The Alien Presence

411 Pages·2010·7.53 MB·English

The Alien Presence: Palaeoentomological
Approaches to Trade and Migration

Gary Andrew King

PhD

2009
The Alien Presence: Palaeoentomological
Approaches to Trade and Migration

Gary Andrew King

A thesis presented to the University of York in fulfilment of the thesis
requirement for the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
in
Archaeology

University of York
Department of Archaeology
September 2009
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The alien presence: Palaeoentomological approaches to trade and
migration

Abstract

This thesis addresses the potential of palaeoentomological remains to stand as
evidence of past trade and culture contact. Three methodological tools are used to
evaluate the effectiveness of insect subfossils as palaeoeconomic indicators:
palaeoecology, biogeography, and isotopic analysis. Underpinning each of the
methodological approaches is the premise that specific insect fauna are notably
stenotopic in their distributional range. By superimposing the physiological and
ecological habits of modern species over the archaeological record, they may
effectively serve as analogues to interpret palaeoentomological evidence.
On that basis, the archaeological presence of stenotopic insects may reliably
be employed as indicators of their associated habitats. Furthermore, the examination
of the archaeological remains of the specific monophagous or oligophagous species
that are known to feed on human exploitable resources may provide direct or indirect
evidence towards the presence of those commodities. For example, Sitophilus
granarius may stand as an indication of the presence of stored cereal grains.
In each of the methodological approaches, the palaeoentomological remains
proved promising as a tool for suggesting probable socio-economic activity.
However, the approaches differed in the precision and confidence of their results.
The palaeoecological approach provided the most tentative assertions; where as the
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isotopic method allowed for formulation of the most scientifically-grounded
conclusions.
In addition to the three applied methodologies, the thesis explored the
potential for palaeoentomological remains to yield assayable genetic sequences.
Ancient DNA was recovered from preserved Roman and medieval specimens. If
aDNA preservation is widespread in palaeoentomological remains, a phylogeographic
method is conceivable as a means for assessing past trade and migration.

