Ancient Archives Research Articles

Chronobiology and its Ayurvedic Understanding

Rhythm is an essential component of life. Chronobiology is a branch of biology concerned with biological rhythms i.e., the time related phenomena in living organisms. It is a relatively young and fast evolving research field. Circadian rhythm, ultradian rhythm and infradian rhythm are some examples for biological rhythm. The three important divisions of Chronobiology are chronophysiology, chrono pathology and chrono pharmacology.
 Although chronobiology has been considered as a relatively new branch of human biology, its roots can be traced out in ancient archives and cultural practices. Ancient Ayurvedic scholars observed the chronobiological changes in physiology and pathology giving utmost importance to rhythmicity which in turn signifies Kaala. Physiologic factors such as Tridosha, Agni, Bala, Vega and so many other factors like Artava exhibit rhythmicity. Loss of such rhythmicity affects health. Also, the Hina, Mithya and Atiyoga of Kaala are one among the three main etiological factors for diseases. Hence, proper health needs maintenance of the rhythm. This can be achieved by following Ayurvedic guidelines like Dinacharya, Rithucharya etc. Rhythmic temporal patterns play an important role in the therapeutics also.

Tin isotopes reveal changing patterns of tin trade, connectivity and consumption from Anatolia and Central Asia at Kültepe

Until recently, what was known about the trade of tin in the ancient Near East was based in large part on information derived from the extensive commercial archives found at the archaeological site of Kültepe (ancient Kaneš) in Turkey dating to the Middle Bronze Age (MBA) c. 1900-1750 BC. These archives were produced by an expatriate community of traders native to the city of Assur in modern-day Iraq and document an extensive shipping of tin ingots from unnamed sources east of their hometown. Tin was carried by donkeys through northern Syria and across the Taurus Mountains to Anatolia where it was sold for silver.This paper presents the first set of tin isotope analyses of bronze objects from Kültepe to test the image provided by these ancient archives, finding that all artifacts dated to the main period of Assyrian trade excavated in the residential areas of the site indeed have high tin content and high values of δ124Sn (0.77–1.74‰) relative to the NIST 3161a standard. Such high values currently compare best with ores from Central Asia. The isotopic analysis of artifacts from the Assyrian Trading Colony Period of Kültepe is therefore consistent with the textual evidence.However, Early Bronze Age samples recovered at the site are instead characterized by lower ranges that extend to neutral δ124Sn values (0.02–1.31‰). Likewise, one artifact coming from Mound Level 7 (c. 1830-1700) at the center of the site where public buildings were concentrated, and one object dated to the Hellenistic Period (Mound Level 2), when the site saw a resurgence in political importance, likewise have lower δ124Sn compositions of 0.11 and 0.31‰, respectively. Both samples also have low to moderate tin content.The Early Bronze Age artifacts form a linear array between artifacts from low δ124Sn-low Sn wt% to high δ124Sn-high Sn wt% that suggests a mixing of two compositional groups – not simply the mixing of two isotopically distinct reservoirs of tin, but also distinct in the amount of tin present in the alloy. This would be consistent with the recycling of low tin bronze objects with local tin, together with high tin bronzes containing tin from Central Asia. The two samples from Mound Levels 7 and 2 suggest that although Central Asian tin was predominant in the MBA, Anatolian tin may have continued to be used in a separate bronze production system that remained active at shifting varying of intensity throughout antiquity.

Deciphering Egypt's Great PyramidThe Red Sea Scrolls Pierre Tallet and Mark Lehner Thames and Hudson, 2022. 320 pp.

An ancient archive offers new insights into the construction of a man-made wonder.

