Breaking Bones to Obtain Marrow: A Comparative Study between Percussion by Batting Bone on an Anvil and Hammerstone Percussion

The fat‐ and nutrient‐rich marrow of animal bones can be extracted using different techniques. Passive hammerstone percussion has been the primary focus of experimental bone breaking and the main analogy to understand archaeological bone breakage. Here, the term ‘passive’ is applied because the bone to be broken passively receives the impact from a hammerstone. In addition to this technique, there is another bone‐breaking method that also requires direct percussion, but in an active way. This method is percussion by ‘batting’, in which the bone is actively hit against an anvil until the bone breaks. This technique has rarely been considered at an experimental level and, therefore, has been omitted in the majority of the archaeological interpretations of faunal assemblages with pre‐use of fire technologies. In this study, we attempt to analytically characterize this type of bone‐breaking technique through a systematic comparison with hammerstone percussion. The applied statistical tests will allow us to distinguish some diagnostic modifications, such as the outlines of the fracture planes and the type of notches or their location with respect to the longitudinal axis of the bone. These features and their proportions allow the consideration of the use of this technique in Pleistocene anthropogenic faunal assemblages.     

Discerning use-related micro-residues on tools: testing the multi-stranded approach for archaeological studies

In this paper I explore how post-depositional contaminants and non-use related ancient residues may be distinguished from use-related residues directly associated with the application of ancient artefacts. It is assumed that contaminant and unintentional remains have a random distribution over a tool’s surface. Preserved use-related residues, however, are expected to have a consistent spatial distribution around a working edge. To test this, residues on used and unused experimental flakes were recorded after they underwent weathering. The surfaces of the experimental flakes were divided in four quadrants, of roughly equal size. The surface coverage of the residue types per quadrant was then recorded. On used flakes with well preserved residues, the use-related residues are more abundant on portions associated with the sharp edge than on portions associated with blunt sides. On the samples without identified use-related remains and on the unused sample, the distribution of micro-remains is more uniform. This study confirms that by using a contextual approach it is possible to distinguish use-related remains from non-use-related and co-incidental remains.     

铁质文物脱盐处理废水中的污染物检测

铁质文物脱盐过程要产生大量废水废水排放不得超过国家或者地方规定的水污染物排放标准。本研究依据国家标准《污水综合排放标准》(GB8978-1996),对腐蚀模拟Z30试片和室外大型铁炮脱盐废水中的污染物含量进行化学分析。结果显示主要是化学耗氧量(COD)、可溶性正磷酸盐、悬浮物等项目超标;分析表明某些过量添加的脱盐试剂和助剂是造成污染物超标的主要原因。一般对馆藏铁器,因脱盐废水量小,可通过清水稀释处理(有时需预处理)后达标排放;对个别室外大型铁器而言,因废水量大,污染物超标严重时,建议将废水经过物理、化学方法等工艺处理达标后排放。总之,铁器脱盐时,环境友好型脱盐试剂和助剂的选择和适量使用是关键;铁质文物脱盐废水排放可能造成的环境污染问题应引起重视。     

An estimator for bidirectional (naviform) blade productivity in the Near Eastern Pre-Pottery Neolithic B

A method is presented for calculating the blade productivity of bidirectional (naviform) blade cores, a hallmark of Near Eastern Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) chipped stone tool assemblages. This approach involves estimating the volume of the core that furnished serial blades, together with the mean volume of a typical targeted blade blank. Simple computation of the volume of a wedge in both instances provides an estimate of the number of targeted blades that were produced in an average single reduction sequence. The method is checked against two replicated bidirectional blade reduction sequences, and a refitted bidirectional blade core from the site of Kfar HaHoresh, Israel. Finally, a case study from Kfar HaHoresh is presented in order to illustrate the application of the method, which may have ramifications concerning the evaluation of incipient craft specialization in the region.     

