After the Axes? The Rock Art at Copt Howe, North-west England, and the Neolithic Sequence at Great Langdale

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 ◽  
pp. 177-192
Author(s):  
Richard Bradley ◽  
Aaron Watson ◽  
Peter Style
Keyword(s):  
Small Scale ◽  
The Sun ◽  
New Work ◽  
Neolithic Period ◽  
Late Neolithic ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
North West ◽  
Direct View ◽  
Similar Character ◽  
Main Period

Within sight of the Neolithic axe quarries on the Langdale Pikes is a group of massive boulders at Copt Howe. The two largest command a direct view of the stone source where the sun sets into the mountainside at the midsummer solstice. Both are decorated by pecked motifs which resemble features of Irish passage tomb art. Small-scale excavation in 2018 showed that a rubble platform had been built at the foot of the main decorated surface and sealed two further motifs of similar character. New work has established an important sequence in Great Langdale. Recently obtained radiocarbon dates indicate that the main period of axe production was between 3800 and 3300 bc, whilst Irish megalithic art is later and was made between about 3300 and 2900 bc, suggesting that Copt Howe achieved its importance after axe-making had ceased or was in decline. That is consistent with an increasing emphasis on relations between northern Britain and Ireland during the Late Neolithic period. Perhaps Copt Howe itself was treated as a ‘natural’ passage tomb.

scholarly journals Deforestation and Human Agency in the North Atlantic Region: Archaeological and Palaeoenvironmental Evidence from the Western Isles of Scotland

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 ◽  
pp. 145-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosie R. Bishop ◽  
Mike J. Church ◽  
Ian T. Lawson ◽  
Katherine H. Roucoux ◽  
Charlotte O’Brien ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
North Atlantic Region ◽  
Late Neolithic ◽  
Atlantic Region ◽  
North West ◽  
Farming Communities ◽  
The North ◽  
New Synthesis ◽  
Main Period

This paper considers the timing and mechanisms of deforestation in the Western Isles of Scotland, focusing in particular on the landscape around the Calanais stone circles, one of the best preserved late Neolithic/early Bronze Age monumental landscapes in north-west Europe. We present new archaeological and palaeoenvironmental evidence from a soil and peat sequence at the site of Aird Calanais, which spans the main period of use of the Calanais circles. We then draw on a new synthesis of archaeobotanical and palynological evidence from across the Western Isles and a review of comparable data from the wider North Atlantic zone, before assessing the role of early farming communities in clearing the wooded landscapes of the region. Pollen and radiocarbon dating at the site of Aird Calanais reveal that a layer of birch branches, dating to the late Neolithic (2912–2881 calbc), was contemporaneous with a decline in woodland at the site, as well as with the major phase of Neolithic activity at the Calanais stone circle complex. However, our synthesis of the pollen and plant macrofossil evidence from across the Western Isles suggests that the picture across these islands was altogether more complex: woodlands declined both before, as well as during, the Neolithic and deciduous woodlands remained sufficiently abundant for Neolithic fuel procurement. Finally, we consider the implications of the results for understanding the interactions between first farmers and woodlands in the wider North Atlantic region.

Archaeology, genetics and a population bottleneck in prehistoric Finland

Antiquity ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 88 (342) ◽  
pp. 1132-1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarja Sundell ◽  
Juhana Kammonen ◽  
Petri Halinen ◽  
Petro Pesonen ◽  
Päivi Onkamo
Keyword(s):  
Population Bottleneck ◽  
Genetic Profile ◽  
Neolithic Period ◽  
Late Neolithic ◽  
Finnish Population ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Combined Use ◽  
History Of ◽  
Stone Artefact

The long-term history of prehistoric populations is a challenging but important subject that can now be addressed through combined use of archaeological and genetic evidence. In this study a multidisciplinary team uses these approaches to document the existence of a major population bottleneck in Finland during the Late Neolithic period, the effects of which are still detectable in the genetic profile of the Finnish population today. The postglacial recolonisation of Finland was tracked through space and time using radiocarbon dates and stone artefact distributions to provide a robust framework of evidence against which the genetic simulations could be compared.

THE MIDDLE–LATE NEOLITHIC TRANSITION AT KOUPHOVOUNO

2014 ◽  
Vol 109 ◽  
pp. 65-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Mee ◽  
Bill Cavanagh ◽  
Josette Renard
Keyword(s):  
Bronze Age ◽  
Neolithic Period ◽  
Late Neolithic ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Roman Villa ◽  
British School ◽  
Gradual Evolution ◽  
Chronological Sequence ◽  
Stratigraphic Sequences ◽  
Southern Greece

