Evaluating background noise: Assessing off-site data from field surveys around the Italic sanctuary of S. Giovanni in Galdo,Molise, Italy

Abstract

This study demonstrates the potential of intensive sampling and off-site analyses to identify evidence of human activity in the past using the off-site data collected around the Italic sanctuary of S. Giovanni in Galdo, Molise, Italy. Rather than employing general and monocausal explanatory models—e.g., large-scale erosion or ancient manuring—to account for off-site material, this study examines ceramic ware variability from surface collections within the local context. It reveals that the ceramic ware variability in samples from low density areas with low visibility can be an important indicator of past human activity. The results of this examination of background noise—or unexplained variability in off-site material—from the Sacred Landscape Project increase the number and types of sites recognized in the surface collections. Furthermore, the analysis reduces the amount of surface material that can be regarded as off-site material and thus changes its composition. The overall results shed new light on the origins of off-site material and whether it should be interpreted as evidence of human activity in historical landscapes.     

Technology of Medieval Mortars: An Investigation into the Use of Organic Additives

This work proposes a multi‐analytical approach to determine the additives in historical mortars, the use of which is widely described in bibliographical sources, but has rarely been reported in the literature. A protocol to thoroughly analyse mortars was created (optical microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analyses and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry). These techniques, which had already been carried out on samples from various sites from the Roman to the modern era, determined that additives had only been used in the mortars from the internal masonry at our sampling site: the medieval military shipyard of Amalfi (Italy). The investigations yielded information on the production technology, and FT–IR and GC–MS revealed a saccharide material‐based additive in the mortars, of plant origin. The FT–IR spectra suggested the presence of a natural gum, which has been used since ancient times to strengthen the cohesion properties of mortars and their resistance to tensile stress.     

Building a high-resolution chronology at the Maya archaeological site of El Palmar,Mexico

This paper discusses how detailed analyses of archaeological contexts and macrobotanical remains are critical for building a high-resolution chronology in archaeological research. While the application of Bayesian modelling has improved chronology-building significantly, archaeologists have sometimes neglected different dates recovered from the same depositional layer without further scrutiny. Based on 78 radiocarbon samples, this problem is challenged by building a high-resolution chronology of the Guzmán Group, a small plaza compound of the ancient Maya city of El Palmar, Mexico. The results permit a deeper understanding of relationships between dynastic interactions and the emergence of non-royal elites in Classic Maya society.     

A Roman shipwreck with a cargo of Apuan marble (marmor lunense) at Punta del Francese (Stintino-Sassari,Sardinia)

The wreck-site of Punta del Francese (Stintino-Sassari) off the island of Sardinia (Italy) is composed of 14 roughly cubic blocks and slabs of marble lying in an almost coherent arrangement. Archaeometric analyses indicate a provenance of the entire cargo of marble from the Apuan Alps (marmor lunense) of north Italy. Fragments of amphoras confirm its dating to the Flavian period (first century ce ). The dimensions of the cargo, and especially of the single blocks, suggest it would have been destined for the building of an important public monument in western Hispania or southern Gallia. A first hypothesis for the ship's sailing route, and a comparison with the other cargoes of marble from Luna, are proposed.     

Simulation of Shake Table Tests on Out-of-Plane Masonry Buildings. Part (IV): Macro and Micro FEM Based Approaches

ABSTRACT

This article presents a study on the out-of-plane response of two masonry structures without box behavior tested in a shaking table. Two numerical approaches were defined for the evaluation, namely macro-modeling and simplified micro-modeling. As a first step of this study, static nonlinear analyses were performed for the macro models in order to assess the out-of-plane response of masonry structures due to incremental loading. For these analyses, mesh size and material model dependency was discussed. Subsequently, dynamic nonlinear analyses with time integration were carried out, aiming at evaluating the collapse mechanism and at comparing it to the experimental response. Finally, nonlinear static and dynamic analyses were also performed for the simplified micro models. It was observed that these numerical techniques correctly simulate the in-plane response. The collapse mechanism of the stone masonry model is in good agreement with the experimental response. However, there are some inconsistencies regarding the out-of-plane behavior of the brick masonry model, which required further validation.     

铅同位素考古研究的可行性问题——浅议“青铜器铅同位素指示意义的范铸实验研究”

国际上对铅同位素示踪方法在青铜器原料产地研究中的应用做过很多探讨。《范铸》一文再次提出有关问题,认为铅同位素分析结果不能确切指示青铜器铜锡铅原料的来源信息。本文考察了其依据的实验数据,它们似乎与其观点互相矛盾,其结论说服力相当有限。     

河南贾湖遗址考古地层分析

贾湖遗址是属于裴李岗文化的一个重要遗址,是目前所见的中原地区年代最早的新石器时代遗址。本文主要通过贾湖遗址T107B和T43两个剖面样品的粒度分析和地球化学元素分析来推测当时的环境;并以该遗址为例,尝试利用地球化学多元统计分析进行考古探方之间层位关系对比的可行性。分析表明贾湖地区新石器时代考古地层主要代表了一种洪积,及局部的洼地沼泽相沉积(即顶积层),且新石器时代早期气候较为湿热,晚期则向干旱方向转化。     

我国环境税立法的经济学分析

随着我国在世界经济一体化格局中的地位不断的提高,如何合理利用资源、保护环境成为我国在发展经济过程中急需解决的问题。本文认为,环境税在我国的开征已经具备一定的条件,应该成为我国今后一个时期税收制度完善的重要方面,并在适当的时候出台环境税法,使我国的环境保护工作进入一个有法可依的时代。     

X-ray fluorescence survey of tikal ceramics

X-ray fluorescence measurements of Ca, Fe, Rb, Sr, Y and Zr were made on 362 ceramic sherds excavated from the lowland Maya centre at Tikal, Guatemala. Twelve sample categories include unslipped, polychrome and red slipped ceramics from three cultural periods, the Manik, Imix and Eznab. Also represented are Manik black, Ik polychrome and Imix Tinaja pink. Results of analyses show two prevalent paste compositions, a calcite-tempered type characteristic of unslipped ceramics and a calcium- poor, rubidium-rich type typical of Late Classic slipped wares. Within these broad types, we observe strong overlap in the compositional data among the different ceramic categories. However, despite the similarities, there are measurable differences in the scatter (or variabilities) of these data and in their degrees of overlap. In general, the variabilities observed in the ceramic composition correlate with the population of the site and the expected number of production centres.