Chronological Value Research Articles

The >250-kyr Lake Chala record: A tephrostratotype correlating archaeological, palaeoenvironmental and volcanic sequences across eastern Africa

Regional tephrostratigraphic frameworks connect palaeoclimate, archaeological and volcanological records preserved in soils or lake sediments via shared volcanic ash (tephra) layers. In eastern Africa, tracing of tephra isochrons between geoarchaeological sequences is an established chronostratigraphic approach. However, to date, few long tephra records exist from sites with continuous depositional sequences, such as lake sediments, which offer the potential to connect local and discontinuous sequences at the regional scale. Long lake sediment sequences may also capture more complete eruptive histories of understudied volcanic centres. Here, we present and date the tephrostratigraphic record of a >250,000-year (>250-kyr) continuous sediment sequence extracted from Lake Chala, a crater lake on the Kenya-Tanzania border near Mt Kilimanjaro. Single-grain glass major and minor element analyses of visible and six cryptotephra layers reveal compositions ranging from mafic foidites and basanites to more evolved tephri-phonolites, phonolites, trachytes and a single rhyolite. Of these, nine are correlated to scoria cone eruptions of neighbouring Mt Kilimanjaro or the Chyulu volcanic field ∼60 km to the north; seven are correlated to phonolitic eruptions of Mt Meru, ∼100 km to the west; and four to voluminous trachytic eruptions of Central Kenyan Rift (CKR) volcanoes located ∼350 km to the north. The only rhyolitic tephra layer, a cryptotephra, correlates to the 73.7-ka BP (before present, taken as 1950 CE) Younger Toba Tuff (YTT) from Sumatra. Two of the CKR tephra layers provide direct ties with terrestrial sequences relevant to Middle Stone Age archaeology of the eastern Lake Victoria basin in Kenya. Absolute age estimates obtained by direct 40Ar/39Ar dating of 10 tephra layers are combined with six 210Pb and 162 14C dates covering the last 25-kyr and the well-constrained known age of the YTT to build a first absolute chronology for the full Lake Chala sediment sequence. The uninterrupted >250-kyr Lake Chala sedimentary archive represents a unique tephrostratotype sequence for eastern Africa, optimising the chronological value of tephra correlations in regional palaeoenvironmental, archaeological and volcanological research. Further study of cryptotephra in the Lake Chala sequence and additional geochemical characterisation and dating of ancient volcanic eruptions from nearby and further afield may eventually produce a regionally connected and detailed tephrostratigraphic framework for eastern equatorial Africa.

The Capacity Trend Method: A new approach for enumerating the Newfoundland cod fisheries (1675–1790)

We apply a novel methodology to the study of the Newfoundland cod fisheries in order to determine a reasoned and acceptable chronological value series for total catch amounts in the early modern period where data are scarce. The paper focuses on the two main protagonists in the Newfoundland fisheries arena in that period: France and England. The period 1675–1790 has been selected as a viable and representative chronology for a case study where data, while available in part, are limited and often missing. The new methodology proposed here enables further exploration, input and assessment such that an ever-greater level of accuracy, integrity and robustness may be achieved in future.

Robert Rollinger, Angelika Kellner. “Once more the Nabonidus chronicle (BM 35382) and Cyrus’ campaign in 547 BC”

This contribution re-assesses the broken toponym in the so-called Nabonidus chronicle, which refers to the goal of Cyrus’s war campaign in 547 BC and which has been variously identified as either Lydia or Urartu. The authors iterate that the connection with Lydia is based mainly on information gleaned from Greco-Roman sources of dubious chronological value, where Cyrus’ overthrow of Croesus’ empire is conventionally dated to the mid-540s BCE. They then focus on the central geographic marker i...

