Coastal Archaeology

The mid-Holocene (ca. 8200-4200 cal BP) brought about important climatic changes and environmental shifts to land and coastal systems , globally. Many of the human groups existing at that time were affected in various degrees by such important modifications to their foraging areas, including shorelines. Higher sea-levels (þ1-3 m) were a prominent factor reshaping coastal landscapes and thus affecting coastal foraging in one or more ways. Hot and dry weather and relatively higher sea levels along the central west coast of South Africa impacted substantially on local coastal hunter-gatherer groups. These challenges were thought once to have been unsurmountable because of an apparent absence of sites dated to this period. Recently dated mid-Holocene assemblages allow us to gain insight into coastal resource procurement and overall subsistence, and also to derive more detailed coastal paleoecological data. The results show a predominantly terrestrial diet, while shellfish collection persisted amid prevailing environmental factors affecting mussel growth by supplementing their reduced mollusk takes with additional prey. Sizeable crustaceans were also procured in relatively large numbers in some localities, but not in all. This is the most-up-to date mid-Holocene subsistence record for the central west coast of South Africa which, apart from reconstructing changes in procurement strategies, reveals a trajectory of persistence in the face of climate change. ARTICLE HISTORY

This report presents the results of an archaeological survey and evaluative testing of the Bayshore Homes archaeological site in Pinellas County, Florida.  The Bayshore Homes site proper is recorded in the Florida Master Site File as 8PI41 and consists of two burial mounds, a flat-topped platform mound, and a large shoreline midden.  Recent investigations, however, have expanded the site complex to include the adjacent midden at Abercrombie Park (8PI58) and the Kuttler Mound (8PI10650), a large shell mound situated between Abercrombie Park and the Bayshore Homes midden.  the report summarizes previous excavations at the site by William Sears and presents new data on settlement layout, site formation, chronometric dating, subsistence, ceramics, and lithic, shell, and bone artifacts.

Récemment, l'archéologie sous-marine, de par sa forme unique de patrimoine culturel, a considérablement évolué, de telle sorte qu’elle en vient désormais à saisir des intérêts tangibles au-delà de ses disciplines très spécialisées. À mesure de sa maturation méthodologique et technologique, nous constatons que le domaine s’est de plus en plus caractérisé à travers les préoccupations juridiques et éthiques croissantes que soulève la protection de son patrimoine immergé. Le présent guide a pour but de familiariser l'archéologue terrestre à ce domaine académique pionnier, quelques fois encore empreint d’ésotérisme. Pour ce faire, notre étude dresse un aperçu des menaces, des mesures d'urgence, ainsi que de l'un de ses adages les plus prometteurs pour l'Archéologie au sens large : celui de ses modèles interprétatifs, comme le « Paysage culturel maritime » de C. Westerdahl.

It is only recently that Underwater Archaeology and its unique form of cultural heritage has grown to encompass more tangible interests from outside its very specialized disciplines. With the long time coming of its methodological and technological maturation, the field has been increasingly characterized by the growing legal and ethical concerns raised by the protection of its heritage. This introductory guide aims to familiarize the land-based archaeologist to this budding, if not still somewhat esoteric academic domain. In doing so, the discourse of this study seeks to grant some insight as to the threats, contingency measures, as well as some of its most promising adage for Archaeology as a whole: that of its interpretative models, such as C. Westerdahl’s “Maritime Cultural Landscape”.

Underwater archaeological salvage operations in Greece commenced with ‘nude diving’ in Lord Elgin’s wrecked ship Mentor in 1802 at Kythera, continued with hard helmet diving at the Salamis straits in 1877, at Antikythera in 1900 and Madhia in 1907, and advanced with the introduction of SCUBA diving in the late 1950s. First underwater excavation took place at Grand Congloué in 1950 and from then on, salvage was transformed and developed into a separate discipline of archaeology, progressing today in using Closed Circuit Rebreathers and Atmospheric Diving Systems, as in the recent Antikythera project (2012- 2014). Except for SCUBA diving gear
and visual observation, several other technological methods and equipment have been used after the mid-twentieth century, to locate and map submerged cultural remains, especially in deep waters. The article comprises an overview of innovative underwater archaeological research efforts in Greek territorial waters, distinct from the standard diving methods and technologies used in the field. The overview of the history of their use will lead, at the end,to the discussion of their efficiency and basic principles to be followed based on the experience acquired.

