The authors present preliminary results from a new research project based in Jebel Shaqadud, Suda... more The authors present preliminary results from a new research project based in Jebel Shaqadud, Sudan. Their findings highlight the potential for this region's archaeological record to expand our understanding of the adaptation strategies used by human groups in arid north-east African environments away from rivers and lakes during the Holocene. Furthermore, they present exceptionally early radiocarbon dates that push postglacial human occupation in the eastern Sahel back to the twelfth millennium BP.
A forgotten Renaissance herbarium dated to 1595 is described. It is connected to herbaria created... more A forgotten Renaissance herbarium dated to 1595 is described. It is connected to herbaria created by the naturalist Hieronymus Harder (1523–1607) of Ulm. This hortus siccus was recently found in the Muzeum Broumovska, Broumov (Braunau), Czech Republic, to which it came from the collections of the local Benedictine monastery. It is the oldest hortus siccus known in collections in the Czech Republic. It contains 358 specimens as well as annotations and drawings. Its creator was Johann Brehe from Überlingen, a sixteenth-century barber-surgeon. The paper analyzes the representation of species, the purpose of the annotations, and also the meaning of the illustrations which supplement some of the specimens. It also investigates connections between Brehe’s work and Harder’s activities linked to herbaria. Brehe’s herbarium is compared with two similar collections; Johann Jakob Han’s (?1565–1616) herbarium of 1594 and Harder’s herbarium, also of 1594, and both kept in Überlingen. It shares s...
Plant macro remains from archaeological situations were studied in order to trace the history of ... more Plant macro remains from archaeological situations were studied in order to trace the history of gradual formation of today’s synanthropic vegetation. Synanthropic plants represent a heterogeneous group of species with various qualities and strategies, as well as with various immigration histories. In general, the synanthropic flora is rich in aliens, so it is important to know, when exactly these species immigrated to our territory (to know their residence time). Besides the determination of the residence time of alien plants, also the dynamics of formation of urban flora and vegetation was studied. Special attention was paid to the Medieval Period, when the urbanisation process started. The emergence of urban agglomeration may have been the cause of the emergence of new habitats, followed by formation of new plant associations - the predecessors of the today’s ones. In general, towns represent a special case of anthropogenic environment with many various synanthropic habitats, causing their species richness. Questions 1. When exactly the synanthropic flora of medieval towns emerged? Was the transition from the Prehistory to the Medieval Period rather gradual or sudden? 2. What particular species took place in the medieval change of synanthropic vegetation? Where did these species come from? Was the emergence of medieval towns right the main cause of the observed change in species composition? 3. In which way was the local diversity of synanthropic flora influenced by medieval urbanisation? Did rather the new species emerge or, contrarily, the previously common ones extinct? 4. What factors influenced the spread of new species during the Medieval Period? Materials and Methods The data were based on the analyses of plant macroremains, sometimes in combination with other methods (mainly the pollen analysis). The case studies were focused on particular localities in Central Bohemia, tracing gradual changes taking place in each locality. To trace general trends and to answer the questions, the Archaeobotanical Database of the CR was used, covering the time span since the Neolithic to the High Middle Ages. Results and Discussion 218 archaeophytes were found in macro-remain material from high medieval towns, representing ca. 90% of unintentionally introduced alien plants. The majority of them have been present in our territory since the Prehistory; forty new aliens immigrated during the Early Medieval Period (EM). On the contrary, only several new aliens were introduced in High Medieval (HM). It means that the main wave of immigration took place in EM, which implies that the medieval immigration couldn’t be connected with the urbanisation process. Medieval urbanisation influenced plant diversity in the similar way as present processes connected with urban enlargement. The diversity of semi-natural vegetation in the suburbs drops as a result of vanishing of suitable habitats, whereas the abundance of common ruderal species increases. The increase of diversity via immigration of new alien species is connected mainly with the intensity of long-distance trade (mediated by increased propagule preasure). The frequency of alien species in medieval towns was also influenced by their residence time. The comparison of the OLD (present since the Prehistory) and NEW (since the Middle Ages) alien plants shows similar pattern as today’s comparison of archaeophytes vs. neophytes.
SummaryGrass silica short cell (GSSC) phytoliths appear to be the most reliable source of fossil ... more SummaryGrass silica short cell (GSSC) phytoliths appear to be the most reliable source of fossil evidence for tracking the evolutionary history and paleoecology of grasses. In recent years, modern techniques have been used to quantitatively assess phytolith shape variation. This progress has widened opportunities with respect to the classification of grass fossil phytoliths. However, phylogenetic, ecological and intraindividual variability patterns in phytolith shape remain largely unexplored.The full range of intraindividual phytolith shape variation (3650 2D outlines) from 73 extant grass species, 48 genera, 18 tribes, and 8 subfamilies (with special attention paid to Pooideae) was analysed using the geometric morphometric analysis based on the semilandmarks spanning phytolith outlines.Although we showed that 2D phytolith shape is mainly driven by deep-time diversification of grass subfamilies, a closer look uncovered distinct phytolith shape variation in early-diverging lineages ...
