scholarly journals Geo-environmental changes and historical events in the area of the Greek archaeological site of Selinunte (Western Sicily, Italy)

2022 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-95
Author(s):  
Margherita Bufalini ◽  
Domenico Aringoli ◽  
Petros Didaskalou ◽  
Marco Materazzi ◽  
Fabio Pallotta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Historical Events ◽  
Western Sicily

Neste estudo no sítio arqueológico grego de Selinônte foram realizados levantamentos geomorfológicos e geoarqueológicos detalhados com o intuito de reconstruir a evolução da paisagem que ocorreu antes e durante a antropização do sítio e para verificar as possíveis correlações entre mudanças geoambientais e eventos humanos que caracterizou quase quatro séculos da história da cidade. Utilizando uma abordagem multidisciplinar e diferentes técnicas de levantamento, este estudo testemunhou o papel desempenhado pelo clima, configuração geomorfológica e georrecursos no condicionamento do desenvolvimento da cidade e a estreita relação por vezes observada entre os acontecimentos históricos e os processos naturais. Isso incluiu a polêmica e nunca descoberta obra hidráulica de Empédocles, que em 444 a.C., conforme as fontes textuais, resolveu um problema de saúde pública ligado à presença de áreas pantanosas.

scholarly journals Factors influencing temporal changes in chemical composition of biogenic deposits in the middle Tążyna River Valley (Kuyavian Lakeland, central Poland)

Geologos ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-136
Author(s):  
Daniel Okupny ◽  
Seweryn Rzepecki ◽  
Ryszard Krzysztof Borówka ◽  
Jacek Forysiak ◽  
Juliusz Twardy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Saline Water ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Central Poland ◽  
Geochemical Properties ◽  
Geochemical Elements ◽  
Micro Elements

Abstract The present paper discusses the influence of geochemical properties on biogenic deposits in the Wilkostowo mire near Toruń, central Poland. The analysed core has allowed the documentation of environmental changes between the older part of the Atlantic Period and the present day (probably interrupted at the turn of the Meso- and Neoholocene). In order to reconstruct the main stages in the sedimentation of biogenic deposits, we have used stratigraphic variability of selected litho-geochemical elements (organic matter, calcium carbonate, biogenic and terrigenous silica, macro- and micro-elements: Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr and Ni). The main litho-geochemical component is CaCO3; its content ranges from 4.1 per cent to 92 per cent. The variability of CaCO3 content reflects mainly changes in hydrological and geomorphological conditions within the catchment area. The effects of prehistoric anthropogenic activities in the catchment of the River Tążyna, e.g., the use of saline water for economic purposes, are recorded in a change from calcareous gyttja into detritus-calcareous gyttja sedimentation and an increased content of lithophilous elements (Na, K, Mg and Ni) in the sediments. Principal component analysis (PCA) has enabled the distinction the most important factors that affected the chemical composition of sediments at the Wilkostowo site, i.e., mechanical and chemical denudation processes in the catchment, changes in redox conditions, bioaccumulation of selected elements and human activity. Sediments of the Wilkostowo mire are located in the direct vicinity of an archaeological site, where traces of intensive settlement dating back to the Neolithic have been documented. The settlement phase is recorded both in lithology and geochemical properties of biogenic deposits which fill the reservoir formed at the bottom of the Parchania Canal Valley.

scholarly journals Evolución de un sector costero durante la Alta Edad Media en el NW de la Península Ibérica

2015 ◽  
pp. 27-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebeca Tallón-Armada ◽  
Manuela Costa-Casais ◽  
Teresa Taboada Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Middle Ages ◽  
Salt Marshes ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Roman Period ◽  
Early Middle Ages ◽  
Ría De Vigo ◽  
Rosalia De Castro ◽  
Península Ibérica

