Land Tenure Systems at the Ancient Maya Site of Actuncan, Belize

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa J. LeCount ◽  
Chester P. Walker ◽  
John H. Blitz ◽  
Ted C. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Land Tenure ◽  
Settlement Patterns ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Common Property ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Agricultural Field ◽  
Terminal Classic ◽  
Residential Units ◽  
Maya Site ◽  
Land Tenure Systems

A common property regime was established at the founding of the Maya site of Actuncan, Belize, in the Terminal Preclassic period (175 BC–AD 300), which governed access to land until the Terminal Classic period (AD 780–1000). This interpretation is based on urban settlement patterns documented through household excavation and remote-sensing programs. Excavations of all visible patio-focused groups in the urban core provided data to reconstruct residential histories, and a 60,621 m2 gradiometer survey resulted in a magnetic gradient map that was used to document buried constructions. Twenty ground-truth testpits correlated types of magnetic signatures to buried patio-focused groups and smaller constructions, including walled plots in agricultural field systems that were later exposed more fully through large-scale excavations. Combined, these methods provided data to reconstruct four correlates of land tenure systems: (1) the spatial proximity of residential units to land and resources, (2) diachronic changes in community settlement patterns, (3) land subdivision and improvements, and (4) public goods. Spatial analyses documented that houselots did not cluster through time, but instead became gradually improved, lending evidence to suggest the transgenerational inheritance of property rights in the Late and Terminal Classic periods.

STONES, BONES, AND CROWDED PLAZAS: Evidence for Terminal Classic Maya warfare at Colha, Belize

2005 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason W. Barrett ◽  
Andrew K. Scherer
Keyword(s):  
Settlement Patterns ◽  
Classic Maya ◽  
Secondary Site ◽  
Maya Lowlands ◽  
Terminal Classic ◽  
Maya Site ◽  
Using Data

This study provides a synthetic review of the Terminal Classic collapse of the Maya site of Colha, Belize, based on new data drawn from recent lithic and osteological studies and previously reported information. The well-known Colha skull pit has figured prominently in previous hypotheses of the site's collapse, which focus on either warfare or ritual termination. In this review, these two hypotheses are reexamined using data from: (1) shifts in settlement patterns; (2) transitions in lithic production; and (3) the death en masse of at least 55 individuals coincident with the site's abandonment. Based on the evidence presented here, we argue that warfare precipitated Colha's collapse. In light of Colha's role as a secondary site that functioned primarily as a lithic-production locality, the Terminal Classic destruction of the site illustrates the significance of material motivations in Maya warfare and accents the diversity of collapse processes in the Maya Lowlands.

scholarly journals Identification of a juvenile-hormone signaling inhibitor via high-throughput screening of a chemical library

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takumi Kayukawa ◽  
Kenjiro Furuta ◽  
Keisuke Nagamine ◽  
Tetsuro Shinoda ◽  
Kiyoaki Yonesu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Juvenile Hormone ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Agricultural Field ◽  
Chemical Library ◽  
Field Development

Abstract Insecticide resistance has recently become a serious problem in the agricultural field. Development of insecticides with new mechanisms of action is essential to overcome this limitation. Juvenile hormone (JH) is an insect-specific hormone that plays key roles in maintaining the larval stage of insects. Hence, JH signaling pathway is considered a suitable target in the development of novel insecticides; however, only a few JH signaling inhibitors (JHSIs) have been reported, and no practical JHSIs have been developed. Here, we established a high-throughput screening (HTS) system for exploration of novel JHSIs using a Bombyx mori cell line (BmN_JF&AR cells) and carried out a large-scale screening in this cell line using a chemical library. The four-step HTS yielded 69 compounds as candidate JHSIs. Topical application of JHSI48 to B. mori larvae caused precocious metamorphosis. In ex vivo culture of the epidermis, JHSI48 suppressed the expression of the Krüppel homolog 1 gene, which is directly activated by JH-liganded receptor. Moreover, JHSI48 caused a parallel rightward shift in the JH response curve, suggesting that JHSI48 possesses a competitive antagonist-like activity. Thus, large-scale HTS using chemical libraries may have applications in development of future insecticides targeting the JH signaling pathway.

scholarly journals Mobility patterns are associated with experienced income segregation in large US cities

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Esteban Moro ◽  
Dan Calacci ◽  
Xiaowen Dong ◽  
Alex Pentland
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Mobility Model ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Mobility Patterns ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Residential Patterns ◽  
Income Segregation ◽  
Mobility Data ◽  
Mobility Behavior

AbstractTraditional understanding of urban income segregation is largely based on static coarse-grained residential patterns. However, these do not capture the income segregation experience implied by the rich social interactions that happen in places that may relate to individual choices, opportunities, and mobility behavior. Using a large-scale high-resolution mobility data set of 4.5 million mobile phone users and 1.1 million places in 11 large American cities, we show that income segregation experienced in places and by individuals can differ greatly even within close spatial proximity. To further understand these fine-grained income segregation patterns, we introduce a Schelling extension of a well-known mobility model, and show that experienced income segregation is associated with an individual’s tendency to explore new places (place exploration) as well as places with visitors from different income groups (social exploration). Interestingly, while the latter is more strongly associated with demographic characteristics, the former is more strongly associated with mobility behavioral variables. Our results suggest that mobility behavior plays an important role in experienced income segregation of individuals. To measure this form of income segregation, urban researchers should take into account mobility behavior and not only residential patterns.