El-Ga’ab area is a dry depression situated on the western bank of the Nile River in northern Suda... more El-Ga’ab area is a dry depression situated on the western bank of the Nile River in northern Sudan. It is considered to be an old basin flooded by the Nile during Early and Mid-Holocene. The larger part of the area is an absolute desert with almost no vegetation.The aim of this study is to report on the vegetation of El-Ga’ab depression, as well as to discuss its ecology related to past settlement activities.For the purpose of this study the area was divided into four parts: Bab El-Ga’ab, Wadi El-Hasha, Ga’abs (Oasis) and the Gravel plateau. Five different zones or habitats were recorded. These are: (i) Rock furrows and depressions, (ii) Sandy plains, (iii) Shallow depressions on annual streams and wadis in the Gravel plateau, (iv) Sand dunes, and (v) Vegetation mounds. Floristic composition and vegetation analysis which include the density, relative density and frequency were reported. For the trees and shrubs, in Northern Bab El-Ga’ab, as well as in the Gravel plateau and Ga’ab El...
ABSTRACT In the High Middle Ages, a wave of landscape transformation which originated in western ... more ABSTRACT In the High Middle Ages, a wave of landscape transformation which originated in western Europe swept across the east-central part of the subcontinent. In the Czech Republic, this happened during the 13th century and it had the same environmental attributes as in the rest of Europe—a considerable increase in population, vast deforestation resulting in a rapid increase in soil erosion, irreversible changes in forest species composition and overall formation of a cultural landscape. In the Czech Republic, the dynamics of such a radical change are poorly understood because it would require detailed archaeological, historical and palaeoecological insight into developments during the Early Middle Ages—a demand that is mostly not met. The aim of this paper is to fill in this gap. Archaeological and historical data from three early medieval strongholds located in central Bohemia, at Libice nad Cidlinou, Stará Boleslav and Hradišťko, are summarized and evaluated. The first two sites represent well-known political and religious centres of the early Czech state in the 10 to 11th centuries, while the last was of secondary importance. These archaeological sites have radiocarbon dated pollen and plant macrofossil evidence from oxbow sedimentary sequences which are situated in the immediate vicinity of the strongholds. The issue of fluvial transport of pollen and macrofossils is also discussed. Both pollen and macrofossil data from Hradišťko show surprisingly small impact of the stronghold on the forested alluvial environment. The vicinity of Stará Boleslav was intensively affected by human activity only during the later 11th century. It has not been possible to trace any impact of the foundation of the stronghold at Libice nad Cidlinou on the landscape. Medieval landscape change began before the 13th century in some places, as shown by the data from Stará Boleslav.
In 2011, the expedition of the Czech Institute of Egyptology (Faculty of Arts, Charles University... more In 2011, the expedition of the Czech Institute of Egyptology (Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague) excavated one of three tumuli on one of the settlement terraces at the late prehistoric site of Fox Hill (SBK.W-21) at Jebel Sabaloka and the Sixth Nile Cataract in central Sudan. The excavation brought to light a standard burial of an archer dated to the early post-Meroitic period with important series of archaeobotanical (pollen, macro-remains, charcoal) and palaeomalacological (land snails) data. The results of the multi-disci - plinary investigation of the tumulus discuss ed in this paper illustrate the marked, but so far only little exploited potential of these monuments, omnipresent in the archaeological land - scapes of central Sudan, for extending our knowledge of not only the burial rites, but also of the supra-regional distribution of artefacts, the character of the environment and, last but not least, of subsistence strategies in this particular period.
Plant establishment is a risky phase of the plant life cycle because juvenile individuals cannot ... more Plant establishment is a risky phase of the plant life cycle because juvenile individuals cannot produce seeds and their vegetative regeneration is constrained by a lack of reserve meristems and carbon storage. On the other hand, conditions in the period following establishment, during establishment growth, affect the vegetative regeneration and clonal growth of the plant in the future. Bud-bank formation was studied in a root-sprouting clonal herb Epilobium angustifolium L. (=Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop.), a plant with root buds differing in size and number of leaf primordia, during establisment growth. We tested two hypotheses: (i.) large and small buds differ in their response to stress and disturbance, and (ii) a heterogeneous soil environment does not affect bud-bank formation. We rejected both hypotheses because (i) the proportion of small buds was about 80% and was not affected by nutrient availability and substrate heterogeneity, and (ii) plants produced more buds p...
