一路探戈到南极

几只傻乎乎的企鹅居然朝我走过来,但根据《南极条约》我只能选择退让,保持着“礼貌”的拜访距离。于是,你退我进,你进我退,外来者和“本地绅士”跳起南极探戈,虽然彼．此之间距离不够亲密,但对于来自南北半球最遥远距离的宾主双方来说,这已经是最“热情”的探戈了。     

THE END OF AMERICA: THE BEGINNING OF CANADA - A RESPONSE

In his recent article entitled 'The end of America: The beginning of Canada,' Patrick McCreevy (1988) asserts that the Falls at Niagara act as a visible border or 'wall,' which separates two vastly different places. Since the American Revolution, however, Canadians and Americans residing along the Niagara frontier have made every effort to reach across the river which separates them. By means of either improved transportation and communication facilities, by marriage, or the free trade agreements of 1854 and 1989, local Niagarans have overcome the physical barrier of the river. In fact, in the summer of 1989, Canadians and Americans paid tribute to two centuries of 'openness' and peace along the Niagara Frontier with a four-day 'friendship festival' held in July.     

THE END OF AMERICA: THE BEGINNING OF CANADA -A REPLY TO THE COMMENTARY

I presented 'The End of America: The Beginning of Canada' as a speculative piece of geographical interpretation. Judging by the length of the foregoing commentary and the number of written responses I have personally received, it is evident that my speculations have aroused considerable interest. I welcome the opportunity to clarify my argument. Rather than replying point by point to all the issues raised in the commentary, I will focus my remarks on what I take to be the central objection.     

THE END OF AMERICA: THE BEGINNING OF CANADA -A REPLY TO THE RESPONSE

The author of the foregoing response provides some welcome factual clarification but seems to misunderstand the broader issues raised by the article. Here I will respond briefly to each of the author's major questions.     

THE EARLY STATE MODULE: A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT

The Early State Module model predicts specific, archaeologically testable, spatial attributes for early states. Further, it suggests that social complexity develops as a result of interaction between equal-sized polities, and that degree of complexity and territorial size are related. The spatial patterns of some early states presented to support the ESM model are tested statistically and are found not to satisfy the predictions of the model. Case studies of non-state and state societies indicate that the spatial attributes of ESMs are not unique to early states, that interaction does not always lead to state formation, and that territorial size and complexity are not necessarily directly related.     

OBSIDIAN IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AND THE NEAR EAST: A PROVENANCING SUCCESS STORY

Obsidian provenancing studies comprise one of the most productive and successful research programmes of archaeological science. Obsidian characterization has been successful because workable obsidian is homogeneous on a small scale, analysable by a large number of methods, and is restricted to a small number of mainly readily distinguishable geological sources. Analytical, dating, source, and trade studies within the western Mediterranean, central and eastern Europe, the Aegean, and Anatolia and the Near East during the last 30 years or so are reviewed. Research has shown that distributions are mainly separate in the four regions examined, and that obsidian was traded up to 900km in the prehistoric period. Publications on obsidian in the areas under review reached a peak of frequency in the later 1970s and 1980s, but have now decreased in number. This may reflect changing fashions in archaeometric studies, and a current lack of routine application of the provenancing methods developed.     

THE EXCHANGES OF COPPER IN THE ANCIENT MIDDLE EAST

Introduction In Anatolia, the birth and the development of metallurgy intervened between the 9th and 3rd millenniums as well as testify the more and more frequent apparitions of metals artefacts in the inventory of the archeological objects of this period.     

NORTH AND SOUTH AT THE END OF THE MYCENAEAN AGE: ASPECTS OF AN OLD PROBLEM

Summary. The end of the Mycenaean age calls for an explanation outside the immediate Aegean area. The evidence is more likely to come from changes in habit than in the importation of objects of bronze or pottery. In order to understand events it is necessary to look beyond Greek frontiers to the Danube and Balkans. Among important changes are those in fighting tactics with a return to the sword in the Aegean and new workshop practice in Europe with more bronze forging against casting. Evidence for actual arrival of people is never likely to be conclusive; various alternatives are considered.