The importance of the elk (Alces alces) in the Stone Age societies of northern Sweden constitutes the major focus of this thesis. The point of departure is a simple but crucial observation: this animal is the common denominator between the three stationary types of remains known in this region from the period 4000-1800 BC. Here, I refer to the pit falls, the rock art sites, and the mounds of burnt stone. Pit falls have been used for trapping elks, and can be found on the migration trails that have been used by these animals for thousands of years. On the rock art sites, the elk constitutes the most frequently depicted motif, and the mounds of burnt stones contain extremely large quantities of elk bones. If the elk had not held a central position in the life world of prehistoric people in the northern Swedish region of Norrland, these archaeological materials would certainly have had a different appearance. I claim that it is the significance of this animal that has led to, and shaped, the emergence of these material remains. In this study the overall importance of the elk is investigated. My main question is how the elk’s significance affected the prehistoric societies of Norrland. I found that the elk’s material remains led to a range of consequences. The pit falls, rock art sites and mounds of burnt stone tied the prehistoric people to certain areas in the landscape. However, at the same time, these remains required to be constantly in transformation to be usable. Pit falls, for example, have to be re-digged in order to at all function as traps for big game. The conceptual dichotomy between permanence and change can be traced in the ways in which the elk motif at the rock art site at Nämforsen was altered. The elk figures are depicted with either straight or angled legs. I interpret this variation as an indication of the fact that the elk motif functioned as a key symbol – a motif that is able to express a range of meanings when it becomes altered and varied. The emergence of depicting the opposition between mobility and permanence tells us that the Stone Age societies had problems uniting these two concepts. I interpret this as signifying that these hunter-gatherers became aware of the “Neolithic aspects” of their own social structure.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2009. / Title from title page screen (viewed on Oct. 22, 2009). Thesis advisor: Gerald F. Schroedl. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.A.)--Florida State University, 2005. / Advisor: Rochelle A. Marrinan, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Anthropology. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Feb.1, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains x, 126 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

