Diatoms and archeology

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511763175.028

27 - Diatoms and archeology

from Part V - Other applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012

Steve Juggins and

Nigel G. Cameron

Edited by

John P. Smol and

Eugene F. Stoermer

Show author details

Steve Juggins: Affiliation:
Newcastle University
Nigel G. Cameron: Affiliation:
Environmental Change Research Centre (ECRC)
John P. Smol: Affiliation:
Queen's University, Ontario
Eugene F. Stoermer: Affiliation:
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Book contents

Get access

Summary

Introduction

One of the goals of modern archeology is to understand how past communities interacted spatially, economically, socially, and culturally with their biophysical environment (Butzer, 1982). To this end archeologists have developed strong links with zoologists, botanists, and geologists to provide information on the environment of past societies and to help understand the complex relationships between culture and environment. This chapter reviews the role of diatom analysis in such studies, and illustrates how the technique can be applied at a range of spatial and temporal scales to place archeological material in its broader site, landscape, and cultural contexts. In particular, we examine applications to establish the provenance of archeological artefacts, the analysis of archeological sediments and processes of site formation, the reconstruction of local site environments, and the identification of regional environmental processes affecting site location and the function of site networks. We have chosen a small number of examples that best illustrate these applications; other case studies directly motivated by archeological problems may be found in reviews by Battarbee (1988), Mannion (1987), Miller & Florin (1989), and Cameron (2007), while diatom-based studies of past changes in sea level, climate, land use, and water quality that are also relevant to archeological investigation are reviewed elsewhere in this volume (e.g. Cooper et al., this volume; Horton & Sawai, this volume; Fritz et al., this volume; Hall & Smol, this volume).

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: The Diatoms
Applications for the Environmental and Earth Sciences
, pp. 514 - 522

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511763175.028 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Book purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Alhonen, P., Kokkonen, J., Matiskainen, H., & Vuorinen, A. (1980). Applications of AAS and diatom analysis and stylistic studies of Finnish Subneolithic pottery. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Finland, 52, 193–206.CrossRef Google Scholar

Alhonen, P. & Matiskainen, H. (1980). Diatom analysis from prehistoric pottery sherds – an archaeological evaluation. Proceedings of the Nordic Meeting of Diatomologists, Lammi Biological Station, Finland, May 6–7, pp. 45–62.

Alhonen, P. & Väkeväinen, L. (1981). Diatom-analytical studies of early comb ceramic vessels in Åland. Eripainos Suomen Museo, 67–77.Google Scholar

Ayers, B. & Murphy, P. (1983). A waterfront excavation at Whitefriars Street car park, Norwich, 1979. East Anglian Archaeology Report, 17, 1–60.

Battarbee, R. W. (1988). The use of diatoms analysis in archaeology: a review. Journal of Archaeological Science, 15, 621–44.CrossRef Google Scholar

Battarbee, R. W., Scaife, R. G., & Phethean, S. J. (1985). Palaeoecological evidence for sea-level change in the Bann estuary in the early mesolithic period. In Excavations at Mount Sandel 1973–78, ed. Woodman, P. C., Belfast: HMSO, pp. 111–20.Google Scholar

Beneš, J., Kaštovský, J., Kočárova´, R., et al. (2002). Archaeobotany of the Old Prague Town defence system, Czech Republic: archaeology, macro-remains, pollen, and diatoms. Vegetation, History and Archaeobotony, 11, 107–19.CrossRef Google Scholar

Boyd, P. D. A. (1981). The micropalaeontology and palaeoecology of medieval estuarine sediments from the Fleet and Thames in London. In Microfossils from Recent and Fossil Shelf Seas, eds. Neale, J. W. & Brasier, M. D., Chichester: Ellis Harwood, pp. 274–92.Google Scholar

Butzer, K. W. (1982). Archaeology as Human Ecology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRef Google Scholar

Cameron, N. G. (1997). The diatom evidence. In Excavations at Caldicot, Gwent: Bronze Age Palaeochannels in the Lower Nedern Valley, ed. N. Nayling & A. Caseldine, Council for British Archaeology Research, Report 108, York: Council for British Archaeology, pp. 117–28.Google Scholar

Cameron, N. G. (2007). Use in archaeology. In Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science, ed. S. A. Elias, Elsevier: Amsterdam, pp. 523–9.Google Scholar

Caran, C., Neely, J., Winsborough, B., Sorensen, F., & Valastro, S. Jr. (1996). A late Paleo-Indian/Early-Archaic water well in Mexico. Possible oldest water-management feature in New World. Geoarchaeology, 11, 1–36.3.0.CO;2-B>CrossRef Google Scholar

Castledine, C., Juggins, S., & Straker, V. (1988). Preliminary palaeoenvironmental analysis of floodplain deposits from a section near the River Exe in Exeter, Devon. In The Exploitation of Wetlands, ed. Murphy& C. French, Oxford P.: BAR, pp. 145–159.Google Scholar

