Nellie Phoca-Cosmetatou & Ryan J. RabettJournal of Mediterranean Archaeology 27.2 (2014), 255-259
We are extremely pleased that the topic of hominin island occupation has attracted particular attention in this issue of JMA in the two fascinating and contrasting papers by Runnels and Leppard. These two papers set out to address similar questions, namely: ‘was there an early Palaeolithic human presence on the Mediterranean islands?’ and ‘why has it been so elusive?’
Cyprian BroodbankJournal of Mediterranean Archaeology 27.2 (2014), 267-272
The debate over the extent and significance of Palaeolithic maritime activity in the Mediterranean stands in danger of unhelpful polarisation and dumbing down of its crucial subtleties, a process by which we would all turn out to be the long-term losers.
Curtis RunnelsJournal of Mediterranean Archaeology 27.2 (2014), 272-274
In the spirit of open discussion advocated by Broodbank, I welcome Leppard’s stimulating contribution, as well as the thoughtful comments of the discussants. It is evident that where my work is concerned some of my colleagues have difficulty accepting parts of the evidence, or find some hypotheses too far reaching.
Thomas P. LeppardJournal of Mediterranean Archaeology 27.2 (2014), 275-278
I am writing this response while sitting in Guam, the largest island in Micronesia. Bathed in sunlight for half the year, drenched by rain the other, surrounded by shallow, productive seas, and tropically verdant, Guam should, accordingly, have been an ideal environment for hominins during Quaternary interstadials.
Louise A. Hitchcock, Liora Kolska Horwitz, Elisabetta Boaretto & Aren M. MaeirNear Eastern Archaeology 78.1 (March 2015), 12-25
The identification of feasting events in the archaeological record has relied upon a fairly consistent repertoire of features that relate to four crucial elements identified by Hayden (2001) based on the ethnographic literature on feasts: (a) it is a communal event; (b) it is time- and place-specific and occurs in celebration of a distinctive occasion;
Aren M. Maeir, Brent Davis, Liora Kolska Horwitz, Yotam Asscher & Louise A. HitchcockWorld Archaeology 2015, 1-25
In 2013, an ivory bowl was discovered in a chalky matrix in the Early Iron Age (Philistine) levels in Area A at Tell es-Safi/Gath. Conservation revealed it to be a shallow vessel with a single lug handle, decorated in the interior and on the base with an incised twelve-petal lotus-rosette surrounded by five concentric circles.
Στα πρώτα δύο κεφάλαια της Ιστορίας της Νήσου Λευκάδος (τ. Α', Αθήνα, Εταιρεία Λευκαδικών Μελετών, 1980) παρακολουθήσαμε σύντομα τη γεωλογική ιστορία της Λευκάδος και μιλήσαμε και για τα εργαλειακά κατάλοιπα του μεσολιθικού ανθρώπου στο νησί γύρω στα 40.000 χρόνια πριν από την εποχή μας. Κατά την περίοδο αυτή -τέλος της Πλειστοκαίνου, αρχές της Ολοκαίνου (Βούρμιος περίοδος) έως γύρω στα 10.000 χρόνια πίσω-
The Indo-Europeanization of Greece was a long-term process, which, in my opinion, entailed at least three distinct phases, covering the period from c. 3100 BC to c. 1600 BC. The third and last phase consists of the arrival c. 1600 BC of the founding fathers of the royal houses and ethnic identities considered as truly Greek.
Jennifer M. WebbJournal of Field Archaeology 40:1 (February 2015), 22-36
Metallurgical production sites are often difficult to identify in the archaeological record because ore beneficiation and slag processing in the past involved the use of ground stone tools that were similar to those used in other contexts to prepare cereals and foods.
Loeta Tyree, Floyd McCoy, Jon Frey & Antonia StamosJournal of Field Archaeology 39:2 (May 2014), 180-192
Interpreting cave use, especially from antiquity, requires the perception of subterranean space in all dimensions (floor to ceiling to lateral extent) including spatial variability resulting from geological factors. Subterranean conditions, coupled with variable atmospheric conditions, create a special environment not readily conveyed by conventional mapping techniques limited to two-dimensional floor plans.
Myrto GeorgakopoulouJournal of Field Archaeology 39:1 (February 2014), 67-83
This paper explores the potential of studying metallurgical remains recovered during regional surveys in the reconstruction of past metallurgical practices across a given landscape, using as a case study the relevant finds from the Kythera Island Project.
In 1984, Ν. Marinatos proposed for the first time to recognize in the frescoes from the Xeste 3 lustral basin at Akrotiri the representation of a ceremony concerning a female rite of passage performed in the room. In the following years, this interpretation has been widely discussed but substantially accepted by many scholars.
Jon Henderson, Oscar Pizarro, Matthew Johnson-Roberson & Ian MahonInternational Journal of Nautical Archaeology 42:2 (September 2013), 243-256
Creating photo-mosaics and plans of submerged archaeological sites quickly, cost-effectively and, most importantly, to a high level of geometric accuracy remains a huge challenge in underwater archaeology.
Samuel MarkInternational Journal of Nautical Archaeology 42:2 (September 2013), 270-285
Recently published reliefs from the causeway of Sahure and a review of contemporary iconography and archaeological data shed new light on a variety of features of Old Kingdom royal sailing boats and equipment, such as quarter rudders, rigging, signalling devices, decorations and crew.
Ehud Galili, Noel Gale & Baruch RosenInternational Journal of Nautical Archaeology 42:1 (March 2013), 2-23
A 13th-century-BC shipwreck site, Hishuley Carmel, is described and discussed. It provides direct evidence for marine transport of copper and tin along the Israeli coast and may indicate inland and maritime trade-routes of metals in the Mediterranean.
