Human Remains and What They Can Tell Us about Status and Identity in the Merovingian Period

2020 ◽  
pp. 138-163
Author(s):  
Andrea Czermak
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Late Antiquity ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Human Remains ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Transitional Period ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Cultural Changes

The Merovingian period was marked by economic, political, social, and cultural changes, leading to new social structures and cultural identities. Stable isotope analysis of human remains, focusing on potential changes in individuals’ life histories can provide important clues about this transitional period, allowing for conclusions about social structures and relations within a population. Carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios are used for characterization of individuals’ diets. Gained from bone material, isotope ratios reflect an average of an individual’s diet during the last years of life. Teeth reflect nutrition during childhood and adolescence and, due to their appositional growth, can provide a chronology of dietary intake during the first twenty years of life. Serial microsampling of dentine from different teeth that grow at different times allows detection of potential changes in diet and subsistence and thus can give information about changing environmental conditions during an individual’s early lifetime. This chapter asks whether the radical cultural changes evident in material culture in Late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages reflect the migration of populations from eastern Europe or cultural change among members of the former Roman population.

THE MODENA WELL-HOARDS: RURAL DOMESTIC ARTEFACT ASSEMBLAGES IN LATE ANTIQUITY

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 363-384
Author(s):  
Sauro Gelichi
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Late Antiquity ◽  
Transitional Period ◽  
Late Antique

This article discusses a number of late antique well-hoards found in the vicinity of Modena, which the author investigated in an earlier work published in 1994. Here, the coherence of this group, the nature of the finds from each hoard, the identity of their possible owners and their dating are re-considered. The author also questions his earlier supposition that the hoards were deposited as a result of generalised crisis, and an argument is presented that they reflect the rural material culture of a more continuous transitional period.

Oxygen isotopes of bovid teeth as archives of paleoclimatic variations in archaeological deposits of the Ganga plain, India

2004 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shikha Sharma ◽  
Michael M Joachimski ◽  
Heinz J Tobschall ◽  
Indra B Singh ◽  
Devi P Tewari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Isotope ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Ganga Plain ◽  
Cultural Changes ◽  
Bulk Oxygen ◽  
Oxygen Isotopic ◽  
Mammalian Teeth

Oxygen isotope analysis was performed on enamel phosphate of mammalian teeth from archaeological sites Kalli Pachchhim and Dadupur in the central Ganga plain and Charda in the northern Ganga plain. The bulk oxygen isotopic compositions of enamel phosphate from third molars (M3) of Bos indicus individuals belonging to different cultural periods were used to understand the climatic changes during the past 3600 cal yr B.P. Oxygen isotope ratios indicate humid conditions around 3600 cal yr B.P., followed by a trend toward drier conditions until around 2800 cal yr B.P. Then from 2500 to 1500 cal yr B.P. there is a trend toward higher humidity, followed by the onset of a dry period around 1300 cal yr B.P. The study of intratooth δ18O variations in teeth from different periods demonstrates that the monsoon seasonality was prominent. Spatial changes in the amount of annual rainfall are also reflected in the δ18O values. Teeth derived from areas with intense rainfall have lighter isotope ratios compared to teeth from regions receiving less rain, but they show similar seasonal patterns. The long-term paleoclimatic variations reflected by fluctuations in bulk δ18Op values from M3 teeth match well with the regional paleoenvironmental records and show a good correlation to the cultural changes that took place during this time span in Ganga plain.

The Story of Storyboards from East Sepik, Papua New Guinea

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-74
Author(s):  
Martin Soukup ◽  
Dušan Lužný
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Daily Life ◽  
Field Research ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Colonial Period ◽  
Cultural Continuity ◽  
Cultural Changes ◽  
Post Colonial ◽  
Global Tourism ◽  
The Village

This study analyzes and interprets East Sepik storyboards, which the authors regard as a form of cultural continuity and instrument of cultural memory in the post-colonial period. The study draws on field research conducted by the authors in the village of Kambot in East Sepik. The authors divide the storyboards into two groups based on content. The first includes storyboards describing daily life in the community, while the other links the daily life to pre-Christian religious beliefs and views. The aim of the study is to analyze one of the forms of contemporary material culture in East Sepik in the context of cultural changes triggered by Christianization, colonial administration in the former Territory of New Guinea and global tourism.