Clark, P. (ed.) (2004). The Dover Bronze Age Boat, London: English Heritage Publications, p. 340.Google Scholar

Cole, S. C., Atwater, B. F., McCutcheon, P. T., Stein, J. K., & Hemphill-Haley, E. (1996). Earthquake-induced burial of archeological sites along the southern Washington coast about A. D. 1700. Geoarchaeology, 11, 165–77.3.0.CO;2-3>CrossRef Google Scholar

Demiddele, H. & Ervynck, A. (1993). Diatomeeën als ecologische indicatoren in de Vlaamse archeologie: Romeins en middeleeuws Oudenburg (prov. West-Vlaanderen). Archeologie in Vlaanderen, III, 217–31.

Denys, L. (1992). On the significance of marine diatoms in freshwater deposits at archaeological sites. Diatom Research, 7, 195–7.CrossRef

Wolf, H. & Cleveringa, P. (1996). The impact of the beer industry on medieval water quality. In Proceedings of the 14th Diatom Symposium, eds. Mayama, I. & Koizumi, J., Königstein: Koeltz Scientific Books pp. 511–22.Google Scholar

Douglas, M. S. V., Smol, J. P., Savelle, J. M., & Blais, J. M. (2004). Prehistoric Inuit whalers affected Arctic freshwater ecosystems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, 101, 1613–17.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Ekdahl, E. J., Teranes, J. L., Guilderson, T., et al. (2004). Prehistorical record of cultural eutrophication from Crawford Lake, Canada. Geology, 32, 745–8.CrossRef Google Scholar

Ekdahl, E. J., Terranes, J. L., Wittkop, C. A., et al. (2007). Diatom assemblage response to Iroquoian and Euro-Canadian eutrophication of Crawford Lake, Ontario, Canada. Journal of Paleolimnology, 37, 233–46.CrossRef Google Scholar

Florin, S. (1948). Kustförskjutningen och bebyggelseutvecklingen I östra Mellansverige under senkvartär tid. II. De baltiska strandbildningarna och stenåldersboplatsen vid Dammstugan nära Katrineholm. Geologiska Föreningens Föingar, 70, 17–196.CrossRef Google Scholar

Flower, R. J. (2006). Diatoms in ancient building materials: application of diatom analysis to Egyptian mud bricks. Nova Hedwigia, Beiheft, 130, 245–63.Google Scholar

Foged, N. (1973). The diatoms in a wreck from the late Middle Age. University of Lund, Department of Quaternary Geology, Report, 3, 39–45.Google Scholar

Foged, N. (1978). The Archaeology of Svendborg. No. 1. Diatom Analysis. Odense: Odense University Press.Google Scholar

Foged, N. (1985). Diatoms in a tomb from the early Bronze Age. Nova Hedwigia, 41, 471–82.Google Scholar

Fritz, S. C. (1989). Lake development and limnological response to prehistoric and historic land-use in Diss, Norfolk, U.K. Journal of Ecology, 77, 182–202.CrossRef Google Scholar

Gibson, A. M. (1986). Diatom analysis of clays and late Neolithic pottery from the Milfield basin, Northumberland. Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society, 52, 89–103.CrossRef Google Scholar

Godbold, S. & Turner, R. C. (1993). Second Severn Crossing Archaeological Response: Phase 1: the Intertidal Zone in Wales. Brentwood: Westbury Press.Google Scholar

Groenman-van Waateringe, W. & Jansma, M. J. (1968). Diatom analysis. Appendix III to W.A. van Es, Paddepol, excavations of frustated terps, 200 B.C. – 250 A.D. Palaeohistoria, 14, 286.Google Scholar

Groenman-van Waateringe, W. & Jansma, M. J. (1969). Diatom and pollen analysis of the Vlaardingen Creek. A revised interpretation. Helinium, 9, 105–17.Google Scholar

Håkansson, H. (1988). Diatom analysis at Skateholm – Järavallen, southern Sweden. Acta Regiae Societatis Humaniorum Litterarum Lundensis, LXXIX, 39–45.Google Scholar

Håkansson, H. & Hulthén, B. (1986). On the dissolution of pottery for diatom studies. Norwegian Archaeological Review, 19, 34–7.CrossRef Google Scholar

Håkansson, H. & Hulthén, B. (1988). Identification of diatoms in Neolithic pottery. Diatom Research, 3, 39–45.CrossRef Google Scholar

Hemphill-Haley, E. (1995). Diatom evidence for earthquake-induced subsidence and tsunami 300 yr ago in southern coastal Washington. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 107, 367–78.2.3.CO;2>CrossRef Google Scholar

