Palaeo-Eskimo Novice Flintknapping in the Eastern Canadian Arctic

Abstract

Data from two inland Palaeo-Eskimo sites on southern Baffin Island are evidence for novice flintknapping. The interior of the island boasts a rich and reliable supply of lithic raw material, and the two sites were occupied during the Artic warm season when access to it was unrestricted. The use of a direct procurement strategy to acquire the material at this time of year from such a localized source suggests that acquisition activities were structured as part of the seasonal resource exploitation strategies of the Palaeo-Eskimos on southern Baffin Island. The incidence of novice flintknapping appears to be directly linked to this procurement. By drawing on data from published replicative studies and archaeological remains, socially meaningful patterns of idiosyncratic assemblage variability can be identified, providing greater insights into the social components of lithic tool production and skill apprenticeship.     

The Potential of Energy as a Geopolitical Binding Factor in Asia

An American specialist on urbanization and population dynamics in the countries of the former Soviet Union examines changes in Ukraine's population revealed by analysis of that country's first post-Soviet census (2001). Among the more salient developments examined in this second-largest post-Soviet republic are extremely high rates of natural population decrease among Ukrainians and Russians alike, a substantial exodus of ethnic Russians from Ukraine (and in some cases their ethnic re-identification as Ukrainians) with major implications for nationality distribution both at the national and regional levels, and interesting trends involving other minority nationalities such as (Crimean) Tatars, Armenians, and Jews. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: J11, O18, R23. 3 figures, 7 tables, 25 references.     

The Arctic in the middle ages

The rather sparse and dubious data about Arctic regions known to Antiquity were taken over, mostly via Pliny, by the middle ages and reinforced and expanded in significant ways. This paper, which was delivered as an Inaugural Lecture at the University of Groningen in November 1982, reviews the activities and reports of medieval explorers, colonists and traders in or about the Arctic and considers the handful of medieval writers who display some real knowledge about Arctic regions. The generality of medieval writers on history and geography knew little or nothing. Even so, it is shown that here and there references are made to many of the features which are thought of as typically Arctic in the modern popular consciousness, with the exception of igloos and muskoxen. Commercial connections with the Arctic through Novgorod and Bergen are examined, and some account given of contacts with Iceland and the disappearance of the Norse settlement in Greenland. Polar bears and white falcons in western Europe, both of nearly indisputable Arctic origin, are discussed, attention is drawn to the very inadequate portrayal of the Arctic on medieval maps, and the paper closes with a glance at Olaus Magnus's account of northern peoples published in 1555.     

The Arctic in the middle ages

The rather sparse and dubious data about Arctic regions known to Antiquity were taken over, mostly via Pliny, by the middle ages and reinforced and expanded in significant ways. This paper, which was delivered as an Inaugural Lecture at the University of Groningen in November 1982, reviews the activities and reports of medieval explorers, colonists and traders in or about the Arctic and considers the handful of medieval writers who display some real knowledge about Arctic regions. The generality of medieval writers on history and geography knew little or nothing. Even so, it is shown that here and there references are made to many of the features which are thought of as typically Arctic in the modern popular consciousness, with the exception of igloos and muskoxen. Commercial connections with the Arctic through Novgorod and Bergen are examined, and some account given of contacts with Iceland and the disappearance of the Norse settlement in Greenland. Polar bears and white falcons in western Europe, both of nearly indisputable Arctic origin, are discussed, attention is drawn to the very inadequate portrayal of the Arctic on medieval maps, and the paper closes with a glance at Olaus Magnus's account of northern peoples published in 1555.     

新疆的花海会迟到 但绝不缺席

<正>一粒沙里有一个世界,一朵花里有一个天堂。新疆,位于中国的最西部,是距离海洋最远的一个省级行政单位,这里有洁白的高山雪峰、美丽的维族姑娘、狂野的西域风情,翠绿的云杉倒映湖里,洁白的云朵镶嵌在空中,春夏秋冬,各色风光,总有一种让你心生向往。由于深居内陆,气候干旱,纬度较高,新疆的春天总比     

Man-Induced Differentiation of Natural Conditions as a Factor in Physical-Geographic Regionalization

The author analyzes the significance of man-induced changes in the natural environment at various levels of the hierarchy of physical-geographic regionalization, and proposes a classification of man-altered landscapes that can be applied to existing systems of physical-geographic regions.     

