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12 Jun 2025
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How depositional environments impact the microwear preservation of quartz artifacts: insights from the Oldowan of the Shungura Formation (Ethiopia)

Experimental and archaeological Insights into surface modifications on quartz artifacts

Recommended by ORCID_LOGO based on reviews by Gabriele Luigi Francesco Berruti, Julien Favreau, Marie-Hélène Moncel and Xose Pedro Rodriguez-Álvarez

The preservation of microwear on lithic artifacts is a central concern in the study of early technological behavior. This is particularly true for Early Pleistocene assemblages, where site preservation, raw material properties, and depositional contexts can all affect the visibility and integrity of use-wear traces. In this context, the work by Galland et al. offers a substantial contribution to the methodological approach of functional analysis on quartz artifacts, a raw material both ubiquitous and challenging within Oldowan assemblages in eastern Africa.

The study by Galland et al. (2025) focuses on a series of archaeological artifacts from Member F of the Shungura Formation (Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia) distributed across different depositional environments: floodplain, point bar, and channel lag. All assemblages are composed predominantly of small quartz pebbles, and the artifacts show good preservation at the macroscopic level. However, the key issue addressed is how microscopic surface modifications vary depending on the sedimentary context, and how these modifications can be distinguished from use-wear produced during tool use.

To approach this problem, a comparative experimental protocol specifically designed to characterize the effects of fluvial transport and aeolian abrasion on quartz clasts has been developed and applied. This represents an important methodological step, as previous use-wear studies have often been hampered by the difficulty of disentangling taphonomic damage from intentional use-related traces, especially on highly resistant and light-reflective materials such as quartz.

The comparative analysis between experimental and archaeological materials highlights how depositional environments differentially affect microscopic surface alterations, even when macroscopic preservation appears relatively uniform. Specific patterns of rounding, micro-scarring, and polish formation linked to sediment dynamics are documented. These findings have direct implications for evaluating the functional potential of the Shungura assemblages and, more broadly, for any interpretation that relies on the integrity of surface traces on quartz artifacts.

A systematic and transparent recording approach has been adopted throughout the study. Clear definitions of the observed alterations, a structured classification protocol, and a comparative interpretative framework applicable beyond the studied sites are provided. The results stress the need for caution in functional studies on early quartz assemblages and establish a solid baseline for future work aiming to identify genuine use-wear signals under variable taphonomic conditions.

This manuscript is a valuable contribution to the methodological literature on Early Stone Age lithic analysis. It offers a robust combination of experimental and archaeological evidence, presented with clarity and precision. Its relevance extends beyond the Shungura Formation, offering practical tools for researchers working in similar open-air contexts with comparable raw materials. By anchoring functional interpretations in a detailed understanding of taphonomic processes, this study helps reinforce the empirical foundations of behavioral inference in early prehistory.

This work will serve as an important methodological reference for archaeologists working on early quartz-based industries and for all researchers concerned with the preservation and recognition of use-wear in ancient lithic contexts.

References

Aline Galland, Ignacio Clemente-Conte, Jean-Renaud Boisserie, Anne Delagnes (2025) How depositional environments impact the microwear preservation of quartz artifacts: insights from the Oldowan of the Shungura Formation (Ethiopia). PaleorXiv, ver.3 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Archaeology https://doi.org/10.31233/osf.io/9k8p3_v3

How depositional environments impact the microwear preservation of quartz artifacts: insights from the Oldowan of the Shungura Formation (Ethiopia)Aline Galland, Ignacio Clemente-Conte, Jean-Renaud Boisserie, Anne Delagnes<p>The function of Oldowan tools is a key aspect of early hominin subsistence in eastern Africa. The rarity of the sites, the preservation of the assemblages and raw materials are limiting factors in the functional study of Early Pleistocene assem...Africa, Ancient Palaeolithic, Taphonomy, TraceologyMarta Arzarello2024-09-26 14:31:04 View
06 Jun 2025
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Open science, communication, and collaboration for the future of palaeoproteomics

Emerging standards, challenges and opportunities within palaeoproteomics

Recommended by ORCID_LOGO based on reviews by Maarten Dhaenens , Samantha Brown and Timothy Cleland

The past five or so years have seen the flourishing of several Early Career Researcher (ECR)-led communities within the ancient biomolecular fields. Such networks have the potential to address long-standing inequalities within their respective domains, open peer connections to a wider range of researchers beyond well-established groups, and provide platforms to create new standards and initiatives based on community consensus. Dekker and colleagues (2025) detail these opportunities within the field of palaeoproteomics via the PAASTA community (Palaeoproteomics And Archaeology, Society for Techniques and Advances).

