scholarly journals Monumentality in Western Amazonian formative societies: geometric ditched enclosures in the Brazilian state of Acre

Antiqua ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanna Saunaluoma ◽  
Denise Schaan
Keyword(s):  
Public Spaces ◽  
Formative Period ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Complex Societies ◽  
Cultural Interaction ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Brazilian State ◽  
Amazonian Region ◽  
Southwestern Amazonia

In Amazonia, monumentality has traditionally been considered characteristic of the late pre-colonial densely populated complex societies. Recent archaeological fieldwork concerning the geometric earthworks in the Brazilian state of Acre has shown that the southwestern Amazonian interfluvial zone was a significant setting for long-term large landscape modifications. We describe the geometric ditched enclosure sites of Acre as early monumental public spaces reserved for ceremonial purposes, analogous to the central Andean ceremonial-civic centers of the Formative period. The geometric earthwork sites contain contiguous ditches and embankment structures of varying forms enclosing areas typically 3-10 hectares in size. Documented cultural features are sparse within the enclosed areas. Making use of satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and pedestrian surveys, 360 earthwork enclosures have been recorded in southwestern Amazonia. Our radiocarbon dates suggest that construction and use of geometric earthworks began at the latest around 1000 BC, and prevailed in the region until 1400 AD. The relatively small number of ceramics recovered from the geometric ditched enclosure sites appear to be local substyles of the same tradition, sharing certain attributes with contemporary ceramic traditions of the upper Amazonian region. This, and consistency in ceremonial earthwork architecture, indicate close cultural interaction between communities that built and used the earthwork sites, and imply probable relationships also with the central Andean area.

scholarly journals Storm Driven Migration of the Napatree Barrier, Rhode Island, USA

Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 330
Author(s):  
Bryan A. Oakley
Keyword(s):  
Rhode Island ◽  
Shoreline Change ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Tropical Storms ◽  
Lower Intensity ◽  
Storm Activity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Washover Fan

Napatree Point, an isolated barrier in southern Rhode Island, provides a case study of barrier spit migration via storm driven overwash and washover fan migration. Documented shoreline changes using historical surveys and vertical aerial photographs show that the barrier had little in the way of net change in position between 1883 and 1939, including the impact of the 1938 hurricane. The barrier retreated rapidly between 1945 and 1975, driven by both tropical and extra-tropical storms. The shoreline position has been largely static since 1975. The removal of the foredune during the 1938 hurricane facilitated landward shoreline migration in subsequent lower intensity storms. Dune recovery following the 1962 Ash Wednesday storm has been allowed due to limited overwash and barrier migration over the last several decades. Shoreline change rates during the period from 1945–1975 were more than double the rate of shoreline change between 1939 and 2014 and triple the rate between 1883 and 2014, exceeding the positional uncertainty of these shoreline pairs. The long-term shoreline change rates used to calculate coastal setbacks in Rhode Island likely underestimate the potential for rapid shoreline retreat over shorter time periods, particularly in a cluster of storm activity. While sea-level rise has increased since 1975, the barrier has not migrated, highlighting the importance of storms in barrier migration.

Species Responses to Grazing and Environmental-Factors in an Arid Halophytic Shrubland Community

1987 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
RB Hacker
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Soil Salinity ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Species Responses

Species responses to grazing and environmental factors were studied in an arid halophytic shrubland community in Western Australia. The grazing responses of major shrub species were defined by using reciprocal averaging ordination of botanical data, interpreted in conjunction with a similar ordination of soil chemical properties and measures of soil erosion derived from large-scale aerial photographs. An apparent small-scale interaction between grazing and soil salinity was also defined. Long-term grazing pressure is apparently reduced on localised areas of high salinity. Environmental factors affecting species distribution are complex and appear to include soil salinity, soil cationic balance, geomorphological variation and the influence of cryptogamic crusts on seedling establishment.

scholarly journals Paleoclimatic Implications of Radiocarbon Dating Of Speleothems from the Cracow-Wieluń Upland, Southern Poland

Radiocarbon ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 103-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Pazdur ◽  
Mieczysław F. Pazdur ◽  
Jacek Pawlyta ◽  
Andrzej Górny ◽  
Michał Olszewski
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Study ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Karst Region ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Preliminary Results ◽  
Last Glaciation ◽  
Geological Museum ◽  
Paleoclimatic Records ◽  
Age Range

