The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 2017
ABSTRACT Zooarchaeological faunal remains are commonly examined to investigate harvesting behavio... more ABSTRACT Zooarchaeological faunal remains are commonly examined to investigate harvesting behavior. We determined limpet (Patella vulgata) shell size and shape, and estimated shell age from several middens at the Late Norse Sandwick South Site, Unst, Shetland, UK, whose strata represent distinct occupational phases (Phase 1: AD 1100–1200, Phase 2: AD 1200–1250, Phase 3: AD 1250–1350). Our goal was to determine if the many limpets found there could provide insight into Norse harvesting behavior. Shell length, conicity, and modeled age all declined between Phases 1 and 2, suggesting intensive, size-selective harvesting of limpets and a shift to harvesting lower in the intertidal zone between phases. Length and conicity varied in Phases 2 and 3 and no major changes seem to have occurred over these periods, indicating that harvesting maintained the limpet population at an impacted level throughout the later phases. The conicity decline between Phases 1 and 2 may also have been caused by increased storminess that accompanied the onset of the Little Ice Age. The mean length of modern limpet populations near the Norse site did not differ from the archaeological phases, but did vary among collection years. Limpets were 26% larger in 2015 than in 2012 and 2013, indicating that large interannual variations in population structure can occur over short time periods. Potentially the result of extreme storms removing small limpets, this result raises the possibility that size and conicity changes during the Sandwick South Site occupation, as well as in other early populations, could also be the result of environmental factors rather than human harvesting alone. We feel, however, that the most parsimonious explanation for the patterns we document is human harvesting.
The abundance, accessibility and value of limpets as a source of food and bait for coastal people... more The abundance, accessibility and value of limpets as a source of food and bait for coastal peoples have resulted in their high frequency in shell middens worldwide. The limpet Patella vulgata is found in middens from the Mediterranean to Norway, and morphometric and sclerochronological analyses of its shell can provide insight into harvesting patterns and paleoenvironmental variables valuable in reconstructing climate. Previous work with P. vulgata has relied on lines on the exterior of the shell, or on lines exiting on the shell surface in shell cross-section, as annual or sub-annual markers. Shell damage may compromise these lines and limit the use of some shells, but growth lines are also found in the better-preserved shell apex. We investigated whether the growth lines in the apex of P. vulgata from two locations in Northern Europe are annual using calcein-marking and recapture. Investigations were performed at one site in the Shetland Islands (UK) and at one site at the northern limit of P. vulgata's range in Northern Norway. We also used laser ablation to measure the concentration of minerals in the shells of two individuals from Shetland to determine if patterns of minerals suggested as bioproxies for temperature and productivity varied annually. All individuals deposited one growth line in the apex during their year in the field, and the lowest ratios of Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca and to a lesser extent Mg/Ca were coincident with annual lines on the shells from Shetland. Growth at both sites was modelled using the von Bertalanffy growth function, and apex growth was nearly five times faster in Shetland than in Norway, probably a result of differences in temperature between the two locations.
This paper discusses the specialized processing of sheep leg bones for marrow retrieval, a food c... more This paper discusses the specialized processing of sheep leg bones for marrow retrieval, a food custom with a very restricted geographical and temporal distribution in the medieval Norse Shetland Islands, and medieval and later Iceland and Faroe.
