Assessing Surface Correspondence and Trade of Maya Figurines and Moulds Using Multi‐Stripe Laser Technology and Metrology*

One of the most intriguing questions for archaeologists studying clay artefacts concerns technologies employed in their manufacture and whether standardization can be demonstrated through traditional ceramic analysis. Visual comparisons and mechanical measurements have been used to determine correlations and infer standardization. Using a laser multi‐line scanner and software developed to quantify Hausdorff distances between vertices in 3D surfaces, we analysed sample collections of figurines and moulds from Belize, Mexico and Honduras. The results indicated that this procedure was a more precise indicator of common source and standardization in moulded clay artefacts. This method provided data relevant to assessing the scope of ancient trade networks and the nature of social and economic relationships that existed among the ancient inhabitants of Mesoamerica.     

计量分析:陈云经济思想方法论的特点和优点

计量分析是陈云认识、研究和解决中国经济问题的重要方法,具有探寻实情的求真性、探寻规律的求是性、坚持对立统一的辩证性等鲜明特点。实践证明,陈云关于经济问题的计量分析方法,是执政的中国共产党及其干部认识中国社会主义现代化建设规律及其特点、解决经济矛盾或者问题的重要方法和有效手段,是中国共产党人的宝贵思想财富。     

泽惠史林之作--评《中国科学技术史·度量衡卷》

《中国科学技术史·度量衡卷》是迄今为止最权威的中国度量衡史著作。该书以历代单位量值的演变作为主线 ,旁及中国度量衡的产生、发展、管理制度、相关的科学技术成就等 ,对中国度量衡史做了系统、全面的研究。该书修正了传统研究的不足 ,补充了以往的空缺 ,对相关历史现象的研究也提出了新的见解。该书的出版 ,为史学研究提供了可资借鉴的权威度量衡史著作。     

‘Diogenes in search of an honest man’: the genesis of the industrial inch,the first global standard of length

This paper discusses the evolution of the metrology of interchangeable manufacture, and the genesis in the 1930s of the industrial inch, the first global standard of length. I argue that standardization of industrial products during the nineteenth century was a major factor in the change from the proprietary metrologies of earlier interchangeable manufacture to public metrologies based on national length standards. This evolution is placed in the context of the different cultures and techniques of American and British mechanical engineering. Internationalization of manufacturing in the early twentieth century then provided impetus for agreement on a single global industrial standard of length. In exploring these developments, I emphasize the importance of the needs of user groups in the construction of effective standards, and the related subjugation of metrological purity to pragmatism and practicality.     

从九种核心期刊的文献计量分析看中国科技考古的发展

用科技献计量学的方法,对九种核心期刊,其中八种为考古类核心期刊,一种为物理类(原子能科学技术类)核心期刊所刊登的科技考古论进行献计量统计。每种期刊均从创刊号起统计到2002年底止,共计976篇论。从逐年论数统计中发现,我国科技考古论统计曲线呈现三个平台,它印证了我国科技考古的三个历史发展阶段：即倡导期(1950-1977),初步发展期(1978-1989),快速发展期(1990-2002)。这三个发展阶段与我国经济、科技发展期所对应。从按五大类科技方法统计发现,核技术方法共360篇,占总数36.8％;生物方法130篇,占总数13．3％;物理和化学方法427篇,占总数的43．7％;地球物理方法41篇,占总数的4．2％;计算机及其应用18篇,占总数的1.8％。统计表明,不少高新技术已在考古事业中得到应用,核技术方法及物理和化学方法占据了重要的位置。为了更完善地反映我国科技考古的全貌,需扩大统计调查期刊的数量。