scholarly journals New challenges in the study of lithic raw materials in central Italy at the dawn of metal working societies: La Pietra and other radiolarite quarry-workshops in Tuscany

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sem Scaramucci ◽  
Vanessa Volpi ◽  
Armando Costantini ◽  
Marco Giamello ◽  
Alessandro Donati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Copper Age ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Archaeological Data ◽  
Geochemical Analyses ◽  
First Time ◽  
Non Destructive

In central-southern Tuscany radiolarite has been used as a lithic raw material throughout prehistory. During the Copper Age it was selected for the local production of leaf-shaped artefacts. In the area considered, the Copper Age record is almost totally restricted to burials and virtually no settlements have been investigated so far. Radiolarite artefacts are found mostly as refined arrow and, possibly javelin, heads used as grave goods.Within this context, the discovery and recent investigation of the large radiolarite quarry of La Pietra (Roccastrada, Grosseto) and of the related workshops is of great interest. Our aim here is to integrate the record from this site with other contemporary evidence of radiolarite exploitation. A programme of surveys has thus begun on the other radiolarite outcrops of the area in order to verify the existence of further rock quarrying or working. The discovery of a previously unknown quarry-workshop and two previously unknown workshops on radiolarite outcrops is presented here for the first time. The geological and archaeological data coming from the quarry-workshops will be used, in a future stage of research, to source the radiolarite artefacts found in Copper Age graves of Central Italy. The Copper age armatures are valuable artefacts mostly kept in museums and fully non-destructive analyses must be applied to them. To tackle these challenges, we followed a methodological approach which integrates field surveys, the individuation of petrographic markers of the most exploited radiolarite horizons and geochemical analyses. For geochemical characterization, we made use of pXRF portable spectrometer and here we present some preliminary results in the light of current methodological debate.In conclusion, even if some methodological questions remain open, we verified the feasibility of this programme of geographical, geological and geochemical characterizations and need now to increase our dataset in order to reconstruct a viable picture of Copper age lithic economy in central-southern Tuscany.

scholarly journals New data on flint processing of East Trypillia tribes of the Bug-Dnieper interfluve

Vita Antiqua ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 113-128
Author(s):  
Ye.V. Pichkur ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Production Waste ◽  
The West ◽  
Quantitative Ratio ◽  
Lithic Industry ◽  
Modern Level ◽  
First Time ◽  
Local Nature

For the first time, materials of such settlements of the East Trypillia culture as Trostyanchyk, Onopriyivka І are published. Despite approximately the same quantitative ratio, even at first glance, the materials of these two leaflets differ significantly from each other. The Trostyanchyk complex is actually blade-type: blades prevail both among production waste and among the tool kit. Flakes and tools on them dominate in Onopriyivka. If the Trostyanchyk complex can be regarded as "classic" in terms of the tool kit: retouched blades, end-scrapers, sickle inserts, perforators on blades, etc., then the Onopriyivka complex looks more primitive: retouched flakes, notched tools and scrapers on flakes, and others. In Onopriyivka, unlike Trostyanchyk, finds of weapons are completely absent. Products from Onopriyivka are made mainly of local raw materials, while in Trostyanchyk there are approximately equal parts of products from local and imported raw materials, and products from local flint are made as carefully as products from Volyn flint. At the same time, in both cases we can confidently speak of the local nature of production. This is evidenced by both the use of local flint raw material and the specific items present in both collections. In Trostyanchyk, as already mentioned, a hammerstone was found, in Onopriyivka — core-like fragments and chips of modify of cores. Such differences can be explained by both territorial and chronological discrepancies. Onopriyivka I is earlier, refers to the end of stage ВІ, Trostyanchyk — to the end of stage ВІІ. Trostyanchyk is located on the Southern Bug, Onopriyivka — in the Bugo-Dnieper interfluve. Although, perhaps, this situation is explained by the unevenness of the study of these sites. In addition, materials from the Vladyslavchyk settlement are published for the first time. Based on their analysis, using analogies from related and synchronous sites, the author tried to identify the features of the East Trypillia lithic industry in the Bug-Dnieper rivers interfluve. As it turned out, at the modern level, the identification of such features is not possible. The materials of the East Trypillia culture of the region are, on the whole, more similar to the materials of the settlements of the West Trypillia culture, than to related sites on the Southern Bug. Keywords: East Trypillia culture, Kukutenʹ-Trypillya, production, flint processing, Bug-Dnieper interfluve

scholarly journals Agro-Morphological, Microanatomical and Molecular Cytogenetic Characterization of the Medicinal Plant Chelidonium majus L.