The field of ancient DNA is taxonomically dominated by studies focusing on mammals. This taxonomi... more The field of ancient DNA is taxonomically dominated by studies focusing on mammals. This taxonomic bias limits our understanding of endogenous DNA preservation for vertebrate taxa with different bone physiology, such as teleost fish. In contrast to most mammalian bone, teleost bone is typically brittle, porous, lightweight and is characterized by a lack of bone remodeling during growth. Using high-throughput shotgun sequencing, we here investigate the preservation of DNA in a range of different bone elements from over 200 archaeological Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) specimens from 38 sites in northern Europe, dating up to 8000 years before present. We observe that the majority of archaeological sites (79%) yield endogenous DNA, with 40% of sites providing samples that contain high levels (> 20%). Library preparation success and levels of endogenous DNA depend mainly on excavation site and pre-extraction laboratory treatment. The use of pre-extraction treatments lowers the rate of library success, although — if successful — the fraction of endogenous DNA can be improved by several orders of magnitude. This trade-off between library preparation success and levels of endogenous DNA allows for alternative extraction strategies depending on the requirements of down-stream analyses and research questions. Finally, we find that — in contrast to mammalian bones — different fish bone elements yield similar levels of endogenous DNA. Our results highlight the overall suitability of archaeological fish bone as a source for ancient DNA and provide novel evidence for a possible role of bone remodeling in the preservation of endogenous DNA across different classes of vertebrates.
The abundance, accessibility and value of limpets as a source of food and bait for coastal people... more The abundance, accessibility and value of limpets as a source of food and bait for coastal peoples have resulted in their high frequency in shell middens worldwide. The limpet Patella vulgata is found in middens from the Mediterranean to Norway, and morphometric and sclerochronological analyses of its shell can provide insight into harvesting patterns and paleoenvironmental variables valuable in reconstructing climate. Previous work with P. vulgata has relied on lines on the exterior of the shell, or on lines exiting on the shell surface in shell cross-section, as annual or sub-annual markers. Shell damage may compromise these lines and limit the use of some shells, but growth lines are also found in the better-preserved shell apex. We investigated whether the growth lines in the apex of P. vulgata from two locations in Northern Europe are annual using calcein-marking and recapture. Investigations were performed at one site in the Shetland Islands (UK) and at one site at the northern limit of P. vulgata's range in Northern Norway. We also used laser ablation to measure the concentration of minerals in the shells of two individuals from Shetland to determine if patterns of minerals suggested as bioproxies for temperature and productivity varied annually. All individuals deposited one growth line in the apex during their year in the field, and the lowest ratios of Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca and to a lesser extent Mg/Ca were coincident with annual lines on the shells from Shetland. Growth at both sites was modelled using the von Bertalanffy growth function, and apex growth was nearly five times faster in Shetland than in Norway, probably a result of differences in temperature between the two locations.
Between ca. 790 and 1000 AD, Scandinavian settlers occupied the islands of the North Atlantic: Sh... more Between ca. 790 and 1000 AD, Scandinavian settlers occupied the islands of the North Atlantic: Shetland, the Orkneys, the Hebrides, the Faroes, Iceland, and Greenland. These offshore islands initially supported stands of willow, alder, and birch, and a range of non-arboreal species suitable for pasture for the imported Norse domestic animals. Overstocking of domestic animals, fuel collection, ironworking, and construction activity seems to have rapidly depleted the dwarf trees, and several scholars argue that soil erosion and other forms of environmental degradation also resulted from Norse landuse practices in the region. Such degradation of pasture communities may have played a significant role in changing social relationships and late medieval economic decline in the western tier colonies of Iceland and Greenland. This paper presents simple quantified models for Scandinavian environmental impact in the region, and suggests some sociopolitical causes for ultimately maladaptive floral degradation.
This paper discusses evidence for patterning in the designs and construction of dwellings in Viki... more This paper discusses evidence for patterning in the designs and construction of dwellings in Viking Period and Late Norse Shetland, and proposes changes in the use of interior space were related to significant shifts in economic activities over time.
This paper discusses the specialized processing of sheep leg bones for marrow retrieval, a food c... more This paper discusses the specialized processing of sheep leg bones for marrow retrieval, a food custom with a very restricted geographical and temporal distribution in the medieval Norse Shetland Islands, and medieval and later Iceland and Faroe.
This article discusses multidisciplinary research on the environmental catastrophe that destroyed... more This article discusses multidisciplinary research on the environmental catastrophe that destroyed the Shetland Islands community of Broo by burial in aeolian sand during the Little Ice Age.
