Root Canals of Buried Teeth: Radiographic Changes due to Crystal Growth

The radiographs of 43 skulls recovered from a 4000-year-old site in Central Thailand were examined for changes in the pulp chamber and root canals of teeth. Eleven specimens aged between 8 and 40 years featured marked root canal radiopacities not consistent with the appearance of dentine. Scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis revealed the presence of crystals of almost pure calcium. The crystals had developed post-mortem, with the likely source of the mineral being sea shells which were abundant at the place of burial. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A Dog Skin from Asthall

A group of associated dog bones recovered from a Romano-British burial, probably late, has been examined in the course of the analysis of the full bone assemblage from this settlement site. The clarity of the deposition, the interpretation of the relationship between the human and animal bone, and the wider background of whole animal skins in archaeological contexts is discussed.     

三国西晋陵寝制度新论

三国西晋时期的陵寝制度呈现出诸多新动向,这些新动向远非过往学界所理解的"衰落"这么简单。曹魏、西晋陵寝制度大致沿着同一方向向前发展,墓祭、谒陵之风大为衰落,陵园建制简化的局面逐渐确立;同时,曹魏、西晋也在地下埋葬方面各自确立独具特色的等级标识。南方的孙吴政权在较多继承汉代传统的基础上,于下游上坊、采石二陵墓区内形成了较为明晰的等级秩序,却在中游的鄂州、武汉二陵墓区遭到了一定程度上的"僭越"。总体上,曹魏、西晋所确立的新动向,虽然被"永嘉之乱"中断,但还是对后来北方政权有一定影响。孙吴陵寝制度,则受限于自身政治军事环境,对当时统治区内部和后来的南方政权影响力均较为有限。