We describe an ongoing research project on efficient methods for reconstruction of objects from large collections of irregular fragments, such as ancient pottery, collapsed murals, etc.. Our solution for flat objects uses multiscale matching and constrained dynamic programming, and we are now extending it to curved pottery fragments. We seek collaborative projects with museums and other potenti...

The application of established immunological and chemical methods to the analysis of archaeological organic residues offers a new scientific means of evaluating prehistoric subsistence and ecology. Recent studies demonstrate that animal and plant protein residues are often preserved on artifacts for many years after their original use and that such residues can be identified to at least the fam...

The Arabian Peninsula is a key region for understanding climate change and human occupation history in a marginal environment. The Mundafan palaeolake is situated in southern Saudi Arabia, in the Rub' al-Khali (the 'Empty Quarter'), the world's largest sand desert. Here we report the first discoveries of Middle Palaeolithic and Neolithic archaeological sites in association with the palaeolake. ...

Armadillos are medium-sized animals whose burrowing behavior can be significant in archaeological settings ranging from South America to the central United States. Although archaeologists are well aware that these animals can move archaeological materials across stratigraphic layers, few data are available about the magnitude of mixing, number of burrows per individual, dimension of burrows, an...

of chipped stone tools were obtained by direct procurement from bedrock and transported geologic sources, through exchange, and by means of scavenging stone artifacts from archaeological deposits. Recycling and reuse of found stone artifacts has been historically documented (Amick 2007; Ascher 1968; Gould et al. 1971; Hill 1938; Sedig 2010; Tindale 1965) and identified in the archaeological rec...