As palaeoproteomics is a rapidly developing and technology-driven field—dependent on novel laboratory protocols, reference data availability, and choice of software—there is a natural risk of standards and approaches being applied in an ad hoc fashion. As highlighted by a peer reviewer, an additional challenge is building mutual understanding with collaborators outside of proteomics, such as artifact curators or citizen partners, to ensure all research participants grasp the values and limitations of their respective fields. As emphasized by this white paper, researcher-led communities such as PAASTA can initiate conversations on these topics, establishing guidelines and championing neglected-but-valuable practices. These include the publication of negative results in methodological development, the adoption of metadata standards, clarity in laboratory methods and computational pipelines, and the release of any scripts produced during the study—as well as raw data, including both positive and negative controls—in line with FAIR principles.

Science has a mixed record in recognizing such efforts: initiatives to improve a field’s reproducibility, to ease cross-disciplinary communication, and to build communities of best practice that do not replicate the structural biases already present in the broader research ecosystem. In addition to providing technical recommendations, the position paper by Dekker and colleagues is an implicit invitation to the palaeoproteomics field to recognize these values—easily stated, but harder to embody.

Alongside recommending this manuscript as a position paper for the field more broadly—and as an entry point to palaeoproteomics for those outside it—I also encourage readers to examine the peer review text, which brings unique perspectives to the potentials and challenges of this flourishing discipline.

Kevin G. Daly

 

References

Joannes A. A. Dekker, Carli Peters, Rachel M. Winter, Matthew J. Collins, Marc R. Dickinson, Virginia L. Harvey, Eden Hill, Bharath Nair, Takumi Tsutaya, Laura C. Viñas- Caron, Christina Warinner, Frido Welker, Zandra Fagernäs (2025) Open science, communication, and collaboration for the future of palaeoproteomics. Zenodo, ver.4 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Archaeology https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15546095

Open science, communication, and collaboration for the future of palaeoproteomicsJoannes A. A. Dekker, Carli Peters, Rachel M. Winter, Matthew J. Collins, Marc R. Dickinson, Virginia L. Harvey, Eden Hill, Bharath Nair, Takumi Tsutaya, Laura C. Viñas- Caron, Christina Warinner, Frido Welker, Zandra Fagernäs<p>Palaeoproteomics focuses on studying the past by analysing proteins preserved in historical, archaeological, and palaeontological materials. Over the past fifteen years, the number of publications and research questions in this field has grown ...Biomolecular/molecular archaeologyKevin Daly2025-02-20 13:56:03 View
14 May 2025
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Towards a more robust representation of lithic industries in archaeology: a critical review of traditional approaches and modern techniques

Transforming lithic representation: The potential of Reflectance Transformation Imaging for large-scale lithic visualisation

Recommended by ORCID_LOGO based on reviews by 3 anonymous reviewers

The clear and accurate graphic representation of lithic artefacts is an essential complement to their description and analysis in archaeological literature. In this study by Looten and colleagues (2025), Reflectance Transformation Imagery (RTI) is presented as an effective method for moving beyond the depiction of small numbers of selected artefacts, opening up the possibility of quickly and effectively documenting larger assemblage samples. RTI is a photographic method that highlights the relief of scars and ridges on flaked stone artefacts, presenting a highly readable representation of past lithic technology.

Since its nineteenth-century beginnings, an important aspect of lithic illustration has been depicting the depth and direction of flake scars, allowing the visual interpretation of technological features. Technical drawings remain widely used in publications, but are increasingly supplemented, or replaced, by photography and novel digital imaging techniques. All of these methods come with advantages and limitations, in terms of time, cost, and fidelity. There have been various studies that test and compare imaging methods (e.g. Magnani 2014; Barone et al. 2018; Di Maida et al. 2023), but RTI is rarely included, and there are no specific case studies for lithics (Mathys et al. 2013; Porter et al. 2016a).

Looten et al. review and compare the efficacy of different forms of lithic representation, taking a highly practical perspective on their ease of implementation. This is a refreshing approach, discussing technical issues that many lithic analysts (who are often not imaging specialists) may not consider – such as challenges related to lighting, focus and distortion in artefact photography. Three-dimensional models, created through photogrammetry or 3D scanning, provide an interactive medium for readers to examine artefacts presented in studies, but large file sizes, time-consuming processing and costly equipment mean that – like drawings – often only selected pieces are included. Given the growing concern in lithic studies for reducing subjective bias in analysis by providing replicable data and protocols (e.g. Porter et al. 2016b; Cerasoni 2021; Cerasoni et al. 2022; Grosman et al. 2022; Timbrell 2022; Pargeter et al. 2023; Robitaille 2025), there is an open niche for a technique that lies between 2D and 3D imaging.

