Search Results (255)

The Jiahu site (ca. 9000–7500 cal. BP) in the Huai River valley has yielded the earliest reported evidence of fermented alcoholic beverages in China. Previous chemical residue analyses interpreted these beverages as a mixture of rice, honey, and fruit, differing markedly from brewing traditions documented at other Neolithic sites in China. To reassess Jiahu brewing practices, we analyzed microfossils preserved in residues from 16 pottery sherds. The residues contained abundant starch granules, phytoliths, and fungal remains, including Monascus cleistothecia, hyphae, and yeast cells, together with starch damage patterns resulting from enzymatic hydrolysis, mashing, and cooking-induced gelatinization. Plant remains included rice, Panicoideae and Triticeae cereals, Job’s tears, foxnut, underground storage organs (USOs), and other taxa. Rice starches and Monascus remains were the most ubiquitous components, indicating that rice and Monascus formed the basis of qu-based brewing, while evidence consistent with malt saccharification was also identified. Together with previous chemical analyses, these findings suggest that Jiahu brewing relied primarily on qu-based saccharification, with contributions from malt-based processing, while honey and fruits may have supplied additional fermentable sugars. Integrating chemical and microfossil evidence provides a robust framework for reconstructing ancient brewing technologies. Full article

The Yiyuan jade from Luanchuan County, Henan Province (Central China), has been known since the Neolithic period and provides a scientific reference for tracing the provenance of jade artifacts from nearby Neolithic sites. In this study, the mineralogical characteristics and color genesis of the Yiyuan jade were investigated using petrography, XRD, SEM–EDS, FTIR, UV–Vis–NIR, and EPR spectroscopy. The jade occurs in four color varieties and is petrologically classified as serpentine–bearing dolomitic marble formed by Neoproterozoic gabbroic magma intrusion and subsequent low–temperature alteration. The color variations correspond to distinct mineral assemblages. White jade is dominated by calcite and dolomite; bluish–black jade by antigorite, clinochlore, and chamosite; bluish–white jade contains intermediate proportions of these phases; and green jade consists mainly of epidote and actinolite. The bluish color intensity shows a quantitative correlation with the green mineral content. Bluish–white appears when antigorite and clinochlore together account for 5%–40%, bluish–black when they exceed 40%, and bluish–gray when chamosite exceeds 10%. The bluish–black coloration is controlled by the dense fibrous interwoven microstructure of antigorite rather than by Fe or other elemental chromophores. These distinctive features serve as diagnostic criteria for identifying bluish–black jade materials from Neolithic sites in the Luanchuan region. Full article

This paper examines worked-bone production at the Miaodigou (MDG) site, a key Middle Neolithic settlement in northern China, to assess the role of bone objects in craft production, subsistence, and social life. During the expansion of millet agriculture and pig domestication, a small group of community members continued to acquire wild animal resources and engage in bone working. This study analyzes 26 finished bone objects and 69 modified osseous fragments through technological analysis, microscopic use-wear analysis, and replication experiments. Results reveal a simple yet pragmatic production system and provide the first reconstruction of the Middle Yangshao worked-bone production sequence. Small-scale bone production reflects a limited but persistent tradition of wild resource exploitation, integrating procurement, manufacture, and use. It also highlights the diversity of subsistence and craft activities within an agriculture-based society, where hunting and gathering practices are often underrepresented. This study further clarifies the functions of two common but understudied tool types in Chinese Neolithic assemblages. Replication experiments show that some awls were likely used for loosening threads or cords, while so-called “knives or daggers” might function as scrapers for bast fibers or animal hides. Full article

The submerged Early Holocene landscape of the Carmel Coast (Israel) has yielded remarkable evidence of Neolithic settlements and their associated material culture, preserved on and within the seafloor. Here, we report on the preliminary documentation of a newly discovered submerged Neolithic site near N. Mearot Inlet, containing series of rectangular clay basins arranged in a grid pattern. Following their initial identification, sediment cores were extracted from the basins and the ramparts around them and analyzed for their pollen, phytoliths, and mineralogical composition; however, more samples are to be taken and the analyses have yet to yield more conclusive results. Comparisons with later case studies suggest that the polygonal cracking of the clay and the basins’ morphology, size, and spatial organization are more consistent with salt evaporation pans, which were operated ca. 7000 years BP, than with plot-and-berm agricultural use, though agricultural use cannot be ruled out entirely. Full article

