Perspectives in the Prehistory of Kodiak Island, Alaska

1966 ◽  
Vol 31 (3Part1) ◽  
pp. 358-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald W. Clark
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Complete Sequence ◽  
Single Site ◽  
Time Range ◽  
Contact Period ◽  
Archaeological Remains ◽  
Stone Artifacts ◽  
Archaeological Material ◽  
Kodiak Island ◽  
Five Phases

AbstractArchaeological material from Kodiak Island, Alaska, is described in terms of five phases which, from oldest to youngest, are Ocean Bay I, Ocean Bay II, Old Kiavak, Three Saints, and Koniag. Ocean Bay I and II, components of a single site, are characterized by flaked-stone and ground-slate industries, respectively. Old Kiavak and Three Saints appear to be developmental stages within a single tradition, possibly different from the traditions of the antecedent Ocean Bay phases and the succeeding Koniag. In Old Kiavak there is a partial return to flaking of stone artifacts, and two characteristic artifacts are small notched stones and plummet-type grooved stones. In the Three Saints phase, "plummets" went out of use, and by the beginning of the Koniag phase, which continued into the contact period, so did small notched stones. Among the new elements that characterized the Koniag phase are the steam sweat bath, the splitting adz, and, locally, pottery. A pottery-using variant of this phase has been emphasized. When compared with Three Saints material, Koniag archaeological remains usually show style changes or degeneration in workmanship. These units do not outline a complete sequence because the periods between Ocean Bay II and Old Kiavak and, locally, between Three Saints and the pottery-using Koniag variant do not appear to be represented. It is estimated that their time range is 2500 B.C. to shortly after A.D. 1800.

The Archaeological Remains of Early Modern Spanish Colonialism on Guam and Their Implications

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boyd Dixon ◽  
Andrea Jalandoni ◽  
Cacilie Craft
Keyword(s):  
Seventeenth Century ◽  
Material Culture ◽  
Early Modern ◽  
Contact Period ◽  
Archaeological Remains ◽  
Spanish Colonialism ◽  
Low Level

Using a late seventeenth century map of Jesuit religious structures and native Chamorro communities on Guam, this chapter explores the possible impacts of early Spanish colonialism, in the period just prior to La Reduccion, on the island as reflected in the rather sparse record of Contact Period archaeological remains at these same communities. Is this a manifestation of the low level of colonial investment from Spain in Guam, the amalgamation of Chamorro and Spanish material culture, or the lack of archaeological attention to these possible sites?

scholarly journals Lessons from Star Carr on the vulnerability of organic archaeological remains to environmental change

2016 ◽  
Vol 113 (46) ◽  
pp. 12957-12962 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsty High ◽  
Nicky Milner ◽  
Ian Panter ◽  
Beatrice Demarchi ◽  
Kirsty E. H. Penkman
Keyword(s):  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Archaeological Remains ◽  
Rapid Loss ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Archaeological Material ◽  
Exceptional Preservation ◽  
Environmental Materials ◽  
The Last Glacial ◽  
Organic Remains

Examples of wetland deposits can be found across the globe and are known for preserving organic archaeological and environmental remains that are vitally important to our understanding of past human–environment interactions. The Mesolithic site of Star Carr (Yorkshire, United Kingdom) represents one of the most influential archives of human response to the changing climate at the end of the last glacial in Northern Europe. A hallmark of the site since its discovery in 1948 has been the exceptional preservation of its organic remains. Disturbingly, recent excavations have suggested that the geochemistry of the site is no longer conducive to such remarkable survival of organic archaeological and environmental materials. Microcosm (laboratory-based) burial experiments have been undertaken, alongside analysis of artifacts excavated from the site, to assess the effect of these geochemical changes on the remaining archaeological material. By applying a suite of macroscopic and molecular analyses, we demonstrate that the geochemical changes at Star Carr are contributing to the inexorable and rapid loss of valuable archaeological and paleoenvironmental information. Our findings have global implications for other wetland sites, particularly archaeological sites preserved in situ.

