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The interwar period was a delicate stage in the balance of power between the colonial government in London and its colonies around the globe. Malta, then under British rule, was no exception, as its demands for greater self-determination were carefully entertained. Debates about the origin and identity of the ‘Maltese race’ had direct political and economic implications, both regarding their ability to govern themselves, and to determine how they should be categorized in the racist frameworks that imperial administrations depended on. Archaeology was inevitably caught up in these debates. The representations of Malta and its archaeology and history put on display at the British Empire Exhibition held at Wembley in 1924 may be better understood in this context. A series of previously unpublished drawings of the Malta pavilion are used here to shed new light on its design. The Malta pavilion crystallized a new and ambivalent conception of the island's identity, at once European, Christian and civilized, but also claiming a primordial ancestry in prehistory. It is argued that the pavilion deployed the past to shape perceptions of Malta, among the Maltese themselves, and among the wide public that visited the exhibition. It is further argued that the pavilion contributed to some deeply-ingrained conceptions of the past and of Maltese identity that still persist today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last twenty years, prompt-gamma activation analysis (PGAA) turned out to be successful in provenance research of obsidians, i.e. in the identification of possible raw material sources of various archaeological objects. Since the early 2000s, a significant database has been built at the Budapest Neutron Centre, which includes compositional data of about 500 geological and archaeological obsidian items, representing the major European and Mediterranean sources. Besides the straightforward cases of provenance studies, however, there are still a few difficult questions to answer. During the excavations of a unique grave at Csongrád (SE Hungary), a long transparent obsidian blade was found together with other objects. The grave was dated to 4370–4239 (1σ, 68.2%) cal. BC, belonging to the first wave of the 'Pit Grave' culture and having strong eastern contacts. Following the first energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) measurement in 1983, the blade was compared to the Carpathian 1 (Slovakian) type raw material. In 2019, PGAA and portable X-Ray Fluorescence analysis have been done on the same piece. Based on the first results, the Csongrád specimen, unlike other archaeological samples studied so far, was not possible to unambiguously associate with any of the known obsidian types. In order to clarify the provenance of the Csongrád blade, we have extended our database with more geological reference data from both sides of the Caucasus (i.e. from Armenia and Georgia), which are the closest outcrops to the main distribution region of the Pit Grave Culture in the NE part of the Black Sea. Until now, still no reassuring explanation is available concerning the provenance of the object with unusual composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of a specific form of Late Neolithic object in northeast Poland, commonly interpreted as reed arrowshaft straighteners, prompted investigation into the possible use of reed for archery in the European past. To examine the archery qualities of this raw material, and thus the likely rationale behind the manufacture and use of reed arrowshafts, a number of mechanical and experimental analyses were conducted. The results presented here indicate that reed was well suited for prehistoric archery. This is demonstrated above all by the arrowshaft stiffness required by this discipline, defined as the spine‐force, but also both the technological ease of production of arrows and their ballistic capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Algerian Historical Journal is the property of Algerian Historical Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Spindle whorls are a kind of spinning tools of crucially important in prehistoric period. Haidai region is one of the main historical and cultural areas of prehistoric China, and had a relatively developed textile handicraft production, where a large number of spindle whorls were unearthed, including many decorated ones. In order to make clear the uses of the decorated spindle whorls and the meanings of the patterns on them, the data of prehistoric decorated spindle whorls unearthed in archaeological sites of the period from Beixin Culture to Yueshi Culture in Haidai region of China were collected and analyzed, and the morphological data (dimension and shapes) of them were compared with that of undecorated ones. The patterns on the decorated spindle whorls were analyzed and classified, and the characteristics of the patterns in different cultural periods were studied, and based on this, the purpose of making decorated spindle whorls and the function and meanings of the patterns were discussed. The results showed that the range of morphological data of the decorated spindle whorls in Haidai region is consistent with that of undecorated ones belonging to the same period and unearthed in the same site, while compared with undecorated spindle whorls, decorated ones are more affected by regional culture and thus show different features from the ones unearthed in other archaeological sites belonging to the same cultural period. It is concluded that the most basic function of the decorated spindle whorls should be as practical tools for normal spinning production, and the patterns on them should have multiple meanings such as practical, decorative, distinctive and symbolic. The study of decorated spindle whorls can help us understand the prehistoric regional culture in Haidai region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocher has been observed as a feature of burial traditions around the world, throughout history and prehistory. In Southeast Asia ocher first appears in Hòabìnhian burials; however, it is used discriminately, varying within and between sites. Understanding the selection process for individuals with pigmented burials has been difficult due to their limited number. The site of Khok Phanom Di, Thailand, dating from ~4000 to 3500 BP, reflects the variation of pigment use seen in earlier sites, with 82% of burials found to have ocher. The cemetery's uninterrupted use for ~500 years, the high number and standard of preservation of human remains, and nearly four decades of bioarcheological research have facilitated a detailed study of the use of pigment in relation