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This study provides a comprehensive review of the current state of the art in marine technology as it pertains to the 3D documentation of underwater archaeological and historical sites. A thorough literature analysis of recent research is presented, with a special emphasis on vision-based approaches for 3D reconstruction and mapping. First, the paper lists different robotic platforms, various underwater imaging systems and possible combinations among them, through their use in marine archaeological research. In addition to robotic vision systems configurations, a thorough survey on computer vision solutions on image processing, online and offline reconstructions, for both simulation environments and real-world UCH scenarios, is given. The final part of the paper reviews strategies for data acquisition optimization through path planning approaches and highlights how working on synthetic data and simulation environments can enhance the quality of real-world operations. Finally, weaknesses, open issues, and future directions of research in marine robotic vision systems within the documentation of UCH are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of a set of beads, comprising both Sicilian amber and resin-coated beads in the Middle Bronze Age burial site of Cova del Gegant (Sitges, Barcelona, Spain), has sparked inquiries into whether the coating was intended for imitation or counterfeiting of amber. We assert that human-made materials, such as bead coatings, are intentionally conceived, designed, and crafted to fulfill specific functions. Thus, for an object to effectively fulfill its intended purpose, it must meet particular performance criteria influenced by situational factors. This paper aims to construct an empirically grounded narrative elucidating the development and function of resin-coated bead technology. Our methodology includes a comprehensive quantitative analysis of the coating and beads, an exploration of the interplay between technical choices and situational factors, and an investigation into whether the simulation of sensory performance characteristics played a pivotal role in the concept and design of resin-coated beads. Additionally, we synthesize data to unveil broader patterns related to the crafting and utilization of resin-coated and amber beads across time and space. We have documented resin-coated beads in the Iberian Peninsula from the Neolithic period (5th to 3rd millennia BCE) until at least the Middle Bronze Age (first half of the 2nd millennium BCE), where they coexisted with amber beads. Analysis employing ATR-FTIR and μ-CT imaging has revealed a composite coating comprising pine resin, beeswax, and carotene, adhered to shell beads with bone glue. This composite material represents the earliest known development in human history, unique to the Iberian Peninsula and without parallel in Prehistoric Europe. Our examination of the performance characteristics and functional roles of resin-coated beads suggests their potential as substitutes for amber beads, particularly in regions where amber was scarce or inaccessible. Despite being crafted from commonplace materials, these coated beads exhibit intentional design choices likely aimed at simulating the visual performance characteristics of amber. This deliberate effort, alongside their widespread distribution across time and space, indicates that composite-coated beads held symbolic and social significance akin to amber beads. • Our study quantitatively examines the development of coated beads in prehistoric Iberia, offering a thorough hypothesis of their past function and use. • Our study uses ATR-FTIR and μ-CT scans for a comprehensive analysis of these artifacts' composition and structure, appealing to a broad audience. • Our findings show the oldest evidence of humanmade composite material, bonded to a shell by bone glue, indicating advanced prehistoric design. • We uncover how these beads were designed to visually mimic amber, aiming for a specific color and aging process. • Our study highlights the social and symbolic significance of amber-like beads in high-status adornment, analyzing factors driving this technology. • The Tagus estuary concentration of these beads suggests a nuanced understanding of genuine amber scarcity and the need for innovative adornment technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study recreates aspects of the life and death of a young adult male who died during the siege of Roca Vecchia, a Bronze Age fortified coastal site in Italy. The partially charred and unburied individual, Roca US813A, was found among the debris in the southern room of the main gate to the city. This paper highlights information that can be retrieved from a single partially preserved skeleton. Detailed bioarchaeological, forensic, and taphonomic analysis, and thorough examination of archaeological and contextual data permit an osteobiography of this individual to be developed, which we situate in the overall picture of Middle Bronze Age regional events and exchanges between Italy and the Aegean world. This individual represents a unique example of information derived from bones from an archaeological context. After suffering fatal blows to the body, the individual was accidently exposed to heat. This allowed us to analyze wounds that had undergone thermal alteration. Since the combustion of the body was only partial and the same bone retains both highly burned and unburned parts, we were able to document the variations induced by heat at a macroscopic and microscopic level. To investigate the circumstances of his death, we focus on macroscopic and microscopic details of taphonomy and trauma