ANOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY ENTRIES
Arnay-de-la-Rosa, et. al. (2010) Paleonutritional and paleodietary survey on prehistoric
humans from Las Cañadas del Teide (Tenerife, Canary Islands) based on
chemical and histological analysis of bone. Journal of Archaeological Science.
38(4), 884-95.
This research focuses on 17 individuals buried in the central plateau of the
island of Tenerife, in Las Cañadas del Teide. This is a prehispanic burial ritual,
although C-14 dating showed that two burials where from 15th century, a fact that
could support the hypothesis that aborigines moved to the highlands when the
Spaniards settled. The authors studied hydrogen, nitrogen and carbon isotope
compositions of ancient human “bone collagen, bone barium and strontium, and
histomorphometrically assessed trabecular bone mass (TBM)” and compared the
data to modern TBM samples of 13 individuals; in addition to the study of stable
isotopes on modern indigenous plants, bone collagen of prehistoric domestic
animals and that of two prehistoric wild species. I find this article full of great
information that I could intake and perhaps this also could serve me as a source
for future contact along my research.
Atoche Peña, P. (1992-93) El poblamiento prehistorico de Lanzarote. Aproximacion a un
modelo insular de ocupacion del territorio. Revista de Prehistoria y Arqueologia.
8(1), 77- 94.
There is not a set model that can lay out the event of the first arrivals to the
islands and the adaptive means that were employed by newly comers. Thus this
paper aims to reveal some insight such questions and further inquiries on carrying
capacity and the socio-economical strategies that were employed in order to cope
with the limitations and resources of the land. The author argues that such
questions can be answered with different interpretative models and various
sources of information from the fields of geography, archaeology and especially
from ethnohistoric sources. This paper can bring basic foundations on the subject
of my interest by revealing a model from which I can depart to continue onto my
search for new information that will support or reject such the model presented
here.
Atoche Peña, P. (2009) Estratigrafias, cronologias absolutas, y periodizacion cultural de
la protohistoria de Lanzarote. Zephyrus. http://personales.ulpgc.es/patoche.dch,
73, 105-134.
This essay is giving chronological categories to different cultural periods
from the protohistory of the island of Lanzarote based on the study of four
settlements that have geological and archaeological characteristics in common.
This publication analyzes the development and destruction of paleosoils in the
island, and comes up with a chronological, stratigraphic and cultural sequence for
the inhabitation of Lanzarote. The author comprehends the periods from 6th
century BC to 14th AD. This article is bringing chronological evidences to my
attention. It is important to know what are the chronologies already established (if
so) in the islands in order to gain information on the processes that already have
been studied rigorously. This type of information serves me as supportive material
to questions on the identities of these people, and if there is any relationship
between them in the different islands.
Atoche Peña, P. (2011) Excavaciones arqueologicas en el sitio de Buenavista
(Lanzarote): nuevos datos para el estudio de la colonizacion protohistorica del
archipielago canario. Gerion. http://personales.ulpgc.es/patoche.dch 29(1), 59-82.
This is the study of a rectangular structure found at the site of Buenavista
in Lanzarote inside a stratigraphic sequence with cultural material and a
chronology that dates as early as X BC to III AD. These dates are new for the
little-known chronological information of the island; further what is also a novelty
is the organic material that has revealed this data and the correlation that is found
with Phoeno-Punic origins (pottery, metals and a “glass seed”). This is very
insightful because is reveal the cultural influences that are entering the island and
adapting to the new environment. The authors present their study and their
methodology in this paper allowing me to learn about what is known and
unknown from the canarian archaeological record.
Atoche Peña, P., Ramirez, M.A. et al. (Eds.) (2008). De antropologia, ritos y creencias
funerarias en la Protohistoria de Lanzarote (Islas Canarias): Mummies and
Science. World Mummies Research. Proceedings on the VI World Congress on
Mummy. Sta Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. http://personales.ulpgc.es/patoche.dch 165180
This essay is an attempt to demonstrate through the interdisciplinary
works of bioarchaeologists, archaeologists and historians from the Canaries that
the ancient aborigines held funerary practices and religious believes that resemble
those of Egyptians, Roman and Punic-Phoenician origins. Although the island
syndrome is the reason why it is hard to trace the relationship between these
aspects of social life to their origins; researches have been able to identify some
patterns that allow them to think on this connection with the Mediterranean and
North African world. In the conclusions, the author mentions how helpful would
be to have isotopic dating done to these remains. I find this research very
interesting and in accordance to my interest since I am fond of the religious
aspects on ancient societies and how these can help trace an original influence on
local cultures. Further, I see that there is a need for more through scientific
research on the remains that are available nowadays.
Atoche Peña, P. , Culebras, J.M. , Ramirez Rodriguez, M.A. (1997) Elementos FenicioPunicos en la religion de los Mahos. Estudio de una placa procedente de
Zonzamas (Teguise, Lanzarote). Eres Arqueologia. 7(1), 7-38
This article is presenting one of the most singular discoveries in the
archaeology of the archipelago up to that date. The object of discussion is a lithic
plaque where it is reproduced the silhouette of a hand in the position of what I
have translated to be the signal of “thumb up”(“representacion a tamaño natural
del positivo de una mano”). The authors aim is to describe carefully the object,
where was it found and the context to which is related in order to come up with an
analytical interpretation of not only the typology of the element but perhaps also
on the cosmological aspects of this community in Zonzamas, the island of
Lanzarote. This knowledge is very important because it is an example of the
archaeological sources that are available within the subject and also the
hypotheses that are already in play; therefore I encourage myself to rely on it for
future methodologies and investigation purposes.
