Papers by Modwene Poulmarc'h
PLOS ONE, 2024
Recent exploration of the Khaybar oasis by the Khaybar Longue Duré e Archaeological Project (AFAL... more Recent exploration of the Khaybar oasis by the Khaybar Longue Duré e Archaeological Project (AFALULA-RCU-CNRS) has led to the discovery of an exceptional Bronze Age fortified site called al-Natah. For the first time in Northwestern Arabia, the characteristics of a third/ second-millennium-BCE settlement can be assessed over a large area. Preliminary archaeological survey and soundings have revealed a fortified 2.6-hectares town built around 2400-2000 BCE which lasted until at least 1500 BCE and possibly 1300 BCE−but with possible interruptions−, functionally subdivided into a residential area, a probable decision-making zone and a necropolis. The nucleated dwellings were constructed following a standard plan and were connected by small streets. By comparison with neighboring oasis centers, we suggest that Northwestern Arabia during the Bronze Age−largely dominated by pastoral nomadic groups and already integrated into long-distance trade networks−was dotted with interconnected monumental walled oases centered around small fortified towns. And by comparison with the contemporary situation in the Southern Levant, we also envisage that the archaeological record bears witness to a 'low urbanization' (or 'slow urbanism'), indigenous to North Arabia, evidencing weak but increasing social complexity through the Early and Middle Bronze Ages.
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.
Paléorient, 2021
Food and its interactions with the environmental, economic, social, and cultural spheres play an ... more Food and its interactions with the environmental, economic, social, and cultural spheres play an essential role in communities' cultural identity. This theory has been verified by an analysis of the Kura-Araxes (KA) culture, characterised by original cultural developments, which spread in the South Caucasus around the middle of the fourth millennium BC. This research aims to study the variability of dietary choices at the individual and population levels by analysing stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen (δ 13 C, δ 15 N). To monitor regional and diachronic changes in dietary patterns, we performed analysis on human, animal, and plant materials (n = 144) from eight KA highland and lowland sites in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia compared with data (n = 39) from Post-KA sites already published (Herrscher et al. 2016, 2018b). Isotopic data show no significant differences with altitude. The KA diet is characterised by higher consumption of herbivore meat than pork and higher barley consumption than wheat. No relationship with age at death, sex, and burial traits were observed, suggesting "equal" access to food among community members. Human low isotope variability shows persistence over KA's entire duration (3,500-2,500 BC), while it is significantly different between KA and Post-KA subjects. The results confirm the homogeneity of KA communities' food practices that reinforces the theory of a "strong cultural identity" of the KA populations. Résumé. L'alimentation et l'ensemble des interactions qu'elle entretient avec les sphères environnementale, économique, sociale et culturelle jouent un rôle important dans l'identité culturelle des communautés. Cette théorie a été vérifiée par une analyse de la culture Kuro-Araxe (KA), caractérisée par des développements culturels originaux, qui s'est répandue dans le Caucase du Sud vers le milieu du quatrième millénaire avant notre ère. Cette recherche vise à étudier la variabilité des choix alimentaires, aux niveaux individuel et populationnel, par l'analyse des isotopes stables du carbone et de l'azote (δ 13 C, δ 15 N). Afin de suivre les changements régionaux et diachroniques des modes alimentaires, des analyses ont été réalisées sur des matériaux humains, animaux et végétaux (n = 144) provenant de sites d'altitudes différentes, huit en Géorgie, deux en Arménie et un en Azerbaïdjan et comparées à des données (n = 39) provenant de 4 sites Post KA de la région déjà publiées (Herrscher et al. 2016, 2018b) Les données isotopiques ne montrent aucun changement significatif avec l'altitude. L'alimentation KA se caractérise par une plus grande consommation de viande d'herbivore que de porc et une plus grande consommation d'orge que de blé. Aucune relation avec l'âge au décès, le sexe et les traits funéraires n'a été observée, ce qui suggère un accès « égal » à la nourriture entre les membres des communautés. La variabilité isotopique humaine montre une persistance sur toute la durée du KA (3500-2500 avant J.-C.), tandis qu'elle est significativement différente entre les sujets KA et Post KA. Les résultats convergent pour confirmer une homogénéité des pratiques alimentaires des communautés KA qui renforce la théorie d'une « forte identité culturelle » des communautés KA.