Forging the trowel, hammering the Dacians: Marxism and Late Iron Age Archaeology in Romania (1948–1989)

The aim of this paper is to make a critical evaluation of the Romanian historiography from 1948–1989 which had as a subject of study the social history of the northern Balkan communities in the Late Iron Age period. The two years that I have chosen have both a symbolical and a chronological value. The year 1948 marks the beginning of an extensive and radical process of political, economic, social, and cultural changes, while the year 1989 symbolizes the fall of the Romanian “communist” regime. I propose a contextual analysis, which takes into account the evolution of the “communist” regime, as well as some key events that shaped the discourse. Through this evaluation, I want to intervene in the symbolic struggles that had as a final stake the Late Iron Age archaeology from Romania. Without claiming an objective analysis, I want to offer an alternative to the distorted portrayals which had existed so far. Although labelled as a “Communist” or “Marxist” historiography, it never strayed too far from the nationalist ideology, creating massive distortions along its way. In almost 50 years, the Romanian Late Iron Age historiography has gone from a formal and superficial application of Marxist theories, to a relative liberalization, and finally returned to an almost right‑wing discourse over the Dacian past. Moreover, I will show, in contrast to the classical post‑Communist view that the Late Iron Age archaeology in Romania was in touch, at least at some point, to the contemporary historiographical debates.

Evaluation of business activity of a construction firm

The assessment of current production activities is carried out on the example of specialized construction and installation management with the help of turnover indicators as well as the level of efficiency of use of own and borrowed funds by the enterprise was determined.
 Indicators of this group characterize the results and efficiency of the current main activity of the enterprise, such analysis can be carried out both at the qualitative level and with the help of quantitative criteria.
 The main ones are production indicators, return on assets and turnover indicators. These indicators are of great importance for assessing the financial condition of the enterprise, because the speed of turnover, i.e. the speed of their conversion into cash, directly affects the solvency. The results of the calculation of the rate of return indicate that this fact (decrease in the turnover of fixed assets) may be associated with aging and wear of production equipment, i.e. we can say that the technical level of fixed assets of the object is low.
 The coefficient of sustainability of economic growth shows the average rate at which the company can develop further, without changing the already established relationship between different sources of funding. Summarizing the comparative data, we can say that if the management of the enterprise intends to increase its production capacity in order to increase production, it is necessary to change the financial policy. The results of calculations allow to show that at the analyzed enterprise there was a significant increase in the full production cycle and turnover as a whole. The duration of the operating cycle increased by more than 1.2 times and the duration of the financial cycle by almost 2 times. This was negatively affected by the factor of a significant slowdown in the turnover of inventories. Increasing the full production cycle in the future may cause negative trends in the enterprise as a whole, because this factor will primarily affect the amount of profit, which will affect the efficiency of production. The company activities to reduce the amount of net profit was influenced primarily by the acquisition of inventories, low-value perishable items and fixed assets, as well as repayment of accounts payable and payment of penalties.
 The period of turnover of the most liquid assets during the year varied from 0.04 to 17.5 days. The average chronological value in the period of saving money in the accounts of the enterprise was 7.5 days. This fact indicates that the company, despite the apparent well-being, is experiencing a serious shortage of funds. They were enough for a little over a week. Thus, with the help of analysis of economic indicators, you can describe the general condition of the company and the possibilities of its operation and development

Dental age assessment by tooth emergence counts its chronological age predictive value in normal occlusion Bogotanians (mestizos)

Objective: (1) To test Hägg–Taranger’s method of dental age assessment (DAA) in Bogotanian children comparing findings by sex with Swedishes’ standards and (2) to investigate its chronological age predictive value for identification purposes.Material and methods: Dental age was assessed in 5–14-year-old Bogotanians, 2075 girls and 2032 boys and compared with the method’s standards. For statistical analysis, matched-pair signed-rank tests were used, and a regression model was used for investigating value as chronological age predictor from dental age.Results: No significant difference was found between means of dental ages of Bogotanians and Swedishes, except for the lower central incisors’ and second molars’ emergences. Differences by sex between dental age means were seen at all stages especially, in mixed dentition (p<.01), being Bogotanian girls earlier maturers than boys. The established regression model as chronological age predictor, was tested by the coefficient of determination, which was found r2=0.979 for girls, and 0.957 for boys.Conclusions: Sexual dimorphism in dental age suggests Hägg–Taranger’s method for identification by sex at mixed dentition. Additionally, high coefficients of determination show its reliability as chronological age predictor for ages from 5 to 12 years in girls, and to 13 years in boys.

