Applied Sciences

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4 pages, 203 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Archaeoecology. The Application of Palaeoenvironmental Sciences for the Reconstruction of Human–Environment Interactions

by Jordi Revelles

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(18), 8782; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11188782 - 21 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1682

Abstract

The study of human–environment interactions is one of the mainstream topics in archaeological research, with increasing interest in the context of current societal challenges concerning environmental shifts related to climate change, sea-level rise, extreme natural events and also the exponential increase in anthropisation [...] Read more.

The study of human–environment interactions is one of the mainstream topics in archaeological research, with increasing interest in the context of current societal challenges concerning environmental shifts related to climate change, sea-level rise, extreme natural events and also the exponential increase in anthropisation in recent decades [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeoecology. The Application of Palaeoenvironmental Sciences for the Reconstruction of Human-Environment Interactions)

Research

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19 pages, 6302 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytolith and Calcitic Spherulite Indicators from Modern Reference Animal Dung from Mediterranean Island Ecosystems: Menorca, Balearic Islands

by Marta Portillo, Kate Dudgeon, Montserrat Anglada, Damià Ramis, Yolanda Llergo and Antoni Ferrer

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(16), 7202; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11167202 - 04 Aug 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2056

Abstract

This study illustrates the contribution of plant and faecal microfossil records to interdisciplinary approaches on the identification, composition, taphonomy and seasonality of livestock dung materials. The focus is on the taphonomy of opal phytoliths and calcitic dung spherulites embedded within modern faecal pellets [...] Read more.

This study illustrates the contribution of plant and faecal microfossil records to interdisciplinary approaches on the identification, composition, taphonomy and seasonality of livestock dung materials. The focus is on the taphonomy of opal phytoliths and calcitic dung spherulites embedded within modern faecal pellets collected from pasture grounds and pens from a range of animals, including cattle, sheep and pigs from three different farms and seasons of the year in Menorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. Modern reference materials provide comparative plant and dung microfossil indicators on factors affecting the formation, composition, preservation and decay of animal faeces, as well as on the diverse environmental and anthropogenic aspects influencing these. The reported results show relevant changes in phytolith and spherulite composition according to animal species and age, livestock management, seasonality, and grazing and foddering regimes. Both microfossil records provide fundamental information on taphonomic issues that are understudied, such as the variation in the digestibility among different species, including under investigated animals such as pigs, as well on the seasonality of plant and faecal microfossils that are excreted with dung as an important material for reconstructing human-environment interactions which is commonly overlooked in archaeology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeoecology. The Application of Palaeoenvironmental Sciences for the Reconstruction of Human-Environment Interactions)

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23 pages, 6027 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mid-Holocene Palaeoenvironment, Plant Resources and Human Interaction in Northeast Iberia: An Archaeobotanical Approach

by Raquel Piqué, Marta Alcolea, Ferran Antolín, Marian Berihuete-Azorín, Anna Berrocal, David Rodríguez-Antón, Maria Herrero-Otal, Oriol López-Bultó, Laura Obea and Jordi Revelles

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(11), 5056; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11115056 - 29 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3140

Abstract

The role of the adoption of farming economies in the transformation of mid-Holocene landscapes in Northeast Iberia is under discussion given that the Neolithization coincides with the cold climatic phase dated ca. 7500–7000 cal BP. The main aim of this paper is to [...] Read more.

The role of the adoption of farming economies in the transformation of mid-Holocene landscapes in Northeast Iberia is under discussion given that the Neolithization coincides with the cold climatic phase dated ca. 7500–7000 cal BP. The main aim of this paper is to assess whether human activities or climate were the main driver of vegetation changes during the Middle Holocene through the study of the archaeobotanical data from three case studies: Cova del Sardo, La Draga, and Coves del Fem. The application of diverse archaeobotanical techniques to the different plant remains provides a complete picture of the vegetation composition and plant uses. During the early Neolithic, settlement surroundings were intensively exploited for firewood, wood raw material, timber, and plant fibers. The resources were obtained mainly from deciduous and pine forests, depending on the site localization, but also from riparian zones. The diversity of plants exploited was high, not only trees but shrubs and herbs. Evidence of deforestation has been identified in the settlement surroundings in La Draga and Cova del Sardo. The combination of plant exploitation with other agropastoral activities favored the expansion of colonizing species and enhanced biodiversity at a local scale. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeoecology. The Application of Palaeoenvironmental Sciences for the Reconstruction of Human-Environment Interactions)

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19 pages, 4210 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reconstructing Human-Centered Interaction Networks of the Swifterbant Culture in the Dutch Wetlands: An Example from the ArchaeoEcology Project

by Philip Verhagen, Stefani A. Crabtree, Hans Peeters and Daan Raemaekers

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(11), 4860; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11114860 - 25 May 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2239

Abstract

In archaeology, palaeo-ecological studies are frequently used to support archaeological investigations, but linking and synthesizing datasets and concepts from ecology, ethnography, earth sciences, and archaeology has historically been rare. While advances in computational approaches and standards of data collection have enabled more collaborative [...] Read more.