RTI is described as a “2.5D” technique that is already applied in archaeology, and lithic studies in particular (Pawlowicz 2015; Fiorini 2018; Robitaille 2025). The enhanced dimension comes from capturing the surface topography of the object, allowing the artificial manipulation of shading and lighting to highlight features. Created using a digital camera and reflective spheres, the set-up is low-cost and fast to implement, with a clear and user-friendly workflow presented by Looten et al. Detailed RTI protocols suitable for archaeologists are available elsewhere (e.g. Mudge et al. 2010; Cultural Heritage Imaging 2018; Robitaille 2025), but Looten et al. provide both a method, and a context for its application in lithic studies. As well as a step-by-step guide to implementation (including a breakdown of the time each step takes), the paper contains many comparative images of the same artefacts using different visualisation conditions, providing technical specifications and clearly illustrating the differences achieved by changing certain parameters. Additionally, the raw images are available for readers to replicate the study and experiment with for themselves.

Both as a ‘sales pitch’ for the benefits of using RTI in lithic studies, and a ‘how to’ guide, this paper is an important contribution to the field. All researchers are faced with making decisions about the suitability and feasibility of different imaging techniques to support their work, particularly given the rise of 3D modelling and the demand for open, digital archives. However, RTI – a technique that many researchers may not be aware of – is clearly presented as a viable option for capturing technological details of lithic artefacts with high fidelity and interactive potential. This work is a key step in encouraging the wider uptake of the method as an alternative, or complement, to drawings, photographs and 3D models.

 

References

Barone, S., Neri, P., Paoli, A. & Razionale, A.V. (2018) Automatic technical documentation of lithic artefacts by digital techniques. Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, 11, e00087. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.daach.2018.e00087

Duffy, S. M., Kennedy, H., Goskar, T. & Backhouse, P. (2018) Multi-light Imaging: Highlight-Reflectance Transformation Imaging (H-RTI) for Cultural Heritage. Historic England, Swindon. https://doi.org/10.5284/1110911

Cerasoni, J. N. (2021) Vectorial application for the illustration of archaeological lithic artefacts using the “Stone Tools Illustrations with Vector Art” (STIVA) Method. PLoS ONE, 16(5), e0251466. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0251466

Cerasoni, J. N., do Nascimento Rodrigues, F., Tang, Y. & Hallett, E. Y. (2022) Do-It-Yourself digital archaeology: Introduction and practical applications of photography and photogrammetry for the 2D and 3D representation of small objects and artefacts. PLoS ONE, 17(4), e0267168. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0267168

Di Maida, G., Hattermann, M. & Delpiano, D. (2023). 3D models of lithic artefacts: a test on their efficacy. Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, 30, e00279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.daach.2023.e00279

Fiorini, A. (2018) Il metodo fotografico RTI (Reflectance Transformation Imaging) per la documentazione delle superfici archeologiche: L’applicazione ai materiali di età protostorica. Archeologia e Calcolatori, 29, 241–258. https://doi.org/10.19282/ac.29.2018.20

Grosman, L., Muller, A., Dag, I., Goldgeier, H., Harush, O., Herzlinger, G., Nebenhaus, K., Valetta, F., Yashuv, T. & Dick, N. (2022). Artifact3-D: New software for accurate, objective and efficient 3D analysis and documentation of archaeological artifacts. PLoS ONE, 17(6), e0268401. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0268401

Looten, J., Gravina, B., Muth, X., Villaeys, M. & Bordes, J.-G. (2025) Towards a more robust representation of lithic industries in archaeology: a critical review of traditional approaches and modern techniques. Zenodo, ver.4 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Archaeology. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15411

Magnani, M. (2014). Three-dimensional alternatives to lithic illustration. Advances in Archaeological Practice, 2(4), 285–297. https://doi.org/10.7183/2326-3768.2.4.285

Mathys, A., Brecko, J. & Semal, P. (2013) Comparing 3D digitizing technologies: What are the differences? In: Digital Heritage International Congress, Marseille, France, 2013, pp. 201–204. https://doi.org/10.1109/DigitalHeritage.2013.6743733

Mudge, M., Schroer, C., Earl, G., Martinez, K., Pagi, H., Toler-Franklin, C., Rusinkiewicz, S., Palma, G., Wachowiak, M., Ashley, M., Matthews, N., Noble, T. & Dellepiane, M. (2010). Principles and practices of robust, photography-based digital imaging techniques for museums. In: A. Artusi, M. Joly-Parvex,G. Lucet, A. Ribes & D. Pitzalis (Eds.), The 11th International Symposium on Virtual reality, Archaeology and Cultural Heritage VAST, pp. 111–137. https://doi.org/10.2312/PE/VAST/VAST10S/111-137

Pargeter, J., Brooks, A., Douze, K., Eren, M., Groucutt, H. S., McNeil, J., Mackay, A., Ranhorn, K., Scerri, E., Shaw, M., Tryon, C., Will, M. & Leplongeon, A. (2023). Replicability in lithic analysis. American Antiquity, 88(2), 163–186. https://doi.org/10.1017/aaq.2023.4

Pawlowic, D. (2015). Reflectance Transformation Imaging for Lithics. https://rtimage.us/ consulted on 09/05/2025.

