Butchering and cooking of birds in the palaeolithic site of Grotta Romanelli (Italy)

Grotta Romanelli is one of the most important sites of the Italian palaeolithic. It contains a lithic industry from the Final Epigravettian, examples of rock and mobiliary art and numerous bone remains, among which were abundant remains of birds. Approximately 32 000 bird bones from over 3650 individuals and 109 species were identified. The most common species were bustards, Otis tetrax and O. tarda, and three species of goose, Anser fabalis, A. albifrons and Branta bernicla. Traces of butchering and burning were evident on numerous bones. The nature and location of the cut marks and burning is described here. The analysis has involved mostly the hind limbs and the shoulder girdle where traces are most numerous. The cut marks reflect a codified sequence of actions of disarticulation and dismemberment. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Pigments from the Middle Palaeolithic levels of Es-Skhul (Mount Carmel,Israel)

Discovery of pigments at Middle Palaeolithic sites is of interest in the context of the ongoing debate about the tempo and mode of the emergence of modern human behaviour. Here we analyse four previously undescribed fragments of pigmental material from Es-Skhul shelter, layer B, Israel, McCown excavations, identified at the Department of Palaeontology, Natural History Museum, London. One of them is still partially embedded in the hard breccia characteristic of this layer. Inspection of breccia fragments from layer B has led to the identification of small pieces of red and orange pigmental material still enclosed in large clasts, further corroborating the attribution of the larger pieces analysed in this study to layer B. The four objects are studied using optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray micro-diffraction (μ-XRD), Particle-Induced X-Ray Emission Spectrometry (PIXE), and Proton-Induced Gamma-ray Emission (PIGE). The specimens display various hues of yellow, orange, red, and one of them presents a gradual variation of shade from yellow to dark orange. SEM/EDX analysis identifies two specimens (Skhul 1 and 2) as being composed of iron-rich calcium phosphate, the third (Skhul 3) of potassium-rich clay with titanium-rich iron oxide inclusions, and the fourth (Skhul 4) of pure iron oxide crystals. TEM/EDX and μ-XRD analysis demonstrate that three pieces (Skhul 1, 2 and 4) were heated to at least 300 °C, a process that has partially or completely dehydrated goethite into haematite and changed their pristine yellow colour into orange or red. Skhul 3 shows no sign of heating, suggesting that its haematite content has a geological origin. The different mineral composition of the pieces suggests that they must come from a variety of sources. This implies that the associated collection strategies included the selection of materials that differed not only with respect to colour but also with respect to other physical and chemical properties. Although no formal proof exists that these lumps of pigmental material were deliberately heated, results obtained are consistent with this explanation.     

Investigating links between ecology and bifacial tool types in Western Europe during the Last Glacial Maximum

We apply Eco-Cultural Niche Modeling (ECNM), using the Genetic Algorithm for Rule-Set Prediction, to reconstruct the ecological niches exploited by Middle Solutrean and Upper Solutrean populations during the latter stages of Heinrich Event 2 and the early part of the Last Glacial Maximum, respectively. We focus on the Upper Solutrean technocomplex and its regionally distinct styles of hunting weaponry to investigate whether regional cultural variability reflects a link between material culture and ecology. Our analytical approach uses archaeological and geographic data in conjunction with high-resolution paleoclimatic simulations and vegetation reconstructions for the two climatic phases in question. Our results indicate that cultural choices behind the production of specific projectile point types have at some level an ecological basis and are linked to particular environments. We also find that the identified pattern of Upper Solutrean territoriality has an ecological foundation, but that its stylistic expression in the variation of diagnostic armature types is likely a byproduct of cultural drift. We argue that ECNM is an effective means with which to evaluate the paleoecological pertinence of archaeologically defined artifact types and to identify the ecological and cultural mechanisms underlying material culture variability.     

The face of the poet Dante Alighieri reconstructed by virtual modelling and forensic anthropology techniques

This paper describes the multi-disciplinary approach to reconstruct the face of Dante Alighieri (1265–1321). Since Dante's sepulchre will be opened in 2021, the reconstructive process is based on morphological and metric data collected on the poet's cranium during the formal identification of his remains in 1921 by the anthropologist Fabio Frassetto, as well as on the resulting plaster model. Starting from this plaster model and a morphologically compatible reference mandible, since the original mandible was never found, a 3D digital model of the complete skull was obtained by reverse engineering and virtual modelling techniques. The most important aspect in this work was the method of virtual modelling proposed for the ex novo generation of the mandible. The physical model of the skull (cranium + mandible) was then produced by means of a rapid prototyping system. This model was finally used to recreate Dante's face via traditional facial reconstruction techniques currently used in forensic anthropology.     

Notes on the Identification of the Roman Masts Found in the Port of Olbia,Sardinia

This paper presents both archaeological evidence and technical features that allows the identification of two of the wooden objects discovered in 2001 at the site of a 1st‐century‐AD shipyard in Olbia, Sardinia, as masts. The structure and dimensions of the objects are presented and compared with similar artefacts which have been interpreted as rudder‐stocks in order to establish their specific and distinct features. Possible retaining and lowering systems for the masts, and evidence of wooden mast‐ladders are discussed through examination of archaeological parallels and Roman iconography.     

