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Thermo-microstratigraphy of shells reveals invisible fire use and possible cooking in the archaeological record

Publication . Simões, Carlos; Aldeias, Vera

The archaeological visibility of hearths related to shellfish cooking methods is limited, particularly in pre-ceramic shell midden contexts. Important evidence for use of fire is the thermal alteration of components, namely the identification of burnt shells. Mollusk shells that mineralize as aragonite are particularly indicative of burning due to the conversion of aragonite to calcite through recrystallization at known temperature thresholds. However, roasting temperatures needed to open bivalves, do not necessarily cause thermal alterations in the cooked shell. This complicates the significance of shell mineralogy by itself to recognize cooking, and discerning pre-depositional from in situ heating. To distinguish between cooking and burning, we combine micromorphological analyses with microscopic Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy to investigate mineralogical thermo-alterations alongside microstratigraphic formation studies. Experimentally heated specimens of Cerastoderma edule and Scrobicularia plana are used to identify the temperature thresholds of biogenic calcium carbonate phase alteration at the micro-scale. These results are then used to interpret mineral alterations in deposits from two Mesolithic shell midden contexts from Portugal. Micro-stratigraphically controlled mineralogy proved to be particularly useful to distinguish between pre-depositional heating from in situ heating, configuring a novel methodology for recognition of traces of cooking shellfish versus traces of fire used for other purposes. Mapping the mineral phase conversion at a micro stratigraphic scale also allows us to identify instances of in situ fire events that were invisible macroscopically. This combined microstratigraphic and mineralogical methodology considerably increases our capacity of deciphering intricate shell midden stratigraphy and occupational events.

2022Journal article

Open Access

Perforation techniques and traces of use on the Mesolithic adornments of the Trench Area at Cabeco da Amoreira Shellmidden (Muge, central Portugal)

Publication . André, Lino; Bicho, Nuno Gonçalo Viana Pereira Ferreira

The opening of a new excavation area, in 2010, at the Mesolithic shell mound of Cabeco da Amoreira (Muge, central Portugal), known as Trench, uncovered a set of personal adornments made of gastropod shells (Theodoxus fluviatilis and Trivia arctica/monacha), a cervid tooth and a clay ring fragment. This paper reports the provenance, the description of the objects, their distribution in the archaeological context, the techno-typological analysis of the perforations and the presence of traces regarding their use as adornments. The perforation analysis was made by comparison to experimental actions performed on sets from other archaeological contexts, but with similar characteristics regarding the taxa and tools that were used to perform these actions. (C) 2016 Academie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

2016-06Journal article

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Embedded behavior: human activities and the construction of the mesolithic shellmound of Cabeco da Amoreira, Muge, Portugal

Publication . Aldeias, Vera; Bicho, Nuno Gonçalo Viana Pereira Ferreira

Shellmound formation processes are greatly influenced by human inputs associated with an intensive exploitation of marine and estuarine resources. The complex stratigraphy of shellmounds has been difficult to decipher and few studies have focused on the microstratigraphic record of midden formation, especially in European Mesolithic contexts. Cabeco da Amoreira is a long-known Mesolithic shellmound located on the shores of the Muge River, a tributary of the Tagus River in central Portugal. The abundance of shellfish refuse favors an intricate and laterally variable stratigraphic succession of layers and lenses, which results in an extensive artificial mound. Here, we use micromorphological and microfacies analysis to investigate aspects pertaining to site formation, and the nature of individual anthropogenic activities at the site. This methodology allowed for a distinction between primary activities (e.g., discrete shell tossing events, trampled occupational surfaces, and activity areas), and secondary position of the sediments in intentionally raked-up and dumped deposits. Nondepositional hiatuses and discrete geogenic sedimentation are associated with periods of abandonment. The complex superposition of events seen at Cabeco da Amoreira underlines the role of micromorphology for the identification of behavioral signatures and its relevance in deciphering shellmound adaptations. (C) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

2016-12Journal article

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The Early Neolithic at the Muge Shellmiddens (Portugal): analysis and review of the ceramic evidence from Cabeco da Amoreira

Publication . Taylor, Ruth; Garcia-Rivero, Daniel; Gonçalves, Célia; Cascalheira, João; Bicho, Nuno

This 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.

2021-05Review

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