to bioarcheological factors. This work examines the relationship between the presence or absence of ocher within a burial and chronology, age, sex, mobility, funerary behavior, and spatial organization to understand whether there was a relationship between selective use of ocher and these attributes. The results found a relationship between ocher use and burial chronology, grave type, grave goods, and age. Multivariate analysis demonstrates that age interacts with the other predictors of ocher. Burials without ocher are almost exclusively those of perinates, these were commonly small, shallow "scoop" burials without grave goods. The presence of ocher in ~38% of perinate burials illustrates the complexity of selective pigment use and demonstrates the need for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A synthesis of field geological and archaeological surveying, as well as near-surface stratigraphy, provides new insights into the late Quaternary history of this region. We find a long series of alluvial, colluvial, playa, and aeolian deposits that show a complicated history of changes in the late Quaternary climate and environment. In the current study, we summarize the results of a geoarchaeological study that focused on the entire range of landscapes and associated landforms along the fringe of the Libyan Plateau at Umm Dabadib, Kharga Oasis, in the Western Desert of Egypt. We also determined the distribution of the cultural materials of prehistoric sites in different geomorphic settings, including playas, wadis, and dune fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ideas presented in this paper are being focused on the results of the archaeological research on the prehistoric period sites of Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu and other archaeological excavations conducted by the specialists from the university specialized in Prehistory, and by the ones from Brukenthal National Museum. Ever since the Paleolithic era, with the appearance of Homo sapiens fossilis, we see the first, timid and rare, achievements related to anthropomorphic sculpture. Until now, the representation known as the Venus of Willendorf was famous, but the latest major discovery of this kind, fortunately, comes from a Romanian archaeological site, Poiana Cireșului (Neamț County). We observe that during this period, anthropomorphic representations have more the characteristics of idols/ statuettes, not focusing on the facial features, but only on those of the body: sexual attributes and the exaggerated rendering of the characteristics of the female human body. After the year 7400 BP, we might think that this tradition, that of depicting the human body, the human being, in the form of idols/ statuettes, to which the community shows respect, is continued. In several synthesis works, thousands of pieces of Neolithic and Chalcolithic sculpture have been published, where one can see the great diversity of these for the period analyzed, in Europe and in broader areas around this continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characterization of Paleolithic adhesives holds great potential for understanding human behavior and its evolution. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) is the most accurate identification method; unfortunately, it is destructive and requires a large sample size. Hence, most Paleolithic adhesives are not characterized with GC–MS. Here, a new nondestructive identification method is introduced; dynamic headspace (DHS) with two‐dimensional GC coupled to a time‐of‐flight MS. The DHS extraction is optimized with an experimental design approach. Four parameters were selected, and the optimized values were as follows: incubation temperature: 50°C, incubation time: 20 min, purge volume: 450 mL, and purge flow: 22.5 mL min−1, pine resin was chosen as a proxy for Paleolithic adhesives. Subsequently, DHS was also tested on hide glue, which has less volatile than pine resin, and the universality of the extraction was tested. With untargeted techniques, a distinction between hide glue and pine resin could be made based on their chromatographic profiles. Lastly, DHS was tested against an existing HS‐solid‐phase microextraction method. DHS showed a higher response in the total area of the chemical groups of interest. Thus, DHS has a higher sensitivity for prehistoric adhesives than solid‐phase microextraction, which is desired for minimal samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interrelated concepts of risk and resilience are inherently future-focused. Two main dimensions of risk are the probability that a harmful event will happen in the future and the probability that such an event will cause a varying degree of loss. Resilience likewise refers to the organization of a biological, societal, or technological system such that it can withstand deleterious consequences of future risks. Although both risk and resilience pertain to the future, they are assessed by looking to the past – the past occurrence of harmful events, the losses incurred in these events, and the success or failure of systems to mitigate loss when these events occur. Most common risk and resilience measures rely on records extending a few decades into the past at most. However, much longer-term dynamics of risk and resilience are of equal if not greater importance for the sustainability of coupled socioecological systems which dominate our planet. Historical sciences, including archeology, are critical to assessing risk and resilience in deep time to plan for a sustainable future. The challenge is that both past and future are invisible; we can directly observe neither. We present examples from recent archeological research that provide insights into prehistoric risk and resilience to illustrate how archeology can meet this challenge through large-scale meta-analyses, data science, and modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This interview in the journal Tracés looks at the issue of gender inequality in Prehistory. Researchers Anne Augereau, Claudine Cohen and Aline Thomas discuss the archaeological methods that can be used to document gender relations in the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods and explain what is at stake in this research. In particular, they show how certain grand narratives stand in the way of our archaeological knowledge of gender and relations between men and women. Critically distancing ourselves from the idea of a “nature” that would underpin the sexual division of labour or from the myth of a primitive matriarchy is seen not only as a prerequisite for scientific knowledge of humanity’s past but also as a means of making a relevant contribution to current feminist issues.

