Early Historic Period Research Articles

Roman Coins in Andhra in the Early Historical Period

Roman Coins in Andhra in the Early Historical Period

Isles of Passages: Transport geography perspective on Calayan and Lubang as gateways to the main Island of Luzon (Metal ages to early historical period, 500 BCE to CE 1600)

Archaeological works have tended to privilege the processes behind the rise and fall of ancient culture- centers (as defined by Wallerstein 2004 in World Systems Theory) while some have attempted to integrate more data on the changes that take place in strategic nodes or peripheries that ‘feed’ into these centers (Junker and Smith, 2017; Hendrickson et al., 2013). This paper tackles how social-historical transformations may have become an impetus in the waxing and waning of gateway/ gatekeeper locations using transport geography perspective. At the center of the case study are two strategic island nodes connecting to the main Island of Luzon- – Calayan and Lubang group. The paper attempts to demonstrate that due to social-historical factors specifically evolving trade, colonial assimilation, and technological diffusion, these key players have eventually taken a backseat in the transportation and communication network in this crucial passage to Island Southeast Asia. The crux of the argument lies on probative evidence that these islands possibly supported more inhabitants before the Spanish Contact period in the 16th c, using boat shaped burial complexes and ijang (garrison) complexes as proxy indicators. Aided by geomatics and remote sensing and geographic information systems (RS-GIS) algorithms including maximum likelihood classification, band maths as well as principal component analysis, the paper emphasizes the density of possible archaeological sites in both island locales as the proxy indicator to the pre-Contact period populations. The paper argues that the introduction of blue water maritime vessels with the opening of the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade (Wu, 2019; Dizon, 2004; Dizon, 2003; Schurz, 1985 on the Manila Galleon) contributed to the waning of the strategic importance of these island nodes with the final straw being the Spanish colonial administrations’ policy of depopulating these smaller islands and relocating them to their colonial- panoptic landscapes in Luzon. The role of the prevailing market situation as dictated by rapidly evolving scales of transactions from evanescent to more permanent markets (Canilao, 2020) may have also contributed to the emergent new status quo in these isles of passage.

Ancient High-Carbon Steel from Southern Tamil Nadu, India: Microstructural and Elemental Analysis

There have been claims of early use of high-carbon steel in South India. Still, the antiquity, elemental composition and steelmaking process have not been explored adequately. The high carbon steel was known in the Iron Age or early historical period. However, the large-scale use of such steel was prevalent only in the medieval times. This article examines the presence of steel and its metallographic features in the iron artifacts retrieved from two archaeological sites, namely Ambal and Vallam, Tamil Nadu, India, with occupational evidence from the Iron Age to the medieval period through a number of scientific tests. Metallographic as well as mechanical tests were performed to identify the morphology and measure the strength respectively. Similarly, the chemical composition was determined to quantify the alloying elements in the material. The slag was exposed on the etched surface of the sample cut from axe. Microscopy and chemical composition analysis showed very fine bright dendrites of wustite in the iron slag. The deterioration of samples was confirmed in microscopic and composition analysis. The result shows that the inhabitants of ancient Ambal and the Vallam were equipped with iron smelting technology and had the knowledge of steelmaking in the Iron Age.

TRANSFORMATION OF FLOODPLAIN LANDSCAPES UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC CHANGES IN THE ENVIRONMENT (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE ZAKHARKOVO FLOODPLAIN OF THE MOSCOW RIVER)

The Zakharkovskaya floodplain of the Moscow River is located directly above the Moscow Ring Road. It is an example of a natural structure that is spontaneously restored after long-term economic use (hayfields, pastures, long-term plowing, summer cottege settlements, drainage and irrigation channels, silt sites, etc.) under conditions of cessation of intensive anthropogenic impact. The article deals with the history of the formation and development of the Zakharkovskaya floodplain in prehistoric times (late Holocene), in the early historical period (beginning-middle of the second millennium AD), and in the late historical period-XIX-XXI centuries. The regulation of water flow, which has occurred in recent decades, is accompanied by a relative stabilization of the Moscow riverbed, turning it into a canal, reducing the intensity of channel deformations, leveling the bottom relief with its general deepening. As in other floodplain plots, the territory of floodplain leaves the flood zone; depressions are filled in, lakes are degraded, and man-made terrain is formed. At the same time, the current restrictions on access to the territory of the Zakharkovskaya floodplain for 10-15 years have created conditions for the restoration of natural structures, in particular, forest and shrub tracts, and increased the landscape and ecological attractiveness of floodplain lands.

