Archaeoentomology

We report the recovery of short fragments of PCR amplifiable ancient DNA from exoskeletal fragments of the grain weevil Sitophilus granarius (L.) extracted from Roman and medieval deposits in Northern England. If DNA preservation in archaeological insect remains is widespread then many applications in the spheres of evolutionary studies and archaeology can be conceived, some of which are outlined.

Since 1982, Stephen J. Gould and Elisabeth Vrba’s concept of exaptation has been adopted, to varying degrees, by a number of biological and social science disciplines. However, it remains a missing term in the study of archaeologically recovered insect remains and entomologically-related artefacts. Exaptation refers to the process by which a characteristic acquires a function for which it was not originally adapted. The application of Gould and Vrba’s concept to the field of archaeoentomology could enhance our perception of past social, environmental, and climatic conditions as well as interactions. Herein, biological and technological examples of the enduring relationship between synanthropic insects and humans are explored using exaptation.

The  combination  of  archaeoentomological  and  forensic  analyses,  known  as  "Funerary Archaeoentomology", yields important new insights into our knowledge of past burial practices: secondary body handling, taphonomy of the grave, delayed burial, grave reopening and anthropogenic
mummification processes. After a detailed review of the sampling methods for insect remains retrieval, diagnostic identification criteria for the archaeoentomofauna are provided for a better understanding and interpretation of grave taphocenosis. The second part of this paper highlights
how the ichnological approach, namely the study of trace fossils present on bones and on some various exogenous materials present in the grave, proved to be an efficient new tool to improve our knowledge of pre- and post-depositional taphonomic processes.

Le bois est l’une des matieres premieres les plus utilisees dans la construction romaine, ce qui en faitun element cle de l’economie et de l’environnement. Mais contrairement a la pierre, ce materiau nelaisse que peu de traces sur le terrain, rendant ainsi son interpretation parfois complexe.Cette these tente d’aborder le bois de construction gallo-romain sous differents aspects (choix et transportdu bois, chaine operatoire technique du travail et etat sanitaire) a partir d’une approche interdisciplinairealliant Sciences de l’Homme et Sciences biologiques.Le point novateur de ce travail reside dans la realisation d’une cle de determination des traces (galerieset vermoulures) que les insectes xylophages laissent dans le bois archeologique. Savoir identifier ces traces conduit a de nouvelles pistes interpretatives : determiner le moment ou s’est produitl’infestation (bois sur pied, lors d’une phase de stockage, apres sa mise en place dans l’architectureou apres l’abandon du site et l’...

Archeoentomology is a new Entomology approach, little known in Brazil, which uses analysis of insects preserved in archaeological deposits for understanding environmental changes resulting from human actions. This paper reviews the potential of insects to explain the conditions related to death of individuals, human diet and interaction between humans and their habitat, as well to paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Microscopic screening was also performed in the sediment of a Tupiguarani burial urn with primary burial of the Lagoa Xambrê 1 site (PR-XA-001), excavated in 1976 in Altônia, Paraná, Brazil. From the sediment were recovered Arthropoda of the classes Arachnida (Araneae, Mesostigmata, Oribatida, Pseudoscorpiones) and Insecta (Blattaria, Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Diptera, Isoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Psocoptera), Mollusca of the class Gastropoda, plant remains and other vestiges. It were recorded the first occurrences of beetles Corticaria sp. (Latridiidae: Corticariinae) for Brazil and Bembidion sp. (Carabidae: Trechinae) for Paraná state. The habit of most species was consistent with the site location. Some specimens were related to the surrounding forest but it cannot be assumed if these species are contemporaneous to the site or not. Other insects are associated with body decomposition that possibly occurred in the fall, and the plant remains indicated the use of fern leaves during the funerary ritual. The entomological remains also indicate the practice of planting corn by this Tupiguarani group and prior use of the urn as a reservoir of plants. It is recommended a curation plan in order to prevent degradation of the urn by biological agents. The entomological analysis stands out as a promising tool in archaeological research, but needs to be improved in each work.

