Malocclusion and methodology: The problem and relevance of recording dental malalignment in archaeology

The study of incorrectly positioned teeth has a long history, especially in relation to human groups and domestic dogs. Dental and orthodontic specialists have been particularly concerned to establish ways of recording and comparing such anomalies. However, Colyer and others have established that anomalous dental positioning occurs in a wide variety of species, and might at times even have had adaptive advantage. In the case of dogs, some modern varieties clearly have severe malocclusion problems, while others are little affected. Because it has been suggested that early domesticated dogs already display some degree of dental crowding or malpositioning, it seems important to consider the methodology for recording such anomalies. It is suggested that a quick and easy method of recording and comparing tooth positioning is by angular measurements (preferably taken on standard photographs of occlusal views). In the British archaeological dog samples selected, it was found that tooth malpositioning (and thus malocclusion of upper and lower dentitions) was only slight, compared to the overall occurrence of such anomalies in modern dogs. It is suggested that this kind of simple procedure may be of value in the investigation of secular trends in the frequency of malpositioning and malocclusion of dogs, if not other species, through time.     

Roman blue-green bottle glass: chemical–optical analysis and high temperature viscosity modelling

Chemical analysis, optical absorption spectroscopy and mathematical modelling of high temperature viscosity have been carried out on five 1st–2nd century AD Roman blue-green bottle glass fragments from Coppergate, York. Modelled viscosities indicate remarkable consistency within the sample set studied and support the suggestion that temperatures of ∼1000–1150 °C were required to remelt these glasses and to provide suitable viscosities for forming articles. Iron redox ratios (Fe²⁺/ΣFe), analysed SO₃ contents and the absence of characteristic Fe³⁺–S²⁻ amber absorption bands suggest that melting conditions for all studied glasses were mildly, rather than strongly, reducing (estimated pO₂ ≈ 10⁻¹–10⁻⁶ bar). These furnace conditions are consistent with the effects of combustion gases and carbonaceous matter contained in the raw materials.     

The oldest evidence of painted furniture from Sweden – The 12th century chair from Suntak

The 12th century Suntak chair is one of the earliest pieces of furniture known from Sweden. A close examination revealed minute remnants of possible colour pigments on several parts of the chair. Chemical analyses of the pigments revealed the presence of several colours such as black, white and red. This paper attempts to shed light upon the identification and origin of the pigments as well as the time of painting. The original use and the setting of the chair will also be discussed.     

土库曼尼萨城的色彩：雕塑的彩饰和古代土库曼斯坦的建筑

帕提亚帝国（公元前二世纪）最有意义的遗址之一当属现今位于土库曼斯坦南部的旧尼萨城。从二十世纪到今天,土库曼斯坦,俄罗斯和意大利的探险队已经带回来了一些纪念性的东西和一些我们所熟知的这段重要历史和文化时期里的工艺品。尤其是意大利都灵的考古探险队从上世纪90年代就已经活跃在这个地区,与当地的博物馆合作挖掘了许多有纪念价值的藏品并对这个藏品进行了一些研究。对挖掘出的藏品的彩饰的初步研究已经进行了很久。因为很明显在很多情况下这些藏品是无法移动的,采样也很困难,所以我们决定直接在现场（Ashgabat国家博物馆）测量鉴定。我们用了许多实验性的技术,无破坏性、无伤害性的测量以及传统的方法（包括分层部分碎片的研究和衍射分析）。这个研究是关于从所谓的RoundHall和RedBuilding（1990—2006）出土的粘土塑像、陶瓦建筑元素、壁画以及石膏等。尽管意大利专家所收集到的数据还没有完全处理,但已经可以帮助我们更好的了解这些出土品的生产过程,让我们对古尼萨的工艺品制造者的“调色板”有了一个更清楚的认识。这篇文章的目的是展示这些初步的研究成果,并同时提出对古尼萨主要内部建筑重建的假设。     

Manganese Black Pigments in Prehistoric Paintings: the Case of the Black Frieze of Pech Merle (France)

Different black pigments of natural origin (mineral or organic) have been examined by means of several analytical methods (colour measurements, elemental analysis and structural analysis). The results, after being compared with each other, then served as reference points in the study of the ‘Black Frieze’ of the cave of Pech Merle (Lot). After that, colour measurement was investigated in situ on the paintings as a means of displaying small differences (in hue or chroma) between the black colours. The aim of this study was to verify several hypotheses concerning the techniques used by the painters of Pech Merle, and specifically by the one(s) of the Black Frieze. A first objective was that of identifying the nature and, if possible, the origin of the black pigments used in these figures. A second objective was that of determining in which parts of the frieze one or the other (or one and the other) had been used; and the final objective was to provide new technical information that might help us better to understand how the Pech Merle frieze was produced, whether by a single painter and in one episode, for the most part, or, on the contrary, in several episodes and by a succession of different painters.     

