In search of a local palaeoenvironmental record : combining archaeobotany and stable carbon isotopes to investigate life, occupation patterns and water stress at the epipalaeolithic site of Kharaneh IV in the Azraq Basin, Jordan
This thesis employs two approaches to investigate water stress at the early and mid Epipalaeolithic site of Kharaneh IV in the Azraq Basin, Jordan. Firstly, the archaeobotanical analysis explores the local environment by using the ecology of identifiable charred seeds to indicate water availability (autoecology). Included alongside this is a seed catalogue, which presents the unique archaeobotanical assemblage recovered through sampling. Secondly, to further explore the local palaeoenvironment and due to the potential broad hydrological tolerances of some species, stable carbon isotope ÎŽ13C analysis of the archaeobotanical remains is used to track changes in water stress during the occupation of the site. These analyses provide a complementary approach to traditional archaeobotanical studies. Combined, these data offer considerable insight into questions about the local environment, particularly water stress, and the potential use of plants during the occupation of Kharaneh IV. The results presented here demonstrate that Kharaneh IV experienced variable water stress throughout its occupation, with a drying out of the site coincident with the end of occupation. This signature of drying is found within both
Bode, Leslie Jennifer Kate
CC Archaeology ; GN Anthropology
In search of a local palaeoenvironmental record : combining archaeobotany and stable carbon isotopes to investigate life, occupation patterns and water stress at the epipalaeolithic site of Kharaneh IV in the Azraq Basin, Jordan. This thesis employs two approaches to investigate water stress at the early and mid Epipalaeolithic site of Kharaneh IV in the Azraq Basin, Jordan. Firstly, the archaeobotanical analysis explores the local environment by using the ecology of identifiable charred seeds to indicate water availability (autoecology). Included alongside this is a seed catalogue, which presents the unique archaeobotanical assemblage recovered through sampling. Secondly, to further explore the local palaeoenvironment and due to the potential broad hydrological tolerances of some species, stable carbon isotope ÎŽ13C analysis of the archaeobotanical remains is used to track changes in water stress during the occupation of the site. These analyses provide a complementary approach to traditional archaeobotanical studies. Combined, these data offer considerable insight into questions about the local environment, particularly water stress, and the potential use of plants during the occupation of Kharaneh IV. The results presented here demonstrate that Kharaneh IV experienced variable water stress throughout its occupation, with a drying out of the site coincident with the end of occupation. This signature of drying is found within both
search local palaeoenvironmental record combine archaeobotany stable_carbon isotope investigate life occupation pattern water stress epipalaeolithic site basin jordan employ two_approach investigate water stress site basin jordan firstly archaeobotanical_analysis explore local_environment use ecology identifiable seed indicate water availability included alongside seed catalogue present_unique archaeobotanical assemblage_recover sampling secondly explore local due potential broad hydrological tolerance specie stable_carbon isotope_analysis archaeobotanical remain used track change water stress occupation_site analysis provide complementary traditional archaeobotanical study combined data offer considerable insight question local_environment particularly water stress potential use plant occupation present experience variable water stress throughout occupation dry site coincident end occupation signature dry find_within