Late Quaternary sediments dated to between 12.5 and 2.3 ka and associated microlithic occurrences in the central Narmada Basin, Madhya Pradesh, India

AbstractThe earliest occurrences of microliths in South Asia date back to the Late Pleistocene at Mehtakheri (45 ka) and Dhaba (48 ka) in central India, Jwalapuram 9 in southern India (38 ka), Kana and Mahadebbara in northeastern India (42–25 ka), and Batadomba–Lena (36–35 ka) and Fa Hien Lena (48 ka) in Sri Lanka. Microlithic technology is distributed across the entire Indian subcontinent, and chronologically continues up to the Iron Age and Early Historic periods. This chapter discusses new data acquired from the first author's doctoral research in two districts of Madhya Pradesh (Hoshangabad and Sehore), which are located in the part of the Narmada Basin in central India. We present here preliminary dates from key areas of distribution in order to understand the geochronological contexts of microliths at Pilikarar, Morpani and Gurla-Sukkarwada. Initial dates from these respective occurrences range between 12.5 and 2.3 ka.

A new chronology based on OSL and radiocarbon dating for the archaeological settlements of Vadnagar (western India) along with magnetic and isotopic imprints of cultural sediments

Vadnagar town of western India (North Gujarat) possess continuous human habitation record since ~2500 years. Owing to its rich cultural heritage, the town had been visited by Chinese pilgrims including Hiuen Tsang in 640 CE. Recent archaeological excavations at Vadnagar revealed continuous sequence of seven successive cultures from the Early historic (6th century BCE to 4th century BCE) period till present. From 2017 to 18 excavation seasons, ~18–20 m accumulation of cultural deposits were found at Ambaghat and Darbargarh localities. To complement and fortify the cultural chronology of these ancient cultural deposits, both conventional radiocarbon (C-14) and optically stimulated dating (OSL) methods were employed. Three C-14 and five OSL dates matched perfectly with the cultural ages of deposits and the entire cultural sequence spanned between 2nd century BCE to 6th century CE. Geochemical proxies (δ13C, δ 15N, C/N ratios) of excavated soil-sediments were measured to infer hydro-environmental conditions while soil magnetic parameters (χlf, χhf and χfd%) were measured to assess anthropogenic heating history. Average δ 13CTOC values of both trenches (−20.7 ± 3.5‰, −19.5 ± 3.5‰) indicated drier status of soil-sediments. Soil magnetic susceptibilities at lower and higher frequency ranges (χlf and χhf) varied in overlapping ranges i.e. 88.5 ± 43.1 and 121.4 ± 72.1 (10−8m3 kg−1) respectively, indicating the presence of super paramagnetic grains in the soil attributable to firing activities of soil-sediment. Average χfd% values (8.3 ± 1.1, 7.7 ± 2.0) indicate excavated soils undergone pedogenic processes.

Megalithic Period in North Maidan, Karnataka

The megalithic period in Karnataka is significant as it witnessed technological developments like the beginning of use of iron and fast wheel for the making of pottery as well as socio-economic and institutional developments such as the emergence of an agrarian base, demographic expansion, rudimentary craft specialisation, a developing exchange network and a degree of social differentiation. Many features typical of the megalithic phase continue into the early historic period. In fact, the megalithic and the early historical do not essentially represent two distinct chronological entities and are found overlapping at certain sites. So far, there is no literary evidence for the culture, and there is nothing to suggest that the society was literate—if graffiti on the megalithic pottery do not turn out to be symbols of writing

CMIP5 Intermodel Relationships in the Baseline Southern Ocean Climate System and With Future Projections