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 socioeconomic and cultural models.
The Neolithic Settlement of Aknashen, 2021
Anatolica, 2020
The GaRKAP (i.e., Ganja Region Kurgan Archaeological Project) is a joint Azerbaijani-Italian proj... more The GaRKAP (i.e., Ganja Region Kurgan Archaeological Project) is a joint Azerbaijani-Italian project in western Azerbaijan that investigates the spread of the tradition of burying the dead in funerary chambers covered with circular tumuli (i.e., kurgans) in the southern Caucasus during a period ranging from the fourth to the first millennia BCE. This paper will present the results of the first two seasons (2018 and 2019) of the archaeological work performed in the two regions investigated by the project that are: the area directly north of the modern city of Ganja (i.e., the northern section of the Heydar Aliyev Park), where numerous kurgans of the Late Bronze/Early Iron Age are located; and, the steppe region of Şadılı-Uzun Rama along the valley of the Kurekçay, a creek affluent of the Kura river in the Goran-boy district, where the preliminary reconnaissance survey has identified ca. 205 kurgans dating back to the Kura-Araxes period as well as to a Late Bronze/Early Iron Age archaeological phase.
The Ganja Region Kurgan Archaeological Project (GaRKAP) is a joint Azero-Italian project that aim... more The Ganja Region Kurgan Archaeological Project (GaRKAP) is a joint Azero-Italian project that aims at investigating the spread of the tradition of burying the dead in large funerary chambers covered with circular tumuli-that is, kurgans-in the southern Caucasus during a period ranging from the fourth to the first millennium BCE. It is in this region that large numbers of kurgans, dating to the Early Bronze Age (that is, the Kura-Araxes period) through to the Iron Age, have been identified. In particular, the funerary tumuli dated to the Kura-Araxes period reveal a common mortuary custom of multiple human depositions inside a large chamber that is burnt at the conclusion of ritual practices; the Late Bronze/ Early Iron Age burials, on the other hand, are smaller in size and usually present single or double human depositions, furnished with bronze objects and, in some circumstances, the skeletal remains of equids. This paper will present the results of the first season of the archaeological work performed in western Azerbaijan, in the Ganja-Gazakh region. More specifically, it is focused on í®í°) the city of Ganja, where a series of Late Bronze/Early Iron Age kurgans are located, and í®í°) the steppe of Uzun Rama, along the valley of a creek affluent of the Kura River in the Goranboy district, which is marked by the presence of large kurgans dated to the late fourth millennium BCE and characterised by collective burials.* Introduction (N. Laneri and B. Jalilov)
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.
Préhistoires Mediterrannéenes, 2018
This paper aims to present the context, the methodological approaches and the results of a resear... more This paper aims to present the context, the methodological approaches and the results of a research project, called ORIMIL and funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR). An integrative multi-proxy analysis, in collaboration with the Musée des Confluences in Lyon, has been designed to identify whether the region of the South Caucasus was also a hotbed of millet domestication and expansion, like China. The results from the fields of anthropology, archaeozoology, archaeobotany, geomorphology and isotopic biogeochemistry for the territories of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia did not reveal the presence of an early Neolithic or Early Bronze Age hub of millet domestication. Isotopic data associated with direct radiocarbon dating on bones showed that millet was consumed by animals and humans at the earliest towards the end of the Middle Bronze Age (1621-1450 cal BC) in Georgia. These results are in keeping with (1) the numerous direct radiocarbon dates on charred millet seeds and (2) the geomorphological studies showing an increase of better soil quality and cultivable areas during the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods in the Kura valley.
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.
