Papers by Alexia Decaix
Tengberg, Daujat, Mashkour, Decaix, Amiri, Sheikhi, Debue, Berthon, Lhuillier, Bendezu-Sarmiento 2021 Environment and Subsistence Economies at Iron Age Ulug-depe, South-eastern Turkmenistan: First Results from the Archaeobotanical and Archaeozoological Studies The Archaeology of Central Asia during the 1st Millennium BC From the Beginning of the Iron Age to the Hellenistic Period Proceedings of the Workshop held at the 10th ICAANE in Vienna, April 2016, 2021
First results of the botanical and faunal remains analysis from Iron Age contexts at Ulug-depe in... more First results of the botanical and faunal remains analysis from Iron Age contexts at Ulug-depe in Turkmenistan reveal subsistence economies that primarily focused on cultivating and herding, with the presence of common plant and animal species for this period such as wheat, barley, sheep, goat and cattle. However, a large diversity of wild resources, in particular game, indicates that collecting and hunting also played an important role at the site. The presence of these wild species in the bioarchaeological record clearly shows that people from Ulug-depe had access to a variety of very different biotopes – foothill zones, riverine environments and steppe-desert. The specific context of the Middle Iron Age citadel accounts for some unexpected discoveries such as large quantities of juniper among the wood elements used for roofing and a ritual deposit involving wild animals.
Archaeological Research In Asia, 2021
The factors and dynamics that initiated the Neolithisation process in the South Caucasus between ... more The factors and dynamics that initiated the Neolithisation process in the South Caucasus between the very end of the 7th and the beginning of the 6th millennium BCE are still unclear and hotly debated. It is within this framework that the excavations at Kiçik Tepe, in the middle Kura river valley of Western Azerbaijan, aim to offer new data and new perspectives on the complex interplay of environmental, social and cultural factors that contributed to this process. Excavations at Kiçik Tepe uncovered two main phases of occupation consisting of circular buildings dating to the first centuries of the 6th millennium. Architectural remains allowed us to highlight an evolutionary architectural trajectory hinting at social and productive changes in the role and structure of the households. The subsistence strategies that rely on species domesticated elsewhere show at once a series of specificities highlighting adaptation to the local environment and the exploitation of wild species possibl...
Archaeological Research In Asia, 2021
The factors and dynamics that initiated the Neolithisation process in the South Caucasus between ... more The factors and dynamics that initiated the Neolithisation process in the South Caucasus between the very end of the 7th and the beginning of the 6th millennium BCE are still unclear and hotly debated. It is within this framework that the excavations at Kiçik Tepe, in the middle Kura river valley of Western Azerbaijan, aim to offer new data and new perspectives on the complex interplay of environmental, social and cultural factors that contributed to this process. Excavations at Kiçik Tepe uncovered two main phases of occupation consisting of circular buildings dating to the first centuries of the 6th millennium. Architectural remains allowed us to highlight an evolutionary architectural trajectory hinting at social and productive changes in the role and structure of the households. The subsistence strategies that rely on species domesticated elsewhere show at once a series of specificities highlighting adaptation to the local environment and the exploitation of wild species possibly resulting from previous Mesolithic practices. Simultaneously, while the almost aceramic way of life at Kiçik Tepe outlines a local dialectic between Mesolithic and Neolithic cooking practices, lithic and macrolithic tools pinpoint broadly shared regional elements as well as very localised traits framed into both long and short distance contacts. As a whole the new evidence from Kiçik Tepe highlights that the Neolithisation in the South Caucasus was not a straightforward process that consisted of the abrupt and homogenous adoption of an exogenous ‘package’ but most probably of a gradual and complex process of change resulting from dynamics of resistance and innovation between old and new socio-economic and cultural models.
Préhistoires Mediterrannéenes, 2018
The article presents the results of archaeometric research, including the results of carbon isoto... more The article presents the results of archaeometric research, including the results of carbon isotopic analysis of the skeleton (the Late Bronze/Early Iron) from the inlet burial in the kurgan number 10 of the necropolis Topdaghdaghan, where we conducted a study.
American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2018
Subsistence strategies are of great interest for understanding how prehistoric societies adapted ... more Subsistence strategies are of great interest for understanding how prehistoric societies adapted to their environment. This is particularly the case for the southern Caucasus where relationships have been shown with the northern Caucasus and Mesopotamia since the Neolithic and where societies are alternately described as sedentary and mobile. This article aims, for the first time, to characterize human diets and their evolution using biochemical markers, from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age (sixth-first millenium BC), at Mentesh Tepe, a site in the middle Kura valley in Azerbaijan. Materials and Methods: The data set belongs to 40 humans, 32 domestic and wild animals, and 42 charred seeds discovered in situ and perfectly dated. Stable isotope analyses were performed, including (a) δ13Cco and δ15N for animal and human bone collagens and for seeds, and (b) δ13Cap for human bone apatite.