AbstractClimate models exhibit a broad range in the simulated properties of the climate system. In the early historical period, the absolute global mean surface air temperature in Coupled Model Intercomparison Project, Phase 5 (CMIP5) models spans a range of ∼12°C – 15°C. Other climate variables may be linked to global mean temperature, and so accurate representation of the baseline climate state is crucial for meaningful future climate projections. In CMIP5 baseline climate states, statistically significant intermodel correlations between Southern Ocean surface temperature, outgoing shortwave radiation, cloudiness, the position of the mid‐latitude eddy‐driven jet, and Antarctic sea ice area are found. The baseline temperature relationships extend to projected future changes in the same set of variables, impacting on the projected global mean surface temperature change. Models with initially cooler Southern Ocean tend to exhibit more global warming, and vice versa for initially warmer models. These relationships arise due to a “capacity for change”. For example, cold‐biased models tend to have more cloud cover, sea ice, and equatorward jet initially, and thus a greater capacity to lose cloud cover and sea ice, and for the jet to shift poleward under global warming. A first look at emerging data from CMIP6 reveals a shift of the relationship from the Southern Ocean towards the Antarctic region, possibly due to reductions in Southern Ocean biases, such as in westerly wind representation.

Ethnohistorical Archaeology and the Mythscape of the Naga in the Chiang Saen Basin, Thailand

AbstractThere is a northern Thai story that tells how the naga—a mythical serpent—came and destroyed the town known as Yonok (c. thirteenth century) after its ruler became immoral. Despite this divine retribution, the people of the town chose to rebuild it. Many archaeological sites indicate resettlement during this early historical period. Although many temple sites were constructed in accordance with the Buddhist cosmology, the building patterns vary from location to location and illustrate what this paper calls ‘nonconventional patterns,’ distinct from Theravada Buddhist concepts. These nonconventional patterns of temples seem to have been widely practiced in many early historical settlements, e.g., Yonok (what is now Wiang Nong Lom). Many local written documents and practices today reflect the influence of the naga myth on building construction. This paper will demonstrate that local communities in the Chiang Saen basin not only believe in the naga myth but have also applied the myth as a tool to interact with the surrounding landscapes. The myth is seen as a crucial, communicated element used by the local people to modify and construct physical landscapes, meaning Theravada Buddhist cosmology alone cannot explain the nonconventional patterns. As such, comprehending the role of the naga myth enables us to understand how local people, past and present, have perceived the myth as a source of knowledge to convey their communal spaces within larger cosmological concepts in order to maintain local customs and legitimise their social space.

Middle Neolithic pits and Bronze Age activity at Tinto Sand and Gravel Quarry, Thankerton, South Lanarkshire

An investigation by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd took place in late 2002 ahead of the extension of a sand and gravel quarry near Thankerton, South Lanarkshire. Excavations revealed domestic activity dating from the middle Neolithic to the late Bronze Age, with a further phase of activity in the early historic period. Middle Neolithic pits were recorded across the site and contained sherds of Impressed Ware, a polished stone axe and an assemblage of lithics. Following the middle Neolithic there appears to have been a hiatus in activity until the Bronze Age. Several late Bronze Age features were recorded including at least two ring-ditches. The latest feature on site is a bicameral enclosure, with a possible palisade of uncertain date.

Terracotta figurines found on the <em>Diyabate</em> Rock belonging to the <em>Thabbowa- Maradanmaduwa</em> culture

