Papers by Mik Lisowski
The paper presents the results of osteological, typological, and microwear analyses of Neolithic ... more The paper presents the results of osteological, typological, and microwear analyses of Neolithic bone tools recovered from Kopydlowo, site 6 (Greater Poland Province, Poland). The site is known for a pit with a number of bovine horn cores, a presumable refuse from Neolithic horn working. A multi-aspect analysis revealed the kinds of raw materials used for the production of bone tools and provided insights into how the specimens were worked and used. Twenty-nine out of 36 tools were identified to taxon. All artefacts were made from mammal bones, mostly cattle, sheep/goat, red deer, and pig. Awls and perforators, used to work with a soft organic material, were the most common tool types at the site. Some scrapers and polishers for hide working, as well as spatulae, a T-shaped axe, a chisel, a pendant, and pieces of raw material were also found. The presence of two tools made from wild mammals’ bones may possibly contribute to the discussion on contacts between farmers and hunter-gathe...
Sprawozdania Archeologiczne, 2018
This paper presents the results of an analysis of archaeological material recovered in 2014 durin... more This paper presents the results of an analysis of archaeological material recovered in 2014 during the rescue excavations at site 4 in the Szemud locality, in the Eastern Pomerania region of Poland. The investigations revealed a small fragment of an open settlement from the early medieval period with especially interesting materials. Besides a large amount of pottery dating the site to the eleventh century, a collection of metal artefacts was discovered. The most interesting find was a cross-shaped earring made of silver. This find is unique; so far, artefacts of this type have only been discovered as parts of hoards. The findings indicate that the site was unusual in its character, and is particularly interesting considering the unsatisfactory state of research on early medieval settlement in this area.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2017
The aim of this article is to examine the isotopic characterisation of domestic animals as it rel... more The aim of this article is to examine the isotopic characterisation of domestic animals as it relates to birthing location and seasonality, diet, pasturing pattern, foddering and climatic conditions of herding and to determine variation between these aspects of cattle and caprine husbandry of the Neolithic Linearbandkultur (LBK) and Trichterbecherkultur (TRB) communities from Kopydłowo in Kujavia-one of the major centres of early farming in the European lowlands. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis was undertaken on faunal bone collagen; carbon, oxygen and strontium isotope ratios were measured from tooth enamel. Isotopic signatures may have been caused by different strategies of management of herds of these animal species. Different and more widely distributed carbon, nitrogen and strontium isotopic data for TRB cattle in comparison with its LBK counterparts is indicative of the exploitation of increasingly diverse ecological zones and more varied pastoral practises. The distribution of oxygen isotope values on caprine tooth made it possible to recognise herding seasonality. Irrespective of the chronology, cattle, sheep and goats kept by the inhabitants had C 3 plantbased diet.
Archaeological Prospection
Spatial analysis is paramount for understanding, monitoring, and conserving ancient settlements a... more Spatial analysis is paramount for understanding, monitoring, and conserving ancient settlements and cultural landscapes. Advancing remote sensing and prospection techniques are expanding the methodological frame of archaeological settlement analysis by enabling remote, landscape‐scale approaches to mapping and investigation. Whilst particularly effective in arid lands and areas with sparse or open ground cover, such as vegetation and buildings, these approaches remain peripheral in tropical environments because of technical and contextual challenges. In tropical Eastern Africa, for example, scales, resolution and visibility are often compromised by thick vegetation cover, inadequate access to, if not lack of, imagery resources and technologies, and the availability of comparative archaeological data for interpretation. This paper presents the initial results of spatial analysis, using historic landscape characterisation, remote sensing, published and legacy data, and a pilot ground ...
Sprawozdania Archeologiczne, 2018
This paper presents the results of an analysis of archaeological material recovered in 2014 durin... more This paper presents the results of an analysis of archaeological material recovered in 2014 during the rescue excavations at site 4 in the Szemud locality, in the Eastern Pomerania region of Poland. The investigations revealed a small fragment of an open settlement from the early medieval period with especially interesting materials. Besides a large amount of pottery dating the site to the eleventh century, a collection of metal artefacts was discovered. The most interesting find was a cross-shaped earring made of silver. This find is unique; so far, artefacts of this type have only been discovered as parts of hoards. The findings indicate that the site was unusual in its character, and is particularly interesting considering the unsatisfactory state of research on early medieval settlement in this area.
