Species Associations Among Insect Remains from Urban Archaeological Deposits and their Significance in Reconstructing the Past Human Environment

Toftanes: The Paleoecology of a Faroese Landnám Farm

“…The nature of conditions in similar structures, occupied by both domestic animals and humans, is evident from several early accounts (e.g., Henderson, 1819). Across all areas of Toftanes, species associated with relatively dry waste are dominant over those associated with more fetid material, often manure (Carrott and Kenward, 2001;Kenward and Hall, 1997), suggesting that the contexts sampled are not associated with the presence of stalled animals.…”

“…Further research into both modern and archeological insect faunas is required to address this question. The species present in this group at Toftanes have been demonstrated to be widespread in dry moldy waste (Carrott and Kenward, 2001;Smith, 2000), and cannot alone be used to signify stored hay. It has been noted that weevils (Curculionidae) and other phytophages may be brought onto sites in cut hay, and the presence of immature individuals in particular may be significant (Kenward and Hall, 1997).…”

The potential of chironomid (Insecta: Diptera) larvae in archaeological investigations of floodplain and lake settlements

“…The diatoms from the site show an increase in eutrophic and epontic species from the period of crannog construction onwards [49]. The coleopteran remains from the core include species indicative of rotting vegetation and Aglenus brunneus, a species though not an obligate synanthrope, is usually associated with human activity [17].…”

“…Likewise, there has been an expansion of the number of biological indicators used to investigate past environmentehuman relationships including Coleoptera (e.g. [15,17]), Trichoptera (e.g. [28]) and Cladocera (e.g.…”

Taming the Waterways: The Europeanization of Southern Québec's Riverside Landscapes During the 16th–18thCenturies

“…The species is oligophagous of Pisum sativum (Garden Pea), although it has been known to attack beans and seeds (Koch 1992). Ptinus fur (White-marked Spider Beetle) was recovered and has been known to infest sweet compost, such as grains and straw, in houses and granaries (Carrott and Kenward 2001), in addition to dried and decaying animal and vegetable matter (Campbell et al 1989). It has been suggested that the presence of hay in privy samples may indicate attempts at sweetening (Bain and King 2011).…”