Excavations at Motza in the Judean Hills and the Early Pre-Pottery Neolithic B in the Southern Levant

International audienceRecent excavations at Motza near Jerusalem revealed a large Neolithic site that was continuously inhabited from the EarlyPPNB until the Pottery Neolithic period. The well-dated Early PPNB occupation comprises various architectural remains, human burials, clay and stone figurines, and rich flint and obsidian assemblages. Layer VI is approximately 2 m thick and consists of three discrete occupational levels with distinct architectural remains. These include curvilinear and rectangular structures with lime plastered floors, courtyards, hearths, and long massive walls of up to 1 m width. This layer is dated by sixteen radiocarbon dates, all falling within the range of 8600-8200 cal. BC. The EPPNB flint assemblage at Motza demonstrates a combination of the continuation of the earlier PPNA traditions together with the introduction of new technological innovations. The formal tools are dominated by Helwan and Jericho points, with many of the former being made on bidirectional blades in the north Levantine mode. Sickle blades are also mainly fashioned on bidirectional blanks. Mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella), the dominant species of the EPPNB faunal remains, indicates that hunting was still important. Gazelle bones were preferred for manufacturing bone tools, continuing PPNA Sultanian practices. Most of the human remains were primary burials, with no preference in the orientation of the bodies, although they were tightly flexed. Graves illustrate various funerary practices although primary inhumations on tightly flexed position are more common. All three primary graves of adults show evidence of later skull removal. Corpse treatment seems nonetheless quite particular at Motza as most of the graves were associated in different ways with remains of plaster, more frequently, as patches mixed in the fi lling of the grave. The archaeological evidence from Motza revises the hypothesis held by some that the PPNB in this region only started in the MPPNB. In addition, the advanced naviform technology and Helwan points present at Motza appear to be chronological markers of this period and together with radiocarbon dates confi rm the existence of this stage of the PPNB in the southern Levant.Les fouilles effectuées récemment à Motza, près de Jérusalem, ont révélé la présence d’un important site néolithique occupé de manière continue du PPNB ancien au Néolithique céramique. Bien datée, l’occupation du PPNB ancien a livré de nombreux vestiges architecturaux, des sépultures, des fi gurines d’argile et de pierre, ainsi qu’une abondante industrie sur silex et obsidienne. Le niveau 6, épais de près de deux mètres, comporte trois couches d’occupation successives, présentant des restes architecturaux distincts. Ceux-ci incluent des structures curvilinéaires et rectangulaires avec des sols de chaux, des cours, des foyers et des murs massifs de plus d’un mètre d’épaisseur. Cette couche est datée par seize datations radiocarbone toutes comprises entre 8600 et 8200 av. J.-C. (cal.). L’industrie lithique de Motza présente une combinaison de traditions plus anciennes du PPNA associées à des innovations technologiques. Les pointes d’Helwan et de Jéricho dominent l’outillage et beaucoup sont façonnées sur des lames bidirectionnelles comme au Levant Nord. La plupart des lames de faucilles sont elles aussi façonnées sur des produits bipolaires. La gazelle (Gazella gazella) qui dominel’assemblage faunique du PPNB ancien indique que la chasse reste importante à cette période. La gazelle sert préférentiellement de support pour l’industrie osseuse, un choix hérité du Sultanien. Les pratiques funéraires sont variées, mais les inhumations sont majoritairement primaires et la position sur le côté en fl exion forcée domine. Dans les trois inhumations primaires d’adultes, les crânes ont été prélevés après décomposition. Le traitement des corps observé à Motza se singularise par la présence de plâtre associé aux sépultures de diverses manières, particulièrement des morceaux mêlés au remplissage. Les découvertes faites à Motza invitent à revoir l’hypothèse selon laquelle, dans cette région, le PPNB n’aurait débuté qu’avec sa phase moyenne (MPPNB). De plus, la technologie naviforme évoluée et les pointes d’Helwan présentes à Motza, apparaissent comme des marqueurs chronologiques de cette période ; associées aux datations C14, elles confi rment l’existence de cette phase ancienne du PPNB au Levant Sud

Scale, Organization, and Profitability of Ethanol Processing

"We analyze the appropriate size and implied profitability of a representative ethanol processing firm. An analysis based on current processing technology and costs with typical conditions in Iowa product and input markets is useful; because unit production costs have declined 30% in current dollars over the last 15 years; and because discovering a suitable size for processing facilities has been an important part of the cost-reducing process. We apply theoretical plant size rules for a conventional processing business, an integrated producer/processor enterprise, and a processing cooperative. We also introduce a spatial dimension for the corn input market, because ethanol processing facilities can be uniquely large among agri-processing enterprises. The analysis supports three conclusions. First, the most appropriate size may still be larger than many of the recently constructed plants. Second, ethanol processing is a profitable enterprise; for instance, we calculate a return on capital of 14% for a processing business with optimal scale, current costs and technology, and typical market conditions. Third, total producer plus processor profits can be improved moderately, about $0.04/bushel of corn processed, with an integrated producer/processor enterprise; the producer enterprise sets the local corn price through processing capacity, in a fashion that offsets some potential monopsony power." Copyright 2007 Canadian Agricultural Economics Society.

Geography, endogenous growth, and innovation

If one is to understand why some regions grow and others stagnate, there are three fundamental questions that need to be answered. First, Why and when does economic activity become concentrated in a few regions, leaving others relatively underdeveloped? Second, What role does technological change play in regional economic growth? Third, How does technological advance occur, and what are the key processes and institutions involved? To answer these three questions, the authors surveyed three separate and distinct literatures that have a long and distinguished history, and all three have been recently reexamined. They include the new economic geography (Krugman), the new growth theory (Romer), and the new economics of innovation (Nelson)