Cultural transmission, copying errors, and the generation of variation in material culture and the archaeological record

Archaeologists are adept at analyzing variation in artifacts. The discipline has well established and tested methods to track change through time and to evaluate the function of artifacts that depend upon measures of variation in the archaeological record. Although a critical concept, the means by which variation in material culture is generated is not well understood. This paper explores one source of variation, copying errors, and systematically examines how cultural transmission processes act to amplify, reduce, or maintain such variation. Using simple models, we generate expected distributions for the amount of variation that occurs through time under varying circumstances. This variation is caused by small errors that are transmitted from one person to another in the propagation and replication of cultural traits. These baseline values provide useful null models for explaining variation in prehistoric assemblages of artifacts. We use measurements of projectile points from Owens Valley and Woodland ceramics from Illinois to demonstrate the value of this approach.     

A computerized system to determine the provenance of finds in archaeological sites using acoustic signals

Some archaeological excavations require the accurate determination of the provenance of finds (three-dimensional location and orientation) for a subsequent spatial analysis. The traditional manual measurement using a grid reference is not a very efficient registration method. Some proposed computerized solutions based on total stations, photogrammetry and DGPS, are more effective but have some limitations. This paper presents a new acoustic localization system (3D-LOCUS) for measuring the three-dimensional position of finds in archaeological sites. The system can also be used for registering the size, shape and orientation of artifacts. 3D-LOCUS basically consists of a set of wireless rod-like pointing devices that are localized with a network of intelligent nodes installed above the excavation site. Archaeologists use the pointing device as a stylus to locate and outline the object under study. The main technological characteristics of the system are: omnidirectional wideband acoustic transducers, Bidirectional Time-Of-Arrival (BTOA) estimation, redundant ranging and robust trilateration. 3D-LOCUS achieves an accurate registration, even if used simultaneously to the digging labor, or in noisy or turbulent airflow conditions. We tested the system in the Gran Dolina archaeological site (Atapuerca, Spain). The typical location accuracy is below 10 mm in natural conditions, and the achieved resolution is 5 mm, which allows us sketching objects with enough detail.     

Current archaeological research in the Middle Atlantic region of the eastern united states

A major theme of current archaeological research in the Middle Atlantic region of Eastern North America is the recognition of cultural variability across space and through time. The most significant culture change experienced during the entire time frame of regional prehistory occurred ca. 5000 B.P., when there were major changes in regional environments. Before 5000 B.P., adaptations were characterized by small groups of mobile hunters and gatherers. After 5000 B.P., there were continued growth in regional populations and increases in sedentism, intensive use of a limited range of food resources, social group size, and social complexity.     

Characterisation of archaeological mortars and plasters from kyme (Turkey)

The present study focuses on the compositional characterisation of Roman, proto-Byzantine and Medieval mortars, sampled in the archaeological site of Kyme (Turkey), an Aeolian city, founded in the middle of the XI century BC by Greek populations. The mortars were studied through elemental (SEM-EDS, XRF), mineralogical (XRPD, De Astis calcimeter) and petrographic (polarised optical microscopy) analysis. The comparison between the samples allowed us to emphasise compositional differences within mortars of the same historical period.In particular, we detected the prevalent use of cocciopesto, which was used as a pozzolanic additive to create hydraulic mortars in the Roman and Byzantine period. The cocciopesto was used to improve the technological properties of an initially slaked lime. Furthermore, compositional similarities allowed us to attribute an unknown sample to the Roman period. Our study also pointed out the fact that the lower quality mortars belonged to the Medieval period. As a matter of fact, the most friable sample belonging to the Middle Ages turned out to be a mixture of clay, lime and volcanic sand.     

长江下游史前刻划符号

长江下游史前陶器上的刻划符号处于中国字发展历程中从原始记事符号到字出现之间的过渡阶段,长江下游是中国明起源的中心之一。     

Ancient bacterial DNA (aDNA) in dental calculus from archaeological human remains

The purpose of this study was to identify reactive bacterial aDNA in archaeological human dental calculus. Dental calculus was collected from a middle/late Neolithic human skull from Hulbjerg passage grave, Langeland, Denmark and prepared for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) or gold-labeled antibody TEM. TEM showed calcified, as well as non-calcified bacteria. Immunogold labeling occurred over the cytoplasmic portions of the sectioned bacteria. The result demonstrated that it is possible to identify aDNA sequences from bacteria in archaeological material of considerable age by this technique.     

