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- Mesolithic and chalcolithic mandibular morphology: using geometric morphometrics to reconstruct incomplete specimens and analyse morphologyPublication . Godinho, Ricardo Miguel; Umbelino, Cláudia; Gonçalves, CéliaHuman skeletal remains are routinely used to examine cultural and biological aspects of past populations. Yet, archaeological specimens are frequently fragmented/incomplete and so excluded from analyses. This leads to decreased sample sizes and to potentially biased results. Digital methods are now frequently used to restore/estimate the original morphology of fragmented/incomplete specimens. Such methods include 3D digitisation and Geometric Morphometrics (GM). The latter is also a solidly established method now to examine morphology. In this study, we use GM-based methods to estimate the original morphology of incomplete Mesolithic and Chalcolithic mandibles originating from present Portugal and perform ensuing morphological analyses. Because mandibular morphology is known to relate to population history and diet, we hypothesised the two samples would differ. Thirty-seven specimens (12 complete and 25 incomplete) were CT-scanned and landmarked. Originally complete specimens were used as reference to estimate the location of absent anatomical landmarks in incomplete specimens. As predicted, our results show shape differences between the two samples which are likely due to the compounded effect of contrasting population histories and diets.
- Changes in dental wear magnitude in the last ∼8000 years in southwestern IberiaPublication . Godinho, Ricardo Miguel; Umbelino, Cláudia; Garcia, Susana; Gonçalves, CéliaObjective: This study examines changes in dental wear magnitude in the past -8000 years, i.e., since Mesolithic until the 19th century, in southwestern Iberia. Thus, it encompasses the transition from hunting-gathering to agro-pastoralism, and then to the industrialization of food production and pre-processing. Design: Dental wear magnitude was scored in a total of 191 individuals and 1557 teeth from Mesolithic (individuals=56; teeth=643), Neolithic (individuals=35; teeth=169), Chalcolithic (individuals =35; teeth=221), Modern Age (individuals=17; teeth=209), and Late Modern Age (individuals=48; teeth=315) samples originating in southwestern Iberia (i.e., present central and southern Portugal) and according to the 8 levels ordinal scale of Smith (1984). Results: Results show a general trend for decreased wear magnitude in these two major transitions and during this timespan (although the hunting-gathering - agro-pastoralism transition had larger impact). The only meaningful differences in wear rate were found between the Late Modern Age and all remaining samples. Conclusion: Dental wear generally decreased during this timespan (although wear magnitude was less impacted by the industrialization of food production and pre-processing). Our results are consistent with studies documenting skull morphological gracilization associated with reduced masticatory demands due to the adoption of softer diets.
- 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.
- Early upper paleolithic colonization across Europe: Time and mode of the gravettian diffusionPublication . Bicho, Nuno Gonçalo Viana Pereira Ferreira; Cascalheira, João; Gonçalves, CéliaThis study presents new models on the origin, speed and mode of the wave-of-advance leading to the definitive occupation of Europe's outskirts by Anatomically Modern Humans, during the Gravettian, between c. 37 and 30 ka ago. These models provide the estimation for possible demic dispersal routes for AMH at a stable spread rate of c. 0.7 km/year, with the likely origin in Central Europe at the site of Geissenklosterle in Germany and reaching all areas of the European landscape. The results imply that: 1. The arrival of the Gravettian populations into the far eastern European plains and to southern Iberia found regions with very low human occupation or even devoid of hominins; 2. Human demography was likely lower than previous estimates for the Upper Paleolithic; 3. The likely early AMH paths across Europe followed the European central plains and the Mediterranean coast to reach to the ends of the Italian and Iberian peninsulas.
- Testing the reliability of CT scan‐based dental wear magnitude scoringPublication . Godinho, Ricardo Miguel; Gonçalves, CéliaObjectives: Digital models are now frequently used in biological anthropology (bio anthropology) research. Despite several studies validating this type of research, none has examined if the assessment of dental wear magnitude based on Computerized Tomography (CT) scans is reliable. Thus, this study aims to fill this gap and assess if dental wear magnitude scoring based on CT scans provides results consistent with scoring based on direct observation of the physical specimens. Materials and Methods: Dental wear magnitude from 412 teeth of 35 mandibles originating from the Portuguese Muge and Sado Mesolithic shell-middens was scored. The mandibles were also CT scanned and visualized using 3D Slicer. CT scan based scoring of dental wear magnitude was then undertaken. Two scoring rounds were undertaken for each observation method (totaling four scoring rounds) and an intra-observer error test was performed. The averaged results of the two observation methods were compared via boxplots with paired cases. Results: Intra-observer error was negligible and non-significant. Scoring results are comparable between the two observation methods. Notwithstanding, some differ ences were found, in which CT scan assessment generally overestimates dental wear when compared to direct observation. Discussion: Our results generally validate the use of CT scans in studies of dental wear magnitude. Notwithstanding several caveats relating to CT scanning and visualization limitations should be considered to avoid over or under-estimation of dental wear.
