Spatial Autocorrelation and the Classic Maya Collapse: One Technique, One Conclusion

A pair of articles appearing recently in this journal (Whitley & Clark, Journal of Archaeological Science12, 377-395, 1985; Kvamme, Journal of Archaeological Science17, 197-207, 1990) apply spatial autocorrelation analysis to the distribution of terminal long-count dates from southern Lowland Classic Maya monuments. The authors employ similar techniques yet arrive at contradictory conclusions regarding the presence of geographical patterning in the collapse of the Classic Maya civilization in this region. Kvamme's contention, however, that Whitley & Clark conducted an inappropriate analysis and arrived at an erroneous conclusion is unsubstantiated. Both articles present appropriate analyses and report results which support the presence of spatial patterning in the Lowland Maya dates.     

Hegra before the Nabataeans

In 1965 a unique stamp seal was discovered on the surface of Madain Salih in what is now northwestern Saudi Arabia. The rarity of glyptic finds from this part of Arabia adds importance to this piece, even if its style and iconography remain difficult to attribute to a known tradition of seal-using in the Near East.     

A Comparative Analysis of Farmland Preservation Programmes in North America

During the last two decades, in Canada and the United States, provincial and state governments have responded to the issue of farmland preservation with a variety of measures. These are examined within the context of political and social acceptability, cost of implementation, and impact. A typology of generic farmland protection strategies is developed to classify the state and provincial responses, with consideration given to the relative effectiveness of each. Of the four distinct policy approaches that emerge, the comprehensive-mandatory programmes are considered to promise the greatest success.
Au cows des deux dernières décennies, au Canada et dans les États-Unis, les gouvernements des provinces et des états ont adopté des politiques tres variées afin de preserver le territoire agricole. Ces politiques sont analysees dans le lut de determiner si leur mise en oeuvre est acceptable au point de vue politique et social et d'Cvaluer leur coût aussi que leur efficacité. Une typologie des strategies de conservation bade sur leurs caracteristiques génériques sert à classifier les diverses politiques, notamment eu égard à leur efficacité relative. Des quatre approches de politique qui ressortent de cette étude, celle basée sur des programmes obligatoires et globaux semble la plus prometteuse.