These days the issues of geopolitical changes in the Eurasian space, which are closely related to the further development of the Eurasian integration process, have become particularly important. The object of the study was the political processes in Eurasia, including the problems of the formation of a multipolar world. In studying them, it was considered necessary to compare the experience of Russia’s advance to the east of the continent and current political and economic events. The work uses scientific works by domestic and foreign authors on the development of relations between the Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation and the inhabitants of the Great Steppe, as well as new state entities that appeared after the collapse of the USSR. Historical, comparative analytical, transdisciplinary approaches, and other general scientific methods are used for the analysis. The results of the study were discussed at scientific conferences in the countries of Eurasia, at the Eurasian Scientific Forum in St. Petersburg. The analysis made it possible, based on the principle of historicism, to show the influence of political processes and events of the past on the foreign policy of modern political actors in the Central Asian region and their position towards Russia. Attention is drawn to the factors of increasing Russophobia sentiments among the new political elites, which seriously complicates interstate relations on the continent. Attention is paid to clarifying some concepts (for example, “Central Asia”), used in the modern political science lexicon. The presented materials and conclusions will contribute to the objectification of current research and expert assessments of political processes, political actors, changes in political realities in the Central Asian region, as well as the development of interstate, interethnic and interfaith relations here.

Abstract Spindle whorls are a kind of spinning tools of crucially important in prehistoric period. Haidai region is one of the main historical and cultural areas of prehistoric China, and had a relatively developed textile handicraft production, where a large number of spindle whorls were unearthed, including many decorated ones. In order to make clear the uses of the decorated spindle whorls and the meanings of the patterns on them, the data of prehistoric decorated spindle whorls unearthed in archaeological sites of the period from Beixin Culture to Yueshi Culture in Haidai region of China were collected and analyzed, and the morphological data (dimension and shapes) of them were compared with that of undecorated ones. The patterns on the decorated spindle whorls were analyzed and classified, and the characteristics of the patterns in different cultural periods were studied, and based on this, the purpose of making decorated spindle whorls and the function and meanings of the patterns were discussed. The results showed that the range of morphological data of the decorated spindle whorls in Haidai region is consistent with that of undecorated ones belonging to the same period and unearthed in the same site, while compared with undecorated spindle whorls, decorated ones are more affected by regional culture and thus show different features from the ones unearthed in other archaeological sites belonging to the same cultural period. It is concluded that the most basic function of the decorated spindle whorls should be as practical tools for normal spinning production, and the patterns on them should have multiple meanings such as practical, decorative, distinctive and symbolic. The study of decorated spindle whorls can help us understand the prehistoric regional culture in Haidai region.

In 1950 on Mount Zlatý kůň (‘Golden Horse’) in modern-day Czech Republic a system of caves was discovered. During many years of research in this area, human and animal osteological remains have been excavated, among which the most interesting ones were nine fragments of a female skull, now dated to ca. 43,000 yrs BP which are one of the earliest known anatomically modern humans in Eurasia. The aim of this research was to use purely digital techniques to: (1) to reconstruct the skull based on the 3D data of preserved fragments, (2) to approximate the probable appearance of the female it belonged to, and (3) to analyze the calculated shape of the reconstructed mandible and volume of the neurocranium in the context of similarities and differences with other representatives of the genus Homo. Computer techniques used in this research constitute a new, original approach to the problem of 3D analyses and may be useful primarily in bioarchaeological sciences, where metric analyses of the most valuable bone artifacts are often severely limited due to the incompleteness of the material available for research. The digital techniques presented here may also contribute significantly to the field of surgery, with the possibility of being adapted for applications in cranial prosthetics and post-traumatic reconstructive surgery.