The Impact of Non-Islamic Sources on the Sirah-Writing: An Analytical Study of the Contemporary Western Scholarship

The eighteenth century Europe witnessed the application of the newly introduced historical-critical methods to the social sciences. Relying upon such methods, some Western scholars criticized the traditional approaches to the Islamic studies. Although the major Islamic sources were translated into European languages and thus became widely accessible, they incorporated several non-Islamic sources in the study of Islamic history and civilization after discovering them from the ancient archives. Hence, it is also claimed that there are some covenants allegedly concluded by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) with certain Christian communities of his time, which are surprisingly not recorded in the classical Islamic literature. Thus, this kind of non-Islamic sources have significantly drawn the attention of both Muslim and non-Muslim historians across the globe. This paper attempts to apply the criteria of Islamic sources set by the classical Islamic scholars, to the non-Islamic sources in order to examine the latter’s authenticity. The conclusion reached by the scholars in this regard shows the latter’s disagreement with a number of established Islamic doctrines. Moreover, it expounds how and to what extent one can rely upon the non-Islamic sources in this regard.

Why Do (Some) Originalists Hate America?

Imagine a regime whose fundamental law is only to be found in ancient archives. Their mysterious contents take years to unearth, layer by layer. With new discoveries, bodies of established law are unexpectedly invalidated and discarded. Others, previously rejected, spring back into life as the scholars revise earlier conclusions. The operations of government are in constant confusion. This state of affairs is likely to persist indefinitely. That doesn’t sound attractive, does it? But that is where a prominent strand of modern originalist constitutional theory would lead us. This essay is a critique of originalist methodology. But the deepest flaw in this program is not its methodological errors, but its weird political ideal.

Strontium isotope geochemistry of modern and ancient archives: tracer of secular change in ocean chemistry

Strontium isotopes of marine archives provide a significant means for tracing physical and chemical processes operating over geologic time. Modern articulated brachiopods and halite samples were collected from all depths of the world’s main water bodies. Material from the Arctic, North and South Atlantic, North and South Pacific, Indian and Southern oceans, as well as Caribbean and Mediterranean seas provide baseline parameters for diagenetic screening and reconstruction of seawater curves. The Sr isotopic ratio of modern brachiopods is unobscured by latitude, depth, and biologic factors (Order, valves, and shell segment). However, there is a small but significant impact of external sources reflected by salinity and temperature on the Sr isotope ratio of modern brachiopods. We found a significant difference in 87Sr/86Sr of brachiopods from polar and temperate-tropical habitats (p = 0.001), which should be considered when working with deep-time archives. The average 87Sr/86Sr value of all our modern shells (0.709160 ± 0.000019; N = 95) and halite (0.709153) is similar to values measured for modern seawater (0.710167 ± 0.000009; p = 0.118). The radiogenic Sr content of present-day seawater does not vary significantly, and modern biogenic-calcite 87Sr/86Sr ranges from 0.709126 to 0.709233 with a fluctuation of about ±0.000054. With the most rigorous diagenetic evaluations and stratigraphic assignment of deep-time samples, and applying the Sr isotope fluctuation recorded by modern biogenic calcite to ancient carbonates and a 1 Myr interval, reconstructions resulted in a seawater-87Sr curve with greater details during the Phanerozoic and Neoproterozoic.

Evidence of an Ancient Archive? The Papyrus British Museum EA 9961

Used on both sides, the papyrus British Museum EA 9961 reproduces a marsh scene on the recto and a copy of the myth of Isis and her seven scorpions in cursive hieroglyphs on the verso. Although the high quality of the illustration is the most striking feature, the text has also been carefully laid out and written. This research seeks to investigate how, when and why this document, whose provenance and context are unknown, was composed. A detailed inspection of its surface using infrared photography helped to reveal many marks otherwise invisible and to retrace part of the history and deterioration of the roll. While the context of production will also be considered, we will examine if text and imagery were produced as models for the production of monuments or were secondary copies of older documents.

