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PAPERS
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Esteban ÁLVAREZ-FERNÁNDEZ Department of Prehistory, University of Salamanca. C. Cervantes S/N. E-37002 Salamanca (Spain) estebanalfer@hotmail.com "Atlantic versus Mediterranean": Personal ornaments made from mollusks shells in Europe during the Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic. Keywords Upper Palaeolithic-Mesolithic, Spain, shell artifacts, technology, exchange networks. Abstract Personal ornaments, mainly made from marine mollusks are documented in the Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic sites in Europe. The present report discusses the different pendant categories documented in the Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic Sites from Western and Central Europe (between c 40000-39000 and c 5000-4700 cal BC). Taphonomic, technological and morphometric aspects of the shell beads associated with settlements and burials are investigated. The presence of these perforated objects, utilized as ornaments, suggests strongly interwoven social networks, facilitated by communication through of the river valleys, with territories as remote as more than 600 kilometers. Daniella E. BAR-YOSEF MAYER Zinman Institute of Archaeology, University of Haifa, Haifa 31905, Israel baryosef@research.haifa.ac.il Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Nilotic Shell Artifacts in the Levant: Their place between Egypt and Mesopotamia of the Bronze Age Keywords 3rd-2nd millennia BC, Levant, shell artifacts, local customs, trade Abstract During the Bronze Age of the Levant, third and second millennia BCE, shells are quite abundant in archaeological sites and were used as artifacts. Some are simple beads (perforated bivalves and gastropods) but others are more distinct artifacts. Many EB I sites contain bangles made of the large Red Sea gastropods, Lambis truncata. Chambardia rubens from the Nile is found as a serrated artifact. Both testify to contacts with Egypt. Several EBII sites contain Conus apex beads that are almost always found in burial contexts. At the height of the urbanization period of EBIII, Cerastoderma valves were perforated, and apparently used as "counters" associated with olive oil production. The intermediate Bronze Age sees again exploitation of Lambis, this time to be made into inlays associated with wooden furniture, testifying to contacts ranging from the Negev to Mesopotamia. A lacuna exists in our knowledge of shell exploitation during the Middle Bronze Age, but during the Late Bronze a new type of square Conus beads emerges with a broad geographic distribution. At the same time Glycymeris valves from the Mediterranean are used as construction material. These artifacts usually represent a well-defined cultural stage and provide information on local traditions (burial customs, decoration, economic practices, construction) as well as short and long-range trade and exchange systems. Ma. Teresa OLIVERA CARRASCO Subdirección de Laboratorios y Apoyo Académico,Instituto Nacional de Antropología e HistoriaMoneda 16, Centro, México, D. F. 06060 materesaolivera@yahoo.com.mx The Pleistocenic mollusks of Cedral, San Luis Potosí, México: Paleoenvironmental interpretation of a prehistoric site. Keywords 40000-2500 BP, Mexico, local environment, palaeoclimatic reconstruction, molllusks. Abstract Snail faunas from archaeological sites can be used to infer past climates and local environments. The mollusks from the prehistoric- paleontological site of Cedral were studied. It is located in northern San Luis Potosí State, México, where vegetation is a desertic shrub. Excavation of the site began in 1977 and ended in 1990. Analyzed material come from the stratigraphical columns D-107 and D-101, as well as recent mollusks collected around the site. 14C radiocarbon dating covering the period from 40 000 to 2 500 years BP are available. Forty different layers were identified and of those 31 were sampled; the sediment was disintegrated with water and sifted, the shells were separated with stereoscopic microscope. Twenty-four species of mollusks 23 of which were fossilized, all are extant; 18 are micro-mollusks (less than 8 mm high), and only one recent species did not date to the Pleistocene. In one of the layers they were three ostracods species and alga's oogonium.Habitat, current distribution and palaeontological records of the species were analyzed by means of the use of diagrams similar to those of the pollen. That permitted inferences regarding the eight main climatic periods that were characterized by presenting climates different from the current one, with less extreme temperatures and more humidity. Conditions that contributed to the existence of a shallow lake encouraged a richer biological community than the current ones. Diana Rocío CARVAJAL