Southwest Switzerland Research Articles

Reindeer Hunting in the Upper Palaeolithic: Sex Ratios as a Reflection of Different Procurement Strategies

This paper is a first attempt to investigate the variability in reindeer-procurement strategies in Upper Palaeolithic sites by means of sex ratios, as reflected by osteometrical data. For this purpose the “Variability Size Index” method is employed. The idea behind the analysis is that sex ratios in reindeer (but also in red deer and in bovids) were mainly determined—as they are in modern populations—by the reproductive biology of the animals and not by environmental conditions. Thus, any deviations from these ratios must be explained in terms of behavioural/cultural variables. The faunal material for the study comes from sites in southwest France, Switzerland and southern Germany. During the Upper Palaeolithic females dominate in all assemblages, but a clear variability can be seen: some sites show sex ratios similar to those found in Palaeolithic carnivore dens, whereas other sites show somewhat higher frequencies of bulls. The variation in the sex ratios of reindeer among Upper Palaeolithic sites cannot be explained by either their chronological position or topographical location, but it is more probably a result from seasonal differences in reindeer-procurement. Thus generalizations about the exploitation of reindeer or other prey species based on results of a single site or layer of a site will mask the variability in the subsistence strategies which existed either during the Upper Palaeolithic or, at a finer scale, even during the Magdalenian.

‘Terra Sigillata imitations’ from Nyon (SW Switzerland): one of Fronto’s workshops?

The production of Terra Sigillata imitations (TSI) from Nyon (south-west Switzerland) (15–30 A.D.) was studied from the chemical-mineralogical point of view, in order to define a new reference group and to prove if one piece stamped by the potter Fronto (ZA165) and found at the same place, was produced in the workshop of Nyon. Three Fronto stamped wasters found at Augst were compared with the local Nyon TSI in order to verify the possibility of the existence of two different workshops of this potter during the Gallo-Roman period. The analysed Nyon wasters may be divided into two groups, differing in CaO content. Most of the samples are characterised by high CaO concentrations and the Fronto stamped piece (ZA 165) is similar to this group. Nine samples form a small cluster characterised by lower CaO and MgO contents. Stamped wasters from Augst show a very different chemical pattern compared with the TSI of Nyon. One new reference group is proposed, consisting of CaO-rich samples from Nyon. Samples from Augst were certainly produced in a different workshop. The presence of two Fronto workshops is therefore presumed.

Concentrations and distribution of some polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an ombrotrophic peat bog profile of Switzerland

An efficient method was developed for the analysis of selected PCBs and PAHs in dry peat samples. The method includes a shaking extraction using acetone and hexane followed by the purification of the crude extract by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) which turned out to be the key clean-up step. The method was used to determine seven indicator PCBs and 16 EPA-PAHs in individual sections of an ombrotrophic peat core in south-west Switzerland. The maximum concentrations of PCBs (19 μg ∑ PCBs/kg dm) were found at a peat depth of 10–15 cm which is estimated to correspond to a time period of 1976–1960 whereas the PAH profile showed a maximum (2853 μg ∑ PAHs/kg dm) at a depth of 20–25 cm which represents circa 1951–1930. Compared to these maxima, the concentrations of PAHs in the top layer (1990–1986) are six times lower, but the decline in PCBs is only 38%. The concentration profiles are generally consistent with known changes in contaminant emissions, and suggest that more detailed studies of ombrogenic peat bog profiles could be used for detailed reconstructions of the changing atmospheric fluxes of these and other organic contaminants.

Ira Dei, Material Culture, and Behavior in the Late Middle Ages: Evidence from German-speaking Europe

In the German-speaking areas of the late Middle Ages, including central, south and southwest Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, discourse about material culture and behavior was sometimes extraordinarily rich. This is particularly true for all phenomena within the public sphere of life, especially those concerning outer appearance: dress, housing, festivities, food and meals taken outside the private house, and so on. In chronicles, laws, charters, travel literature, religious and secular literature, sermons, and in other forms, the discussion could become detailed and heated. The sources often deal with exceptional and special cases that had to be positively evaluated, or, more often, criticized, made fun of, condemned or prohibited.

Forensic evaluation of mtDNA in a population from south west Switzerland.

The polymorphism of the two hypervariable segments (HVI and HVII) of the control region of mtDNA was analyzed in a population of 154 unrelated individuals from south west Switzerland using a fluorescent based capillary electrophoresis sequencing method. In our population data of 154 random individuals, 137 mtDNA types were observed. Of these, 124 sequences were observed only in one individual whereas 10 sequences were observed in 2 individuals, 2 sequences in 3 individuals and 1 sequence in 4 individuals. The probability of two unrelated individuals having the same sequence was 0.84%. The results were compared with four other Caucasian populations. Furthermore, the usefulness of the mtDNA sequencing was tested, for exclusion and inclusion, in 18 forensic cases including 69 evidence samples and 44 reference samples. Despite the fact that 55% of the evidence samples yielded a negative result for the nuclear DNA with the human dot quantitation system, the success rate of the mtDNA sequencing was 71.0%. This validation study proves the great usefulness and sensitivity of the mtDNA sequencing technique using nested PCR and fluorescent capillary electrophoresis.

