Virtual micromorphology: The application of micro-CT scanning for the identification of termite mounds in archaeological sediments

Autor(es)

Villagran, Ximena S. ^[1] ; Strauss, Andre ^{[1, 2]} ; Alves, Marcony ^[1] ; Oliveira, Rodrigo Elias ^[2]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Museu Arqueol & Etnol, Av Prof Almeida Prado 1466, Cidade Univ, BR-05508070 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Arqueol & Antropol Ambiental & Evolut, Inst Biociencias, Rua Matao 277, Room 223, Cidade Univ, BR-05508090 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS; v. 24, p. 785-795, APR 2019.
• Citações Web of Science: 2

Resumo

X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scans were conducted on impregnated sediment blocks from the early Holocene rockshelter site of Lapa do Santo, East-Central Brazil. The analysis was designed to investigate the presence of termite mound fragments in the archaeological sediments and test the value of complementary techniques in micromorphological studies. Soil feeding termites have been common in the tropical soils of Central Brazil since the Paleogene/Neogene and exist in high concentrations in the surroundings of Lapa do Santo. The micro-CT scans revealed a distinctive spongy microstructure inside some of the clay aggregates in the sediments that are not visible in thin section, matching the spongy microstructure inside termite mound fragments. The microstructure consists of a mix of clay and organic material (feces, saliva and other body fluids) produced by termites to cement the mounds' matrix. The cements are undistinguishable from the matrix under the microscope, but clearly visible in the micro-CT scans given the low attenuation coefficient of organo-mineral matter. The termite mound fragments appear dispersed within the ashy matrix (made of intact and reworked combustion features), suggesting their possible use in earth ovens. The combination of combustion features and reworked earth ovens attests to the complex input of anthropogenic sediments in the formation of Lapa do Santo. This study demonstrates that micro-CT can potentially disclose materials not visible in thin section and can be utilized as a complementary technique to micromorphology. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 15/19405-6 - Micromorfologia dos primeiros assentamentos humanos na América do Sul
• Beneficiário: Ximena Suarez Villagran
• Linha de fomento: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 17/16451-2 - Histórias indígenas de longa duração: o Brasil pré-colonial pela ótica da antropologia virtual e da arqueogenômica
• Beneficiário: André Menezes Strauss
• Linha de fomento: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Apoio a Jovens Pesquisadores