Atoche Peña, P. , Ramirez Rodriguez, M.A. , Rodriguez Martin, C. (Eds.) (2008) La
momificacion o “mirlado” en la Protohistoria canaria: un rito egiptizante
asimilado? Mummies and Science. World Mummies Research. Proceedings on the
VI World Congress on Mummy. Sta Cruz de Tenerife, Spain.
http://personales.ulpgc.es/patoche.dch .143-158
This paper is aiming to reveal the cultural mixture that arrived to the
Canaries after a series of political and economic crisis affecting the PunicPhoenicians populations, closely related to the moment of arrival and adaptation
to the islands. Specifically, the authors want to analyze the mortuary practices of
this population that settled in the islands and had to adapt their mummification
habits to the new insular environment. I find this research paper very informative
because is bringing this idea of adaptation to the new ecology as also influencing
funerary rituals, in this case the treatment of the deceased and preservation of the
body –a process that will be greatly affected by the natural resources that are
present in the new environment. I want to learn as much as I can about
mummification methods in the Canaries and I think this is a great source to start.
Atoche Peña, P. , Ramirez Rodriguez, M.A. (2001) Canarias en la etapa anterior a la
conquista Bajomedieval (circa s. VI a. C. al s. XV d.C): Colonizacion y
manifestaciones culturales. Una Mirada Retrospectiva. 1, 43-95.
The authors of this paper bring a new perspective and counter argue the
assumption made by colonizers who believed aboriginal populations were
prehistoric; this view has been maintained until recent researches like this one.
The archaeological data demonstrates that at least some groups had alphabetic
knowledge on Libico-Berber and Libio-Fenicio languages due to the findings
throughout the archipelago of rock incisions with such characteristics. This brings
a different understanding of the peoples that inhabited the islands prior to the
conquest, and the authors use the name of protohistory to define the living stages
of former dwellers. Despite the biased view of ethnohistorical data, the authors
point out how useful is to look at this information in order to set a departing point
on the research process. This is a useful since it gives me an archaeological
perspective on the already recorded biased information of the past.
Bentley, R. A. (2006) Strontium isotopes from the earth to the archaeological skeleton: a
review. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 13(3), 135-187.
The research that Bentley presents us is a complete description of the
means that strontium isotope signatures use to reach the skeletal composition of
living creatures. The ratio levels that are found in our bones and tooth enamel are
the result of a process that has taken millions of years of geological and ecological
changes before depositing in the human skeletal composition. Therefore, the
researcher must be well informed on these processes in order to reduce the margin
of error when assessing ratio levels on ancient human populations. The author
uses scientific notation and jargon that indicates the specific audience that will be
able to understand what is being exposed in the article. Learning about the use of
strontium isotopic signatures to decipher migration patterns on ancient humans
requires a great knowledge on geochemistry, and this paper is an informed guide
on where the values come from and how they transfer from the soil to the
individual.
Beranger Mateos, B. , Rodriguez Martin, C. , Atoche Peña, P. (Eds.) (2008) Estudio de
la coleccion bioantropologica de El Hierro (Islas Canarias) depositada en el
Museo Arqueologico de Tenerife. Mummies and Science. World Mummies
Research. Proceedings on the VI World Congress on Mummy. Sta Cruz de
Tenerife, Spain. http://personales.ulpgc.es/patoche.dch . 297-304.
This essay is presenting the preliminary work that has been done in
ancient human remains from the island of El Hierro. Authors focus on
bioarchaeological and paleopatological perspectives to decipher the bioadaptation
of Herreños to the insular environment. Some of the illnesses reflected on the
bones reveal the nutritional adaptations that these people were submitted to due to
the environmental pressure characteristic of an island; it is also suggested
practices of endogamy as a biocultural reaction to the reduced variation in the
territory. I want to learn more about this population and the strong influences that
the environment can be having on its subjects. I find the hypothesis of endogamy
as a biocultural adaptation to environmental pressure an interesting idea that I
would like learn more.
Bernal Santana, J.M. , Atoche Peña, P. (Eds.) (2008). Rituales funerarios en la
Protohistoria de Gran Canaria (Islas Canarias). Mummies and Science. World
Mummies Research. Proceedings on the VI World Congress on Mummy. Sta Cruz
de Tenerife, Spain. http://personales.ulpgc.es/patoche.dch . 195-202.
This research is pointing out the two major different cultures in Gran
Canaria that can be inferred from two distinct burial practices: those who placed
their dead inside caves and those who put them inside “cistas” which is a Latin
word for religious baskets. Archaeologists believe that these differences are a
result of the various waves of immigration that arrived to the island separately.
The authors are going to focus on this hypothesis and try to answer some
questions through the study of funerary rituals. I find this hypothetical frame in
accordance to the questions that I have on migration; and those are on the racial
relationship that existed between the different island inhabitants, if there is any,
and how many waves of migration took to populate these islands: did they all
come from the same main land? Since they are not related to sailing practices,
who could have navigated them? Perhaps this article can give me some insight to
fill in for these questions.
Bory De Saint Vincent, J.B.G.M. (1988) Ensayos sobre las Islas Afortunadas y la antigua
Atlántida o Compendio de la historia general del archipiélago canario. Trad. al
español de José A. Delgado Luis. La Orotava: J.A.D.L.
This author from the XIX century writes some of the first scientific
accounts on the flora and fauna of the Canary Islands among information also on
the people living there. Saint Vincent was a natural history collector and he had
managed to travel to many different lands collecting samples and studying
different regions of the world. He focuses on Algeria, Morocco and Egypt as well
as the Canary Islands. I think obtaining this source could be of great help since it
gives me an account on what was known about the remaining aborigines
inhabiting the islands at that time. Also it would be interesting to see what he has
to say in ecology in order to have data on how much has the landscape changed
(or not) during these couple centuries.
Ericson, J. (1985) Strontium isotope characterization in the study of prehistoric human
ecology. Journal of human evolution. 14(5), 503-514.