Pigments from the Middle Palaeolithic levels of Es-Skhul (Mount Carmel,Israel)

Discovery of pigments at Middle Palaeolithic sites is of interest in the context of the ongoing debate about the tempo and mode of the emergence of modern human behaviour. Here we analyse four previously undescribed fragments of pigmental material from Es-Skhul shelter, layer B, Israel, McCown excavations, identified at the Department of Palaeontology, Natural History Museum, London. One of them is still partially embedded in the hard breccia characteristic of this layer. Inspection of breccia fragments from layer B has led to the identification of small pieces of red and orange pigmental material still enclosed in large clasts, further corroborating the attribution of the larger pieces analysed in this study to layer B. The four objects are studied using optical microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray micro-diffraction (μ-XRD), Particle-Induced X-Ray Emission Spectrometry (PIXE), and Proton-Induced Gamma-ray Emission (PIGE). The specimens display various hues of yellow, orange, red, and one of them presents a gradual variation of shade from yellow to dark orange. SEM/EDX analysis identifies two specimens (Skhul 1 and 2) as being composed of iron-rich calcium phosphate, the third (Skhul 3) of potassium-rich clay with titanium-rich iron oxide inclusions, and the fourth (Skhul 4) of pure iron oxide crystals. TEM/EDX and μ-XRD analysis demonstrate that three pieces (Skhul 1, 2 and 4) were heated to at least 300 °C, a process that has partially or completely dehydrated goethite into haematite and changed their pristine yellow colour into orange or red. Skhul 3 shows no sign of heating, suggesting that its haematite content has a geological origin. The different mineral composition of the pieces suggests that they must come from a variety of sources. This implies that the associated collection strategies included the selection of materials that differed not only with respect to colour but also with respect to other physical and chemical properties. Although no formal proof exists that these lumps of pigmental material were deliberately heated, results obtained are consistent with this explanation.     

殷墟西北冈大墓出土大理石雕及相关问题

本文通过对西北冈大墓出土大理石雕的整理,讨论了殷墟大理石雕的风格与传统,相同母题造型语言在材质、功能、大小不同器物间的灵活转换,以及商人对于材质、颜色选择上的使用观念,以此探讨晚商王室白色大理石雕的创作及其背后的文化内涵。     

也谈浙江省自治运动--兼与冯筱才先生商榷

20世纪20年代浙江省的自治运动以花样多、历时久而闻名于世。通过研究前人较少注意的《三色宪法》和《浙江省自治法》等制定过程,可发现浙江自治运动失败的原因固然很多,但众多的利益维度不是削弱而是增加了运动的持久性,使浙江成为全国自治运动历时最久的省份,只是没有实际成果而已;运动的失败恰好证明了“军阀扼杀自治”,只是不能简单机械地理解“军阀”。     

Investigation of Iron Age north-eastern Scottish glass beads using element analysis with LA-ICP-MS

Class 13 and 14 Iron Age Scottish glass beads are a group of highly decorated beads of British origin or design, dating indicatively to the 1st and 2nd century AD and typically found in Aberdeenshire and Moray district (Guido, 1978, 85–9). Their distinctive stylistic characteristics and geographical segregation renders them ideal for the investigation of whether the glasses employed in their manufacture were imported rather than produced locally, and for the assessment of the technology used in the production of the deep colours. Studies performed in the 1980s on different specimens pertaining to the same Classes (Henderson, 1982) showed compositional characteristics differing from Iron Age southern British beads, suggesting a different source of glass for their manufacture. Here, a set of 19 beads which was never investigated before was analysed for 32 major, minor and trace elements using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The sample set shows good homogeneity in major and minor element composition, indicating the use of imported natron glass, with standardized composition typical of Roman glass of the period, also reflected in the recipes used for colouration. Evidence for the use of cullet and waste glass was found, which, along with the particularity of the design, suggests a local origin of the beads and possible production by native glassworkers.