Rock art as a source of the history of prehistory (An account to promote the understanding of prehistoric rock art)

Abgadiyat ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-35
Author(s):  
Hamdi Abbas Ahmed Abd-EI-Moniem
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Rock Art ◽  
Archaeological Remains ◽  
Archaeological Material ◽  
The Third ◽  
History Of ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
Remote Past

Abstract Some may believe that the history of mankind begins with the appearance of writing only a few several thousands of years ago (cf. 4000-3000 BCE). Our history, however, extends beyond that date millions of years. The history of mankind, indeed, is deeply rooted in the remote past which is called 'prehistory'. With the lacking of any form of writing, this 'prehistoric' period can be examined directly solely by recourse to the study of archaeological remains. The purpose of this account is to introduce rock art to the readers and show the significant role of this sort of archaeological material in studying the history of mankind before the appearance of written records. The current work, therefore, is divided into three main sections: the first deals with definition of rock art and its nature; the second section is devoted to showing the significance of this aspect of material culture in exploring a long and mysterious period of the early history of man characterized by the complete absence of written records or historical documents; the third and last section, which is a vital and integral part of this work, comprises an explanatory pictorial record to promote the understanding of prehistoric rock art as a source of information needed for writing the history of prehistory.

Stone Images in Southern Colorado

1944 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-64
Author(s):  
N. W. Dondelinger ◽  
R. M. Tatum
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New Mexico ◽  
Present Article ◽  
The United States ◽  
Stone Artifacts ◽  
Archaeological Material ◽  
Strong Resemblance

Despite the familiar abundance of archaeological material in the Southwestern region of the United States, there is a notable paucity of anthropomorphic images of stone. The most significant of such figures which have come to the attention of the archaeologist are those unearthed by Alfred V. Kidder, at the Pecos ruins in New Mexico. Inasmuch as no previous reports of stone images in southern Colorado have come to our attention, the purpose of the present article is to direct attention to the presence of effigies in this state.In view of the fact that images have been found in New Mexico, it seems plausible that similar objects should exist in southern Colorado. In the course of a survey of the region we have found many indications of an influx of Southwestern culture. Pottery, basketry, and stone artifacts which bear a strong resemblance to those of more southerly tribes have been noted.

Cucumispora dikerogammari n. gen. (Fungi: Microsporidia) infecting the invasive amphipod Dikerogammarus villosus: a potential emerging disease in European rivers

Parasitology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 137 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. O. OVCHARENKO ◽  
K. BACELA ◽  
T. WILKINSON ◽  
J. E. IRONSIDE ◽  
T. RIGAUD ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Anterior Part ◽  
Polar Filament ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Spore Wall ◽  
Complete Sequence ◽  
Dikerogammarus Villosus ◽  
Invasive Amphipod

SUMMARYDikerogammarus villosus is an invasive amphipod that recently colonized the main rivers of Central and Western Europe. Two frequent microsporidian parasites were previously detected in this species, but their taxonomic status was unclear. Here we present ultrastructural and molecular data indicating that these two parasites are in fact a single microsporidian species. This parasite shares numerous characteristics of Nosema spp. It forms elongate spores (cucumiform), developing in direct contact with host cell cytoplasm; all developmental stages are diplokaryotic and the life cycle is monomorphic with disporoblastic sporogony. Initially this parasite was described as Nosema dikerogammariOvcharenko and Kurandina 1987. However, phylogenetic analysis based on the complete sequence of SSU rDNA places the parasite outside the genus Nosema and it is therefore ascribed to a new genus Cucumispora. The key features characteristic to this genus are: presence of a very well-developed, umbrella-shape anchoring disk covering the anterior part of polaroplast; arrangement of isofilar polar filament into 6–8 coils convoluted with different angles, voluminous diplokaryon, thin spore wall and relatively small posterior vacuole containing posterosome. The parasite infects most host tissues but mainly muscles. It showed high rates of horizontal trophic transmission and lower rates of vertical transmission.

