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
Research master thesis | Archaeology (research) (MA/MSc)
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This thesis focuses on the use of experimental archaeology and residues analysis to further our understanding of the plant exploitation possibilities on the Crimean Peninsula during the Late...Show moreThis thesis focuses on the use of experimental archaeology and residues analysis to further our understanding of the plant exploitation possibilities on the Crimean Peninsula during the Late Pleniglacial period (19 -15 cal BP). Crimean plant exploitation during this period is not well understood despite palaeoenvironmental, archaeological and ethnobotanical data being available. The aim was to elicit the types of residues that would have been collected and how these residues could be made useful in archaeological applications. This was done by executing several experiments with stone tools and plants likely to have been on the peninsula during that period. The results showed interesting plant specific correlations with the tools as well as a consistent performance of starch accumulation across all tools. These results are a vital step towards creating a broader and a more inclusive reference collection for wild plants in order to understand the residues and what we need to look for in the field from an archaeological and palaeobotanical perspective.Show less
Paleoenvironmental reconstructions are scarce when it comes to the Orkney Islands. The islands are considered to be a goldmine when it comes to archaeological remains since the Orkney islands...Show morePaleoenvironmental reconstructions are scarce when it comes to the Orkney Islands. The islands are considered to be a goldmine when it comes to archaeological remains since the Orkney islands contain several remains from the Neolithic period, which are considered to be the best-preserved remains from Western Europe. Plenty of sites have the potential to become the subject of archaeological and also paleoenvironmental investigations but this is sadly, not always the case. Some sites have, however, been the subject of paleoenvironmental reconstructions, such as the site of the Bay of Ireland. The Bay of Ireland is located on Mainland, Orkney Islands, Scotland. The Orkney Island can be considered treeless, except for Berriedale, located on the Island of Hoy. When the woodland communities disappeared on the Orkney Islands is not entirely known. The trees have disappeared in the past due to the burning of trees by people that were living on the islands during the Mesolithic/Neolithic. The presence of trees was also one of the main focuses in the research that was done for this thesis as to what the vegetation was like during this timeframe. For this research samples came from a monolith tin, taken at the Bay of Ireland. These samples have been sieved, and all the botanical macrofossils have been picked from these subsamples. A total of four samples have been researched for this thesis, three of which have been researched before, and an extra subsample was taken to provide an even better overview of the changes that were happening during the timeframe of the Late Mesolithic to the Early Neolithic. The results showed that no extreme changes were happening during this timeframe but that trends were perceivable from the results. The results were pointing to an aquatic wetland, which was impacted much by the changing sea levels. The changing sea levels presumably led to the migration of salt and brackish water into adjacent freshwater wetlands such as the Bay of Ireland. This migration could have led to the foundation of a so-called salt marsh with an increase of halophytic (salt tolerant) taxa. Results also showed that all four samples contained macrofossils from one woodland taxon, Betula sp., no other macrofossils from woodland were found. Trees were still present during even the last part of the timeframe, the Early Neolithic. Those only macrofossils from Betula sp. were found means that woodland was only featured along the borders of the marshes during this period. Both the changing vegetation and the changing sea levels made the local area of the Bay of Ireland a somewhat more difficult place to live. The changing sea levels had much impact on many sites, and the role will be investigated together with the possible hardships that this changing sea level brought to the people living here.Show less
After a ground coring was done by Leiden University at Vrouw Vennepolder, pollen research has been conducted by archaeology students. In this bachelor thesis, the pollen diagram which came out as a...Show moreAfter a ground coring was done by Leiden University at Vrouw Vennepolder, pollen research has been conducted by archaeology students. In this bachelor thesis, the pollen diagram which came out as a result of the thesis, has been used to reconstruct the past landscape and to look into ways that the taxa present in the pollen diagram could have been used for multiple purposes. At last, there was something said on the effects this had on the decline of biodiversity in the area. Vrouw Vennepolder is a site located on the northeast outside of Leiden in the municipality of Kaag en Braassem. The