Terracotta figurines were discovered throughout Sri Lanka especially in the Northern, North Central and Eastern dry zones, have been traditionally assigned to the Thabbbowa- Maradanmaduwe culture the discovered sites indicate that they are closely connected with river basins, canals, tanks and agricultural landscapes. Terracotta figurines found from Diyabete rock in the Wanni Hathpaththu was the subject of this research and it is a place where archaeological evidence dating back to many ages. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the Terracotta figurines found during the survey of Diyabete rock. Diyabate rock is located in the village of Kattabuwawa in the Maho divisional secretariat in the Kurunegala district of the Northwestern province. It belongs to the dry zone of Sri Lanka. The research problem of this study is, to find out If the Terracotta figurines found during the survey is similar to the Thabbowa Maradanmaduwa culture. The hypothetical- deductive method was used during the research and based on the hypothesis that these terracotta figurines are belonging to the Thabbowa Maradanmaduwa culture. The data record was created by the non-structural field survey, library survey, taking photographs, drawing, studying 1:50000 metric maps and by taking measurements. Terracotta figurines are found throughout South Asia including Sri Lanka and range in date from the Neolithic Period, through the Early Historic Period and into the present. Accordingly, the geographical features similar to other places in the island where elements of the Thabbowa Maradanmaduwa culture are found can be seen in this place as well. During the study, this makes it possible to believed that the features of this terracotta belong to Thabbowa-Maradammaduwa culture. However, the data obtained from the surface survey carried out here is not sufficient to come to an accurate conclusion and it is necessary to study this site extensively.

The relationship of family structure and women’s sport education in the Gokturk state

Examining the ethnogenesis system of the Gokturk state, family structure, sports that they formed mainly in war physical education and the involvement of Gokturk women with sports were tried to be determined. The meta-analysis method has been used to achieve this goal. In the early periods of history, the Gokturks gave rights similar to the rights that today's modern law grants to women and children. The family order in Gokturk nation gave each family member some rights and responsibilities while the buying and selling of women and children as goods in other societies, where the father had all kinds of savings on women and children, were common. We can explain the body control and regulation of the Gokturk state as follows: biopolitics for women and men in the archaic period did not differ, even if it differed in the contemporary world. Although the main duty of women is motherhood, they have dealt with all kinds of sports as in the case of the female heroes (inscriptions, epics, rock paintings, kurgans and miniatures). According to the data obtained, social life in the Gokturk state has been constructed in parallel with today's modern concept of gender. Female and male Gokturks were subjected to a physical education that would take part in attack-defense in wartime and in the economy in peacetime (heroism, blacksmithing, mud-brickwork, handicrafts, housework, trade, etc.).

Environmental Influence in Selecting Wonosari Basin as Settlement in Early History Period

Wonosari Basin is a plateau area and has been inhabited by humans continuously. This research goal is to determine the environmental factors that considered by humans to settle in Wonosari Basin in proto-history until Hindu-Buddhist period. Data used in this study are proto-history and Hindu-Buddhist sites distribution in Wonosari Basin. Analysis is conducted by spatial approach through map overlaying between sites distribution and environmental variable such as water source, slope, soil, and rock formation. This study shows that Wonosari Basin has been selected by human to settle because it has greater water source compared to other landform area in Gunung Sewu. In addition, Wonosari Basin has large flat area which simplify accessibility to utilize natural resource.

Study and characterisation of ancient terracotta ring well from pattaraiperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, India

This investigation is on the terracotta sample taken from the terracotta ring well expected to be built during the early historic period, excavates at Pattaraiperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, India. The study included heritage, architectural as well the civil aspects of the well. The sample was examined using Optical microscopy, Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy with the aid of Energy dispersive X-Ray analysis, X-Ray Powder Diffraction, X-Ray Fluorescence, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and Thermogravimetry / Differential Thermal Analysis to find the mineralogical composition, morphology and the temperature of firing of the sample. From X-Ray Powder Diffraction results it was clear that quartz and feldspar were in higher percentage in the sample, the images captured from the optical microscope also agrees with this. The firing temperature during the time of manufacture was found to be between 600 and 900 °C using the Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy. The Thermogravimetry & Differential Thermal Analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy results agrees with this. The physical properties of the sample were studied using water absorption, porosity and bulk density test which gave an idea about the less porous structure and thus lower burning temperature. From the X-Ray Fluorescence data it was found that the terracotta sample is non calcareous low refractory type. From the combined results it was clear that quartz and feldspar were in higher percentage in the sample and firing temperature during the time of manufacture was detected to be 600–900 °C. The 3-Dimentional drawing of the terracotta ring well was prepared for the accurate dimensions of the well. Exact age of the well the sample was determined to be approximately 2100 years by Optically Stimulated Luminescence test.