using micro-CT, forensic, and multi-isotopic analysis. This may be the first secure evidence of a Middle Bronze Age (MBA) war casualty in Italy. In addition to detailed information about their manner of death, we discuss implications for the peopling of the site, tactics in Bronze Age warfare, and the nature of relations between Roca and the Aegean region. • Roca Vecchia; Middle Bronze Age; Warfare; Perimortem Traumas; Burned bones; Indigenous-Aegean relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a novel micro-photogrammetric application for the examination of technological traces using a portable digital microscope. The aim is to evaluate its potential, advantages, and level of detail within the context of traceology studies, highlighting its importance in particular for field documentation of unmovable items. The technique is non-invasive and applicable to samples that cannot be transported outside their regions/countries of origin. Moreover, this methodological presentation aims to provide an extensive account of the utilized technology, the accessories, the possible uses and a series of experiments designed to replicate environmental and logistical conditions commonly encountered in the field. The goal is also to compare a 3D model obtained with a portable digital microscope to one obtained with a camera equipped with a macro lens, in order to highlight the level of detail achieved in trace visualization. The results are also expanded and discussed, including an examination of an archaeological case study. Additionally, to evaluate the validity and accuracy of the detected traces, the data obtained has been analyzed in the context of a qualitative assessment conducted using a stereomicroscope coupled with an optical fiber reflected light system. • Micro-photogrammetry for trace analysis in the field with a digital microscope. • Non-invasive technique to create a three-dimensional representation of the trace. • Excellent results can also be obtained at distances greater than 4 cm. • This technique provides greater detail compared to macro lens photogrammetry. • The system is adaptable to different conditions so it is effective in field application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main interests in the interpretation of the archaeological record and its variability within and through time and space is the production and use of past human stone tool technologies. Tool design and function are inevitably intertwined and strongly related to tool use. Understanding tool design provides information about early human technological adaptations and reflects human behaviour in the sense of conscious or unconscious decision-making. Nevertheless, the reason for major changes (including novelties, innovations, and loss) in past human stone tool technology is still poorly understood. A comprehensive approach focusing on tool function (What was the tool meant for?) and use (What was the tool used for?) can help to overcome this gap. While tool function (including performance) can be investigated experimentally, tool use can be addressed with use-wear analyses. These questions can be best investigated on technological systems showing little tool variability but strong evidence of maintenance and long-term use, such as Middle Palaeolithic industries. The Late Middle Palaeolithic record of Central and Eastern Europe is marked by the emergence of an asymmetric tool-type called Keilmesser (bifacial backed knives). Due to their sophisticated morphology, Keilmesser as a case study offer the potential to address aspects of raw material selection, tool production, maintenance, and reworking. This paper presents the results of an experiment designed to study the tool performance of Keilmesser from three archaeological sites, namely Balver Höhle, the Upper site of Buhlen and Grotte de Ramioul by testing raw material, edge angle and movement as independent variables. A highly controlled, sequential experiment was conducted using a mechanical device performing unidirectional cutting and carving movements on hard contact material. Results demonstrate the possibility to perform the mentioned task with 35° and 45° edge angles, maintaining function, albeit at differing levels of efficiency. The data has a direct impact on the interpretation of the archaeological assemblages regarding aspects such as stone tool morphology and resharpening. At the same time, the study highlights the importance of raw material analysis to understand the variability in the archaeological record and the implications on past human decision-making strategies. • Highly controlled, mechanical experiments allow for investigating isolated, individual variables affecting tool performance. • Cutting and carving tasks can be performed with edge angles of 35° and 45° without losing samples' functionality. • Raw material properties crucially impact tool performance. • Silicified schist samples, compared to flint samples, experience more microfracturing during use, causing 'self-resharpening'. • Neanderthals' choice of silicified schist as raw material may have been a conscious decision in their technological rational. