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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]

Abstract: A new generation of airborne bathymetric laser scanners utilises short green laser pulses for high resolution hydrographic surveying in very shallow waters. The paper investigates its use for the documentation of submerged archaeological structures, introducing the concept of airborne laser bathymetry and focussing on a number of challenges this novel technology still has to face. Using this method, an archaeological pilot study on the northern Adriatic coast of Croatia has revealed sunken structures of a Roman villa. The results demonstrate the potential of this novel technique to map submerged archaeological structures over large areas in high detail in 3D, for the first time providing the possibility for systematic, large-scale archaeological investigation of this environment. The resulting maps will provide unique means for underwater heritage management. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The present paper sheds new light on the alteration of archaeological ceramics buried in marine environments by analysing in detail a large dataset of Hellenistic and Late Roman Republican transport amphorae from 15 sites along the well-known ancient maritime trade route off the Dalmatian coast in southern Croatia. These include amphorae from shipwrecks, kiln sites and settlements. Ceramic petrography and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) have been used to compare sherds of amphorae made in the same workshop, of the same fabric and origin, but recovered from both shipwrecks and terrestrial sites and were therefore exposed to different burial environments over two millennia. The integration of both methods permitted the identification of differential microstructural and geochemical alteration of the amphorae under the sea relative to those found on land. By applying principal components analysis and test statistics, we have detected enrichment of As, Ca, Na, Sb, Sr and U and depletion of Ba, Cs, K and Rb in amphorae from the marine environment, relative to those buried on land. The implications of the study are discussed in terms of the provenance determination of amphorae from submerged environments and the reconstruction of ancient maritime trade routes. • Hellenistic and Late Roman Republican transport amphorae. • Analyses of amphorae for multiple shipwrecks and terrestrial sites. • Ceramic petrography and bulk geochemical analysis (INAA). • Microstructural and compositional alterations in amphorae. • Application of test statistics in the identification of post-depositional alterations in pottery. [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]