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Table of Contents
ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................3
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS......................................................................................12
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE OF THESIS................................14
1.1 TRADE AND MIGRATION: THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL VIABILITY.......................15
1.2 THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF INSECTS.......................................19
1.3 AIMS OF THE STUDY..........................................................................................22
1.4 APPROACHING A METHODOLOGY....................................................................22
1.5 STRUCTURE........................................................................................................24
CHAPTER 2 MORPHOLOGICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CONCEPTS............27
2.1 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................28
2.2 MORPHOLOGY...................................................................................................28
2.2.1 The Cuticle.................................................................................................30
2.2.2 The Chitin...................................................................................................33
2.2.3 The Head....................................................................................................36
2.2.4 The Thorax.................................................................................................41
2.2.5 The Abdomen.............................................................................................43
2.3 IDENTIFICATION METHODS...............................................................................44
2.3.1 Modern Insects...........................................................................................44
2.3.2 Fossil Insects..............................................................................................48
2.4 ECOLOGY...........................................................................................................51
2.4.1 Components................................................................................................53
2.4.2 Synecology..................................................................................................55
2.4.3 Ecological Constraints...............................................................................59
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2.4.4 The Ecology of Invasive Species...............................................................63
CHAPTER 3 METHODOLOGICAL REVIEW....................................................67
3.1 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................68
3.2 DATA COLLECTION...........................................................................................68
3.3 PROCESSING METHODS.....................................................................................69
3.4 PALAEOECOLOGY..............................................................................................69
3.4.1 Theoretical Perspective..............................................................................69
3.4.2 Background to the Methodology...............................................................70
3.4.3 Methodology...............................................................................................73
3.5 BIOGEOGRAPHY.................................................................................................74
3.5.1 A Brief Literature Review..........................................................................74
3.5.2 Approaching the Problem..........................................................................75
3.6 ISOTOPIC ANALYSES..........................................................................................76
3.6.1 History........................................................................................................76
3.6.2 Theoretical Basis........................................................................................77
3.6.3 Methodology and Objectives......................................................................80
3.7 PHYLOGEOGRAPHY...........................................................................................82
3.7.1 The History of Ancient DNA.....................................................................82
3.7.2 The Extraction of Ancient DNA from Samples........................................84
3.7.4 Ancient DNA Authentication Criteria.......................................................86
3.7.5 Targeting Mitochondrial DNA: The Aims of the Project.........................87
CHAPTER 4 THE PALAEOECOLOGICAL APPROACH:...............................90
4.1 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................91
4.2 CASE STUDY 1: 7-15 SPURRIERGATE, YORK (SITE CODE: 2000:584)..............93
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4.2.1 Introduction................................................................................................93
4.2.2 Processing Methods...................................................................................93
4.2.3 Results and Analysis of the Data...............................................................94
4.2.4 Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction of Roman Spurriergate..............106
4.2.5 Palaeoclimatic Reconstruction................................................................112
4.2.6 Discussion: The Environment and Climate of 7-15 Spurriergate and
Implications for Culture Contact.....................................................................114
4.2.7 Summary...................................................................................................116
4.3 CASE STUDY: 16-22 COPPERGATE, YORK PERIOD 4B...................................117
4.3.1 Introduction..............................................................................................117
4.3.2 Background and Processing Methods.....................................................117
4.3.3 Results and Analysis of Data...................................................................120
4.3.4 Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction of Anglo-Scandinavian Coppergate
............................................................................................................................140
4.3.5 Palaeoclimatic Reconstruction................................................................148
4.3.6 Discussion: The Environment and Climate of Period 4b 16-22
Coppergate and Implications for Culture Contact..........................................149
4.3.7 Summary...................................................................................................155
4.4 CONCLUSION....................................................................................................156
CHAPTER 5 GRAIN PESTS: AN ARCHAEOBIOGEOGRAPHICAL
ACCOUNT OF THE HISTORY OF THEIR DISPERSAL................................159
5.1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................160
5.2 THE GRAIN FAUNA..........................................................................................161
5.3 RECORDS OF THE FAUNA.................................................................................168
5.3.1 Pre-Roman Middle East...........................................................................168
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5.3.2 Prehistoric Europe...................................................................................170
5.3.3 Ancient Egypt...........................................................................................172
5.3.4 Ancient Greece and Aegean....................................................................178
5.3.5 China........................................................................................................179
5.3.6 The Roman Period...................................................................................180
5.4 DISCUSSION: THE ORIGINS AND DIFFUSION OF THE SPECIES........................188
5.4.1 Neolithic...................................................................................................188
5.4.2 The Bronze Age........................................................................................196
5.4.3 The Iron Age............................................................................................203
5.4.4 The Roman Empire..................................................................................206
5.5 CONCLUSION....................................................................................................215
CHAPTER 6 STABLE ISOTOPES (δ2H, δ13C, AND δ15N) FROM BEETLES
ARE GEOGRAPHIC INDICATORS OF THE ORIGINS OF CEREALS.......218
6.1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................219
6.2 MATERIALS AND METHODS............................................................................220
6.2.1 Laboratory Rearing Experiment.............................................................220
6.2.2 Preparation of Chitin...............................................................................221
6.2.3 Removing Exchangeable Hydrogen........................................................222
6.2.4 Stable Isotope Analysis............................................................................222
6.3 RESULTS...........................................................................................................225
6.3.1 δ2H and δ13C Measurements from the Control Component..................226
6.3.2 Mixed Cereal Blind Tests δ2H.................................................................232
6.3.3 Buckwheat Blind Tests.............................................................................233
6.4 DISCUSSION......................................................................................................234
6.5 SUMMARY........................................................................................................240
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CHAPTER 7 THE APPLICATION OF ISOTOPIC ANALYSES TOWARDS
INSECT REMAINS: MODERN AND NEOLITHIC CASE STUDIES.............241
7.1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................242
7.2 METHODS.........................................................................................................242
7.3.1 Site Information.......................................................................................243
7.3.2 Collecting Methods..................................................................................244
7.3.3 The Fauna................................................................................................244
7.3.4 Carbon Isotope Results............................................................................246
7.3.5 Nitrogen Isotope Results..........................................................................250
7.3.6 Hydrogen Isotope Results........................................................................252
7.3.7 Comparison of Isotopic Assays................................................................254
7.3.8 Synopsis....................................................................................................257
7.4 CASE STUDY 2: NEOLITHIC GERMANY...........................................................257
7.4.1 Site Information.......................................................................................257
7.4.2 Collection Methods..................................................................................258
7.4.3 The Fauna................................................................................................258
7.4.4 Carbon Isotope Results............................................................................261
7.4.5 Nitrogen Isotope Results..........................................................................264
7.4.6 Hydrogen Isotopic Results.......................................................................266
7.4.7 Comparison of Isotopic Analyses and Discussion..................................267
7.4.8 Synopsis....................................................................................................276
7.5 CONCLUSION....................................................................................................277
CHAPTER 8 RECOVERY OF DNA FROM ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSECT
REMAINS: FIRST RESULTS, PROBLEMS AND POTENTIAL.....................279
8.1 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................280
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8.2 MATERIALS AND METHODS............................................................................282
8.2.1 Thermal age: Accounting for Target Length and Copy Number..........284
8.3 RESULTS...........................................................................................................285
8.4 DISCUSSION......................................................................................................286
8.5 CONCLUSION....................................................................................................291
8.6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS....................................................................................292
CHAPTER 9 CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS.........................293
9.1 THESIS SUMMARY............................................................................................294
9.1.1 The Palaeoecological Approach..............................................................294
9.1.2 The Biogeographical Approach...............................................................298
9.1.3 The Isotopic Approach.............................................................................300
9.1.4 The Phylogeographic Approach..............................................................302
9.2 FUTURE DIRECTIONS.......................................................................................304
9.3 CONCLUSION....................................................................................................306
BIBLIOGRAPHY....................................................................................................308
APPENDICES..........................................................................................................355
APPENDIX 1MUTUAL CLIMATIC RANGE DATA....................................................356
APPENDIX 2 EVALUATION OF BIOLOGICAL REMAINS FROM A ROMAN TIMBER
DRAIN AT 21 ST PETERS STREET, COLCHESTER (SITE CODE: 2007.124)............364
APPENDIX 3 STABLE-ISOTOPIC ASSAYS RELATING TO MODERN SITOPHILUS
GRANARIUS, CEREALS, AND QUALITY CONTROL PROCEDURES..........................376
APPENDIX 4 STABLE-ISOTOPIC ASSAYS FOR INSECT REMAINS RECOVERED FROM
ERKELENZ-KÜCKHOVEN, EYTHRA, PLAUßIG, AND WEST STOW........................387
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