The Corded Ware Culture (c. 2900–2300 BC) is found in a large area, from Russia to the Netherlands and from Scandinavia to Switzerland. Supra-regional elements include beakers decorated with cord and/or spatula imprints, battle-axes, and a funerary customs involving crouched inhumations under barrows with gender-specific placement of the body gender-specific funerary gifts.

Analysis of ceramics from well-preserved settlements from the Dutch coastal zone have provided very valuable new information on the Corded Ware chronology, social organisation, ideology, subsistence, and use of material culture. A critical review of the commonly applied chronological models shows that many of the underlying premises cannot be supported due to problems with (broad calibration and sample reliability of) 14C dates. This study shows that in the Neolithic Dutch coastal zone, the thin-walled ceramics reflect supra-regional (Corded Ware ) affiliations, whereas the medium-thick-walled and thick-walled ceramics reflect persistent regional (Vlaardingen) traditions. The beakers decorated with cord and spatula impressions were used primarily for cooking; indications for the often proposed use of alcohol (and associated rise of individualisation and elites) were not found.

It is argued in this study that the Corded Ware Culture represents an economic alliance, a dynamic totality as well as a network linking regional groups – each with a distinct economic base, material culture and ideology. These communities all participated in a vast supra-regional network that was a platform for inter-community exchanges of goods, skills, ideas and possibly people. Affiliation to this supra-regional network was a vital aspect for all regional groups involved, and membership to it was expressed by using a set of common traits. Decorated thin-walled beakers act as symbols of these supra-regional networks and thus embody both functional and ideological roles.

This report presents the results of Phase III excavation and data recovery at 8PB6, the Boca Raton Inlet Midden 3 site, located in Boca Raton, Florida immediately north of the Palm Beach and Broward county line, on the north side of Boca Raton Inlet.  The consists of midden deposits that are interpreted as representng short-term extractive camp occupied during the East Okeechobee I and II periods (A.D. 350-900), with a later ephemeral occupation during East Okeechobee IV (A.D. 1513-1763).  Dating of the
prehistoric occupation is based on radiocarbon determinations and temporally diagnostic ceramics. Identification of a Contact-period occupation is based is based on the recovery of artifacts of definite European origin that include glass beads, iron spikes, and a sherd of olive jar.

Glades Plain and Belle Glade Plain ceramics dominate the assemblage.  Lesser amounts of St. Johns Plain and Check
Stamped pottery are also present.  Decorated ceramics are in the minority and Miami Incised, and Opa Locka Incised.  Analysis of
residues on sherds from two features indicate that the vessels were used for the preparation of foods that include starchy plant foods and fats, oils, and proteins from animals. Notable is evidence of Datura or jimson weed, indicating the possible processing of this plant for its hallucinogenic properties in rituals or as a medicine.

Animal bone was very abundant and well-preserved.  A reliance on marine resources, particularly fishes, shellfish, and turtles is indicated by the zooarchaeological analysis. Saltwater fishes include jacks, hardhead catfish, grouper, Atlantic croaker, puffer fish, parrot fishes, sailfish, sawfish, and dolphin . Sea turtle remains are very abundant. Invertebrates  consist of oyster, queen conch, giant false donax lightning whelks, arks, deer cowry, Caribbean top snail, nerites, crabs, and sea urchins.  Freshwater species include gar, bowfin, sunfishes, mud/musk turtles, and soft shell turtle. Terrestrial species include gopher tortoise, deer, opossum, raccoon, domestic dog, and skunk.

