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<p>In many interpretations of hunter-gatherer settlement systems, archaeologists have assumed implicitly or explicitly that a pattern of mobilitybased on seasonally-scheduled movements between different site locations waspracticed. This pattern of mobility is often characterized as a seasonal round, where different locations are used during specific times of the year for different purposes. An implication of this pattern of mobility is that short-term occupation sites are visited annually, approximately at the same time each year and longer-term residential sites can span multiple seasons. To interpret seasonality, indirect indicators are often used but the high-resolution methods presented in this study provide direct evidence of seasonal site occupation. The Pacific Northwest Coast provides an ideal landscape to examine seasonality since many of the staple resources, particularly salmon, were available on a seasonal basis. Contrary to longstanding assumptions of regular seasonal movement between sites, the analysis of shell samples from multiple archaeological sites from distinct regions in British Columbia show complex patterns of multi-seasonal occupation at smaller campsites and specific seasonal or multi-seasonal emphasis in occupation and/or shellfish harvest at longer-term residential sites.</p> <p>To identify patterns of shellfish harvest, stable oxygen isotope analysis and high-resolution sclerochronology were applied to the bivalve <em>Saxidomus gigantea</em> (butter clam). Combined with shell growth increment analysis to examine relative levels of harvest pressure, local rates of shellfish collecting are also interpreted. To examine regional variability in seasonality and resource use in British Columbia, three environmentally and historically distinct areas were selected spanning approximately 6000 years of history. These regions include the central coast in the tradition territory of the Heiltsuk, and two areas on the northern coast, specifically the Dundas Islands Group and Prince Rupert Harbour in the traditional territory of the Tsimshian. The results of the analysis show site-specific trends in shellfish harvesting on the central coast; a pattern which is not as clear on the northern coast. Sites on the Dundas Islands show multi-seasonal collection and a stronger emphasis on winter shellfish harvesting. The results also show that shellfish were harvested more intensively in the Dundas Islands area relative to the central coast. The pattern of seasonal shellfish harvesting on the mainland coast at village sites in Prince Rupert Harbour is similar to the pattern found at long-term residential sites on the central coast. With respect to the dietary importance of clams, another longstanding issue in Northwest Coast archaeology, the results show a mix of patterns including casual resource use at most campsites, intensive multi-season harvest in some regions and strategic multi-season harvest and spring consumption at some residential sites.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The history of death is entangled with the history of changing social values, meaning that a shift in attitudes to death will be consistent with changes in a society’s world view. Late Mesolithic shell middens in the Tagus and Sado valleys, Portugal, constitute some of the largest and earliest burial grounds known, arranged and maintained by people with a hunting, fishing, and foraging lifestyle, c 6000–5000 cal BCE. These sites have been interpreted in the light of economic and environmental processes as territorial claims to establish control over limited resources. This approach does not explain the significance of the frequent disposal of the dead in neighbouring burial grounds, and how these places were meaningful and socially recognized. The aim of this dissertation is to answer these questions through the detailed analysis of museum collections of human burials from these sites, excavated between the late nineteenth century and the 1960s. I examine the burial activity of the last hunter-gatherers of the south-western Iberian Peninsula from an archaeological perspective, and explain the burial phenomenon through the lens of historical and humanist approaches to death and hunter-gatherers, on the basis of theoretical concepts of social memory, place, mortuary ritual practice, and historical processes. Human burials are investigated in terms of time and practice based on the application of three methods: radiocarbon dating and Bayesian analysis to define the chronological framework of the burial activity at each site and valley; stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen aimed at defining the burial populations by the identification of dietary choices; and archaeothanatology to reconstruct and define central practices in the treatment of the dead. This dissertation provides new perspectives on the role and relevance of the shell middens in the Tagus and Sado valleys. Hunter-gatherers frequenting these sites were bound by shared social practices, which included the formation and maintenance of burial grounds, as a primary means of history making. Death rituals played a central role in the life of these hunter-gatherers in developing a sense of community, as well as maintaining social ties in both life and death.

