Gishan F. Schaeren - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
poster by Gishan F. Schaeren
The SNF-project “Formation and taphonomy of archaeological wetland deposits: two transdisciplinar... more The SNF-project “Formation and taphonomy of archaeological wetland deposits: two transdisciplinary case studies and their impact on lakeshore archaeology” aims to develop new methodological standards for a better understanding of layer formation processes of archaeological wetland deposits .Here we present preliminary results from a bone midden found in the Neolithic lakeshore settlement Zug-Riedmatt.
Papers by Gishan F. Schaeren
Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 2017
Layer taphonomy is one of the major questions in the archaeological research of lakeshore settlem... more Layer taphonomy is one of the major questions in the archaeological research of lakeshore settlements. How fast did these deposits develop? Were they exposed to periodic droughts and decay? Which amount of the originally deposited remains survived until present? Plant macroremains have a great potential as indicators of preservation quality, since they are short-lived and particularly sensible to changes in preservation conditions. This paper reviews previous attempts to use similar proxies to understand layer taphonomy and provides a compilation of almost 50 variables (that include plant macroremains and other remains found in sediment samples) as indicators for preservation quality. Two late Neolithic lakeshore sites located in Central Switzerland were used as tests and more than 100 samples per site were investigated. Samples were grouped into meaningful groups (according to sediment type or their location in the stratigraphy, etc.) and ubiquities were calculated for each variable in each group of samples. Correspondence Analysis was applied in order to establish connections between groups of variables and groups of samples. GIS was used in one of the cases to look at preservation at a site scale. The method proved to be useful and differences in preservation conditions were observed in both sites, not only regarding the location of the samples in the stratigraphy and in relation to their proximity to the lake, but also in connection to sediment type. It is suggested that such studies are necessary before any palaeoeconomic analysis is undertaken.
PLOS ONE
The excellent preservation of the waterlogged botanical remains of the multiphase Neolithic pile-... more The excellent preservation of the waterlogged botanical remains of the multiphase Neolithic pile-dwelling site of Zug-Riedmatt (Central Switzerland) yielded an ideal dataset to delve into the issue of plant economy of a community spanning several decades. The study identified a major change in crops where oil plants played a key role in the site’s initial phase before being supplanted over the course of a few decades by naked wheat, barley and pea. Wild plants continued to be gathered albeit in different proportions. In the latest settlement phase, the changes in the local vegetation and in the values of the analyses of carbon stable isotopes suggest a less humid environment. The hypothesis is that the changes perceived in the plant economy represent a resilience strategy adopted by the inhabitants in reaction to short term local climatic alterations. The two types of soil sampling techniques (monolith and bulk) allowed comparing these results. While the density of plant remains app...
In archaeology, environmental history all too often focused on the individual settlements and on ... more In archaeology, environmental history all too often focused on the individual settlements and on the economic use of their immediate environment. This view fails to acknowledge the importance of other actors (e.g. animals, plants, waters) interacting with humans. Outside the settlements, the traces of humans and these other actors are entangled and become difficult to discern. This is especially true for processes in deltas, which are inherently dynamic, complex, short-lived and fragmented. The life and activities of humans in such areas can only be properly assessed if the habitat as a whole with all its actors is understood and a long-term perspective is adopted. Due to intensive construction work in the Lorze Delta since the 1980s, the archaeological department of Canton Zug has carried out a number of excavations. However, only now has the basic information about the sites (e.g. location, sediments and dating) been more broadly compiled and the results of the different studies been collated. This has led to ground-breaking insights into the cultural and natural interactions in the catchment area of the Lorze River. In the early stages of the Lorze Delta during the Late Glacial and Early Holocene, after the melting of the Reuss Glacier, the only just populated landscape was characterised by unstable geological conditions. When analysing Neolithic and Bronze Age pile dwellings, understanding the Lorze Delta’s formation is a prerequisite for appreciating the sites’ location. In the alluvial fan, long-term changes in human and riverine activity from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages can be detected. Today, human impact instead of geological processes write the delta’s story: the river course has been diverted to give way for a motorway while the delta itself has been altered artificially.
