Archaeology
Archaeologists find an assemblage of petroglyphs alongside dinosaur tracks in Brazil
A study of the Serrote do Letreiro Site (meaning “Signpost Hill”) in Brazil’s Paraíba State has led to the discovery of an assemblage of petroglyphs alongside dinosaur tracks.
The Serrote do Letreiro site has three rock outcrops covering an area of 15,000 square metres. The site is situated in the Vale dos Dinossauros Natural Monument (Known as Dinosaur Valley), located on the periphery of the Sousa Basin in the Sousa municipality.
A recent study, published in the journal scientific reports, reveals that the outcrops have fossilised footprints from the Early Cretaceous Period, left behind by theropods, sauropods, and iguanodontian dinosaurs.
The earliest mention of dinosaur tracks from the Sousa region date back to the early 20th century, with the first palaeontological study conducted in 1975.
A later publication in 1979 gave reference to the existence of petroglyphs (referred to as “Cariri Indian carvings”), however, no further investigations were carried out to document the findings.
In a recent study at Serrote do Letreiro, archaeologists have found a series of petroglyphs alongside the dinosaur tracks, which according to the researchers are mainly characterised by circular motifs similar to petroglyphs found in the states of Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte.
Image Credit : Scientific Reports
The petroglyphs have been described as low relief geometric circles filled with radial lines, which were created by carving an abrasive instrument against the rock surface.
According to the study authors: “Despite the profusion of identified petroglyphs, no overlap was observed between these inscriptions and the fossilised footprints. In none of the cases was it found that the creation of a petroglyph resulted in damage to the existing footprints, suggesting thoughtfulness by the makers.”
Archaeologists have determined that the petroglyphs belong to a broad set of motifs, either pure or abstract, and of similar or identical execution techniques found in other archaeological rock art sites in the Brazilian Northeast region.
Based on radiocarbon dating of burials found at these associated sites, the researchers suggest that the petroglyphs date from a period spanning 9400 to 2620 years BP.
“Further research utilising new methods of direct dating of petroglyphs, such as X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, will certainly shed light on the chronology issue. In the absence of applying absolute dating methods to the petroglyphs, the proposed dating here remains restricted to iconographic inferences, as well as extrapolation from the temporal horizons identified in the few dated sites in the region,” said the study authors.
Header Image Credit : Scientific Reports
Sources : Scientific Reports – A remarkable assemblage of petroglyphs and dinosaur footprints in Northeast Brazil. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56479-3
This content was originally published on www.heritagedaily.com – © 2023 – HeritageDaily
Archaeologists from the University of York have returned to Skipsea in East Yorkshire, England, to excavate the remains of a medieval timber hall.
Recent excavations unearthed a timber hall measuring 5 metres wide by 16 metres long, which was surrounded by a large ditched enclosure.
The size and shape of the hall is marked by post holes, which the team plan to excavate further to provide new insights into the hall’s purpose and setting in the surrounding landscape.
The hall sits adjacent to a 13-meter-high mound, once presumed to be a motte and bailey castle. However, carbon dating has since revealed its age to be 1,500 years prior to the Norman Conquest era from during the Iron Age.
Dr Jim Leary, from the University of York’s Department of Archaeology, said: “The unearthing of timber buildings dating to the period between the collapse of the Roman Empire and the arrival of the Vikings, a time often referred to as the Dark Ages, is an incredibly rare and significant find.
“The discovery at Skipsea is particularly interesting because we know that the area was in the hands of the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, Harald Godwinson, and then later, after the Norman Conquest of 1066, it became the estate centre of the Lords of Holderness.”
Skipsea was once home to three freshwater lakes, Skipsea Bail Mere, Skipsea Low Mere, and Skipsea Withow Mere, linked to the River Hull through a network of tributaries. These lakes (long-vanished), began 10,000 years ago during the Mesolithic period, and continued into the medieval period.
The lakes were a constant draw to population groups throughout history, which has provided archaeologists with Mesolithic stone tools, animal remains, bone harpoons, and Bronze Age buildings and trackways.
Header Image Credit : University of York
Sources : University of York
This content was originally published on www.heritagedaily.com – © 2023 – HeritageDaily
Archaeologists from Cotswold Archaeology have uncovered traces of Gloucester’s medieval castle in Gloucester, England.
The castle was first constructed during the Norman period as a simple motte and bailey. Over the centuries, various additions and periods of reconstruction extended the footprint of the castle, which by the 13th century became a royal residence for nobility and English kings.
Between the 15th century and 17th century, the castle went into decline and much of the stonework from the fortifications were used to construct roads and buildings within the city centre, leaving only the keep which was used as a gaol (prison).
In time, the keep was considered to be unsuitable and its demolition began in 1787, leaving no visible remains of the castle.
Image Credit : Cotswold Archaeology
During development works in the south-west of Gloucester city centre, archaeologists from Cotswold Archaeology have uncovered traces of the castle beneath the basketball court of the former HMP Gloucester.
A number of trenches revealed medieval structural remains that archaeologists have interpreted as forming part of a masonry causeway or bridge structure. This provided access to the castle across its inner defensive ditch and continued north-east onto Castle Lane.
Excavations also found subsequent demolition and robbing of stonework, evidenced by the infilled castle ditch, and comprised cultivation soils of the Castle Gardens, which occupied this area from the later 18th century through to the mid-19th century.
In addition, a stretch of Post-medieval wall relating to the gardens was identified, which corresponds to a boundary shown on early and mid-19th century maps.
According to the archaeologists: “The results highlight that significant archaeology continues to survive at a relatively shallow depth, enabling us to trace historic land use and landscape change within this part of the city across many centuries.”
Header Image Credit : Cotswold Archaeology
Sources : Cotswold Archaeology
This content was originally published on www.heritagedaily.com – © 2023 – HeritageDaily
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