Maps,Mapping, Modernity: Art and Cartography in the Twentieth Century

While the history of cartography has freed itself from debilitating debates over the scientific and artistic status of maps, considerations of the relationship between art and cartography have continued to focus largely on pre‐modern maps, avoiding critical examination of twentieth‐century art and science in cartography and leaving intact the impression that these followed distinct paths in the modern period. In this paper, however, I have drawn on theoretical work in Science Studies and taken account of modern art's separation from aesthetics to suggest that an examination of art and cartography in the twentieth century should focus on mapping practices rather than on maps as such. A summary overview of modern‐art movements and selected works indicates a continued, if critical, engagement of avant‐garde artists with cartography, and the examination of more popular newspaper artwork produced in the context of the intensely modern visual culture of mid‐twentieth century Los Angeles indicates a similarly close connection between modernity, art and cartography.     

Fishing settlements in the Pskov region in the 16th century (according to archaeological data and written sources)

Numerous written sources report that an extensive system of special fishing villages called isads existed in the Pskov region in the 16th century. These villages were inhabited by professional fishermen and their fishing grounds were strictly delineated. Due to the analysis of scribes books, cartographic material analysis and exploratory excavations in the area, 314 sites were exposed. More than 60% of the fishing sites mentioned in the scribes books were mapped and the location of 20% more was determined by indirect information. Some of the isads which were located are partially studied by prompt or archaeological excavations. During the excavations of beach debris, some fishing gear dated to the late Medieval–Modern time periods were found. The combination of information obtained from the study of lake coastline changes, hydrological regime of waterways and water bodies of the Pskov region, and data on the economy and economics of the whole area under study give impetus to research into a number of problems related to natural environmental characteristics of the Pskov region for the period of study.     

Historiography and Chinese modernity—A study of the historiographical ideas of Li Dazhao

ABSTRACT

In search of modernity in China, history played a crucial role. Many leading intellectuals in modern China were historians and/or historical thinkers. Despite his untimely death, Li Dazhao was particularly important. Among his cohorts, Li was arguably the first one who paid close attention to the need for the Chinese to change their views of the past and accept Darwinism as a new historical outlook. That Li later became an avowed Marxist also had a good deal to do with his belief in Darwinism or evolutionism. He was fully convinced that history moves along a linear progressive path, which enabled him and many others to argue the necessity of changing China for the modern. In a word, the acceptance of historical evolutionism paved the way for the commitment to modernity by the Chinese.     

Criteria for the Assessment of the Modern Use of Ancient Theatres and Odea

ERATO is a research project entitled ‘Identification, Evaluation and Revival of the Acoustical Heritage of Ancient Theatres and Odea’ that was implemented within the Fifth Framework INCO‐MED Programme of the European Commission, under the thematic title ‘Preserving and Using Cultural Heritage’. The project was designed to identify virtual restoration and the revival of the acoustical and architectural heritage. The project also addressed the issue of establishing criteria for the assessment of the modern use of ancient theatres and odea. Ancient theatres are threatened by erosion through time and improper use. The desire to use ancient sites with theatres and odea for modern activities is very tempting for modern societies. In fact, reuse is currently used as a means of conservation as well as justification for the enormous costs that restoration and conservation entail. However, decision makers and those involved with conservation are generally more conservative and reluctant to encourage reuse. It is important to realise that we are dealing with man‐made space designed for dialogue between audience and actors and hence criteria should be developed to enhance consistent and conscious decisions aimed at the conservation of such spaces. Criteria should be sought that consider several parameters related to human comfort, besides architecture and acoustic qualities. This paper discusses and evaluates, in general, the criteria relating to the modern use of ancient theatres and odea through understanding their value, ancient and current use, kinds of contemporary use, causes of deterioration and threats, and their cultural significance, while reviewing the main issues related to the international charters on the use of ancient places of performance.     