Guliev F., Lyonnete B., Bouquet L., Bruley-Chabot G., Pecqueur L., Raymond P., Samzun A., Poulmarc’h M., Zamanov O., Mammadov Y., Alakbarov V. (2012). Archaeological Investigation at Ancient Settlement of Mentesh: pp. 353-359 (In Azerbaijani, summary in English and Russian) Guliev F., Lyonnete B., Bouquet, Bruley-Chabot G., Pecqueur L., Raymond P., Samzun A., Poulmarc’h... more Guliev F., Lyonnete B., Bouquet, Bruley-Chabot G., Pecqueur L., Raymond P., Samzun A., Poulmarc’h M., Zamanov O., Mammadov Y., Alakbarov V., Salimbayov Sh., Mirqadirov M., Ibrahimli S.N., Muradova E., Aliyeva A. Archaeological Investigation at Ancient Settlement of Mentesh. In: Archaeological Investigations in Azerbaijan-2011. Baku, 2012: pp. 353-359 (In Azerbaijani).
Two perforated dog molars were found directly associated with a Kura-Araxes child burial from the... more Two perforated dog molars were found directly associated with a Kura-Araxes child burial from the third millennium BC in Armenia. Both teeth show trimming of the root ends and boring of a biconical hole through the lingual root with a hand-held stone tool. Expedient manufacture, the anatomical location of the hole and use-wear suggest that the molars were suspended in order to display their crowns as part of a necklace that also included two stone beads. This is an unusual type of personal ornament and the first of its kind reported in the South Caucasus. Its use in a Kura-Araxes burial is interpreted as an active modification of the funerary symbolism during this period.
Excavations at Mentesh Tepe, western Azerbaijan, have unearthed Neolithic levels dated to an earl... more Excavations at Mentesh Tepe, western Azerbaijan, have unearthed Neolithic levels dated to an early stage of the Shomu-Shulaveri Culture, with a specific material culture and several inhumations among which a multiple burial. At that stage, already a full domestication of plants and animals is evident. Many questions have been raised concerning the origins of this culture, and its end is also still obscure. Relations with societies in the north-Mesopotamian area have again recently been evidenced at its beginnings. Mentesh Tepe, with its exceptional succession of occupations from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age, could help providing some clues for the links between the Neolithic and the Chalcolithic periods. The site is presented here under different points of views (architecture, burials, material culture) but in a preliminary stage since many studies are still in progress. Questions are raised about the climate and the apparent absence of pre-and post-Shomu-Shulaveri Culture possibly due to silting or erosion processes linked with the mobility of the Caspian Sea level.
Quaternary International, 2016
Excavations at Mentesh Tepe, western Azerbaijan, have unearthed Neolithic levels dated to an earl... more Excavations at Mentesh Tepe, western Azerbaijan, have unearthed Neolithic levels dated to an early stage of the Shomu-Shulaveri Culture, with a specific material culture and several inhumations among which a multiple burial. At that stage, already a full domestication of plants and animals is evident. Many questions have been raised concerning the origins of this culture, and its end is also still obscure. Relations with societies in the north-Mesopotamian area have again recently been evidenced at its beginnings. Mentesh Tepe, with its exceptional succession of occupations from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age, could help providing some clues for the links between the Neolithic and the Chalcolithic periods. The site is presented here under different points of views (architecture, burials, material culture) but in a preliminary stage since many studies are still in progress. Questions are raised about the climate and the apparent absence of pre-and post-Shomu-Shulaveri Culture possibly due to silting or erosion processes linked with the mobility of the Caspian Sea level.
The funerary practices of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic populations of the Southern Caucasus are... more The funerary practices of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic populations of the Southern Caucasus are poorly known. However, in the last few years, research in funerary archaeology intensified in the region, using recently developed approaches such as archaeothanatology. Thanks to the excavation of burials according to this method as well as to the reassessment of the published data, it is possible to achieve a
state of knowledge on funerary behavior of these populations. Across the whole region, 23 sites with burials have been recorded: Neolithic (2), Chalcolithic (15), Neolithic and Chalcolithic (2) and uncertain chronological attribution (Neolithic and/or Chalcolithic) (4). All data collected revealed a diversification of the practices from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic. Neolithic funerary practices are less homogeneous
than previously thought and burial sites appear to have been closely related to living places. During the Chalcolithic, a diversification of the ways of burying the dead occurs with the appearance of new types of tombs (burials in ceramic vessels and kurgans) and an evolution of the relations between the place of life and the place of the dead can be seen.