Porter, S. T., Huber, N., Hoyer, C. & Floss, H. (2016a). Portable and low-cost solutions to the imaging of Paleolithic art objects: a comparison of photogrammetry and reflectance transformation imaging. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 10, 859–863. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2016.07.013

Porter, S. T., Roussel, M. & Soressi, M. (2016b). A simple photogrammetry rig for the reliable creation of 3D artifact models in the field. Lithic examples from the Early Upper Paleolithic sequence of Les Cottés (France). Advances in Archaeological Practice, 4(1), 71–86. https://doi.org/10.7183/2326-3768.4.1.1

Robitaille, J. (2025). Reflectance Transformation Imaging at a microscopic level: a new device and method for collaborative research on artifact use-wear analysis. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 61, 104914. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2024.104914

Timbrell, L. (2022). A collaborative model for lithic shape digitization in museum settings. Lithic Technology, 48(1), 31–42. https://doi.org/10.1080/01977261.2022.2092299

Towards a more robust representation of lithic industries in archaeology: a critical review of traditional approaches and modern techniquesJulien Looten, Brad Gravina, Xavier Muth, Maxime Villaeys, Jean-Guillaume Bordes<p>Comprenant souvent un grand nombre d’artefacts, les assemblages lithiques préhistoriques sont présentés dans des publications sous forme de dessins, de diagrammes, de photographies ou d’extraits d’acquisitions 3D. Ces représentations visuelles ...Ancient Palaeolithic, Lithic technology, Middle Palaeolithic, Raw materials, Theoretical archaeology, Upper PalaeolithicEmily Hallinan2025-03-13 19:38:59 View
09 May 2025
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DateBack, an evolving open-access repository of Phoenix archaeobotanical data supporting new perspectives on the history of date palm cultivation

Recommendation for the Publication of DateBack: An Open Archaeobotanical Repository

Recommended by ORCID_LOGO based on reviews by Claudia Moricca and 1 anonymous reviewer

I wholeheartedly recommend the publication of "DateBack, an evolving open-access repository of Phoenix archaeobotanical data supporting new perspectives on the history of date palm cultivation" (Besseiche et al. 2025). This work emerges at a crucial moment in archaeobotanical research, responding to calls for more integrative, open-access data infrastructures (e.g. Lodwick 2019; Reiter et al. 2024) that enable comparative studies across time and space.

The authors address a key question in agricultural and environmental history: how, when, and where did humans shape the distribution and cultivation of Phoenix dactylifera? They hypothesize that only through standardized, large-scale archaeobotanical data, long-standing narratives of domestication and dispersal can be assessed. To test this, they introduce DateBack, a curated database that aggregates published and unpublished archaeobotanical evidence, including seed morphometrics, radiocarbon dates, and contextual metadata.

The methodology is rigorous and transparent, involving systematic data collection, harmonization, and open-source publication following FAIR principles. The database’s preliminary results already suggest regionally distinct cultivation trajectories and long-distance interactions shaping date palm history, particularly in North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.

I recommend the paper because it sets a new standard for data sharing in archaeobotany, moving beyond isolated case studies toward reproducible, collaborative science. The project fills a critical infrastructure gap and will likely catalyze new cross-disciplinary research. Its relevance extends from archaeology and botany to digital humanities and heritage data management.

In sum, DateBack is a timely and necessary resource, and I wish its publication will have a lasting impact on the field.

References

Margot Besseiche, Elora Chambraud, Vladimir Dabrowski, Elisa Brandstatt, François Sabot, Charlène Bouchaud, Muriel Gros-Balthazard (2025). DateBack, an evolving open-access repository of Phoenix archaeobotanical data supporting new perspectives on the history of date palm cultivation. bioRxiv, ver.2 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Archaeology https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.02.21.639487

Lodwick, L. (2019). Sowing the Seeds of Future Research: Data Sharing, Citation and Reuse
in Archaeobotany. Open Quaternary, 5, 7. https://doi.org/10.5334/oq.62

Reiter, S. S., Staniuk, R., Kolář, J., Bulatović, J., Rose, H. A., Ryabogina, N. E., ... & Timpson, A. (2024). The BIAD Standards: Recommendations for Archaeological Data Publication and Insights From the Big Interdisciplinary Archaeological Database. Open Archaeology, 10(1), 20240015. https://doi.org/10.1515/opar-2024-0015

