The Changing Features and Functions of Funeral Art Forms in Ibibio Land of Nigeria

Ibibio funeral art form has developed with the ethnic belief system of ancestral veneration. It has been marked with distinctive indigenization of spatial symbolization of forms to the creation of “nwommo” and cement tomb stone in their quest for relevance as an art form. The study was guided by following cardinal objectives; to identify and classify Ibibio funeral art forms according to their form and functions, to justify them as artworks, to mirror their changing features and functions through the influence of Christianity, to achieve the objectives of the study. Primary and secondary sources of information were used as well as photographic materials that captured the various changing features over the period under review. Iconographical analysis, aesthetic value and social function of these funeral art forms have shown that they satisfy the condition as an art form. Keywords

Prehistoric Sandals of the Southern High Plains: Indicators of Cultural Affinity and Change

Perishable artifacts, such as basketry, cordage, and sandals are rare cultural materials due to the environments in which they are preserved and their inherent non-durability. Where recovered, researchers have used them to study expressed identity and trace population movements over time and space. On this premise, previously un-described sandal assemblages from Trinchera Cave, Colorado and the Kenton Caves, Oklahoma/New Mexico were age dated, analyzed, and compared to other known sandal collections throughout North America, including Franktown Cave, Colorado. The study of the rare perishables from all three caves/rockshelters on the Southern High Plains have provided a unique opportunity for the acquisition of information regarding the technology used by and possible affiliations of prehistoric people in and immediately adjacent to this region. Specifically, the utilization of similar sandal styles at these sites at different times during the Archaic through Late Prehistoric periods suggests several population movements on the Southern High Plains

Pre History Cultures and Setting Identity Gayo Community (Knowledge for Power)

Gayo is the name of the ethnic group that occupies the plateau region of Aceh, Sumatra Island. Archaeological data showed that there was a prehistoric activity of two different human races that Australomelanesoid and Mongoloid. Both of these races acculturated at around 5000 BP. Of the remains suggests that they have a fairly advanced culture . It is known from deskrifsion on artifacts , ecofact and features that are found to then interpreted. The result of the prehistoric culture continued until before the arrival of Islam to the region. Archaeological research results are then used to amplify the desire Gayo community forming the Province of Aceh Leuser Antara Keywords: Archaeologycal data, ethnic identity, Aceh Leuser Antara Provinc

ESD Knitted Fabrics from Conductive Yarns Used as Protective Garment for Electronic Industry

Nowadays, interest in protection against electrostatic discharge (ESD), regarded as an important issue, is still growing. ESD may lead to serious economic losses and can also be hazardous to humans. In zones where substances with low values of ignition energy occur, ESD may involve a high risk of fire or explosion. Protective clothing is used to reduce the risk of electrostatic discharge (ESD) in electronics industry as well as in explosive atmospheres. In the manufacturing process of electronic products, significant percentage-related failures due to ESD phenomena that occur on the production line, especially where they are not installed systems and rigorous protection rules, are still recorded. Protective clothing with antistatic properties is designed to prevent the transfer of electrical charge from human operator to electronic device during the manufacturing process. In this chapter, a study was conducted about the electrical parameters representative for the control of electrostatic discharges as well as the surface and volume resistivity by applying the current absorption-resorption method and parameters of charge decay using the standardized induction method on several knitted conductive fabrics with carbon yarn. Current absorption-resorption method is applied for the first time in research under antistatic and dissipative fabrics

Mainland Chinese Export Beadwork

For centuries China has exported its products around the world. Chinese export porcelain, silverware, lacquerware, glassware, furnishings, textiles, and paintings have been documented in countless publications. Other categories are less well documented. Thanks to Peter Francis and other researchers, we know that China has been exporting glass beads for centuries as well. Little is known about Chinese export beadwork, a category that did not formally exist until 2007, when Hwei-Fe’n Cheah hypothesized that, in the late 19th or early 20th century, China exported beadwork to Southeast Asia’s Peranakan Chinese market. Here I expand the scope of this emerging field of research by first exploring possible historical precedents dating to the Ming (1368-1644) and early Qing (1644-1911) dynasties and then discussing seven examples of Chinese export beadwork found in Europe and North America. Most of the pieces feature glass beads. Where possible, the results of chemical compositional analysis are provided. Five of the pieces are marked “China” or “Made in China” which establish a definitive origin

