On Implements and Chips From The Floor Of A Palæolithic Workshop

The prior's lodgings at Ely expanded between the twelfth and the fourteenth centuries resulting in a set of apartments with self-contained first-floor circulation, some of which served the prior's distinguished guests. The buildings have been re-examined in conjunction with the recent restoration carried out on part of this complex. The individual buildings and the complex are considered at specific stages of development, and they are also set against relevant comparative data. The documentary evidence is reviewed, shedding light on early grants of land from the bishop, and the function of the buildings and social life in the prior's department are also discussed. This paper provides a reappraisal of earlier studies that tended to present a static view of the medieval monastery at Ely, using mainly post-Dissolution documents as retrospective evidence for their medieval form and function.     

The Pyramids—Cement or Stone?

Several samples of pyramids from Giza were obtained. The samples were analysed by scanning electron microscopy, electron diffraction by X-rays, powder X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasmography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and other techniques. Some scientists who have recently studied the pyramids have suggested that the pyramids were poured into place, stone by stone. The prevailing theory among Egyptologists is, of course, that the pyramids were built from blocks of natural stone. All of the results obtained during this study directly support the concept that the pyramids are made of limestone and are not cementitious in nature.     

A 6000‐Year‐Old Hand Amputation from Bulgaria—The Oldest Case from South‐East Europe?

A skeleton from Tell Yunatsite in Bulgarian Thrace shows evidence of amputation of the right hand. The individual dates back to the end of the fifth millennium, connecting it to the Late Copper Age of that region. The Chalcolithic settlement on the tell ended immediately after a bellicose assault. Therefore, the question arose if the loss of the hand may be connected with this incidence. Anthropological studies in close collaboration with the archaeologists on site made clear that the abscission took place at an earlier time. This result led to a series of complex questions. These are described in this work. We will show that a congenital origin for the loss of the hand can be excluded, and that the individual survived this severe injury for a certain time span. Several possible explanations for an amputation are discussed. It turns out that a surgical intervention seems to be the most likely reason. It becomes clear that there must have been an excellent medical knowledge in the Copper Age concerning surgery and wound treatment. Furthermore, the survival of the handicapped individual documents a certain social cohesion. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Early Specialized Production? A Chalcolithic Stone Bracelet Workshop at Kanlitaş, Turkey

An assemblage of marble bracelets, at various stages of manufacture, recovered during surface survey of the site of Kanl?ta? in Turkey, indicates that there was specialized production activity at the site during the Chalcolithic period. In this article we present the assemblage, evidence about material procurement, technology and manufacturing processes. We discuss the significance of the assemblage in relation to other sites in the area and as an example of production intended for inter‐site trade or exchange. We also address the wider issues of both the production of stone bracelets as a widespread practice in Anatolia from the Neolithic onwards, and the phenomenon of early specialized production.     

The dyer and the cook: finds from 8 Pilestræde,Copenhagen, Denmark

Abstract

Excavation by the Museum of Copenhagen in Pilestræde, Copenhagen, in 2004 revealed a 17th-century dyer's workshop, in which the first example of a dyeing vat known from excavations in Denmark was examined. Evidence is presented to show that this would have been used in dyeing indigo. A well-preserved latrine dating from the beginning of the 18th century was also found. Multidisciplinary study showed that both the vat and the latrine contained well-preserved remains of plant foodstuffs that were exotic for their time. The finds are exceptional, not only because post-medieval archaeology is a new discipline in Denmark, but because opportunities for excavation rarely arise in the city.     

American power: from ‘compellance’ to cosmopolitanism?

This article argues that the Bush strategy of 'spectacle war' is caught in an earlier Cold War paradigm primarily aimed at influencing American public opinion and that it fails to take into account the reality of the current global context, especially with regard to changes in the nature of sovereignty and in the role of military force. The United States, in its current posture, has the capability to be very destructive but is much less able to do 'compellance', that is to say, to impose its will on others. In particular, the current strategy cannot defeat terrorism.
The article draws up a typology of different visions of how American power is, or should be, exercised based on different assumptions about sovereignty and military power. It concludes that American power can only be exercised constructively within a cosmopolitan framework. Such a framework is best suited to the containment, and possibly, the defeat of terrorism. It would contribute both to global economic growth and to American democracy.     

Probate inventories: An evaluation from the perspective of zooarchæology and agricultural history at Mott Farm

Historical Archaeology - Problems in integrating documentary, architectural, and archaeological data are discussed first in terms of defining the archaeological context of a farmsite occupied by...     