En el presente trabajo se estudia la evolución de un tramo costero de la Ría de Vigo (NW de la península Ibérica) desde época romana hasta el siglo XVII, prestando particular atención a la Alta Edad Media. Desde el punto de vista arqueológico, la importancia del sector radica en la presencia de una salina de época romana, en uso desde los siglos II BC a III-IV AD, y su abandono para dar paso a la instauración de una iglesia y una necrópolis en la Alta Edad Media (a partir de los siglos IV-V AD). Se muestrearon, con alta resolución, tres secuencias edafo-sedimentarias y se analizaron diversas propiedades físico-químicas (pH, granulometría, contenido en C, N, S, P, Fe, As) y la composición mineralógica, con el fin de determinar la naturaleza de las distintas facies presentes, los procesos implicados y las causas asociadas. Los resultados indican modificaciones en la costa entre finales del periodo romano y comienzos de la Alta Edad Media, con unaevolución del medio desde una dinámica costera, con formaciones de marisma-lagoon costero, a una dinámica eólica, con dunas. Dicho cambio es coincidente con el cese de la explotación romana de sal y el inicio del periodo Frío Altomedieval. Estos resultados son similares a los encontrados en otros puntos de la Ría de Vigo. En los tres sectores comparados (Rosalía de Castro, Toralla y Hospital), a la par que se produce la progradación de las formaciones de marisma y duna, el uso antrópico del sector cambia. Aunque la pauta climática presenta un papel importante en la evolución de este sector, los cambios en la línea de costa que se detectan entre ambos periodos culturales pudo estar determinada también por causas socioecómicas. Evolution of a coastal area during the early Middle Ages in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula - This paper focuses on the evolution of a coastal stretch of the Ria de Vigo (NW Iberian Peninsula) during the early Middle Ages, which presents an important archaeological site with a roman salt mine. Salt exploitation in the Roman period ceased around the AD 3rd-5th centuries, and was followed by the establishment of a churcheand a cemetery during the Middle Ages. The properties (pH, grain size, C, N, S, P, Fe and As, and mineralogicalcomposition) of three pedo-sedimentary sequences were analysed in order to identify the different environmental changes that affected this sector. The results suggest signifcant changes occurred in the coast from the late Roman period (AD 3rth-5th centuries) into the early Middle Ages (AD 5th-6th centuries), with an evolution from a marine-continental dynamics, with formation of salt marshes, to a wind dynamics, with dune formations. This change is consistent with the abandonment of the Roman salt exploitation and the beginning of Cold Dark Ages. These results are similar to those found in other areas of the Ría de Vigo. In the three sectors compared (Rosalia de Castro, Toralla and Hospital) land use changed while the progradation of marsh and dune formations occurred. Although climate may have played a major role in the evolution of this sector, the changes in the coastline between the two cultural periods could be also related to socio-economic causes.

scholarly journals LANDSCAPE GEOMORPHOLOGICAL EVOLUTION AND COASTAL CHANGES: A CASE STUDY OF COASTAL EVOLUTION IN THE WESTERN PATRAIKOS GULF AREA, WESTERN GREECE

2017 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 415
Author(s):  
G. Alevizos ◽  
L. Stamatopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Land Surface ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Close Correlation ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Alluvial Deposits ◽  
Coastal Evolution ◽  
Relative Chronology ◽  
Surface Development ◽  
Geomorphological Evolution

Geological and geomorphological research has been carried out in the western part of the south coast of Patraikos Gulf and the findings were studied in relation to archaeological remains found in the same area. The characteristics of the archaeological findings and the stratigraphical record and the deposits in which they are contained, may originate their source, transportation way and age. The artifacts were contained in fluvial and alluvial deposits under the present land surface. Their age was estimated by archaeologists to be between 7th century BC and 4th century AC. Geomorphology and archaeology have strong historical and methodological links and can provide information about the processes and extent of environmental changes. They also provide the tools for analysing sedimentation rates, relative chronology and geomorphological evaluation of the particular archaeological site as well as clues for land-surface development, paleoenvironmental and climatic conditions. Sediments indicating considerable climatic changes in current humid areas are alluvial deposits of considerable thickness, covering areas with human activity. There is a close correlation, as shown by the archaeological findings between climatic and environmental fluctuations. Since when there is a transition in climatic conditions causing changes in hydrologic conditions with ensuing geomorphological instability and burying the structures

scholarly journals Preliminary Report on Engineering Properties and Environmental Resistance of Ancient Mud Bricks from Tell El-Retaba Archaeological Site in the Nile Delta

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-56
Author(s):  
Jerzy Trzciński ◽  
Małgorzata Zaremba ◽  
Sławomir Rzepka ◽  
Fabian Welc ◽  
Tomasz Szczepański
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Nile Delta ◽  
Physical And Mechanical Properties ◽  
Size Composition ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Water Levels ◽  
Engineering Properties ◽  
Water Volume ◽  
Mud Bricks

