The Use of Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) in Taphonomy: The Case of Middle Helladic Asine,Greece

The goal of this paper is to investigate whether multiple correspondence analysis (MCA), a multivariate statistical technique, is a useful dimensionality‐reduction tool in zooarchaeological and taphonomic studies. For this purpose, the focus is to detect and discuss traces of waste management. Animal bones from waste‐related contexts at the Bronze Age site Asine, Greece, are investigated. The data consist of bone fragments dating to the Middle Helladic from this site. Unidentified fragments were categorised in size classes, where possible. Information on taxa, skeletal parts and the presence or absence of several taphonomic markers is included in the data set. The MCA reveals several correlations of zooarchaeological interest. For example, the association between indeterminate fragments and calcined bone points to issues concerning identification and preservation. Floors are characterised by weathered long‐bone fragments from medium‐sized mammals. Additionally, the results of MCA indicate that the material might have suffered from density‐mediated attrition, based on the abundance of axial fragments, which did not differ between different contexts and taxa. The results show that MCA can be used to detect zooarchaeological and taphonomic patterns. This multivariate technique is useful when investigating large data sets, as is often the case with large zooarchaeological assemblages. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Subsistence strategies and palaeodiet of Tell al-Husn,northern Jordan: nitrogen and carbon stable isotope evidence and radiocarbon dates

This research examines the diet and subsistence strategies during the Early Bronze Age III (EB III) or/and the beginning of the Early Bronze Age IV (EB IV) and the Middle Bronze Age I–II (MB I–II) periods of Tell al-Husn, northern Jordan. Stable isotope analyses of carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) were carried out on human teeth of known ages. Faunal samples were radiocarbon dated, while their carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) stable isotopes were analyzed for comparative purposes. The results revealed that the diet of the individuals of the MB I is richer in terrestrial animal protein than the individuals of the EB III and/or early EB IV and MB II, a probable indicator for more agricultural activities toward the end of the MB and the LB and during the EB III and/or early EB IV. The results suggested that the individuals of tomb 2 are probably of higher social status or were subjected to different environmental conditions compared to the individuals of chamber 3 of tomb 1. In addition, the results suggested a higher social status for an individual buried contemporaneously with other individuals in chamber 3 of tomb 1.     

Stable Lead Isotope Studies of Black Sea Anatolian Ore Sources and Related Bronze Age and Phrygian Artefacts from Nearby Archaeological Sites. Appendix: New Central Taurus Ore Data

The accumulated published database of stable lead isotope analyses of ore and slag specimens taken from Anatolian mining sites that parallel the Black Sea coast has been augmented with 22 additional analyses of such specimens carried out at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Multivariate statistical analysis has been used to divide this composite database into five separate ore source groups. Evidence that most of these ore sources were exploited for the production of metal artefacts during the Bronze Age and Phrygian Period has been obtained by statistically comparing to them the isotope ratios of 184 analysed artefacts from nine archaeological sites situated within a few hundred kilometres of these mining sites. Also, Appendix B contains 36 new isotope analyses of ore specimens from Central Taurus mining sites that are compatible with and augment the four Central Taurus Ore Source Groups defined in Yener et al. (1991).     

A re-assessment of bronze age wool

Measurements of twelve new samples of Danish Bronze Age wool showed them to be hairy medium fleeces. Supporting evidence was obtained that a high proportion of fine fibres in a yarn results from the plucking of wool during the moult before the hairy fibres have been released from the skin. The fine fibres were closer in diameter to the underwool of the wild ancestor than to those of the Soay sheep (supposedly a Bronze Age survivor), indicating a more primitive fleece. The samples described include the first white Bronze Age wool. Those with natural pigmentation in every fibre could be black or brown, while those with pigmented and white fibres are thought to be a mixture of brown and white (by analogy with the Soay) rather than grey, which is unknown in the Soay.     

陕西近年出土的水牛遗存及中国本土水牛的进化

本文分析了陕西渭河流域新出土的更新世杨氏水牛和全新世的圣水牛头骨和颅后骨,并对比了其他地区出土的水牛标本。作者根据新的资料讨论了水牛种属的分类、进化及驯化问题。渭河流域在更新世时期至少有圣水牛,它很可能是更新世短角水牛的后代。它在进入全新世之前形体也许有所减小;但全新世早、中期(距今8000-3000年),没有迹象表明它的形体有所缩小,圣水牛的这一变化应该不是受人类活动影响(如驯化)的结果,但是否为适应气候变化而发生还有待研究。     

略论岭南地区西汉早期青铜器的特征及成因

对岭南地区出土的西汉早期青铜器统计显示,青铜器出土地域集中、数量多、种类齐全,但功能发生变化,同时有一定数量的青铜器物来自中原地区,究其原因,可能与交通的改善、南越国的建立、郡县设置和铁器化进程加快有关。     