St. Vincent Island is one of the barrier islands in the Florida panhandle between Apalachicola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge encompasses all 5000 hectares of the island. Archaeological fieldwork in the summer of
2009 included a survey of the entire island and a test unit at one of the island’s richest sites. In spring of 2010 a second test unit was excavated at another archaeologically rich site. A total of 16 known sites were investigated and two newly discovered sites recorded.
This research combines all these data with information obtained from existing artifact collections and archives, as well as results of a widespread geological survey of the island, in order to characterize the prehistoric archaeological record on the island, which
stretches back at least 4000 years or more, to the time of the island’s first formation. Subsistence, settlement patterns, site use, and change through time in the human adaptation on St. Vincent are described in relation to the preexisting cultural chronology
of the region, especially that of other barrier islands. Settlement from all time periods is concentrated on the north and east shorelines, with not much human use of the island interior until recent historic time. Geological indication of sea level fluctuations on the islands oldest shoreline section, on the northeast tip, is combined with archaeological evidence to suggest responses to rising sea levels.

Defining and understanding change as observed in the mid-to-late Holocene Australian archaeological record is the primary focus of this research. For this thesis I conducted a detailed local archaeological survey of a mid-to-late Holocene landscape to examine aspects of continuity and change in the coastal environments of the Sandalwood River in the Yiinkan Embayment, Mornington Island, southeast Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia. Focus is given to the theoretical and methodological problems emerging in coastal and island archaeology such as the importance of constructing reliable chronologies, interpreting the archaeological data in the context of local landscape and environmental development, and assessing the integrity of open tropical archaeological coastal sites.

The Yiinkan Embayment is an ideal region to address these issues as it contains datasets that enable the development of refined local chronologies of land formation processes and palaeoenvironmental conditions. These datasets included numerous fixed biological indicators in the form of black-lipped oyster (Striostrea mytiloides) bioherms that are used to construct local sea-level models and infer palaeoenvironmental conditions. In addition, a series of transgressive parallel beach ridges, that have a deposition chronology mirroring that documented on the adjacent mainland, have been used to reconstruct palaeocoastlines and further refine the timing of local mid-to-late Holocene landform evolution.

Extensive archaeological surveys were taken across c.27km2 at the Sandalwood River catchment. The study area was stratified into six survey zones based on broad geomorphological characteristics (e.g. stranded beach ridge of saltpan). Surveys recorded 164 cultural sites and 12 natural bioherms.

Results of the survey and excavation of three shell mounds are presented. Differences in site structure, composition and chronology are interpreted to present a temporal and spatial pattern of variability in the use of a range of local environmental zones throughout the late Holocene.

Reanalysis of excavation materials from the site of Wurdukanhan excavated in 1996 coupled with an extensive survey and dating program undertaken here demonstrate that there is no evidence for a mid-Holocene occupation of Mornington Island (Memmott et al. 2006). These claims are significant, as evidence for mid-Holocene occupation of islands in northern Australia has been refuted (Sim and Wallis 2008). Results clearly demonstrate that Wurdukanhan is a natural blacklipped oyster (Striostrea mytiloides) death assemblage (bioherm).

A local marine reservoir effect was established for the southern Gulf through a study of known-age shell specimens from the Australian Museum. Results indicate that the determined ΔR value for the Gulf of Carpentaria of 55±98 requires slight revision to -49±102 for the southern Gulf, but that the routinely used ΔR value of 12±7 is inappropriate.

Radiocarbon determinations, stratigraphy, particle size, foraminiferal analysis, magnetic susceptibility and conjoin analysis are used to evaluate the integrity of the shell mound deposits excavated for this project. Magnetic susceptibility is tested for the first time on an Australian, open, coastal shell matrix site to establish patterns of site use and stratigraphic integrity. All analyses combined demonstrate a high level of vertical and horizontal integrity.

Using data from the shell mound excavations and the terminal chronology from 18 other cultural deposits, along with seven dated natural features, including black-lipped oyster bioherms, this research demonstrates that human occupation of the Sandalwood River catchment commenced in the late Holocene after almost a millennia of large-scale landscape development closely linked to the final stages of the marine transgression. A model of local landscape development and human-environment interaction is presented.

