An 11th century a.d. burnt granary at La Gravette, south-western France: preliminary archaeobotanical results

A thick layer of carbonised seeds was encountered in an 11th century a.d. room situated in the seigneurial part of the village of La Gravette. This paper presents the first results of charcoal and seed analyses which give information on the food products stored in the granary and on their arrangement there. Triticum aestivum/durum/turgidum was by far the most important stored crop, while Avena sp., then Hordeum vulgare, Secale cereale, Triticum monococcum and Vitis vinifera were secondary. Weeds were poorly represented. Charcoals were dominated by deciduous Quercus sp., and 11 additional wood taxa were recorded, including especially Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus sp., Rosaceae, Corylus avellana, Acer campestre and Ulmus sp. According to the charcoal distribution, Quercus and Fagus were probably building materials while most of other taxa would have been used for basketry, wattling or joinery work. In the western part of the granary, naked wheat was stored in bulk. In the eastern part, various crops (at least naked wheat, barley, rye, oat and grape) were stored in small amounts, most of which were probably separated by light wooden structures. The cereal crops had largely been processed and cleaned. The stored products probably represent taxes paid to the lord who owned the granary.     

Agriculture and food from the Roman to the Islamic Period in the North-East of the Iberian peninsula: archaeobotanical studies in the city of Lleida (Catalonia, Spain)

The urban archaeological excavations carried out in the city of Lleida (Catalonia, Spain) have opened the way for an interdisciplinary project on the ancient landscape, agriculture and food. Here we present the results of the archaeobotanical study of seeds and fruits from this project, centred on the Roman and Islamic periods of the city, between the 2nd century B.C. and the 11th century A.D. During the whole of this period the cultivation and consumption of cereals was found. The most important cereals were hulled barley and naked wheat. This was already known from the later prehistoric era in the area and is similar to findings at other sites from the same period in the western Mediterranean. These cereals are accompanied by some leguminous crops and the presence of grapes and figs is very significant. The expansion of vine cultivation, together with a certain amount of tree growing was one of the basic contributions of the Roman world to proto-historical (Bronze- and Iron Age) agriculture in western Catalonia, as in other parts of Europe. In the Islamic period, there seems to have been an increase in the number of fruit tree species; however for taphonomical reasons this has to be confirmed by future investigations. Flax, already known in prehistoric times, and Gold-of-pleasure must be added to the finds. Also since the Roman period some other taxa, such as celery or fennel, might have been grown. During the time period considered in this paper, there was a wide range of plants grown and consumed. This clearly contrasts with everything known about earlier periods in western Catalonia, during which the only cultivated plants were cereals and flax.     

Interaction and circulation of symbolic goods in Quebrada de La Cueva, Jujuy, Argentina: The fossil Weyla alata (von Buch)

An Early Jurassic fossil bivalve specimen belonging to the pectinid genus Weyla was found within the low human occupation levels in a structure of Pukara de La Cueva, Humahuaca department, Jujuy province, Argentina. This is clearly a geologically allochthonous record, and its source should be located more than 400 km away, probably from a locality in the Main Cordillera of northern Chile or southern Perú. This evidence is part of a research project which analyzes the human interactions among the Quebrada de La Cueva sites and neighbouring productive regions, as well as the inferred interchange networks between this and other regions, both nearby and distant. In this context, the likely symbolic meaning of this record is also evaluated.     

Flax and weld: archaeobotanical records from Mutina (Emilia Romagna, Northern Italy), dated to the Imperial Age, first half 1st century a.d.

In the city centre of Modena (Emilia Romagna, Northern Italy) a noteworthy amount of carpological remains attributable to flax and weld came to light dated to the Imperial Age (first half 1st century a.d.). Flax remains, i.e. capsules and extremely small seeds, suggest the presence of either immature seeds and fruits of cultivated flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) or of a wild flax species (Linum bienne Mill.). The quantity of these remains along with the co-presence of seeds of Reseda luteola, an important dye plant, leads to the hypothesis of the cultivation of both flax and weld for textile manufacturing purposes, which are attested as important in the economy of the Roman period.     

