Paleolimnology in support of archeology: a review of past investigations and a proposed framework for future study design

Bell, Madison A.; Blais, Jules M.

doi:10.1007/s10933-020-00156-8

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 185 publications

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“…Indeed, ponds—like other wetland types—can reveal environmental information that cannot be provided by archaeological materials and textual references. Thus, they are of utmost heritage value, especially when located in archaeologically significant contexts (Bell & Blais, 2020). Their environment and sediments need to be protected from disturbance, removal, and exploitation (Pond Conservation for Life in Freshwater Waters, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Sasanian landscape modification: New geoarchaeological evidence from the Ardashir Pond in southwest Iran (Palace of Ardashir, third century CE)

et al. 2021

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The Sasanian period (224–651 CE) marked an era of large‐scale urban projects in southwest Asia, including Iran's semi‐arid highlands, with particular efforts to manipulate water bodies. This study presents a recent interdisciplinary investigation of a spring‐fed pond at the entrance of the Palace of Ardashir (Firuzabad plain, southwest Iran), part of a recently registered World Heritage site. Historical accounts suggest that the entire water system of the plain, including the pond, underwent a hydraulic re‐organization at the beginning of the Sasanian period, a fact that has never been investigated geoarchaeologically. A series of sediment cores were retrieved from the pond to probe its evolution and examine the extent of its landscape modification. The cores were sedimentologically described and radiocarbon‐dated with age–depth models established based on 57 AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) 14C dates to understand the basin's depositional history. The results indicate that (i) Ardashir Pond has existed as part of a larger wetland complex since at least 4500 years ago, (ii) it was substantially enlarged at the beginning of the Sasanian era, and (iii) it was abandoned at the end of the Sasanian period. The Ardashir Pond is one of the first geoarchaeologically investigated case studies to demonstrate the Sasanian landscape in the framework of the “Iranshahr” sociopolitical concept.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early Sasanian landscape modification: New geoarchaeological evidence from the Ardashir Pond in southwest Iran (Palace of Ardashir, third century CE)

et al. 2021

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“…2005; Selby et al 2005). The existence of a mineralogical and molecular site biogeochemical halo, as described above, however, provides the ideal conditions for the use of an orthogonal, multi-proxy design, in which the proxies are statistically independent and can therefore potentially validate an inference through falsification (Bell & Blais 2021). The techniques used for geochemical analysis of the cores are X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), automated SEM-EDS analysis (QEMSCAN) with sedaDNA metabarcoding for plants and mammals, and lipid biomarker analyses of bile acids and faecal stanols (Table 1 and OSM1–6).…”

Section: From On-site Activities To Societal Interpretationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

New integrated molecular approaches for investigating lake settlements in north-western Europe

et al. 2022

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Lake settlements, particularly crannogs, pose several contradictions—visible yet inaccessible, widespread yet geographically restricted, persistent yet vulnerable. To further our understanding, we have developed the integrated use of palaeolimnological (scanning XRF, pollen, spores, diatoms, chironomids, Cladocera, microcharcoal, biogenic silica, SEM-EDS, stable-isotopes) and biomolecular (faecal stanols, bile acids, sedaDNA) analyses of proximal and through-crannog cores in south-west Scotland and Ireland. Both can be effective methods sets for revealing occupation chronologies and identifying on-crannog activities and practices. Strong results from sedaDNA and lipid biomarker analyses demonstrate probable on-site animal slaughter, food storage and possible feasting, suggesting multi-period, elite site associations, and the storage and protection of valuable resources.

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“…Sediments often provide a continuous record of past human occupation and, as such, stable isotopes in sediments are useful in tracking changes in human occupation [8,12]. δ 15 N profiles in pond sediments track nitrogen sources from trophically enriched sources, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sedimentary biomarkers and bone specimens reveal a history of prehistoric occupation on Somerset Island (Arctic Canada)

Gallant,

Hargan,

Kimpe

et al. 2024

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Archaeological studies of pre-historic Arctic cultures are often limited to artefacts and architecture; such records may be incomplete and often do not provide a continuous record of past occupation. Here, we used lake sediment archives to supplement archaeological evidence to explore the history of Thule and Dorset populations on Somerset Island, Nunavut (Canada). We examined biomarkers in dated sediment cores from two ponds adjacent to abandoned Thule settlements (PaJs-3 and PaJs-13) and compared these to sediment cores from two ponds without past human occupation. Coprostanol and epicoprostanol, δ 15 N measurements, sedimentary chlorophyll a and the ratio of diatom valves to chrysophyte cysts were elevated in the dated sediment profiles at both sites during Thule and Dorset occupations. Periods of pronounced human impact during the Thule occupation of the site were corroborated by 14 C-dated caribou bones found at both sites that identified intense caribou hunting between ca 1185 and 1510 CE. Notably, these sediment core data show evidence of the Dorset occupation from ca 200 to 500 CE at sites where archaeological evidence was heretofore lacking. We highlight the utility of lake sediments in assisting archaeological studies to better establish the timings, peak occupations and even lifestyle practices of the Dorset and Thule Arctic peoples.

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Paleolimnology in support of archeology: a review of past investigations and a proposed framework for future study design

Cited by 5 publications

References 185 publications

Early Sasanian landscape modification: New geoarchaeological evidence from the Ardashir Pond in southwest Iran (Palace of Ardashir, third century CE)

Early Sasanian landscape modification: New geoarchaeological evidence from the Ardashir Pond in southwest Iran (Palace of Ardashir, third century CE)

New integrated molecular approaches for investigating lake settlements in north-western Europe

Sedimentary biomarkers and bone specimens reveal a history of prehistoric occupation on Somerset Island (Arctic Canada)

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