Embedded artifacts in osteoarchaeological remains may be key to approaching hunting strategies and other behavioral‐related issues such as technological development. However, that kind of evidence is not common within the archaeological record and often not well‐characterized, especially for faunal remains from prehistoric sites. Here, we present and discuss a unique case of a horse (Equus caballus) mandible with an embedded lithic remains from the Upper Paleolithic (ca. 17,300–16,200 cal BP) from La Garma cave in Cantabria, Spain. Our macro‐ and microscopic faunal and lithic integrated analysis suggests that the case presented here is a potential perimortem hunting lesion, representing an uncommon hunting strategy during the Magdalenian period. Furthermore, this study, representing the first case of its kind in the Iberian Peninsula, emphasizes the importance of the taphonomic analysis of bone surfaces to approach the understanding of past human behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prehistoric and Archaeological research has pointed out the role of marine resources in modern humans' cognitive and cultural developments. Maritime adaptations constitute a key component of the sociocultural evolution in Eastern Arabia. During the Neolithic (c. 6500–3300 BCE), it is expressed by the colonisation of offshore islands supported by advanced seafaring and the exploitation of marine resources not only for staple food but also for obtaining hard animal materials used for both symbolic and technological productions, respectively in the form of personal adornments and tooling. Although tools made of retouched large marine mollusc shells are reported on several sites, no detailed study has been conducted on their function and role within the socio-technological processes. The present study introduces a prospective approach for the functional analysis of archaeological shell tools from Eastern Arabia. A reference collection of use-wear traces made experimentally has been built: it compiles the results of 65 experiments (23 are documented and illustrated in the present study), including the processing of various animal, vegetal, and mineral materials. Use-wear traces have been observed and described using both low and high-power magnifications (conducted mainly at 100 ×). It provides helpful methodological support for future comparisons with archaeological specimens. The procurement conditions of the shell valves and the techniques of retouch have been discussed in detail, allowing further considerations on the degree of the socio-technological investment devoted to these peculiar artefacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of multivariate and exploratory statistical analyses of a large dataset that includes zooarchaeological, archaeobotanical, chrono‐cultural and proxy environmental data. Data are drawn from published specialist reports from 39 archaeological sites and include 49 distinct chronological contexts dated from the Chalcolithic to Bronze Age (c.5300–1500 BCE) in southern Central Asia. Results support broad observations on the stability of agro‐pastoral subsistence, while indicating that the environment had a minor influence in comparison with the economic and cultural use of species, as revealed through subtle variations across sites and as packages of co‐occurring taxa that link sites within integrated socio‐economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study seeks to contribute to the current understanding of dietary variation in the late Prehistory of the northeastern Iberian Peninsula by examining buccal dental microwear patterns alongside archeological data from the same populations. Materials and Methods: Teeth from 84 adult individuals from eight distinct samples spanning the Middle‐Late Neolithic to the Middle Bronze Age (Cova de l'Avi, Cova de Can Sadurní, Cova de la Guineu, Cova Foradada, Cova del Trader, Roc de les Orenetes, Cova del Gegant, Cova dels Galls Carboners) were analyzed using optical microscopy to examine buccal dental microwear patterns. Results: The analysis did not reveal clear chronological contrasts in the dietary habits of these samples. Nevertheless, significant differences emerged among the samples, leading to their classification into two distinct sets based on the abrasiveness of the diet informed by the microwear patterns. These findings offer similarities and differences among samples in the Iberian Peninsula, shedding light on the diverse lifestyles of these individuals. Discussion: Integrating our new results with other available proxies points to a multifaceted specialization in dietary patterns among these samples, influenced by factors such as habitat, resource selection, and available technology. By contextualizing the results within the broader context of the Iberian Peninsula, this research discerns shared characteristics and distinctive adaptations in the dietary practices and subsistence strategies of these groups. Ultimately, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between culture and environment in shaping human diets throughout late Prehistory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Revivals of public interest in the Neolithic Near East have generally coincided with the emergence of powerful imagery, such as the discovery of Çatalhöyük's striking wall paintings in the 1960s. Now, sixty years later, the sculptures of Göbekli Tepe are ensuring the period's widespread appeal. The capacity of these well-preserved buildings to carry such imagery until today has made them, in turn, an image of the supposed achievements of Neolithic sedentism. But the popularity of these images depends on their decontextualization. This modernist notion that permanent architecture represents the conquest of spatial forms over time is in contradiction with the early Neolithic experience of settled life, which had more to do with the unstable duration of places than with an emancipation from motion. This essay explores the Neolithic preference for earth architecture over more stable construction materials such as stone, its influence on visual culture, and how it contributed to building new living relations to the inhabited landscape. Instead of the sense of fixity and completeness that we, moderns, desperately seek in plans, reconstructions, and monumentality, it is the very transience, repetitiveness, and cumulativeness of earth that determined the transformations of the archaeological record. In other words, rhythms are key to understanding Neolithic sedentism in ways that differ wildly from the static images we have substituted for it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding prehistoric sites, on the sea floor off the United States, has proven to be a difficult task. Over four decades of innovative attempts have produced few discoveries. This discussion outlines the difficulties in finding submerged prehistory on the sea floor, examines current methodology(ies), and presents a new methodology that demonstrates promise based on research conducted