Pollen and Phytolith Analyses of Ancient Paddy Fields at Chuodun Site, the Yangtze River Delta

A number of paddy fields pertaining to the Majiabang Cultures (5500-3800 years BC) were discovered during the archaeological excavations that were carried out since 1998 at the Chuodun site in the Yangtze River Delta. The pollen and phytolith analyses of two soil profiles from the northeastern part of this site were carried out to trace the agricultural practices of the Neolithic period. The phytolith results showed that rice domestication in the Yangtze River Delta could be traced back to as early as the Majiabang Culture. The pollen assemblage also revealed low levels of aquatic species, similar to that in modern paddy fields. This finding suggested that humans might have removed weeds for rice cultivation during the Neolithic period. Thus, pollen analysis in association with phytolith analysis was a promising method for identifying ancient paddy fields.

PIXE AND IXX ANALYSIS OF MUSEUM PAPERLIKE OBJECTS

The study of paper damage under bombardments of protons and X--rays is reported. An on--demand beam pulsing system is useful for the PIXE analysis of delicate objectS. IXX (or PIXE--induced XRF) is more suitable than PIXE in terms of damage to the sample. Some new PIXE and IXX applications of archaeological paper--like samples in recent years are given.

Paleoclimate Study of Mountain Ecosystems by Multiple Group Biological Analysis

Methodological problems of climatic reconstruction for different periods of Holocene are discussed on the basis of a multiple group biological analysis on peat-sapropel sediments. The possibility of biological analysis is exemplified by the paleoclimatic reconstruction for Carpathian and Altai Mountain ranges. For the ＂Skolevsky Beskidy＂ national park of Carpaty the paleoclimatic scenarios have been drown up aiming at the more precise definition of climatic conditions for the period of mass mountain slope terracing. The stability of terrace systems of various designs in the current climatic conditions has been assessed. It is shown that during periods of humid climate the terraces, whose designs have been focused on drainage, were built. In periods of dry and warm climate the terrace systems capable of accumulating water were built. Both these types of terrace systems are destroyed in nowadays. Only those terrace systems are stable which were adjusted by their builders to contrast variations of precipitation. For Western Altais the paleoclimatic scenario has been done to forecast the safety of the Bronze Age kurgans （burial earth mounds） with permafrost inside the construction. In the Altay region during the Holocene it has revealed two periods of sharp cooling, the peaks of which occurred in the intervals 4500- 4300 and 2500-2300 years pronounced climatic drying ago, and two periods of 4900-4700 and 130-70 years ago. Depletion of the algae composition in the layer corresponding to the last period of drying climate indicates a very sharp change in the parameters of moisture and turning the lake into a dry swamp. Periods of cold weather may have contributed to the formation of special ritual traditions of the Sakan tribes that require the frozen ground to bury the dead. The later climate fluctuations identified have not affected the safety of permafrost in burial mounds constructed in the V-III cc BC.

Strontium isotope analysis of archaeological fauna at the Erlitou site

The Erlitou site is located at Yanshi City,Henan Province.This site is a large settlement site of Erlitou culture,and it is dated to 3800-3500 a BP.Five kinds of domestic animals,i.e.,dogs,pigs,sheep,goats,and cattle were found from the site.In this paper,two problems have emerged in studies involving the estimation of local isotope levels and the distinction of migrants from locals.Tooth enamel samples from 17 domestic animals individuals were analyzed for strontium isotope ratio(87Sr/86Sr),by the thermal ionization mass spectrometry,including 10 pigs,5 sheep and 2 cattle.The results show that the mean 87Sr/86Sr ratios of 10 pigs enamel samples were 0.712078,Based on the local strontium isotopes ratio range determined by the mean 87Sr/86Sr ratios ±2 of 10 pig enamel samples(0.712256-0.711900),we found that five sheep and one cattle from the Erlitou site fell well outside the local strontium isotopes ratio range and were considered to be non-local.