La découverte du site Nepress (BiEr-21) en 2004 et les saisons de fouilles subséquentes ont permis de découvrir de nombreux vestiges archéologiques. Ce mémoire a donc pour objectif de déterminer l’identité culturelle des occupants qui ont fréquenté le site, en prenant en considération les activités rituelles et la stratégie d’approvisionnement en matière lithique. Pour y parvenir, une analyse morpho-métrique de l’assemblage lithique a été effectuée. La distribution intra-site des artéfacts a également été prise en considération lors de l’analyse. Une séquence chronologique du Nord-Est américain remontant au Sylvicole inférieur est présentée dans ce mémoire. Une période d’occupation semble dominer sur le site Nepress, soit le Sylvicole inférieur. Cette manifestation est caractérisée par la présence d’artéfacts diagnostiques de la culture Meadowood. Ces objets sont un grattoir triangulaire bifacial Meadowood, ainsi qu’une imitation de pointe de type box-base. / The discovery of the Nepress site (BiEr-21) in 2004 and the subsequent excavations have revealed many archaeological remains. This thesis has seeks to determine the cultural identity of the site’s occupants, taking into account their ritual activities and their lithic procurement strategy. To achieve this, a morpho-metric analysis of the lithic assemblage was undertaken. The intra-site artifact distribution was also taken into account. A chronological sequence for Northeastern North America going back to the Early Woodland is presented. The Early Woodland appears to dominate the occupation of the Nepress site. This is characterised by the presence of diagnostic artifacts of the Meadowood culture. These objects are a triangular bifacial Meadowood scraper, as well as an imitation of a projectile point.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Traditionally, Sceletium tortuosum has been used as a medicine and for social and spiritual purposes. The genus is distributed in the south-western parts of South Africa. This project phytochemically analysed and characterised Sceletium plant extracts and determined if any extract showed anti-malarial properties. Extracts were prepared in ethanol and methanol and various compounds were purified using column chromatography with hexane and ethyl acetate as mobile phase. The structure of isolated compounds, including mesembrine, pinitol, sucrose, mesembrenone and obtusalin, was confirmed using NMR. The Plasmodium Lactate dehydrogenase assay was used to screen all extracts and mesembrine to show that four extracts showed antimalarial activity with activity values ranging between 1.47 μg/ml and 7.32 μg/ml, well below the 10 μg/ml cut off value. The study recommends extracting compounds from fresh plant material and further research as to anti-malarial activity of compounds isolated from Sceletium tortuosum / Life and Consumer Sciences / M. Sc. (Life Sciences)

A presente pesquisa pretende compreender a ocupação dos grupos caçadorescoletores na região central do Estado de São Paulo, na Bacia do Rio Tietê, em seu médio curso. Através da análise de três sítios líticos, dois na região de Araraquara e um na região de Jaú, realizamos estudos intra e inter-sítios, além da comparação dos resultados com trabalhos já realizados nas áreas adjacentes e também com a literatura específica. Destacando uma abordagem regional, buscamos trabalhar questões como intensidade de material arqueológico, estratigrafia, o tamanho dos sítios, a distância entre eles, como se deu sua implantação na paisagem; identificar as áreas de atividades restritas e a tecnologia da indústria lítica. A partir desses resultados, como intuito final, lançamos hipóteses sobre possíveis relações de contato entre os sítios, como os grupos caçadores-coletores se aproveitaram do ambiente nessa região, percebendo assim, sua mobilidade no território, e o tempo de ocupação. / This research aims to understand the occupation of hunter-gatherers groups in the central region of São Paulo State, on Tietê River Basin, in its middle course. Through analysis of three lithic sites, two in the Araraquara Region and one in Jaú Region, we have done intra and inter-sites studies, beyond the comparison of results with work done in areas adjacent and also with the specific literature. Emphasizing a regional approach, we sought work issues such as intensity of archaeological material, stratigraphy, the size of sites, the distance between them, how occurred their settlement in landscape, identify the restricted areas activities and the technology of the lithic industry. From these results, we released hypotheses about possible relationships of contact between the sites, how hunter-gatherers groups took advantage of the environment in this region, realizing thus, their mobility in the territory, and the time of occupation.

