Application of the microbiomorphic (phytolith) analysis in the geoarchaeological study of the land-use at the Voorthuizen-Wikselaarseweg archaeological site (Netherlands)

<p>In 2018, the Voorthuizen-Wikselaarseweg archaeological site was excavated. This settlement dates back to Roman and Medieval times and is located in the central part of the Netherlands: the so-called Gelderse Vallei, an area build-up of fluvioperiglacial and eolian sands. Questions related to the anthropogenic influence of settlers on the surrounding landscape, as well as the specification of the ancient agricultural activity, were among the main research tasks posed to this archaeological study. Despite the fact that modern geoarchaeology offers a variety of methods of researching archaeological sites, in practice, the vast majority of archaeological work in the Netherlands is limited to the use of palynological and macrobotanical analyzes and radiocarbon dating. The choice of research methods in relation to the sandy cultural layer is especially narrow as it is assumed to bear worse conditions of preservation of traces of anthropogenic activity.</p><p>For the investigation of the sandy cultural layer of Voorthuizen, a method of microbiomorphic (phytolith) analysis was proposed. The information that is given by this method is different from that provided by palynological study (though they strongly complement each other). While pollen provides a general insight into the plant growth in the region around the settlement, phytoliths (silica copies of plant cells)  present data on the plant species grown, eaten, and used on the settlement itself. This information is contained in the old living layer, as well as in the pits (working places and waste pits), postholes, ditches etc. The combination of phytoliths and other microbiomorphs (e.g. detritus, diatoms, etc.) essentially broadens the range of palaeoecological information.</p><p>In Voorthuizen 34 samples have been collected and processed according to standard sample treatment technique (Golyeva, 2008). All samples were found to be suitable for analysis, with a sufficient number of microbiomorphs.</p><p>The results of the study not only allow to clarify significantly the archaeological interpretation of the site but also provides new information on the anthropogenic impact on the landscape. Microbiomorphic analysis manifests the genesis of the cultural layer and the several phases and types of anthropogenic use of the territory. The research also demonstrates the applicability of the microbiomorhic (phytolith) analysis in the case of sandy archaeological layers.</p><p>References:</p><p>Golyeva А. А., Microbiomorphic complexes of natural and anthropogenic landscapes. Genesis, geography, informative capacity (LKI, Moscow, 2008) (in Russian).</p>

PERKEMBANGAN ANALISIS FITOLIT DAN PENERAPANNYA DALAM ARKEOLOGI DI INDONESIA

Nowadays, the method of analysis in archaeology is growing, including the archaeobotany approach by using phytolith analysis. Apart from other microbotany data such as pollen and starch, phytolith has the advantage of being able to survive in the soil under fairly extreme conditions. Phytolite analysis is still rarely used in Indonesia for reconstructing the past environment,. Meanwhile, it has been used in other scientific researches such as paleoclimatology, paleoecology, paleoethnobotany. The purpose of this research is to explain phytolith as archaeological data and its implementation in archeology in Indonesia. This research data focuses on reviews of several studies which have used phytolith data as archaeological data in the world, including in Indonesia. Based on the results of archaeological research using phytolith data in this paper, it can provide an overview of the past environment, plant use, and human dietary patterns. Research prospects using phytolith analysis in Indonesia are still wide open which is also described in this paper. Metode analisis dalam arkeologi dewasa ini semakin berkembang, termasuk pendekatan arkeobotani dengan menggunakan analisis fitolit. Selain data mikrobotani lain seperti polen dan starch, fitolit memiliki keuntungan tersendiri yang mampu bertahan di dalam tanah dengan kondisi yang cukup ekstrim. Namun, di Indonesia sendiri analisis fitolit dalam arkeologi relatif sedikit digunakan dalam upaya rekonstruksi lingkungan masa lalu. Sementara itu fitolit telah digunakan dalam penelitian ilmu lain seperti paleoklimatologi, paleoekologi, paleoetnobotani. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah menjelaskan fitolit sebagai data arkeologi dan implementasinya dalam arkeologi di Indonesia. Data penelitian ini berfokus pada ulasan beberapa penelitian di dunia termasuk di Indonesia yang telah menggunakan data fitolit sebagai data arkeologi. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian arkeologi dengan menggunakan data fitolit dalam tulisan ini dapat memberikan gambaran lingkungan masa lalu, pemanfaatan tumbuhan, dan juga pola diet manusia. Selain itu prospek penelitian dengan menggunakan analisis fitolit di Indonesia masih terbuka lebar yang juga dijelaskan dalam tulisan ini.

Development of a Middle Bronze Age (1900–1500 cal BC) house at the site of Százhalombatta-Földvár, Hungary: detecting choice of materials by the means of archaeological thin section soil micromorphology and phytolith analysis

Százhalombatta-Földvár Bronze Age tell settlement is one of the most extensively studied sites of Hungary. Interdisciplinary approach is one of the key factors in understanding the past here. Therefore, a range of natural scientific methods are applied, including thin section soil micromorphology and phytolith analysis. The high resolution of these techniques is used to add details that are impossible via traditional archaeological means. In this paper, we aim to look at decision-making in choices of construction materials. A Middle Bronze Age house (ID 3147), belonging to the so-called Vatya Culture, was sampled to investigate the used materials, the building techniques and space use. Earthen floors, clay floor, wall and hearth material are under the microscope for a better understanding of Bronze Age construction and everyday life. Micro fragments are traced to investigate space use and activities inside the house. It is also our intention to further test the conjoint application of the abovementioned methods to add data and encourage work between the experts of the two fields as there is only a handful of such studies available.

Using phytolith analysis to reconstruct prehistoric fire regimes in central coastal California

Over the last century, northern coastal scrub has encroached into open grasslands along the central California coast, increasing fire risk in coastal wildland–urban interfaces. Understanding prehistoric ecological conditions is crucial for fire mitigation projects. Current estimates of these conditions in coastal California grasslands and shrublands are largely speculative because tree ring data, lake sediment evidence and ethnographic information are sparse. Phytolith analysis is an alternative palaeoecological tool that has been successfully used to reconstruct the extent of prehistoric grass cover in California. Our study uses phytolith analysis of soil samples from the East Bay hills of the San Francisco Bay region as a novel approach to estimate prehistoric grassland distribution and infer fire frequency in central coastal California. Our data strongly indicate that many areas in the region were dominated by perennial bunchgrasses for at least several hundred years before European contact. Because grass-dominated grasslands in the East Bay hills are disturbance-dependent, our data suggest prehistoric fire frequency was of the order of 5 years or less in the region. Phytolith analysis is a useful technique for prehistoric fire regime reconstruction for grasslands and shrublands worldwide, leading to improved, data-based land management.