The prehistory of Cyprus: Problems and prospects

The archaeological record of prehistoric Cyprus is rich, diverse, well-published, and frequently enigmatic. Regarded by many as a bridge between western Asia and the Aegean, Cyprus and its past are frequently seen from scholarly perspectives prevalent in one of those two cultural areas. Its material culture, however, differs radically from that of either area. Apart from the early colonization episodes on the island (perhaps three during the pre-Neolithic and Neolithic), evidence of foreign contact remains limited until the Bronze Age (post-2500 B. C.). This study seeks to present the prehistory of Cyprus from an indigenous perspective, and to examine a series of archaeological problems that foreground Cyprus within its eastern Mediterranean context. The study begins with an overview of time, place, and the nature of fieldwork on the island, continues with a presentation and discussion of several significant issues in Cypriot prehistory (e.g., insularity, colonization, subsistence, regionalism, interaction, social complexity, economic diversity), and concludes with a brief discussion of prospects for the archaeology of Cyprus up to and beyond 2000.     

Development in the dependent state: The Kenyan case

COLONIALISM AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT IN EAST AFRICA: THE POLITICS OF ECONOMIC CHANGE, 1919–1939. E.A. Brett. Heinemann Educational Books, London, 1973.

RACIAL BARGAINING IN INDEPENDENT KENYA: A STUDY OF MINORITIES AND DECOLONIZATION. Donald Rothchild. Oxford U.P. for Institute of Race Relations, London, 1973.

THE POLITICAL INTEGRATION OF URBAN SQUATTERS. Marc Howard Ross. North Western U.P., Chicago, 1973.

KENYA: THE POLITICS OF PARTICIPATION AND CONTROL. Henry Bienen. Princeton U.P., Princeton, 1974.

PEASANT POLITICS: CONFLICT AND DEVELOPMENT IN MURANGA. Geoff Lamb. Julian Friedmann Publishers, Lewes, Sussex, 1974. Paperback edition 1977.

THE ECONOMICS OF COLONIALISM: BRITAIN AND KENYA 1870–1930. Richard Wolff. Yale U.P., New Haven, 1974.

UNDERDEVELOPMENT IN KENYA: THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF NEO‐COLONIALISM. Colin Leys. Heinemann Educational Books, London, 1975.     

Phytolith-rich layers from the Late Bronze and Iron Ages at Tel Dor (Israel): mode of formation and archaeological significance

The presence of many phytolith-rich layers in late Bronze and Iron Age deposits at Tel Dor, Israel, are indicative of specific locations where plants were concentrated. Detailed studies of six of these phytolith-rich layers and associated sediments from Tel Dor show that the phytoliths were derived mainly from wild and domestic grasses. The most common domestic grass was the cereal Triticum aestivum (bread wheat). Three of these layers have a microlaminated microstructure, associated dung spherulites and phosphate nodules; characteristics that all point to the phytolith-rich layers having formed from dung in animal enclosures. In two of the layers, the microlaminated structure is absent while dung spherulites and phosphate nodules are present, suggesting that these too originate from dung that was not deposited in an enclosure. The sixth layer is microlaminated but does not contain spherulites. We thus cannot suggest a parsimonious explanation of its observed properties. Concentrations of burnt phytoliths are present in three locations, implying that dung was either burnt in situ or the ashes from burnt dung were redeposited. The transformation of dung accumulations into phytolith-rich layers involves a loss of organic material and hence a significant reduction in sediment volume, which is clearly apparent in the stratigraphy of some of the locations examined. The volume reduction can be observed in the macrostratigraphy and has important implications with regard to macrostratigraphic interpretation. The presence of abundant phytolith-rich layers on the tell has significant implications for the concept of ‘urbanism’ during these periods.