The author is presenting a biochemical model that can tell us about “social
structure, information flow, and patterns of material culture,” as it is tooth
eruption sequence and strontium isotope analyses. The author tells us that by
taking samples from 2nd molar and bone tissue one can get good deal of
information on the ecology of the sample. Tooth enamel is representative of the
first 6-12 years of age and that of bone is of last 6 years of life. I find the author
very confident about this technique, and given the fact that the article was
published 29 years ago I find it logical since the science of bioarchaeology was
starting to be developed. The fact that this subject has been now mastered and that
scientists are very aware of the contamination susceptibility of bone tissue is due
to the fact of developments in this field. Thus it is important to be critical when
reading an article that belongs to former stages of the field research. In any case, I
think it can be very informative since it is valuable to take them into account to
learn more about the process of this science as it was being developed.
Farrujia de la Rosa, A.J. (2009) Pensamiento arqueologico e historia de la investigacion
sobre las manifestaciones rupestres canarias. Complutum, Universidad
Complutense de Madrid. 20(1), 9-28.
This research addresses the methodological and theoretical issues that
appear when studying Canarian rock art in the archaeological context. The author
takes a diachronic and historical perspective to look at how research in this field
has developed in the islands. Another point that is dealt with here is the
established relationship between the Canary Islands and North Africa, and the
theoretical models that are used to explain the connection that existed between
these regions. Even though we are looking at seven centuries of work in this
subject, the author is mainly focusing on the scientific research that has been
developed from the 19th century onwards. I think is important to look at the
researches that have been already made and the connections that have been
established, therefore it is useful for me to look at different archaeological
methods that dwell into the subject. I would also like to find out more about the
issues that researchers are encountering when studying rock art and see what clues
are the ones they are lacking.
Farrujia de la Rosa, A. J. , Werner Pichler, A.R. , Garcia Marin, S. (2009) Las escrituras
líbico-bereber y latina canaria en la secuenciación del doblamiento de las Islas
Canarias. Revista el Museo Canario, 64, 10-44.
The authors of this article present a study of prehistoric rock inscriptions
found in the Canary Islands as an alternative method to reveal migration patterns
of first settlers. The aim is to develop a chronology of emigrational waves based
on the different alphabets and symbols that historians begin to record in the 18th
century. The paper also informs us the importance of understanding the biased
historical background narrated during colonial times, which treated aborigines as
barbaric. Thus, the authors present us the different stages of archaeology in the
islands and the importance of other approaches in order to investigate the ongoing
question of origin. It is a useful piece of information since authors take into
account the biased descriptions of the past in order to develop a different pathway
to understand the peopling of the Canary Islands. Their study is just an example
of the different scientific approaches that can be used in order to investigate the
past from a purely academic point of view.
Frei, k. , Price, T. (2012) Strontium isotopes and human mobility in prehistoric Denmark.
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. 4(2), 103-114.
In this paper is focusing on the challenges that are presented when
analyzing the data of isotopic signatures in ancient human remains. The author
emphasizes how important is to establish a baseline for strontium isotope
signatures valuable for the site of examination; in this case Frei and Price are
creating the data for Denmark. I believe this article can be very informative on the
use and methodology of this technique; thus reading about these studies, even if
they are not in the same arena of interest, can give me insight on bioarchaeology
and how to proceed correctly with the use of strontium isotope studies.
Glas, G. (1764) The history of the discovery and conquest of the Canary Islands.
Retrieved from the digital library of the Humboldt Project website
http://humboldt.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/Glas-LiSe/index_en.html
This is a compilation of four books describing the inhabitants of the
Canary Islands: their manners, culture, trade habits and all those traits that were
still present after the conquest. Furthermore, on his work, Glas adds the
manuscript of a former monk, Juan Abreu Galindo who published on 1632 and
who in turn had as well translated the original work from a different author by the
name of Gonzalo Argote de Molina who originally wrote the study a century
earlier. Therefore, as one may imagine, a lot of the historical data that we
encounter from this region has been altered along history. I am eager to study this
source since it provides with historical knowledge of the islands. The more
perspective I gain on the history of the conquest the deeper I can get in my
investigation and realize those factors that were relevant to the original culture
and those who were misinterpretations of recorders.
Gonzalez-Reimer, E. , Arnay de-la-Rosa, M. (1992) Ancient skeletal remains of the
Canary Islands: bone histology and chemical analysis. Anthropologischer
Anzeige. 50(3), 201-215.
This source is commenting on the examination of 117 prehispanic
mummies from the Canary Islands. The researchers exalt how well preserved
these individuals were, allowing them to conduct a thorough assessment on the
pathologies that these individuals seem to present. Being able to recognize the
reflections of an illness in the bones of a deceased person is a good strategy to
determine the dietary patterns that can lead to the deterioration of the body. Not
only diet, but also habits of everyday life leave an imprint on skeletal remains. In
these sample authors realized a high level of osteoporosis and protein-calorie
malnutrition, the latter a result of a mostly vegetarian diet consequence –which
was rather characteristic of those individuals from the island of Gran Canaria. I
find this article to be a good source of information on bioarchaeological research.
Hodell, D. A. , Quinn, R. L. , Brenner, M. , Kamenov, G. (2004) Spatial variation of
strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) in the Maya region: A tool for tracking ancient
human migration. Journal of Archaeological Science. 31(5), 585-601.
The research pertaining this article is showing how the use of strontium
isotopes 87Sr/86Sr obtained from dentition and bone formations are useful
devices to reveal the ecological habitat of an individual from birth to adulthood.
When studying isotopic signatures on ancient populations, the researcher must
undergo through a series of testing modern samples in order to develop a database
that will serve as guide to compare with results from the former subjects. Also, it
must be kept in mind the variability that exists between the local and regional
levels; otherwise the Sr ratios are not significant and can guide the researcher to
biased conclusions. The article lays out the many details that one must take into
account when doing isotopic research and how results can be unreliable when not
considering such information. I found this paper to be enlightening since it
explains theory and methodology on the use of strontium isotopes to reconstruct
the migratory patterns of former populations.
