Acheulean variability and hominin dispersals: a model-bound approach

Understanding the pattern of hominin dispersal is a fundamental component of Palaeolithic archaeology and palaeoanthropology. A widely held assumption is that bifacial handaxe (i.e. Acheulean or ‘Mode 2’) technologies evolved in Africa and dispersed into northern and western Eurasia via subsequent hominin migrations. To date, however, few formal tests of this hypothesis have been presented. Here, we use a combination of morphometrics, cultural transmission theory, and a dispersal model drawn from population genetics in order to test this hypothesis. The iterative founder effect (repeated bottlenecking) model is assumed to be supported if a significant inverse relationship is found between geographic distance from source along an estimated dispersal route and within-assemblage variance. The results of our analyses support the hypothesis that Acheulean technologies evolved in Africa and dispersed with migrating hominin populations into northern and western Eurasia under the assumptions of this iterative founder effect model. Based on our results we suggest that the occurrence of certain Mode 1 technologies such as those east of the Movius Line, and some assemblages assigned to the Clactonian of Britain, plausibly represent instances where effective population sizes in colonising populations dropped below levels where Mode 2 technologies could be maintained.     

Acheulean variation and selection: does handaxe symmetry fit neutral expectations?

It has been suggested that the property of symmetry observed in Acheulean handaxes was selected for functional, adaptive or social and aesthetic reasons. However, selectionist accounts of variation may be contrasted with the approach taken by population geneticists to molecular variation. Population geneticists always first assume a neutral pattern of variation for molecular data, and only look to non-neutral (e.g., selective) scenarios for pattern and variation in the face of strong evidence against this null model of neutral expectation. Here, using a combination of cultural transmission theory, morphometrics, and the principles of population genetics, (null) neutral expectations for Acheulean handaxe symmetry are tested. The results of the analyses are inconsistent with a null hypothesis of neutral expectation for patterns of handaxe symmetry variation. Rather, the results imply that the property of symmetry in Acheulean handaxes was subject to selection for functional, adaptive or social reasons.     

Hunting with Howiesons Poort segments: pilot experimental study and the functional interpretation of archaeological tools

For many decades the use of backed pieces from the Howiesons Poort, between about 70 ka and 55 ka ago, in South Africa has been a point of discussion. Recently direct evidence has been provided to associate these tools with Middle Stone Age hunting strategies. Yet, whether they were used to tip hunting weapons or as barbs remained an open question. In this paper we introduce a set of pilot experiments designed to test the effectiveness of Howiesons Poort segments, the type fossils of the industry, hafted in four different configurations as tips for hunting weapons. It is shown that the morphological type can be used successfully in this way. We present the results of a macrofracture analysis conducted on the experimental tools and compare these to results obtained from three Howiesons Poort backed tool samples. By correlating experimental outcomes, macrofracture data and the interpretation of micro-residue distribution patterns, we provide some insight into the functional variables that might be associated with Howiesons Poort segments.     

“Mycenaean” political domination of Knossos following the Late Minoan IB destructions on Crete: negative evidence from strontium isotope ratio analysis (Sr/Sr)

Strontium isotope ratio analysis of human dental enamel and bone is applied to investigate a highly debated question of population movement and cultural discontinuity in Prehistoric Aegean Archaeology. The Late Minoan IB (ca. 1490/1470 BC) destructions on Crete are succeeded by cultural upheaval. The novel cultural features that appear at Knossos (Crete) in this period have forerunners in the Mainland. In Cretan context, the Linear B writing system, the funerary architecture and burial practices of the Mainland style are interpreted as evidence of an actual “Mycenaean” long-term settlement and political domination of Knossos. Human skeletal material from tombs that are associated with non-locals from the Mainland based upon the material culture is analysed to measure ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr. The results of the analysis show that all the examined individuals from the Knossos tombs were born locally.     

