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Papers by Aija Cerina

Research paper thumbnail of The freshwater shellmidden at Rinnukalns: Stone Age fishermen in the eastern Baltic region

SUBSISTENCE STRATEGIES IN THE STONE AGE, DIRECT AND INDIRECT EVIDENCE OF FISHING AND GATHERING, 2018

Организация конференции и издание материалов осуществлены при финансовой поддержке РФФИ, проект №... more Организация конференции и издание материалов осуществлены при финансовой поддержке РФФИ, проект № 18-09-20015 г УДК 902/904 ББК 63.4 С 833 Стратегии жизнеобеспечения в каменном веке, прямые и косвенные свидетельства рыболовства и собирательства. Материалы международной конференции, посвященной 50-летию В.М. Лозовского. Под редакцией О.В. Лозовской, А.А. Выборнова и Е.В. Долбуновой.-СПб.: ИИМК РАН, 2018.-266 с. Сборник содержит материалы международной конференции, приуроченной к 50-летию яркого исследователя позднего каменного века Восточной Европы В.М. Лозовского. Представленные работы объединены проблематикой изучения взаимодействия человека и окружающей среды и разным моделям адаптации в рамках первобытного хозяйства. Основное внимание уделяется роли рыбной ловли и собирательства съедобных растений, важнейших видов деятельности, однако недостаточно освещенных в археологических источниках. Материалы поздних поселений с благоприятными условиями сохранности органических материалов, а также косвенные свидетельства производства и использования рыболовных инструментов и орудий собирательства, горелые макроостатки семян и растений, данные химического состава содержимого посуды и изотопные характеристики человеческих костей, должны помочь реально оценить роль этих видов пищевых ресурсов в диете первобытного человека. Издание предназначено для археологов, палеогеографов, палеоботаников и представителей смежных дисциплин.

Research paper thumbnail of Holocene relative shore‐level changes and development of the Ģipka lagoon in the western Gulf of Riga

Boreas, Jul 13, 2023

Holocene relative shore‐level changes and development of the Ģipka palaeolagoon in the western Gu... more Holocene relative shore‐level changes and development of the Ģipka palaeolagoon in the western Gulf of Riga are reconstructed using multiproxy analyses by combining litho‐, biostratigraphical and chronological data with remote sensing and geophysical data. The results show the development of the Ģipka basin from the Ancylus Lake/Initial Litorina Sea coastal zone (before c. 9.1 cal. ka BP) to coastal fen (c. 9.1 to 8.4 cal. ka BP) and gradual development of the Litorina Sea lagoon (c. 8.4 to 4.8 cal. ka BP) and its transition to a freshwater coastal lake (c. 4.8 to 4.6 cal. ka BP), fen (c. 4.6 to 4.2 cal. ka BP), and river floodplain (since c. 4.2 cal. ka BP). The highest shorelines of the Ancylus Lake and Litorina Sea were mapped at an elevation of 12–11 and 9 m a.s.l., respectively. A new relative shore level (RSL) curve for the western Gulf of Riga was constructed based on RSL data from the Ģipka area and from nearby Ruhnu Island studied earlier. The reconstruction shows that the beginning of the last marine transgression in the western Gulf of Riga started at c. 8.4 cal. ka BP, and concurred with the 1.9 m RSL rise event recorded from the North Sea basin. Diatom analysis results indicate the existence of the Ģipka lagoon between c. 7.7 and 4.8 cal. ka BP, with the highest salinity c. 6.1 cal. ka BP. During the existence of the brackish lagoon, settlement sites of the Neolithic hunter–gatherer groups existed on the shores of the lagoon in the period c. 6.0 to 5.0 cal. ka BP.

Research paper thumbnail of Peldošais ezerrrieksts (Trapa natans) dabas un cilvēku vēstures liecinieks Latvijā

G̦eogrāfiski raksti, 2018

Due to the lowering of the Littorina Sea level before approximately 5000 years, Sārnate lagoon wa... more Due to the lowering of the Littorina Sea level before approximately 5000 years, Sārnate lagoon was separated from the sea and became a shallow lagoon lake, which gradually terrestrialised and filled in with peat. The aim of the research project reported in this paper was to characterise the changing palaeogeographical conditions in the former Sārnate lagoon area, as recorded by changes in sediment properties, pollen and plant macro-remain composition. The plant macro-remain and pollen studies indicate intensive human activity in the area during the latter part of the Holocene climatic optimum and the first part of the Late Holocene, Subboreal, including a record of Water chestnut (Trapa natans) fruits and pollen in the gyttja under the grass peat, indicating that water chestnut grew in the lake adjacent to the settlement. The presence of cereal and weed pollen confirms that agriculture was also being practiced, at least during the final phase of occupation, in the late 6th and the 5th millennium BP.

Research paper thumbnail of Palaeo-geographic changes in the Sārnate former lagoon area

G̦eogrāfiski raksti, 2019

Due to the lowering of the Littorina Sea level before approximately 5000 years, Sārnate lagoon wa... more Due to the lowering of the Littorina Sea level before approximately 5000 years, Sārnate lagoon was separated from the sea and became a shallow lagoon lake, which gradually terrestrialised and filled in with peat. The aim of the research project reported in this paper was to characterise the changing palaeogeographical conditions in the former Sārnate lagoon area, as recorded by changes in sediment properties, pollen and plant macro-remain composition. The plant macro-remain and pollen studies indicate intensive human activity in the area during the latter part of the Holocene climatic optimum and the first part of the Late Holocene, Subboreal, including a record of Water chestnut (Trapa natans) fruits and pollen in the gyttja under the grass peat, indicating that water chestnut grew in the lake adjacent to the settlement. The presence of cereal and weed pollen confirms that agriculture was also being practiced, at least during the final phase of occupation, in the late 6th and the 5th millennium BP.

