Abu Hureyra Agriculture in the Euphrates Valley

Abu Hureyra is the name of the ruins of an ancient settlement, located in Syria on the south side of the Euphrates valley, and on an abandoned channel of that famous river. Nearly continuously occupied from ~13,000 to 6,000 years ago, before, during and after the introduction of agriculture in the region, Abu Hureyra is remarkable for its excellent faunal and floral preservation, providing crucial evidence for the economic shifts in diet and food production. The tell at Abu Hureyra covers an area of some 11.5 hectares (~28.4 acres) and has occupations which archaeologists call Late Epipaleolithic (or Mesolithic), Pre-Pottery Neolithic A and B, and Neolithic A, B, and C. Living at Abu Hureyra I The earliest occupation at Abu Hureyra, ca. 13,000-12,000 years ago and known as Abu Hureyra I, was a permanent, year-round settlement of hunter-gatherers, who gathered over 100 species of edible seeds and fruits from the Euphrates valley and nearby regions. The settlers also had access to an abundance of animals, particularly Persian gazelles. The Abu Hureyra I people lived in a cluster of semi-subterranean pit houses (semi-subterranean meaning, the dwellings were partially dug into the ground). The stone tool assemblage of the upper Paleolithic settlement contained high percentages of microlithic lunates suggesting the settlement had been occupied during Levantine Epipaleolithic stage II. Beginning ~11,000 RCYBP, the people experienced environmental changes to the cold, dry conditions associated with the Younger Dryas period. Many of the wild plants the people had relied on disappeared. The earliest cultivated species at Abu Hureyra appears to have been rye (Secale cereale) and lentils and possibly wheat. This settlement was abandoned, in the second half of the 11th millennium BP. During the latter part of Abu Hureyra I (~10,000-9400 RCYBP), and after the original dwelling pits were filled in with debris, the people returned to Abu Hureyra and built new above-ground huts of perishable materials, and grew wild rye, lentils, and einkorn wheat. Abu Hureyra II The fully Neolithic Abu Hureyra II (~9400-7000 RCYBP) settlement was composed of a collection of rectangular, multi-roomed family dwellings built of mud brick. This village grew to a maximum population of between 4,000 and 6,000 people, and the people grew domestic crops including rye, lentils, and einkorn wheat, but added emmer wheat, barley, chickpeas, and field beans, all of the latter probably domesticated elsewhere. at the same time, a switch from reliance on Persian gazelle to domestic sheep and goats occurred. Abu Hureyra Excavations Abu Hureyra was excavated from 1972-1974 by Andrew Moore and colleagues as a salvage operation prior to construction of the Tabqa Dam, which in 1974 flooded this part of the Euphrates Valley and created Lake Assad. Excavation results from the Abu Hureyra site were reported by A.M.T. Moore, G.C. Hillman, and A.J. Legge, published by Oxford University Press. Additional research has been conducted on the massive quantities of artifacts collected from the site since then. Sources Colledge S, and Conolly J. 2010. Reassessing the evidence for the cultivation of wild crops during the Younger Dryas at Tell Abu Hureyra, Syria. Environmental Archaeology 15:124-138.Doebley JF, Gaut BS, and Smith BD. 2006. The Molecular Genetics of Crop Domestication. Cell 127(7):1309-1321.Hillman G, Hedges R, Moore A, Colledge S, and Pettitt P. 2001. New evidence of Lateglacial cereal cultivation at Abu Hureyra on the Euphrates. The Holocene 11(4):383-393.Molleson T, Jones K, and Jones S. 1993. Dietary change and the effects of food preparation on microwear patterns in the Late Neolithic of Abu Hureyra, northern Syria. Journal of Human Evolution 24(6):455-468.Molleson T, and Jones K. 1991. Dental evidence for dietary change at Abu Hureyra. Journal of Archaeological Science 18(5):525-539.Moore, A.M.T., G.C. Hillman, and A.J. Legge. 2000. Villages on the Euphrates: The Excavation of Abu Hureyra. Oxford University Press, London.Moore AMT, and Hillman GC. 1992. The Pleistocene to Holoce ne transition and human economy in Southwest Asia: The impact of the Younger Dryas. American Antiquity 57(3):482-494.

