Fire-Cracked Rock As Tools: Wear-Pattern Analysis

Abstract

Within the last ten years, lithic studies have focused intensively on chipped stone tool technology, particularly biface reduction procedures. Recent analysis of lithic materials from a multi-component Middle Missouri Village site (32ME7) in North Dakota revealed the necessity for intensively examining another artifact class, fire-cracked rock. A considerable quantity of fire-cracked granitic stones exhibited one or more wear patterns assumed to represent wear suggesting recycled procurement and utilization of a common resource. Supplemented by archaeological analogs and analysis of secondary attributes (i.e., archaeological context and systemic context), the wear pattern study resulted in the identification of five functional classes of fire-cracked rock tools.     

Antler Tine Scraper Handles in the Central Plains

Abstract

In the perspectives of archaeology, it is evident that the widespread antler-handled fleshing adz used by most historic Plains Indian tribes was preceded in the region by other types of hafted skin-working tools. These, inferentially, varied in construction and materials from area to area, but were everywhere provided with planoconvex chipped stone blades - the familiar and omnipresent end scraper of the Plains. In early historic times in the Central Plains, curved antler handles with stone blades are thought from archaeological evidence to have been used not in adz fashion but with a pushing motion, away from the operator. The relative abundance, variety in size and form, and longevity as an artifact type of the plano-convex end scraper raises various questions that invite further inquiry.     

Age at first coitus and choice of contraceptive method: Preliminary report on a study of factors related to cervical neoplasia

MUTATIONS: BIOLOGY AND SOCIETY: Edited by D. N. Walcher, N. Kretchmer, and H. L. Barnett. Masson Publishing USA Inc., 1978. 418 pp. $24.50

THE ETHICS OF SOCIAL INTERVENTION: Edited by Gordon Bermant, Herbert C. Kelman, and Donald P. Warwick. Halsted Press (Wiley), New York, 1978. 431 pp. $18.50.

HUMAN MIGRATION: PATTERNS AND POLICIES: Edited by William H. McNeill and Ruth S. Adams. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, 1978.     

A Preliminary Report on Two Sites at Piney Creek,Wyoming 48J03Ll and 48J031

Abstract

During the summer of 1964, the University of Wyoming and the Wyoming Archaeological Society conducted exploratory excavations in two sites near Buffalo, Wyoming. Site 48J03ll consists of a number of stone circles and is apparently a camp site and site 48J0312 is a bison kill and butchering site. Artifact assemblages suggest an affiliation with late prehistoric and early historic sites in the Yellowstone River drainage.     

Salvage Archaeology at a Site Near Fort Thompson. South Dakota

Abstract

Construction of dams and reservoirs along the Missouri River has resulted in an accelerated program of archaeological field-work. Many sites have been surveyed, numerous others tested, and a lesser number extensively excavated. Surveys and test excavations will add to previously gathered data in terms of the geographical distribution of diagnostic artifacts, speculative routes of migration and cultural diffusion. The minutiae from the tested sites may offer reasons for the re-evaluation of established concepts or they may strengthen current archaeological interpretations.

The Farm School site, reported here, received limited tests. The artifact inventory suggests the presence of 2 ceramic components and contributes to information regarding the Fort Thompson and Campbell Creek foci in South Dakota.     

Comments on the Significance of Stone Circle Excavations in Alberta

Abstract

A number of recently excavated stone circle sites “tipi rings” in Alberta are used to document the continuing necessity for detailed investigations into this site type. The excavations revealed quantities of cultural material, significant information and considerable time depth which are contrary to many previous assumptions.     

DO NEST SITE CHARACTERISTICS AFFECT THE BREEDING SUCCESS OF RED BISHOPS EUPLECTES ORIX?

Summary

Ferguson, J.W.H. 1994. Do nest site characteristics affect the breeding success of Red Bishops Euplectes orix? Ostrich 65:274-280.

