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- Southern Portugal animal exploitation systems: trends and changes from Neolithic to Bronze Age. A follow-up overviewPublication . Valente, Maria João; Carvalho, AntónioZooarchaeological studies in Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age Portugal have witnessed important developments in recent years, even if still largely based on taxonomic analyses. Other approaches depend heavily on the abundance and preservation conditions of faunal collections, which are often inadequate
- Mandibular morphology and the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition in Westernmost IberiaPublication . Godinho, Ricardo Miguel; Umbelino, Cláudia; Valera, António Carlos; Carvalho, António; Bicho, Nuno; Cascalheira, João; Gonçalves, Célia; Smith, PatriciaNeolithic farming and animal husbandry were first developed in the Near East similar to 10,000 BCE and expanded westwards, reaching westernmost Iberia no later than 5500 BCE. It resulted in major social, cultural, economic and dietary changes. Yet, the impact of this change on human mandibular morphology in Iberia is yet to be assessed, which is regrettable because mandible form is impacted by population history and diet. In this study we used Mesolithic to Chalcolithic Iberian samples to examine the impact of this transition on mandibular morphology. We also compared these samples with a Southern Levantine Chalcolithic population to assess their relationship. Lastly, we assessed dental wear to determine if the morphological differences identified were related to the material properties of the diet. We found differences between samples in mandibular shape but not size, which we attribute to contrasting population histories between Mesolithic and later populations. Some differences in the severity of dental wear were also found between Mesolithic and later Iberian samples, and smaller between the Mesolithic Iberians and southern Levantines. Little relationship was found between wear magnitude and mandibular shape. Altogether, our results show that the Mesolithic-Neolithic Iberian transition resulted in a meaningful change in mandibular morphology, which was likely driven more by population history than by dietary change.
- Micro-EDXRF investigation of Chalcolithic gold ornaments from Portuguese EstremaduraPublication . Valerio, P.; Soares, A. M. M.; Araujo, M. F.; Carvalho, AntónioChalcolithic gold artefacts assigned to the Bell Beaker Culture in Portuguese Estremadura were analysed by micro-energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. These high-status jewels comprise beads of tubular, spiral and double-conical type, a spiral ring and a wire fragment. The collection is mainly composed of gold with 8.7-16.3 wt% Ag and <0.04 wt% Cu. Additionally, there is a typologically uncommon double-conical bead showing a lower Ag content (6.7 wt%). The relative intensity of the Ag-K and Ag-L X-rays from artefacts established the existence of a surface layer depleted in silver, while the reasonable effective penetration depth of the Ag-K (about 25-30m) provided suitable results for such high fineness gold alloys. A uniform Au-Ag composition at the joint indicates that the double-conical bead was made by joining two sheets without solder. Overall, the collection shows a composition that is similar to known Chalcolithic gold in Portuguese Estremadura but different from coeval gold in Southwestern Iberian Peninsula. The distinct compositional pattern of Chalcolithic gold in Portuguese Estremadura seems to be inconsistent with the natural variability of silver content in alluvial deposits of gold in Iberian Peninsula, thus suggesting a continuous use of particular sources and limited exchange of nuggets and jewels with the neighbouring region. Copyright (c) 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Insights on the changing dynamics of cemetery use in the neolithic and chalcolithic of southern Portugal. Radiocarbon dating of Lugar do Canto Cave (Santarém)Publication . Carvalho, António; Luis Cardoso, JoaoLugar do Canto Cave is one of the most relevant Neolithic burial caves in Portugal given not only its extraordinary preservation conditions at the time of discovery but also the quality of the field record obtained during excavation. Its material culture immediately pointed to a Middle Neolithic cemetery but recent radiocarbon determinations also allowed the recognition of an apparent two step phasing of its use within the period (ca. 4000-3400 cal BC): an older one characterized by a single burial and a later reoccupation as a collective necropolis. Comparisons with other well-dated cave cemeteries in Southern Portugal permitted the recognition of changing funerary practices and strategies of cemetery use during the later stages of the Neolithic and the Chalcolithic: 1) ca. 3800 cal BC as the possible turning point from the practice of individual to collective burials; 2) alternating periods of intensive use and deliberate abandonment of cemeteries (evidenced by their intentional closure). Research avenues to investigate the social organization and ideological context underlying these aspects of the Neolithic communities in greater depth are tentatively pointed out in this paper.
- O concheiro do Meu Jardim (Nazaré) no contexto das estratégias de produção e circulação de suportes lâmino lamelares no neolítico médio da Estremadura portuguesaPublication . Coelho, Eliana; Carlos Valera, António; Carvalho, AntónioNa planície aluvial da várzea da Nazaré (província da Estremadura Portuguesa, na região centro litoral do país), numa área que estabelece o contacto entre o antigo estuário lagunar interior e o oceano, foi identificado um sítio arqueológico conhecido por Meu Jardim, datado do Neolítico Médio (finais do V e IV milénios A.N.E.), com diversos momento de ocupação registados em estratigrafia, e localizado nas proximidades das jazidas de sílex que terão provavelmente sido exploradas pelos seus ocupantes. Trata-se de um concheiro com vários níveis de ocupação de contexto doméstico. Em face das lacunas de conhecimento que caracterizam os estudos líticos deste período, optou-se por analisar apenas, neste primeiro estudo, as suas produções lâmino-lamelares e integrá-las no contexto regional. Estamos perante material de pequenas dimensões, sobretudo em sílex (o quartzo está menos representado), produzido a partir de núcleos prismáticos pré-formatados (o principal método de produção de suportes lâmino-lamelares), que teve lugar nas próprias jazidas de sílex exploradas na área envolvente. As lâminas e lamelas apresentam atributos compatíveis com uma debitagem por pressão, com talões facetados, e terão, no caso do Meu Jardim, sido utilizadas de modo expedito para suprir as necessidades decorrentes de estadias episódicas no local. De um modo geral, as inferências produzidas a partir do material do sítio do Meu Jardim e da sua comparação com outros contextos revelam, para o período em causa, um comportamento económico e tecnológico muito diversificado no que respeita à exploração e circulação do sílex. As estratégias subjacentes a estas práticas parecem determinadas pela proximidade (maior ou menor) de jazidas de sílex e pelo fim a que se destinavam os suportes alongados (uso imediato, dilatado no tempo, ou uso como oferenda funerária).