The Neolithic of the eastern Baltic

This survey of the Baltic Neolithic, from Vistula to the Gulf of Finland, highlights the results of research during the last 30 years. The primary Baltic Neolithic is represented by two indigenous cultures, Narva and Nemunas. Their hunting, fishing, and gathering subsistence strategies gradually expanded to include domesticated plants and animals. The Comb-and-Pit Ornamented Pottery, Globular Amphora, Corded Ware, Bay Coast, and Boat-Axe cultures are also described. Within the Baltic Neolithic, I emphasize the origin, technology, economy, settlement, ritual, ethnic origins, and relationships among the various Neolithic populations. There is then a discussion of the origin of the Baltic linguistic group (Latvian, Lithuanian, and Old Prussian); this is associated with the appearance of the Late Neolithic Corded Ware culture, whose people integrated with local populations, leading to the development of the Bay Coast culture. Late Neolithic developments are associated with the Finno-Ugrian linguistic group in the northern Baltic.     

窑变与清乾隆窑变釉杏元贯耳方瓶

窑变釉是清代御窑厂仿钧又不似钧的新色釉。钧窑是宋代名瓷窑之一,以生产青中带红,灿如红霞的瓷器驰名于当时,与汝、定、官、哥并称宋代五大名窑。钧窑以烧青瓷为主,但与一般青瓷相比,有其独特之处。其一,钧釉是一种蓝光乳浊釉,改变了汉唐以来历朝青瓷那种一览无余的玻璃质感。虽然它的色泽深浅不一,但多近于蓝色,人们根据其颜色深浅,分别称其为天青、天蓝、月白,它们都具有莹光般的蓝色光泽,晶莹温润,凝厚深沉。     

The empire of chance: How probability changed science and everyday life

Commerce changes the production of wealth in a society as well as its ethics. What is appropriate in a non-commercial society is not necessarily appropriate in a commercial one. Adam Smith criticizes Stoic self-command in commercial societies, rather than embracing it, as is often suggested. He argues that Stoicism, with its promotion of indifference to passions, is an ethic appropriate for savages. Savages live in hard conditions where expressing emotions is detrimental and reprehensible. In contrast, the ease of life brought about by commerce fosters the appropriate expressions and sharing of emotions. Imposing Stoicism on a commercial society is therefore imposing an ethic for savages onto a refined society – something to abhor. Smith’s rejection of Stoicism in commercial societies can thus be seen as a defence of commerce.     

The Effect of Accelerated Alteration on the Discrimination between Baltic and Romanian Amber

Ten geological samples (five from each source—Romanian amber and Baltic amber) in duplicate for five different media (air, water, saline, acid and basic) were subjected to thermal alteration at 80 ± 2°C for 12 weeks, in the dark. The samples were analysed before and after the accelerated alteration experiment by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, both in transmittance and reflectance mode, and the acquired spectra were statistically processed by multivariate data analysis, mainly using principal component analysis. The results of the experiment are useful in giving a better picture of how to discriminate between archaeological amber artefacts.     

波兰 到波罗的海吹吹风

看过了波兰的山川与河流,便来到波兰的北部,吹一吹来自波罗的海的风。如果说华沙是厚重的,克拉科夫是历史的,那么海边的格但斯克、索波特是明媚的。在这里可以遥想当年港口的繁华,也可以探寻琥珀的秘密,或者只是纯粹的吹着海风,享受一顿美味的海鲜。     

Changing mental maps of the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean regions

ABSTRACT

Little empirical research has considered the way in which macro-regions are perceived outside academic and political circles. Such studies alone can determine what regional narratives mean for the wider public, and the extent to which they coincide with region-building images produced by elites. This article examines the mental maps of high school seniors in 10 cities in the Baltic Sea and Mediterranean regions, focusing upon their perception and knowledge of other countries in those areas. Despite efforts at region building since the Cold War, the two regions remain divided on mental maps. Students have little knowledge of countries across the sea from their own, although such knowledge is generally greater among those from coastal (and particularly island) locations. A comparison with maps constructed by Gould in 1966 reveals that the perception of countries within one's own region among Italian and Swedish students has become more negative over the last 50 years.