A colony of Red Bishop birds Euplectes orix in a reed bed near Pretoria was studied during two breeding seasons. Breeding activity was greater during the second year, following increased rainfall. Predation was the most important source of mortality with 25–30% of the nests yielding fledglings. Between 7 and 11% of the nests were parasitised by Diederik Cuckoos. Reed height and distance from the edge of the reed bed were strongly correlated with nest density. From a temporal perspective breeding success was highest in late January following the peak in breeding activity. These observations suggest that overall breeding success is higher when nest densities are low. The mean fledging rate per nest was lower in areas of high nest density. This was, however, a statistical artifact. Multivariate analyses could not identify any environmental factors as predictors of breeding success within a colony.     

Modeling the formation of Early Stone Age artifact concentrations

The nature of stone artifact concentrations at early Plio-Pleistocene sites in East Africa is evaluated with regard to hominid transport behaviors responsible for their formation. These archaeological occurrences indicate ranging behaviors involving deliberate and repeated transport of flaked stone artifacts. The stone transported to archaeological sites within the time range of Homo habilis indicates planned transport of tools or material for tool manufacture to an extent far beyond transport behaviors reported among living apes, even stone hammer-using chimpanzees. Analysis of technological evidence in a lithic assemblage at a Plio-Pleistocene site at Koobi Fora (c. 1·5 ya) indicates on-site manufacturing activities and transport of flaked stone both to and from the site locale. Possible explanations for transport of stone artifacts are discussed in view of hominid strategies of environmental exploitation and resource utilization. A model is proposed for planned, habitual transport of artifacts by hominids positively correlated with distance of planned foraging range. In this model, larger-scale sites tended to develop at locales favorably located near abundant resources, where stone imports were high but export was relaxed due to the proximity of resources to be processed.     

A Survey Of Paleo-Indian Sites Along the Middle Rio Grande Drainage

Abstract

Sandia Cave is so important to the Paleo-Indian picture that it dominates the “classic” hunting site complex in the middle Rio Grande. As a result there is a tendency to minimize the considerable variety of other “classic” hunting points that have been found in the region, expecially in the Estancia Valley where such pluvial lakes as Lake Estancia and the Galisteo Basin once existed.

In addition 3 sites in the Rio Grande valley exhibit a different cultural horizon associated with the period of extinct fauna. This complex is characterized by lack of projectile points, a dearth of milling stones, and the dominance of crude scrapers, and choppers.     

Wing length and age,but not tarsus or mass,independently determine spring arrival at breeding territories in a long-distance migrant the Common Whitethroat,Sylvia communis

Capsule?Wing length and age independently predicted spring arrival timing in a long-distance migratory warbler, but there was no association with mass or tarsus length.

Aims?To test a range of biometric features and other measures of fitness for their importance in determining spring arrival patterns in a long-distance migratory landbird, and to investigate why these features may be important.

Methods?Fifty-one males with known spring arrival dates were caught and key biometrics were measured at breeding sites across Norfolk, UK, during April and May 2012. Blood samples were also taken in order to consider any effect of infection with blood parasites.

Results?Early-arriving males were more likely to be adults and to have longer wings. Mass and tarsus length had no significant relationship with arrival timing. Haemosporidian prevalence was low (～10%) compared to other studies of this species, and so it was not possible to determine the effect of infection on arrival date with confidence.

Conclusions?Wing length, rather than other measures that simply measure structural body size, is probably important in arrival timing due to either the advantage it confers by increasing flight efficiency or because it reflects past condition during feather growth.     

Breeding ecology and male spawning success in two hill-stream populations of the freshwater goby,Padogobius martensi

Synopsis This investigation was carried out at two study sites to examine the influence of shelter availability, nest site quality and male body size on spawning success of malePadogobius martensi. At Stirone Stream (first study site) individuals were not randomly distributed with respect to usable stones; larger males and females were consistently found to occupy larger stones. Laboratory experiments showed that the bottom surface area of the shelter was the relevant cue for the choice. The number of nesting males settled in a given area increased with increasing availability of local stone cover; inter-nest distance was directly correlated with male size. At Rivarolo Stream (second study site), which was characterized by lower nest density and a greater shortage of large stones, the pattern of shelter occupation was similar. These results suggest the presence of competition among individuals for the possession of larger-sized shelter sites. At both sites, the number of eggs in the nest increased as stone size increased; however, at the first study site, male body size played a major role in male spawning success as it concerns both the numbers of females mated and the number of eggs, while at the second study site, male body size was not shown to influence male spawning success. Factors responsible for between-site differences in male spawning success are discussed.     