南阳春秋彭射墓出土青铜兵器初探

南阳春秋彭射墓出土兵器中包括有铁援铜戈、铜铍、铜殳、锥形铜镞等少见器物,在同期墓葬中并不常见。其中铁援铜戈的制作工艺与前期同类器物有着一脉相承的工艺技术。出土的铜殳和铜铍皆为春秋时期同类器物中的较早类型,又有所区别,有着地域性特征。圆锥头形铜镞镂空的装饰手法在同类镞中也较为罕见。这些青铜兵器含有较多楚文化风格,但也不乏淮河上游地区文化因素。     

黄河流域早期铜器演进初探

黄河流域是中国早期铜器起源与发展的关键区域,早期铜器的演进受社会复杂化程度制约。在文明化进程的视野下,本文通过用铜遗存的考古信息与社会经济背景,将黄河流域早期铜器的演进分为早期用铜的萌芽、发展初期及区域化特征形成三个阶段,初步阐释铜制品从出现到规模化使用的过程。人群流动、定居农业、手工业生产、城市与权力的集中是影响黄河流域早期铜器演进模式的重要因素。大体在公元前2300年至前1400年的文明进程中,黄河上游铜器的制作与使用具有相似的风格及开放共融的特征,而黄河中下游地区防御性城市与权力的发展,推动了铜器技术与社会功用的本土化转变。     

Comparing methods for analysing mortality profiles in zooarchaeological and palaeontological samples

In this study, I examine three methods that are currently used for comparing mortality profiles from zooarchaeological and palaeontological samples: (1) histograms with 10% of life‐span age classes; (2) boxplots showing tooth crown height medians; and (3) triangular plots of the proportions of young, prime and old animals. I assess the advantages and disadvantages of each method using data collected on two samples of Northern Yellowstone elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) with known, or cementum annuli‐determined, ages at death. One sample was hunted by wolves (n = 96), and the other was hunted by recent humans using rifles (n = 226). I tested each method with the known or cementum annuli age distributions and with age estimation techniques appropriate for archaeological assemblages. Histograms are best used when the relationship between dental eruption/attrition and age is well established so that individuals can be confidently assigned into 10% of life‐span groups, and when more than 30 or 40 individuals are present in the assemblage. Boxplots employ raw crown heights, thus removing the error introduced by assigning specimens to age classes, and therefore they allow the analysis of species where the relationship between dental eruption/attrition and age is unknown. Confidence intervals around the medians allow samples to be statistically compared. Triangular plots are easy to use and allow multiple samples and species to be considered simultaneously, but samples cannot be statistically compared. Modified triangular plots bootstrap samples to provide 95% confidence ellipses, allowing for statistical comparisons between samples. When possible, samples should be examined using multiple methods to increase confidence in the results. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

宋代铸造的唐代年号镜——仿古和逐利影响下的宋代工艺美术个案

自1945年梅原末治《唐镜大观》著录两面"永徽元年"铜镜以来,考古出土和文物征集发现多件带有"贞观元年""贞观十六年""永徽元年""上元二年""大和元年"等唐代年号的铜镜。这些铜镜因有明确的纪年,在唐代铜镜艺术研究中曾被作为标准器对待。但这些铜镜在造型、铭文书体、纹饰等方面,皆与唐代铜镜有异,而与宋代铜镜相合。本文对5种8件带有唐代年号的铜镜予以重新考察,认为它们与一般宋代的仿唐镜不同,一是没有铸镜作坊铭或是姓氏铭;二是铜质精良;三是花纹清晰。因此,这8件器物应为宋代铸造的仿唐镜。     

ON STATISTICAL APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF CERAMIC ARTEFACTS USING GEOCHEMICAL AND PETROGRAPHIC DATA*

The scientific analysis of ceramics often has the aim of identifying groups of similar artefacts. Much published work focuses on analysis of data derived from geochemical or mineralogical techniques. The former is more likely to be subjected to quantitative statistical analysis. This paper examines some approaches to the statistical analysis of data arising from both kinds of techniques, including ‘mixed‐mode’ methods where both types of data are incorporated into analysis. The approaches are illustrated using data derived from 88 Late Bronze Age transport jars from Kommos, Crete. Results suggest that the mixed‐mode approach can provide additional insight into the data.     

Middle Bronze Age Arsenical Copper Alloys in Southern Portugal

In the Iberian Peninsula, the copper metallurgy from the Chalcolithic to the Middle Bronze Age (MBA) was mostly characterized by low arsenic contents. A collection of 53 MBA artefacts from southern Portugal was analysed by micro‐EDXRF, optical microscopy, SEM–EDS and Vickers to investigate the metal composition and manufacture. No technological distinction was found between artefacts from domestic and funerary contexts, which were radiocarbon‐dated to 2000–1500 cal bc . The arsenic contents of almost 100 MBA artefacts from this region, including the above‐mentioned set, have a Gaussian distribution with a high average (3.9 wt% As). Possible explanations are discussed for this distinctive metallurgy at the south‐western end of the Iberian Peninsula.     