Scurvy as a factor in the loss of the 1845 Franklin expedition to the Arctic: a reconsideration

In 1845, an expedition, commanded by Sir John Franklin, set out to discover the Northwest Passage. The ships entered the Canadian Arctic, and from September 1846 were beset in ice off King William Island. A note left by the expedition in May 1847 reported all was well, but by April 1848, 24 of the 129 men had died. The ice‐locked ships were deserted in April 1848, but the 105 survivors were so weakened that all perished before they could reach safety. The causes of the morbidity and mortality aboard the ships have long been debated, and many commentators have argued that scurvy was an important factor. This study evaluates the historical evidence for the likely effectiveness of anti‐scorbutic precautions taken on polar voyages at that time, and investigates whether the skeletal remains associated with the expedition provide evidence for scurvy. Skeletal remains available for study were carefully examined for pathological changes, and lesions potentially consistent with scurvy were subject to histological analysis. Where remains were no longer accessible, use was made of published osteological work. It is argued that the anti‐scorbutic measures customarily taken on mid 19^th century British naval polar voyages were such that there is no a priori reason to suppose that scurvy should have been a problem prior to the desertion of the ships. The analysis of the skeletal evidence provided little in the way of bony lesions consistent with the disease, and cannot therefore be used to support the presence of scurvy. Factors other than scurvy may been the main causes of morbidity and mortality in the 11 months prior to the desertion of the ships. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Runoff in Eastern Cuba

Although Oriente Province receives less rainfall than other Cuban provinces, its orography, the character of its rock formations, and other natural factors produce a runoff rate that is second highest among the Cuban provinces. Runoff reached catastrophic proportions during Hurricane Flora in 1963. Water-management measures are proposed to insure flood control and the use of runoff for irrigation and power generation.     

从涉海历史到海洋整体史的思考

中国海外交通史研究的兴起，与中国“新史学”的诞生同步，已有百年的历史了，从20世纪20、30年代的“南海交通”，到80、90年代的“海上丝绸之路”，经过几代学的耕耘，取得丰硕的成果，其他涉海的专门史研究也纷纷开辟，得到国内外学术界的肯定。然而，在中国历史体系和教科书中，中国古代社会仍是农耕世界与游牧世界的二元结构：在这种陆地历史结构和权力话语体系中，中国海洋发展的种种事实，都被诠释为农业明的海上延伸。比如说。     

The Study of the Climate of Cities as an Urgent Present-Day Problem and a Task for University Geographers

In view of increasing urbanization of the Soviet Union, the climate of cities has become an urgent research problem. The staffs of the geography and natural-science departments are thought to be best qualified to conduct an inter-disciplinary study program in this field. A study outline on urban climate is proposed.     

魂返故土还是寄托异乡--从墓葬和墓志看东晋的流徙士族

企望回归,接受现状,或于两之间徘徊,南下遗民与其故乡和流徙之地的关系,通过墓葬材料可知,不同士族,甚至同一家族的不同成员,都会按照个人境遇和地位,有不同的观点。     

关于古代气候研究的几点思考——以《黄淮海平原北宋至元中叶的气候冷暖状况》为例

关于古代中国气候方面的研究成果颇丰 ,但方法上仍有不尽人意之处。梅花、柑橘等与人类行为密切相关的生物物种 ,被过分强调 ,而特殊小气候下的个别现象往往被放大为普通规律。相反 ,对雨雪霜等物理现象关注不足。经常有意无意地以冬季温度来代表全年温度 ,而忽略了其他三个季节 ;对史料的理解过于片面 ,在作气候对比时出现标准的游移变换 ,论据与结论之间缺乏严密的逻辑必然性 ,运用理论时亦有随心所欲之处。这些似乎可以归结为“以论带史”所致     

东汉时期的屯驻营兵

东汉时期,国家为适应军事防卫的需要,在边郡和内郡设置了屯驻营兵。屯驻营兵的设置,是东汉军队中出现的新事物。屯驻营兵与各郡的郡兵不同,它是国家在边郡和内郡的地方常备军,是由专门的军事官员指挥的。营兵的设置,使东汉初年兵制改革后。内郡和边郡防卫力量削弱的情况得到一定的改变。因此,东汉营兵所处的地位不能低估。