Medieval York was one of the largest and most important cities in England. The close confines of the city, the household and industrial waste, alongside the air and water pollution made this a city known for its pervasive smells, which at the time were considered to be a leading cause of disease. This paper aims to present the environmental context for disease combined with the human osteological record to reconstruct the pathoecology of medieval York. Combining archaeological and historical data, we gain insight into the interplay between medieval culture, disease, health, and the urban environment. It is clear that local authorities were concerned about urban pollution, and historical evidence demonstrates that legal measures were taken to remove or regulate some of the perceived causes of pollution. There is a demonstrable trend towards improving environmental conditions in York between the 11th and mid-16th century. However, it is likely that the extant socio-environmental conditions continued to contribute to morbidity, as evidenced by the prevalence of infection.

RÉSUMÉ Les parasites externes, ou ectoparasites, partagent avec leurs hôtes une longue histoire coévolutive. Enfouis dans les sédiments ou encore fixés aux poils de quelques momies animales, certains ont pu se conserver jusqu'à nous. Leur étude, qui s'inscrit conjointement dans les domaines de l'archéoentomologie et de l'archéoparasitologie, nous renseigne sur l'origine et la diffusion de ces insectes et arachnides parasites, mais également sur le rôle fondamental que ces derniers ont pu jouer dans la transmission de germes pathogènes. ABSTRACT Amphitryon-animals: Archaeology of ectoparasitism. External parasites, or ectoparasites, share a long co-evolutionary history with their hosts. Buried in sediments or still attached to the fur of some mummified animals, some of them have been preserved up to our days. Their study, forming part both of archaeoentomology and archaeoparasitology disciplines, provides relevant information about the origin and spread of these parasitic insects and arachnids as well as on the key role they have played in the transmission of microbial pathogens.

Fossil insect assemblages from post-medieval Skálholt, the oldest episcopal see in Iceland, provide new information about indoor environments and the specific use of a structure which according to historical information was listed as a larder attached to the episcopal school. The assemblages recovered also provide information on the background fauna which comprises of species related to turves, used for building construction and indicating storage of peat. In addition to the introduced Sitophilus granarius, the granary weevil, a new pest, Callosobruchus maculatus which is a pan-tropical and subtropical field and storage pest of legumes, and a rarely introduced species in Iceland even today, were also recovered from the site. In view of the nature of the assemblages, these were probably accidental introductions into the room, perhaps in faeces. The historical record provides information about the life history and events at Skálholt and data about school supplies including imports of ...

Este breve artículo trata de valorar la aportación de la arqueo-entomología en cuatro campos de investigación: la paleoecología, la economía de las sociedades antiguas (en relación con el cultivo de los cereales), la paleopatología y las costumbres funerarias.

Le site archéologique de l’îlot des Palais (CeEt-30) est un des hauts lieux d’importance dans l’histoire de la Nouvelle-France. C’est ici que réside l’intendant, l’un des piliers du gouvernement royal en Nouvelle-France de ca. 1675 à 1760. Il a été l’objet de fouilles archéologiques depuis 1982 et a continué, jusqu’à la dernière fouille programmée de 2016, de fournir une panoplie de nouvelles informations sur les uses et coutumes des occupants du site. Un site archéologique d’une telle richesse est donc, à prime abord, un excellent lieu pour aborder la question de l’interaction entre l’Homme et son milieu. C’est donc l’objectif que s’est fixé l’auteure à l’origine de cette recherche. Cet objectif principal est décliné en deux problématiques  distinctes mais, malgré tout, complémentaires, à savoir considérer l’impact Européen sur le paysage du site et celui du paysage sur l’identité coloniale.

Pour ce faire, la paléoentomologie et l’archéoentomologie, soit l’étude des insectes subfossiles, ont été mises à contribution. Plus de 9 850 individus appartenant à plus de 250 taxons de coléoptères ont permis de reconstituer le paysage associé à dix périodes d’occupation subséquentes précédant l’établissement sur le site (ca. 800 à ca. 1662) et lui faisant suite (ca. 1666 à 1713). Également, il a été possible de retracer les changements au paysage du site pendant ces périodes.

