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Charred olive stones: experimental and archaeological evidence for recognizing olive processing residues used as fuel
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After extracting oil from olives a residue is left usually referred to as the olive oil processing residue (OPR). This study explores the way in which ancient societies may have used OPR as fuel for fires to generate heat and the various issues that are related to the residues of this fuel. After drying, the high heating value and structure of OPR makes it an excellent and efficient fuel. Upgrading OPR further, through thermal conversion or charring, provides an even more efficient fuel (COPR), with a hotter and smoke free flame, a higher heating value and which is lighter in mass and thus easier to transport. After a fire is extinguished two types of remains of the fuel are left i.e. char and ash. Analyses on both remains, recovered from archaeological deposits, could be used as a source of information on fuel utilization. Laboratory experiments on charred modern OPR and stones show that by measuring their reflectance and analyzing their structure under reflected light microscopy, OPR and COPR can be distinguished in the charred material recovered from three archaeological sites in Greece and Syria. Based on these investigations it is suggested that on the three sites COPR was used as fuel. Ash, sampled together with the char, provides the possibility of investigating if other types of fuel were used, apart from OPR or COPR. On the investigated sites no ash was collected, but the analysis of the modern OPR showed that the properties of its ash could be used to distinguish it from other types of fuel. Ash from modern OPR and olive stones showed the presence of phytoliths. The often discussed issue related to the sharpness and smoothness of the edges of charred fragmented olive stones was investigated. The results showed that this is not a reliable criterion for recognizing olive oil production. It is recommended that in addition to the identification of the botanical material more properties of the remains of fuels should be analysed. To prevent destroying and losing char and ash as a result of excavation activities such as flotation and sieving, special measures have to be taken. The results show that analysing char and ash may provide valuable information on the (pyro)technology practised in ancient societies.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2016
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Check list of ground-dwelling ant diversity (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Iguazú National Park with a comparison at regional scale
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RBINS Staff Publications
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Checklist of the fresh and brackish water snails (Mollusca, Gastropoda) of Bénin and adjacent West African ecoregions
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RBINS Staff Publications 2020
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CHEMICAL PRESERVATION OF TAIL FEATHERS FROM ANCHIORNIS HUXLEYI, A THEROPOD DINOSAUR FROM THE TIAOJISHAN FORMATION (UPPER JURASSIC, CHINA)
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RBINS Staff Publications 2020
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Chenier-type ridges in Giralia Bay (Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia) - Processes, chronostratigraphy, and significance for recording past tropical cyclones
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RBINS Staff Publications 2018
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Chicxulub impact winter sustained by fine silicate dust
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The Chicxulub impact is thought to have triggered a global winter at the Cretaceous-Palaeogene (K-Pg) boundary 66 million years ago. Yet the climatic consequences of the various debris injected into the atmosphere following the Chicxulub impact remain unclear, and the exact killing mechanisms of the K-Pg mass extinction remain poorly constrained. Here we present palaeoclimate simulations based on sedimentological constraints from an expanded terrestrial K-Pg boundary deposit in North Dakota, United States, to evaluate the relative and combined effects of impact-generated silicate dust and sulfur, as well as soot from wildfires, on the post-impact climate. The measured volumetric size distribution of silicate dust suggests a larger contribution of fine dust (~0.8–8.0 μm) than previously appreciated. Our simulations of the atmospheric injection of such a plume of micrometre-sized silicate dust suggest a long atmospheric lifetime of 15yr, contributing to a global-average surface temperature falling by as much as 15°C. Simulated changes in photosynthetic active solar radiation support a dust-induced photosynthetic shut-down for almost 2 yr post-impact. We suggest that, together with additional cooling contributions from soot and sulfur, this is consistent with the catastrophic collapse of primary productivity in the aftermath of the Chicxulub impact.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2023 OA
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Children at Work: Looking for Evidence in Past Societies
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RBINS Staff Publications 2019
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Chironomid distribution along a pollution gradient in Ethiopian rivers, and their potential for biological water quality monitoring.
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Water pollution resulting from the rapidly intensifying use of freshwater resources in Ethiopia is increasing the need for continuous follow-up and monitoring of the country’s aquatic ecosystems, in order to maintain their biological diversity and water quality. Chironomids (non-biting dipteran midges) are often used for biological water quality assessment because their larvae tend to respond rapidly and sensitively to changes in the aquatic environment. Larval chironomid assemblages from 37 sites in 20 Ethiopian rivers were analysed in 2010 to assess the relationship between species composition and water quality. Cluster analysis of local physical and chemical variables was used to classify sites into three different water quality classes: 15 sites were classified as not or slightly polluted, 16 as moderately polluted and six as heavily polluted. We recovered 21 chironomid taxa, representing three subfamilies, with Chironominae (13 taxa) making the largest contribution, followed by Tanypodinae and Orthocladinae (four taxa each). Polypedilum nubifer, P. wittei, Polypedilum type Wabe, Cryptochironomus sp. and Conchapelopia sp. were the dominant species in unpolluted or slightly polluted sites. Chironomus alluaudi and C. imicola were indicators of heavily polluted sites, typified by low (<2 mg l–1) concentrations of dissolved oxygen. Heavily polluted sites, such as the Modjo and Sebata rivers, also held a lower number of species and genera than less-impacted sites. Larval chironomid assemblages proved useful as indicators of river water quality in Ethiopia when taxa are identified at the species and/or genus level.
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RBINS Staff Publications
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Chitinozoan biozonation and new lithostratigraphical data in the Upper Ordovician of the Fauquez and Asquempont areas (Brabant Massif, Belgium)
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A chitinozoan biozonation is established for the Upper Ordovician rocks of the Sennette valley in the Fauquez area and the Asquempont area, revising the existing chitinozoan biozonation of the Brabant Massif. The chitinozoans of fi ve formations (the Ittre, Bornival, Huet, Fauquez and Madot formations) are studied from 70 samples. The chitinozoan biozonation is correlated with Baltoscandia and the Avalonian Upper Ordovician type sections in the U.K. This correlation provides an accurate dating of the studied formations. A megaslumping event, affecting a part of the Ittre and Bornival Formation and causing the overturning of a pile of sediments estimated at minimum 200 m thick, may be placed in the mid Oandu (Cheneyan, middle Caradoc, early “Stage 6”). The volcanic rocks in the Fauquez area, formally thought to be restricted to the Ashgill, are confi ned to the late Caradoc - early Ashgill timespan. In addition to this, this paper presents new lithostratigraphical data on the Ittre Formation and the lower member of the Bornival Formation.
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Chromosome evolution in pseudoxyrhophiine snakes from Madagascar: a wide range of karyotypic variability
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RBINS Staff Publications