Research paper thumbnail of Dietary Practices During the Late Neolithic and the Bronze Age in the Territory of Latvia: A Case Study of Lake Lubāns Wetland and the Lower Daugava

Latvijas Vēstures Institūta Žurnāls, 2023

This paper deals with the identification and comparison of dietary practices and their changes fr... more This paper deals with the identification and comparison of dietary practices and their changes from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age in two different ecosystemsthe lower reaches of the Daugava river and Lake Lubāns wetland. Zooarchaeological, palaeobotanical, and stable isotope evidence of chemical elements were used. The obtained results show that the beginning of early farming in Latvia can be observed in the late Neolithic period, especially for the Corded Ware Culture people. However, the consumption of freshwater fish also remains significant during this period. Farming, as the main form of food provision, became established in Latvia in the Middle Bronze Age.

Research paper thumbnail of Changes of the palaeo-geographical conditions in the Lake Usma depression during the end of the Late Glacial and the Holocene

Folia Geographica, 2019

Lake Usma occupies the lowest part of the Late Glacial glacio-depression at the Kursa Lowland (NW... more Lake Usma occupies the lowest part of the Late Glacial glacio-depression at the Kursa Lowland (NW Latvia), where the Venta-Usma ice-dammed lake and the Baltic Ice Lake sediments have been accumulated. Geological and geo-morphological investigations have been carried out on the largest Lake Usma islands-Moricsala and Viskūži Island as well as at Košķēni Bay. Changes in palaeo-geographic conditions in the Lake Usma depression during the Holocene are evidenced by organogenic sediments from cores in Moricsala and Viskūži Island and in the lake bottom of Košķēni Bay. The loss on ignition analysis of these sediments has been carried out with the aim to determine changes of organic, mineral and carbonate matter proportions and the relative percentage in their composition, which together with macro-remain analysis data allow to gain better understanding about the character of the palaeogeographic conditions during the lake's development,

Research paper thumbnail of New Aspects of the Mesolithic-Neolithic Cemeteries and Settlement at Zvejnieki, Northern Latvia

Acta Archaeologica, 2017

The paper reflects upon recent international research at Zvejnieki in northern Latvia, a renowned... more The paper reflects upon recent international research at Zvejnieki in northern Latvia, a renowned complex of a burial ground and two settlement sites used in the Mesolithic and Neolithic. Since its discovery and first excavations in the 1960s, Zvejnieki continues to produce evidence that provides new grounds for understanding mortuary practises and ancient lifeways. This information is relevant for other contemporary sites in Europe revealing new and hitherto unexpected elements of burial traditions.It is suggested that the Zvejnieki population was partly mobile, and the site was one of the places to bury the dead. The ancestral link was established through transportation and use of occupational debris from more ancient sites and through the incorporation of earlier burial space or even burials into the new graves. The depth of a burial also appears to be a significant variable in ancient mortuary practices.

Research paper thumbnail of Recurrent Mesolithic–Neolithic occupation at Sise (western Latvia) and shoreline displacement in the Baltic Sea Basin

The Holocene, 2016

A major assemblage of Mesolithic and Neolithic wooden artefacts has been recovered from the bed o... more A major assemblage of Mesolithic and Neolithic wooden artefacts has been recovered from the bed of the River Užava at Sise, in the coastal belt of western Latvia. New archaeological investigation has also produced wooden remains and other evidence of occupation on the riverbank. On the basis of multi-proxy environmental data and radiocarbon dating, this article offers a first attempt to place the human activity in a palaeolandscape context. The earliest evidence of human presence is provided by wooden artefacts dated to c. 10,500–9700 cal. BP, during the Ancylus Lake transgression. These remains are thought to reflect fishing activities in the shallows of the Ventspils Bay, which existed during the transgression. The regression that followed brought a return to river-valley conditions at the site, and the next recorded period of human activity, evidenced by 14C-dated antler tool finds, is associated with the beginning of the Littorina Sea transgression, culminating c. 7500 cal. BP. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Evidence of palaeo-climate changes and their impact on sediment accumulation conditions in the Lubāns Stone-Age settlement areas

Folia Geographica, 2019

The Latvian Geospatial Information Agency Map. https://kartes.lgia.gov.lv/karte/ (11.02.2019). Ve... more The Latvian Geospatial Information Agency Map. https://kartes.lgia.gov.lv/karte/ (11.02.2019). Veinbergs, I. (1999). Baltijas jūras leduslaikmeta beiguposma un pēcleduslaikmeta baseinu Latvijas krasta zonas morfo-un litodinamika (pēc Latvijas piekrastes pētījumu rezultātiem). Latvijas Universitātes Ģeoloģijas institūts, atskaite.