Zusammenfassung: Die Rettungsgrabungen auf der Rothuswiese in Zug (2001-2003) haben aussergewöhnl... more Zusammenfassung: Die Rettungsgrabungen auf der Rothuswiese in Zug (2001-2003) haben aussergewöhnlich gut erhaltene Funde und Befunde aus der Mittelbronzezeit geliefert. Zwei nebeneinanderliegende Gruben mit einer komplexen Schichtabfolge und einer grossen Menge an Keramik und anderen Objekten wurden bereits untersucht. Die vorliegende Teilauswertung lässt bereits das grosse Potenzial der Fundstelle erahnen. Fünf vollständige Gefässprofile und weitere grosse Gefässfragmente ermöglichen eine für mittelbronzezeitliche Siedlungen differenzierte Ansprache der Gefässformen. Zudem erlaubt die qualitätvolle Grabungsdokumentation eine detaillierte Befundanalyse, welche wiederum eine Deutung ermöglicht, die über das lnterpretationskonzept "Abfallgrube" hinausgeht. Résumé: Les fouilles de sauvetage au lieu-dit Rothuswiese à Zug (2001- 2003) ont livré des restes et des structures extrêmement bien conservés du Bronze Moyen. Les deux fosses fouillées, situées côte à côte, contenaient une grande quantité de céramiques et d'autres objets répartis à travers une stratigraphie complexe. Les résultats partiels présentés ici permettent d'apprécier le fort potentiel de ce site. Cinq profils céramiques complets et d'autres tessons de grande taille autorisent une approche renouvelée des formes céramiques en contexte d'habitat du Bronze moyen. En outre, la qualité exceptionnelle des relevés de terrain permet une analyse détaillée des structures, ce qui mène à une interprétation qui déborde largement du concept de „fosses-dépotoirs". Riassunto: Gli scavi d'emergenza sulla Rothuswiese a Zugo (2001-2003) hanno portato alla luce ritrovamenti e reperti del Bronzo medio, sorprendentemente ben conservati. Finora sono state analizzate due fosse affiancate, caratterizzate da una sequenza stratigrafica complessa e grandi quantità di ceramica e altri reperti. L'analisi presente lascia intuire il grande potenziale del sito. Cinque profili completi di ceramiche e altri grandi frammenti permettono una, per il Bronzo medio, precisa caratterizzazione delle forme ceramiche. Inoltre la documentazione minuziosa dello scavo consente un'analisi dettagliata dei ritrovamenti, Ia quale a sua volta rende possibile una lettura che va al di Ià del concetto di "fossa per rifiuti". Summary: The rescue excavations that took place at Rothuswiese in Zug (2001-2003) brought to light exceptionally well preserved Middle Bronze Age finds and features. Two pits found next to each other with a complex sequence of layers and large amounts of pottery and other artefacts have already been studied. The partial analysis presented here hints at the considerable potential of this site. Five complete vessel profiles and other large fragments of vessels have allowed us to identify the shapes of the vessels to an unusually high degree in Middle Bronze Age settlements. Moreover, the excellent excavation records have allowed us to carry out a detailed study of the archaeological features, which in turn enables us to arrive at an interpretation that transcends the "rubbish pit" concept.
A Oberrisch ZG, sur les rives du lac de Zoug, un projet de construction menacant un site littoral... more A Oberrisch ZG, sur les rives du lac de Zoug, un projet de construction menacant un site littoral neolitique a conduit le service archeologique cantonal a effectuer une fouille de sauvetage, de 1996 a 1997, sur une surface d'environ 1400 m 2 . La zone examinee n'a livre qu'un seul niveau archeologique ; du cote du lac, la couche atteignait 10 cm d'epaisseur et contenait de nombreux restes organiques ainsi que du charbon de bois. Au cours de la fouille, 1300 pieux et bois couches ont ete documentes et echantillonnes. Divers indices montrent que les pieux ont ete generalement abattus et travailles a l'aide de haches en cuivre. La dendrochronologie et les datations au radiocarbone s'accordent pour situer la phase d'occupation vers 3700 av. J.-C. Deux chapes d'argile dont l'extension est limitee par des pieux indiquent un plan au sol des maisons d'environ 4,5 m de large pour 10 m de long. Sous l'une de ces chapes, on a decouvert un plancher de branches. Outre de nombreux recipients en ceramique et des outils en pierre, en os et en bois de cervide, on a mis au jour plus de 20 restes de textiles et de vanneries, deux creusets, ainsi que 41 fragments de cuivre de dimensions diverses, dont trois tiges. Depuis 1997, un reseau d'observations effectuees sur la nappe phreatique fournit regulierement des donnees permettant d'evaluer le taux d'humidite du sol, et donc les chances de conservation des restes organiques que recele encore la couche archeologique.
The copper axe blade discovered in the pile dwelling site of Zug-Riedmatt is one of the few Neoli... more The copper axe blade discovered in the pile dwelling site of Zug-Riedmatt is one of the few Neolithic copper axe blades in Europe that can be dated with certainty. The blade's form shape and its metal composition suggest that it is connected both to the South – more specifically to Copper Age cultures in northern Italy and southern Tuscany – and to the copper axe of the famous ice mummy of the Tisenjoch (called 'the Iceman' or 'Otzi'). We were able to confirm this connection to the South by measuring the lead isotopic composition of the blade, which traces the blade's origin to Southern Tuscany. Due to these links to the South, the copper axe blade of Zug-Riedmatt can be described as a key to in the understanding of the Neolithic metallurgy north of the Alps in the second half of the fourth millennium BC. As the classification of the blade will have far-reaching consequences in regard to chronology and cultural history, we haveit has been decided to make the ...