This study investigates intraspecific morphometric variability in the archaeozoological assemblages from the multi-period site of Șoimuș-Teleghi (Hunedoara County, Romania), encompassing occupation phases from the Early Neolithic (Starčevo-Criș culture) to the Late Bronze Age. The new AMS radiocarbon dates obtained refine the chronological framework of the site. The results reveal pronounced morphometric variability in cattle (Bos taurus), with horncore flattening indices, dental dimensions, and postcranial measurements enabling the differentiation of males, females, and probable castrates—the latter suggesting traction-oriented management strategies. A notably large horncore from the Vinča level may indicate hybridisation between domestic cattle and aurochs (Bos primigenius). Sheep (Ovis aries) display an increase in estimated withers height from the Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age, potentially reflecting improved husbandry. The pig (Sus domesticus) scapula scatter plot indicates a female-dominated culling pattern, while postcranial elements suggest relatively robust forelimbs combined with more gracile distal limb segments. Among wild taxa, red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) exhibit clear sexual dimorphism and generally large body sizes, consistent with the selective hunting of prime adult males. Comparative analysis with contemporary assemblages from Transylvania, Banat, and Hungary situates the Șoimuș-Teleghi material within broader regional trends, while highlighting certain distinctive features, particularly the large dimensions of Early Neolithic cattle and the diachronic size increase observed in caprine. Full article

In soils, mercury is found bound to organic matter, clays, and iron/manganese oxides, which are also major constituents of archaeological pottery. Although pottery is the most researched cultural material with archaeometric techniques, its mercury content remains largely unexplored. To address this gap, we studied Late Neolithic Penha-type pottery from NW Spain. The Late Neolithic was a period of widespread exploitation and circulation of mercury-bearing resources. A total of 92 samples from five archaeological sites were analysed to determine their mercury, carbon, sulfur, and iron content, as well as their spectroscopic properties (FTIR-ATR). Mercury was detected in all samples, with concentrations ranging from 6 to 1086 ng g⁻¹. Neither organic matter (C and S) nor iron compounds (Fe) were found to explain Hg concentrations, suggesting that diagenetic mercury incorporation was unlikely. Mercury was found to be related to kaolinite structural transformations, with concentrations decreasing with increasing degree of transformation. Kaolinite transformation depended on firing conditions (temperature and time), pointing to thermal desorption of the mercury present in the clay. The large observed variability most probably resulted from poorly controlled firing conditions. Nevertheless, whether mercury content reflects unintentional incorporation from naturally mercury-rich raw materials or a deliberate selection or addition (e.g., of cinnabar) during pottery manufacture remains to be further explored. Full article

The Neolithic site of Mulino Fiaccati/Le Rocche, near Roccapalumba in the Sicilian interior, has yielded an unusually rich ceramic assemblage recovered from a fissure exposed by modern quarrying. Typological analysis and a radiocarbon date of 4783–4553 BC (2σ) confirm its Middle Neolithic attribution. The ceramics include undecorated wares, Stentinello II/Western Stentinello-type pottery, and trichrome painted vessels, with a fragment tentatively linked to the bichrome facies. The materials studied are under the guardianship of the Soprintendenza per i Beni Culturali e Ambientali di Palermo. An integrated archaeometric approach, combining petrographic thin-section analysis with a geological survey of local raw materials, identifies multiple locally produced ceramic fabrics and demonstrates deliberate selection and modification of clay resources. The results indicate on-site production for all major classes, with only a few impressed–incised vessels originating elsewhere in the Sicani Mountains, pointing to regional exchange. Technological choices such as tempering and the use of ochres reveal a sophisticated operational knowledge and challenge long-standing assumptions that fine painted ceramics were imported into Sicily. These findings provide the first scientific evidence for local production of trichrome wares and offer new insights into functional differentiation within the ceramic repertoire. Ongoing analyses aim to build a broader archaeometric database for Sicilian Neolithic ceramics and to clarify production systems, resource use, and inter-community interactions. Full article

Chemical analysts and archeologists are increasingly interested in organic remains that penetrate the porous structures of ceramic vessels. Fatty acids and archaeological biomarkers are chemical compounds that are particularly important for determining the contents of ceramic vessels. This study involved gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of organic residues extracted from 56 Neolithic pottery samples found in 18 different settlements in Poland. Fatty acid ratios, including the newly proposed C15:0/C17:0 ratio (pentadecanoic acid/heptadecanoic acid) for the identification of dairy products and archaeological biomarker analysis, were used to determine the possible origin of these residues. The data obtained from the gas chromatography studies were statistically analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA), k-means clustering, and PERMANOVA to determine differences in the diet of the people inhabiting individual settlements. The obtained results allowed us to determine that the Neolithic diet was probably similar in different regions of Poland and throughout different periods of the Neolithic era. However, because of the large difference in variance between the different sample groups, we believe that research should continue and that a larger number of samples per settlement or historical period should be examined. We can conclude that all samples contained residues of mixed animal and plant origin, and the food stored in these vessels was likely subjected to thermal processing. Full article

