Geochronology of Palaeolithic cultures in the Hiran Valley, Saurashtra, India

The U and Th concentrations of 16 miliolite samples from the Hiran Valley in Saurashtra ranged from 0·3 to 2·14ppm and 0·12 to 0·82ppm respectively. The ²³⁴U/²³⁸U activity ratio ranged from 1·09 to 1·16, with a mean of 1·12±0·02. It agrees well with the seawater value of 1·14±0·02 within the quoted errors. Nine of the samples were datable by the ²³⁰Th/²³⁴U method and the ages ranged from 56·8 to 190 Kyr. The problem of chronology of Palaeolithic artifacts is interlinked with the miliolite and other coastal formations. The present investigations permit the development of a chronological framework for the Palaeolithic cultures in the Hiran Valley in particular, and generally in Saurashtra Peninsula. On the basis of radiometric dates and relative chronology, the Lower Palaeolithic cultures fall in a time-bracket of 190-69 Kyr bp. The Middle Palaeolithic industry is much older than 56·8 Kyr bp. The dates obtained for the Lower Palaeolithic cultures are perhaps the oldest reported to date.     

石质文物表面憎水性化学保护的副作用研究

根据最小干预和不影响文物原貌的原则,使用表面化学防护和化学加固等保护材料被认为是保护石质文物的有效方法。目前,已试用于石质文物表面保护的化学材料主要是有机硅等有机化合物。这些有机材料能起到一定的防水和加固作用,但是也潜在不少问题,一些可能的危害目前还没有引起人们足够的重视。本工作以通用有机硅类防水加固剂为表面保护材料,以砂岩、凝灰岩、白云岩、大理岩和花岗岩为保护对象,模拟各种破坏因素,包括干湿循环、盐结晶、冻融和加热等的作用和联合作用,研究了表面化学处理后岩石样品在模拟环境中的变化情况,发现破坏现象严重。其中,化学保护剂在石材表层产生的亲水/憎水界面导致石材受某些应力的加速破坏是重要原因。上述研究结果提示,在石质文物的保护中应慎重使用憎水性表面化学保护剂。     

First results of metallographic analysis and absolute dating of iron finds from Nowe Brzesko,site 26, Proszowice District

This paper presents the results of analyses of metal artefacts discovered at a multiphase site in Nowe Brzesko, Małopolskie Voivodeship, Poland. Fieldwalking prospection led to the discovery of steely iron objects, ploughed out on the site among other numerous archeological finds. A prospecting sondage yielded more corroded metal artefacts, identified mainly as agricultural tools (e.g. sickles, scythes). These chronologically nondistinctive artefacts could be assigned to the third to fourth century AD using radiocarbon dating, complemented by metallurgical analysis. The results open up new research perspectives on the economy and society of the Przeworsk culture in the Late Roman period.     

旧石器时代石斧的认知考古学研究

艺术应始于人类的早期石斧，手斧的性择标识理论似乎解答了手斧的所有问题，但对该理论还有待更进一步的验证。     

Nature and source of the gandhara sculptural schist

No definite source localities have been identified for the stones used by the Gandharan sculptors, but it is considered that the predominant rock was an alumina-rich chloritoid-paragonite-muscovite-quartz schist, probably from Swat. A chemical analysis of this rock is presented.     

Stone age predation on large African bovids

Crown height measurements are used to establish age distributions for several species of larger bovids represented in faunal samples from the Middle Stone Age (earlier Upper Pleistocene) deposits of the Klasies River Mouth Caves and the Later Stone Age (later Upper Pleistocene/Holocene) deposits of Nelson Bay Cave, South Africa. There are no obvious differences between the sites in the age distributions of the species they share, but there are significant differences in age distributions among species. Two basic patterns are apparent. In the first, characterizing the blue antelope (Hippotragus leucophaeus), roan antelope (Hippotragus equinus), Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer), and giant buffalo (Pelorovis antiquus), the archaeological samples contain numerous very young animals and relatively few prime-age adults. At least in the buffalo samples, there is also a fair representation of old adults. In the second pattern, characterizing the bastard hartebeest (Damaliscus dorcas or D. niro) and especially of the eland (Taurotragus oryx), prime adults are far more prominent relative to younger and older age groups. The first pattern is similar to the natural pattern of attritional mortality that probably characterizes all healthy, stable populations of free-ranging large ungulates, while the second is more reminiscent of the age structure of live herds. The first pattern may reflect hunting focused on individual animals, particularly those whose age made them most vulnerable, while the second may reflect the susceptibility of certain species to driving, so that whole groups could be killed in traps in which differences in age had no meaning.     

Experimental series and use-wear in bone tools

This paper presents an experimental program and microscopic patterns identified in the analysis of five worked bone morpho-functional groups: harpoon heads, drilled points, bipoints, awls and smoothers.