Luxury food and ornamental plants at the 15th century a.d. Renaissance court of the Este family (Ferrara, northern Italy)

This paper reports the archaeobotanical data from the so-called Vasca Ducale (Ducal Pit), a brick rubbish pit discovered in the basal floor of the ducal palace of Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy. It was in use during the second half of the 15th century a.d. when the rich and powerful Este family inhabited the palace. Therefore, the results help to investigate the eating customs of a Renaissance court. The pit fill largely consisted of zoological remains, especially small bones and shellfish, with mainly waterlogged plant remains and some artefacts. Though the seed/fruit concentration was not high, a long list of taxa was identified of which the largest part belonged to food and ornamental plants. The data suggest that the pit was used for the disposal of dining waste and floor sweepings. The archaeobotanical data are compared with those obtained from other medieval sites in the city, and with two Renaissance sources of documentary evidence, the frescos in the Salone dei Mesi (Room of the months) in Ferrara’s Palazzo Schifanoia, and the cookbook by Cristoforo da Messisbugo, chef at the Este court. The archaeobotanical record of the Vasca Ducale (Ducal Pit) proved to be quite different from the other sites in Ferrara, especially because of the presence of luxury or exotic foods such as, for example, Punica granatum, Prunus armeniaca and Coriandrum sativum.     

First evidence on foot preference during locomotion in Old World monkeys: a study of quadrupedal and bipedal actions in Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana)

This is the first report of foot preference during locomotion in Old World monkeys. Foot preferences during the quadrupedal walking action and the bipedal shifting action of a naturalistic group of Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Zhouzhi National Nature Reserve in the Qinling Mountains of China were investigated. Twelve of 21 individuals tested on quadrupedal action and all 21 individuals tested on bipedal action exhibited a significant foot preference. Both significant right- and left-footed preferences were observed; sex affected neither direction nor strength of foot preference in both actions. The finding that 61.90% of focal R. roxellana showed a right-foot preference, both in quadrupedal action based on the footed index and in bipedal action based on the z-score, is in partial agreement with the postural origin hypothesis on footedness. Foot preference was significantly stronger in bipedal action than in quadrupedal action, supporting the view that posture could be a crucial factor influencing foot preference as well as hand preference in this species.     

Taphonomy and paleoecology of mammals preserved in swampy deposits (Formosa Province,Argentina): new light on a key environmental context for the evolution of Quaternary vertebrates in Southern South America

Quaternary continental deposits of South America are characterized by the abundance and diversity of vertebrate remains preserved in different environmental contexts. However, the studies focused on interpreting the origin of the assemblages are scarce. The taphonomic features of the mammal specimens from the Río Bermejo Formation, Formosa Province (Argentina), are analyzed. The bearing levels belong to the Upper Pleistocene-lower Holocene, and were interpreted as swampy deposits that filled channels of the ancient Bermejo River, an environmental context little evaluated from the taphonomic point of view. The assemblage includes Xenarthra, Notoungulata, Carnivora, Artiodactyla and Proboscidea. The evidence suggests that the assemblage is composed by specimens preserved in the place of death or close to it, with short time of subaerial exposure and little or no transport. After burial, the specimens were also affected by diverse processes directly related to the swamp deposits where they were buried. In this case, the taphonomic evidence, along with the sedimentary characteristics of the bearing levels allowed the recognition of the channel-fill mode for this assemblage. Also, this study provides new information for an area that was very important in the evolution of vertebrates in Northeastern Argentina since the Late Pleistocene.     

The first archaeobotanical evidence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lagenaria siceraria</Emphasis> from the territory of Hungary: histology,phytoliths and (a)DNA

Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.) is accepted as typical ‘New World’ cultivated economic plant. Currently, two subspecies are known: L. siceraria ((Molina) Standl.) ssp. siceraria has an African origin, whilst ssp. asiatica is recognized to be originating from Asian territories. It only seldom appears in European archaeological contexts, however finds from the Roman period appear sporadically. Part of a Late Middle Age (14th–15th century) settlement was excavated near the town of Pócspetri (SE Hungary) and one of the refuse pits contained waterlogged remains of several dozen dicot leaves and small sized branches (e.g. Populus sp.). In addition an entire dog skeleton and an apparently 10 cm by 7 cm bottle gourd pericarp fragment were also found in a well-preserved pot. This fortunate recovery accounts for the first evidence of bottle gourd in the archaeobotanical record of Hungary and Eastern Europe. Due to its favourable preservation not only precise morphological analysis could be undertaken, but ancient DNA (aDNA) extraction, PCR amplification and sequencing were used to identify more closely its possible origin and taxonomic relations. Different diagnostic phytolith morphotypes of the pericarp were matched to reference material phytolith assemblages. The macro-archaeobotanical record of the feature reflects the botanical elements of the natural environment of this medieval site and places the unique bottle gourd find in context.     