In archaeology, palaeo-ecological studies are frequently used to support archaeological investigations, but linking and synthesizing datasets and concepts from ecology, ethnography, earth sciences, and archaeology has historically been rare. While advances in computational approaches and standards of data collection have enabled more collaborative approaches to understanding the past, these endeavors are only now beginning to pick up pace. Here, we propose a method to collect data of these assorted types, synthesize ecological and archaeological understanding, and move beyond subsistence-focused studies to those that incorporate multifaceted economies. We advocate for the use of ‘human-centered interaction networks’ as a tool to synthesize and better understand the role of culture, ecology, and environment in the long-term evolution of socio-ecological systems. We advance the study of human-centered interaction networks by presenting an archaeoecological (archaeological-ecological) perspective on the Neolithic transition of the Swifterbant culture in the northwestern Netherlands (approximately 4700–4000 BCE). We employed network science to better understand the relationships of animal and plant species to the uses that people made of them. The analysis of the Swifterbant system reveals a highly connected set of interactions among people, plants, and animals, as could be expected on the basis of the hypothesis of an ‘extended broad-spectrum economy’. Importantly, this broad spectrum extends beyond the subsistence sphere. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeoecology. The Application of Palaeoenvironmental Sciences for the Reconstruction of Human-Environment Interactions)

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27 pages, 4375 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geoarchaeology: Where Geosciences Meet the Humanities to Reconstruct Past Human–Environment Interactions. An Application to the Coastal Areas of the Largest Mediterranean Islands

by Matthieu Ghilardi

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(10), 4480; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11104480 - 14 May 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2769

Abstract

The study of past Human–Environment interactions has long been seen at a very local scale, that of sites of human occupation. Geoarchaeology differs from the traditional concepts of Environmental Archaeology and Landscape Archaeology in this respect since it adopts a different spatial resolution [...] Read more.

The study of past Human–Environment interactions has long been seen at a very local scale, that of sites of human occupation. Geoarchaeology differs from the traditional concepts of Environmental Archaeology and Landscape Archaeology in this respect since it adopts a different spatial resolution based on the development of multidisciplinary research at the scale of geographical, geological or geomorphological features. In this paper, we aim to contribute to the definition of coastal geoarchaeology where environmental holistic studies can be developed, thus integrating both continental and marine dynamics. A specific application is realized here for the largest Mediterranean islands where heterogeneity can be observed in research over the last decades. For this reason, we divide the Mediterranean Basin into four areas in order to review the main works conducted. In general, investigating coastal environments represents an exciting opportunity to reconstruct past landscapes and to evidence the long-term history of human occupation and land use by employing a wide range of proxies. We focus in particular on the coastal wetlands of Corsica, where a large number of lagoons have been cored since the early 2010s. Multiproxy laboratory analyses reveal a history of the complex relationships between past human societies and their environments which is complementary to existing archaeological studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeoecology. The Application of Palaeoenvironmental Sciences for the Reconstruction of Human-Environment Interactions)

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23 pages, 17581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Palynology in Archaeoecological Research: Reconstructing Human-Environment Interactions during Neolithic in the Western Mediterranean

by Jordi Revelles

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(9), 4073; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11094073 - 29 Apr 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3437

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the potential of palynology within palaeoenvironmental research to reconstruct past landscapes and assess the relationship between vegetation and the first farming communities. The analysis of pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs in natural records evidenced how the adoption of [...] Read more.

This paper provides an overview of the potential of palynology within palaeoenvironmental research to reconstruct past landscapes and assess the relationship between vegetation and the first farming communities. The analysis of pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs in natural records evidenced how the adoption of farming and new sedentary settlement patterns resulted in major landscape transformation on extra-local or regional scales in the Western Mediterranean, affecting sclerophyllous and riparian forests in North Corsica, Mediterranean maquis in South Corsica, and oak forests in NE Iberia. In addition, palynology has been confirmed as a relevant source of data to address the local palaeoenvironmental evolution in lakes, wetlands, and archaeological sites, providing evidence of the presence of flocks (spores of coprophilous fungi), and changes in hydrology (salinity, dryness/wetness, aquatic/palustrine phases) and in geomorphology (soil erosion indicators). Finally, the spatial analysis of pollen and NPP intra-site distribution is presented here as a valuable tool to assess the social use of space in archaeological sites. In that sense, archaeopalynology has provided detailed information about site formation processes, social use of space, and the use of plants and fungi in the site of La Draga (Girona, Spain). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeoecology. The Application of Palaeoenvironmental Sciences for the Reconstruction of Human-Environment Interactions)