试析湖北盘龙城遗址第一至三期文化遗存的年代和性质

依据盘龙城王家嘴遗址地层之间的叠压和各遗址器物之间的演变关系,该遗址中的第一期应以原报告中的城垣和城门叠压或打破的第一期文化遗存为代表;第二期应以原报告中的城垣和城门叠压或打破的第二期、王家嘴遗址第一和第二期、李家嘴第二期和杨家嘴第二期墓葬为代表;第三期应以原报告中的城垣和城门叠压或打破的第三期、王家嘴遗址第三期、杨家湾第三期和杨家嘴第三期文化遗存为代表。其中,第一期和第二期之间应有缺环,而第二期和第三期之间应是连续发展的。其第一期和第三期的相对年代应分别与二里头文化第三期和二里岗下层一期偏晚的年代相当,第二期文化遗存的年代应晚于二里岗H9而稍早于H17,即稍晚于二里岗下层一期偏早。相应地,其第一期文化的性质应属南下的夏文化,而第二和第三期文化遗存则应属于南下的早商文化。     

楚秦洞庭苍梧及源流演变

从里耶简文出发,结合相关材料分析秦简牍所见洞庭、苍梧两郡,将传世文献所见楚洞庭、苍梧,汉苍梧郡与两秦郡相比较,另将楚秦黔中郡、秦汉长沙郡、汉武陵郡等一并考虑,以考察楚秦洞庭、苍梧之源流演变。认为最早楚洞庭应指山名或一较小水泽名,后泛指沅湘下游洞庭湖平原,亦指楚邑名,战国晚期因楚秦战争,楚国才在此设郡,其范围当与"洞庭五渚江南"(楚邑)及包山楚简所见楚县邑有关,含湘资沅澧下游通道;而秦洞庭郡含沅澧中下游(包括酉水流域),郡治应在临沅或索。楚苍梧腹地在九疑山区,而秦苍梧郡更重视五岭关口,二者范围、南界应有不同;汉苍梧郡仅设于五岭以南,与秦越(西瓯骆越)战争、秦朝平定南越后分设桂林等郡、楚秦移民及其后裔对岭南"封中"等地的开发、秦苍梧郡分划以及汉初南越国设苍梧王属地(或以桂林监守之)等过程、因素有关。     

毫不动摇地坚持社会主义初级阶段理论——为纪念改革开放三十周年而作

社会主义初级阶段理论的确立,是开启我国改革开放历史新时期、开辟中国特色社会主义道路、开创中国特色社会主义理论体系的首要理论前提。它是中国特色社会主义事业的立论基础,是党的基本路线的科学依据,是实现十七大提出的新任务的理论武器。只有毫不动摇地坚持社会主义初级阶段理论,才能深入贯彻落实科学发展观,正确对待改革、发展中的新矛盾新问题,排除“左”和右的错误倾向的干扰。     

河南洛阳市南陈遗址西周文化遗存的发掘

南陈遗址是黄河小浪底西霞院反调节水库工程区内需要抢救发掘的重要遗址之一。本文主要报道了该遗址西周时期文化遗存的发掘收获,文化遗物以西周中晚期为主。南陈遗址的发掘为洛阳地区考古学文化谱系的研究提供了重要的资料。     

“早期夏文化学术研讨会”纪要

2008年7月18～20日,由北京大学震旦古代文明研究中心、河南省文物考古研究所和郑州市文物考古研究院共同主办的"早期夏文化学术研讨会"在河南郑州召开.会议回顾了学术界几十年来探索早期夏文化的历程,总结了早期夏文化研究所获得的阶段性成果,讨论了学术界目前关心的早期夏文化研究中的热点问题,指明了早期夏文化研究的方向.这次会议在夏文化研究历史中将具有里程碑式的意义.     

论淮河在中国古代南北方的分界地位

中国古代南北存在着地区上的差异,而这种差异大致是以淮河为分界的。本文从气候、农作类型、九州四渎和分裂时期南北对峙等4个方面,论证淮河在中国古代为南北方分界的地位。认为：淮河南北气候的不同,奠定了南北差异的自然地理基础。建立在这一基础上的农作类型的不同,为南北人文差异提供了物质条件。淮河在九州中的分界特征,对秦以后的行政区划影响深远。淮河在四渎中自然标识特征的突出,使其更有资格成为南北的分界线。同时,在分裂时期的南北对峙局面出现时,淮河多为分界线或准分界线。以上多种因素在长期历史中形成了淮河的分界地位,这对关于中国古代大一统疆域的考察有深刻的意义。