Competition for food by expanding pipistrelle bat populations (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) might contribute to the decline of lesser horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros)

The bat species Rhinolophus hipposideros has undergone a dramatic decline throughout much of western Europe from the 1960s. The mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon have not been conclusively identified. At the same time, some populations of Pipistrellus pipistrellus have increased substantially, possibly as a consequence of foraging upon insects attracted by street lamps. To evaluate whether there might be some ecological link between the opposite demographic trends observed in the two species, we compared the diets of two sympatric populations of R. hipposideros and P. pipistrellus in south-west Switzerland. The two bat species fed upon the same categories of prey, mainly moths and Diptera, and we were not able to recognize interspecific differences in diet composition in spring when resources were most likely to be limiting. Although using different foraging strategies, both species may visit the same or adjacent feeding grounds, therefore potentially competing for the same populations of prey. Although conclusive evidence is still needed, bat conservation policy should pay more attention to this possibility.

Forensic validation of the short tandem repeat HUMACTBP2 using capillary electrophoresis.

Experiments were performed to evaluate the forensic identification of the short tandem repeat (STR) HUMACTBP2 (human beta-actin-related pseudogene) using automated fluorescence-based capillary electrophoresis. The HUMACTBP2 is a complex tetranucleotide STR locus with more than 32 alleles in the range of 202-323 bp. The reproducibility of genetic typing using a fluorescent labeled allelic ladder was determined by comparison of the calculated fragment size after consecutive (within-day) and nonconsecutive (day to day) injection. The maximum variation in size (window) observed for any allele was 0.23 bp for the within-day and 0.8 bp for the day-to-day precision. Furthermore, it is possible to achieve a 1 bp resolution, the precision of the reproducibility assays being about 99.95%. Sixty blood samples and twenty stains were typed with both automated fluorescent sequencer ABI 373A and ABI 310. Identical genotypes were obtained with both techniques and the ABI 310 seemed to be more sensitive than the ABI 373A. A population sample of 197 unrelated individuals from southwest Switzerland was analyzed and the genotype frequencies observed were similar to those reported by others. Thirty-one alleles and 126 genotypes were found. The observed heterozygosity was 0.934. Mixtures from two different blood samples varying in their ratio were typed and the minor fraction was detectable to about 1:10. The practical usefulness of the HUMACTBP2 is illustrated by analyzing casework samples. This validation study proves the usefulness of the HUMACTBP2 locus in forensics and the detection efficiency using fluorescent capillary electrophoresis.

F13B and CD4 allele frequencies in south west Switzerland.

Allele frequencies of the two short tandem repeat (STR) systems F13B and CD4 were determined in a population sample from South West Switzerland using PCR analysis. We found five alleles for both STRs in a population sample of 205 unrelated individuals. No significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed.

Evaluation and usefulness of reverse dot blot DNA-PolyMarker typing in forensic case work

Experiments were performed to evaluate the Amplitype PolyMarker DNA typing system for application to forensic casework. DNA extraction using chelex was compared with phenol-chloroform extraction for various biological materials including postmortem blood, blood samples used for alcohol quantification, fresh urine, envelopes and cigarette butts. Different amounts of genomic DNA were amplified to test the sensitivity of the Amplitype PM. Mixed samples of two different bloods were typed to determine the dilution at which mixtures could be detected. Different storage conditions were evaluated using urine samples. Postmortem blood samples were typed during 4 months to determine the effects of natural degradation. A population sample of 105 unrelated individuals from South-West Switzerland was analyzed and the genotype frequencies were compared with those reported by others. Finally, practical usefulness of the Amplitype PM system is illustrated by analysing casework samples. The results of this validation proved the great usefulness and sensitivity of the Amplitype PM system using the appropriate extraction and typing method. However, mixed samples had to be interpreted with caution owing to the possibility of non-specific alleles with stored material such as urine and postmortem blood.

