Migration and mobility in the latest Neolithic of the Traisen valley, Lower Austria: Archaeology. (original) (raw)
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De Gruyter eBooks, 2012
In the last forty years, continuing rescue excavations in the Lower Traisen valley (Unteres Traisental) in Lower Austria have identified about 180 burials dating to the final Neolithic (2600-2200 BC). They belong to the Corded Ware culture and Late Bell Beaker culture. Enamel from permanent teeth of a total of 49 individuals originating from Subsites I, II and III of the Franzhausen (FH) excavation area were analysed with respect to their strontium isotopic composition. The aim was to identify locals and nonlocals and to contribute to questions of mobility and migration. We applied a validated routine procedure for Sr isotope ratio measurements using solutionbased multiple collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). In addition, recent soil samples from the Franzhausen area were extracted by ammonium nitrate solutions in order to delimit the local isotope signal of bioavailable Sr in the region. 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios in the enamel revealed that about 88 % of the investigated individuals are autochthonous. These data were subjected to a further detailed evaluation with respect to the individuals' age at death and sex, as well as to a possible spatial differentiation (FH I, II and III) and cultural affiliation. Sr isotope ratio data show no pattern regarding age at death. Higher mobility was found for male individuals compared to that for females. Results evaluated according to chronological and spatial subgroups imply differences in mobility. Distinct groups of representatives of the Corded Ware culture in the subsites were identified as nonlocals, whereas all of the investigated individuals assigned to the Late Bell Beaker culture were locals.
In: E. Kaiser, J. Burger, W. Schier, Population Dynamics in Pre- and Early History. New Approaches by Using Stable Isotopes and Genetics. Topoi – Berlin Studies of the Ancient World, 2012, 199-212.
In the last forty years, continuing rescue excavations in the Lower Traisen valley (Unteres Traisental) in Lower Austria have identified about 180 burials dating to the final Neolithic (2600–2200 BC). They belong to the Corded Ware culture and Late Bell Beaker culture. Enamel from permanent teeth of a total of 49 individuals originating from Subsites I, II and III of the Franzhausen (FH) excavation area were analysed with respect to their strontium isotopic composition. The aim was to identify locals and nonlocals and to contribute to questions of mobility and migration. We applied a validated routine procedure for Sr isotope ratio measurements using solutionbased multiple collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). In addition, recent soil samples from the Franzhausen area were extracted by ammonium nitrate solutions in order to delimit the local isotope signal of bioavailable Sr in the region. 87Sr/86Sr ratios in the enamel revealed that about 88 % of the investigated individuals are autochthonous. These data were subjected to a further detailed evaluation with respect to the individuals’ age at death and sex, as well as to a possible spatial differentiation (FH I, II and III) and cultural affiliation. Sr isotope ratio data show no pattern regarding age at death. Higher mobility was found for male individuals compared to that for females. Results evaluated according to chronological and spatial subgroups imply differences in mobility. Distinct groups of representatives of the Corded Ware culture in the subsites were identified as nonlocals, whereas all of the investigated individuals assigned to the Late Bell Beaker culture were locals.
In order to contribute to the continuing discussion of the mobility of the late neolithic Bell Beaker people, 69 skeletons from southern Bavaria were analyzed for the 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios in tooth enamel and compact bone. Whereas Sr isotope ratios in the enamel of the first permanent molar match the Sr isotopic composition at the place of early childhood, the respective value in the adult femoral bone matches the Sr isotope ratio characteristic of the place of residence over the last few years prior to death. Significant differences between *'Sr/*?Sr in these tissues indicate that 17.525% of these individuals changed residence during their lifetime. The overall direction of the migration, according to archaeological finds from the area, was toward the southwest. A relative surplus of migrating females and two cases ofevidence for migration in children argue for the movement of small groups; exogamy might explain the higher numbers of immigrating females. With regard to current information on migration rates in prehistory, the southern Bavarian Bell Beaker people were indeed highly mobile, especially since the archaeometric method used in this study is likely to underestimate movement. 0 1997
Archaeometry, 2003
As evidence concerning human mobility during the transition to agriculture in central Europe, we present the results of strontium isotope analysis of human skeletons from the Neolithic village of Vaihingen, Germany. We find significantly more 'non-local' 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values from humans buried in a Neolithic ditch surrounding Vaihingen than from those buried within the settlement. These results fit with previous studies showing a correlation between burial circumstances and strontium isotope signatures from LBK cemeteries of southwestern Germany . A pilot study of Neolithic animal teeth from Vaihingen suggests that either 'local' 87 Sr/ 86 Sr signatures were more variable than the analysed human bones suggest, or that these domestic animals themselves were mobile, perhaps ranged by mobile pastoralists.