The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology, 2017
ABSTRACT Zooarchaeological faunal remains are commonly examined to investigate harvesting behavio... more ABSTRACT Zooarchaeological faunal remains are commonly examined to investigate harvesting behavior. We determined limpet (Patella vulgata) shell size and shape, and estimated shell age from several middens at the Late Norse Sandwick South Site, Unst, Shetland, UK, whose strata represent distinct occupational phases (Phase 1: AD 1100–1200, Phase 2: AD 1200–1250, Phase 3: AD 1250–1350). Our goal was to determine if the many limpets found there could provide insight into Norse harvesting behavior. Shell length, conicity, and modeled age all declined between Phases 1 and 2, suggesting intensive, size-selective harvesting of limpets and a shift to harvesting lower in the intertidal zone between phases. Length and conicity varied in Phases 2 and 3 and no major changes seem to have occurred over these periods, indicating that harvesting maintained the limpet population at an impacted level throughout the later phases. The conicity decline between Phases 1 and 2 may also have been caused by increased storminess that accompanied the onset of the Little Ice Age. The mean length of modern limpet populations near the Norse site did not differ from the archaeological phases, but did vary among collection years. Limpets were 26% larger in 2015 than in 2012 and 2013, indicating that large interannual variations in population structure can occur over short time periods. Potentially the result of extreme storms removing small limpets, this result raises the possibility that size and conicity changes during the Sandwick South Site occupation, as well as in other early populations, could also be the result of environmental factors rather than human harvesting alone. We feel, however, that the most parsimonious explanation for the patterns we document is human harvesting.
The abundance, accessibility and value of limpets as a source of food and bait for coastal people... more The abundance, accessibility and value of limpets as a source of food and bait for coastal peoples have resulted in their high frequency in shell middens worldwide. The limpet Patella vulgata is found in middens from the Mediterranean to Norway, and morphometric and sclerochronological analyses of its shell can provide insight into harvesting patterns and paleoenvironmental variables valuable in reconstructing climate. Previous work with P. vulgata has relied on lines on the exterior of the shell, or on lines exiting on the shell surface in shell cross-section, as annual or sub-annual markers. Shell damage may compromise these lines and limit the use of some shells, but growth lines are also found in the better-preserved shell apex. We investigated whether the growth lines in the apex of P. vulgata from two locations in Northern Europe are annual using calcein-marking and recapture. Investigations were performed at one site in the Shetland Islands (UK) and at one site at the northern limit of P. vulgata's range in Northern Norway. We also used laser ablation to measure the concentration of minerals in the shells of two individuals from Shetland to determine if patterns of minerals suggested as bioproxies for temperature and productivity varied annually. All individuals deposited one growth line in the apex during their year in the field, and the lowest ratios of Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca and to a lesser extent Mg/Ca were coincident with annual lines on the shells from Shetland. Growth at both sites was modelled using the von Bertalanffy growth function, and apex growth was nearly five times faster in Shetland than in Norway, probably a result of differences in temperature between the two locations.
This paper discusses the specialized processing of sheep leg bones for marrow retrieval, a food c... more This paper discusses the specialized processing of sheep leg bones for marrow retrieval, a food custom with a very restricted geographical and temporal distribution in the medieval Norse Shetland Islands, and medieval and later Iceland and Faroe.