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The archaeological analysis of Historical mobility is an increasingly studied topic thanks to new geographic information technologies. This paper proposes a modelling exercise of the spatial behaviour of a Second Iron Age community in the Middle Tagus Valley: the hillfort of Villasviejas del Tamuja (Botija, Cáceres). Based on our knowledge of the configuration of the site and the surrounding settlements, we propose a heuristic use of a series of GIS tools to understand how the spatial relationship between both elements was structured. More specifically, we compare the results obtained with different calculation methods that combine two essential variables to address this issue: mobility and visibility relations. On the one hand, we evaluate the results with the application of an already developed methodology: the MADO analysis. On the other hand, we present a complementary procedure for the calculation of Least Cost Paths (LCP), considering the visibility as a key element in the mobility. The methodology uses the same data, in a paradigmatic case study for comparing results. The differences obtained through the use of different tools are thus evaluated in order to weigh up the additional or complementary knowledge that they can provide us with to investigate archaeological research questions such as the defensive architecture of the hillfort or the distribution of other nearby settlements. • Advance spatial understanding without direct connections, vital when central locations are known but routes are not. • LCPV as an alternative for mobility analysis compared with MADO. • LCPV's flexibility includes adding visibility criterion in mobility analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 advances knowledge of human behavioural and adaptational strategies in coastal areas related to acquiring, producing and distributing ornaments, specifically, the omnipresent marine gastropod Columbella rustica. By applying quantitative and qualitative approaches to the most extensive collection of Columbella rustica shells in the Eastern Adriatic region discovered in the Late Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic levels of Vlakno cave in Croatia, we have determined the complete step-by-step life cycle of this bead type , in particular, where and how shells were collected, produced, used, distributed and discarded. By integrating different methodologies, our data revealed changes in the collection strategies, reduction of the shell size during the Mesolithic period, and standardisation and continuity in production techniques. Detailed analyses of broken shells in the archaeological assemblage identified the presence of technological traces resulting from processing mistakes, supporting our hypothesis of on-site production. A significant share of used and unused standardised beads points that bead production at this site was for personal use but also likely for the exchange and distribution systems. Standardised, systematic and long-lasting activity related to the ornaments places Vlakno cave as one of the leading centres for maintaining regional exchange and communication networks in the Eastern Adriatic region during significant climatic and environmental changes happening in this region in the Late Pleniglacial and the early Holocene. Detecting on-site activities related to the ornaments in Vlakno cave has extended our understanding of how symbolic motives influenced the settlement model of the Late Pleniglacial and Early Holocene hunter-gatherers in Eastern Adriatic region and overall contributed to fundamental questions about the complexity of ancient human societies' adaptation strategies. • Chaîne opératoire and in-situ production of C. rustica ornaments • Changes in collection strategies reflected in size reduction • Standardization of production techniques in Eastern Adriatic • Archaeological broken shells as processing mistakes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological data provide a potential to investigate the diffusion of technological and cultural traits. However, much of this research agenda currently needs more formal quantitative methods to address small sample sizes and chronological uncertainty. This paper introduces a novel Bayesian framework for inferring the shape of diffusion curves using radiocarbon data associated with the presence/absence of a particular innovation. We developed two distinct approaches: 1) a hierarchical model that enables the fitting of an s-shaped diffusion curve whilst accounting for inter-site variations in the probability of sampling the innovation itself, and 2) a non-parametric model that can estimate the changing proportion of the innovation across user-defined time-blocks. The robustness of the two approaches was first tested against simulated datasets and then applied to investigate three case studies, the first pair on the diffusion of farming in prehistoric Japan and Britain and the third on cycles of changes in the burial practices of later prehistoric Britain. • Bayesian methods for modelling diffusion curves with radiocarbon dates are introduced. • Sample interdependence and non-sigmoid diffusion curves can be handled. • Robustness is tested on simulated datasets and archaeological case studies. • Code and data are available on a GitHub repository and archived on Zenodo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birch bark tar was used extensively throughout human history. While later ceramic-based production technologies are known, prehistoric aceramic techniques leave little to no archaeological evidence. Experimental tar production attempts to fill this gap and suggest potential techniques. However, their archaeological relevance is unclear. Through an in-depth biomolecular analysis using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, this study attempts to differentiate tars produced using four experimental aceramic techniques: condensation, ash mound, pit roll, and raised structure. In doing so we publish the largest collection of GC-MS results of aceramic birch tars. The results show that pentacyclic triterpenoids, characteristic of birch bark, vary between the production techniques in relation to heating exposure and perhaps the tar collection