Degradation of mud brick houses in an arid environment: a geoarchaeological model

A common assumption in Near Eastern tell archaeology is that the majority of sediments originate from degraded mud bricks. Little is known about the mechanism of mud brick wall degradation. Here we present a detailed macro- and microscopic ethnoarchaeological study of the degradation of a mud brick house and propose a comprehensive mechanism for tell formation processes in arid environments. The study took place in southern Israel by trenching a ca. 60 year old abandoned mud brick house, followed by extensive sediment sampling. Macroscopic observations showed that mud brick walls degrade by collapse of single bricks and/or collapse of intact wall parts, either inwards or outwards. In addition, infill sediments within the house and outside it, in close proximity to its walls, form alternating sedimentary layers of various colors and textures. The degraded mud brick material lost its distinctive macroscopic structure, which makes it impossible to accurately identify this material by field observations alone. Mineralogical and elemental analyses established the sources of the house infill sediments, namely mud bricks and wind blown sediments. Alternating layers mostly originate from mixing between degraded mud brick material and wind blown sediments. Micromorphological observations revealed microscopic mechanisms of mud brick degradation and include processes of mud slurry gravity flows, sediment coatings and infillings, wind abrasion of walls, small-scale puddling, and bioturbation. This study provides a working scheme for site formation of abandoned mud brick structures in arid environments. It provides a set of criteria by which it is possible to differentiate floors from post-abandonment sedimentary features and thus improves the reliability of activity area research.     

Determining the use of Late Archaic shell rings using lithic data: “ceremonial villages” and the importance of stone

ABSTRACT

Late Archaic shell rings have been the focus of archaeological research for decades, yet their history, use, and function are debated. Relying on an evidentiary line rarely used in shell ring studies – the analysis of stone tools and debitage – we test prevailing theories and find that models describing the rings as circular dams intended to hold freshwater are incorrect. Instead, by tracing the origins of stone and its distribution within two shell rings on St. Catherines Island, Georgia, we posit that shell rings were places of both daily residence and intermittent gatherings. Because they have proven useful in interpreting the St. Catherines Island shell rings, we suggest archaeologists shift their sampling and recovery techniques so that representative lithic assemblages can be attained from other rings, thereby providing a better understanding of ring-builders and the Late Archaic occupation of the South Atlantic coastline.     

Challenges and Opportunities in Cross-cultural Geographic Inquiry

While qualitative fieldwork in cross-cultural settings is central to human geography, there has been limited focus in the literature on the expectations and skills required to succeed as a field researcher in this area. Some practical advice is available for researchers who are new to cross-cultural fieldwork (e.g. graduate students, junior faculty members) and for advisers preparing young academics for such endeavours; however, themes are often treated individually rather than as a collective whole. This paper provides suggestions for novice field researchers by drawing on the experiences of four female graduate students engaged in qualitative geographic research. It identifies some major issues that influence the feasibility and efficacy of cross-cultural fieldwork, and provides practical suggestions to help prospective researchers plan for and implement field-based research projects in these contexts.     

Notes of papers read before the society through the Yangtse Gorges

Critics of spatial modeling make several damaging points: (1) results are often trivial; (2) they contradict a priori insights derived from theory or experience; and (3) they preclude an evaluation of the substantive coherence of theories. These critiques arise because analysts have selected criteria of statistical explanation over substantive interpretation. This paper reviews the trade‐off as exemplified by regression models. The paper then presents an alternative methodology, staged regression analysis, and discusses its three‐fold advantage over traditional regression models: (1) avoiding statistical‐substantive trade‐offs; (2) facilitating comparisons among spatial systems; and (3) evaluating and refining existing theory.     

Acknowledgements

Abstract

Flinders Petrie was one of the earliest excavators to recognise that all archaeological material had research potential, and pursued a whole range of artefact types as the key to understanding past cultures. But what impact did the way in which he excavated have on the rate at which objects were discovered, and the condition in which they were found? And how important was it to him that the objects he acquired were closely linked to the physical and chronological landscape of his sites? This article looks at Petrie's field practices to try and answer some of these questions, with particular attention being paid to the relationship between Petrie and his workforce, his object collection policies, and some of the failings experienced in recording object provenance. These issues are critical to those who wish to make use of these objects to answer current questions about the ancient Near East—because it is only by understanding the way in which this material was recovered that we can begin to judge how it should be used in the present day.     