L’étude a permis d’aborder divers aspects de l’impact européen sur le paysage du site, à savoir la modification de la biodiversité entomologique, la déforestation, la disparition des milieux humides, la biogéographie des coléoptères ainsi que la gestion du territoire. Il n’a toutefois pas été possible de concrètement aborder l’impact du paysage sur la canadianisation.

Les résultats obtenus ici ouvrent la voie aux recherches futures et leur offrent diverses problématiques. Les deux principales sont l’exploration plus approfondie des effets du tremblement de terre de 1663 sur les sites archéologiques du sud-est du Québec et les tentatives infructueuses d’implantation d’insectes adventices.

This research was carried out to provide additional bioarchaeological data to test the function of medieval manure pits. These rectangular features that are commonly found in the late medieval period still pose a mystery to modern archaeology. Dr.  Roos van Oosten (2014) suggested a function as early hotbeds. Beetle taxa were used to determine whether an agricultural purpose appears likely, and if there are thermophilic taxa present that indicate a rise in temperature that is necessary for a hotbed.

A theoretical framework was set, based on a subdivision of the assemblages as described by Aerts (2016) and the stable manure indicator package by Kenward and Hall (1997). An identification scheme was created for the three suggested purposes of manure pit, manure storage, cultivating bed or hotbed, as well as a theoretical typology of what they could stratigraphically look like.

Two manure pits that were previously investigated by Jantine Hos (2015) were reinvestigated for coleopteran remains: a manure pit from ‘s Hertogenbosch Postkantoor/Kerkstraat (F77) and a manure pit from Dordrecht Statenplein (S583). A third manure pit was sampled by the author specifically for this research at the Aalmarkt of Leiden (S9001).

F77 could potentially serve an agricultural function, but no conclusive evidence was found. S583 and S9001 make strong cased for the purpose of cultivating bed, but no thermophilic taxa were identified to indicate any form of raised temperatures. S9001 has shown that a correct sampling strategy can have a large impact on the interpretation of such cases, as the vast majority of agricultural indicators were present in filling 1, which is potentially a mulch layer. The botanical and agricultural data for S583 aligned perfectly. The coleopteran assemblage for S9001 contained similar or overlapping taxa, indicating a cultivation purpose for mostly Brassicaceae, although one abundant taxon indicates Leguminosae. A noteworthy observation is that both of these features contain waste material and artefacts associated with leather working.

More interdisciplinary research needs to be carried out to solve this puzzle. Botanical and entomological evidence have proved that at least a number of these pits have served a cultivating purpose. A more detailed idea of the typologies, stratigraphies and contexts is needed in addition to a more complete understand of their artefactual and ecofactual contents.

This study addresses the potential of palaeoentomological remains to stand as evidence of past trade and culture contact. Three methodological tools are used to evaluate the effectiveness of insect subfossils as palaeoeconomic indicators: palaeoecology, biogeography, and isotopic analysis. Underpinning each of the methodological approaches is the premise that specific insect fauna are notably stenotopic in their distributional range. By superimposing the physiological and ecological habits of modern species over the archaeological record, they may effectively serve as analogues to interpret palaeoentomological evidence. In addition to the three applied methodologies, the potential for palaeoentomological remains to yield assayable genetic sequences is explored and ancient DNA recovered from preserved Roman and medieval specimens. If aDNA preservation is widespread in palaeoentomological remains, a phylogeographic method is conceivable as a means for assessing past trade and migration.