CONTRERAS niversity of Calgary University Drive 2500 NW Calgary, Alberta CANADA T2N1N4 drcarvaj@ucalgary.ca or diacarco@hotmail.com Shell Artifacts as Indicators of Exchange: Research on Shell Artifacts of Museo del Oro, Colombia Keywords Pre-Columbian period, Colombia, Latin America, shell tools, shell ornaments. Abstract For many years, archaeologists in Colombia have worked in deposits which contain shell remains. Most of their studies are focused on the dietary use of mollusks rather than their use as raw material in the production of tools and adornos. In 2003 the Museo del Oro asked me to produce a document for the new exhibition called: Other Technologies: The shell- work in Pre-Columbian Colombia. The purpose of this museum guide was to show that shell artifacts or their icons might be indicators of exchange between Amerindian communities. This paper is summary of this museum guide that reviews the available information of shell ornaments in Colombia and intents to set up the similarities between the Museo del Oro's shell ornament collection and shell jewelry from Panama, Venezuela and Costa Rica. Cheryl CLAASSEN Appalachian State University claassencp@appstate.edu Shell Symbolism in PreColumbian North America Keywords Shells, symbolism, USA, birth, renewal Abstract The fundamental question for shell ornaments in North America is why use marine shell? Shell has birth, rejuvenation, impregnation and adoption symbolism, all related to birth and beginnings. Accumulations of shells may impart this same symbolism. GALIK, A., FORSTENPOINTER, G., WEIßENGRUBER, G., ZOHMANN, S. University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaDept. Pathobiology, AnatomyA - 1210 Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1 alfred.galik@vu-wien.ac.at Archaeomalacological evidences of oyster cultivation and far distance trade of mollusks from Virunum, the ancient capital of the Roman province Noricum (Carinthia, Austria). Keywords 300-400 AD, Austria, oyster cultivation, long-distance trade, economy. Abstract Numerous oyster shells, murex (purple snails), and a few cockle shells were discovered in fillings from a vaulted substructure at the basement of the amphitheatre in Virunum. The remains, classified as waste deposits, date to approximately 300 to 400 AD. Besides the amount of oysters the focus fell on three shells showing structures that can hardly be explained as the negative impression of natural grounds. These shells possess morphological changes that indicate possible growth in artificial structures made from rounded and squared timber. On one hand these finds illustrate the response to the ecologic pressure put on natural costal resources by controlled cultivation of oysters. On the other they imply the economic respond to the demand of the wealthy society for seafood, like oysters quite far away from the sea. Lilian KARALI National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Department of Archaeology and History of Art, Faculty of Philosophy, University Campus Zografou, 157 84, Athens, Greece ikarali@arch.uoa.gr Shells from Minoan Crete Keywords Minoan, Crete, Malia, dietary use, religious meaning Abstract The study of malacological remains is necessary for the archaeologist in order to approach Aegean human civilizations and their beliefs. Several activities are examined in comparison with the general way of living. Foreign artistic influences and symbolic meanings are explored.In Bronze age Minoan Crete (ca. 3200-1050 B.C.) substantial amounts of mollusks were used in daily activities. Elements of the marine ecosystem (cuttlefishes, dolphins etc.) are also present and vividly reproduced in art. According to the remains of the excavations we assume that octopus and cuttlefish were the most popular item in their diet, while other kinds of food had secondary role. Sea-shells discovered in special places are recognized as ritual or symbolic objects. In Minoan Crete many aspects of the religion are obviously dealing with the worship of nature and especially animals. Sea-shells are found in temples, sanctuaries, altars and graves. Sometimes they are burnt probably functioning as offerings to divinities. All the species were edible and well known from the beginning of Greek prehistory.The case study of the malacological remains from the famous "Quartier M (ca. 1700-1600 B.C.)" of the Minoan site Malia in the Island of Crete, offers the best example. David MAXWELL Statistical Research, Inc.5331 Meadedale DriveBurnaby, British Columbia, CanadaV5B 2E6 Davidmaxwell@telus.net Shell Counts and Shell Weights: Interpretations and Compromise Keywords Methodology, quantification, count/weight, analysis, California, mollusks. Abstract Reporting invertebrate weights is so widespread in California archaeology that the results are usually accepted with few comments. Invertebrate midden