Jana Apiar Hlavata

Preliminary results of the archaeobotanical research at the settlement from the early Roman period in Jevíčko. The aim of this paper is to publish the first preliminary results of archaeobotanical research at the settlement of the older Roman period in Jevíčko XIII (cadastre Jevíčko-Předměstí, district Svitavy, Pardubice Region). The research uncovered a part of a trade and craft settlement near the coinciding Germanic granite burial site (Jevíčko IV) and the northernmost Roman temporary camp (Jevíčko XII) from the time of the Marcomannic Wars. Some cereal grains were washed from feature 22a and subsequently identified: millet (Panicum miliaceum), weedy barley (Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare) and unspecified wheat (Triticum sp.), as well as occasionally other cereals (Triticum monococcum, T. dicoccum/spelta). In addition to these, leguminous plants or seeds of peas (Pisum sativum) and lentils (Lens culinaris) are also documented. The object is dated according to Germanic and Roman-Provincial pottery to the 2nd half of the 2nd century, respectively to the range B2b–B2/C1. From the Germanic pottery it is worth noting the presence of a fragment of a cup with vertical grooves on the foot. Of the Roman-Provincial pottery, the most important finds are the fragments of massive storage wessel (wessels?), which must have carried some specific foodstuff deep into the barbarian period that the Germans were unable to produce. Further sampling for archaeobotanical research was also carried out in the 2022 research season. After processing, the results will be published in the context of the entire settlement site of Jevíčko XIII from the 2nd half of the 2nd century.

This paper presents the preliminary results achieved during three seasons of archaeo-logical excavation of the fortified settlement site in Budmerice, south-western Slova-kia. The site, dated to the Maďarovce Culture of the Bronze Age.. The research has focused on the acquisition of environmental data. Samples for palynolog-ical, archaeobotanical, osteological, and other analyses have been collected from intact contexts (archaeological objects, layers, etc.) for a study of the site’s environment in the past.

in 2009 and 2010 were conducted the irst slovak arhaeological excavations in the geographic area of Mesoamerica.
headed by prof. M. kováč, excavations were organized by the slovak arhaeological and historical institute. here we
present a brief summary of the results and basic informations about the irst two seasons in the Mayan city of uaxactun
focusing on the application of various methods in arheology, borrowed from following natural sciences: arhaeobotany,
palynology, geophysics, geology (mineralogical-petrographic analysis), geodesy, radiocarbon dating.
For the mineralogical-petrographic analysis we selected 23 samples of Mayan ceramics. the selected samples were
prepared as standard polished petrographic thin sections. Based on mineralogical-petrographic composition of selected
samples, two main groups of ceramics were selected, based on the presence of carbonate and volcanic ash. in the ceramic
group uax/c (uaxactun/carbonates) are all analysed fragments tempered predominantly with fragments of carbonates or
carbonate roks (mainly limestone). ceramic group uax/va (uaxactun/volcanic ash) is haracteristic with mineralogical
- petrographic composition containing volcanic ash.
the mineralogical-petrographic composition was used to estimate iring temperature of the analysed fragments.
observed iring temperature of potery fragments belonging to the group uax/c varies from 600 to 800 °c. Firing
temperature of potery belonging to group uax/va, varies from 800 to 900 °c.
current results of mineralogical-petrographic study of selected potery samples allow us to specify the provenance of
ceramics at least partially. on the basis of petrographic composition of the group uaX/c it can be assumed the ceramics
from this group were made from local raw materials. the origin of ceramics belonging to the group uaX/va is very
complicated. the presence of volcanic ash temper might be an indication of import. however, closest volcanic areas are
200 km away. therefore, the import of suh materials or ceramics seems to be considerably unlikely. nevertheless, used
temper is undoubtedly of volcanic origin. according to Ford/Spera (2007), local raw materials containing volcanic ash
were used. since we identiied very ine ash particles, it is possible we have here volcanic ash fallout coming from large
clouds ejected during volcanic eruptions that ended up on a territory formed exclusively by carbonates (Ford/Rose 1995).
the problem is that the production of volcanic ash tempered ceramics had to happen in a relatively short period ater the
explosion (several months), as particles of volcanic ash (glass and plagioclase) show no signs of weathering.
geophysical survey. in the frameworks of complex arhaeological excavations we conducted geophysical survey. it
was inplemented in phase when preparatory groundworks in uaxactun already started on several locations, desiganted
for preliminary geophysical survey. the aim of this survey was to identify the arhaeological structures - in particular,
to trace the edges of objects observable on the surface, respectively the range of their stone destruction, but also to
identify any subsurface structures. two distinctive methods were applyed: magnetometry and geoelectric resistance
proiling. Magnetometric survey was conducted on locations with groups of structures classiied as group a and group h.
in uaxactun, arhaeological structures showed a signal with values laking any signiicant diference from intact pedological
and geological surroundings. all buildings are constructed of local limestone, whih was oten quarried in their immediate
vicinity. Measurements of magnetic susceptibility by hand-held magnetometer (kappameter) showed virtually no diference
between the bedrok and individual buildings. this was also relected by the magnetometer survey, with prevailing values
around -0.1 to 0.1 nt. this was too litle to use the results of magnetic measurements to separate limestone buildings from
limestone bedrok. nevertheless, analyse of data acquired showed presence of a large variety of linear structures in the
group a. these could be former construction material quarries or the hannels, eventually reservoirs to hold collected
water. a more detailed interpretation of these structures will be possible only ater direct arhaeological excavations.
geomagnetic survey in the area of group h was focused on the area between diferent groups of overground
structures. result of measurements are similar to those of a group a. the biggest diference is only the absence of magnetic
dipoles (small metallic objects). however, we are completely laking even anomalies associated with arhaeological
structures or objects. it is plausible to imagine that the surveyed area, originally used as public square, does not contain
any signiicant structures nor objects. though, cosidering the fact that measurements in group a found no diference in magnetic properties of structers made of limeston and limeston bedrok, we also can not exclude possibility of existence
of same structes in group h.
geoelectric resistance proiling was carried out at locations with groups of structures labeled as a, g and h. geoelectric
measurement yielded interesting results especially in group h. in particular, it was possoible to deine the outlines of
pyramids under investigation. it was possible to document the exact shape of eah structure. When examining former
public square amid the pyramids, the map of electrical resistivity turned out to be relatively homogeneous, without
signiicant arhaeological features. We have identiied only a few minor anomalies with signiicantly higher values of
resistivity, what could be indication of subsurface stone structures. it‘s impossible to say whether we have here clusters
of smaller stones or large stone bloks. only direct arhaeological excavations can shed the light on this problem and help
to interpret the results obtained.
during the second season in uaxactun we also continued with arhaeobotany sampling, part of whih took place
already in 2009. in 2010, it was possible to process the collected material at least partially and also to take further samples
from sediments of newly excavated arhaeological objects. seazon of 2010 in uaxactun saw introduction of novelty - the
sampling for pollen (palynology) analysis.
Partially processed samples going to be fully identiied and analysed in slovakia. these results going to be used
for reconstruction of paleo-vegetation in the study area. in addition, it can provide invaluable information for absolute
dating by radiocarbon methods.
Presented work brings only the partial results as many analysis are still under processing. the aim was rather to
inform the scientiic community about the approah in conducting arhaeological excavations in uaxactun. We are
planing to present more detailed results in future on other similar scientiic fora. From the our recent indings we would
like to stress as particularly important the identiication of volcanic temper in ceramics and then speciication of optimal
methods for geophysical survey. We also expect interesting results of palynology and arhaeobotany analysis.