Horne, P. , Ireland, R.R. (1991) Moss and a Guanche mummy: an unusual utilization. The
Bryologist. 94, 4, 407-408.
This article is revealing two important pieces of information to the
scientific community interested in this subject of ancient aborigines of Canary
islanders. Firstly, the authors find a segment of moss inside the abdomen of the
mummified Guanche from the island of Tenerife, this being a very unusual
method to utilize in the mummification process. The second detail that I find the
most controversial is the date that was given to this body through Carbon dating.
It appears that this individual belonged to circa BC 1380, which indicates that
settlers had arrived to these islands at least 1200 years prior to what the general
archaeological community assumes. Since the study was done in 1991, I would
like to know if I could get in touch with this museum and work with the remains
proposed here. I would be very interested on applying strontium isotopic studies
and also I would like to Carbon date it again.
Iacumin, P. , Bocherens, H. , Mariotti, A. , Longinelli, A. (1993) An isotopic
palaeoenvironmental study of human skeletal remains from the Nile Valley.
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 126(1), 15-30.
This study focuses on the paleodiet of Egyptians and how ranking is
represented in this aspect of life as well. The hypothesis was that the variation in
diets would correlate well with the social status of this particular population,
however this could not be supported in this study. Surprinsingly individuals from
a poor village and those of middle class up to the rich seem to have very little
differences in the isotopic compositions of their bone tissue. The authors use a
sample of 32 individuals for this study. This article is of valuable information for
my topic in the study of stable isotopes on ancient humans because it lays out well
the methodology and thus it gives me examples on how this study can be
conducted and the amount of sample that might be necessary. I find it very
applicable to my bibliographic interest.
Knudson, K.J. (2007) La influencia de Tiwanaku en San Pedro de Atacama: una
investigacion utilizando el analisis de isotopos del estroncio. Estudios
Atacameños. 31, 7-24.
Knudson is examining the stable isotope signatures of a population in the
site of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. The purpose of this study is to investigate
the relationship between this locale and Tiwanaku heartland in the Lake Titicaca
basin during Mid Horizon (500-1000 AC). The researcher uses three burial sites
with a sample of 16 individuals total. With the use of strontium the author finds
no evidence for Tiwanaku colonists in the area against what other archaeologists
have argued. The article have some important information on methodology of this
type of research I think is very important for me to understand how do other
researchers employ the technique in order to have an idea of what would be
required for my own future research.
Knudson, K.J. (2008) Tiwanaku influence in the South Central Andes: strontium isotope
analysis and Middle horizon migration. Latin American Antiquity. 19(1), 3-23.
The author is able to proof through the geochemical research of Sr isotope
that the expansion of Tiwanaku culture during Middle horizon (AD 500-1100)
was complex and further analysis is probably needed in the subject. Knudson does
studies on samples from individuals of distinct Tiwanaku sites in the peripheral
lands of the Lake Titicaca basin. Remains from Moquegua, Chen Chen and other
sites demonstrate that there was migration coming directly from the heartland in a
way of colonization; however, in the site of San Pedro de Atacama individuals do
not present immigration patterns in their Sr isotopic signatures. These variations
indicate the level of intricacy that Tiwanaku developed in its relationships with
peripheral territories. I find this article of good help because it can shed some
light in how methodology is put to work when using this biochemical model on
ancient remains.
Knudson, K.J. , Aufderheide, E. , Buikstra, J.E. (2006) Seasonality and paleodiet in the
Chiribaya polity of southern Peru. Journal of Archaeological Sience. 34(3), 45162.
This research studies the complex Chiribaya polity through the analysis of
carbon and nitrogen isotopes from the archaeological human hair from two
associated sites. Previous research on carbon and nitrogen isotopes of bones from
those sites already reveals socioeconomic specialization through the variability in
the ancient diet of inhabitants from these Chiribaya-related sites. I find this article
very helpful because is adding knowledge into this relatively new method of
stable isotope analyses on ancient human hair. I would like to learn as much as I
can on this because it can very helpful on my methodology.
Knudson, K.J. , Price, T.D. , Buikstra J.E. , Blom, D.E. (2004) The use of strontium
isotope analysis to investigate Tiwanaku migration and mortuary ritual in Bolivia
and Peru. Archaeometry. 46(1), 5-18.
This article publishes for the first time the use of strontium isotope in
order to investigate questions of mobility and mortuary ritual in South America,
concretely in Peru and Bolivia with the Tiwanaku culture from AD 100 to 500.
Archaeologists have found cultural remains in areas of Bolivia, northern Chile
and southern Peru, however they still cannot determine the amount of influence of
Tiwanaku on such areas. This paper focuses on the use of strontium isotope on
human skeletal remains from the site of Tiwanaku and the proposed colony of
Chen Chen to test the following hypothesis: Tiwanaku settlements existed in Peru
and people from the main site of Tiwanaku actually migrated there. Even though
the population sample is different from my thesis interest, I can still gather great
deal of information on methodology that can be later applicable to the lay out of
my research.
Knudson, K.J. , Williams, S.R. et al. The geographic origins of Nazca trophy heads using
strontium, oxygen and carbon isotope data. (2009) Journal of Anthropological
Archaeology. 28, 2, 244-257.
The hypothesis that Nazca trophy heads belonged to foreign war victims is
not being supported in this study of Nazca heads from 1-800 AD. The data
obtained from ancient tooth enamel from individuals from 8 different sites
indicate that these heads are more likely to be form near local populations. The
resulting oxygen and carbon levels of the paleo-diet of these people correlate to
nearby areas. This is another good guide for me to get filled in the techniques that
must be applied to obtain this type of information from ancient remains of the
Canary Islands.
