Towards a typology of triangular bronze Hekate bases: contextualizing a new find from Sardis

Excavations in Field 49 at Sardis in the summer of 2015 recovered a bronze triangle inscribed with three images of the goddess Hekate, Greek epithets, and magical symbols (Gr. χαρακτῆρες). The Sardis triangle is the third example of this design known from Roman Anatolia, the other two having been recovered from Pergamon and Apamea. This article aims to situate the new find within its archaeological and historical contexts and, through comparisons with the Pergamon and Apamea finds, to refine our interpretations of the forms and functions of these objects.Field 49 at Sardis is a flat plateau just north of the acropolis. Supported by a series of monumental limestone terrace walls, this part of the city was inhabited almost continuously from the Lydian period through late antiquity.

The Monegros-type chert: Petrographic characterization and prehistoric use

In recent years, allusions to exploitation of a so-called “Monegros-type” chert have been a commonplace in archaeological literature, mostly in Iberia but also in southern France. It has been also a routine that these references did not include a true petrographic characterization, being mere de visu descriptions of those products.This work presents, for the first time, macro and microscopic characterizations of some of the most outstanding chert outcrops located in the Middle Ebro Basin. There, tertiary limestone sediments that form the top part of the flat plateau reliefs hold great quantities of chert nodules. The noteworthy erosive processes that have affected this area have facilitated the gathering of those cherts: they are easy to find either in their original location, still embedded in the limestone layers, or in secondary position along the enormous glacis that connect those flat reliefs to the river terraces. Two main flint varieties have been defined: Monegros and Evaporitic of Ebro. Both were originated in continental lacustrine environments. They are fine-grained and offer excellent knapping possibilities; hence its common use since prehistoric times to recent semi-industrial exploitations related to 18th century gunflint productions.This paper offers a preliminary study that will be developed in a forthcoming PhD dissertation, but we also include examples of its prehistoric exploitation in the Ebro Basin and abroad.

Rainfall–elevation relationships in the Wilson Creek Experimental Watershed

The rainfall patterns in the Wilson Creek Experimental Watershed in Riding Mountain National Park are analysed. Since this watershed lies on the Manitoba Escarpment there is a relatively sudden change in elevation across the watershed. The average annual rainfall is plotted against station elevation and against distance of the rainfall stations from the National Park boundary. Two distinct trends were observed. The average annual rainfall increases significantly from the bottom to the top of the escarpment. The average annual rainfall also levels off very quickly as the relatively flat plateau at the top of the escarpment is reached. No carry-over effects from terrain-induced upflow enhancement were observed. Key words: Manitoba Escarpment, rainfall variation, topography, upflow enhancement, Wilson Creek.

Hand-Axes from Glacial Beds at Ipswich

As is known, there exists a widespread deposit of what I have called the Upper Chalky Boulder Clay, on the high ground in the neighbourhood of Ipswich, Suffolk. This accumulation is especially well developed to the north and east of the town where it forms the more or less flat plateau, the surface of which lies at approximately 150 O.D. I have already recorded the discoveries of flint implements in the Upper Chalky Boulder Clay in the brickfield of Bolton & Co., Ltd., to the north of Ipswich, and elsewhere. From these discoveries, which include that of an Early Mousterian hand-axe, of necessity re-described in this paper, I have concluded that the Upper Chalky Boulder Clay was laid down by an ice-sheet present in East Anglia at the close of Acheulean times, and is to be referred to the 3rd Glacial Period of this area. It is now my purpose to illustrate and describe three further specimens of Acheulean hand-axes derived from a deposit exposed in various sections in the plateau to the east of Ipswich.