The manufacture of Aurignacian split-based points: an experimental challenge

Hunting is one of the areas of human activity that sees the most significant changes in the period from 40 000–35 000 BP in Europe. In this respect, the Aurignacian technocomplex shows technical innovations, notably with the fabrication of split-based points (SBP) in antler and the mass production of bladelets, arguably to serve as weapon armatures. Yet, little experiment work has been dedicated to this question. To begin to fill this gap, we have designed an experimental program devoted to testing and assessing the design, manufacture and use of Aurignacian weaponry.     

Blade technology and tool forms in the Middle Stone Age of South Africa: the Howiesons Poort and post-Howiesons Poort at Rose Cottage Cave

It has been suggested that between 80 and 35 ka the Middle Stone Age record of South Africa reveals episodes of inventiveness and innovation, punctuated by apparent returns to more conventional technologies. One such episode is the Howiesons Poort (HP). The appearance of a range of small geometric forms, apparently used as insets in multi-component tools, has been considered as evidence of improved hunting weapons, with possible social and symbolic connotations. On the basis of evidence such as backed tool production, small blade technology, the occurrence of typical end-scrapers and burins similar to those encountered in the European Upper Paleolithic, long-distance transport of fine-grained raw materials, and non-lithic novelties, the HP is associated with increased levels of technological efficiency and with behavioral innovations that could have allowed the expansion of African populations to other regions. Yet our knowledge of HP technology and tool production is limited to the analysis of Klasies River Main site by Singer and Wymer and Sarah Wurz, and a few preliminary reports from other sites. This is why we present here a detailed technological and typological analysis of several HP and post-HP assemblages from the well-excavated, well-dated and well-stratified site of Rose Cottage. Our analysis shows: (a) that the HP blade production was a real technical innovation, but was not based on indirect percussion, as often suggested; (b) that blade production was based on the use of marginal percussion which does not occur in the blade production of the Eurasian Middle Paleolithic; (c) that the tool kit was dominated by backed pieces, but not all can be considered as hunting weapons; (d) that neither end-scrapers nor burins are typical of this industry and are no more an antecedent to the European Upper Paleolithic than the end-scrapers and burins of the Middle Paleolithic; (e) that patterns of raw material procurement do not conform to models based on evidence from Klasies; (f) that diachronic changes within the Rose Cottage sequence indicate slow, gradual abandonment of the technological style of the HP; (g) that the post-HP assemblages are of MSA character and are typologically and technologically quite similar to the European Middle Paleolithic; (h) that the lack of persistence of the HP innovations is in need of an explanation. The HP is not a monolithic entity. Implications for the symbolic interpretations of the HP phenomenon are discussed.     

Middle Stone Age pièces esquillées from Sibudu Cave,South Africa: an initial micro-residue study

In this paper I present the results of a micro-residue study conducted on ten pièces esquillées (scaled pieces) from Sibudu Cave, South Africa. These artefacts are associated with the Howiesons Poort Industry (∼61.7 and ∼64.7 ka years ago at Sibudu), representing part of the later phase of the Middle Stone Age. Until now, it was unclear on what these pieces were used, and whether they were functional. Previous experimental use-wear work tentatively pointed towards bone processing. However, replication work on stone tool production technology suggests that pièces esquillées are merely the by/end-product of bipolar knapping. I used residue analysis on the Sibudu artefacts because this alternative method has the potential to identify if they were used, and if so, illuminate the specific materials the pieces were used on. Although the sample is small, all the pièces esquillées reveal a clear animal processing signal. There are some bone deposits on the utilised edges that may substantiate bone processing, or perhaps a bone hammer was used with them, but additional study, including Later Stone Age artefacts, is needed to assess the feasibility of these observations. It remains possible that the artefacts are core reduced pieces that were subsequently used as tools or simply knapped with a bone hammer.     

