Abstract Tectonic processes profoundly influenced the dispersal, evolution, and archaeological record of our Paleolithic ancestors. However, in-depth reconstructions of human resilience against seismic events come mostly from contexts dating to the last 13,000 years. Here, we present geophysical, geological, geochronological, and archaeological data from the open-air site of Vale Boy in southwestern Iberia, revealing how foragers mitigated earthquake impacts between ~ 30,000 and 24,000 years ago. At Vale Boi, faulting formed sedimentary traps that were recurrently exploited by hunter-gatherers and periodically buried by rockfalls, likely triggered by ≥ 5.7 Mw earthquakes. Despite seismic destruction, hunter-gatherers repeatedly returned to the site, drawn by its strategic access to key resources. They mitigated seismic risks by increasing their mobility and even abandoning Vale Boi, as seen during the Gravettian and at the early/late Proto-Solutrean transition. When seismic and climatic stressors co-occurred (Heinrich Event 2), they did not abandon the site. Instead, they adopted strategies to limit their exposure to rockfall hazard while securing access to increasingly vital coastal and estuarine resources. Until the early Proto-Solutrean, tightly knit social networks supported the survival of Vale Boi foragers during periods of high stress, such as the aftermath of seismic rockfalls. During the late Proto-Solutrean, an expansion of super-regional connections might have functioned as a proactive buffer against future tectonic shocks. Our findings demonstrate that forager resilience to seismic events relied on flexible adjustments in mobility and social connectivity. Despite limitations deriving from its single-site focus, this study underscores the value of deep archaeological sequences for disentangling human responses to intertwined geological and ecological pressures.

Abstract Understanding formation processes is crucial for interpreting sites with complex sedimentary histories and exceptional archaeological records, such as Level 3 of Des-Cubierta Cave. This Middle Paleolithic unit contains an assemblage of anthropically modified ungulate horned crania, Mousterian lithics, and evidence of fire use, all preserved in a clast-supported gravel deposit shaped by successive rockfalls. This study integrates geostatistical analyses with traditional spatial and taphonomic methods to examine the cone-shaped sedimentary structure that dominates the level and its influence on the spatial distribution and preservation of archaeological materials. The results reveal distinct spatial patterns for geological and archaeological materials, indicating separate formation dynamics. Size-based spatial analyses of boulders characterize the morphology of the conical structure, highlighting size sorting and intensity variations that may indicate sedimentary hiatuses. Bone refitting analysis suggests limited post-depositional movement, with material distribution shaped by the conical sedimentary structure and karst gallery morphology. Variability in crania preservation correlates with proximity to the cone’s apex and elevation, with better-preserved specimens in central areas and more fragmented remains in zones affected by erosive and edaphic processes. These findings underscore the value of integrating geostatistical and traditional archaeological approaches to advance interpretations of spatial and temporal patterns in karst environments and provide a methodological approach for examining sites with similar sedimentary histories. Moreover, the results support the interpretation of a recurrent, culturally motivated Neanderthal behaviour centred on the deliberate accumulation of large ungulate crania, pointing to a symbolic dimension in these practices.

Abstract The study of raw materials used for making stone tools allows archaeologists to gain insight into the behaviours of ancient people. Raw materials possess different properties, which influence the ability of knappers to flake, shape and use a stone tool. Measuring these properties experimentally requires specialised laboratories and measuring processes that are not straightforward. This makes such analyses a cost-intensive and often inaccessible way to investigate the past. Here, we present an alternative way to evaluate two mechanical properties, stiffness and hardness, using a single indentation test. We also test whether these two isolated measures allow making predictions on raw material selection and tool shape. We analysed tool-stones from the Middle Stone Age site Sibhudu on South Africa’s eastern seaboard. The site has yielded a rich assemblage of tools from different raw materials. We found that a single indentation test allows measuring hardness and stiffness reliably, simplifying the measurement protocol of raw material studies. We also observed weak correlations between those isolated properties and the shape of the finished tools. This has implications for future studies of Stone Age raw materials, proposing a simplified testing protocol. We also discuss the role of stiffness in stone knapping.

Abstract Manthai served as a port emporium on the Maritime Silk Roads and an intermediary between the Near and Far Eastern realms for over 1000 years. The 1980–1984 excavations conducted by the late Professor John Carswell yielded material goods supporting the importance of Manthai within this extensive trade network. These included glass, some thought to have been produced locally and some believed to be imported from the Islamic world. To better understand the role of Manthai in provisioning glasses for the Silk Roads, 21 8th -13th century AD samples were analysed by LA-ICP-MS for major, minor and trace elements. Results have provided evidence for varied compositions within the Manthai glass samples. There is a m-Na-Al 1 subgroup, to which a sample of raw crucible glass, other raw glass samples and a bangle fragment belong. Samples made using plant ash glass exhibit greater compositional variability, including two subgroups linked to the site of Samarra, some broadly ‘Mesopotamian’ glasses and two samples likely produced in Central Asia. The results have demonstrated that finished objects were imported from the Islamic World and that glass, possibly produced in the region around Manthai, was used in secondary glass working to supply the Maritime Silk Road. This adds to the evidence for the multi-faceted activities conducted at Manthai including the production and/or shipment of glasses through Manthai, for the Maritime Silk Roads. We have contributed to the overall evidence for glasses travelling along the maritime and terrestrial Eurasian Silk Roads and helped to define interactions across them.

Abstract Canchas Uckro is one of several settlements surrounding the ceremonial and urban center of Chavín de Huántar (c. 1100 − 400 BCE). In this paper, we explore the relationship between these two sites through an archaeometric study of pottery production at Canchas Uckro (c. 1100 − 800 BCE). Specifically, we combine thin-section petrography and portable X-ray fluorescence to characterize technological style based on a sample of 56 sherds. Our analyses identified 12 distinct petro-groups, with most of the pottery (85% of the assemblage) reflecting two local technological styles. A small percentage of ceramic fine wares representing both geochemical and technological outliers (2–4%) point to probable interregional exchange, while a larger group of undecorated ceramics (~ 10%) suggests more frequent intraregional interactions. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that Canchas Uckro’s ceramic production was independent of Chavín de Huántar, with its inhabitants participating in distinct social and economic networks.

Abstract This study presents a comprehensive investigation of a Roman bronze steelyard balance excavated from Leptis Magna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and prominent commercial center in Roman-era northwestern Libya. Our aim is to reconstruct the instrument’s manufacturing techniques, diagnose burial-driven corrosion mechanisms alongside component-level alloy heterogeneity, and translate these findings into conservation guidance. Integrated analytical methodologies—including optical microscopy, metallography, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy—were employed to characterize the artifact’s material composition, manufacturing techniques, and degradation patterns. The analyses reveal a composite construction employing both copper and leaded tin bronze (Cu-Sn-Pb) components. The main structural fittings were fabricated from bronze using combined casting and hammering techniques, while specialized parts such as suspension chains were constructed from twisted copper foils wrapped around an organic core. While key functional fittings (e.g., counterweight, graduated scale) are missing due to corrosion during burial, preserved components—including the weighing pan, main beam, suspension rings, and mounting brackets—retain partial metallic cores amidst widespread mineralization. Corrosion products identified include cuprite, and chloride-based phases (atacamite and cotunnite), indicative of prolonged burial in chloride-rich soils. These results shed light on the economic and technological aspects of Roman-era trade instruments while emphasizing the importance of preserving such artifacts for historical and cultural understanding.