Ancient Microbial Activity in Deep Hydraulically Conductive Fracture Zones within the Forsmark Target Area for Geological Nuclear Waste Disposal, Sweden

Recent studies reveal that organisms from all three domains of life—Archaea, Bacteria, and even Eukarya—can thrive under energy-poor, dark, and anoxic conditions at large depths in the fractured crystalline continental crust. There is a need for an increased understanding of the processes and lifeforms in this vast realm, for example, regarding the spatiotemporal extent and variability of the different processes in the crust. Here, we present a study that set out to detect signs of ancient microbial life in the Forsmark area—the target area for deep geological nuclear waste disposal in Sweden. Stable isotope compositions were determined with high spatial resolution analyses within mineral coatings, and mineralized remains of putative microorganisms were studied in several deep water-conducting fracture zones (down to 663 m depth), from which hydrochemical and gas data exist. Large isotopic variabilities of δ13Ccalcite (−36.2 to +20.2‰ V-PDB) and δ34Spyrite (−11.7 to +37.8‰ V-CDT) disclose discrete periods of methanogenesis, and potentially, anaerobic oxidation of methane and related microbial sulfate reduction at several depth intervals. Dominant calcite–water disequilibrium of δ18O and 87Sr/86Sr precludes abundant recent precipitation. Instead, the mineral coatings largely reflect an ancient archive of episodic microbial processes in the fracture system, which, according to our microscale Rb–Sr dating of co-genetic adularia and calcite, date back to the mid-Paleozoic. Potential Quaternary precipitation exists mainly at ~400 m depth in one of the boreholes, where mineral–water compositions corresponded.

Paradoxes of the Idea of Progress and Cultural Memory in Ancient Egypt: an answer to Vladimir Emelianov © https://vostokoriens.jes.su/s086919080002863-6-1-en

The article discusses a postulate of the leading Russian Sumerologist Vladimir Emelianov (Voprosy filosofii 2011, No. 8). He states that only the modern scholarship since the eighteenth century has developed the method of “archaeological penetration” into the ancient history that allowed seeing in its epochs the reflections of here-and-now. Its background was the feeling of historical process. The division of history into big epochs was totally absent, according to Emelianov, in early antiquity and in Ancient Egypt. Here he strongly opposes the idea of Jan Assmann that each new epoch of Egyptian history addressed the “cultural memory” of the past to position itself as a return to it. However, the analysis shows that the Egyptian sources, i.e. the Royal Canon of Turin and the work by Manetho, as well as the reception of Egyptian historiography by Classical authors reveal conceptualized division of the past into big periods. Addressing ancient archives, researching and restoring ancient monuments was an important practice for Ancient Egyptians. This idea is expressed in the Papyrus Westcar, the first cycle of Setne Khamwas, the Famine Stela, the activities of the historical Prince Khaemweset etc. The ideological concept of return to the great past is exemplified best of all in the Renaissance of the Saite time (the seventh and the sixth centuries BCE). However, earlier epochs of Egyptian history also give similar examples, for example, the aspiration of kings in the late First Intermediate Period and the early Middle Kingdom to return capital to Memphis, i.e. in a sense, to return to the Old Kingdom. Thus, Emelianov’s postulate reveals an impressive ignorance of real evidence.

Ayurveda Perspectives on Chronobiological concerns in Human Biology.

Various recent researches have provided the scientific basis to the observations of ancient scholars regarding the rhythmic variations in human physiology and disease in relation to temporal and environmental factors. The field of chronobiology is rapidly expanding around the world and became the major concern of research in every aspect of human biology like in the study of genetics, endocrinology, pharmacology, medicine, ecology etc. Although the chronobiology has been considered as new branch of human biology but its roots are in ancient archives and cultural practices. Ancient Ayurvedic scholars have very well observed and documented the temporal and environmental influences on rhythmic variations (diurnal and seasonal) in functional state of Tridosha (biological entities derived from Panchamahabhuta, responsible for regulation of all bodily functions and regulations, Agni( bio fire) responsible for digestion and metabolism), Sharir Bala (immunity) and disease propensity with respect to age, day and night, and season as well as the physiological adaptation to it. Ayurveda has described Dincharya (daily regimen) Ritucharya (seasonal regimen) to balance the Doshika fluctuations/circadian rhythm in metabolism as relates to time factor and to maintain homeostasis with environment. The aim of this article is to bring attention about the observations and descriptions contained in Ayurveda. The scholars and researchers of Modern / Cosmopolitan Medicine will be elucidated worldwide in general and scientists working in the field of chronobiology, chronopharmacology and preventive medicine in particular. The percolation of wise Ayurveda concepts, in present health care policies will help in de-westernisation of ailing Indian Health Care delivery. It will make clinical practice of preventive medicine, relevant and easier than ever.