over the past decade. The purpose of this discussion is to outline the problems facing archaeologists searching the sea floor for archaeological sites. It is less of a critique of past efforts and methodologies used in those attempts. Without those efforts, a reason for developing a different methodological approach would be unnecessary. Any "one size fits all" methodology is limiting, and the scant number of marine archaeological sites located off the shores of the United States can attest to the need for practitioners to continue refining their methods. This is especially the case on the continental shelf of the eastern United States, where sediment cover is often meters, or several meters, thick. This opportunistic methodology developed on the continental shelf of the Georgia Bight, western Atlantic Ocean, has located intact paleo-landforms with in situ, palaeoecological remains thereby offering promise for future archaeological discoveries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Magazine General Union of Arab Archaeologists is the property of General Union of Arab Archaeologists and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

La investigación sobre arte prehistórico ha experimentado una notable evolución en clave de género. Las teorías que durante décadas atribuyeron exclusivamente a los hombres el papel de pintores/artistas y la capacidad artística, y que presentaban a las mujeres simplemente como modelos, están siendo reemplazadas por enfoques de género más inclusivos. Estos enfoques utilizan el arte prehistórico como un medio para reivindicar la presencia femenina en la Prehistoria, y también su participación como autoras y consumidoras del arte. Desde una perspectiva histórica, este giro femenino está íntimamente ligado al impacto de los movimientos feministas en la investigación arqueológica a partir de la década de 1970, así como al aumento del protagonismo de las mujeres en la investigación. Este artículo analiza esta evolución y sintetiza los debates actuales sobre las mujeres y el arte prehistórico y los desafíos que conlleva rastrear su presencia. ABSTRACT: Research on prehistoric art has experienced a significant transformation over time, incorporating gender perspectives, and reshaping research questions in more critical, engaged, and inclusive ways. Theories, long unquestioned, that for decades exclusively attributed artistic roles and abilities to men, while relegating women to the role of mere models, are being replaced by more gender-inclusive approaches. These new approaches use prehistoric art (and particularly the presence of female representations in rock art and portable art) to argue the presence of women in prehistory, as well as their participation as both creators and consumers of art. From a historical perspective, this feminist turn is closely tied to the impact of feminist movements on archaeological research from the 1970s onwards. The significant rise in the presence of women in scientific and academic circles, along with the feminization of research topics, the adoption of innovative methods to determine the biological identity (sex and age) of individuals involved in the creative process (such as morphometric analysis of hands and dermal patterns of fingerprints), new ethnographic approaches that incorporate gender perspectives, and insights drawn from the archaeological context of the art are collectively contributing to a more inclusive rewriting of the history of prehistoric art. This article examines this development and provides an overview of the current debates surrounding women and prehistoric art, as well as the challenges involved in tracking their presence. The paper concludes by noting that while the presence of women in prehistoric art reflects their presence not only in prehistory but also in the symbolic realm of prehistoric societies, using these images to infer the roles of men and women in prehistoric times is problematic. Such interpretations venture into the realm of speculation and should, therefore, be approached with caution.

Archaeological burial contexts are among particularly attractive topics for both experts – archaeologists, and wider audiences. The reasons behind this are partially the rich, attractive portable finds that are usually associated with these contexts, but also the interpretative potential, i.e., insight into rituals and symbolic values of people in the past. Archaeological finds from burial contexts are very diverse in their nature and function, and may include parts of burial constructions, remains of rituals, objects placed along the deceased and objects placed on the deceased. The interpretation of burial contexts and associated finds are tightly connected and interlinked. These finds were often regarded as a result of a single, short-lived event and were considered as particularly important for the questions of relative and absolute chronology; the contents of burial finds were used as a basis for hypotheses regarding social relations, and, overall, burial finds were used for interpreting the identity of the deceased, reconstructing rituals, etc. Personal ornaments are particularly common in burial contexts, and, at the same time, the richest finds of personal ornaments mainly originate from burial contexts. When it comes to personal ornaments, it is usually assumed that they were owned by the deceased, and they are interpreted through the prism of status, prestige, and/or identity. However, personal ornaments might have had a much wider symbolic meaning. In this paper, we will look at the possibilities in terms of the meanings of personal ornaments from prehistoric contexts – beside markings of identity and status of the deceased, they might also have represented a gift to the deceased, gift to divinities, they might have had an apotropaic and a prophylactic function, for both the deceased and the participants in the burial ritual, and they might also have had an emotional meaning.

This data article presents a comprehensive buccal dental microwear raw database, accompanied by all corresponding archaeological sample micrographs acquired through a ZEISS Axioscope A1 optical microscopy (OM). The dataset includes teeth specimens from 88 adult individuals, representing eight distinct groups spanning the Middle-Late Neolithic to the Middle Bronze Age from the northeastern Iberian Peninsula. These groups include Cova de l'Avi, Cova de Can Sadurní, Cova de la Guineu, Cova Foradada, Cova del Trader, Roc de les Orenetes, Cova del Gegant, and Cova dels Galls Carboners.The data collection process was based on the use of optical microscopy to obtain dental microwear patterns, with a specific focus on the buccal surface of the teeth. To facilitate future comparative studies, we have also included all the micrographs obtained with the optical microscopy and the processed images with the counted striations. The presentation of this extensive dataset sets a base for future research on dental microwear patterns and dietary variations across various prehistoric periods.