Lecuona Viera, J. , Atoche Peña, P. (Eds) (2008) Arqueologia de la muerte en la
Protohistoria de Fuerteventura. Mummies and Science. World Mummies Research.
Proceedings on the VI World Congress on Mummy. Sta Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
http://personales.ulpgc.es/patoche.dch. 181-193
This is a multidisciplinary study done on osteo remains from precolonization times in the island of Fuerteventura. The intervention of
bioarchaeology as a methodology applicable to the study of the aborigines from
the Canary Islands is a very valuable tool; the author writes in his conclusions that
more studies must be done in order to get a better understanding on the cultural
processes that were taking place in the islands before the arrival of European
colonizers. I find this article align with my interest. He describes the sites that
have been documented in this island and I think this is really helpful -to know the
remains that have been found in order to decide what sample I would like to use
from the already excavated remains. Since there is already information dug up, I
think I need to focus on this before doing any archaeology since is a destructive
tool in the search for the past.
Lehn, C. , Mutzel, E. , Rossman, A. (2011). Multi-element stable isotope analysis of H, C,
N and S in hair and nails of contemporary human remains. International Journal
of Legal Medicine. 125(5), 695-706.
This paper studies the isotopic rations of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen and
sulphur from contemporary hair and nail tissue. The aim of the study is to
compare hair isotopic signatures with those of nail tissue for forensic matters.
Even though this topic is mostly out of my scope since this is for current skeletal
remains and forensic matters, I find that I can learn quite a bit from the use of hair
in the measurement of stable isotopes from archaeological human remains. This
research makes an interesting observation on how is best to use a length of hair
longer than 3cm in order to get better comparable results. Information like this is
very valuable for me since it shows how the potential advantages of applying the
knowledge on bioarchaeology.
Ludwig, Z. , Von Suchodoletz, H. , Kuster, N. (2003) Geoarchaeological and
chronometrical evidence of early human occupation on Lanzarote (Canary
Islands) Quarternary Science Reviews. 23(18-19) 1299-307.
This source is bringing controversial data into the question of first settlers
in the Canary Islands by bringing geological findings as a source that proofs
human occupation in the islands as early as 5-10k. The reason for this assumption
comes from the appearance of archaeosediments holding the remains of
ovidcaprid bones. Since goat and sheep are not indigenous the relationship with
human presence is automatic. The methods utilized were (pedo-) stratigraphy,
sedimentology, soil mineralogy, and IRSL dating. This is a groundbreaking
theory since it opposes the mainstream theory originally brought up by Padilla
Pallares and supported by present day archaeologists. In my search for
information on my topic of interest I encounter contradictory theories due to the
constant advances that science does in the field of archaeology and its subfields.
This type of data reveals that there is room for other approaches making my
search even more interesting.
Lynnerup, N. et al. (2012) The world congress on mummies’ studies. The Global
History of Paleopathology: pioneers and prospects.
http://personales.ulpgc.es/patoche.dch . 694-99.
This article is introducing the different congresses that have been held in
different parts of the world for the past twenty-two years. Two of them were hold
in the Canary Islands. I find these conferences to be significant to the work of
archaeology because they are bringing knowledge on the subject of mummies and
studied from a holistic point of view without any other implications to it. It is a
very specific point to gather information about funerary practices, and I would
like to get some of the topics that were discussed in the most recent conference
perhaps in 2011 in San Diego. I think there are probably interesting studies being
presented during these gatherings and it would be very nice to add some of this
work to my bibliography. Where can I get work presented on conferences?
Macko, S.A. , Engel, M. H. , et al. (1999) Documenting the diet in ancient human
populations through stable isotope analysis of hair. The Royal Society. 65- 76.
This article presents an alternative method to reveal the isotopic signatures
in ancient human remains. The authors find that hair samples are a much more
reliable source to sort out dietary patterns on former individuals since diagenesis
in hair samples is not as influential as it can be on bone collagen. Even though
searching for isotopic values on collagen has been the most popular tool for
paelodiet investigation, this article aims to proof that hair protein keratin is just as
useful- if not more since it cannot be contaminated as easily as other samples. I
found this paper very informative since lays out very well how the different
isotopes of Carbon, Nitrogen and Sulphur incorporate in the biochemical
composition of the individual. It also gives clear understanding of the different
diets and what type of isotopic values may reflect. This is useful data for me since
it brings an alternative mechanism to the study of paleodiet and the techniques
that are used to obtain such information.
Martinez, Hernandez, M. (2010) Islas miticas en relacion con Canarias. Cuadernos de
Filologia Clasica. Estudios griegos e indoeuropeos. Universidad Complutense de
Madrid. 20, 139-158.
This essay is a review and research of the historic literature that describes
the concept of islands and their role in the expansion of ancient history across the
Western world –beginning from Greeks of 8th century BC to sources from 16th in
Western Europe. Not only that, the author uses the Canary Islands as an area of
relationship with the mythical stories of The Garden of the Hesperides, Saint
Brandan, Atlantis, Isles of the Blest and the Fortunate Islands. The author focuses
on this on going point of discussion with detail and from a literary point of view,
thus I find interesting to take a look at this information as background for my
knowledge on the possible role of the islands during ancient times.
Meco, J. , Carracedo, J.C. , et al. (2004) Comment on: Geoarchaeological and
chronometrical evidence of early human occupation on Lanzarote (Canary
Islands) by Zoller et al. Quarternary Science Reviews. 23(18-19), 2045-49.
The source that I am presenting here is an actual answer to an article cited
above by Ludwig et al. on the controversial findings of human occupation in the
Canaries dating far back to 5-10k. Authors argue that the conclusions reached by
Ludwig et al. on the sediments of the Vega de Guatiza basin are contradictory to
their own findings. Surprisingly, Ludwig and co-workers ignored the presence of
<500-year pottery remains on the sediments -Carracedo et al., conclude that the
basin had been affected by erosion and re-deposition thus opening room for
misleading results. I found this counteracting article as an interesting discrepancy
worth of presenting in my bibliography because these type of contradictions are
part of my quest and thus worthy of mentioning. Not only that, this makes me
wary of the sort of information that is out there and that mistakes among academia
are a possible obstacle in the process of building a background for my thesis.