DateBack, an evolving open-access repository of Phoenix archaeobotanical data supporting new perspectives on the history of date palm cultivationMargot Besseiche, Elora Chambraud, Vladimir Dabrowski, Elisa Brandstatt, François Sabot, Charlène Bouchaud, Muriel Gros-Balthazard<p>The date palm (<em>Phoenix dactylifera</em> L.) has been a cornerstone of oasis agrosystems in West Asia and North Africa for millennia, yet the timeline and processes of its domestication and spread remain poorly documented. Archaeobotanical r...Antiquity, Archaeobotany, Asia, Mediterranean, ProtohistoryClaudia Speciale2025-02-24 17:08:19 View
03 Mar 2025
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An Australian Overview: The Creation and Use of 3D Models in Australian Universities

Enhancing Heritage: 3D Modeling Technologies in Australian Higher Education

Recommended by ORCID_LOGO based on reviews by Mike Yeates and 1 anonymous reviewer

The integration of 3D modeling technologies in Australian universities is transforming the study and preservation of cultural heritage, providing innovative ways to enhance educational outcomes and accessibility. This article by Keep et al. meticulously explores how these digital tools are being adopted across various institutions to support object-based learning (OBL) and research.

This paper delves into the significant rise of 3D digitization in cultural heritage, driven by the increasing availability of advanced, user-friendly technology. By examining the methodologies employed by major Australian universities, the authors present compelling evidence of how 3D models serve not just as substitutes for physical artifacts but as enhanced digital surrogates that offer new insights and educational opportunities. For instance, the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne showcase projects where digital models allow for detailed examination of artifacts beyond what is possible in physical settings, demonstrating the practical benefits and pedagogical impacts of 3D modeling.

However, the article also highlights substantial challenges, including the lack of standardized practices and sustainable funding, which could impede the full potential of these digital surrogates. The variability in digitization and metadata practices among institutions suggests a pressing need for standardized protocols to ensure compatibility and maximize the utility of 3D models in academic and research settings.

One of the most compelling aspects of this study is its discussion on the future of digital methodologies in heritage studies. The authors advocate for strategic, long-term collaboration to address these challenges, suggesting that without a concerted effort to regulate and standardize 3D modeling practices, the benefits of these technologies might not be fully realized. They call for a symposium similar to the London Charter, aiming to establish guidelines that could shepherd the growth and integration of 3D technologies in cultural heritage studies.

This recommendation for Keep et al.’s article is based on its insightful analysis and its potential to serve as a blueprint for other institutions looking to incorporate 3D modeling into their curricula. The detailed case studies and critical perspectives on standardization and sustainability provide a crucial viewpoint for future developments in this field. The article not only underscores the successes of digital surrogates in educational contexts but also addresses the limitations and challenges, paving the way for enriched academic discourse and practical applications in cultural heritage studies.

References

Thomas J. Keep, Madeline M. G. Robinson, Jackson Shoobert, Jessie Birkett-Rees (2025) An Australian Overview: The Creation and Use of 3D Models in Australian Universities. Zenodo, ver.2 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Archaeology https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13864694

An Australian Overview: The Creation and Use of 3D Models in Australian UniversitiesThomas J. Keep, Madeline M. G. Robinson, Jackson Shoobert, Jessie Birkett-Rees<p>This paper examines the current status of 3D modelling of cultural heritage objects in Australian universities, focusing on how these models are being integrated into object-based learning practices. It discusses the different approaches taken ...Conservation/Museum studiesRobert Stephan2024-09-30 07:15:41 View
25 Feb 2025
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From Scar to Scar: Reconstructing Operational Sequences of Lithic Artifacts using Scar-Ridge-Pattern-based Graph Models

A promising step toward objective quantification of flake scar sequences in stone artifact analysis

Recommended by ORCID_LOGO based on reviews by 3 anonymous reviewers

Determining the relative order of flake scar negatives on stone artefacts is critical for reconstructing past lithic reduction sequence and technological practices. This task, which forms a key component of the chaîne opératoire approach of lithic analysis,​ relies on analysts interpreting scar patterns based on various artefact morphological properties. However, its interpretive nature makes the results highly dependnt on observer experience and susceptible to inter-observer error (see Kot et al. 2025). In this innovative study, Linsel and colleagues (2025) introduce a workflow that automates the determination of relative scar ordering from 3D artefact models. Using a set of parameters that approximate flake scar properties relevant to scar order differentiation, their approach summarises scar ordering in the form of a graph model. The authors test the workflow on two datasets--one created by the authors and another sourced from published artefact models--yielding promising results for high-resolution 3D models but variable accuracy overall. The authors explore possible factors influencing these variations and proposed future refinements, including a need for more ground-truthing datasets with minimal interpretive biases. 

