Rare Types of Trephination from Hungary Shed New Light on Possible Cross‐cultural Connections in the Carpathian Basin

Symbolic or incomplete trephinations are very common in Hungary in 9^th–11^thcentury AD skeletal series connected to early Hungarians, although they also occur in the preceding Avar Age (6^th–9^th c. AD) material. During the compilation of a database of regional cranial modification data, the authors found rare almond‐shaped symbolic trephinations in both periods, while these had formerly only been reported in Early Hungarian series. In this study, the new almond‐shaped lesions are described along with other symbolic trephinations of 14 newly found skulls from the 8^th–11^thcenturies AD in the Southern Great Plain of Hungary. The authors review the research of the phenomenon. The new findings may strengthen the theory of direct and very close cultural connections of these two ethnic groups, adding a new aspect to the debate over the origin and relationship of Late Avar (late 7^th–early 9^th c. AD) and Early Hungarian (9^th–11^th c. AD) populations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Seasonal dating and the valve-pairing technique in shell-midden analysis

Three-dimensional excavation of 23 artifact fragments and 4382 shells was carried out in the shell layer of an abandoned dwelling pit. Principal component analysis using three locational variables was used for drawing the central axes and the regression plane of the shell layer. Valve-pairing carried out on the clam Meretrix lusoria indicated that 380 pairs could be established among a total of 2089 unbroken valves. Preservation of shells was estimated at 70% by comparing the number of shells found in the shell layer with the clam population size which was in turn calculated by a probability formula using paired valves among samples. In addition to these data, the distance separating pairs gave some idea of the movement of shells. Seasonal dating by daily growth line counting showed that the shell layer could be subdivided into at least three main seasonal layers and that the period of accumulation was approximately 500 days.     

The Kvarnbo Hall: Reconsidering the Importance of the Late Iron Age Åland Islands

This article accounts for and contextualizes a newly discovered monumental longhouse, a potential hall from the Late Iron Age, on the Åland Islands, Finland. The 45 m long building and its location are discussed in regional and historical context, in comparison to the full data set of coeval houses on Åland, and are argued to signal a social stratification, manifesting a higher level of achievement in this Late Iron Age society. This is further examined in the context of Iron Age settlement development. A rapid and large-scale colonization to Åland, evident in the middle of the first millennium AD, is for the first time explanatorily discussed, addressing the question of why this process occurred. Sudden population growth is linked in part to large-scale climatic disturbances, with fatal consequences in those areas of heavy agricultural dependency, forcing population movement to Åland driven by the presence of maritime resources, particularly seals, and available land.     

Dia Shoma (Mali), a medieval cemetery in the inner Niger delta

The aim of this paper is to compare burial typology from Dia Shoma medieval cemetery (Mali) with previously documented funerary practices of the inner Niger delta in order to expand our knowledge of the mortuary rituals once practised in this region. Considering archaeological resources from an anthropological viewpoint provides us with new information about human migration, settlement, cultural affiliation and way of life. From this point of view, especially for the period between 800 and 1000 AD, Dia Shoma offers much insight into the history of this cultural melting pot. Dia Shoma is of particular interest in regards to migration in the Western Sahara region. The burials of Dia Shoma have been characterized by morphometrical features as well as associated funeral practices. The different types of burials that coexist at Dia Shoma indicate a region of cultural diversity. Along with the existence of different kinds of tombs, an increase in various archaeological remains lends evidence towards a community co‐occupied by herders, fishermen and farmers. The change in the association of funerary practices around 1000 AD could be interpreted as an indirect disturbance to the former socio‐economic trade and cultural exchange, possibly triggered by the fall of the Empire of Ghana under the influence of the Almoravides. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