method. This allows for a tentative identification of tars produced through the condensation and ash mound techniques, which were formed consistently using short periods of heating and collected systematically by scraping. In contrast, tars produced using the pit roll and raised structure techniques do not have consistent molecular signatures. Despite the partial success of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, the archaeological relevance is questioned because this technique is only applicable to samples from optimum lipid preservation conditions when a high number of pentacyclic triterpenoids are preserved. Therefore, using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry to determine the transformation methods of organics, like birch bark, may not be an appropriate standalone technique to fairly discuss the technological capabilities of past populations. • The paper contains the largest collection of GC-MS results of aceramic birch tars. • GC-MS details unique molecular signatures related to differences in heating. • Applying these patterns to identify ancient tar production techniques is difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textiles unearthed along the Silk Road are important material evidence of the spread and exchange of cultures in ancient Eurasia. This paper examines fibers and natural dyes in archaeological textiles from the Wei and Jin dynasties (220–420 CE) unearthed in Bazhou, a major route in the Xinjiang region of the ancient Silk Road. Optical microscope (OM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and proteomics analysis were used to examine and compare ancient and modern fibers. The result showed that the ancient textile samples tested consisted of silk, wool and cotton. Two species of silk were accurately identified, Bombyx mori silk and Bombyx mandarina silk. In addition, dyes were extracted from textile artifacts using a mild extraction method and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector and a mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS). As a result, the identified red dyes can be divided into plant dyes and insect dyes, such as Rubia cordifolia , Rubia tinctorum and Kermes vermilio. The yellow dyes identified were derived from plants such as Reseda luteola , Phellodendron chinense , Phellodendron amurense , Berberis spp. The blue dyes identified in these textiles indicate the presence of indigo. These dyes are not only local, but also many exotic dyes from central or eastern China, and even from the Mediterranean coast. This study reveals the diversity of fibers and natural dyes used in the historic Lop Nor area of Bazhou, providing insights into their species origination and distribution. • Multi-analytical techniques were used for fiber identification in archaeological textiles from Bazhou, Xinjiang. • Bombyx mori silk and Bombyx mandarina silk were distinguished by proteomics analysis. • Plant and insect dyes were identified by HPLC-DAD-MS technique. • Exotic dyes from the Mediterranean coast were found in wool. • These fibers and dyes attest to the material spread of the Silk Road during the Wei and Jin dynasties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In archaeology, the study of past plant processing activities in domestic spaces has hitherto relied greatly on the observed distribution of macrobotanical and artefactual remains. However, the surfaces where such activities took place can themselves preserve microscopic remains, potentially traceable to the activity that originated them. This paper presents new aspects of plant-related tasks, and the use of living space, at household level, in Neolithic Çatalhöyük through spatial analyses of phytoliths and starch grains recovered from two house floors. Results have revealed plant-related tasks such as crop processing, the use of plant-based crafts, and the management and culinary use of wild resources previously unrepresented in the archaeobotanical assemblage. These distinctive uses of vegetal resources in domestic spaces identified through microbotanical remains have shed light on new complex aspects of household social organisation in one of the earliest farming communities in Western Asia. • Phytoliths and starch grains reveal evidence of plant processing activities. • Post-harvest processes occurred rutinary in indoor living spaces. • Wild plants, such as geophytes, played an active role in the local foodways. • Specific houses fulfilled the food-related tasks of an extended household unit. • Microbotanical and spatial analyses are valuable tools for studying living spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the nature of copying errors in the cultural transmission of material culture is highly relevant for students of cultural evolution, especially in the field of evolutionary archaeology. In this paper, we set up a classic transmission chain experiment, which involves making clay anthropomorphic figurines, to explore the nature of the copying error related to the production of 3D objects. The experiment consists of four independent transmission chains, each with 10 participants. Three chains are non-expert chains, as they consist of students of archaeology and psychology with no formal training in arts. The fourth is an expert chain consisting of art students. Our results show that the copying error predictably differs between the experts and the non-experts – it is lower in the expert chain. However, in both groups, the error is higher than predicted by the models that assume that the copying error is only due to imperfections in the perception of linear dimensions. Taken together, these two results suggest that, in addition to the error in perception, the error