The culture history of Madagascar

Madagascar's culture is a unique fusion of elements drawn from the western, northern, and eastern shores of the Indian Ocean, and its past has fascinated many scholars, yet systematic archaeological research is relatively recent on the island. The oldest traces of visitors are from the first century AD. Coastal settlements, with clear evidence of ties to the western Indian Ocean trading network, were established in several places over the next millennium. Important environmental changes of both plant and animal communities are documented over this period, including the extinctions of almost all large animal species. Urban life in Madagascar began with the establishment of the entrepôt of Mahilaka on the northwest coast of the island in the twelfth century. At about the same time, communities with ties to the trade network were established around the island's coasts. From the fourteenth to the sixteenth century, social hierarchies developed in several regions of the island. During the succeeding two centuries, Madagascar saw the development of state polities.     

Archaeology and resistance history in the Caribbean

Archaeological and ethnological evidence from the site of Efutu in Ghana is used to indicate the African cultural background of people imported into the Caribbean for enslavement in historical times. Historical, oral and ethnographic data are cited as bases for identifying the characteristics that enabled the enslaved people in the Caribbean successfully to establish independent communities and to put up a prolonged resistance against colonial powers. The heritage of Maroon communities in Jamaica is then discussed in order to identify continuities and discontinuities in African traditions among Caribbean societies.

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Résumé Les témoignages archéologiques et ethnologiques du site d'Efutu au Ghana servent à donner des indications sur le passé culturel africain des gens importés aux Antilles comme esclaves aux temps historiques. Des données historiques, orales et ethnographiques sont citées comme bases pour l'identification des caractéristiques ayant permis aux esclaves des Antilles de parvenir à établir des communautés indépendantes et d'opposer une résistance prolongée aux puissances coloniales. L'héritage des communautés d'esclaves marrons en Jamaïque est ensuite discuté afin d'identifier les continuités et discontinuités des traditions africaines parmi les sociétés caraïbes.

     

The Pyramids—Cement or Stone?

Several samples of pyramids from Giza were obtained. The samples were analysed by scanning electron microscopy, electron diffraction by X-rays, powder X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasmography, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and other techniques. Some scientists who have recently studied the pyramids have suggested that the pyramids were poured into place, stone by stone. The prevailing theory among Egyptologists is, of course, that the pyramids were built from blocks of natural stone. All of the results obtained during this study directly support the concept that the pyramids are made of limestone and are not cementitious in nature.     

Revegetated Sand Mining Areas,Swamp Wallabies and Remote Sensing: North Stradbroke Island,Queensland

Mining of mineral sands has taken place on North Stradbroke Island for over 40 years. Revegetation of mined areas creates a mosaic of seral classes. For a mine site in the northwest of the island, Landsat Thematic Mapper data were used successfully to map the distribution of seven seral classes resulting from mining rehabilitation. Faecal pellet counts were used to assess usage of these areas and surrounding natural forest by swamp wallabies, Wallabia bicolor. Results indicated that revegetated sites from 2 to 4 years in age were heavily used by wallabies. Older revegetated sites, dominated by senile Acacia cunninghamii, and offering little or no forage, were avoided. Swamp wallabies used revegetated sites for night-time feeding sessions and rested, during the day, in surrounding eucalypt forest.     

COPPER AND BARIUM AS DIETARY DISCRIMINANTS: THE EFFECTS OF DIAGENESIS

In skeletons excavated from Woodland sites, copper and barium levels are found to have been contaminated by influx from the soil environment. Electron microprobe scans for both elements show build-up along the outer surface of femur cross sections. Elemental levels for Cu and Ba are lower in the femur or fibula than in the more porous rib. The distribution of Cu in the immediately surrounding soil is highly anisotropic. These observations indicate that Cu and Ba should not be used for dietary inferences about ancient populations without independent evidence that diagenesis is not important.