We report preliminary results of a long-term systematic study intended to gather paleoclimatic records from precisely dated speleothems. The research project is limited to speleothems deposited in caves of the Cracow-Wieluń Upland, the largest and best-explored karst region in Poland, covering ca. 2900 km2 with >1000 caves. Speleothem samples were selected from collections of the Geological Museum of the Academy of Mining and Metallurgy in Cracow. Radiocarbon dates of these samples from ca. 45–20 ka bp almost exactly coincide with age range of the Interplenivistulian. A break in speleothem formation between ca. 20 and 10 ka bp may be interpreted as a result of serious climatic deterioration associated with the maximum extent of the last glaciation. We observed differences among 14C, U/Th and AAR dating results. Changes of δ13C and δ18O in speleothems that grew between ca. 30 and 20 ka bp may be interpreted as changes of paleoclimatic conditions.

scholarly journals The excavation of pit circles at Romancamp Gate, Fochabers, Moray, 1990

1994 ◽  
Vol 123 ◽  
pp. 255-268
Author(s):  
Gordon J Barclay
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Iron Age ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Structural Elements ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Regional Council ◽  
First Millennium ◽  
First Millennium Bc ◽  
Mesolithic Period

The excavation was undertaken with the funding and support of Grampian Regional Council to test hypotheses relating to the interpretation of cropmark pit circles: were they Neolithic or Bronze Age ceremonial or funerary structures, or were they Iron Age houses, and to what extent could the two classifications be differentiated on aerial photographs? The excavation revealed the remains of four circles (between 8.5 m and 11.5 m in diameter) of large post- holes, fence lines (one with a gate), and many other pits and post-holes. Radiocarbon dates place the post circles late in the first millennium BC uncal. The pit circles may be interpreted as the main structural elements of four substantial round houses, two of which burned down. Flint tools of the Mesolithic period were recovered.

scholarly journals Evaluating Bayesian radiocarbon-dated event-count [REC] models for the study of long-term human and environmental processes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Christopher Carleton
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Simulated Data ◽  
Radiocarbon Date ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
New Class ◽  
Environmental Processes ◽  
Growth Decline ◽  
Marine Ingression ◽  
Event Times

Chronological uncertainty complicates attempts to use radiocarbon dates as proxies for processes like human population growth/decline, forest fires, and marine ingression. Established approaches involve turning databases of radiocarbon-date densities into single summary proxies that cannot fully account for chronological uncertainty. Here, I use simulated data to explore an alternate Bayesian approach that instead models the data as what they are, namely radiocarbon-dated event-counts. The approach involves assessing possible event-count sequences by sampling radiocarbon date densities and then applying MCMC to estimate the parameters of an appropriate count-based regression model. The regressions based on individual sampled sequences were placed in a multilevel framework, which allowed for the estimation of hyperparameters that account for chronological uncertainty in individual event times. Two processes were used to produce simulated data. One represented a simple monotonic change in event-counts and the other was based on a real palaeoclimate proxy record. In both cases, the method produced estimates that had the correct sign and were consistently biased toward zero. These results indicate that the approach is widely applicable and could form the basis of a new class of quantitative models for use in exploring long-term human and environmental processes.

scholarly journals Lessons For Toronto From Melbourne’s City Centre Revitalization

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brent Gilliard
Keyword(s):  
Public Space ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Physical Quality ◽  
Social Quality

Public space is important to a city’s economic and social quality. Downtown Toronto is not known for its public spaces but Melbourne is widely recognized for recently revitalizing its city centre with improved public spaces. A case study of Melbourne investigates its comparability to Toronto as well as the details of its "renaissance." It is concluded that Melbourne is, in fact, highly comparable to Toronto. Interventions in Melbourne were characterized by the principles: long-term vision, emphasizing local strengths, investment in quality, making space for people on foot, and using effective arguments and evidence. To emulate Melbourne’s city-centre revitalization, Toronto first should facilitate a civic conversation about the long-term vision for its downtown; second, it should initiate a public life survey of the downtown; third, it should invest is the physical quality of downtown public spaces; and fourth, it should begin an incremental program to reclaim roadway space from cars in locations of high pedestrian use.

