The divine tree neem(Azadirachta indica)is mainly cultivated in the Indian subcontinent.Neemhas been used extensively by humankind to treat various ailments before the availability ofwritten records which recorded the...The divine tree neem(Azadirachta indica)is mainly cultivated in the Indian subcontinent.Neemhas been used extensively by humankind to treat various ailments before the availability ofwritten records which recorded the beginning of history.The world health organization estimatesthat 80%of the population living in the developing countries relies exclusively on traditionalmedicine for their primary health care.More than half of the world’s population still relies entirely on plants for medicines,and plants supply the active ingredients of most traditionalmedical products.The review shows the neem has been used by humankind to treat variousailments from prehistory to contemporary.展开更多
The territory of the Balkan Peninsula in SE Europe is reviewed, from the point of gemmology, as the cradle of gem and decorative minerals and metals in European prehistory. During the local Neolithic period (end of 7 ...The territory of the Balkan Peninsula in SE Europe is reviewed, from the point of gemmology, as the cradle of gem and decorative minerals and metals in European prehistory. During the local Neolithic period (end of 7 th -6 th millennium BC), as material for tools or for beads, nephrite (with the earliest known Balkan nephrite culture), jadeite-omphacite and quartz (different varieties) were introduced to make pendants and idols. Large quantities of copper and gold artifacts are known since the Chalcolithic period (5 th millennium BC)(unique for the region;the largest in number of gold artifacts is the Varna I Chalcolithic necropolis in Bulgaria). The gemmological materials in the Balkans are known for malachite, antigorite serpentinite, turquoise, rock crystal, carnelian, jasper, jet and obsidian. In the Varna I necropolis (mid 5 th millennium BC) are recorded the first known complex faceted carnelian beads with 32 facets, as well as some of the most important gemmological techniques and procedures such as faceting, tumbling, annealing, miniaturization and standardization. As pigments for pottery, cinnabar, graphite and gold were used in different prehistoric sites. The earliest salt production in the Balkans is known from sites in Romania and Bulgaria, and because of its trade, salt is positively linked to a population rich with prestigious goods. The introduced possible Chalcolithic weight unit “van”(2 carats) is supposed to be the earliest known in prehistoric times.展开更多
Since the time of the rainy Holocene, there have been periods of consecutive rain and drought on Egypt. Study of carbon 14 in the long-lived coniferous tree rings could see activity in the sun （spots and solar flares...Since the time of the rainy Holocene, there have been periods of consecutive rain and drought on Egypt. Study of carbon 14 in the long-lived coniferous tree rings could see activity in the sun （spots and solar flares） during eleven years cycle, as well as knowledge of possible flooding of the Nile and the periods of increase and decrease of the extent necessary to meet the soil around Lake Qarun in Fayoum-Egypt. From historical records in ancient Egypt and Muslim countries, the possible link between periods of the disappearance of sunspots on the solar disc for several years and is known to inch lower level and role of the minimum level of Mandour creeping ice on Southern Europe to the Mediterranean Sea, and the offset of the drought in North Africa and the Sahel region of Africa during the last thousand years. Analyzed pollen fossils of the overlapped layers of soil in two areas of the Delta were Avaris in Sharkiya Province and Mendes in Dakahliya Province. The study pointed out that there are differences due to environmental conditions, demonstrated by the analysis of soil pH, increased electrical connectivity also, the evidence of sulfates and chlorides indicate high salinity of Mendes and Avaris. Also the analysis of fossil pollen of successive layers of soil for both regions resulted in findings of fossil pollen of the species Chenopodiaceae by 51.2%, in Mendes, while, 7% in the Avaris. This is strong evidence of the existence conditions of salt in Mendes than Avaris archaeological sites.展开更多
基金Financially supported by Digitalization of Tamil Siddha Palm Manuscripts,Project of Centre For Traditional Medicine and Research(CTMR),Department of AYUSH,Government of India(Grant No:Z28016/14/2010IEC)
文摘The divine tree neem(Azadirachta indica)is mainly cultivated in the Indian subcontinent.Neemhas been used extensively by humankind to treat various ailments before the availability ofwritten records which recorded the beginning of history.The world health organization estimatesthat 80%of the population living in the developing countries relies exclusively on traditionalmedicine for their primary health care.More than half of the world’s population still relies entirely on plants for medicines,and plants supply the active ingredients of most traditionalmedical products.The review shows the neem has been used by humankind to treat variousailments from prehistory to contemporary.
文摘The territory of the Balkan Peninsula in SE Europe is reviewed, from the point of gemmology, as the cradle of gem and decorative minerals and metals in European prehistory. During the local Neolithic period (end of 7 th -6 th millennium BC), as material for tools or for beads, nephrite (with the earliest known Balkan nephrite culture), jadeite-omphacite and quartz (different varieties) were introduced to make pendants and idols. Large quantities of copper and gold artifacts are known since the Chalcolithic period (5 th millennium BC)(unique for the region;the largest in number of gold artifacts is the Varna I Chalcolithic necropolis in Bulgaria). The gemmological materials in the Balkans are known for malachite, antigorite serpentinite, turquoise, rock crystal, carnelian, jasper, jet and obsidian. In the Varna I necropolis (mid 5 th millennium BC) are recorded the first known complex faceted carnelian beads with 32 facets, as well as some of the most important gemmological techniques and procedures such as faceting, tumbling, annealing, miniaturization and standardization. As pigments for pottery, cinnabar, graphite and gold were used in different prehistoric sites. The earliest salt production in the Balkans is known from sites in Romania and Bulgaria, and because of its trade, salt is positively linked to a population rich with prestigious goods. The introduced possible Chalcolithic weight unit “van”(2 carats) is supposed to be the earliest known in prehistoric times.
文摘Since the time of the rainy Holocene, there have been periods of consecutive rain and drought on Egypt. Study of carbon 14 in the long-lived coniferous tree rings could see activity in the sun （spots and solar flares） during eleven years cycle, as well as knowledge of possible flooding of the Nile and the periods of increase and decrease of the extent necessary to meet the soil around Lake Qarun in Fayoum-Egypt. From historical records in ancient Egypt and Muslim countries, the possible link between periods of the disappearance of sunspots on the solar disc for several years and is known to inch lower level and role of the minimum level of Mandour creeping ice on Southern Europe to the Mediterranean Sea, and the offset of the drought in North Africa and the Sahel region of Africa during the last thousand years. Analyzed pollen fossils of the overlapped layers of soil in two areas of the Delta were Avaris in Sharkiya Province and Mendes in Dakahliya Province. The study pointed out that there are differences due to environmental conditions, demonstrated by the analysis of soil pH, increased electrical connectivity also, the evidence of sulfates and chlorides indicate high salinity of Mendes and Avaris. Also the analysis of fossil pollen of successive layers of soil for both regions resulted in findings of fossil pollen of the species Chenopodiaceae by 51.2%, in Mendes, while, 7% in the Avaris. This is strong evidence of the existence conditions of salt in Mendes than Avaris archaeological sites.
