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This paper presents the history of beekeeping, focusing on historical, archaeological, ethnographic, and folkloric data on man's interaction with bees throughout the ages. It emphasizes the symbolic aspects bees have received in Romanian and universal mythology. To briefly illustrate how humans have interacted with bees, including hunting for honey and domestication of these insects, we will highlight some of the most well-known archaeological, historical, and literary documents from prehistoric, ancient, and medieval times. Later on, we will also reference the role of bees and beekeeping in Romania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of the analysis of phytoliths, grain size and organic matter content (LOI550℃), and AMS 14C dating of sedimentary profiles and individual archaeological samples from the Changshan site in Jilin Province, Northeast (NE) China. Our aim was to elucidate the origins of agriculture in the East Liao River Basin. The results indicate that there were two intervals during which prehistoric culture flourished at the Changshan site: ~ 6,500–5,600 cal years BP in the Neolithic, and ~ 3,700–2,750 cal years BP in the Bronze Age. Abundant η-type husk phytoliths from common millet and a few Ω-type husk phytoliths from foxtail millet found at the Changshan site provide direct evidence for prehistoric agriculture during these two periods. Prehistoric agriculture was practiced together with hunting and fishing, which were part of a multi-subsistence strategy. The relatively warm and wet climate during ~ 6,500–5,600 cal years BP and ~ 3,700–2,750 cal years BP promoted the prosperity of the local culture, together with cultural interchange, and the climatic conditions also encouraged the dispersal of early agriculture in the East Liao River Basin. In addition, archaeological excavations have shown that there was frequent interchange and interaction among prehistoric cultures in NE China, and we hypothesize that the Liao River Basin was the main routeway for cultural interchange and the dispersal of prehistoric agriculture in NE China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reconstruction of hominins' cognitive evolution has always been a crucial but challenging task. Researchers from various disciplines have tried to approach this issue, among which British archaeologist Steven Mithen's cathedral model is regarded as one of the earliest and most creative attempts. In this model, he proposed that the Neanderthal's mind is like a cathedral with disconnected chapels. Specifically, Neanderthals possessed advanced social, natural history, technical, and even linguistic intelligence modules, but the first three modules are isolated from each other, meaning they cannot effectively use the knowledge from one domain to address the issue of another domain. This article challenges his reconstruction of Neanderthals' cognitive capacities by presenting multiple forms of archaeological evidence bearing on various kinds of cross-domain thinking that has arisen over the past two decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological evidence has been used to assess pre-contact occupation and use of land since the first modern Aboriginal title claim in Canada. Archaeology's ability to alternately challenge, support, and add substantive spatial and temporal dimensions to oral histories and documentary histories makes it a crucial tool in the resolution of Aboriginal rights and title. This article assesses how archaeological evidence has been considered in Aboriginal rights and title litigation in Canada, both over time and in different types of cases. The examination indicates that archaeological data have been judged to be sufficient evidence of pre-contact occupation and use. However, some limitations inherent in archaeological data, especially challenges in archaeology's capacities to demonstrate continuous occupation and exclude possibilities for co-occupation, mean that it is best used in conjunction with ethnographies, oral histories, and historical documents. So long as courts affirm that it is the sole material evidence of pre-contact occupation, archaeological data will continue to be considered in future litigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous palaeochannels, oxbow lakes and elongated sediment fills in Eastern India, particularly along the lower Ajay River, provide a record of channel shifting during the Late Quaternary. Proper characterization of these features is useful for discussing the dynamic evolution of the river system in the Ajay-Damodar Interfluve region. Remote sensing data, archaeological evidence and sedimentology aid in reconstructing the geomorphic history of the lower Ajay River. Archaeological studies help in calculating the rate and direction of channel migration. The channel migration rate varies from 0.32 to 3.41 m/year in the study area. Bouguer gravity anomalies suggest that the rate of channel migration may be controlled by the density variations of the basement rocks. Furthermore, neotectonics activity played a significant role in the migration of Ajay River towards north-east direction. