carved ivory panels, mainly found in the Neo-Assyrian centres, dated to the second millennium B.C., but this theme also occurs in various other contexts and regions. This essay investigates the iconography of this “woman at the window” as she is depicted on various objects which functioned in diverse contexts and time periods. The main goals of this research are to sketch the variations in the iconography of the “woman at the window”, the geographical distribution of these images, the meaning of her imagery and the origins of this motif. The main focal point of this thesis is to investigate how and why the “woman at the window” iconography changed over time in various geographical regions.Show less
Though research on small mammals may seem of no relevance to archaeology, it has already proven itself useful with the Mimomys/Arvicola boundary. This marker in time is important when dating sites...Show moreThough research on small mammals may seem of no relevance to archaeology, it has already proven itself useful with the Mimomys/Arvicola boundary. This marker in time is important when dating sites where humans were once present. The aim of this research was to investigate whether the genera Apodemus and Micromys could be a similar marker in time during the Pleistocene in Northwestern Europe and could contribute to a reconstruction of the climate and environment. Furthermore, this thesis sheds a light on the debate on the age of Neumark- Nord I. To do this, the Apodemus and Micromys molars from four different episodes (Early, Middle and Late Pleistocene) were studied; Tegelen-Maalbeek, Miesenheim I, Sesselfelsgrotte and Miesenheim II. Tegelen-Maalbeek dates to the Early Pleistocene (Tiglian), Miesenheim I to the Middle Pleistocene (the end of the Cromerian), Sesselfelsgrotte to the Late Pleistocene Oerel-Glinde interstadial and Miesenheim II to the Allerød interstadial. The molars from the sites were separated per species so the evolution of every species could be studied. The species that is special interest is Apodemus maastrichtiensis, which does not occur after the Eemian. The species was not yet present in Tegelen-Maalbeek, though present during the Cromerian. All other species did not show convincing differences over time or a limited occurrence, making them useless as a time marker. Nevertheless they can contribute to the reconstruction of the landscape and climate. Apodemus needs high vegetation, whereas Micromys needs a close vicinity to water. Both occur in temperate climates. The species Apodemus maastrichtiensis was used as a time marker to attribute the Palaeolithic site Neumark-Nord I to the Saalian by Heinrich (2010). It is clearly distinguishable from larger Apodemus species at the site. However Neumark-Nord I probably was an Eemian site, because of its stratigraphical position. This implies that Apodemus maastrichtiensis was present during the Eemian and no longer can be used as a stratigraphical marker for the Saalian. Altogether, Apodemus maastrichtiensis can be considered a marker in time, since it has not yet been discovered after the Eemian. The genus Micromys and the other species from the genus Apodemus are not suitable as time markers; however they can contribute to climate and landscape reconstruction. This means that they can tell archaeologists a lot about the environment humans lived in, making small mammals of great relevance.Show less
Dating archaeological sites in the Quaternary period remains difficult despite the relatively recent developed physical dating methods such as 14C, palaeomagnetism, geochronometric dating such as...Show moreDating archaeological sites in the Quaternary period remains difficult despite the relatively recent developed physical dating methods such as 14C, palaeomagnetism, geochronometric dating such as thermoluminescence (TL), optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) Uranium (U)-series methods, Potassium/Argon (K/Ar) and Argon/Argon (Ar/Ar). Biostratigraphy is also an often used and established method to relatively date archaeological sites in the Quarternary period. Voles in particular can contribute valuable information. In order to develop a higher resolution in the use of voles as biostratigraphical markers, it is important to be able to use as much lineages as possible. This is also important because some vole lineages cover short periods of time or are not abundant enough in sites. The genus Clethrionomys, which is mostly well represented in the fossil record, is investigated for this purpose. In this thesis the first lower and upper molars are investigated using multiple techniques or methods such as height measurements of the enamel free zone, morphotype analysis and SDQ measurements. The results of this investigation show that Clethrionomys can be used as a biostratigraphical marker, a rough chronological indication can be made.The Early, Middle and Late Pleistocene/Early Holocene periods can be distinguished based upon the first lower molar. The earliest appearance of C. rufocanus in Europe as a biostratigraphical marker can be further investigated. This species only appears in the Middle Pleistocene in this investigation, and is also observed for the first time in Boxgrove, England in this period.Show less
