Late Iron Age transculturalism in the northern “periphery”: understanding the long-term prehistoric occupational area of Viinivaara E,Finland

The Late Iron Age of northern Finland is often approached through an ethnic perspective. Archaeological sites are defined as local or foreign and, accordingly, linked to either Sámi or non-Sámi groups. In recent decades, the concept of transculturalism and mixing of cultural traits has been discussed by several researchers, and their work has shown that such categorizations can be questioned. Correspondingly, certain sites and artifacts found in the northern parts of Finland seem to relate to interactions and contacts instead of ethnic backgrounds. One such site was excavated at Viinivaara E in 2013 and 2014. Based on the fieldwork, the site can be linked to encounters and cultural exchange between local groups and visitors. The entangled nature of the site is understood by taking into consideration its location and landscape, but also by examining the archaeological and historical conception of Late Iron Age northern Finland in general. Further, transcultural dynamics present at the site are also tied to social development on a broader temporal and spatial scale.     

Diversity of Pre-colonial Earthworks in the Brazilian State of Acre,Southwestern Amazonia

Amazonian earthworks, which are an important testimony to ancient anthropogenic landscape modifications, have a significant variety of structures and sizes, and are found in different geographical and ecological locations that indicate separate time periods, distinct cultural affiliations, and diverse purposes. We introduce data from diverse archaeological earthwork sites, geoglyphs, mound sites, and walled enclosures situated in the interfluves of the Purus River in the Brazilian state of Acre and propose a type definition for these sites. The abundant anthropogenic landscape features and their associated material culture indicate considerable human-induced environmental alterations and diverse earthworking traditions that are characteristic of the region of eastern Acre from at least ca. 2000 b.p. onwards.     

Acoustic Measurements and Digital Image Processing Suggest a Link Between Sound Rituals and Sacred Sites in Northern Finland

In northern Finland, near the canyon lakes of Julma-Ölkky, Somerjärvi, and Rotkojärvi, steep rock cliffs produce distinctive acoustic spaces. On these cliffs, prehistoric rock paintings (5200 to 1000 BC) as well as an ancient Sámi offering site (circa 1100 to present) can be found. Ethnographic sources describe that the Sámi used to sing and listen to echoes while making offerings there. This article presents the results of an archaeoacoustic research project that seeks to explore the role of sound in the development and use of these archaeological sites. The innovative set of methods includes multichannel impulse response recording, angle-of-arrival estimation of early reflections, spectrum analysis, digital image processing, and 3D laser scanning. On the basis of the analyses, it is concluded that the cliffs that have been painted or held as sacred are efficient sound reflectors. They create discrete echoes and, accordingly, phantom sound sources. Especially at the Värikallio cliff near Lake Somerjärvi, the sound appears to emanate directly from the painted figures. These results, together with previously unnoticed drumming figures in the Värikallio painting, provide a clue to the significance of the sound rituals at these sacred sites.     

Integrating isotopes and documentary evidence: dietary patterns in a late medieval and early modern mining community,Sweden

This study explores the relationship between dietary patterns and social structure in a pre-industrial mining community in Salberget, Sweden c. 1470 to 1600 A.D. using a combination of different research approaches and tools, including archaeology, osteology, bone chemistry and history. The correlation between demographic criteria (sex and age) and archaeological variables (burial type and burial location) shows that Salberget was a highly stratified community. Group diets were investigated through analyses of stable isotopes (carbon, δ ¹³C, and nitrogen, δ ¹⁵N) of bone collagen from a sub-sample of individuals buried at the site (n = 67), interpreted alongside data from human dental lesions and deficiencies, animal bone waste and information on eating habits extracted from the extensive historical documents regarding mining activities at Salberget. These integrated analyses provide a clear association between social status and diet and confirm that social status, and to a lesser extent sex, gender and age, likely governed food choice and opportunity in this diverse community.     

Between protocol and reality – Swedish municipal comprehensive planning

Spatial planning using a landscape approach has been recognized as being essential for reconciling ecological, cultural and socio-economic dimensions in sustainable development (SuD). Although embraced as a concept, there is a lack of planning tools capable of incorporating multi-level, multifunctional and multi-sectoral perspectives, especially in a rural context. The departure point in this paper is the legal requirements for municipal comprehensive planning (MCP) in Sweden and an e-mail survey about incentives, stakeholder involvement, policy integration and implementation in MCP in all 15 Swedish mountain municipalities. The purpose of this explorative study is to examine whether MCP could be a tool in planning for SuD. Results indicate a general lack of resources and a low status of MCP that affect, and even limit, stakeholder involvement, policy integration and implementation. However, legal requirements for MCP are targeted at SuD, and municipal personnel responsible for planning appreciate the potential of MCP. Therefore, there is potential to develop the MCP into an effective landscape planning tool. To accomplish this, the status of an active planning process has to be raised, the mandate of the local planning agency has to be secured, and residents and land users have to be involved throughout the planning process.     