Research paper thumbnail of Krievu Kalns Hill-Fort: New Data on the Late Bronze Age and Pre-Roman Iron Age in Western Latvia

Archaeologia Baltica, 2020

The article examines the results of the 2012 and 2013 archaeological excavations of Skrundas Krie... more The article examines the results of the 2012 and 2013 archaeological excavations of Skrundas Krievu kalns hill-fort, situated in western Latvia. Krievu kalns was listed as a site in the 1920s, but it was not regarded as a hill-fort. During a site inspection, striated pottery was discovered, and this indicated that it might be numbered as a Late Bronze Age and Pre-Roman Iron Age habitation. Excavations revealed the site to be a hill-fort that was fortified in the 11th to the ninth century BC with a palisade made of vertical timbers. In the eighth to the fiftth century BC, the defences were moved outwards, thus enlarging the living area. There was possibly even later a third fence. Krievu kalns may be classed as a Late Bronze Age hill-fort with striated pottery, reflecting the characteristic Bronze Age cultural traditions of western Latvia.

Research paper thumbnail of 2012 BIOCHEMENV-00

Research paper thumbnail of Plant macrofossil assemblages from the Eemian - Weichselian deposits of Latvia and problems of their interpretation

PLANT MACROFOSSILS ASEMBLAGES OF EEMIAN-WEICHSELIAN DEPOSITS FROM THE LATVIA AND PROBLEMS OF THEI... more PLANT MACROFOSSILS ASEMBLAGES OF EEMIAN-WEICHSELIAN DEPOSITS FROM THE LATVIA AND PROBLEMS OF THEIR INTERPRETATION Aija CERIŅA, University of Latvia, 19 Rainis Blvd., LV1586 Rīga, Latvia; e-mail: aija.cerina@lu.lv Eemian and Early Weichselian sediments both are known in several sections in Latvia. Its accordingly are named Felicianova Formation and Rogaļi Bed. Felicianova (Eemian) interglacial deposits of the Upper Pleistocene in Latvia (Satiķi, Rogaļi, Felicianova, Kaitra, Skrudaliena, Subate sections) contain macrofossil of three assemblages - I, II, III. The assemblage I is the climatic pre-optimum and is characterized by a numerous oogonies of Characeae gen. algae, and as well by the remains of Pinus silvestris (cone, needles), Betula nana, and Selaginella selaginoides. This assemblage correspond to pollen zones F1-F2 (Meirons, Straume, 1978; Meirons, Mūrniece, 1982) or S, Sat1 in Satiķi sate (Kalnina, Strautnieks, Cerina, 2007). The assemblage II conform interglacial climatic op...

Research paper thumbnail of Vegetation Change and Human Impact, as Reflected in Littorina Sea Lagoonal Deposits Near the Priedaine Archaeological Site at the Head of the Gulf of Riga (Plant Macroremains, Pollen and Wooden Artefacts)

VEGETATION CHANGE AND HUMAN IMPACT, AS REFLECTED IN LITTORINA SEA LAGOONAL DEPOSITS NEAR THE PRIE... more VEGETATION CHANGE AND HUMAN IMPACT, AS REFLECTED IN LITTORINA SEA LAGOONAL DEPOSITS NEAR THE PRIEDAINE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE AT THE HEAD OF THE GULF OF RIGA (PLANT MACROREMAINS, POLLEN ANDWOODEN ARTEFACTS) Aija CERIŅA1, Liene APSĪTE, Valdis BĒRZIŅŠ, Laimdota KALNIŅA, Ilze OZOLA Key words: Plant macroremains, Pollen, Wooden artefacts, Littorina lagoon The material for this study comes from an archaeological excavation at the edge of the Priedaine Neo- lithic settlement site, on the shore of a Littorina sea lagoon/lagoonal lake, and from a core about 20 m out from the former shoreline. Pollen and macroremain analysis of Core 20, taken near the settlement site, reflects the development of the Priedaine lagoon from the middle to the end of the Atlantic (AT2, AT3). The lagoon became a lake during the Sub-boreal, and infilling continued. A mire developed in the area of this former water body during the Sub-atlantic. Ruderal and cultivated land herb pollen indicates human presence and activi...

Research paper thumbnail of Meadows, Lübke, Zagorska, Bērziņš, Ceriņa & Ozola 2014 - Potential Freshwater Reservoir Effects In A Neolithic Shell Midden At Riņņukalns, Latvia

Riņņukalns is the only known prehistoric shell midden in the eastern Baltic, and is one of the fe... more Riņņukalns is the only known prehistoric shell midden in the eastern Baltic, and is one of the few middens in northern Europe consisting mainly of freshwater mussel shells. Situated on the Salaca River at the outlet of Lake Burtnieks, in northeastern Latvia, the site was originally excavated in the 1870s, and reinvestigated several times over the following decades. A new excavation in 2011 showed that part of the midden remained intact. The new exposure, dated to the later 4th millennium cal BC, yielded rich fishbone and mollusk shell assemblages, herbivore, human and bird bones, and a wide range of artifacts typical of a subsistence economy based on fishing, hunting, and gathering. Human remains from burials excavated in the 1870s were also located in archives. The co-occurrence at Riņņukalns of human remains with a broad range of terrestrial and aquatic food remains provides an ideal setting to study freshwater reservoir effects and other isotopic signals of diet and mobility. The...

