The meaning of sedentism and mobility in an archaeological and historic context

Sedentism is a commonly used concept in settlement pattern analysis. In a recent review of this concept Rafferty (1985) found “sedentary” to be related to both settlement permanence and site size. Both space and time are fundamental aspects of sedentism. While maintaining permanence as a central factor, this paper discusses further aspects of sedentism primarily in relation to the use and meaning of space. A case study based on archaeological and historical materials on Sami and Norwegian settlements in arctic Norway is used as an illustration. In arctic Norway prehistoric maritime settlements have often been interpreted as being either transhumant or sedentary. The prehistoric case of sedentism is then viewed in relation to the historically known differences in settlement permanence in space and time for Norwegian and Sami populations in the same area of arctic Norway. It is proposed that models of sedentism should not only be based on ecological, economic, and adaptational considerations but should also include the importance of the meaning of place in the relationship between human populations and landscape.     

Modeling wood acquisition strategies from archaeological charcoal remains

Archaeological charcoal remains are often used to reconstruct local woodland composition in the past, but rarely address how and why people may have selected specific woody taxa for particular purposes. Models from the field of human behavioral ecology predict that people forage for wood resources by taking into account the relative usefulness, abundance, and handling time related to procuring different wood types. Archaeological and ecological data from the site of Gordion, in Central Anatolia (modern Turkey), were used to test expectations associated with such models. Results suggest that inhabitants of Gordion used wood types for fuel in proportion to their local availability, but that they selected specific, more distant woods for construction. In most occupation periods pine was preferred for construction, perhaps because it produces long, straight timbers for roofing, despite the distance at which it grows from the site. This case study demonstrates that behavioral ecology modeling can help to distinguish between multiple wood acquisition strategies potentially used in the past and improve our understanding of wood use from archaeological charcoal remains.     

The meaning of politics and the mechanics of meaning

Anthony Milner, The Invention of Politics in Colonial Malaya: Contesting Nationalism and the Expansion of the Public Sphere (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995) pp.328 $75.00 ISBN 0 52145665 6.     

The Geoff Egan Memorial Lecture 2011 Artefacts,art and artifice: reconsidering iconographic sources for archaeological objects in early modern Europe

Abstract

This paper reviews a key dynamic in post-medieval archaeology, that is, the relationship between artefacts and images, and in particular the questions raised in the study of historic domestic material culture depicted in contemporaneous painting and prints. Both media underwent a major transformation from c. 1400. Two main groups of pictorial art containing domestic material culture are reviewed, namely pre- and post-Reformation art in the Netherlands and Germany and genre paintings of the Dutch Golden Age. The historical iconographic record may shed a potentially rich qualitative light onto the quantitative archaeological patterning. Excavations at Duisburg in the Lower Rhineland are selected as a rich source of archaeological correspondence.     

The use of geosynthetics for archaeological site reburial

Abstract

Applications of geosynthetic materials in reburial practice include geotextiles for separation, filtration and protection (cushioning); geomembranes and geosynthetic clay liners for infiltration control; geonets and geocomposites for sub-surface drainage; and geocells for erosion control. Mechanically stabilized earth reinforcement using geocells, geogrids and geotextiles can also provide substantial benefits for reburial projects by reducing lateral earth pressure against backfilled structures. Other aspects of modern geotechnology that may be useful for reburial projects include micro-piles and soil nailing for foundation and excavation support and evapotranspirative capping technology to establish the depth of soil cover required to isolate a structure or artefact from moisture and temperature fluctuations. Optimal application of these geotechnologies requires an understanding of the basic engineering principles associated with their implementation, as well as knowledge of the factors influencing archaeological site preservation.     

谈谈考古遗址的展示保护

本文讨论了考古遗址的风化状况和原因,指出考古遗址的破坏是多种因素共同作用而产生的,为了保护考古遗址,就要采用多种相应的技术措施。这些措施包括:保护房的建设、地下水的治理、土体的机械和化学加固及生物因素的控制等。在遗址保护中要根据实际情况选择保护手段。     

鲜卑考古学文化

一、前汉鲜卑考古学文化 关于鲜卑的考古文化,近年有很多文章,提出了扎赉诺尔、完工、北玛尼吐、伊敏河、舍根、兴隆山、平洋、乌兰察布盟二兰虎沟和达     

大宛考古学文化初探

大宛 ,中亚古国名 ,首见于《史记·大宛列传》。目前学界普遍认为其所在地即今乌兹别克斯坦的费尔干纳盆地。该国自西汉以来 ,我国史书屡有记载 ,南北朝时名为洛那、破洛那 ,唐代名为宁远。该古国和历代的中原王朝均有着密切的联系。囿于材料所限 ,我国学界对其研究仅限于史学方面 ,目前还没有从考古学方面来认识大宛的研究性成果。近来笔者在撰写博士论文时 ,从苏联考古学者的发掘材料中发现了一种考古学文化 ,从其时代和分布地域来看 ,均与我国史书中记载的大宛相符。故而不揣冒昧 ,介绍如下 ,并稍作分析研究。望同行批评指正。一2 0世纪…     

考古木材降解评价的物理指标

为寻找一种能较为科学、方便地反映木材降解程度的指标,共收集不同地方出土的13种木材,8个树种,对这些树种的考古木材与新鲜木材的含水率、干缩性、基本密度、气干密度、综纤维素等指标进行对比分析。实验表明,基本密度和最大含水率(饱水含水率)基本上能够反映古木的降解程度,可以作为反映古木降解程度的物理评价指标。     

Contouring techniques for archaeological distributions

The visual presentation of spatial distributions in archaeology is often in the form of contour diagrams. This paper reviews some of the contouring techniques that are generally available and presents a method that is particularly well suited to archaeological data on a regular grid. A variant of the method is given to deal with irregularly spaced data. Several examples are shown to demonstrate the wide applicability of the chosen contouring technique.     

汉简与《诗经》传本

本世纪以来,随着学术界思想理论方面的解放和西方理论的引进,<诗经>作为经学的研究格局,已经被彻底打破了.人们抛弃了所谓的圣人制作、圣人删削的神话,蒙在<诗经>之上的层层尘垢被全面廓清.     

The first archaeological example of Freiberg's infraction

Freiberg described a condition in which collapse of the juvenile second metatarsal head gave rise to localized pain and swelling.¹ This eponymous disease is traditionally classed as one of the osteochondroses, a group of disparate lesions that typically manifest as destruction of an immature epiphysis. A medieval second metatarsal is presented, which by osteological and radiological examination is diagnostic of Freiberg's infraction. This is the first reported archaeological example of the condition.