Carmen Parrón, PhD’s Post

My New scientist series post-45 (22.05.2024) "Researchers succeed for first time in accurately dating a 7,000-year-old prehistoric settlement using cosmic rays" Researchers from the University of Bern have achieved a breakthrough in dating a prehistoric settlement in northern Greece, accurately pinpointing its age to over 7,000 years ago. They combined annual growth ring measurements from wooden structures with a significant radiocarbon spike in 5259 BC. This method provides a robust chronological anchor for other archaeological sites in Southeast Europe. Accurate dating is crucial in archaeology, helping to determine the age of tombs, settlements, and objects. Previously, dating prehistoric finds accurately has been possible only for a few decades. Two primary methods are used: dendrochronology, which analyzes tree rings, and radiocarbon dating, which measures the decay of carbon-14. The University of Bern team successfully dated timber from the Dispilio site in northern Greece to specific years between 5328 and 5140 BC. They leveraged high-energy cosmic particles that are precisely dated to 5259 BC. Their findings are published in Nature Communications. Dendrochronology identifies patterns of annual rings influenced by climate, but these patterns vary regionally. In Central Europe, tree-ring chronology goes back nearly 12,500 years, but no such chronology exists for the Mediterranean. This makes dating in this region "floating" until anchored by radiocarbon dating. Living trees absorb radiocarbon (14C), which decays after the tree dies. By measuring the remaining 14C in tree rings, scientists can estimate the tree's death within a few decades' accuracy. Continuous regional tree-ring chronologies allow precise dating, available for prehistoric periods only in specific regions like the southwestern U.S., northern Alpine foothills, and England/Ireland. #Materialsscience #carbondating #cosmicrays #radiocarbon(14C) #UniversityofBern #PhD #Dr #Linkedintheplace #WIT #Scienceisbliss #Womenintechnology

New Book Release: The Routledge Handbook of Archaeology and Plastics This collection explores the archaeology of our contemporary world through one of its most defining and controversial materials: plastics. Used widely since the 1950s, plastics are both essential and a problem, leaving a lasting legacy. One chapter of particular note is Chapter 9, co-written by Karl Harrison, a valued friend of Forensic Training Partnership. It highlights the vital role plastics play in forensic investigations, particularly in preserving evidence and reconstructing crime scenes. The chapter delves into the deliberate selection of plastics in forensic archaeology, their role in detection avoidance, and how they contribute to understanding the actions of those involved in crime. It also explores how plastics might one day transition from forensic utility to an archaeological marker of our civilisation. With 32 insightful contributions from experts across archaeology and related fields, this timely book is a good read for archaeologists, cultural heritage students, and anyone interested in the environmental and social impacts of plastics today. #Archaeology #ForensicArchaeology #CulturalHeritage #Plastics #EnvironmentalImpact #NewRelease

🔍 Exploring History with Modern Technology: Marine Research's Role in Unveiling Constantine the Great's Bridge 🌉   Podul lui Constantin cel Mare, or Constantine the Great's Bridge, was an ancient Roman bridge over the Danube River, connecting Romania and Bulgaria. Commissioned by Emperor Constantine the Great around 328 AD, this impressive structure exemplified advanced Roman engineering.   While specific details about the bridge's dimensions and construction methods are limited, it is known to have been large and sturdy. Roman bridges typically featured stone piers and wooden superstructures.   On May 19, 2017, in the area between river km 629-637, Marine Research conducted bathymetric measurements as part of the FAST DANUBE project, aimed at improving navigation on the joint Romanian-Bulgarian sector of the Danube. Our mission was to ensure safe transportation and stable navigation conditions year-round, following the Danube Commission's recommendations. In the archaeological area of Corabia-Celei, our surveys uncovered 27 possible traces of Constantine the Great's Bridge, stretching over 820 meters with an average spacing of 30 meters. These findings highlight the historical evolution of the Danube in this region.   During our field campaigns from April to September 2017, we utilized modern equipment, including the Kongsberg Maritime #GeoSwath Plus Compact 250 kHz multibeam sonar and the Trimble Applanix WaveMaster POS MV system for precise positioning.   📚 For more details on this significant discovery and our comprehensive study, read the full article here: https://shorturl.at/SUaSM #MarineResearch #Archaeology #Hydrology #HistoricalDiscovery #DanubeRiver #BathymetricSurvey #Romania #NavigationSafety #Bulgaria #HistoricalBridges #HistoricalFinds #ModernTechnology #MarineScience #ArchaeologicalSurvey #RiverNavigation #EngineeringExcellence #HistoricalSignificance #RomanEmpire #GeoAcoustics

