Study on the Middle Bronze Age Disc-Butted Axe Ornament from Archaeometallurgical Point of View

Our research was conducted on a copper disc-butted axe, with a surface decoration made of a tin-based alloy, which was found east of the Carpathian Mountains in the Moldavian Plateau. This unique piece is thought to belong to the Middle Bronze Age in the Western Carpathians—Wietenberg, Suciu de Sus and Otomani–Füzesabony cultures. In order to evaluate the application process and the origin of the ores used, the surface and volume phase variation of the concentration of the metal components of the basic alloy (copper) and of the ornament was analysed using optical microscopy (OM), stereomicroscopy (SM) and SEM-EDX. The archaeometric features, formed both during its use and during its lying in the archaeological site, were identified and later used in archaeometallurgical evaluations and in determining the preservation condition of the two components (axe and ornament) on the surface, interface and in stratigraphic section. Experimental data revealed that, after its casting in porous silicon stone moulds, the object was coated with a thin film by immersion in an easily fusible tin alloy, which included copper as the major alloying component and arsenic and iron as minor components. After finishing the shiny white coat, a beautiful decoration was applied by incision and engraving. Used as a battle axe, it also had a rank function, as it belonged to the community leaders. The data prove the ability of ancient craftsmen to design and process copper alloys to obtain authentic extremely beautiful artefacts, which provide new possibilities to reveal the social and symbolic function of certain ancient bronze objects.

Geochemical Characteristics of the Middle Devonian Dacaozi-Tanshanping Shale Strata in the Yanyuan Basin, Southwest China: Implications for Organic Matter Accumulation and Preservation

How the geochemical characteristics of organic matter shale for the carbonate platform facies remain uncertain, which restricts an integrated reconstruction of the model of organic matter accumulation and preservation. Here, we present new results from element geochemical fingerprinting and integrated analyses of paleoclimate, paleoproductivity, paleoredox environment, and terrigenous input of the targeted Middle Devonian Tanshanping and Dacaozi Formations in the Ninglang-Yanyuan Basin, Southwest China. It is worth noting that although the carbonate platform connects with the open sea partially, the redox environment will not be completely controlled by relative sea level variations. Specially, the paleoclimate, paleoproductivity, and paleoredox conditions are the main controlling factors of the accumulation and preservation of organic matter. In view of the paleoclimate indexes, we suggest that both a relatively warm-humid climate characterized by intensified chemical weathering conditions and a higher terrigenous input are identified as two major drivers forcing the reductive environment in the sedimentary waterbody. Finally, a comprehensive model is established for providing new insights into the mechanism of organic matter accumulation and preservation for the carbonate platform facies. The paleoredox environment, paleoproductivity, paleoclimate, and terrigenous input are believed to have exerted a very considerable force on reconstructing the model of organic matter accumulation and preservation for the carbonate platform facies. Specially, the coupling interactions between the paleoproductivity and redox condition are thus also stressed. We found that the preservation condition is much more important than the paleoproductivity, resulting in the degree of organic matter enrichment. Even if the paleoproductivity of a sedimentary waterbody of a depositional period of the Dacaozi Formation was higher, the TOC concentrations were relatively low due to the poor preservation condition by fall of the sea level and increase of the terrigenous input. In another aspect, the better preservation condition of the Tanshanping Formation makes the TOC concentrations higher in the case of lower paleoproductivity in the sedimentary waterbody.

Synthesis parameter optimization for uniform and stable perovskite quantum dots

Colloidal lead halide perovskites nanocrystals, also known as quantum dots, have been intensively studied as promising optoelectronic materials and have attracted widespread attention due to their unique optical versatility, high photoluminescence quantum yield and convenient synthesis. Among them, the potential of all-inorganic halide caesium lead perovskite (CsPbX3, X = Cl, Br, I) is particularly prominent. In this work, by adjusting the experimental parameters, including precursor preservation condition, reaction temperature and the isolation/purification process, CsPbBr3 quantum dots with uniform size, neat arrangement, narrow full width at half maxima and excellent luminescent properties have been successfully prepared, which lays a good foundation for its potential application in practical optoelectronic devices.

The interaction of water with archeological birch bark and its effects on swelling, shrinking and deformations

In this paper we present results of water sorption of archaeological, ethnographical and contemporary birch bark and of the water-induced size and shape changes during humidification and drying. The analysis revealed that the equilibrium moisture content is higher if lenticels or inner bark are present and that the burial context influences the sorption behavior: the better the preservation condition of the archaeological birch bark, the lower the equilibrium moisture content. Compared to other organic materials like wood, the water uptake and the related swelling of outer birch bark is modest. This can be attributed to the cell structure and composition: outer birch bark is composed of closed cells made to a large extent of hydrophobic components (suberin, lignin). We show that warping of the bark takes place at high moisture content. This deformation is related to the plasticization effect of water and to the release of the built-in tension related to the stretching of the cells during the tree’s growth. Our results provide a first guidance to conservators in the decision of water treatments on birch bark objects.