Research paper thumbnail of Two burials in a unique freshwater shell midden: insights into transformations of Stone Age hunter-fisher daily life in Latvia

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2020

The Stone Age site Riņņukalns, Latvia, is the only well-stratified shell midden in the Eastern Ba... more The Stone Age site Riņņukalns, Latvia, is the only well-stratified shell midden in the Eastern Baltic. In this paper, we present new interdisciplinary results concerning its dating, stratigraphy, features, and finds to shed light on the daily life of a fisher population prior to the introduction of domesticated animals. The undisturbed part of the midden consists of alternating layers of unburnt mussel shell, burnt mussel shell and fish bone, containing artefacts, some mammal and bird bones, and human burials. Two of them, an adult man and a baby, are discovered recently and date to the calibration plateau between 3350 and 3100 cal BC, and to the later 4th millennium, respectively. Stable isotopes suggest a diet based heavily on freshwater fish, and this is supported not only by ten thousands of identified fish remains, but also by a fish bone concentration nearby the skull of the man, which is interpreted as remain of a grave gift (possible fish soup). Of special interest are the baby's stable isotope values. It shows that the mother's diet was atypical (perhaps because she was non-local), and/or that dietary stress during pregnancy increased fractionation between the mother's diet and her bloodstream.

Research paper thumbnail of Large herbivore population and vegetation dynamics 14,600–8300 years ago in central Latvia, northeastern Europe

Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 2019

This study seeks to explain how the large herbivore (large vertebrate, megafaunaterrestrial taxa ... more This study seeks to explain how the large herbivore (large vertebrate, megafaunaterrestrial taxa with adults >45 kg) population density changed during abrupt postglacial climate and environmental change. The Lateglacial and Early Holocene (14600-8300 years ago) were represented by various environmental and climate changes and a transition from a cold to a warm climate, with subsequent changes in flora and fauna. Using Lake Āraiši as a case study (Latvia, northeastern Europe), local to regional vegetation was reconstructed by analysing plant macroremains and pollen from the lake sediment profile. Here, we present the first dung fungus spore-based

Research paper thumbnail of Plant macrofossil, pollen and invertebrate analysis of a mid-14th century cesspit from medieval Riga, Latvia (the eastern Baltic): Taphonomy and indicators of human diet

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2017

The paper presents the results of an integrated environmental analysis on the fill of an exceptio... more The paper presents the results of an integrated environmental analysis on the fill of an exceptionally well-preserved mid-14th century cesspit from the historic centre of Riga (Latvia, eastern Baltic). Palynological, plant macrofossils and invertebrate analysis yielded important new information about the use of plants by the indigenous community living within the medieval city, including their socioeconomic status. The taphonomy of the botanical and invertebrate data is considered to largely reflect the input of undigested food waste and human faecal material with a subordinate component derived through the input of cereal waste-products. The results show that the diet of the indigenous community was based largely on cereal products, most probably bread and porridge, supplemented by a limited range of locally cultivated and/or collected vegetables and spices. Documentary sources emphasise that bee-keeping was an important element of the local economy of Riga. Elevated levels of lime pollen in the cesspit samples are taken as possible evidence for the consumption of honey, most likely of a local origin. This study also serves to demonstrate the significant quantity of information that can be gleaned from a relatively small volume of material.

Research paper thumbnail of A multi-proxy, diachronic and spatial perspective on the urban activities within an indigenous community in medieval Riga, Latvia

Quaternary International, 2017

The research presented here represents the first urban medieval context in Latvia where an integr... more The research presented here represents the first urban medieval context in Latvia where an integrated, multi-proxy environmental sampling strategy has been applied. The establishment of Riga, the modern capital of Latvia, is synonymous with the Livonian Crusade, and the foundation of the medieval town is examined here. This study uses an intra-site comparison of environmental datasets from several buildings to provide a unique, high resolution, diachronic analysis of the daily life of the inhabitants within the pre-Hansa town, and specifically of the indigenous 'Liv' population during the period of the Livonian crusades, 1198e1291. The integrated zooarchaeological, archaebotanical, and geochemical datasets from two successive phases of buildings show a pattern of tradition and continuity in indigenous practices within the 'Liv District'. Despite being located within Riga with access to wide trade networks, the environmental results from 'Liv district' show the self-contained, insular nature of the diet and craft activities of the inhabitants who exploited a range of open grassland, wetland and forest edge environments around the town.

Research paper thumbnail of Priedaine: A Neolithic Site at the HEAD of the Gulf of Riga

Archaeologia BALTICA, 2016

The Neolithic site of Priedaine in Jūrmala was excavated on a small scale in 2007-2008, yielding ... more The Neolithic site of Priedaine in Jūrmala was excavated on a small scale in 2007-2008, yielding an assemblage of Comb Ceramics, along with unique wooden implements and fragments of pine-lath fishing structures. The environment and subsistence resources are indicated by plant macrofossil remains and a small faunal collection. Located by a palaeolake and also very close to the sea, the site, dated to c. 3700-3500 cal BC, would have been oriented towards aquatic resource exploitation. However, it had a wider range of functions, as indicated by the evidence of flint and amber processing.

Research paper thumbnail of Records of the anthropogenic influence on different origin lake sediments of Latvia

Baltica, 2015

Sediments in lakes have formed under the conditions of sensitive ecosystem functions as archives ... more Sediments in lakes have formed under the conditions of sensitive ecosystem functions as archives of micro- and macrocomponents. Besides others, lake sediments preserve palaeobotanical and chemical evidence reflecting environmental changes. During the last centuries, sediment composition has been influenced also by inconsistent urban and industrial developments. This paper represents the results of chemical and palaeobotanical signatures in the sediments from four lakes of different origin: Lake Lilaste, Lake Velnezers, Lake Engure, and Lake Vevers. The data were compared with the results from sediment composition analysis obtained by Loss on Ignition and chemical methods taking into account changes in plant macroremains. The studies of lake sediments revealed that human impact is recognisable in the upper sediment layer of all investigated sites, but at different depth from sediment surface. The most recognisable traces of anthropogenic influence can be attributed to the sharp incre...