This method-focused paper has significant implications for Palaeolithic archaeology. It marks an important step toward the objective quantification of flake scar order, a key aspect in understanding past stone tool-making sequences. Moreover, it highlights the great potential of 3D technology and computational approaches in automating traditionally time-consuming analyses while reducing subjective bias in our analytical results. 

 

References

Florian Linsel, Jan Philipp Bullenkamp, Hubert Mara (2025) From Scar to Scar: Reconstructing Operational Sequences of Lithic Artifacts using Scar-Ridge-Pattern-based Graph Models. Zenodo, ver.2.1 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Archaeology https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14875156

Kot, Małgorzata, Jerzy Tyszkiewicz, Michał Leloch, Natalia Gryczewska, and Sebastian Miller (2025) Reliability and validity in determining the relative chronology between neighbouring scars on flint artefacts. Journal of Archaeological Science 175 (2025): 106156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2025.106156​

 

From Scar to Scar: Reconstructing Operational Sequences of Lithic Artifacts using Scar-Ridge-Pattern-based Graph ModelsFlorian Linsel, Jan Philipp Bullenkamp, Hubert Mara<p>Motivated by the importance of lithic artifacts in the development of our ancestors, this study introduces a novel method combining 3D mesh segmentation and graph modeling to determine relevant features of operational sequences being relevant f...Computational archaeology, Lithic technology, Upper PalaeolithicSam Lin2024-09-27 15:18:56 View
20 Feb 2025
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From polishing to burning: deciphering a Middle Neolithic hoard from Beringen Brouwershuis (Belgium) through functional analysis

How many lives can a polished axe have? A biographical approach to a Neolithic hoard deposit from Belgium.

Recommended by ORCID_LOGO based on reviews by Joao Marreiros, Lars Larsson and Juan Gibaja

Votive deposits and hoarding practices are of significance to archaeological research. They can provide insights to the economic and functional aspects but also to less mundane, ritual and symbolic behaviors of past societies. Prehistoric and historic examples are documented in various European regions (e.g., [1, 2]) but Neolithic hoards are generally not among the most frequently found and studied. Attempts to characterize these materials often focus on more traditional archaeology-related discourses, such as raw-material and typo-technological analysis, deposition practices and context-based interpretations. Alternative complementary analytical approaches remain less common in non-metallic hoards despite their informative potential. This scenario is quickly changing due to developments and application of functional studies and the broad field of archaeometry. Combining these approaches with contextual data offers a promising avenue for further research and interpretation.
Tomaso and colleagues [3] present an example of a Middle Neolithic radiocarbon-dated pit from the Beringen Brouweshuis site (Belgium) that was subject to archaeological excavations as part of a developer-funded programme [4]. A sample of flint polished axes, endscrapers and other smaller tool fragments recovered in the mentioned negative feature were selected for an initial residue and use-wear analysis. The materials were subject to a rapid burial and, although unclear if intentional and controlled or incidental, the majority of artifacts were damaged due to exposure to fire. On the one hand, macroscopic and microscopic traces of use-wear and hafting are scarce on the axes - of interest is the identification of an axe used as strike-a-light and the presence of iron-oxide that could relate to pedogenesis or ochre depositions. On the other hand, the scrapers are better-preserved, less impacted by heat, and show evidence of hide and plant processing, hafting and resharpening.
The case-study is discussed within the scope of a biographical approach [5] to the materials under analysis. Context, methods and interpretation limitations are clearly acknowledged by the authors. In sum, this paper presents interesting results on the first excavated Michelsberg culture axe hoard in Belgium. It contributes to the corpus of information on the relevance of fire (and possibly ochre) specifically in these deposits and more broadly to other past populations ritual and symbolic behaviors (e.g., [6, 7]). At the same time, it is an interesting addition to supra-regional discussions on how prehistoric daily objects can gain new meanings – a resignification – by being included on hoarding practices. The fact that other steps could have been part of this process, namely fire and eventually ochre, showcases the complexity and entanglements that these artifacts and deposits might have had during their lifecycle. 
 
References
[1] Naylor, J, Bland, R (2015) Hoarding and the Deposition of Metalwork from the Bronze Age to the 20th Century: A British Perspective. BAR British Series 615. Oxford: BAR Publishing.
[2] Bradley, R (2017) A Geography of Offerings. Deposits of Valuables in the Landscapes of Ancient Europe. Oxbow Insights in Archaeology. Oxford: Oxbow Books.
[3] Tomasso, J, Cnuts, D, Geerts, F, Vanmontfort, B, Roots, V (2025) From polishing to burning: deciphering a Middle Neolithic hoard from Beringen Brouwershuis (Belgium) through functional analysis. OSF preprints, ver. 2 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Archaeology https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/4yqch_v2
[4] Geerts, F, Claesen, J, Van Genechten, B, Bouckaert K (2021) De inhoud van een gereedschapskist? Een midden-neolithische depotvondst te Koersel, (Beringen, prov. Limburg, BE). Notae Praehistoricae 41: 147-158. 
[5] van Gijn, A (2010) Flint in focus: Lithic biographies in the Neolithic and Bronze Age. Leiden: Sidestone Press.
[6] Larsson, L (2000) The passage of axes: fire transformation of flint objects in the Neolithic of southern Sweden. Antiquity 74(285): 602-610. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003598X00059962
[7] Larsson, L (2011) Water and fire as transformation elements in ritual deposits of the Scandinavian Neolithic. Documenta Praehistorica 38: 69-82. https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.38.6

