The value of empire: tenth-century Bulgaria between Magyars,Pechenegs and Byzantium

The article seeks to explain the connection between the migration of the Magyars and Pechenegs in central and south-east Europe, in the late ninth and early tenth century, and the conflict between Byzantium and Bulgaria during the same period. Through reference to anthropologists discussing the relations between nomadic and sedentary societies (Khazanov, Barfield), and historians studying medieval rituals (Buc, Althoff, Koziol), the article interprets the aggressive policy of the Bulgarian tsar Symeon as a consistent effort to displace Byzantium as major partner of the nomadic polities in the area. By subverting the principles of Byzantine diplomacy and political culture, Symeon turned his own kingdom into a society-structuring factor in the nomadic world. The article evaluates the very meaning of imperial claims not so much in legal terms, as an effort to guarantee Bulgaria’s sovereignty in a Byzantium-centred world, but in the real-time capacity of a ruler to make use of imperial symbols and act upon the dynamically changing conjuncture.     

The plant landscape of the imperial harbour of Rome

The research concerns the Tiber delta area, about 3 km far from the present seacoast, where the remains of the ancient harbour of Rome are located. In 42 AD, Claudius started the construction of the harbour and Nero completed it in 64 AD. Then, the emperor Trajan went on to add a hexagonal basin to the former structure, which had gradually silted up. The imperial harbour was connected to the Tiber River and ultimately to the city of Rome through the Trajan channel. During the imperial period, most of the supplies imported from the Mediterranean provinces reached the city of Rome through Portus.     

Ritual and Politics: An Examination of the 1072 Primal Ancestor Debate in the Northern Song

In considering the vital role played by imperial rites in claiming political legitimacy and maintaining social stability, Chinese emperors endeavored to present themselves as the perfect model for their subjects in terms of ritual performance. Focusing on a Northern Song (960–1127) ritual debate over the placement of imperial ancestors’ spirit tablets and ancestral chambers, especially that of the Primal Ancestor, this study aims to contribute to a better understanding of discussions on ancestral rituals and how they were intensified during the implementation of Wang Anshi’s New Policies. More importantly, this study reveals the differences between Song scholar-officials’ political positions and intellectual interests, thus providing a new interpretation of Song factionalism from the perspective of ritual politics.     

六朝文化研究刍议

南方六朝即孙吴、东晋、宋、齐、梁、陈,具有一贯性相共通的特点,适合作为一个研究单元。当此六朝文化研讨及其开发应用越来越得到学界重视、政府支持、社会关心乃至引起地域文化资源争夺[1]的今天,我们有必要立足于宏观的层面,厘清相关概念,明确时代特征与文化面貌,更新认识、追求创新,这是六朝文化研究进一步深入的前提。     

再论御器厂的建立时间——明代御窑遗址的考古学分期

长期以来关于御器厂的研究多依据文献进行考证,20世纪80年代以后开始关注御窑遗址出土文物。但是,由于以往的研究中一直把文献所记的御器厂和景德镇从事生产的窑场视为完全相同的对象,所以对御器厂建成厂时间的论定则出现偏差。本文根据正德《饶州府志》、万历《大明会典》的相关记载,认为景德镇从事生产的窑场和厂署在饶州府治所在的鄱阳县城、作为管理机构的御器厂所指并不相同,在对比景德镇御窑遗址的考古发现后,考订景德镇从事生产的官府窑场在明代的始烧时间不晚于洪武四年,作为管理机构的御器厂建立于洪熙元年宣德皇帝即位以后,而御器厂从饶州迁往景德镇与生产窑场合一是正德六年以后的事。     

科举制的起源与进士科的起始

“科举”一词有广义与狭义之分。广义的科举指分科举人 ,即西汉以后分科目察举或制诏甄试人才授予官职的制度 ;狭义的科举指进士科举 ,即隋代设立进士科以后用考试来选拔人才授予官职的制度。进士科举不始于隋文帝时而始于隋炀帝大业元年。炀帝始建进士科时并未予以特别的重视 ,进士科举的重要意义是因后来它在中国社会政治和文化教育上影响日益重大而为后人所赋予的     

Clay‐shoveler's fracture: an uncommon diagnosis in palaeopathology

An archaeological case of clay‐shoveler's fracture was observed in an adult male exhumed from a Roman necropolis dated to the 1st–3rd century AD and located in the city of Barcelona, Spain. Clay‐shoveler's fracture is a breakage of a lower cervical or upper thoracic spinous process as a result of mechanical stress. Different mechanisms have been related to this injury, generally in labour‐related contexts. This paper reviews the literature concerning this uncommon finding, focusing especially on its mechanism and on activity‐related lesions. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Multi‐analytical Studies of Archaeological Chinese Earthen Plasters: The Inner Wall of the Longhu Hall (Yuzhen Palace,Ancient Building Complex,Wudang Mountains,China)

The Yuzhen Palace is one of the nine palaces in the Ancient Building Complex built by order of the Yongle Emperor during the Ming dynasty. The buildings were built with dressed black bricks. As a result of the planned national South–North Water Diversion project, the water level in the Danjiangkou Reservoir that surrounds the Yuzhen Palace was expected to rise by approximately 15 m. To avoid submersion of the site, three gates were elevated by 15 m in 2013 and other buildings dismantled, for later reconstruction. The characterization of the construction materials has therefore become of primary importance. Here, we present results on the plasters of the Longhu Hall. The analysis of materials involved a multi‐analytical approach combining optical and electron microscopy with X‐ray and vibrational spectromicroscopies and thermogravimetry. The results indicated the use of two earthen plaster layers and a whitewash finish coating applied over a thin preparatory intermediate layer to improve the adherence of the finish coating to the earthen plaster. Ramie and straw fibres identified in the earthen plasters were added to reduce shrinkage and cracking during drying. The raw materials used and the application technique pointed to a well‐established construction industry using traditional earthen building materials together with lime technology.     

再说贵州麻江高枧夏家入黔史及夏同龢状元

高枧夏家入黔距今有620年;夏同钚的祖父是五岁丧父由母教养的独儿;夏同样出生官宦之家,随父异地为官,生在云南、长在四川,由广东起步,前往北京参加顺天府乡试中举。1898年中状元后,即授修撰。1899年与丘逢甲成立纪念文天祥的寿忠社。1904年前往日本法政大学入法政速成科学习法政,同学有胡汉民、汪精卫、沈钧儒等。传世的著作主要是编辑《行政法》。回国后1906年出任广东法政学堂监督（校长）,学生有陈炯明、邹鲁等,教员有松山丰造、朱执信、陈融等。民国后为众议院议员,宪法起草委员会委员。     

南京出土明《国子监生赵君墓志铭》

现存于南京市雨华台区文物管理所的《国子监生赵君墓志铭》,所述为明代国子监生赵铠的生平,此人系朱元璋之女宝庆公主的后代。其祖父赵辉也曾地位显赫。该志未见著录。