Archeolodzy.org Foundation, Wrocław, Poland.
Institute of Archaeology, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland.
PLoS One. 2022 Sep 2;17(9):e0274068. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274068. eCollection 2022.
The research was carried out at the cremation cemetery of the Lusatian culture in Wtórek, Ostrów Wielkopolski district, Wielkopolska province, Poland. Contrary to the so-far-studied topics related to the CT imaging of burnt bones and their virtual exploration, we concentrated on the analysis of the structures formed by the soil fauna activity in the fills of urns and additional vessels, and reconstruction of the dynamics of the ecosystem variability within the cemetery area based on thereof. We also demonstrated the impact of macrofaunal activity on stratigraphy and bone fragmentation. From the total of 222 excavated burials in 18 urns and one additional vessel, the remains of macrofauna or its bioturbation activity were identified. Out of 19 vessels subjected to CT examinations, traces of macrofaunal activity were demonstrated in 13: in five vessels animal bioturbative activity was not observed and in one, observations was impossible (due to significant metal-related artifacts). In two vessels both macrofaunal remains and traces of activity were identified. Discovered bioturbations were associated with specific species or genera. Nests or their parts of the genus Geotrupes sp. beetles were the most frequently observed traces of macrofaunal activity. Tunnels and aestivation chambers of earthworms and chambers of the genus Harpalus sp. beetles filled with Setaria sp. caryopses were discovered. The chitinous parts of other insects and the humerus bones of the vole of the genus Microtus sp. were also identified. It was shown, especially due to the non-destructive method, that rodents activity had the most destructive effect on the bone stratigraphy as well as on the movement and fragmentation of the burnt bones. The chances of visualizing bioturbations decreased with time since their creation. The process of disappearance of traces of macrofaunal activity concerned both traces of rodent activity and nests set up by Geotrupes sp. and other species.
该研究在波兰大波兰省奥斯特罗夫-大波兰地区的维托雷克卢萨蒂安文化火葬墓地进行。与迄今为止研究的与 CT 成像的烧伤骨骼及其虚拟探索相关的主题相反，我们专注于分析骨灰盒和其他容器填充物中土壤动物活动形成的结构，并在此基础上重建墓地区域内生态系统变异性的动态。我们还展示了大型动物活动对地层和骨骼碎裂的影响。在从 18 个骨灰盒和一个附加容器中总共挖掘的 222 个墓葬中，鉴定出了大型动物或其生物扰动活动的遗骸。在接受 CT 检查的 19 个容器中，有 13 个显示出大型动物活动的痕迹：在 5 个容器中没有观察到动物生物扰动活动，在 1 个容器中观察不到（由于存在大量与金属相关的文物）。在两个容器中都发现了大型动物遗骸和活动痕迹。发现的生物扰动与特定物种或属有关。最常观察到的大型动物活动痕迹是 Geotrupes sp. 甲虫的巢穴或其部分。发现了蚯蚓的隧道和夏眠室以及 Harpalus sp. 甲虫的腔室，里面装满了 Setaria sp. 颖果。还发现了其他昆虫的几丁质部分和 Microtus sp. 田鼠的肱骨。特别是由于非破坏性方法，表明啮齿动物的活动对骨骼地层以及燃烧骨骼的运动和碎裂具有最具破坏性的影响。可视化生物扰动的机会随着时间的流逝而减少，因为它们的形成时间。大型动物活动痕迹的消失过程既涉及啮齿动物活动的痕迹，也涉及 Geotrupes sp. 和其他物种设置的巢穴。
