Publications by authors named "M Regert"

The extraordinary preservation of Cueva de Los Murciélagos (Albuñol, Spain) provides a unique opportunity to identify the materials and the techniques involved in archery during the Early Neolithic period. Arrows with preserved feathers, tied fibres, adhesive substance, and two probable bowstrings have been studied trough an unprecedented multi-proxy investigation, including microscopy and biomolecular methods, to unravel archery techniques. The study has identified the oldest known sinew bowstrings, the first evidence for the use of olive tree (Olea europaea) and reed (Phragmites sp.

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Because they hold information about cultural identity, foodways have been the focus of a variety of disciplines in archaeology. However, each approach documents different stages of culinary preparation and is constrained by the preservation specificities of each type of artefact and ecofact. Difficulties in achieving an interdisciplinary approach may explain the scarcity of such studies.

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Birch bark tar is the most widely documented adhesive in prehistoric Europe. More recent periods attest to a diversification in terms of the materials used as adhesives and their application. Some studies have shown that conifer resins and beeswax were added to produce compound adhesives.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The collection includes over 40 kg of ochre and tools, allowing researchers to analyze changes in ochre processing techniques over time, revealing how Middle Stone Age inhabitants adapted their technology based on available materials.
  • * The findings suggest that these early humans had an understanding of different ochre properties for practical use and symbolic art, as evidenced by ochre residues found on a painted pebble intended for creating red dots.
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  • Honeybee populations face threats from pesticides, diseases, and other stressors, highlighting their vital role in agriculture and the historical relationship between humans and bees dating back to ancient Egypt and even the Stone Age.
  • Evidence suggests that humans have been harvesting bee products, particularly beeswax, since prehistoric times, and its chemical composition allows for recognizing these products in archaeological contexts.
  • Research indicates that Neolithic farmers across Europe, the Near East, and North Africa continuously exploited bee products from at least the seventh millennium cal BC, suggesting an essential cultural and technological role for honeybees in early agricultural societies.
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