THE DATE AND SEQUENCE OF USE OF NEOLITHIC FUNERARY MONUMENTS: NEW AMS DATING EVIDENCE FROM THE COTSWOLD-SEVERN REGION

Summary.   In this paper we discuss 26 new Neolithic AMS dates obtained from human and animal bone from four previously undated funerary monuments in the Cotswold-Severn region. By strategically targeting particular portions of these skeletal assemblages, a number of valuable inferences are made concerning the extent of variation in apparently co-existing burial practices both within and between monuments. Of particular interest is the observation that variations in the extent to which interments have become disarticulated cannot necessarily be equated with chronological relationships regarding their deposition. This project has also obtained dates from cremated bone, which establish that the range of funerary treatments in practice during the earlier Neolithic also included cremation. Additionally it is observed that whilst some, apparently primary, deposits may in fact be later insertions, other material in apparently secondary contexts may actually return earlier Neolithic dates.     

CORRELATION BETWEEN SPECTRAL,SEM/EDX AND ELECTROCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF MAYA BLUE: A CHEMOMETRIC STUDY*

Visible spectra, composition from SEM/EDX and solid‐state electrochemical data are correlated for a set of 12 Maya Blue samples from different archaeological sites of Campeche and Yucatán (Mexico). In addition to indigo and dehydroindigo, indirubin and other possibly indigo‐type compounds can be detected in Maya Blue samples. Application of hierarchical cluster analysis techniques allows similarity relationships to be established between samples from different sites, confirming prior results which suggest that the preparation of Maya Blue pigment evolved with time during the Maya culture following a ramified scheme.     

CHANGES IN THE METAL CONTENT OF HUMAN HAIR DURING DIAGENESIS FROM 500 YEARS,EXPOSURE TO GLACIAL AND AQUEOUS ENVIRONMENTS

Scanning electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy and time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry have been used to examine the extent and possible mechanisms by which the metal content of human hair is altered by exposure to aqueous environments. The results, using both modern hair and samples from 500‐year‐old hair associated with glacier‐entombed remains, show that the metal content has been altered sufficiently so that the interpretation of the metal signature in terms of diet or disease is problematic. While endogenous information is difficult to glean from these data, interesting observations have been made of possible early stages of mineral authigenic deposition. The chemistry of the outer hair surface was found to be consistent with deposition of Fe and Al silicates, as well as other mineral phases. The ancient hair was analysed at the root region and included a comparison of the internal versus external composition to assist in identifying the diagenetic processes.