Chemical speciation of iron in sediments from the Changjiang Estuary and East China Sea: Iron cycle and paleoenvironmental implications

Chemical speciation of iron (Fe) in sediment offers a better understanding on iron cycle, early diagenesis, paleoredox condition and paleoclimatic changes. This study reports the Fe chemical speciation (total concentration FeT, highly reactive FeHR, poorly reactive FePR and unreactive FeU) in the surface sediments from the Changjiang (Yangtze River) Estuary and the East China Sea shelf. The FeHR concentrations in the estuarine and shelf sediments are much lower than those from the Changjiang and other rivers in the world, confirming the previous observations on geochemical fractionation effect in estuarine and shelf sediments. The high correlations of FeHR with FeT and Al concentrations and sediment surface area, suggest the dominance of clay minerals on FeHR composition in the sediments. The apparent enrichments of FeHR, total organic carbon and surface area in the hypoxia zone off the Changjiang Estuary are primarily caused by the local hydrodynamics and sedimentary processes. Despite the wide application of FeHR/FeT ratio for redox condition, its spatial distribution from the Changjiang river mouth to open shelf reveals no obvious enrichment in the hypoxia zone. This suggests that the episodic occurrence of hypoxia off the Changjiang Estuary (mostly in August) is hardly imprinted in particulate iron speciation. The distributions of Fe chemical speciation along the “river-estuary-open shelf” transect suggest the complex controls of particulate iron “shuttle transport” and deposition in the continental margin where fluvial input dominates and intense anthropogenic impact exists. Our study sheds new light on the source-to-sink process of particulate iron in the estuary and open shelf, and also provides important constraints of Fe speciation in modern and ancient archives from various depositional environments.

Analysis of the Layout Axis of Jinci in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province

The ancient building group of Jinci gathers different architectures in the dynasty of Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming, Qing , which is deserved to be recognized as the national treasure and living ancient architecture archives including more eras. Based on the location, layout, axis of the building arrangement, this essay expounds the layout features and analyses the ancients’ grasp of axis in Jinci.

Vivere "secundum Langnobardorum legem" ad Ariano Irpino tra X e XII secolo

The study examines a dossier of 51 notarial documents, produced between Xth and XIIth centuries, mostly coming from the ancient archive of St. Michele Arcangelo monastery in Ariano Irpino (Benevento), to trace the notary development in a peripheral center of Campanian hinterland. It arises as a continuation of the previous essay Prassi giuridica e pratiche di documentazione in carte inedite di Ariano Irpino dall’XI e XII secolo , in «Nuovi Annali della Scuola Speciale per Archivisti e Bibliotecari», 24 (2010), pp. 7-26). The documents, preserved in different locations (Archive of Montevergine Abbey, Museo del Sannio in Benevento, private Archive of Aldobrandini family in Frascati and the Vatican Library), constitute the platform on which it focuses the historical, paleographical and diplomatic exegesis. The edition of 19 charters (15 of them still unpublished), together with the analysis of the other documents, allowed to observe on the one hand the coexistence of conservative attitudes related to the tradition with symptoms of change in negotial patterns and documentary system in a restricted area, even if well connected to Benevento, the capital of the Lombard Principality, and on the other hand to bring out the steps of a slow but refined process of professional identity achievement pursued by notaries and judges, working together to construct a constantly evolving documentary practice.

