Analysis of the sedimentary characteristics of the tees estuary using remote sensing and GIS techniques

This thesis examines the ability of airborne remotely sensed data to provide quantitative information about the characteristics of intertidal sediments. The research was undertaken on Seal Sands in the Tees estuary, UK, and the airborne imagery was acquired by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) using a Daedalus 1268 11 channel scanning radiometer. The research focused upon establishing calibration and correction procedures for the airborne imagery as well as developing GIS techniques to process and analyze the data. A database was produced for the National Nature Reserve of Seal Sands to integrate remotely sensed imagery data, primary data from fieldwork (particle size analysis) and digital map data. Quantitative analysis of the relationship between radiance and particle size characteristics was undertaken. Results show that a multiple regression model is able to predict sand fractions in intertidal sediments and explain over 70% of the variance in radiance data. GIS techniques have facilitated predictions of the ATM data and particle size analysis of the intertidal sediments, sediment interpolation, and spatial patterns of birds' feeding behaviour. In addition, a digital elevation model (DEM) was established to investigate the relationship of sediment distribution to topography. Although limited to a single study area, the integrated approach employed in this research should be of use in monitoring estuarine environments elsewhere

The Sickle\u27s Edge: an Experimental Use-wear Approach to Investigating Sickle Deposition in Bronze Age Europe

Prehistoric hoards—containing items such as precious metals, tools, ornaments, and weapons—have long fascinated archaeologists and the general public alike. The practice of intentional wealth deposition in hoards was particularly prolific during the European Bronze Age; however, the motivations behind this practice remain unclear. Comparisons of the contents of hoards through space and time can yield valuable data regarding the purpose and process of deposition, but one of the most common items found in Bronze Age hoards—bronze sickles—remains understudied. In order to generate a standardized approach to the comparative analysis of prehistoric sickles in a variety of contexts, I propose a protocol for measuring indications of use-wear, based on the results of experimental trials. Four bronze sickles were cast, hafted, and used in harvesting vegetation. After two harvesting trials, microscopic images were taken of the back and front of each cutting edge; use-wear maps were created identifying bluntness, abrasion, striations, and blade deformation. Similar use-wear maps were created for seven prehistoric bronze sickles in the collections of the Field Museum of Natural History, the Logan Museum of Anthropology, and the Milwaukee Public Museum. The data generated by comparing wear patterns on the experimental sickles with the working edges of the prehistoric sickles suggest that indications of use can be identified through specific patterns of abrasion and bluntness along a sickle’s cutting edge. These sickle-specific use-wear patterns and the process of producing and using the experimental sickles are described in detail to serve as a foundation for further systematic analysis of prehistoric bronze sickles and their depositional contexts

The Life and Journey of Neolithic Copper Objects

This work is an intensive study of the Neolithic deposition of copper objects from Neuenkirchen in North-East Germany. This unique ensemble represents one of the very rare hoard finds from the early Early Neolithic, and is the first of its kind for nearly 100 years, matched only by the famous younger hoard find from Bygholm (Denmark). The beginning of neolithization at the end of the fifth millennium is not only characterised by a change in the subsistence strategy, but also by the development of far-reaching networks of the Neolithic Funnel Beaker societies in Northern Germany. Proof is provided by the first metal finds which also appear at the same time in the North and were imported from the early metallurgical centres in the Balkan-Carpathian area. The hoard of Neuenkirchen is an outstanding example for these new, long-distance contacts. Drawing from a multi-method approach, the study attempts to trace the life and journey of the individual objects in the hoard and the transformation processes they underwent before they finally ended up in the ground. To this end, an intensive typological discussion, use-wear analysis, plus trace element and lead isotopes analyses of the objects are paired with a comprehensive overview of the natural environment, deposition practices, and settlement activities in the vicinity of Neuenkirchen. In the context of comparable hoard finds from the 5th/4th millennium, and the development of early metallurgy in Southeast Europe, these results make the journey and transformation of the objects from Neuenkirchen comprehensible

Southern Cyprus, 2000-1500 B.C.