The genus Artemisia (Asteraceae: Anthemideae) at a continental crossroads: molecular insights into migrations, disjunctions, and reticulations among Old and New World species from a Beringian perspective

Artemisia is the largest genus (ca. 350-500+ spp.) in the tribe Anthemideae and is composed of ecologically, morphologically, and chemically diverse species that are found primarily throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Two major centers of diversity for the genus are located in Eurasia and western North America, but phytogeographic links connecting these two regions are observed all across the North Pacific Rim and adjacent areas in the Arctic, including many islands and archipelagos. Previous phylogenetic studies have helped to clarify major lineages and identify likely sister relationships, but many questions remain unanswered regarding the relationships and migration history of New and Old World species. Here we investigate the phylogenetics of Artemisia within a biogeographic context centered in the Beringian Region and offer new hypotheses concerning species relationships, migration history, and the likely role of reticulate evolution in the genus. Our sampling included many new taxa and emphasized multiple accessions of widespread species, species from proposed refugia, and species with disjunct/vicariant distributions. The ITS phylogeny contained 173 accessions (94 new and 79 from GenBank) and indicated that Artemisia is paraphyletic by the exclusion of several small Asian genera and the North American genus Sphaeromeria. Following a survey of thirteen chloroplast loci, phylogenies based on two plastid markers (psbA-trnH and rpl32-trnL spacers) were constructed with a reduced data set, and though largely consistent with the ITS topology, revealed several cases of possible introgression among New World and Beringian species. Our analysis reveals that North American Artemisia species have multiple origins, and that western North America has served as a source for some colonizing elements in eastern Asia and South America.     

The seeds of Loasaceae subfam. Loasoideae (Cornales) II: Seed morphology of “South Andean Loasas” (Loasa, Caiophora, Scyphanthus and Blumenbachia)

South Andean Loasas (Blumenbachia, Caiophora, Loasa, Scyphanthus) are a monophyletic group of taxa within Loasaceae subfam. Loasoideae, comprising some 100 species, 49 of which are investigated here. They retain a many-layered testa in the mature seeds and usually have passive transfer testas with complex, spongiose wall outgrowths. Additional modifications concern the undulations of the testa epidermis, presence or absence of the outer periclinal wall, secondary sculpturing, the presence or absence of spines, warts and finally spongiose structures on the anticlinal walls of the testa epidermis and the inner periclinal wall. Seeds of the widespread “deeply pitted” type are plesiomorphic, while various subclades of South Andean Loasas have derivations underscoring their relationships and confirming the relationships found with molecular markers and other morphological characters. The genus Blumenbachia has either seeds with a many-layered testa forming longitudinal lamellae (sect. Angulatae), or balloon seeds with a loose outer testa layer and spongiose wall outgrowths on the inner periclinal walls (sect. Blumenbachia and sect. Gripidea) and is clearly monophyletic. Loasa s.str. (ser. Loasa, ser. Macrospermae, ser. Floribundae, ser. Deserticolae) is characterized by the presence of a subterminal hilum or hilar scar and one subgroup (ser. Loasa, ser. Macrospermae) by very large and heavy seeds with a collapsed testa. L. ser. Pinnatae, ser. Acaules, ser. Volubiles, Scyphanthus and Caiophora share more or less one seed types with minor modifications. Within Caiophora various derivations are observed, of which the gradual loss of the secondary sculpture of the inner periclinal wall is the most striking one. Anemochoria is the most widespread dispersal mechanism in South Andean Loasas and is achieved in at least five structurally different ways.     

Nutrition, aspects of land use and environment in medieval times in southern Germany: plant macro-remain analysis from latrines (late 11th–13th century a.d.) at the town of Überlingen, Lake Constance

From high medieval courtyards at überlingen, Lake Constance (Bodensee), 17 archaeobotanical samples from seven latrines (11th–13th century) were analysed for plant macrofossils. They contained small amounts of cultivated plants and many well preserved seeds and fruits of wild plants. The most numerous cereal finds were of Triticum spelta followed by Secale cereale. Recorded oil plants were Papaver somniferum and Linum usitatissimum. Cultivated and gathered fruits such as various Prunus species, Pyrus communis and Malus domestica, Rubus sp. and Fragaria vesca were eaten by the people of überlingen. Only one seed of Ficus carica was found which may have been imported; no other imported plants could be recognised. Agrostemma githago and Vaccaria hispanica were prevalent weeds. The presence of the latter probably indicates the cultivation of cereals on the steeper slopes above überlingen. It is shown that in central Europe, V. hispanica became a troublesome weed only around the 12th/13th century A.D. Grassland species—mainly from more or less wet locations—and ruderal plants of nitrogen-rich soils were well represented in the samples and characterize the surrounding area. Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at     

The crenellate lining of the Dufour gland in the genus Aenictus: a new character for interpreting the phylogeny of Old World army ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Dorylinae)

The Dufour gland epithelium in Aenictus has a crenellate appearance, a condition previously found only in the primarily African genus Dorylus . This character, taken alone, strongly suggests that these two genera share a common ancestry, as is presently reflected in their placement in the subfamily Dorylinae, and that an independent, convergent origin for them, as has been proposed in the triphyletic hypothesis for army ant evolution, is incorrect.     

