Depositional environments in a prehistoric lakeshore settlement – A multi-proxy study of a stratigraphic sequence of the Neolithic lakeside settlement Zug-Riedmatt (Switzerland)

Le résumé fourni par la source

This research project investigates the depositional and settlement dynamics of the Late Neolithic pile dwelling site of Zug-Riedmatt in Central Switzerland, dated between 3200 and 3050 BCE. Using an interdisciplinary, microarchaeological approach, 14 stratigraphic units at one reference profile (Ref1) covering e complete stratigraphic sequence of the excavation site, were analysed using six disciplines: micromorphology, pollen analysis, palynofacies, macroarchaeobotany, entomology and archaeological observations. Their results were compared as a methodological approach and subsequently presented in a synthetic form in order to reconstruct natural and anthropogenic site formation processes in the stratigraphy. The analysed sediments range from limnic environments (lake marl) to deltaic and waterlogged environments, including the formation of a marshy waterbody. Periods of flooding, erosion and drought have been identified and correlated with seasonal hydrological variations. Traces of human activities such as animal husbandry, agriculture (e.g. cereals, poppies, flax), construction and waste disposal have been found in the settlement layers. The good preservation of the organic remains and the dense sampling strategy allowed insights into the interaction between natural processes and human activities in a dynamic environmental context between Lake Zug, the River Lorze and its deltaic area. The applied methods and results contribute to a better reconstruction of the layer formation processes in prehistoric pile dwelling settlements and demonstrate the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in archaeology.

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