Promoting the development and use of scientific techniques in order to extract archaeological and historical information from cultural heritage and the paleoenvironment, this text deals with ...information related to human activities of the past, including the biological nature of man and the environment in which he lived.
The so-called sea spray effect influences animals and humans living in coastal regions. As a consequence, δ13Ccarbonate, δ18Ocarbonate, δ18Ophosphate, and δ34Scollagen isotope values of affected ...individuals are more positive than otherwise expected. However, the effect is hidden in the case of humans who actually might have consumed marine food what would (partly) explain their isotopic signature.
In order to correct for the sea spray effect in humans the dietary proportions were calculated based on the δ13Ccollagen and δ15Ncollagen isotope values using stable isotope mixing models. Four different programs (SISUS, simmr, IsotopeR, MixSIAR) were applied which resulted in quite different calculated diets.
Each individual human can be corrected for the sea spray effect using the calculated proportion of terrestrial food (e.g. domesticated mammals, plants) and the approximated sea spray effect for each isotopic system. The differences in the calculated food proportions detected for the different mixing model programs, however, lead to differences in the correction procedure. We suggest using the dietary proportions as obtained by probabilistic SISUS rather than those of the Bayesian programs (simmr, IsotopeR, MixSIAR).
The correction against the sea spray effect using the dietary proportions calculated by SISUS was supported by Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) clustering which also enables the identification of probably non-local individuals in the dataset.
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•Sea spray effect leads to mistaken interpretation of stable isotope values of humans.•Sea spray correction is possible by calculation of terrestrial dietary proportions.•Different isotopic mixing models (SISUS, simmr, IsotopeR, and MixSIAR) were applied.•Calculated dietary proportions differ substantially between the different programs.•Sea spray correction of human isotope data should be based on SISUS model.
Firing parameters for archaeological pottery were estimated from the coincidence between iron concentration (FeIII) in the pottery and in a clay specimen, both chemically and mineralogically ...identical, fired under controlled conditions. Most pottery specimens analysed here were produced in a reducing environment, and one of them has been used as a pan. For reference clays, heating causes FeIII signal intensification, followed by reduction at high temperatures in reducing atmosphere. This behaviour differs from the model to identify firing parameters (Mangueira et al., 2013, 2016, 2018) and results in ambiguity to identify the firing temperature for the archaeological pottery. Pure hematite (Fe2O3) shows the same behaviour in reducing environment and indicates that the iron oxide in the clays is responsible for this kind of variation. The ambiguity of the firing temperature of some ceramics could not be clarified neither by producing the ceramics in the laboratory nor by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy techniques. However, electron paramagnetic resonance provided the firing atmosphere and the possible firing temperatures.
•The temperature and environment of pottery firing are obtained from the Fe(III) concentration.•Iron oxidation is used for archaeothermometry in pottery.•Firing parameters of archaeological pottery are obtained by comparison with clay.
The paper presents a structural analysis of two pottery fragments belonging to the Hamangia phase III Ceamurlia culture, discovered in a settlement with several living levels on the northern shore of ...Lake Techirghiol, at the Minerva – Paloda Hill. From two ceramic fragments, fired in a reducing atmosphere, samples were taken to perform X-ray diffraction (XRD) and wavelength‐dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectra (WDXRF) analyzes to determine the crystalline structure and composition of the ceramic materials. Digital optical microscopy was used to observe the details of the fracture surfaces of these ceramic fragments. This work contributes to the knowledge of the techniques and materials used by the Hamangia civilization in the manufacture of ceramic vessels.
Proceedings of the Archaeometry Symposium at NORM 2019, Portland, Oregon, papers, with case studies in Spain, Canada, Thailand, Lithuania or Russia, address the application of different techniques in ...archaeology in order to comprehend some aspects during and after excavations, for instance, physics, chemical analysis, remote sensing, LiDAR, etc.