Robben Island has received various comments by ICOMOS and UNESCO since its opening as a museum. Most of these issues are relating to the natural environment of the island and only four out of...Show moreRobben Island has received various comments by ICOMOS and UNESCO since its opening as a museum. Most of these issues are relating to the natural environment of the island and only four out of seventeen issues are relating to the cultural heritage. In this thesis there is a focus on one of the issues raised concerning the cultural heritage of island; the site interpretation issue. The main question that will be answered is Should the current state of presentation possibly be improved, and if so, how and why ( to suit what and whom)? Therefore it is important to make an analysis of the rich history of the island as well as to look at what the visitors’ perceptions of the island are. A questionnaire was designed and a survey was conducted in February 2011 at the Waterfront in Cape Town amongst tourists visiting the island. Comparing the results from this survey with previous research, it can be concluded that the island’s visitors were and still are quite happy with the presentation on the island. They are not so much concerned with what is presented but more with how this is presented, as visitors ask for more free time and other ways of exploring the island. However when looking at the history and current situation in South Africa, it can be argued that what is presented is very important too. Currently the focus of the presentation is mainly on the political prison history of the island, but a lot more relevant things from the island’s history can be told. Robben Island plays an important role in the history of several groups in the contemporary South African society. In the context of nation building it would therefore be beneficial to include other narratives in the island’s presentation, in order to make the island a symbol of the shared heritage of the whole nation and not just one part of it. Both the way how things are presented and what is presented on the island should be improved in the future. Already plans have been made for (guided) walking tours on the island, which would touch upon the diverse history of the island as well as both the natural and cultural heritage. In order to come to a solution that is beneficial to all, all the stakeholders (both on and off the island) should be consulted.Show less
In the summer of 2010, the Faculty of Archaeology of Leiden University conducted an excavation at Slabroekse Heide, in the south of the Netherlands. Earlier excavations in 1923 and 2005 had...Show moreIn the summer of 2010, the Faculty of Archaeology of Leiden University conducted an excavation at Slabroekse Heide, in the south of the Netherlands. Earlier excavations in 1923 and 2005 had uncovered burial mounds dating to the bronze age, the iron age and the Roman period. During the 2010 excavations several „new‟ burial mounds were discovered. Despite the poor preservation, due to levelling and ploughing of the ground in modern times, some cremation graves and an inhumation grave were found. The so-called „Princess grave‟ is the rich inhumation grave of a woman who probably played an important role in the affairs of her community. The oldest elements of the grave field are burial mounds dating back to the middle or late bronze age. In the early iron age, an urnfield was constructed around the mounds, consisting of a large number of smaller mounds. Their positioning indicates a positive appreciation of the earlier graves. The urnfield is divided in two parts. The eastern part contains smaller mounds with little space between them; the western part has larger, more dispersed mounds. The meaning or function of this division is not clear. Two rows of poles were uncovered in 2005 and 2010. The longest of these may be related to this division; it does not extend, however, across even half the grave field. A more plausible explanation is that the rows were constructed in relationship to individual grave monuments, perhaps connecting them to lower-lying ritual wet places. The prehistoric use of the grave field ends with the construction of at least two grave monuments in the middle iron age. In the Roman period the grave field was used once more, but only ten graves from this period have been found. Again there seems to be a positive appreciation of the older monuments. In this period the site appears to have been used only for a short time, and by a small amount of people. No traces of habitation have been found in the vicinity from either the Roman period or the iron age. But it is likely that the people who buried their dead at Slabroekse Heide, lived on the flanks of the valley of the nearby stream known as Kraaienloop. In the fourteenth or fifteenth century, a long ditch was dug through the prehistoric gravefield which served to protect or defend the land. Apart from that, the burial mounds survived more or less intact until the early 1900‟s when the grave field was levelled and developed as farmland. In 2011, several grave monuments have been reconstructed based on the results of the 2010 excavation. Thus, the grave field is now visible in the landscape once more.Show less
