Food practices of the first farmers of Europe: Combined use-wear and microbotanical studies of Early Neolithic grinding tools from the Paris Basin

Hamon, Caroline; Cagnato, Clarissa; Emery-Barbier, Aline; Salavert, Aurélie

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2020.102764

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 87 publications

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“…In the case of the woody plant materials, based on the characteristics of the use-face of the tools (intense levelling and smoothing that extends across the whole surface of the tool), their presence on the tool surfaces is more consistent with grinding activities. The presence of wood and wood-like materials has also been noted in other studies of grinding tools [ 35 , 137 ]. Hamon and colleagues [ 137 ] have suggested that the grinding of wood and bark materials may be associated with the acquisition of powdered materials with colouring or medicinal properties, or potentially fruit processing.…”

Section: 0 Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

“…The presence of wood and wood-like materials has also been noted in other studies of grinding tools [ 35 , 137 ]. Hamon and colleagues [ 137 ] have suggested that the grinding of wood and bark materials may be associated with the acquisition of powdered materials with colouring or medicinal properties, or potentially fruit processing. Continuing microwear analysis of the Çatalhöyük grinding tools may shed more light on the type of processing associated with this type of contact material.…”

Section: 0 Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

“…Recent research has highlighted variations in microwear signatures that result from the processing of different plant categories (e.g., cereals, legumes, nuts and seeds), variations that can also be linked to the state (dry, wet) and the type of processing of the processed material (soaking, roasting) (e.g., [ 122 ]). No well-established use-wear signatures can be securely associated with the processing of USOs due to the lack or limited number of experiments focusing on USOs [ 137 ]. While the identification of diagnostic use-wear signatures associated with the processing of different plant materials has been achieved at an experimental level [ 137 , 138 ], it is not always possible to apply this detail of interpretation to the archaeological materials.…”

Section: 0 Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…No well-established use-wear signatures can be securely associated with the processing of USOs due to the lack or limited number of experiments focusing on USOs [ 137 ]. While the identification of diagnostic use-wear signatures associated with the processing of different plant materials has been achieved at an experimental level [ 137 , 138 ], it is not always possible to apply this detail of interpretation to the archaeological materials. This is particularly the case for archaeological tools that have been used against multiple contact materials and therefore display mixed wear signatures.…”

Section: 0 Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[ 131 ]). Moreover, even when restricting to plant materials, interpretations can be hindered in the case of tools that were used to process a diverse assemblage of plants or plant parts on the same tool surfaces: cereal grinding results in well-developed wear traces at a faster rate than other types of plant processing therefore concealing–potentially underdeveloped -use-wear traces from other types of plants such as legumes, USOs, softer plants such as herbs and grasses [ 137 ]. Hence, the analysis of microbotanical residues has the potential to provide a wider and more detailed identifications on the plant assemblage and materials that were processed on grinding tools (cf.…”

Section: 0 Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A microbotanical and microwear perspective to plant processing activities and foodways at Neolithic Çatalhöyük

et al. 2021

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Çatalhöyük is a renowned archaeological site in central Anatolia, best known for its Neolithic occupation dated from 7100 to 6000 cal BC. The site received worldwide attention early on for its large size, well-preserved mudbrick architecture, and elaborate wall paintings. Excavations at the site over almost three decades have unearthed rich archaeobotanical remains and a diverse ground stone assemblage produced by what once was a vibrant farming community. The study presented here adds to our understanding of crops and plant processing at Çatalhöyük by integrating phytoliths and starch analyses on grinding implements found at three domestic contexts attributed to the Middle (6700–6500 cal BC) and Late (6500–6300 cal BC) period of occupation. Our results reveal a rich microbotanical assemblage that testifies the use of a wide range of geophytes and wild seasonal resources previously unknown at the site. Moreover, by comparing results from the microbotanical proxies and microscopic wear patterns on artefacts, we are also able to discern various plant processing practices the analysed artefacts were employed for. In sum, this work further expands our understanding of plants and crop processing activities performed by the inhabitants of Neolithic Çatalhöyük.

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Section: 0 Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

Section: 0 Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

Section: 0 Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: 0 Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: 0 Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A microbotanical and microwear perspective to plant processing activities and foodways at Neolithic Çatalhöyük

et al. 2021

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Pottery use across the Neolithic transition in northern Belgium: evidence from isotopic, molecular and microscopic analysis

Teetaert,

Vannoorenberghe,

Van de Velde

et al. 2024

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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This study represents the first extensive residue analysis of prehistoric pottery from northern Belgium. It examines pottery use and culinary practices across the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition, from the late 6th to the early 4th millennium cal BC. Residue analyses were performed on more than 200 samples from nine archaeological sites, representing different cultural groups from this transitional phase. This includes the analysis of charred food residues encrusted on the vessel surfaces by elemental analysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EA-IRMS), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), stereomicroscopic analysis and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), as well as the analysis of absorbed lipids by gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS). This study provides the first evidence of ruminant dairy fats in Early Neolithic Limburg pottery, supporting the hypothesis that this pottery was produced and used by LBK farmers rather than hunter-gatherer populations. The first indigenous pottery of the Swifterbant culture was frequently used to process freshwater fish (often together with plant foods) and ruminant meat, although several of the studied vessels likely contained mixtures of resources which could also include porcine products. Ruminant dairy is nearly absent from this pottery. Similar results were obtained for pottery of the subsequent Michelsberg culture/Group of Spiere of the late 5th and early 4th millennium cal BC. The limited presence of ruminant dairy fats in this pottery contrasts with the findings for Middle Neolithic pottery from neighbouring regions, providing further evidence for the existence of regional variations in pottery use or culinary practices throughout prehistoric NW Europe. However, our current view of pottery use during the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in northern Belgium might be biased by the difficulties in distinguishing between wild and domesticated ruminant adipose fats as well as in detecting plant foods through lipid residue analysis.

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Working at home. Reconstructing activities within the LBK household through the systemic use-wear analysis of flint industries, bone and antler tools and ground stone implements

Hamon,

Cayol,

Maigrot

et al. 2024

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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Food practices of the first farmers of Europe: Combined use-wear and microbotanical studies of Early Neolithic grinding tools from the Paris Basin

Cited by 10 publications

References 87 publications

A microbotanical and microwear perspective to plant processing activities and foodways at Neolithic Çatalhöyük

A microbotanical and microwear perspective to plant processing activities and foodways at Neolithic Çatalhöyük

Pottery use across the Neolithic transition in northern Belgium: evidence from isotopic, molecular and microscopic analysis

Working at home. Reconstructing activities within the LBK household through the systemic use-wear analysis of flint industries, bone and antler tools and ground stone implements

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