Resumen: El presente trabajo aporta una investigación arqueométrica sobre piezas cerámicas de los siglos III-I a. C. halladas en contextos alfareros de la ciudad de Sevilla (Palacio Arzobispal) y ...Carmona (zona del Arrabal), pertenecientes en su mayoría a ánforas de tradición púnica y turdetana, o bien ya romanizadas. Entre los principales objetivos se ha pretendido su caracterización tecnológica y composicional, la comparación de las características de cada tradición productiva y la confirmación de la posible procedencia local de estas producciones.En total, han sido 13 las muestras estudiadas con análisis petrográfico de láminas delgadas, análisis químico mediante fluorescencia de rayos X y análisis mineralógico por difracción de rayos X. Los resultados químicos muestran su carácter sílico-aluminoso y cálcico, con contenidos variables de óxido de hierro, así como otros elementos minoritarios y trazas. El tratamiento estadístico ha diferenciado 3 conglomerados y una muestra que se distingue del resto. El análisis mineralógico ha identificado 8 fases cristalinas, unas ya presentes en las materias primas y otras formadas por tratamiento térmico. Destacan la illita, identificada como fase deshidroxilada, anortita, diópsido y gehlenita. En cuanto al análisis petrográfico, se han identificado tres grupos petrográficos que se corresponden composicionalmente con el contexto de origen de las muestras, diferenciando entre las piezas procedentes de Sevilla, las formas romanizadas de Carmona y la cerámica común y formas de imitación de este mismo enclave.Se realiza una estimación de las temperaturas de cocción, entre unos 820 °C y 850 °C en atmósfera oxidante. Por último, se ha discutido la procedencia de las materias primas empleadas, proponiéndose materias primas illítico-calcáreas con un origen localizado en el valle del Guadalquivir. Los resultados permiten corroborar la procedencia local de estas piezas, probablemente relacionadas con los hornos donde aparecieron, y aportan nuevas perspectivas para el estudio de la tradición alfarera local y los cambios que se operan con la implantación productiva romana. Abstract: The present work consists of an archaeometric investigation concerning ceramic samples, mostly unpublished, of the III-I centuries b.C. They were found in connection with kilns of the city of Sevilla (Archbishop's Palace) and the countryside (Arrabal zone, Carmona). They are identified with evolved variations of Iron Age amphorae of Punic and Turdetanian tradition, or already Roman typologies. The main objectives of this research include their technological and compositional characterization as well as the comparison of the characteristics of each manufacture tradition.An assemblage of 13 samples has been studied through petrographic analysis of thin sections, chemical analysis (X-ray fluorescence) and mineralogical analysis (X-ray diffraction). The chemical results showed the silico-aluminous and calcitic character of the samples, with variable contents of iron oxide as well as other minor elements and traces. The statistical treatment of the data by multivariant analysis has differentiated 3 conglomerates and one sample as an outsider. The mineralogical analysis has identified 8 crystalline phases, several of them already present in the raw materials and others formed by thermal treatment. It is interesting to note the illite, identified as dehydroxylated phase, anorthite, diopside and gehlenite. The petrographical analysis has identified 3 different petro-groups, which are correlated by a compositional point of view with the original context of the samples. Thus, according to these results, it has been possible to distinguish the manufactures of Sevilla from the Roman shapes, the common ware and the imitation types of Carmona.It has been discussed the possible solid-state reactions which yielded the crystalline phases identified by X-ray diffraction, besides an estimation of firing temperatures between 820-850 °C in an oxidant atmosphere. Finally, the possible sources for the raw materials used in the fabrication of these amphorae have been proposed in the Guadalquivir River valley, considering their illitic-calcitic characteristics.
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•Assessment of the use of VIMP electrochemiluminescence for analysis of archaeological artefacts for the first time.•Statistical analysis reveals the ability to identify ...hallucinogenic group classes via VIMP ECL in botanical taxa and archaeological artefacts.•Further expansion of the technique of VIMP electrochemiluminescence is demonstrated.
Archaeometry is a challenging field that requires scientific methodologies to conduct archaeological analysis. Electroanalytical methods have been used in archaeometry for over a century, but recent advances in electrochemistry have yet to be fully integrated into the field. The emergence of new electroanalytical techniques, such as electrochemiluminescence (ECL), offer the potential for increased sensitivity and non-destructive analysis of solid samples. Here, we present the first pilot study to investigate the feasibility of voltammetry of immobilised particles (VIMP) ECL for the analysis of archaeological fibrous quids. We successfully demonstrate the ability of VIMP ECL to be employed as qualitative analysis method, which when paired with statistical analysis and cultural context, allows for the identification of Datura wrightii within archaeological quid samples. Our results demonstrate that VIMP ECL can be used to analyse solid samples with minimum destruction. These findings highlight the potential of ECL as a successful tool in archaeometry, particularly for the analysis of solid-state samples. This study provides a strong proof-of-concept for the potential of VIMP ECL to enhance the capabilities of archaeometry and opens up new avenues of research in the field.
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