A Review on Diagnostic Phytoliths for the Application in Paleovegetation Reconstruction and Environmental Archaeology in East Asia

Phytoliths are extensively utilized as an archaeobotanical indicator in paleovegetation reconstruction and environmental archaeology. Over the past two decades, numerous phytolith morphotypes, particularly those exhibiting diagnostic morphological features and over representative of source plants at the genus and species levels, were discovered and reported. These advancements have significantly contributed to phytolith-based vegetation reconstruction on different timescales, enhanced our understanding of prehistoric plant utilization, and elucidated cultivation and domestication processes of key crops in ancient agriculture. However, there are still inconsistencies and misunderstandings regarding the morphological characteristics of diagnostic phytoliths in various plant groups. This review highlighted the standardization in the classification and description of phytolith morphotypes, and summarized the advancements in phytolith morphology research over the past two decades. Morphological illustrations of diagnostic phytoliths from various plant groups, particularly key crops and their relatives from dryland and rice agriculture in East Asia, were presented as references for phytolith identification and application. Finally, this review proposes future directions for phytolith morphological studies, emphasizing the comprehensive consideration of anatomical structure and morphometric parameters, as well as the need for extensive research on modern plant phytoliths and control experiments on phytolith growth.

Action Based Approach to Archaeological Reconstruction Projects: Case of the Karnak Temple in Egypt

The proposed paper deals with a numerical approach that could better assist the archaeologist in the archaeological reconstruction projects.The goal of our research is to explore and study the use of computerized tools in archaeological reconstruction projects of monumental architecture in order to propose new ways in which such technology can be used.

Morphological Change of Starch Grain Based on Simulated Experiment and its Significance of Agricultural Archaeology——Taking Wheat as an Example

[Objective] The aim was to research and identify starch grain microfossil found in archaeological sites in China, and to find appropriate procedures for the starch grain analysis experiment.[Method] Wheat starch grain size distribution was analyzed, and some simulated experiments were carried out, like mortar grinding, ultrasonic treatment, hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide immersion, drying treatment, and so on. [Result] The mean size of wheat starch grains had increased in the growth process. Mortar grinding would make wheat starch grains larger than untreated sample. Long time of ultrasonic treatment can also make the starch grain size larger. 10% HCl and 6% H2O2 would have little effects on morphological feature of wheat starch grains. Low temperature heating did not cause starch grains to be gelatinized. [Conclusion] These experiment results can improve the accuracy of starch grain microfossil identification in the archaeological site. Starch grain analysis may be a utility and effective analytical tool in studying the origin of agriculture and the dispersal of crops in China.

ANALYSIS OF REMOTE SENSING ARCHAEOLOGY ON TRAFFIC FUNCTION TRANSFORMATION OF TONGJI GRAND CANAL IN SUI AND TANG DYNASTIES

In China, most directions of river flowing are from west to east. During historic period, since the water traffic played an important role, it was very important to form a cross-horizontal net of water carriage route. Canals should be dug so as to make up the lack of north-south river. Tongji Grand Canal, dug in the first year of Daye (605 A.D.) in the Sui Dynasty, was the important component of north-south system of Grand Canals in China. It promoted economic and social development of the Sui, Tang and Song dynasties (605 A.D.-1279 A.D.). As Tongji Canal (i.e. Tongji Grand Canal) flowed across the Huaibei Plain, which is aggraded by abundant mud and sand deposit resulted from the Huanghe (Yellow) River flooding, many traces (such as old channel) and human culture heritages were buried under mud-sand. Tongji Canal was silted up, and disappeared in the Jin Dynasty (1115 A.D.-1234 A.D.). From then on, there were many different stories about the flowing route of the canal in historical literature. Based on space-bone and air-bone remote sensing imagery, we attempt to search the old channel of Tongji Canal, and supplement historical record. The paper discusses transformation process of Tongji Canal’s traffic function, and resumptively summarizes the reasons of the transformation, which results from synthetic function of physical geographical, political, economic, and social conditions.

Progress in Environmental Evolvement and Environmental Archaeology Study in the Yangtze Delta （China）

A review was conducted on the environmental evolvement and environmental archaeological research since the 1980s in the Yangtze Delta. Former environmental evolvement and environmental archaeological research results can be summed up into 4 aspects： 1） Formation and evolution of the Taihu Lake; 2） Transgression and sea-level changes in the Holocene epoch; 3） Reconstruction of the pre-historical environment; and 4） Impacts of environmental variations on the rise and fall of human civilization （formation of the cultural interruptions）. Based on this review, some limitations in the present research methods and possible outcomes are pointed out in this paper.

