Humans, animals, and the landscape at Middle Neolithic Koutroulou Magoula: an approach through soil micromorphology and phytoliths

Presented by Georgia Koromila, Panagiotis Karkanas, Kerry Harris, Georgia Kotzamani, Yannis Hamilakis, and Nina Kyparissi-Apostolika
In track Posters

Animal dung is increasingly becoming an intensively investigated material in archaeology, and its archaeological value widely recognised (see Jones 2012). It has been shown that it holds significant potential for studying, amongst others, animal diet, and, by extension, animal management practices, and different types of human and animal mobility as ways of engaging with the landscape (e.g. Valamoti 2007).
This paper employs micromorphological analysis of intact sediment samples in order to identify the presence of animal dung in archaeological deposits, thereby providing direct evidence of animal diet. Building on these observations, phytolith analysis is then utilised to produce quantifiable data of plant content that can be compared to the more qualitative results of micromorphology. These data are integrated with the information gained from zooarchaeology and archaeobotany.
The case-study examined is the Middle Neolithic tell site of Koutroulou Magoula, Phthiotida. A number of samples were taken from diverse contexts, primarily from open areas at the core of the settlement, in order to produce a high resolution record of space use and site formation processes.
Micromorphological analysis shows that dung is a major contributor to sediment accumulation in the examined contexts. It was encountered in what appear to be penning deposits, but also in secondary refuse accumulations, and in in situ fuel. It was also found that dung is extremely rich in phytoliths. Observed cases regularly include a mixture of grass and reed-derived morphotypes, as well as possible dicot types. Based on this analysis, it is suggested that a combination of animal foddering and grazing/browsing practices were employed by the inhabitants of Koutroulou. The possibility of temporal and/or seasonal variations in these practices is further explored by comparing successive deposits.
By integrating micromorphology with archaeobotanical, zooarchaeological and other analytical methods, as well as with the broader archaeological, on-site and off-site data, this paper aims to achieve a more holistic understanding of human and animal engagements and relationships with the environment.

References
Jones, R. (ed.) 2012. Manure matters: historical, archaeological and ethnographic perspectives. Farnham: Ashgate.
Valamoti, S.M. 2007. Detecting seasonal movement from animal dung: an investigation in Neolithic northern Greece. Antiquity 81: 1053-1064.