A New Find of a European Pond Tortoise,Emys orbicularis (L.) from The Netherlands: Osteology and Taphonomy

A recent find of a European pond tortoise is presented in relation to former finds of Pleistocene and Holocene age from the Netherlands. The new find, with a ¹⁴C date of 5400±70 years BP, allows for a detailed study of the carapace, plastron and skeletal elements contained within the complete shell.     

Creating Ecologically Based Land Use and Habitat Maps Quickly and Cheaply to Support Conservation Planning at Local Scales: A New Zealand Example

Effective planning to support and enhance ecological values in sites of conservation interest requires accurate, comprehensive and detailed ecologically based maps and data, not only for the conservation site but for the wider landscape in which such sites are situated. In this paper we present an efficient and low cost method for combining appropriate technologies and available data to produce such maps at a landscape level. This method is described and evaluated using a case study of a land use and habitat map, with an associated geographic information system (GIS). The map was created for the district of Dunedin, New Zealand, an area of approximately 3340 km². This paper demonstrates how the map can be adapted for use by small, locally based conservation organisations that typically do not have the resources to obtain detailed, consistent and comprehensive spatial data for the areas they manage. The example of Orokonui Ecosanctuary is used to illustrate the potential applications of the map including mapping assets and habitats within a site and for exploring the relationship between the Ecosanctuary's internal and external habitats. External habitats can form a vital habitat network for many of the endangered species being reintroduced into the Ecosanctuary as well as a source of threats through potential reinvasion by pests and land use change. Though the mapping method presented in this paper is not necessarily new, it demonstrates the potential for utilising advances in mapping techniques and available data sets to offer a pragmatic support mechanism of practical value for small conservation organisations.     

ON THE AGE AND CONTENT OF JAR‐35—A SEALED AND INTACT STORAGE JAR FOUND ON THE SOUTHERN PLATEAU OF QUMRAN*

An intact and sealed storage jar known as Jar‐35 was found in 2004, south of the Qumran settlement. A previous study identified tartrate in the deposit of the jar, indicating the possible past presence of wine ( Buti et al. 2006 ). However, we cannot confirm this finding. Using liquid and gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection, no trace of tartaric acid or salts thereof could be detected in our samples. We show that the major component of the deposit is gypsum. No other organic compounds were identified with the methods that we have applied. Both radiocarbon dating of charcoal in the deposit and thermoluminescence dating of the ceramic jar show that it dates to the main period of habitation at Qumran (c. 100 bc to ad 70).     

X‐RAY SUB‐MICRON TOMOGRAPHY AS A TOOL FOR THE STUDY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL WOOD PRESERVED THROUGH THE CORROSION OF METAL OBJECTS

Wood preserved in the corrosion layer of two early medieval iron objects was examined using X‐ray tomography. A state‐of‐the art multi‐resolution X‐ray tomography set‐up ( http://www.ugct.ugent.be ) provided virtual cross‐sections of the archaeological wood samples at sub‐micron resolution. These were compared with scans of samples of similar modern wood. These scans demonstrate the power of sub‐micron X‐ray tomography for wood identification, although the process of mineralization pushes this technique to its limits. Furthermore, this technique facilitated appraisal of the mineral content of the archaeological wood, which is useful in selecting the most appropriate strategy for the (preventative) conservation of the archaeological object.     

Late Glacial and Holocene Vegetation History at Dublin Bog North-Central Tasmania

Percentage and influx pollen analyses of a 9.17 m core from Dublin Bog give a post last glaciation vegetation history (-13.6 to 0 ka BP) for the upper Mersey Valley. Herbaceous vegetation of Gramineae, Compositae and Chenopodiaceae developed rapidly after deglaciation and lasted until 13.2 ka BP. Around 13 ka BP Eucalyptus woodland and forest developed rapidly on the valley floor. At the same time Pomaderris apetala became an important understorey shrub/tree, and Phyllocladus aspleniifolius rainforest developed in the gullies on the upper slopes of the Mersey Valley and in the valleys to the west The major change in climate from late glacial cold (and probably drier conditions) to warm humid conditions similar to present occurred between 13.2 and 13 ka BP. Wet sclerophyll Eucalyptus forest occupied the valley throughout the post glacial and attained its maximum development between 11.7 and 8.4 ka BP. Rainforest never occupied the valley floor extensively. Phyllocladus aspleniifolius sattained an early maximum about 13 ka BP. The peak of Pomaderris apetala and expansion of Dicksonia antarctica suggests that the climate was warmer and wetter between 10.3 and 8.4 ka BP than at other times. Nothofagus attained its maximum development between about 10.3 and 6 ka BP. Both sclerophyll and rainforest vegetation associations in the upper Mersey Valley appear to have been very stable and similar to their present floristic compositions during the Holocene. Aborigines occupied the valley by 10 ka BP. Fire was always present in this marginal area between the wet climate of western and the dry climate of eastern Tasmania. Fire did not cause replacement of rainforest by wet sclerophyll forest on the valley floor, though it could have prevented rainforest establishment     

DEEPLY COLOURED AND BLACK GLASS IN THE NORTHERN PROVINCES OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE: DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES IN CHEMICAL COMPOSITION BEFORE AND AFTER ad 150*

In this work we attempt to elucidate the chronological and geographical origin of deeply coloured and black glass dating between 100 bc and ad 300 on the basis of their major and trace element compositions. Samples from the western and eastern parts of the Roman Empire were analysed. Analytical data were obtained by means of a scanning electron microscope – energy‐dispersive system (SEM–EDS, 63 samples analysed) and laser ablation – inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (LA–ICP–MS, 41 samples analysed). Among the glass fragments analysed, dark brown, dark purple and dark green hues could be distinguished. Only among the dark green fragments could a clear compositional distinction be observed between fragments dated to the periods before and after ad 150. In the early samples (first century bc to first century ad ), iron, responsible for the green hue, was introduced by using impure sand containing relatively high amounts of Ti. In contrast, a Ti‐poor source of iron was employed, containing Sb, Co and Pb in trace quantities, in order to obtain the dark green colour in the later glass samples. The analytical results obtained by combining SEM–EDS and LA–ICP–MS are therefore consistent with a differentiation of glassmaking recipes, detectable in glass composition, occurring in the period around ad 150.     

HEATING EXPERIMENTS UNDER ANOXIC CONDITIONS ON VARIETIES OF WHEAT*

Species of wheat were used to study the effects of formation processes on carbonized grains. For this purpose, grains of recent wheat were heated under controlled anoxic conditions. These experiments have revealed that the grains of the various varieties of wheat are not homogeneous in physical and chemical properties. Seven varieties of emmer wheat, two varieties of bread wheat and one variety of macaroni wheat were used for the experiments. The grains, both mealy and vitreous ones, were heated to 270°C for 60 min under anoxic conditions. Bulk elemental data shows that the C content is similar for all of the untreated varieties, but that the N content varies. The results of DTMS‐EI experiments show that the molecular composition of the various untreated grains are similar, which is also true for the heated counterparts. The morphology of the heated grains shows a wide variation between the grains of the tested varieties. The grains become swollen and show protrusions or open creases, or remain intact. The reasons for this variation are the mechanical properties of the pericarp and the proteinaceous matrix of the endosperm. On the basis of the results, a variety of emmer wheat was used for further experiments.