Applied …, 1997
In order to contribute to the continuing discussion of the mobility of the late neolithic Bell Beaker people, 69 skeletons from southern Bavaria were analyzed for the 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios in tooth enamel and compact bone. Whereas Sr isotope ratios in the enamel of the first permanent molar match the Sr isotopic composition at the place of early childhood, the respective value in the adult femoral bone matches the Sr isotope ratio characteristic of the place of residence over the last few years prior to death. Significant differences between *'Sr/*?Sr in these tissues indicate that 17.525% of these individuals changed residence during their lifetime. The overall direction of the migration, according to archaeological finds from the area, was toward the southwest. A relative surplus of migrating females and two cases ofevidence for migration in children argue for the movement of small groups; exogamy might explain the higher numbers of immigrating females. With regard to current information on migration rates in prehistory, the southern Bavarian Bell Beaker people were indeed highly mobile, especially since the archaeometric method used in this study is likely to underestimate movement. 0 1997
Accession Hard-to-Analyse People in Archaeology
Orders: Kölner Studien zur Prähistorischen Archäologie 8 (Rahden/Westf. 2017) 304 pages, 155 figures, 15 tables incl. 7 plates. detaillierte bibliografische daten sind im internet über http://dnb.ddb.de abrufbar. Gedruckt auf alterungsbeständigem papier alle rechte vorbehalten © 2017 304 Seiten mit 155 abbildungen, 15 tabellen inkl. 7 tafeln Verlag Marie leidorf Gmbh Geschäftsführer: dr. Bert Wiegel Stellerloh 65 d-32369 rahden/Westf. tel: +49/(0)5771/9510-74 Fax: +49/(0)5771/9510-75
This paper presents the strontium (Sr) isotope composition of the teeth of Neolithic individuals from the Linearbandkeramik (LBK) pit-enclosure of Herxheim (South Palatinate, Germany). The Sr isotope analyses are vital for the comprehension of the extraordinary site of Herxheim with the abundant human bone modifications found there. The large number of dead individuals, as well as the various exotic styles of high quality pottery of the latest LBK phase, found with the fragmented human skeletons, support movement from foreign places to Herxheim. Sr isotopes of tooth enamel have been analyzed to establish the possible origins of the individuals at Herxheim. Initial results for individuals found in the regular Bandkeramik burial position and for samples from a concentration of fragmented skeletons indicate the presence of a significant amount of nonlocal individuals, in a proportion higher than reported for other LBK settlements to date. None of the modified skeletal remains from the site investigated thus far belong to indigenous individuals. The observed Sr isotope ratios often indicate basement rock signatures. A subgroup of individuals has high 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 0.712–0.715, suggesting similarities to a group of five juveniles found in the Neolithic settlement of Nieder-Mörlen/Hesse.
Locals or Migrants? Strontium Isotope Analysis of Two North-South Oriented Great Moravian Graves
Interdisciplinaria archaeologica (IANSA), 2023
Migration has been used as one explanation for graves that deviate from the prevailing orientation and structure. Graves oriented in the north-south direction (i.e., deviating from the customary contemporary west-east orientation) at the Great Moravian and early medieval burial grounds of Přemyslid Bohemia and Moravia have attracted the attention of archaeologists for more than 100 years. These are most often interpreted as the graves of foreigners, based on the assumption that different burial rites indicate immigrants, but this has not been confirmed or refuted with empirical evidence. With this study, we have taken the first step towards testing the validity of this hypothesis. Samples from the dental enamel of the permanent molars of two individuals (H 16/2018 and H 18/2018) from the burial site “Na Valách”, located at the Great Moravian central site in Staré Město, were subjected to stable strontium isotope analysis. This analysis can help to assess the likelihood of mobility for these individuals. From the results obtained, it is not possible to confirm the non-local origin of either of the individuals, although in the case of H 16/2018 we may theoretically consider it. However, to definitively reject or confirm the hypothesis of a non-local origin of the people buried along the north-south azimuths, future analysis of a much larger sample size will be necessary.