J Archaeol Sci 35 (4)

The paper explores the potential of stable isotope analysis to identify the approximate region of catch of cod by analysing bones from medieval settlements in northern and western Europe. It measures the δ13C and δ15N values of cod bone collagen from medieval control samples collected from sites around Arctic Norway, the North Sea, the Kattegat and the Baltic Sea. These data were considered likely to differ by region due to, for example, variation in the length of the food chain, water temperature and salinity. We find that geographical structuring is indeed evident, making it possible to identify bones from cod caught in distant waters. These results provide a new methodology for studying the growth of long-range trade in dried cod and the related expansion of fishing effort -- important aspects of the development of commercialisation in medieval Europe. As a first test of the method, we analyse three collections of cod bones tentatively interpreted as imported dried fish based on a priori zooarchaeological criteria. The results tentatively suggest that cod were being transported or traded over very long distances since the end of the first millennium AD.

To explore the potential of airborne laser scanning (ALS) for archaeological reconnaissance in a densely forested area, a test scan covering an Iron Age hillfort in the eastern part of Austria was carried out during the first phase of a research project. ALS sensors can penetrate vegetation canopies allowing the underlying terrain elevation to be accurately modelled. The latest generation of airborne laser scanners was used in the project. This sensor digitally records the entire waveform of the received laser echoes. The authors argue that the digital terrain model (DTM) generated from entire waveform ALS data could be classified with greater confidence providing a more accurate DTM than with previous ALS devices. The processing algorithms used to create the interpretative DTM are discussed in detail. Using the described procedures it was possible to remove most of the forest canopy and understorey (brushwood and low level vegetation) covering the archaeological features. The ALS DTM was compared with a detailed topographic mapping of the visible archaeological traces collected by a terrestrial survey. Significantly, very low earthwork features, which were not recognised by the trained surveyors in the field, were identified in the ALS-derived DTM. Therefore, in this study area ALS has been demonstrated as an important tool for systematic archaeological prospection in vegetated areas. There are, however, some restrictions, which are discussed in the paper.

Sex identification of cattle remains, in order to understand the strategies and importance of cattle husbandry in an ancient society, is usually done from osteoarchaeological assemblages and often relies on measurements of metapodials. The breadth measurement of the distal trochlea is considered an easy way to identify the sex. Bones from males appear to be easily distinguishable from female counterparts, although it has been complicated to find an external control for the morphological results. Here the authors investigate the reliability of these particular morphometrics for sex identifying cattle bones with molecular genetics. They use a sex discriminating single nucleotide polymorphism in the ZFXY gene and apply it to DNA from the bones. To keep the fragment size short and suitable for ancient DNA they base the test on a SNP. The test confirms the osteological sex identification in all cases were DNA could be retrieved. This molecular method can also be used when no fragments suitable for osteological sex identification can be found or when the measurements are non-conclusive.