The present study investigates the prehistoric lithic assemblages from Battherma Nala, a sub-tributary of theGhensali river in the southern Bargarh upland of Western Odisha, India. The stream, extends about 14 km from itsorigin to confluence, has revealed four significant prehistoric sites in two distinct geomorphic contexts i.e., riverbankand rocky outcrop. The surface exploration yielded 1,360 lithic artifacts, predominantly microliths including cores,flakes, blades, and bladelets. The assemblage also includes very few Middle Palaeolithic components, indicatingadvanced flintknapping techniques, structured blank removal process. The artifacts were analyzed for their technotypology and raw material variability. The study area, characterized by diverse physiographic units and complexlithological formations, provides an abundant source of raw materials, mainly chert, quartz, and quartzite. Thisinvestigation enriches our understanding of the settlement patterns, lithic assemblages and raw material exploitationstrategies in the Bargarh upland. The findings contribute to broader archaeological contexts, reflecting the culturaldynamics and early human presence in this region.

Finding prehistoric sites, on the sea floor off the United States, has proven to be a difficult task. Over four decades of innovative attempts have produced few discoveries. This discussion outlines the difficulties in finding submerged prehistory on the sea floor, examines current methodology(ies), and presents a new methodology that demonstrates promise based on research conducted over the past decade. The purpose of this discussion is to outline the problems facing archaeologists searching the sea floor for archaeological sites. It is less of a critique of past efforts and methodologies used in those attempts. Without those efforts, a reason for developing a different methodological approach would be unnecessary. Any “one size fits all” methodology is limiting, and the scant number of marine archaeological sites located off the shores of the United States can attest to the need for practitioners to continue refining their methods. This is especially the case on the continental shelf of the eastern United States, where sediment cover is often meters, or several meters, thick. This opportunistic methodology developed on the continental shelf of the Georgia Bight, western Atlantic Ocean, has located intact paleo-landforms with in situ, palaeoecological remains thereby offering promise for future archaeological discoveries.

The history of women archaeologists in Portugal and their contribution to the development of the discipline is yet to be studied. However, in recent years, some articles published in Portugal have contributed to the construction of this history. Some of these are from the year 2020, and although the coronavirus pandemic has affected the progress of these investigations, especially regarding fieldwork. Generally, these are quantitative studies based on the number of publications by women archaeologists and their references and interviews in newspapers. These articles, which require significant time for database analysis, have not yet explained the existing gaps. It is not the scope of this paper to pursue this quantitative scope; instead, it intends to conduct a qualitative analysis of the contribution of women archaeologists to the development of prehistoric studies in Northern Portugal. To achieve this goal, we are focusing on analysing the doctoral theses developed by women concerning pre- and proto-historic archaeology in Northern Portugal. With this evaluation, we intend to contribute to the history of Portuguese women’s archaeology and, at the same time, highlight their methodological and conceptual achievements.

This article summarises the main findings and data on the ancient peopling of the Mediterranean island of Sicily through an archaeo-anthropological perspective. The hypothesis surrounding the presence of the Lower Palaeolithic in Sicily with more ancestral species of Homo is also extensively reviewed and it is explained why there are not sufficient elements to maintain it. Finally, future multidisciplinary proposals are made to fill the gap on Sicilian cave archaeology.

