Vitrification of basalt orthostats and mud building components from Tilmen Höyük (south-eastern Turkey): an experimental and geoarchaeological approach

Finds of basalt orthostats and mud building components from the archaeological site of Tilmen Höyük (south-eastern Turkey, early 2nd Millenium BC) preserve a glassy crust formed by vitrification of the material. It is proposed that such features are related to destructive fire events, which destroyed the wooden building elements and burned natural stones. The geoarchaeological and experimental approach confirms this hypothesis. The geochemical composition of experimental melts is comparable to that of natural basalts. Spot analyses evidence the heterogeneity of the melts, especially for mudbricks and ceiling plasters. It is concluded that the investigated finds were subjected to strong burning under oxidising conditions reached during a violent fire. Temperatures similar to those derived by experimental melting (1180–1195 °C) were likely reached in the fire at Tilmen in order to produce the glass observed.     

US attitudes towards China before and after the Washington Conference based on US mainstream media reports

ABSTRACT

The problems China faced in the world order after World War I and the position and measures China took in the tussling between Western countries needs to be analyzed not only using historical records in Chinese and from the perspective of China itself; researchers should also consult foreign documents to determine the attitudes and ways of thinking of other countries, so as to reflect on the choices China needed to make and the roles that Western countries played at that time. Only in so doing can we fully understand how much space and strength China then had to strive for its rights in the international arena. This article examines the social basis of the attitude and policies of the United States (US) towards China in the period between the May Fourth Movement (1919) and the Washington Conference (1921–1922) by focusing on reports on China in the US mainstream media, including the New York Times, the Christian Science Monitor, the Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times. The US government’s attitude towards China was determined by the interests of the United States, the Far East, and the other countries of the world. However, the US mainstream media’s reports on China also reflected the values of American society and popular sympathy for China’s destiny. When discussing how to support China, the US media distinguished between support for the Chinese government and support for the Chinese people on the way to democracy and governance by law. In this case, the media reflected different views on how to assist China.     

What is the Alternative? Youth,Entrepreneurship and the Developmental State in Urban Ethiopia

This article investigates the implementation of small‐scale entrepreneurship programmes in inner‐city Addis Ababa. Drawing on eighteen months of ethnographic fieldwork, it discusses the failure of these programmes to open up opportunities for social improvement for young people. It also analyses how young people confronted with this failure suggest ways of conceptualizing ‘alternatives’ to established development concepts of poverty reduction, such as microfinance and small‐scale entrepreneurship. In doing this, the author does not pretend either to offer a grand solution or to invent a brand new developmental concept. Rather, the aim is to provide a critical commentary on the reasons why some of the current academic debate on alternatives to neoliberalism have, de facto, amounted to an endorsement Ethiopia's political authoritarianism.     

略论傅作霖在华之工作

本文研究葡萄牙传教士傅作霖入华进京的背景、在华期间的活动情况和科学工作,特别指出傅作霖长期参与和主持钦天监的日常工作,参与天文仪器制作,乾隆时期还参与了大地测量工作,对中西科学交流做出了贡献。     

莫高窟第76窟八塔变相关问题再探

莫高窟第76窟内的八塔变图像出现于宋初时期,其粉本应是中印佛教交流过程中由印度僧人传至敦煌的。而这一题材绘入洞窟时正处在敦煌末法思潮盛行的背景之下,作为正法象征的八塔变壁画蕴含了信众渴求佛法不灭的心愿。同时,莫高窟第76窟作为大族营建的家窟,具有举办佛事活动的功能,八塔变与窟内其他题材的相互联系能够更好地服务于信众的信仰实践活动。     

大都市中心区生产性服务业集群的空间溢出——以广州市天河区为例

空间溢出对产业集群形成发展具有重要意义。但空间溢出对生产性服务业集群的影响机制并不清楚。本文基于1 km×1 km网格和2013年广州市中心区--天河区的企业经济普查数据，采用空间数据分析技术，识别生产性服务业集群，分析集群特征，探测集群溢出类型。结果发现：①生产性服务业集群区位指向大城市中心区的核心地域，具有五种集群类型分异，空间呈不完全耦合。②生产性服务业集群空间规模受Jocobs型和MAR型两种溢出调控，在MAR型溢出作用下的集群空间规模相对较小。③信息服务业集群的溢出为负效应说明溢出作为一种潜在利益，在转化为集群优势的过程中存在过滤效应。     

Analysis of Neolithic human remains discovered in southern Italy

The authors describe the discovery of the remains of two unidentified skeletonised individuals in a small town located in southern Italy. The bodies were discovered while workers were preparing to lay an oil pipeline. The two individuals were found at a depth of 2 meters, and in very close proximity to one other. The recovery process of the skeletonised remains and their related findings, carried out by a team of forensic anthropologists and archaeologists, is described here.Archaeological examination determined that the remains date back to the 4th millennium B.C. Forensic anthropological and odontological examinations were performed to determine the biological profile of the skeletal remains by estimation of age and height, as well as the determination of sex. Age determination was performed by the Kerley and Ubelaker (1978, Revision in the microscopic method of estimating age at death in human cortical bone. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol., 49, 545–546) histological method using a 1 mm thick piece of bone tissue taken from the diaphyses of femur in both individuals. Dental age was estimated by examining root transparency. In order to determine the height of the individuals, various research methods based on the dimensional values of particular skeletal structures were applied. DNA analysis showed genotype differences of all the systems as compared to the haplotypes of present day subjects. This provided confirmation that the skeletal remains were from individuals of an ancient population (4th millennium B.C.). In addition, radiocarbon dating provided useful information as to the approximate period of death of the individuals. Interpretation was further enhanced by analysis of various bone fragments from each of the skeletons by high resolution mass spectrometry. 3D computerized imaging was used to analyse the patterns of skull fractures present, which resulted in supporting the hypothesis that the fractures were caused by stoning.