bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Yiwarlarlay 1: archaeological excavations at the Lightning Brothers site, Delamere station, Northern Territory
Authors: David Bruno , McNiven Ian , Flood Josephine , Frost Robin 
Published: November 2014

AbstractRecent archaeological excavations at Yiwarlarlay, the Lightning Brothers site (Northern Territory), shows that the large, paired striped figures which today decorate the rock wall were originally painted late last century. Other similar paintings found throughout what is today Wardaman country likewise appear to be of recent antiquity. We report these findings, with preliminary discussion of their implications and prospects for future research.
Fern Cave, rock art and social formations: rock art regionalisation and demographic models in southeastern Cape York Peninsula
Authors: David Bruno 
Published: November 2014

AbstractIn this paper, evidence is presented to show that there have been significant changes in the distribution of rock art types in northeastern Australia during the mid‐ to late‐Holocene. The observations are made that 1) the more recent art can be divided geographically into two distinct groups, corresponding to two relatively disparate, ethnographically documented trading networks, located to the north and southwest of the Walsh River, and 2) within each of these regions rock paintings are formally extremely regionalised. The earlier art, on the other hand, shows a very different, more homogeneous spatial distribution. The antiquity of these art forms is first established, followed by a brief discussion of the ethnographic literature for clues as to the relationship between material behaviour and social formations during ethnohistoric times. It is concluded that the changes observed in the rock art from the region reflect relatively recent changes in patterns of interaction, including a regionalisation of social formations after 2500 years ago. These changes may express alterations of strategies related to systems of dispute management, which may be directly related to growing populations. The paper concludes with a brief examination of some of the implications of these observations.
Alterations of in vivo elemental dietary signatures in archaeological bone: evidence from the Roonka Flat Dune, South Australia
Authors: Pate F. Donald , Hutton John T. , Gould Richard A. , Pretty Graeme L. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThermogravimetric and multi‐element analyses of archaeological human rib and modem mammal controls from the lower Murray River region of South Australia indicate that magnesium, strontium, and barium concentrations in the archaeological bone have been altered significantly by post‐mortem chemical reactions in the burial environment. Ionic exchanges between soil solution and buried bone resulted in lower bone magnesium concentrations and higher bone strontium and barium concentrations. Much of the remaining magnesium is associated with diagenetic calcite. Although the archaeological bone exhibits increased hydroxyapatite crystal size, the strontium and barium increases are not correlated with crystal growth. The complex interactions of these post‐depositional chemical processes will complicate attempts to reconstruct in vivo elemental values from archaeological bone.
The disparity between radiocarbon and volcanic glass dates: new evidence from the island of Lāna'i, Hawai'i
Authors: Graves Michael W. , Ladefoged Thegn N. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractTwo dating methods, radiocarbon and volcanic glass, are widely employed in Hawaiian archaeology. The dates produced are used inferentially and as data, especially for testing paleodemographic hypotheses. Recent work on the island of Lāna'i has demonstrated a marked temporal incongruence between the radiocarbon and volcanic glass dates from within archaeological deposits and features. Further analyses suggest that the volcanic glass dates may be in error and that the method may be generally unreliable for Hawaiian sources. Because most of the data pertaining to inferences about prehistoric population decline in Hawai'i are derived from volcanic glass dating, these conclusions must be treated cautiously.
Nara Inlet 1: coastal resource use and the Holocene marine transgression in the Whitsunday Islands, central Queensland
Authors: Barker Bryce C. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractAn excavation of a large rockshelter in Nara Inlet, Hook Island, on the central Queensland coast has revealed archaeological evidence for early Holocene marine resource use dating from before 8150 BP. It is argued here that the site demonstrates continuous use of marine resources from the time of its initial occupation, at the start of the Holocene. Along with other recent evidence (Allen et al. 1989, O'Connor 1989, Morse 1988) this site represents clear evidence of a continuous marine sequence spanning the Holocene. The continued use of marine resources including mangrove species throughout the Holocene argues against a time lag in the occupation of coastal sites and questions the effects of marine transgression on human populations and marine resources. Major changes in the archaeological record at Nara Inlet 1 do not coincide with the major environmental changes documented for the Holocene period in this area and it is considered that social explanations for change may offer a more fruitful interpretation.
Obsidian sources at Mopir, West New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea
Authors: Fullagar Richard , Summerhayes Glenn , Ivuyo Baiva , Specht Jim 
Published: November 2014

