Much attention on core communities of the Mongol Empire have relied on the lives and practices of those in the capital region of central Mongolia. In such places scholars have delved into discussions of ‘cosmopolitan’ materialities and multi-religious spheres. In order to truly understand the breadth and depth of impact that long-distance interactions with outside regions had on steppe communities of the Eurasian empire, the Northern Realms Project in the Darkhad area of Khövsgöl province has focused investigation on numerous burial grounds of local elites who mediated north-south exchange routes and served as agents of the greater Mongol regime. This paper examines material evidence for exchanges with the Chinese Central Plains and the ruling Yuan court – namely a dragon-decorated cizhou jar - and the ways in which exotic goods (1) were repurposed for local consumption practices and (2) demonstrate localized traditions for foreign religions such as Buddhism.

Until recently, the northern extent of the Mongol-Yuan Dynasty (~1200 to 1400 CE) was not believed to have played a major part in the empire. However, recent excavations at the royal cemetery of Khorig, as well as nearby elite and commoner cemeteries, suggest an unexpected influence on networks of trade and connections to ruling lineages. What remains understudied is the ways in which death was marked among different communities. Our salvage work on looted cemeteries in the Darkhad Depression gives us a unique opportunity to research how people were treated in death, specifically the rituals that were typical during this period, for example sheep bones laid under the back of individuals and the presence of dairy or tallow lanterns made from ceramic vessels. This research incorporates bioarchaeological, mortuary, and ritual findings to understand the varied ways that people and bodies were treated in the northern realms of the Mongol empire.

This research examines the various landscape contexts of Irish bog roads or “toghers” and the stone/gravel peatland roads in western Ireland. The work examined the chronological development of toghers and reviewed pollen core analysis, historic maps, and placenames to frame the bogs within their natural context. This work included a cartographic analysis of nearby archaeological features and literature review related to the archaeology of movement and cultural interactions within wetlands and boundary areas. The research indicates that the natural environment heavily influenced the construction and placement of late prehistoric toghers. Toghers were typically constructed at the narrowest point of bogs and near raw material sources. Toghers were commonly built at territorial boundaries and linked local communities to the wider, cultural landscape. These routeways were utilized by the early church to enable the conversion of the local population and served as valuable “highways” facilitating the construction of castles nearby.

This paper explores the possibility of pre-European habitation on the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). Using a combination of archival research, digital modeling, and field archaeology, this study attempts to make sense of circumstantial evidence, gathered over several decades, suggesting human arrival to the islands prior to European settlement. Using oceanography and natural resource models, this study examined the feasibility of travel from the mainland to the islands, as well as the likelihood of long-term survival upon arrival. Next, field excavation at the Keppel Island Mission searched for evidence of stone tool construction and/or use to determine if the Fuegian Indians living at the mission continued traditional tool making practices while having access to European goods. Finally, a small collection of stone tools found within the archipelago was analyzed in an effort to provide further temporal and cultural context to the collection for which very little is currently known.

The history of Indigenous peoples of lower Kihcikama (the Great Lakes), has been overshadowed by a focus on colonial-era warfare and violence. Little is known about the culture and lifeways of the people referred to by the French as the Gens de Feu, or People of Fire, who resided around western Ciinkwhtanwi Kihcikami (Lake Erie). This paper presents a review of excavation data at three sites along lower Taawaawa Siipiiwi, the Maumee River. This review includes recent excavation along with previous excavation from decades ago—most of which has never been published. This review is coupled with new analyses of abandoned legacy petrographic data. This paper reveals a diachronic, complex history of resilience and tradition amid sociopolitical and climatic instabilities from the 13^th century through the mid-17^th century, when war and disease cause these villagers to flee from these long-held homelands.

The Battle of Frenchtown during the War of 1812 marked the deadliest conflict on Michigan soil. Prior to its cession to Canada in 1784 by the Potawatomi for fur trade expansion, the site hosted a Late Woodland settlement during proto-historic times. The lithic material found at the site suggests it functioned as a manufacturing and trade hub, mirroring its later historical use. This study examines the Woodland-phase lithic assemblage to better understand trade networks in proto-historic southeast Michigan. The assemblage includes a wide range of chert types sourced from across the Great Lakes Region, reflecting extensive exchange networks. These raw materials were used to produce various tools, including a significant number of triangular arrow points, commonly referred to as Madison points. This research will describe how early historic and contact era occupations and trade netwoerksm the Great Lakes were imprinted onto an existing cultural landscape.