O estudo de oito sambaquis do litoral sul do Estado de Santa Catarina e de um concheiro da Terra do Fogo permitiu entender a dinâmica dos processos de formação de diferentes tipos de concheiros. No caso dos sambaquis catarinenses, o objetivo principal foi compreender os processos de formação culturais(atividades humanas) e naturais (tafonômicos) e suas mudanças ao longo do tempo, a partir da análise estratigráfica de sítios cuja cronologia envolve todo o período de ocupação humana pré-histórica da região (c. 7400-1000 anos AP). No caso fueguino, realizou-se o estudo micro-estratigráfico de um concheiro etno-histórico, para servir como modelo interpretativo na formulação de hipóteses sobre a formação dos concheiros. Os métodos utilizadospara caracterização dos sedimentos arqueológicos incluíram: granulometria, zooarqueologia, isotopia de C e N ( \'? POT.13\'C e \'? POT.15\' N), micromorfologia e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Utilizou-se também a analogia experimental com fogueiras acesas em diversos contextos conhecidos e queima controlada de moluscos. Três tipos de sambaquis foram analisados: quatro de padrão estratigráfico conchífero; dois de núcleo arenoso; e dois em montículo ictiológico. A formação do primeiro e terceiro tipos seguiu um padrão recorrente e contínuo que envolve retrabalhamento de elementos depositados e queimados em localdiferente do final. Estes elementos incluem resíduos alimentares, como conchas, restos de peixe (ossos e tecidos) e material vegetais (carvões e plantas de ciclo fotossintético \'C IND.3\'), assim como componentes terrígenos relacionados com o substrato sedimentar nos arredores do sambaqui e com sedimentos provenientes dos bancos de moluscos explorados. Os sambaquis de núcleo arenoso representam ocupações efêmeras, mas planejadas. A sua formação envolveu levantamento de montículos de areia e/ou aproveitamento de dunas eólicas, com posterior deposição de moluscos e resíduos de fogueiras. Desta análise, extraem-se duas implicações substanciais: 1) o hábito de retrabalhamento de resíduos pode ter incluído a destruição dos locais de moradia, nunca achados até o momento, associados aos grandes sambaquis; 2) a correspondência entre o processo de formação identificado nos montículos ictiológicos e nos sambaquis conchíferos sugere continuidade na atividade deposicional, apesar da mudança dematéria prima (substituição das conchas por restos de peixe) e da adoção da tecnologia cerâmica em tempos recentes. O concheiro etno-histórico analisado paracomparação geo-etnoarqueológica foi formado a partir de ocupações domésticas, recorrentes durante pelo menos um século. A análise do anel de conchas periférico possibilitou caracterizar micromorfologicamente os episódios de deposição massiva de conchas, pisoteamentoe abandono do sítio. A análise das fogueiras localizadas na área central do concheiro permitiuidentificar estruturas de combustão de temperatura alta e moderada (superior e inferior a 500° C, respectivamente). A comparação das microfácies do concheiro fueguino com as microfácies identificadas nos sambaquis catarinenses mostra diferentes trajetórias pré-deposicionais, relacionadas, no primeiro caso, com a deposição imediata e secundária de detritos de alimentação nos arredores do local de moradia, e, no caso dos sambaquis, com a sucessão intrincada de ações de deposição, queima e transporte, associada à formação de depósitos terciários. Estas observações corroboram a maior complexidade no processo de formação dos sambaquis. / To understand site formation processes in shell sites, eight sambaquis(shell mounds) from the southern coast of Santa Catarina and one shell midden (conchero) from Tierra del Fuego were studied. For the sambaquis of Santa Catarina, the aim was to understand the cultural and natural formation processes (human activities and taphonomy) and the way they changed through time through the whole period of prehistoric human occupation in the region (c. 7400-1000 years BP). In Tierra del Fuego, the micro-stratgraphic study of an ethnohistoric shell midden was done to serve as model for hypothesis on formation processes of shell sites. The methods used for characterization of archaeological sediments included: grain-size analyses, zooarchaeology, C and N isotopy (\'? POT.13\'C e \'? POT.15\' N), micromorphology and scanning electron microscopy. Experimental archaeology was done using different hearths lit on known contexts and by controlled burning of mollusk shell. Three types of sambaquis were analyzed: four shell mounds; two sand mounds; and two fish mounds. Formation of the first and third group followed a recurrent and continuous pattern of reworking of items, accumulated and burnt in a different location than the final. These items included food refuse, like shell, fish remains (bone and tissue) and plant material (charcoal and residues of \'C IND.3\' plants), as well as terrigenous components from the sedimentary substrate of the surroundings of the site and from the exploredshell beds. Sand mounds are ephemeral but planned occupations. Their formation involved rising of a sand mound and/or occupation over sand dunes, with deposition of shells and plant remains on top. Two substantial implications are extracted from this analyses: 1) the reworking of food residues may be destructing the remains of daily occupations associated with the large sambaquis, that have never been found to this moment; 2) the correspondence of formation process in shell mounds and fish mounds suggests continuity in the depositional activities, besides the change in material (substitution of shell by fish remains) and adoption of ceramic technology in recent times. The ethnohistorical site analyzed for geo-ethnoarchaeological comparison was formed by recurrent domestic occupations that lasted for a century. Analyses of the peripheral shell ring allowed the micromorphological characterization of episodes of massive shell deposition, trampling and site abandonment. Analyses of hearths located in the central habitation area showed micromorphological indicators of high temperature and moderate temperature combustion structures (over and under 500° C, respectivley). Comparison of microfacies from the fueguian shell midden and microfacies from the sambaquis shows different pre-depositional trajectories. In the first case, deposition is related with the immediate and secondary discard of food refuse around the living space. In the second case, formation is related with an intricate succession of deposition, burning and transport of items that resulted in a tertiary deposit. These observations corroborate the great complexity in the formation processes of sambaquis.