Research paper thumbnail of The freshwater shellmidden at Rinnukalns: Stone Age fishermen in the eastern Baltic region

SUBSISTENCE STRATEGIES IN THE STONE AGE, DIRECT AND INDIRECT EVIDENCE OF FISHING AND GATHERING, 2018

Организация конференции и издание материалов осуществлены при финансовой поддержке РФФИ, проект №... more Организация конференции и издание материалов осуществлены при финансовой поддержке РФФИ, проект № 18-09-20015 г УДК 902/904 ББК 63.4 С 833 Стратегии жизнеобеспечения в каменном веке, прямые и косвенные свидетельства рыболовства и собирательства. Материалы международной конференции, посвященной 50-летию В.М. Лозовского. Под редакцией О.В. Лозовской, А.А. Выборнова и Е.В. Долбуновой.-СПб.: ИИМК РАН, 2018.-266 с. Сборник содержит материалы международной конференции, приуроченной к 50-летию яркого исследователя позднего каменного века Восточной Европы В.М. Лозовского. Представленные работы объединены проблематикой изучения взаимодействия человека и окружающей среды и разным моделям адаптации в рамках первобытного хозяйства. Основное внимание уделяется роли рыбной ловли и собирательства съедобных растений, важнейших видов деятельности, однако недостаточно освещенных в археологических источниках. Материалы поздних поселений с благоприятными условиями сохранности органических материалов, а также косвенные свидетельства производства и использования рыболовных инструментов и орудий собирательства, горелые макроостатки семян и растений, данные химического состава содержимого посуды и изотопные характеристики человеческих костей, должны помочь реально оценить роль этих видов пищевых ресурсов в диете первобытного человека. Издание предназначено для археологов, палеогеографов, палеоботаников и представителей смежных дисциплин.

Research paper thumbnail of Holocene relative shore‐level changes and development of the Ģipka lagoon in the western Gulf of Riga

Boreas, Jul 13, 2023

Holocene relative shore‐level changes and development of the Ģipka palaeolagoon in the western Gu... more Holocene relative shore‐level changes and development of the Ģipka palaeolagoon in the western Gulf of Riga are reconstructed using multiproxy analyses by combining litho‐, biostratigraphical and chronological data with remote sensing and geophysical data. The results show the development of the Ģipka basin from the Ancylus Lake/Initial Litorina Sea coastal zone (before c. 9.1 cal. ka BP) to coastal fen (c. 9.1 to 8.4 cal. ka BP) and gradual development of the Litorina Sea lagoon (c. 8.4 to 4.8 cal. ka BP) and its transition to a freshwater coastal lake (c. 4.8 to 4.6 cal. ka BP), fen (c. 4.6 to 4.2 cal. ka BP), and river floodplain (since c. 4.2 cal. ka BP). The highest shorelines of the Ancylus Lake and Litorina Sea were mapped at an elevation of 12–11 and 9 m a.s.l., respectively. A new relative shore level (RSL) curve for the western Gulf of Riga was constructed based on RSL data from the Ģipka area and from nearby Ruhnu Island studied earlier. The reconstruction shows that the beginning of the last marine transgression in the western Gulf of Riga started at c. 8.4 cal. ka BP, and concurred with the 1.9 m RSL rise event recorded from the North Sea basin. Diatom analysis results indicate the existence of the Ģipka lagoon between c. 7.7 and 4.8 cal. ka BP, with the highest salinity c. 6.1 cal. ka BP. During the existence of the brackish lagoon, settlement sites of the Neolithic hunter–gatherer groups existed on the shores of the lagoon in the period c. 6.0 to 5.0 cal. ka BP.

Research paper thumbnail of Peldošais ezerrrieksts (Trapa natans) dabas un cilvēku vēstures liecinieks Latvijā

G̦eogrāfiski raksti, 2018

Due to the lowering of the Littorina Sea level before approximately 5000 years, Sārnate lagoon wa... more Due to the lowering of the Littorina Sea level before approximately 5000 years, Sārnate lagoon was separated from the sea and became a shallow lagoon lake, which gradually terrestrialised and filled in with peat. The aim of the research project reported in this paper was to characterise the changing palaeogeographical conditions in the former Sārnate lagoon area, as recorded by changes in sediment properties, pollen and plant macro-remain composition. The plant macro-remain and pollen studies indicate intensive human activity in the area during the latter part of the Holocene climatic optimum and the first part of the Late Holocene, Subboreal, including a record of Water chestnut (Trapa natans) fruits and pollen in the gyttja under the grass peat, indicating that water chestnut grew in the lake adjacent to the settlement. The presence of cereal and weed pollen confirms that agriculture was also being practiced, at least during the final phase of occupation, in the late 6th and the 5th millennium BP.

Research paper thumbnail of Palaeo-geographic changes in the Sārnate former lagoon area

G̦eogrāfiski raksti, 2019

Due to the lowering of the Littorina Sea level before approximately 5000 years, Sārnate lagoon wa... more Due to the lowering of the Littorina Sea level before approximately 5000 years, Sārnate lagoon was separated from the sea and became a shallow lagoon lake, which gradually terrestrialised and filled in with peat. The aim of the research project reported in this paper was to characterise the changing palaeogeographical conditions in the former Sārnate lagoon area, as recorded by changes in sediment properties, pollen and plant macro-remain composition. The plant macro-remain and pollen studies indicate intensive human activity in the area during the latter part of the Holocene climatic optimum and the first part of the Late Holocene, Subboreal, including a record of Water chestnut (Trapa natans) fruits and pollen in the gyttja under the grass peat, indicating that water chestnut grew in the lake adjacent to the settlement. The presence of cereal and weed pollen confirms that agriculture was also being practiced, at least during the final phase of occupation, in the late 6th and the 5th millennium BP.

