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At the Department of Anthropology Laboratory for MicroArchaeology (ALMA), we study the microscopic archaeological record using minerals, plants, and bones. We use the FTIR to analyze the burnt bones and the mineral composition of the fire remains to evaluate their preservation state and the temperatures reached. We focus on the phytoliths and microcharcoal assemblages from sediments to identify how humans interacted with plants in the past. We aim to answer questions such as: Did Neanderthals and Modern humans had different fire technology? Is bone an effective fuel? How different were the hinterland of the Bronze age and Iron age cities in the Levant? What are the domestic activities hidden into the microscopic record? How was the paleoclimate during these two essential periods in Human history?
During the summer season, Prof. Cabanes will be collecting samples in a series of sites in Europe and the Middle East. The aim of the fieldwork is two-folded: first, we aim to compare Neanderthal and Modern Human fire technology using a microscopic approach. Second, we focus on the microscopic record of Bronze and Iron age sites to detect precipitation patterns and domestic activities. We will be using the phytolith content and the mineral composition of the sediments to compare fire remains from different sites. Since these sites had a different geological history, we will explore the possibility of developing a new tool to calculate sedimentation rates using quartz grains. We will be also collecting modern samples to prepare a modern reference collection from soils and sediments that will be linked to the current precipitation patterns in the Levant. This collection will be the first step towards developing a paleoecological model to describe the daily lives of the Bronze and Iron age Levantine sites.
The specific aims of the project are:
1) To pre-screen loose sediment samples using FTIR to detect anthropogenic sediments (i.e. ashes)
2) To calculate phytolith concentration from the pre-screened loose sediment samples.
3) To prepare a reference collection in the laboratory using local sediments altered at different temperatures to identify high-temperature impacts in the occupation horizons.
4) To participate in the development of a modern reference collection from soils and sediments.
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