Tree-rings and archaeology: some problems explained

Some uncertainty amongst archaeologists about dendrochronology has prompted an explanation of some of the points which cause most concern. These include the probability of obtaining a date for a wood sample and the reliability and accuracy of that date. Uses of tree-ring analysis, other than for dating, are also mentioned.     

Dating of 4th millennium BC pile-dwellings on Ljubljansko barje,Slovenia

We present absolute dates of seven late Neolithic pile-dwellings on Ljubljansko barje, Slovenia. They were settled from ca. 3600 to 3332 (±10) and from 3160 to 3071 (±14) cal BC, as shown by investigations of wood using dendrochronology and radiocarbon wiggle-matching. We defined eleven periods of intensive tree felling (and building activities) and one major settlement gap (when no trees were felled) from 3332 to 3160 cal BC. A major settlement gap presumably also followed after 3071 cal BC (i.e., after the end date of the investigated sites). Our investigations included over 2500 pieces of wood, mainly from the piles on which the dwellings were built. Among important wooden artefacts were a wheel with axle (one of the oldest preserved wheels in the world) and two dugout canoes, all from the settlement phase from 3160 to 3100 cal BC. As shown by parallel studies, the economy in the sites was characterized by copper metallurgy, skilful wood processing and use, cultivation of domestic plants, gathering of wild plants, animal husbandry, hunting and fishing. The settlements were contemporaneous with a number of sites in the north of the Alps, the younger ones coincided with the lifetime of the Neolithic Iceman (Ötzi). Since Ljubljansko barje has a strategic position at the crossroads between western central and (south) eastern Europe the presented absolute dates provide a basis for their comparison with other dated contemporaneous sites (in the west), to revise the chronology of similar sites in the (south) east (which are not yet exactly dated), and to evaluate their interconnection and roles in cultural development in prehistory.     

木户孝允的近代日本国民构想

在幕末危机中,维新变革的领导人关于打造近代日本国民的构想,极大地推动了近代日本国家转型。其中,木户孝允对近代国民教育的思考同样值得注意。这主要体现在：与万国对峙,须尽快以公议形成国民;发展小学教育,以渐进地培养适应现代化的国民;制定政规法典,形成一致协和的国民;通过地方自治,逐步培养有参与意识的国民。木户孝允思想体系的深度和广度不及福泽谕吉,社会效应和渗透程度不及森有礼,但其构想具有宏观决策和战略意义,成为引领和推动日本走向国民国家的大智慧。     

谈大型连弧纹彩绘镜

河南永城保安山三号西汉早期墓出土的残镜,经过复原,在彩绘镜中是最大的。与之近似的连弧纹彩绘镜,有西安红庙村、广州南越王墓所出各一面,其年代也彼此接近。镜上彩绘花纹系受漆器艺术影响,可参看长沙马王堆三号墓的一些漆器,后者年代也相距不远。     

古代饱水木材脱水定型机理探讨

从木材干缩的一般理论出发,探讨了古代饱水木材脱水变形的主要影响因素。阐述了古代饱水木材与新鲜木材的区别,提出饱水木材发生形变的主要影响因素同现代木材一样,是由于氢键缔合的结合水挥发,从而引起干缩和开裂。要保持脱水后的定型一方面要加固细胞壁外壁,更重要的从细胞壁内壁进行加固。     

北周墓出土彩绘陶器的加固与保护

陕西省考古研究所在西安咸阳国际机场二期建设中抢救性发掘了三座大型高等级北周时期墓葬,出土了数百件精美彩陶俑,形象十分逼真生动。由于彩陶器出土提取于淤泥之中,为了及时有效的保护好这批文物,考古队在第一时间内将出土陶器全部运回所内文保室进行抢救性保护。此次保护的主要任务和难点是,在最佳时间实现土层与彩绘层的成功分离,逐渐降低饱水彩陶器的含水率,使其最终在大气中趋于稳定,最后及时加固和封护彩绘层并采用适合该陶质强度的粘接剂进行粘接复原。经过十年来的时间证明,此次实施的保护方案正确,保护措施得当,保护结果令人满意。     

一种饱水木质文物含水率无损检测方法的研究

含水率是评估饱水木质文物糟朽程度最常用的物理参数之一。目前含水率检测常用方法有烘干法、电阻法、近红外光谱法等,但这些方法或属于破坏性分析,或检测范围不适用。为寻找一种适用于饱水木质文物含水率的无损检测方法,基于饱水木材组成理论模型,建立了含水率与湿态密度、灰分含量三者之间关系,进而提出一种检测含水率的便捷方法——溶液密度法。采用上述方法对天长、淮北等地出土饱水木质样品含水率进行测试,并与烘干法测得标准值进行验证。结果发现两者数据较为接近,相对误差在10%以内,证明了该方法的可靠性。进一步研究发现,样品越糟朽,使用该方法获取的数据与标准值之间相对误差越小。说明该方法更适用于糟朽饱水木材含水率的检测。     

上博（五）札记二则

根据《包山楚简》所记文书的有关材料可知,《上海博物馆藏战国楚竹书(五).竞建内之》篇的所谓篇名“竞建内之”四字,其意是指楚人景建献纳简书。根据《大戴礼记》、《逸周书.官人》等材料可证,《上博(五).鲍叔牙与隰朋之谏》篇中的“”,可能当读为“考度”。     

云南剑川海门口遗址饱水古木降解的微观构造分析

文中采用扫描电镜(SEM)和透射电镜(TEM)对海门口遗址饱水古木进行降解机理分析。结果表明:古木细胞次生壁收缩严重并与胞间层分离;胞间层保存较完好,呈连续网状。说明古木纤维素和半纤维素降解相对严重,木质素降解相对较轻。古木主要是受细菌降解,通过SEM和TEM均可见明显的细菌腐朽特征。细菌首先侵入细胞腔,再通过S3层侵入细胞壁内部。细胞壁内由于降解而产生的空隙在几十到几百纳米之间。饱水古木也受到了一定程度的真菌降解,但这类真菌主要降解古木内淀粉等物质,对细胞壁物质降解能力差,主要是使古木变色。     

Painted birds at Pompeii

The wall-paintings in the houses at Pompeii and in other Campanian towns can provide evidence for the birds that were known in Italy in the first centuries BC and AD , because they are painted with remarkable accuracy. However, the paintings as total works of art must not be interpreted in too realistic a manner because the flora and fauna are often combined in an ideal setting. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.