constituents are broken down into taxonomic groups, and fluctuations in the weights of these materials are tracked through time and space in an effort to recognize changes in the environment, patterns of human predation, and so forth. Recently, it has been argued in California that invertebrate analysis based solely on weight is problematic due to the over-emphasis of the role of heavier species and the general lack of comparability between invertebrate and vertebrate studies. Further, most method and theory relating to the quantification of faunal remains is based on vertebrate remains, with the vast majority of these based on counts; thus, invertebrate remains should also be quantified using counts rather than weights. Despite the advantages of utilizing established approaches to quantification and greater comparability with vertebrate analyses, using invertebrate counts makes it virtually impossible to conduct regional comparisons for California, where the vast majority of all invertebrate studies are presented using only weight data. The current paper attempts to bridge the gap between these two approaches through the use of several examples from the Los Angeles region. Invertebrate analysis and interpretations are presented using first counts, then weights, and then the two in combination. It seems likely that if any of our interpretations are remotely correct, then the most parsimonious should lie somewhere in the middle ground between weight-based and count-based approaches. Manuel R. PALACIOS-FEST Terra Nostra Earth Sciences Research3220 West Ina Road #8105Tucson, Arizona 85741-2166 USA terra_nostra_mx@yahoo.com.mx Irrigation Canals Ostracode Paleoecology in Arizona Keywords Hohokam, seasonality, hydrochemistry, hydraulics, salinization. Abstract Over the past 20 years, ostracode research in Arizona has provided useful information in the reconstruction of Hohokam canal systems in the Phoenix and Tucson basins. The present study documents the hydrochemical characteristics of irrigation canals fed by the Salt River in the Phoenix Basin in four archaeological sites within the Sky Harbor International Airport (SHA) premises between AD 700 and AD 1450. Based on the faunal assemblages from 15 canals, alternating cycles of salinization and hydrochemical composition are correlated with periods of canal operation, including season or seasons of operation, length of use, quality of water for agriculture, and type of canal (main, distributary, or lateral). The canal paleoecology across and within SHA shows a consistent pattern throughout the area indicating that these canals were fed by the same source of water, the Salt River. Canal Patricio was the principal distributary to most of the canals reported in the SHA area. Not surprisingly, water chemistry was similar among the canals and ranged from type I to type II hydrochemical pathways, as the area was exposed to cycles of water input (dilution) and desiccation (salinization). Finally, water salinity did not fluctuate significantly from one site to the other, indicating that these canals were operated in a similar manner and probably some of them were contemporary. Evan PEACOCK Cobb Institute of ArchaeologyP.O. Box ARMississippi State, MS 39762U.S.A. peacock@anthro.msstate.edu AMS Dating of Shell-Tempered Pottery and the Reservoir Effect Keywords AMS dating, shell-tempered pottery, reservoir effect, Mississippi, freshwater mussels. Abstract AMS-radiocarbon dating of temper particles in shell-tempered pottery provides a solution to many contextual problems. Surface sherds and museum specimens may be dated, as well as sherds from contexts where other biotic materials may be lacking or in questionable association. Most importantly, the procedure directly dates an event related to production of the artifact in question, specifically the death of the animal(s) from which the shell was obtained. As shell-tempered ceramicsare found around the globe, the method should have wide application in archaeology. One potential problem is the reservoir effect that occurs when shellfish uptake old carbon and incorporate it into their shells. In this paper, I document the reservoir effect in certain geological areas of the state of Mississippi, southeastern U.S.A., by comparing AMSdates on freshwater mussel shell-tempered sherds with radiocarbon dates on associated materials. Implications of this research are then discussed. Katherine SZABÓ Department of Archaeology and Natural History, Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia katherine.szabo@anu.edu.au Hermit Crabs and Shell-Bearing Archaeological Deposits: Indicators and Impacts. Keywords Tropical Indo-Pacific,, hermit crabs, gastropods, shell-middens, taphonomy. Abstract Terrestrial hermit crabs of the genus Coenobita have a circum-tropical distribution. While it is well-known that hermit crabs occupy