The site of Kouphovouno, just south of Sparta, is one of the main Neolithic sites in Laconia. It was first settled in the Middle Neolithic period and developed into a large village with remains occupying some 4–5 hectares. A joint team from the British School at Athens and the Ecole française d'Athènes carried out excavations at the site in 2001–6. There is evidence for occupation during the Bronze Age, and for an extensive Late Roman villa, but this article concentrates on the chronology of the site during the Middle and Late Neolithic phases. The evidence from stratigraphic sequences, pottery typology, seriation and Bayesian analysis of the radiocarbon dates is brought together to present a detailed chronological sequence covering the periodc.5800–5000bc. In particular the analysis relies on the results from two deep soundings, one excavated in Area C carried down to the natural sediments underlying the site and exposing the earliest period of occupation, and the second in Area G covering the later Middle Neolithic and much of the Late Neolithic phase. The findings from Kouphovouno are placed more generally in the context of finds from other sites in the Peloponnese and in particular in relation to the important sequence from Franchthi Cave. On the basis of the evidence it is argued that the transition from Middle Neolithic to Late Neolithic in southern Greece was not abrupt, as had previously been thought, but showed a gradual evolution. This finding has implications for our understanding of the process of transformation that southern Greece underwent in the course of the later sixth millenniumbc.

The Marlborough Mound, Wiltshire. A Further Neolithic Monumental Mound by the River Kennet

2013 ◽  
Vol 79 ◽  
pp. 137-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jim Leary ◽  
Matthew Canti ◽  
David Field ◽  
Peter Fowler ◽  
Peter Marshall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Soil Cores ◽  
Flood Events ◽  
The South ◽  
Late Neolithic ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
North East ◽  
The North

Recent radiocarbon dates obtained from two soil cores taken through the Marlborough Castle mound, Wiltshire, show the main body of it to be a contemporaneous monument to Silbury Hill, dating to the second half of the 3rd millennium cal bc. In light of these dates, this paper considers the sequence identified within the cores, which includes two possible flood events early in the construction of the mound. It also describes four cores taken through the surrounding ditch, as well as small-scale work to the north-east of the mound. The topographic location of the mound in a low-lying area and close to rivers and springs is discussed, and the potential for Late Neolithic sites nearby is set out, with the land to the south of the mound identified as an area for future research. The paper ends with the prospect that other apparent mottes in Wiltshire and beyond may well also have prehistoric origins

Profitability and Efficiency Analyses of Small Scale Rice processing units in Ngoketunjia Division, North West Region, Cameroon.

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-182
Author(s):  
Bime M.J ◽  
Fon D.E ◽  
Ngalim S.B ◽  
Ongla J
Keyword(s):  
Value Added ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Fixed Cost ◽  
Cost Ratio ◽  
Parboiled Rice ◽  
North West ◽  
Benefit Cost Ratio ◽  
Benefit Cost ◽  
Rice Processing

Rice production and processing over the years has been on an increase with more small holders entering the business. This study on profitability of processing and marketing of small scale rice processors had as objective to analyse the profitability levels of rice processing and marketing by small scale processors, determine the value added to the commodity at each stage  and also identify the constraints faced by these processors. The study used primary data collected using well-structured questionnaire from millers only, miller traders for white/parboiled rice through a multistage sampling technique. Results showed that the net processing income (3,151,201), value added (8,147,456) and efficiency (138) for miller-traders of white rice was highest, followed by miller-traders for parboiled rice and lastly millers only. Results further showed that millers only had Benefit/cost ratio of 0.4 indicating that milling only is not profitable due to small quantities milled, and high fixed cost. Miller-traders for parboiled rice had a benefit/cost ratio of 2.3 implying that their venture is most profitable. Based on the results, it was recommended that millers only should purchase large quantities of paddy to enable them reduce the overhead cost. Also the services of parboilers should reflect in the sales price of parboiled rice so that the parboiling services can be paid for.

scholarly journals What scatter-hoarding animals have taught us about small-scale navigation

2010 ◽  
Vol 365 (1542) ◽  
pp. 901-914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristy L. Gould ◽  
Debbie M. Kelly ◽  
Alan C. Kamil
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Scatter Hoarding ◽  
Geometric Properties ◽  
Cue Use ◽  
Unique System ◽  
Spatial Locations

Many animals use cues for small-scale navigation, including beacons, landmarks, compasses and geometric properties. Scatter-hoarding animals are a unique system to study small-scale navigation. They have to remember and relocate many individual spatial locations, be fairly accurate in their searching and have to remember these locations for long stretches of time. In this article, we review what is known about cue use in both scatter-hoarding birds and rodents. We discuss the importance of local versus global cues, the encoding of bearings and geometric rules, the use of external compasses such as the Sun and the influence of the shape of experimental enclosures in relocating caches or hidden food. Scatter-hoarding animals are highly flexible in how and what they encode. There also appear to be differences in what scatter-hoarding birds and rodents encode, as well as what scatter-hoarding animals in general encode compared with other animals. Areas for future research with scatter-hoarding animals are discussed in light of what is currently known.

scholarly journals How to make the Sun look less like the Sun and more like a star?

