Gary A . King - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Books by Gary A . King

This study addresses the potential of palaeoentomological remains to stand as evidence of past tr... more This study addresses the potential of palaeoentomological remains to stand as evidence of past trade and culture contact. Three methodological tools are used to evaluate the effectiveness of insect subfossils as palaeoeconomic indicators: palaeoecology, biogeography, and isotopic analysis. Underpinning each of the methodological approaches is the premise that specific insect fauna are notably stenotopic in their distributional range. By superimposing the physiological and ecological habits of modern species over the archaeological record, they may effectively serve as analogues to interpret palaeoentomological evidence. In addition to the three applied methodologies, the potential for palaeoentomological remains to yield assayable genetic sequences is explored and ancient DNA recovered from preserved Roman and medieval specimens. If aDNA preservation is widespread in palaeoentomological remains, a phylogeographic method is conceivable as a means for assessing past trade and migration.

Papers by Gary A . King

ABSTRACT Occupational health, from a bioarchaeological perspective, focuses on using evidence of ... more ABSTRACT Occupational health, from a bioarchaeological perspective, focuses on using evidence of skeletal degeneration to study past activity-patterns. However, there were other occupational risks. One of the most common in farming communities today is farmer's lung, which is caused by the inhalation of moulds, particularly on hay used as fodder. The aim of this study is to test whether enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) can be used to identify this disease in a population likely to have been exposed. The skeletal sample studied consists of twenty identified and two non-identified individuals. All individuals were analysed osteologically for evidence of respiratory disease, and ELISAs were run on bone samples. Of the twenty identified individuals all adult males are known, from census records and other documentary evidence, to have engaged in either large or small-scale farming. Their wives, based on limited documentary evidence, are likely to have assisted in these tasks. The population was therefore significantly at risk of developing farmer's lung. Farmer's lung was not identified at the time as a disease; therefore none of the death certificates record this as a cause of death although six (out of twenty) list pulmonary disease. While this does include phthisis, medical texts of the time indicate that the tuberculosis bacillus was not necessarily the actual cause of this lung disease. The osteological and documentary evidence support the potential for farmer's lung as an occupational health risk in this population. Funding. Wolfson Research Institute Small Grant was used to study farmer's lung. C. Henderson is funded by FCT grant SFRH/BPD/82559/2011.

Three subsamples from the fills of a colonial timber-lined well were selected for detailed analys... more Three subsamples from the fills of a colonial timber-lined well were selected for detailed analysis for insect remains. Insects were abundant and generally excellently preserved and the biota was comprised of both native and alien species. A range of beetles associated with perishable commodities were recovered, while litter and decomposer species were also prevalent. In addition to synanthropic fauna, individuals believed to be representative of the natural environment were present.

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 socio-economic 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.

A subsample from a Roman timber drain was selected for detailed evaluation for its bioarchaeologi... more A subsample from a Roman timber drain was selected for detailed evaluation for its bioarchaeological potential, primarily insect remains. Both plant and insect taxa were present and in excellent condition, though rather sparse. Analysis of the plant remains revealed the presence of both wild and domestic occupation taxa including the presence of an exotic, fig. The insect fauna was largely synanthropic in nature and resembled the indicator group associated with stable manure. Given the context, the synanthropes are believed to be primarily background fauna suggesting the redeposition of the material, most likely during the in-filling of the drain. The insect fauna also revealed some of the earliest evidence for the presence of grain pests in Britain.

In recent years the concept of human movement and trade has returned to the fore in the archaeolo... more In recent years the concept of human movement and trade has returned to the fore in the archaeological arena. However, there has been no explicit assessment of the role that palaeoentomology may be able to play in this field. A range of techniques may be employed across various areas of research, including species biogeography, palaeoecology, and isotopic analysis, and which can make significant contributions to the field. Furthermore, several other methods may help to elucidate the problem of associated human and insect movement, including the recognition and sourcing of insect-associated products and genetic analysis of modern insect populations and ancient insect remains. The integration of these fields of study with other methods is fundamental to the understanding of human interaction.