Research paper thumbnail of Dietary Practices During the Late Neolithic and the Bronze Age in the Territory of Latvia: A Case Study of Lake Lubāns Wetland and the Lower Daugava

Latvijas Vēstures Institūta Žurnāls, 2023

This paper deals with the identification and comparison of dietary practices and their changes fr... more This paper deals with the identification and comparison of dietary practices and their changes from the Late Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age in two different ecosystemsthe lower reaches of the Daugava river and Lake Lubāns wetland. Zooarchaeological, palaeobotanical, and stable isotope evidence of chemical elements were used. The obtained results show that the beginning of early farming in Latvia can be observed in the late Neolithic period, especially for the Corded Ware Culture people. However, the consumption of freshwater fish also remains significant during this period. Farming, as the main form of food provision, became established in Latvia in the Middle Bronze Age.

Research paper thumbnail of Changes of the palaeo-geographical conditions in the Lake Usma depression during the end of the Late Glacial and the Holocene

Folia Geographica, 2019

Lake Usma occupies the lowest part of the Late Glacial glacio-depression at the Kursa Lowland (NW... more Lake Usma occupies the lowest part of the Late Glacial glacio-depression at the Kursa Lowland (NW Latvia), where the Venta-Usma ice-dammed lake and the Baltic Ice Lake sediments have been accumulated. Geological and geo-morphological investigations have been carried out on the largest Lake Usma islands-Moricsala and Viskūži Island as well as at Košķēni Bay. Changes in palaeo-geographic conditions in the Lake Usma depression during the Holocene are evidenced by organogenic sediments from cores in Moricsala and Viskūži Island and in the lake bottom of Košķēni Bay. The loss on ignition analysis of these sediments has been carried out with the aim to determine changes of organic, mineral and carbonate matter proportions and the relative percentage in their composition, which together with macro-remain analysis data allow to gain better understanding about the character of the palaeogeographic conditions during the lake's development,

Research paper thumbnail of New Aspects of the Mesolithic-Neolithic Cemeteries and Settlement at Zvejnieki, Northern Latvia

Acta Archaeologica, 2017

The paper reflects upon recent international research at Zvejnieki in northern Latvia, a renowned... more The paper reflects upon recent international research at Zvejnieki in northern Latvia, a renowned complex of a burial ground and two settlement sites used in the Mesolithic and Neolithic. Since its discovery and first excavations in the 1960s, Zvejnieki continues to produce evidence that provides new grounds for understanding mortuary practises and ancient lifeways. This information is relevant for other contemporary sites in Europe revealing new and hitherto unexpected elements of burial traditions.It is suggested that the Zvejnieki population was partly mobile, and the site was one of the places to bury the dead. The ancestral link was established through transportation and use of occupational debris from more ancient sites and through the incorporation of earlier burial space or even burials into the new graves. The depth of a burial also appears to be a significant variable in ancient mortuary practices.

Research paper thumbnail of Recurrent Mesolithic–Neolithic occupation at Sise (western Latvia) and shoreline displacement in the Baltic Sea Basin

The Holocene, 2016

A major assemblage of Mesolithic and Neolithic wooden artefacts has been recovered from the bed o... more A major assemblage of Mesolithic and Neolithic wooden artefacts has been recovered from the bed of the River Užava at Sise, in the coastal belt of western Latvia. New archaeological investigation has also produced wooden remains and other evidence of occupation on the riverbank. On the basis of multi-proxy environmental data and radiocarbon dating, this article offers a first attempt to place the human activity in a palaeolandscape context. The earliest evidence of human presence is provided by wooden artefacts dated to c. 10,500–9700 cal. BP, during the Ancylus Lake transgression. These remains are thought to reflect fishing activities in the shallows of the Ventspils Bay, which existed during the transgression. The regression that followed brought a return to river-valley conditions at the site, and the next recorded period of human activity, evidenced by 14C-dated antler tool finds, is associated with the beginning of the Littorina Sea transgression, culminating c. 7500 cal. BP. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Evidence of palaeo-climate changes and their impact on sediment accumulation conditions in the Lubāns Stone-Age settlement areas

Folia Geographica, 2019

The Latvian Geospatial Information Agency Map. https://kartes.lgia.gov.lv/karte/ (11.02.2019). Ve... more The Latvian Geospatial Information Agency Map. https://kartes.lgia.gov.lv/karte/ (11.02.2019). Veinbergs, I. (1999). Baltijas jūras leduslaikmeta beiguposma un pēcleduslaikmeta baseinu Latvijas krasta zonas morfo-un litodinamika (pēc Latvijas piekrastes pētījumu rezultātiem). Latvijas Universitātes Ģeoloģijas institūts, atskaite.