Abstract The archaeological site Tell el-Retaba in north-eastern Egypt, about 35 km to the west of Ismailia city, is located in the middle of Wadi Tumilat, a shallow valley running from the Nile Delta to the Bitter Lakes, along which flows the Suez Canal. In ancient times the valley was a route between Egypt and Syro-Palestine, strongly fortified in the New Kingdom times (16th–11th century BC). Mud bricks were analyzed from two parts of the Wall 1 (core of grey-brown bricks and inner extension of green bricks) in a fortress which existed during the Ramesses II times. Grain-size composition of the studied bricks was almost identical in both parts of the wall, suggesting the same source material for a production of brick. However, significant differences were observed in physical and mechanical properties (uni-axial compressive strength) in both types of bricks. Bricks from the core had lower bulk density, higher porosity and soak faster, whereas their resistance parameters were much lower than those of the bricks from the inner extension. The reason for such large differences in brick properties was a technology of their production, particularly proportion of components, water volume added during brick formation or density degree. Brick preparation and in consequence, physical-mechanical properties had direct influence on preservation of defensive structures during environmental changes related to changes of groundwater and surface water levels or of precipitation. Ancient Egyptians responsible for construction works in mud brick structures of the fortress must have had good knowledge and experience. This could be observed particularly for the heaviest and most important construction element that is the defensive wall, founded on well-densified deposits. It was also testified by higher resistance of green bricks from the inner extensions, which probably originated slightly later and were intended to reinforce a weaker core built of grey-brown bricks.

scholarly journals The hunter-gatherer site BES II (Jacaré-Guaçu River low terraces, central Sao Paulo state, Brazil): Interface with geomorphical and environmental fluctuations of the Pleistocene-Holocene transition

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Fabio Grossi Santos ◽  
Pedro Michelutti Cheliz
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Large River ◽  
Structure Study ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Human Occupation ◽  
Lithic Assemblage ◽  
Ephemeral Channels

The lithic site Boa Esperança II (BES II), in the São Paulo segment of the Brazilian Plateau, next to the boundary between the cities of Araraquara (SP) and Boa Esperança do Sul (SP), presents a collection of almost 2,000 lithic artifacts (predominantly chert and sandstone), being interpreted as a settlement of diversified functions with possibly continuous or successive occupation. In this work, we approach the site based on interface of its insertion in the regional physical-environmental context - with emphasis on the interface with relief frames, surface structure study and estimated geomorphic sequences of the alluvial plain of Jacaré-Guaçu river - and techno-typological analysis. It was verified that the BES II artifacts are distributed along vertical profiles and relief pictures lined by records that mark the transition from semi-arid conditions to others of increasing humidity, successive oscillations of base levels and modifications of fluvial regimes (ephemeral channels passing to perennial channels of different hydrological meandrings patterns), indicating that human occupation has dealt with conditions of quite distinct landscapes between the Late Pleistocene and the Holocene. Local lithic industry would have taken advantage of attributes derived from these modifications in the landscape over time - in particular the exposure of gravels of large river pebbles deposited by torrential ephemeral channels. The past  abundance of raw material of fluvial origin would have contributed to the location of the site in the regional geomorphological context, as well as for a lithic assemblage based on the production of large unipolar flakes. We observed in the correlations between the position of artifacts, geomorphical and pedological data, OSL and Carbone-14 dates at archaeological levels, elements that allow us to discuss considering BES II as an archaeological site to integrate the interval of the Pleistocene-Holocene transition and to had interfaces with the geomorphological and environmental changes of such time. The archaeological implications of the issue and the fact that only one dating of photoluminescence has been reported from the deepest level of the site (basal gravel layer) emphasize the need for new, denser and more diversified studies.

scholarly journals Evidence for the impact of the 8.2-kyBP climate event on Near Eastern early farmers

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (35) ◽  
pp. 8705-8709 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mélanie Roffet-Salque ◽  
Arkadiusz Marciniak ◽  
Paul J. Valdes ◽  
Kamilla Pawłowska ◽  
Joanna Pyzel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Climate Modeling ◽  
Atmospheric Precipitation ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Late Neolithic ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Climatic Event ◽  
Early Farmers ◽  
The Impact

The 8.2-thousand years B.P. event is evident in multiple proxy records across the globe, showing generally dry and cold conditions for ca. 160 years. Environmental changes around the event are mainly detected using geochemical or palynological analyses of ice cores, lacustrine, marine, and other sediments often distant from human settlements. The Late Neolithic excavated area of the archaeological site of Çatalhöyük East [Team Poznań (TP) area] was occupied for four centuries in the ninth and eighth millennia B.P., thus encompassing the 8.2-thousand years B.P. climatic event. A Bayesian analysis of 56 radiocarbon dates yielded a high-resolution chronological model comprising six building phases, with dates ranging from before 8325–8205 to 7925–7815 calibrated years (cal) B.P. Here, we correlate an onsite paleoclimate record constructed from δ2H values of lipid biomarkers preserved in pottery vessels recovered from these buildings with changes in architectural, archaeozoological, and consumption records from well-documented archaeological contexts. The overall sequence shows major changes in husbandry and consumption practices at ca. 8.2 thousand years B.P., synchronous with variations in the δ2H values of the animal fat residues. Changes in paleoclimate and archaeological records seem connected with the patterns of atmospheric precipitation during the occupation of the TP area predicted by climate modeling. Our multiproxy approach uses records derived directly from documented archaeological contexts. Through this, we provide compelling evidence for the specific impacts of the 8.2-thousand years B.P. climatic event on the economic and domestic activities of pioneer Neolithic farmers, influencing decisions relating to settlement planning and food procurement strategies.

