The study of biological microremains as a tool for reconstructing paleoenvironment in human transition periods

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  • Does phytolith analysis of archaeological soil thin sections account for archaeobotanical data? (2015)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Luc Vrydaghs. Yannick Devos. Jean-louis Slachmuylders.

    Whilst phytoliths are plant microfossils, due to their formation process they differ markedly from any other plant remains. Consequently, their incorporation within archaeological deposits relies on specific taphonomical processes. It is here assumed the phytolith analysis of archaeological soil thin sections allows to document these processes and as such to discriminate between in- and exsitu phytoliths. However and accordingly to the context you consider, as such analysis do not involve any...

  • From foragers to producers: desert gardening at the Archaic Peruvian site of Quebrada de Burros (2015)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Alexandre Chevalier. Danièle Lavallée. Michèle Julien.

    Research at the Peruvian site of Quedrada de Burros (Dep. of Tacna, Peru) evidenced a very early settelement of fiserhmen and shel-gatherers on the desert Pacific littoral. The campsite has been occupied during the Early and Middel Holocene, between 10'000 and 6'000BP. The analysis of organic remains indicate that since the beginning, the different groups not only relied on ocean resources but also exploiter the surrounding vegetation. In particular, phytolith analyses show that the settlers...

  • Identifying Triticeae Taxa in Soil and Ceramic Thin Sections Through Morphometric Analysis of Articulated Dendritic Phytolith Wave Patterns (2015)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Terry Ball. Luc Vrydaghs. Akos Peto. Madison Pierce. AnnaLisa Davis.

    Morphometric analysis has proven to be an effective tool for identifying phytolith assemblages produced by various plant taxa. Dendritic phytoliths are produced in the inflorescence bracts of Triticeae. Articulated dendritc phytoliths produce a wave pattern along the margins of the cells. In this study we explore the use of morphometric data from our reference collection of articulated dendritic phytoliths to identify Triticeae taxa in soil and ceramic thin sections. SAA 2015 abstracts made...

  • Micro analyses of 17th Century adobe bricks from the "new" church at Pecos, New Mexico. (2015)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Cody Dalpra. Linda Scott Cummings. R. A. Varney. Peter Kovácik. Jennifer Milligan.

    The clash of Pueblo farmers and Spanish missionaries in central New Mexico marks the transition from prehistoric maize farming to the modern era along the Rio Grande River. The interaction between Native Americans and Spanish was not totally either peaceful or confrontational. The first church, built in the 1620s, was later burned during the Pueblo Revolt when Spanish were forced to leave, then rebuilt when relations improved. Four bricks from the new church (Mission de Nuestra Senora de los...

  • Phytolith Processing Methods and the Affects upon Results (2015)
    DOCUMENT Citation Only Breanne Clifton. Marta Portillo Ramirez. Rosa Maria Albert.

    Biological microremains such as pollen, diatoms, starches, and phytoliths are invaluable data sources for reconstructing paleoenvironments and subsistence practices among human populations during times of technological transition. A primary goal of archaeological research is to use these remains to reconstruct the relationship between environment and technology. Phytoliths in particular allow us to reconstruct the specific flora that comprises the biome in a particular place and time....