The field of ancient DNA is taxonomically dominated by studies focusing on mammals. This taxonomi... more The field of ancient DNA is taxonomically dominated by studies focusing on mammals. This taxonomic bias limits our understanding of endogenous DNA preservation for vertebrate taxa with different bone physiology, such as teleost fish. In contrast to most mammalian bone, teleost bone is typically brittle, porous, lightweight and is characterized by a lack of bone remodeling during growth. Using high-throughput shotgun sequencing, we here investigate the preservation of DNA in a range of different bone elements from over 200 archaeological Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) specimens from 38 sites in northern Europe, dating up to 8000 years before present. We observe that the majority of archaeological sites (79%) yield endogenous DNA, with 40% of sites providing samples that contain high levels (> 20%). Library preparation success and levels of endogenous DNA depend mainly on excavation site and pre-extraction laboratory treatment. The use of pre-extraction treatments lowers the rate of library success, although — if successful — the fraction of endogenous DNA can be improved by several orders of magnitude. This trade-off between library preparation success and levels of endogenous DNA allows for alternative extraction strategies depending on the requirements of down-stream analyses and research questions. Finally, we find that — in contrast to mammalian bones — different fish bone elements yield similar levels of endogenous DNA. Our results highlight the overall suitability of archaeological fish bone as a source for ancient DNA and provide novel evidence for a possible role of bone remodeling in the preservation of endogenous DNA across different classes of vertebrates.
The abundance, accessibility and value of limpets as a source of food and bait for coastal people... more The abundance, accessibility and value of limpets as a source of food and bait for coastal peoples have resulted in their high frequency in shell middens worldwide. The limpet Patella vulgata is found in middens from the Mediterranean to Norway, and morphometric and sclerochronological analyses of its shell can provide insight into harvesting patterns and paleoenvironmental variables valuable in reconstructing climate. Previous work with P. vulgata has relied on lines on the exterior of the shell, or on lines exiting on the shell surface in shell cross-section, as annual or sub-annual markers. Shell damage may compromise these lines and limit the use of some shells, but growth lines are also found in the better-preserved shell apex. We investigated whether the growth lines in the apex of P. vulgata from two locations in Northern Europe are annual using calcein-marking and recapture. Investigations were performed at one site in the Shetland Islands (UK) and at one site at the northern limit of P. vulgata's range in Northern Norway. We also used laser ablation to measure the concentration of minerals in the shells of two individuals from Shetland to determine if patterns of minerals suggested as bioproxies for temperature and productivity varied annually. All individuals deposited one growth line in the apex during their year in the field, and the lowest ratios of Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca and to a lesser extent Mg/Ca were coincident with annual lines on the shells from Shetland. Growth at both sites was modelled using the von Bertalanffy growth function, and apex growth was nearly five times faster in Shetland than in Norway, probably a result of differences in temperature between the two locations.
Between ca. 790 and 1000 AD, Scandinavian settlers occupied the islands of the North Atlantic: Sh... more Between ca. 790 and 1000 AD, Scandinavian settlers occupied the islands of the North Atlantic: Shetland, the Orkneys, the Hebrides, the Faroes, Iceland, and Greenland. These offshore islands initially supported stands of willow, alder, and birch, and a range of non-arboreal species suitable for pasture for the imported Norse domestic animals. Overstocking of domestic animals, fuel collection, ironworking, and construction activity seems to have rapidly depleted the dwarf trees, and several scholars argue that soil erosion and other forms of environmental degradation also resulted from Norse landuse practices in the region. Such degradation of pasture communities may have played a significant role in changing social relationships and late medieval economic decline in the western tier colonies of Iceland and Greenland. This paper presents simple quantified models for Scandinavian environmental impact in the region, and suggests some sociopolitical causes for ultimately maladaptive floral degradation.
This paper discusses evidence for patterning in the designs and construction of dwellings in Viki... more This paper discusses evidence for patterning in the designs and construction of dwellings in Viking Period and Late Norse Shetland, and proposes changes in the use of interior space were related to significant shifts in economic activities over time.
This paper discusses the specialized processing of sheep leg bones for marrow retrieval, a food c... more This paper discusses the specialized processing of sheep leg bones for marrow retrieval, a food custom with a very restricted geographical and temporal distribution in the medieval Norse Shetland Islands, and medieval and later Iceland and Faroe.
This article discusses multidisciplinary research on the environmental catastrophe that destroyed... more This article discusses multidisciplinary research on the environmental catastrophe that destroyed the Shetland Islands community of Broo by burial in aeolian sand during the Little Ice Age.
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