| Detecting cultural formation processes through arthropod assemblages |
Sub-assemblage |
Synanthropicity |
Depositional implication |
Primary sub-assemblage |
Synanthropic |
Independently deposited due to attractive circumstances in and around the archaeological context. |
|
Natural |
Independently deposited, but incidentally. |
Secondary sub-assemblage |
Synanthropic |
Deposited through an anthropogenic activity. |
|
Natural |
Deposited through a natural activity. |
Tertiary sub-assemblage |
Synanthropic |
Deposited through anthropogenic activity with a minimum of one previous systemic context. |
|
Natural |
Deposited through anthropogenic activity with a minimum of one previous systemic context. |
Quaternary sub-assemblage |
|
Contamination from neighbouring sediments / deposits and modern faunas. |
Table 1. An overview of the four sub-assemblages with the depositional implications of the synanthropic and natural groups.
The primary sub-assemblage encompasses all taxa that have independently deposited themselves. This is the fauna that was effectively alive at the time of deposition. The synanthropic group includes the fauna that was attracted to specific circumstances in and around the pit at the time. This forms an indication of the presence of certain materials in a specific state, such as water, carrion, or excrements. The natural group deposited itself by accident, meaning that there are no beneficial factors for them, with the pit becoming their death trap. This group can be considered background fauna( sensu Kenward 1978) from the local natural area, like carabid beetles that wandered into a cesspit.
The secondary sub-assemblage indicates that there is either a natural or anthropogenic intermediary depositional actor between the systemic and archaeological context on a local level. The taxa in this sub-assemblage are not necessarily alive during deposition or able to survive inside the archaeological context. The synanthropic group includes the taxa that are either moved from their systemic context in the domestic or peridomestic area by anthropogenic action, for example the disposal of straw flooring. All other deposits which have occurred without involvement of people are included in the natural group, such as arthropods deposited through illuviation or bird pellets( Kenward 1978, 7).
The tertiary sub-assemblage encompasses the taxa that were imported from a non-local natural or peridomestic source. These deposits have had at least one intermediary systemic context. Both the synanthropic group and the natural group would have been imported by humans, before being brought into the( peri-) domestic area, as migrating faunas from a non-local natural source would become part of a local area first. These natural faunas could only be differentiated from one another if the ecological circumstances differ greatly, for example through niche modelling. The synanthropic group is likely to include agricultural pests, being imported along with fresh produce from a non-local peridomestic source. The natural group could contain either intentionally or unintentionally imported arthropods from a natural source through anthropogenic activity. Intentionally imported taxa could in-
2016 | INTER-SECTION | VOL II | p. 25