Although many excavations have been carried out on sites of the Kura-Araxes culture (3500-2400 BC... more Although many excavations have been carried out on sites of the Kura-Araxes culture (3500-2400 BC) in Southern Caucasus since 1940, no overall study has been made about the funerary practices of the populations. This article presents a synthesis of the information by combining earlier and more recent excavation data with a new viewpoint, the archaeothanatology methods. Across the whole region, 111 sites with burials have been discovered. The burials can be divided into six categories: cists, tombs built in various forms, horseshoe-shaped tombs, pit tombs without surface evidence, tombs indicated on the surface by small heaps of stones, and kurgans. Maps of the sites distribution were established according to the different types of tombs identified and the ways in which the deceased were deposited. The use of archaeothanatalogical methods provides a better comprehension of the body deposits and enables to identify unsuspected burial practices.
Recent excavation at the site of Chobareti (1615 m a.s.l., South Caucasus Mountains) reveals an i... more Recent excavation at the site of Chobareti (1615 m a.s.l., South Caucasus Mountains) reveals an important
Kura-Araxes settlement and eleven burials so far, for which a first multi-proxies approach was conducted
to understand both exploitation of plants and human dietary practices in this mountainous area. Thanks
to the excavation of several pits, in 2011, a well-reasoned sampling for archaeobotanical analysis,
including phytoliths, pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs, charcoal, seeds and other plant macroremains
was undertaken. In parallel, human, animal bones and wheat seeds were recovered in order to
perform stable isotope analysis (d13C, d15N). Results show the strong presence of cereals (especially naked
wheat, as a hexaploid form, and emmer), highlighting the role played by cereal growing in the Kura-
Araxes farming activities. Plant macroremains, but also phytoliths recovered in pits, reflect processing
activities on the site. While animal dung seems to have been used to enhance cereal yields, different
herding practices can be suggested by d15N values. Whereas d13C values and archaeobotanical data agree
for a consumption of C3 plants, with no significant input in wheat for both animals and humans, a homogeneous
mixed diet, with a great contribution of animal protein source (meat, secondary products)
has been observed.
Poster by Modwene Poulmarc'h
Modwene Poulmarc’h and Françoise. Le Mort,
In Transcaucasia, a wide range of Early Bronze Age... more Modwene Poulmarc’h and Françoise. Le Mort,
In Transcaucasia, a wide range of Early Bronze Age funerary practices have been evidenced. Results obtained from the methods of “archaeothanatology” that were, recently applied in one site from the region, has allowed a better understanding of this diversity and revealed an unsuspected complexity.
The excavation of part of the unexpectedly discovered necropolis of Kalavan 1, located north of Lake Sevan in Armenia, yielded three adult and one child single burials as well as a burial including the remains of at least three adults. From a typological point of view, the tombs can be compared to other Kura-Araxes burials. However, thanks to the methods of “archaeothanatology”, unsuspected funerary gestures such as the disposal of the dead in a perishable body container or the possible re-opening of burials have been pointed out.
Archaeothanatology seems to be one of the most promising approaches in the “archaeology of death”. A re-evaluation of the data available from old excavations according to such methods, would give us the opportunity to better reconstruct the funerary practices in Transcaucasia during the Early Bronze Age.