An assessment was undertaken of the palaeoecological potential of a series of samples from excava... more An assessment was undertaken of the palaeoecological potential of a series of samples from excavations at Star Carr, near Scarborough, North Yorkshire, as part of a research-driven evaluation of the archaeological potential of an area under threat of degradation of the buried archaeological record through a falling water table. The deposits encountered at this site primarily consisted of natural peats and humic silts. Most of the layers examined during the assessment contained sufficient plant and insect remains to allow a useful reconstruction of depositional regime, local ecology and climate, as well as their development through the sequences, which probably include early Holocene sediments, as well as those associated with more conventionally 'Mesolithic' deposits. The recovered biota were indicative of aquatic and marshland habitats: essentially swamp with evidence for open water at some stages. Strictly dryland habitats were only weakly represented. There were insects w...

... By Harry Kenward, Gary King and Allan Hall, Department of Archaeology, University of York, UK... more ... By Harry Kenward, Gary King and Allan Hall, Department of Archaeology, University of York, UK, Corresponding author: Harry Kenward. ... While there have been investigations of the formation and recovery of charred plant remains (eg Van der Veen 2007; Wright 2003), there ...

Quaternary International, 2014

ABSTRACT Insect remains from archaeological contexts have proven to be valuable indicators of pas... more ABSTRACT Insect remains from archaeological contexts have proven to be valuable indicators of past human activity and have provided unique insight into land-use patterns, palaeodiet, and the role of domestic animals and plants in industry. The present study reports the first application of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes towards waterlog-preserved beetle and bug remains from Romano-British sites in the north of England. The results of the isotope analyses found the insect chitin signatures to be comparable to previous studies of contemporaneous bone collagen in the area. The marriage of stable isotope analysis to archaeoentomology during this preliminary investigation provided new data for the study of animal husbandry and agricultural practices during the Roman Period. It offers insight into the availability and use of agricultural crops as well as the diet and grazing environments of domesticates.

Quaternary International, 2014

Environmental Archaeology, 2013

Abstract Since 1982, Stephen J. Gould and Elisabeth Vrba's concept of exaptation has been ado... more Abstract Since 1982, Stephen J. Gould and Elisabeth Vrba's concept of exaptation has been adopted, to varying degrees, by a number of biological and social science disciplines. However, it remains a missing term in the study of archaeologically recovered insect remains and entomologically related artefacts. Exaptation refers to the process by which a characteristic acquires a function for which it was not originally adapted. The application of Gould and Vrba's concept to the field of archaeoentomology could enhance our perception of past social, environmental, and climatic conditions as well as interactions. Herein, biological and technological examples of the enduring relationship between synanthropic insects and humans are explored using the concept of exaptation.

Journal of the North Atlantic, 2009

Journal of Archaeological Science, 2009

Journal of the North Atlantic, 2018

The arrival of Europeans in the New World effected the interaction of 2 temperate biogeographical... more The arrival of Europeans in the New World effected the interaction of 2 temperate biogeographical eco-zones: the Palaearctic and Nearctic. Alfred Crosby has hypothesized that the success of the Europeans as imperialists was due, in part, to the ability of their introduced biota to bring about the collapse of the indigenous populations and local ecosystems, leading to the formation of Neo-European eco-spaces. Through a comparison of paleontological and environmental archaeological data from southern Québec, Canada, we examined Crosby's ecological imperialism model and assessed the biological impact of colonialism on the physical landscape during the 16th to early 18th centuries. The Intendant's Palace site in Québec City is employed as a case study and diachronically contextualized with data from contemporaneous sites in the region. The Europeanization of the landscape as a result of settlement construction, subsistence, and commodification was evidenced through signs of deforestation as well as the arrival of socioeconomic taxa. The biological transfer of European species did not appear to herald the collapse of local ecosystems but rather the establishment of an ecological melting pot along the early colonial waterways of southern Québec.

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 mac-rofossils 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.

King, G. 2016. Rare Secrets of Physicke: Insect Medicaments in Historical Western Society. Pp. 18... more King, G. 2016. Rare Secrets of Physicke: Insect Medicaments in Historical Western Society. Pp. 189-213, In: L. Powell, W. Southwell-Wright, and R. Gowland (eds.), Care in the Past: Archaeological and Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Oxbow Books.

Insects and insect-derived products have been employed for medical purposes since ancient times, and their application continues to endure in many parts of the world today. Oral traditions and historical texts present a lively repository of folk remedies involving arthropods and other invertebrates. Ants have been purported to alleviate arthritis. Earwigs have been proposed as a cure for deafness, and bedbugs have been recommended for treatment of hysteria. Interestingly, recent preliminary experiments of these remedies suggest that insects may represent an underexploited source of potentially useful compounds for modern medicine. Herein, an archaeoentomological perspective is drawn upon to provide a unique portrait of historical notions of care, treatment, and medicine.