Eoalpine high-pressure metamorphism in the Piemonte zone of the Alps: south-west Switzerland and north-west Italy

Eoalpine high-pressure metamorphism in the Piemonte zone of the Alps: south-west Switzerland and north-west Italy

Quartz textures from the Simplon Fault Zone, southwest Switzerland and north Italy

Quartz textures measured from monomineralic veins within the Simplon Fault Zone show very similar patterns over a strike length of some 30 km. The c -axes form asymmetric, kinked single girdles, with variably developed vestiges of crossed girdle limbs. The kinking of the girdle may be controlled by the two c -axis orientations where double rhomb 〈 a 〉 slip is possible. A strong 〈 a 〉 maximum lies between 20° and 30° to the lineation in the XZ plane, which seems too large to be the angle to the bulk shear plane. Straight single girdle patterns may be possible for strict simple shear. In natural fault zones, where deformation is in general heterogeneous on all scales, kinked single girdles and Type I crossed girdle textures are much more common, perhaps because such textures provide more freedom to accommodate a general two-dimensional strain.

Atypical textures in quartz veins from the Simplon Fault Zone

Samples of monomineralic quartz veins from the Simplon Fault Zone in southwest Switzerland and north Italy generally have asymmetric, single girdle c-axis patterns similar to textures measured from many other regions. Several samples have characteristically different textures, however, with a strong single c-axis maximum near the intermediate specimen axis Y (the direction within the foliation perpendicular to the lineation X) and a tendency for the other crystal directions to be weakly constrained in their orientation about this dominant c-axis maximum. This results in ‘streaked’ pole figure patterns, with an axis of rotation parallel to the c-axis maximum. These atypical samples also have a distinctive optical microstructure, with advanced recrystallization and grain growth resulting in a strong shape fabric ( S B ) oblique to the dominant regional foliation ( S A ), whereas typical samples have a strong S A fabric outlined by very elongate, only partially recrystallized, ribbon grains. The recrystallized grains of the atypical samples are themselves deformed and show strong undulose extinction and a core-mantle recrystallization structure. The streaked texture is likely to be a direct consequence of lattice bending and kinking during heterogeneous slip on the favoured first-order prism (10 1 0) (a) system, the heterogeneity itself being due to problems in maintaining coherence across grain boundaries when insufficient independent easy-slip systems are available for homogeneous strain by dislocation glide. Such bending would be particularly prevalent in very elongate, thin ribbon grains, resulting in high internal strain energy and promoting recrystallization. Thus both the texture and the microstructure could be significantly modified by later strain increments affecting quartz grains with an already developed, nearly single-crystal texture.

Structural evolution in thrust belts and relative plate motion: The Upper Pennine Piemont Zone of the internal Alps, southwest Switzerland and northwest Italy

The earliest (Ll) extension lineation of the polyphase deformation sequence in the Combin and Zermatt‐Saas Fee Units of the Piemont Zone of the upper Pennine nappes trends roughly NW‐SE and the geochronological and stratigraphical constraints indicate that the nappe transport and the associated stretching lineation occurred between about 100 and 70 Ma. This accords in a general way with the relative motion of the African Plate to the European Plate during the late Cretaceous as determined from reconstructions of the opening of the Atlantic Ocean and suggests that late Cretaceous thrusting in the Swiss Alps was driven fairly directly by the Africa/Europe plate motion.

Glaucophane Fabric in the Cover of the Monte Rosa Nappe, Zermatt–Saas Fee, Southwest Switzerland

To satisfy experimental data of phase equilibria and rock strength, current plate-tectonic models suggest that blueschist parageneses in Mesozoicophiolites in mountain belts may have formed in subduction-zone environments. However, structural geometry and estimates of overburden thickness in the region of the Mischabel backfold in the western Alps suggest that mesoscopic linear fabrics of glaucophane and other minerals formed at a relatively shallow depth during backfolding. They either grew syntectonically or were rotated as pre-existing minerals into a preferred linear orientation. It is proposed that the glaucophane lineation formed during the Barrovian Lepontine phase of Alpine metamorphism late in, or after, the northward transport of the Monte Rosa nappe, which in turn moved after obduction of its Mesozoic envelope of oceanic ophiolites (with its blueschist parageneses formed in a Tethyan subduction zone) onto European sialic crust that now forms the core of this nappe.

PROGRESS IN LAND CONSOLIDATION IN SPAIN

N a previous study the writer examined in detail the problems of minifundismo and property fragmentation in Spain, and the structure and reform program of the Servicio de Concentracion Parcelaria.' Even utilizing the 1945 figures. of the Servicio de Catastro de Ruistica, which at that time had surveyed little more than half of the 120 million acres of the country, it could be vividly shown that central and northern Spain (together with northwest France, southwest Germany, and southwest Switzerland) presented some of the most severe cases in Europe of excessive subdivision of landholdings.2 Especially since 1954 survey work has proceeded at a faster rate, reaching a total taxable area of 103 million acres by December 31, 1959. The latest figures permit a reanalysis of the extent of property fragmentation in Spain,3 while at the same time the June 1960 report of the S.C.P. reveals the notable progress being made in solving the problem.4