Showing papers in "Antiquity in 1993"
TL;DR: In a recent ANTIQUITY article (65: 767-95) Anderson presented a detailed analysis of radiocarbon dates to show that the settlement of New Zealand occurred later than previously thought as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: In a recent ANTIQUITY article (65: 767–95) Atholl Anderson presented a detailed analysis of radiocarbon dates to show that the settlement of New Zealand occurred later than previously thought. In this paper Anderson teams up with another proponent of ‘chronometric hygiene’, Matthew Spriggs (see ANTIQUITY 63: 587–613), to examine the dates for the colonization of the rest of East Polynesia. Once again the generally accepted dates for initial settlement are found wanting and a later chronology is suggested.
292 citations
TL;DR: For example, the authors found that the special character of Chinese history, with its long, near-continuous record of dynasties, written sources and encyclopaedic texts, give archaeology a different place, whether higher or lower, among the other historical and social sciences.
Abstract: This year, as it seems every year, news comes from China of another spectacular archaeological discovery What is the framework of ideas and research that studies these treasures? And how does the special character of Chinese history, with its long, near-continuous record of dynasties, written sources and encyclopaedic texts, give archaeology a different place, whether higher or lower, among the other historical and social sciences?
120 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors studied the patterns of crop and soil-marks in the rain-fed agricultural zone of the Middle East to reveal the local and the long-distance routes of a proven great age.
Abstract: O.G.S. Crawford, founder of ANTIQUITY, flew in the 1920s over an English landscape where the grooves and lines cut into unploughed downlands showed the courses of roads and tracks since earliest times. Similar patterns of crop- and soil-marks in the rain-fed agricultural zone of the Middle East, when studied in the same spirit, also reveal the local and the long-distance routes of a proven great age.
91 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a cropmark in northeast Scotland revealed a substantial timber hall of the general form one expects from the early medieval period, yet it turned out to be Neolithic in date.
Abstract: Excavation of a cropmark in northeast Scotland revealed a substantial timber hall of the general form one expects from the early medieval period. Yet it turned out to be Neolithic in date! The structure produced copious quantities of charred cereal grains from contexts intimately associated with its destruction. Accelerator dates confirm the integrity of selected species with the period of use of the building. Hexaploid wheat and cultivated flax were both identified.
80 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, age distribution of perinatal infants from Romano-British sites and a medieval site are compared, and it is shown that the medieval infants probably represent natural deaths, while the Romano British infants, from both cemetery and non-cemetery sites, may mainly represent victims of infanticide.
Abstract: Age-distributions of perinatal infants from Romano-British sites and a medieval site are different and may reflect different major causes of death. Whilst the medieval infants probably represent natural deaths, the Romano-British infants, from both cemetery and non-cemetery sites, may mainly represent victims of infanticide.
73 citations
TL;DR: The structure of European Neolithic as it was experienced at home, when the OX, the pig, the sheep and the goat came to live in the domestic unit of the single household.
Abstract: Most archaeological interest in the story of European social evolution has looked to the grand picture, as the bands combine and climb at last to achieve states and empires. What about the structure of European Neolithic as it was experienced at home, when the OX, the pig, the sheep and the goat came to live in the domestic unit of the single household?
64 citations
TL;DR: In Nubie, le site de Qasr Ibrim temoigne de changement notoires survenus dans le regime agricole au cours de la periode meroitique et postmeroitique (1-550 apr.J.-C.) as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Les donnees archeo-zoologiques tendraient a prouver que les poulets constituerent une importante ressource economique ( et peut-etre aussi symbolique) de l'Egypte plolemaique et romaine. En Nubie, le site de Qasr Ibrim temoigne de changement notoires survenus dans le regime agricole au cours de la periode meroitique et post-meroitique (1-550 apr.J.-C.) tout comme on note l'apparition de cultures africaine tropicales en Nubie vers la meme epoque. Ces innovations agricoles refletent les contactes existant entre la Basse-Vallee du Nil, le centre du Soudan et peut-etre d'autre regions d'Afrique sub-saharienne. Dans ce contexte, la decouverte de restes de poulets a Qasr Ibrim est d'un interet particulier. Etude morphologique et metrique
60 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used tree-rings to date three Viking Age burial mounds of special importance for chronology in Scandinavia and across early medieval northern Europe and provided a date, exact nearly to the year.