A find of 2572 charred seeds of pea (Pisum sativum L.) was detected at the Late Bronze Age tell settlement
Hissar near Leskovac, in Serbia, belonging to the Brnjica cultural group, 14–10 cent. BC. Two types of pea seeds were
observed: apparently healthy seeds and seeds damaged by the activity of a weevil (Coleoptera, Bruchidae). At least twofifths of all finds have apparently been infested most probably by pea weevil (Bruchus pisorum L.), one of the most
important pea pests worldwide, especially in medium-moist and dry climates, such as Southern Europe and Australia. A
large amount of infested pea seeds indicates a developed pea production on small plots, strongly indicating that
cultivating this ancient pulse crop must have been well-rooted in field conditions. Previous DNA analyses of charred pea
placed the ancient Hissar pea at an intermediate position between extantly cultivated pea (P. sativum L. subsp. sativum var.
sativum) and a wild, winter hardy, ‘tall’ pea (P. sativum subsp. elatius (Steven ex M. Bieb.) Asch. et Graebn.). Based on an
assumption of its late harvest time and combined with pea weevil life cycle stage in charred seeds, it was possible to
estimate the season during which the seeds were carbonized, namely, the second half of July or the first days of August
at the latest. Older, final weevil instars were predominant before seed carbonization. The pea infestation rate at Hissar is
one of the highest noted among pulses in the Old World and the highest among peas, so far.

Parmi les agents biologiques non humains (carnivores, rongeurs, bactéries, racines…), différents ordres d’arthropodes interviennent significativement dans les processus taphonomiques de dégradation osseuse. Les lésions ostéolytiques qui en résultent, bien que souvent spectaculaires, demeurent cependant peu documentées. Comme il sera donné de le voir dans ce chapitre à travers de nombreux exemples illustrés, la reconnaissance et caractérisation de ces altérations osseuses présentent un réel intérêt pour les anthropologues, archéozoologues et paléopathologistes.

Many archaeoentomological samples were processed in order to test the efficiency of paraffin floatation, as described by Kenward et al. (1980). The general loss in identifiable entomological remains, minimal number of individuals, and number of taxa is investigated. It appears that, although a certain percentage of remains and individuals is lost, no significant difference between the flot and the entire sample exists for the number of taxa recovered. The potential validity of various hypotheses found in the literature related to the inefficiency of paraffin floatation was examined. The experience of the worker and the type of sediment appears as being significant factor. Healthier and more environmentally acceptable alternative were tested but none proved satisfying.
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Animal sacrifice has played an important role as a material expression of the ritual behavior practiced by different societies around the world. In the South American Andes, the ceremonial immolation of llamas is well documented by both ethnohistoric and ethnographic sources. Nevertheless, archaeological evidence of animal sacrifice remains poorly documented. In this paper, we report the burial of two young camelids from El Pacífico, a Formative Period ceremonial site located on the central coast of Peru. AMS radiocarbon dates suggest the ritual sacrifice occurred when the architecture of the site was no longer in use, around the time of the Inca conquest. Based on the presence of cut marks and fly pupae, we suggest that one of the camelids, a yearling llama, was sacrificed by removal of its heart and buried shortly thereafter. Similarly, given the location of cut marks and representation of skeletal parts, we infer that the second camelid was slaughtered for human consumption prior to burial. In accordance with documented Andean rites, archaeological evidence from El Pacifico suggests that practitioners of camelid sacrifice followed a behavioral script following the selection of the animal to its final interment. We hypothesize the costly performance of this ceremony at an ancestral sacred site was part of a social and political strategy for promoting intergroup social cohesion during the arrival of the Incas to the region.

This article proposes a conceptual model to link arthropod assemblages to cultural formation processes. By defining the systemic contexts as domestic, peridomestic and natural, and the archaeological context as an urban archaeological pit containing waste, the movement of deposits can be traced through the ecological implications of the present arthropod remains. The distance between the original systemic context and the archaeological context defines four different sub-assemblages. These are then further divided into groups that show the relationship with human activities to separate the natural from the cultural formation process and indicate the type of deposit based on synanthropicity. Furthermore, a number of niche groups are distinguished to indicate the material contents and characteristics of a deposit. Reconstructing the origins and characteristics of these deposits allow for a better understanding of site formations and the functions of pits. Especially when there is no visible stratigraphic succession at the time of excavation, high resolution ecological information can shed light on the stratigraphy of a pit.