In this thesis the cultural situation in the Netherlands during the middle Neolithic and the late Neolithic-A is described. The Vlaardingen culture (3400-2500 BC) and the Funnel beaker culture (TRB...Show moreIn this thesis the cultural situation in the Netherlands during the middle Neolithic and the late Neolithic-A is described. The Vlaardingen culture (3400-2500 BC) and the Funnel beaker culture (TRB) co-existed during the middle Neolithic. Several aspects of both cultures are described. These aspects contribute to the characterization of both cultures. On the other hand, a comparison between these aspects allow similarities and differences between both cultures to be determined. Based on the pottery and the occupied environment, the Vlaardingen culture and the TRB seem clearly distinguishable from one another. The aim of this thesis is to determine in what way both cultures are distinct from each other, but even more important is to nuance this division. Several finds that are the result of contacts between the Vlaardingen culture and the TRB are discussed. Additionally, certain objects were present in both cultures and there is evidence for the existence of an exchange network which incorporated both cultures. It appeared the cultures remained “pure” for over 500 years. Still, sporadic contacts took place between the people of both cultures. These were however not so intensive that acculturation occurred. The second and shorter part of this thesis deals with the Single Grave culture (2900-2500 BC). When the TRB ceases to exist, the SGC succeeds it. The Vlaardingen culture endures in the west (3400-2500 BC). It is examined whether the Vlaardingen culture and the SGC were just as strictly divided over the landscape as the TRB from the Vlaardingen culture. Characteristics of the SGC have been briefly discussed and the distribution of the culture throughout the Netherlands has been described. It is swiftly apparent that the SGC maintained a less strict preference for environment than the TRB. The SGC seems to have spread into the wetlands of the west as well as the uplands in the west. However the Vlaardingen culture persists and the presence of the SGC within Vlaardingen settlements is remains limited. Finally, it turns out that the current chronology is not accurate enough to make clear statements on the distribution pattern of the SGC throughout the Netherlands.Show less
The goal of this thesis is to try and obtain raw quantifiable data on the effects of various pH levels on the flint tools and traces of use on those tools in order to give recommendations on...Show moreThe goal of this thesis is to try and obtain raw quantifiable data on the effects of various pH levels on the flint tools and traces of use on those tools in order to give recommendations on cleaning procedures. In order to do this tools have been experimentally used and subsequently cleaned for use-wear analysis. The changes to the traces of use were observed through the use of a metallographic microscope. In order to make accurate claims on the effects of these cleaning procedures on the traces of use, it was important to determine the exact nature of polish. An attempt has been made to try and answer this by making use of an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) and image the microscopic surface of the flint tools. Sadly the experimental set-up proved to be insufficient to answer this question. As such approximate conclusions and recommendations had to be given for each theory on the formation of polish.Show less
De afgelopen jaren is door Rijkswaterstaat in Son en Breugel, bij het industrieterrein Ekkersrijt een verkeersknooppunt aangelegd. Dit knooppunt moet de doorstroming van het verkeer op de snelwegen...Show moreDe afgelopen jaren is door Rijkswaterstaat in Son en Breugel, bij het industrieterrein Ekkersrijt een verkeersknooppunt aangelegd. Dit knooppunt moet de doorstroming van het verkeer op de snelwegen A58 (naar Tilburg-Breda) en A50 (naar Veghel-Oss-Nijmegen) verbeteren. Dat er sporen uit het verleden te vinden waren op het braakliggende terrein was bekend geworden dankzij vondsten, die onder andere vrijetijd-archeoloog R. (Geit) Emmery uit Son en Breugel had verzameld. Daarnaast was door het archeologisch onderzoeksbureau BAAC een archeologisch booronderzoek uitgevoerd.1 De oppervlaktevondsten en de boringen maakten aannemelijk dat de bodem nog oorspronkelijk en ongeroerd was, en dat archeologische sporen in de bodem nog in takt zouden zijn. Het grootschalige grondverzet dat voor de aanleg van het knooppunt noodzakelijk is, zou de bodem verstoren en daarmee de oudheidkundige sporen uitwissen. De éénmalige gelegenheid om de archeologische informatie veilig te stellen werd door provinciaal archeoloog dr. M. Meffert aanbevolen. Voor de uitvoering van het project benaderden de gemeente Son en Breugel en Rijkswaterstaat het Archeologisch Centrum Eindhoven en Helmond. De opgravingen vonden plaats in het voorjaar van 2006, het najaar van 2007 en de eerste helft van 2008. Daarbij is de volgorde van de werkzaamheden nauwkeurig afgestemd met Rijkswaterstaat en de aannemerscombinatie Mourik-Besix zodat de aanleg van het verkeersknooppunt geen vertraging zou oplopen. Gaandeweg bleek dat in de bodem de resten van nederzettingen uit de midden- en late bronstijd en vroege ijzertijd bewaard waren gebleven. Nog niet eerder werd zo’n groot aantal huizen en erven uit deze periode uit de prehistorie opgegraven in Zuid Nederland en België. Daarmee krijgt het archeologisch onderzoek in Ekkersrijt een bijzondere plaats in het nederzettingsonderzoek naar de bronstijd en ijzertijd in Zuid-Nederland. Deze synthese is een samenvatting en interpretatie van de belangrijkste resultaten. Eerst wordt in het kort ingegaan op de landschappelijke en geologische context van het gebied (hoofdstuk 2), vervolgens op de historische achtergronden (hoofdstuk 3) en eerdere archeologische waarnemingen in de omgeving van het onderzoeksgebied (hoofdstuk 4). Daarna volgt een beschrijving van de belangrijkste onderzoeksvragen en methoden (hoofdstuk 5). De resultaten van de opgraving zijn verdeeld over de aangetroffen structuren (hoofdstuk 6), vondsten (hoofdstuk 7) en ecologische resten (hoofdstuk 8) Tenslotte wordt de verkregen informatie in een aantal conclusies samengevat (hoofdstuk 9).Show less