Identification of ancient starch grains from the tribe Triticeae in the North China Plain

Both macrofossil and microfossil plant remains from the grass family (Poaceae) have been recovered from Neolithic and historic sites in China. Basing our work on the plant taxa that were previously recovered, we analyzed the economically significant genera for modern starch grain analysis with a focus on the important tribe Triticeae. Modern starch grains from the tribe Triticeae were compared with those from other grasses, and criteria for identification were determined. In total, 38 species within 28 genera, 13 tribes and 4 subfamilies were selected for analysis. Results demonstrate that starch grains from members of the tribe Triticeae are discernible from those of other tribes by their distinctive lenticular morphologies and surficial pressure craters. A dichotomous key covering 10 species within 7 genera of the Triticeae was created, thus allowing identification of members of the tribe to the level of genus. Application of the dichotomous key to the ancient starch assemblage recovered from lithic tools excavated from the early Neolithic site of Donghulin demonstrates that plants from the genera Hordeum and Agropyron were exploited alongside millets at this site.     

论广西近代圩市的变迁

随着广西近代商品经济的发展和社会性质的变化,广西近代圩市发生相应的变迁。就具体的圩市而言,广西近代圩市有兴有废,但总的趋势是兴多废少;从圩市贸易来看,广西近代圩市有盛有衰,但大部分圩市固定人口增加,商业目渐繁盛,圩市的交易圈也不断扩大;农村商品经济的发展,使可供交易的商品目益增多,从而使圩期逐步缩短。这些从一个侧面反映了广西近代经济的发展和变化。     

Early evidence of complexity in lithic economy: core-axe production,hafting and use at Late Middle Pleistocene site 8-B-11, Sai Island (Sudan)

Wear analysis indicates that Sangoan core-axes from site 8-B-11 at Sai Island, Sudan, were used while hafted. The middle Sangoan occupation level at 8-B-11 served as a locale where specialized activities were performed, including core-axe manufacture and hafting. Newly manufactured quartz core-axes served as replacements for exhausted items that were mostly fabricated out of raw materials other than quartz, which were carried back to the site in their hafts for re-tooling. The hafted core-axes appear as highly mobile, curated tools, being transported across a large territory. The evidence indicates that the Sangoan is the archaeological reflection of a complex behavioural system involving economic specialization, which appeared in this part of Africa for the first time around 200 ka ago.     

学术与政治:《现代本国史》教科书案

1929年,国民政府查禁了顾颉刚、王钟麒编辑、胡适校订的《现代初中本国史教科书》,原因是该书对中国上古史持怀疑态度,“不承认三皇五帝为事实”,会“动摇国本”。《现代本国史》对三皇五帝抱有怀疑态度,但是肯定了上古传说的象征意义和上古帝王所代表的社会演进阶段。《现代本国史》的表述与其他教科书的表述基本相同。查禁的主要原因,是国民政府对顾颉刚等人发起的古史辨运动可能危及到民众信仰的担忧和对胡适等新文化人的不满,实是国民政府加强思想控制的一种手段。民族主义式的指责成为意识形态斗争的工具。     

After the Storm, Destruction and Reconstruction: The Potential for an Archaeology of Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina’s destruction of the United States Gulf Coast in 2005 represents a recordable, archaeological landscape of contemporary history. Archaeology has the potential to serve as an interface in the study of Hurricane Katrina devastation uniting existing public history records with oral history studies to document a lost way of life. Here the practical relevance and social significance of contemporary archaeology is presented through the example of Hurricane Katrina. This paper will discuss the significance of modern ruins, the material record of the reclamation process, and the guidance needed to preserve the historic record.     

近代史家和20世纪三四十年代香港史学

0世纪 3 0、40年代 ,若干大陆史学家到香港 ,如 3 0年代的胡适、许地山及稍后的陈寅恪 ,40年代下半段的郭沫若、胡绳、黎澍、侯外庐、翦伯赞 ,40年代末的钱穆、罗香林、简又文等。这是内地史学、史学家与香港发生联系一个十分重要的时期 ,推动香港史学起步和成长。许地山出任香港大学文学院院长 ,初步改变了香港文史教育陈旧、落后的局面 ;郭、胡、黎、侯、翦等史学大师在香港的经历 ,使史学工作与时代潮流融汇在一起 ;钱穆等移迁香港后 ,在培养史学人才、繁荣史学研究方面均有建树 ,一时成为执香港史学牛耳之宗师 ,推动了香港史学的成长。