Herbivores Coprolites from Chehrabad Salt Mine of Zanjan, Iran (Sassanid Era, 224-651 AD) Reveals Eggs of Strongylidae and Anoplocephalidae Helminths

Background: The ancient Chehrabad Salt mine, a well-known archaeological site in Iran, has recently received increasing interest from Iranian and international archeologists. Also, the biological remains from this site have provided valuable sources for studying the pathogenic agents of ancient times. This study aimed to identify the parasitic helminth eggs preserved in the herbivores coprolites. Methods: From 2011 to 2015, we received three coprolites belonging to herbivorous animals recovered during excavations in Chehrabad Salt mine of Zanjan, Iran. The coprolites were dated back to the Sassanid era (224-651 AD) by using radiocarbon accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and archeological stratigraphy methods. Following rehydration of the specimens in a 0.5% trisodium phosphate solution, the suspensions were mounted in glycerin jelly on glass slides and examined by a light microscope with 100x and 400x magnifications. Results: Two coprolites belonged to donkeys and one to an unknown herbivore species. The recovered eggs belonged to members of two helminths families, Strongylidae, and Anoplocephalidae. Also, within the two coprolites, some mites, presumably of the order Oribatida, were observed. Conclusion: The presence of two different nematodes in the equids coprolites provide clues of the burden of helminths infection on working animal at the Sassanid time and demonstrates the appropriate preservation condition of biological remains in the ancient salt mine of Chehrabad as well.

Los recursos patrimoniales en el turismo actual. El caso del centro histórico de Yecla (Murcia)

La convivencia entre el pasado artístico y cultural de la ciudad de Yecla (Murcia) con los usos actuales de sus elementos patrimoniales constituye el objetivo fundamental de este trabajo. El llamado turismo cultural, en todas sus modalidades, se ha convertido en un recurso económico fundamental para las administraciones locales, por ello proponemos una ruta turística basada en el conocimiento del origen y evolución de la historia y el arte de la ciudad mediante el uso de los recursos patrimoniales que conserva, dotándolos de un discurso ameno pero basado en el rigor de las investigaciones realizadas. Esta ruta se incorporará a la oferta cultural de Yecla aportando respuestas a las necesidades de los diferentes usuarios turísticos locales y foráneos, e introduce el contexto urbanístico como elemento vertebrador. En definitiva, proporcionar un instrumento que además de potenciar el valor de importantes bienes ya reconocidos del patrimonio yeclano permita dar a conocer nuevos elementos de gran valor hasta ahora olvidados y que se encuentran en un lamentable estado de conservación. The coexistence between artistic and cultural past of the city of Yecla (Murcia) with the contemporary usage of its patrimonial elemets is the fundamental objetive of this work. The so called cultural tourism, in all its forms, has now become a funamental economic resource for local administration. For that reason we suggest a touristic route based on the knowledge of the origin and evolution of the history and art of the city througt the use of the patrimonial resources that the city holds, ia a pleasant way but still based on the precision of the investigations done. This route will be incorporated to the cultural offer of Yecla adding offer to the demands of the diferent local and foreing touristic targets. It also introduces the urban context as main backbone. Finally, this route will provide a tool that will allow to know new elements of the great value so far forgotten and left in an unfortunate preservation condition on top of enhancing the value of important properties already well recognised in the heritage of Yecla.

Exponential-Square Integrability, Weighted Inequalities for the Square Functions Associated to Operators, and Applications

Let $X$ be a metric space with a doubling measure. Let $L$ be a nonnegative self-adjoint operator acting on $L^2(X)$, hence $L$ generates an analytic semigroup $e^{-tL}$. Assume that the kernels $p_t(x,y)$ of $e^{-tL}$ satisfy Gaussian upper bounds and Hölder continuity in $x$, but we do not require the semigroup to satisfy the preservation condition $e^{-tL}1 = 1$. In this article we aim to establish the exponential-square integrability of a function whose square function associated to an operator $L$ is bounded, and the proof is new even for the Laplace operator on the Euclidean spaces ${\mathbb R^n}$. We then apply this result to obtain: (1) estimates of the norm on $L^p$ as $p$ becomes large for operators such as the square functions or spectral multipliers; (2) weighted norm inequalities for the square functions; and (3) eigenvalue estimates for Schrödinger operators on ${\mathbb R}^n$ or Lipschitz domains of ${\mathbb R}^n$.

A pedra polida e afeiçoada do sítio do Neolítico médio da Moita do Ourives (Benavente, Portugal)

Presentation of the polished and ground stone tools artefacts from Neolithic site of Moita do Ourives. It corresponds to a low number of artifacts in poor preservation condition and high degree of fragmentation, making the typological and functional classification quite difficult. The tools production is based mainly on locally available raw materials, such as quartzite, sandstone and quartz (85% of the all set). Exogenous raw materials (amphibolite and granite), possibly obtained more than 40km from the site, represent 15% of the recovered elements. The results of this study allow, together with the analysis of other material culture elements, a reflection on the functionality of this settlement, as well as the mobility and socioeconomic activities of the communities of the Middle Neolithic in the Western Iberia.