region has had peat extractions from the 11th century onwards. The polder itself was created in the 17th century as a result of merging four pieces of land together. The plants indicate that they were on slightly saline grounds before peat extraction started in the 11th century AD. After that, the plants representing the layers are mostly fresh or brackish water plants. Both during the peat extraction and the polder formation, there were taxa present that could have been used by the local population. These plants include a variety of trees, shrubs and herbaceous species that are known for their specific uses both in the past and now. For the dating of the site, peat accumulation rates and a pollen diagram from Kijkduin have been used. These two factors together gave a good comparison of the time development in the pollen diagram of Vrouw Vennepolder. The development starts at 170 centimetres and ends at 50 centimetres. There is no clear timespan given to the layers below 170 centimetres. One can see a transition of the plant populations present at the site on the pollen diagram. As the human influence got bigger at the site, the biodiversity declined too. The distribution of trees and shrubs also changed over time, as herbaceous plant species slowly got more represented. Nadat door de Universiteit Leiden een grondboring was gedaan op de Vrouw Vennepolder, is er pollenonderzoek gedaan door archeologie studenten. In deze bachelorscriptie is het pollendiagram dat naar aanleiding van het proefschrift naar voren is gekomen, gebruikt om het landschap uit het verleden te reconstrueren en om te onderzoeken hoe de taxa in het pollendiagram voor meerdere doeleinden konden worden gebruikt. Uiteindelijk is er ook iets gezegd over de effecten dat dit had op de achteruitgang van de biodiversiteit in het gebied. Vrouw Vennepolder ligt in het noordoosten buiten Leiden in de gemeente Kaag en Braassem. Vanaf de 11e eeuw wordt turf gewonnen in de regio. De polder zelf is in de 17e eeuw ontstaan door het samenvoegen van vier stukken land. De planten in het pollendiagram geven aan dat ze op licht zoute gronden stonden voordat de turfwinningen in de 11e eeuw begonnen. Daarna zijn de planten die de lagen vertegenwoordigen meestal zoet- of brakwaterplanten geweest. Zowel tijdens de turfwinning als de polder formatie waren er taxa aanwezig die door de lokale bevolking gebruikt hadden kunnen worden. Deze planten omvatten een verscheidenheid aan bomen, struiken en kruidachtige soorten die zowel in het verleden als heden bekend staan om verschillende gebruiken. Voor de datering van de vindplaats is gebruik gemaakt van veen accumulatie snelheden en een pollendiagram uit Kijkduin. Deze twee factoren samen gaven een goede vergelijking van het tijdsverloop in het pollendiagram van Vrouw Vennepolder. De ontwikkeling begint bij 170 centimeter en eindigt bij 50 centimeter. Er is geen duidelijke tijdsaanduiding gegeven aan de lagen onder de 170 centimeter. Op het pollendiagram is een overgang te zien van de aanwezige planten populaties op de locatie. Naarmate de menselijke invloeden op de plaats groter werden, nam ook de biodiversiteit af. Ook de verspreiding van bomen en struiken veranderde in de loop van de tijd, omdat kruidachtige plantensoorten langzaamaan meer vertegenwoordigd werden.Show less
When talking about archaeological research in Greece, it is safe to assume that most people think of the rich history of the ancient Greeks which has been studied intensively over several centuries...Show moreWhen talking about archaeological research in Greece, it is safe to assume that most people think of the rich history of the ancient Greeks which has been studied intensively over several centuries. Greek ruins scatter across the landscapes, with the Acropolis of Athens as a prime example. However, more stories, older stories, are hidden below that Classical landscape. Palaeolithic archaeological research is not a common area of interest among the archaeological studies in Greece. The Bronze age and Classical period are the main focus of most academic studies. Another reason for this fixed focus is because of the geological activity in Greece. Erosion, uplift, subsidence and deposition of geological material cause the Palaeolithic archaeological record to be obscured and difficult to find (Harvati et al. 2009, 131). Furthermore, the change in water level throughout the years between the inter-glacial and glacial periods have caused sites to disappear or to become unreachable (Wenban-Smith 2002, 3). Nevertheless, this lack of research leaves a gap in the archaeological information surrounding Palaeolithic Greece. For example, Greece can hold important information on the migration of early hominins and animals during the Pleistocene from Africa to Europe. As it is today, Greece could have been and probably was one of the most likely routes for migration from Africa to Europe. Moreover, research suggests that Greece contained refugia during multiple ice ages which were essential for flora and fauna, which also includes hominins to survive these cold periods. This further provides evidence to why Greece is a potential route for migration during the Pleistocene (Harvati et al. 2009, 131).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
