Presence of the genus Cuon in upper Pleistocene and initial Holocene sites of the Iberian Peninsula: new remains identified in archaeological contexts of the Mediterranean region

The dhole (Cuon alpinus) has been documented on the Iberian Peninsula throughout the Middle and Upper Pleistocene in archaeological and palaeontological contexts. However, this is an uncommon species among the Iberian quaternary faunae as a whole. This paper focuses on the remains of the genus Cuon recovered in three different sites of the Iberian Mediterranean region and their morphological and osteometrical study. By comparing these with fourteen complete skeletons of Canis lupus, as well as with other remains of C. alpinus, we intend to highlight some anatomical and metrical differences between Cuon and Canis that, added to those already published, could be a functional base-line for the identification of this genus. The identification of this species is complex, especially in archaeological contexts, and in some cases the dhole has been identified as Canis or Canidae. Furthermore, this paper explores the chronology of the presence of the dhole in the Iberian Peninsula and the different contexts where these animals have been recovered from.     

Promoting tourism through the EU LEADER programme: understanding Local Action Group governance

ABSTRACT

For many European rural areas, the rural development programmes based on the LEADER approach constitute the main policy for promoting tourism. Going a step further than a rural development programme, LEADER represents an ideal method for overcoming some of the challenges involved in rural tourism development, such as the integration of tourism supply through public-private organizations or the coordination of multi-level policies. Despite its potential, there are difficulties involved in putting this approach into practice. This article aims to provide in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by some managers responsible for developing tourism strategies through the LEADER approach. To do this, semi-structured in-depth interviews have been held with Local Action Groups managers from Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). The main findings reveal that the actions of regional governments lead to the limitation and strangulation of the principle of subsidiarity according with the LAG manager? opinion.     

陕西境内遗址表面CaSO42H2O产生之水盐运移规律研究

陕西境内遗址出土后短时间内表面产生白色物质CaSO₄2H₂O是非常普遍的现象。本研究利用土柱模拟遗址出土后表面产生CaSO₄2H₂O的过程,通过监测土柱中土壤的湿度、含盐量及离子变化综合分析CaSO₄2H₂O产生的原因,研究结果表明遗址出土后形成了新的界面层,在蒸发的作用下,地下水沿土壤孔隙向上迁移,同时将可溶盐带入土壤中,表面的可溶盐含量逐渐增大,达到峰值后不再增加,实验后测得表面土壤中的Ca²⁺和SO2-₄是原始土壤的数十倍,说明遗址表面产生CaSO₄2H₂O是水盐运移的结果。本研究可为遗址出土后预防CaSO₄2H₂O的产生提供依据。