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1396
Author(s):  
Tatiana E. Samatadze ◽  
Olga Y. Yurkevich ◽  
Firdaus M. Hazieva ◽  
Elena A. Konyaeva ◽  
Alexander I. Morozov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plant ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Morphological Variability ◽  
5S Rdna ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Chelidonium Majus ◽  
Diagnostic Features ◽  
Molecular Cytogenetic ◽  
Cytogenetic Characterization ◽  
First Time

Chelidonium majus L. is a medicinal plant well-known as a valuable source of isoquinoline alkaloids, which has a variety of pharmacological properties including anti-viral and anti-bacterial effects. However, considerable intraspecific bio-morphological variability in C. majus complicates raw material identification and verification. For the first time, we have brought into cultivation five populations of C. majus subsp. majus originated from different regions, and performed their agro-morphological, microanatomical and molecular cytogenetic characterization. All examined populations produced high seed (18.6–19.9 kg/ha) and raw material (0.84–1.08 t/ha) yields; total alkaloid contents were within 0.30–0.38%. Nevertheless, significant differences in plant morphology and yield-contributing traits were observed. The performed microanatomical analysis of leaves and flowers in double- and normal-flowered plants revealed micro-diagnostic features (including tissue topography, types of stomata, laticifers, structure of leaf mesophyll, hairs, sepals and petals) important for identification of C. majus raw materials. The analysis of chromosome morphology, DAPI-banding patterns, FISH mapping of 45S and 5S rDNA and also chromosome behavior in meiosis allowed us to identify for the first time all chromosomes in karyotypes and confirm relative genotype stability of the studied plants. Our findings indicate that the examined C. majus populations can be used in further breeding programs.

scholarly journals Obsidian from the Site of Piano dei Cardoni, Ustica (Palermo, Italy): Preliminary Results on the First Occupation of the Island

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 273-290
Author(s):  
Claudia Speciale ◽  
Kyle P. Freund ◽  
Sandro de Vita ◽  
Nunzia Larosa ◽  
Vincenza Forgia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Raw Material ◽  
Human Occupation ◽  
Late Neolithic ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Lithic Assemblage ◽  
Material Sources ◽  
Southern Side ◽  
Ams Dating ◽  
First Time ◽  
Xrf Analyses

Abstract New investigations on Ustica (Palermo, Sicily) originated from the need to improve our knowledge of the island’s archaeological and environmental heritage. Through field surveys, particular attention was paid to human occupation in the Neolithic phases and focused on the less investigated southern side of the island. The systematic survey of the area of Piano dei Cardoni in 2018 brought to light a new Middle/Late Neolithic site, already partially documented in the literature. The island was settled for the first time during these phases, as also testified from the area of Punta Spalmatore. The presence of Serra d’Alto, incised dark burnished, and Diana styles suggests that the site and the archaeological assemblage dates from the mid to late 5th millennium BC, as confirmed by AMS dating. In addition to pottery, obsidian artifacts were also recovered, and a preliminary study of these materials is presented here. Portable XRF analyses on a sample of 41 obsidian artifacts, representing a high percentage of the lithic assemblage compared to chert tools, show that the provenance of the raw material is Gabellotto Gorge (Lipari) and Balata dei Turchi (Pantelleria). These results provide new insight into broader regional debates about obsidian technology and its exchange during the Neolithic and open an important consideration for sites that are far from the raw material sources.

Effect of mechanically activated raw materials on β-sialon formation by combustion synthesis

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 2863-2867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramasamy Sivakumar ◽  
Kazuhiko Aoyagi ◽  
Tomohiro Akiyama
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Activation ◽  
Combustion Synthesis ◽  
Milling Time ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
First Time

The influence of different raw material mixtures on β-sialon (Si6−zAlzOzN8−z, 1 ⩽ z ⩽ 4) formation through mechanical activation coupled combustion synthesis (MA-CS) was investigated in low nitriding atmosphere of 1 MPa without diluent inclusions. The MA-CS performed for the first time on sialon raw materials with milling time of 18 min obtained sialons more than three times as pure as those obtained by CS of mixtures ball milled to 1 h (z = 3). The starting materials containing silicon, aluminum, and alumina (z = 4) after MA-CS had an increment of sialon amounts up to 88 mass%.

scholarly journals Application of aerial photogrammetric technology for determination and parametrization of areas affected by extraction of raw materials

Baltica ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-209
Author(s):  
Audrius Armanavičius ◽  
Jonas Satkūnas
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Erosion ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Mineral Resources ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Mining Sites ◽  
Aerial Photogrammetry ◽  
Geological Processes ◽  
Significant Damage ◽  
Special Project ◽  
First Time