From polishing to burning: deciphering a Middle Neolithic hoard from Beringen Brouwershuis (Belgium) through functional analysisSonja Tomasso, Dries Cnuts, Ferdi Geerts, Bart Vanmontfort, Veerle Rots<p>The Beringen Brouwershuis hoard, distinguished by its well-documented and radiocarbon-dated context, offers a unique opportunity to explore the hoarding practices of the Middle Neolithic period in the Campine region of Belgium. As one of the fe...Neolithic, TraceologyNelson Almeida2024-12-10 13:59:47 View
10 Feb 2025
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Using Text Mining to Search for Neolithic Vlaardingen Culture Sites in the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt Delta

Excavating archaeological knowledge with Text Mining, NER and BERT

Recommended by based on reviews by Simon Carrignon and 1 anonymous reviewer

The production of texts in archaeology is vast and multiple in nature, and the archaeologist often misses the true extent of its scope. Machine learning and deep learning have a top place to play in these analyses (Bellat et al 2025), with text extraction methods being therefore a useful tool for reducing complexity and, more specifically, for uncovering elements that may be lost in the midst of so much literary production. This is what Van den Dikkenberg and Brandsen set out to do in the specific case of Vlaardingen Culture (3400-2500 BCE). By using NER (Named Entity Recognition) with BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) they were able to recover data related to the location of sites, the relevance of the data and, just as importantly, potential errors and failures in interpretation (Van den Dikkenberg and Brandsen 2025). The contextual aspect is emphasized here by the authors, and is one of the main reasons why BERT is used, which is logically a wake-up call for the future: it is not enough to classify or represent data, it is essential to understand what surrounds it, its contexts and its particularities (Brandsen et al 2022). 

For this, refinement is always advocated, as these models need constant attention in terms of both training data and parameters. This constant search means that this article is not simply an analysis, but that it can be a relevant contribution both to the culture in question and to the way in which we approach and extract relevant information about the grey literature that archaeology produces. Thus, Van den Dikkenberg and Brandsen present us with an article that is eminently practical but which considers the theoretical implications of this automation of the search for the contexts of archaeological data, which reinforces its relevance and, consequently, its recommendation.

References

Bellat, M., Orellana Figueroa, J. D., Reeves, J. S., Taghizadeh-Mehrjardi, R., Tennie, C. & Scholten, T. (2025). Machine learning applications in archaeological practices: A review. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2501.03840

Brandsen, A., Verberne, S., Lambers, K. & Wansleeben, M. (2022). Can BERT dig it? Named entity recognition for information retrieval in the archaeology domain. Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage, 15(3), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1145/3497842

Van den Dikkenberg, L. & Brandsen, A. (2025). Using Text Mining to Search for Neolithic Vlaardingen Culture Sites in the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt Delta. Zenodo. v2 peer-reviewed and recommended by Peer Community In Archaeology https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14763691

Using Text Mining to Search for Neolithic Vlaardingen Culture Sites in the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt DeltaLasse van den Dikkenberg, Alex Brandsen<p>This paper presents a study on Vlaardingen Culture (3400-2500 BCE) sites in the<br>Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt delta using AGNES, an intelligent search engine for Dutch and<br>Flemish archaeological grey literature. The aims of this paper are twofold: ...Computational archaeology, Europe, NeolithicDaniel Carvalho2024-08-09 12:00:34 View
05 Feb 2025
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Analysis of Sensory Impression Factor Structures of Jomon Potteries through a Semantic Differential Method Viewing 3D Models on MR equipment

Do you like this pottery? Reveal public perceptions of archaeological artefacts with semantic differential method on virtual 3D models

Recommended by ORCID_LOGO based on reviews by Alphaeus Lien-Talks and Lizzie Scholtus

It might seem complex to connect archaeological artefacts with modern considerations. Indeed, nowadays, museum visitors project their own expectations and cultural habits on ancient society objects. The spatial perceptions of the objects therefore an anthropological  and psycological subject (Bruner, 2023).