Archaeology and Heritage Resource Management in Siuyu, Singida Region (Tanzania)

This paper was produced as a part of our ongoing research endeavors in Singida destined to provide a better understanding of early humans’ cultures, and to promote the conservation of cultural and natural heritages of the region. The overreaching goals of this research are to holistically reconstruct the archaeology of Singida by studying cultural processes over time and space. Equally important is to promote tourism in the Singida eastern axis and, to salvage the heritage assets of the region from total disappearance as evinced by the activities of modern day civilization, broadly, to shed more light about the past life ways, and the subsistence behaviours of our ancestors. Our recent archaeological reconnaissance conducted in January 2016 in Siuyu ward discovered rock paintings and a rock shelter with archeological potential (Ngaghe rock shelter), containing a large scatter of Later Stone Age (LSA) archaeological artifacts that are crucial to the unravelling of the prehistoric human behaviours in Singida. Preliminary results from our research revealed that Singida region is an ideal place for undertaking research on early human bio-cultural evolution from LSA times to the present. Data from this study will be utilized to re-write the history of Singida region, to make sure that it is sustained for future generations. Despite their rarity, uniqueness, scientific and aesthetic values, these heritage assets are neither protected by village nor regional by-laws. Before deliberate conservation measures are put in place, it is very important to have good records of the areas that are attractive to tourism, and their current state of preservation. These sites were undocumented by the previous researchers, and in certain circumstances are unknown even to the local people of the Siuyu ward. Although the archaeology of Singida east is much “terra incognita”, this article is timely, for promoting archaeo-tourism and raising public awareness on the archaeology of Singida. Additionally, this work provides a stimulus to the authorities to take action by introducing effective conservation measures for the sustainability of these priceless non-renewable resources.

An Important Discovery in the Field of Archaeology

A copper cannon belong to Western Hsia Dynasty(A.D.1032～1227)had been unearthed incity Wuwei in Province Gansu.This cannon is confirmed as an oldest metallic tubular firearm inthis world so far.In history Wuwei had been an area under Western Hsia government’s jurisdiction.

《PALAEOANTHROPOLOGY AND PALEOLITHIC ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA》

This excellent volume fills a much needed gap in making available to western scholarsmany of the important developments in paleoanthropology in the People’s Republic of China.Discoveries in other parts of the world such as Europe and particularly Africa have often over-shadowed the valuable contributions stemming from work in China since the end of the CulturalRevolution.The editors of this volume must be congratulated for their efforts and particularlyfor providing in Chapter 1,a review chapter,an extensive and very useful bibliography.

Application of 3D GPR attribute technology in archaeological investigations

Ground penetrating radar （GPR） attribute technology has been applied to many aspects in recent years but there are very few examples in the field of archaeology. Especially how can we extract effective attributes from the two- or three-dimensional radar data so that we can map and describe numerous archaeological targets in a large cultural site？ In this paper, we applied GPR attribute technology to investigate the ancient Nanzhao castle-site in Tengchong, Yunnan Province. In order to get better archaeological target （the ancient wall, the ancient kiln site, and the ancient tomb） analysis and description, we collated the GPR data by collected standardization and then put them to the seismic data processing and interpretation workstation. The data was processed, including a variety of GPR attribute extraction, analysis, and optimization and combined with the archaeological drilling data. We choose the RMS Amplitude, Average Peak Amplitude, Instantaneous Phase, and Maximum Peak Time to interpret three archaeological targets. By comparative analysis, we have clarified that we should use different attributes to interpret different archaeological targets and the results of attribute analysis after horizon tracking is much better than the results based on a time slice.

淮安板闸遗址公园沉船考古木材保存状况评估研究

随着我国考古事业的不断进步,沉船文物持续被发现、发掘,其保护工作日益受到重视。埋藏环境中的多种降解因素使考古木材的显微形态、化学组成、晶体结构以及物理力学性能均发生不可逆的转变,因此,在实施保护措施前对船木的保存状况进行准确评估至关重要。研究旨在确保江苏淮安大运河板闸遗址公园发掘的沉船文物得到有效的整体保存和保护,为此,选取了代表性的沉船考古木材样品,并对其降解程度进行了综合评估。首先识别考古木材的用材树种,依据最大含水率(MWC)和基本密度(BD)初步划分降解等级;此外,采用X射线衍射技术(XRD)计算木材纤维素的相对结晶度,并通过热重分析(TGA)测定考古木材的热稳定性,在此基础上使用红外光谱技术(FTIR)检测木材化学结构变化。结果表明,所选考古木材为樟木(Cinnamomum sp.),可分为轻度降解、中度降解和重度降解三个等级;健康木材纤维素的相对结晶度为58.87%,考古木材纤维素的相对结晶度为17.16%~36.42%,反映了考古木材纤维素结晶区的降解;健康木材的最大热解温度为366.73℃,考古木材的最大热解温度为340.38~365.67℃,表明考古木材中的大分子逐渐分解为小分子。红外光谱表明,在降解过程中半纤维素降解最为严重,在中、重度降解样品中,归属于半纤维素侧链乙酰基的1735 cm^(-1)处特征峰完全消失;随着降解程度增加,897 cm^(-1)特征峰强度逐渐降低,1424 cm^(-1)特征峰向低波数移动,表明纤维素的部分氢键随着降解程度的增加逐渐被破坏;木质素结构较为稳定,其中与芳香族骨架相关的特征峰强度显著增加,采用木质素与纤维素的比值进一步证实了上述结果。该研究对考古木材的保存状况进行了较直观的评价,为沉船后续保护工作提供了可靠的基础数据。

