THE PLACE OF CHRONOLOGICAL STUDIES IN ARCHAEOLOGY A VIEW FROM THE OLD WORLD*

This article deals with the univeral problem of chronological versus social change and discusses the methodological foundations and the scientific functions of chronological studies, exemplified by the Nordic Bronze Age, a classic example of the development of a chronological system. First the universal validity of the premises of typology and seriation are questioned. Secondly, there is a discussion of the chronological implications of the many possible relationships between the period of production, the period of use and the period of deposition of artefacts. Thirdly the foundations of chronological change is analysed and finally the place of chronological studies in the research process is discussed.     

ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM: A VIEW FROM THE FIELD

Recent studies of administrative reform reveal how underdeveloped still is the state of the art. Although improving, it suffers from serious limitations. Consequently, many reforms fail or fall below expectations. Available administrative tools have a decidedly authoritarian technocratic ring to them, enshrining values beloved to mandarins and social engineers but not necessarily acceptable to social democracies. Here, several current issues such as renewed interest, disputed definition and scope, contrasting approaches and lack of success, are surveyed together with suggestions for a new agenda.     

A PERSPECTIVE OF THE SENATUS CONSULTUM ULTIMUM IN THE LATE ROMAN REPUBLIC FROM THE CONSTITUTIONAL POINT OF VIEW

During the severe crises which terminated in the violent deaths of Tiberius Gracchus, Gaius Gracchus and Satuminus with their companions in 133, 121,and 100 B.C. respectively, the Senate developed a drastic measure of crisis management, i.e. the senatus consultum ultimum. Its literal meaning was the supreme resolution of the Senate, but actually, it was an emergency measure issued by the Senate in the name of defending the commonwealth. Its effectiveness simply derived from the assertion that the commonwealth, or to be more accurate, the domestic political order, was in jeopardy. Though it was repeatedly used in domestic conflicts and played an important role in the political life of the late Roman Republic, its legality was none the less argued by the contemporaries.     

AN INVITATION FROM THE SOVIET UNION

OnJune3,1950,twoFrenchmountaineersnaurce(1919-)andLachenalLouis(1921-1955)scaledthe8,091-meterAnnapur-naPeakforthefirsttimeinhumanhistory.Theiraccomplishmentsoundedthebugleforassaultingpeakseachwithanelevationof8,000metersormore.InspiredbytheFrenchmountaineeringcirclesintheformerSovietUnionproposedtotheirChinesecounterpartsaplantoclimbtheworld'shighestpeakinChina-theQomolangmo.SovietmountaineersdecidedtojoinhandswiththeirChinesecounter-partsbecausetheirterritorycontainednomountainsthatris…     

FEDERAL HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY: A VIEW FROM THE CAMPUS

During the last generation, the federal government became a major source of financial asssistance to colleges and universities. At the same time, in pursuit of its goals in areas such as affirmative action, collective bargaining, and expenditures control, it became a regulator of campus action to the point where many educators feel it is threatening the autonomy and integrity of institutions of higher education. There is a fear on many campuses that the increased scope and nature of federal activity is causing a fundamental change in the governance of American higher education. We need a major effort to find ways of ameliorating societal problems impacting on the campus within a framework of overall respect for the autonomy of institutions of higher education if the integrity of America's colleges and universities is to be preserved.     

逍遥游——东风日产新逍客湘西自强之旅

始终认为,“逍客”这名字取得太成功了,逍,逍遥、潇洒、畅享、无拘无束,逍客,其原意指“城市游牧民”,但我们也可以理解成逍遥洒脱之人。试问人生在世,谁不想摆脱一切,恣意欢歌,在远离烦扰之地闲云野鹤一番。     

AN ANALYSIS OF THIRTY-ONE COINS FROM THE HELLENISTIC PERIOD

Thirty-one silver coins of the Hellenistic period were examined by the particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method, and the results incorporated into a wider study of the coins. Some tentative conclusions reached in the study are mentioned, together with an outline of the PIXE method. A number of patterns emerged in the results, the most important being an apparent deterioration in silver content among the later Seleucid and Ptolemaic issues; some high concentrations of particular elements were also noted.     

SHRINES AND CERAMICS IN CHALCOLITHIC ISRAEL: THE VIEW THROUGH THE PETROGRAPHIC MICROSCOPE

The question of the nature of social and economic life in the Chalcolithic southern Levant has recently been the subject of increasing interest. Several archaeological sites and features in Israel have been interpreted as elements of religion. These include the shrines at En-Gedi and Gilat and the Nahal Mishmar hoard. The results of petrographic analyses of the pottery assemblages of these three sites, as well as the ceramic cores of copper artefacts from Nahal Mishmar and additional sites, are presented. In light of these results some previous hypotheses are tested. Alternative suggestions are offered as to the role of these sites in the life of the inhabitants of the Chalcolithic southern Levant.