Tiago Tomé

The maternal genetic make-up of the Iberian Peninsula between the Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age

Agriculture first reached the Iberian Peninsula around 5700 BCE. However, little is known about the genetic structure and changes of prehistoric populations in different geographic areas of Iberia. In our study, we focus on the maternal genetic makeup of the Neolithic (~ 5500–3000 BCE), Chalcolithic (~ 3000–2200 BCE) and Early Bronze Age (~ 2200–1500 BCE). We report ancient mitochondrial DNA results of 213 individuals (151 HVS-I sequences) from the northeast, central, southeast and southwest regions and thus on the largest archaeogenetic dataset from the Peninsula to date. Similar to other parts of Europe, we observe a discontinuity between hunter-gatherers and the first farmers of the Neolithic. During the subsequent periods, we detect regional continuity of Early Neolithic lineages across Iberia, however the genetic contribution of hunter-gatherers is generally higher than in other parts of Europe and varies regionally. In contrast to ancient DNA findings from Central Europe, we do not observe a major turnover in the mtDNA record of the Iberian Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age, suggesting that the population history of the Iberian Peninsula is distinct in character.

The Transition to Agriculture in South-Western Europe: New Isotopic Insights from Portugal's Atlantic Coast

Abstract For the past 15 years, a succession of stable isotope studies have documented the abrupt dietary transition from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic in Western and Northern Europe. Portugal, with its Late Mesolithic shell middens and burials apparently coexisting with the earliest Neolithic, further illustrates the nature of that transition. Individuals from Neolithic contexts there had significantly different diets to their Mesolithic counterparts. No evidence was found for a transitional phase between the marine-oriented Mesolithic subsistence regimes and the domesticated, terrestrial Neolithic diet. Two later Neolithic individuals, however, showed evidence for partial reliance on marine or aquatic foods. This raises questions about the possible persistence of marine dietary regimes beyond the Mesolithic period. This article is followed by a brief note by Mary Jackes and David Lubell.

José d’Encarnação: an overview of a remarkable career in epigraphical research

O estudo do desgaste dentario em populacoes arqueologicas e importante para perceber como se vivia no passado ja que uma vez erupcionados os dentes nao sofrem remodelacao. A localizacao, severidade e tipos de desgaste podem revelar habitos culturais e dieteticos. O objetivo deste estudo e analisar o padrao de desgaste dentario, por sexo e classe etaria, nos individuos de uma amostra medieval de Sao Joao de Almedina (Coimbra, Portugal) de modo a melhor conhecer os seus habitos. A amostra em estudo e composta por 58 adultos (28 homens, 20 mulheres e 10 individuos do sexo desconhecido). Os niveis de desgaste oclusal e aproximal foram registados com os metodos de Smith (1984) e Hillson (2001), respetivamente. Registou-se um desgaste oclusal medio de 3,86±1,59, caraterizado por grande exposicao da dentina. Os niveis de desgaste interproximais sao baixos (1,38±0,72 e 1,36±0,75). Os resultados foram comparados com outras populacoes, nomeadamente com os dados de Wasterlain (2006), recolhidos com a mesma metodologia, numa amostra da mesma regiao geografica, mas dos finais do seculo XIX/inicios do seculo XX. Notou-se uma clara atenuacao do desgaste na epoca pos-industrial o que pode ser resultado de um menos eficiente processamento da comida em epoca medieval.