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24 pages, 31818 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Changes and Cultural Transitions in SW Iberia during the Early-Mid Holocene

by Cristina Val-Peón, Juan I. Santisteban, José A. López-Sáez, Gerd-Christian Weniger and Klaus Reicherter

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(8), 3580; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11083580 - 16 Apr 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2307

Abstract

The SW coast of the Iberian Peninsula experiences a lack of palaeoenvironmental and archaeological data. With the aim to fill this gap, we contribute with a new palynological and geochemical dataset obtained from a sediment core drilled in the continental shelf of the [...] Read more.

The SW coast of the Iberian Peninsula experiences a lack of palaeoenvironmental and archaeological data. With the aim to fill this gap, we contribute with a new palynological and geochemical dataset obtained from a sediment core drilled in the continental shelf of the Algarve coast. Archaeological data have been correlated with our multi-proxy dataset to understand how human groups adapted to environmental changes during the Early-Mid Holocene, with special focus on the Mesolithic to Neolithic transition. Vegetation trends indicate warm conditions at the onset of the Holocene followed by increased moisture and forest development ca. 10–7 ka BP, after which woodlands are progressively replaced by heaths. Peaks of aridity were identified at 8.2 and 7. 5 ka BP. Compositional, textural, redox state, and weathering of source area geochemical proxies indicates abrupt palaeoceanographic modifications and gradual terrestrial changes at 8.2 ka BP, while the 7.5 ka BP event mirrors a decrease in land moisture availability. Mesolithic sites are mainly composed of seasonal camps with direct access to the coast for the exploitation of local resources. This pattern extends into the Early Neolithic, when these sites coexist with seasonal and permanent occupations located in inland areas near rivers. Changes in settlement patterns and dietary habits may be influenced by changes in coastal environments caused by the sea-level rise and the impact of the 8.2 and 7.5 ka BP climate events. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeoecology. The Application of Palaeoenvironmental Sciences for the Reconstruction of Human-Environment Interactions)

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15 pages, 2497 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Late Holocene Paleonvironmental Evolution of Two Coastal Lakes in Mediterranean Chile and Its Implications for Conservation Planning

by Isis-Yelena Montes, Andy Banegas-Medina, Nathalie Fagel, Meriam El Ouahabi, Elie Verleyen, Denisse Alvarez, Fernando Torrejón, Sabine Schmidt, Gilles Lepoint, Gustavo Diaz, Pablo Pedreros and Roberto Urrutia

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(8), 3478; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11083478 - 13 Apr 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2866

Abstract

Paleolimnological reconstructions from the mid and high latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere are still relatively scarce. Anthropogenic impacts have evidenced trophic state changes and an increase in cyanobacterial blooms in the lacustrine system of San Pedro de la Paz in the last decades. [...] Read more.

Paleolimnological reconstructions from the mid and high latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere are still relatively scarce. Anthropogenic impacts have evidenced trophic state changes and an increase in cyanobacterial blooms in the lacustrine system of San Pedro de la Paz in the last decades. Here, we reconstructed primary production and sedimentological changes spanning the past 2500 years in two coastal lakes in Mediterranean Chile. A multiproxy approach including sedimentological, biogenic silica, carbon and nitrogen isotopes and fossil pigments analysis in sediment cores was performed in Laguna Grande (LGSP) and Laguna Chica de San Pedro (LCSP). A marked change in the sedimentology of the lakes, likely related to the terrigenous sediment inputs derived by a transition from an arid condition in the mid-Holocene to a more humid condition in the late Holocene that favoured arboreal forest establishment at 100 BC–AD 150. A period of low primary production was identified between 850 to 1050 AC for LCSP, suggesting moist and cold conditions that were possibly related to La Niña events. In recent decades, there have been increases in primary production, probably resulting from anthropogenic disturbances. These likely include the clearance of native vegetation, the introduction of exotic tree species, and urbanisation, which in turn, resulted in nutrient inputs and hence eutrophication. We conclude that an integrated management program for both lakes is urgently needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeoecology. The Application of Palaeoenvironmental Sciences for the Reconstruction of Human-Environment Interactions)

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17 pages, 5233 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using Mg/Ca Ratios from the Limpet Patella depressa Pennant, 1777 Measured by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) to Reconstruct Paleoclimate

by Asier García-Escárzaga, Marina Martínez-Minchero, Adolfo Cobo, Igor Gutiérrez-Zugasti, Alvaro Arrizabalaga and Patrick Roberts

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(7), 2959; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11072959 - 25 Mar 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2541

Abstract

Measurement of the elemental composition of shells is increasingly emerging as an avenue for obtaining high-resolution insights into paleoclimate and past seasonality. Several studies have shown significant correlations between Mg/Ca ratios measured on shell carbonate and the sea surface temperature (SST) within which [...] Read more.

