Insect species associations characterise past occupation sites |
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Authors: | Harry Kenward John Carrott |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Archaeology, The King''s Manor, University of York, York YO1 7EP, UK;2. Palaeoecology Research Services, Unit 8, Dabble Duck Industrial Estate, Shildon, County Durham DL4 2RA, UK |
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Abstract: | Assemblages of insects, mainly beetles (Coleoptera) from nine archaeological occupation sites in Northern England and one in Northern Ireland have been analysed statistically (principally using Spearman's rank-order correlation between pairs of species) in order to identify associations of taxa. Some sites gave strong and fairly discrete groupings, which could be related to individual insect habitats, or spatially or successionally related habitats, or to taphonomic pathways. Where less sharp groupings were identified, they included elements from those seen repeatedly elsewhere and appeared to reflect the character of the site, for example juxtaposition of habitats (as in stable manure), very uniform conditions, or rarity of insect habitats. It is concluded that, with suitable caution, analyses of this kind represent a transferable methodology of great value in obtaining archaeologically relevant information, as well as in improving our understanding of the way insects adapted to artificial habitats in the past. |
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Keywords: | Archaeology Insects Coleoptera Species associations Death assemblages Human environment Occupation sites |
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