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Article Reference Geochemical sourcing of flint artifacts from Western Belgium and the German Rhineland: testing hypotheses on Gravettian period mobility and raw material economy
Identifying the geological and geographical origin of lithic raw materials is critical to effectively address prehistoric forager raw material economies and mobility strategies. Currently, Paleolithic archaeology in Belgium lacks a systematic sourcing strategy to effectively substantiate detailed interpretations of prehistoric hunter-gatherer behavioral change across time and space. This pilot study evaluates the potential to “fingerprint” flint from the Mons Basin, western Belgium, using the laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) technique and a multivariate statistical analysis of 87 geological samples and 39 Gravettian period chipped stone artifacts. We reappraise two hypotheses raised by previous scholars based on visual raw material identification: (1) the Gravettian occupants of Maisières-Canal supplied themselves with “black flint” from one single source; (2) the sites Rhens and Koblenz-Metternich yielded artifacts indicative of long-distance transfer of western Belgian flint into the German Rhineland, ca. 260 km from the primary source area. Our results demonstrate the validity of LA-ICP-MS data with flint and compositional data analysis for fingerprinting discrete geological formations from the Mons Basin. We suggest multiple source provisioning for Maisières-Canal. Geochemical characterization of other potential flint sources is required to validate the long-distance transfer hypothesis of western Belgian “black flint” into the German Rhineland.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference The genetic history of Ice Age Europe
Modern humans arrived in Europe ˊ45,000 years ago, but little is known about their genetic composition before the start of farming ˊ8,500 years ago. Here we analyse genome-wide data from 51 Eurasians from ˊ45,000–7,000 years ago. Over this time, the proportion of Neanderthal DNA decreased from 3–6\% to around 2\%, consistent with natural selection against Neanderthal variants in modern humans. Whereas there is no evidence of the earliest modern humans in Europe contributing to the genetic composition of present-day Europeans, all individuals between ˊ37,000 and ˊ14,000 years ago descended from a single founder population which forms part of the ancestry of present-day Europeans. An ˊ35,000-year-old individual from northwest Europe represents an early branch of this founder population which was then displaced across a broad region, before reappearing in southwest Europe at the height of the last Ice Age ˊ19,000 years ago. During the major warming period after ˊ14,000 years ago, a genetic component related to present-day Near Easterners became widespread in Europe. These results document how population turnover and migration have been recurring themes of European prehistory.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference 13th International Symposium on Aquatic Oligochaeta, Brno, Czech Republic, 7–11 September, 2015
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference Comparative phylogeographies of six species of hinged terrapins (<i>Pelusios</i> spp.) reveal discordant patterns and unexpected differentiation in the <i>P. castaneus/P. chapini</i> complex and <i>P. rhodesianus</i>
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference Magura Cave, Bulgaria: A multidisciplinary study of Late Pleistocene human palaeoenvironment in the Balkans
Abstract Two trenches excavated at Magura Cave, north-west Bulgaria, have provided Late Pleistocene lithic artefacts as well as environmental evidence in the form of large and small mammals, herpetofauna and pollen recovered from Crocuta coprolites. One of the trenches also has a visible tephra layer which has been confirmed as representing the major Campanian Ignimbrite eruption and is accurately dated at the source area to 39,280 ± 55 yrs and radiocarbon determinations have added to chronological resolution at the site. The palaeoenvironment of the region during the Late Pleistocene is discussed in the context of hominin presence and shows a mosaic landscape in a region considered a crucial refugium for both plants and mammals, including hominins.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
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 A new record of Messapicetus from the Pietra leccese (late Miocene, southern Italy): antitropical distribution in a fossil beaked whale (Cetacea, Ziphiidae)
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference Ecological niche of Neanderthals from Spy Cave revealed by nitrogen isotopes of individual amino acids in collagen