The way we wear makes the difference: residue analysis applied to Mesolithic personal ornaments from Hohlenstein-Stadel (Germany)

Research conducted by Newell et al. (1990) has lead to propose that during the Mesolithic, the Upper Danube region was inhabited by a “Fish Teeth Band”, characterized by the use of carp fish teeth and exogenous fossil shells as ornaments. However, technological data on these personal ornaments drastically lacked and especially for the fish teeth associated to the Mesolithic burial of Hohlenstein-Stadel that remained completely undescribed until now. The aim of this paper is to establish how the carp teeth from Hohlenstein-Stadel were modified and worn before being deposited in the burial. High-resolution microscopic analysis identifies use-wear traces and a red compound adhering to the surface of the teeth. Structural and elemental analysis of the residue combining light and scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and Raman analysis identify a suspension technique that uses an adhesive composed of an organic binder mixed with charcoal and minerals including hematite, dolomite, and quartz. Ethnological inquiry reveals that this system of suspension, commonly used in traditional societies, is for the first time documented, at Hohlenstein-Stadel, in an archaeological context.     

Salt Effects in Plastered and Unplastered Outdoors Brick Masonry: Quantitative Laser Monitoring of Surface Decay Evolution

In masonry materials, the superficial decay is a widespread problem. Aggressive environmental agents such as moisture and salts trigger the damage by propagating through the material capillary pores. Although several studies have been carried out on salt crystallization and their damaging effects, additional research effort is required to better investigate this phenomenon on real cases and real weathering conditions. To this purpose, testing and monitoring tools capable of following degradation process since the early beginning are necessary. Repeated visual inspections are commonly used to monitor the superficial decay, but this technique is subjective and thus not capable of providing any quantitative information. In this work, an experimental campaign, carried out in Bologna, Italy, is presented. A two-header brick wall, one main face unplastered and one plastered, was stored outdoors and exposed to weathering over two summers. Before the start of the second aging season, moisture and salt capillary rise was simulated by low-concentrated sodium chloride solution (0.1% -wt). The aim was to favor solution evaporation and salt crystallization and to provoke material damage. The degradation process was monitored based on a contactless, rapid and accurate image diagnostic technique. In particular, high-resolution laser scanning by triangulation technique was adopted. Three-dimensional data acquisition was repeated at the end of both seasons. The proposed procedure successfully extracted quantitative information approximately areas of material spalling and detachment even in the initial phases of decay.     

Geographic Factors Affecting the Presence of Transhipment Services in Regional Maritime Container Markets

The presence of transhipment services in a region has previously been analyzed relative to ports and shippers with no consideration to the geographical factors of the sea basin serving the region. We hypothesize that attributes related to basin morphology also should be considered, as the processes involved in the maritime container freight market are comparable to processes in other transport markets. We show that transhipment services are relevant in those regions with closed sea basins. This article addresses the following issues: the traditional analytic methods used to determine, directly or indirectly, the presence of transhipment services; the role of transhipment in some geographic regions by estimating the rate of transhipment relative to throughput for each region; and the estimation of a statistical model that can determine the presence of transhipment by means of aggregate variables related to the morphology of a sea basin serving each region and to the socioeconomic characteristics of the region served. La presencia de servicios de transbordo en una región ha sido analizada en relación a los puertos y cargadores, sin considerar los factores geográficos de las cuencas marítimas al servicio de una región. Nuestra hipótesis es que los atributos relacionados a la morfología de las cuencas también deberían tomarse en cuenta, ya que los procesos involucrados en el mercado de contenedores de carga marítima son comparables a los procesos de otros mercados de transporte. Mostramos que los servicios de transbordo son relevantes en aquellas regiones con cuencas marítimas cerradas. El presente artículo aborda los siguientes temas: los métodos analíticos tradicionales generalmente usados para determinar, directa o indirectamente, la presencia de servicios de transbordo; el rol del transbordo en algunas regiones geográficas, a partir de la estimación de las tasas de transbordo relativas a su rendimiento (throughput) en cada región; y la estimación de un modelo estadístico que pueda determinar la presencia de transbordo a partir de variables agregadas relacionadas a la morfología de la cuenca marítima al servicio de cada región, y a las características socioeconómicas de cada región. 区域海运转运服务的分析已经将港口和航运商纳入研究范畴,但忽视了区域海洋盆地地理因素的影响。由于参与海运集装箱货运市场的过程与其他运输市场的过程具有可比性,因而本文认为和海盆形态有关的属性也应考虑在内。研究结果显示,转运服务与那些靠近海盆的区域具有相关性。本文将重点对以下问题进行阐述：过去经常用来直接或间接判断转运服务的传统分析方法;通过估计一个地区相对于自身吞吐量的转运率来判断部分地理区域在转运服务中的角色;通过区域海盆形态和社会经济属性相关的综合变量,构建能够判别转运服务的统计模型.