Results: Almost all the data (25/31) suggest an increased contribution of cereals, lentils, and freshwater fish during the Neolithic, whereas afterwards, until the Late Bronze Age, all individuals consumed more animal proteins from their livestock. None of the biological criteria (age at death and sex) and burial types (mass/single graves) were found to be related to a specific diet over time. Comparisons with other isotopic data from contemporary sites in Georgia argue in favor of a wide variety of dietary sources in the vicinity of the Kura valley and for highly mobile populations. Clear evidence of millet consumption has only been found for the Late Bronze Age.
Quaternary Science Reviews, 2018
Highlights
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In the Lesser Caucasus, some evidences of Early Neolithic river management... more Highlights
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In the Lesser Caucasus, some evidences of Early Neolithic river management have been discovered.
•
We report a preliminary data set indicating that the river management was made 5900 cal. BC ago and led to Neolithic village flooding, destruction and local abandonment of the hydraulic infrastructures between 5750 and 5430 cal. BC.
•
We carried out isotopic analyzes on the seeds in order to characterize or not the occurrence of irrigation.
•
We highlight the possibility of a development in the Caucasus of the oldest known water management practices.
•
We also present an original focus on the potential effects of torrential palaeo-floods in Neolithic water management structures and riparian habitats.
River management is generally thought to have started at 5500 cal. BC within the development of eastern Neolithic societies. In the Lesser Caucasus, evidence of early river management has been discovered around the famous Neolithic sites of Shulaveri, Gadachrili Gora, and Imiris Gora in Georgia. Here we report a preliminary data set indicating that river management was set up at 5900 cal. BC leading to the flooding, destruction, and local abandonment of the hydraulic infrastructures of the Gadachrili village between 5750 and 5430 cal. BC. The hydraulic infrastructures were developed during a more humid period encompassing the 8200 cal. BP (6200 cal. BC) climatic event, probably to optimize agricultural yield. It potentially led to the first prehistoric engineering accident for which there is evidence, which may have been followed by the reorganisation of the occupation and/or to architectural modifications.
Guliev F., Lyonnete B., Pecqueur L., Poulmarc’h M., Hamon C., Bouquet L., Bruley-Chabot G., Raymond P., Samzun A., Baudouin E., Decaix A., Salimbayov Sh. Alakbarov V. (2013). Excavations of the Ancient Settlement of Menteshtepe. Baku: pp.329-334 (In Azerbaijani, summary in English and Russian) Archaeological Researches in Azerbaijan, 2013
Guliev F., Lyonnete B., Pecqueur L., Poulmarc’h M., Hamon C., Bouquet L., Bruley-Chabot G., Raymo... more Guliev F., Lyonnete B., Pecqueur L., Poulmarc’h M., Hamon C., Bouquet L., Bruley-Chabot G., Raymond P., Samzun A., Baudouin E., Decaix A., Salimbayov Sh. Alakbarov V. Excavations of the Ancient Settlement of Menteshtepe. In: Archaeological Investigations in Azerbaijan-2012. Baku, 2013: pp.329-334 (In Azerbaijani, summary in English and Russian)
In Helwing B., Aliyev T., Lyonnet B., Guliyev F., Hansen S., Mirtskhulava G. (Eds.). The Kura projects. New research on the Later Prehistory of the Southern Caucasus. Archäologie in Iran und Turan, 2017
In Helwing B., Aliyev T., Lyonnet B., Guliyev F., Hansen S., Mirtskhulava G. (Eds.). The Kura projects. New research on the Later Prehistory of the Southern Caucasus. Archäologie in Iran und Turan, 2017
Quaternary International, 2015
ABSTRACT The study of several types of botanical remains from the site of Mentesh Tepe, Azerbaija... more ABSTRACT The study of several types of botanical remains from the site of Mentesh Tepe, Azerbaijan, has provided the first data on the vegetation cover and the exploitation and use of plant resources from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age in this part of the Kura River Basin. Riparian woodlands constitute the main fuel source throughout the occupational sequence. However, wood was also exploited in relatively open woodlands characterised by the presence of a dozen shrub and tree species, among them oak, hornbeam, buckthorn, wayfaring-tree, maple and lime. Most seed and fruit remains correspond either to crops, such as cereals (barley, wheat) and pulses (lentil, grass pea), or to weeds and ruderal plants. The analysis of phytoliths shows that cereals were treated (de-husked) on-site. Very few fruits were found in the botanical record.
