Is it possible to understand information transmission and residence patterns from the archaeological record? Some examples from Patagonia

The archaeological record is the product of successive human occupations, which can also involve different human groups. These groups take decisions which involve their own background and choices, which are related to the knowledge and distribution of resources, as well as to the existence of neighbors and symbolic aspects. Technological and raw material Information is transmitted through different ways along the life of different individuals. Variations in the way information is transmitted have been found out between people living close to each other. The question this paper deals with the possibility of their recognition. Can we, as archaeologists, be able to rec-ognize them, specially taking into account the cumulative nature of the archaeological record and the equifinality problems which are so frequent? The archaeological record is the product of successive human occupations, which can also involve different hu-man groups. Here we will focus on one case from the South of the Upper Santa Cruz river basin, South Patagonia, dated to the Late Holocene, which will be compared with other ex-amples from more to the south and north. We focus on technological, raw material and use-life variations in the more frequent tool types -endscrapers, side scrapers and knifes- and cores, as well as blanks which provide technological information. The pattern found out can be related to differences in information transmission between different tool types, but addition information is needed. To the north, the existence of higher variation in raw material availability as well as a more incomplete knowledge of the regional archaeological record do not allow, by the moment, to discuss these aspects.We believe that a good knowledge of the regional archaeological record and an under-standing of the regional lithic structure are essential to begin to discuss if the patterns we find out can be related to specific transmission and residence patterns, as well as to begin to understand if some choices can be related to symbolic aspects. The pos-sibility of the recognition of these patterns will also be related to the variability within the regional lithic structure.Fil: Franco, Nora Viviana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Historia y Ciencias Humanas; ArgentinaRock and Roll: 13th International Symposium on Knappable MaterialsTarragonaEspañaInstitut Catalá de Paleoecología HumanaCentres de Recerca de CatalunyaExcelencia María de MaetzuAgencia Estatal de InvestigaciónUniversitat RomiraMadrid Institute for Advance Stud

La edad de los hombres: ¿una era cristiana?

A la luz de un análisis de las costumbres practicadas por la sociedad griega heroica, en la presente contribución se intenta esclarecer por qué la visión cristiana del mundo puede ser considerada paso fundamental hacia eso que Vico llama “Edad de los Hombres”This paper tries to explain –in the light of an analysis of customs practiced in the heroic Greek society– why the Christian conception of the world can be considered as a fundamental step towards what Vico calls the “Age of Men

Interfering trajectories in experimental quantum-enhanced stochastic simulation

Simulations of stochastic processes play an important role in the quantitative sciences, enabling the characterisation of complex systems. Recent work has established a quantum advantage in stochastic simulation, leading to quantum devices that execute a simulation using less memory than possible by classical means. To realise this advantage it is essential that the memory register remains coherent, and coherently interacts with the processor, allowing the simulator to operate over many time steps. Here we report a multi-time-step experimental simulation of a stochastic process using less memory than the classical limit. A key feature of the photonic quantum information processor is that it creates a quantum superposition of all possible future trajectories that the system can evolve into. This superposition allows us to introduce, and demonstrate, the idea of comparing statistical futures of two classical processes via quantum interference. We demonstrate interference of two 16-dimensional quantum states, representing statistical futures of our process, with a visibility of 0.96 $\pm$ 0.02.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Raw materials and their utilization in the Chico and Santa Cruz river basins (Santa Cruz province, Argentine Patagonia)

