Otto Brinkkemper

Palaeoecological study of a Middle-Pleniglacial deposit from Tilligte, The Netherlands

Brinkkemper, O., Van Geel, B. and Wiegers, J., 1987. Palaeoecological study of a Middle-Pleniglacial deposit from Tilligte, The Netherlands. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol, 51: 235-269. A 89 cm thick, predominantly organic deposit of Middle-Pleniglacial age (c.42,200 yr B.P.) from Tilligte (Twente, the Netherlands) was examined by means of an analysis of both microfossils and macroscopic remains of plants and animals. A detailed reconstruction of the local vegetation succession of the sample site is given, starting with the pioneerspecies Parnassia palustris and blue-green algae of the Rivularia-type. The succession proceeds with the development of a moss-rich community with small sedges. Subsequently the mosses disappear and Carex rostrata-seeds reach high numbers. This species is then replaced by many aquatic taxa. The upper part of the deposit studied shows a marked impoverishment of the spectrum of fossil taxa. The presence of algae indicates open water. The organic part of the section is topped by sandy deposits, thus ending the organic sedimentation. Based on botanical and zoological evidence an estimate of palaeo-temperatures is made. The minimum mean July temperature based on botanical remains (10°C) is lower than the estimate based on the presence of some aquatic invertebrates (c.20°C or even higher). The total evidence, including records of Coleoptera, points to a cold and continental climate with mean July temperatures probably not exceeding 10C.

RADAR, a relational archaeobotanical database for advanced research

The structure of the Dutch Relational Archaeobotanical Database (RADAR) is presented. RADAR is a rather compact archaeobotanical database that is controlled centrally, but can be distributed to individual scientists. For this reason RADAR contains only the most important archaeobotanical data. For detailed archaeological, botanical and regional palaeoenvironmental information, links can be established with the national archaeological database (ARCHIS), the national botanical database (BBR) and the European Pollen Database (EPD). The software used for manipulation of the database is PARADOX for reasons of its highly visible nature, its control facilities for data entry and the ease of importing and exporting data from and to many other programs. The potential of the database is demonstrated with query examples.

The Early Neolithic site at Hoge Vaart, Almere, the Netherlands, with particular reference to non-diffusion of crop plants, and the significance of site function and sample location

The construction of a new motorway necessitated the excavation of an Early Neolithic site in the Dutch Flevopolder near the Hoge Vaart canal. In 1994-1996, an area of ca. 1700 m2 was excavated in 0.5x0.5-m squares. The excavation revealed 150 surface hearths and more than a hundred deep hearth pits. The finds, mainly flint and pottery, as well as14C dates from charcoal demonstrated that the area had been used mainly during the Early Neolithic (ca. 4900–4500 cal. B.C.). The investigation of the Early Neolithic remains included detailed botanical analyses of 182 samples and hand-sorting by the excavation team, which included archaeobotanists, of tens of thousands of samples sieved over 2-mm-mesh sieves. No remains of cultivated plants were recognised among the 87 taxa (40 identified to species level) that were preserved, mainly in carbonised form. These results are compared with other Early Neolithic sites studied in the Netherlands, such as Swifterbant S3 and Schokland P14. The possible significance of site function and sample location as important factors influencing presence/absence of cultivated plant remains at a particular site is discussed.

Effectiveness of different pre-treatments in recovering pre-burial isotopic ratios of charred plants

RATIONALE Isotopic analysis of archaeological charred plant remains offers useful archaeological information. However, adequate sample pre-treatment protocols may be necessary to provide a contamination-free isotopic signal while limiting sample loss and achieving a high throughput. Under these constraints, research was undertaken to compare the performance of different pre-treatment protocols. METHODS Charred archaeological plant material was selected for isotopic analysis (δ13 C and δ15 N values) by isotope ratio mass spectrometry from a variety of plant species, time periods and soil conditions. Preservation conditions and the effectiveness of cleaning protocols were assessed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry. An acid-base-acid protocol, successfully employed in radiocarbon dating, was used to define a contamination-free isotopic reference. Acid-base-acid isotopic measurements were compared with those obtained from untreated material and an acid-only protocol. RESULTS The isotopic signals of untreated material and the acid-only protocol typically did not differ more than 1‰ from those of the acid-base-acid reference. There were no significant isotopic offsets between acid-base-acid and acid-only or untreated samples. Sample losses in the acid-base-acid protocol were on average 50 ± 17% (maximum = 98.4%). Elemental XRF measurements showed promising results in the detection of more contaminated samples albeit with a high rate of false positives. CONCLUSIONS For the large range of preservation conditions described in the study, untreated charred plant samples, water cleaned of sediments, provide reliable stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen. The use of pre-treatments may be necessary under different preservation conditions or more conservative measurement uncertainties should be reported.

Smyrnium olusatrum L. (alexanders): an ancient kitchen herb from late medieval Rotterdam (The Netherlands)

An archaeobotanical sample from Rotterdam (The Netherlands), dating to ad 1400–1425, yielded carbonized split fruits of Smyrnium olusatrum. Just two other archaeobotanical records of this species exist, both from the UK. Based on written medieval sources, the species must have been more common in medieval Europe than the archaeobotanical record would suggest. The remains resemble vegetative plant tissue. This article aims to attract attention to the identification of these characteristic remains.