Neolithic and Bronze Age archery equipment from alpine ice-patches: A review on components, construction techniques and functionality

The alpine ice-patch sites of Tisenjoch (I), Schnidejoch and Loetschenpass (CH) brought to light the most complete archery equipments known from the European Prehistory. Bows were simple self bows made from yew (Taxus baccata) or elm wood (Ulmus sp.) of different types, but always of man-tall size. The manufacturing process can be described from several finds of unfinished bow blanks, as in the case of the Tisenjoch. Neolithic arrows were made from shoots of hazel (Corylus avellana), guelder rose (Viburnum sp.) or other hardwoods. They were straightened by heat and generally longer and thicker as modern sporting arrows for increased weight and penetration power. Their fletching of three split feathers was practically the same as it is still used today. Bowstrings are extremely rare in European archaeological sites, only two assured samples are known to date, coming from the Tisenjoch and the Schnidejoch ice-patches. They were made from animal sinew fibres which will not be preserved in non-frozen sites. Although there almost certainly was a need for a protective cover of the bow against bad weather, there is only one example of a Neolithic bow case known to date. The cover, made from water resistant birch bark and a little longer as the bow which was carried inside, was found on Schnidejoch. It incorporates a carrying system of leather straps which enabled the user to wear it over the shoulder, keeping the hands free for other tasks. It is supposed that other bow cases which very probably existed in the neolithic, were made from animal hide or leather which would not survive in waterlogged sites. That there were protective carrying devices for archery gear is testified by the leather arrow quiver found on Tisenjoch and by numerous ethnographic and historic examples

Visuomotor adaptive improvement and aftereffects are impaired differentially following cerebellar lesions in SCA and PICA territory

The aim of the present study was to elucidate the contribution of the superior and posterior inferior cerebellum to adaptive improvement and aftereffects in a visuomotor adaptation task. Nine patients with ischemic lesions within the territory of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA), six patients with ischemic lesions within the territory of the superior cerebellar artery (SCA) and 17 age-matched controls participated. All subjects performed center-out reaching movements under 60° rotation of visual feedback. For the assessment of aftereffects, we tested retention of adaptation and de-adaptation under 0° visual rotation. From this data we also quantified five measures of motor performance. Cerebellar lesion-symptom mapping was performed using magnetic resonance imaging subtraction analysis. Adaptive improvement during 60° rotation was significantly degraded in PICA patients and even more in SCA patients. Subtraction analysis revealed that posterior (Crus I) as well as anterior cerebellar regions (lobule V) showed a common overlap related to deficits in adaptive improvement. However, for aftereffect measures as well as for motor performance variables only SCA patients, but not PICA patients showed significant differences to control subjects. Subtraction analysis showed that affection of lobules V and VI were more common in patients with impaired retention and de-adaptation, respectively. Data shows that areas both within the superior and posterior inferior cerebellum are involved in adaptive improvement. However, only the superior cerebellum including lobules V and VI appears to be important for aftereffects and therefore true adaptive ability

Granulometry, calcium carbonate content and radiocarbon ages of soil profiles obtained in Quinghai Province, northeast Tibet

Colluvial deposits consisting of silts and loams were detected in several climatologically different areas of NE Tibet (3200-3700 m a.s.l.). Layering, distinct organic content and low content of coarse matter as well as location in the relief revealed an origin from low-energy slope erosion (hillwash). Underlying and intercalated paleosols were classified as Chernozems, Phaeozems, Regosols and Fluvisols. Fifteen radiocarbon datings predominant on charcoal from both colluvial layers and paleosols yielded ages between 8988 ± 66 and 3512 ± 56 uncal BP. Natural or anthropogenic factors could have been the triggers of the erosional processes derived. It remains unclear which reason was mainly responsible, due to controversial paleoclimatic and geomorphic records as well as insufficient archaeological knowledge from this region. Determinations of charcoal and fossil wood revealed the Holocene occurrence of tree species (spruce, juniper) for areas which nowadays have no trees or only few forest islands. Thus large areas of NE Tibet which are at present steppes and alpine pastures were forested in the past