NEOLITHIC THESSALY AND THE SPORADES

Summary. Aghios Petros in the Sporades Islands is one of the earliest and most thoroughly excavated settlements in the Aegean. It was a permanent settlement of the end of the 6th millennium BC, and a unique cultural centre, with influences from Thessaly, Anatolia and the Balkans. In the present study, the degree of contacts and influence between Aghios Petros and the neighbouring well-known Neolithic settlements of Dimini and Sesklo is examined on the basis of trace element analysis by INAA. Cluster analysis, based on Th, Sc, Cs, Fe, Co and Eu, reveals distinct differences, Aghios Petros sherds forming a quite separate group. There also exist three sub-groups within the Sporades material. This result is substantiated by archaeological evidence and reinforces the view that Aghios Petros is a site of particular cultural interest and of semi-autonomous development, which flourished in the middle of the 5th millennium BC.     

西汉铜座漆耳杯及相关问题的讨论

南京博物院院藏的一件汉代铜座漆耳杯，风格与蜀汉产品极其相近，由此可见当时各地的文化交流和商品流通之一斑。     

Lead Isotope Analyses Revealed the Key Role of Chang'an in the Mirror Production and Distribution Network During the Han Dynasty

Chang'an (now Xi'an) was the capital of the Western Han Dynasty and the starting point of the Silk Road. In the light of the importance of Chang'an as the centre of politics, economy and cultural interaction, the overarching question proposed in this paper is focused on its role in the mirror production and distribution network during Han period. On the basis of chemical and lead isotopic analyses of 34 Han mirrors, this paper discusses the potential existence of a mirror production centre in Chang'an. Meanwhile, a comparative study with mirrors uncovered from the south‐western frontier and from Central Asian and North‐East Asian countries offers new insight into these related issues.     

Microstructural and Componential Characterization of the Plating Technology on Chinese Han Dynasty Bronze Fragments

The bronze wares of the Han Dynasty excavated in Chongqing are decorated with plating patterns, maintaining an exquisite lustre right up to modern times after the covering patina is cleared away. In this paper, a plated fragment of the Han Dynasty from the Wushan County Museum was characterized by combining optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy with X‐ray energy‐dispersive spectrometry (SEM–EDS), X‐ray fluorescence analysis (XRF), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that the bronze fragment was gilded with a ~ 3 μm thick gilded layer and a ~ 20 μm thick silvered layer. The high concentration of Hg and Hg‐rich intermetallic compounds confirmed the existence of mercury gilding/silvering technology, for example, Au₉Hg in the gilded layer and Ag₁₃Hg₇ in the silvered layer. An ordered stripe structure was observed in the gilded surface, corresponding to the formation of rod‐like, intermetallic Au–Hg compounds. Specifically, a high concentration of Au was detected in the silvered layer. The exploration of gilded/silvered bronze casts light on this ancient technology and the benefit of identifying, protecting and reproducing it.     

Studies On Lacquerwares from Between the Mid‐Warring States Period and the Mid‐Western Han Dynasty Excavated in the Changsha Region

The development of lacquerwares reached its peak between the Warring States Period and the Han Dynasty (390–87 bc ) in the Changsha region of China. By studying excavated fragments of lacquers from this period, this paper examines the constitution of various pigmented layers, such as red, black and white layers, coloured lacquer layers, namely reddish brown or reddish orange, dark‐coloured or black, and silver lacquer layers, using non‐destructive methods. In addition, the characteristics of lacquer production techniques in Changsha are also discussed in comparison with those of other regions in China during the same period of time.     

The Experimental Study of Palaeolithic Heat‐Treatment Technology: A Case from the Shuidonggou Rock Resources,North‐West China

The application of heat‐treatment technology on lithic raw materials is an important feature of early modern human behaviour. The evidence of heat‐treated stone artefacts discovered at Localities 2 and 12 of the Shuidonggou Late Palaeolithic site, North‐West China, provides an important example for studying this technology among ancient humans in Asia during the Late Palaeolithic. The mechanism and effects of heat treatment on raw materials and the role of this technology in producing stone tools were studied by means of a simulation experiment and related analytical methods. These facilitated an in‐depth analysis of the heat‐treatment activities of the Shuidonggou occupants and their implications for cognitive ability and survival strategies of human populations at that time.     

Changes in chemical composition caused by water–rock interactions across a strike‐slip fault zone: case study of the Atera Fault,Central Japan

In some cases, water–rock interactions in fault zones can affect radionuclide migration. Here, we analyzed the chemical compositions of well‐exposed fault rocks from the strike‐slip Atera Fault, Central Japan, in order to understand the variability and behavior of major and selected trace elements. The fault zone has a 1.2‐m‐wide, smectite‐rich fault core and paired damage zones that developed within welded tuff on one side of the core and within granite on the other side. The 30‐cm‐wide, kaolinite‐rich fault gouge is developed in granite cataclasite, and it shows indications of the latest fault activity, while the 1.2‐m‐wide fault core appears to be older. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios in the clay‐rich fault gouges, and carbon and oxygen isotope ratios in carbonates indicate that the two major clay‐rich zones formed in bedrock near the surface, consistent with observed deformation structures. Based on chemical analyses, we identified (1) a slight depletion in SiO₂, Na₂O, K₂O, and light rare earth elements at the edges of the 1.2‐m‐wide fault core, (2) a clear depletion in SiO₂, Na₂O, K₂O, and all rare earth elements except Eu in the 30‐cm‐wide fault gouge, and (3) an increase in CaO, MnO, and heavy rare earth elements across the entire 1.2‐m‐wide fault core. Findings (1) and (2) reflect water–rock interactions in the 1.2‐m‐wide fault core and in the 30‐cm‐wide fault gouge that resulted in the formation of smectite and kaolinite. Finding (3) reflects carbonate precipitation caused by the addition of basalt fragments from a nearby site to the 1.2‐m‐wide fault core during faulting, and subsequent sorption reactions of heavy rare earth elements via processes such as complexation with the carbonates.