Showing papers on "Mesolithic published in 1973"
1 Jan 1973
TL;DR: The first systematic exploration of prehistoric sites until the 1937-38 American South-East Asiatic Expedition for Early Man, led by Hellmut de Terra and Hallam L. Movius as discussed by the authors, collected materials from palaeolithic and neolithic sites on the terraces along the middle course of the Irrawaddy and explored some caves in the Shan States.
Abstract: A LTHOUGH Bunna possesses a potential wealth of stone-age materials, prehistoric research has been very spasmodically done. Polished stone implements of different sizes are often found on the surface of the ground in many parts of the country, but they usually fall into the hands of those collectors who believe in the superstitions attached to the so-called thunderbolts. The first person in Burma to draw attention to them as prehistoric implements appears to have been W. Theobald (1873) of the Geological Survey of India, who recognized certain remarkable peculiarities of these polished stone implements. Among the few persons who later took interest in such stone implements was T. O. Morris, who made an intensive study of the neolithic tools in Upper Bunna. However, there was no systematic exploration of prehistoric sites until the 1937-38 American South-East Asiatic Expedition for Early Man, led by Hellmut de Terra and Hallam L. Movius (de Terra and Movius 1943). They collected materials from palaeolithic and neolithic sites on the terraces along the middle course of the Irrawaddy and explored some caves in the Shan States. As a result of the study of these materials, the palaeolithic culture of the region was properly recognized and was named the Anyathian culture. The caves in the Shan States, however, were superficially investigated and, on finding only traces of neolithic occupation, the expedition did not excavate in them, as their object was to study early, namely, palaeolithic man in Burma. Appreciating the need for systematic exploration and excavation, the Archaeological Department has chalked out a program for the exploration of river terraces and open sites. However, the unveiling of ancient city sites comes to the forefront and still claims the all-out efforts of the few available hands on its staff. Fortunately, the first prehistoric expedition could be launched at the instigation and support of
34 citations
TL;DR: In this article, it is suggested that substantial parts of Pembrokeshire and the Gower Peninsula were unaffected by ice during the last glaciation, allowing the possibility of more or less continuous human Palaeolithic occupation of some coastal sites.
Abstract: THERE has recently been renewed discussion concerning the extent of the Weichselian Irish Sea Glacier1–3, and several authors have stressed the difficulty of determining its southern margin in Wales on the basis of geomorphological and stratigraphic criteria alone. Also, in South Wales there is no known reliable interglacial or interstadial palaeobotanical site which can be used for the dating of drift sequences. Archaeological investigations in favourable localities may assist greatly in this debate, as well as extending knowledge of Pleistocene faunas and of human Palaeolithic occupation on the South Wales lowlands4,5. Already it is suggested that substantial parts of Pembrokeshire and the Gower Peninsula were unaffected by ice during the last glaciation3, allowing the possibility of more or less continuous human Palaeolithic occupation of some coastal sites. The radiocarbon age determination for the “Red Lady” of Paviland (18,460 ± 340 yr BP, BM374)6 supports this view, indicating that there was Proto-Solutrean occupation of cave sites in Gower close to the peak of the last glaciation. This was followed by a Creswellian occupation, probably after 15,000 yr BP7,8. In Pembrokeshire the most promising Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic finds have been made during a series of excavations on Caldey Island since 1911 (refs 9 and 10).
7 citations
TL;DR: The hypothesis is suggested that agriculture did not only spread from the southeast, but was actually being developed by the indigenous populations at the time of the arrival of previously domesticated plants and animals.
Abstract: The author discusses the confusion concerning the transition from the mesolithic to the neolithic in Southern Scandinavia, and the relationship of this confusion to the chronological, evolutionary classification system employed at present. He suggests the advantages of using a systemic approach instead. As little is known of the actual economies operative at the time, the hypothesis is suggested that agriculture did not only spread from the southeast, but was actually being developed by the indigenous populations at the time of the arrival of previously domesticated plants and animals. Several methods of testing this hypothesis are discussed.
3 citations
1 citations
TL;DR: The results of recent excavations at Bagor, a late mesolithic settlement in south Rajasthan which was occupied regularly for a period of five millennia immediately before Christ was reviewed in this paper.
Abstract: The paper reviews the results of recent excavations at Bagor, a late mesolithic settlement in south Rajasthan which was occupied regularly for a period of five millennia immediately before Christ The earliest settlers at the site had a highly evolved geometric microlithic industry and an economy based on hunting and stock‐raising About the middle of the third millennium Bc they acquired the knowledge of copper or bronze tools and of making hand‐made pottery At this stage contacts developed with the earliest village farming cultures in Mewar and Malwa and with the urban Harappa Culture of north‐west India Finally in the middle of the first millennium bc iron and wheel‐made pottery were introduced Although stone tools continued in use their place in technology declined, as did the role of hunting in favour of animal husbandry Bagor provides important evidence of the process whereby primitive hunting and stone‐using cultures were slowly incorporated into metal‐using and food producing econ