Analysis of the Context and Contents of an Ulua-Style Marble Vase from the Palmarejo Valley, Honduras

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Christian Wells ◽  
Karla L. Davis-Salazar ◽  
José E. Moreno-Cortes ◽  
Glenn S. L. Stuart ◽  
Anna C. Novotny
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Stable Isotope Analysis ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Human Remains ◽  
Classic Period ◽  
Late Classic ◽  
Residential Group ◽  
Holistic Understanding ◽  
Political Economic

Ulúa-style marble vases played important social, political, economic, and religious roles in southern Mesoamerica during the seventh through eleventh centuries A.D. However, most such vessels known to archaeologists are part of looted collections or else were unearthed before the advent of modern archaeological practices. As a result, little is known about the context, use, and chronology of these objects. Recent investigations at the site of Palos Blancos in northwest Honduras discovered an Ulúa-style marble vase in an undisturbed mortuary context. Excavation of the burial context, along with bioarchaeological and stable isotope analysis of the human remains, suggests that the vase was placed as an offering, possibly to an ancestor of the residential group. Phosphate and pollen studies indicate that the vase once held a corn-based beverage . Radiocarbon dating of four charcoal samples from immediately below and adjacent to the vase yielded a range of dates from the beginning of the Late Classic period, ca.A.D. 600-800. Through analyses of the context and contents of the vase, this research contributes to a more holistic understanding of the use and meaning of Ulúa-style marble vases in southern Mesoamerica.

Radiocarbon Dating and Dietary Stable Isotope Analysis of Kwaday Dän Ts'inchí

2007 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 719-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael P. Richards ◽  
Sheila Greer ◽  
Lorna T. Corr ◽  
Owen Beattie ◽  
Alexander Mackie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Human Remains ◽  
Isotopic Analysis ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Contact Period ◽  
European Contact ◽  
Ams Dating ◽  
The Individual

We report here on the results of AMS dating and isotopic analysis of the frozen human remains named Kwaday Dän Ts'inchí and associated materials recovered from a glacier located in Northwest British Columbia, Canada in 1999. The isotopic analysis of bone collagen (bulk and single amino acids) from the individual indicates a strongly marine diet, which was unexpected given the location of this find, more than 100 km inland eroding out of a high elevation glacier; however, bulk hair and bone cholesterol isotopic values indicate a shift in diet to include more terrestrial foods in the year before death. The radiocarbon dating is not straightforward, as there are difficulties in determining the appropriate marine correction for the human remains, and the spread of dates on the associated artifacts clearly indicates that this was not a single use site. By combining the most recent date on a robe worn by Kwaday Dän Ts'inchi with direct bone collagen dates we conclude that the individual likely dates to between cal A.D. 1670 to 1850, which is in the pre-(or early) European contact period for this region.

Secular geomagnetic field variations in Bulgarian lands during Classical Age and Late Antiquity – new archaeomagnetic data

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Kostadinova-Avramova ◽  
Petar Dimitrov ◽  
Andrei Kosterov ◽  
Mary Kovacheva
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Late Antiquity ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Reference Points ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
National Science ◽  
Basic Research Grant ◽  
National Science Fund ◽  
Research Grant

<p>Numerous historical sources and archaeological monuments attest the age of Antiquity in Bulgaria – from both the early Roman period (I – III c.) and Late Antiquity (IV – VI c.). Owing to systematic archaeological excavations, lasting more than 100 years, plenty of information has been accumulated concerning not only all aspects and manifestations of its material culture, but also their evolution and chronology.  This in turn allows for interdisciplinary fields such as archaeomagnetism to progress.</p><p>There are many archaeomagnetically studied archaeological structures from the Antiquity. The results included in the Bulgarian database form 74 reference points. However, only 20 of them are full-vector determinations because 70 % of the investigated materials are bricks. Hence, the secular variation of declination is poorly constrained within the considered period. Moreover, the reuse of bricks in the constructions occurred quite often (especially in the Late Antiquity) providing for possible errors in archaeological dating. In addition, stronger effects of magnetic anisotropy and cooling rate are usually expected for bricks than for hearths, domestic ovens, production kilns or burnt dwelling remains (there are no results from pottery in the Bulgarian dataset) and both factors are not evaluated for most of the older results. All this can explain the contradictions observed between some of the experimental results juxtaposed over the absolute time scale. In an attempt to clarify these contradictions 13 baked clay structures from eight archaeological sites were archaeomagnetically studied producing seven new directional and eight new intensity data. The samples collected possess variable magnetic properties suggesting differences in clay sources and/or firing conditions. Magnetically soft minerals prevail in seven structures but in the remaining six, abundant HCSLT phase is detected. The success rate of archaeointensity determination experiments vary from 49 to 100 %. It appears that samples containing HCSLT phase always produces good araeointensity results unlike those with the dominant presence of soft carriers.</p><p>The new reference points are compared with the present compilation of Bulgarian archaeomagnetic dataset and with the data from the neighboring countries.</p><p> </p><p>This study is supported by the grant KP-06-Russia-10 from the Bulgarian National Science Fund and Russian Foundation of the Basic Research grant 19-55-18006.</p>

scholarly journals A model-based assessment of the potential use of compound specific stable isotope analysis in river monitoring of diffuse pesticide pollution