Karst poljes in the Dinaric karst are widely infilled with Quaternary sediments. In the Bribir–Ostrovica karst polje, these sediments were investigated using geomorphological mapping and multiproxy analysis of lake sediment cores, including grain size, mineralogical, total organic and inorganic carbon (TOC, TIC), and ostracod analyses, coupled with radiocarbon dating. A key sediment core (OSP-3) recovered a ~470 cm long sedimentary sequence dating back to 13,200 cal yr BP. The floodplain to wetland environment occurred at the Late Pleistocene to Holocene transition (ca. 12,100 cal yr BP), evident by the first appearances of ostracods and an increase in TOC. More stable lake conditions prevailed between 9600 and 7200 cal yr BP, with dominant carbonate deposition and abundant ostracods. During the Middle and Late Holocene, increased clastic input and reduced ostracod presence indicate a shallow, dynamic water body influenced by erosion and periodic flooding. Lake sedimentation was strongly controlled by local karst topography, with a maximum lake depth of ca. 6 m. The Bribir–Ostrovica paleolake represents a rare terrestrial Holocene paleoenvironmental record from the Dinaric karst of the eastern Adriatic coast and provides valuable context for interpreting the nearby Neolithic archaeological site of Krivače as a lakeside settlement. Full article

This paper presents the geochemical characterisation of Penha-type ceramics, one of the most iconic prehistoric ceramics in Western Iberia. Penha pottery was a widespread material expression in Late Neolithic communities who displayed significant socio-cultural transformation before the advent of the Metal Ages. Samples (108) from seven archaeological sites in Galicia (NW Spain) were analysed by XRD, FTIR-ATR and ICP-MS to determine their mineral, molecular and elemental composition, respectively. The results indicate that most vessels are compositionally consistent with local geological sources, whether mafic or felsic, pointing to strong intra-site production. The use of raw materials seems to have been selective, and there are minor discordances and mixed compositions in almost all sites. The selected methods were effective in determining temper composition, while FTIR-ATR was also informative of clay transformations due to firing. The firing conditions were generally low-temperature (600–900 °C) with relatively short times (<5 h), compatible with simple kiln technology. Archaeometric evidence suggests two scales of mobility: predominant local mobility and limited long-distance exchange (coastal/inland). The geochemical characterisation reveals that individual communities seem to have developed their own customised recipes for pottery production using a profound knowledge of available local resources. Full article

This study introduces a four-channel millifluidic microbial electrochemical reactor (mMER) designed for parallel screening of cathodically active microbial communities. This platform integrates electrochemical control with online optical density (OD) monitoring, enabling simultaneous tracking of biomass-associated OD development and current response in four separate culture systems. The system’s performance was initially validated through photometric calibration and biocompatibility tests, leading to the development of a standardized workflow for cathodic enrichment protocols of soil microbial communities. Using this system, a cathode potential of −0.4 V (vs. quasi-reference electrode) was identified as effective and applied to four different soil samples, revealing variations in their electrochemical responses. Based on combined OD and current measurements, a time-resolved ΔOD/ΔQ analysis was introduced to compare biomass-associated electrochemical response behavior during enrichment. This analysis revealed distinct temporal response characteristics among soil microbial communities, including early, delayed, and sustained responses observed under cathodic cultivation conditions. Open-circuit potential measurements, conducted after enrichment, provided additional electrochemical characterization of the enriched systems. Among all samples, the microbial community from a Neolithic earthwork site (Niedersickte, Germany, sample HB51) demonstrated the most stable relationship between cathodic current consumption and OD development during enrichment. The mMER platform offers a valuable tool for the comparative screening of electroactive microbial communities from complex environmental samples. Full article