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Cuadernos de Prehistoria y Arqueología de la Universidad de Granada, 2017
The paper presents the results of osteological, typological, and microwear analyses of Neolithic ... more The paper presents the results of osteological, typological, and microwear analyses of Neolithic bone tools recovered from Kopydłowo, site 6 (Greater Poland Province, Poland). The site is known for a pit with a number of bovine horn cores, a presumable refuse from Neolithic horn working. A multi-aspect analysis revealed the kinds of raw materials used for the production of bone tools and provided insights into how the specimens were worked and used. Twenty-nine out of 36 tools were identified to taxon. All artefacts were made from mammal bones, mostly cattle, sheep/goat, red deer, and pig. Awls and perforators, used to work with a soft organic material, were the most common tool types at the site. Some scrapers and polishers for hide working, as well as spatulae, a T-shaped axe, a chisel, a pendant, and pieces of raw material were also found. The presence of two tools made from wild mammals' bones may possibly contribute to the discussion on contacts between farmers and hunter-gatherers in the Neolithic.
The aim of this article is to examine the isotopic characterisation of domestic animals as it rel... more The aim of this article is to examine the isotopic characterisation of domestic animals as it relates to birthing location and seasonality, diet, pasturing pattern, foddering and climatic conditions of herding and to determine variation between these aspects of cattle and caprine husbandry of the Neolithic Linearbandkultur (LBK) and Trichterbecherkultur (TRB) communities from Kopydłowo in Kujavia—one of the major centres of early farming in the European lowlands. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis was undertaken on faunal bone collagen; carbon, oxygen and strontium isotope ratios were measured from tooth enamel. Isotopic signatures may have been caused by different strategies of management of herds of these animal species. Different and more widely distributed carbon, nitrogen and strontium isotopic data for TRB cattle in comparison with its LBK counterparts is indicative of the exploitation of increasingly diverse ecological zones and more varied pastoral practises. The distribution of oxygen isotope values on caprine tooth made it possible to recognise herding seasonality. Irrespective of the chronology, cattle, sheep and goats kept by the inhabitants had C 3 plant-based diet.
In 2011, a large scale rescue excavation on the open site of Widziszewo 17, Greater Poland provin... more In 2011, a large scale rescue excavation on the open site of Widziszewo 17, Greater Poland province, Poland, uncovered a large number of archaeological features dated to a variety of periods. Most of the features, due to severe post-depositional taphonomic effects on the bones, yielded none or a very scarce number of osteoarchaeological remains. However, in one of the medium sized pits, feature 284, dated to the Middle/Late Neolithic Globular Amphora Culture, the excavation uncovered an extraordinary deposit of a few hundred identifiable bone fragments, including numerous complete long bones. The specimens were deposited randomly, in a tight cluster at the bottom of the pit. Cooperation between field archaeologists and an animal bone specialist resulted in the careful excavation and the accurate recording of the specimens using orthophotographic plans, which supported the subsequent zooarchaeological analysis. The excavated deposit consisted mainly of pig (Sus domesticus) remains, with only a small number of specimens from other species. Pigs were represented mostly by large fragments of bone or complete anatomical elements, and the analysis showed that whole limbs and large chunks of the carcass of at least six individuals were disarticulated and deposited in the pit. Investigations of the anatomical composition and taphonomic history of the assemblage, supported by bone refitting, allowed the recognition of distinctive patterns of butchery activity, cooking, and marrow extraction of certain parts of the pig carcass. Investigations of the dispersal of the remains provided an insight into their depositional history. Results lead to the suggestion that pig bones from feature 284 are remnants of the deliberate and regulated consumption of certain parts of pig carcass, which can be connected to a standardised feasting activity.
Key words: Neolithic, Poland, Globular Amphora Culture, zooarchaeology, taphonomy, Sus domesticus, feasting.
The paper presents the results from the analysis of a small assemblage of horn cores and crania f... more The paper presents the results from the analysis of a small assemblage of horn cores and crania from three species: cattle (Bos taurus), aurochs (Bos primigenius), and goat (Capra hircus). These remains are a part of a larger osteoarchaeological assemblage excavated on the Early/Middle Neolithic site of Kopydłowo 6, Kuyavia province, Poland. Crania and horn cores were scattered across the three main archaeological features, but most of them were deposited in a distinct manner in one of the pits. Excavations in the pit uncovered an unusual deposit of eleven horn cores from six individuals of domestic cattle and aurochs, and four horn cores from three goats, stocked on a pile in the bottom of the pit. Horn cores had most of the crania removed, some in a distinct way, and several bore numerous cut and chop marks left by dividing and careful skinning of cranium, and removing of horn sheaths. Based on taphonomic analysis it can be argued, that assemblage of horn cores and crania from Kopydłowo 6 is an example of one the oldest documented processing of hides and horn sheaths in Poland.
Key words: Neolithic, Poland, zooarchaeology, taphonomy, horn cores, Bos taurus, Bos primigenius, Capra hircus.