Mederos Martin, A. , Escribano Cobo, G. (2002) Las Islas Afortunadas de Juba II.
Punico-gaditanos y romanos-mauretanos en Canarias. Gerion. 20(1), 315-358.
The following research focuses on the exploration that was sent by Juba II
to the Canary Islands in ca 19-10 BC. The purpose of Juba II was to expand his
dynasty recently established with Cleopatra Selene of Ptolemaic origin.
Therefore, his intention to expand this new “Hellenistic Ptolemaic-Mauretanian”
heritage got him to the archipelago where he found to be a great economic
resource for the rest of the empire. Items like honey, wax, rushes, dragon blood,
gray amber, shells, orchil and purple haemastoma for dyes was among some of
the preferences of the Roman Empire. I find this resourceful in the ethnohistoric
portion of my research. As I mentioned in other sources, studying the archives of
ancient literature where the islands are mentioned is a great way to sort out
relationships between them and the mainland been Africa. Also, is good to know
what was already there when Romans were navigating around.
Mederos Martin, A. Los periplos atlanticos norteafricanos de Polibio y Juba II
transmitidos por Plinio (2013) Gerion. Revista de Historia Antigua. Universidad
Complutense de Madrid. 31, 239-268.
In this article the author reviews the ancient expedition that took place after
the last Punic War in BC 146, the Voyage of Polibio. The purpose of this research
paper is to study the ancient sources of Roman origin to clarify who actually
wrote the description of the journey since its authorship is not clearly defined. It
has been attributed to Agripa and most likely Juba II. Since the Roman
component in the archaeology of the Canary Island is a fact, I find it relevant to
gain background on the relationship that Rome had with the territories of North
Africa and the naval expeditions they launched around the region. Knowing this
information can clarify many questions that are still in the air on the relationship
that the Empire had with the archipelago and its inhabitants.
Milburn, M. (1984). Dragon’s blood in East and West Africa, Arabia and the Canary
Islands. Africa: Rivista trimestrale di studi e documentazione dell’Istituto italiano
per l’Africa e l’Oriente. 39(3), 486-93.
This article is revealing the popularity of Dragon’ Blood, a type of tree
sap that has the color of blood, and the name of the tree is called Drago, which
historians believe it carried a lot of symbology to the former inhabitants of the
islands. The popularity is ascribed to its dying properties and the discovery of this
source by Romans to consequently be commercialized and distributed along the
world. I think this is very helpful to my thesis because is giving me information
on how much knowledge there was on the existence of the Canary Islands by the
ancient world and how far back does that go. In addition, is also serving me to
elucidate on who are the people that is leaving the islands and what are the
material goods that are being taken or carried back. This is a good way to
understand the economic relationship that the islands had with the rest of the
world.
Montgomery, J. (2010) Passports from the past: Investigating human dispersals using
strontium isotope analysis of tooth enamel. Annals from human biology. 37(3),
325-346.
This paper brings into perspective the limitations of using strontium
isotopes. The author reminds the audience interested in this technique, like me,
that in order to obtain reliable isotopic signatures the individuals must have had a
strict local diet and that hope that diagenesis did not get to the sample. It is
important to keep in mind that it does not work in every case or environment, and
there is a more positive outlook to the use of tooth enamel to obtain migratory and
diet information of ancient individual. I am very interesting on giving a thorough
look to this source since I find important to take into account the amount of error
that this technique has in order to envision alternatives that will ensure accuracy
on my research.
Owens, L.S. (2007) Craniofacial trauma in the Prehispanic Canary Islands. International
Journal of Osteoarchaeology. 17(5), 465-478
This article is presenting a study on craniofacial traumas done in a large
sample of Prehispanic Canary Islanders. The variables of the research include sex
and age of individual, period and ecology of the island, and the “distribution of
lesions across the skull by side and by individual bone,” in addition to “antemortem tooth loss.” The authors find a high rate of injuries mostly among males
with rather more cranial than facial lesions predominantly in the left side, which
indicates that these were perpetrated instead of accidental. They do not find any
relationship between trauma and ecology. The lesions correlate with the theory of
rivalry between groups since the type of wound can tell a lot about the weapon
they used (in this case stones, staves, slingshots); however, there are edge-weapon
injuries and this indicates the contact-period with European settlers. This study is
very interesting from the point of view of bioarchaeology, once again we can
learn a lot from the skeletal remains of the population and any information
pertaining to this type of research is very useful in my learning process.
Padilla Pallares, A. (2009) El poblamiento prehistorico de las Islas Canarias. El Museo
Canario <http://www.elmuseocanario.com/index.php/en/publications/el--‐museo-‐ canario--‐magazine/78>.
In this source Pallares is reiterating a theory that he already presented in
1975 and was highly disputed by main streams who though the Canary Islands
had been occupied during Neolithic. Pallares argues that the settlers arrived no
earlier than AD 98-117 during the emperor Trajan’s reign. Former scholars had
wrongly assumed that the lack of metals and the rudimentary life style was a sign
for the prehistoric nature of the ancient aborigines; however, these populations
were highly limited by their insular territory thus forcing them to live adapt to the
rural life style of the islands. Agustin Padilla Pallares is a well know scholar in
this subject and I find his work as a great source of knowledge that can build my
background on the theories of ‘peopling’ that have been established already in the
academic field. Although I might not agree with some of his statements, I think is
an intellectually challenging resource worth of using in my research.