En este trabajo se sintetizan y actualizan los resultados de los relevamientos de materias primas líticas realizados en el extremo sur del Macizo del Deseado, el curso medio del río Chico y en diferentes sectores de la cuenca del río Santa Cruz. Se presentan las variables registradas, así como las razones de las modificaciones introducidas en la metodología de su relevamiento a través del tiempo. Los resultados se integraron en una base de datos que posee un correlato de muestras de mano, identificadas en casos seleccionados mediante cortes delgados. Se hicieron análisis geoquímicos sobre algunas muestras. La información obtenida da cuenta no sólo de las características macroscópicas de las materias primas, sino también de su forma de presentación, dispersión en el espacio y visibilidad. Estos datos se utilizan para evaluar los cambios en el registro arqueológico y sus implicaciones en relación con el comportamiento humano.The purpose of this paper is to present a summary of the results obtained in raw material samplings which took place in different localities within the southern end of the Deseado Massif, the middle Chico river basin and the upper and lower Santa Cruz river basin. Variables considered as well as modifications introduced in the methodology through time are described. Results obtained were introduced into a data base, which has a correlative set of hand samples that, in selected cases, were identified through thin sections. In some cases, geochemical analyzes were carried on. Data acquired inform us about the macroscopical characteristics of raw materials, their availability, spatial dispersion and visibility. This information is used to analyze changes in the archeological record and their implications for human behavior.Fil: Franco, Nora Viviana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Historia y Ciencias Humanas; ArgentinaFil: Ambrustolo, Pablo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Arqueología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Vetrisano, Pablo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofia y Letras. Departamento de Ciencias Antropologicas; Argentin

Successful rehabilitation approach for sustainable regain in cocoa production systems in South-East Asia

In Malaysia an intensively managed high input full sun cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) plantation can reach high yields of 1.5 to 2 t dry beans per ha. Following a high production period of 10 years the yields often decrease markedly. Focusing on leading depleted cacao plantations sustainably back to full production a research project was initiated in June 2011 using a diversification approach with agroforestry systems. The experimental site is located on a large commercial farm in the humid tropical lowlands of peninsular Malaysia, in the region of Kuala Lipis. In a field trial with a strip-split-plot design, three different production systems are compared under two tree age conditions: newly planted and old rehabilitated cacao trees, after the removal of the original canopy back to the leader structure. The examined production systems are: i) high external inputs in a mono crop full sun system representing the common practice of large cacao plantations in South-East Asia (COM); ii) medium level of external inputs in an agroforestry system of low diversity focusing on leguminous and timber trees (AF LD); iii) low external inputs in an agroforestry system of high diversity and high density shade trees including annual crops and fruit trees (AF HD). The existing twenty-two-year-old plantation with the original canopy and a high input level serves as control treatment (REF). When cocoa yields decline after the initial high production period trees are often replanted. This results in a non-productive phase lasting several years before the young trees start to develop pods and even longer before yields reach a remunerative level. Rehabilitating old low producing trees on the other hand, as practiced in the present experiment, is expected to re-establish higher yields more quickly than re-planting. The first full harvest in the trial started in September 2012, 15 months after the rehabilitation pruning. Between October 2012 and June 2013 (main harvest) an average of 471.2 kg dry beans per ha were harvested in the control treatment. The yields of the common practice treatments already amounted to 41.6 % of the control. This is a very promising result, especially in view of the development of young trees which will take at least another year before the first pod development. Yields in the agroforestry systems increased less quickly as tree development under shade and with lower fertilizer input is inherently slower

Rehabilitation Approach for quick and sustainable regain in cocoa production in declining full sun plantations

In Malaysia an intensively managed high input full sun cocoa plantation can reach high yields of 1.5 to 2 t dry beans per ha. Following a high production period of 10 years the yields often decrease markedly. Focusing on leading depleted cacao plantations sustainably back to full production a research project was initiated in June 2011 using a diversification approach with agroforestry systems. The experimental site is located on a large commercial farm in the humid tropical lowlands of peninsular Malaysia, in the region of Kuala Lipis. In a field trial with a strip-split-plot design, three different production systems, mainly characterised by diversification levels (mono culture to high diversity agroforestry) and accordingly different external input levels (high to low), are compared under two tree age conditions: newly planted and old rehabilitated cocoa trees, after the removal of the original canopy back to the leader structure. The existing twenty-two-year-old plantation with the original canopy and a high input level serves as control treatment. When cacao yields decline after the initial high production period trees are often replanted. This results in a non-productive phase lasting several years before the young trees start to develop pods and even longer before yields reach a remunerative level. Rehabilitating old low producing trees on the other hand, as practised in the present experiment, is expected to re-establish higher yields more quickly than re-planting. The first full harvest in the trial started in September 2012, 15 months after the rehabilitation pruning. Between September 2012 and March 2013 (main harvest) an average of 462 kg dry beans per ha were harvested in the control treatment. The yields of the common practice treatment already amounted to 24.9 % of the control. This is a very promising result, especially in view of the development of young trees which will take at least another year before the first pod development. Yields in the agroforestry systems increased less quickly as tree development under shade and with lower fertiliser input is inherently slower