Background: Ticks belonging to the Rhipicephalus sanguineus group are amongst the most important vectors of
pathogenic microorganisms to dogs and humans. However, the taxonomy of this species group is still the subject
of debate, especially because there is no type specimen or reliable morphological description for Rhipicephalus
sanguineus sensu stricto. Recently, a comprehensive morphological and genetic study on representative tick
specimens from Europe, Africa, Americas, and Oceania, revealed the existence of at least four morphologically and
genetically distinct species under the name ‘R. sanguineus’ infesting dogs from different countries.

Methods: Herein, we examined morphologically tick specimens retrieved on a dog mummy from Ancient Egypt
(ca. 1st century – 4th century A.D.). The dog mummy and associated ticks were found during an archaeological
expedition conducted in El Deir.

Results: Scanning electron micrographs allowed us to assess their identity as belonging to the R. sanguineus group.
In addition on the basis of the scutal punctation pattern, spiracular plates, width of dorsal tail of spiracular plates
relative to the adjacent festoon, female genital aperture, male adanal plates and accessory shields, these ticks were
tentatively identified as Rhipicephalus sp. II (=temperate species).

Conclusions: It can be concluded that R. sanguineus group ticks have infested dogs living in the Mediterranean
region since ancient times. This finding represents the oldest record of ticks on any animal species and adds a new
piece in the complex puzzle regarding tick parasitism on dogs and humans and their role as vectors of pathogens.

L’étude de vestiges d’origine végétale conduite sur des corpus de contextes archéologiques permet parfois la découverte de restes d’insectes ou de leurs traces qui témoignent, a posteriori, de leur activité sur les graines et autres restes botaniques. Ces ravageurs, majoritairement synanthropes, ont eu un impact notable sur les économies agro-sylvo-pastorales des civilisations anciennes, occasionnant parfois des pertes majeures des réserves alimentaires. Leur étude nous renseigne sur l’état sanitaire des denrées stockées, leur origine ainsi que sur certaines pratiques agronomiques du passé. Bien que de nombreuses questions subsistent encore sur l’apparition de cette singulière commensalité, les données issues de l’archéoentomologie semblent indiquer un lien de causalité entre la prolifération de diverses espèces déprédatrices et les processus de néolithisation. L’apparition des premiers stockages de récoltes et la constitution de réserves alimentaires auraient constitué un environnement idéal pour l’établissement et le maintien de parasites hexapodes dans un écosystème résolument anthropogénique.
Au sein des cortèges d’insectes commensaux, les coléoptères sont nettement majoritaires, certains se singularisant par une hyper-spécialisation trophique (oligophagie), d’autres étant plus polyphages. En vertu de leur importance économique mais également parce que ces insectes sont généralement les mieux conservés en contexte  archéologique, ces derniers seront largement abordés dans le cadre de cette étude.

Human skeletal remains were uncovered during localised quarrying works on farmland in Kildimo, Co. Limerick, in the summer of 2005. Subsequent archaeological work entailed the complete excavation of two skeletons, the recovery of disarticulated bones, the recording of two other truncated graves and an overall site plan.The two excavated skeletons were a double burial of a 12–14-year-old possible female and a 6–9-year-old child.The two truncated graves contained the remains of a possible adult and another young child.The remains of two other adults were identified in the disarticulated bones.The site represents a previously unrecorded cemetery.An early medieval radiocarbon date was obtained for burial 1 (young adolescent female). Insect remains were visible in the abdominal areas of the double burial and this soil was sampled.They were discovered to be the remarkably well-preserved disarticulated remains of blowflies, who generally feed on fresh cadavers of humans and animals, as well as on other decomposed animal products and excrement.The presence of these fly remains on the two young bodies would indicate that they were exposed for some time above ground before burial.The bodies were buried to a depth of 0.5m and blowflies rarely burrow to that depth, nor do they generally feed on already decaying corpses.They can, however, complete their life cycle below ground, so the bodies may have been buried while the flies were in their pupal stage, where they later hatched out and died in situ.The reason why the burial of these two individuals was delayed until decomposition set in is open to speculation. In addition, there are indications that these early medieval burials may be Christian in origin, and may be linked with an Early Christian site, perhaps associated with St Díoma, for whom the townland is named.The extremely unusual finding of the insects greatly increases our understanding of the pre-burial history of the skeletal remains and highlights the value of integrated specialist approaches to archaeological excavation.