Abstract: Dendrochronology now provides a date, exact nearly to the year, for three Viking Age burial mounds of special importance for chronology in Scandinavia and across early medieval northern Europe. Their dating used to depend on the style of the carved wooden artefacts in the grave goods; now the grave-goods are exactly and independently dated by the tree-rings, those same links will provide dating bridges across the Viking world.
59 citations
TL;DR: A site dated well back into the Pleistocene in Western Australia yields modified shells, seen as a further evidence of the attributes of modern humans from an early Australian context as discussed by the authors, which is seen as evidence of their ability to adapt to the environment.
Abstract: A site dated well back into the Pleistocene in Western Australia yields modified shells, seen as a further evidence of the attributes of modern humans from an early Australian context.
58 citations
TL;DR: Later in this number of ANTIQUITY is a review, page 930, of our knowledge, direct and often indirect, about chariots and wagons in the Europe of 2000 years ago.
Abstract: Later in this number of ANTIQUITY is a review, page 930, of our knowledge, direct and often indirect, about chariots and wagons in the Europe of 2000 years ago. How much greater is our knowledge in China, where sacrificial burials of vehicles with their horses and drivers may give evidence of chariots by the fleet!
57 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors chart the political influences that shaped archaeology in Spain for some 40 years, highlighting the centralizing authoritarianism of the Franco regime stifled regional autonomy in administration and research, and key archaeological appointments went to committed supporters of the regime.
Abstract: Archaeology is notoriously vulnerable to the ideological pressures of authoritarian regimes. This paper charts the political influences that shaped archaeology in Spain for some 40 years. Following the Civil War Spanish archaeologists were isolated from mainstream theoretical evolution, a situation that was exacerbated by the exile of some leading figures. The centralizing authoritarianism of the Franco regime stifled regional autonomy in administration and research, and key archaeological appointments went to committed supporters of the regime.
TL;DR: The great cast bronzes of China are today deservadly celebrated for their splendour and sheer size as mentioned in this paper, but they were in their own time very different from what they are for us.
Abstract: (Res.d'A.). The great cast bronzes of China are today deservadly celebrated for their splendour and sheer size. By looking behind that surface impression, and into the characters of their find-contexts, one can - as for any class of artefact - see behind what they are for us towards what they were in their own time.
TL;DR: Au debut du Moyen Age, pendant une courte periode des tumulus prehistoriques ont ete reutilisees and de nouveaux tumulus construits en Europe Occidentale.
Abstract: Au debut du Moyen Age, pendant une courte periode des tumulus prehistoriques ont ete reutilisees et de nouveaux tumulus construits en Europe Occidentale. Cela est interprete comme le reflet de l'opposition a la nouvelle ideologie chretienne, dans une epoque de changement social dans la distributtion du pouvoir et de la propriete
TL;DR: In this article, a radiocarbon chronology for the Bronze Age sequence in Central Europe is presented, which fills the last major gap in the radiocarcbon chronology of the European continent.
Abstract: It is more than forty years now since the first radiocarbon dates began the reconciliation of conventional and absolute chronologies for later prehistory. This pioneering radiocarbon chronology for the Bronze Age sequence in Central Europe brings that process nearer to a close, by filling the last major gap in the radiocarcbon chronology of the European continent.
TL;DR: In this article, ground radar is used to investigate shallow archaeological features in burial mounds of the Kofun Period (300-700 AD) in Japan, and a variety of analytical methods are used to interpret the profiles, to reveal the location, depth and shapes of buried features.
Abstract: Ground radar investigates shallow archaeological features in burial mounds of the Kofun Period (300-700 AD) in Japan. A variety of analytical methods – time slices, synthetic radargrams simulated from model structures, and 3-D depth constructions – are used to interpret the profiles, to reveal the location, depth and shapes of buried features.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors generalement accepte associe l'apparition et le developpement de la metallurgie en Europe occidentale avec la complexite croissante de la societe utilisant le metal comme pole determinant.
