The Paleolithic site of Schӧningen located in Middle Saxony Germany has been an important focus of research in Central Europe since the 1980s, when excavations first began due to the preservation...Show moreThe Paleolithic site of Schӧningen located in Middle Saxony Germany has been an important focus of research in Central Europe since the 1980s, when excavations first began due to the preservation status of the artifacts uncovered. The site is near an open-cast lignite mine, so early research was the result of rescue archaeology. The waterlogged conditions at Schӧningen allowed for the preservation of wooden hunting spears, providing some of the oldest wooden artifacts in the world. This preservation of organic materials is rare and provides an important insight into the relationship between hominins and plants approximately 300,000 years ago. This thesis expands upon the environmental conditions and potential for plant exploitation by the hominins that were hunting at the site by analyzing botanical macro-fossils recovered from Schӧningen 12 II-4. This layer was excavated as part of the rescue archaeology operation and is chronologically contemporaneous with the ‘Spear Horizon,’ so the data from this project can give important context to the environmental conditions and the opportunities for plant materials that would have been available to the hunters. Despite the low archaeological context for this layer, the few artifacts recovered from Schӧningen 12 II-4 demonstrate the presence of hominins in the area and show the widespread use of the site. Ecological conditions derived from the fossilized taxa retrieved at Schӧningen 12 II-4 will be used to better understand the climate during the interglacial period. These taxa also provide a wealth of opportunities for exploitation in the form of food and medicine. These exploitation opportunities will be explored along with evidence to support the claims that hominins could have possessed the capabilities required to undertake plant identification and preparation. There is much debate within the archeological community about the interactions between hominins and plants due to the scarce amount of evidence available. This thesis project will investigate this relationship and discuss the possibilities further.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
On a low-lying plain on the southeast border of the Scarpe, the rare archaeological site of Waziers, dating back to the Eemian stage, was discovered. At this site several flint artefacts and faunal...Show moreOn a low-lying plain on the southeast border of the Scarpe, the rare archaeological site of Waziers, dating back to the Eemian stage, was discovered. At this site several flint artefacts and faunal remains have been discovered. Concerning this site, several research studies have been conducted. Excavations at Waziers in 2017 have provided botanical macrofossil samples for study. Analysis of botanical macrofossils has been carried out to make an environmental reconstruction of the area early hominins exploited at Waziers during the Eemian stage. The data produced during this study has been combined with faunal and palynological data. The botanical macrofossil data shows a changing environment from end of the Saalien stage and during the Eemian stage. The sedimentation of a fluvial lake is implied. The aquatic, open landscape at the end of the Saalien changed to damp wetlands during the start of the more temperate Eemian. The final result was a swamp forest. This is supported by the faunal and palynological data. Researching the environment of Waziers is used to help us understand early hominin behavior and gain information on why to early hominins appear to not have crossed the North Sea Canal during MIS 5e.Show less
Les Cottés is Palaeolithic cave site located in the Vienne region in South-Western France. It is located near the Gartempe river. Nowadays it is a small river but in the past it influenced the...Show moreLes Cottés is Palaeolithic cave site located in the Vienne region in South-Western France. It is located near the Gartempe river. Nowadays it is a small river but in the past it influenced the environment in the valley. There is evidence that correlates the river to the site in the form of pebbles and flint but virtually nothing is known about the landscape shaped by the river during occupation of the cave. This thesis is an initial research and tries to comprehend the difficult fluvial landscape here. By mapping the fluvial history research questions can be answered regarding the influence of the environment in the Gartempe valley on human behaviour. With an augering transect eight different units were distinguished of fluvial depositions and erosion and showed the existence of two palaeochannels buried beneath the surface. The oldest channel had an infilling of peat and was studied in the form of a palynological research. The general picture, which consisted of Pinus and Betula, dated the infilling to the Allerød or Preboreal period. This was done by comparing it to several other sites in France which include the same environment. The local environment in this period shows that the channel got cut off and was not active anymore in this phase. There was still open water present but the accumulation of peat was in progress. The valley would have been characterised by wetland conditions. Two phases identified in this thesis could be of interest for the research at Les Cottés. One interpretation is that the terrace in front of the site is older than the research at Les Cottés and this means that the Pleistocene surface would be buried beneath current floodplain deposits. This terrace in front of the site could have been used as an overview point. The other interpretation is that the terrace was shaped after the occupation at Les Cottes. This would mean that the relative height difference between the cave and the site was very small. Both interpretations would have an impact on the archaeology. This shows that the Gartempe influences could have been bigger in the past.Show less