in the execution contributes significantly to the overall error, as predicted by the recently formulated object-mediated transmission model (Crema et al., 2023). The results of our experiment also show that the errors are often biased rather than random, suggesting that the transmission process involves the transformations anticipated by the cultural attraction theory. • Transmission chain experiment is carried out with clay anthropomorphic figurines. • Copying error of linear dimensions is higher than the Weber fraction (3%). • Art students make less error than other students in copying features of figurines. • Copying errors are often biased, as predicted by the cultural attraction theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until recently, what was known about the trade of tin in the ancient Near East was based in large part on information derived from the extensive commercial archives found at the archaeological site of Kültepe (ancient Kaneš) in Turkey dating to the Middle Bronze Age (MBA) c. 1900-1750 BC. These archives were produced by an expatriate community of traders native to the city of Assur in modern-day Iraq and document an extensive shipping of tin ingots from unnamed sources east of their hometown. Tin was carried by donkeys through northern Syria and across the Taurus Mountains to Anatolia where it was sold for silver. This paper presents the first set of tin isotope analyses of bronze objects from Kültepe to test the image provided by these ancient archives, finding that all artifacts dated to the main period of Assyrian trade excavated in the residential areas of the site indeed have high tin content and high values of δ124Sn (0.77–1.74‰) relative to the NIST 3161a standard. Such high values currently compare best with ores from Central Asia. The isotopic analysis of artifacts from the Assyrian Trading Colony Period of Kültepe is therefore consistent with the textual evidence. However, Early Bronze Age samples recovered at the site are instead characterized by lower ranges that extend to neutral δ124Sn values (0.02–1.31‰). Likewise, one artifact coming from Mound Level 7 (c. 1830-1700) at the center of the site where public buildings were concentrated, and one object dated to the Hellenistic Period (Mound Level 2), when the site saw a resurgence in political importance, likewise have lower δ124Sn compositions of 0.11 and 0.31‰, respectively. Both samples also have low to moderate tin content. The Early Bronze Age artifacts form a linear array between artifacts from low δ124Sn-low Sn wt% to high δ124Sn-high Sn wt% that suggests a mixing of two compositional groups – not simply the mixing of two isotopically distinct reservoirs of tin, but also distinct in the amount of tin present in the alloy. This would be consistent with the recycling of low tin bronze objects with local tin, together with high tin bronzes containing tin from Central Asia. The two samples from Mound Levels 7 and 2 suggest that although Central Asian tin was predominant in the MBA, Anatolian tin may have continued to be used in a separate bronze production system that remained active at shifting varying of intensity throughout antiquity. • The first Sn isotope data from Kültepe, a site central to the story of Bronze Age tin trade. • Sn Isotopes reveal that trade patterns and connectivity change over time. • Sn Isotopes support the written record of imports of Central Asian tin in the MBA. • A combination of local and Asian tin is evident in the EBA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of pottery brought many changes in the way people in the past designed, cooked, stored, transported and gave meaning to their social worlds. Yet, the widespread use of these materials also brought challenges, such as how to contend with their brittleness. One of the many creative responses to this challenge, was pottery repair. At the start of the Neolithic period in central and south-east Europe, we find traces of repair activities even among the oldest pottery assemblages, which commonly consist of perforations placed alongside cracks used to bind the damaged vessels. Obtaining measurements and microscopically examining perforations can prove to be challenging, due to the accessibility constraints of most used measuring instruments. Attempting to overcome this limitation, our paper provides a method for identifying ancient drilling procedures (techniques and gestures) by integrating photogrammetric recording techniques into archaeological drilling experiments on low-fired ceramic specimens. Through this method we shed light on the unique characteristics of Early Neolithic pottery repair in the Upper Tisza/Tisa Basin (NE Hungary, NW Romania and SW Ukraine). Our experimental results using lithic borers show clear differences between two drilling techniques, i.e. thumb- and rod-drilling, according to the rotational striations produced, and the variation in the aspect ratio and centroid of perforations at different depths. Furthermore, our analysis of repair holes in Early Neolithic pottery demonstrates the consistent use of mixed drilling techniques for the purposes of repair, and the exclusive use of rod-drilling for the manufacture of sherd spindle whorls. The reconstruction of the sequences of repair also suggests that deviation from these consistent drilling procedures was likely due to the adaptation of the craftsperson to the specific damage condition of the vessels. Thus, repair work cannot be described as following a strict recipe, but as an ongoing creative process of evaluation. • Photogrammetric techniques detected diagnostic traces of drilling procedures. • Mixed use of drilling techniques for pottery repair observed at Méhtelek-Nádas. • Preference