The chaîne opératoire of ceramics found at El Carril, Dominican Republic. El Carril is a site in the DR where I participated in an excavation in 2018. I was able to study 13 ceramic sherds – which...Show moreThe chaîne opératoire of ceramics found at El Carril, Dominican Republic. El Carril is a site in the DR where I participated in an excavation in 2018. I was able to study 13 ceramic sherds – which were large enough to permit detailed study - found on site. This thesis looks at the chaîne opératoire of those ceramics. This involves trying to establish the step by step processes involved in the manufacture of those ceramics and assessing if similar methods were used by the majority of artisans. This, in conjunction with similar studies at other sites may cast light on the development of ceramic technology and the associated social organisation. El Carril yielded many ceramic artefacts mostly of Meillacoid style. This thesis describes the Meillacoid and other styles and the geographic extent of the spread of the Meillacoid style. It describes the El Carril site and in particular the presence of large numbers of anthropogenic mounds in which most of the artefacts were found. The thesis presents some theoretical perspectives already advanced on the study of ceramic chaîne opératoire and, in light of this, it presents the methodology employed and the detailed analysis of the ceramic sherds I studied. This is followed by a description of the majority chaîne opératoire used, as observed from my research, as well as some variants also observed. The thesis acknowledges some factors confounding attempts to draw definitive conclusions concerning the anthropological interpretation of my results but makes a variety of suggestions for further research that should be conducted to expand on the findings in this work and throw additional light on the subject.Show less
Dredging site archaeology needs to be further developed in order to understand Paleolithic hominid behaviour in areas otherwise lacking in Pleistocene sites. This thesis explores zooarchaeological...Show moreDredging site archaeology needs to be further developed in order to understand Paleolithic hominid behaviour in areas otherwise lacking in Pleistocene sites. This thesis explores zooarchaeological methods and their viability related to dredging sites, focusing on the dredging site of Moordhuizen in the Netherlands. A combination of chronology based on ecozones, mortality profiles and cut mark analysis could be employed in Moordhuizen to deduce human activity.Show less
Until relatively recently, there was an assumed difference in function of the villa maritima and the villa rustica. The villa maritima would be associated with the display of wealth and the pursuit...Show moreUntil relatively recently, there was an assumed difference in function of the villa maritima and the villa rustica. The villa maritima would be associated with the display of wealth and the pursuit of otium. The villa rustica would be associated with productive economic activities, mainly agriculture. It is now agreed generally agreed that the villa maritima did often have productive parts. Still, a distinction remains, the difference in the location of the two kinds of villas which implies a different surrounding landscape. However, the influence of the surrounding landscape on the structure of the villa seemed like a rather unfamiliar subject. Therefore, this research focussed on the influence of the landscape on the structure of the Roman villa, focussing on the previously mentioned residential and productive parts of the villa. The study demonstrates a relation between the surrounding landscape of a Roman villa and the structure of their residential and productive parts.Through a Site Catchment Analysis, I analysed the correlation of the landscape and the productive parts of the villa. Through a Viewshed Analysis, I analysed the relation of the landscape and the residential parts of the villa, as the experience of landscape was an important part of the otium.Show less