Chapter from book by J. Krejčí et al. deals with macroremain analysis of mud bricks from the Old ... more Chapter from book by J. Krejčí et al. deals with macroremain analysis of mud bricks from the Old Kingdom strata of Wercaure tomb in Abusir, Egypt. The main goal of this study is to use data from mud bricks for environmental and agricultural reconstruction. At the same time, we aim to determine differences among mud bricks, in particular archaeological contexts. Do the mud bricks differ in the composition of their plant macroremains? And does this reflect a particular affiliation with different building constructions in the sense of adobe quality? Which kind of mud brick does more accurately illustrate the former agricultural practices? Despite the limited number of samples used in our study, this analysis of several adobes from the Werkaure burial structure offered a good possibility to look inside the problem in the context of the Abusir necropolis and to compare the quality of various environmental records with that of other sources. The composition of plant macroremains found wit...
Archaeobotanical research in the Czech Republic has generated enormous quantities of unique, but ... more Archaeobotanical research in the Czech Republic has generated enormous quantities of unique, but non-uniform, data that are currently stored in disparate hard copy and electronic formats. A consortium of archaeological organisations has initiated the Archaeobotanical Database of the Czech Republic (CZAD) to facilitate data storage, access and quality. CZAD is being developed under the auspices of the ArboDat Project, by the Institute of Archaeology, Prague, and Landesamt für Denkmalpflege, Hessen, Ger. CZAD is based on the international ArboDat Multi version of the ArboDat database originally developed in Germany. Adaptations have been made to suit local requirements. As at the end of 2010 more than half of the existing data in the Czech Republic has been entered into CZAD. Data entry is on a strictly voluntary basis and author’s data and copyright are protected.
ABSTRACT The exploration of one of the tumuli in the western part of Jebel Sabaloka by the missio... more ABSTRACT The exploration of one of the tumuli in the western part of Jebel Sabaloka by the mission of the Czech Institute of Egyptology in 2011 uncovered a standard burial of an archer 14C-dated to the beginning of the post-Meroitic period in the Sudan (see Suková – Varadzin 2012: 128). However, more than 1,800 macro-remains with a clear predominance of desiccated Urochloa sp. florets and dozens of small soil molluscs were acquired by wet and/or dry sieving of the content of the burial niche, more than 100 pollen grains with predominance of Graminae pollen were obtained by pollen analysis of the residues in the beer jar accompanying the burial, and another series of archaeobotanical data were recovered from a hearth located at the base of the tumulus. How do these finds together with the archaeological and anthropological findings contribute to our knowledge of the subsistence, environment, climate, and the burial rite during the early post-Meroitic period in Central Sudan? Suková, L. & L. Varadzin, 2012. Preliminary report on the exploration of Jebel Sabaloka (West Bank), 2009–2012. Sudan & Nubia 16: 118–131.
The subject of this study is the evaluation of
the relationship between cereals grown in prehisto... more The subject of this study is the evaluation of the relationship between cereals grown in prehistory (ca. 5500 bc–ad 600) and environmental conditions during their cultivation on the land that is now the Czech Republic. Charred cereal macroremains were taken from 84 archaeological sites. The representation of species at individual sites was assessed with regard to site altitude, average temperature, precipitation, length of the growing season, soil types and soil productivity within a 1 km buffer zone around each archaeological site. The suitability of using present day environmental data to describe past environmental differences among archaeological sites was verified by expressing environmental conditions using Ellenberg indication values of macroremains of wild taxa. The results of the cereals-environmental conditions analysis show that the most important factor for the crop choice was the period of time of its cultivation. After eliminating the effect of time and length of the growing season, soil quality and altitude become conclusive variables, however with different importance in various periods. The main differences between the macroremain assemblages are represented by the varying proportions of cultivated wheats and barley. In the Neolithic (Proto–Eneolithic) there was no observable effect of environmental factors on the cereal composition. In the Middle Eneolithic–Middle Bronze Age soil type was the main factor in the selection of barley or emmer. In the Late Bronze–Early Iron Ages precipitation, altitude and Chernozems were the decisive factors influencing cereal cultivation while in the Late Iron Age–Migration Period heat load index, precipitation, and the proportion of Fluvisols were the primary determinants. It seems that prehistoric cereal varieties had ecological needs similar to present-day species and the selection of crops took place with respect to local conditions and an effort to achieve an optimum yield.
The authors present preliminary results from a new research project based in Jebel Shaqadud, Suda... more The authors present preliminary results from a new research project based in Jebel Shaqadud, Sudan. Their findings highlight the potential for this region's archaeological record to expand our understanding of the adaptation strategies used by human groups in arid north-east African environments away from rivers and lakes during the Holocene. Furthermore, they present exceptionally early radiocarbon dates that push postglacial human occupation in the eastern Sahel back to the twelfth millennium BP.
