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Cambridge Archaeol J 2 (2)
Title
The title of the publication or report
Title:
Cambridge Archaeol J 2 (2)
Series
The series the publication or report is included in
Series:
Cambridge Archaeological Journal
Volume
Volume number and part
Volume:
2 (2)
Publication Type
The type of publication - report, monograph, journal article or chapter from a book
Publication Type:
Journal
Year of Publication
The year the book, article or report was published
Year of Publication:
1992
Note
Extra information on the publication or report.
Note:
Date Of Issue From: 1992
Source
Where the record has come from or which dataset it was orginally included in.
Source:
BIAB (The British Archaeological Bibliography (BAB))
Created Date
The date the record of the pubication was first entered
Created Date:
20 Jan 2002
Please click on an Article link to go to the Article Details.
Article Title
Access Type
Author / Editor
Page
Start/End
Abstract
Symbolism in the Early Palaeolithic: a conceptual odyssey
Andrew I Duff
Thomas J Chadderdon
Geoffrey A Clark
211 - 229
It is suggested that archaeologists have been naive to expect that symbolic behaviour can be inferred more or less directly from the characteristics of an archaeological record. This article examines various interpretations of symbolism and its relationship to signs indexes and style that are derived from more fully established theories of cognition in psychology, anthropology, linguistics and primatology. The paper moves towards the development of a more adequate operational definition of symbolism, and to determine whether these more stringent criteria for inferring symbolic behaviour can be met in `pre-modern' contexts. A review of the archaeopalaeontological record suggests that the roots of symbolism can be traced to the Lower and Middle Palaeolithic, but that evidence for a robust pattern documenting its presence is not found until the Upper Palaeolithic. It is argued that symbolism had adaptive significance, but that it probably developed in contexts distinct from those in which it is manifest today.
Cereal pollen dispersal: a pilot study
Mim A Bower
236 - 241
Reports an experimental project designed to monitor ways in which human activity in the form of cereal processing may act on the pollen record: specifically to record the extent and level of pollen release at each stage of crop processing. Pollen traps were laid in two zones around the processing area, in addition to aerial traps. There were also controls to account for the laboratory conditions. Processes monitored took the following sequence: drying; threshing; first winnowing; pounding; sieving and second winnowing. The results are presented in the form of histograms comparing levels of pollen found at each of the three trap sites. Threshing and sieving produced the highest pollen outfall although it is noted that had traps been placed inside the mortar at the pounding stage then the level of pollen recorded would have been higher. It is hoped that future studies of this kind will enable the pollen record to be more readily interpreted. The current project at West Stow Anglo-Saxon village, to monitor similar processes in field conditions, is also noted.
Excavations at Bolsay Farm, a Mesolithic settlement on Islay
Steven J Mithen
Bill Finlayson
Nyree Finlay
M W Lake
242 - 253
Discovered by the Southern Hebrides Mesolithic Project (SHMP) in 1989 the site has currently been subject to two seasons of excavation. The SHMP was established 1988 to provide regional study of Mesolithic settlement in the southern Hebrides, particularly to explore the relationship between Obanian settlement and narrow blade sites. Other factors of relevance include colonisation after the last glacial and the transition to agriculture in western Scotland, which have importance on a national, as well as a regional, scale. Excavations aim to acquire a series of lithic assemblages, excavated and analysed in precisely the same manner as other sites in the project, together with contextual information concerning site size, dating, features and spatial patterning. Evidence recovered included a large flint assemblage similar to other narrow blade sites, elongated pebble tools and prehistoric pottery sherds. Further interpretation is dependant on current post-excavation work.
The stuff legends in archaeology are made of: a reply to critics
Robert G Bednarik
262 - 265
Follow up to a critique section at the end of an earlier article by the author (see 92/1134).