In Onfray, M., Ferjani, S., Le Bihan, A. et Tremeaud, C. (Eds.), Matières premières et gestion des ressources. Actes de la 7ème Journée Doctorale d’Archéologie de l’Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, 2014
in Mashkour M., Tengberg M. (Eds.), Animal-plant interactions on the Iranian plateau and adjacent areas: using bioarchaeological methods in the reconstruction of agro-pastoral practices and techniques, 2013
in Lyonnet B, Guliyev F, Helwing B, Alyiev T., Hansen S., Mirtskhuvala G., 2012. Ancient Kuran 2010-2011: The first two seasons of joint field work in Southern Caucasus, 2012
Conference Presentations by Alexia Decaix
Posters by Alexia Decaix
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Papers by Alexia Decaix
Results: Almost all the data (25/31) suggest an increased contribution of cereals, lentils, and freshwater fish during the Neolithic, whereas afterwards, until the Late Bronze Age, all individuals consumed more animal proteins from their livestock. None of the biological criteria (age at death and sex) and burial types (mass/single graves) were found to be related to a specific diet over time. Comparisons with other isotopic data from contemporary sites in Georgia argue in favor of a wide variety of dietary sources in the vicinity of the Kura valley and for highly mobile populations. Clear evidence of millet consumption has only been found for the Late Bronze Age.
•
In the Lesser Caucasus, some evidences of Early Neolithic river management have been discovered.
•
We report a preliminary data set indicating that the river management was made 5900 cal. BC ago and led to Neolithic village flooding, destruction and local abandonment of the hydraulic infrastructures between 5750 and 5430 cal. BC.
•
We carried out isotopic analyzes on the seeds in order to characterize or not the occurrence of irrigation.
•
We highlight the possibility of a development in the Caucasus of the oldest known water management practices.
•
We also present an original focus on the potential effects of torrential palaeo-floods in Neolithic water management structures and riparian habitats.
River management is generally thought to have started at 5500 cal. BC within the development of eastern Neolithic societies. In the Lesser Caucasus, evidence of early river management has been discovered around the famous Neolithic sites of Shulaveri, Gadachrili Gora, and Imiris Gora in Georgia. Here we report a preliminary data set indicating that river management was set up at 5900 cal. BC leading to the flooding, destruction, and local abandonment of the hydraulic infrastructures of the Gadachrili village between 5750 and 5430 cal. BC. The hydraulic infrastructures were developed during a more humid period encompassing the 8200 cal. BP (6200 cal. BC) climatic event, probably to optimize agricultural yield. It potentially led to the first prehistoric engineering accident for which there is evidence, which may have been followed by the reorganisation of the occupation and/or to architectural modifications.
Conference Presentations by Alexia Decaix
Posters by Alexia Decaix
Results: Almost all the data (25/31) suggest an increased contribution of cereals, lentils, and freshwater fish during the Neolithic, whereas afterwards, until the Late Bronze Age, all individuals consumed more animal proteins from their livestock. None of the biological criteria (age at death and sex) and burial types (mass/single graves) were found to be related to a specific diet over time. Comparisons with other isotopic data from contemporary sites in Georgia argue in favor of a wide variety of dietary sources in the vicinity of the Kura valley and for highly mobile populations. Clear evidence of millet consumption has only been found for the Late Bronze Age.
•
In the Lesser Caucasus, some evidences of Early Neolithic river management have been discovered.
•
We report a preliminary data set indicating that the river management was made 5900 cal. BC ago and led to Neolithic village flooding, destruction and local abandonment of the hydraulic infrastructures between 5750 and 5430 cal. BC.
•
We carried out isotopic analyzes on the seeds in order to characterize or not the occurrence of irrigation.
•
We highlight the possibility of a development in the Caucasus of the oldest known water management practices.
•
We also present an original focus on the potential effects of torrential palaeo-floods in Neolithic water management structures and riparian habitats.
River management is generally thought to have started at 5500 cal. BC within the development of eastern Neolithic societies. In the Lesser Caucasus, evidence of early river management has been discovered around the famous Neolithic sites of Shulaveri, Gadachrili Gora, and Imiris Gora in Georgia. Here we report a preliminary data set indicating that river management was set up at 5900 cal. BC leading to the flooding, destruction, and local abandonment of the hydraulic infrastructures of the Gadachrili village between 5750 and 5430 cal. BC. The hydraulic infrastructures were developed during a more humid period encompassing the 8200 cal. BP (6200 cal. BC) climatic event, probably to optimize agricultural yield. It potentially led to the first prehistoric engineering accident for which there is evidence, which may have been followed by the reorganisation of the occupation and/or to architectural modifications.