🏛️𝗨𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲: 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁 Archaeology provides insights into how ancient civilizations adapted to and were affected by environmental changes, offering lessons for modern climate constraints. Archaeologists have been piecing together climate puzzles since the first human picked up the tool, using methods like ice-core analysis to reconstruct past climates. Significant events include the Little Ice Age (14th to 19th centuries), which altered European agriculture, and a volcanic eruption in 536 AD that caused wide-spread darkness and famine. 📜The Vikings in Greenland thrived until a severe temperature drop made their lifestyle unsustainable. The Khmer Empire managed water resources through an extensive network of reservoirs and canals, while ancient hunter-gatherers in the American South-West dug deep wells during a prolonged drought. However, societies like Ester Island and the Tiwanaku civilization in the Andes collapsed due to resource overexploitation and extended droughts, respectively. 📜Modern archaeologists work with various scientists to extract climate data from ancient materials, emphasizing human ingenuity and the consequences of environmental management. These historical examples highlight the importance of sustainability practices as contemporary society faces its own climate crisis. Reference: https://lnkd.in/g2hetiPZ.

Archaeologists uncover advanced engineering in 6,000-year-old Spanish dolmen A recent study published in Science Advances has unveiled that the Menga Dolmen, a 6,000-year-old megalithic burial mound in southern Spain, was constructed using “advanced engineering” techniques. Built between 3800 and 3600 BCE, this Neolithic monument is a single-chamber tomb, or dolmen, consisting of 32 massive stones that collectively weigh about 1,140 metric tons. The study challenges the traditional view that construction techniques in the Neolithic era were primitive. Instead, the findings suggest that the builders possessed a sophisticated understanding of physics, geology, architectural principles, and engineering techniques... More information: https://lnkd.in/eBRjmTGk . . #archaeology #archeology #archaeologynews #megalithic #neolithic #dolmen #mengadolmen

An ancient monument discovered in Turkey may just be an ancient monument. But, if its markings are what experts think they are, it might be the world’s oldest solar calendar. In a study published in Time and Mind based on the work of researchers from the University of Edinburgh, experts write that markings at Göbekli Tepe in southern Turkey, a temple-like archaeological complex filled with intricately carved symbols, indicate the makings of a solar calendar that tracks days, seasons, and years. By analyzing the symbols carved onto pillars, the team believes that every “V” could represent a single day, given that one pillar featured 365 days. And among those, the summer solstice in particular was highlighted with a V worn around the neck of a bird-like beast meant to represent the summer solstice constellation during that time. The calendar explanation could help explain why the V symbol appears on so many other nearby statues of deities linked to time and creation, with the V almost always showing up around their neck.

Do you know the difference between terrestrial and maritime archaeology? Besides that one is on land and the other is underwater (examples: oceans, lakes, rivers, wetlands, intertidal areas), the subdisciplines are much more alike than they are different. They both include survey, testing, data recovery, laboratory analysis, and archival processing, but methodologies vary based on environmental conditions and resource type. For instance, terrestrial surveys utilizes linear transects to identify resources small and large. Maritime surveys utilize linear and/or circular transects to identify large resources because smaller artifacts are rarely visible in bodies of water. Also, maritime archaeology is more than shipwrecks! Because of climactic and/or geological dynamics, an increasing number of precontact Native American sites as well as historic-period coastal settlements are now underwater. Needs for maritime archaeology will increase with climate change and Rincon Consultants, Inc.’s maritime archaeology program is part of our efforts to support #resiliency, #energyandutilities, and #sustainability projects including #offshorewind, #coastalinfrastructure and more! Kudos to Nichole Jordan, Heather Blind, Elaine Foster, and Mark Strother for developing such an amazing program!  