Multi-method Analysis of Avian Eggs as Grave Goods: Revealing Symbolism in Conversion Period Burials at Kukruse,NE Estonia

Eggshells are unusual finds in the Iron Age of eastern Europe (500 BC–1200 AD) deserving extra attention in terms of analysis as well as interpretation. This paper discusses two rare eggshell finds, discovered in female burials at the conversion period (12th–13th century AD) cemetery at Kukruse, NE Estonia. Our multianalytical study combining FT-IR, SEM(-EDS), microscopy and ZooMS provides an overview of methods applicable for identifying egg species, their predepositional history and curation. Based on the analytical results and the comparative analysis of the content and context of these two burials, we argue that different aims and connotations lay behind depositing eggs as burial goods, allowing well-supported interpretations of both pagan and Christian religious worldviews simultaneously.     

A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Groundwater Level Changes in Relation to Urban Growth and Groundwater Recharge Potential for Waukesha County,Wisconsin

The main objective of this study was to analyze spatially and temporally groundwater level changes using geographic information systems and spatial analysis with respect to urban development, groundwater withdrawal, and groundwater recharge potential. The study focused on Waukesha County in southeastern Wisconsin, where urban development has been accelerating while groundwater has been declining over the last several decades. We analyzed data about groundwater withdrawal, groundwater level, land use/land cover, and precipitation utilizing correlation analysis, geographically weighted regression, land use change analysis, and map overlay. Our findings include the following: the extent of urban areas expanded faster in regions with high recharge potential than in those with low or moderate recharge potential; the correlation of urban growth with groundwater level is highly variable over time and space; and changes in groundwater level are strongly related to the spatial distribution of groundwater withdrawal. The study pinpointed the need to consider the spatial unevenness of groundwater withdrawal in understanding the changes in groundwater level and groundwater recharge potential for better management of groundwater resources. Un análisis espacio‐temporal de los cambios de nivel de aguas subterráneas en relación con el crecimiento urbano y de las aguas subterráneas de recarga para el Condado de Waukesha, Wisconsin El objetivo principal de este estudio es analizar espacial y temporalmente los cambios del nivel de aguas subterráneas utilizando sistemas de información geográfica (SIG) y análisis espacial con respecto al desarrollo urbano, la extracción de agua subterránea, y el potencial de recarga. El área de estudio es el condado de Waukesha, en el sureste de Wisconsin, donde el desarrollo urbano se ha acelerado mientras que las aguas subterráneas han disminuido en las últimas décadas. Se analizaron los datos sobre la extracción y nivel de aguas subterráneas, la cobertura vegetal/uso del suelo, y la precipitación utilizando un análisis de correlación, una regresión ponderada geográficamente (geographically weigted regression ‐GWR), un análisis de cambio de uso del suelo, y la superposición de mapas (map overlay). Los resultados muestran que: (1) la extensión de las zonas urbanas se incrementó más rápidamente en regiones con alto potencial de recarga que en áreas con potencial de recarga de bajo o moderado; (2) la correlación entre el crecimiento urbano y el nivel de aguas subterráneas es muy variable tanto temporal como espacialmente; y, (3) los cambios en el nivel de aguas subterráneas están fuertemente relacionados con la distribución espacial de las actividades de extracción del recurso. El estudio identificó la necesidad de considerar la irregularidad del patrón espacial de la extracción de aguas subterráneas con el fin de mejorar la comprensión de los cambios en el nivel y el potencial de recarga y así promover una mejor gestión de los recursos hídricos subterráneos. 本研究主要目的在于通过地理信息系统(GISs)和空间分析的时空视角,对城市发展的地下水水位变化,地下水开采和地下水潜在补给进行分析。本文研究区为威斯康星州东南部的沃基肖县,该区在过去近几十年里城市快速增长而地下水急剧减少。通过地下水开采、地下水水位、LUCC（土地利用/土地覆盖LULC）和降水的数据分析,采用方法包括相关分析、地理加权回归模型（GWR）、土地利用变化分析和地图叠加分析。研究结果包括：（1）高地下水补给的城市地域范围的扩大幅度快于中等或低补给地区;（2）城市增长与地下水水位的相关性在时间和空间上是高度变化的;（3）地下水开采的空间分布与地下水位的变化呈强相关。研究精确地指出,为更好管理地下水资源,在理解地下水位变化和地下水潜在补给时需考虑地下水开采的空间不均匀。