先秦两汉时期疫灾地理研究

疫灾是由传染病大规模流行导致人类健康与生命损失的灾害。先秦两汉时期(公元前771～220年)见于记载的疫灾年份57个,疫灾频度5.74%。其中,春秋战国为1.64%;西汉为7.33%;东汉为15.90%;公元前二世纪为4%,公元前一世纪为9%,公元一世纪为12%,公元二世纪为15%。不排除疫灾记载有近详远略的可能,但从全国范围看,先秦两汉时期疫灾越来越频繁的趋势是客观存在的。疫灾发生的季节除秋季较少外,春、夏、冬季的概率差不多。在周期性规律上,该时期经历了2个大的疫灾稀少期和3个大的疫灾频繁期,第一个波动周期(公元前200～公元前120年)约80年时间,波峰不很明显;第二个波动周期(公元前120～80年)长达2个世纪,其中公元前50～50年的疫灾频度高达17%,为两汉之际的疫灾高峰;第三个波动周期始于80年,东汉灭亡尚未结束,而是下接三国时期的疫灾高峰。在空间分布上,疫灾分布与人口分布有高度相关性,先秦时期仅黄河、长江流域有疫灾发生,西汉时期由于匈奴的介入,蒙新高原开始有疫灾记载,东汉时期南方人口大量增加,东南沿海开始有疫灾记载。总体来说,先秦两汉时期的疫灾是北方甚于南方,但随着时间推移,南方疫灾比重不断提高,反映了南方人口与经济的发展。     

Analytical study of Roman and Arabic wall paintings in the Patio De Banderas of Reales Alcazares’ Palace using non-destructive XRD/XRF and complementary techniques

A portable XRD/XRF system and complementary laboratory techniques were employed to improve the knowledge of the procedures used to create Roman and Arabic wall paintings. Integrated physico-chemical investigations were conducted on fragments of artworks collected from the archaeological excavation of the Patio de Banderas in the Reales Alcazares’ Palace of Seville (Spain), and a comparative study on the pigments from both historical periods was performed. As a result, pigments such as vermilion, red ochre, yellow ochre, green earth, Egyptian blue, carbon and phosphor-based black pigments were detected in Roman samples; however, in the Arabic fragments, only haematite was observed. In addition, the size and shape of the particles of the wall paintings were studied with an XRD 2-dimensional detector and SEM-EDX.     

A 5th‐Century‐AD Sewn‐Plank River Barge at St Maria in Padovetere (Comacchio‐FE), Italy: an interim report

This article reports on the remains of a 5th‐century‐AD river barge excavated in 2014 and 2015. Most of the flat bottom and one side are preserved. The barge is at least 20 m in length and 2.9 m across the floor, and is constructed using sewn planks, iron nails and mortise‐and‐tenon fasteners. Both flush‐laid and lapstrake planks are recorded. Archaeological, historical, iconographic and ethnographic evidence is used to propose explanations for features, such as the use of lapstrakes, a possible steering system and platform, and the likely position of a pump, while setting the barge in the context of the North Adriatic shipbuilding tradition.     

ON SOME PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CHINESE AND EUROPEAN RED WARES

When in the seventeenth and eighteenth century Chinese red ware from Yixing was imported into Europe, imitations of that ware, some of them delusively similar to the originals, were made in the Netherlands, Saxony, and England. With non-destructive energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence analysis (ED-XFA) the Chinese and different European red wares can be easily separated by comparing the patterns of their calcium oxide, manganese oxide, and lead contents. They also have density characteristics of their own.     

The prehistoric sources of Palliser Bay obsidian

A sample of 210 pieces of archaeologically derived obsidian from settlement sites in Palliser Bay, New Zealand, was subjected to X-ray fluorescent analysis, in order to define the petrographic sources exploited by these prehistoric groups. It was found that the material had been derived from sources at Mayor Island, Huruiki, Rotorua, Cooks Bay, Purangi, Ongaroto and Taupo, and with the exception of the last 3, all were being quarried as early as the 12th century AD. Problems were encountered in assessing the significance of trends in source exploitation which had been proven on other grounds, and these suggested that future analyses must involve far larger archaeological samples.