江西上湖旧石器遗址沉积地层记录的环境演化及古人类行为适应研究

探究遗址沉积过程与古环境背景对于全面了解古人类生存行为信息具有重要意义。江西上湖遗址是中国南方地区新近发掘的一处旧石器时代旷野遗址,遗址均质红土B层中出土了丰富的石制品,表现出小型化特点,年代始于距今约2.6万年前。本研究对上湖旧石器遗址沉积地层开展了野外考察和室内土壤微形态、磁化率、粒度和地球化学元素分析,同时对出土的石制品进行了考古埋藏学分析。地学和考古学方法二者相互印证,明确揭示出该遗址区均质红土B层仅受到了低能坡面流水作用,保存了较为完整的古人类技术行为信息。推测古人类在MIS2阶段频繁占据和使用上湖遗址等区域,可能与拥有小型石片石器技术的华北地区人群难以忍受该时段北方极端寒冷干燥的气候条件被迫向南迁徙、从而到达了气候相对干凉的长江中下游地区进行生产活动有关。并且上湖遗址古人类采取了偏后勤式流动策略,以应对异常极端气候带来的资源分布不均和可预测性降低等风险。

The Morphology, Phase Composition and Effect of Corrosion Product on Simulated Archaeological Iron

The immersion corrosion of archaeological iron in solution(0.06mol·L- 1NaCl+0.03mol·L -1 Na2SO4+ 0.01mol·L- 1 NaHCO3)simulating soil water composition was presented.The evolution of archaeological iron from iron to iron oxide and to iron oxy-hydroxides compounds was investigated by scanning electron microscope(SEM) and X-ray diffraction(XRD)analysis.According to the morphology,phase composition,and transformation proc- ess,the contributions of each corrosion product to archaeological iron were discussed.

Numerical simulation of the behaviors of test square for prehistoric earthen sites during archaeological excavation

During the process of archaeological excavation in the regions of Southeast China, collapse of test square usually occurs due to poor site-specific conditions. In this paper, the fast Lagrangian analysis of continua in three dimensions（FLAC3D） is employed to reveal the behaviors of test square. Taking the archaeological works in Liangzhu prehistoric earthen sites as the research background, the paper first introduces the geological setting, excavation procedure and monitoring scheme of the studied test square. Then, the deformation of four sides of the test square is modeled using FLAC3D. By comparison, it shows that the numerical results are consistent with the results from field monitoring. The result suggests that the numerical simulation can be effectively applied to representing the actual behaviors of the test square,which is helpful for determination of excavation scheme and stability evaluation of the test square during archaeological excavation.

Micromorphological Features of Paleo-Stagnic-Anthrosols at Archaeological Site of Sanxingdui,China

The archaeological site of the Sanxingdui may date back as far as 5,000 years ago. The typical profiles of Palaeo-Stagnic-Anthrosols near the ancient site were selected, which aimed to identify diagnostic horizons employing methodology of soil taxonomic classification and to reveal the micromorphological properties of the paleosols. Under long-term anthropogenic mellowing, the discernible differentiation between anthrostagnic epipedon and its subhorizons as well as hydragric horizon and its subhorizons occurred in Paleo-Stagnie-Anthrosols at the archaeological site of the Sanxingdui. The mieromorphological properties diversified among each specific diagnostic subhorizon, e.g., the developed microstructure in cultivated subhorizon within anthrostagnic epipedon, closely arranged particles and considerable micropores beneficial to both of water conservation and filtration in plow subhorizon within anthrostagnic epipedon, and automorphic optical-orientation clays and calcareous corrosion in hydragric horizons. The findings above of micromorphological features related with diagnostic horizons are significant for soil taxonomic classification.