The excavations and regional survey conducted by the Kent State University Cyprus Archaeological Expedition at Episkopi Phaneromeni have contributed much to the understanding of the little known social and cultural history of southern Cyprus in the Early and Middle Bronze Age. Chapter I. In order to use the material from Phaneromeni as a criterion for the analysis of the local culture, an initial requirement was the detailed study of the architectural features and their contents at the Middle and Late Cypriot IA settlements (Areas G and A). Having determined the degree of urbanisation at she site, and what artifacts, fauna, and flora were employed or exploited by its inhabitants, viable typologies are established for the lithic, metal, terracotta and pottery finds. Chapter II presents the lithic typology and chronology (excluding chipped stone) that covers 33 categories. It concludes with a detailed discussion of Mehen and Zenet, the so-called 'gaming stones'. Chapter III presents a reassessment of pre-Late Cypriot II copper smelting technology. All well documented metal objects of this period from the Curium, Limassol and Paphos Museums are classified and dated. The discussion includes the data provided by 54 new analyses, and emphasises the dangers of comparing results from different laboratories. Chapter IV presents the terracotta typology and chronology covering 5 categories. Chapter V presents the new ceramic typology and terminology, e. g. Red Polished I South Coast, Red Polished III Mottled, Red Polished IV, Drab Polished Blue Core and Red Polished Punctured ware. Emphasis is on the relative percentages of each ware rather than a detailed evolution of shapes and decoration. Chapter VI presents the results of the regional survey and provides topical and environmental information on the main habitation/cemetery complexes. The relative percentages of wares at each site provide a settement pattern for the period, which is then compared with an analysis using the technique of non-metric multidimensional scaling

The History, Present Condition, and Future of the Molluscan Fisheries of North and Central America and Europe: Volume 3, Europe

(PDF file contains 248 pages.

Study of the normal and pathological intestinal flora of infants and very young children

The aim has been to ascertain the bacteriological conditions obtaining in the intestine of infants and young children, in health, and when suffering from diarrhoea. The healthy children have been divided into classes according to the nature of the feeding -- breast fed children, bottle fed children, and children on a mixed. diet. The flora of the children suffering from diarrhoea has been studied and by a comparison with normal cases, an attempt Was made to arrive at conclusions as to the cause of diarrhoea. The cases of diarrhoea studied were not cases of Epidemic Summer Diarrhoea. They occurred during the very cold and wet summer of 1912, and during the winter following. I hesitate, however, to call them cases of Sporadic Diarrhoea, as there was some evidence that some cases had derived infection from others, or that some common factor was at, work. All through, as was suggested to me by Dr. Ritchie, I have endeavoured_ to study the flora as a whole, and tried not to be seduced into the particular study of one group of organisms to the exclusion of others. This has involved the formulation and practice of a somewhat lengthy scheme of routine examination. A total of 56 specimens has been examined. Of these, 11 are not included in the present thesis as they were used while studying means of isolation in order to formulate a satisfactory routine examination. 3 others are not included as they were older children suffering from intestinal indigestion. 21 cases free from diarrhoea, and which always had been free from diarrhoea were put through the routine examination. These cases throughout the thesis I have called normal. I wish to say that by this I mean completely free from diarrhoea. Many of the children were not healthy. 14 cases suffering from diarrhoea have been studied, and in addition 4 specimens from cases convalescent, or recovered, from diarrhoea have been obtained, as well as the specimens obtained from the same cases while the diarrhoea was at its worst. A specimen of faeces and a catheter specimen of urine were also obtained from 3 cases of Coli Pyelitis with the object of comparing the colon bacilli of urine and faeces

Hydrodynamic modeling of San Elijo Lagoon, California

Decisions on where to concentrate management efforts need to be guided by an ability to accurately simulate and predict physical and ecological changes. Many restoration projects experience difficulties due to a lack of understanding of the ecological response and evolution of wetland systems (Goodwin et al., 2001). There are several approaches that can be taken in analyzing a system. The appropriate selection should be based on the available data, the spatial scale of the wetland, and the physical processes governing the system (Goodwin and Kamman, 2001). Predictive tools are essential for good long-term management (Goodwin et al., 2001). The objective of this thesis is to determine whether San Elijo Lagoon is a morphologically stable environment and to investigate the movement of water and sediment patterns within the estuary. This will be answered through analysis of field data and numerical modeling of the hydrodynamics of the system. A field campaign was conducted to collect a suite of hydrodynamic and sediment data in the estuary. The development of a conceptual model was further applied to a numerical model. The Danish Hydraulic Institute’s (DHI) Mike21 software package was used to develop a two-dimensional flexible mesh hydrodynamic model. This is a depth-averaged finite volume commercial program. The hydrodynamic model was calibrated with the data collected in May, and then verified with observed conditions from July and August. The lagoon has a net depositional environment. The inlet of the lagoon is unstable due to the enforced unnatural location and meandering morphology of the inlet channel; the force of the tide is not large enough to keep the inlet clear. MIKE21-FlexibleMesh model simulations confirm that San Elijo Lagoon’s hydrodynamics is dominated by tidal forcing and freshwater inflow. The freshwater inflow, as well as the morphology of the lagoon causes an attenuation of the tidal signal. In the coincidence of extremely low tides and extremely high runoff in the watersheds feeding the lagoon the freshwater inflow at the man-made dike can have a significant impact, but only for a short period of time