New integrated molecular approaches for investigating lake settlements in north-western Europe
Open accessAbstract
Lake settlements, particularly crannogs, pose several contradictions—visible yet inaccessible, widespread yet geographically restricted, persistent yet vulnerable. To further our understanding, we developed the integrated use of palaeolimnological (scanning XRF, pollen, spores, diatoms, chironomids, Cladocera, microcharcoal, biogenic silica, SEM-EDS, stable-isotopes) and biomolecular (faecal stanols, bile acids, sedaDNA) analyses of crannog cores in south-west Scotland and Ireland. Both can be effective methods sets for revealing occupation chronologies and identifying on-crannog activities and practices. Strong results from sedaDNA and lipid biomarker analyses demonstrate probable on-site animal slaughter, food storage and possible feasting, suggesting multi-period, elite site associations, and the storage and protection of valuable resources.
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The archaeological and palaeoecological value of wetlands and ditches often comes primarily through anoxic conditions allowing for the survival of materials that in drier contexts would decompose, including wood, soft tissue, macro and microscopic ecofactual material, and ancient molecules including DNA.
“The archaeological and palaeoecological value of wetlands and ditches (a cultural ecosystem service in its own right) often comes primarily through anoxic conditions allowing for the survival of materials that in drier contexts would decompose; e.g., wood or soft tissue as well as macro and microscopic ecofactual (i.e., organic without human workmanship, yet culturally relevant) material 61 , and”
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Brown, A. G., Fonville, T., van Hardenbroek, M., Cavers, G., Crone, A., McCormick, F., Murray, E., Mackay, H., Whitehouse, N. J., Henderson, A. C. G., Barratt, P., Davies, K., Head, K., Langdon, P., Alsos, I. G., & Pirrie, D.
- Affiliations
- University of Southampton (GB)
- Queen's University Belfast (GB)
- Durham University (GB)
- University of Glasgow (GB)
- Newcastle University (GB)
- University of Nottingham (GB)
- Bournemouth University (GB)
- University of Plymouth (GB)
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway (NO)
- University of South Wales (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Brown, Antony G.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Antiquity
- Publisher
- Antiquity Publications
- Published
- 2022-09-28
- Volume
- 96
- Issue
- 389
- Pages
- 1179-1199
- ISSN
- 0003-598X (ISSN-L)
- 1745-1744
- OpenAlex
- W4297542739
- Cited by
- 21
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2
- FWCI
- 3.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- Antiquity (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Bournemouth University Research Online (Bournemouth University) (acceptedVersion)
- ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Durham Research Online (Durham University) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
- ePrints Soton (University of Southampton) (acceptedVersion)
- Durham Research Online (Durham University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Research Space (submittedVersion)
- NORA - Norwegian Open Research Archives (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AH/M005259/1)
- Natural Environment Research Council (NE/S00954X/1, NE/V003917/1)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Soil Science › Soil and Environmental Studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History › Historical and Archaeological Studies
- Keywords
- lake settlements, crannogs, paleolimnology, bile acids, lipid biomarkers, occupation chronology, animal slaughter, food storage, feasting, south-west Scotland, Ireland
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