DISCOVERING DWELLINGS: A STUDY OF LATE MESOLITHIC DWELLING PRACTICES,CONTEXTS AND ATTRIBUTES BASED ON EVIDENCE FROM CENTRAL NORWAY

This article is based on a study of site formation processes of dwellings, site contexts, and terms relating to dwelling types and attributes. Archaeological evidence discovered during the Ormen Lange project and dated to the Late Mesolithic provides the backdrop for discussion. The project was conducted by the NTNU University Museum in 2003–2004 on the Island of Gossen in Central Norway. Remains of at least 14 dwellings and a large number of dwelling‐related features dated to between 6000 and 4000 cal BC were recorded. Based on analyses of several dwelling attributes, the Ormen Lange dwellings are divided into 1) houses for long term or regularly repeated stays (for double and single family units); 2) houses for repeated short‐time stays (for task groups); 3) non‐permanent dwellings for short time occupation and 4) special‐purpose, non‐residential shelters.     

Using Pyrotechnology: Fire-related Features and Activities with a Focus on the African Middle Stone Age

Pyrotechnology was important in prehistory and has been a research topic for decades, in particular, the origins of controlled and habitual use of fire. The earliest putative evidence of fire use is from the African sites of Swartkrans (1,500,000–1,000,000 years ago) and Koobi Fora (1,500,000 years ago). In contrast, researchers working with European sites debate whether habitual use of fire occurred before 400,000 years ago. This paper provides a brief introduction to early fire use and then focuses on the African Middle Stone Age. Published evidence on fire use is available for 34 sites in southern Africa. Combustion features yield much evidence about human behavior, not only in regard to technical skills but also concerning social activities. Several activities using fire, symbolic behavior, spatial structuring, and group size in the Middle Stone Age are inferred from bone and lithic data, ash discard, site maintenance, and hearth size. The current status of knowledge on Middle Stone Age pyrotechnology demonstrates the benefits of applying new methodological approaches, facilitates comparisons with earlier and later archaeological periods, and is an important reminder of the benefits of a multidisciplinary approach.     

Color Me Heated? A Comparison of Potential Methods to Quantify Color Change in Thermally-Altered Rocks

This study investigates and compares methods to quantify color changes in quartzite rocks after repeated heating episodes. We collected quartzite samples from the southern Cape coast, South Africa, and heated them three times in experimental fires. We recorded the colors of the samples before and after heating using visual observation, Munsell color notations, Munsell color notations converted to RGB values, and digital image analysis. The methods are also tested on potentially heated and potentially unheated archaeological samples from Klasies River main site, South Africa. It was possible to distinguish between unheated and repeatedly experimentally heated quartzite using visual observation and Munsell color notation, but a large proportion of repeatedly heated samples appeared unaffected by the heat. The digitally-captured color values best discriminated color changes after heating. Color values of repeatedly heated experimental samples overlap with color values of potentially heated archaeological samples.     

International development aid and young people's participation in societal development of the global south

ABSTRACT

International development aid has in recent years sought to strengthen youths’ societal participation by cooperation between international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) and local youth associations. In this paper, we address and conceptualise some of the underlying causes that may enable and/or limit such efforts to support youth participation in the global south. We seek to contribute to the growing literature exploring the multiple scales of young people's political agency. A core argument proposed is that notions of generational relationality, as seen in the case of international development aid targeting youth, must include conceptions of power as a topological relation across space.