A forgotten Renaissance herbarium dated to 1595 is described. It is connected to herbaria created... more A forgotten Renaissance herbarium dated to 1595 is described. It is connected to herbaria created by the naturalist Hieronymus Harder (1523–1607) of Ulm. This hortus siccus was recently found in the Muzeum Broumovska, Broumov (Braunau), Czech Republic, to which it came from the collections of the local Benedictine monastery. It is the oldest hortus siccus known in collections in the Czech Republic. It contains 358 specimens as well as annotations and drawings. Its creator was Johann Brehe from Überlingen, a sixteenth-century barber-surgeon. The paper analyzes the representation of species, the purpose of the annotations, and also the meaning of the illustrations which supplement some of the specimens. It also investigates connections between Brehe’s work and Harder’s activities linked to herbaria. Brehe’s herbarium is compared with two similar collections; Johann Jakob Han’s (?1565–1616) herbarium of 1594 and Harder’s herbarium, also of 1594, and both kept in Überlingen. It shares s...
Plant macro remains from archaeological situations were studied in order to trace the history of ... more Plant macro remains from archaeological situations were studied in order to trace the history of gradual formation of today’s synanthropic vegetation. Synanthropic plants represent a heterogeneous group of species with various qualities and strategies, as well as with various immigration histories. In general, the synanthropic flora is rich in aliens, so it is important to know, when exactly these species immigrated to our territory (to know their residence time). Besides the determination of the residence time of alien plants, also the dynamics of formation of urban flora and vegetation was studied. Special attention was paid to the Medieval Period, when the urbanisation process started. The emergence of urban agglomeration may have been the cause of the emergence of new habitats, followed by formation of new plant associations - the predecessors of the today’s ones. In general, towns represent a special case of anthropogenic environment with many various synanthropic habitats, causing their species richness. Questions 1. When exactly the synanthropic flora of medieval towns emerged? Was the transition from the Prehistory to the Medieval Period rather gradual or sudden? 2. What particular species took place in the medieval change of synanthropic vegetation? Where did these species come from? Was the emergence of medieval towns right the main cause of the observed change in species composition? 3. In which way was the local diversity of synanthropic flora influenced by medieval urbanisation? Did rather the new species emerge or, contrarily, the previously common ones extinct? 4. What factors influenced the spread of new species during the Medieval Period? Materials and Methods The data were based on the analyses of plant macroremains, sometimes in combination with other methods (mainly the pollen analysis). The case studies were focused on particular localities in Central Bohemia, tracing gradual changes taking place in each locality. To trace general trends and to answer the questions, the Archaeobotanical Database of the CR was used, covering the time span since the Neolithic to the High Middle Ages. Results and Discussion 218 archaeophytes were found in macro-remain material from high medieval towns, representing ca. 90% of unintentionally introduced alien plants. The majority of them have been present in our territory since the Prehistory; forty new aliens immigrated during the Early Medieval Period (EM). On the contrary, only several new aliens were introduced in High Medieval (HM). It means that the main wave of immigration took place in EM, which implies that the medieval immigration couldn’t be connected with the urbanisation process. Medieval urbanisation influenced plant diversity in the similar way as present processes connected with urban enlargement. The diversity of semi-natural vegetation in the suburbs drops as a result of vanishing of suitable habitats, whereas the abundance of common ruderal species increases. The increase of diversity via immigration of new alien species is connected mainly with the intensity of long-distance trade (mediated by increased propagule preasure). The frequency of alien species in medieval towns was also influenced by their residence time. The comparison of the OLD (present since the Prehistory) and NEW (since the Middle Ages) alien plants shows similar pattern as today’s comparison of archaeophytes vs. neophytes.
SummaryGrass silica short cell (GSSC) phytoliths appear to be the most reliable source of fossil ... more SummaryGrass silica short cell (GSSC) phytoliths appear to be the most reliable source of fossil evidence for tracking the evolutionary history and paleoecology of grasses. In recent years, modern techniques have been used to quantitatively assess phytolith shape variation. This progress has widened opportunities with respect to the classification of grass fossil phytoliths. However, phylogenetic, ecological and intraindividual variability patterns in phytolith shape remain largely unexplored.The full range of intraindividual phytolith shape variation (3650 2D outlines) from 73 extant grass species, 48 genera, 18 tribes, and 8 subfamilies (with special attention paid to Pooideae) was analysed using the geometric morphometric analysis based on the semilandmarks spanning phytolith outlines.Although we showed that 2D phytolith shape is mainly driven by deep-time diversification of grass subfamilies, a closer look uncovered distinct phytolith shape variation in early-diverging lineages ...
El-Ga’ab area is a dry depression situated on the western bank of the Nile River in northern Suda... more El-Ga’ab area is a dry depression situated on the western bank of the Nile River in northern Sudan. It is considered to be an old basin flooded by the Nile during Early and Mid-Holocene. The larger part of the area is an absolute desert with almost no vegetation.The aim of this study is to report on the vegetation of El-Ga’ab depression, as well as to discuss its ecology related to past settlement activities.For the purpose of this study the area was divided into four parts: Bab El-Ga’ab, Wadi El-Hasha, Ga’abs (Oasis) and the Gravel plateau. Five different zones or habitats were recorded. These are: (i) Rock furrows and depressions, (ii) Sandy plains, (iii) Shallow depressions on annual streams and wadis in the Gravel plateau, (iv) Sand dunes, and (v) Vegetation mounds. Floristic composition and vegetation analysis which include the density, relative density and frequency were reported. For the trees and shrubs, in Northern Bab El-Ga’ab, as well as in the Gravel plateau and Ga’ab El...