for repairing small or medium-sized open vessels unveils a regime of value. • Evidence of technical adaptation to vessels' damage state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the methods of analysing the manufacturing process of lithic tools is by "reading" the scars of removals visible on the surface of cores or bifaces. The paper aims to review the limitations of this approach, by answering the question as to how much information from the original knapping process is still preserved in the cores and bifaces. To quantify the information loss we used experimentally knapped pieces, that we then refitted to check which removals are still visible on the surface of the analysed forms. We tested different measures of information loss in the context of removals and sequences of removals, but also the chronological relationship between sequences i.e. the number of linear extensions and missing nearest connections. On average, 39.9% of the original removals and 54.1% of the sequences of removals are preserved on the surface, but only 14.1% of the original relationships between sequences can be observed. Finally, we used simple machine learning to find an algorithm for estimating the loss of the nearest chronological relationships between sequences when no refits are available. Due to the extremely high information loss for the linear order of the knapping process we: a) propose to abandon these elements of the diacritic approach which aim to reconstruct the rhythms and schemes of knapping; b) evaluate the quality of the reconstructed knapping scheme (partial order) prior to further comparative analyses. Here we propose an algorithm to estimate the number of missing connections to test the quality of the knapping process while using diacritic schemes. • The information loss refers to detached removals and the chronological relation between them. • 39.9% of detached removals are preserved on the surface of bifaces or cores. • 14.1% of the chronological relationships between sequences of removals can be observed. • The information loss during the knapping process is substantial. • It influences the chaine operatoire analyses based on tools or cores solely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence and utilization of gold beads in China were influenced by foreign civilizations and cultures, while the exploration of composite beads in China has been relatively limited compared to single-material beads. Metal foil glass beads represent a distinct type of composite beadwork popular in ancient times. This paper presents findings from a study conducted on a group of beads that were unearthed in Nanyang City, Henan Province. Theoretical calculations and CT imaging suggested that a particular class of gold beads, previously misidentified as single-material beads, actually consisted of gold foil wrapped around an inner layer of glass beads. Elemental analysis techniques such as pXRF, SEM and μ-EDXRF were used to reveal that the purity of the gold foil of the two differently shaped beads is around 95% and 98.5%, while the silver foil of the silver beads is also around 85% due to corrosion. Microscopic observation confirmed that the gold leaf was applied through foil-fusion gilding. Lead isotope analysis indicated that the gold beads originated from different sources, whereas the silver beads likely originated from the Central Plains region. Furthermore, the evidence of beadwork from Southeast Asia and South China supports the view that the gold beads may have been originally exotic but gradually adaptated through indigenous learning, allowing the creation of high-quality imitations. This study emphasizes the importance of scientific analyses for the proper determination of bead types and craftsmanship, and contributes to a better understanding of the ancient bead circulation network. • A special type of beadwork that wraps glass in a gold leaf is recognized. • The purity of the gold foil of two differently shaped beads is around 95% and 98.5%. • These gold beads may have originated in Southeast Asia and then spread to China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highly fragmented nature of Palaeolithic faunal assemblages is a regular limitation in archaeozoological analyses as it prevents a precise taxonomic identification following comparative anatomy criteria. In this paper, we integrate Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) analysis of unidentifiable bone fragments within archaeozoological and taphonomic data to overcome this limitation and disentangle the subsistence strategies of Solutrean and Magdalenian human groups of the La Viña rock shelter (northern Iberia). The ZooMS results are consistent with the archaeozoological data showing preferential exploitation of red deer complemented by horses and caprids, whereas large bovids and reindeer are a minor component. This study also reveals significant species variability in classifying unidentifiable bones to mammal-size classes. The combination of biomolecular methods and traditional archaeozoology and taphonomy provides a higher resolution of faunal diversity in Palaeolithic assemblages and hominin subsistence behaviour related to carcass transport and seasonality. • First study in Iberia combining ZooMS and archaeozoology for evaluating Palaeolithic subsistence strategies. • ZooMS reveals species variability in archaeozoological mammal-size classification. • Foetal and perinatal bones identified by ZooMS inform about seasonality and hunting strategies. • Collagen deamidation level at La Viña decreases when more protein is preserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to change the traditional view of the Late Avar belt fittings, which