Fujita and its colleagues present in this paper an innovative approach to pottery ethical perception with a Quantitative Sensory Impression Factor Structure and Semantic Differential Method. After digitalising the potteries into a 3D model, the authors are testing participant perception of the virtual potteries via an augmented reality lens. The survey results were computed into factor analysis, highlighting the predominance of one or several adjectives for describing specific pottery typologies.

Overall, this paper contributes to analysing human abstraction over objects with an innovative approach to the Semantic Differential Method (Osgood et al., 1957).

Museography adaptations of these observations would undoubtedly help create more interactive exhibitions and an embedded environment where visitors are not only the subject of the visit but truly actors of the scientific construction by helping understand human behaviour on cultural objects.

References

Haruhiro Fujita, Toru Miyao, Hironori Imai, Hiroyuki Sasaki, Yew Kwang Hooi and Simon Kaner (2025) Analysis of Sensory Impression Factor Structures of Jomon Potteries through a Semantic Differential Method Viewing 3D Models on MR equipment. Zenodo, ver.3 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Archaeology https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14788676

E. Bruner (2023). Cognitive Archaeology, Body Cognition, and the Evolution of Visuospatial Perception. Elsevier Science & Technology, San Diego, United States

Charles E. Osgood, George J. Succi and Percy H. Tannenbaum (1957). The measurement of meaning, Urbana, vol. IL, University of Illinois Press.

 

Analysis of Sensory Impression Factor Structures of Jomon Potteries through a Semantic Differential Method Viewing 3D Models on MR equipmentHaruhiro Fujita, Toru Miyao, Hironori Imai, Hiroyuki Sasaki, Yew Kwang Hooi, Simon Kaner<p>As Jomon pottery, particularly flame-like pot, is increasingly perceived by museum visitors as a form of artistic expression rather than merely archaeological artifacts, it is of interest to study the sensory impressions associated with it, and...Asia, Contemporary archaeology, NeolithicMathias Bellat Lizzie Scholtus2024-07-05 07:56:33 View
02 Feb 2025
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Analysis of the Abundance of Radiocarbon Samples as Count Data

Beyond the Sum: A Poisson Approach to Radiocarbon Analysis

Recommended by ORCID_LOGO based on reviews by Thomas Huet and 1 anonymous reviewer

Archaeological data is inherently uncertain, which is probably why Bayesian approaches have become increasingly valued within the discipline. For radiocarbon analysis, instead of pinpointing one "true" date, Bayesian methods embrace probability, telling us how likely a sample falls within different date ranges based on what we already know (the prior) and what our data tells us (the posterior).

In this new paper, Miguel de Navascués and colleagues offer a method for treating radiocarbon dates as count data (generated through a Poisson process), rather than viewing them as draws from a probability distribution. This shift allows them to model the expected number of samples per year and incorporate uncertainty in both the timing and total number of samples. The result is a more natural representation of how radiocarbon samples accumulate in the archaeological record over time. (They then demonstrate the method using data from Britain and Ireland, revealing patterns that both confirm and refine our understanding of population changes during key transitions, including a possibly earlier start to the Neolithic demographic expansion.)

Overall, the paper represents a valuable contribution to quantitative archaeology that complements, rather than replaces, existing approaches like Sum Probability Distributions (SPDs) and end-to-end Bayesian methods (e.g., see Crema 2022 and Price et al. 2021).

While mathematically heavy, the paper is accompanied by well-annotated R scripts that I encourage readers to experiment with. For researchers working with radiocarbon data, particularly those investigating demographic change or cultural transmission, the methods presented here offer important new analytical possibilities for understanding past human dynamics. Sometimes, to move forward, we just need to count differently.

 

References

Crema, E. R. (2022), Statistical Inference of Prehistoric Demography from Frequency Distributions of Radiocarbon Dates: A Review and a Guide for the Perplexed. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory 29(4):1387–1418. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-022-09559-5

de Navascués, M., Burgarella, C. & Jakobsson, M. (2025) Analysis of the Abundance of Radiocarbon Samples as Count Data. Zenodo, ver.3 peer-reviewed and recommended by PCI Archaeology https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13381596

Price, M. H., Capriles, J. M., Hoggarth, J. A., Bocinsky, R. K., Ebert, C. E. & Jones, J. H. (2021) End-to-End Bayesian Analysis for Summarizing Sets of Radiocarbon Dates. Journal of Archaeological Science 135:105473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2021.105473

 

Analysis of the Abundance of Radiocarbon Samples as Count DataMiguel de Navascués, Concetta Burgarella, Mattias Jakobsson<p>The analysis of the abundance of radiocarbon samples through time has become a popular method to address questions of demography in archaeology. The history of this approach is marked by the use of the Sum of Probability Distributions (SPD), a ...Archaeobotany, Computational archaeology, Dating, EuropeJonathan Hanna2024-09-04 15:36:08 View