The typology, production and adornment of Gandharan beads during the mid-3rd century BCE – 1st century CE: Preliminary results from Barikot, Swat, Pakistan

This study of beads from the site of Barikot, Pakistan provides new perspectives on the typological and technological methods of bead production in use during the mid-3rd BCE – 1st century CE. Through the analysis of raw materials and bead types it also opens a window on the socio-economic and technological aspects of the Early Historic Period in the north-western subcontinent, specifically on the Greco-Bactrian, Indo-Greek and Saka-Parthian periods. This approach will also provide, by extension, important perspectives on adornment practises in use at Barikot. The site of Barikot has been stratigraphically excavated by the ISMEO Italian Archaeological Mission in Pakistan and is one of the few sites from this time period that has a chronology supported with numerous radiocarbon dates.

THE VIEW ON THE DENTAL MORBIDITY INDICATORS OF THE CHILDREN UKRAINIAN NOGAI POPULATION AT THE XV CENTURY DEALS WITH THE NEW STUDYING METHODS USED FOR ANTHROPOLOGICAL MATERIAL FROM THE MAMAY GORA BURIAL GROUND

The subject matter was the children dental status having involved in study anthropological bone material different historical eras. The 133 remains skeletons of children were examined. The control and main groups consisted with the skeletons of children who had lived in the Nogai and Golden Horde periods, respectively, which in turn the last included children skeletons of earlier historical times.
 The author’s method was used in our scientific research. The ancient people skeletons were examined in historical and medical anthropology laboratory of the municipal institution “Conservation Centre and Research of Archaeological Monuments” of the Poltava Regional Council and the Department of Pediatric Therapeutic Dentistry with the Dental Diseases Prevention UMSA.
 The control group has included the children with maxillofacial pathology but their musculoskeletal system hasn’t been changed. However, two children have a “thin line” dental deposit in permanent and primary teeth.
 Two enamel hypoplasia specimens were detected in bone materials, five specimens of anomalies development dento-maxillofacial region and two dental specimens with markers determined of social society affiliation in the main children's group of the Middle Ages consist with of Golden Horde children. The main group results were compared with control group related to one period.
 The increase in the incidence of dental pathology was directly proportional to the number of children examined in the group.
 The dental pathology incidence was directly proportional relation increases to the examined children quantity in the group. The bone skeleton injury was found only in Golden Horde children group. The Middle Ages is characterized with the average diseases prevalence in Europe and America populations.
 We were determined the carious process and periodontal pathology were absence in deciduous and permanent teeth in the base and control children groups represent Middle Ages, after morphological and statistical processing of the collected archaeological, bone material.
 The dental mineralized deposits have a similar shape in base and control groups children of the Middle Ages in the studied territory of Ukraine.
 The dental mineralized plaque had a huge volume and was occupied a massive teeth square in examined children group identified with earlier historical periods and the Middle Ages. The research has shown that the dental deposit has a gradual evolutionary development in teeth of children groups at the Middle Ages.

Relative impacts of land‐use and climate change on grasshopper range shifts have changed over time

AbstractAimStopping the decline of biodiversity is one of today’s greatest challenges. To help address this, we require studies that disentangle the effects of the most important drivers behind species range losses and shifts. In this large‐scale study, we aim to evaluate the relative impacts of changes in land use and climate on distributional changes in grasshoppers.LocationCentral Europe.Time periodHistorical (pre‐1990 vs. 1990–1999); recent (1990–1999 vs. 2000–2017).Major taxa studiedOrthoptera (hereafter referred to as grasshoppers).MethodsWe used an advanced modelling approach within the framework of spatial point pattern analysis (SPPA) to calculate distributional changes of 58 grasshopper species based on > 100,000 aggregated observational records. Historical and recent range shifts were compared among four functional groups and analysed against: (a) the species temperature index (STI); and (b) the species farmland index (SFI).ResultsDuring the earlier historical period, most species suffered from large range losses, with habitat specialists declining more than generalists with equal mobility. Range retractions were related to species with high SFI values; that is, species associated with farmland having a high natural value. In contrast, during the recent period the distribution of less mobile species generally remained stable, whereas highly mobile species even expanded their ranges, irrespective of their habitat specificity. Additionally, range expansions occurred mostly among thermophilic species; that is, those with high STI values.Main conclusionsThis is the first large‐scale study world‐wide that quantifies both historical and recent range shifts of numerous grasshopper species. Our results suggest that historical range losses were mainly caused by severe loss of semi‐natural habitats pre‐1990. Recently, global warming has led to range expansions of several grasshopper species. The challenge now is to ensure the persistence of species that might not be able to evade future climate change owing to the increasing lack of suitable refuge habitats in intensive agricultural landscapes.