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Simultaneous collapse of ancient historical buildings followed by sudden reconstruction, deduced from archaeological reports, provides indirect evidence for an earthquake in ancient Catania (Sicily, southern Italy). This event in the middle of the 4th century AD is consistent with the 365 AD seismic sequence known from historical sources, which report, wide destruction in Sicily and in the Mediterranean area. This period was characterized by political, economic, and social instability in the Roman empire. In this historical context, the earthquake effects may have been obscured or overlooked to some extent and consequently the documentary information on ancient earthquakes, when available, is sparse and lacking objectivity. This study covers three historical buildings in Catania and provides precise dating of earthquake destruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the archaeological information of Cueva Inca Viejo site, located in Salar de Ratones basin (4.312 m a.s.l.), Puna of Salta, Northwest Argentina, dated ca. 860 AP. The presence of high diversity of archaeological materials from different sectors of the Puna, and other environments such as mesothermal valleys and yungas, allow us recognizing circuits of large scale interaction. Processes of macro-regional interaction are discussed from this evidence. In this regard, Cueva Inca Viejo could have been an important site in the traffic of information, goods and resources of caravan individuals and / or groups. In particular, the site is highlighted as a place of ritual importance, characterized by different designs of rock art, including llama caravans, and evidence such as bird feathers and cebil seeds from the yungas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oriented collapse of columns, large-scale destruction debris and temporary abandonment of the area deduced from an archaeological excavation provide evidence for a major (intensity IX) earthquake in Patras, Greece. This, and possibly a cluster of other earthquakes, can be derived from archaeological data. These earthquakes are not included in the historical seismicity catalogues, but can be used to put constraints to the seismic risk of this city. Patras was affected by a cluster of poorly documented earthquakes between 1714 and 1806. The city seems to be exposed to risks of progressive reactivation of a major strike-slip fault. A magnitude 6.4 earthquake in 2008 has been related to it. This fault has also been associated with a total of four events in the last 20 years, a situation reminiscent of the seismic hazard at the western edge of the North Anatolian Fault. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the distribution, molecular similarity and use of Morinda citrifolia L., and occurrence of a wild Morinda species, Southeast Asia and Micronesia have been suggested to be the places where noni originated. The present article discusses the indices used by Vavilov and subsequent authorities on the origin of crop plants to argue that South Asia (Southeast India) has a greater probability of being the centre of domestication/origin for noni than Southeast Asia or Micronesia. The basic reasoning is that economically important plant cannot originate without richness in biodiversity and ingenuity of local people. India with rich floristic diversity, one of the centres of origin of crop plants with a natural distribution of Morinda species, including M. citrifolia L. and its immediate ancestors, has the oldest reference of occurrence, use and cultivation (Vedic literature); therefore, it appears to be the more probable centre of noni's origin. The ancient history of the expansion of Indian culture, religion and trade to Southeast Asian countries corroborate the possible role of Indians in the introduction of noni or knowledge regarding its value to Southeast Asia, from which it was carried to Micronesia and Polynesia, which provided a more favourable environmental niche for perpetuation and use. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Shoreline shift coupled with sea-level change have always remained intriguing aspects due to wider ramifications for the populations living on the coast. Different methods are employed to understand and explain their causes and quantum. In this communication an attempt is made to study shoreline and sea-level changes during the last 2000 years on the basis of archaeological evidence. Archaeological excavations undertaken at Bet Dwarka (western most part of India) revealed an interesting cultural sequence commencing from protohistoric period (3800 yrs BP) to historical period (1600 yrs BP). Excavation was undertaken in six trenches up to the lowest level of archaeological findings. The results from these trenches suggest that the oldest habitation was situated below the present high water line. This is an indication of a lower sea level during that period of settlement. 14C ages and archaeological data suggest a time bracket for these habitations between 2050 and 1650 yrs BP (calibrated). Analysis of sea level versus ancient settlement suggests that around the Christian era sea level was lower by 2 m than the present. The remains from the excavation also suggest that one of the attractions for early settlers was the availability of marine resources around the island. Data from early historical period and other archaeological sites situated along the Indian coast confirm this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the catalogue of sea-level indicators, beachrock plays a significant role because of its wide distribution and extension on long stretches of coastlines. Most publications, however, deal with beachrock cements rather than their incorporation into the coastal environment and its evolution. The relic character and age of most beachrocks has been over-looked, and beachrocks are called ‘modern’ because of their position at or close to sea level. The question arises as to why we have so many beachrocks in a state of destruction, but nearly none in statu nascendi today. An examination of the extension and thickness of cementation, and of the independent indicators of the sea-level history in beachrock occurrences suggests that the relation of beachrock cementation to the tidal levels or to a water table in the beach sediments is very doubtful. There are many more arguments and proofs that place beachrock cementation within the supratidal environment. Only by taking into consideration all aspects of coastal evolution at a certain site can beachrock be used as a tool for identifying part of a coast's evolutionary history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]