(49) The Late Quaternary vegetation history of Western Turkey (original) (raw)
Related papers
A. Zimmermann/ K.P. Wendt/ Th. Frank/ J. Hilpert, Landscape Archaeology.
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society 75, London u.a. 2009, 1-53
Estimations of population density, which consider regional variability, are an important key variable in archaeology as they have consequences not only for the environmental but also for the economical and social domains. In this paper, a ten-step procedure of a consistent group of methods is described which deals with the data required for estimations of population density at different scale levels (from excavation to large-scale distribution maps). For distribution maps, a method is presented by which densities of sites are displayed using optimal isolines. These demarcate so called 'settlement areas' at scales of between 1:25,000 and 1:2.5 million. Our knowledge of the density of households from key areas with the most complete archaeological records is upscaled for the regions within these isolines. The results of this procedure are estimations of population density for the early Neolithic (Bandkeramik, 51st century BC) and the Roman period (2nd century AD) for regions with some 10,000 km². A simple statistical/graphical method is developed to analyse the relationship between settlement areas, soils, and precipitation. Taking into account the aspects of preservation of sites and the intensity of archaeological observations, an analysis of patterns of land use shows that in prehistory not all areas suitable for use were in fact incorporated into settlement areas. For prehistory, the idea of a most optimised use of land up to its carrying capacity (as it has been proposed for at least 50 years) can be falsified for specific areas. A large number of empty regions with good ecological conditions but lacking in settlement activity can be discussed as resulting from culture historical processes. As an example, the separation of areas inhabited by groups of different identities is discussed. The amount of used space (in terms of 'settlement area') however, increases from the early Neolithic to the 4th century BC from 5% to more than 40% . The increase between the Neolithic and the Iron Age is understood in terms of technological developments in farming systems. The percentage of areas with suitable conditions actually utilised between the Bandkeramik and Iron Age increases from 31.1% to 67.5% in the area covered by the Geschichtlicher Atlas der Rheinlande, and is much higher still in the Roman period (84.3%). State societies seem to use the land more efficiently compared to non-state systems. This is becoming even clearer on consideration of the intensity of human impact.
The Upper Paleolithic settlement of the Armenian Highlands (UISPP Paper)
Modes de contacts et de déplacements au Paléolithique eurasiatique, M. Otte & F. Le Brun-Ricalens (Eds.), Actes du colloque international de la commission 8 (Paléolithique supérieur) de l'UISPP, Université de Liège, 28-31 mai 2012. ERAUL 140: 39-60., 2014
Excavations in 2009 and 2010 at Aghitu–3 Cave in the Syunik Province of southern Armenia yield new insights into the Upper Paleolithic settlement of the Armenian Highlands. The site is situated at an elevation of 1601 m in a side valley of the Vorotan River. The river cuts down through Pleistocene basalt flows and provides a corridor for the movement of people and game through the region. Sediments that accumulated in this basaltic cave are composed mainly of silt, clay minerals and volcanic ash. The archaeological layers preserve evidence of periodic human occupations dating to ca. 35–27 000 cal BP. Caves from the Upper Paleolithic were not previously known in Armenia, although contemporaneous sites exist in neighboring Georgia and Iran. The lithic industry at Aghitu–3 is laminar with a strong focus on the production of bladelets made of obsidian and chert. While completely backed pieces are rare, the majority of tools are represented by finely retouched bladelets. The choice of raw material did not affect the desired end products. Our preliminary interpretation is that this distinctly Upper Paleolithic toolkit was oriented towards the production of hunting equipment and was technologically stable over an extended timeframe. The lower assemblage dates to ca. 35–31 000 cal BP and suggests sparse occupation of the cave. Lithic artifacts are few and cluster near small combustion features. The poorly preserved faunal remains of the lower layers do not appear to be associated with the lithic remains. The bones often appear to be gastrically etched, suggesting accumulation by large carnivores such as wolves. On the other hand, the upper assemblage dates to ca. 29–27 000 cal BP and indicates more frequent occupation by humans. In these finely stratified layers, lithic artifacts are numerous, and combustion features are common. The well preserved, but highly fragmented faunal remains from the upper layers exhibit more indications of carcass processing, such as green breaks and impact fractures. Wild sheep and wild goat dominate the faunal assemblage, with horse and hare also present. Combining the faunal identifications with ecological data gained from microfauna, pollen and charcoal, a mosaic landscape comes into focus: grassland on the level basaltic plateau, interrupted by a steep rocky valley sloping down to the Vorotan, where a riparian environment prevails. The data also suggest an environment that was cooler and moister than today, a picture echoed by preliminary micromorphological results showing cycles of freezing and thawing. Thus we interpret these data as evidence for increasing occupation of Aghitu–3 Cave, which served as a temporary hunting camp. While it is clear that the older occupations of the cave were ephemeral, during the time leading up to the last glacial maximum, occupation became more frequent.
Kittel Journal of Archaeological Science 50 (2014) 318 337
During an archaeological investigation at LutomierskeKozi owki in central Poland, deposits indicative of an old rettery from the 16the17th century AD were discovered. The artifacts found in the lacustrine deposits, together with historical sources and radiocarbon dates of organic matter, show that the pond at a local mill was present from ca. AD 1525 to at least AD 1620. The high content of Cannabis and Linum subfossil macro-and micro-remains in the sediment indicate that the pond was most probably used as a rettery for hemp and flax fibre production. Pollen analysis revealed strong deforestation of the local landscape at the beginning of the pond history. Despite high pollution caused by plant retting, speciesrich chironomid, cladoceran and diatom communities occupied the pond. Our investigations reveal that the rettery was situated on the artificial channel of a local stream. High abundance of yellow flatsedge (Cyperus flavescens) fruit remains and coprophile beetle subfossils indicate that pond was also used as a watering place for cattle. Decline in the concentration of aquatic invertebrate subfossils, diatoms, aquatic and cultivated plant macrofossils, reveals rapid abandonment of the rettery in the mid-17th century AD. For some time after the basin was a telmatic ecosystem overgrown by sedges and bulrush. The basin was finally filled by a high-energy overbank deposition not later than in the beginning of 19th century AD.