New Egyptian tomb type found at Abusir South? Report on the excavations of mud brick complex AS 103

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New Egyptian tomb type found at Abusir South? Report on the excavations of mud brick complex AS 103

In the autumn season of 2017, four mud brick structures designated as AS 103 were excavated in the area of the south-eastern part of the New Kingdom temple (AS 70–73). It is a complex of four corridor chapels/tombs (in an area of 15.0 × 12.7 m), with single or composed niches in the western inner walls. One of the niches in Corridor Chapel 1 was cased with red-painted wooden planks. Shafts were detected in front of the niches, a fairly uncommon phenomenon in Egyptian tomb architecture. The term “hollow tomb with a shaft below a niche” is being proposed for this new tomb (sub)type. A preliminary study of the pottery leads to the conclusion that the tombs were built from the east to the west, with Corridor Chapels 4, 3 and 2 built successively in the Third Dynasty and Corridor Chapel 1 in the Fifth Dynasty. Even though they were funeral structures, not many burials were excavated: the remains of a single human body have been found. The structures did not contain many finds, either. However, four white limestone offering basins were uncovered in situ. One of them was inscribed with the female name Nfr.t-jw=s. It is evident that the excavations have brought to light new insights into burial practices of non-elite people of the Old Kingdom period. In the context of Abusir South, AS 103 represents the first thoroughly excavated complex of such a type of tombs. Based on preliminary probing, similar structures are very likely located nearby, continuing in all directions

In the shadow of Kaaper. Preliminary report on the anonymous Fifth Dynasty tomb AS 881

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The role of actin isoforms in somatic embryogenesis in Norway spruce

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Somatic embryogenesis in spruce is a process of high importance for biotechnology, yet it comprises of orchestrated series of events whose cellular and molecular details are not well understood. In this study, we examined the role of actin cytoskeleton during somatic embryogenesis in Norway spruce line AFO 541 by means of anti-actin drugs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Application of low doses (50-100 nM) of latrunculin B (Lat B) during the maturation of somatic embryos predominantly killed suspensor cells while leaving the cells in meristematic centres alive, indicating differential sensitivity of actin in the two cell types. The treatment resulted in faster development of more advanced embryos into mature somatic embryos and elimination of insufficiently developed ones. In searching for the cause of the differential actin sensitivity of the two cell types, we analysed the composition of actin isoforms in the culture and isolated four spruce actin genes. Analysis of their expression during embryo maturation revealed that one actin isoform was expressed constitutively in both cell types, whereas three actin isoforms were expressed predominantly in suspensor cells and their expression declined during the maturation. The expression decline was greatly enhanced by Lat B treatment. Sequence analysis revealed amino-acid substitutions in the Lat B-binding site in one of the suspensor-specific actin isoforms, which may result in a different binding affinity for Lat B.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We show that manipulating actin in specific cell types in somatic embryos using Lat B treatment accelerated and even synchronized the development of somatic embryos and may be of practical use in biotechnology.</p

Archaeology of Holocene hunter-gatherers at the sixth Nile cataract, central Sudan

Jebel Sabaloka at the Sixth Nile Cataract has been known for its strategic importance in late prehistoric stone tool production in central Sudan. Since 2009, archaeological exploration on the west bank of the Nile has revealed a hierarchized settlement structure, with 30 sites of early to mid-Holocene dating. The key findings derive from two principal sites – Sphinx and Fox Hill – that are situated on large granite outcrops and provide evidence of robust occupation by hunter-gatherers of the Early Khartoum Complex (Khartoum Mesolithic, ca. 8,500–5,000 BC). One of the most intriguing elements at these Early Khartoum settlements is the presence of large hunter gatherer burial grounds, which will enrich the discussions of the character, duration and structuring of these Mesolithic societies at both regional and supra-regional level

Tomb of Kairsu discovered in Abusir (AC 33)

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A new tomb of transitional type from Abusir South: mastaba of Nyankhseshat (AS 104)

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One tomb in two dynasties. Preliminary report on the excavation of mastaba AS 104 at Abusir South

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Enthesopathies and physical activity in the Great Moravian population (9th-10th century) with regard to social status and living conditions.

7 ABSTRACT The occurrence of enthesopathies is associated with muscle insertion sites and physical activities. The aim of this work is focused on two basic target areas. In the methodical section, I tested two methods of enthesopathy evaluation (Crubézy, 1988; Villotte, 2006) and I monitored the influence of age and physical stress on the incidence of enthesopathies in a documented skeletal collection from Greece. The main aim was then the evaluation of enthesopathies in the Great Moravian population from the settlement agglomeration Mikulčice-Valy (9th -10th century) using the selected method and the subsequent interpretation of the results attained, taking into consideration the archaeological facts relating to the given locality. Based on the observed degrees of concordance between the repeated evaluations, I used Villotte's method (2006) for final evaluation. I proved the correlation between the prevalence of enthesopathies and age in individuals from a recently documented skeletal collection. I was unable to demonstrate the influence of physical activity on the incidence of enthesopathies. This is apparently due to the small number of individuals with manual and non-manual occupations. In individuals from the Mikulčice settlement agglomeration, I recorded a demonstrable difference between individual..