Archaeology Lab Report: Analysis of Bronze Age Data

This archaeology lab report delves into the analysis of Bronze Age data, focusing on the relationship between plant species, lake levels, and human settlement patterns. The report examines the presence of Fagus, Pinus, and Quercus, and how their abundance correlates with lake levels and human activities. It explores the impact of human activities on plant selection and the role of climate, specifically high lake levels, on the development of agricultural practices and settlement patterns. The report also discusses the significance of 14C data in interpreting these relationships, providing a comprehensive view of the environmental and cultural changes during the Bronze Age. This report offers insights into the interplay between environmental factors and human civilization during this period, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in understanding the past.

Running Head: Assignment Archaeology Lab Report
Assignment
Archaeology Lab Report

Answer 1:
a. Fagus in Zone T4 and T5 (late bronze age to Hallstatt period); Poaceae in Zone T1/TA
(middle/late Bronze Age); Pinus in Zone T5 (Hallstatt period) and Fagus again in Zone T1 Zone
(Early Bronze Age)
b. Fagus (middle to late Bronze Age); Abies (from early to late Bronze); Corylus (from Middle
Bronze to Hallstatt); Quercus plantation doesn’t change in abundance.
c. Yes, it is due to the anthropological activities which led to the selection of cultivated sources
rather than wild ones. It is also known that previously human stayed on whole grains, barley and
cattle products but as ages advance human began displacing more land and cultivating more
crops which could be reasons for such change.
d. It has been noticed that higher lake levels in Neolithic and Bronze periods are a cause for
cultural changes. The agricultural groups diverted to cereal production and crop sustenance
strategies due to bad weather condition and increased instability in response to growing regional
populations. The inclement weather can be observed in Figure 3 during Bronze and the Neolithic
period which has seen high lake levels.
Answer 2:
a. From the Figure 3, it can be noted that higher is lake level higher is the dwelling settlements
b. Early Bronze Age has seen larger housing solutions and a greater level of lakes. With this
Fagus, Quercus, and Abies saw significant advancements. Similarly in the late bronze phase,
higher lake level came up with larger dwellings, and from Figure 2, Fagus, Pinus, and Quercus
get again greater in number while this time Abies declines. The hypothesis for such results is that
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higher lake level means greater accessibility of water for the plant's growth and also higher water
levels for the drinking and daily chores of human survival. Therefore higher is the availability
more likely that people will come and inhabit and grow different plantations for their survival.
Answer 3:
The data from Figure 3, 14C data can also successfully interpret the data of dwellings and one
could ask for the questions like what is the relationship between 14C data and plantations during
different phases of time.
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