Research paper thumbnail of Krievu Kalns Hill-Fort: New Data on the Late Bronze Age and Pre-Roman Iron Age in Western Latvia

Archaeologia Baltica, 2020

The article examines the results of the 2012 and 2013 archaeological excavations of Skrundas Krie... more The article examines the results of the 2012 and 2013 archaeological excavations of Skrundas Krievu kalns hill-fort, situated in western Latvia. Krievu kalns was listed as a site in the 1920s, but it was not regarded as a hill-fort. During a site inspection, striated pottery was discovered, and this indicated that it might be numbered as a Late Bronze Age and Pre-Roman Iron Age habitation. Excavations revealed the site to be a hill-fort that was fortified in the 11th to the ninth century BC with a palisade made of vertical timbers. In the eighth to the fiftth century BC, the defences were moved outwards, thus enlarging the living area. There was possibly even later a third fence. Krievu kalns may be classed as a Late Bronze Age hill-fort with striated pottery, reflecting the characteristic Bronze Age cultural traditions of western Latvia.

Research paper thumbnail of 2012 BIOCHEMENV-00

Research paper thumbnail of Plant macrofossil assemblages from the Eemian - Weichselian deposits of Latvia and problems of their interpretation

PLANT MACROFOSSILS ASEMBLAGES OF EEMIAN-WEICHSELIAN DEPOSITS FROM THE LATVIA AND PROBLEMS OF THEI... more PLANT MACROFOSSILS ASEMBLAGES OF EEMIAN-WEICHSELIAN DEPOSITS FROM THE LATVIA AND PROBLEMS OF THEIR INTERPRETATION Aija CERIŅA, University of Latvia, 19 Rainis Blvd., LV1586 Rīga, Latvia; e-mail: aija.cerina@lu.lv Eemian and Early Weichselian sediments both are known in several sections in Latvia. Its accordingly are named Felicianova Formation and Rogaļi Bed. Felicianova (Eemian) interglacial deposits of the Upper Pleistocene in Latvia (Satiķi, Rogaļi, Felicianova, Kaitra, Skrudaliena, Subate sections) contain macrofossil of three assemblages - I, II, III. The assemblage I is the climatic pre-optimum and is characterized by a numerous oogonies of Characeae gen. algae, and as well by the remains of Pinus silvestris (cone, needles), Betula nana, and Selaginella selaginoides. This assemblage correspond to pollen zones F1-F2 (Meirons, Straume, 1978; Meirons, Mūrniece, 1982) or S, Sat1 in Satiķi sate (Kalnina, Strautnieks, Cerina, 2007). The assemblage II conform interglacial climatic op...

Research paper thumbnail of Vegetation Change and Human Impact, as Reflected in Littorina Sea Lagoonal Deposits Near the Priedaine Archaeological Site at the Head of the Gulf of Riga (Plant Macroremains, Pollen and Wooden Artefacts)

VEGETATION CHANGE AND HUMAN IMPACT, AS REFLECTED IN LITTORINA SEA LAGOONAL DEPOSITS NEAR THE PRIE... more VEGETATION CHANGE AND HUMAN IMPACT, AS REFLECTED IN LITTORINA SEA LAGOONAL DEPOSITS NEAR THE PRIEDAINE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE AT THE HEAD OF THE GULF OF RIGA (PLANT MACROREMAINS, POLLEN ANDWOODEN ARTEFACTS) Aija CERIŅA1, Liene APSĪTE, Valdis BĒRZIŅŠ, Laimdota KALNIŅA, Ilze OZOLA Key words: Plant macroremains, Pollen, Wooden artefacts, Littorina lagoon The material for this study comes from an archaeological excavation at the edge of the Priedaine Neo- lithic settlement site, on the shore of a Littorina sea lagoon/lagoonal lake, and from a core about 20 m out from the former shoreline. Pollen and macroremain analysis of Core 20, taken near the settlement site, reflects the development of the Priedaine lagoon from the middle to the end of the Atlantic (AT2, AT3). The lagoon became a lake during the Sub-boreal, and infilling continued. A mire developed in the area of this former water body during the Sub-atlantic. Ruderal and cultivated land herb pollen indicates human presence and activi...

Research paper thumbnail of Meadows, Lübke, Zagorska, Bērziņš, Ceriņa & Ozola 2014 - Potential Freshwater Reservoir Effects In A Neolithic Shell Midden At Riņņukalns, Latvia

Riņņukalns is the only known prehistoric shell midden in the eastern Baltic, and is one of the fe... more Riņņukalns is the only known prehistoric shell midden in the eastern Baltic, and is one of the few middens in northern Europe consisting mainly of freshwater mussel shells. Situated on the Salaca River at the outlet of Lake Burtnieks, in northeastern Latvia, the site was originally excavated in the 1870s, and reinvestigated several times over the following decades. A new excavation in 2011 showed that part of the midden remained intact. The new exposure, dated to the later 4th millennium cal BC, yielded rich fishbone and mollusk shell assemblages, herbivore, human and bird bones, and a wide range of artifacts typical of a subsistence economy based on fishing, hunting, and gathering. Human remains from burials excavated in the 1870s were also located in archives. The co-occurrence at Riņņukalns of human remains with a broad range of terrestrial and aquatic food remains provides an ideal setting to study freshwater reservoir effects and other isotopic signals of diet and mobility. The...

Research paper thumbnail of Two burials in a unique freshwater shell midden: insights into transformations of Stone Age hunter-fisher daily life in Latvia

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2020

The Stone Age site Riņņukalns, Latvia, is the only well-stratified shell midden in the Eastern Ba... more The Stone Age site Riņņukalns, Latvia, is the only well-stratified shell midden in the Eastern Baltic. In this paper, we present new interdisciplinary results concerning its dating, stratigraphy, features, and finds to shed light on the daily life of a fisher population prior to the introduction of domesticated animals. The undisturbed part of the midden consists of alternating layers of unburnt mussel shell, burnt mussel shell and fish bone, containing artefacts, some mammal and bird bones, and human burials. Two of them, an adult man and a baby, are discovered recently and date to the calibration plateau between 3350 and 3100 cal BC, and to the later 4th millennium, respectively. Stable isotopes suggest a diet based heavily on freshwater fish, and this is supported not only by ten thousands of identified fish remains, but also by a fish bone concentration nearby the skull of the man, which is interpreted as remain of a grave gift (possible fish soup). Of special interest are the baby's stable isotope values. It shows that the mother's diet was atypical (perhaps because she was non-local), and/or that dietary stress during pregnancy increased fractionation between the mother's diet and her bloodstream.