我国城市犯罪空间防控研究二十年

从4个方面透视了我国20年来城市犯罪空间防控的研究进展。(1)溯源-学习与批判。国外的犯罪原因传统理论、犯罪新理论和城市犯罪空间理论等,为我国城市犯罪空间防控研究提供了理论素养和反面教训。(2)历程-理念与实践。城市犯罪空间防控研究从介绍国外研究成果并蕴育科学理念,到结合中国国情尝试应用实践,再到初步提出理论体系,经历了一个短暂而并不缓慢的发展历程。(3)凝练-概念与框架。理清了空间防控的概念内涵、理论要点,阐明了空间防控的不可替代性。(4)展望-拓展与深化。我国城镇化的客观需求必将为空间防控研究提供强大的推动力,地理学必将在空间防控研究领域里取得重大而独特的成就。     

The use of an improved pRIA technique in the identification of protein residues

Blood and protein residue identification in archaeological research has been a controversial subject for the last 20 years. This paper reports on the use of an improved protein radioimmunoassay (pRIA) technique in identifying protein residues. Results from the blind testing of the original and improved pRIA techniques in identifying bloodstains on experimental lithic artifacts are described and compared. We argue that the improved pRIA technique is highly sensitive and accurate for identifying protein residues to genus, and thus has excellent applications for archaeological research.     

Experimental use and quantitative performance analysis of triangular flakes (Levallois points) used as arrowheads

The invention and widespread use of projectile weaponry is a characteristic presumed to exist only with Homo sapiens. However, as finds of wooden material during the early development of projectile weapons are extremely rare, this remains a contentious topic. Recent work has proposed a series of ballistically-significant morphological characteristics of stone points that yield information about their potential use. Here we report on initial experimental approaches to quantifying the performance of relatively simple stone points as arrow armatures. Two experimental trials were performed using a series of 51 Levallois points. The first, against a uniform density target, was designed to give an overall indication of performance. The second, against a simulated animal carcass, demonstrated the durability of these points. The results of this study suggest that small Levallois points could have functioned as arrowheads, albeit ones likely to break after limited use. They also suggest that these points’ penetrating power is strongly controlled by their morphometric characteristics, most notably their perimeter. This latter finding refines a method for assessing hypothetical Paleolithic stone points on the basis of tip cross-sectional area previously proposed by others.     

Introducing a new experimental design for controlled studies of flake formation: results for exterior platform angle,platform depth,angle of blow,velocity, and force

Potential variables that underlie variation in flake size, and in some instances shape, are investigated in a newly designed experiment. This new design, which utilizes glass cores molded to a specific shape, results in flakes that are identical to archaeological ones. Variation in exterior platform angle, platform depth and angle of blow all directly affect flake size, and in the case of exterior platform angle, flake shape as well (in spite of constant core surface morphology). In treating velocity and force independently, neither is found to affect flake size or shape. These results have implications for understanding different strategies that flintknappers may employ to control the size of their flake products.     

新型农村合作医疗制度中的社会性别盲点及其影响

新型农村合作医疗制度的实施,结束了占全国总人口63％的农村居民缺乏医疗保障的历史,为促进社会和谐奠定了坚实的基础。然而作为一项公共政策,新型农村合作医疗制度在性别方面似乎存在不公平现象。本文在实地调查的基础上对其表现及其产生的影响进行分析和探讨。     

青海喇家遗址齐家文化房址的保护处理

喇家遗址四座齐家文化的房址分别于2000年和2001年发掘完成,在此后的数年当中,由于受到多方面因素的影响,房址及房内人类骨骸等都遭到了不同程度的损坏,改变了发掘清理后的原始状态.为了保护房址和人骨遗骸,对房址进行了物理复原加固和化学保护.采用金属锚杆牵入嵌入方式、沟槽内嵌入固定体方式、利用孔洞嵌放固定体进行土体夯筑方式等加固方法,并使用非水分散体丙烯酸树脂溶液进行喷洒或滴渗保护.结果显示,该方法的实施,可以使这一举世闻名的齐家文化之灾难遗迹重新展示于公众面前.