Wild or domesticated: DNA analysis of ancient water buffalo remains from north China

Recent zooarchaeological studies on water buffalo (Bubalus sp.) remains from China and south Asia question the traditional view that water buffalo were first domesticated in Neolithic China over 7000 years ago. The results from several recent population genetic studies of modern domesticated buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) are not consistent with each other, placing the original center of buffalo's domestication in south Asia, southeast Asia, or China. This paper reports a study using an ancient DNA approach to analyze water buffalo remains from Neolithic sites in north China to investigate their affinities with modern domesticated water buffalo, and to shed light on the origin of modern domesticated water buffalo in China.A 169 bp fragment of D-loop mitochondrial DNA was successfully amplified and verified for 13 of 24 bone samples obtained from seven archaeological sites along the Wei River valley in Shaanxi Province, China. The bone samples which yielded positive DNA can be dated to 8000–3600 cal. BP. The phylogenetic analysis of the obtained DNA sequences along with modern water buffalo sequences indicated that the ancient water buffalos were not the direct ancestor of modern domesticated water buffalo. However, the phylogenetic analysis, along with BLAST searches of these ancient DNA sequences, did demonstrate their relatedness to water buffalo more so than to any other bovid species, confirming the existence of indigenous wild (but now extinct) water buffalo species (B. mephistopheles) in ancient China.The DNA analysis of these ancient remains failed to establish direct links between modern domesticated water buffalo (B. bubalis) and indigenous water buffalo (B. mephistopheles) from ancient China. If further DNA studies of more ancient remains from other regions of China confirm the observation of solely indigenous water buffalo species in ancient China, it would suggest modern water buffalo might not have been first domesticated in China.     

Ancient DNA in human bones from Neolithic and Bronze Age sites in Greece and Crete

Attempts were made to detect ancient DNA (aDNA) in samples of 88 human skeletons from eight Neolithic and Bronze Age sites in Greece and Crete. Ancient DNA was absent in specimens from Nea Nikomedia, Lerna, Karaviádena (Zakro), Antron Grave Circle A and Mycenae Grave Circle A. For each of three skeletons from Antron Grave Circle B that were sampled, polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) gave products for nuclear but not mitochondrial DNA, but amplicon yield was low and inconsistent with replicate PCRs failing to give reproducible results. With specimens from Mycenae Grave Circle B, evidence for mitochondrial aDNA was obtained for four of the 22 skeletons that were studied, and at Kouphovouno evidence for mitochondrial and/or nuclear aDNA was obtained with eight of the 20 skeletons that were examined. We conclude that, although aDNA might be present in some Eastern Mediterranean skeletons from later centuries of the Bronze Age, it is not commonly found in material from this period and is likely to be absent from older material.     

中国古代社会保障思想与实践初探

中国几千年所遗留下来的社会保障思想有许多精华值得我们挖掘和继承,特别是其中的大同均平思想、以民为本思想、兼爱交利思想和仓储后备思想及其实践,尤其值得我们学习和借鉴。吸收古代社会保障中这些行之有效的思想和方法,将有助于我们构建中国特色的社会保障制度,保障基本民生。     

Cats of the Pharaohs: Genetic Comparison of Egyptian Cat Mummies to their Feline Contemporaries

The ancient Egyptians mummified an abundance of cats during the Late Period (664 - 332 BC). The overlapping morphology and sizes of developing wildcats and domestic cats confounds the identity of mummified cat species. Genetic analyses should support mummy identification and was conducted on two long bones and a mandible of three cats that were mummified by the ancient Egyptians. The mummy DNA was extracted in a dedicated ancient DNA laboratory at the University of California - Davis, then directly sequencing between 246 and 402 bp of the mtDNA control region from each bone. When compared to a dataset of wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris, F. s. tristrami, and F. chaus) as well as a previously published worldwide dataset of modern domestic cat samples, including Egypt, the DNA evidence suggests the three mummies represent common contemporary domestic cat mitotypes prevalent in modern Egypt and the Middle East. Divergence estimates date the origin of the mummies' mitotypes to between two and 7.5 thousand years prior to their mummification, likely prior to or during Egyptian Predyanstic and Early Dynastic Periods. These data are the first genetic evidence supporting that the ancient Egyptians used domesticated cats, F. s. catus, for votive mummies, and likely implies cats were domesticated prior to extensive mummification of cats.     

