Reconstructing the complexity of prehistoric settlement dynamics requires bridging the gap between static analytical data, spatial configurations, and the human behaviors that produced them. This contribution explores how a multi-proxy approach—integrating inorganic geochemical analyses with dual-mode archaeobotany—can transform fragmented material residues and culturally constructed soil features (choma-facts) into a coherent narrative of technological choice.
We present a case study from southern Bohemia, spanning the transition from the Late Bronze Age to the Late Iron Age (ca. 1250 BC – 50 BC). The research focuses on two distinct categories of clay finds: structural daub and mondidols (fired clay objects). To reconstruct the chaînes opératoires and the spatial dimensions of these materials, we employed portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) for bulk characterization, and Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for high-resolution surface analysis.
These chemical datasets were integrated with two parallel botanical lines of evidence. We analyzed plant imprints preserved on the surfaces and matrices of both daub and mondidols to identify intentional technological choices. These results were systematically compared with standard archaeobotanical assemblages (plant macroremains) obtained via systematic flotation of the settlement features.
This juxtaposition allows us to distinguish specific "recipes" used for construction materials from the broader agricultural and environmental background. We demonstrate that integrating LIBS, pXRF, and this comparative botany enables us to construct robust narratives about the spatial dynamics of resource management, specialized production, and regional adaptation, moving beyond simple typology to a deeper understanding of prehistoric decision-making.

First Author: Ondrej Štastný

Co-Authors: Tereza Šálková

Keywords:
Daub
pXRF
LIBS
Settlement archaeology
Clay