In June 2012, the Piaoshan kiln site was excavated in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, which hitherto proved to be the earliest known Chinese proto-porcelain kiln. Judging from the decorative patterns of unearthed impressed stoneware and proto-porcelain sherds, the site was determined to date to the late Xia (c. 2070-c. 1600 BC), the first dynasty of China. Here, we report on proton-induced X-ray emi...

For decades archaeologists have struggled with the problem of accurately determining organic and mineral-based paints in pottery from the American Southwest. Using Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), we have developed a simple and cost-effective method that permits classification of painted surfaces into mineral and organicbased categories. By applying this ...

In this chapter I argue that in preindustrial societies where resources were difficult to monopolize and physical coercion was not an option, ideology provided a significant source of social power. This avenue toward social power was especially important in the prehispanic Andes, and the establishment and negotiation of that power was often through ritual feasting involving politically charged ...

The deterioration of bond strength between reinforcing steel and concrete as a result of impressed cathodic current with respect to the exposure time was investigated. A current in the magnitude of 3ma/ft2 (based on reinforcing rebar area) was used for a period of five years. Chemical analyses for sodium (Na+), potassium (K+) and chloride (Cl-) ions in concrete cylinders were performed as a fun...

the expansion of grey- black pottery tradition in the iranian plateau, on the basis of iron age theory of cultural dynamism, was emerged by the end of the 2nd millennium bc. such a pottery tradition is regarded as a cultural sign to point migrants who entered in the iranian plateau from the northern outside of caucasus the major. according to the theory, the migrants passed the river valley of ...