Branding Ideas for the Tokyo Olympics 2020

2017 ◽  
pp. 304-322
Author(s):  
Erica Liu
Keyword(s):  
Planning Process ◽  
Olympic Games ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Event Tourism ◽  
Mega Event ◽  
The City

Tokyo successfully won the bid for the 2020 Olympic Games. When planning for mega event tourism such as the Olympics, cities reorder public spaces and arenas often with a long term vision, a legacy. This vision expresses the role of the event in achieving the desired future and goals of the hosting city. The planning process involves not only animating the city for staged spectacles; but also rebranding the city and managing how tourism is consumed - the planned and unplanned experience of consumption. Leisure motivated event tourists are seeking unique, personal and socially rewarding experiences (Getz, 2010). These experiences may be managed through the context in which people act. By altering the context, people's experience of the event changes; hence the perception of the host city and the Olympics' brand may also change. The author is therefore proposing branding directions to enhance these experiences.

scholarly journals A Multi-Level Path Analysis of the Relationships between the Momentary Experience Characteristics, Satisfaction with Urban Public Spaces, and Momentary- and Long-Term Subjective Wellbeing

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (19) ◽  
pp. 3621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weijs-Perrée ◽  
Dane ◽  
van den Berg ◽  
van Dorst
Keyword(s):  
Path Analysis ◽  
Urban Environment ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Subjective Wellbeing ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Urban Public Space ◽  
Contextual Characteristics ◽  
Multi Level

Previous research has shown that the urban environment could influence people's behavior and wellbeing. However, little is still known about how the objective and subjective measures of the momentary experience of urban public spaces could contribute to the satisfaction with the urban environment of cities, which eventually could influence the momentary and long-term subjective wellbeing (SWB) of citizens. Therefore, the aim of this research is to gain insight into how momentary experience and satisfaction with the urban public space could contribute to the SWB of citizens, and thereby control for personal, contextual characteristics. Relationships were simultaneously analyzed using a multi-level path analysis approach based on a sample of 1056 momentary experiences of urban public spaces reported by 161 citizens of the urban area Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The results showed that personality and personal characteristics are highly important for explaining long-term SWB and subsequently long-term SWB positively influences momentary SWB (the degree of feeling secure, comfortable, happy and annoyed) together with the momentary satisfaction of urban public space characteristics. In addition, contextual characteristics, such as time/day and distance to facilities are important for explaining people’s momentary SWB. Policy makers and urban planners can use these results when developing policy and designing a healthy, attractive, livable and safe living environment for citizens.

Coastal Studies by Sequential Air Photography

1965 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 372-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. L. Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Systematic Study ◽  
Aerial Photography ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Current Action ◽  
Coastal Changes ◽  
Air Photo

With the advent of air photography, many problems of mapping coast lines, such as those caused by surf action and underwater obstructions, were solved, as the vertical air photo shows the exact configuration of the coast and reveals many of the shallow-water obstructions. This paper shows that aerial photographs, obtained at intervals ranging from 2 to 20 years, contain important information on long-term coastal changes, brought about by wave and current action over a period of time. Two examples of such changes, revealed by sequential aerial photography, are given. It is concluded that a program of systematic study of existing photographs and supplementary rephotography would more than justify its cost.

Long-Term Impact of Economic Conditions on Auditors' Judgment

2018 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 203-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianjie He ◽  
S. P. Kothari ◽  
Tusheng Xiao ◽  
Luo Zuo
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Formative Period ◽  
Early Career ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Career Stage ◽  
Audit Opinion ◽  
Economic Downturns ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
Jel Classifications

ABSTRACT We find that economic conditions at the time an auditor enters the labor market have a long-term impact on her judgment and decision making. Specifically, engagement partners who started their career during economic downturns issue audit adjustments more frequently. For the subsample of company-years with no audit adjustments, downturn auditors are more likely to issue a modified audit opinion. In addition, companies audited by downturn auditors are less likely to violate financial reporting and disclosure regulations. Together, our findings suggest that the early career stage is a critical formative period for auditors. JEL Classifications: J24; M42.

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