In archaeology, environmental history all too often focused on the individual settlements and on ... more In archaeology, environmental history all too often focused on the individual settlements and on the economic use of their immediate environment. This view fails to acknowledge the importance of other actors (e.g. animals, plants, waters) interacting with humans. Outside the settlements, the traces of humans and these other actors are entangled and become difficult to discern. This is especially true for processes in deltas, which are inherently dynamic, complex, short-lived and fragmented. The life and activities of humans in such areas can only be properly assessed if the habitat as a whole with all its actors is understood and a long-term perspective is adopted. Due to intensive construction work in the Lorze Delta since the 1980s, the archaeological department of Canton Zug has carried out a number of excavations. However, only now has the basic information about the sites (e.g. location, sediments and dating) been more broadly compiled and the results of the different studies been collated. This has led to ground-breaking insights into the cultural and natural interactions in the catchment area of the Lorze River. In the early stages of the Lorze Delta during the Late Glacial and Early Holocene, after the melting of the Reuss Glacier, the only just populated landscape was characterised by unstable geological conditions. When analysing Neolithic and Bronze Age pile dwellings, understanding the Lorze Delta’s formation is a prerequisite for appreciating the sites’ location. In the alluvial fan, long-term changes in human and riverine activity from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages can be detected. Today, human impact instead of geological processes write the delta’s story: the river course has been diverted to give way for a motorway while the delta itself has been altered artificially.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
Thirty-nine Neolithic and Early Bronze Age copper objects (primarily axe blades and daggers) from... more Thirty-nine Neolithic and Early Bronze Age copper objects (primarily axe blades and daggers) from Central, southern and eastern Switzerland or eastern France were analysed typochronologically, chemically and with regard to their lead isotope ratios. This combination of methods allows for more differentiated and reliable conclusions about the provenances of the copper ores and metallurgies than the individual methods could provide in isolation. The primacy of the typochronological classification is paramount for assessing the scientific results appropriately. For the period between c. 4300 and c. 1800 BCE, there is evidence of at least seven different metallurgical traditions found in the Prealps, some of them stemming from faraway innovation hotspots. These metallurgies do not form part of a continuous tradition; instead, they emerge unexpectedly and disappear again just as abruptly. This could hint at the fragility and volatility of these strands of tradition and the groups who keep them. Between 4300 and 3500 BCE, there was a multitude of types, groups of copper compositions and isotope ratios. Arsenic plays an essential role in the composition of copper during this time. Such arsenic-enriched copper is generally referred to as ‘arsenic copper’. It is likely that a considerable share of the raw material used in arsenic copper from this first heyday of copper metallurgy originates from the Slovak or Saxon-Bohemian Ore Mountains. Nevertheless, it seems likely that arsenic copper was at least partially cast locally in the pile dwelling of the Prealps and forged into the shapes known from these areas. According to our analyses, the raw material of some of the objects found in the Swiss Prealps, whether they are arsenic copper or not, could also stem from the eastern Alpine region. Concentrations of crucible and axe blade finds are not necessarily evidence for ore deposits in close proximity, as was assumed in the case of Mondsee and Attersee; these finds could also be indicative of local salt sources, with the salt being exchanged for copper from other areas. The copper of the flanged axe blades from the last quarter of the 4th millennium BCE found mainly south of the Alps—in isolation also north of the Alps—is very similar to the early arsenic copper mentioned above. The axe blades’ distribution patterns and the ‘fingerprint’ of their lead isotope ratios suggest that this later arsenic copper has its origin in the metallurgical centres in South Tuscany. These innovations from the West Mediterranean inspired the metallurgical traditions in the South of France (e.g. Cabrières, Montagne Noire) and the south-western Alps (Massifs des Grandes Rousses, Saint Véran).
Nutzungsbedingungen Die ETH-Bibliothek ist Anbieterin der digitalisierten Zeitschriften. Sie besi... more Nutzungsbedingungen Die ETH-Bibliothek ist Anbieterin der digitalisierten Zeitschriften. Sie besitzt keine Urheberrechte an den Inhalten der Zeitschriften. Die Rechte liegen in der Regel bei den Herausgebern. Die auf der Plattform e-periodica veröffentlichten Dokumente stehen für nicht-kommerzielle Zwecke in Lehre und Forschung sowie für die private Nutzung frei zur Verfügung. Einzelne Dateien oder Ausdrucke aus diesem Angebot können zusammen mit diesen Nutzungsbedingungen und den korrekten Herkunftsbezeichnungen weitergegeben werden. Das Veröffentlichen von Bildern in Print-und Online-Publikationen ist nur mit vorheriger Genehmigung der Rechteinhaber erlaubt. Die systematische Speicherung von Teilen des elektronischen Angebots auf anderen Servern bedarf ebenfalls des schriftlichen Einverständnisses der Rechteinhaber. Haftungsausschluss Alle Angaben erfolgen ohne Gewähr für Vollständigkeit oder Richtigkeit. Es wird keine Haftung übernommen für Schäden durch die Verwendung von Informationen aus diesem Online-Angebot oder durch das Fehlen von Informationen. Dies gilt auch für Inhalte Dritter, die über dieses Angebot zugänglich sind.