Definition: The history of women archaeologists in Portugal and their contribution to the development of the discipline is yet to be studied. However, in recent years, some articles published in Portugal have contributed to the construction of this history. Some of these are from the year 2020, and although the coronavirus pandemic has affected the progress of these investigations, especially regarding fieldwork. Generally, these are quantitative studies based on the number of publications by women archaeologists and their references and interviews in newspapers. These articles, which require significant time for database analysis, have not yet explained the existing gaps. It is not the scope of this paper to pursue this quantitative scope; instead, it intends to conduct a qualitative analysis of the contribution of women archaeologists to the development of prehistoric studies in Northern Portugal. To achieve this goal, we are focusing on analysing the doctoral theses developed by women concerning pre- and proto-historic archaeology in Northern Portugal. With this evaluation, we intend to contribute to the history of Portuguese women's archaeology and, at the same time, highlight their methodological and conceptual achievements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modified human skulls are among the unique finds recovered from archaeological contexts. They exhibit various forms of deformation, which can be attributed to factors such as diseases, cultural practices, post-burial lithostatic pressure, and life history events. Particularly significant are intentionally deformed skulls, with examples, albeit in small numbers, found throughout Southwest Asia, not to mention the Iranian Plateau. However, these skulls have not received adequate attention in Iran due to problems such as focusing on other research priorities during excavations and the imbalance in the analysis of the various types of excavation findings. Examples of such skulls have been unearthed from the Neolithic sites in the Central Zagros. Recently, excavations at Tol-e Chega Sofla in the Zohreh Plain (Behbahan, Khuzestan) have yielded thirteen skull specimens with deformed proportions in a relatively well-preserved state. Hence, there is an excellent opportunity to study such skulls within the context of the Iranian Plateau. The study of the deformed skulls of Chega Sofla reveals similarities in the methods of skull deformation with the other areas of Southwest Asia. At Tol-e Chega Sofla, the practice of skull deformation using bandages is evident, along with various other traditions of cranial modification. The BG1 mass grave samples show similarities with the Ali Kosh and Seyh Hüyük skulls, while the BG6.1 specimen does not resemble any of the BG1 mass grave skulls and is similar to the modified skull of Burial no.5 in Chagha Sefid. It is worth mentioning that unintentional skull deformation, resulting in the flattening of some parts of the occipital bone, has also been observed in Chega Sofla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research on human exploitation of molluscs, echinoderms and crustaceans during the Mesolithic in the Cantabrian region (northern Iberia) has shown significant variability in the intensity of the use of coastal resources by the last hunter-fisher-gatherers throughout the ~ 4000-year expanse of the Mesolithic (10,700 – 6,700 cal BP). Previous studies have proposed hypotheses related to demographic changes to explain intensification events. In this paper we aim to unravel whether climatic and environmental changes, or other social factors, such as demography, were involved in the increase in the use of marine resources at certain times. We employed species representation, quantification and biometric analysis of the shell assemblages from the El Toral III archaeological site (Asturias, northern Iberia) to identify patterns in shell exploitation throughout the stratigraphic sequence. To establish the chronology and distinguish occupation phases of the site, we employed Bayesian modelling of radiocarbon measurements. Faunal results show that marine gastropods such as limpets of the Patella genus and topshells Phorcus lineatus (da Costa, 1778) were the most exploited species, while bivalves, echinoids and crustaceans were present in smaller quantities. The comparison of the results for El Toral III with other Mesolithic sites in the region reveals significant temporal differences in the intensity of collection of marine shell species. Results showed that intensification processes are not clearly related to climate change but to other social factors, such as demography, suggesting that intensification and relaxation in shell collection events were strategies adopted depending on the needs of the human groups at different times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of the dog is widely recognised as a major development in the economic organisation of ancient and contemporary hunter‐gatherer and agricultural societies. Although the utility of dogs in assisting recent historical and contemporary New Guinean hunters is commonly emphasised in anthropological discourse, to date there has been no critical evaluation of their actual contributions to hunting yields and nutrition. As a result, it remains unclear what significance the advent of hunting dogs is likely to have had for prehistoric economies in New Guinea. Here we present a comprehensive synthesis and review of the evidence for the use of dogs in hunting within New Guinea, focusing on the ways in which they assist; what kinds of game they help to capture; the degree to which they improve hunting yields and efficiency; and how this affects the taxonomic makeup and average body‐size of game in human diets. We then apply the findings to a consideration of how dogs likely affected the prehistoric economies of New Guinea after their introduction in the Late Holocene. As reliance on hunting dogs tends to produce over‐representation of a few mammal species within hunting yields, we identify potential zooarchaeological signatures for the use of dogs, and discuss excavated sites at which these may be visible. Dogs have a transformative effect on the outcomes of hunting in New Guinea's environments, and their novel use likely marked a significant development in the island's economies which has previously been underestimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possible co-variation of human occupation and vegetation from the Middle Neolithic to the beginning of the Iron Age (7.5–2.8 ka BP) in Central Sicily in the context of the central Mediterranean between Middle and Late Holocene are analysed in this paper to provide new insights on Sicilian prehistoric demography. The demographic and economic trends during these millennia were reconstructed using archaeological, Accelerator Mass Spectrometry 14C dates, palynological, archaeobotanical, and zooarchaeological data from the northern, central, and southern sectors of Central Sicily through a diachronic comparison with variation in Arboreal Pollen, Anthropogenic Pollen Indicators, Olea-Juglans-Castanea pollen, microcharcoals, and Sporormiella from four pollen