ABSTRACT In the High Middle Ages, a wave of landscape transformation which originated in western ... more ABSTRACT In the High Middle Ages, a wave of landscape transformation which originated in western Europe swept across the east-central part of the subcontinent. In the Czech Republic, this happened during the 13th century and it had the same environmental attributes as in the rest of Europe—a considerable increase in population, vast deforestation resulting in a rapid increase in soil erosion, irreversible changes in forest species composition and overall formation of a cultural landscape. In the Czech Republic, the dynamics of such a radical change are poorly understood because it would require detailed archaeological, historical and palaeoecological insight into developments during the Early Middle Ages—a demand that is mostly not met. The aim of this paper is to fill in this gap. Archaeological and historical data from three early medieval strongholds located in central Bohemia, at Libice nad Cidlinou, Stará Boleslav and Hradišťko, are summarized and evaluated. The first two sites represent well-known political and religious centres of the early Czech state in the 10 to 11th centuries, while the last was of secondary importance. These archaeological sites have radiocarbon dated pollen and plant macrofossil evidence from oxbow sedimentary sequences which are situated in the immediate vicinity of the strongholds. The issue of fluvial transport of pollen and macrofossils is also discussed. Both pollen and macrofossil data from Hradišťko show surprisingly small impact of the stronghold on the forested alluvial environment. The vicinity of Stará Boleslav was intensively affected by human activity only during the later 11th century. It has not been possible to trace any impact of the foundation of the stronghold at Libice nad Cidlinou on the landscape. Medieval landscape change began before the 13th century in some places, as shown by the data from Stará Boleslav.
In 2011, the expedition of the Czech Institute of Egyptology (Faculty of Arts, Charles University... more In 2011, the expedition of the Czech Institute of Egyptology (Faculty of Arts, Charles University in Prague) excavated one of three tumuli on one of the settlement terraces at the late prehistoric site of Fox Hill (SBK.W-21) at Jebel Sabaloka and the Sixth Nile Cataract in central Sudan. The excavation brought to light a standard burial of an archer dated to the early post-Meroitic period with important series of archaeobotanical (pollen, macro-remains, charcoal) and palaeomalacological (land snails) data. The results of the multi-disci - plinary investigation of the tumulus discuss ed in this paper illustrate the marked, but so far only little exploited potential of these monuments, omnipresent in the archaeological land - scapes of central Sudan, for extending our knowledge of not only the burial rites, but also of the supra-regional distribution of artefacts, the character of the environment and, last but not least, of subsistence strategies in this particular period.
Plant establishment is a risky phase of the plant life cycle because juvenile individuals cannot ... more Plant establishment is a risky phase of the plant life cycle because juvenile individuals cannot produce seeds and their vegetative regeneration is constrained by a lack of reserve meristems and carbon storage. On the other hand, conditions in the period following establishment, during establishment growth, affect the vegetative regeneration and clonal growth of the plant in the future. Bud-bank formation was studied in a root-sprouting clonal herb Epilobium angustifolium L. (=Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop.), a plant with root buds differing in size and number of leaf primordia, during establisment growth. We tested two hypotheses: (i.) large and small buds differ in their response to stress and disturbance, and (ii) a heterogeneous soil environment does not affect bud-bank formation. We rejected both hypotheses because (i) the proportion of small buds was about 80% and was not affected by nutrient availability and substrate heterogeneity, and (ii) plants produced more buds p...
Chapter from book by J. Krejčí et al. deals with macroremain analysis of mud bricks from the Old ... more Chapter from book by J. Krejčí et al. deals with macroremain analysis of mud bricks from the Old Kingdom strata of Wercaure tomb in Abusir, Egypt. The main goal of this study is to use data from mud bricks for environmental and agricultural reconstruction. At the same time, we aim to determine differences among mud bricks, in particular archaeological contexts. Do the mud bricks differ in the composition of their plant macroremains? And does this reflect a particular affiliation with different building constructions in the sense of adobe quality? Which kind of mud brick does more accurately illustrate the former agricultural practices? Despite the limited number of samples used in our study, this analysis of several adobes from the Werkaure burial structure offered a good possibility to look inside the problem in the context of the Abusir necropolis and to compare the quality of various environmental records with that of other sources. The composition of plant macroremains found wit...