The SNF-project “Formation and taphonomy of archaeological wetland deposits: two transdisciplinar... more The SNF-project “Formation and taphonomy of archaeological wetland deposits: two transdisciplinary case studies and their impact on lakeshore archaeology” aims to develop new methodological standards for a better understanding of layer formation processes of archaeological wetland deposits .Here we present preliminary results from a bone midden found in the Neolithic lakeshore settlement Zug-Riedmatt.
Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 2017
Layer taphonomy is one of the major questions in the archaeological research of lakeshore settlem... more Layer taphonomy is one of the major questions in the archaeological research of lakeshore settlements. How fast did these deposits develop? Were they exposed to periodic droughts and decay? Which amount of the originally deposited remains survived until present? Plant macroremains have a great potential as indicators of preservation quality, since they are short-lived and particularly sensible to changes in preservation conditions. This paper reviews previous attempts to use similar proxies to understand layer taphonomy and provides a compilation of almost 50 variables (that include plant macroremains and other remains found in sediment samples) as indicators for preservation quality. Two late Neolithic lakeshore sites located in Central Switzerland were used as tests and more than 100 samples per site were investigated. Samples were grouped into meaningful groups (according to sediment type or their location in the stratigraphy, etc.) and ubiquities were calculated for each variable in each group of samples. Correspondence Analysis was applied in order to establish connections between groups of variables and groups of samples. GIS was used in one of the cases to look at preservation at a site scale. The method proved to be useful and differences in preservation conditions were observed in both sites, not only regarding the location of the samples in the stratigraphy and in relation to their proximity to the lake, but also in connection to sediment type. It is suggested that such studies are necessary before any palaeoeconomic analysis is undertaken.
PLOS ONE
The excellent preservation of the waterlogged botanical remains of the multiphase Neolithic pile-... more The excellent preservation of the waterlogged botanical remains of the multiphase Neolithic pile-dwelling site of Zug-Riedmatt (Central Switzerland) yielded an ideal dataset to delve into the issue of plant economy of a community spanning several decades. The study identified a major change in crops where oil plants played a key role in the site’s initial phase before being supplanted over the course of a few decades by naked wheat, barley and pea. Wild plants continued to be gathered albeit in different proportions. In the latest settlement phase, the changes in the local vegetation and in the values of the analyses of carbon stable isotopes suggest a less humid environment. The hypothesis is that the changes perceived in the plant economy represent a resilience strategy adopted by the inhabitants in reaction to short term local climatic alterations. The two types of soil sampling techniques (monolith and bulk) allowed comparing these results. While the density of plant remains app...
In archaeology, environmental history all too often focused on the individual settlements and on ... more In archaeology, environmental history all too often focused on the individual settlements and on the economic use of their immediate environment. This view fails to acknowledge the importance of other actors (e.g. animals, plants, waters) interacting with humans. Outside the settlements, the traces of humans and these other actors are entangled and become difficult to discern. This is especially true for processes in deltas, which are inherently dynamic, complex, short-lived and fragmented. The life and activities of humans in such areas can only be properly assessed if the habitat as a whole with all its actors is understood and a long-term perspective is adopted. Due to intensive construction work in the Lorze Delta since the 1980s, the archaeological department of Canton Zug has carried out a number of excavations. However, only now has the basic information about the sites (e.g. location, sediments and dating) been more broadly compiled and the results of the different studies been collated. This has led to ground-breaking insights into the cultural and natural interactions in the catchment area of the Lorze River. In the early stages of the Lorze Delta during the Late Glacial and Early Holocene, after the melting of the Reuss Glacier, the only just populated landscape was characterised by unstable geological conditions. When analysing Neolithic and Bronze Age pile dwellings, understanding the Lorze Delta’s formation is a prerequisite for appreciating the sites’ location. In the alluvial fan, long-term changes in human and riverine activity from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages can be detected. Today, human impact instead of geological processes write the delta’s story: the river course has been diverted to give way for a motorway while the delta itself has been altered artificially.