in the 8th century AD delineated an extremely dense communication network within the Carpathian Basin and beyond, by using a groundbreaking combination of iconography, energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), lead isotope analysis, digital morphometry and 3D comparative prototyping. It presents a complex analysis of bronze belt ends decorated with an exceptional scene of a snake eating a frog-like creature, discovered in the last decade in Czech Republic, Hungary and Germany. According to the iconography, this motif represents an important cosmogonic and fertility myth, known to various early medieval populations living in Central Europe. Some of these belt ends come from the same workshop and/or are derived from a common model, even though they were found in very distant regions. The study also focuses on the provenance of the raw material used in the production of Avar-style belt fittings in general. For the first time, it was possible to locate the Early Medieval source of copper in the Slovak Ore Mountains, using lead isotope analysis. • First analytical approach to peculiar belt fittings found in Avar and non-Avar contexts. • Combination of elemental, isotopic and morphometric analyses. • Metal source identified in Slovakian Ore Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Northern Iberian Plateau during the Early Iron Age witnessed the proliferation of villages, showcasing well-preserved earthen architectural remains that offer valuable insights into past daily life practices. However, the application of high-resolution geoarchaeological approaches to these contexts has been largely overlooked, despite their significance in assessing complex sedimentary sequences predominantly composed of earth-based construction materials. This paper presents the outcomes of a microcontextual geoarchaeological study conducted on earthen dwellings from the Early Iron Age village of Cerro de San Vicente (Salamanca, Northern Iberia). Our study employed soil micromorphology, lipid biomarker analysis, XRD, and XRF analyses to investigate site formation processes, characterize construction materials and techniques, and explore aspects of daily life practices, functionality, and dwelling life histories. Our results have enabled the identification of three distinct construction layers within the dwellings, shedding light on recurrent events of floor use, maintenance, and repaving. Additionally, we have detected periods of abandonment and decay of the earth-based construction material that inform on the dynamics of abandonment and reuse within the village. Furthermore, our analysis has revealed the presence of well-preserved lipid biomarkers throughout the sequences, possibly associated with the past functionality of the dwellings. Ongoing and future analyses will further contribute to our understanding of ancient construction practices and the utilization of domestic spaces at Cerro de San Vicente. This study significantly enhances the limited availability of high-resolution, microcontextual data sets concerning Iron Age contexts in Iberia, underscoring the potential of our approach for future consolidation and advancement. By combining different geoarchaeological methodologies, we demonstrate the importance of integrating diverse analytical techniques to gain comprehensive insights into the socio-cultural dynamics of the Early Iron Age settlements. • Early Iron Age village in Northern Iberia, with numerous earthen dwellings. • Integrated application of soil micromorphology, lipid biomarkers, XRD, and XRF analyses to investigate floor sequences. • Lipid biomarkers are abundant and well-preserved throughout the earthen floor sequences of the dwellings. • Recurrent cycles of use, maintenance and decay are documented within the dwellings. • Relevant microcontextualized data can be obtained from the geoarchaeological characterization of construction layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Europe, especially the Low Countries, peat was intensively used as a fuel source. Yet, the identification of peat as a fuel source from archaeological combustion residues is challenging. Nevertheless, detecting peat fuel in archaeological contexts would significantly contribute to broader socio-economic questions, such as fuel and landscape management strategies. To achieve this goal, this study developed a new multiproxy approach by combining several analytical methods (light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, analytical pyrolysis, phytolith, faecal spherulite and ash pseudomorphs analyses and micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy) to identify fuel types, predominantly peat, from combustion residues. This methodology was successfully applied to combustion residues discovered at 6 Roman salt production sites situated along the southern North Sea coast. Not only was peat, specifically Sphagnum sp. and Ericaceae peat, identified as the predominant fuel source, but the use of fossil coal as a secondary fuel source could also be hypothesised. This paper demonstrates the high potential of the proposed methodology to identify not only the use of peat in combustion residues, but potentially also the specific type of peat used as well as other fuel sources. • New multiproxy approach to identify peat fuel from archaeological combustion residue. • New insights into fuel management on Roman salt production sites in northern Gaul. • High potential of SEM and analytical pyrolysis to identify amorphous char. • High potential of μXRF to distinguish fuels based on their elemental composition. • Identification of Sphagnum sp., Ericaceae peat, and fossil coal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]