La signalisation maritime et portuaire est un sujet rarement traité en archéologie. Si les grands phares hellénistiques et romains ont bénéficié d'études iconographiques ou architecturales, peu de travaux portent sur leur rôle maritime. Les autres types de dispositifs et leur place dans la genèse des territoires restent méconnus. Les dispositifs de signalisation, qui renvoient à des constructions très diverses, constituent des éléments majeurs dans la définition et la formation de cet espace et matérialisent une forme particulière d'aménagement du littoral. Ces constructions et l'activité qui les accompagne sont mises en oeuvre au cours de l'élaboration des territoires dans leurs phases d'évolution et pas seulement pour la pérennisation des activités humaines et des échanges. Mots clés : signalisation maritime, tours côtières, navigation antique, aménagement du littoral.

Gallardo, F., B. Ballester y N. Fuenzalida 2017 Monumentos funerarios y flujos de información social costera. En Monumentos funerarios de la costa del desierto de Atacama. Los cazadores-recolectores marinos y sus intercambios (500 a.C.-700 d.C.), editado por F. Gallardo, B. Ballester y N. Fuenzalida, pp. 39-53. CIIR & SCHA, Santiago.

A arqueologia costeira é uma área de crescimento dentro da arqueologia marítima em termos de dados que podem ser recolhidos.
Grande parte do desenvolvimento teórico no início da arqueologia
costeira foi impulsionada por questões de evolução do meio
ambiente enquanto explicações económicas ou derivados de subsistência do uso do litoral. Este torna-se um ambiente difícil para os
arqueólogos em termos de preservação, acessos e métodos. Embora o ambiente continue a ser um foco de investigação preliminar em arqueologia costeira, que é apropriado, uma vez que as costas estão entre os ecossistemas mais dinâmicos do planeta, as interpretações arqueológicas do papel que desempenha na natureza as ocupações antropica no litoral, são objectivos de análise desta comunicação centrada na embocadura do Rio Tejo. Dentro da literatura crescente sobre este tema, seguimos aquela que desenvolve questões como identidade social e a percepção da costa.

The purpose of this study is to assess the changes in the geomorphology and archaeology of the Akrotiri peninsula during antiquity.  By pulling together results from relevant investigations, I was able to assess the current state of knowledge, produce new hypotheses and offer recommendations for future research. This is the first time the geology and archaeology of the entire peninsula has been considered at all, let alone together, but the current interdisciplinary approach at Dreamer’s Bay and other locations across Cyprus paves the way for similar investigations at sites on the peninsula. Before that can happen, a summary of knowledge must be created from which to move forward. 
Research determined that interdisciplinary approaches had rarely been taken, although geological and archaeological material did exist separately, and in some cases overlapped with each other. The visibility of maritime activity increased throughout the study period, reflecting the general increase in the activity itself. A shift from the archaeologically ephemeral proto-harbours to engineered harbours occurred, although these proto-harbours still likely existed in areas of localised or smaller-scale activity. The settlements around which maritime activity and culture existed also grew across the periods despite occasional troughs, such as that which occurred at the end of the Late Cypriot period. The geological changes during this period were determined not to be as straightforward as the formation of the peninsula. The peninsula experienced subsidence, erosion and large amounts of sediment transport which although is not completely understood, certainly affected the ancient maritime landscape.