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Papers by Modwene Poulmarc'h
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.
state of knowledge on funerary behavior of these populations. Across the whole region, 23 sites with burials have been recorded: Neolithic (2), Chalcolithic (15), Neolithic and Chalcolithic (2) and uncertain chronological attribution (Neolithic and/or Chalcolithic) (4). All data collected revealed a diversification of the practices from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic. Neolithic funerary practices are less homogeneous
than previously thought and burial sites appear to have been closely related to living places. During the Chalcolithic, a diversification of the ways of burying the dead occurs with the appearance of new types of tombs (burials in ceramic vessels and kurgans) and an evolution of the relations between the place of life and the place of the dead can be seen.
Kura-Araxes settlement and eleven burials so far, for which a first multi-proxies approach was conducted
to understand both exploitation of plants and human dietary practices in this mountainous area. Thanks
to the excavation of several pits, in 2011, a well-reasoned sampling for archaeobotanical analysis,
including phytoliths, pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs, charcoal, seeds and other plant macroremains
was undertaken. In parallel, human, animal bones and wheat seeds were recovered in order to
perform stable isotope analysis (d13C, d15N). Results show the strong presence of cereals (especially naked
wheat, as a hexaploid form, and emmer), highlighting the role played by cereal growing in the Kura-
Araxes farming activities. Plant macroremains, but also phytoliths recovered in pits, reflect processing
activities on the site. While animal dung seems to have been used to enhance cereal yields, different
herding practices can be suggested by d15N values. Whereas d13C values and archaeobotanical data agree
for a consumption of C3 plants, with no significant input in wheat for both animals and humans, a homogeneous
mixed diet, with a great contribution of animal protein source (meat, secondary products)
has been observed.
Poster by Modwene Poulmarc'h
In Transcaucasia, a wide range of Early Bronze Age funerary practices have been evidenced. Results obtained from the methods of “archaeothanatology” that were, recently applied in one site from the region, has allowed a better understanding of this diversity and revealed an unsuspected complexity.
The excavation of part of the unexpectedly discovered necropolis of Kalavan 1, located north of Lake Sevan in Armenia, yielded three adult and one child single burials as well as a burial including the remains of at least three adults. From a typological point of view, the tombs can be compared to other Kura-Araxes burials. However, thanks to the methods of “archaeothanatology”, unsuspected funerary gestures such as the disposal of the dead in a perishable body container or the possible re-opening of burials have been pointed out.
Archaeothanatology seems to be one of the most promising approaches in the “archaeology of death”. A re-evaluation of the data available from old excavations according to such methods, would give us the opportunity to better reconstruct the funerary practices in Transcaucasia during the Early Bronze Age.
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.
state of knowledge on funerary behavior of these populations. Across the whole region, 23 sites with burials have been recorded: Neolithic (2), Chalcolithic (15), Neolithic and Chalcolithic (2) and uncertain chronological attribution (Neolithic and/or Chalcolithic) (4). All data collected revealed a diversification of the practices from the Neolithic to the Chalcolithic. Neolithic funerary practices are less homogeneous
than previously thought and burial sites appear to have been closely related to living places. During the Chalcolithic, a diversification of the ways of burying the dead occurs with the appearance of new types of tombs (burials in ceramic vessels and kurgans) and an evolution of the relations between the place of life and the place of the dead can be seen.
Kura-Araxes settlement and eleven burials so far, for which a first multi-proxies approach was conducted
to understand both exploitation of plants and human dietary practices in this mountainous area. Thanks
to the excavation of several pits, in 2011, a well-reasoned sampling for archaeobotanical analysis,
including phytoliths, pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs, charcoal, seeds and other plant macroremains
was undertaken. In parallel, human, animal bones and wheat seeds were recovered in order to
perform stable isotope analysis (d13C, d15N). Results show the strong presence of cereals (especially naked
wheat, as a hexaploid form, and emmer), highlighting the role played by cereal growing in the Kura-
Araxes farming activities. Plant macroremains, but also phytoliths recovered in pits, reflect processing
activities on the site. While animal dung seems to have been used to enhance cereal yields, different
herding practices can be suggested by d15N values. Whereas d13C values and archaeobotanical data agree
for a consumption of C3 plants, with no significant input in wheat for both animals and humans, a homogeneous
mixed diet, with a great contribution of animal protein source (meat, secondary products)
has been observed.
