New Archaeocyatha from the Early Cambrian of the Mt. Wright area,New South Wales

An archaeocyathan fauna from a single limestone lens in the upper Cymbric Vale Formation at Mt. Wright shows species in common with the historic Ajax Mine fauna of the Flinders Ranges, South Australia. The Cymbric Vale fauna is considered equivalent to the lower Sanashtykgol ‘horizon’ of the Altay Sayan fold belt of Siberia.

New taxa described are the genera Hyptocyathus (Inessocyathacea, Hyptocyathidae fam. nov.), Aporosocyathus (Annulocyathidae), Wrighticyathus (Sigmocyathacea, Wrighticyathidae fam. nov.), Flexicyathus (Porocoscinidae) and Bractocyathus (Polycoscinidae), and the species Erugatocyathus cymbricensis and Veronicacyathus concavus.     

Development of the graptoloid rhabdosome

Proximal development of the dichograptoid rhabdosome is re-examined in detail. Two major types are recognised: the artus type (= dichograptid type of Bulman) in which th 1¹ is dicalycal, and the isograptid type (= isograptid + leptograptid types of Bulman) in which theca 1² is dicalycal. In branching dichograptids, distal stipe division takes place by replication of the thecal budding sequence employed in the initial dichotomy of the rhabdosome and is always of isograptid type. Dichotomies beyond the first are unknown in species with initial development of other than isograptid type. The thecal budding pattern and stipe composition of dendroids can be interpreted in terms of the structure of, and thecal notation used for, graptoloids and it is thus possible to compare directly the mode of stipe division in the two groups. It is found that both distal and proximal dichotomy in dendroids are achieved by a pattern of thecal budding closely comparable with that of the isograptid type of division in graptoloids. The isograptid development type is therefore thought to have been directly derived from dendroids, and is the primitive type for Graptoloidea. The artus type was derived via three or more independent lineages, at least one of which (that leading to the artus group of pendent didymograptids) involved an ancestor with isograptid development. Proximal end characters of Phyllograptus suggest that this genus and biserial graptolites of the family Diplograptidae shared a common ancestor.     

The Retromolar Space: A Morphological Curiosity Observed Amongst the Protohistoric Arikara and Mandan

The retromolar space (RMS), defined in palaeoanthropology as a space posterior to the third molar, between the distal edge of the tooth and the anterior margin of the ascending ramus when the mandible is held in lateral view, has been described as an autapomorphic trait unique to Neanderthals despite its presence in anatomically modern humans. This study examined RMS prevalence in a sample of protohistoric Arikara and Mandan Amerindians to determine what craniofacial morphology is correlated with the RMS. It was hypothesised that the feature would be present in the Amerindians studied and associated with a long cranial length, a large nasal height, midfacial prognathism, a broad mandible, and dental wear. The results indicated that RMSs were present in the Arikara and Mandan and significantly correlated with cranial length, cranial breadth, nasal height, bizygomatic breadth, basion‐nasion length, basion‐nasiospinale, mandible length, gonial angle, bigonial breadth, and dental wear. Thus, RMSs are associated with a dolichocephalic skull, wide cranial and facial breadth, a prognathic face, large nose and a corresponding wide and long mandible with a reduced gonial angle. This suggests that the RMS is the result of these features merging together in the craniofacial complex and should not be considered a Neanderthal autapomorphy. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Cities of God? Medieval urban forms and their Christian symbolism

Situated in the context of recent geographical engagements with 'landscape', this paper combines 'morphological' and 'iconographic' landscape interpretations to examine how urban forms were perceived in late medieval Europe. To date, morphological studies have mapped the medieval city either by classifying urban layouts according to particular types, or by analysing plan forms of particular towns and cities to reveal their spatial evolution. This paper outlines a third way, an 'iconographic' approach, which shows how urban forms in the Middle Ages conveyed Christian symbolism. Three such 'mappings' explore this thesis: the first uses textual and visual representations which show that the city was understood as a scaled-down world – a microcosm – linking city and cosmos in the medieval mind; the second 'mapping' develops this theme further and suggests that urban landscapes were inscribed with symbolic form through their layout on the ground; while the third looks at how Christian symbolism of urban forms was performed through the urban landscape in perennial religious processions. Each of these 'mappings' points to the symbolic, mystical significance urban form had in the Middle Ages, based on religious faith, and they thus offer a deepened appreciation of how urban landscapes were represented, constructed and experienced at the time.     