CHISELS OF POLISHED STONE IN THE NEOLITHIC OF NORTH-WEST ROMANIA

Chisels occupy a small part of the studies concerning polished stone tools. Havying an area (the north-west of Romania) but especially two sites – Porț and Pericei- that produced a vast quantity of polished lithics, with a clear predominance of chisels, we were able to make some general observations regarding what is different about them related to other polished tools. Two main aspects were followed: ways of stone working adapted to produce chisels and the chronological value of their typology. Regarding the first issue, cores were prepared by polishing a narrow stripe indicating the part that had to be sawed for obtaining a chisel's preform. Pecking was used afterwards in different proportions, depending on the shape of the chisel. Seriation of the sites based on chisel's typology illustrate a general evolution that is marked by local preferences

Tendencies and Seasonality in the Change of the Prices of Residential Real Estates by Neighborhoods in the Capital of Bulgaria, Sofia

Abstract The aim of the present article is to research the availability of rules in the change of the prices of the most spread flats in the neighbourhoods of Sofia. The results from a research in the change of the offered prices of the residential real estates by months for an annual period of time (from October 2016 to September 2017) have been presented. The presence of an uprising tendency for the bigger share of the neighbourhoods has been proven. For those of them where there is a tendency missing are calculated indices for seasonality by the method of the mean chronological value. Upcoming seasonal deviations of the mean monthly prices from the average annual by the separate types of flats (studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom flats), whereas the highest values are registered in the summer and the early autumn - the months August and September, and the lowest in the late autumn - the months October and November. The most significant are the fluctuations in the variation of the prices in the studios, followed by the two-bedroom flats and one-bedroom flats. The results could be useful to some potential investors.

SARMATIAN NECROPOLIS FROM MEDELENI (COM. PETREŞTI, UNGHENI DISTRICT, REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA)

Medeleni sarmatian cemetery is located at the left side of the road Chișinau-Sculeni, about 1 km north of the river Prut and 1,3 km north-north-east of the Medeleni village. Reported in the winter of 2015 during the reconstruction of the irrigation system in Blindesti, the site was partially investigated, by rescue excavation, this spring. It was explored an area of 864 square meters, there havingbeen discovered five north-south oriented inhumation graves and a religiouscomplex bounded by grooves and provided with entrance in the south. All thegraves were disturbed in antiquity, skeletons being partially or fully torn. According to the inventory and anthropological measurements, the graves belonged to females people. From all complexes, stands the tomb 1, which wasprovided with a rich inventory, consisting of three pendants and 11 vestment goldapplies, 13 agate beads and a clay spindle whorl. The analysis of the inventory items with chronological value and of other objects confirm the dating ofdiscovered complexes in the second half of the century I - century II AD. Regarding the ethnic-cultural affiliation, rite, funerary practices and inventory items plead for assigning Medeleni necropolis to Sarmatian antiquities.

A biochemical approach for assessing cutoffs at the age thresholds of 14 and 18years: a pilot study on the applicability of bone specific alkaline phosphatase on an Italian sample.

The majority of age estimation methods analyze morphological changes of specific skeletal (or dental) structures reflecting global bone development (biological parameter) in order to estimate a chronological value. This morphological and structural development is the consequence of a very active tissue metabolism and intensive modeling process which involve both bone formation and bone resorption. Several biochemical markers of bone formation and bone resorption are available, and specific biochemical tests can be performed on blood or urine samples, but such markers of bone turnover have never been employed for age estimation in living individuals for forensic purposes. The aim of this study was to ascertain the applicability of serum bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) concentration in the age estimation for forensic purposes. We focused on the legal age thresholds of 14 and 18years (LAT) because, in Italy, the former is considered the minimum age for criminal responsibility and the latter defines adult age and the possibility of applying general criminal laws. This study analyzed, from a forensic point of view, BALP and Tanner stages of 202 healthy white individuals (116 females and 86 males) between the ages of 10 and 30years. We derived a linear logistic model to estimate the probability that an individual was older or younger than LAT using two variables: BALP concentration and Tanner stages. The predictive accuracy of the test was assessed by the determination of the receiver-operating characteristic curve (ROC curve). The test was performed to identify a threshold (cutoff) that could be used to assign an individual to the population of those younger or older than LAT. ROC curve showed that the use of both serum BALP concentration and Tanner stages has a very good level of reliability in age assessment (the area under the ROC curve, AUC, ranged from 0.918 to 0.962). Best results were obtained in the assessment of male over 18years of age (sensibility and specificity respectively of 0.90 and 0.93 with an accuracy of 0.92). Worst results were obtained in the assessment of female over 18years of age (sensibility and specificity respectively of 0.87 and 0.82 with an accuracy of 0.84). We also calculated the probability of the correctness in the age estimation. The results showed that the use of serum BALP concentration in the age assessment could be a promising and integrative method to established ones, but more research has to be done to validate the value of the proposed method in the forensic practice.