Variations in tree-ring width indices over the past three centuries and their associations with sandy desertification cycles in East Asia

A database of 39 annually resolved, tree-ring width chronologies covering the Mongolian Plateau, northeastern China region, and the Yellow River drainage was established to identify variations in sandy desertification cycles over the past three centuries. Our results show that the arid, semiarid, and semi-humid East Asia experienced multiple sandy desertification cycles over the past 300 years. The Mongolian Plateau experienced sandy desertification from the 1730s to the 1750s and the 1810s to the 1910s. Northeastern China region was subject to sandy desertification from the 1700s to the 1720s, the 1770s to the 1820s, and the 1830s to the 1860s. In the Yellow River drainage, sandy desertification occurred from the 1700s to the 1730s, the 1750s to the 1780s, and the 1810s to the 1850s. The occurrence of sandy desertification was closely related to weakened summer monsoon and enhanced winter monsoon associated with decreases in precipitation and increases in aeolian activity during the Little Ice Age; reversals of sandy desertification resulted mainly from increases in precipitation and decreases in aeolian activity during the Current Warm Period. The sandy desertification cycles we reconstructed have been verified by monitoring results of modern sandy desertification trends and evidence from ancient archives and archaeological records.

Paul Klee: Trees and the Art of Life

Abstract The artist understands his work as intimately connected with the life and symbolism of plants. Art, thus, demands an attunement to life’s elemental operations, the thrust “into dimensions far removed from the conscious process.” The first part of the present essay aims at recovering what is implied in the imagery of trees, delving into ancient archives of dormant collective memories and immemorial imaginal stratifications. The second and third parts, deploying the re-energized figure of the tree, explore the theme of the relation between art and life, indeed, what Klee calls the “art of life.” By reference to Klee’s 1924 Jena lecture and the artist’s diaries, the discussion addresses the intersecting themes of artistic formation, mindful self-formation, the vital importance of worldly roots, and the transcendent fragrance of flowers and fruits.

Distribution and carbon isotope patterns of diterpenoids and triterpenoids in modern temperate C3 trees and their geochemical significance

Tricyclic diterpenoids and pentacyclic triterpenoids are nearly exclusively produced by gymnosperms and angiosperms, respectively. Even though both classes of terpenoids have long been recognized as plant biomarkers, their potential use as phylogenetically specific δ13C proxies remains largely unexplored. Little is known of how terpenoid abundance and carbon isotope composition vary either with plant phylogenetic position, functional group, or during synthesis. Here, we report terpenoid abundances and isotopic data for 44 tree species in 21 families, representing both angiosperms and gymnosperms, and both deciduous and evergreen leaf habits. Di- and triterpenoid abundances are significantly higher in evergreens compared to deciduous species, reflecting differences in growth strategies and increased chemical investment in longer-lived leaves. Carbon isotope abundances of terpenoid lipids are similar to leaf tissues, indicating biosynthetic isotope effects are small for both the MVA (−0.4‰) and MEP (−0.6‰) pathways. Leaf and molecular isotopic patterns for modern plants are consistent with observations of amber, resins and plant biomarkers in ancient sediments. The δ13C values of ancient diterpenoids are higher than triterpenoids by 2–5‰, consistent with observed isotopic differences between gymnosperms and angiosperms leaves, and support the relatively small lipid biosynthetic effects reported here. All other factors being equal, evergreen plants will dominate the abundance of terpenoids contributed to soils, sediments and ancient archives, with similar inputs estimated for angiosperm and gymnosperm trees when scaled by litter flux.