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 8789-8839
Author(s):  
S. R. Lutz ◽  
H. J. van Meerveld ◽  
M. J. Waterloo ◽  
H. P. Broers ◽  
B. M. van Breukelen
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Stable Isotope Analysis ◽  
Surface Runoff ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Strong Increase ◽  
Extreme Rainfall Event ◽  
Pesticide Application ◽  
Pesticide Pollution ◽  
Isotope Data

Abstract. Compound-specific stable isotope analysis (CSIA) has, in combination with model-assisted interpretation, proven a valuable approach to quantify the extent of organic contaminant degradation in groundwater systems. CSIA data may also provide insights into the origin and transformation of diffuse river pollutants such as pesticides and nitrate at the catchment scale. While CSIA methods for pesticides have increasingly become available, they have not yet been deployed to interpret isotope data of pesticides in surface water. We applied a coupled subsurface-surface reactive transport model (HydroGeoSphere) at the hillslope scale to investigate the usefulness of CSIA in the assessment of pesticide degradation. We simulated the transport and transformation of a pesticide in a hypothetical but realistic two-dimensional hillslope transect. The steady-state model results illustrate a strong increase of isotope ratios at the hillslope outlet, which resulted from degradation and long travel times through the hillslope during average hydrological conditions. In contrast, following an extreme rainfall event that induced overland flow, the simulated isotope ratios dropped to the values of soil water in the pesticide application area. These results suggest that CSIA can help to determine whether pesticides enter the stream via groundwater exfiltration or via surface runoff. Simulations with daily rainfall and evapotranspiration data and one pesticide application per year resulted in small seasonal variations of concentrations and isotope ratios at the hillslope outlet, which fell within the uncertainty range of current CSIA methods. This implies a good reliability of in-stream isotope data in the absence of transport via surface runoff or other fast transport routes, since the time of measurement appears to be of minor importance. The analysis of simulated isotope ratios also allowed quantifying the contribution of two different reaction pathways to the overall degradation, which gave further insight into transport routes in the modelled system. The simulations supported the use of the commonly applied Rayleigh equation for the interpretation of CSIA data, since this led to an underestimation of the real extent of degradation of less than 12% at the hillslope outlet. Overall, the model results emphasize the applicability and usefulness of CSIA in the assessment of diffuse river pollution.

scholarly journals Appropriateness and appropriation: examining Modernist couture connections to Edwardian lingerie and boudoir clothing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna K. Zygowski
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Practitioner Research ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Female Agency ◽  
Design Exploration ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Cultural Commodification ◽  
Cultural Requirements ◽  
Material Artifacts ◽  
Research Show

This research explores material artifacts of Edwardian lingerie and Modernist couture through their cultural and material connections. Material culture theories of communication and production were used to examine garment artifacts from both Eras, while a conceptual framework provided a space to develop material outcomes and knowledge based upon research. Key findings from the research show that the cultural commodification of the female body, increased female agency and the fragmentation of social structures resulted in the development of specialized garments uniquely suited to the cultural requirements of the Modernist Era. Cultural producers continually adapted design practices and transformed dress signifiers of value in a cycle of appropriation and transformation. In addition, the appropriation of labour intensive Edwardian Era Lingerie techniques by Modernist couture houses supported the development of exclusive commodities whose design process was key to preventing devaluation through counterfeiting. Ultimately, a collection of garments resulted from a design exploration of these techniques, using action and practitioner research.

scholarly journals Stable Isotope Evidence Links Breeding Geography and Migration Timing in Wood Warblers (Parulidae)

The Auk ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 431-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey F. Kelly
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Isotope ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Autumn Migration ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Migration Timing ◽  
Wood Warblers ◽  
Stable Hydrogen Isotope ◽  
Hydrogen Isotope Ratios

AbstractTracking seasonal movements of songbirds is a key step in understanding the annual cycle of migrants. To better understand autumn migration of wood warblers, I analyzed stable-hydrogen isotope ratios of feathers collected from three species captured during stopover at the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. To assess the form and strength of the relationship between timing of migration and breeding origins, I regressed stable-hydrogen isotope ratios of feathers against date of capture. These analyses indicated that Orange-crowned Warblers (Vermivora celata) and Common Yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) breeding in the southern portion of these species' ranges precede their northern conspecifics in autumn migration. By contrast, Yellow Warblers (Dendroica petechia) from northern breeding sites arrived before more southerly breeding conspecifics. This pattern is similar to that reported previously in Wilson's Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla). These findings suggest that, among wood warblers, (1) timing of autumn migration is often strongly related to breeding location and (2) interspecific variation in the direction of this relationship is large. The direction and strength of these patterns have implications for our understanding of inter- and intraspecific geographic variation in the life histories of migrants.Evidencia de Isótopos Estables Conecta la Geografía de Nidificación con el Momento de la Migración en Especies de Parulidae

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document