Clasificarea uneltelor din piatră şlefuită din situl de la Porţ-„Corău” / The Typological Clasification of the Polished Stone Tools from Porţ-„Corău”

The site of Porț-“Corău” (Sălaj County) represents the same neolithic settlement as Suplacu de Barcău-“Corău” site (Bihor County), belonging and defining the Suplac cultural group, included in the Cluj-Cheile Turzii-Lumea Nouă-Zau-Iclod-Suplac complex, redefined also as Zau culture. In both areas, but especially at Porț, a large number of polished stone tools (about 1700), showing different working stages, were discovered along with raw material showing traces of manufacture. The sistematic investigations, conducted by Doina Ignat at Suplacu de Barcău, lead to the discovery of more than 500 polished stone tools, making the site of “Corău” the richest one in this type of artifacts in the whole country. She had created a typology for chiesels, axes, adzes and smashing stones, each category being divided into types and subtypes.The preventive diggings from Porț gave us not only more polished stone artifacts, but also the possibility to reconsider their typology. First we must add some categories to those defined by D. Ignat: strikers, axe-chiesels, and tools used only for manufacturing the stone tools: sandstone slabs for polishing and stone slabs used for cutting/splitting the preforms. Second, and more important, we must redefine the types and subtypes of each category, based on common and general criterias. We have chosen usually the shape to define the type and the long profile to define the subtipe, adding here the presence of perforation. The main forms found for chiesels, axes and adzes are: rectangular, elongated, trapezoidal, oval, quadrilateral. The long profiles can be: rectangular, plain-rounded, plainconvex, rounded, oblique. Different combination between shapes and profiles appear. No chronological value can be given to the typology, the lithic material can be dated only by its context. The typology remains open for other types and subtypes based on the same criteria.

Exploring standards for industrializing human induced pluripotent stem cells

Popular belief assumes that human pluripotent cells can now be obtained in any lab or company by induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell reprogramming. However, the difficulties in robustly producing human iPS-derived cells that are fit for drug discovery are becoming increasingly apparent. This is because we still have not come up with a strict definition of pluripotency. Our attempts at prospectively identifying differentiation-defective human iPS cells using teratoma assays or marker expression have clearly failed to date. Here, we will revisit how conventional pluripotency tests have failed in evaluating iPS cells adequately for drug discovery and emphasize two aspects of developmental transitions (what we call here a cell's chronological value and the segregation of factors as it differentiates) to elucidate inherent problems with our current understanding of human iPS cells. Finally, we challenge the field by presenting our perspective on distinguishing good human iPS cells from bad ones.

Preliminary Report of the Conference on the Prehistoric Ceramics of the Maya Lowlands 1965

During the “great explorer” period of Maya archaeology, roughly 1839 to 1925, interest was centered on the ceremonial architecture, the sculpture, the hieroglyphic texts, and the occasional spectacular tombs which were found. Pottery was of interest mainly as tomb furniture or as examples of ancient aesthetics. Chronological value was incidental and implicit.

THE ANCIENT CIRCUIT WALL OF ATHENS: Its Changing Course and the Phases of Construction

This paper presents a survey of the physical remains of the ancient Athenian circuit wall, which are plotted here on a new map aligned with the city's modern urban structure. Technical details of the methods and materials of construction are reviewed in order to distinguish the characteristics of the surviving stretches of walls and to assess the chronological value of these details. The author proposes likely locations for sections of the circuit wall not yet identified. Drawing on the results of the survey and on literary and epigraphical evidence, the author identifies four courses and 15 construction phases of the city wall of Athens between the early 5th century B.C. and the mid-6th century A.D.