Ramirez Rodriguez, M.A. , Atoche Peña, P. (2011) El archipielago canario en el
horizonte fenicio-punico y romano del Circulo del Estrecho. Retrieved form the
personal digital publications of Dr. P. Atoche website
http://personales.ulpgc.es/patoche.dch/ . 229-256
The excavations done in the sites of El Bebedero y Buenavista in
Lanzarote, and El Descubrimiento in the island of La Graciosa support the theory
that the islands had close tides to the Mediterranean world of occident. The
authors believe that these relationships began from early dates as 10th century BC
and up to 4th century AD. This research sheds light on the colonizing processes
that took place in the Canary Islands beginning from Phoenician-Punic origins up
to later when the Romans began their apparition. This article is good background
information to know what hypothesis is out there on the chronologies that
correspond to this islands since up to know has some of the most clarifying data. I
find that working in a territory like the islands, is not like firm land where
migration spreads out quicker and it can be a bit easier to trace back to original
settlements. Islands have clear set boundaries that might prevent populations from
venturing themselves, mostly when the inhabitants are not associated with sailing
abilities.
Rando, J.C. , et al (1999) Phylogeographic patterns of mtDNA reflecting the colonization
of the Canary Islands. Annals of Human Genetics. 63(5), 413-28.
The source cited above is aiming to use mtDNA in order to trace back
origins of early settlers. Authors are very aware of the margin of error that can
result from using mtDNA in researches of this sort; therefore, the researchers
propose first to study if this technique is at all a meaningful research marker to
determine the characteristics of a complex settlement past like the one in question.
The next query will be whether if a technique like this can be certainly used
without limitation. I find this article very enriching since it is approaching the
subject by first of all, acknowledging the margin of error in the research
methodology and therefore focusing on actually researching the amount of error
in it. There is also great data on DNA results and percentages giving perhaps a
different perspective on how the population of the islands is distributed. I think
this article is of great aid since it gives me numerical data and a methodology
worth of reviewing.
Relancio Menendez, A. (2007) La historia natural de las Islas Canarias de Webb y
Berthelot: de la edicion decimoninica a la edicion digital. Fundacion Canaria
Orotava de Historia de la Ciencia. Retrieve from Humboldt Project website
http://humboldt.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/Relancio-Menendez.pdf. 1-8
The author of this essay presents an overview of one of the most through
studies of natural history in the Canary Islands created in the beginnings of the
19th century by Sabino Berthelot and Philip Barker Webb. In addition, the author
presents the creation of a digital library with traditional knowledge and
ethnohistorical data that goes from early 18th up to 20th century. The collaborators
of this project are: Fundacion Canaria Orotava de la Historia de la Ciencia and the
Max Planck Institute of Berlin. This source has been of good help for my research
because it has revealed an important tool during my research project, the digital
library. However, I wish I could speak other languages, like German or French
since writers from Europe did much of the former work data collection.
Ricaut, F.X. , Waelkens, M. (2008) Cranial discrete traits in a Byzantine population and
Eastern Mediterranean population movements. Human Biology 80.5. 535-564.
This research paper focuses on the examination of cranial discreet traits in
order to answer questions of biological affinity between individuals from the site
of Sagalassos in Turkey and 27 Eurassian and African populations. The Anatolian
region has been a concurred area since the beginning of the Holocene and the
authors aim to discover the affinities that this specific population had with other
parts of the Mediterranean world in order to reveal migratory events that would
support the archaeological and historical data. Even though the sample population
and the research thesis has not much spatial relationship with my subject of
interest, I still find it useful to look at other venues in the field of bioarchaeology
that can help resolve questions of biological resemblance between distant
populations.
Sommerville, A.D. , Fauvelle, M. , Frohele, A. W. , (2013) Applying new approaches to
modeling diet and status: isotopic evidence for commoner resiliency and elite
variability in the Classic Maya lowlands. Journal of Archaeological Science. 40,
1539-1553.
This paper is dealing with social stratification in the Mayan civilization
across the Classic Period (AD 250-900/1000) and how this differentiation can be
revealed through stable isotope analyses of human remains. The authors bring into
play two new approaches to the values of collagen and apatite that were recorded
in the past. “A simple carbon isotope model and a multivariate isotope model”
(Somerville, 2013) will reveal the hierarchical disparity reflected on the dietary
patterns of Maya commoners and the elite. This source is intended to reach an
audience with knowledge on bioarchaeology; therefore the information is very
specific and helpful to my thesis. It gives a clear understanding on how and why
stable isotope analyses are a great tool to uncover important facts about ancient
social models.
Tejera Gaspar, A. , Chavez Alvarez, M.E. , Montesdeoca, M. (2006) Canarias y el Africa
Antigua. Tenerife, Spain: Direccion General de Patrimonio Historico del
Gobierno de Canarias.
This source is very enriching since it brings an array of information: from
Greco-roman literary works that imply their early knowledge of the Canaries, to
insights on religious rituals from the aborigines, and the libico-berber influence on
the populations. This book is a manifesto of the tight relationship that the
archipelago had with the history and the culture already in play in “ancient
Africa.” The book makes historical references to ancient literary works by the
Greeks and the Romans, and also combines the archaeological data that has been
recorded up to the moment. The authors support that first occupation of the
islands took place during the Trajan Empire and therefore agreeing with the
mainstream theory originally launched by Padilla Pallares. I find this book to be
enriched with information covering many aspects from the life of ancient
Canaries, thus making the source very helpful in my quest to build a strong
background on the subject.
Tejera Gaspar, A. , Galloway, D. , Garcia, D. , Delgado, J.F. (2010) La Cueva de Las Mil
Momias. Tenerife, Spain: Herques Editorial. 11-49
This book is a mixed literary piece since the first fifty pages are based on
empirical data and the rest of the book is a novel adapted to archaeological
findings and folk stories. The data that presents us comes from the famous
archaeological discoveries that took place around the 18th century when two caves
replete with mummies were found; sadly most of the mummies disappeared with
the exception of one mummy that is still in Spanish grounds at the Museo
Nacional de Antropologia in Madrid. The scientific portion of this book also gives
insight on how archaeological surveys have been conducted and its various
methods to look for sites. I find this book very particular due to the nature of the
mixed content and how well both are intertwined in a manner that the scientific
knowledge is clearly separated from the novel but still serves as the tool to
develop the story.