原始瓷胎料的粒度分析与产地探索

本文介绍了古陶瓷粒度分析的原理与方法。利用该方法,对我国不同地方出土的原始瓷产品进行了分析,发现南北方出土原始瓷有所差别,这一结果表明我国商代原始瓷应有多个产地。     

辽宁义县奉国寺主殿壁画彩绘胶料的气相色谱质谱联用分析研究

奉国寺又名七佛寺、大佛寺,作为\"辽代木构建筑\"的重要组成部分,是我国第一批全国重点文物保护单位。奉国寺主殿山墙内壁绘有大幅通顶元代壁画,画面内容为须弥山座佛像。该壁画规模宏大、艺术水准高,是研究元代绘画艺术的珍贵实物资料,具有极高的艺术价值和历史价值。胶料是壁画彩绘层的重要组成部分,对壁画的安全保存起着至关重要的作用,同时胶料种类的鉴别也是壁画保护修复的基础。对奉国寺壁画彩绘的已有研究主要集中于颜料分析,对其胶料种类的研究至今尚未见报道。本研究以奉国寺元代彩绘壁画作为研究对象,采用气相色谱质谱联用技术(GC-MS)法,利用该方法的高分离效率、高灵敏度、低检出限的特性分析了编号为FGS-1、FGS-2和FGS-3的壁画彩绘层样品胶料的氨基酸组成,并结合因子分析法对分析获得的多维数据矩阵进行降维处理,进而实现了奉国寺壁画颜料层胶料种类的鉴别。研究发现,古代常用的三种蛋白类胶料的氨基酸组成特征分别为:动物胶具有特殊的氨基酸——羟脯氨酸,同时含有较多的甘氨酸;牛奶的谷氨酸含量较高,且丙氨酸含量较低;鸡蛋中天冬氨酸含量较高,且脯氨酸含量较低。将文物样品的分析结果与上述特征比较,发现3件文物样品的氨基酸组成接近动物胶特征,即均含有羟脯氨酸(Hyp),且甘氨酸(Gly)含量较高。通过因子分析发现,文物样品的因子得分散点虽落在了动物胶区域,但处于边缘,甚至有脱离动物胶类别的趋势。借助因子载荷矩阵发现,造成这一现象的原因是文物样品中Hyp含量远小于动物胶参考样品。Hyp易因老化而减少,其老化方式之一是脱羟基变为脯氨酸(Pro);Hyp还会在特定酶和氧气的作用下转化为羟谷氨酸,进而脱羟基变为谷氨酸(Glu)。FGS-2中Pro的高含量可能是其Hyp脱羟基老化的结果。而FGS-1和FGS-3中Glu的较高含量可能是发生了 Hyp酶促氧化反应的结果。基于文物样品的氨基酸分析结果,结合相关氨基酸的老化模式,得出了 3件文物样品的胶料种类为动物胶,且发生明显老化,其中FGS-1和FGS-3很可能曾经滋生过某种微生物的结论。研究结果为深入了解奉国寺元代壁画制作工艺提供了重要资料,同时为该类文物保护修复材料的选择提供了依据。     

基于空间自相关的江苏省县域经济实力空间差异研究

本文选用14项代表性指标对江苏省县域经济实力空间差异进行分析并探讨了其形成原因。研究结果表明:①江苏省县域经济实力得分的全局自相关系数为-0.0691,说明就经济实力来讲江苏省县域之间存在弱的负相关性;②全省经济格局从南向北呈现\"三峰两谷\",地级市市区的经济实力高于周围县的经济实力;③经济发展水平因子、经济结构因子和经济效益因子三者的空间集中程度不同;④苏南地区随着距上海距离的增加,经济实力空间相似程度逐渐递减。     

纸质文物的无损和微损观察分析方法

纸质文物很容易损坏,能存留至今的不多,越是早期的越稀少,因此纸质文物非常宝贵,做好纸质文物的保护和研究具有十分重要的意义。一些常规的纸张特性分析方法往往损伤和破坏文物本身,因此需要了解无损和微损分析纸质文物的方法。这里介绍了纸的物理性能分析、纤维形态观测、纸的生产工艺推断、扫描电镜观察及其他分析方法。纸质文物的无损和微损分析方法可供文物工作者在基本不损伤和破坏纸质文物的情况下,分析该文物的特点,获取其原料组成、制造时期、生产工艺、舂捣打浆处理程度、纤维配比等信息。     

Is Q for you?: using Q methodology within geographical and pedagogical research

Q methodology is receiving growing interest as a research technique. Its use of factor analysis and a well-defined methodological approach may appeal to quantitative researchers who need to investigate issues more commonly associated with qualitative techniques. Such issues frequently arise when investigating student learning. This paper suggests that, appropriately used, Q is a methodology to be embraced by quantitative and qualitative researchers alike. Drawing on work within the field of education, as well as two case studies, the method's utility is illustrated, and Q is suggested as another potential method for investigating the subjective views of our students.     