📢 EVENT NOTICE: Collective Intelligence and the search for our past 04 June 2024, 12:30 - 13:30 / Online / Free Last year, citizen scientists identified over 18,000 ancient monuments while scouring Earth Observation imagery over the Peak District, Wallington, and Purbeck and Studland. What was discovered? And how can identifying archaeology help us all to make landscapes like these more resilient to climate change? Nearly 1,000 citizen scientists from 31 countries took part in a monumental effort using Deep Time – a citizen science platform for analysing Earth Observation data – to detect ancient monuments across three distinctive landscapes being affected by climate change. Funded by UKRI, the effort was spearheaded by DigVentures, in partnership with the National Trust, who own and manage large areas of these landscapes. Covering 900 km2 in less than four months, the project identified over 18,000 ancient monuments including Bronze Age Barrows, deserted medieval villages, Roman roads, and more. Half were on National Trust property and two thirds had never been previously identified. But these were by no means the most important discoveries. In this event, our panellists will discuss Deep Time’s most significant findings, what they mean for understanding our past, and how we can all make a positive impact on landscapes being affected by climate change through citizen science for archaeology. Panellists: Tom Dommett, Head of Historic Environment, National Trust Brendon Wilkins, Founder and Co-CEO, DigVentures Plus guest speakers from rest of the Deep Time team! What we’ll discuss: *Deep Time’s most important discoveries *Why citizen science is an effective form of collective action *How the discoveries can be used to make landscapes more resilient *The NT perspective on this work *Q&A REGISTER HERE 👇 https://lnkd.in/evKmufJq #archaeology #collectiveintelligence #citizenscience #earthobservationdata

It's Official! Archaeology does involve the study of dinosaurs after all! Read all about ways that plastics are entangled with archaeology in this original collection of thirty-two essays by authors from a diversity of fields and perspectives: https://lnkd.in/e_g3HMjj This project owes much to the vision of Taylor & Francis Group, and to the co-operative attitude and commitment of my wonderful co-editors, Thóra Pétursdóttir, Geneviève Godin and Estelle Praet. The co-conception, co-creation, and co-editing were an absolute pleasure.

📢📚 New Publication Announcement! 📚📢 🔹 Title: Holocene Paleohydrological Changes Reflected in Lake-Level Fluctuations in Lake Annecy (French Pre-Alps): Climatic Significance and Archeological Implications 🔹 Abstract: Lakes face threats from climate change and human activities. To better understand future freshwater availability, paleohydrological records play a vital role. Our study presents a comprehensive dataset combining sedimentology, archaeology, and chronology from Lake Annecy (eastern France) to reconstruct a lake-level history spanning the entire Holocene. The findings reveal a distinct minimum during the Holocene thermal maximum (HTM) (ca. 9000–7000 cal BP), preceded by a general lowering trend in the early Holocene and followed by a rising trend in the Neoglacial period. The Lake Annecy record aligns with regional Holocene lake-level fluctuations in West-Central Europe on both millennial and centennial scales. Orbital forcing emerges as the dominant influence, consistent with other paleoclimatic records beyond the region. Notably, the study highlights a significant magnitude of lake-level lowering (over 5 m) during the HTM, accompanied by a 2–2.5 °C temperature difference between the HTM and pre-industrial mean summer temperatures. This suggests the potential for drastic future lake-level reductions based on IPCC scenarios of climate change. Such changes would have profound impacts on human activities and the preservation of exceptional archaeological remains in regional lake basins. 🔑 Keywords: Holocene, French Pre-Alps, hydrological changes, paleoclimates, prehistoric lake dwellings 🏷️ #Holocene #LakeAnnecy #ClimateChange #Paleohydrology #Archaeology #FreshwaterResources #LakeLevelFluctuations #IPCCScenarios #OrbitalForcing #Preservation #Research 🌐 For more information, access the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/gERSscFZ ⭐ Don't miss out on this fascinating study on the climatic significance and archaeological implications of Holocene paleohydrological changes in Lake Annecy!