Abstract: Un modele generalement accepte associe l'apparition et le developpement de la metallurgie en Europe occidentale avec la complexite croissante de la societe utilisant le metal comme pole determinant L'etude multidisciplinaire de la region de Vera au sud-est de l'Espagne suggere que la production de metal dans cette region se faisait sur une petite echelle et d'importance secondaire pour generer les changements culturels et sociaux
TL;DR: In the late Holocene, Aboriginal rock painters in north Queensland selected and combined various natural inorganic and organic materials in paint recipes, possibly to increase the longevity of their paintings as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: During the late Holocene, Aboriginal rock painters in north Queensland selected and combined various natural inorganic and organic materials in paint recipes – possibly to increase the longevity of their paintings. The organic materials make direct radiocarbon dating possible.
TL;DR: In this article, Radiocarbon dating using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) is used for minute residues of blood, charcoal and plant fibres, either accidentally or deliberately incorporated in paintings.
Abstract: Absolute dating of prehistoric rock paintings is an exciting archaeological pursuit. Sophisticated sample collection, handling and pretreatment methods and new analytical equipment and techniques are minimizing contamination and permitting identification of trace amounts of organic substances in prehistoric paints. Radiocarbon dating using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) is producing dates for minute residues of blood, charcoal and plant fibres, either accidentally or deliberately incorporated in paintings. Carbon-bearing laminations, such as oxalate-crusts and silica skins, which have accumulated under and over rock art, have also been recently dated.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors show that from at least the 1st century AD, there existed among the Chumash of the Santa Barbara region, California, a fishery for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) by harpoon.
Abstract: Linguistic, ethnographic, archaeological and technical evidence demonstrates the mythological and ceremonial importance of the swordfish in Chumash culture. From at least the 1st century AD, there existed among the Chumash of the Santa Barbara region, California, a productive fishery for swordfish (Xiphias gladius) by harpoon. The probability is that a shamanistic cult was intended to bring this great ‘master of the sea’ within reach of fishermen and to persuade it occasionally to drive whales ashore, making their meat available. Evidence from a number of world-wide sources shows that this Chumash belief was, indeed, founded in fact.
TL;DR: Nelson as mentioned in this paper reported early dates for rock-art at two Australian sites in A NTIQUITY 64 (1990) and reported a further study which leads him to withdraw the published date for one, at Laurie Creek (Northern Territory).
Abstract: D.E. Nelson, radiocarbon scientist in the group which reported early dates for rock-art at two Australian sites in A NTIQUITY 64 (1990), reports a further study which leads him to withdraw the published date for one, at Laurie Creek (Northern Territory). As he notes, is co-authors in the 1990 paper are not all in agreement with his present view. The other site dated in 1990, Judds Cavern (Tasmania), is not addressed in this further report.
TL;DR: A bone deposit found in a round barrow overlying a rich Beaker-period burial in Northamptonshire (England) contained at least 184 domestic cattle skulls and one aurochs skull, but very few other cattle bones or bones of other animals as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A bone deposit found in a round barrow overlying a rich Beaker-period burial in Northamptonshire (England) contained at least 184 domestic cattle skulls and one aurochs skull, but very few other cattle bones or bones of other animals. Most of the cattle were young adults. The relative scarcity of premolars suggests that they were deposited on the cairn some time after death. The paper discusses archaeological and ethnographic parallels for this unusual deposit.
TL;DR: In 1989 ANTIQUITY published a special section of papers on the archaeology of the steppe zone, to notice the special role of that great sweep of land that links the northern fringes of early prehistoric agriculture in Europe and Asia as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: In 1989 ANTIQUITY published a special section of papers on the archaeology of the steppe zone, to notice the special role of that great sweep of land that links the northern fringes of early prehistoric agriculture in Europe and Asia. A new international team has now returned to Jeitun, the key early agricultural site in Turkmenistan, on the edge of the Kara Kum desert.
TL;DR: The European Convention on the Protection of the Archneological Heritage (Revised) as discussed by the authors was proposed by the Third European Conference of Ministers Responsible for the Cultural Heritage (CCMPH).
Abstract: In January 1992, 20 States signed the European Convention on the Protection of the Archneological Heritage (Revised) which is intended to replace the original Convention of 1969. Signature indicates that States agree on the actual text that was before the meeting where the Convention was considered, in this case the Third European Conference of Ministers Responsible for the Cultural Heritage. It obliges States not to do anything actively contrary to the provisions of the Convention. However, States are not bound by the Convention until they ratify it. As at June 1992 no States had yet ratified the Revised Convention, but this is understandable as it usually takes at least six months for such a process to be completed even by the most enthusiastic of States.