几种防腐剂在古坑木中的吸收量固化率及抗流失性研究

不同类型的防腐剂由于化学性质不同,造成在古坑木中的吸收量、固化率及抗流失性有较大差别。为了筛选出适合于古铜矿遗址内古坑木的防腐剂,对木宝等几种防腐剂在古坑木中的吸收量、固化率、抗流失性进行了试验。     

珂罗版复制在书画文物保护中的作用

珂罗版印刷是一种古老而精妙的平面印刷技术,珂罗版印刷在印刷复杂的书画作品时,特别是在中国古代书画的笔触和墨韵表现上,可以最大限度地体现原作的艺术特色,达到其他印刷手段难以企及的艺术境界。珂罗版印刷与人工设色相结合,提高了人工临摹的工作效率使古老珂罗版印刷更具艺术生命力,成为复制书画文物的最佳手段。     

西汉早期柿园墓四神云气图壁画保护研究（一）——历史与现状调查

壁画保护研究,多集中在正面的保护以及揭取方法和材料的选用。对壁画揭取选用材料性能的系统研究甚少。而对已揭取壁画的破坏与保护的研究更少。已揭取壁画的破坏包含壁画原有的破坏和揭取所用材料蜕变引发的破坏。已揭取壁画具有结构体系的复杂性和破坏类型的多样性,其破坏类型往往是交织在一起的。对此类壁画的保护修复应建立在全面调查、系统研究的理论框架上。其研究内容涉及多学科以及多类型材料和方法的综合运用,其调查内容,也须从壁画制作工艺、材料、环境、破坏类型、原有保护材料以及材料相互作用等方面界定。本工作对西汉早期柿园墓四神云气图壁画的历史状况和现状进行了全面调查。调查结果无疑对后续的研究、对认识壁画的破坏形式和性质具有重要的作用,更有助于实施对古代壁画的科学保护和修复。     

一种新型古丝绸强度测定仪的研制

为了克服目前利用抗拉强度分析方法检测古丝绸老化强度的缺点,通过对古丝绸抗拉强度分析,利用电子天平的称量精度和记录、显示功能,结合控速、控力和固定试样的机械部件,对测定仪的机械、电路、软件部分进行了设计,研制出一种新型的古丝绸强度测定仪。用古丝绸强度测定仪对古丝绸进行了测试,结果显示古丝绸强度测定仪能很好地测定古丝绸的抗拉强度。该仪器为定量测定古代丝织品老化程度提供了一种较为精细的手段。     

安徽省图书馆藏《正德三年进士登科录》的修复

2013年初,为配合古籍数字化,安徽省图书馆开始修复馆藏《正德三年进士登科录》。通过分析破损现状、查找相关资料、咨询修复专家、制订修复方案、选配纸张、清洗书页、修补书页、书皮及托纸、修整书页、装订书册、残片修复与函套制作、完善修复记录,经精心修复,修复质量合格、效果满意。论文着重探讨了"古籍修复需要讲究依据"、灵活运用"修旧如旧"原则、保留修复资料等相关问题。此修复研究可为行业修复此类古籍提供相关借鉴。     

汶川地震导致的古建筑震害

为了解汶川地震造成的古建筑震害及对古建筑的保护,根据古建筑震害资料,通过归纳方法,获得了古建筑不同的震害症状：对木结构而言,主要有地基破坏、柱底侧移、柱身倾斜、节点拔榫、装修开裂、梁架歪闪、瓦件掉落、填充墙破坏等;而砖石及砖木结构由于承重材料的抗拉、压、剪强度相对较差,容易产生倒塌等严重震害。在此基础上,通过勘查分析方法,获得了古建筑产生震害的主要原因：地震力过大、古建筑缺乏及时保养与加固、施工原因及砖石材料本身强度差的原因等。针对不同的震害原因,提出了相应的抗震加固建议。在上述工作基础上,得出如下结论：为提高古建筑的抗震性能,应加强对古建筑的维护与加固,及时清除各种隐患,将地震产生的破坏减小到最轻的程度。