vacant gastropod shells, the potential impact of coenobitid activity upon shell-bearing archaeological deposits has been little discussed. Examples of coenobitid impact upon shell midden assemblages from across the tropical Asia-Pacific region are introduced here in order to assess: (1) trace indicators by which hermit crab use/occupation can be identified, (2) preferred taxa targeted by coenobitid hermit crabs, (3) the nature of and prerequisites for hermit crab exploitation of shell midden deposits, and (4) potential impacts upon archaeological analyses and reconstruction. Emiliano Melgar TÍSOC Technological Change on Shell Objects at the West Coast of Chetumal Bay, Mexico Keywords Technology, SEM, 150-1535 AD, Mexico, shell objects. Abstract The aim of this paper is to compare and discuss the two technological traditions on shell objects that I identified on their traces of manufacture, using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), among prehispanic Mayan sites at the west coast of Chetumal Bay. The first technological tradition began at Early Classic times (AD 150-AD 600), and had been developed throughout Late Classic (AD 600-AD 900) and Postclassic (AD 900-AD 1535) times, based on the standardization of the tools employed, and the great amounts of exotic shells used. The last tradition, perhaps arrived with Putun-Itza people by sea, emerged at Postclassic times; it showed new tool assemblages employed, and the scarcity of exotic species used. Canan ÇAKIRLAR Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte, ArchäobiologieEugenstr. 40. 72072 Tübingen, Germany. canancakirlar@yahoo.com Archaeomalacology: Past, present and future. Keywords Archaeomalacology, paradigms, theory and practice, history of research, prospect. Abstract Archaeomalacology has evolved to become a very active scientific field to embrace an enormous variety of research with the keyword "mollusk". This poster will present a time-line for the recent and past developments in the field. It will critically evaluate the current research trends that fall under the title of archaeomalacology. It will introduce the activities of the Archaeomalacology Research Group of ICAZ. It will also include a prospect for the future development of archaeomalacology. Kirsty MURPHY AVERY Independent researcher, U.K. She Drills Seashells on the Seashore: An Experimental Study - Manufacture-wear Vs. Use-wear Using Palaeolithic Technologies for the Perforation of Whole Shell Beads Keywords Upper Palaeolithic, Paviland, perforated shell objects, use wear, technology. Abstract Development of body ornamentation, including pierced shells, was seen as one of the significant innovations of the Aurignacian period of the Upper Palaeolithic. The 'Red Lady' of Paviland, among other European Upper Palaeolithic sites, provides evidence for whole shell beads used as body ornamentation. An experimental research project was undertaken to analyse the relative effectiveness, of different manufacture techniques for whole shell bead perforation, using simple technologies that would have been available at the time. The marks of manufacture on these shells were subsequently analysed to ascertain as to whether they left distinctive marks specific to the applied technologies. The finished beads were assembled into various suspended adornments and use-wear analysis of simulated or actively worn body ornamentation was undertaken. The results were made comparable to archaeological evidence to ascertain as to whether different manufacturing techniques could be identified and/or whether subsequent use-wear patterns obliterated manufacture wear marks, and might then give indication as to how the beads were actually worn. Victoria STOSEL CSULA Department of AnthropologyCalifornia State University, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA 90032. Tori39@hotmail.com Contemporaneous sites, a tool for cross comparison Keywords San Nicolas, California, dietary reconstruction, marine resources, Meat and protein multipliers Abstract This evaluation of three late Holocene sites on San Nicolas Island, California explores environmental exploitation, dietary preferences and examines some health considerations. The three sites selected for this study, CA-SNI-102, CA-SNI-106 and CA-SNI-163, are located on the western portion of San Nicolas. Calibrated radiocarbon dates suggest contemporaneous occupation of the sites, permitting a comparison of related sites. Raw shell and bone weights provide basic information regarding habitat exploitation. Basic analysis fails to accurately identify the importance of various species, in terms of nutritional contributions. Meat and protein multipliers provide additional information that fosters a better understand of the dietary contributions of various marine resources.
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