三星堆一号青铜神树的三维数字建模与静力学分析

结构稳定性是评估文物安全的重要方面。三星堆二号坑出土1号青铜树体量庞大、结构复杂,且存在腐蚀、裂纹等危险因素,为了充分记录、评估其保存状况,本研究在原始几何形状和内部构造的基础上,利用三维数字建模技术,建立其几何模型和数值模型,并估算出青铜神树的质量分布和质心位置等无法实地测量的数据,并使用有限元方法,从应力和位移的角度分析青铜树的静置状态下的安全性。经过有限元模拟和材料力学简化计算,发现龙身和树干连接处、树枝根部应力较大,是易受损区域。     

试论古代铜镜镜面凸起的成因及其相关问题

通过对古代青铜镜的复制研究发现,古代铜镜镜面凸起的原因,是与镜背的镜钮、浮雕及镜缘等的大小及厚度有关。战国镜的镜钮既小又薄,其镜缘都是横截面较小的镜缘,可直接磨成平面,不致出现铸造缺陷。东汉至六朝之间,其镜钮都较大,为使磨制出的镜面没有铸造缺陷,须将镜面中心少磨削、外围多磨削。这样磨削加工的结果,就形成了镜面凸起。     

先秦时期青铜钺的再研究

青铜钺在先秦时期具有重要礼制意义。鉴于考古材料的日益丰富,本文在前人研究的基础上,运用考古类型学研究方法并结合文化因素分析法,总结出青铜钺发生发展的时代性和地域性。同时以此为基础,结合古文字和历史典籍资料,探讨了商周时期的用钺制度。     

英国旅游者出游年龄规律研究

旅游统计和市场研究中年龄经常作为一个变量被广泛使用,但是针对年龄变量的论证却寥寥无几。本文依托中英两国最新权威统计资料,结合实地问卷调查资料,以英国人为例,研究年龄对其出游的影响规律,首次提出了出游年龄优势论。英国人出游决策呈现明显的年龄规律,以青壮年(25—44岁)和中老年(45—64岁)为主,占80%以上,其余年龄群体所占比例较少。这种现象归结为"出游年龄优势论"。人口老龄化趋势促使旅游管理者和营销者关注老龄化市场,老龄市场份额呈上升趋势,但是老年人不会取代中青年成为首要旅游市场,这主要是受健康状况和收入水平双瓶颈限制。英国旅游市场呈现出来的年龄规律具有一定的普遍性。     

微量元素示踪法在青铜器铜料来源研究中的应用与进展

本文简要回顾了微量元素示踪法在青铜器铜料来源研究中的应用历史,分析了其应用现状,以及在一个时期内应用不理想的深刻原因。在此基础上,阐述了微量元素示踪法有效应用的前提条件,并进一步介绍了这一方法的最新进展情况。     

巴蜀带斑纹兵器的锈蚀产物分析及机理探讨

带斑纹兵器是巴蜀兵器的一大特色。由于表面有斑纹的青铜兵器锈蚀与一般青铜器锈蚀有所不同,必须针对其特殊性进行锈蚀机理的研究,才能对症下药,达到有效保护的目的。应用矿相分析、SEM EDS、XRD等分析手段对几件巴蜀带斑纹兵器表面与截面锈蚀产物进行分析,并与非斑纹锈蚀进行比较;对斑纹与非斑纹的锈蚀机理进行探讨。分析结果表明,斑纹的锈蚀产物主要是SnO2,其在兵器斑纹表面形成钝性保护膜,防止其进一步腐蚀,对斑纹下面的基体有一定的保护作用。非斑纹层锈蚀向斑纹层下面的基体扩展,膨胀是造成斑纹层凸起甚至脱落的主要原因,对斑纹兵器保护的关键是控制非斑纹层锈蚀的进一步发展。     

中国古代青铜器淬火的初步研究

本文对我国古代青铜器淬火的情况进行了整理和研究,发现青铜淬火主要应用于锋刃器、容器、响器,且均为高锡青铜;各器采用的淬火等制作工艺和其合金配比及所需性能相关。淬火最主要的作用是改善高锡青铜的机械性能,即增加塑性和强度,降低硬度和脆性,一方面有利于后序的加工处理,另一方面使器物更富使用性能。另外,高锡的配比结合热锻、淬火和冷加工处理,使容器和响器具有明亮的类黄金的色彩和独特的音乐性质。