AbstractOn the island of New Britain obsidian has been found at Talasea, Mopir, Witori and Rabaul. Research has focussed on Talasea but recent fieldwork shows that, in terms of abundance of flaking quality, obsidian exposures at Mopir rank as equal to any in the Talasea area. As forecast by Specht and Hollis (1982:426), current views on obsidian exploitation and exchange can now be refined.
Site survey of southwest Manus: a preliminary report
Authors: Kennedy Jean , Wadra François , Akon Urgei , Busasa Roselyne , Papah Josephine , Piamnok Mathew 
Published: November 2014

AbstractBulldozer disturbance during logging in southwest Manus has revealed a high density of prehistoric settlement sites on hilltops in the hinterland, where archaeological evidence is scanty on undisturbed surfaces. There is no evidence of such a settlement pattern in the area in the recent past Collections salvaged include obsidian nodules, debitage and many finely retouched points of different forms. Although there is a little‐known source of obsidian in the area, at Mt Hahie, the provenance of the obsidian we collected remains to be established. Both Hahie and Lou sources may be represented. The sherds collected vary in decoration and fabric. The sites are undated, but the collections suggest that most are prehistoric, and many may represent repeated occupations.
The reliability of flaked tool function studies in New Zealand archaeology
Authors: Fredericksen C.F.K. , Sewell B. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractWe report the results of a blind test of flaked tool function. Thirty freshly knapped obsidian flakes were used in a range of tasks. Tool function was identified employing a low power (< 40x) microscope and commonly used edge variables. We show that flakes used on pliable materials such as flax could not be identified as tools, whereas ca. 50% of those used in woodworking and all those used in boneworking were so recognised. However, most boneworking tools were wrongly assigned to woodworking and half of the woodworking implements were assigned a wrong function. Our results suggest an unacceptably high level of error in analyses of New Zealand flaked tool function.
A Colocasian revolution in the New Guinea Highlands? Insights from Phase 4 at Kuk
Authors: Bayliss‐Smith Tim , Golson Jack 
Published: November 2014

AbstractArchaeological evidence of ditches and field systems is described for Phase 4 (second millenium bp) at Kuk swamp, upper Wahgi valley, Papua New Guinea. In Phase 4 control of the water table was achieved by grid patterns of field drains which articulated with larger disposal channels. We provide an interpretation of the reconstructed agricultural system using ethnographic data from the upper Kaugel valley, and using also experimental data from Baisu Corrective Institution and Kuk Agricultural Research Station. We conclude that Phase 4 was concerned with the production of taro (Colocasia esculenta), and involved brief episodes of cropping followed by swamp fallow designed to eliminate infestation of drained soils by taro beetles (Papuana spp.). We outline a model for the Kuk economy at 1200 bp, and predict populations for Kuk using alternative scenarios for wetland dependence and the absence or importance of pigs. The wetland component was clearly labour intensive and had the potential to support high population densities. The evidence supports the idea that a localised Colocasian Revolution long predated the recent and more widespread Ipomoean Revolution.
Mt. Gilruth revisited
Authors: Haskovec Ivan P. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractFollowing some difficulties identifying the 'Large Naturalistic Figures' style paintings of Chaloupka's (1979) chronological model, I travelled to Mt. Gilruth‐Djarwanmbi to the two original sites of Chaloupka's chronological model of Amhem Land plateau rock art, to reassess the definition of Chaloupka's Large Naturalistic style. At neither of the two 'key sites of the sequence' (Chaloupka 1977) could I find the later 'Dynamic Figures' style overlaying the Large Naturalistic style, despite Chaloupka's assertion. A review of Chaloupka's published and unpublished reports suggests that no such evidence exists.My own research at other sites and other data shows that Chaloupka's outline of the chronological sequence is not supported by the evidence at the two sites. I have re‐interpreted the sequence and outlined a hypothetical rock art sequence.
Developmental processes and evolutionary diversity: some factors underlying form in primates
Authors: Oxnard Charles 
Published: November 2014