Analysis of AMPA Receptor Properties During Postnatal Development of Mouse Hippocampal Astrocytes

1997 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 2916-2923 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald Seifert ◽  
Min Zhou ◽  
Christian Steinhäuser
Keyword(s):  
Postnatal Development ◽  
Ampa Receptor ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Developmental Regulation ◽  
Stratum Radiatum ◽  
Mammalian Brain ◽  
Time Range ◽  
Dissociation Kinetics ◽  
Flip Flop ◽  
Hippocampal Astrocytes

Seifert, Gerald, Min Zhou, and Christian Steinhäuser. Analysis of AMPA receptor properties during postnatal development of mouse hippocampal astrocytes. J. Neurophysiol. 78: 2916–2923, 1997. Glial cells in the mammalian brain express various types of voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels, including glutamate receptors (GluRs) of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-subtype. In the present study we followed developmental changes in the functional properties of AMPA receptor (AMPA-R) channels expressed by astrocytes of the mouse hippocampus between postnatal days (P) 5–35 to learn more about the physiological significance of these glial receptors. A fast concentration clamp technique was applied to cells acutely isolated from the CA1 stratum radiatum subregion to quantitatively analyze rapidly activating and desensitizing receptor responses. The equilibrium responses of glutamate and kainate differed between P5 and P12. Although the maximum current induced by kainate was almost the same at all developmental stages, a steep rise in the maximum glutamate response was observed within the same time range. Between P5 and P12 there was an increase in the potentiation of AMPA-R currents with cyclothiazide (CTZ); at the same time, the dissociation kinetics of CTZ became significantly slower. These changes in the pharmacological properties suggested a variation in splice variant expression. With proceeding maturation, we observed an increase in the degree of desensitization of the glutamate- and AMPA-induced receptor currents. In addition to the shift in flip/flop splicing, these findings could hint at a developmental regulation of RNA editing in the arginine/glycine site. Altogether, the present results demonstrate changes in astrocytic AMPA-R functioning early in postnatal development, although after P12 the receptor properties remained almost constant. Although the overall Ca2+ permeability did not vary during development, the prolonged receptor opening in the early postnatal period causes an enhanced Na+/Ca2+ influx into the immature astrocytes. This could influence glial proliferation and differentiation during CNS ontogenesis.

scholarly journals Bone and antler implements of the Early Neolithic Dnepr-Dvina interfluve settlements: technological and functional features, context

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-247
Author(s):  
Anna Andreevna Malyutina
Keyword(s):  
Raw Materials ◽  
Early Neolithic ◽  
Stone Artifacts ◽  
Archaeological Material ◽  
Neolithic Culture ◽  
Wear Analysis ◽  
Use Wear ◽  
Functional Features ◽  
First Time ◽  
Neolithic Cultures

In this paper we consider the results of the use-wear analysis of the bone and antler implements received as a result of excavation of the Early Neolithic settlements on the territory of Dnepr-Dvina interfluve. This kind of research is conducted for this category of archaeological material for the first time. For the analysis we have selected 27 bone, antler and teeth items occurring from two settlements of the Serteysky microregion - Serteya X and Rudnya Serteyskaya. The good preservation of items has allowed us to study macro- and microtraces connected with technology of processing of raw materials and receiving products, ways of usage of finished utilitarian and not utilitarian character items. The following categories of implements have been marked out: knives, awls, pendants, spear-heads, arrowheads, barbed points, preforms, fragments of items with processing traces. The obtained information is correlated to other materials of settlements - ceramics, stone artifacts, economic and cultural characteristic of settlements in general. Ceramic traditions in upper courses of the Western Dvina belong to 7 millennium BC. The earliest ceramic traditions are combined in Serteyskaya archaeological culture. Later, in materials of the Early Neolithic sites influence of Early Neolithic cultures of East Baltics is traced. As a result, on the territory of Podvinya the Rudnyanskaya Early Neolithic culture is formed.

scholarly journals HOPS: Automated detection and authentication of pathogen DNA in archaeological remains

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ron Hübler ◽  
Felix M. Key ◽  
Christina Warinner ◽  
Kirsten I. Bos ◽  
Johannes Krause ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
Ancient Dna ◽  
High Throughput Screening ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Evolutionary Relationship ◽  
Molecular Data ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Archaeological Remains ◽  
Archaeological Material

AbstractHigh-throughput DNA sequencing enables large-scale metagenomic analyses of complex biological systems. Such analyses are not restricted to present day environmental or clinical samples, but can also be fruitfully applied to molecular data from archaeological remains (ancient DNA), and a focus on ancient bacteria can provide valuable information on the long-term evolutionary relationship between hosts and their pathogens. Here we present HOPS (HeuristicOperations forPathogenScreening), an automated bacterial screening pipeline for ancient DNA sequence data that provides straightforward and reproducible information on species identification and authenticity. HOPS provides a versatile and fast pipeline for high-throughput screening of bacterial DNA from archaeological material to identify candidates for subsequent genomic-level analyses.