cores from sites in different ecosystems. A very significant spread of farming activities was found at the end of the Neolithic, together with an apparent demographic gap during the Middle Copper Age, and the emergence of agricultural landscapes at the end of the Copper Age associated with a striking increase in population. A combination of cultural and climatic changes during the late phase of the Bronze Age resulted in a subsequent overall decrease in population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper presents evidence for hypomineralization disorders (rickets and osteomalacia) in non‐adults at Man Bac, a Neolithic site from northern Vietnam dated to 4000–3500BP, contributing to the well‐described disease burden at the site that includes scurvy, treponemal disease, thalassemia, and malaria. Forty‐four non‐adults (<20 years of age‐at‐death) were assessed for macroscopic and radiographic evidence for hypomineralization disorders. Differential diagnosis was completed using traditional methods and three‐level standardized criteria to combat the challenges of overlapping pathological features between hypomineralization disorder and the other diseases already diagnosed at the site. In addition, a diagnostic certainty approach was applied to investigate the impact of lesion ambiguity on our findings. Kaplan–Meier and Fishers exact tests were applied to assess age‐at‐death‐related epidemiological patterns of hypomineralization disorder and co‐morbid relationships with scurvy, thalassemia, and treponemal disease. Almost 50% of the non‐adult assemblage presented with evidence for hypomineralization disorder, which was associated with decreased survivorship in childhood. Potential epidemiological relationships between scurvy and hypomineralization disorders, and thalassemia and hypomineralization disorders are described. The former relationship may be due to the likelihood of the introduction of rice resulting in multi‐micronutrient deficiency, including vitamin C and calcium deficiency, and cultural attitudes to sunlight. The latter relationship may relate to the pathophysiology of thalassemia that can result in secondary osteomalacia possibly contributing to the development of hypomineralization disorder in the thalassemic non‐adults. The findings are significant as they present possible approaches for diagnosis of disease embedded within complex disease burdens where individuals are likely suffering from co‐morbidities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article summarises the main findings and data on the ancient peopling of the Mediterranean island of Sicily through an archaeo-anthropological perspective. The hypothesis surrounding the presence of the Lower Palaeolithic in Sicily with more ancestral species of Homo is also extensively reviewed and it is explained why there are not sufficient elements to maintain it. Finally, future multidisciplinary proposals are made to fill the gap on Sicilian cave archaeology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In The Politics of Modernism, Raymond Williams pointed out that as a category for understanding the new, modernism was thoroughly ideological. This article addresses the problem of modernism's exclusivity and the ways in which it associates the new, and by extension the present, with certain qualities and privileges as well as with coloniality in general. Building on recent expansions of modernism by Susan Stanford Friedman and David Damrosch as well as on a general turn against historicism in the literary humanities, it suggests the value to reading modernism in relation to prehistory. Thinking in terms of the memory of things, the persistence of landscapes and materials, offers a way in which we can arrive at an untimely conception of modernism: a conception that is meaningful and useful beyond the limited scope of conventional constructions of the field. In illustrating this argument, the essay discusses the Maryhill Monument as well as the sculptural work of Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, Kurt Schwitters, Carl Andre, and Thomas Hirschhorn. The essay concludes with a consideration of Williams's awareness of the revisionary potentials of prehistory in relation to modernism in his last, unfinished, novel, People of the Black Mountains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible domestic dog remains in archaeological sites can be identified through three main ways. Firstly, from the domestic dog skeletons excavated from the sites, they can be judged by using indicators such as completeness, surface marks, and age structure, with particular emphasis on cut marks, scratch marks, burn marks, and smash marks that reflect cooking behaviors. Secondly, considering the archaeological context in which the domestic dog bones were excavated, the coexistence of domestic dogs with other edible animals and plants, as well as dog bones placed in the remains of cooking or food storage, are likely to reflect the presence of domestic dogs as a meat resource at the site. In addition, dogs used as food for rituals, dog bones made into bone tools, canine DNA left on stone tools and canine parasites preserved in the burial ventral soil are all able to corroborate to some extent the edible function of domestic dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evolutionary anthropology relies on both neontological and paleontological information. In the latter case, fields such as paleoneurology, neuroarchaeology, and cognitive archaeology are supplying new perspectives in prehistory and neuroscience. Cognitive archaeology, in particular, investigates the behaviors associated with extinct species or cultures according to specific psychological models. For example, changes in working memory, attention, or visuospatial integration can be postulated when related behavioral changes are described in the archaeological record. However, cognition is a process based on different and partially independent functional elements, and extinct species could hence have evolved distinct combinations of cognitive abilities or features, based on both quantitative and qualitative differences. Accordingly, differences in working memory can lead to more conceptual or more holistic mindsets, with important changes in the perception and management of the mental experience. The parietal cortex is particularly interesting, in this sense, being involved in functions associated with body–tool integration, attention, and visual imaging. In some cases, evolutionary mismatches among these elements can induce drawbacks that, despite their positive effects on natural selection, can introduce important constraints in our own mental skills. Beyond the theoretical background, some hypotheses can be tested following methods in experimental psychology. In any case, theories in cognitive evolution must acknowledge that, beyond the brain and its biology, the human mind is also deeply rooted in body perception, in social networks, and in technological extension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Algerian Historical Journal is the property of Algerian Historical Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)