Ian del Río’s Post

Denmark is blessed with large-scale (1:4000!) cadastral mapping from the late 18th and early 19th centuries. These old maps are an invaluable resource to archaeologists, historians and landscape scientists among many others. However, only about half of them have been georeferenced. This makes using them difficult. This is particularly important for archaeologists, as these maps can show the locations of bronze age barrows that haven't been registered elsewhere. In our research project Glemte Gravhøje, supported by the Kulturministeriets Forsknings Pulje, we seek to tap into the skills and knowhow of citizen scientists to both help georeference the remaining maps, and identify examples of the barrows to train a machine learning segmentation algorithm. If you'd like to help- even by just spreading the word- our website is here: https://www.gravhøje.dk/ ( the site is in Danish but in-browser translation works) We'll expose the georeferenced maps as a webservice- you can see progress here: https://lnkd.in/dqUy2jN8 #GIS #Archaeology

Exciting new research published! 📚🔬 "A Hierarchical Bayesian Examination of the Chronological Relationship between the Noaillian and Rayssian Phases of the French Middle Gravettian" by William E. Banks et al. sheds light on Upper Paleolithic cultures' chronology in France. Abstract: Explore the refined chronology of Middle Gravettian cultures and their relationships to environmental shifts using innovative Bayesian age modeling. 📊🌍 #PrehistoricCulture #RadiocarbonDating #EnvironmentalChanges #Archaeology #Chronology #Gravettian Read more: https://lnkd.in/gKZCd93X 📖Keywords: Middle Gravettian, Noaillian, Rayssian, chronology, Bayesian age modeling, Heinrich Stadial 3 #Research #Archaeology #Paleolithic #ScientificDiscoveries

📢📚 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! 

Some years ago, I visited a remarkable circular structure made from thousands of bones of woolly mammoth. It measured 12 metres across. And ps. may I add before I continue that fossilised mammoth bones are surprisingly sharp, in case you are unaware (as I was), and I'll have you know this field trip cost me my pair of Birkenstocks. Anyway, circular structures made from the bones of woolly mammoths are known from across the North and East European Plains. Most are found along the Desna/Dnepr River systems in present-day Ukraine and Russia. Yet the origin of the mammoth bones remains uncertain. In our study now out on bioRxiv, we integrate radiocarbon dating, ancient DNA, palaeoproteomics, and stable isotope analysis to investigate 39 mammoth individuals excavated from the site. Our findings help broaden our understanding of the activity and resource use of Upper Palaeolithic humans. And of how the heck these bones ended up where they did. This picture is from Kostenki 11, an archeological site embedded in a complex of 26 Upper Palaeolithic sites. Indeed, the big concrete mound in the back is the Kostenki State Archeological Museum Preserve, built to encapsulate another, smaller mammoth-bone structure (unbeknownst at the time that there was a much larger structure right outside the back door under a couple of inches of soil). We find some very cool things in our study, which I must save for my next post, as I have learned on my recent science comms course that LinkedIn posts must never go >1600 characters. In the mean time, you can find a link to the preprint in the comments.

📢 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

Anyone else like archaeology? Of course, Indiana Jones is my favorite archaeologist, but the real ones are doing some amazing work! Archaeologists are using cutting-edge satellite technology to discover Mayan ruins hidden for centuries in the dense jungles of Central America. 🌳 This incredible breakthrough provides valuable insights into the Mayan civilization, their advanced knowledge of astronomy and mathematics, and how they adapted to their environment. Did you know that the Maya developed a sophisticated writing system and a complex calendar system? Who knows what secrets we'll unearth next? 🤔 #MayanRuins #Archaeology #SpaceExploration #LidarTechnology #AncientCivilization Source: https://lnkd.in/gFqGQ7aw

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

A group of Spanish researchers has applied techniques that allow Paleolithic archaeological findings to be dated with an accuracy of only decades: “Here we report high-resolution time differences between six Middle Palaeolithic hearths from El Salt Unit X (Spain) obtained through archaeomagnetic and archaeostratigraphic analyses. The set of hearths covers at least around 200–240 years with 99% probability, having decade- and century-long intervals between the different hearths. Our results provide a quantitative estimate of the time framework for the human occupation events included in the studied sequence. This is a step forward in Palaeolithic archaeology, a discipline in which human behaviour is usually approached from a temporal scale typical of geological processes, whereas significant change may happen at the smaller scales of human generations. Here we reach a timescale close to a human lifespan.” https://lnkd.in/e_9khUJ6 #OnScienceAndSociety

“Geoarchaeology Within the Context of Cultural Resource Management (CRM) Today” Denver, 2025. “In the United States, professional geoarchaeologists have conducted investigations in Cultural Resource Management (CRM) for more than 40 years. Some work as independent subcontractors, others as part of CRM, environmental, or engineering firms. In recent years, requirements for geoarchaeological analyses and fieldwork (e.g., buried archaeological site sensitive modeling, deep testing) have increased significantly although demands and regulatory standards and practices still vary widely across the country. The trend and momentum continue to accelerate indicating trained geoarchaeologists will continue to be in demand. This session highlights the work of contemporary CRM geoarchaeologists who are actively practicing research and fieldwork. Their papers illustrate the many challenges and archaeological research questions that can be addressed by the integration of the geosciences and archaeology, and the benefits of this integration for any archaeological investigation and successful project management and completion.” Don’t miss this session either. Co-organized by me and Karl Kibler, RPA https://lnkd.in/eBJqrPYw #yearofgeoarchaeology #erm #ermgeoarchaeology #sustainability #ermculturalheritage #SAA2025 #culturalheritage #STP #societyforamericanarchaeology #geologicalsocietyofamerica #geoarchaeology #geology #deeptesting #ACRA #geoarchaeologist #culturalresources #SHPO #THPO #archaeology #crm #coring #geoprobe #floodplains #fluvial #alluvial #paleosols #river #geomorphology #rivers #fluvialgeomorphology #stratigraphy #fluvial #colluvial #buriedAhorizons #alluvial #glacial #eolian #coastal #societyforamericanarchaeology #geomorphic #paleolandscapes #probabilitymodeling #predictivemodeling #radiocarbon #geotechnical #glacial #lacustrine #GIS #hillshade #denver #colorado

My understanding is that we are going to re-seal the parameters that were settled in 2007-08, fifteen years ago, years in advance of the counter clock move (fake it, fake it, the brexit, until everyone begins to think that the UK #Isolation in a real Global World is the only way to keep the #insularity). Interesting approach and review are coming. Reminder: While I would like to talk about the quinto, and about the first fishermen landing there, in Canterbury, other approaches are being revisited and reviewed. It is a race and a true fight against the clock in certain levels - the underwater, sea levels. The research in this area (abandoned archaeological sites) is promising discussions and high emotions. Be prepared. 5/4/2024 ------ "Scientists are in a race against time to discover the history of the settlement before it erodes completely (University of Warwick) Led by the University of Warwick's Professor Robin Allaby, the scientists are employing optical simulated luminescence (OSI), which enables them to establish when the underwater ruins were last exposed to direct sunlight, helping to date them more accurately and in turn reveal more about a significant period in Britain's history. Ella Herbison recovery Experts hope that through their research they can also discover why previous surveys of the settlement found that some equipment and features of the ruins were 2.000 years ahead of its time. In fact, a discovery of a wooden platform in Bouldnor Cliff in 2019 challenged current beliefs about the Mesolithic period, suggesting it was far more advanced than previously thought. They also hope to learn more about boat-building activity in the area at the time."