Expanding Paleoindian Diet Breadth: Paleoethnobotany of Connley Cave 5, Oregon, USA

Paleoethnobotanical perspectives are essential for understanding past lifeways yet continue to be underrepresented in Paleoindian research. We present new archaeobotanical and radiocarbon data from combustion features within stratified cultural components at Connley Caves, Oregon, that reaffirm the inclusion of plants in the diet of Paleoindian groups. Botanical remains from three features in Connley Cave 5 show that people foraged for diverse dryland taxa and a narrow range of wetland plants during the summer and fall months. These data add new taxa to the known Pleistocene food economy and support the idea that groups equipped with Western Stemmed Tradition toolkits had broad, flexible diets. When viewed continentally, this work contributes to a growing body of research indicating that regionally adapted subsistence strategies were in place by at least the Younger Dryas and that some foragers in the Far West may have incorporated a wider range of plants including small seeds, leafy greens, fruits, cacti, and geophytes into their diet earlier than did Paleoindian groups elsewhere in North America. The increasing appearance of diverse and seemingly low-ranked resources in the emerging Paleoindian plant-food economy suggests the need to explore a variety of nutritional variables to explain certain aspects of early foraging behavior.

Recycling of clastics in coastal areas inferred from quantitative analysis of reworked radiocarbon samples

Studies of the evolution of coastal lowlands since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) typically ignore radiocarbon data from sediment samples that have undergone reworking. However, these samples contain information on their sediment sources and the timing of their redeposition. We analyzed 738 radiocarbon dates obtained from shell and plant material in samples of post-LGM coastal sediment from north of Tokyo Bay, Japan. Of these samples, 245 (33%) were reworked. Furthermore, the percentage of reworked samples and their average age offsets increased with the depth of the water environment (terrestrial, 15% and 360 ± 250 years, respectively; intertidal, 26% and 470 ± 620 years; subtidal, 39% and 550 ± 630 years). Taking these radiocarbon samples as a proxy for clastic material, our results imply that channel erosion accounted for relatively little clastic removal in the terrestrial and intertidal environments over short timescales, whereas ~ 40% of clastics were removed by storm winnowing and transported in stepwise fashion to deeper water over longer timescales and ~ 60% in the subtidal environment were transported by floods directly from river mouths. These findings imply that radiocarbon ages from reworked samples can be used to quantify clastic recycling processes and their history in coastal areas.

A Fundamental Investigation of the Early Neolithic of Southern China

The reviewed investigation made by Stanisław Robert Kuczera “The Antique and Ancient History of China. Early Neolithic of the South” (Moscow, St. Peterburg, Nestor-Istoriya, 2020, 596 p.) provides an overview of the main early Neolithic complexes in the south of China. The work has been carried out for several dozens of years and is based on the analysis of more than 2000 different scientific publications. In terms of its depth and thoroughness of presented research, this monograph has no analogues in the Russian language. Based on the systematization and analysis of the scientific articles of Chinese archaeologists it presents an overview of migrations, emergence of ceramics, methods of stone processing, domestication of plants and animals in the Early Neolithic of southern China. Radiocarbon data of the archaeological sites is being widely presented in Russian for the first time. Four chapters provide a comprehensive investigation of different aspects of the Neolithic economy of the region.