This study provides a refined view on the diet and ecological niche of Neanderthals. The traditional view is that Neanderthals obtained most of their dietary protein from terrestrial animals, especially from large herbivores that roamed the open landscapes. Evidence based on the conventional carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition of bulk collagen has supported this view, although recent findings based on plant remains in the tooth calculus, microwear analyses, and small game and marine animal remains from archaeological sites have raised some questions regarding this assumption. However, the lack of a protein source other than meat in the Neanderthal diet may be due to methodological difficulties in defining the isotopic composition of plants. Based on the nitrogen isotopic composition of glutamic acid and phenylalanine in collagen for Neanderthals from Spy Cave (Belgium), we show that i) there was an inter-individual dietary heterogeneity even within one archaeological site that has not been evident in bulk collagen isotopic compositions, ii) they occupied an ecological niche different from those of hyenas, and iii) they could rely on plants for up to ∼20\% of their protein source. These results are consistent with the evidence found of plant consumption by the Spy Neanderthals, suggesting a broader subsistence strategy than previously considered.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference Genesis of the vein-type tungsten mineralization at Nyakabingo (Rwanda) in the Karagwe–Ankole belt, Central Africa
The vein-type tungsten deposit at Nyakabingo in the central Tungsten belt of Rwanda is located in the eastern flank of the complex Bumbogo anticlinal structure. The host rock is composed of alternating sequences of sandstones, quartzites, and black pyritiferous metapelitic rocks. Two types of W-mineralized quartz veins have been observed: bedding-parallel and quartz veins that are at high angle to the bedding, which are termed crosscutting veins. Both vein types have been interpreted to have been formed in a late stage of a compressional deformation event. Both vein types are associated with small alteration zones, comprising silicification, tourmalinization, and muscovitization. Dating of muscovite crystals at the border of the veins resulted in a maximum age of 992.4 ± 1.5 Ma. This age is within error similar to the ages obtained for the specialized G4 granites (i.e., 986 ± 10 Ma). The W-bearing minerals formed during two different phases. The first phase is characterized by scheelite and massive wolframite, while the second phase is formed by ferberite pseudomorphs after scheelite. These minerals occur late in the evolution of the massive quartz veins, sometimes even in fractures that crosscut the veins. The ore minerals precipitated from a H2O–CO2–CH4–N2–NaCl–(KCl) fluid with low to moderate salinity (0.6–13.8 eq. wt% NaCl), and minimal trapping temperatures between 247 and 344 °C. The quartz veins have been crosscut by sulfide-rich veins. Based on the similar setting, mineralogy, stable isotope, and fluid composition, it is considered that both types of W-mineralized quartz veins formed during the same mineralizing event. Given the overlap in age between the G4 granites and the mineralized quartz veins, and the typical association of the W deposits in Rwanda, but also worldwide, with granite intrusions, W originated from the geochemically specialized G4 granites. Intense water–rock interaction and mixing with metamorphic fluids largely overprinted the original magmatic-hydrothermal signature.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016
Article Reference Short-term effects of fishery exclusion in offshore wind farms on macrofaunal communities in the Belgian part of the North Sea
With the wide scale construction of offshore wind farms (OWFs) throughout the entire North Sea, largeareas are permanently being closed to beam trawl fisheries. Beam trawling has affected macrobenthicassemblages for centuries, especially the fragile and long-lived species. Due to the prohibition of beantrawling in many OWFs, opportunities are being provided to investigate the potential recovery of vulnera-ble species and the creation of de-facto Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The soft-substrate macrobenthiccommunity was investigated from 2008 to 2012, before and after the construction of an OWF in theBelgian part of the North Sea, situated on the Bligh Bank. The fishery enclosed area (±21 km2) withinthe OWF (No Fishery area) was compared with a surrounding control area (±30 km2) where regularfishing activities were registered through vessel monitoring system (VMS) data throughout the period2010–2011. Three years after the exclusion of beam trawl fisheries, subtle changes within the macroben-thic community were observed in the No Fishery area. The benthic mysid shrimp Gastrosaccus spinifer(30 ± 15 ind m−2), tube-building polychaetes Terebellidae sp. (196 ± 151 ind m−2) and the echinodermEchinocyamus pusillus (73 ± 71 ind m−2), sensitive to trawling activities, showed increased abundanceswithin the No Fishery area. With an expansion of the wind farm concession area to 238 km2in the future,the likely increase of dense Terebellidae patches (e.g., Lanice conchilega reefs) within the No Fishery areacould create an ecological important large-scale refugium for higher trophic levels. This study creates abaseline for the evaluation of long-term changes due to the fishing impacts and effects related to the pres-ence of OWFs and highlights the importance of executing long-term monitoring programs in combinationwith targeted research.
Located in Library / RBINS Staff Publications 2016