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
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
This study presents a comprehensive analysis and interpretation of macrofossil data obtained from the archaeological site of Waziers, France, with the primary objective of reconstructing past...Show moreThis study presents a comprehensive analysis and interpretation of macrofossil data obtained from the archaeological site of Waziers, France, with the primary objective of reconstructing past environmental conditions at the site. The investigation focuses on the composition and abundance of macrofossil remains to elucidate the site's depositional environment and identify potential climatic trends that may explain the absence of hominin fossils or evidence in the English archaeological record. The macrofossil analysis involved the collection and examination of five sediment samples extracted from distinct depth intervals within a 1-meter stratigraphic profile at Waziers. The samples were documented, recording their relative positions within the stratigraphy, as well as their observed colour, texture, and sedimentological characteristics. A total of 25 macrofossil specimens were identified from the samples, with taxonomic classification ranging from species to genus and family levels. These macrofossils were categorized into four habitat groups, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview of the ecological contexts represented in the dataset. The results of the macrofossil analysis contribute significantly to the understanding of the environmental history of the Waziers site and provide insights into the local vegetation and climate during the studied period. The presence of Persicaria lapathifolia indicates the existence of grassland or disturbed ground adjacent to water bodies, while the identification of Cladium mariscus and Stuckenia pectinata suggests the presence of marsh or swamp areas nearby. These findings collectively indicate a mosaic nature of the site, characterized by fluctuating hydrological conditions and diverse vegetation communities. In terms of environmental reconstruction, the macrofossil assemblage from Waziers corresponds to the early stages of the Eemian Interglacial, a period characterized by rising temperatures. The presence of Lemna cf. minor, which possesses an optimal temperature range for growth and reproduction, suggests that the temperature during deposition at Waziers was at least around 18 degrees Celsius, but likely higher. This finding contributes to our understanding of the specific climatic parameters during the early Eemian interglacial, which is known for its relatively higher temperatures compared to the present Holocene interglacial. Furthermore, this study addresses the absence of hominin fossils in the British archaeological record during the Eemian interglacial, despite evidence of hominin presence during the preceding Saalian Glaciation. This research examines various environmental factors, including geology, soil composition and hydrology, to discern potential disparities between the French and British sites. However, the analysis does not reveal substantial differences that could account for the absence of hominins in Britain during the last interglacial period. Faunal evidence from Britain during the Eemian interglacial, indicating the presence of diverse species, challenges the notion that the British landscape was inhospitable to hominins. Possible explanations for the absence of hominins in Britain during the Eemian interglacial encompass the rapid rise in sea levels, submerging land bridges that could have facilitated human migration to Britain, transforming the region into an island. Additionally, the distribution patterns of hominins during this period were probably concentrated in continental areas rather than Britain. The macrofossil analysis sheds light on past environmental conditions, aiding the reconstruction of vegetation and climate signals. The absence of hominin fossils during the early Eemain interglacial emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and further research concerning this topic.Show less
This research is based on a 200cm₃ sediment sample that has been taken from level 13II-3 sublevel b/c, an unknown volume of sediment belonging to the same sample and a 200cm₃ sediment sample that...Show moreThis research is based on a 200cm₃ sediment sample that has been taken from level 13II-3 sublevel b/c, an unknown volume of sediment belonging to the same sample and a 200cm₃ sediment sample that has been taken from level 13II-2 sublevel 3bc/c-2a5. Remains of a Palaeoloxodon antiquus have been unearthed and correspond with layer 13II-3 and 13II-2. The remains of this large herbivore that have been unearthed exist of a mandible including two molars, the atlas bone and the spheroid bone. These remains correspond with level 13II-3. Also a tusk belonging to this animal was found and this corresponds to level 13II-2. It is possible further research will reveal larger parts of the skeleton and this possibility is taken into account in this thesis. The stratigraphic layers with which these remains correspond have been sampled in close proximity to the mandible and the tusk. This method is used in an attempt to get macro-botanical data that corresponds closely to the time the Palaeoloxodon antiquus died, so the environmental reconstruction will gain us access in what flora were locally represented around the time this Palaeoloxodon antiquus died. Because different studies suggest the presence of a lake at the location the sample was taken, the expectations are to encounter different aquatic and semi-aquatic plant macrofossils.Show less