Re-analysis of Conejo Shelter: A Legacy Archaeological Collection from the Amistad Reservoir Area, Texas

Although the critical importance and research potential of archaeological collections have long been recognized, care and management of these collections and research within them have not always been at the forefront of the discipline’s overall goals. While there have been several successive waves of concern regarding the proper curation (or lack thereof) of archaeological materials, response to these concerns has been limited primarily to improving curatorial facilities and the State laws and regulations that control them. Updates to the physical conditions of archaeological collections are both necessary and valuable, but they are not the only potential solution. This dissertation adds to the growing body of literature regarding current issues within the field of archaeological materials curation and proposes that (1) building research projects using existing archaeological collections is a viable path to mitigating the curation crisis and (2) encouraging this type of research is part of our ethical obligation to protect and preserve archaeological resources. Within this framework, I am examining a collection of archaeological materials from Conejo Shelter, a dry rockshelter in west Texas. Despite the remarkable preservation of perishable artifacts recovered from the site and its significance for understanding the pre-Columbian occupants of the Lower Pecos region of Texas, Conejo Shelter has never been fully reported. Through an analysis of this collection, I examine chronological change and cultural adaptation in the Amistad area, comparing existing knowledge to new information gleaned from the collection. This analysis will focus primarily on a theoretical model of cultural continuity or stasis, which has been broadly applied to the Lower Pecos. This model was developed following observations of limited changes in lithic technology and diet. Researchers of the Lower Pecos typically suggest that the observed technological and dietary stasis is due to the fact that the environment of the Lower Pecos has been fairly consistent throughout the last 6,000 years. Analysis of perishable artifacts has led to the development of another theoretical model, which suggests migration of populations and/or ideas by way of similar styles and manufacturing techniques between the Lower Pecos and Coahuila, on the Mexico side of the Rio Grande

Analysis & experimental evaluation of single point moored buoy systems

Originally issued as Reference No. 69-36, series later renamed WHOI-This report reviews the analysis and the evaluation of surface buoy systems performed in the Engineering Department of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in 1968. The buoy systems considered are single point moored, taut and compound consisting of wire and synthetic ropes, The first part of the report describes the forcing functions and the system response as measured in situ during and after launching, The second part presents the results of the mooring line components testing and evaluation programs performed at sea or in laboratories. The third part briefly outlines the present development in telemetry transmission of scientific and engineering information, It is believed that this systematic engineering effort is an important factor in the continuous improvement of the reliability and performance of the deep sea buoy systems used in scientific measurements programs.Submitted to the Office of Naval Research under Contract N00014-66-C0241, NR 083-00

Phenomenological characterization of sequential dual-curing of off-stoichiometric "thiol-epoxy" systems: Towards applicability

An extensive characterization of a sequential dual-curing system based on off-stoichiometric “thiol-epoxy” mixtures was carried out using thiol compounds of different functionality. The intermediate and final materials obtained after each curing stages at different thiol-epoxy ratios were studied by means of thermomechanical and rheological experiments. The storage and loss modulus and the loss factor tan d were monitored during the curing process to analyse gelation and network structure build-up. The critical ratio for gelation was determined making use of the ideal Flory-Stockmayer theory and compared with experimental results. Intermediate materials obtained in the vicinity of the theoretical critical ratio did not have the mechanical consistency expected for partially crosslinked materials, did not retain their shape and even experienced undesired flow upon heating to activate the second curing reaction. The rheological results showed that the critical ratio is higher than the predicted value and that a softening during the second curing stage affects the shape-retention at this ratio. From the thermomechanical results, a wide range of intermediate and final materials with different properties and applicability can be obtained by properly choosing the thiol-epoxy ratio: from liquid-like to highly deformable intermediate materials and from moderately crosslinked (deformable) to highly crosslinked (brittle) final materials.Postprint (author's final draft

