Geotagging Photographs in Student Fieldwork

This resource paper provides guidance for staff and students on the potential educational benefits, limitations and applications of geotagging photographs. It also offers practical advice for geotagging photographs in a range of fieldwork settings and reviews three free smartphone applications (apps) for geotagging photographs (Flickr, Evernote and Panoramio). Geotagged photographs have the potential to encourage post-fieldwork student reflection on a landscape. A short case study of first-year undergraduates who geotagged photographs as a method of data collection is outlined. This resource paper also briefly discusses the use of student-owned devices in fieldwork which may reduce pressure on departmental budgets.     

Teaching Time–Space Compression

Time–space compression shows students that geographies are plastic, mutable and forever changing. This paper justifies the need to teach this topic, which is rarely found in undergraduate course syllabi. It addresses the impacts of transportation and communications technologies to explicate its dynamics. In summarizing various conceptual perspectives, the paper illustrates the diverse ways in which it has been theorized. The links between time–space compression and globalization are explored. The paper points to four common pitfalls that plague attempts to teach this issue. It offers five classroom examples through which time–space compression can be taught.     

Evaluating morphological variability in lithic assemblages using 3D models of stone artifacts

Technological and morphological variability in lithic artifacts is commonly used to identify taxonomic entities in Paleolithic research contexts. Assemblages are mainly studied using either linear distance measurements or qualitative assessments of morphologies. Here, we present a method to quantify morphological variability in lithic artifacts using 3D models of stone artifacts. Our study on the sequence of the Upper Paleolithic layers V–I from the site Yabroud II in western Syria, demonstrates that utilizing 3D models provides a new insight into the variability of lithic technologies. We use quantitative data on convexities, twist and scar patterns on cores and blades, attributes previously not readily quantifiable, to trace technological change through the archaeological sequence. We are able to identify differences and translate these findings into a grouping of the layers. While layers VI–II are characterized by technological continuity and were grouped together, layers V and I can be separated from this group and represent technologically different groups chronologically before and after. Our results demonstrate the potential of 3D models for studying morphological variability in lithic assemblages.     

Enhancing fieldwork learning with technology: practitioner's perspectives

This research paper reports the findings from an international survey of fieldwork practitioners on their use of technology to enhance fieldwork teaching and learning. It was found that there was high information technology usage before and after time in the field, but some were also using portable devices such as smartphones and global positioning system whilst out in the field. The main pedagogic reasons cited for the use of technology were the need for efficient data processing and to develop students' technological skills. The influencing factors and barriers to the use of technology as well as the importance of emerging technologies are discussed.     

The Paleolithic of Dzungaria (Xinjiang,Northwest China) Based on Materials from the Luotuoshi Site

The paper reports the results of an analysis of surface collections of artifacts made at the Luotuoshi site in Dzungaria, Xinjiang, northwest China. The site was discovered in 2004 by a joint Chinese-Russian-American archaeological expedition. A techno-typological analysis of the artifacts was carried out noting aeolian abrasion of the artifacts’ surfaces. This technocomplex is quite homogenous and is characterized by a combination of Levallois-like and subprismatic blade-based reduction techniques. Analogs of the Luotuoshi assemblage have been identified within the lithic industries of the Altai, the Orkhon-1 and Tolbor-4 sites in Mongolia, and at Shuidonggou in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in China, all of which have been attributed to the Early Upper Paleolithic. Luotuoshi is the first site associated with the blade-based Early Upper Paleolithic discovered in northwest China and its particular features make it possible to correlate this technocomplex with those from southern Siberia and northern Central Asia.     

内蒙古地区皮质文物种类、组成和物化特性的研究

为研究皮质文物鞣制工艺与其组成及物化特性之间的关系,对内蒙古地区皮质文物的种类进行调查、归类。利用扫描电镜、能谱分析等手段对皮质样品的组成及相应的物化特性进行深入的分析研究。结果表明,皮革文物的组成和制作工艺有一定的联系:古代技术鞣制的皮革较现代工艺鞣制的皮革含有较多的四氯化碳提取物和较少的灰分,而现代鞣制皮革含有铬元素,这是现代鞣制的特征。两种皮革样品中都含有食盐,是用来做防腐剂的。     

微痕考古——从微观信息认识历史过程的科学探索

微痕考古以显微观测与技术分析为基础,通过对自然微观痕迹、人类和其它动物行为痕迹的观察研究,阐释人类与动物的行为模式、生活环境、文化遗址埋藏现象等.并作为一种技术性工作广泛服务于我国的文物保护.微痕考古在工作方向、工作方法和工作结果方面,可以弥补传统考古工作和文物保护技术的不足,使考古工作从微观到宏观、从实验到理念、从局部到整体建立更全面、科学的分析过程.我国微痕考古近年迅速发展,专业队伍扩大、研究理念与实验技术进步、工作领域覆盖面拓宽近年微痕考古的重要收获,包括发现人类最早的戳刺性行为痕迹、人类最早的剥皮屠宰技术及刻划图案等;在玉器制作工艺与鉴定、石器使用痕迹与区域文化特点等方面也取得丰富成果.微痕考占的产生与发展,显示脱胎于自然科学的考古学专业,在与现代应用技术紧密结合下,使考古学在研究理念、分析技术和认知深度等方面正发生深刻变化.     

关于物联网技术在博物馆观众服务领域应用的思考

随着物联网技术的快速发展与普及,其应用已逐渐渗入到社会的各个行业中,也为文博领域提供了有力的技术支持。目前物联网技术已经基本满足了提升博物馆服务观众的能力与效果,本工作以博物馆观众的需求为出发点,描述了物联网技术在博物馆观众服务领域的几种应用设想。