Human Dispersal in the Atlantic Slope of Patagonia and the Role of Lithic Availability

The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of different resources in the human ranking of habitats during the peopling of the Atlantic slope of Central-South Patagonia, as well as the technological strategies used during early human dispersal. We studied the distribution of early sites in the Deseado Massif, where there is a relatively high concentration of evidence of earlyhuman activity. We analyzed published information related to site chronology and distribution, presence/absence of hearths, raw-material provenance, the presence of bifacial artifacts and reduction activities, the location of corridors, and least-cost paths among sites. Results show that water would have been the most important resource in selecting locations. The availability of high-quality rocks would have been an asset, which also helped to generate a highly visiblearchaeological record in which bifaces were important. These resources were probably exploited using a multidirectional half-radius pattern of movements, basically restricted to the eastern margin of Massif.Fil: Franco, Nora Viviana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Historia y Ciencias Humanas; ArgentinaFil: Borrero, Luis Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Historia y Ciencias Humanas; ArgentinaFil: Lucero, Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; Argentin

Borrero’s model of Patagonia peopling: Examples of its application to lithic analysis in the atlantic slope of south- central Patagonia

En este trabajo sintetizo la forma en que apliqué el Modelo de Poblamiento de Patagonia de Borrero a la comprensión de las estrategias humanas de utilización de materias primas líticas en las márgenes norte y sur de la cuenca del Río Santa Cruz y en el extremo sur del Macizo del Deseado y espacios adyacentes. Por otra parte, presento las principales preguntas surgidas a partir de estos análisis, que son actualmente el foco de la investigación, la forma en que las estoy investigando y los principales resultados obtenidos. Estos trabajos se realizaron dentro de un marco teórico ecológico-evolutivo y en ellos generé, a partir del modelo de poblamiento de Patagonia de Borrero, expectativas derivadas del marco teórico de la organización tecnológica e información etnoarqueológica. Los resultados obtenidos se han puesto en relación con la información paleoambiental disponible, así como con otras líneas de evidencia y han servido para postular la posibilidad de la existencia de reemplazos de grupos humanos.In this paper I summarize how I applied Borrero's Model of Patagonia Peopling to the understanding of human strategies of raw material utilization at the north and south of the Santa Cruz River Basin, as well as the Southern End of the Deseado Massif and areas nearby. Furthermore, I present the main research questions which arose from these analyses, as well as the way I have addressed them, and the main results obtained. This research was carried out within an ecological and evolutionary framework. Archaeological expectations were generated from Borrero's model of Patagonia peopling based on the theoretical framework of technological organization and ethnoarchaeological information. Results obtained are related to paleoenvironmental information as well as with other lines of evidence and have been used to suggest the existence of human-group replacements.Fil: Franco, Nora Viviana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Historia y Ciencias Humanas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Filosofía y Letras. Departamento de Ciencias Antropológicas; Argentin

El Registro Arqueológico Lítico y la Utilidad de las Escalas Espaciales de Análisis Amplias

El objetivo de este trabajo es sintetizar la utilidad que, en mi opinión, tiene el uso de escalas amplias en arqueología, integrando tanto información de superficie como estratigráfica, con especial énfasis en el análisis tecnológico y de materias primas utilizadas. Los ejemplos presentados corresponden a la cuenca superior del río Santa Cruz y al Macizo del Deseado y sus inmediaciones (Patagonia argentina). Los resultados obtenidos contribuyen a entender la forma de utilización de distintos espacios, así como a detectar la existencia de cambios, cuyos motivos incluyen en un caso, la existencia de un reemplazo de poblaciones.The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the utility that, in my opinion, the use of wide analysis scales has in archaeology, integrating surface and stratigraphical information, with emphasis in technological and raw material information. Examples provided correspond to the upper Santa Cruz basin and the Deseado Massif and its vicinity (Argentine Patagonia). Results obtained allowed to understand how different spaces were used, as well as to detect the existence of changes, which, in one case, can be related to population replacementFil: Franco, Nora Viviana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Saavedra 15. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Historia y Ciencias Humanas; Argentin