Archaeobotanical research in the Czech Republic has generated enormous quantities of unique, but ... more Archaeobotanical research in the Czech Republic has generated enormous quantities of unique, but non-uniform, data that are currently stored in disparate hard copy and electronic formats. A consortium of archaeological organisations has initiated the Archaeobotanical Database of the Czech Republic (CZAD) to facilitate data storage, access and quality. CZAD is being developed under the auspices of the ArboDat Project, by the Institute of Archaeology, Prague, and Landesamt für Denkmalpflege, Hessen, Ger. CZAD is based on the international ArboDat Multi version of the ArboDat database originally developed in Germany. Adaptations have been made to suit local requirements. As at the end of 2010 more than half of the existing data in the Czech Republic has been entered into CZAD. Data entry is on a strictly voluntary basis and author’s data and copyright are protected.
ABSTRACT The exploration of one of the tumuli in the western part of Jebel Sabaloka by the missio... more ABSTRACT The exploration of one of the tumuli in the western part of Jebel Sabaloka by the mission of the Czech Institute of Egyptology in 2011 uncovered a standard burial of an archer 14C-dated to the beginning of the post-Meroitic period in the Sudan (see Suková – Varadzin 2012: 128). However, more than 1,800 macro-remains with a clear predominance of desiccated Urochloa sp. florets and dozens of small soil molluscs were acquired by wet and/or dry sieving of the content of the burial niche, more than 100 pollen grains with predominance of Graminae pollen were obtained by pollen analysis of the residues in the beer jar accompanying the burial, and another series of archaeobotanical data were recovered from a hearth located at the base of the tumulus. How do these finds together with the archaeological and anthropological findings contribute to our knowledge of the subsistence, environment, climate, and the burial rite during the early post-Meroitic period in Central Sudan? Suková, L. & L. Varadzin, 2012. Preliminary report on the exploration of Jebel Sabaloka (West Bank), 2009–2012. Sudan & Nubia 16: 118–131.
The subject of this study is the evaluation of
the relationship between cereals grown in prehisto... more The subject of this study is the evaluation of the relationship between cereals grown in prehistory (ca. 5500 bc–ad 600) and environmental conditions during their cultivation on the land that is now the Czech Republic. Charred cereal macroremains were taken from 84 archaeological sites. The representation of species at individual sites was assessed with regard to site altitude, average temperature, precipitation, length of the growing season, soil types and soil productivity within a 1 km buffer zone around each archaeological site. The suitability of using present day environmental data to describe past environmental differences among archaeological sites was verified by expressing environmental conditions using Ellenberg indication values of macroremains of wild taxa. The results of the cereals-environmental conditions analysis show that the most important factor for the crop choice was the period of time of its cultivation. After eliminating the effect of time and length of the growing season, soil quality and altitude become conclusive variables, however with different importance in various periods. The main differences between the macroremain assemblages are represented by the varying proportions of cultivated wheats and barley. In the Neolithic (Proto–Eneolithic) there was no observable effect of environmental factors on the cereal composition. In the Middle Eneolithic–Middle Bronze Age soil type was the main factor in the selection of barley or emmer. In the Late Bronze–Early Iron Ages precipitation, altitude and Chernozems were the decisive factors influencing cereal cultivation while in the Late Iron Age–Migration Period heat load index, precipitation, and the proportion of Fluvisols were the primary determinants. It seems that prehistoric cereal varieties had ecological needs similar to present-day species and the selection of crops took place with respect to local conditions and an effort to achieve an optimum yield.
The exploration of one of the tumuli in the western part of Jebel Sabaloka by the mission of the ... more The exploration of one of the tumuli in the western part of Jebel Sabaloka by the mission of the Czech Institute of Egyptology in 2011 uncovered a standard burial of an archer 14C-dated to the beginning of the post-Meroitic period in the Sudan (see Suková – Varadzin 2012: 128). However, more than 1,800 macro-remains with a clear predominance of desiccated Urochloa sp. florets and dozens of small soil molluscs were acquired by wet and/or dry sieving of the content of the burial niche, more than 100 pollen grains with predominance of Graminae pollen were obtained by pollen analysis of the residues in the beer jar accompanying the burial, and another series of archaeobotanical data were recovered from a hearth located at the base of the tumulus. How do these finds together with the archaeological and anthropological findings contribute to our knowledge of the subsistence, environment, climate, and the burial rite during the early post-Meroitic period in Central Sudan?
Suková, L. & L. Varadzin, 2012. Preliminary report on the exploration of Jebel Sabaloka (West Bank), 2009–2012. Sudan & Nubia 16: 118–131.