Improving age-depth correlations by using the LANDO model ensemble

Age-depth correlations are the key elements in paleoenvironmental studies to place proxy measurements into a temporal context. However, potential influencing factors of the available radiocarbon data and the associated modeling process can cause serious divergences of age-depth correlations from true chronologies, which is particularly challenging for paleolimnological studies in Arctic regions. This paper provides geoscientists with a tool-assisted approach to compare outputs from age-depth modeling systems and to strengthen the robustness of age-depth correlations. We primarily focused in the development on age determination data from a data collection of high latitude lake systems (50° N to 90° N, 62 sediment cores, and a total of 661 dating points). Our approach used five age-depth modeling systems (Bacon, Bchron, clam, hamstr, Undatable) that we linked through a multi-language Jupyter Notebook called LANDO (“Linked age and depth modeling”). Within LANDO we have implemented a pipeline from data integration to model comparison to allow users to investigate the outputs of the modeling systems. In this paper, we focused on highlighting three different case studies: comparing multiple modeling systems for one sediment core with a continuous, undisturbed succession of dating points (CS1 - “Undisturbed sequence”), for one sediment core with scattered dating points (CS2 - “Inconsistent sequence”), and for multiple sediment cores (CS3 - “Multiple cores”). For the first case study (CS1), we showed how we facilitate the output data from all modeling systems to create an ensemble age-depth model. In the special case of scattered dating points (CS2), we introduced an adapted method that uses independent proxy data to assess the performance of each modeling system in representing lithological changes. Based on this evaluation, we reproduced the characteristics of an existing age-depth model (Lake Ilirney, EN18208) without removing age determination data. For the multiple sediment core (CS3) we found that when considering the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, the main regime changes in sedimentation rates do not occur synchronously for all lakes. We linked this behavior to the uncertainty within the modeling process as well as the local variability of the sediment cores within the collection.

METEORIC IRON IN PRODUCTION AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICE OF THE YAMNAYA CULTURE IN THE URALS REGION

Среди курганов ямной культуры Среднего Поволжья и Южного Приуралья особое место занимают монументальные сооружения с находками изделий из железа. Выделяются предметы как производственного, так и ритуального назначения. По данным радиоуглеродного анализа курганы датируются в пределах первой половины III тыс. до н. э. В 2019 г. авторами на современном оборудовании проведены новые исследования химического состава поверхности металлических предметов, изотопный анализ свинца, а также реставрация железных предметов. Дополнительные исследования позволили подтвердить метеоритное происхождение железа, уточнить форму и функциональное назначение изделий. Анализ погребального обряда и инвентаря из меди и метеоритного железа позволяет сделать вывод, что курганы были предназначены для «супер-лидеров». При жизни они могли выполнять управленческие, военные и сакрально-ритуальные функции. Наличие предметов из железа свидетельствует об обожествлении власти вождей и о распространенном представлении связи лидерства и небесных сил. Large burial constructions that have yielded items made from iron occupy a special place among the Yamnaya kurgans in the Middle Volga region and the Southern Urals. It is possible to single out both production items and artifacts used for religious purposes. The radiocarbon data put the kurgans around the first half of III mill. BC. In 2019 the authors conducted new research of the chemical composition of the metal item surface, using modern equipment, performed the stable isotope analysis of the lead and carried out the restoration works of the iron objects. The additional studies provided an opportunity to confirm the meteoric origin of the iron, clarify the shape and the functional purpose of the artifacts. It can be inferred from the analysis of the funerary rite and the offerings made from copper and meteoric iron that the kurgans were intended to bury super leaders. During their lifetime such chieftains could perform management, military and sacral ritual functions. Presence of iron items suggests that the power of the chieftains was deified and the idea of the links between the leadership and heavenly forces was quite common.

Changes in solar activity based on radiocarbon data and climate variations in the interval 8000 - 1000 BC

This work examines the change in the activity of the Sun based on the reconstruction of the heliospheric modulation potential in the time interval 8000 - 1000 BC. Reconstructions of this potential were obtained using radiocarbon data, taking into account the influence of changes in the Earth’s climate. A comparison is made of the variations in the activity of the Sun with the global surface temperature. It is shown that variations in global temperature during this period could be the result of changes in solar activity. So high solar activity could lead to recorded temperature maximums around 7000 and 5300 BC. The drop in temperature in the range 3000-1000BC could be the result of low solar activity.