TL;DR: Ext. de res. d'A. as discussed by the authors describes the excavation of a site not just of the 'contact period' but of the contact itelf gives a new view of those darkest years around 1840 when the remainig free Tasmania Aboriginal people were tracked down and transported to death in exile.
Abstract: Ext. de res. d'A.: Excavation of a site not just of the 'contact period' but of the contact itfelf gives a new view of those darkest years around 1840 when the remainig free Tasmania Aboriginal people were tracked down and transported to death in exile.
TL;DR: In l'age du Bronze dans La Mancha espagnole, des fouilles intensives ont revele une concentration inconnue jusqu'alors des implantations de l' age du Bronze.
Abstract: Ces quinze dernieres annees, des fouilles intensives ont revele une concentration inconnue jusqu'alors des implantations de l'age du Bronze dans La Mancha espagnole. Celles-ci sont importantes en taille, permanentes, fortifiees, associees a une agriculture intensive de type mediterraneen. Leur abandon soudain au milieu du second millenaire avant J.C. est interprete a l'evidence par la mise en place de politiques de controle tres dures par les dirigeants locaux.
TL;DR: In this paper, the tectonic history of northwest Greece shows Palaeolithic sites located to take advantage of tectonically created features at both local and regional scales, which can be beneficial to human survival.
Abstract: Tectonic movements – continuously re-moulding the surface of the earth over the inexorable activity of underlying plate motions – are rarely taken into account when assessing landscape change, except as an exotic hazard to human life or a temporary disruption in longer-term trends. Active tectonics also create and sustain landscapes that can be beneficial to human survival. The tectonic history of northwest Greece shows Palaeolithic sites located to take advantage of tectonically created features at both local and regional scales.
TL;DR: The Monuments Protection Programme (MPP) as discussed by the authors is a new English initiative to build a set of balanced judgements and priorities by which to recognize ancient places that are more precious, genuinely of a national importance.
Abstract: Six years ago, Darvill and colleagues reported (ANTIQUITY 61: 393–408) on the Monuments Protection Programme, a new English initiative to build, from a century of haphazard acts of site protection, a set of balanced judgements and priorities by which to recognize ancient places that are more precious, genuinely of a national importance. The Programme, they tell ANTIQUITY, has now completed the first-stage review of information in local sites and monuments records and is proceeding with the identification of nationally important monuments in every English county. This further paper reports on how the Monuments Protection Programme is addressing landscapes, as distinct from ‘spot sites’ with clear limits, where the matters of defining a ‘relict cultural landscape’ and judging relative value are harder.
TL;DR: The story of the central monument of 20th-century European history is a remarkable case-study in the meaning of a single item of material culture, showing the richness of confused meaning that must also envelop the older walls of arcaheological concern as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A new wall has joined the classics of history, the Great Wall of China and Hadrian's Wall. This story of the central monument of 20th-century European history is a remarkable case-study in the meaning of a single item of material culture, showing the richness of confused meaning that must also envelop the older walls of arcaheological concern.
Abstract: Res. d'A.: Investigations in the 19th century demonstrated that Scottish crannogs, the distinctive waterlogged settlements in the shallow waters at the edge of lochs, were very rich in organic remains of all types. Have the crannogs survived, years after so many of the lakes were drained ? Are there organic remains left ? A new survey and new excavations at the Buiston crannog shows how much has gone, and the great value of what remains.
TL;DR: In watery places people prefer to live where they can keep their feet dry, and an elevation of a metre or two can make a difference as discussed by the authors. But the simple distinction between humanly created middens and naturally built features does not easily apply in the Australian tropics, where the natural causes include cyclones, shellfish die-off and the building of mounds by scrub turkeys.
Abstract: In watery places people prefer to live where they can keep their feet dry, and an elevation of a metre or two can make a difference. The simple distinction between humanly created middens and naturally built features does not easily apply in the Australian tropics, where the natural causes include cyclones, shellfish die-off and the building of mounds by scrub turkeys, and where foragers are not directed in where they choose to camp by concern for the classification by which tidy-minded archaeologists may want to order mounds in the wetlands.