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (S328) ◽  
pp. 237-239
Author(s):  
A. A. Vidotto
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Vector Fields ◽  
Radial Component ◽  
Field Vector ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
General Context ◽  
The Sun ◽  
Flux Transport ◽  
Large Scale Magnetic Field

AbstractSynoptic maps of the vector magnetic field have routinely been made available from stellar observations and recently have started to be obtained for the solar photospheric field. Although solar magnetic maps show a multitude of details, stellar maps are limited to imaging large-scale fields only. In spite of their lower resolution, magnetic field imaging of solar-type stars allow us to put the Sun in a much more general context. However, direct comparison between stellar and solar magnetic maps are hampered by their dramatic differences in resolution. Here, I present the results of a method to filter out the small-scale component of vector fields, in such a way that comparison between solar and stellar (large-scale) magnetic field vector maps can be directly made. This approach extends the technique widely used to decompose the radial component of the solar magnetic field to the azimuthal and meridional components as well, and is entirely consistent with the description adopted in several stellar studies. This method can also be used to confront synoptic maps synthesised in numerical simulations of dynamo and magnetic flux transport studies to those derived from stellar observations.

scholarly journals Radiocarbon Chronology of Late Neolithic Settlements in the Tisza-Maros Region, Hungary

Radiocarbon ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 859-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ede Hertelendi ◽  
Ferenc Horváth
Keyword(s):  
Late Neolithic ◽  
Unique Type ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Radiocarbon Data ◽  
Stratigraphic Position ◽  
European Neolithic ◽  
Radiocarbon Chronology ◽  
Developmental Phases

We investigated chronological questions of five Late Neolithic settlements in the Hungarian Tisza-Maros region. Fifty new radiocarbon dates provide an internal chronology for the developmental phases of the tell settlements, and place them into the wider framework of the southeastern European Neolithic. An example is presented of how a unique type of stratigraphic excavation helps the interpretation of radiocarbon data, which are in contradiction with the stratigraphic position of the samples.

scholarly journals The results of the study of the Algay site (2019) in the lower Volga Region

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-131
Author(s):  
Aleksandr Alekseevich Vybornov ◽  
Irina Nikolaevna Vasilyeva ◽  
Aleksey Valerievich Baratskov ◽  
Filat Faritovich Gilyazov ◽  
Pavel Andreevich Kosintsev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Composition ◽  
Social Stratification ◽  
Neolithic Period ◽  
Cultural Layer ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Lower Volga Region ◽  
Lower Volga ◽  
Archaeological Materials ◽  
Characteristic Features ◽  
Technological Analysis

The processes of Neolithization and Eneolithization are two of the most important in the study of the human prehistory. The territory of the Lower Volga is of particular importance. In the Neolithic period, one of the oldest ceramic traditions in Eastern Europe appears. In the Eneolithic, cultures with signs of a productive economy are recorded rather early here. A further study of these issues depends on a quality source base. Monuments of the Neolithic and Eneolithic in the Volga steppe are rare. Therefore, the study of the new site Algay is very relevant. Its importance increases due to the discovery of stratigraphic data in 2019: the Eneolithic and Neolithic layers are separated by relatively sterile layers. This allows us to establish reliable periodization. Features of the lower cultural layer allowed us to trace the process of its formation. The work was interdisciplinary. The results of the technical and technological analysis of ceramics revealed the characteristic features of the Neolithic and Eneolithic. Archaeozoological definitions established the species composition of animals in the Neolithic and Eneolithic. New radiocarbon dates provide a basis for determining the exact chronological framework of the Orlovskaya and Caspian cultures in this region. Among archaeological materials, rare artifacts have been discovered that testify to social stratification already in the Neolithic period.

scholarly journals Neolithic genomes reveal a distinct ancient HLA allele pool and population transformation in Europe

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Immel ◽  
Christoph Rinne ◽  
John Meadows ◽  
Rodrigo Barquera ◽  
András Szolek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Human Leukocyte ◽  
Neolithic Period ◽  
Late Neolithic ◽  
Leukocyte Antigen ◽  
Cultural Transformations ◽  
Farming Community ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Genome

AbstractThe Wartberg culture (WBC, 3,500-2,800 BCE) dates to the Late Neolithic period, a time of important demographic and cultural transformations in western Europe. We perform a genome-wide analysis of 42 individuals who were interred in a WBC collective burial in Niedertiefenbach, Germany (3,300-3,200 cal. BCE). Our results highlight that the Niedertiefenbach population indeed emerged at the beginning of the WBC. This farming community was genetically heterogeneous and carried a surprisingly large hunter-gatherer ancestry component (40%). We detect considerable differences in the human leukocyte antigen gene pool between contemporary Europeans and the Niedertiefenbach individuals whose immune response was primarily geared towards defending viral infections.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document