7th HUPO World Congress of Proteomics: Launching the Second Phase of the HUPO Plasma Proteome Project (PPP‐2) 16–20 August 2008, Amsterdam,The Netherlands

The HUPO Plasma Proteome Project new phase, PPP‐2, held its initial workshop on 17 August, 2008, at the 7^th World Congress of Proteomics in Amsterdam. Technology platforms, data repositories, informatics, and engagement of research groups for the submission of major datasets were key topics. Plasma is expected to be the common pathway for biomarker development and application through collaboration and integration with other HUPO initiatives.     

The human protein translin specifically binds single-stranded microsatellite repeats, d(GT)n, and G-strand telomeric repeats, d(TTAGGG)n: a study of the binding parameters

We have previously identified in human fibroblasts a multisubunit protein (designated PGB) that specifically bound single-stranded G-rich microsatellite DNA sequences. PGB was later found to be identical, or closely related to translin, an octameric protein that bound single-stranded DNA consisting of sequences flanking chromosomal translocations. Here, we report that recombinant translin binds single-stranded microsatellite repeats, d(GT)n, and G-strand telomeric repeats, d(TTAGGG)n, with higher affinities (Kdis approximately = 2 nM and Kdis approximately = 12.5 nM, respectively, in 100 mM NaCl and 25 degrees C) than the affinity with which it binds a prototypical sequence flanking translocation sites (Kdis approximately = 23 nM). Translin also binds d(GT)n and d(TTAGGG)n overhangs linked to double-stranded DNA with equilibrium constants in the nanomolar range. Formation of DNA quadruplexes by the d(TTAGGG)n repeats inhibits their binding to translin. A further study of the binding parameters revealed that the minimal length of d(GT)n and d(TTAGGG)n oligonucleotides that a translin octamer can bind is 11 nucleotides, but that such oligonucleotides containing up to 30 nucleotides can bind only a single translin octamer. However, the oligonucleotides d(GT)27 and d(TTAGGG)9 bind two octamers with negative cooperativity. Translin does not detectably bind single-stranded d(GT)n sequences embedded within double-stranded DNA. Based on our data, we propose that translin might be involved in the control of recombination at d(GT)n.d(AC)n microsatellites and in telomere maintenance.     

Glycogen, a cytoplasmic reserve polysaccharide of Cellulomonas sp. (DSM20108): its identification, carbon source-dependent accumulation, and degradation during starvation

During batch cultivation on complete medium or mineral salts medium with different carbon sources, Cellulomonas accumulates glycogen. The intracellular concentration of glycogen increases with increasing C/N ratio and reaches a maximum value of about 0.22 mg per mg dry weight. Under conditions of carbon starvation this polymer is degraded. Furthermore, Cellulomonas grows well on glycogen if administered as sole source of carbon and energy. The results show that glycogen is an additional energy and carbon storage compound in Cellulomonas sp. which also accumulates trehalose.     

A multivariate morphometric investigation of Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 and A. presbyter Cuvier, 1829 (Teleostei: Atherinidae): morphometric evidence in support of the two species

Two recently developed morphometric methodologies, multiple group principal components analysis (MGPCA) and the box truss method of body form transformation are used to re-address whether Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 and A. presbyter Cuvier, 1829 are morphometrically distinct. The results revealed that morphometric differences are present between A. boyeri and A. presbyter , consistent with expectations of the existence of two species.
Females of the two species were clearly discriminated into two separate groups because the within-group covariances of several characters within populations of each species were different between species i.e., the covariances were heteroscedastic. The occurrence of heteroscedasticity within the data, although statistically invalidating the results of canonical variates anslysis, indicated there to be a large amount of morphological variation between females of the two species. Males were differentiated as a result of differences in body 'shape', particularly the relationship between head 'shape' and body 'shape'.
Several probable reasons are given for the failure of a previous study to differentiate the two species. The data rejects the synonymy of the two species in support of the continued use of the taxa A. boyeri Risso, 1810 and A. presbyter Cuvier, 1829.