AbstractDevelopmental biologists have shown, through experimental studies of embryos of a few species (especially the chick), that a small number of basic mechanisms underly the structural pattern of higher vertebrate limbs. Evolutionary biologists have shown, through morphometric studies of adults of many species (many mammals especially primates), that a small number of underlying factors are descriptive of the differences between the myriad of adult forms that exist through the process of evolution. In both areas very recent embryological experiments and morphometric observations point to the existence of yet further mechanisms and factors respectively. It is possible (a) that findings of the one type provide information predictive for the other and vice versa, and (b) that, as a result, a new conjunction is appearing between ontogenetic studies of changes in individuals within single species and phylogenetic investigations of differences between adults of many species within a family, an order, or even a class.
Studies of craniofacial development and evolution
Authors: O'Higgins P. , Dryden I.L. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractIn this paper we review the basic mechanisms underlying the post‐natal growth of the cranium and consider two recent advances in methodology which offer the prospect of improving our ability to study growth changes in the skull. Recent advances in techniques for the study of craniofacial remodelling are combined with a numerical approach to the study of shape changes, the thin plate spline, in order to examine the correspondence between the spatial distribution of resorbing fields and bone displacements in the sooty mangabey, Cercocebus atys.Our results indicate that in ontogeny, as in phylogeny, changing patterns of bone displacements are first accommodated by changing rates of cortical remodelling in old world monkeys. Only later, when displacements are more extreme do remodelling fields transform from depository to resorptive. This study demonstrates that transformation grids may be usefully combined with scanning electron microscopy of cortical surfaces in studies of craniofacial development.
Functional, morphogenetic and phylogenetic significance of conjunction between cardioid foramen magnum and enlarged occipital and marginal venous sinuses
Authors: Tobias Phillip V. , Symons Joel A. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractA quarter of a century ago the study of Australopithecus boisei, a hyper‐robust ape‐man first found at Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania (Tobias, 1967), revealed that in A. boisei and A. robustus the drainage of the intracranial venous sinuses had occurred predominantly by means of enlarged occipital and marginal venous sinuses, instead of, or as a supplement to, the customary hominoid pattern of drainage by way of the transverse and sigmoid sinuses. Later the Hadar hominids (usually assigned to A. afarensis) were found to show similar selective drainage through enlarged occipital and marginal sinuses. The same 1967 study led to the discovery of a hitherto unrecorded pattern of the foramen magnum which was broad, truncated, almost heart‐shaped or cardioid and which occurred in some of the early hominids (A. boisei, probably A. robustus). In a new study on Hadar casts, the senior author has concluded that, in these Ethiopian hominids as well, the shape of the foramen magnum was most probably cardioid.Thus, in A. boisei and probably in A. robustus and Hadar, we have the remarkable association of enlarged occipital and marginal sinuses and of cardioid foramina magna. This conjunction we propose is not fortuitous, but results from a functional and morphogenetic correlation between the two sets of traits. A careful study of the contents of the foramen magnum leads us to infer that the occurrence of enlarged occipital and marginal sinuses drastically modified the pattern of drainage of the blood around the foramen magnum, with consequential changes in the shape of the foramen, especially of its anterior and posterolateral margins. The occurrence of this uniquely different, shared‐derived (synapomorphic) character complex in these three groups of early hominids provides further evidence that they had seemingly become specialised away from the lineage leading to later hominids of the genus Homo.
The ownership of culture: reconciling our common and separate heritages
Authors: Stone Jonathan 
Published: November 2014

