SUPPLY ARMS AND OPTIMAL SPATIAL STRUCTURE*

ABSTRACT. A multi-plant producer has sole access to a region, and each of the plants processes a raw material which is drawn from its own exclusive supply area. Under these conditions what spatial structure of production (in terms of plant scale, plant frequency, supply-area size and supply-area shape) will enable region-wide or multi-plant profit to be maximized? The form of this optimal structure is shown to vary with prevailing level of price, which is exogenously determined.     

For Whom is the Rural Economy Resilient? Initial Effects of Drought in Western Sudan

This discussion piece addresses two recent debates: entitlement theory and the resilience of rural systems. The authors find that in western Sudan entitlement theory provides a specific and useful framework for understanding the nature of the crisis confronting the society. Arguments about the resilience of rural systems, however, need to be more closely examined and will depend on site-specific factors. The rural economy and society of western Sudan were not found to be resilient.     

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.     

GUTENBERG'S INKS AND PAPERS: NON-DESTRUCTIVE COMPOSITIONAL ANALYSES BY PROTON MILLIPROBE

Particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) has been used in analysis of ink and paper of the 42-line Bible and other early printed works. Results are reported and their significance discussed.