Out of sight, but not out of mind : exploring how phytolith and geochemical analysis can contribute to understanding social use of space during the Neolithic in the Levant through ethnographic comparison
This research evaluates the potential of a geochemical and phytolith dual methodology for identifying activity areas at ephemeral sites, and adds to our understanding of the formation processes involved in the creation and preservation of soil signatures at ephemeral sites situated in dynamic environments. The work focuses on an investigation of the social use of space in temporary contexts using ethnographic and Neolithic case studies in Jordan. The background to this research involves the need for a better understanding of ancient activities at ephemeral sites during the Neolithic in the Near East. Despite the importance of this period, there are still many unanswered questions regarding the dramatic changes in subsistence and lifestyle that are associated with it. The structures built in this period, which in many ways embody the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to farming communities, are difficult to interpret due to their ephemeral nature and scarcity of organic remains. Nevertheless, although the motivation behind this research is achieving a better understanding of the Neolithic in the Near East, its outcomes are widely applicable to studies of ephemeral archaeological sites in various settings.
Vos, Daniella
Out of sight, but not out of mind : exploring how phytolith and geochemical analysis can contribute to understanding social use of space during the Neolithic in the Levant through ethnographic comparison. This research evaluates the potential of a geochemical and phytolith dual methodology for identifying activity areas at ephemeral sites, and adds to our understanding of the formation processes involved in the creation and preservation of soil signatures at ephemeral sites situated in dynamic environments. The work focuses on an investigation of the social use of space in temporary contexts using ethnographic and Neolithic case studies in Jordan. The background to this research involves the need for a better understanding of ancient activities at ephemeral sites during the Neolithic in the Near East. Despite the importance of this period, there are still many unanswered questions regarding the dramatic changes in subsistence and lifestyle that are associated with it. The structures built in this period, which in many ways embody the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to farming communities, are difficult to interpret due to their ephemeral nature and scarcity of organic remains. Nevertheless, although the motivation behind this research is achieving a better understanding of the Neolithic in the Near East, its outcomes are widely applicable to studies of ephemeral archaeological sites in various settings.
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