Hemphill-Haley, E. (1996). Diatoms as an aid in identifying late-Holocene tsunami deposits. The Holocene, 6, 439–48.CrossRef Google Scholar

Holliday, V. T. (1985). New data on the stratigraphy and pedology of the Clovis and Plainview sites, Southern High Plains. Quaternary Research, 23, 388–402.CrossRef Google Scholar

Jansma, M. J. (1977). Diatom analysis of pottery. Cingula, 4, 77–85.Google Scholar

Jansma, M. J. (1981). Diatoms from coastal sites in the Netherlands. In Environmental Aspects of Coasts and Islands, ed. Brothwell, D. & Dimbleby, G., Oxford: BAR, pp. 145–62.Google Scholar

Jansma, M. J. (1982). Diatom analysis from some prehistoric sites in the coastal area of the Netherlands. Acta Geologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 25, 229–36.Google Scholar

Jansma, M. J. (1984). Diatom analysis of prehistoric pottery. In Proceedings of the Seventh International Diatom Symposium, ed. Mann, D. G., Königstein: Koeltz Scientific Books, pp. 529–36.Google Scholar

Jansma, M. (1990). Diatoms from a Neolithic excavation on the former Island of Schokland, Ijselmeerpolders, the Netherlands. Diatom Research, 5, 301–9.CrossRef Google Scholar

Jessen, K. (1936). Palaeobotanical report on the Stone Age site at Newferry, County Londonderry. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 43C, 31–7.Google Scholar

Jones, J. & Watson, N. (1987). The early medieval waterfront at Redcliffe, Bristol: a study of environment and economy. In Studies in Palaeoeconomy and Environment in South-west England, ed. Balaam, N., Levitan, B., & Straker, V., Oxford: BAR, pp. 135–62.Google Scholar

Juggins, S. (1988). Diatom analysis of foreshore sediments exposed during the Queen Street Excavations, 1985. In The Origins of the Newcastle Quayside. Excavations at Queen Street and Dog Bank, ed. O'Brien, C., Bown, L., Dixon, S., & Nicholson, R., Newcastle upon Tyne: The Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne, Monograph Series No. 3, pp. 150–51.Google Scholar

Juggins, S. (1992a). Diatom analysis. In Iron Age and Roman salt production and the medieval town of Droitwich: excavations at the Old Bowling Green and Friar Street, ed. Woodwiss, S., York: Council for British Archaeology Research Report No. 81, microfiche 2:F4–5.Google Scholar

Juggins, S. (1992b). Diatoms in the Thames Estuary, England: ecology, palaeoecology, and salinity transfer function. Bibliotheca Diatomologica, 25.

Keevill, G. (2004). Historic Royal Palaces Monograph No. 1: the Tower of London moat. In Archaeological Excavations 1995–9, Oxford: Oxford Archaeology with Historic Royal Palaces, p. 315.Google Scholar

König, D. (1983). Diatomeen des fruneolithischen Fundplatzes Siggeneben-Süd. In Siggeneben-Süd. Ein Fundplatz der frühen Trichterbecherkultur an der holsteinischen Ostseeküste, ed. J. Meurers-Balke, Neumünster: Karl Wachholtz, pp. 124–40.Google Scholar

Körber-Grohne, U. (1967). Geobotanische Untersuchungen auf der Feddersen Wierde. Wiesbaden: Franz Steiner Verlag.Google Scholar

Lohman, K. (1935). Diatoms from Quaternary lake beds near Clovis, New Mexico. Journal of Paleontology, 9, 455–9.Google Scholar

Mannion, A. M. (1987). Fossil diatoms and their significance in archaeological research. Oxford Journal of Archaeology, 6, 131–47.CrossRef Google Scholar

Marsden, P., Branch, N., Evans, J., et al. (1989). A late Saxon logboat from Clapton, London borough of Hackney. International Journal of Nautical Archaeology and Underwater Exploration, 18, 89–111.CrossRef Google Scholar

Matiskainen, H. & Alhonen, P. (1984). Diatoms as indicators of provenance in Finnish Sub-Neolithic pottery. Journal of Archaeological Science, 11, 147–57.CrossRef Google Scholar

Miller, U. (1982). Shore displacement and coastal dwelling in the Stockholm region during the past 5000 years. Annales Academiae Scientarium Fennicae, A.III, 134, 185–211.Google Scholar

Miller, U. (1995). Diatoms and submarine archaeology (siliceous microfossil analysis as a key to the environment of ship wrecks, harbour basins and sailing routes). In Scientific Methods in Underwater Archaeology, ed. Vuorela, I., Rixensart: Council for Europe, pp. 53–8.Google Scholar

Miller, U. & Florin, M.-B. (1989). Diatom analysis. Introduction to methods and applications. In Geology and Palaeoecology for Archaeologists: Palinuro I, ed. Hackens, T. and Miller, U., Ravello: European University Centre for Cultural Heritage, pp. 133–57.Google Scholar