Disaster impacts in a port-city; learning from Beirut's  Port explosion

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steluta topalov
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Focal Point ◽  
Transportation System ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Social Dimension ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Port Cities ◽  
Residential Units ◽  
The Impact

<p>On 4 august 2020, one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions the world has seen in recent times took place in the Port of Beirut. Caused by the detonation of 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate, inadequate stored in a warehouse in the port, the blast destroyed much of the city’s port and the surrounding infrastructure and severly  damaged the dense residential and commercial areas within 5 km of the explosion site. The impact of the explosion, which registered as a 3.3 magnitude earthquake according to the U.S. Geological Survey, was felt as far away as the island of Cyprus.</p><p>Athough the event was an technological hazard, the impact of the explosion is similar to a standardised natural disaster.</p><p>According to UNDP, a total of 200 000 residential units were affected with an estimated of 40 000 buildings damaged; 200 people lost their lives, around 6 000 individuals were injuried and around 300 000 people were displaced.</p><p>Such figure are comparable to other large-scale disasters such as Cyclone Vayu in India, which occured in June 2019 or the displacement caused by the Typhoon Vongfong, in the Philippines.</p><p>The frequent increase of the natural disasters  puts pressure on the critical infrastructure of the cities. The disruption of the transportation system,  which is vital for the sustainable daily operations, are having a big impact on the economical, enviromental and social dimension of a city system. Among the various types of transportation system, ports are a focal point because of its strategic role for the economic growth of cities,regions and  global network. In addition, they are nodal points for the social and economical activity of the inhabitants.</p><p>Although the ports have played a key role in the development of their host cities, they are also vulnerable to a broad range of risks and threats because of a particular spatial character: the location at the intersection of land and sea.  </p><p>The study of the Beirut’s Port explosion examines the impact of port failures on the host urban enviroment and the relationship between hazards, vulnerability and the impact. The vulnerability of the port to disasters results  to the vulnerability of its host city. A context –based understanding  of the impact of the disaster and the elements at risk is essential to identify appropriate risk management strategies. The location of the port within the urban environment, in densely populated area, as in case of Beirut are some of the characteristics of the port cities that can magnify the impact of disasters to which they are prone.  The study will focus on a collection of data that records the impact and allows visualisation of the complex patterns of the disaster risk reduction.</p><p>The impact caused by the Beirut’s port explosion reminds us about the important role of the ports in their host cities and how fundamental is to identify the port’s infrastructure  exposure to hazards and risks.  Lessons learned from such event may be useful to reduce disaster risks in the port cities.</p>

Megastructures. What is really the point?

TERRITORIO ◽  
2009 ◽  
pp. 21-27
Author(s):  
Alvaro Domingues
Keyword(s):  
Settlement Patterns ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Settlement Pattern ◽  
Shopping Malls ◽  
Transport Networks ◽  
Time And Space ◽  
Rural Roads ◽  
Urban Agglomerations ◽  
Industrial Estates ◽  
Local Transport

- The article explores megastructures in relation to their impact on local transport networks and nodes. The area examined is Portugal, where the recent construction of giant shopping malls, industrial estates and logistics centres has in turn led to large-scale infrastructures that have been superimposed on a settlement pattern consisting, in many cases, of urban agglomerations serviced by rural roads. The resulting landscape reveals a juxtaposition of completely different elements in terms of both scale and impact, often the outcome of urban zoning projects intruding on fragmented urbanisation. The resulting image is one of scattered settlement patterns. Behind these phenomena one can see the effects of splintering urbanism. The difficulty in coordinating, in time and space, the decisions made and actions taken by a wide variety of individuals and institutions is becoming increasingly more complex.

