Modelling spatial heterogeneity and nonstationarity in artifact-rich landscapes

In this paper we consider a crucial issue for survey archaeology: how we identify and make sense of the heterogeneous and often inter-dependent behaviours and processes responsible for apparent archaeological patterns across the landscape. We apply two spatial statistical tools, kriging and geographically weighted regression, to develop a model that addresses the spatial heterogeneity and spatial nonstationarity present in the pottery distributions identified by our intensive survey of the Greek island of Antikythera. Our modelling results highlight a clear spatial structure underlying different scales of pottery density as well as locally varying relationships between pottery densities and several environmental variables. This allows us to develop further testable hypotheses about long-term settlement and land-use patterns on Antikythera, including more explicit models of community organisation, and of the relationship between the island's geomorphological structure and its history of past human activity.     

Change in chemical composition of early Islamic glass excavated in Raya,Sinai Peninsula,Egypt: on-site analyses using a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer

The Raya port (eighth to 12th centuries) on the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt, was one of the important port cities for the Red Sea trade. We performed on-site analyses of Islamic glass vessels (used in eighth to 11th centuries) mainly from this site in Egypt using a portable XRF spectrometer. The aim of this paper is to contribute to our understanding of the chemical compositions of early Islamic glass vessels by comparing their archaeological date and typology. In the early Islamic period, glass objects were mainly produced from natron as the soda source. Among the natron glass analyzed in this study, glass vessels with low titanium and iron and high strontium contents, which were probably produced in the Syria–Palestine region, were excavated in the eighth century layer. From the ninth century layer, a large number of samples with high levels of calcium, titanium and iron, probably produced in Egypt, were found. It should be noted that a large number of glass vessels with this chemical composition were found at the Raya site, because this type of glass was rarely reported from other Islamic sites. We finally concluded that this type of glass seems to be produced under a fixed recipe, although some samples contain a colorant or decolorized materials.     

试论协商民主何以成为可能——基于理性分析的视角

20世纪后20年,一种新型的民主理论一协商民主在西方政治学界开始兴起、发展,并成为人们讨论和研究的焦点。作为一种可能的新型民主,从理性分析的视角来看,协商民主能够化解自由与秩序的矛盾,维护社会的平等和正义,能够在公开的理性下实现政治的合法性,解决现有民主制度的困境与挑战。     

井沟子西区墓地的文化因素及文化形成过程的初步分析

本文在2002～2003年度井沟子西区墓地两次发掘所获材料的基础上,用文化因素分析的方法,考察了井沟子西区墓地的文化成分构成及以井沟子西区基地遗存为代表的井沟子类型的形成过程.     

薄膜试片测试法试片图像采集分析系统

薄膜试片测试法是一种能够全面有效地对博物馆藏展材料进行评估筛选的测试方法,对其腐蚀现象进行图象采集及进行数据化分析能够得到更为客观准确的测试结果.本工作对应该测试法设计了专门图像采集的硬件装置,采用密闭光源和彩色工业摄像机,可以得到清晰的试片图像.软件系统将采集图像、打开原始图像、图像分割处理、材料分级评价等功能模块化,并根据具体功能设计实现了基本应用的可视化界面.实验表明,该系统能够快速、准确地对藏展材料对试片的腐蚀现象进行数据化分析,使藏展材料的评估分级由人工目测走向计算机视觉计算,具有快速、客观、误差小等特点.     

The use of dental crown heights for constructing age profiles of red deer and similar species in archaeological samples

The analysis of dental crown heights in a sample of known-age American Red deer (known in America as “elk”) has permitted the derivation of formulae for the prediction of age from crown height. The ages predicted from crown heights closely approximate true ages, when both predicted and true ages are grouped into broad, but still useful age classes. At least for the Red deer or “elk” dP₄, M₂ and M₃, age prediction formulae very similar to the empirically derived ones may be constructed by making certain hypothetical assumptions about the nature and rate of crown attrition. This suggests that these assumptions may be used to construct age prediction formulae in situations where an empirical relationship between age and crown height has not been or cannot be established. With certain provisos noted in the text, the age prediction formulae that result will probably provide reasonably reliable age profiles for the numerous ungulate species whose teeth are similar in structure to those of Red deer or “elk” and at least as hypsodont.     

Relict Soils and Early Arable Land Management in Lofoten, Norway

Relict arable soils dating fromc.AD700 provide an opportunity to identify early arable land management practices in the agriculturally marginal landscapes of the Lofoten archipelago, northern Norway. Synthesis of field survey and soil thin section micromorphology supported by image analysis suggests that there was deliberate management of erodible sandy soils in sloping locations to create small areas of cultivation terrace, with a range of materials used as soil amendments to stabilize the accumulated soil and enhance fertility. Small areas of sandy soils in more gently sloping locations were also cultivated, again with a range of materials used as amendments and which contributed to a significant increase in soil thickness. The last phase of cultivation commenced during the late 1800s and involved the reclamation of wetter, peaty soils by spade. These patterns of arable land management are repeated in different parts of Lofoten and indicate that despite the climatic and economic marginality of arable activity in Lofoten, land management practices were developed and applied to permit barley production from small areas.     

河南石窟寺石雕色彩历史及现状

文章在现状调查的基础上,根据历史资料与同时期石窟寺的色彩对比,再应用X-射线衍射(XRD)、电子能谱(SEM)等分析仪器,对彩塑的制作材料及其工艺进行了分析研究,为进一步的修复材料及工艺的筛选提供科学依据.     

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     

“Copper people” of the bronze age: The reconstruction of their health and social status

“After you shall arise another kingdom inferior to you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth” Dan. 2: 39 The Metal Age opened up new prospects for mankind and led to the emergence of a new category of professionals – miners, founders, smiths. With relation to the Bronze Age, these may be called “copper people.” The article explores new methods that can be used to identify their skeletal remains in museum collections. Based on biological data, certain aspects of the lifestyle of a male (presumably a smith) buried in an Abashevo collective grave at Pepkino, the Republic of Mari-El, Volga Federal District, and of other individuals buried in the same grave are reconstructed. Morphological, paleopathological, radiographic, and computer tomography examination of skeletal remains, as well as the results of histological, atomic absorption, and isotopic analyses of bone tissue provide information concerning diet, physiological stress, beginning of professional specialization, and the effects of heavy physical stress on their health status.