We are delighted to announce the International Conference on the Science of Ancient Egyptian Materials and Technologies (SAEMT), to take place in Cairo in November 2017. The conference invites the submission of abstracts for papers and posters in English from international researchers who employ various archaeological sciences in their research on ancient Egyptian materials, and their adoption, developments and technologies. The conference's aims are threefold: first, to provide specialists employing archaeological sciences, who may not often meet, the opportunity to present their research and exchange ideas. Secondly, the conference will emphasise the importance of archaeological sciences and interdisciplinary approaches within Egyptology. Finally, the conference will provide a space for those working within Egypt to discuss measures for overcoming limitations that hinder scientific applications in Egypt. Panel discussions will also explore topics such as access to the necessary reliable facilities to perform analysis and how to improve the levels and standards of analytical methods. The papers will be published in a peer reviewed publication. Topics: We invite papers and posters dealing with archaeometric approaches to the following themes: Mining and quarrying: working at raw materials outcrops and stone tools technology.  Building: State controlled and domestic construction materials and methods: stone, mud and wood.  Pyro-technology: production and processing of metals, ceramics, glass, faience and frit.  Graphic and aesthetic technologies: writing, painting and sculpture.  Funerary technologies: materials and techniques connected with burial.  Agricultural and food technology: subsistence, production and consumption.  Domestic and local craft technologies: providing for the living and the dead-with textiles and leatherworking, carpentry, basketry, cosmetics, ivory and bone working.

The arrival of Europeans along the northeastern seaboard of North America heralded the introduction of Old World flora and fauna to the region. The analysis of archaeologically recovered beetle remains suggests that many species may have journeyed across the Atlantic in ships' ballast, food stores, and other provisions. The creation of artificial habitats which occurred as a result of the fisheries and the construction of settlements provided an ecological corridor that facilitated the successful invasion of the European biota. Many of these adventive or accidentally introduced beetle species are associated with synanthropic and disturbed-land habitats which would have been mimicked in the coastal colonies. The arrival of this fauna ultimately contributed to the creation of Europeanized spaces upon the North American landscape.

Insect remains from archaeological contexts have proven to be valuable indicators of past human activity and have provided unique insight into land-use patterns, palaeodiet, and the role of domestic animals and plants in industry. The present study reports the first application of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes towards waterlog-preserved beetle and bug remains from Romano-British sites in the north of England. The results of the isotope analyses found the insect chitin signatures to be comparable to previous studies of contemporaneous bone collagen in the area. The marriage of stable isotope analysis to archaeoentomology during this preliminary investigation provided new data for the study of animal husbandry and agricultural practices during the Roman Period. It offers insight into the availability and use of agricultural crops as well as the diet and grazing environments of domesticates.

Archaeoentomological research at the precontact site of Nunalleq (sixteenth and seventeenth centuries AD), Southwest Alaska, has identified hundreds of lice and fleas that infested both the human inhabitants of the site and their canine companions. As lice are host specific, staying attached to the host’s hair or fur during the totality of their lifecycle, they are generally considered excellent indicators of activity areas. Fleas, however, are relatively less common in archaeological contexts and, since they are mobile and able to infest several different host species, their potential use in the spatial reconstruction of activities is more limited. At Nunalleq, the study of insects from the most recent archaeological contexts produced very different spatial distribution patterns for human lice, fleas, and dog lice. This article compares these archaeoentomological data with other datasets available for the site (carrion-feeding flies, human hair, fur, coprolites, projectile points, ...

Despite the meticulous care bestowed by Ancient Egyptian embalmers, numerous mummies have suffered from attacks by depredatory insects. The Egyptian mummy from the Museum Anne de Beaujeu, entrusted for restoration to the C2RMF (Versailles), did not escape the invasions of thanatophagous arthropoda, which have been preserved up till now. Beyond this post-mortem colonization, paleoparasitological investigations conducted on this mummy revealed that the latter suffered from severe pediculosis, as evidenced by the myriads of lice and nits discovered on the remaining hair.