Effect of radiation on disinfection and mechanical properties of Korean traditional paper, Hanji

Fumigants, including methyl bromide and ethylene oxide, are generally used for the preservation of the Korean cultural heritage, especially paper products like letters and books. However, the use of fumigants is banned because of their harmful effects on humans and the environment. Gamma irradiation is being considered as an alternative for the sterilization of insects and fungi in organic products. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the sterilization effects of radiation and its effect on the mechanical properties of the Korean traditional paper—Hanji. Treatment doses of 9kGy and 8kGy of gamma irradiation inactivated 5 log units of Aspergillus niger and Bacillus cereus spores inoculated on Hanji, respectively. The gamma irradiations up to an absorbed dose of 50kGy resulted in no significant changes in the tensile strength, bursting strength, and appearance of Hanji. These results confirmed that radiation treatment disinfects the Korean traditional paper efficiently without changing its properties and that this treatment could be used to prevent the damage of Korean ancient archives by molds and fungi.

고대중국(古代中國)의 이십팔숙거성(二十八宿距星)들의 좌표값

In this study, we investigate the changes in the equatorial lodge degrees and polar distance degrees of determinative stars in the ancient Chinese archives. Confirmed is the fact that the coordinate values of those determinative stars defined in B.C. 104 had been used until the 8th century but were modified by the observations of Li Chunfeng (李淳風) in the early 7th century and Yixing (一行) in 723 A.D. The results of this study are compared with those in History of Chinese Astronomical Observations of Pan Nai. By applying the results of comtemporary astrodynamical calculations, their reliability is checked, and the corrected catalogues of Shi Shi (石氏) and Yixing are provided. The positional accuracy of those observations is estimated to be one degree.

Analysis of the potential fungal biodeteriogen effects in the “Doctorate Library” of the University of Perugia, Italy

Historical collections held in ancient archives and libraries constitute a cultural and artistic heritage of inestimable value. These collections contain a series of organic materials which may alter and perish in time, especially if they are conserved in inadequate environmental conditions and without any specific precautionary devices to protect them from damage caused by chemical, biological and physical factors. It is essential to prevent ‘at risk’ situations to conserve library and archive heritage. Early detection of fungal spores and moulds in conservation environments will permit us to intervene at the infection site at the right moment and also to detect the micro‐environments where climatic parameters are not suitable for conservation purposes. The aim of this study is to examine potentially biodeteriogen fungal micro‐flora in the environment of the “Doctorate Library”, one of the most important buildings of the University of Perugia, which contains frescos and library collection of great value. The study was carried out through quantitative and qualitative analysis of airborne fungal species and through the evaluation of viable aerobiological particles as potential agents of biodeterioration. The airspore monitoring was made using the active method (by Personal Volumetric Air Sampler Spore Trap, Burkard Company Ltd.) and the passive one (by sedimentation technique on Petri dishes). The results obtained by both methods allowed us to detect numerous potentially biodeteriogen species, to determine their quantity and influence and to evaluate the levels of their variability in time.

Ancient Archives and Archival Traditions: Concepts of Record-Keeping in the Ancient World

1. Ancient Archives and Concepts of Record Keeping: An Introduction 2. Archival Record-keeping at Ebla 2400-2350 BC 3. Archival Practices in Third-millennium Babylonia 4. Private and Public: The Ur-Utu Archive at Sippar-Amnanum (Tell Ed-Der) 5. Archives of Old Assyrian Traders 6. Documents in Government Under the Middle Assyrian Kingdom 7. Local Differences in Arrangements of Ration Lists on Minoan Crete 8. 'Archives' and 'Scribes' and Information Hierarchy in Mycenean Greek Linear B Records 9. Reflections on Neo-Assyrian Archives 10. Aramaic Documents of the Assyrian and Achaemenid Periods 11. Record-keeping Practices as Revealed by teh neo-Babylonian Private Archival Documents 12. Reconstructing an Archive: Account and Journal Texts from Persepolis 13. Cuneiform Arcgives in Hellenistic Babylonia: Aspects of Contents and Form 14. They Did Not Write on Clay: Non-Cuneiform Documents and Archives in Seleucid Mesopotamia 15. Greek Archives: From Record to Monument 16. Tomoi Synkollesimoi