This study explores the cremation rituals of the Ancient Veneti through experimental archaeology. Five open-air pyres were reconstructed using domestic pigs as human proxies to investigate the effects of different extinguishing methods on bone preservation, colour, and structural alteration. Pyres were extinguished either spontaneously, with water, or with a water-wine mixture, following indications from historical and Homeric sources. Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and photometric scanning imaging (PSI) were applied to explore thermal and mineralogical and structural alterations of the cremated bones. Results suggest that quenching with water-wine may be associated with betterpreserved bones and lower crystallinity values, closely resembling archaeological specimens from Veneto necropoleis in terms of macroscopic preservation and colouration. Full combustion without intervention resulted in highly calcined, fragmented remains. These results suggest that pyre extinction practices may contribute to heterogeneous calcination patterns observed in archaeological contexts. This interdisciplinary approach highlights the interplay between practical, technical, and symbolic aspects of protohistoric funerary rites. The combination of experimental replication and analytical techniques provides a framework for interpreting cremated remains and contributes to a more nuanced understanding of ancient mortuary practices. FTIR spectroscopy and Photometric Scanning Imaging are employed here as exploratory and comparative tools, providing an interpretative framework rather than standalone quantitative proxies.
Use-wear studies of polished and bevelled stone artefacts (PBAs) remain relatively scarce, despite their considerable potential for reconstructing past human activities. This paper aims to contribute to this still developing area of research through a functional analysis of the Eneolithic PBA assemblage from the Cham culture, Czech Republic. The study combines macroscopic observation with low- and high-magnification microscopic analysis in order to document and interpret surface alteration related to production, use, hafting, and post-depositional processes. A total of five artefacts were selected from a larger PBA assemblage and examined in detail. Subsequently, their surface traces were compared with wear patterns documented on experimental replicas produced from comparable raw materials. The experimental programme comprised controlled activities in which replicas were used as axes and adzes to work wood and antler. The experimental results allowed the identification of distinct wear patterns as those related to tool kinematics, contact materials, hafting, and resharpening practices. The application of these reference data to archaeological artefacts indicated that the studied tools were versatile and multifunctional, and often subjected to repeated rehafting, reorientation, and resharpening. The results highlight both the interpretative potential and the methodological challenges of use-wear analysis of Eneolithic PBAs.
Archaeological data from the Bronze Age and Pre-Roman Iron Age reveal significant cultural changes in the East Baltic Region, often linked to influences from other parts of Europe. Whether immigration played a major role in these transformations, remains under debate. This paper presents the first strontium isotope measurements (87Sr/86Sr) from 25 human samples (cremations) recovered at the & Edot;gli & scaron;kiai barrow cemetery in western Lithuania. The site belongs to the Western Baltic Barrow culture and dates to the Late Bronze - Pre-Roman Iron Age (circa 800-50 BC). Artefacts typology and distribution at & Edot;gli & scaron;kiai cemetery differ from other barrow sites in the East Baltic Region, suggesting long distance trade or at least some of the buried individuals being of non-local origin. The aim of this research is to determine whether individuals buried in mounds represent the local population or migrants, using bioarchaeological evidence. To establish an environmental baseline, we created a strontium isoscape based on 51 modern plant samples collected at 17 sites within a 25 km radius around & Edot;gli & scaron;kiai. This approach enables not only the assessment of the locality of individuals, but also it brings new insights into the landscape use and possible settlement patterns of the Western Baltic Barrow culture. Strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) and concentrations ([Sr]) from cremated individuals show variations between barrow mounds, indicating differences in landscape use between the Late Bronze Age and Pre-Roman Iron Age groups at & Edot;gli & scaron;kiai.
This paper deals with the anthracological analysis of 4,046 charcoal fragments from 162 archaeological features at the Early Mediaeval (8th-9th century AD) ironworking site K & uuml;mmersbruck-Bachweg. In total, 19 taxa were identified, dominated by Pinus and Quercus, with less Betula and much less Fagus, Alnus, Picea, Abies, and Carpinus. Distributions by context and correspondence analysis overlap across kilns, workshops, and settlement structures, indicating no deliberate fuel wood selection. The spectrum departs from local PNV (Potential Natural Vegetation), with shade-tolerant taxa under-represented and light-demanding taxa abundant, implying secondary woodland. Despite redeposited fills and lack of clear-context samples, we conclude that fuel wood was procured opportunistically, from nearby to the site, in a mosaic landscape shaped by iron production and agriculture.
This paper introduces a new joint Master's degree programme in Environmental Archaeology, developed through collaboration between the University of South Bohemia in & Ccaron;esk & eacute; Bud & ecaron;jovice (Czech Republic) and Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra (Slovakia). The programme responds to the growing need for integrative approaches in environmental archaeology, a field increasingly shaped by the expansion of high-resolution datasets and the methodological shift towards multi-proxy analysis. Rather than following traditional disciplinary boundaries, the curriculum is structured around the close integration of palaeoecology, archaeobotany, archaeozoology, and archaeology, fostering a coherent framework for interpreting complex human-environment interactions. A key feature of the programme is the combination of field-based and laboratory training across two complementary institutional settings. By emphasising methodological interdependence and cross-disciplinary communication, the programme equips graduates with the skills necessary to integrate diverse datasets and to operate as mediators between analytical science and archaeological interpretation.