The Simonsen Site: Report For the Summer Of 1959

Abstract

Isolated surface finds of probable Archaic and Paleo-Indian sites have been made in western Iowa for the past decade. Recently 3 sites have been found in this area, along tributaries of the Missouri River, containing cultural material buried in sediments 13-17 feet below the modern surface. One of these sites, the Simonsen, exposed on a loop of the Little Sioux River, is described.

Bison bones were eroding below the top of an alluvial terrace. This profile is divided into 8 stratigraphic zones, Zones 1 and 2, were 9 feet thick and composed of sterile loam, sand and gravels. Zone 3, contained several disintegrated bison bones, fine ash, burned earth, a fire pit with charred log fragments and a hearth containing a large canid but no artifacts. Zone 4, 1-2 feet thick was composed of sterile interbedded gravels and sand. Zone 5, from a few inches to 2 feet thick contained small flecks of charcoal, and a fragment of a projectile point. Zone 6 was a very stilty sand interbedded with sand silts. Zone 7, 2-3 feet thick was the most profilic source of cultural material but considering the large area exposed, produced few artifacts. These were knives, flakes, 2 anvil stones and 3 points. Zone 8, a gravelly deposit of unknown thickness, underlay the cultural deposits.

A total of 7 bison skulls or partial skulls were collected in addition to abundant remains of other parts of the skeletons. These remains were tentatively assigned to the extinct specie, Bison occidentalis. Measurements of the metapoidals of these specimens agreed in massiveness with those from Scottsbluff and were smaller than specimen from the Brewster and Lipscomb sites which contained bison antiquus and Folsom artifacts.

The 1959 collection from the Simonsen site supports earlier observations of affiliations with the Logan Creek Site of Nebraska and argues for assignment within the late Paleo-Indian to early Archaic horizon.     

Association of Parathyroidectomy With 5-Year Clinically Significant Kidney Stone Events in Patients With Primary Hyperparathyroidism

ObjectivePatients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) are at increased risk of kidney stones. Guidelines recommend parathyroidectomy in patients with PHPT with a history of stone disease. This study aimed to compare the 5-year incidence of clinically significant kidney stone events in patients with PHPT treated with parathyroidectomy versus nonoperative management.MethodsWe performed a longitudinal cohort study of patients with PHPT in a national commercial insurance claims database (2006-2019). Propensity score inverse probability weighting-adjusted multivariable regression models were calculated.ResultsWe identified 7623 patients aged ≥35 years old with continuous enrollment >1 year before and >5 years after PHPT diagnosis. A total of 2933 patients (38.5%) were treated with parathyroidectomy. The cohort had a mean age of 66.5 years, 5953 (78.1%) were female, and 5520 (72.4%) were White. Over 5 years, the unadjusted incidence of ≥1 kidney stone event was higher in patients who were managed with parathyroidectomy compared with those who were managed nonoperatively overall (5.4% vs 4.1%, respectively) and among those with a history of kidney stones at PHPT diagnosis (17.9% vs 16.4%, respectively). On multivariable analysis, parathyroidectomy was associated with no statistically significant difference in the odds of a 5-year kidney stone event among patients with a history of kidney stones (odds ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.71-1.50) or those without a history of kidney stones (odds ratio, 1.16; 95% CI, 0.84-1.60).ConclusionBased on this claim analysis, there was no difference in the odds of 5-year kidney stone events in patients with PHPT who were treated with parathyroidectomy versus nonoperative management. Time horizon for benefit should be considered when making treatment decisions for PHPT based on the risk of kidney stone events.     

Boulder Outlines in Southwestern Minnesota

Abstract

The Plateau du Coteau des Prairies, extending from Iowa through the southwest corner of Minnesota to South Dakota, is a 300 mile long series of intermittent hills, knolls and ridges. Outlines of figures and forms were made on Buffalo Ridge, the highest point on the Coteau, by setting stones in the prairie sod. Testimony to these kinds of antiquities is rare. This paper reports boulder outlines on Buffalo Ridge, including the “stone man” effigy mentioned by Nicollet in 1842.     