scholarly journals A European-Scale Investigation of Soil Erosion Threat to Subsurface Archaeological Remains

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athos Agapiou ◽  
Vasiliki Lysandrou ◽  
Diofantos G. Hadjimitsis
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Soil Erosion ◽  
Soil Loss ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Archaeological Remains ◽  
European Continent ◽  
Archaeological Material ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Archaeological Materials ◽  
The Impact

This communication emanates from the lack of a European-scale study for investigating the potential threats that subsurface archaeological remains face today due to soil loss by water. This research analyses the impact of soil loss on potential subsurface archaeological evidence by integrating open geospatial datasets deriving from two pertinent European studies. The first study’s dataset is related to soil erosion (soil loss provoked by water activity), which was reclassified into three groups alluding the level of threat on potential subsurface archaeological contexts, as follows: (1) areas presenting soil loss from 0 until 5 t/h per year, which are characterised as low threat areas; (2) areas presenting soil loss from 5 until 10 t/h per year, which are characterised as moderated threat; and (3) areas presenting soil loss beyond 10 t/h per year, which are considered as high-risk areas. The second study’s dataset refers to the capacity of soils to preserve specific archaeological materials, classified in four categories based on the properties of the archaeological material (bones, teeth, and shells (bones); organic materials (organics); metals (Cu, bronze, and Fe) (metals); and stratigraphic evidence (strati). Both datasets were imported into a Geographical Information System (GIS) for further synthesis and analysis, while the average threat of soil loss per year was evaluated in a country level (nomenclature of territorial units for statistics (NUTS) level 0). The overall results show that approximately 10% of European soils that potentially preserve archaeological remains are in high threat due to soil loss, while similar patterns—on a European level—are found for areas characterised with moderate to high risk from the soil loss. This study is the first attempt to present a proxy map for subsurface cultural material under threat due to soil loss, covering the entire European continent.

scholarly journals On the Finds of Metal Crosses at the Medieval Burial Ground of Gorzuvity (The Southern Coast of Crimea)

2020 ◽  
pp. 64-80
Author(s):  
Anna Mastykova
Keyword(s):  
Material Culture ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Time Range ◽  
Science Methods ◽  
Burial Ground ◽  
Archaeological Material ◽  
Small Glass ◽  
12Th Century ◽  
Academy Of Sciences ◽  
Burial Rite

Introduction. In 2018, the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences conducted excavations of a burial ground (Artek, Gurzuf, Yalta district). The first researcher of this monument was A.L. Jacobson, and he discovered ten inventory-free graves. In 2018, more than twenty graves both with funeral inventory and non-inventory ones were discovered at the burial ground. Analysis and Results. Among the archaeological material, metal crosses from grave 7A deserve special attention. One is a bronze breast cross with a circular decor, the second one is an iron cross with a curved, elongated lower branch. The wire earrings, small metal bells-buttons, small glass beads found in the grave are known at many archaeological sites in a wide time range. Fragments of tiles from the burial belong to technological groups 1, 2, 4 that can be dated from the 8th to the 12th (13th?) centuries. The search for analogies and the comparative analysis make it impossible to unambiguously determine the time of the bronze cross. It can be dated only in a wide chronological range – the 6th – 11th centuries, not excluding the 12th century, the iron cross most likely dates to the 9th – 10th centuries. In the aggregate of items, burial 7A can be tentatively dated broadly from the 8th century to the 11th century. Perhaps, using natural science methods that are currently being conducted, we will be able to clarify the date of burial 7A. The particular interest of the considered subjects of the Christian cult lies precisely in their ordinary and standard nature; they demonstrate the uniformization of the Byzantine material culture in the very wide territory from Egypt to Crimea. The burial ground of Gorzuvity demonstrates the byzantinization of the local barbarian population both in the material culture and in the burial rite. The finds of crosses in burial 7A fit well into the Byzantine context and are another clear confirmation of the evolution and chronology of the spread of Christianity in Crimea.

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