甲骨卜辞“疋”地考

甲骨卜辞中有个地名"疋"。通过甲骨文材料、传世文献资料、出土器物综合分析,"疋"的地望在陕西省汉中盆地中东部的城固、洋县一带,其核心区域在湑水河下游两岸的平原地带。"城洋铜器群"可能是古"疋国"的文化遗物。     

A First Approach to Links between Animals and Life on Board Sailing Vessels (1500–1800)

Long voyages required serious logistics. Onboard meat supplies were analysed from animal remains found in shipwrecks. Here we present a bibliographical synthesis of results obtained from the study of 33 published shipwrecks in order to assess the importance of the presence of animals aboard and to underline questions still unanswered. © 2011 The Author     

‘Old wood’ effect in radiocarbon dating of prehistoric cremated bones?

Numerous reports of successful radiocarbon dating of cremated bones have emerged during the last decade. The success of radiocarbon dating cremated bones depends on the temperature during burning and the degree of recrystallisation of the inorganic bone matrix. During cremation bones undergo major morphological and mineralogical changes which have raised some interesting questions and discussion on the origin of the carbon source in archaeologically cremated bones. Recent laboratory experiments reveal that the properties of the combustion atmosphere play a significant role regarding the source carbon in cremated bones. Thus radiocarbon dating cremated bones is potentially dating the wood used for the cremation fire. Here we compare a high precision radiocarbon dated human bone with an associated dendrochronological age from an oak coffin. We find that the age discrepancy between the dendrochronological age and the cremated bone of 73 ± 26 ¹⁴C yr is best accounted for by the so called ‘old wood’ effect.     

Identification of dermestid pupal chambers on Southern Levant human bones: inference for reconstruction of Middle Bronze Age mortuary practices

Unique bone damage identified on Middle Bronze Age human skeletal material from the Southern Levant provided important information about the processes of modification and the possible funerary practices resulting in such damage. By comparing archaeological remains with recent skeletal material and by using computed tomography (CT) scans and 3D imaging techniques, the damage is interpreted as pupal chambers created by dermestid beetles. Using skeletal remains from two Middle Bronze Age sites, Jericho Tomb E1 and Munhata Tomb 641, we then discuss how the bores and tunnels left by dermestid beetles on human bones might constitute an interpretative key to the funerary practices of Middle Bronze Age collective burials.     

Cremated Human Remains Deposited in Two Phases: Evidence from the Necropolis of the Tuileries Site (Lyon,France: 2nd Century AD)

A small 2nd century AD necropolis was discovered at site N°16–28 Tuileries Street, in the 9th district of Lyon. This funerary ensemble included two secondary funerary structures, one containing cremation residues and the other an ossuary. Together, the structures have spatial, stratigraphic and anthropological particularities, which can be used to establish the relative chronology of certain funerary gestures applied to a single individual. Here, we insist on the necessity of detailed anthropological analyses, which allowed us to reestimate the minimum number of individuals, reconsider the relationship between the two different structures and postulate a new interpretation of the funerary gestures. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Deciphering bone depositional sequences in caves through the study of manganese coatings

The presence of black-coloured bones in caves has been sometimes associated to the use of fire by humans, but more frequently the agent responsible for black colour is the natural deposition of manganese oxides. Manganese coatings were not usually studied once human action was discarded. However, they can provide valuable information about the origin and the sequence of formation of a palaeontological or archaeological deposit. In this paper, we present a quantitative and qualitative study of the manganese coatings that affect most of the bones recovered in the palaeontological site of Liñares cave (NW of Iberian Peninsula) together with other taphonomic marks. The manganese coatings are superimposed on other features previously existing on the surface of the bones. In turn, the coatings can be affected by other agents that modified them totally or partially. The combined interpretation of the different taphonomic marks provides us with valuable information on the sequence where the different taphonomic processes were produced, as for example the intervention of carnivores in the disarticulation of some elements before the burial, the preservation of anatomic connections until after the burial of the carcasses, and the existence of reworking processes in some parts of the infill.     

Distinguishing nonhuman predation on birds: pattern of damage done by the white-tailed eagle Haliaetus albicilla, with comments on the punctures made by the golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos

The study presents criteria to distinguish some of the nonhuman predation on birds whose remains may also be found at archaeological sites. Specifically, it deals with fragmentation patterns of bird bones in uneaten food remains of the white-tailed eagle Haliaetus albicilla and discusses perforations in victims' bones done by the white-tailed and golden eagles. The food remains show very low degree of fragmentation; bones of the pectoral girdle and wing predominate while head and leg elements are poorly represented. The proportion of perforated sterna differs between the two species of eagles and it is suggested that the differences are attributed to the species of prey rather than the way of handling them by the raptors.     

甲骨卜辞所见之巫者的医疗活动

古代巫医不分,由于人类将疾病致因视为鬼魂作用,故以巫者充当人鬼间的中介,寄希望于巫术行医、安抚死神从而达到消除疾病的目的。正因基于此观念,医与巫、医疗与巫术、药物心理与巫术心理取得了自然的结合,求药及求巫两者皆统一于医疗活动之中。商代的医疗知识仍然处于中国医学的萌芽状态,具有迷信性质,常与巫教信仰交织在一起。即使如此,此时的巫医也开拓壮大了医学的先河。除利用药材之外。商人亦知运用针刺方法以治病,此种针砭医疗器具,在各地遗址时有发现。在医疗方面的巫术的具体活动,则主要包括二种:一为医疗巫术,二为逐疫除凶。     

河南舞阳县贾湖遗址出土猪骨的再研究

前言河南舞阳县贾湖遗址是我国中原地区极为重要的新石器时代前期遗址。该遗址历经七次发掘,已获得大量珍贵的考古资料。其中丰富的动、植物遗存,是探讨我国北方地区动、植物驯化过程的重要材料。《舞阳贾湖》详细报道了该遗址前六次发掘的材料。报告中提出了存在家猪的观点,但并没有指出具体的期段,而且其判定存在家猪的依据仅仅     

Archaeological implications of human-derived manganese coatings: a study of blackened bones in El Mirón Cave,Cantabrian Spain

The main interest in the study of taphonomic processes lies, from the archaeological point of view, in being able to draw conclusions about human behaviour from them. This paper analyzes the causes of a specific taphonomic alteration: the differential appearance across levels and among site areas of a black stain on bones from the Magdalenian levels in El Mirón Cave. From an understanding of these taphonomic agents, we aim to achieve a better comprehension of aspects of human use of the cave toward the end of the Late Glacial period. By determining the processes that stained many of the bones with manganese in the rear part of the cave vestibule, we are able to suggest some characteristics of the human occupation of the cave and its possible seasonal use.