Site Formation Processes and Long-term Changes in Land Use among Maritime Hunter-Gatherers: A Case Study at the Hamanaka-2 Site, Rebun Island, Hokkaido

Archaeological studies concerned with reconstructing activity areas, room functions, and site-formation processes can benefit greatly from analyses of the microartifacts found on and within occupation surfaces. These remains are often primary refuse directly related to activities, and can be used to identify such locations as food-preparation areas, flint-knapping stations, and storage facilities. In addition, certain microartifacts are informative about site-formation processes. For example, the grain-size distribution of charcoal may be indicative of primary vs. secondary refuse, high percentages of corroded and crushed bone from scavenger feces may indicate locations of secondary refuse, and many small sherds could point to heavily trampled areas. A case study from the Iron Age city site of Tel Miqne-Ekron in central Israel demonstrates the use of microarchaeology at a complex sedentary site.

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DECODING AN EARLY HOLOCENE SAHARAN STRATIFIED SITE. CERAMIC DISPERSION AND SITE FORMATION PROCESSES IN THE TAKARKORI ROCK-SHELTER, ACACUS MOUNTAINS, LIBYA

Journal of African Archaeology ◽

10.3213/1612-1651-10016 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 3-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Stefano Biagetti ◽

Francesca Merighi ◽

Savino di Lernia

Keyword(s):

Archaeological Site ◽

Site Formation ◽

Site Formation Processes ◽

Formation Processes ◽

Ceramic Analysis ◽

Human Occupation ◽

Hunter Gatherers ◽

Archaeological Material ◽

History Of ◽

Pastoral Neolithic

The surface pottery from a well-preserved Holocene archaeological site in south-western Libya is analysed. The collection suggests a long and protracted human occupation of the shelter, from Late Acacus (Mesolithic) hunter-gatherers to Late Pastoral (Neolithic) herders. Aim of the work is to decode the dynamic history of the site via the study of its surface elements, both artefacts and ecofacts, and the way they interacted over the millennia. To do this, traditional ceramic analysis is combined with recently developed methods of description imported from sedimentology, stressing the potentialities of surface archaeological material. In this framework, spatial analysis of scattered potsherds, in connection with their quantitative and qualitative features and chronological attribution, appears of main relevance in the analysis of site formation processes and postdepositional events that altered the archaeological deposit, transforming its present surface.

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Site Formation Processes and Hunter-Gatherers Use of Space in a Tropical Environment: A Geo-Ethnoarchaeological Approach from South India

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0164185 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. e0164185 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

David E. Friesem ◽

Noa Lavi ◽

Marco Madella ◽

P. Ajithprasad ◽

Charles French

Keyword(s):

South India ◽

Tropical Environment ◽

Site Formation ◽

Site Formation Processes ◽

Formation Processes ◽

Hunter Gatherers ◽

Use Of Space

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Land Use History and Site Formation Processes at the Punic Site of Pauli Stincus in West Central Sardinia

Geoarchaeology ◽

10.1002/gea.21443 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 373-393 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Cristiano Nicosia ◽

Roger Langohr ◽

Pilar Carmona González ◽

Carlos Gómez Bellard ◽

Emily B. Modrall ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Site Formation ◽

Land Use History ◽

Site Formation Processes ◽

Formation Processes ◽

West Central

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Evaluating Natural Site Formation Processes in Eolian Dune Sands: A Case Study from the Krmpotich Folsom Site, Killpecker Dunes, Wyoming

Journal of Archaeological Science ◽

10.1006/jasc.2001.0803 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 29 (10) ◽

pp. 1199-1211 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

James H. Mayer

Keyword(s):

Site Formation ◽

Site Formation Processes ◽

Formation Processes ◽

Dune Sands ◽

Natural Site

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Analysing Deposition and Site Formation Processes in Medieval Cess Pits Using Bone Fragmentation

Archaeology International ◽

10.5334/ai-402 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Emily V. Johnson ◽

Hayley Forsyth-Magee ◽

Ian Hogg

Keyword(s):

Surface Modifications ◽

Archaeological Site ◽

Site Formation ◽

Site Formation Processes ◽

Formation Processes ◽

Specific Research ◽

Animal Bone ◽

Research Questions ◽

Urban Contexts

Signatures of animal bone fragmentation have huge potential for understanding deposition and archaeological site formation processes, yet they are scarcely studied, especially in medieval urban contexts. Archaeological investigations at 1–5 Benjamin Street, Farringdon uncovered a number of medieval cess pits and other contexts associated with the Hospitaller Priory of St John of Jerusalem. The well-preserved zooarchaeological assemblage from these contexts was deemed an excellent case study for in-depth bone fragmentation analysis to both test and display the utility of the method at this type of site. The analysis revealed that material from the lowest fills of the cess pits differed from the upper fills in that fragmentation was more intensive. Based on the size and weight of fragments, and surface modifications related to burning and taphonomy, we postulate that floor and hearth sweepings were occasionally deposited in the cess pits whilst they were in use. This material was likely further fragmented when cess pits were periodically emptied. Faunal specimens in the upper fills have different fragmentation and taphonomic signatures and more likely relate to opportunistic refuse deposition or capping after the use of the cess pits. This analysis shows the archaeological potential of this approach when aligned with specific research questions concerning deposition.

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