From the site of Oegstgeest Nieuw Rhijngeest-Zuid an archaeobotanical sample taken from an excavated well was researched in this thesis. The sample has been dated to 600 - 750 A.D. which...Show moreFrom the site of Oegstgeest Nieuw Rhijngeest-Zuid an archaeobotanical sample taken from an excavated well was researched in this thesis. The sample has been dated to 600 - 750 A.D. which corresponds to the Merovingian time period. The research questions were based on how the environment would have looked like during the time of deposition, whether human influences on the landscape would be indicated, and if there were signs of salt-water influx traceable in the sample. One sample of 250 ml was analysed. The waterlogged material was well preserved. In total 21 taxa were identified to species or subspecies level, 10 were identified to genus level and 2 were identified to family level. Of the ecological groups as set up by Arnolds & Van der Maarel (1979) six different groups were present in the sample. These ecological groups and represented plant taxa indicate that the environment during the time of deposition was probably quite open, nutrient-rich, and wet. There are clear indications of brackish water in the environment, but no clear indications of cultivated plants were identified. However, the identified species that are nitrogen indicators, and therefore manure or pollution indicators, seem to confirm human influence on their environment.Show less
Recent archaeological research in Oegstgeest, led by the Faculty of Archaeology of Leiden University, has revealed that the Merovingian settlement was active in the trade of crafts and agricultural...Show moreRecent archaeological research in Oegstgeest, led by the Faculty of Archaeology of Leiden University, has revealed that the Merovingian settlement was active in the trade of crafts and agricultural products that was probably produced in or near the settlement. To meet the demands of trade the local environment had to sustain these activities An understanding of the area surrounding the settlement is therefore necessary to gain insight into the cultural world of the Merovingians in Oegstgeest. A reconstruction of this environment may possibly contribute to the understanding of the dynamics between culture and nature. Plant macrofossils in a sediment sample from an excavated well in 2009 is analysed to study this environment. It demonstrates that the settlement was situated in a landscape with woodlands, dry and damp grasslands, dunes, mudflats, and water sources such as swamps, channels and (side-)rivers.Show less
The colonisation of the New World by the Europeans is a key event in the history of mankind. This colonisation brought about the exchange of goods, ideas, diseases and populations between the New...Show moreThe colonisation of the New World by the Europeans is a key event in the history of mankind. This colonisation brought about the exchange of goods, ideas, diseases and populations between the New World and the Old World. The timing and the progress of this colonisation process is uncertain and has been a heavily debated issue for years. A new research project called NEXUS 1492 aims to shed new light on this colonisation process through a multidisciplinary approach. In June and July 2012 an archaeological excavation took place on a Pre-European site on Anse-Trabaud, Martinique, as part of the research NEXUS 1492 performs in that region. During this excavation many archaeological materials were found, with the recovery of organic plant material being very surprising. This is because organic plant material generally decomposes in tropical areas because of the warm and humid environment. The plant macrofossils from Anse-Trabaud were researched for this thesis. This is important because plant macrofossils are generally not transported very far, enabling accurate local reconstructions of the former environment of the site. Due to the rarity of this type of material there is no extensive modern reference collection which means a number of fossils are described but are as yet unidentified. This thesis will present descriptions with pictures of 19 plant taxa. This data is used to reconstruct the past vegetation and environment at the site as well as determine the age of the sediments that contained the plant macrofossil assemblage.Show less
Reconstruction of the 15th century diet, social status and daily life in the almshouse in Delft, Netherlands based on archeobotanical data, written resources and ceramics.