‘An enemy at the gates’ or ‘from victory to victory’? Russian foreign policy

Russian foreign policy reflects an evolving balance between vulnerability and opportunity. For much of President Putin's second term, Russia has been on the defensive. Despite increasing economic strength, observed in greater activity and an apparently more confident rhetorical stance, Russian diplomacy reflected a sense of vulnerability in Moscow. Indeed, diplomacy was largely inward looking: on the one hand it was a tool with which to unite and mobilize the Russian population rather than confront the West; on the other hand, it was a means of preventing external interference in Russian domestic affairs. On another level, Moscow sees an international situation destabilized by the unilateral actions of the US and an attempt by the ‘western alliance’ to assert and export its value system. But Moscow also believes that the international situation has reached a moment of transition, one which presents an opportunity for a Russia that lays claim to a global role. Russian foreign policy reflects a broad consensus in Moscow that asserts Russia's status as a leading power with legitimate interests. This moment of opportunity coincides with Moscow's desire to rethink the results of the post‐Cold War period and to establish Russia as a valid international player. Continuing constraints and recognition that its domestic priorities proscribe Moscow from seeking confrontation with the West, which it cannot afford. Nonetheless, the attempt to establish the legitimacy of sovereign democracy as an international model of development appears to represent an important development in how Russia will approach wider European politics.     

Morphological reconstruction of Roman <Emphasis Type="Italic">styli</Emphasis> from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Iulia Concordia</Emphasis>—Italy

Iulia Concordia is an important Roman settlement known for the production of iron objects and weapons during the Roman Empire. A huge number of well-preserved styli were found in the bed of the main channel of the city. In order to shed light on the production processes used by Roman for stylus manufacturing and the conservation state of the finds, a neutron tomography analysis was performed on NEUTRA beamline in Switzerland. SEM-EDS analyses were performed on few selected objects in order to identify the composition of metal decorations. Here, we present results from our investigation conducted on 91 styli, disclosing, in a non-invasive way, the morphological characterization related to the ancient Roman working techniques.     

Lithic Modes A–I: A New Framework for Describing Global-Scale Variation in Stone Tool Technology Illustrated with Evidence from the East Mediterranean Levant

Grahame Clark’s framework for describing stone tool assemblages in terms of five technological “modes” enjoys wide use in European, African, and Asian prehistory. With greater usage and increases in the global archaeological database for prehistory, problems and weaknesses of Clark’s framework have become apparent. This paper reviews these problems and proposes an updated framework, modes A–I, for describing variability in stone tool production strategies. The value of this new framework for prehistory is illustrated using data from the East Mediterranean Levant.     

Comment on ‘Did China Import Metals from Africa in the Bronze Age?’

Lead isotope compositions provide a direct means of assessing provenance. The lead contents in bronzes cannot be used to argue against lead isotopes. Any claim for the origin of the source material for the origin of Yin‐Shang bronzes must satisfy the measured lead isotope compositions. Thus far, only southern African sources are found to meet this criteria.     

The revolution <Emphasis Type="Italic">Will</Emphasis> be televised<Superscript>1</Superscript>: African archaeology education and the challenge of public archaeology— Some examples from southern africa<Superscript>2</Superscript>

La arqueología ya se reconoce como una fuente crítica para desarrollar la herencia en áfrica. Sin embargo, la instrucción arqueóloga tiene escasos recursos monetarios. Esta presentación se?ala algunos de los retos y oportunidades para desarrollar arqueología pública en áfrica usando los ejemplos de Botswana y Sur áfrica.

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Résumé L'archéologie est maintenant reconnue comme une source importante pour le développement du patrimoine en Afrique. Toutefois, l'enseignement de l'archéologie est extrêmement peu financée. En se servant d'exemples au Botswana et en Afrique du Sud, ce papier met en relief quelques uns des défis qui attendent l'archéologie publique en Afrique ainsi que les opportunités qu'elle aura de se développer.

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You will not be able to stay home brother You will not be able to plug in, turn on and cop out The revolution will not be televised The revolution will not be brought to you by Xerox In 4 parts without commercial interruptions The revolution will be no re-run brothers The revolution will be live (Gil Scott-Heron, http://gilscottheron.com)

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This phrase is adapted from Gil Scott-Heron's poem “The Revolution Will Not be Televised” (http://gilscottheron.com) and I acknowledge its inspiration of my conviction of the importance of teaching African archaeology.

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This article was prepared while I was a visiting Senior Research Fellow at Wolfson College, Cambridge. I thank my sponsors the Smuts Memorial Fund and Wolfson College for their support. I thank the reviewers of this article and acknowledge their contributions. The University of Botswana granted me leave to pursue my research.