Satellite Remote Sensing Analysis of the Qasrawet Archaeological Site in North Sinai

North Sinai is of significant historical interest primarily because of its role since late prehistoric times as a land bridge between Egypt and the Levant. Access to this region is challenging due to its harsh geography and security concerns. Remote sensing constitutes a convenient method for archaeological prospection and monitoring over such regions with its low cost (relative to ground based sensing techniques), global coverage, and high temporal and spatial sampling. This paper describes part of a study to revisit a number of sites investigated during the North Sinai Survey (1972–1982) with very high resolution optical and Synthetic Aperture Radar satellite imagery. These were acquired throughout the summer of 2017 in the framework of a European Space Agency research project. The Synthetic Aperture Radar data includes Spotlight and Staring Spotlight modes of the TerraSAR-X mission, while the optical imagery was acquired by the Pleiades mission. The TerraSAR-X data were processed to derive filtered amplitude and consecutive coherence time series. The results of the TerraSAR-X data processing, and the pan-sharpened Pleiades data were compared with the results of the North Sinai Survey to detect possible additional buried structures in the radar data, or newly excavated sites in the optical data. While the analysis is still ongoing, results are reported here of the Qasrawet archaeological site, which was partially investigated by the North Sinai Survey expedition, but assumed to cover a much larger area. Herein, a number of newly excavated structures are apparent in the remote sensing data. The similarity of features in both the TerraSAR-X and Pleiades data suggest that all structures are surface residues, and therefore, that the subsurface mapping capabilities of the TerraSAR-X data in this area are limited. The utility of both data types for archaeological site monitoring are discussed

Symbolic metal bit and saddlebag fastenings in a Middle Bronze Age donkey burial.

Here we report the unprecedented discovery of the skeleton of a ritually interred donkey with a metal horse bit in association with its teeth and saddlebag fastenings on its back. This discovery in the Middle Bronze Age III sacred precinct (1700/1650-1550 BCE) at Tel Haror, Israel, presents a unique combination of evidence for the early employment of equid harnessing equipment, both for chariot bridling (horse bit) and pack animals (saddlebags). The ritually deposited donkey with its unique accoutrements advances our understanding of the broad social and religious significance of equids in the Levantine Bronze Age, previously known mainly from textual and iconographical sources

The "Head Snap": A Subtle Clinical Feature During the Finger–Nose–Finger Maneuver in Essential Tremor

Background:: Essential tremor is characterized by several hyperkinetic movements, including arm and head tremors.  We report another movement of the head in patients with essential tremor, which we term the "head snap." This was observed as a jerking motion of the head in some patients while they performed the finger-nose-finger maneuver. Methods:: We compared the prevalence of the head snap in essential tremor patients vs. Parkinson's disease patients. We also assessed the clinical correlates of the head snap.  Results:: Ten (20%) of 50 essential tremor patients exhibited a head snap of any severity (rating ≥0.5) vs. 0 of 50 Parkinson's disease patients (p = 0.001). Patients with head snap had more severe arm tremor on Archimedes spiral drawings (p = 0.019) and were more likely to have head tremor (p = 0.03) than those without it. Conclusions: This sign could be a useful aid in the clinical diagnosis of tremor.</p

Postural and intention tremors: Detailed clinical study of essential tremor vs. Parkinson’s disease

ABSTRACTBackground: An estimated 30-50% of essential tremor diagnoses are incorrect, and the true diagnosis in those patients is often Parkinson’s disease or other tremor disorders. There are general statements about the tremor in these essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease, but published data on the more subtle characteristics of tremor are surprisingly limited. Postural tremor may occur in both disorders, adding to the difficulty. There are several anecdotal impressions regarding specific features of postural tremor in essential tremor vs. Parkinson’s disease, including joint distribution (e.g., phalanges, metacarpal-phalangeal joints, wrist), tremor directionality (e.g., flexion-extension vs. pronation-supination), and presence of intention tremor. However, there is little data to support these impressions.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 patients (essential tremor, 50 Parkinson’s disease) underwent detailed videotaped neurological examinations. Arm tremor was rated by a movement disorder neurologist who assessed severity and directionality across multiple joints. Results: During sustained arm extension, essential tremor patients exhibited more wrist than metacarpal-phalangeal and phalangeal joint tremor than did Parkinson’s disease patients (p&lt;0.001), and more wrist flexion-extension tremor than wrist pronation-supination tremor (p&lt;0.001). During the finger-nose-finger maneuver, intention tremor was present in approximately one in four (28%) essential tremor patients vs. virtually none (4%) of the Parkinson’s patients (p&lt;0.001).Conclusions: We evaluated the location, severity, and directionality of postural tremor in essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease, and the presence of intention tremor, observing several clinical differences. We hope that detailed phenomenological data on tremor in essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease will help practicing physicians delineate the two diseases

Reconstruction of the saddlebags on a donkey (from a depiction in a tomb painting at Beni Hasan, Egypt).

<p>Reconstruction of the saddlebags on a donkey (from a depiction in a tomb painting at Beni Hasan, Egypt).</p

The donkey interment inside the circular installation.

<p>Notice the 1992 find of the donkey's skull and bit <i>in situ</i> (on the right).</p

Location map showing Tel Haror and other sites mentioned in the text.

<p>Location map showing Tel Haror and other sites mentioned in the text.</p

The bridle bit (Specimen IAA # 2009-951, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem).

<p>The bridle bit (Specimen IAA # 2009-951, The Israel Museum, Jerusalem).</p

Plan of the offering installation and donkey interment with close-up of groups of saddlebag fasteners.

<p>Plan of the offering installation and donkey interment with close-up of groups of saddlebag fasteners.</p