Multi-element soil prospection aiding geophysical and archaeological survey on an archaeological site in suburban Sagalassos (SW-Turkey)

In order to take full advantage of the archaeological information contained within buried archaeological sites, it is important to apply an integrative approach combining complementary prospection methods. In this study, geochemical prospection data are combined with archaeological and geophysical survey results on an unexcavated site in suburban Sagalassos (SW-Turkey), with the aim of obtaining better insights into the structural shapes and past functionalities of the area. Spatial and multivariate statistical analyses of the chemical data reveal anomalies of K, P and Zn on a location where archaeological and geophysical results suggest the presence of ceramic producing kilns. These elemental enrichments are thought to result from burning wood or dung as fuel for the detected kilns. In addition, local anomalies of Co, Cr, Fe, Mg, Mn and Ni were found to reflect the working and storage of ophiolitic clays, employed as a raw material for ceramic production. Radiocarbon dating of charcoal in a 2.5 m deep drill core in this zone provides ages between AD 120 and 350 at depths of 50 and 60 cm. Al, As, Ba, Ca, Na, Sr, Ti and Pb are considered geogenic elements in this study. The present study supports the theory that geochemical prospection holds potential as a surveying technique, as it was found that chemical data facilitate the interpretation of structures detected by geophysical and archaeological methods, thereby creating an extra dimension to the interpretation of survey data. The results further argue in favour of using strong-acid extractions and the consideration of a large suite of elements when applying chemical soil survey as an archaeological prospection technique, and highlight the importance of considering site lithology. Multivariate statistics proved to be invaluable in distinguishing anthropogenic from lithological soil patterns.     

Rice chaff in ceramics from the archaeological site of Sumhuram (Dhofar,Southern Oman)

The identification of the chaff used as temper in ancient ceramics represents a possible source of information about the area of origin of the pottery. This paper studies the occurrence of rice (Oryza sp.) chaff in potsherds from the archaeological site of Sumhuram (Dhofar, Sultanate of Oman). The information gathered at the site offers insight into commerce routes and networks to which the town belonged in the first centuries AD. The analysis of the plant material in the pottery and potsherds can also furnish interesting data on the ancient technologies of pottery production.     

高句丽釉陶器的类型与分期

高句丽釉陶器是在本民族制陶工艺发展进程中,吸收中原汉代低温釉陶烧制技术而形成的一种新工艺。其造型优美,釉色亮丽。在北方及东北亚陶瓷工艺史上,占有重要的地位。     

Bird remains from the archaeological site of Guinea (El Hierro,Canary Islands)

The first data on bird hunting by the ancient people from El Hierro island are given here. Ninety-three bones have been examined from a cave situated in the archaeological site of Guinea. The majority of the bones are broken, burned and some of them have cuts showing human exploitation. There are species that have been eaten from the lower levels to the present day (Calonectris diomedea, Columba sp. and Corvus corax), one species that does not now live on El Hierro (cf. Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), and an extinct species (Coturnix gomerae). © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

东西驰骋七百里 栉风沐雨六十天--配合西气东输工程考古发掘纪实

2002年的仲夏,骄阳似火;2002年的初秋,阴雨连绵。配合国家重点工程——西气东输项目山西段的考古发掘是在2002年夏天的高温酷暑中开始的,结束田野工作时已经是仲秋时节。对于所有参加配合西气东输项目建设的工作人员来说,这都是一段难以忘怀的经历。在田野发掘期间,我们以高度负责的精神全身心地投入到工作当中,东西奔波于崇山峻岭、丘陵沟壑、河旁台地,甚至无暇整理一下自己的思路。当这次艰巨的田野发掘工作终于告一段落,我们有时间对此作一个全面的总结时,那东西驰骋,紧张繁忙的60多个日日夜夜、风风雨雨仿佛再一次浮现在我们…     

Thermoluminescence (TL) dating of ancient Syrian pottery from six different archaeological sites

Syrian archaeological pottery sherds were collected for TL dating from six different archaeological sites named Al-Shermanieh, Tell Serah, Der Al-Hajar (south of Damascus), Tell Al-Shekdakah, Tell Al-Souwirieh (east of Damascus) and Khurbet Al-Kulieh (south west of Damascus). The samples were prepared by fine grain technique and the annual dose for each sample (pottery sherds and soil sample) was measured using an alpha spectrometer system for uranium and thorium contribution as well as with atomic absorption spectrometry for the potassium contents. The mean ages were found to be 5500 ± 150 years, 2950 ± 50 years, 1200 ± 50 years, 1300 ± 150 years, 3300 ± 100 years and 3400 ± 200 years for the examined pottery from the sites Al-Shermanieh, Tell Serah, Der Al-Hajar, Tell Al-Shekdakah, Tell Al-Souwirieh and Khurbet Al-Kulieh, respectively. The results were in good agreement with the ages estimated by archaeologists except for one sample which belongs to Der Al-Hjar site.     

Perspectives on an Early Bronze Age Island Centre: An Analysis of Pottery from Daskaleio-Kavos (Keros) in the Cyclades

Island central places occupy a prominent position in archaeological, anthropological and historical debate, but the number of early examples of such centres that have to date been investigated in detail remains small. One such central place in the Early Bronze Age (3rd millennium BC) Cycladic islands of the Aegean was the site of Daskaleio-Kavos on Keros, although the interpretation of this site's functions is controversial. Fieldwork at the site in 1987 generated a large sample of pottery that allows the site's local and inter-regional connections to be explored in detail for the first time. The results of ceramic analysis indicate that Daskaleio-Kavos operated as the active maritime centre of an intensive network of inter-island exchange.