Combining pollen and charcoal: evaluating Holocene vegetation composition and dynamics

Pollen analysis reveals vegetation change on a local and regional level over (ideally) continuous time spans but with complications when it comes to the reconstruction of spatially precise species occurrence and composition. Wood charcoal analysis provides site-related information on species occurrence and woodland composition, especially when sediments containing pollen are lacking, but is normally discontinuously available and has the danger of human bias due to potential selection of certain species for e.g. fire making, house construction or charcoal making. Combining the two methods – assuming that suitable palaeoarchives are neighbouring – might compensate for their disadvantages and strengthen the interpretations on vegetation composition and dynamics on a local, extra-local and regional scale. Three examples are given where pollen analysis from “classical” archives – mires and lake sediments – was carried out, and where additionally species identification of wood charcoals was done on samples extracted from close-by archives. The first example (Kugelstattmoos, Bavarian Forest, Germany) combines a Holocene pollen diagram derived from a small mire with late medieval/early modern times charcoal spectra from charcoal production sites which are situated on the margin of the mire. Results show the local occurrence of the main woodland species Fagus sylvatica and Abies alba, and raises new questions on the montane species composition of the formerly natural forests in the Bavarian Forest. The second example (Bargstedter Moor, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany) combines Holocene pollen diagrams from a peat bog with late medieval/early modern times charcoal spectra from charcoal production sites in a woodland close to the bog. It shows the role of Quercus, Fagus, Alnus and Carpinus in medieval and early modern times woodlands and its use by man. The third example (Kleiner Tornowsee, Brandenburg, Germany) combines pollen data from sediments of a small lake with charcoal data derived from Holocene colluvisols and soils. The examples show that anthracological and palynological data complement one another to create a more detailed picture of woodland history and landscape change than one method alone would provide.     

The effects of sample size on some derived measures in vertebrate faunal analysis

Analysis of three kinds of measures derived from archaeological and palaeontological faunal collections (measures of relative taxonomic abundance, measures of taxonomic diversity, and a measure proposed to distinguish natural from cultural bone) demonstrates that in many instances such measures may be, or are, a function of sample size. A procedure for detecting this situation is suggested, and the source of the interrelationships discussed.     

河南荥阳官庄遗址陶范物源及制作工艺分析

Guanzhuang site is located in the west of Guanzhuang Village, Gaocun Township, Xingyang City, Henan Province. From the site, more than 3 000 pottery moulds have been unearthed, with various types, including the moulds for containers, tools, chariots, weapons, money and core, etc. According to the types and decorations of pottery moulds and the characteristics of co - existing pottery, the pottery moulds of Guanzhuang site can be divided into two periods—Phase I dating from the late Western Zhou Dynasty to the early Spring and Autumn Period, and phase TJ considered between the early and middle Spring and Autumn Period. The change of bronze ware styles from the Western Zhou Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn Period was important in the development of ancient Chinese bronze wares. Due to the lack of archaeological data, research on pottery moulds during the two - week period was still insufficient; discussion of the important issue of standardizing the sources of raw materials was also relatively weak. Environmental archaeology has relatively mature methods and practices in depositional dynamics, depositional processes and provenance tracing, which could provide new ideas for further in - depth discussions on this issue. In order to understand the material sources and craftsmanship of pottery moulds unearthed from Guanzhuang site in Xingyang, Henan Province, samples of Guanzhuang pottery moulds and natural sedimentary strata were studied using particle size analysis, XRF and petrographic analysis to give the following results. 1) The raw materials for mould - making were taken from the late Pleistocene Malan loess layer under the cultural layer of the site. The Malan loess underwent simple manual elutriation before being used to make pottery moulds. 2) A small amount of plant ash and calcium nodule powder was added during the production process of pottery moulds as an admixture to increase the high - temperature resistance. 3) The inner side of pottery mould for container was mainly made of Malan loess, while the outer one was made of a mixture of Malan loess and river sand with a blending ratio of about 7:5. Pottery moulds for various ware types had different processing techniques (e.g., moulds for containers were more refined). Besides, compared with early pottery moulds, later ones are relatively rougher, but the difference is not obvious. 4) The petrographic characteristics of double - layer container moulds indicate that there are different production processes for the inner and outer sides of mould. The inner side was made of Malan loess with finer particles—below 100 μm—as the raw material after elutriation, and there were traces of directional trimming. The outer one was made of a mixture of two parts of minerals (coarse and fine), and there was no obvious processing trace. Analysis of sample particle size is a new attempt to discuss the material sources of pottery moulds. The related discussion of mud - clarifying ponds is also helpful to understand the function of such relics and the formation process of accumulation in them. This study has important reference significance for exploring the material and craft characteristics of pottery moulds before and after the early Spring and Autumn Period in the Central Plains. © 2023, Sciences of Conservation and Archaeology. All Rights Reserved.