L'Archeologia costiera è una branca dell'archeologia capace di fornire una grande quantità di informazioni utili alla ricostruzione del paesaggio antico ma che allo stesso tempo richiede un imprescindibile approccio multidisciplinare. Prima di tutto è necessario studiare la geomorfologia del territorio per tentare di capire quali processi geologici possono aver apportato modifiche nell'area oggetto d'indagine. Spesso infatti ci si trova in presenza di strutture costiere, come ad esempio i porti, individuate sulla terraferma anche a parecchie centinaia di metri dalla costa odierna; allo stesso modo non è raro imbattersi in resti di edifici attualmente sommersi che nel loro periodo d'utilizzo non presentavano alcun rapporto con il mare. La geologia permette inoltre di ricostruire, almeno in parte, eventi catastrofici come terremoti o tsunami che possono aver avuto un forte impatto sul territorio e magari aver anche causato l'abbandono di un determinato sito. Un altro aspetto da non sottovalutare è quello biologico in quanto il rinvenimento di fossili di organismi marini può coadiuvare la ricostruzione della linea di costa antica. Lo studio delle fonti antiche è altrettanto importante perché può fornire delle linee guida per l'individuazione degli insediamenti costieri e per la loro identificazione. La toponomastica è un elemento fondamentale per la contestualizzazione di un sito nella narrazione storica e la ricostruzione degli eventi di cui è stato teatro. Infine la stessa indagine archeologica è spesso soggetta a variabilità in ragione delle differenti condizioni offerte dai siti costieri: è possibile che si debba passare dallo scavo stratigrafico tout court al lavoro in pochi centimetri d'acqua o addirittura ad eseguire uno scavo subacqueo vero e proprio con l'impiego di sommozzatori. L'obiettivo di questa ricerca è fornire tramite alcuni esempi concreti una panoramica delle condizioni in cui gli archeologi si trovano ad operare ponendo particolare accento all'utilizzo di un approccio multidisciplinare per l'identificazione dei processi che hanno portato nel corso del tempo alla variazione della linea di costa del Peloponneso. La scelta di questa regione della Grecia è stata dettata dalla compresenza di due fattori importanti ai fini di questo studio: da una parte una ricca tradizione storico-archeologica, dall'altra un'intensa attività geologica.

Technical report of the Arch-Manche Project which demonstrated how coastal indicators including archaeological and palaeoenvironmental data along with historical and artistic resources can be applied as tools to inform long term patterns of coastal change.

This investigation into shipwrecks in the Port MacDonnell region addresses to what extent archaeological signatures inform the impact of shipwrecks, as processes and places, in the community and vice versa. A review of archaeological, archival and oral history data is undertaken to achieve several aims. These include identifying the remains of a wooden shipwreck seasonally exposed in the beach and a group of timbers located at the Port MacDonnell Maritime Museum. Also, the concept of shipwrecks as places in the landscape and local attitudes towards shipwrecks is explored. Finally, the impacts shipwrecks have on rural coastal communities is identified using a framework based around shipwreck response, exploitation and memorialisation landscapes. This research is archaeologically significant as it contributes to the theme of shipwrecks as places; an understudied area which has the potential to reveal meaningful interpretations about human behaviour. Furthermore, it is significant as the behaviours, attitudes and values of a community with a strong maritime identity and a history of responding to, exploiting and memorialising shipwrecks are recorded.

Human societies in coastal zones are arguably the
populations most prone to the danger of geological
hazards and the need to devise strategies to live with
them. Not only do settlers in coastal zones confront,
the major geological problems of earthquake and volcanic
eruption as do inland societies, but any such
hazards are compounded by the situation of life at the
interface between land and sea. Tsunamis are an obvious
link between classical geological hazards and the
ocean, but slower connections are also encountered,
for example sea-level rise associated with the wasting
away of the Pleistocene ice sheets. Slow, neotectonic
changes along coasts are also significant, and starting
in the Neolithic, human activities become a notable
forcing factor in this zone.

In fact, the human dimension is a two way street.
Pioneer settlements from the Neolithic onwards are
clearly constrained by their environments. After initial
colonization of the habitat, the environment is in turn
manipulated by the human inhabitants, who are now
recognized as a geological force in their own right.
Seldom are the human manipulations without significant
problems, so that humanity itself has become a
geological hazard.
Geoarchaeology has long focused on paleonvironmental
reconstructions and landscape evolution. Recent
research progress in the Mediterranean has furthered
the understanding of paleohazards in the coastal areas.