Land-Tenure in Mycenaean Greece and the Hittite Empire: Linear B Land-surveys from Pylos and Middle Hittite Land-Donations

2005 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 473-486
Author(s):  
Alexander Uchitel
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Etude Comparative ◽  
Étude Comparative ◽  
Systematic Comparison ◽  
New Interpretation ◽  
Land Tenure Systems ◽  
Linear B

AbstractThe article is a comparative study of Mycenaean Greek and Hittite land-tenure systems. It is based upon a systematic comparison of two groups of documents: land-registers (the so-called E-series) from Pylos and Middle Hittite land-donations. The traditional interpretation of both Mycenaean Greek and Hittite documents is challenged and alternative interpretations are offered. Thus, on the Mycenaean side, the construction with the preposition pa-ro is reinterpreted, and on the Hittite side an entirely new interpretation of a Hittite expression pir-sahhanas is offered. Both land-tenure systems are interpreted as two manifestations of compulsory labour service of small landholders attached to large agricultural estates. Cet article est une étude comparative des systèmes de tenue de la terre dans la Grèce mycénienne et l'empire hittite. Elle est fondée sur une comparaison systématique de deux groupes de documents : les registres de la terre (appelés la série E) de Pylos et les donations de terre moyenne hittite. L'interprétation traditionnelle des documents mycénien et hittite est ici remise en question et une nouvelle explication est offerte. Ainsi, du côté mycénien, la construction avec la préposition pa-ro est réinterprétée, et du côté hittite une interprétation entièrement nouvelle de l'expression pir-sahhanas est proposée. Les deux systèmes de tenue de la terre sont interprétés comme deux manifestations d'un service de travail obligatoire dus par des petits propriétaires attachés à des grandes propriétés agricoles.

scholarly journals Addressing the Problems of Land Registration Processes in Complex Land Tenure Systems Using Computational Techniques: Evidence from Accra Ghana

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-57
Author(s):  
Williams Miller Appau ◽  
Baslyd B. Nara ◽  
Javier G. Morales
Keyword(s):  
Land Tenure ◽  
Design Method ◽  
Systems Design ◽  
Computational Techniques ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Land Registration ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
The People ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Land Tenure Systems

Land registration processes have been described to be simplistic in simple land tenure environments where land rights are treasured and registered by the state on behalf of the people. Duplication of tasks, repeated preparation of land registration documents, and wrong definition of tasks affect the activities and processes of land registration characterising complex land tenure environments. Many qualitative land registration models such as the use of Unified Modified Language (UML) diagrams have been developed to show the frameworks of land registration processes in most parts of the world. However, most researches avoid the technical implementation of these models. This paper presents the quantitative approaches to addressing the problems of land registration processes in complex land tenure systems using computational techniques such as Process Maker and Java Script. The paper used case study approach to collect data and systems design method for the output. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from the Lands Commission of Accra and its stakeholders. Process maker software was operationalised using GeoJSON parcel file. Results show that, the simplification of land registration processes is based on the rationale behind the change (Data error, improved capacity, service quality), and the semantics (process re-engineering) involved in the computation of the modelling processes. The outcome has the ability to simplify an otherwise complex tenure system by avoiding delays and therefore improving the land registration processes.

scholarly journals Spinifex People as Cold War Moderns

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 71-94
Author(s):  
Greg Castillo
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Nuclear Testing ◽  
Atomic Age ◽  
Native Title ◽  
Global Modernity ◽  
The 1950S ◽  
The Government

Aboriginal Australian contemporary artists create works that express indigenous traditions as well as the unprecedented conditions of global modernity. This is especially true for the founders of the Spinifex Arts Project, a collective established in 1997 to create so-called “government paintings”: the large-scale canvases produced as documents of land tenure used in negotiations with the government of Western Australia to reclaim expropriated desert homelands. British and Australian nuclear testing in the 1950s displaced the Anangu juta pila nguru, now known to us as the Spinifex people, from their nomadic lifeworld. Exodus and the subsequent struggle to regain lost homelands through paintings created as corroborating evidence for native title claims make Spinifex canvases not simply expressions of Tjukurpa, or “Dreamings,” but also artifacts of the atomic age and its impact on a culture seemingly far from the front lines of cold war conflict.

Landowner Groups and the Codification of Custom in Papua New Guinea

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria C. Stead
Keyword(s):  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Land Reform ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Resource Extraction ◽  
Land Reforms ◽  
Middle Way ◽  
Customary Land ◽  
Relations Of Power

Although it diverges markedly from the vision of the Melanesian Way elaborated in the 1975 constitution, large-scale resource extraction has in recent decades been championed as the key mechanism for development in Papua New Guinea. In this context, forms of “middle-way” land reform are advocated as means of rendering customary land tenure commensurable with the requirements of modern, capitalist practices of production and economic activity. Principal amongst these are Incorporated Land Groups (ILGs) and lease-lease-back arrangements. Ethnographic exploration of communities affected by the tuna industry in Madang Province shows how these land reforms transform structures and cartographies of power, privileging the agents of the state and global capital at the same time that they transform relations of power within communities. At the same time, however, forms of codification and the assertion of landowner identities allow communities to make claims against outside agents involved in resource extractive activity on their lands.

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