Torres Plaza, J.D. , Atoche Peña, P. (Eds.) (2008) La momificacion en la Protohistoria
de Gran Canaria: una revision historiografica. Mummies and Science. World
Mummies Research. Proceedings on the VI World Congress on Mummy. Sta Cruz
de Tenerife, Spain http://personales.ulpgc.es/patoche.dch/ .37-48.
This paper presents the first results from the analysis of the funerary
practices localized in Gran Canaria and considered one of the most spectacular
ritualistic burial practice in what the author likes to define as protohistory in the
Canary Islands. As it has been expressed prior to this source, it is very important
to keep in mind the literary works done in the time of conquest up to XIX when
the first scientific texts began to be recorded; the authors use these data as
guidance along in the archaeological process. This is usage of ethnohistory allows
the researches to gain a more proximate diachronical vision of how
mummification in the archipelago has been studied for the last four centuries. I
find this essay fascinating and I cannot wait to read it and learn more about
funerary practices since we can learn a lot about the cosmology of a people and
therefore their society through these events of religious connotations.
Torres Plaza, J.D. , Atoche Peña, P (Eds.) (2008) Momias de Gran Canaria. Historia y
conservacion. Mummies and Science. World Mummies Research. Proceedings on
the VI World Congress on Mummy. Sta Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
http://personales.ulpgc.es/patoche.dch/ . 629-31.
This short essay focuses on a review of the scientific literature related to
mummification between the different protohistoric populations of Canarias and
also a review on the analyses of bioarchaeological remains deposited in El Museo
Canario de Las Palmas and in El Museo de la Fortaleza de Sta Lucia (both in
Gran Canaria). The remains show damage due to fungi and the inadequate
treatment that these centers have inflicted upon them. This is a good addition to
my bibliography because it is depicting the situation of skeletal remains in
museums of the island where I am from, asides from recording the individuals and
material culture that is stored there. Knowing this could help me decide where I
could ask my samples to when the time comes to request for human remains to do
stable isotope testing.
Torriani, L. (1588) Descripcion e historia del reino de las Islas Canarias: antes
Afortunadas con el parecer de sus fortificaciones. (A. Cioranescu Trans.). Santa
Cruz de Tenerife: Goya Ediciones (1959)
In his work Torriani describes the different islands in the archipelago and
the populations that are in each region and their history. He also illustrates the
fortifications where aborigines lived and maps with the localizations of those
places. The motivation to write this volume came from his responsibility as
military engineer to king Felipe II who commanded Torriani to visit every
fortification that was lay out in the islands and to inform the retinue of the court in
order to create better defensive systems. Even though the information I might find
here can be biased due to misinterpretation of westerners, I find this book a
fundamental source to look at it since it will provide me with detailed information
of what Torriani thought of who were the aborigines of the Canary Islands and
how they lived.
W.B.W (1853) The Queen of the Canary Islands. Retrieved by the digital library of the
Fundacion Orotava webiste
http://fundacionorotava.es/pynakes/lise/wbw_thequ_en_01_1853/1/. 347-348
This brief article reveals the legend of Andamana; a young woman of
Moorish origin who lived in Gran Canaria. Her political and religious role in
society must had been notorious since the popularity of the myth was vibrant still
after the conquest. The certainty of this story is blurry since it is a myth passed on
through oral tradition and that survived in the island a long time after the conquest
when the anonymous author recorded it after his arrival to the island at some point
in his life. The article is signed with the following acronym: W.B.W. I find this
short story of much interest since the myth could reflect somewhat the political
structure of this society before contact with westerners. In addition, the fact that a
woman is given such importance is a new subject in the history of Gran Canaria;
therefore it should not be ignored even if it is a fable. Greek and roman
mythologies are markers of the former social behaviors and morals that the people
of the ancient west were characteristic of, thus this piece of information should be
treated just alike. As we have learned from Langton and Rhea, traditional
knowledge is a valuable source of information worth to be recorded and past on.
White, C.D. , et al. (2009) Landscape bioarchaeology at Pacatnamu, Peru: inferring
mobility from stable C- and N-isotope values of hair. Journal of Archaeological
Science. 36(7), 1527-1537.
This study on 8 individuals from the site of Pacatnamu (450-750 AD to
900-1100 AD) reveals how the mean of isotopic C13 and N15 values of hair
segments are comparable to those of bone. The results reveal interesting data on
emigrational moves from the coast to the highlands. The authors come with a few
hypotheses for the data that stable isotopes is bringing to their attention. I think is
very useful to gain insight on the work that has been done already with isotopic
signatures on different ancient societies because many of the issues that they
might run up to will be probably very similar to the issues that I will encounter
myself when working on this field; thus articles like this one serve as a good
guide for my future research.
Wilson, A.S. , et al (2007) Stable isotopes and DNA evidence for ritual sequences in
Inca child sacrifice. National Acad Sciences. 104(42), 16456-61.
This study focuses on the examination of hair from mummified child
sacrifices from the south central Andes to reveal genetic and isotopic information
of their diet and identity, and thus to make inferences of social status and the
processes by which victims were selected. This is an interdisciplinary research on
the practice of the capacocha rite by the Incas. I would like to order this article
and read it because I am curious to find out which are the reason that the authors
are basing their inferences on -I would like to know their theoretical approach on
this. Hopefully I can order it. I like the fact that it is using hair as sample material,
and I want to know more about this practice on the studying of isotopic
signatures.