New Evidence on Prehistoric Trade Routes: The Obsidian Evidence from Gilat, Israel

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Yellin ◽  
Thomas E. Levy ◽  
Yorke M. Rowan
1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Yellin ◽  
Thomas E. Levy ◽  
Yorke M. Rowan

The elemental compositions of archaeological artefacts, ancient and medieval coins, and metallic art objects have been determined by non-destructive neutron activation analysis. Examples are given of studies of prehistoric trade routes and cultural contacts based on the identification of the geologic origins of obsidian artefacts, of early economic systems based on the determination of debasement patterns in medieval Islamic and Western gold and silver coinage, the region of manufacture as well as authentication of ancient metallic art objects based on trace element analysis. Special procedures devised for performing these analyses are described.


1969 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 319-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin Renfrew ◽  
J. E. Dixon ◽  
J. R. Cann

The very early development and extent of the obsidian trade in the Near East is being increasingly documented by the discovery and excavation of Early Neolithic sites throughout the area. Since the publication of our last paper (Renfrew, Cann and Dixon, 1966), obsidians from five aceramic Neolithic sites have been analysed, and the natural source of the material determined in each case. All the results fall into the framework of groups already established. In addition, one new obsidian source has been discovered.This confirmation of the characterizations hitherto achieved is satisfactory, but perhaps more important is the new evidence for the reconstruction of the pattern of the trade or traffic in obsidian in Early Neolithic times. Regularities in this pattern are becoming apparent, which allow a greater insight into the trading mechanisms involved.In this paper, written by Colin Renfrew on the basis of analyses and group divisions by J. E. Dixon and J. R. Cann, new information concerning the Anatolian sources is first considered, and new results for the Early Neolithic and later obsidians discussed. In the last section, an attempt is made at the more precise definition of the obsidian trading pattern in the 7th and 6th millennia B.C. on the basis of a more detailed analysis of the prehistoric trade statistics.


2000 ◽  
Vol 95 ◽  
pp. 141-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Mountjoy ◽  
M. J. Ponting

Chemical analysis by ICP at the Fitch Laboratory (British School at Athens) is used to see if the imported LB II pottery at Phylakopi on Melos is Minoan or Mycenaean. The possibility of a Minoan thalassocracy and of Minoan colonies in the Cyclades is reconsidered in the light of this new evidence, trade routes to the Cyclades are examined, the nature of the Mycenaean presence in the Cyclades is briefly discussed and the evidence for a LM I B horizon at Kastri on Kythera reinvestigated.


Science ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 225 (4660) ◽  
pp. 414-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. F. HEALY ◽  
H. I. MCKILLOP ◽  
B. WALSH

Author(s):  
N Ayyanathan

The international trade network of the ancient Chera, Chola, Pandyan kingdoms with Rome in particular since Sangam age has been studied well by various researchers. However, a recent archaeological excavation study at Thandigudi, Pattanam and Keeladi have generated a lot more data and throws more light with new research dimension and direction, particularly concerning the trade routes. The supply chain business intelligence of the various merchant guilds operating in all three Chera, Chola, Pandya territories are reviewed to provide a framework for knowledge destination and cultural heritage trade routes from the emerging new evidence. The proposed logistics network design and destination market intelligence of the trade routes naturally evolved into three clusters of towns and places - the outcome of the research survey concludes with a newly developed smart heritage cultural route of Tamilnadu.


1978 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 424-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis Hurtado de Mendoza ◽  
William A. Jester

Geologic sources of obsidian are frequently treated in the archaeological literature as single, discrete flows, each being recognized as a different source as long as it can be geographically isolated. However, some recent studies show a tendency toward the correction of this misconception, and toward defining operationally the obsidian source concept on a regional basis. This work is intended to help achieve such definition for a number of obsidian sources in the central highlands of Guatemala. Geochemical characterization of samples from diverse source localities, attained by means of neutron activation analysis, is utilized for this purpose. The information thus obtained has importance to a number of fields of research in archaeology. To the now-routine studies on prehistoric trade routes, other lines of investigation can be added, namely the determination of source-specific obsidian hydration rates for dating purposes, and the reconstruction of structural features in sociocultural systems.


1978 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
pp. 31-35
Author(s):  
R. B. Hanson

Several outstanding problems affecting the existing parallaxes should be resolved to form a coherent system for the new General Catalogue proposed by van Altena, as well as to improve luminosity calibrations and other parallax applications. Lutz has reviewed several of these problems, such as: (A) systematic differences between observatories, (B) external error estimates, (C) the absolute zero point, and (D) systematic observational effects (in right ascension, declination, apparent magnitude, etc.). Here we explore the use of cluster and spectroscopic parallaxes, and the distributions of observed parallaxes, to bring new evidence to bear on these classic problems. Several preliminary results have been obtained.


2007 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
BRUCE JANCIN
Keyword(s):  

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