Formation of Fluid Inclusions during Heat Treatment of Barremo‐Bedoulian Flint: Archaeometric Implications

At the end of the fifth millennium bc , the development of a specialized lithic industry in the Chassey societies of south‐eastern France and its dissemination as far as Catalonia and Tuscany attest to important socio‐economic changes in the Mediterranean Neolithic societies. The lithic production was made on barremo‐bedoulian flint that was heat‐treated to improve the sharpness of the tools produced. Microscopic observations of archaeological and geological, heated and unheated barremo‐bedoulian flint samples allowed us to highlight the heat‐induced formation of fluid inclusions. Microthermometry analyses showed that these inclusions contain pure H₂O, most probably resulting from the dehydration of length‐slow (LS) chalcedony and the closure of narrow pores, according to the model proposed by Schmidt et al. ( 2012 ). Our results enable us to estimate the heating temperatures used by Chassey artisans to ≈ 230°C. We also propose the ‘pressure cooker’ model to explain the migration of liquid water in flint nodules heated to 230°C. Then, we discuss the ability of a particular type of flint to be heat‐treated, and hence its value for Neolithic society, which depends on: (1) the amount of LS chalcedony that ensures the water release at relatively low temperature; and (2) on the total volume of porosity available to store the dehydration water.     

Well preserved non‐collagenous extracellular matrix proteins in ancient human bone and teeth

Ancient bones in a good preservation state, ascertained by microscopic techniques, conserve extracellular matrix proteins over thousands of years. With new techniques, intact extracellular matrix proteins from ancient bones and teeth are extracted and separated by one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional electrophoresis. Proteins were identified in Western blots by special antibodies against different human extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules of bone. We have confirmed different types of ECM human bone molecules such as osteonectin, osteopontin, and alkaline phosphatase with specific antibodies in human bone samples from different age groups. Additionally, we selected bone samples from different cultural time periods, such as the Middle Ages, the Bronze Age and the Late Pre‐Pottery Neolithic Phase (PPNB), and teeth from individuals from the Early Middle Ages and from the Late PPNB. The survival of intact extracellular matrix proteins in ancient bones and teeth dating from recent times to the Late PPNB, and reliable techniques to identify these proteins, present a great challenge to further research. A Match Set with PD‐Quest 7.2 shows that only 16% of protein spots in the teeth are also found in the bone of the same individual. In combination with the results of macro‐ and microscopic investigation, biochemical techniques will help us in obtaining a better understanding of bone and teeth in health and disease. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Innovation Networks and Regional Development—Evidence from the European Regional Innovation Survey (ERIS): Theoretical Concepts,Methodological Approach,Empirical Basis and Introduction to the Theme Issue

A general consensus exists in the debate on innovation-oriented regional development, in which cooperation in innovation between manufacturing firms, service firms and research institutions continues to grow in importance with respect to business success and the economic performance of a region—at least for some region types. The academic discussion, thus far, has been shaped by a large number of outstanding theoretical studies focusing on this topic from the perspective of the innovative milieu concept, the network theory (spatial version), the regional innovation systems approach or the transaction cost theory. Up to now, comparative empirical studies have not been performed evaluating the significance of innovation networks over a sufficiently large and statistically representative data set for the various types of regions. This is the goal of this issue of European Planning Studies, which is introduced in this article. Briefly, the basic concepts for explaining network-oriented regional development are described and the essential features of the European Regional Innovation Survey (ERIS) are presented—developed by a research team of German economic geographers and regional economists. Between 1995 and 1999 ERIS carried out three extensive surveys in 11 European regions with a total return of 8635 questionnaires, in an effort to identify, systematize, and quantify linkages between innovative players. The question of the range of such innovative linkages plays a central role in this analysis.     

Ethnographic filming: The scientific approach

Waika (Südamerika, Venezuela): Gewinnen von Curare und Herstellen von Giftpfeil‐Spitzen. Directed by Hermann Schlenker. Encylopaedia Cinematographica (EC) E 2001, color, 17 min., 1975. DM 952, 50.

!ko‐Buschmänner (Südafrika, Kalahari): Spiel “Oryx‐Antilope"mit einer Auseinandersetzung zwischen zwei Spielgruppen. Directed by Dieter Heunemann and H. J. Heinz. EC‐E 2107, color with synchronous sound, 11 min., 1975. DM 691,50.

Kirchfest “Romaria” von S. Bartolomeu do Mar (Südwest‐Europa, Portugal). Directed by Franz Simon. EC‐E 1889, color with synchronous sound, 21,5 min., 1973. DM 1311, 00.

Bali (Indonesien): Doppelikat in Tenganan Pegeringsingan. Directed by Urs Ramseyer and Nicole Ramseyer‐Gygi. A series of four films: EC‐E 2416, 43 min., DM 2896, 50; E 2417, 34 min., DM 2025,00; E 2418, 28 min., DM 1642,50; E 2419, 36 min., DM 2031,00. Color with German commentary 1978.     

The MSA sequence of Diepkloof and the history of southern African Late Pleistocene populations

This paper presents the first multidisciplinary synthesis of the Middle Stone Age sequence of Diepkloof Rock Shelter (South Africa). We explore the main cultural changes that characterized southern African hunter–gatherer societies from OIS 5 to the beginning of OIS 3. We discuss the tempo of these changes, test the current interpretative hypotheses and explore an empirical model to explain the early appearance of symbolic marking within the Pleistocene hunter–gather societies of southern Africa.     

The Creative Economy: Vision or Illusion in the Structural Change?

This contribution discusses the hopes associated with the rise of the creative industries and gives explanations for the debates in politics, science and the media. In doing so, our underlying thesis is that the culture and creative economy is a virtual sector and that a uniform promotion—also by means of staged events that attract a lot of media attention—needs to be challenged. In a further step, the scientific implications will also be outlined on the basis of the term's “career” in the public debate. A brief analysis of the empiricism of the creative economy will provide further insight into its real significance and demonstrate possible definitional weaknesses of the term. The creative industries are an essential element of modern economic infrastructure. They will play an important role in the future, especially for cluster strategies. However, the scientific research so far is not able to reach more accurate conclusions regarding the effects of governance on the culture and creative industry. Therefore, this contribution shows future research fields. We will conclude by venturing an outlook on the further development of the sector and demonstrate its social and economic effects using the example of the Ruhr Area in North Rhine-Westphalia.