Evaluating The Temporal Relationship Between Climatic and Demographic Events Using Radiocarbon Data: A Case-Study From The Chulmun Period, Korea

We investigate the relationship between climatic and demographic events in Korea during the Chulmun period (10,000–3,500 cal. BP) by analyzing paleoenvironmental proxies and 14C dates. We focus on testing whether a cooling climate, and its potential impact on millet productivity around 4,500 cal. BP triggered the population decline observed in the archaeological record. We employ a Bayesian approach that measures the temporal relationship between climatic events and change-points in the rate of growth in human population as inferred by radiocarbon density. Our results do not support the climate-induced population decline hypothesis for three reasons. First, we could not determine that the cooling climatic event necessarily preceded the reversal point in population growth rate as inferred by the radiocarbon record. Second, we did not find evidence showing a significant reduction of millet-associated dates occurring during the cooling climate. Third, we detected a spatially differentiated pattern of decline in inland and coastal regions, indicating that the cooling climate did not impact all populations equally. We highlighted the long tradition of mobility-based subsistence strategy in the coastal region as a potential factor contributing to the spatial differences.

Recycling of clastics in coastal areas: Quantitative analysis based on reworked radiocarbon samples

Studies of the evolution of coastal lowlands since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) typically ignore radiocarbon data from sediment samples that have undergone reworking. However, these samples contain information on their sediment sources and their timing of redeposition. We analyzed 738 radiocarbon dates obtained from shell and plant material in samples of post-LGM coastal sediment from north of Tokyo Bay. Of these samples, 245 (33%) had reworked ages. Furthermore, the percentage of reworked samples and their average age offsets increased with the depth of the water environment (terrestrial, 15% and 360 ± 250 years, respectively; intertidal, 26% and 470 ± 620 years; subtidal, 39% and 550 ± 630 years). Taking these radiocarbon samples as a proxy for clastic material, our results imply that channel erosion accounted for relatively little clastic removal in the terrestrial and intertidal environments in short duration, whereas ~40% of clastics were removed by storm winnowing and transported in stepwise fashion to deeper water in long duration and ~60% were transported by floods directly from river mouths in the subtidal environments. These findings imply that radiocarbon ages from reworked samples can be used to quantify clastic recycling processes and their history in coastal areas.

Human responses to the Ilopango Tierra Blanca Joven eruption: excavations at San Andrés, El Salvador

Human responses to catastrophic natural events form an important research theme in archaeology. Using excavation and radiocarbon data, this article investigates the socio-cultural impact of the mid-first-millennium AD Tierra Blanca Joven eruption at San Andrés, El Salvador. The data, along with an architectural energetic analysis of the Campana structure at San Andrés, indicate that survivors and/or re-settlers made considerable efforts to construct monumental public buildings immediately following the eruption, using large quantities of volcanic tephra as construction material. Such re-building played important religious, social and political roles in human responses to the eruption. The study contributes to discussions about human creativity, adaptation and resilience in the face of abrupt environmental change.

Modelling medieval masonry construction: taxa-specific and habitat-contingent Bayesian techniques for the interpretation of radiocarbon data from Mortar-Entrapped Relict Limekiln Fuels

Using data from simulated and actual case studies, this paper assesses the accuracy and precision of Bayesian estimates for the constructional date of medieval masonry buildings, generated from the radiocarbon evidence returned by different assemblages of wood-charcoal mortar-entrapped relict limekiln fuel (MERLF). The results from two theoretical studies demonstrate how Bayesian model specifications can be varied to generate a chronologically continuous spectrum of distributions from radiocarbon datasets subject Inbuilt Age (IA). Further analysis suggests that the potential for these distributions to contain the date of the constructional event depends largely upon the accuracy of the latest radiocarbon determination within each dataset, while precision is predicated on dataset age range, dataset size and model specification. These theoretical studies inform revised approaches to the radiocarbon evidence emerging from six culturally important Scottish medieval masonry buildings, each of which is associated with a wood-charcoal MERLF assemblage of different botanical character. The Bayesian estimates generated from these radiocarbon datasets are remarkably consistent with the historical and archaeological evidence currently associated with these sites, while age range distributions suggest the IA of each MERLF assemblage has been constrained by the taxa-specific and environmentally contingent lifespans and post-mortem durabilities of the limekiln fuel source. These studies provide further evidence that Bayesian techniques can generate consistently accurate chronological estimates for the construction of medieval masonry buildings from MERLF radiocarbon data, whatever the ecological provenance of the limekiln fuel source. Estimate precision is contingent upon source ecology and craft technique but can be increased by a more informed approach to materials analysis and interpretation.