A pesquisa aqui apresentada trata do estudo da cultura material lítica do sambaqui Mar Casado. Este sambaqui situava-se na cidade de Guarujá, estado de São Paulo. O sambaqui Mar Casado foi pesquisado entre os anos de 1961 e 1962 e juntamente com outros sítios litorâneos paulistas, pesquisados no mesmo período, faz parte da história da Arqueologia brasileira. Este trabalho desenvolveu-se de modo a melhor compreender as pesquisas empreendidas em um contexto arqueológico diferente do vivido atualmente, além de revalorizar antigos acervos conservados no museu. A cultura material lítica encontrada nos sambaquis brasileiros é bastante diversificada e apresenta suas especificidades. Os artefatos brutos e polidos, particularmente, receberam pouca atenção no decorrer da pesquisa arqueológica. Este estudo pretendeu analisar os artefatos líticos por meio da abordagem tecnológica, buscando observar as marcas de uso deixadas nos artefatos. A análise demonstrou que a população de Mar Casado encontrou um modo eficaz de administrar o uso de seus objetos líticos: usando várias superfícies do mesmo artefato para diversos fins. Isto significa dizer que esses artefatos tinham como característica a multifuncionalidade. Os sambaquieiros de Mar Casado provavelmente fizeram uso desses artefatos para processar vegetais, grãos, sementes e outros alimentos, além de usá-los para triturar pigmentos ou ainda como abrasivos em materiais como osso, madeira, concha. / The research presented here deals with the study of lithic material culture of the shell mound Mar Casado. This shell mound was located in the city of Guarujá, São Paulo. The shell mound was searched between the years 1961 to 1962 and along with other coastal sites in São Paulo surveyed in the same period, part of the history of Brazilian Archaeology. This work was developed in order to better understand the archaeological research undertaken in a context different from that experienced today, and upgrade old preserved in museum collections. The lithic material culture found in shell mounds in Brazil is very diverse and has its specificities. The rough and polished artifacts, particularly, have received little attention in the course of archaeological research. This study sought to examine the lithic artifacts through technological approach, seeking to observe the use-wear of artifacts. The analysis showed that the population of Mar Casado found an effective way to manage the use of their lithic objects, using various surfaces of the same artifact for various purposes. This means that these artifacts had the characteristic of multifunctionality. The population of Mar Casado probably did use these artifacts to process vegetables, grains, seeds and other foods, and use them for grinding pigments or abrasive materials such as bone, wood, shell.

Après deux années d'études sur les dolmens du Languedoc-Roussillon, nos recherches se sont orientées vers la reconnaissance des tumulus qui enserrent les chambres funéraires mégalithiques. Comment sont-ils construits, avec quels matériaux et quels moyens? Quelles sont leurs fonctions ? Peut-on dégager une typologie, des disparités/ressemblances géographiques et/ou culturelles ? Peut-on cerner leur évolution chronologique à travers la dynamique architecturale ? Au-delà de la reconnaissance des tumulus, il s’agit également d’étudier la périphérie de ces monuments, leur implantation dans le paysage et dans l’espace humanisé. Le peu d'informations scientifiquement utilisables sur ces structures implique la réalisation de nouvelles fouilles selon une méthodologie adaptée. Le cadre géographique global de cette recherche est le bassin ouest méditerranéen avec plusieurs fenêtres d'étude spécifiques recoupant les grandes zones de concentration du phénomène mégalithique : l’est des Pyrénées, les Garrigues héraultaises, le bassin du Salagou, la bordure méridionale des Grands-Causses. Huit dolmens ont été fouillés dans le cadre spécifique de ce travail. Nous proposons ainsi un modèle de compréhension de ce type de sites, du choix de leur implantation jusqu’à leur abandon en passant par leur construction et leur évolution. Ces nouvelles informations permettent de s'interroger sur les fonctions multiples qu’ont pu avoir ces monuments pour les sociétés de la fin du Néolithique et du début de l’âge du Bronze. / After two years of studies on Languedoc-Roussillon’s dolmens, our research is directed towards the recognition of tumuli which enclose the megalithic burial chambers. How are they built, with what materials and how? What are their functions? Can we identify a typology, differences / similarities geographical and/or cultural? Can we identify their chronological evolution through architectural dynamics? Beyond the recognition of the tumulus, it is also to investigate the periphery of these monuments, their location in the landscape and in the humanized space. The few scientific information usable on these structures involves the realization of new excavations with an appropriate methodology. The overall geographical framework of this research is the western Mediterranean basin with several specific study windows cutting across large areas of concentration of the megalithic phenomenon: the eastern Pyrenees, the Herault Garrigues, the Salagou basin, the southern edge of the Grands-Causses. Eight dolmens were excavated in the specific context of this work. We propose a model of understanding of sites of this type, from the choice of their location until their abandonment via their construction and development. This new informations allow to consider the multiple functions that these monuments have had for the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age societies