Zusammenfassung: Die Rettungsgrabungen auf der Rothuswiese in Zug (2001-2003) haben aussergewöhnl... more Zusammenfassung: Die Rettungsgrabungen auf der Rothuswiese in Zug (2001-2003) haben aussergewöhnlich gut erhaltene Funde und Befunde aus der Mittelbronzezeit geliefert. Zwei nebeneinanderliegende Gruben mit einer komplexen Schichtabfolge und einer grossen Menge an Keramik und anderen Objekten wurden bereits untersucht. Die vorliegende Teilauswertung lässt bereits das grosse Potenzial der Fundstelle erahnen. Fünf vollständige Gefässprofile und weitere grosse Gefässfragmente ermöglichen eine für mittelbronzezeitliche Siedlungen differenzierte Ansprache der Gefässformen. Zudem erlaubt die qualitätvolle Grabungsdokumentation eine detaillierte Befundanalyse, welche wiederum eine Deutung ermöglicht, die über das lnterpretationskonzept "Abfallgrube" hinausgeht. Résumé: Les fouilles de sauvetage au lieu-dit Rothuswiese à Zug (2001- 2003) ont livré des restes et des structures extrêmement bien conservés du Bronze Moyen. Les deux fosses fouillées, situées côte à côte, contenaient une grande quantité de céramiques et d'autres objets répartis à travers une stratigraphie complexe. Les résultats partiels présentés ici permettent d'apprécier le fort potentiel de ce site. Cinq profils céramiques complets et d'autres tessons de grande taille autorisent une approche renouvelée des formes céramiques en contexte d'habitat du Bronze moyen. En outre, la qualité exceptionnelle des relevés de terrain permet une analyse détaillée des structures, ce qui mène à une interprétation qui déborde largement du concept de „fosses-dépotoirs". Riassunto: Gli scavi d'emergenza sulla Rothuswiese a Zugo (2001-2003) hanno portato alla luce ritrovamenti e reperti del Bronzo medio, sorprendentemente ben conservati. Finora sono state analizzate due fosse affiancate, caratterizzate da una sequenza stratigrafica complessa e grandi quantità di ceramica e altri reperti. L'analisi presente lascia intuire il grande potenziale del sito. Cinque profili completi di ceramiche e altri grandi frammenti permettono una, per il Bronzo medio, precisa caratterizzazione delle forme ceramiche. Inoltre la documentazione minuziosa dello scavo consente un'analisi dettagliata dei ritrovamenti, Ia quale a sua volta rende possibile una lettura che va al di Ià del concetto di "fossa per rifiuti". Summary: The rescue excavations that took place at Rothuswiese in Zug (2001-2003) brought to light exceptionally well preserved Middle Bronze Age finds and features. Two pits found next to each other with a complex sequence of layers and large amounts of pottery and other artefacts have already been studied. The partial analysis presented here hints at the considerable potential of this site. Five complete vessel profiles and other large fragments of vessels have allowed us to identify the shapes of the vessels to an unusually high degree in Middle Bronze Age settlements. Moreover, the excellent excavation records have allowed us to carry out a detailed study of the archaeological features, which in turn enables us to arrive at an interpretation that transcends the "rubbish pit" concept.
A Oberrisch ZG, sur les rives du lac de Zoug, un projet de construction menacant un site littoral... more A Oberrisch ZG, sur les rives du lac de Zoug, un projet de construction menacant un site littoral neolitique a conduit le service archeologique cantonal a effectuer une fouille de sauvetage, de 1996 a 1997, sur une surface d'environ 1400 m 2 . La zone examinee n'a livre qu'un seul niveau archeologique ; du cote du lac, la couche atteignait 10 cm d'epaisseur et contenait de nombreux restes organiques ainsi que du charbon de bois. Au cours de la fouille, 1300 pieux et bois couches ont ete documentes et echantillonnes. Divers indices montrent que les pieux ont ete generalement abattus et travailles a l'aide de haches en cuivre. La dendrochronologie et les datations au radiocarbone s'accordent pour situer la phase d'occupation vers 3700 av. J.-C. Deux chapes d'argile dont l'extension est limitee par des pieux indiquent un plan au sol des maisons d'environ 4,5 m de large pour 10 m de long. Sous l'une de ces chapes, on a decouvert un plancher de branches. Outre de nombreux recipients en ceramique et des outils en pierre, en os et en bois de cervide, on a mis au jour plus de 20 restes de textiles et de vanneries, deux creusets, ainsi que 41 fragments de cuivre de dimensions diverses, dont trois tiges. Depuis 1997, un reseau d'observations effectuees sur la nappe phreatique fournit regulierement des donnees permettant d'evaluer le taux d'humidite du sol, et donc les chances de conservation des restes organiques que recele encore la couche archeologique.