The Complexity of Ceramic Regions in the Iron Age Northern Levant: The Application of Correspondence Analysis to Near Eastern Ceramic Data

Despite the great effort and resource expended on its study, Iron Age pottery of the Northern Levant is rarely discussed beyond its chronological and cultural value. This is largely the result of an over-emphasis on the historical narrative, which has in turn overdetermined reconstructions of Iron Age society. However, pottery is likely to be the product of many different influences. This paper explores the relationship between the historical record and current interpretations of ceramic patterning, and presents statistical evidence for a greater level of cultural complexity than conventionally accepted.

Un atelier de fabrication de microperçoirs au Chasséen : le site de la Cabre (Var)

The technological study of the Vaucluse Bedoulian flint industry from a Chassey culture site, La Cabre (Var, France), has allowed the identification of a micro-awl production centre. Analysis of the specific production processes has shown the existence of a knapping style hitherto unknown in the Chassey culture. The results of this research testify to the particular status of the site. This study has also permitted the development of methodology concerning the southern Chassey culture lithic industry: it tests the chronological value of the different Provence knapping styles found within the lithic surface material from the La Cabre site.

A New Publication on the Date and Historiography of the Buddha's Decease (nirvāṉa): a Review Article

The date of the demise, or (Mahapāri)Nirvāṉa, of the historical Buddha Śākyamuni is one of the key chronological markers in early Indian history, one which has therefore been of pivotal importance to modern scholarship on ancient India. Whilst the dates of the conquest of Gandhāara and Sindh by the Achaemenid empire and the dates of Alexander's campaigns in the subcontinent are among the very oldest established for the history of north-western India, that of the Nirvāna of the Buddha has long been regarded as the oldest more or less fixed chronological value in the history of north-eastern India. The dating of the Buddha has a crucial significance for the dates of certain ancient Indian kings-Bimbisara of Magadha and Prasenajit (Pasenadi) of Kosala -and for that of the Jain Tīrthaṅkara Mahāvīra, for the development of Jainism and the Śramaṉa movement, and for the earlier history of the Brahmanical religion and the oldest Indian philosophy, including the thought of the Upaniṣads. Moreover, quite apart from its importance for South Asia alone, the consensus (apparently) obtaining among scholars about the time of the Buddha contributed to the elaboration by Karl Jaspers, in his book of 1955 entitled Vom Ursprung und Ziel der Geschichte, of the concept of an Axial Age (‘Achsenzeit’) around 500 B.C. when a number of epoch-making events are thought to have taken place in the ancient Eurasian world.

Paleolimnological assessment of recent environmental change in Lake Baikal: sediment chronology

Sediment cores collected from six sites in Lake Baikal as part of an extensive investigation of sediment records of recent environmental change were dated radiometrically by 210Pb. Although the results obtained were in some respects comparable to those obtained by previous 210Pb studies, there were some significant differences. Most notably, a core from abyssal depths in the centre of the middle basin appeared to record at least wo major episodes of rapid sedimentation, possibly caused by turbidity currents. All cores, including those from the North Basin, contained significant records of weapons test fallout 137Cs, though these were of little chronological value due to the long residence time of 137Cs in the water column. Models and budgets for sediment and radionuclide transport through Baikal are presented and used to help validate the 210Pb results.

Records of lunar eclipses in medieval Arabic chronicles

In a previous paper, we discussed a series of solar eclipse observations recorded in medieval Arabic chronicles both for their astronomical and chronological value. In the present paper we investigate lunar eclipses reported in these same sources as well as in many further chronicles. It should be stressed that our interest here is limited to eclipse records from chronicles; we have not included any material from technical treatises composed by astronomers. The observations are largely from al-Andalus (Islamic Spain), Egypt, Iraq, and Syria; they mainly cover the date range from A.D. 867 to 1520, with additions from 1674 to 1791.

4979512 Pulse sequence with non-constant scan repetition time for a nuclear magnetic resonance tomography apparatus

A pulse sequence is disclosed for a nuclear magnetic resonance tomography apparatus wherein the scans are executed with a non-constant repetition time, such as due to ECG triggering. Normally, the non-constancy of the repetition time in a nuclear magnetic resonance tomography apparatus results in a deterioration of the quality of the images, due to eddy currents. In the pulse sequence disclosed herein, gradient pulses having a chronological mean value are inserted in the pause between two successive scans, this chronological mean value being equal to the chronological mean value of the corresponding gradients during the scans. The disturbing influence of variable repetition times on the image quality is thus eliminated.