AbstractPhysical anthropology is a young branch of science, but of enormous interest and achievement. With other aspects of anthropology, however, it has become the focus of criticism voiced by those whose history and traditions are the objects of its study. A resolution of this tension requires an understanding both of the scientific tradition criticised, and the social traditions which are the source of criticism. Ideas are canvassed which suggest that this conflict is a contemporary instance of a long tension between science – unpredictable, uncaring yet powerful – and the hopes which give rise to our great social visions and traditions. In particular it is argued that the criticism of anthropology is an extension of the contemporary advocacy of human rights. It is suggested that the resolution of the conflict may also emerge from the concept of human rights, in particular from the idea of a common human family, inherent in that concept.
The lithification of a sandy environment
Authors: Webb Cathie 
Published: November 2014

AbstractKinchega National Park is located in semi‐arid western New South Wales and like much of this sand plain country contains no local stone sources. Lithic material for tool production required transportation for a minimum distance of 40 kilometres. A recent survey of the surface archaeology has shown that many large pebbles and cobbles occur across the landscape. These are mainly of silcrete and quartzite which are also the most common raw materials represented in the flake industry. I argue that these cobbles were imported to serve as multi‐function utilities, being used variously as ‘portable quarries’ for obtaining stone for knapping purposes, as grindstones for seed or ochre and also as anvils for breaking materials including, presumably, other stone. Possible strategies for the importation and distribution of the cobbles over the landscape are discussed. While they occur as surface material and cannot be confidently dated, it is considered most likely that their importation began during the late Pleistocene.
Raw material proximity and bevel‐edged tool use, Teewah Beach, Southeast Queensland
Authors: McNiven Ian J. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThis paper examines the relationship between raw material proximity and changes in stone artefact reduction and stone tool maintenance using a case study from coastal SE Queensland. It is argued that a drop‐off in the relative use of raw materials with increasing distance from source locations paralleled increases in the relative importance of tool maintenance over tool manufacturing activities. The implications of these results for future studies are discussed briefly in terms of the isolation of technological thresholds and the scheduling of stone tool use.
Sugarcane in Prehistory
Authors: Daniels John , Daniels Christian 
Published: November 2014

AbstractWe suggest that sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) was a major food for pigs (Sus scrofa) in the New Guinea Highlands prior to the introduction of the sweet potato (Ipomea batatas) about 250 years ago. Taro (Colocasia esculenta) has been favoured in the literature, but pigs do not like raw taro and will only eat most varieties when cooked. Pigs consume sugarcane avidly and it provides a high calorie diet combined with suitable fibre roughage. Evidence is provided to show that large fields of sugarcane were grown in monoculture in the highlands at the time of European contact. Humans consumed sugarcane as a major food in some areas in the early 20th century. S. officinarum is usually recorded as having evolved in New Guinea and Indonesia east of the Wallace line, from the wild cane Saccharum robustum Brandes & Jeswiet ex Grassl. An alternate theory that S. officinarum was derived from the Chinese sugarcane, Saccharum sinense, transported east of the Huxley line by Austronesian speakers is mentioned as a serious possibility. Both hypotheses are compatible with sugarcane being available for human and pig food from about 6000 years ago.
Excavations at Mackintosh 90/1 in western Tasmania: a discussion of stratigraphy, chronology and site formation
Authors: Stern Nicola , Marshall Brendan 
Published: November 2014