Please contact me if you'd like the full manuscript.

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2017

Quaternary International, 2014

Environmental Archaeology, 2013

Journal of the North Atlantic, 2009

Journal of Archaeological Science, 2009

Journal of the North Atlantic, 2018

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 mac-rofossils 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.

Please contact me if you'd like the full manuscript.

International Journal of Osteoarchaeology

Adipocere has, infrequently, been reported from archaeological contexts normally on the external ... more Adipocere has, infrequently, been reported from archaeological contexts normally on the external surface of bodies. In contrast to those cases this study focuses on a white, powdery and greasy substance found inside two right human femora during sampling. These samples were obtained from two identified individuals buried in the late nineteenth century who were exhumed from a rock-cut and a brick-lined grave in a steeply sloping graveyard with wet soil conditions. Both individuals were buried in coffins. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to test the composition of the substances, and both were found to conform to the spectrum of adipocere. This is likely to be a breakdown product of the fats in bone marrow in an anaerobic, moist environment mediated by bacteria. None of the other individuals (n = 6) buried in similar graves displayed evidence of adipocere, this includes those whose femora were in a similar state of preservation (n = 4). Contemporaneous data on precipitation for the month of burials do not highlight any obvious trends, but one of the individuals was found in a water-logged grave. The similar preservation of other femora buried in brick-lined graves highlights the interplay of multiple factors in the formation and degradation of adipocere. More importantly it demonstrates differential preservation which may impact on aDNA and other biomolecular research. Furthermore, this adds to the limited data currently available on adipocere found in archaeological contexts. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Since the BBC documentary Filthy Cities opened with a revolting picture of medieval London, the l... more Since the BBC documentary Filthy Cities opened with a revolting picture of medieval London, the long held popular notion of medieval towns as unorganized, cluttered and filthy has seriously taken root in the collectively memory. The notion stems from a traditional focus on studying normative texts and scatological trope. Sifting through discarded debris and analyzing the remains of ancient settlements and populations, archaeologists are in a privileged position to provide insights into our complex relationship with dirt and filth from prehistory to the present. Mary Douglas defined dirt as ‘matter out of place’, and through this theoretical lens, cultural differences in the perception of and response to bacteria, dust, excrement, refuse, soil, and waste through the ages can be explored. The session organisers encourage papers from archaeologists, archaeological scientists, anthropologists and historians who will present fresh perspectives on this topic.

Ecologies of Crusading, Colonization, and Religious Conversion in the Medieval Baltic. Terra Sacra II. ISBN: 978-2-503-55133-3, 2019

A copy of this chapter is available upon request. Samples dendrochronologically dated to the mi... more A copy of this chapter is available upon request.

Samples dendrochronologically dated to the mid-fourteenth century were analyzed for Arthropoda (insects and mites), Platyhelminthes (flatworms), and Nematoda (roundworms, threadworms, and eelworms). The recovered assemblage was characteristic of Smith’s ‘cesspit’ indicator group; reflecting a multi-purpose medieval latrine context. Additionally, the excellent preservation of remains facilitated the study of life in the multicultural town and provided insight into medicinal practices and diet as well as human and animal health. The study yielded species that are rarely witnessed in archaeological contexts: notably the house cricket Acheta domestica and the trematode Alaria alata.

Care in the Past: Archaeological and Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 2016

Insects and insect-derived products have been employed for medical purposes since ancient times, ... more Insects and insect-derived products have been employed for medical purposes since ancient times, and their application continues to endure in many parts of the world today. Oral traditions and historical texts present a lively repository of folk remedies involving arthropods and other invertebrates. Ants have been purported to alleviate arthritis. Earwigs have been proposed as a cure for deafness, and bedbugs have been recommended for treatment of hysteria. Interestingly, recent preliminary experiments of these remedies suggest that insects may represent an underexploited source of potentially useful compounds for modern medicine. Herein, an archaeoentomological perspective is drawn upon to provide a unique portrait of historical notions of care, treatment, and medicine.

Journal of the North Atlantic, 2014

Journal of the North Atlantic, 2018