The copper axe blade discovered in the pile dwelling site of Zug-Riedmatt is one of the few Neoli... more The copper axe blade discovered in the pile dwelling site of Zug-Riedmatt is one of the few Neolithic copper axe blades in Europe that can be dated with certainty. The blade's form shape and its metal composition suggest that it is connected both to the South – more specifically to Copper Age cultures in northern Italy and southern Tuscany – and to the copper axe of the famous ice mummy of the Tisenjoch (called 'the Iceman' or 'Otzi'). We were able to confirm this connection to the South by measuring the lead isotopic composition of the blade, which traces the blade's origin to Southern Tuscany. Due to these links to the South, the copper axe blade of Zug-Riedmatt can be described as a key to in the understanding of the Neolithic metallurgy north of the Alps in the second half of the fourth millennium BC. As the classification of the blade will have far-reaching consequences in regard to chronology and cultural history, we haveit has been decided to make the ...
In archaeology, environmental history all too often focused on the individual settlements and on ... more In archaeology, environmental history all too often focused on the individual settlements and on the economic use of their immediate environment. This view fails to acknowledge the importance of other actors (e.g. animals, plants, waters) interacting with humans. Outside the settlements, the traces of humans and these other actors are entangled and become difficult to discern. This is especially true for processes in deltas, which are inherently dynamic, complex, short-lived and fragmented. The life and activities of humans in such areas can only be properly assessed if the habitat as a whole with all its actors is understood and a long-term perspective is adopted. Due to intensive construction work in the Lorze Delta since the 1980s, the archaeological department of Canton Zug has carried out a number of excavations. However, only now has the basic information about the sites (e.g. location, sediments and dating) been more broadly compiled and the results of the different studies been collated. This has led to ground-breaking insights into the cultural and natural interactions in the catchment area of the Lorze River. In the early stages of the Lorze Delta during the Late Glacial and Early Holocene, after the melting of the Reuss Glacier, the only just populated landscape was characterised by unstable geological conditions. When analysing Neolithic and Bronze Age pile dwellings, understanding the Lorze Delta’s formation is a prerequisite for appreciating the sites’ location. In the alluvial fan, long-term changes in human and riverine activity from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages can be detected. Today, human impact instead of geological processes write the delta’s story: the river course has been diverted to give way for a motorway while the delta itself has been altered artificially.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences
Thirty-nine Neolithic and Early Bronze Age copper objects (primarily axe blades and daggers) from... more Thirty-nine Neolithic and Early Bronze Age copper objects (primarily axe blades and daggers) from Central, southern and eastern Switzerland or eastern France were analysed typochronologically, chemically and with regard to their lead isotope ratios. This combination of methods allows for more differentiated and reliable conclusions about the provenances of the copper ores and metallurgies than the individual methods could provide in isolation. The primacy of the typochronological classification is paramount for assessing the scientific results appropriately. For the period between c. 4300 and c. 1800 BCE, there is evidence of at least seven different metallurgical traditions found in the Prealps, some of them stemming from faraway innovation hotspots. These metallurgies do not form part of a continuous tradition; instead, they emerge unexpectedly and disappear again just as abruptly. This could hint at the fragility and volatility of these strands of tradition and the groups who keep them. Between 4300 and 3500 BCE, there was a multitude of types, groups of copper compositions and isotope ratios. Arsenic plays an essential role in the composition of copper during this time. Such arsenic-enriched copper is generally referred to as ‘arsenic copper’. It is likely that a considerable share of the raw material used in arsenic copper from this first heyday of copper metallurgy originates from the Slovak or Saxon-Bohemian Ore Mountains. Nevertheless, it seems likely that arsenic copper was at least partially cast locally in the pile dwelling of the Prealps and forged into the shapes known from these areas. According to our analyses, the raw material of some of the objects found in the Swiss Prealps, whether they are arsenic copper or not, could also stem from the eastern Alpine region. Concentrations of crucible and axe blade finds are not necessarily evidence for ore deposits in close proximity, as was assumed in the case of Mondsee and Attersee; these finds could also be indicative of local salt sources, with the salt being exchanged for copper from other areas. The copper of the flanged axe blades from the last quarter of the 4th millennium BCE found mainly south of the Alps—in isolation also north of the Alps—is very similar to the early arsenic copper mentioned above. The axe blades’ distribution patterns and the ‘fingerprint’ of their lead isotope ratios suggest that this later arsenic copper has its origin in the metallurgical centres in South Tuscany. These innovations from the West Mediterranean inspired the metallurgical traditions in the South of France (e.g. Cabrières, Montagne Noire) and the south-western Alps (Massifs des Grandes Rousses, Saint Véran).