AbstractMackintosh 90/1 is a limestone cave situated on the edge of Lake Mackintosh in western Tasmania. It contains a moderate density of archaeological debris in a narrow band of organic rich sandy silts that accumulated over a 2,000 year time span immediately following the last glacial maximum. It thus provides a rare opportunity to investigate the composition and structure of a palimpsest of material debris with very fine temporal resolution. Preliminary analyses indicate that both marsupial carnivores and humans contributed to the faunal remains that accumulated at this site and that Bennett's wallaby and wombat are the only two items of human prey included in the assemblage. Preliminary analyses also indicate that the artefact assemblage recovered from Mackintosh 90/1 is broadly similar to those recovered from Pleistocene sites in south‐west Tasmania, in terms of the raw materials being worked and the type of flaking debris being discarded.
New archaeological research at Yombon, West New Britain, Papua New Guinea
Authors: Pavlides Christina 
Published: November 2014

AbstractExcavations and surface collections at Yombon (formerly Yambon) in February 1991 produced flaked chert and obsidian artefacts numbering around 3150. Several radiocarbon dates and new stratigraphic evidence spanning some 6000 years are reported here. Of especial significance are two bifacially flaked chert artefacts found in a context dated to more than 3700 years.
The relativity of density
Authors: Torrence Robin , Victor Katherine L. 
Published: November 2014

AbstractIn an attempt to overcome biases resulting from small sample size, we examine the potential of relative density, which Ambrose (n.d.; 1994) and Green (1987) have proposed is a non‐destructive, inexpensive, and easy technique for characterising the chemical composition of obsidian from the different sources in Melanesia. Our results demonstrate considerable overlap in relative density for the chemical subgroups in West New Britain, but also show that reasonable discrimination between obsidian samples from the West New Britain and Lou Island regional groups can be obtained. Weathered surfaces and inclusions are found to have inconsequential effects. It is argued that when used within its limitations, relative density could have an important role in future studies of prehistoric obsidian procurement and exchange.
Kosrae's place in Pacific prehistory
Authors: Rainbird Paul 
Published: November 2014

AbstractRecently published research from Kosrae, the easternmost of the Caroline Islands, has identified a number of ‘firsts’ in the prehistoric record. These include: the first recovery of prehistoric pottery on Kosrae; possibly the first identification of prehistoric taro and breadfruit pollen in Remote Oceania; and the first identification of breadfruit from prehistoric charcoal. These and a number of other significant findings are discussed in relation to interpreting this data in its local and regional contexts. Issues discussed relate to the cause of island landscape transformations and to the possible processes of island colonisation.
Palaeoenvironmental changes in the eastern highlands of Papua New Guinea
Authors: Haberle Simon 
Published: November 2014

AbstractA 4500 year old record of vegetation disturbance and sediment mobilisation is presented for the Arona Valley and Noreikora basin in the eastern highlands' of Papua New Guinea. Three distinct episodes of landscape change in the Arona Valley and Noreikora basin can be interpreted from the palaeoecological records: (1) by 4500 BP erosion of catchment sediments, possibly due to vegetation disturbance by human activity, led to the formation and extension of swamplands in valley bottoms; (2) after 4500 BP the newly expanded wetland environments were exploited for resources, such as Pandanus and wood, with their eventual clearance and establishment of extensive grasslands by 1350 BP; and (3) an adaptation to this treeless environment appears in the form of Casuarina arboriculture by 600 BP and a further intensification of agricultural activity occurs after 230 BP. Comparison of palaeoecological records from the eastern highlands with sites further to the west show similar changes over the last 4500 years that have been related to widespread developments in agricultural techniques and to the introduction of new crops in the highlands. The role of climate change during this period is also considered here.
Function and development in the East New Guinea Highlands
Authors: Cole J. David 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThis paper reviews the author's 1966–1967 fieldwork and re‐interprets conclusions published by Watson and Cole in 1977. In this study I add an analysis of tool and site function to Watson's typological classification. This approach suggests that the Mamu phase is the product of outsiders who exploited the Tairora valley with hunting – and possibly gathering and trading — forays from base settlements to the north or west. The project area was not permanently inhabited until the end of Mamu times at approximately 3500 BP. At that time settlers from the west or north advanced their frontiers into the Tairora valley and became permanent residents. This interpretation is supported by other archaeological and palaeoenvironmental data from the Eastern Highlands.