Edwards II: Report of An Excavation In Western Oklahoma

Abstract

Edwards II is located on the North Fork of the Red River in western Oklahoma. It is one of two sites excavated in 1968 by the University of Oklahoma Field School in Archaeology. The major excavation area consisted of 19 contiguous five foot squares. Two test pits were also dug to determine the limits of the site. Nine features were uncovered; all were pits which exhibited a variety of shapes. Ceramic materials and projectile points are similar to Custer and Washita River foci manifestations, but the low proportion of bison bone, and the presence of a few corner notched and stemmed points suggest placement early in the time span represented by these foci.     

The Ashland Bottoms Site (14RY603):

Abstract

The Ashland Bottoms site (14RY603) is a multi-component habitation consisting of a turn of the 20th century American corncrib superimposed upon a Kansas City Hopewell occupation. The ceramics suggest the site is late Kansas City Hopewell dating c. 300-500 A.D. while the artifact assemblage indicate it was a specialized, limited activity site, probably a bison and meat/hide processing base camp. Whether the Kansas City Hopewell population is resident in the Manhattan area or seasonally came into the region from Kansas City cannot be completely ascertained on the present data, but there is a strong possibility these people were permanent residents.     

The Yeo Site (23CL 199):

Abstract

In 1976 Alfred E. Johnson proposed a subsistencesettlement model for Kansas City Hopewell. The model consisted of a subsistence territory encompassirig a drainage upon which a large permanent village settlement was located near its mouth with a series of smaller specialized ancillary sites located up from the village. Limited corn and squash horticulture would be present in the latter half of the occupation too. A test of such a model would be actual limited activity sites. The Yeo site, a late kansas City Hopewell site, is a hickory nut/marsh elder seed collection/storage station. It is exactly the type of site necessary to substantiate such a model. Also, such a test implies the testing of the notion that there are “specialized, limited activity sites,” sites which are important to some of the suppositions of the New Archaeology. Additionally, the presence of the combination of hickory/cultivated marsh elder (Iva annua var. macrocarpa) utilization within the context of an upland oak-history forest may be interpreted as supporting Asch and Asch’s (1978) model of marsh elder domestication.     

Bioacoustic variation in Wren Troglodytes troglodytes populations on Welsh islands

ABSTRACT

Capsule: Duration and peak frequency of Wren Troglodytes troglodytes songs differ between Welsh islands (Skokholm, Flat Holm, and Sully Island) and a mainland site, suggesting random or cultural divergence.

Aims: The study tests for differences in bioacoustic traits in Wren song between four breeding sites.

Methods: Songs from breeding male Wrens were recorded from three Welsh islands and a representative location on the local mainland. Each sonogram was measured for six variables from the whole song and two distinct phrases from the beginning and middle. The variables were measured manually using an open source acoustic tool and compared between sites using generalized linear mixed-effects models.

Results: There was significant variation in song variables between island sites and the mainland. Skokholm Wren songs were significantly longer in duration than all other sites by up to 66%. Peak frequency was significantly different across all sites with Sully Island having the highest peak frequency and Skokholm the lowest.

Conclusion: The differences in song duration and frequency do not directly suggest a trend associated with selective pressures such as habitat or noise, but instead may be explained by non-selective drivers such as cultural drift or local dialect formation.     

河南登封方家沟遗址发掘简报

方家沟遗址位于河南省登封市方家沟村,2014~2015年北京大学考古文博学院和郑州市文物考古研究院对该遗址进行两次发掘,发现大量石制品和动物化石以及原地埋藏的遗迹现象。石制品类型包括备料、石核、石片、断块、碎屑、石锤、石砧、工具等,整体面貌属于华北常见的石片石器工业。古人类在自然沟内短期活动形成的遗迹(G1)蕴含了空间利用方式的信息,对于进一步研究嵩山东麓MIS3阶段人类活动与行为特点具有重要意义。