Infrared spectroscopy of the mineralogy of coprolites from Brean Down: evidence of past human activities and animal husbandry

Allen, Samantha D.M.; Almond, Matthew J.; Bell, Martin; Hollins, P.; Marks, S.; Mortimore, Joanne L.

doi:10.1016/s1386-1425(01)00573-x

Cited by 15 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Therefore, especially in association with Ascaris, it could be a good indicator of human faeces, even though it was also found in dog coprolites, possibly because of the coprophagy of some animals (Allen et al, 2002). Interestingly, the morphometry of eggs suggests that P1, the cesspit, contained only T. trichiura.…”

Section: The Parasite Remains and The Different Use Of The Pits And Omentioning

confidence: 99%

Seeds/fruits, pollen and parasite remains as evidence of site function: piazza Garibaldi – Parma (N Italy) in Roman and Mediaeval times

Bosi¹,

Mazzanti²,

Florenzano³

et al. 2011

Journal of Archaeological Science

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Section: The Parasite Remains and The Different Use Of The Pits And Omentioning

confidence: 99%

Seeds/fruits, pollen and parasite remains as evidence of site function: piazza Garibaldi – Parma (N Italy) in Roman and Mediaeval times

Bosi¹,

Mazzanti²,

Florenzano³

et al. 2011

Journal of Archaeological Science

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“…Peaks were seen at 1400, 1022, 860, 600 and 560 cm -1 which are assigned to stretching and bending modes of phosphate (1022, 600, 560) and carbonate (1400 and 860 cm -1 ) ions. This finding is entirely indicative of bone, showing peaks of calcium phosphate substituted by some carbonate ions [32,33]. The infrared spectrum did not, however, give any clue as to the nature of the black residue.…”

Section: Black Substance From Human Skullmentioning

confidence: 99%

An infrared microspectroscopic study of plasters and pigments from the Neolithic site of Bestansur, Iraq

Godleman

Almond

Matthews

2016

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports

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Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy and microspectroscopy (μ-IR) supported by Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-Ray analysis (ESEM-EDX) has been utilised to investigate the technology and use of multicoloured architectural plasters and pigments by Neolithic communities at the archaeological site of Bestansur, Iraq, c. 7,600 BC. Sub-samples of architectural materials and pigments were analysed using IR spectroscopy and fragile samples and thin sections were analysed using μ-IR and ESEM-EDX to determine the mineralogical and elemental composition of individual components and layers and the history of construction and use of three large rectilinear buildings. In addition, experimental investigations were undertaken into the application of IR to study of the firing of calcium carbonate and of clays to investigate if this technique was able to detect evidence of fired-lime materials and of reddening of building materials by fire. Whilst the IR analysis alone was not able to characterise the plasters and pigments, when combined with ESEM-EDX the minerals responsible for pigmentation in the samples were clearly identified. The green clay was determined to be local celadonite-bearing marine clays. The red pigment was found to contain iron, most likely in the form of hematite. The black pigment contained manganese and iron, likely to be present as manganese dioxide and magnetite. The investigations of firing indicate that a hard white exterior may come from fired-lime while a reddish silty clay wall surface had probably not been subject to high-temperature burning. Analysis of a series of wall plasters and pigments from Building 8 (pre-7,600 BC) revealed experiment and development in technologies and materials throughout the occupation of the building, which in the final sequence resemble those from significantly later level at the site of Çatalhöyük, Turkey (c. 7,000 BC).

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“…More recently, IR has been employed to study the chemical composition of mineralized human feces (Allen et al 2002;Marshall et al 2008;Shearer 1988;Sutton et al 2010). One study detected apatite consistent with bone in all the coprolites analyzed (Allen et al 2002).…”

Section: Biochemical Analysis Of Coprolitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One study detected apatite consistent with bone in all the coprolites analyzed (Allen et al 2002). Other possible techniques for characterizing chemical compounds include gas chromatography (GC), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), which also has the ability to monitor the isotope ratios of individual compounds (Degano and Colombini 2009;Evershed 1993;Gilbert et al 2008;Gill et al 2009;Poinar et al 2009;Rasmussen et al 2009).…”

Section: Biochemical Analysis Of Coprolitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing diet and seasonality in the Lower Pecos canyonlands: an evaluation of coprolite specimens as records of individual dietary decisions

Riley

2012

Journal of Archaeological Science

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were not readily available and may be considered a dependable but undesirable meal.The second menu consists of pit-baked lechuguilla (Agave lechuguilla) and sotol (Dasylirion sp.) caudices, or hearts, common throughout the cool season. This menu entails high processing costs, but would provide a reliable caloric return. The third menu exhibits a monolithic reliance on prickly pear fruits, or tunas, during the summer.The ease of harvest and consumption is reflected in the seasonal dominance of this resource, which was assuredly a highly desirable meal. The dietary patterns recorded in the coprolite specimens from the Lower Pecos canyonlands demonstrate a seasonally variable diet-breadth that incorporated low-ranked resources during times of seasonal scarcity as well as a monolithic dependence on high-ranked resources when they were available in the local landscape.

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Infrared spectroscopy of the mineralogy of coprolites from Brean Down: evidence of past human activities and animal husbandry

Cited by 15 publications

References 16 publications

Seeds/fruits, pollen and parasite remains as evidence of site function: piazza Garibaldi – Parma (N Italy) in Roman and Mediaeval times

Seeds/fruits, pollen and parasite remains as evidence of site function: piazza Garibaldi – Parma (N Italy) in Roman and Mediaeval times

An infrared microspectroscopic study of plasters and pigments from the Neolithic site of Bestansur, Iraq

Assessing diet and seasonality in the Lower Pecos canyonlands: an evaluation of coprolite specimens as records of individual dietary decisions

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