The monograph evaluates the results of the archaeological research in the area of the Fifth-Dynas... more The monograph evaluates the results of the archaeological research in the area of the Fifth-Dynasty Tomb AC 26 (formerly known as Pyramid Lepsius no. 23) and Late Sixth-Dynasty structures AC 32 carried out by the Czech Institute of Egyptology during three archaeological seasons from 2006 until 2009. The publication focuses on archaeological contexts dated to the Old Kingdom. Tomb AC 26 is located next to the pyramid complex of Queen Khentkaus II – in the centre of the royal necropolis – it thus demonstrates an important position of its tomb owner. It is also one of the most devastated monuments in the Abusir royal necropolis. This fact made the field work and the evaluation of its results rather difficult. Regardless of its large-scaled destruction it was possible to ascribe Tomb AC 26 to “the Eldest son of the King”, Werkaure. Individual chapters of the book deal with the description and evaluation of the architecture of the tombs, finds datable to the Old Kingdom, a large collection of pottery, masons’ inscriptions and signs, archaeobotanical analyses of macroremains from mud bricks and conclusions – concerning especially dating of the Tombs AC 26 and AC 32.
Papaver Centre was constituted in 2013 at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Cz... more Papaver Centre was constituted in 2013 at the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Czech Republic. The name of centre represents common and interesting genus of plants which is distributed from Northern Africa across Europe to the polar latitudes. The aim of the Papaver Centre is to develop ties within the interdisciplinary team consisting of paleoecologists, archaeologists, and vegetation ecologists in order to create an effective space for the study of climatic, cultural as well as landscape changes. This paper describes recent educational and scientific activities of the centre. One of main results is realization series of international lectures of top scientists, which substantially improved capabilities of members in the Laboratory of Archaeobotany and Palaeoecology.
Plant macro remains from archaeological situations were studied in order to trace the history of ... more Plant macro remains from archaeological situations were studied in order to trace the history of gradual formation of today’s synanthropic vegetation. Synanthropic plants represent a heterogeneous group of species with various qualities and strategies, as well as with various immigration histories. In general, the synanthropic flora is rich in aliens, so it is important to know, when exactly these species immigrated to our territory (to know their residence time).
Besides the determination of the residence time of alien plants, also the dynamics of formation of urban flora and vegetation was studied. Special attention was paid to the Medieval Period, when the urbanisation process started. The emergence of urban agglomeration may have been the cause of the emergence of new habitats, followed by formation of new plant associations - the predecessors of the today’s ones. In general, towns represent a special case of anthropogenic environment with many various synanthropic habitats, causing their species richness.
Questions
1. When exactly the synanthropic flora of medieval towns emerged? Was the transition from the Prehistory to the Medieval Period rather gradual or sudden?
2. What particular species took place in the medieval change of synanthropic vegetation? Where did these species come from? Was the emergence of medieval towns right the main cause of the observed change in species composition?
3. In which way was the local diversity of synanthropic flora influenced by medieval urbanisation? Did rather the new species emerge or, contrarily, the previously common ones extinct?
4. What factors influenced the spread of new species during the Medieval Period?
Materials and Methods
The data were based on the analyses of plant macroremains, sometimes in combination with other methods (mainly the pollen analysis). The case studies were focused on particular localities in Central Bohemia, tracing gradual changes taking place in each locality.
To trace general trends and to answer the questions, the Archaeobotanical Database of the CR was used, covering the time span since the Neolithic to the High Middle Ages.
Results and Discussion
218 archaeophytes were found in macro-remain material from high medieval towns, representing ca. 90% of unintentionally introduced alien plants. The majority of them have been present in our territory since the Prehistory; forty new aliens immigrated during the Early Medieval Period (EM). On the contrary, only several new aliens were introduced in High Medieval (HM). It means that the main wave of immigration took place in EM, which implies that the medieval immigration couldn’t be connected with the urbanisation process.
Medieval urbanisation influenced plant diversity in the similar way as present processes connected with urban enlargement. The diversity of semi-natural vegetation in the suburbs drops as a result of vanishing of suitable habitats, whereas the abundance of common ruderal species increases. The increase of diversity via immigration of new alien species is connected mainly with the intensity of long-distance trade (mediated by increased propagule preasure).
The frequency of alien species in medieval towns was also influenced by their residence time. The comparison of the OLD (present since the Prehistory) and NEW (since the Middle Ages) alien plants shows similar pattern as today’s comparison of archaeophytes vs. neophytes.
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the relationship between cereals grown in prehistory (ca.
5500 bc–ad 600) and environmental conditions during their
cultivation on the land that is now the Czech Republic.
Charred cereal macroremains were taken from 84 archaeological
sites. The representation of species at individual
sites was assessed with regard to site altitude, average
temperature, precipitation, length of the growing season,
soil types and soil productivity within a 1 km buffer zone
around each archaeological site. The suitability of using
present day environmental data to describe past environmental
differences among archaeological sites was verified
by expressing environmental conditions using Ellenberg
indication values of macroremains of wild taxa. The results
of the cereals-environmental conditions analysis show
that the most important factor for the crop choice was the
period of time of its cultivation. After eliminating the effect
of time and length of the growing season, soil quality and
altitude become conclusive variables, however with different
importance in various periods. The main differences
between the macroremain assemblages are represented by the varying proportions of cultivated wheats and barley.
