Lithic Raw Material Use at the Late Middle Pleistocene Site of Panxian Dadong

The possibility of selective use of lithic raw material in the Middle Pleistocene cave deposits of Panxian Dadong is examined in order to evaluate hominid strategies of resource management. Limestone, chert, and basalt, available in or nearby the cave, were differentially used for the production of tools and unretouched flakes. Limestone was predominantly used to produce expedient tools, unretouched flakes were most commonly made of basalt, and chert was most frequently used to produce retouched flakes and tools. Patterns in the reduction sequence for each raw material also indicate that these lithic resources were selectively used. The early stages of core reduction are clearly represented in basalt flakes, whereas chert artifacts exhibit the later stages of tool production and the greatest degree of resharpening. When the selection of raw material is examined through time, over a span of more than 100,000 years, two patterns are clear. The proportion of chert and basalt and the overall frequency of artifacts increases. These changes in the frequency and selection of raw material occur without a techno-typological change. The major shifts in raw material usage correlate with a colder climatic regime and may relate to the intensified use of the cave for animal carcass processing and shelter. KEYWORDS: Middle Pleistocene, lithics, reduction sequence, hominid

Optical dating of K-feldspar grains from Middle Pleistocene lacustrine sediment at Marathousa 1 (Greece)

Post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) measurements are reported for multiple aliquots of potassium-rich feldspar grains from sedimentary deposits at Marathousa 1 and Choremi Mine in the Megalopolis Basin in southern Greece. Ages were obtained for 9 samples from the deposits that over- and underlie as well as include the archaeological and palaeontological deposits at Marathousa 1. These sediments are sandwiched between lignite seams II and III and thought to represent sediment deposition during a single glacial period. A single age was obtained for a sample from Choremi mine. The equivalent dose estimates are based on a newly developed method presented elsewhere, and environmental dose rate determinations followed standard procedures. A specific focus of this paper is the determination of a representative estimate of time-averaged palaeo-water content of the organic and sand-rich deposits and the impact of porosity and compaction on these estimates. Ages are presented using two water content scenarios. These final ages have relatively large uncertainties, making it difficult to accurately assign deposition to a single oxygen isotope stage (OIS). Taking uncertainty into account, sediment deposition at Marathousa 1 occur sometime during OIS 12 and 11 and at Choremi mine during MIS 8. When combined with other proxy information, these results support the interpretation that the peat deposits (represented by lignite seams II and III) were deposited during warm interglacial periods, and that the intervening clastic materials were deposited during glacial periods. In this case, the ages are best interpreted as supporting deposition of sediments during MIS12. This is consistent with one of the proposed age models, but younger than the other

Nemea Valley Archaeological Project, Excavations at Barnavos: Final Report

In 2002 and 2003 the 4th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities and the Nemea Valley Archaeological Project (NVAP) excavated a robbed Late Helladic (LH) IIIA2 chamber tomb at Barnavos, west of the village of Ancient Nemea. Through application of a novel method of stratigraphic analysis and careful documentation of the scattered remains, it was ascertained that the tomb was opened as many as six times for four or five interments, including a child and probably both male and female adults. No other tomb was found in the vicinity. This is the first Mycenaean tomb discovered in the valley, and it belongs to the settlement at Tsoungiza

Phytoliths as an indicator of early modern humans' plant gathering strategies, fire fuel and site occupation intensity during the Middle Stone Age at Pinnacle Point 5-6 (south coast, South Africa)

The study of plant remains in archaeological sites, along with a better understanding of the use of plants by prehistoric populations, can help us shed light on changes in survival strategies of hunter-gatherers and consequent impacts on modern human cognition, social organization, and technology. The archaeological locality of Pinnacle Point (Mossel Bay, South Africa) includes a series of coastal caves, rock-shelters, and open-air sites with human occupations spanning the Acheulian through Middle Stone Age (MSA) and Later Stone Age (LSA). These sites have provided some of the earliest evidence for complex human behaviour and technology during the MSA. We used phytoliths¿amorphous silica particles that are deposited in cells of plants¿as a proxy for the reconstruction of past human plant foraging strategies on the south coast of South Africa during the Middle and Late Pleistocene, emphasizing the use and control of fire as well as other possible plant uses. We analysed sediment samples from the different occupation periods at the rock shelter Pinnacle Point 5-6 North (PP5-6N). We also present an overview of the taphonomic processes affecting phytolith preservation in this site that will be critical to conduct a more reliable interpretation of the original plant use in the rock shelter. Our study reports the first evidence of the intentional gathering and introduction into living areas of plants from the Restionaceae family by MSA hunter-gatherers inhabiting the south coast of South Africa. We suggest that humans inhabiting Pinnacle Point during short-term occupation events during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 built fast fires using mainly grasses with some wood from trees and/or shrubs for specific purposes, perhaps for shellfish cooking. With the onset of MIS 4 we observed a change in the plant gathering strategies towards the intentional and intensive exploitation of dry wood to improve, we hypothesise, combustion for heating silcrete. This human behaviour is associated with changes in stone tool technology, site occupation intensity and climate change