Extraction of mineral raw materials is increasing due to economic development and must be a normal process under due control and environmental supervision. However, there are a number of sites where the exploitation was stopped and mining sites were abandoned without proper restoration. Also, there are sites where mineral resources were or are extracted illegally thus making significant damage to the environment and economy. In order to collect information on land impacted by mining and extraction activities, for the first time a special project was carried out for the entire territory of Lithuania. The project consisted of gathering of information on damaged areas from various sources, field surveys and systematization of collected data. In order to obtain volumetric data, a special technology of aerial photogrammetry was developed and successfully applied. It was detected that the number of damaged sites > 0.3 ha reached up to 3,300. It is estimated that a total amount of illegally extracted minerals in last 15–20 years could be up to 15 million m3. The aerial photogrammetry was proved as a relevant technology and this could be applied for the control of the restoration of damaged land as well as for the monitoring of hazardous geological processes, e.g. coastal erosion, karst.

scholarly journals The Potential for REE and Associated Critical Metals in Karstic Bauxites and Bauxite Residue of Montenegro

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 975
Author(s):  
Slobodan Radusinović ◽  
Argyrios Papadopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Bauxite Residue ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Late Triassic ◽  
Critical Metals ◽  
Critical Elements ◽  
Secondary Raw Material ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
First Time ◽  
Critical Raw Materials

Research for critical raw materials is of special interest, due to their increasing demand, opulence of applications and shortage of supply. Bauxites, or bauxite residue after alumina extraction can be sources of critical raw materials (CRMs) due to their content of rare earth elements and other critical elements. Montenegrin bauxites and bauxite residue (red mud) are investigated for their mineralogy and geochemistry. The study of the CRM’s potential of the Montenegrin bauxite residue after the application of Bayer process, is performed for the first time. Montenegrin bauxites, (Jurassic bauxites from the Vojnik-Maganik and Prekornica ore regions from the Early Jurassic, Middle Jurassic-Oxfordian and Late Triassic paleorelief) are promising for their REE’s content (around 1000 ppm of ΣREE’s). More specifically, they are especially enriched in LREEs compared to HREEs. Regarding other CRMs and other elements, Ti, V, Zr, Nb, Sr and Ga could also be promising. In bauxite residue, the contents of Zr, Sr, V, Sc, La, Ce, Y, Ti and Nb are higher than those in bauxites. However, raw bauxites and bauxite residue as a secondary raw material can be considered as possible sources of CRMs.

scholarly journals Molecular Typing of Bois Noir Phytoplasma Strains in the Chianti Classico Area (Tuscany, Central Italy) and Their Association with Symptom Severity in Vitis vinifera ‘Sangiovese’

2018 ◽  
Vol 108 (3) ◽  
pp. 362-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Pierro ◽  
A. Passera ◽  
A. Panattoni ◽  
P. Casati ◽  
A. Luvisi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Allelic Discrimination Assay ◽  
Allelic Discrimination ◽  
Bois Noir ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Eastern Pyrenees ◽  
Polyphagous Insect ◽  
First Time

Bois noir (BN) is the most widespread disease of the grapevine yellows complex in the Euro-Mediterranean area. BN is caused by ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ (BNp), transmitted from herbaceous plants to grapevine by polyphagous insect vectors. In this study, genetic diversity among BNp strains and their prevalence and possible association with grapevine symptom severity were investigated in a Sangiovese clone organic vineyard in the Chianti Classico area (Tuscany). Field surveys over 2 years revealed a range of symptom severity on grapevine and an increase of BN incidence. A TaqMan allelic discrimination assay detected only tufB type b among BNp strains, suggesting the prevalence of the bindweed-related ecology. Nucleotide sequence analyses of vmp1 and stamp genes identified 12 vmp1 and 16 stamp sequence variants, showing an overall positive selection for such genes. The prevalent genotype was Vm43/St10, reported for the first time in this study and closely related to strains identified only in the French Eastern Pyrenees. BNp strains identified in the examined vineyard and mostly grouped in separate bindweed-related phylogenetic clusters showed statistically significant differences in their distribution in grapevines exhibiting distinct symptom severity. These results suggest the possible occurrence of a range of virulence within BNp strain populations in the Chianti Classico area.

scholarly journals New Perspectives on the Problems of the Exploitation Area and the Prehistoric Use of the Buda Hornstone in Hungary

