•A detailed archaeomagnetic study from the El Coporo archaeological site was performed at six sites.•Age intervals obtained ranged from 820 to 950 AD, confirming previous estimates.•New absolute ...dates suggest an abandonment event at about 900 AD.•Archaeological evidence argues in favor of an intentional fire.
Most detailed archaeometric studies come from central and southern Mesoamerica while many important sites belonging to the western regions are not yet rigorously studied. Here we report a detailed rock-magnetic and archaeomagnetic study from the El Coporo archaeological site at the northern border of Mesoamerica. Our study of more than 100 oriented samples was performed on the six most important sites distributed along the archaeological zone. Continuous thermomagnetic curves revealed magnetite as responsible for magnetization accompanied by unstable (titano)maghemite. Most of the samples are characterized by a single component magnetization, which is almost completely removed applying 50 mT, suggesting the presence of relatively low coercivity magnetic minerals. Characteristic directions were precisely determined for four out of six studied sites, yielding statistically undistinguishable directions. Corresponding archaeomagnetic age intervals range from 820 to 950 A.D. in good agreement with previous archaeological studies that suggested a period of abandonment at about 900 A.D. as an attempt to reoccupy the place by the Toltecs. Numerous archaeological evidences argue in favor of an intentional fire. However, the possibility of ritual closure should be also considered since there is no evidence of violent or warlike actions.
The widespread societal collapse that occurred in the Lower Mureș Basin in the Late Bronze Age following the destruction of mega-sites during the 13th century BC is largely mirrored in the dwindling ...number of settlements, prestige goods, and metal finds. The same period is also associated with the spread of Gáva pottery. Apparently, the respective pottery style has been subject to thorough investigation; however, ceramic analyses and 14C data are quite scarce. We are publishing here a pottery assemblage from contexts located in the Lower Mureș Basin, where Gáva pottery style was discovered. Besides illustrating representative potsherds, we have analyzed their style and added 14C data when available. The results of the study proper and comparative analyses with other assemblages suggest a different perspective from certain approaches to Gáva culture as a unitary phenomenon. Starting from the stylistic features of the pottery, we have attempted at offering a regional perspective without overlooking the distinctive characteristics of a much wider area. Moreover, 14C data and previous studies on LBA II pottery enable us to argue that several well-known features of the Gáva pottery style can be identified, at least in the Lower Mureș Basin, as early as the 14th-13th century BC and even earlier, with some dating back to the 15th century BC.
Located in Eastern Crimea, the multilayered site of Zaskalnaya VI (Kolosovskaya) represents an important key Middle Palaeolithic site of the Crimean peninsula. The uppermost unit of cultural layers ...of the site (layers IIIa, III, II, and I) pertains to the final stage of the Middle Paleolithic development. The richness and good preservation of various evidence of human activity and remains of material culture allow exploration of many important aspects of the period often referred as “the time of the last Neanderthals”. One important aspect of Zaskalnaya VI is the bone remains of Neanderthals, especially numerous in layers IIIa and III. One of two main focuses of this report is the presentation of anthropological data, with particular emphasis on the detailed odontological characterization of mandibles Zsk VI-72 and Zsk VI-78. The examined odontological complex is characterized by a set of morphological features and variations which are common for the line of Transition Neanderthals. Another focus of the paper is aimed at a wider presentation of data provided by layers IIIa and III, including the history of study, general stratigraphy and some peculiar stratigraphic and spatial features of layers IIIa and III, data on numerical chronology, technical and typological features of stone and bone industry, use-wear analysis data, paleontological and archaeozoological characteristics and other related evidence.
Layers IIIa and III represent remains of Neanderthal occupations of different duration and intensity of habitation dated between 35 and 40 uncal ka BP. Similarity of lithic industries suggests both belong to the same industry of Ak-Kaya type, a variation of the local Micoquian.
Résumé. Fouillé en 2018 dans le cadre du contournement ouest de Strasbourg, le gisement de Berstett Langenberg (site n° 5.6 du projet) a livré sur près de deux hectares plusieurs occupations ...successives du Néolithique récent à La Tène finale. L’occupation de l’âge du Bronze se caractérise par 43 structures se répartissant quasiment sur toute l’emprise, tandis que les 31 faits du plein Bronze moyen correspondent à une dizaine de fosses, des silos (sept) et des fonds de silos probables (quatre), deux possibles bâtiments excavés, trois fentes et cinq chablis. Aucun plan de bâtiment n’a été repéré, mais des espaces vides entourés de fosses ou silos suggèrent l’emplacement de bâtiments, tout comme les restes de torchis (architecture de terre et de bois). La quantité importante de vestiges céramiques mise au jour (160 récipients), tout comme plusieurs datations radiocarbones ont permis de mieux caractériser la typochronologie des ensembles pour le Bronze D et la transition Bronze C-D. Certains fonds de silos ont livré des vases vraisemblablement déposés entiers. Une série d’analyses biogéochimiques sur les parois internes d’une dizaine de vases ont permis d’identifier des graisses animales, tout comme des restes d’huile végétale (Brassicacées) ou de résine (Pinacée) pour des usages divers. Au-delà de la quantité importante de mobilier céramique exhumée, qui en fait un site de référence pour la fin du Bronze moyen, les autres types de mobiliers exhumés (lithique, faune) permettent de mieux caractériser ce type de site d’habitat encore peu connu dans l’est de la France.
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