Miller, U., Modig, S., & Robertsson, A. M. (1979). The Yttersel dwelling site: method investigations. Early Norrland, 12, 77–92.Google Scholar

Miller, U. & Robertsson, A. (1981). Current biostratigraphical studies connected with archaeological excavations in the Stockholm region. Striae, 14, 167–73.Google Scholar

Milne, G., Battarbee, R. W., Straker, V., & Yule, B. (1983). The River Thames in London in the mid 1st century AD. Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, 34, 19–30.Google Scholar

Milne, G. (1985). The Roman Port of London, Batsford: London.Google Scholar

Nayling, N. & McGrail, S. (2004). The Barland's Farm Romano-Celtic Boat. Council for British Archaeology Research Report 115, York: Council for British Archaeology.

Neely, J., Caran, S., & Winsborough, B. (1990). Irrigated Agriculture at Hierve el Agua, Oaxaca, Mexico. In Debating Oaxaca Archaeology, ed. Marcus, J., Ann Arbor, MI: Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan.Google Scholar

Neely, J. A., Caran, S. C., Winsborough, B. M., Sorensen, F. R., & Valastro, S. Jr. (1995). An early Holocene hand-dug water well in the Tehuacan Valley of Puebla, Mexico. Current Research in the Pleistocene, 12, 38–40.Google Scholar

Nunez, M. & Paabo, K. (1990). Diatom analysis. Norwegian Archaeological Review, 23, 128–30.CrossRef Google Scholar

Patrick, R. (1938). The occurrence of flints and extinct animals in pluvial deposits near Clovis, New Mexico. Part V. Diatom evidence from the Mammoth Pit. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 40, 15–24.Google Scholar

Renberg, I., Bindler, R., Bradshaw, E., Emteryd, O., & McGowan, S. (2001). Evidence of early eutrophication and heavy metal pollution of Lake Mälaren, central Sweden. Ambio, 30, 496–502.CrossRef Google Scholar PubMed

Rippon, S. (2000). The Romano-British exploitation of coastal wetlands: survey and excavation on the North Somerset Levels, 1993–7. Britannia, XXXI, 69–204.CrossRef Google Scholar

Robbins, L. H., Murphy, M. L., Stevens, N. J., et al. (1996). Paleoenvironment and archaeology of Drotsky's Cave: western Kalahari Desert, Botswana. Journal of Archaeological Science, 23, 7–22.CrossRef Google Scholar

Straub, F. (1990). Hauterive-Champreveyres, 4. Diatomees et reconstitution des environments prehistorique. Archeologie Neuchatoise, 10, Saint-Blaise: Editions du Ruau.

VanLandingham, A. L. (2006). Diatom evidence for autochthonous artifact deposition in the Valsequillo region, Puebla, Mexico during the Sangamonian (sensu lato = 80,000 to ca. 220,000 yr BP and Illinoian (220,000 to 430,000 yr BP)). Journal of Paleolimnology, 36, 101–16.CrossRef Google Scholar

Voorrips, A. & Jansma, M. J. (1974). Pollen and diatom analysis of a shore section of the former Lake Wervershoof. Geologie en Mijnbouw, 53, 429–35.Google Scholar

Whitmore, T. J., Brenner, M., Curtis, J. H., Dahlin, B. H., & Leyden, B. W. (1996). Holocene climatic and human influences on lakes of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico: an interdisciplinary, palaeolimnological approach. The Holocene, 6, 273–87.CrossRef Google Scholar

Wilkinson, T. J. & Murphy, P. L. (1995). The Archaeology of the Essex Coast, Volume I: The Hullbridge Survey. East Anglian Archaeology Report No. 71, Chelmsford: Essex County Council.Google Scholar

Wilkinson, T. J., Murphy, P., Juggins, S., & Manson, K. (1988). Wetland development and human activity in Essex estuaries during the Holocene transgression. In The Exploitation of Wetlands, ed. Murphy, P. & French, C., Oxford: BAR, pp. 213–38.Google Scholar

Willcox, G. H. (1975). Problems and possible conclusions related to the history and archaeology of the Thames in the London region. Transactions of the London and Middlesex Archaeological Society, 26, 185–92.Google Scholar

Winsborough, B. (1995). Diatoms. Geological Society of America, Memoir, 186, 67–83.Google Scholar

Wüthrich, M. (1971). Les diatomées de la station néolithique d'Auvernier (Lac de Neuchâtel). Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Hydrologie, 33, 533–552.Google Scholar

Accessibility standard: Unknown

Why this information is here

This section outlines the accessibility features of this content - including support for screen readers, full keyboard navigation and high-contrast display options. This may not be relevant for you.

Accessibility Information

Accessibility compliance for the PDF of this chapter is currently unknown and may be updated in the future.