Measurement of the elemental composition of shells is increasingly emerging as an avenue for obtaining high-resolution insights into paleoclimate and past seasonality. Several studies have shown significant correlations between Mg/Ca ratios measured on shell carbonate and the sea surface temperature (SST) within which this carbonate was precipitated. However, other investigations have reported large variability in this relationship between species. Therefore, further studies, including taxa previously not considered are still required in order to validate these new species as suitable climate proxies. Here, we measured Mg/Ca ratios for limpet Patella depressa Pennant, 1777 samples live-collected in northern Spain for the first time. The elemental ratio was measured using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), a technique that significantly decreases the time required for sample preparation and increases the number of shells that can be analyzed. In this study, calibration-free LIBS (CF-LIBS) methods were applied to estimate molar concentrations of chemical elements on biogenic calcium carbonate. The Mg/Ca ratio evolution along the shell growth axis was compared with stable oxygen isotope (δ¹⁸O) profiles obtained from these same limpets and the SST at the place where the mollusk grew to determine if the sequences obtained correctly reflected environmental conditions during the life-span of the mollusk. The results showed a significant correlation between Mg/Ca ratio series and both δ¹⁸O profiles and SST, highlighting the paleoenvironmental and archaeological potential of LIBS analyses on this mollusk species that is frequently found in archaeological contexts in the western Europe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeoecology. The Application of Palaeoenvironmental Sciences for the Reconstruction of Human-Environment Interactions)

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Review

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17 pages, 1554 KiB

Open AccessReview

Disentangling Human–Plant–Animal Dynamics at the Microscale: Geo-Ethnoarchaeological Case Studies from North Africa and the Near East

by Marta Portillo and Aroa García-Suárez

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(17), 8143; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11178143 - 02 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2485

Abstract

Livestock dung is a suitable material for delineating the complexity of interactions between people, plants and animals as it contains critical information on environmental and ecological issues as well as socio-economic dynamics and cultural lifeways. However, animal faecal remains and other coprogenic materials [...] Read more.

Livestock dung is a suitable material for delineating the complexity of interactions between people, plants and animals as it contains critical information on environmental and ecological issues as well as socio-economic dynamics and cultural lifeways. However, animal faecal remains and other coprogenic materials are commonly overlooked in most archaeological research programs due, in part, to methodological challenges in its recovery and identification. This paper evaluates the contribution of integrated geoarchaeological approaches, together with comparative reference ethnoarchaeological records, to interdisciplinary microscopic analyses on the identification of animal dung and its archaeological significance within farming built environments. It brings together records from a selection of recent geo-ethnoarchaeological case studies across the Near East, one of the heartlands of plant and animal domestication, and from northern Africa, an understudied key area with critical implications for neighbouring regions such as the Sahara. This article examines the state-of-the-art of dung material identifications within agricultural and pastoral settlements and their potential for tracing ecological diversity, animal management strategies, penning, grazing and foddering, seasonality, and dung use. This review highlights the value of modern reference frameworks of livestock dung as a primary source of information for disentangling human–plant–animal dynamics through time and space. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeoecology. The Application of Palaeoenvironmental Sciences for the Reconstruction of Human-Environment Interactions)

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14 pages, 2273 KiB

Open AccessReview

Accessing Ancient Population Lifeways through the Study of Gastrointestinal Parasites: Paleoparasitology

by Matthieu Le Bailly, Céline Maicher, Kévin Roche and Benjamin Dufour

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(11), 4868; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11114868 - 26 May 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3851

Abstract

Paleoparasitology is a discipline of bioarchaeology that studies human and animal parasites and their evolution through time. It is at the frontier between biological sciences and the humanities, and aims to provide valuable clues about the lifestyles of former populations. Through examples chosen [...] Read more.

Paleoparasitology is a discipline of bioarchaeology that studies human and animal parasites and their evolution through time. It is at the frontier between biological sciences and the humanities, and aims to provide valuable clues about the lifestyles of former populations. Through examples chosen among recent case studies, we show in this review how paleoparasitology contributes to issues related to food, health, hygiene, organic waste management, and site occupation by ancient populations, but also, in the longer term, to questions of the evolution of the human/animal relationship and the history of diseases. This article provides an overview of this research field, its history, its concepts, and in particular, its applications in archaeology and the history of diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Archaeoecology. The Application of Palaeoenvironmental Sciences for the Reconstruction of Human-Environment Interactions)

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