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Article Reference Charred olive stones: experimental and archaeological evidence for recognizing olive processing residues used as fuel
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.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference Checklist of the Diptera observed at the Botanic Garden Jean Massart (Brussels-Capital Region, Belgium) during the survey of 2015 – 2018
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2023 OA
Article Reference Checklist of the fresh and brackish water snails (Mollusca, Gastropoda) of Bénin and adjacent West African ecoregions
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2020
Article Reference Chemical composition: Hearing insect defensive volatiles
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2021
Article Reference Chimpanzees surviving in a fragmented high-altitude forest landscape of the Congolese Albertine Rift
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2021
Article Reference Chitinozoan biozonation and new lithostratigraphical data in the Upper Ordovician of the Fauquez and Asquempont areas (Brabant Massif, Belgium)
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.
Located in Library / No RBINS Staff publications
Article Reference Chromosomal inversions from an initial ecotypic divergence drive a gradual repeated radiation of Galápagos beetles
Island faunas exhibit some of the most iconic examples where similar forms repeatedly evolve within different islands. Yet, whether these deterministic evolutionary trajectories within islands are driven by an initial, singular divergence and the subsequent exchange of individuals and adaptive genetic variation between islands remains unclear. Here, we study a gradual, repeated evolution of low-dispersive highland ecotypes from a dispersive lowland ecotype of Calosoma beetles along the island progression of the Galápagos. We show that repeated highland adaptation involved selection on multiple shared alleles within extensive chromosomal inversions that originated from an initial adaptation event on the oldest island. These highland inversions first spread through dispersal of highland individuals. Subsequent admixture with the lowland ecotype resulted in polymorphic dispersive populations from which the highland populations evolved on the youngest islands. Our findings emphasize the significance of an ancient divergence in driving repeated evolution and highlight how a mixed contribution of inter-island colonization and within-island evolution can shape parallel species communities.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2023
Article Reference Chronique / Kroniek « Nouveaux regards sur les migrations anciennes : archéologie, géochimie et génétique »
Organisé par la Société Royale belge d’Anthropologie et de Préhistoire et le Collège Belgique le 26 mai 2023 au Palais des Académies (Bruxelles). Résumé du colloque.
Located in Associated publications / / ANTHROPOLOGICA ET PREHISTORICA / Bibliographic references
Article Reference Cirripedes (Thoracica, Crustacea) from the Maastrichtian of Kalaat Senan, Tunisia
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2021
Article Reference Clawed forelimbs allow northern seals to eat like their ancient ancestors
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2018