Nutzungsbedingungen Die ETH-Bibliothek ist Anbieterin der digitalisierten Zeitschriften. Sie besi... more Nutzungsbedingungen Die ETH-Bibliothek ist Anbieterin der digitalisierten Zeitschriften. Sie besitzt keine Urheberrechte an den Inhalten der Zeitschriften. Die Rechte liegen in der Regel bei den Herausgebern. Die auf der Plattform e-periodica veröffentlichten Dokumente stehen für nicht-kommerzielle Zwecke in Lehre und Forschung sowie für die private Nutzung frei zur Verfügung. Einzelne Dateien oder Ausdrucke aus diesem Angebot können zusammen mit diesen Nutzungsbedingungen und den korrekten Herkunftsbezeichnungen weitergegeben werden. Das Veröffentlichen von Bildern in Print-und Online-Publikationen ist nur mit vorheriger Genehmigung der Rechteinhaber erlaubt. Die systematische Speicherung von Teilen des elektronischen Angebots auf anderen Servern bedarf ebenfalls des schriftlichen Einverständnisses der Rechteinhaber. Haftungsausschluss Alle Angaben erfolgen ohne Gewähr für Vollständigkeit oder Richtigkeit. Es wird keine Haftung übernommen für Schäden durch die Verwendung von Informationen aus diesem Online-Angebot oder durch das Fehlen von Informationen. Dies gilt auch für Inhalte Dritter, die über dieses Angebot zugänglich sind.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2021
Thirty-nine Neolithic and Early Bronze Age copper objects (primarily axe blades and daggers) from... more Thirty-nine Neolithic and Early Bronze Age copper objects (primarily axe blades and daggers) from Central, southern and eastern Switzerland or eastern France were analysed typochronologically, chemically and with regard to their lead isotope ratios. This combination of methods allows for more differentiated and reliable conclusions about the provenances of the copper ores and metallurgies than the individual methods could provide in isolation. The primacy of the typochronological classification is paramount for assessing the scientific results appropriately. For the period between c. 4300 and c. 1800 BCE, there is evidence of at least seven different metallurgical traditions found in the Prealps, some of them stemming from faraway innovation hotspots. These metallurgies do not form part of a continuous tradition; instead, they emerge unexpectedly and disappear again just as abruptly. This could hint at the fragility and volatility of these strands of tradition and the groups who keep them. Between 4300 and 3500 BCE, there was a multitude of types, groups of copper compositions and isotope ratios. Arsenic plays an essential role in the composition of copper during this time. Such arsenic-enriched copper is generally referred to as ‘arsenic copper’. It is likely that a considerable share of the raw material used in arsenic copper from this first heyday of copper metallurgy originates from the Slovak or Saxon-Bohemian Ore Mountains. Nevertheless, it seems likely that arsenic copper was at least partially cast locally in the pile dwelling of the Prealps and forged into the shapes known from these areas. According to our analyses, the raw material of some of the objects found in the Swiss Prealps, whether they are arsenic copper or not, could also stem from the eastern Alpine region. Concentrations of crucible and axe blade finds are not necessarily evidence for ore deposits in close proximity, as was assumed in the case of Mondsee and Attersee; these finds could also be indicative of local salt sources, with the salt being exchanged for copper from other areas. The copper of the flanged axe blades from the last quarter of the 4th millennium BCE found mainly south of the Alps—in isolation also north of the Alps—is very similar to the early arsenic copper mentioned above. The axe blades’ distribution patterns and the ‘fingerprint’ of their lead isotope ratios suggest that this later arsenic copper has its origin in the metallurgical centres in South Tuscany. These innovations from the West Mediterranean inspired the metallurgical traditions in the South of France (e.g. Cabrières, Montagne Noire) and the south-western Alps (Massifs des Grandes Rousses, Saint Véran).
Zug derives its name from an old term for hauling in nets (zuc). Current research shows the sign... more Zug derives its name from an old term for hauling in nets (zuc). Current research shows the significance of fishing in several sites at least from the Neolithic onward. The excellent preservation in wetland sites allows distinguishing between various patterns of wetland resource management in different sites. Abundance and composition of recorded wetland species seem to vary probably depending on location, function, and seasonality of the sites: at Cham-Eslen, around 4000 BC a single building on an island seems to have been used predominantly for fishing activities, as we can tell from both finds of fishing gear and a large amount of fish bones. Transdisciplinary evaluations of a large bone midden and its overlying loam layers in the site of Zug-Riedmatt (around 3200 BC) show evidence of seasonally differentiated subsistence activities as intense red deer hunting, fishing, gathering, and processing of different wet-land species in and near the ambient river delta and lake shore (frogs, bleaks, pikes, and whitefish). From later prehistoric and Roman times we have as yet little to no information. A recent excavation in a silted up small lake called "Bibersee" (beaver lake) however has yielded very rich finds of fishing gear (traps, fences, dugout) from the Middle Ages which correspond well with the site of Steinhausen-Sumpfstrasse West . If we trace back waters and wetlands in the pre-industrial area of Canton Zug, manifold waterscapes emerge. Lakes, deltas, riparian zones, rivers, swamps of different sizes cover a large part of the surface of the Canton of Zug and provide an abundant mosaic of food resources as well as transport and communication routes throughout the times.
Lelech und Nardu Pfahlbauer am Zugersee, SJW Nr: 2458, 2013
popular videoclip about living at the lakes in prehistoric times. Part of the series of short... more popular videoclip about living at the lakes in prehistoric times.