In Transcaucasia, a wide range of Early Bronze Age funerary practices have been evidenced. Results obtained from the methods of “archaeothanatology” that were, recently applied in one site from the region, has allowed a better understanding of this diversity and revealed an unsuspected complexity.
The excavation of part of the unexpectedly discovered necropolis of Kalavan 1, located north of Lake Sevan in Armenia, yielded three adult and one child single burials as well as a burial including the remains of at least three adults. From a typological point of view, the tombs can be compared to other Kura-Araxes burials. However, thanks to the methods of “archaeothanatology”, unsuspected funerary gestures such as the disposal of the dead in a perishable body container or the possible re-opening of burials have been pointed out.
Archaeothanatology seems to be one of the most promising approaches in the “archaeology of death”. A re-evaluation of the data available from old excavations according to such methods, would give us the opportunity to better reconstruct the funerary practices in Transcaucasia during the Early Bronze Age.
Tout récemment, la fouille du site de Godedzor, situé dans le sud-est de l’Arménie, a conduit à la mise au jour de deux sépultures individuelles. L’une est la sépulture primaire d’un enfant qui reposait dans une fosse ovale, dont les parois avaient été enduites d’une solution argileuse, pratique jusqu’alors inconnue. Le défunt était inhumé sur le côté droit, en position contractée et en partie recouvert par des fragments de céramique. L’autre est celle d’un adulte. Il s’agit également d’une sépulture primaire en fosse. Le défunt reposait sur le dos, les membres inférieurs fléchis sur la gauche du tronc. Les membres supérieurs étaient également fléchis, l’avant-bras droit passant sous le crâne et le gauche sous les membres inférieurs.
Ces découvertes apportent d’ores et déjà de nouvelles données sur les pratiques funéraires des populations préhistoriques de Transcaucasie. L’étude des ossements, actuellement en cours, permettra de d’identifier les caractères biologiques de ces populations, totalement inconnus jusqu’à présent.
Archaeological data show an impressive variability of the south Caucasian kurgans in terms of their dimensions, architectural traditions and burial practices.
This variability of the archaeological data is accompanied by a bewildering variability of terminologies used in publications and which often correspond to the same funerary “fact”.
For instance, the term “kurgan” is often used as a synonym for cromlech, barrow and burial mound, thus leading to ambiguity and confusion.
What is more, even if hundreds of kurgans have been excavated for almost a century in the Southern Caucasus, do we really know about these funerary practices from an archaeo-anthropological point of view?
This paper aims to present a review of the available documentation in order to pose questions on terminology, architectural variability and on the still dramatic lack of information concerning the body-treatment, funerary gestures and the biological identity of the people buried in the kurgans.
The kourgan is located on a tepe, the upper part of which was destroyed by cultivation activities in the early 70s. The structure, which was covered with pebbles, contains a dromos (corridor) and a chamber, both dug into earlier Chalcolithic levels. The dromos, which is 1 m wide, was situated east of the chamber and lined on both sides with rows of pebbles. The chamber is 5.1 x 4.3 m. The presence of a wooden construction is indicated by the discovery of post imprints on the walls of the chamber. The method of excavation employed permitted recognition of two main layers in the burial. The upper layer is rubefied with white (calcined) bones. The soil and bones in the lower one are dark brown in color. At the back of the chamber, lightly burnt and non-burnt bones also occur.
The presentation of the anthropological study focuses on the effects of fire on the human bones by analyzing their color, deformation, and cracking. An attempt is also made to determine the stage of decomposition of the body during the fire; to localize fireplaces; to evaluate burning temperatures; and to recognize deliberate bone displacement.
The application of taphonomic criteria as defined in “Anthropologie de terrain” permits to identify burial practices unsuspected, up to the present time, in the geographical area under study and sets the basis for future anthropological research in Azerbaijan during the Early Bronze Age.
Postgraduate Cypriot Archaeology 2011, Lyon, 19-22 oct. 2011.
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