scholarly journals From section to landscape(s) : reconstructions of environmental and landscape changes since the 7th millennium BCE around the site of Wakarida (Ethiopia) using chronostratigraphy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ninon Blond ◽  
Nicolas Jacob-Rousseau ◽  
Yann Callot
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Changes ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Landscape Changes ◽  
Agricultural Terraces ◽  
Sedimentary Deposits ◽  
Anthropogenic Processes ◽  
The Impact

Geoscience is a very useful tool for approaching the relationships between societies and their environment. However, it is not always possible to apply very advanced techniques or to perform a large number of analyses. This paper aims to show that chronostratigraphic studies can provide satisfying answers to the main geoarchaeological questions, “only” using sedimentological, stratigraphic and chronological analyses. The objective here is to move from the study of stratigraphic sections, uncovered in valley bottoms filled by sedimentary deposits, to the reconstruction of landscape and environmental changes, in connection with the archaeological site of Wakarida (northern Tigray, Ethiopia). The actual landscape around Wakarida is made of steeply sloping valleys, filled with accumulations of sediments several meters thick. These deposits are cultivated by the inhabitants thanks to the building of agricultural terraces. Archaeological excavations have uncovered an urban settlement in Wakarida, dating between the classical Aksumite (150-400/450 CE) and the post-Aksumite periods (800/850 CE), and more ancient (pre- and proto-Aksumite periods) structures in the area under survey. Such structures raise the question of the interactions of the populations with their environment through time. More precisely, they question their role in the deposition of the sediments. To tackle these questions, a method based on a combination of field work, sedimentological analyses and dating has been employed. Such a chronostratigraphic study made it possible to identify several phases in the establishment of the current landscapes around the Wakarida site. During Early Holocene, valleys were gradually filled by alluvial and/or colluvial processes of low energy. During Middle Holocene, ablation processes alternated with deposition, showing the effects of climatic and possible anthropogenic processes. From the 1st millennium BCE onwards, the impact of population on their environment is visible, but especially around the 14th – 17th centuries. An important part of these conclusions is based on the attention given to chronological inversions and the fact that these dates, "false" at first glance, reveal ablation and deposition phases within sedimentary cascades. It therefore seems important, from a methodological point of view, not to reject these dates a priori, but to consider them by giving them their full place in the chronostratigraphic reflection.

Self-sacrifice for in-group's history: A diachronic perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Babińska ◽  
Michal Bilewicz
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Psychology ◽  
Historical Events ◽  
Emotional Events ◽  
Reciprocal Process ◽  
The Way

AbstractThe problem of extended fusion and identification can be approached from a diachronic perspective. Based on our own research, as well as findings from the fields of social, political, and clinical psychology, we argue that the way contemporary emotional events shape local fusion is similar to the way in which historical experiences shape extended fusion. We propose a reciprocal process in which historical events shape contemporary identities, whereas contemporary identities shape interpretations of past traumas.

Linking transcription, RNA polymerase II elongation and alternative splicing

2020 ◽  
Vol 477 (16) ◽  
pp. 3091-3104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana E. Giono ◽  
Alberto R. Kornblihtt
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Alternative Splicing ◽  
Rna Polymerase Ii ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Transcription Elongation ◽  
Single Gene ◽  
Regulation Of Gene Expression ◽  
Regulation Of Transcription ◽  
Stepping Stones ◽  
Eukaryotic Transcription

Gene expression is an intricately regulated process that is at the basis of cell differentiation, the maintenance of cell identity and the cellular responses to environmental changes. Alternative splicing, the process by which multiple functionally distinct transcripts are generated from a single gene, is one of the main mechanisms that contribute to expand the coding capacity of genomes and help explain the level of complexity achieved by higher organisms. Eukaryotic transcription is subject to multiple layers of regulation both intrinsic — such as promoter structure — and dynamic, allowing the cell to respond to internal and external signals. Similarly, alternative splicing choices are affected by all of these aspects, mainly through the regulation of transcription elongation, making it a regulatory knob on a par with the regulation of gene expression levels. This review aims to recapitulate some of the history and stepping-stones that led to the paradigms held today about transcription and splicing regulation, with major focus on transcription elongation and its effect on alternative splicing.

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