Dan Cabanes

Understanding Fossil Phytolith Preservation: The Role of Partial Dissolution in Paleoecology and Archaeology

Opaline phytoliths are important microfossils used for paleoecological and archaeological reconstructions that are primarily based on relative ratios of specific morphotypes. Recent studies have shown that phytolith assemblages are prone to post-depositional alteration involving partial dissolution, however, the manner in which partial dissolution affects morphotype composition is poorly understood. Here we show that morphotype assemblages from four different plant species subjected to controlled partial dissolution are significantly different from the original assemblages, indicating that the stability of various morphotypes differs, mainly depending on their surface area to bulk ratios. This underlying mechanism produces distorted morphotype compositions in partially dissolved phytolith assemblages, bearing vast implications for morphotype-based paleoecological and archaeological interpretation. Together with analyses of phytolith assemblages from a variety of archaeological sites, our results establish criteria by which well-preserved phytolith assemblages can be selected for accurate paleoecological and archaeological reconstructions.

Subsistence economy in the Negev Highlands: the Iron Age and the Byzantine/Early Islamic period

Abstract The article reports results of a long-term geoarchaeological project in the Negev Highlands. Based on previous phytolith analysis from degraded livestock dung, we suggested that the inhabitants of an Iron IIA site in the region subsisted on animal husbandry, without practicing cereal cultivation (Shahack-Gross and Finkelstein 2008). Here we report on further investigations — on another Iron Age site, a Byzantine/Early Islamic site, and on a pre-modern Bedouin winter encampment. We seek to test the nature of the phytolith record in this arid environment. We establish that phytolith assemblages in the study area are generally well preserved; that phytolith concentrations in dung of pre-modern free-grazing livestock were originally low; and that in a Byzantine/Early Islamic site for which cereal cultivation is documented textually, livestock dung includes cereal phytoliths. These patterns enable a secure interpretation of the phytolith assemblages from the Iron IIA sites, fortifying our previous suggestion that the Iron Age inhabitants of the Negev Highlands subsisted mainly on herding and did not undertake dry farming.

Fire in prehistory: an experimental approach to combustion processes and phytolith remains.

Albert, R.M. and Cabanes, D. 2007. Fire in prehistory: An experimental ap proach to combustion processes and phytolith remains. Isr. J. Earth sci. 56: 175–189. Silica phytoliths are commonly found in hearths as a result of the combustion of plants. Their study in prehistoric hearths has enabled the identification of fire remains not visible to the naked eye due to the postdepositional processes. It has also enabled determination of the type of fuel used for the fires, and a better understanding of the functionality of hearths. However, little work has been done on understanding the combustion properties of fires and their relationship to the amount, distribution, and preservation of burned phytolith remains. We present here results of experiments carried out to shed more light on these questions. These results indicate that there are important differences in the combustion properties of fires. The remaining burned residues of the combustion depend on the use of naturally-dried or fresh fuel. These differences are related to the relationship between the presence of ash and charcoal fragments, the proportion of the acid-insoluble fraction, the amount and morphological distribution of phytoliths in the different fractions, and the refractive indices of the phytoliths. To recognize these properties it is essential to sieve the samples into different size fractions prior to the phytolith and mineralogical study. Postdepositional processes need to be taken into account as well when analyzing archaeological fire remains. The preference of one type of fuel over the other may have important implications related to the collection strategies and the proximity of available resources, as well as to the various possible uses of caves.

Geoarchaeological Investigation in a Domestic Iron Age Quarter, Tel Megiddo, Israel

During the ongoing excavations of Area Q at Tel Megiddo, a variety of on-site geoarchaeological analytical methods have been used in the study of Iron Age occupations dating to the Iron Age IIA. The aim of this approach is to optimally combine macroarchaeology with microarchaeology in order to reconstruct activities that were carried out within an Iron Age urban neighborhood. The macroscopic finds indicate that this area belonged to a quarter that features both domestic and public structures. Of particular interest are (a) evidence for abandonment and spatial differentiation of activities in Level Q-5 associated with a large, well-built structure with 18 pillars; and (b) localized small-scale destruction associated with ephemeral metalworking activity related to occupation during Level Q-4. Similar approaches have been carried out at other sites in Israel (e.g., Tel Dor and Tell eṣ-Ṣâfi/Gath), yet only at Megiddo have we been able to use these methods to study a large excavation area (ca. 200 m2). The results shed new light on the variability of human activities in public and domestic contexts in an urban environment, and contribute to understanding the uses of space and the phenomenon of destruction by fire.

A microarchaeological approach for the study of pits

Abstract The study of the technology underlying pre-industrial storage structures has an interest from an anthropological and archaeological perspective, in terms of the evolution of key cultural and cognitive capabilities, often related to the transition to food production. Microarchaeological techniques offer a unique perspective on the study of pre-industrial storing technologies. In this work, examples are presented from two archaeological contexts in different climatic and socio-ecological situations during the Holocene in S Asia and SW Europe. Microarchaeological techniques used in this study include micromorphology, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and phytolith analyses. The comparative study of two pits highlights key aspects of the decision-making process involved in technological solutions of storage: • The choice of a location for the construction of a given storage facility is highly affected by contextual climatic, microclimatic, soil and bioturbative factors• The time taken to consume stored foodstuffs seems to affect technological investment as much as the intrinsic conservation requirements of the stored taxa• The use of fire to hygienise pits implies that such structures were not conceived for single use• Pre-industrial storage systems can be seen as modular structures, which components (e.g. topographical location, sediment type, lining type, hygienisation techniques and cover) can be recombined to improve storage performance for different climatic settings and foodstuffs.

Hearth Functioning and Forest Resource Exploitation Based on the Archeobotanical Assemblage from Level J

The aim of this chapter is to present the archeobotanical record related to the hearth structures from level J from Abric Romani. For this study we include charcoal, phytoliths and wood imprints that from different methodological approaches provide data on hearth functioning and firewood management. The results yielded by these archeobotanical assemblages point out that wood was the basic fuel used by Neanderthals for maintaining hearths and pine wood was the most appreciated. Other fuels such as grasses are also recorded and might have specific uses during the combustion processes. Finally wood imprints, even if in level J are scarce, point out the use of wood for other purposes than firewood. This study points out the complexity of Neanderthal behavior in relation to the management of fire involving fuel management and hearth functioning.

Reconstructing Ancient Israel: Integrating Macro- and Micro-archaeology

The study of ancient Israel’s texts and history has been a keystone of European scholarship since the Enlightenment. From the beginning of the 19th century, biblical exegesis contributed impressively to our understanding of these topics. Biblical archaeology joined in about a century later and provided critical evidence for the material culture of ancient Israel, shedding new light on its history. Yet, until recent years (and in certain circles up until today) biblical archaeology was dominated by a conservative interpretation of the texts and was not given a true independent role in recon-