Antiqua

Monumentality in Western Amazonian formative societies: geometric ditched enclosures in the Brazilian state of Acre

Sanna Saunaluoma, Denise Schaan — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

In Amazonia, monumentality has traditionally been considered characteristic of the late pre-colonial densely populated complex societies. Recent archaeological fieldwork concerning the geometric earthworks in the Brazilian state of Acre has shown that the southwestern Amazonian interfluvial zone was a significant setting for long-term large landscape modifications. We describe the geometric ditched enclosure sites of Acre as early monumental public spaces reserved for ceremonial purposes, analogous to the central Andean ceremonial-civic centers of the Formative period. The geometric earthwork sites contain contiguous ditches and embankment structures of varying forms enclosing areas typically 3-10 hectares in size. Documented cultural features are sparse within the enclosed areas. Making use of satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and pedestrian surveys, 360 earthwork enclosures have been recorded in southwestern Amazonia. Our radiocarbon dates suggest that construction and use of geometric earthworks began at the latest around 1000 BC, and prevailed in the region until 1400 AD. The relatively small number of ceramics recovered from the geometric ditched enclosure sites appear to be local substyles of the same tradition, sharing certain attributes with contemporary ceramic traditions of the upper Amazonian region. This, and consistency in ceremonial earthwork architecture, indicate close cultural interaction between communities that built and used the earthwork sites, and imply probable relationships also with the central Andean area.

Attitudinal meanings of Judgement in the inaugural addresses by the US presidents during the Cold War

Shutang Zhang — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The Appraisal Theory intends to study how the stance, the opinion and the attitude of language users are realized in discourses. This paper discusses the attitudinal meanings of Judgement in the inaugural addresses by the US presidents during the Cold War under the framework laid down by Martin and White. It has been found that the attitudinal meanings of Judgement account for the most part of all the attitudinal meanings in all the 11 addresses, and that the positive Judgements are foregrounded by its high percentage in all the attitudinal meanings of Judgement. The features in the use of attitudinal meanings of Judgement serve the purpose of the presidential inaugural addresses very well, i.e. to convey a new administration’s commitment to their future work and to win support from the audience.

How could Archeo-Geophysics help garbage disposal? A fortuitous discovery in Central Italy

Pier Matteo Barone, Carlotta Ferrara, Elena Pettinelli — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 00:00:00 +0000

We present a non-destructive geophysical technique (Ground Penetrating Radar) as a suitable method for both the detection of buried archeological structures, as is already known, and as an aid to local administrators in the planning of potential waste management sites (e.g., landfills or incinerators). This can prevent the potential destruction of important archeological sites. The discovery of a subsurface archeological target a few dozen kilometers northeast of Rome, near the proposed site for the construction of a waste-to-energy incinerator, should cause local administrations to reconsider their plans for construction at this site.