Research paper thumbnail of Large herbivore population and vegetation dynamics 14,600–8300 years ago in central Latvia, northeastern Europe

Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 2019

This study seeks to explain how the large herbivore (large vertebrate, megafaunaterrestrial taxa ... more This study seeks to explain how the large herbivore (large vertebrate, megafaunaterrestrial taxa with adults >45 kg) population density changed during abrupt postglacial climate and environmental change. The Lateglacial and Early Holocene (14600-8300 years ago) were represented by various environmental and climate changes and a transition from a cold to a warm climate, with subsequent changes in flora and fauna. Using Lake Āraiši as a case study (Latvia, northeastern Europe), local to regional vegetation was reconstructed by analysing plant macroremains and pollen from the lake sediment profile. Here, we present the first dung fungus spore-based

Research paper thumbnail of Plant macrofossil, pollen and invertebrate analysis of a mid-14th century cesspit from medieval Riga, Latvia (the eastern Baltic): Taphonomy and indicators of human diet

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2017

The paper presents the results of an integrated environmental analysis on the fill of an exceptio... more The paper presents the results of an integrated environmental analysis on the fill of an exceptionally well-preserved mid-14th century cesspit from the historic centre of Riga (Latvia, eastern Baltic). Palynological, plant macrofossils and invertebrate analysis yielded important new information about the use of plants by the indigenous community living within the medieval city, including their socioeconomic status. The taphonomy of the botanical and invertebrate data is considered to largely reflect the input of undigested food waste and human faecal material with a subordinate component derived through the input of cereal waste-products. The results show that the diet of the indigenous community was based largely on cereal products, most probably bread and porridge, supplemented by a limited range of locally cultivated and/or collected vegetables and spices. Documentary sources emphasise that bee-keeping was an important element of the local economy of Riga. Elevated levels of lime pollen in the cesspit samples are taken as possible evidence for the consumption of honey, most likely of a local origin. This study also serves to demonstrate the significant quantity of information that can be gleaned from a relatively small volume of material.

Research paper thumbnail of A multi-proxy, diachronic and spatial perspective on the urban activities within an indigenous community in medieval Riga, Latvia

Quaternary International, 2017

The research presented here represents the first urban medieval context in Latvia where an integr... more The research presented here represents the first urban medieval context in Latvia where an integrated, multi-proxy environmental sampling strategy has been applied. The establishment of Riga, the modern capital of Latvia, is synonymous with the Livonian Crusade, and the foundation of the medieval town is examined here. This study uses an intra-site comparison of environmental datasets from several buildings to provide a unique, high resolution, diachronic analysis of the daily life of the inhabitants within the pre-Hansa town, and specifically of the indigenous 'Liv' population during the period of the Livonian crusades, 1198e1291. The integrated zooarchaeological, archaebotanical, and geochemical datasets from two successive phases of buildings show a pattern of tradition and continuity in indigenous practices within the 'Liv District'. Despite being located within Riga with access to wide trade networks, the environmental results from 'Liv district' show the self-contained, insular nature of the diet and craft activities of the inhabitants who exploited a range of open grassland, wetland and forest edge environments around the town.

Research paper thumbnail of Priedaine: A Neolithic Site at the HEAD of the Gulf of Riga

Archaeologia BALTICA, 2016

The Neolithic site of Priedaine in Jūrmala was excavated on a small scale in 2007-2008, yielding ... more The Neolithic site of Priedaine in Jūrmala was excavated on a small scale in 2007-2008, yielding an assemblage of Comb Ceramics, along with unique wooden implements and fragments of pine-lath fishing structures. The environment and subsistence resources are indicated by plant macrofossil remains and a small faunal collection. Located by a palaeolake and also very close to the sea, the site, dated to c. 3700-3500 cal BC, would have been oriented towards aquatic resource exploitation. However, it had a wider range of functions, as indicated by the evidence of flint and amber processing.

Research paper thumbnail of Records of the anthropogenic influence on different origin lake sediments of Latvia

Baltica, 2015

Sediments in lakes have formed under the conditions of sensitive ecosystem functions as archives ... more Sediments in lakes have formed under the conditions of sensitive ecosystem functions as archives of micro- and macrocomponents. Besides others, lake sediments preserve palaeobotanical and chemical evidence reflecting environmental changes. During the last centuries, sediment composition has been influenced also by inconsistent urban and industrial developments. This paper represents the results of chemical and palaeobotanical signatures in the sediments from four lakes of different origin: Lake Lilaste, Lake Velnezers, Lake Engure, and Lake Vevers. The data were compared with the results from sediment composition analysis obtained by Loss on Ignition and chemical methods taking into account changes in plant macroremains. The studies of lake sediments revealed that human impact is recognisable in the upper sediment layer of all investigated sites, but at different depth from sediment surface. The most recognisable traces of anthropogenic influence can be attributed to the sharp incre...