Using Phytolith, Geochemical and Ethnographic Analysis to Inform on Site Construction and Activities in the Neolithic of Southwest Asia: Case Studies from Wadi Faynan 16 and ‘Ain Ghazal, Jordan

Authors: Allcock, S.L., Elliott, S., Jenkins, E.L., Palmer, C., Rollefson, G., Grattan, J. and Finlayson, B.

Journal: Environmental Archaeology

eISSN: 1749-6314

ISSN: 1461-4103

DOI: 10.1080/14614103.2023.2243114

Abstract:

This paper explores what can be learned about settlement construction and use in the southwest Asian Neolithic from phytolith, geochemical and ethnographic analysis. This period was targeted because, despite its importance, our understanding of building practices and use of space within settlements is sometimes limited. We chose the sites of WF16 and ‘Ain Ghazal as case studies and compared them with ethnographic samples of known origin from the similarly constructed twentieth century village of Al Ma'tan, Jordan. We split our samples into different context categories for example middens, hearths and floors, and found that phytolith and elemental signatures are strongest for categories linked to construction practices rather than activities. Geology, age and the availability of local plant materials were found to be key sources of signature variability. Fire contexts have particularly distinct activity signatures, which are heavily influenced by fuel choice yet are relatively analogous. We suggest that the use of micro-proxies such as phytoliths and geochemistry should be considered when sampling strategies are devised and integrated with other forms of archaeological evidence to enhance site interpretation.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/38923/

Source: Scopus

Using Phytolith, Geochemical and Ethnographic Analysis to Inform on Site Construction and Activities in the Neolithic of Southwest Asia: Case Studies from Wadi Faynan 16 and 'Ain Ghazal, Jordan

Authors: Allcock, S.L., Elliott, S., Jenkins, E.L., Palmer, C., Rollefson, G., Grattan, J. and Finlayson, B.

Journal: ENVIRONMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY

eISSN: 1749-6314

ISSN: 1461-4103

DOI: 10.1080/14614103.2023.2243114

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/38923/

Source: Web of Science (Lite)

Using phytolith, geochemical and ethnographic analysis to inform on site construction and activities in the Neolithic of southwest Asia: case studies from Wadi Faynan 16 and ‘Ain Ghazal, Jordan.

Authors: Allcock, S.L., Elliott, S., Jenkins, E., Palmer, C., Rollefson, G., Grattan, J. and Finlayson, B.

Journal: Environmental Archaeology: the journal of human palaeoecology

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

ISSN: 0268-425X

Abstract:

This paper explores what can be learned about settlement construction and use in the southwest Asian Neolithic from phytolith, geochemical and ethnographic analysis. This period was targeted because, despite its importance, our understanding of building practices and use of space within settlements is sometimes limited. We chose the sites of WF16 and ‘Ain Ghazal as case studies and compared them with ethnographic samples of known origin from the similarly constructed 20th century village of Al Ma’tan, Jordan. We split our samples into different context categories for example middens, hearths and floors, and found that phytolith and elemental signatures are strongest for categories linked to construction practices rather than activities. Geology, age and the availability of local plant materials are shown to be key sources of signature variability. Fire contexts have particularly distinct activity signatures, which are heavily influenced by fuel choice yet are relatively analogous. We suggest that the use of micro-proxies such as phytoliths and geochemistry should be considered when sampling strategies are devised and integrated with other forms of archaeological evidence to enhance site interpretation.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/38923/

Source: Manual

Using phytolith, geochemical and ethnographic analysis to inform on site construction and activities in the Neolithic of southwest Asia: case studies from Wadi Faynan 16 and ‘Ain Ghazal, Jordan.

Authors: Allcock, S.L., Elliott, S., Jenkins, E., Palmer, C., Rollefson, G., Grattan, J. and Finlayson, B.

Journal: Environmental Archaeology

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

ISSN: 0268-425X

Abstract:

This paper explores what can be learned about settlement construction and use in the southwest Asian Neolithic from phytolith, geochemical and ethnographic analysis. This period was targeted because, despite its importance, our understanding of building practices and use of space within settlements is sometimes limited. We chose the sites of WF16 and ‘Ain Ghazal as case studies and compared them with ethnographic samples of known origin from the similarly constructed 20th century village of Al Ma’tan, Jordan. We split our samples into different context categories for example middens, hearths and floors, and found that phytolith and elemental signatures are strongest for categories linked to construction practices rather than activities. Geology, age and the availability of local plant materials are shown to be key sources of signature variability. Fire contexts have particularly distinct activity signatures, which are heavily influenced by fuel choice yet are relatively analogous. We suggest that the use of micro-proxies such as phytoliths and geochemistry should be considered when sampling strategies are devised and integrated with other forms of archaeological evidence to enhance site interpretation.

https://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/38923/

Source: BURO EPrints