No abstract

To decipher the long-term influences of pre-Columbian land occupations on contemporary forest structure, diversity, and functioning in Amazonia, most of the previous research focused on the alluvial plains of the major rivers of the Amazon basin. Terra firme, that is, nonflooded forests, particularly from the Guiana Shield, are yet to be explored. In this study, we aim to give new insights into the subtle traces of pre-Columbian influences on present-day forests given the archaeological context of terra firme forests of the Guiana Shield. Following archaeological prospects on 13 sites in French Guiana, we carried out forest inventories inside and outside archaeological sites and assessed the potential pre-Columbian use of the sampled tree species using an original ethnobotanical database of the Guiana Shield region. Aboveground biomass (320 and 380 T/ha, respectively), basal area (25-30 and 30-35 m 2 /ha, respectively), and tree density (550 and 700 stem/ha, respectively) were all significantly lower on anthropized plots (As) than on nonanthropized plots (NAs). Ancient human presence shaped the species composition of the sampled forests with Arecaceae, Burseraceae, and Lauraceae significantly more frequent in As and Annonaceae and Lecythidaceae more frequent in NAs. Although alpha diversity was not different between As and NAs, the presence of pre-Columbian sites enhances significantly the forest beta diversity at the landscape level. Finally, trees with edible fruits are positively associated with pre-Columbian sites, whereas trees used for construction or for their bark are negatively associated with pre-Columbian sites. Half a millennium after their abandonment, former occupied places from the inner Guiana Shield still bear noticeable differences with nonanthropized places. Considering the lack of data concerning archaeology of terra firme Amazonian forests, our results suggest that pre-Columbian influences on the structure (lower current biomass), diversity (higher beta diversity), and composition (linked to the past human tree uses) of current Amazonian forests might be more important than previously thought.

No abstract

Resumo: Por mais de 20 anos se pensou que o período cerâmico tardio (900-1500 A.d.) das planícies costeiras do oeste da Guiana francesa e do leste do suriname teria sido dominado pelo complexo Barbakoeba, conforme definido pelo arqueólogo holandês Arie Boomert (1993). recentemente, várias escavações permitiram enfatizar numerosas diferenças regionais baseadas na análise cerâmica e deposições funerárias. Este artigo tenta ir além da caracterização geral da cerâmica do complexo Barbakoeba, a fim de discutir a diversidade regional deste complexo amplamente distribuído.Palavras-chave: Guiana francesa. suriname. Período cerâmico tardio. Barbakoeba. Práticas funerárias.Abstract: for over 20 years the Late Ceramic Age (Ad 900-1500) of the Western Coastal Plain of french Guiana and Eastern suriname has been considered as dominated by the Barbakoeba ceramic complex as defined by the dutch archaeologist Arie Boomert (1993). recently, however, various excavations permit to emphasize numerous regional differences based on ceramic analysis and funerary depositions. this paper tries to go beyond general ceramic characteristics of the Barbakoeba ceramic complex in order to acknowledge regional diversity within this widely distributed complex.

Excess adipose and heartburn 371 operative anaesthetic care, we can obtain a better definition of the tumour mass preoperatively and accept the challenge of demanding surgical procedures. Retroperitoneal lipomata are uncommon and have an indolent presentation. Lipomas occurring in this site are a different proposition than those in other sites and require meticulous pre-operative evaluation and an exacting surgical approach if recurrence and potential malignant transformation is to be avoided. A 46-year-old man was referred from the Urology department with a pelvic mass discovered on abdominal ultrasonography performed to study dysuria and abdominal pain. Findings from physical examination were unremarkable, without evidence of hepatosplenomegaly or lymphadenopathy. Results of laboratory investigations, electrocardiogram and chest radiography were normal. The serum and urine immunoelectrophoretic patterns showed no monoclonal components. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test for human immunodeficiency virus was negative. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed a round solid mass in the right iliac fossa. Thoracic and abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed a 5-cm pelvic mass perfectly limited and localised between bladder and iliac vessels (figure 1), without other abnormalities. This mass was punctured. A percutaneous transabdominal fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimen showed small mature lymphocytes and some macrophages. Because lymphoma was considered a likely diagnosis, laparotomy was performed, with removal of the pelvic mass. The rest of the abdomen was normal. The postoperative course was uneventful. Pathologic studies were diagnostic (figure 2).