Study of gold alloy productions from Late Bronze Age and Iron Age

This master’s dissertation focuses on the archaeometallurgical study and conservation of thirteen gold alloy earrings attributed to the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age from the Western Iberia. Most of the artefacts studied are from the collection "Treasures of Portuguese Archaeology" of the NationalMuseum of Archaeology (Lisboa, Portugal). Based on typological and decoration features, they were divided into two groups: eight plain gold rings, attributed to the LBA, which are bulk objects with a smooth surface, and five IA earrings with complex goldwork, like gold wires, sheets, granules and gilding. The aim of the study includes: i) the study of the alloy compositions; ii) the study of the detailed fine goldwork of the objects; iii) contribute to the understanding of technological evolutions from LBA to IA; iv) determination of heterogeneities in gold alloys at the surface level, due to corrosion, technological features or previous treatments, with an influence on their conservation. To achieve these goals complementary analytical and examination techniques were used, such as general photography, multifocus microscopy, elemental analysis by portable and micro X Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry (XRF) and microscopy and elemental analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Results showed variations on the artefacts composition, being mostly composed by an Au-Ag alloy (8-20 wt.% Ag), with small amounts of Cu. The only exception are two IA earrings, with absence of Cu, unusual for alloys from this period. It also allowed to carry out compositional characterizations at different depths, concluding that heterogeneities exist within surface areas but can be more significant at different depths. Overall, a superficial loss in Ag was found, possibly due to corrosion phenomena, being that any conservation and restoration treatment could interfere with the final surface composition. It was found that the goldwork performed in some earrings is very fine, showing that ancient goldsmiths were able to produce wires and granules with less than 1 mm in diameter, as well as gilding. The results obtained are significant for the study of ancient technologies as well as for future conservation approaches to Proto-historic goldworks.A presente dissertação de mestrado foca-se no estudo arqueometalúrgico e conservação de treze brincos em ligas de ouro, atribuídos à Idade do Bronze Final e Idade do Ferro, provenientes da Península Ibérica Ocidental. A maioria dos artefactos é da coleção "Tesouros da Arqueologia Portuguesa", do Museu Nacional de Arqueologia (Lisboa, Portugal). Com base na sua tipologia e elementos decorativos, foram divididos em dois grupos: oito anéis de ouro lisos, atribuídos à IBF, objetos maciços de superfície lisa, e cinco brincos da IF com trabalho fino em ouro, como fios, chapas, grânulos e douramento. O estudo tem como objetivos: i) estudar a composição das ligas e ii) o trabalho fino realizado em ouro nos objetos; iii) contribuir para o estudo da evolução tecnológica entre a IBF e IF; iv) determinar heterogeneidades nas ligas ao nível da superfície, devido a corrosão, características técnicas ou intervenções anteriores, com influência na sua conservação. Para tal, recorreu-se a técnicas analíticas e de examinação complementares, como fotografia geral, microscopia ótica, análise elementar por Espectroscopia de Fluorescência de Raios X (XRF) portátil e micro, e análise microscópica e elementar por Microscopia Eletrónica de Varrimento com Espectroscopia de Energia Dispersiva (SEM-EDS). Os resultados mostraram variações composicionais nos vários objetos, maioritariamente compostos por Au-Ag (8-20 wt.% Ag), com baixos teores de Cu. A única exceção foram dois brincos da IF, com ausência de Cu, pouco comum para ligas deste período. Também permitiu a realização de caracterizações composicionais em diferentes profundidades, concluindo-se que existem heterogeneidades ao nível da superfície, embora sejam mais notórias em maiores profundidades. No geral, uma perda superficial de Ag foi observada, possivelmente devido a fenómenos de corrosão, em que intervenções de conservação e restauro podem influenciar a composição final da superfície dos objetos. O trabalho de ourivesaria realizado nos brincos revelou-se muito detalhado, mostrando que na antiguidade os ourives conseguiam produzir fios e grânulos com diâmetro inferior a 1 mm, assim como douramento. Os resultados foram significativos para o estudo de tecnologias da antiguidade, assim como para abordagens de conservação em ourivesaria Proto-histórica