- The spatial patterning of Middle Palaeolithic human settlement in westernmost IberiaPublication . Cascalheira, João; Gonçalves, Célia; Maio, DanielaCurrently available data on the Pleistocene human occupation of the westernmost territories of Iberia attest to the presence of Middle Palaeolithic industries from c. 240 ka cal bp until c. 37 ka cal bp. Previous studies focusing on this time frame have suggested that Middle Palaeolithic populations were highly mobile and predominately utilised locally available raw materials, with many cave and open-air sites being located near fluvial settings. Other than these observations, no specific studies have focused on exploring the factors influencing human site location choice during that time range. Employing statistical and GIS approaches, this paper provides an initial assessment of spatial patterning in human settlement during the Middle Palaeolithic of westernmost Iberia. Results show that site locations are biased towards lower elevations and riverine settings and suggest that distance to rivers might have impacted the diversity and specific types of lithic raw materials used at each site. These results help to shed light on the particularities of Neanderthal adaptations in a region regarded as a refugium during periods of unfavourable climate during the Middle Palaeolithic.
- Monte do Carrascal 2 (southern Portugal): insights into lithic technology and intra-site spatial analysis of a Late Mesolithic hunting campPublication . Reis, Helena; Gonçalves, Célia; Santos, Helena; Valera, António CarlosIn this article, the results of the archaeological excavations at the Late Mesolithic site of Monte do Carrascal 2 are presented. The site, located inland, southeast from the contemporary Sado shell middens, comprised two hearths with faunal remains and a set of lithic materials that were analysed techno-typologically, as well as in terms of their spatial distribution through GIS tools (K Ripley Function, Kernel Density Estimation and Nearest Neighbour analysis). The study points to a different functionality of this site when compared to most all other Mesolithic sites known in the region, with its uncommon inland location, suggesting that it was possibly a hunting camp.
- Resilience, replacement and acculturation in the Mesolithic/Neolithic transition: The case of Muge, central PortugalPublication . Bicho, Nuno; Cascalheira, João; Gonçalves, Célia; Umbelino, Cláudia; García-Rivero, Daniel; André, LinoEvidence for the first Neolithic population in central Portugal dates to as early as c. 7600 cal BP. These first farmers were exogenous groups arriving to the Atlantic coast from the Mediterranean Sea. For a few centuries there seems to have occurred an overlap in the region between the Mesolithic Muge huntergatherers and the regional early Neolithic populations. While the trajectory of these first farmers seems to be well established, the fate of the Mesolithic populations is unknown and in generally assumed as resulting in extinction. The recent results from research in the Muge Mesolithic shellmounds (Tagus valley) with the new recovery of various loci with Neolithic occupations including human burials, human DNA, and Strontium analyses seem to indicate evidence of cultural and genetic integration between the Mesolithic and Neolithic populations. This paper will focus on the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in Portuguese Estremadura and examines the hypothesis that human resilience promoted the cultural and biological integration of the Mesolithic groups into the new exogenous Neolithic communities in central Portugal. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.
- The Early Neolithic at the Muge Shellmiddens (Portugal): analysis and review of the ceramic evidence from Cabeco da AmoreiraPublication . Taylor, Ruth; Garcia-Rivero, Daniel; Gonçalves, Célia; Cascalheira, João; Bicho, NunoThis article, on the Early Neolithic pottery from the Cabeco da Amoreira shellmidden in the Muge region of central Portugal, presents a detailed review of the evidence to date and a systematic analysis of the decorative and mineralogical characteristics of the stratified and radiocarbon-dated ceramic assemblage. A homogenous pottery manufacturing tradition seems to be present right from the beginning, including both local and non-local ceramics. The authors formulate a working hypothesis on the geographic origin of the exogenous pottery, which contributes to the discussion of the dynamics of mobility and social networks in the Neolithization of south-western Europe.
- Portable art and personal ornaments from Txina-Txina: a new later stone age site in the Limpopo River Valley, southern MozambiquePublication . Bicho, Nuno Gonçalo Viana Pereira Ferreira; Cascalheira, João; André, Lino; Haws, Jonathan; Gomes, Ana; Gonçalves, Célia; Raja, Mussa; Benedetti, Michael M.This paper reports on preliminary fieldwork at the Later Stone Age site of Txina-Txina in Mozambique. Excavation yielded a long stratigraphic sequence, a large lithic assemblage, a unique decorated gastropod shell fragment and two ostrich eggshell beadsthe first of their type recovered from a Stone Age context in Mozambique.