Ever since the existence of certain stone structures, kite shaped in plan, were first noticed in the Jordanian and Syrian deserts during the 1920's, they have been the subject of numerous descriptions and speculations as to their origin, age and function. The view generally held today is that they were built by gazelle hunters as traps; the long stone walls (which converge on an enclosure) would lead the animals to a point where they could be killed. A different explanation is presented here : that the kites were erected by pastoralists mainly in order to capture and eventually to corral herds of possibly semi-domesticated animals, living in their natural habitat on the Fertile Crescent margins. This view is based on the results of surveys and mapping of kites in southern and central Syria, archaeological evidence from excavations, comparisons of the kites from the viewpoint of morphology, distribution, topographic situation in relation to water sources, wind direction, etc, and ethnographic parallels. It is concluded that the kites could refer to pastoralists' stock-raising techniques which changed, as needed, through time in many areas of the Near East from the Neolithic to recent times.
For the first time, 113 neolithic potteries of the baume Fontbrégoua, from the Cardial and prechassean levels, have been studied by microscopic examination, and the results statistically processed and compared with samples of local clays. Groups of similar composition have been determined and their possible provenance studied. This study has shown important differences between the Cardial and the middle Neolithic concerning their supplying strategy. During the Cardial it seems that men had contacts with a large region, whereas during the middle Neolithic these contacts seem to have been reduced and limited to the Salernes area. At the technological level we can note differences as important as at the mineralogical level between these two periods, and the question arises of a possible radical change of population at this moment.
Quantitative data about the preparation and baking in wood-kiln of actual reproductions of Greek and Roman pottery.
The authors present the results of practical experimentation obtained in reproducing Greek and Roman pottery. The surface area required for the activity of a pottery workshop, the quantity of water and wood needed for the preparation, than the firing of the kiln and the control of the fire are some of the precious indications for a better understanding of antique pottery workshops and their contraints.
Entre 1989 et 1990, une equipe franco-espagnole entreprit une prospection pour mieux comprendre la dynamique et l'organisation du peuplement dans une región qui fut iongtemps un carrefour privilegié. L'enquéte géomorphologique conduite entre les collines, dunes cótiéres et plaine alluviale (la zone la plus bouleversée depuis la fin du Moyen-Áge) permet d'éclairer la physlonomie antique de la región. Chacun des paysages a son histolre patiemment complétée depuis un siécle. De l'áge du Bronze á l'époque ¡slamique, les grandes tendances sont la concentration du peuplement sur les marges de la vallée du Segura, et le vide de la partie des massifs qui n'est pas orientée vers la vallée; les sites sont plutót occupés de maniere discontinué.Entre 1989 y 1990 un equipo hispano-franees emprendió una prospección al objeto de estudiar la dinámica y la organización del poblamiento en una región que fue durante mucho tiempo una encrucijada privilegiada. La investigación geomorfológica desarrollada en colinas, dunas costeras y llanuras aluviales (la zona más transformada desde la Edad Media) permite reconstruir la fisonomía antigua de la región. Desde la Edad del Bronce a la época islámica se observa una tendencia a la concentración del poblamiento en las márgenes del valle del río Segura, pareja al despoblamiento de los macizos montañosos que no están orientados hacia la llanura aluvial, al tiempo que los yaclmentos se ocupan de forma discontinua.
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