中国古代文明和国家起源研究中的几个问题

近年来新出土的《容成氏》等战国竹书,在增加和扩充史料的同时,我们也应意识到它们依然是有其局限性的,重建上古史还得靠以考古学为基础的多学科的结合。而考古学本身也有自己的局限性,它也需要借鉴人类学的理论以及技术的、经济的、环境的、人口学的等等知识。将酋邦理论、社会分层理论与聚落形态学理论相结合是研究的趋势和方向,但理论贵在创新。因而,结合中国考古新发现,从中国的材料出发,创建出符合中国历史实际的理论,才是最上乘的文明和国家起源研究。依据近年来对山西襄汾陶寺和河南新密古城寨的考古发现,将早期文明与初始国家出现的时间,划定在龙山文化时代,应该说是有着充分事实依据的。与此相关,将中国古代的国家形态划分为邦国—王国—帝国,要比称之为古国—方国—帝国,更约定俗成更合理一些。     

楚地出土平头镞初探

平头镞是东周时期常见器物,但关于其名称、年代和用途一直不太清楚。本文对楚地出土平头镞的形制进行了初步整理,分为五型,主要流行于春秋晚期到战国中期。在此基础上,根据平头镞的出土位置和形制特征,结合有关文献,考证平头镞的用途为弋射用矢。     

The Library is on Fire,Now What? Assessing the Damage and How to Approach It: A Case Study from the Chesapeake Bay

ABSTRACT

The Longwood Institute of Archaeology conducted the Vulnerability, Potential and Condition (VPC) assessment of shoreline archaeological sites along 1990 km (1237 miles) of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. VPC assessment involves a three-pronged approach that includes (1) the assessment of site vulnerability due to changing shorelines using an analytical package called Analysing Moving Boundaries Using R – AMBUR, (2) the assessment of potential shoreline site locations through predictive modelling using Weights of Evidence – WofE – analysis, and (3) the assessment of current conditions of known sites through direct observation. Vulnerability assessment results indicated that 49% of site shorelines in the project area are moving landward. Potential assessment located high-probability site locations with an 83% efficiency. Condition assessment, conducted using standard field protocols, provided feedback of the sites’ current conditions. The intended outcome of this method is to provide resource managers with information needed to make informed, data-driven management decisions.     

The dental arcade and human morphology

Cranio-dental fossils are relatively common in the fossil record and this paper considers the question of whether the dental arcade can act as a predictor of hominid morphology. A method of measuring the catenary number of an arcade is also described and defined. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The sthenurine affinity of the Late Miocene kangaroo,Hadronomas puckridgi Woodburne (Marsupialia,Macropodidae)

Previous studies of the dentition and cranial base of Hadronomas puckridgi Woodburne suggested that this large, Late Miocene kangaroo might be related to the Sthenurinae. A recently recovered specimen, in which the neurocranium, rostrum and some of the incisors are preserved, reveals a more definite affinity with the sthenurines in its possession of laterally expanded postorbital crests of the frontals, reduced I² accompanied by enlarged I³, the presence of a well-developed posterior mental foramen, a deep, posteriorly situated digastric eminence and elevated pterygoid fossa of the dentary.     

Dental caries in an Early Cretaceous ichthyosaur

A single anterior dentary tooth, recovered with a near complete juvenile ichthyosaur skull from the Early Cretaceous (upper Albian) Hughenden-Richmond region of northern Queensland, has revealed the presence of a potential dental caries (tooth decay) infection. Dental caries is a disease affecting hard dental structures including the cementum and results in cavitation. The implications of dental caries development on tooth replacement and feeding in Cretaceous ichthyosaurs are discussed.