International audienceWe present new archeomagnetic intensity data from two Late Neolithic archeological sites (Tell Halula and Tell Masaïkh) in Syria. These data, from 24 groups of potsherds encompassing 15 different time levels, are obtained using the Triaxe experimental protocol, which takes into account both the thermoremanent magnetization anisotropy and cooling rate effects on intensity determinations. They allow us to recover the geomagnetic intensity variations in the Middle East, between ∼7000 BC and ∼5000 BC, i.e. during the so-called pre-Halaf, proto-Halaf, Halaf and Halaf-Ubaid Transitional cultural phases. The data are compared with previous archeointensity results of similar ages from Northern Iraq (Yarim Tepe II and Tell Sotto) and Bulgaria. We find that previous dating of the Iraqi material was in error. When corrected, all northern Mesopotamian data show a relatively good consistency and also reasonably match with the Bulgarian archeointensity dataset. Using a compilation of available data, we construct a geomagnetic field intensity variation curve for the Middle East encompassing the past 9000 years, which makes it presently the longest known regional archeomagnetic intensity record. We further use this compilation to constrain variations in dipole field moment over most of the Holocene. In particular, we discuss the possibility that a significant dipole moment maximum occurred during the third millennium BC, which cannot easily be identified in available time-varying global geomagnetic field reconstructions
With the advent of the Neolithic, the first manipulation of clay for various purposes was observed. Fingerprints could be imprinted due to the plastic properties of clay. Their study and analysis can allow the estimation of the sex and age of the person who left them, thus providing insight into the social organisation of past populations. In the present study, we have analysed the fingerprints that were identified on a figurine representing a bovine animal found at the Neolithic site of Tell Halula in Syria. Tell Halula has a long period of occupation, from the Middle Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) to the Late PPNB, with some of the earliest evidence of monumental and/or collective architecture. To confirm the human origin of the prints, the presence of minutiae was first identified. In order to estimate the sex and age of the individual, both the Mean Epidermal Ridge Breadth and the Ridge Breadth were calculated. The mean ridge widths were 0.52 ± 0.076 for the first fingerprint and 0.50 ± 0.11 for the second fingerprint. The ridge density was found to be 6.5. The results indicated that the maker of the bovine figurine could be an adult male (~18/20 years old), taking both values into account. The results suggest that it is highly likely that the individual who handled the artefact was an adult male. However, given the small number of fingerprints in the Tell Halula figurine collection, little more can be said. Not much can be inferred about social structure and division of labour. There is therefore a need for further research into both the symbolism of the objects and who was responsible for their production.
Domestication implies a certain degree of human control over all aspects of animals’ life, including their ability to move freely. Consequently, domestic animals should experiment a significant reduction of their mobility regimes, such as range, duration, and intensity. Bone tissue is a plastic and alive material with the ability to remodel in response to me- chanical loading. In Tell Halula (7800–5200 cal BC) exploitation of Capra aegagrus and Capra hircus played a significant role from its earliest occupations. This study attempts to detect potential variations in cortical bone development using Computed Tomography scanning and cross-section analysis of Capra humeri in response to changes in their mobility regimes. Results support domestic specimens with loading patterns matching those of wild specimens together with loading patterns among the domestic group changing through the periods analyzed. Moments of inertia show antero- posterior and mediolateral loading differences between domestic and wild populations that may be indicative of mobility differences. Activity levels, evidenced by the relative amount of cortical bone and the polar moment of inertia, also seem to constitute a distinguishing marker of goat management strategies in the course of the archaeological sequence. The circularity index and the three different cross-sections documented also reinforce this hypothesis.
En este trabajo presentamos la aplicación de Procedimientos Automáticos Bayesianos sobre los conjuntos líticos descontextualizados de las terrazas próximas al Pas de l’Ase (Ribera d’Ebre, Tarragona) para proporcionar probabilidades cronológicas y diacronía espaciotemporal. Bajo los objetivos de obtener una mayor base empírica y contribuir a rellenar vacíos de información mediante el estudio de los palimpsestos, se establece un marco referencial que engloba los contextos arqueológicos fechados del Mediterráneo peninsular en el periodo comprendido entre el 14000-3000 cal. BP. Evaluamos la aplicación de esta nueva metodología, su efectividad y su adaptación sobre los diferentes casos de estudio y los referentes usados.
In order to provide chronological probabilities and spatiotemporal diachrony, this paper examines Bayesian Automatic Procedures in application to decontextualised lithic assemblages at the terraces near the Pas de l’Ase (Ribera d’Ebre, Tarragona). A reference framework is established that encompasses the dated archaeological contexts of the Western Mediterranean in the period between 14000-3000 cal. BP, with the aim of expanding the empirical record whilst also examining palimpsests to fill any gaps within it. We evaluate this new methodology’s application, effectiveness and adaptation to the different case studies and references employed.
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