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Previous approaches to earthquakes in archaeology, characterizing the geoarchaeological subfield archaeoseismology, have focused on types of seismic destructions and anti-seismic constructions in architectural remains. A challenge often raised in archaeoseismology relates to issues of equifinality since other human or environmental factors can also cause the archaeoseismc types in question. Furthermore, geological markers of earthquakes are rarely identified directly, i.e., stratigraphically, with archaeoseismic evidence. To address these challenges, this paper offers a methodological innovation through the geoarchaeological subfield of soil micromorphology to investigate earthquakes in the form of seismically triggered soft sediment deformation structures (SSDS) in direct stratigraphic association with architecture. Applications to the case of Helike in Greece — infamous victim of a major earthquake in 373 BCE — reveal not only key evidence for three earthquake events in the form of seismically triggered SSDS but also other geological hazards, including flooding and rapid coastal change, in association with Hellenistic period (late fourth to second century BCE) architecture. The results offer advancements for archaeology and suggest that geoarchaeology and soil micromorphology applications become standard in archaeology, particularly archaeoseismology, for the identification and interpretation of earthquakes. These advancements offer new avenues for exploring geological aspects of the human past. • Innovations in archaeological soil micromorphology can identify seismic deformation. • Earthquakes deform archaeological soils and sediments. • Hydromorphic conditions amplify earthquake deformation in soils and sediments. • Mw 5 or greater earthquakes cause architectural destruction and sediment deformation. • Archaeoseismology and soil micromorphology are subfields of geoarchaeology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper assesses a series of experimentally generated cereal fragments with the aim to develop criteria for interpreting archaeological remains of ground cereals. Modern grain of einkorn and barley was subjected to processing by means of grinding, boiling and malting and then charred under controlled laboratory conditions. Neolithic replica grinding stones, cooking pots and hearths were used for the production of modern reference material, informed by ethnographic observations. In this way a range of different types of cereal fragments were generated. Our results are based on observations on the fracture surfaces of these cereals, using stereomicroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Diagnostic features for specific grain treatments have been identified that facilitate the interpretation of ancient foods using cereal fragments. Bulging of the fracture surface is the main criterion for the identification of fragments generated prior to charring as the result of ancient grinding. Parboiling of grain in a liquid towards the production of bulgur (boiled in water) or trachanas (boiled or soaked in milk/sour-milk etc) can be identified archaeologically and in certain cases, ground barley may be distinguished from ground malt. Charring ground grain during cooking in liquid or preparing wort for brewing is also potentially identifiable in archaeological material. Archaeological finds of ground wheat from Mesimeriani Toumba in northern Greece dated to the end of the 3rd millennium B.C. are interpreted as boiled grain, dried and ground, corresponding to some form of bulgur or trachanas. Our results contribute new information towards the identification of past culinary practices such as grinding, boiling and brewing with cereals. • A methodological tool for unlocking past ground cereal food preparations. • A key for the interpretation of charred archaeological cereal fragments. • Not all ancient cereal fragments are bulgur: cautionary notes on interpreting ancient cereal fragments. • Bulgur or trachanas , a Bronze Age 'fast food' stored in a burnt house at Mesimeriani, northern Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection and interpretation of variability in archaeological data has been a long-standing effort in the field. This paper aims to introduce the application of Bayesian multilevel modelling as a tool for the detection of variability at levels within nested archaeological data. Model structure, ways of construction, and the potential of using variability information to enhance archaeological interpretations is presented. This is demonstrated through the analysis of two case study datasets: Neolithic pottery finds from Mala (Nova) Pećina cave excavations in Croatia and stone finds from the Bronze Age site of Akrotiri, Thera, Greece. This is followed by a discussion of the multilevel model results and the possible interpretations that can be derived from them. Finally, propositions are made on how these and other models can be extended. • Introduction of Bayesian multilevel modelling for studying variability in Archaeological data. • Application of a continuous response model to Bronze Age stone objects from the excavations at Akrotiri, Thera, Greece. • Application of a binary response logistic model to Neolithic pottery from the Mala (Nova) Pećina cave, Croatia • Discusses multilevel modelling as a tool for exploring variability in archaeology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]