2018 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 167-189
Author(s):  
Norbert Faragó ◽  
Réka Katalin Péter ◽  
Ferenc Cserpák ◽  
Dávid Kraus ◽  
Zsolt Mester
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Geophysical Methods ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Early Bronze Age ◽  
Copper Age ◽  
Lithic Assemblages ◽  
Siliceous Rocks ◽  
Middle Bronze Age

The mountainous areas of the Carpathian basin have provided a wide spectrum of siliceous rocks for prehistoric people. Although the presence of outcrops of a kind of chert, named Buda hornstone was already known by geological and petrographic investigations, the developing Hungarian petroarchaeological research did not pay much attention to this raw material. Its archaeological perspectives have been opened by a discovery made at the Denevér street in western part of Budapest in the 1980s. During the excavations of the flint mine, not much was known about the distribution of this raw material in the archaeological record. Since then the growing amount of archaeological evidences showed that its first significant occurrence in assemblages can be dated to the Late Copper Age Baden culture, and it became more abundant through the Early Bronze age Bell-Beaker culture until the Middle Bronze Age tell cultures. Until now, 15 outcrops of the Buda hornstone have been localised on the surface. Based on thin section examinations taken from two different outcrops, we have made a clear distinction between three variants. In the last few years, archaeological supervision has been conducted during house constructions, suggesting the Buda hornstone occurrence takes the form of a secondary autochthonous type of source. In the framework of our research program, a systematic check of the raw materials is planned in the lithic assemblages of the nearby prehistoric sites, as well as to look for extraction pits or other mining features with the application of geophysical methods and a thorough analysis of the surface morphology

The issue of the performance of industries in Northern Cameroon: an analysis of the role of key players

2021 ◽  
pp. 139-155
Author(s):  
Amadou Bello
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Sustainable Performance ◽  
Use Of Data ◽  
Strategic Orientations ◽  
Manufactured Products ◽  
National Economic ◽  
Northern Cameroon

In accordance with the strategic orientations of the Cameroonian government, industrialization is a fundamental process for the much sought-after emergence. This desire of the public authorities to make Cameroon an industrialized country is questionable, given the glaring delay that its northern part is registering in terms of industry. While this part of the country abounds in the natural and human potentialities necessary for the development of the sector of transformation of raw materials into manufactured products, it is less industrialized than the southern part of the country. In fact, the life expectancy of an industry is particularly short in North Cameroon. This situation is worrying both for the State, for local and national economic operators, but also for a young, dynamic, and increasingly qualified workforce. This reflection aims to better understand the foundations of the performance, both good and less good, of industries in North Cameroon, a region that has many strengths and where the demand for manufactured goods is constantly increasing. The methodological approach consisted of the use of data resulting from a critical reading of scientific productions in the field and a careful collection of field data. The results thus obtained sufficiently illustrate that the conditions particularly essential for the flourishing of any manufacturing company are lacking in the local industry. For the northern industry too, sustainable performance depends first of all on the opportunities to be seized by its promoter (s), then on human capital and the equipment invested and finally on the management which includes the raw material supply system, their processing and marketing of manufactured products.

scholarly journals Shine on you crazy diamond: Symbolism and social use of fluorite ornaments in Iberia’s late prehistory

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
José Ángel Garrido-Cordero ◽  
Carlos P. Odriozola ◽  
Ana C. Sousa ◽  
Victor S. Gonçalves ◽  
João Luís Cardoso
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Upper Paleolithic ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Visual Appearance ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Archaeological Collections ◽  
Social Use ◽  
First Time ◽  
Non Destructive

Fluorite ornaments have been recorded in different sites of Europe since Upper Paleolithic. Due to its visual appearance and physical properties, some translucent or transparent mineralogies like fluorite were searched for or casually acquired by late prehistory’s human communities. After intensive research on archaeological contexts from the Iberian Peninsula with personal ornaments from 4th to 2nd millennia BCE, we have recently identified and characterized for the first time an important number of fluorite ornaments, confronting a previous background where little attention was paid. Our work has been carried out in different archaeological collections and museums from the whole Iberian Peninsula by non-destructive techniques (Raman spectroscopy, portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), that revealed the nature of fluorite ornaments and points to its consideration as scarce and highly symbolic items during late prehistory. A total of 36 fluorite beads from 23 sites are here recorded and studied, many of them inedits or wrong catalogued as other mineralogies. These adornments could have important roles in trade and use among the communities of Iberia from the 4th millennium BCE onwards, because of their scarcity and its recurrent association with important funerary complex and exotic materials. Fluorite ornaments could have been significant and special symbols in the development of new and exclusive raw materials in the context of increasing social complexity and inequality.

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