The genetic history of the Southern Arc: a bridge between West Asia and Europe

By sequencing 727 ancient individuals from the Southern Arc (Anatolia and its neighbors in Southeastern Europe and West Asia) over 10,000 years, we contextualize its Chalcolithic period and Bronze Age (about 5000 to 1000 BCE), when extensive gene flow entangled it with the Eurasian steppe. Two streams of migration transmitted Caucasus and Anatolian/Levantine ancestry northward, and the Yamnaya pastoralists, formed on the steppe, then spread southward into the Balkans and across the Caucasus into Armenia, where they left numerous patrilineal descendants. Anatolia was transformed by intra–West Asian gene flow, with negligible impact of the later Yamnaya migrations. This contrasts with all other regions where Indo-European languages were spoken, suggesting that the homeland of the Indo-Anatolian language family was in West Asia, with only secondary dispersals of non-Anatolian Indo-Europeans from the steppe

Cure modelling and monitoring of epoxy/amine resin systems

Thermoanalytical techniques and dielectric analysis were used in this study to describe and characterise the cure processes occurring during the isothermal and dynamic cures of four epoxy/amine resin systems. The complexity of the cure reactions was illustrated by results from DSC and FTIR experiments and was attributed to the variety of chemical reactions between the epoxy and the amine groups. Several phenomenological and mechanistic cure kinetics models were constructed, based on the cure reaction mechanisms, in order to simulate the degree of conversion during the cure. A one-to-one relationship was established between the degree of cure and the glass transition temperature of the curing resin, which was finther used in the construction of chemoviscosity models and in a simulation of the viscosity advancement during the cure. A number of mathematical techniques were utilised to evaluate the parameters involved in all the models, varying from simple linear regression methods to complex non-linear least squared estimation procedures. An in-situ dielectric monitoring technique was used in combination with the above mentioned chemorheological models, to investigate the feasibility of a quantitative correlation between the changes in the dielectric signal, the cure advancement and the major physical transformations, namely gelation and vitrification. The imaginary impedance response of the curing resin, as measured by the dielectric technique, showed good agreement with the degree of conversion, depicting all the crucial characteristics of the curing mechanism, such as autocatalysis and diflusion. The endset of the cure reaction was also identified from the endset of the conductivity changes and correlated to the vitrification time. The analytical chemorheological models developed in this study to describe the cure processes for some epoxy/amine resin systems, along with the dielectric monitoring technique used, suggest that a real-time link between the above mentioned models and the cure monitoring technique can be achieved. This would greatly enhance the predictive capability of the technique and form the basis of a future feedback-loop control system

A dielectric sensor for measuring flow in resin transfer moulding.

The development, analysis and experimental validation of a novel flow and cure sensor for use in the resin transfer moulding of composites are presented. A linear relationship is established between the flow front position in the mould and electrical admittance measurements gathered using the sensor setup, allowing accurate flow front location. The sensor performance as an indicator of flow front position is evaluated using visual verification. Its efficiency for monitoring of the curing stage is assessed by comparison of the measurements with data obtained from more conventional microdielectrometry. Experimental results demonstrate that the sensor can locate the flow front accurately. The measurement output is in the form of a complex number; this suggests a potential qualitative self-assessment method. The monitoring of the cure process using the new sensor shows performance similar to that of the established microdielectrometric techniques

The Transition From the Middle to the Upper Paleolithic in the Southern Balkans: The Evidence From the Lakonis I Cave, Greece