徐州狮子山楚王陵出土金缕玉衣和镶玉漆棺的 玉料组分特征及产地来源研究

为了解西汉玉器的组分特征及玉料来源,利用显微放大观察结合电子探针、红外光谱、拉曼光谱和LA-ICP-MS技术,对徐州狮子山西汉楚王陵出土的部分玉片(玉衣片和玉棺片)样品进行了检测分析。检测结果表明:1)显微放大观察发现:出土玉片样品均含石墨包裹体,不可能来自不含石墨包裹体的福建南平闪石玉和江苏溧阳小梅岭闪石玉。2)电子探针结果显示:出土玉片样品为透闪石;出土玉片样品的ω(FeO)/%范围为0.287～0.925,不可能来自富Fe的玛纳斯闪石玉及贫Fe的的青海闪石玉;ω(Al_2O_3)/%远远高于河南栾川软玉。3)红外光谱分析显示:出土玉片样品为透闪石,与电子探针结果相符;玉片样品的M-OH伸缩振动谱带位置集中在3674cm~(-1)附近,说明玉料Mg含量较高。4)拉曼光谱分析显示:出土玉片样品具有和透闪石矿物共同的特征拉曼谱峰,为透闪石质软玉,与电子探针及红外光谱结果相符。5)LA-ICP-MS分析显示:出土玉衣片样品的稀土元素质量分数及分馏情况与辽宁岫岩闪石玉、四川汶川龙溪闪石玉及河南栾川闪石玉有所不同;Cr、Ni、Co含量较低,指示玉料来自热液交代型镁质大理岩型软玉矿床;Sr含量较低,排除了来自江苏溧阳小梅岭闪石玉的可能。分析结果表明,徐州狮子山楚王陵出土玉器玉料来源主要和新疆和田地区玉料有关;新疆和田地区的闪石玉至西汉早期已覆盖到楚文化区域,并且成为宫廷玉料的主流来源。     

《临川先生文集》年月与阶官疑误十一则

《临川先生文集》流传几近千年,由于一些数字或年号的字形比较相似,于是在转抄翻刻的过程中产便生了鲁鱼亥豕的混同,使得某些文章的所记年月与官职产生了舛误。这些舛误可能要影响到文章的编年,也影响到对作者和其他人物的行实仕履的判断。故此应当指出,并加以纠正。文中依李焘《续资治通鉴长编》为据,对一些年月、官职之误进行了分析、说明和辨正。     

Large-Scale Experimental Investigation on Mustafa Pasha Mosque

To evaluate the seismic stability of Mustafa Pasha Mosque in Skopje strengthened by an advanced mixed technology, shaking table tests were carried out on a model in scale 1:6. The investigation was performed within the activities of the Sixth Framework Program PROHITECH – “Earthquake Protection of Historical Buildings by Reversible Mixed Technologies”. To define the effectiveness of the proposed strengthening the testing procedure consisted of two main phases: testing of the original model and testing of the strengthened model. The observed seismic behavior and damage during each phase of the testing program were analyzed on the basis of the obtained experimental results.     

南宋砧基簿与鱼鳞图册的关系

鱼鳞图册源于南宋初的砧基簿,因限于史料,一般多将砧基簿与鱼鳞图册等同起来。实际上,设计之初的砧基簿基本上依旧属于户籍系统,随后才逐渐从中演化出了属于独立的专门地籍性质的鱼鳞图册。鱼鳞图册出现的前提是在田亩登记在砧基簿土地绘图的基础上,对田段采用字号编排以脱离户名,从而使分散的土地绘图通过分级简化方式制成都保以上合图。这一过渡完成于南宋中期。     

上海博物馆藏楚简《诗论》第2简的释读问题

《上海博物馆藏战国楚竹书(一)》出版后,引起海内外学术界的普遍关注。已有不少学从各个角度撰进行探讨。本拟就其中《诗论》第二简的释读问题略谈几点看法,以供学深入讨论时参考。     

明清转边手卷镶接工艺探究——以《明仿米芾行书明道观壁记卷》为例

手卷是最早出现的中国传统装裱形式,在历经从晋至清的千余年发展后,形成了撞边手卷、套边手卷和转边手卷三种经典样式,其中转边手卷又可分为挖嵌式与镶接式两种工艺。流传至今的清代至民国时期的转边手卷大多为更节省绢料的镶接式装裱工艺,但此工艺复杂繁琐、技术难度较大,到了当代,有所式微,面临失传的境地。本研究主要以上海博物馆藏《明仿米芾行书明道观壁记卷》转边手卷的修复重裱为例,叙述对原装裱用料、配色、镶接工艺等的研究,以及原尺寸恢复其原本镶接式转边手卷的过程,旨在为古人优秀传统技艺的研究、保护和传承提供一定的参考。