Application of Kernel Density Estimates to Lead Isotope Compositions of Bronzes from Ningxia,North‐West China

The aim of this paper is to apply kernel density estimates (KDEs) to the visualization and interpretation of lead isotope data from bronze assemblages found along the northern border of central China, here designated as the Arc. New lead isotope analyses of 30 leaded tin–bronze artefacts from the Wangdahu cemetery (c.500–300 bc ) in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, north‐west China, provide the basis for the discussion. By using multivariate KDEs and the calculated likelihood of the overlap, the present work shows that the Wangdahu objects feature a unique linear array of isotope ratios, representing an important element of overall bronzes from the Arc in the first millennium bc . This characteristic isotope signature is fundamentally different from that of Dajing ores in north‐east China, as well from that of early Qin bronzes in Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. This suggests that a variety of metal resources were utilized by peoples living in the Arc. The KDE approach thus proves effective at presenting and comparing lead isotope data.     

The Compositional study of ceramic samples from tombs dating to the Zhou Dynasty at Xiaoshan,Zhejiang Province (China)

Xiaoshan in Zhejiang Province was an important ceramic production area in ancient China. During recent years, local archaeologists have found a number of mound tombs dating to the Zhou Dynasty and the Spring and Autumn period. Many shards of stamped stoneware and proto‐porcelain have been unearthed from these tombs. In this paper, we report how we collected ceramic shards from tombs and samples from local ancient kilns as reference materials in order to clarify their relationship. We have used the energy‐dispersive X‐ray fluorescence technique to analyse the chemical composition of the ceramic samples. The results indicate that some of the tomb artefacts may be imported from other production areas. We infer that the other tomb samples were produced at local kilns, but due to production process–related compositional differences, there are small differences in chemical composition between different categories of samples.     

中国医患关系史研究刍议

医患关系史是研究医患关系的构成及其演变的历史,其发展变动与医患互动以及第三方因素密切相关。目前,我国的医患关系史研究仍处于起步阶段,其深化和拓展似可从以下五个层面入手,分别是:医患行为史、医患纠纷史、医患认知史、医患伦理史和医患形象史。在医患关系史的研究中,除了医生和病人之外,医疗空间、医学技术、药物、国家、媒介、地方性知识等因素对医患关系影响尤大,似可成为医患关系史研究的切入点和着力点。至于如何提炼具有中国特色的医患关系史的研究旨趣,则有待学界去进一步探讨。     

Raising Practices of Neolithic Livestock Evidenced by Stable Isotope Analysis in the Wei River Valley,North China

Although a patchwork of projects shows a process of agriculture intensification in North China during the Neolithic, the impact of cereal farming on animal husbandry and their mutual interaction remain cloudy. This study reports bone collagen δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N of humans and animals from Wayaogou (ca 6.5–6.0 kyrs bp ) and Dongying (ca 5.9–5.6 kyrs bp , 4.6–4.0 kyrs bp ) to explore temporal trend of livestock raising and particularly the importance of millet fodder to stock raising practices in the Wei River valley, North China. The isotopic evidence overall shows that millet products increased in human and domestic animal diets during the mentioned chronological span. δ¹³C values of pigs and dogs at Dongying are higher than those at Wayaogou, implying that the importance of millet nutrients increased to animal husbandry diachronically. Interestingly, δ¹³C results of domestic cattle of Dongying late phase (−14.1 ± 1.1‰, N = 5) are more enriched than Wayaogou wild Bos (−17.8 ± 0.3‰, N = 3), indicating that millet fodder had taken a significant place in early cattle husbandry. Besides, differences between Bos species of the two periods also imply that δ¹³C values of bone collagen constitute a potential indicator for tracing the origin of cattle husbandry in North China. In addition, domestic sheep at Dongying produced similar isotope data to wild ovicaprid at Wayaogou, suggesting that they possibly had grazed for the most in grassland and therefore experienced a different lifestyle from cattle. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

兰州古建置初探

兰州自古以来就是丝路重镇,历史文化遗存丰富。本文从古代建置及政治治所、文化遗存、城堡遗址、寺庙建置入手,勾勒出兰州古代建置治所文化遗存的脉络。     

魏收笔下的西域历史人文——略论《魏书》“西域撰述”

魏收笔下的《魏书》"西域撰述"具体而生动地展现了一幅西域历史与人文景观画卷。其中对前代正史"西域撰述"有继承,也有发展,深刻地影响了后来正史中"西域撰述"的内容。因此,《魏书》"西域撰述"中西域历史人文的充分展现是它能起到承上启下作用的一个重要原因。同时,这种承上启下又是通过前者内容在其他正史"西域撰述"的前后继承中来具体反映的。     

嘉峪关关城游击将军府修建年代考证

《嘉峪关市志》依据《重修肃州新志》中"隆庆二年,总督王崇古言,嘉峪关三面临戎,势甚孤悬,宜设守备防御,从之"的记载推断,游击将军府系明隆庆二年(1568)修建。笔者认为值得商榷。通过对历史文献和碑碣的分析,笔者认为游击将军府最初修建年代应为明正德元年(1506),是由肃州兵备副宪李端澄主持修建的官厅。     

西安尤家庄秦墓出土铜镜的初步研究

关于秦镜的研究,以往限于出土资料的贫乏,长期以来学界鲜有问津。此前仅见有高至喜先生《论湖南秦墓》一文中涉及到秦镜的探讨