Book chapters by Mik Lisowski
Żuławka 13, Gm. Wyrzysk - Pozostałości Wielofazowego Osadnictwa z Epoki Kamienia na Terenie Wielkopolski, 2019
Masters dissertation by Mik Lisowski
Site reports by Mik Lisowski
Conference Presentations by Mik Lisowski
European Association of Archaeologists Bern, Switzerland, 2019
Food economy and foodways of religious communities are rarely in the main focus of research in ar... more Food economy and foodways of religious communities are rarely in the main focus of research in archaeology and zooarchaeology. The main reasons behind this are simple: the paucity of the available archaeological data, and the difficulty of attributing archaeological record to particular religious groups. These problems have been addressed by a number of case studies published in recent years, which showed the potential of archaeology in identifying the presence of Jews and Muslims in the past, and have contributed to a growing body of evidence. These studies, however, have mostly been site-specific, and little attention has been placed on large-scale analysis of development and changes in the foodways of Jews and Muslims. This session aims to address this issue, bringing together and summarising research from a wide array of archaeological contexts.
We welcome contributions focusing on food economy and foodways within two main themes. The first one is concerned with food-related interactions between Jews and Muslims or with their Christian neighbours. This may include the analysis of the quality of animals (size, sex, and age) or meat (specific cuts) traded between local religious majorities and minorities, which may provide information on the disproportion of power and the relationship of these groups. The second theme concerns regional changes, developments, and differences in foodways within Jewish and Muslim communities. This includes local status and wealth of particular Jewish or Muslim households, evolution of kosher and halal foodways, and local food-related traditions in different countries based on species and body part representation, butchery patterns, supported by material culture and literary sources.
The session is open to papers using animal remains and/or material culture from Jewish and Muslim archaeological sites of domestic nature from different chronological periods.
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION: 14TH OF FEBRUARY 2019
Books by Mik Lisowski
ŻUŁAWKA 13, GM. WYRZYSK - POZOSTAŁOŚCI WIELOFAZOWEGO OSADNICTWA Z EPOKI KAMIENIA NA TERENIE WIELKOPOLSKI, 2019
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Papers by Mik Lisowski
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Key words: Neolithic, Poland, Globular Amphora Culture, zooarchaeology, taphonomy, Sus domesticus, feasting.
Key words: Neolithic, Poland, zooarchaeology, taphonomy, horn cores, Bos taurus, Bos primigenius, Capra hircus.
Book chapters by Mik Lisowski
Masters dissertation by Mik Lisowski
Site reports by Mik Lisowski
Conference Presentations by Mik Lisowski
We welcome contributions focusing on food economy and foodways within two main themes. The first one is concerned with food-related interactions between Jews and Muslims or with their Christian neighbours. This may include the analysis of the quality of animals (size, sex, and age) or meat (specific cuts) traded between local religious majorities and minorities, which may provide information on the disproportion of power and the relationship of these groups. The second theme concerns regional changes, developments, and differences in foodways within Jewish and Muslim communities. This includes local status and wealth of particular Jewish or Muslim households, evolution of kosher and halal foodways, and local food-related traditions in different countries based on species and body part representation, butchery patterns, supported by material culture and literary sources.
The session is open to papers using animal remains and/or material culture from Jewish and Muslim archaeological sites of domestic nature from different chronological periods.
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION: 14TH OF FEBRUARY 2019
Books by Mik Lisowski
http://rcin.org.pl/dlibra/docmetadata?id=67493&from=publication
Key words: Neolithic, Poland, Globular Amphora Culture, zooarchaeology, taphonomy, Sus domesticus, feasting.
Key words: Neolithic, Poland, zooarchaeology, taphonomy, horn cores, Bos taurus, Bos primigenius, Capra hircus.
We welcome contributions focusing on food economy and foodways within two main themes. The first one is concerned with food-related interactions between Jews and Muslims or with their Christian neighbours. This may include the analysis of the quality of animals (size, sex, and age) or meat (specific cuts) traded between local religious majorities and minorities, which may provide information on the disproportion of power and the relationship of these groups. The second theme concerns regional changes, developments, and differences in foodways within Jewish and Muslim communities. This includes local status and wealth of particular Jewish or Muslim households, evolution of kosher and halal foodways, and local food-related traditions in different countries based on species and body part representation, butchery patterns, supported by material culture and literary sources.
The session is open to papers using animal remains and/or material culture from Jewish and Muslim archaeological sites of domestic nature from different chronological periods.
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION: 14TH OF FEBRUARY 2019
Keywords: zooarchaeology, taphonomy, butchery studies, ethnozooarchaeology, Jews, religion, Judaism, Poland, Silesia, Czech Republic, Bohemia, Middle Ages, early modern age