Current models of interaction between Neandertals and modem humans, and the nature and timing of the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition in western Eurasia suggest a complex, regionally-differentiated process. The lack of diagnostic fossil remains and as ociated lithic industries limit the extent to which the transition can be modeled, whether a result of overlap, acculturation or independent invention, or quite possibly a combination of all three. Fossil remains in southeastern Europe tend to be fragmentary, isolated, and poorly dated. This paper presents evidence from Greece where excavations at the recently discovered cave site ofLakonis have revealed a continuous stratigraphic sequence dated to between l20 ka and 43 ka BP. During the last glacial the site would have consisted of a series ofsmall caves overlooking a large open plain; however. with erosion and sea level rise, its roof has been lost and it is now at the water\u27s edge, The majority of deposits are dominated by Middle Paleolithic assemblages associated with a series ofoverlapping hearth structures. Above this, however, the uppernlOst unit produced a lithic assemblage with clear mixed Middle and Upper Paleolithic affinities. On this basisit has been defined as transitional with the presence of either or both modem humans and Neandertals suggested. Support for the latter was found during the 2002 field season when a well-preserved Neandertal molar was discovered in the uppernlOst unit. Both the lithics and the tooth are relevant to the current debate concerning Neandertal and modem human interaction, and suggest that in this area, the makers of this transitional assemblage were Neandertals

The Transition From the Middle to the Upper Paleolithic in the Southern Balkans: The Evidence From the Lakonis I Cave, Greece

Current models of interaction between Neandertals and modem humans, and the nature and timing of the Middle to Upper Paleolithic transition in western Eurasia suggest a complex, regionally-differentiated process. The lack of diagnostic fossil remains and as ociated lithic industries limit the extent to which the transition can be modeled, whether a result of overlap, acculturation or independent invention, or quite possibly a combination of all three. Fossil remains in southeastern Europe tend to be fragmentary, isolated, and poorly dated. This paper presents evidence from Greece where excavations at the recently discovered cave site ofLakonis have revealed a continuous stratigraphic sequence dated to between l20 ka and 43 ka BP. During the last glacial the site would have consisted of a series ofsmall caves overlooking a large open plain; however. with erosion and sea level rise, its roof has been lost and it is now at the water\u27s edge, The majority of deposits are dominated by Middle Paleolithic assemblages associated with a series ofoverlapping hearth structures. Above this, however, the uppernlOst unit produced a lithic assemblage with clear mixed Middle and Upper Paleolithic affinities. On this basisit has been defined as transitional with the presence of either or both modem humans and Neandertals suggested. Support for the latter was found during the 2002 field season when a well-preserved Neandertal molar was discovered in the uppernlOst unit. Both the lithics and the tooth are relevant to the current debate concerning Neandertal and modem human interaction, and suggest that in this area, the makers of this transitional assemblage were Neandertals

STUDU OF THE CHRYSOTILE ASBESTOS DEPOSIT OF ZIDANI, KOZANI, AND THE �OCCURENCE OF TREMOLITIC ASBESTOS OF ANO AGORIANI, OTHRYS, GREECE

Η ΕΜΦΑΝΙΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΤΡΕΜΟΛΙΤΙΚΟΥ ΑΜΙΑΝΤΟΥ ΤΗΣ ΑΝΩ ΑΓΟΡΙΑΝΗΣ ΟΘΡΥΟΣ ΑΠΑΝΤΑΤΑΙ ΜΕ ΜΟΡΦΗ ΦΛΕΒΩΝ SLIP-FIBER ΤΥΠΟΥ ΜΕΣΑ ΣΕ ΜΕΤΑΣΩΜΑΤΙΚΕΣ ΖΩΝΕΣ "ΜΕΛΑΝΟΣ ΤΟΙΧΟΥ", ΠΟΥ ΑΝΑΠΤΥΣΣΟΝΤΑΙ ΣΤΑ ΟΡΙΑ ΣΕΡΠΕΝΤΙΝΙΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΕΓΚΛΕΙΟΜΕΝΩΝ ΡΟΔΙΓΚΙΤΙΩΜΕΝΩΝ ΓΑΒΒΡΙΚΩΝ ΣΩΜΑΤΩΝ. ΟΙ ΦΛΕΒΕΣ ΤΟΥ ΤΡΕΜΟΛΙΤΙΚΟΥ ΑΜΙΑΝΤΟΥ ΑΠΟΤΕΛΟΥΣΑΝ ΤΟ ΣΥΣΤΗΜΑ ΤΩΝ ΡΩΓΜΩΝ ΜΕΣΩ ΤΟΥ ΟΠΟΙΟΥ CA, SI-ΠΛΟΥΣΙΑ ΡΕΥΣΤΑ, ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑ ΜΙΑΣ Β' ΦΑΣΗΣ ΣΕΡΠΕΝΤΙΝΙΩΣΗΣ, ΠΡΟΟΔΕΥΤΙΚΟΥ ΤΥΠΟΥ, ΚΟΡΕΣΜΕΝΑ ΣΤΑ ΣΤΟΙΧΕΙΑ ΤΟΥ ΤΡΕΜΟΛΙΤΗ, ΚΥΚΛΟΦΟΡΟΥΣΑΝ ΣΤΑ ΟΡΙΑ ΤΩΝ ΓΑΒΒΡΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΤΩΝ ΠΕΡΙΔΟΤΙΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΔΗΜΙΟΥΡΓΗΣΑΝ ΤΟ ΣΥΝΟΛΟ ΤΩΝ ΜΕΤΑΣΩΜΑΤΙΚΩΝ ΦΑΙΝΟΜΕΝΩΝ. ΟΙ ΧΡΥΣΟΤΙΛΙΚΕΣ ΙΝΕΣ ΣΤΟ ΚΟΙΤΑΣΜΑ ΑΜΙΑΝΤΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΖΙΔΑΝΙΟΥ ΚΟΖΑΝΗΣ ΑΠΑΝΤΟΥΝ ΜΕ ΜΟΡΦΗ SLIP-FIBER ΦΛΕΒΩΝ ΣΕ ΖΩΝΕΣ ΔΙΑΤΜΗΣΗΣ ΕΝΟΣ ΣΧΙΣΤΟΠΟΙΗΜΕΝΟΥ ΑΝΤΙΓΟΡΙΤΙΚΟΥ ΣΕΡΠΕΝΤΙΝΙΤΗ, ΩΣ ΠΡΟΙΟΝ ΑΝΑΔΡΟΜΗΣ ΕΞΑΛΛΟΙΩΣΗΣ ΤΟΥ ΑΝΤΙΓΟΡΙΤΗ. ΟΙ ΦΛΕΒΕΣ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΥΣΟΤΙΛΗ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΣΥΝΤΕΚΤΟΝΙΚΕΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑ ΜΕΓΑΛΗΣ ΚΛΙΜΑΚΑΣ ΔΙΑΤΜΗΣΗΣ ΣΤΟ ΕΥΘΡΑΣΤΟ ΠΕΔΙΟ ΤΩΝ ΑΝΤΙΓΟΡΙΤΙΚΩΝ ΣΕΡΠΕΝΤΙΝΙΤΩΝ. Η ΥΠΑΡΞΗ ΔΕΚΑΔΩΝ ΑΜΦΙΒΟΛΙΤΙΚΩΝ ΦΛΕΒΩΝ ΠΟΥ ΔΙΑΣΧΙΖΟΥΝ ΤΟ ΚΟΙΤΑΣΜΑ ΕΝΤΟΠΙΣΕ ΚΑΙ ΕΠΕΤΕΙΝΕ ΤΑ ΦΑΙΝΟΜΕΝΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΝΑΔΡΟΜΗΣ ΕΞΑΛΛΟΙΩΣΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΤΗΣ ΕΥΘΡΑΥΣΤΟΥ ΤΥΠΟΥ ΠΑΡΑΜΟΡΦΩΣΗΣ.A SMALL OCCURENCE OF TREMOLITE ASBESTOS, NEAR ANO AGORIANI OF OTHRYS, OCCURS AS SLIP-FIBER VEINS, IN METASOMATIC ZONES BETWEEN RODINGITIZED GABBROIC SEGGREGATIONS AND SERPENTINITES. THE TREMOLITE ASBESTOS VEINS REPRESENT THE CHANNEL SYSTEM, IN WHICH CA, SI-RICH FLUIDS OF A SECOND PHASE OF SERPENTINIZATION, SUPERSATURATED IN RESPECT TO TREMOLITE, CIRCULATED AT THE ULTRAMAFIC-GABBROS CONTACTS. THE CHRYSOTILE FIBERS OF THE ZIDANI ASBESTOS MINE (KOZANI), OCCUR AS SYNTECTONIC SLIP-FIBER VEINS ALTERING THE ANTIGORITE SERPENTINITE ALONG BRITTLE SHEAR PLANES. RETROGRESSION AND BRITTLE DEFORMATION OF THE ANTIGORITE SERPENTINITE WAS THE RESULT OF THE THRUSTING OF THE OVERLYING ROCKS. THE PARTITIONING OF DEFORMATION ALONG NUMEROUS AMPHIBOLITE DYKES THAT CROSS-CUT THE DEPOSIT ENCHANCED THE INTENSITY OF THE THRUSTING-RELATED PHENOMENA AND PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE DEPOSIT FORMATION