GAZİANTEP’E ÖZGÜ BİR EL DOKUMASI KUMAŞ TÜRÜ OLARAK KUTNU VE ÜRETİMİNDE KULLANILAN RENKLER

Anatolian lands are home to many cultural heritages as handicrafts. Cultural heritage is one of the elements that make it possible to have information about the region, geography and the region. The majority of these are handicrafts. Gaziantep has been one of the important cities in the transfer of many handicrafts to the next generations since the early periods of history. Kutnu fabric is one of the handicrafts of Gaziantep region, which still continues today by the masters of this work dating back to the 16th century. Kutnu has become a valuable fabric due to the laborious production stages and the fact that it contains no synthetic materials and does not harm the body. It has a structure with a warp silk and a cotton scarf. Kutnu has many varieties with different names. When the Kutnu fabric is examined, it is seen that the dominant color is yellow, but it is used in colors such as red, black, green, purple, pink and blue. Colors have an important place in the phenomenon of fashion. In this study, the sources related to the colors used in kutnu fabric and its production were examined and a literature review was made; The effects of the colors used in kutnu fabric on people, their message and symbolic meanings were examined. As a result, as a result of the interviews with Kutnu master Muhittin Eldemir, this information was obtained on how color preferences used in kutnu fabric were formed: yellow, red and blue colors, which are the main colors, were obtained with root dyes, and then the main colors were mixed with the master colors and master-apprentice It is seen that color preferences continue in the same way today

Pottery production and trades in Tamil Nadu region: new insights from Alagankulam and Keeladi excavation sites

This research is part of a wider scientific Italian-Indo project finalised to shed lights on pottery fabrication and trade circulation in Tamil Nadu region during Early Historical Period. The recent archaeological excavations carried out in Alagankulam—a famous harbour trading with the eastern and western world—and in Keeladi—the most ancient civilization centre attested in Tamil Nadu region—provided numerous fragments of archaeological ceramics. The typological analysis enabled the identification of different pottery classes, suggesting the presence of local productions, possible imports and imitations. Studied shards included common Indian vessels, fine wares and luxury ware repertoire. The provenance identification of some of the studied typologies is still debated in the literature; for long time, the misattribution of several ceramic classes has led to wrong interpretations on the commercial connections between India and the Western and Eastern Mediterranean area. The minero-petrographic and spectroscopic investigation of several ceramic fragments from the two investigated archaeological sites enabled the systematic compositional characterization of specific ceramic classes both locally manufactured and imported. The obtained results contributed to draw short-range and long-range connections in Tamil Nadu area.

Irregular Migration in the Context of Turkey and European Union Relations: Readmission Agreements

In its most general definiton, migration refers to the action of people moving from one place to another for various reasons. Today, millions of people participate in migration movements that have been encountered since the early periods of history. An important point in migration is the people who do not enter and are not in the land in accordance with the laws of the countries they migrate to. This type of immigration and immigrants, expressed by the terms "irregular immigration" and "irregular immigrant", point to a global problem.
 Millions of people who migrated after the Syrian Crisis have added a new dimension to the world's migration history. Turkey, which is bordered by the crisis and adopt the "open door policy" and The European Union, which is the most important target due to living conditions, is the parties most affected by the migration movements of this period. The migration movements directed towards them also mobilized the European Union. Indeed, in this context, Turkey which is located in the irregular migration routes and neighboring European Union, due to the immigrants it hosts and its geographical location, it can make various agreements with the European Union on immigration. Readmission Agreements, which regulate return of irregular migrants, are the most important common step towards irregular migration in the late relations of the two sides.