This thesis assesses climate change during the Hypsithermal Climatic Interval through the analysis of freshwater mussel remains from archaeological sites in Eastern North America. Modern climate data was used as a model to test the mosaic consequences of climate change. Freshwater mussels: can be used as indicators of precipitation by examining changes in overall size through time: larger mussels are found in larger streams, while smaller mussels are found in smaller streams. This study combines morphometric and isotopic data from archaeological freshwater mussels at Modoc Rock Shelter, Watson Brake, Plum Creek, Owens site, and Landerneau mounds to assess past climatic conditions. At Modoc Rock Shelter, oxygen isotopic data corroborate morphometric data and show that climate was fluctuating with a period of stability at the onset of the Hypsithermal. The oxygen isotopic data sets from the Louisiana sites show that the mid-Holocene was much warmer than the late-Holocene.

Within the archaeological record ‘mounds’ are often ubiquitous. They are common in many ancient cultures, and they vary in size, construction techniques and use. This research is focused upon optimizing the use of remote sensing for the non-invasive study of mounds both in the United States and the United Kingdom. This thesis presents three representative earthen mound sites and proposes a comprehensive and modular survey methodology to guide the planning and execution of a mound survey tailored to the unique requirements presented by the cultural resource at a particular location. In doing so, the research has provided optimized approaches to high resolution three-dimensional topographic models using a variety of digital methods. These models have been shown to accurately capture the variability of the modern ground surface, which is of vital importance to the management of the mounds. Furthermore, these models have proved vital for integrating geophysical methods into the holistic workspace, thereby providing a better archaeological understanding of the below ground remains. Every mound surveyed presented different challenges, and therefore had to be approached in a slightly different way. However, the general methodology was highly effective for both characterizing below-ground archaeological and natural anomalies, and for assessing the state of preservation of all mounds surveyed. As a result, a flowchart has been generated for non-invasive assessment of mounds in general. If followed, this will allow the production of a “snapshot” of the mound or mound group at a fixed point in time with the resolution necessary to produce useful and insightful interpretation. While this research focuses on the application of geophysical and topographic survey in the United Kingdom and United States to a mound or mound group, this methodology and the associated outcomes can be valuable more globally not only for archaeology, but also heritage management.

No description available.

This thesis investigates shallow gas hazards in Queen Charlotte Basin, a sedimentary basin situated offshore British Columbia. The work presented here provides the first detailed gas hazard assessment in Queen Charlotte Basin and the first evidence that gas has migrated from basin sediments into surficial sediments to be expelled in the water column. A unique method of geophysical surveying is used to investigate hazards due to shallow gas at two sites within Queen Charlotte Basin: high-resolution multichannel seismic, Huntec Deep-Towed Seismic and multibeam bathymetry data were collected over two 2-D grids and interpreted concurrently to yield a comprehensive understanding of the geology at each site. Numerous features related to both ice-cover and shallow gas has been identified. Pockmarks, iceberg ploughmarks and seafloor mounds are observed in the multibeam data; acoustically turbid and vertical blank zones are imaged in the Huntec data and faulted anticlines containing bright spots as well as low frequency shadow zones are seen in the multichannel data. Combining and interpreting all three geophysical datasets concurrently provided the means to discriminate features related to ice-cover from features related to gas in the shallow sediments. In addition, this method of geohazards assessment has enabled links between surficial and basin geology to be made. Based on the results obtained gas and other geohazards were identified at each of the two sites. Based on observations in high-resolution multichannel seismic data, gas is determined to have migrated along structural pathways within basin sediments and into surficial sediments. The level of hazard posed by shallow gas has been assessed qualitatively for each of the two study sites and gas hazard regions have been identified elsewhere in Queen Charlotte Basin.