This thesis research involves a macrofossil analysis of late Mesolithic – early Neolithic sediment horizons from the rare remains of a submerged forest site at the Bay of Ireland on west-Mainland...Show moreThis thesis research involves a macrofossil analysis of late Mesolithic – early Neolithic sediment horizons from the rare remains of a submerged forest site at the Bay of Ireland on west-Mainland Orkney. It serves as part of a wider, multidisciplinary investigation of Orkney’s early prehistoric environment. The results of the analysis facilitated a palaeoenvironmental reconstruction that indicated the presence of a late Mesolithic tidal saltmarsh. The data also suggested that, due to Orkney’s prevalent stormy weather, the formation of a coastal barrier initiated the saltmarsh’s evolution into a freshwater wetland. By the early Neolithic, the site consisted of a partially wooded fen. Throughout this process human activity does not appear to have affected the local vegetation, though some animal grazing may have occurred. Comparison with other Orcadian palaeoenvironmental work revealed this vegetational ecology and succession to be a recurrent feature of Orkney’s early prehistoric environment. Three investigations conducted at other bays around the Mainland also described similar floristic communities that underwent comparable transformations due to the same process of coastal morphology. Significantly, two of these sites, like the Bay of Ireland, did not indicate any anthropogenic influence on the vegetation until after the onset of the Neolithic period. The results of this thesis research tentatively suggest that while saltmarshes may have comprised a type of common ground within the early prehistoric Orcadian landscape, they did not constitute important exploitation environments to the first settlers of the Orkney Isles. Future research is recommended to test this hypothesis.Show less
Archaeobotanical investigation of the amount of salt-influx in the Rhine estuary, on material from sites between Dorestad and Katwijk, dating between AD 500 and AD 1500.
Pollen from pre-Anglian sediments at Beeston, Norfolk, UK, were investigated to reconstruct the palaeoenvironment and climate at the locality during the time of deposition. The results of the...Show morePollen from pre-Anglian sediments at Beeston, Norfolk, UK, were investigated to reconstruct the palaeoenvironment and climate at the locality during the time of deposition. The results of the environmental reconstruction are integrated in the debate on hominin presence in northwest Europe during the Pleistocene, their dispersal, biogeography, and the understanding of their ecological tolerances. Based on the pollen assemblages identified from the sediment sequence the presence of an infilling fresh water river channel in a river plain could be reconstructed. The presence of aquatic plants suggest a permanent wet locality. An increase in waterside and damp ground plants towards the upper part of the sampled sequence together with an increase in sedimentation indicate the infilling of the channel. In the river plain both back waters, pools and slow-flowing streams were probably present. The water was bordered by waterside and damp ground vegetation. The river plain formed an open area where various animals may have roamed. In the vicinity the river plain was bordered by a coniferous forest with some deciduous elements. The climate and ecological habitat reconstructed from the pre-glacial sediments at Beeston, resemble that of known archaeological sites in the region. The age of the sediments, based on lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy, could be constrained to between ~0.6 and ~1 Ma. This possible age range covers the period to which the now known earliest hominin occupation and subsequent hominin presence in Britain is dated. Based on this environmental reconstruction the locality of Beeston would have formed a habitable niche for hominins during the time of deposition. Up to today no indications of hominin presence are found near Beeston. Although excavations of the pre-glacial sediments at Beeston is today impossible, the environmental reconstruction and the apparent absence of archaeology from Beeston can be used for reconstructing the wider context of hominins in northwest Europe and form a basis for further inferences on hominin dispersal, biogeography and ecological tolerances.Show less
The purpose of this dissertation is to report on the plant macro-remains found at Happisburgh Site 1, Section 1, L7, from levels 0-10 cm, 20-30 cm, 50-60 cm and 60-70 cm, and two samples from...Show moreThe purpose of this dissertation is to report on the plant macro-remains found at Happisburgh Site 1, Section 1, L7, from levels 0-10 cm, 20-30 cm, 50-60 cm and 60-70 cm, and two samples from Section 1, L9. The plant remains that were identified and analysed from these levels will aid in the overall palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the site, allowing for a better undertanding of the conditions that the Pleistocene hominids were facing in Britain during Happisburgh's occupation. Understanding the Pleistocene environmental conditions in NW Europe is fundamental to our interpretation of the dispersal of hominids across Eurasia, since until very recently it was presumed that colonisation of Europe before 500 Ka did not occur at latitudes beyond 45o N, as demonstrated by the lack of archaeological evidence in these regions (Parfitt et al. 2010:229).Show less