Ceramic production technology is a key indicator of craft specialization and social differentiation in Late Neolithic societies of the Central Plains. This study investigates Longshan-period pottery excavated from three representative sites, Niumugang, Zhoulonggang, and Shigudui in western Shangqiu, Henan Province. A suite of archaeometric techniques, including X-ray fluorescence (XRF), infrared spectroscopy (IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTA), and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), was employed to systematically examine the chemical composition, mineralogical phases, thermal behavior, and microstructural characteristics of the pottery assemblages. The results reveal statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the contents of major ceramic-forming oxides (SiO₂, Al₂O₃, Fe₂O₃, CaO, etc.) among the three sites. Pottery from the Shigudui site exhibits the narrowest range of compositional variation, whereas that from the Zhoulonggang site shows moderate dispersion. In contrast, pottery from the Niumugang site displays the widest compositional range. Mineralogical analyses indicate that pottery from all three sites is primarily composed of quartz, mica, and mullite. Notably, the high degree of mineralogical homogeneity observed in the Shigudui assemblage reflects a well-controlled and technologically mature firing process. Microstructural observations further demonstrate that pottery from the Shigudui site is characterized by uniformly dense fabrics, functionally differentiated vessels from the Zhoulonggang site exhibit clear technological stratification, and black pottery from the Niumugang site shows highly compact microstructures. These technological patterns closely correspond to differences in vessel assemblages and indicate varying levels of craft specialization and production control. Together, the results provide archaeometric evidence for the differentiation of settlement hierarchy and the development of specialized handicraft production during the Longshan period, contributing to a deeper understanding of regional technological interaction and social processes within the Longshan cultural sphere of the Central Plains. Full article

This study presents a high-resolution, multi-proxy palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Tövises fen at Pocsaj, Hungary, utilising lithostratigraphical, geochemical, malacological, and palynological analyses supported by radiocarbon dating. The sedimentary sequence documents the transition from a Late Glacial fluvial system (c. 19,000–16,000 cal BP) to a cut-off meander and subsequent oxbow lake, eventually evolving into a peat-forming fen. Malacological and palynological data reveal the co-occurrence of cold-tolerant Late Pleistocene elements and the early appearance of thermomesophilous taxa at the onset of the Holocene. This suggests that the favourable microclimate of the adjacent loess-covered high bank and the humid alluvial plain functioned as a cryptic refugium for temperate broad-leaved trees and associated fauna during the Late Glacial. Anthropogenic impact is traceable from the Mesolithic, characterised by Corylus management, intensifying through Neolithic agriculture to a peak during the Roman Imperial Period. Geochemical markers in the upper peat sequence reflect increased biomass and medieval habitation, while recent malacofaunal shifts indicate progressive desiccation. Despite modern drainage attempts, the Tövises fen remains a biodiversity hotspot of high conservation value, preserving relict wetland communities. Full article

Archaeomalacological analyses have been carried out as part of the interdisciplinary project of Colombare di Negrar, a prehistoric site in the Lessini Mountains (northern Italy). The palaeoenvironmental and economic reconstruction from the Late to Final Neolithic was based on 1047 mollusc remains taken from two contiguous Trenches 4 and 15. The landscape reconstruction shows natural clearings in the woods. The faunal associations indicate that the environment from the Late to Final Neolithic became wetter. Finally, stony-soil species remained constant over time. Full article

Coastal regions played a key role in the emergence of Early Neolithic cultures. Fluctuating sea levels shaped prehistoric human migration, settlement patterns, and adaptation strategies. The lower reaches of the Min River in Fujian were a major centre of activity. During the Middle to Late Neolithic, marine communities such as the Keqiutou (6500–5500 cal. a BP) and Tanshishan (5500–4300 cal. a BP) cultures flourished. However, the scarcity of earlier remains has limited understanding of Early Neolithic life before 8000 cal. a BP. We dated stratigraphic layers at the newly excavated Niutoushan site using radiocarbon dating and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). OSL results indicate the site’s Neolithic culture layer between 9.3 ± 0.7 ka and 8.1 ± 0.5 ka, with radiocarbon dates clustering around 8300–7000 cal. a BP. Based on the younger bounds of the dating results and kernel density estimation, the Neolithic remains at the site are dated to approximately 8000–7000 cal. a BP, identifying Niutoushan as one of the earliest Neolithic sites in the region. Combined with sea-level reconstructions, the findings suggest that the rapid Early Holocene sea-level rise drove human migration along China’s eastern coast before 8000 cal. a BP. The Niutoushan culture was influenced by Neolithic cultures from northern coastal regions and potentially by those located to its south across the exposed Taiwan Strait from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Early Holocene. This points to complex interactions among Early Neolithic cultures in both northern and southern coastal China, warranting further investigation for validation. Full article