In the Neolithic (Proto–Eneolithic) there was no observable
effect of environmental factors on the cereal composition.
In the Middle Eneolithic–Middle Bronze Age
soil type was the main factor in the selection of barley or
emmer. In the Late Bronze–Early Iron Ages precipitation,
altitude and Chernozems were the decisive factors influencing
cereal cultivation while in the Late Iron Age–Migration
Period heat load index, precipitation, and the proportion
of Fluvisols were the primary determinants. It seems that
prehistoric cereal varieties had ecological needs similar to
present-day species and the selection of crops took place
with respect to local conditions and an effort to achieve an
optimum yield.
the relationship between cereals grown in prehistory (ca.
5500 bc–ad 600) and environmental conditions during their
cultivation on the land that is now the Czech Republic.
Charred cereal macroremains were taken from 84 archaeological
sites. The representation of species at individual
sites was assessed with regard to site altitude, average
temperature, precipitation, length of the growing season,
soil types and soil productivity within a 1 km buffer zone
around each archaeological site. The suitability of using
present day environmental data to describe past environmental
differences among archaeological sites was verified
by expressing environmental conditions using Ellenberg
indication values of macroremains of wild taxa. The results
of the cereals-environmental conditions analysis show
that the most important factor for the crop choice was the
period of time of its cultivation. After eliminating the effect
of time and length of the growing season, soil quality and
altitude become conclusive variables, however with different
importance in various periods. The main differences
between the macroremain assemblages are represented by the varying proportions of cultivated wheats and barley.
In the Neolithic (Proto–Eneolithic) there was no observable
effect of environmental factors on the cereal composition.
In the Middle Eneolithic–Middle Bronze Age
soil type was the main factor in the selection of barley or
emmer. In the Late Bronze–Early Iron Ages precipitation,
altitude and Chernozems were the decisive factors influencing
cereal cultivation while in the Late Iron Age–Migration
Period heat load index, precipitation, and the proportion
of Fluvisols were the primary determinants. It seems that
prehistoric cereal varieties had ecological needs similar to
present-day species and the selection of crops took place
with respect to local conditions and an effort to achieve an
optimum yield.
Suková, L. & L. Varadzin, 2012. Preliminary report on the exploration of Jebel Sabaloka (West Bank), 2009–2012. Sudan & Nubia 16: 118–131.
as landscape changes. This paper describes recent educational and scientific activities of the centre. One of main results is realization series of international lectures of top scientists, which substantially improved capabilities of members in the Laboratory of Archaeobotany and Palaeoecology.
Besides the determination of the residence time of alien plants, also the dynamics of formation of urban flora and vegetation was studied. Special attention was paid to the Medieval Period, when the urbanisation process started. The emergence of urban agglomeration may have been the cause of the emergence of new habitats, followed by formation of new plant associations - the predecessors of the today’s ones. In general, towns represent a special case of anthropogenic environment with many various synanthropic habitats, causing their species richness.
Questions
1. When exactly the synanthropic flora of medieval towns emerged? Was the transition from the Prehistory to the Medieval Period rather gradual or sudden?
2. What particular species took place in the medieval change of synanthropic vegetation? Where did these species come from? Was the emergence of medieval towns right the main cause of the observed change in species composition?
3. In which way was the local diversity of synanthropic flora influenced by medieval urbanisation? Did rather the new species emerge or, contrarily, the previously common ones extinct?
4. What factors influenced the spread of new species during the Medieval Period?
Materials and Methods
The data were based on the analyses of plant macroremains, sometimes in combination with other methods (mainly the pollen analysis). The case studies were focused on particular localities in Central Bohemia, tracing gradual changes taking place in each locality.
To trace general trends and to answer the questions, the Archaeobotanical Database of the CR was used, covering the time span since the Neolithic to the High Middle Ages.
Results and Discussion
218 archaeophytes were found in macro-remain material from high medieval towns, representing ca. 90% of unintentionally introduced alien plants. The majority of them have been present in our territory since the Prehistory; forty new aliens immigrated during the Early Medieval Period (EM). On the contrary, only several new aliens were introduced in High Medieval (HM). It means that the main wave of immigration took place in EM, which implies that the medieval immigration couldn’t be connected with the urbanisation process.
Medieval urbanisation influenced plant diversity in the similar way as present processes connected with urban enlargement. The diversity of semi-natural vegetation in the suburbs drops as a result of vanishing of suitable habitats, whereas the abundance of common ruderal species increases. The increase of diversity via immigration of new alien species is connected mainly with the intensity of long-distance trade (mediated by increased propagule preasure).
The frequency of alien species in medieval towns was also influenced by their residence time. The comparison of the OLD (present since the Prehistory) and NEW (since the Middle Ages) alien plants shows similar pattern as today’s comparison of archaeophytes vs. neophytes.