Part of the series of short films “World Heritage in Switzerland” of the Swiss Commission for UNESCO about the World Heritage sites existing on the national territory.
J. Reinhard/A. Meier/D. Freund/G. F. Schaeren, Cham ZG, Flachwasserzone des Zugersees (842, 2353,... more J. Reinhard/A. Meier/D. Freund/G. F. Schaeren, Cham ZG, Flachwasserzone des Zugersees (842, 2353, 2354, 2356, 2357, 2358, 2368). Jahrbuch Archäologie Schweiz 104, 2021, 141-142.
R. Agola/M. Montandon/J. Reinhard/G. F. Schaeren/St. Doswald, Zug ZG, Eielenwald, Egg. Jahrbuch A... more R. Agola/M. Montandon/J. Reinhard/G. F. Schaeren/St. Doswald, Zug ZG, Eielenwald, Egg. Jahrbuch Archäologie Schweiz 104, 2021, 198.
Fachwerk aus dem 16. Jahrhundert; dieselbe Farbgebung wurde auch im ersten Obergeschoss vorgefund... more Fachwerk aus dem 16. Jahrhundert; dieselbe Farbgebung wurde auch im ersten Obergeschoss vorgefunden. Ziel der restaura torischen Massnahme war es, ein geschlossenes Erscheinungsbild der Wand zu erzeugen. Die Begleitlinien wurden erkennbar rekonstruiert. Die Holzdecke über dem zweiten Obergeschoss wurde ebenfalls restauriert und bleibt weiterhin sichtbar. Die äussere Farbgebung der Dorfstrasse 1 wünschte die Bauherrschaft gleich wie bisher (Abb. 38). Der Neubau an der Dorfstrasse 3 wurde in einem Oxidrot gestrichen.
Die 14C-Daten der beiden Fundstellen reichen vom Spätmesolithikum bis in die römische Zeit. Sie z... more Die 14C-Daten der beiden Fundstellen reichen vom Spätmesolithikum bis in die römische Zeit. Sie zeigen, dass in der Sennweid zu verschiedenen Zeiten gesiedelt wurde. Eine kontinuierliche Besiedlung lässt sich aus den Daten hingegen nicht ableiten. Vielmehr zeichnen sich zeitliche Schwerpunkte ab, die überwiegend den typologischen Datierungen der Funde und den Dendrodaten entsprechen. So fällt die Masse der Daten in die gut dokumentierten Horgener Siedlungsphasen des 29. und 28. Jahrhunderts v. Chr. Einige wenige könnten aus Zeiten stammen, die in der Sennweid bislang noch nicht mit Funden oder Dendrodaten belegt sind. Dazu gehören fünf Daten, die ausser ins Spätmesolithikum, das durch Funde gut dokumentiert ist, auch ins Frühneolithikum passen könnten. Dieses ist im nahe gelegenen Bibersee-Moor indirekt über Getreidepollen nachgewiesen.
J. Reinhard / G.F. Schaeren, Fundmeldung 'Zug ZG, Schützenmatt (2241)'. Jahrbuch Archäologie Schw... more J. Reinhard / G.F. Schaeren, Fundmeldung 'Zug ZG, Schützenmatt (2241)'. Jahrbuch Archäologie Schweiz 101, 2018, 251, 251 Abb. 50.
J. Reinhard / G.F. Schaeren / I. Hajdas, Fundmeldung 'Cham, Eichmatt II: Aushubüberwachung'. Tugi... more J. Reinhard / G.F. Schaeren / I. Hajdas, Fundmeldung 'Cham, Eichmatt II: Aushubüberwachung'. Tugium 33, 2017, 36-38.
J. Reinhard / G.F. Schaeren, Fundmeldung 'Cham, Eichmatt II: Aushubüberwachung'. Tugium 32, 2016,... more J. Reinhard / G.F. Schaeren, Fundmeldung 'Cham, Eichmatt II: Aushubüberwachung'. Tugium 32, 2016, 52-54.
J. Reinhard / E. Roth Heege / G.F. Schaeren / St. Doswald, Fundmeldung 'Oberägeri, Überbauung "Ze... more J. Reinhard / E. Roth Heege / G.F. Schaeren / St. Doswald, Fundmeldung 'Oberägeri, Überbauung "Zentrum Oberägeri": Aushubüberwachung'. Tugium 32, 2016, 61-63.
J. Reinhard / K. Weber / E. Gross / G.F. Schaeren / Ph. Rentzel / B. Steiner / I. Hajdas / St. St... more J. Reinhard / K. Weber / E. Gross / G.F. Schaeren / Ph. Rentzel / B. Steiner / I. Hajdas / St. Steiner-Osimitz, Fundmeldung 'Zug, Schützenmatt: Sondierbohrungen'. Tugium 32, 2016, 74-76.