La découverte du site Nepress (BiEr-21) en 2004 et les saisons de fouilles subséquentes ont permis de découvrir de nombreux vestiges archéologiques. Ce mémoire a donc pour objectif de déterminer l’identité culturelle des occupants qui ont fréquenté le site, en prenant en considération les activités rituelles et la stratégie d’approvisionnement en matière lithique. Pour y parvenir, une analyse morpho-métrique de l’assemblage lithique a été effectuée. La distribution intra-site des artéfacts a également été prise en considération lors de l’analyse. Une séquence chronologique du Nord-Est américain remontant au Sylvicole inférieur est présentée dans ce mémoire. Une période d’occupation semble dominer sur le site Nepress, soit le Sylvicole inférieur. Cette manifestation est caractérisée par la présence d’artéfacts diagnostiques de la culture Meadowood. Ces objets sont un grattoir triangulaire bifacial Meadowood, ainsi qu’une imitation de pointe de type box-base. / The discovery of the Nepress site (BiEr-21) in 2004 and the subsequent excavations have revealed many archaeological remains. This thesis has seeks to determine the cultural identity of the site’s occupants, taking into account their ritual activities and their lithic procurement strategy. To achieve this, a morpho-metric analysis of the lithic assemblage was undertaken. The intra-site artifact distribution was also taken into account. A chronological sequence for Northeastern North America going back to the Early Woodland is presented. The Early Woodland appears to dominate the occupation of the Nepress site. This is characterised by the presence of diagnostic artifacts of the Meadowood culture. These objects are a triangular bifacial Meadowood scraper, as well as an imitation of a projectile point.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Au début de notre ère, les hautes terres du sud du Brésil furent occupées par des peuples précoloniaux qui édifièrent de grandes constructions en terre sur le sol - tels que monticules funéraires, dépôts de terre, murs, remblais, terrassements - et sous le sol - les structures souterraines et semi-souterraines. Dans le but d'obtenir davantage de données et de mieux comprendre le mode de vie de ces populations, ce travail s'est basé sur l'approche de l'archéologie du paysage lors des fouilles entreprises dans l'ensemble des structures édifiées du site RS-AN-03 et de la prospection archéologique dans une zone pilote de 1 500 km² dans la région de Bom Jesus, située dans l'État le plus méridional du Brésil. Envisageant le paysage comme un participant actif dans les actions sociales humaines, cette approche a donné à l'archéologie des hautes terres brésiliennes un nouveau support interprétatif. Elle a également permis d'élaborer un modèle de comportement territorial à partir des analyses des niveaux intrasite, intersite et régional, ainsi qu'un nouveau discours narratif sur l'occupation humaine précoloniale. Établi à partir du constat d'expansion de la forêt d'araucarias sur un paysage de champs, concomitante de l'expansion et de la fixation des groupes humains vers 1 500 avant J.C. environ, ce discours met en évidence une dynamique socio-environnementale sur le Planalto das Araucárias, un aspect anthropique du paysage. La concentration élevée des ressources disponibles et assurées annuellement a favorisé la concentration de personnes, qui construisirent des villages et de grands hameaux à caractère permanent et constituèrent des sociétés complexes, hiérarchisées, avec des territoires délimités et protégés. / The highlands in southern Brazil were settled around the beginning of our era by precolonial peoples who built large earth buildings on the ground in the form of small burial hills, earth deposits, walls, landfills, terraces, in addition to building underground and semiunderground structures. In order to get more information and better understand the way of life of these populations, the landscape archeology approach was used to make diggings in the set of buildings on site RS-AN-03 and on the archeological survey conducted at a pilot area of 1,500 Km² located in Bom Jesus in the southernmost Brazilian state. This approach, which views the landscape as an active player in human social actions, provided a new interpretative contribution to the archeology of Brazilian highlands, enabling the design of a territory behavior model based on the analyses performed within sites, across sites and at the regional level and a new narrative discourse on pre-colonial human settlements. This discourse, made from the realization of the expansion of araucaria forecast on a grassland landscape that took place together with the expansion and settlement of human groups around 1,500 BC shows evidence of a social-environmental dynamics at the araucaria plateau, a landscape anthropogenization. The high concentration of resources available and ensured all year round enabled the concentration of people who built permanent towns and larges villages and constituted complex hierarchized societies that kept their territories delimited and protected.