Locational preferences and spatial arrangement in the barrow landscape of Serra do Barbanza (North-western Iberia)

As anywhere else around the world, GIS is an essential tool in Galician Archaeology (NW Spain) when examining and analysing spatial data. This is also true for the study of mounds in that area, since spatial analysis and statistics have become increasingly used for contrasting hypotheses regarding the locational preferences of these monuments, usually inferred from observations made during fieldwork or taken from studies conducted elsewhere. Drawing on this basis, in this paper, we have analysed the locational patterns of the tumuli of the upper tracts of the Serra do Barbanza (Galicia, NW Spain). Using a site-predictive modelling approach, several environmental covariates were analysed in order to explore their potential role in explaining the distribution of prehistoric mounds in the area. Subsequently, we studied the clustering of these monuments via second-order modelling. Our results suggest that tumuli in the Serra do Barbanza tended to cluster on a very local scale, a trend that can only be explained by intended site spacing strategies that may have taken place over millennia. Finally, by using significance testing via Monte Carlo Simulation, we have modelled both the effect of possible preferences regarding the location of mounds and the potential impact of tradition, with pre-existent megaliths possibly fostering the construction of more monuments in the nearby areas

Geomorphological and pedo-sedimentary characterization of an archeological site of mountain range O Barbanza (A Coruña)

La Sierra de O Barbanza se sitúa entre la Ría de Arousa al sur y la de Muros-Noia al norte, en la costa Atlántica gallega. El curso alto del río Barbanza discurre por una superficie de poca pendiente, en un valle abierto a favor de fracturas de dirección NW-SE. El curso del río tiene un trazado sinuoso controlado por el patrón de fracturación, en el que se observan acumulaciones sedimentarias desarrolladas en los tramos caracterizados por cambios en la dirección del cauce. A lo largo del curso se han localizado yacimientos arqueológicos que cubren un amplio rango cronológico. Los túmulos y los petroglifos se sitúan preferentemente en partes altas y las estructuras de “chozas o cabañas” se emplazan en los sectores de acumulación aluvial, al pie de las laderas y relativamente alejadas del curso actual del río. La secuencia edafosedimentaria estudiada, situada en la superficie aluvial de mayor dimensión del tramo fluvial, está en un contexto arqueológico. Los resultados sugieren que el yacimiento se ha emplazado sobre una pequeña llanura aluvial, formada por sedimento arenoso con alto contenido en limos y arcillas, sobre la que se acumularon materiales procedentes de las laderas graníticas, ricos en gravas y macrocarbones. Los resultados permiten identificar una superficie aluvial, sobre la que se levantan estructuras arqueológicas, que son fosilizadas por material coluvial. Se han realizado dos dataciones radiocarbónicas en fragmentos de carbón. La más antigua, a 82 cm de profundidad, ubicada en la transición entre los niveles edafo-sedimentarios identificados como facies aluvial y la coluvial, es un fragmento de carbón de Quercus caducifolio, proporcionó una fecha cal BP de 8595-8455 (cal BC 6645-6505). La segunda, a 40 cm de profundidad, sobre un fragmento de carbón de Erica sp., aportó la edad cal BP de 1235-1205 (cal AD 715-745).The O Barbanza mountain range is located between the Ria de Arousa to the south and the Ria de Muros-Noia to the north, on the Atlantic coast of Galicia. The upper reaches of the Barbanza river flow through a gently sloping area with an open valley following fractures in a NW-SE direction. The course of the river follows a winding path directed by the pattern of fracturing, in which sediment has accumulated in sections characterized by changes in the direction of the channel. Along the course of the river, archaeological sites have been located spanning a wide chronological range. Mounds and petroglyphs are preferably located in high places and structures of “huts” are located in areas with alluvial accumulation at the foot of the slopes, slightly away from the current course of the river. The pedo-sedimentary sequence studied, located in the largest alluvial plain of the stretch of river, is set in an archaeological context. The results suggest that the site is located on an alluvial plain formed by sandy sediments with a high content of silt and clay. Material originating from the granite slopes, and rich in gravels and macrocharcoals, fossilized on this alluvial plain. The results allow us to identify an alluvial surface on which archaeological structures were built, which have been fossilized by colluvial material. Radiocarbon dating was carried out on two charcoal fragments. The oldest, located at a depth of 82 cm, in the transition between the pedosedimentary levels identified as alluvial and colluvial facies, consists of a fragment of deciduous Quercus charcoal, with a date of 8595-8455 cal BP (6645-6505 cal BC). The second, at a depth of 40 cm, on a piece of Erica sp. charcoal, was dated at 1235 to 1205 cal BP (cal AD 715-745

Notes for genera – Ascomycota

Knowledge of the relationships and thus the classification of fungi, has developed rapidly with increasingly widespread use of molecular techniques, over the past 10--15 years, and continues to accelerate. Several genera have been found to be polyphyletic, and their generic concepts have subsequently been emended. New names have thus been introduced for species which are phylogenetically distinct from the type species of particular genera. The ending of the separate naming of morphs of the same species in 2011, has also caused changes in fungal generic names. In order to facilitate access to all important changes, it was desirable to compile these in a single document. The present article provides a list of generic names of Ascomycota (approximately 6500 accepted names published to the end of 2016), including those which are lichen-forming. Notes and summaries of the changes since the last edition of `Ainsworth Bisby's Dictionary of the Fungi' in 2008 are provided. The notes include the number of accepted species, classification, type species (with location of the type material), culture availability, life-styles, distribution, and selected publications that have appeared since 2008. This work is intended to provide the foundation for updating the ascomycete component of the ``Without prejudice list of generic names of Fungi'' published in 2013, which will be developed into a list of protected generic names. This will be subjected to the XIXth International Botanical Congress in Shenzhen in July 2017 agreeing to a modification in the rules relating to protected lists, and scrutiny by procedures determined by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (NCF). The previously invalidly published generic names Barriopsis, Collophora (as Collophorina), Cryomyces, Dematiopleospora, Heterospora (as Heterosporicola), Lithophila, Palmomyces (as Palmaria) and Saxomyces are validated, as are two previously invalid family names, Bartaliniaceae and Wiesneriomycetaceae. Four species of Lalaria, which were invalidly published are transferred to Taphrina and validated as new combinations. Catenomycopsis Tibell Constant. is reduced under Chaenothecopsis Vain., while Dichomera Cooke is reduced under Botryosphaeria Ces. De Not. (Art. 59)