St. Lawrence By Gian Lorenzo Bernini, And David By...

The sculptures to be examined are St. Lawrence by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, and David by Michelangelo. Starting with the obvious, both of these works are sculptures. Both of these works are also marble. Although both of the sculptures use the same material, there is a difference in the way that they use it. Bernini was able to create many different textures in order to show the difference between the flames and the skin of the saint. For Michelangelo, one can look and tell that it is a human and that he has hair per se, but he does not have the skill of texture quite like Bernini. St. Lawrence was completed in 1617, about a century after Michelangelo’s David which was completed around 1501-04. Bernini’s sculpture is about 2 feet by 3.5 feet,†¦show more content†¦Their bodies are defined and muscular. We know that Michelangelo spent time in Rome, becoming impressed with the muscular bodies of hellenistic sculptures. He was interested in their heroic scale and superh uman power and beauty, incorporating that into his own works, especially in his David. We also know that Bernini spent time in Rome as well, perhaps also being influenced by the hellenistic sculptures. Both of the sculptures are also seen in the nude, and if not almost nude. David is completely nude, while St. Lawrence has a small drape of clothing covering himself. Bernini seems to be capturing his figure in one split moment of time. St. Lawrence is perceived in an awkward position, one that he definitely would not be able to hold for a long period of time. If time were to resume, the flames would continue cooking St. Lawrence’s body and he would continue to burn. For Michelangelo’s David, he has a stable stance. If time were to resume in this instance, we would still see David standing there. He would be able to hold that pose, continuing to stare off into the distance for moments longer. Although it looks like David could move at any moment, if we look at the two side by side, David almost appears to be immobile compared to the shape and state of St. Lawrence. If we were to press pause and then play again, David could remain in place, while St. Lawrence would immediate move due to the way Bernini has portrayed him. Another

My Best Friend for Children and Students free essay sample

My Best FriendShavelle is as beautiful as a Hollywood star.  Her thick, wavy, long black hair gracefully falls down to her shoulders and encircles her oval-shaped face. A golden suntan usually brings out her smooth, dark complexion and high cheekbones. Her slightly arched chestnut black eyebrows highlight her emotions by moving up and down as she reacts to her world around her. Her twinkling dark brown eyes remind me of a hot chocolate tea on a stormy day. Her perfect little nose accents her face nicely and her mouth is a small mouth outlined by puffy lips that she often accentuates with glossy red lipstick. When she smiles, which is often, her well-formed and even, white teeth brighten up her whole face. Her body curves to form a figure any male would fight for. I have only begun to tell you of a wonderful person that I can call my best friend. We will write a custom essay sample on My Best Friend for Children and Students or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page She can make me smile simply by being herself, a show that may need to lift their spirits. She loves to listen to my problems and interject advice that could help me through my struggles. Furthermore, I am mystified by her ability to just sit and listen to a poor soul like me pour out my mind; however, she sees it as an opportunity to let someone unload. In fact, she seems to be enlightened on all aspects of life, such as family and relationships and finds it easy to relate to almost anyone or anything. A quality that I find most intriguing about her is that she can take any situation and make the best of it. Though the most horrible things can happen to her, like running over a dog, she never seems to be having a dreadful day. Laughing comes naturally to her and she can bring joy into the most barren situation.She seems to be the most responsible person I know; furthermore, just being able to control a full-time job and still do well in school amazes me. She does not stop there though, she can also manage to maintain a great relationship with her boyfriend, and still be an active member of her church. She is indeed an incredibly sensitive person who helps everyone in need. Yet, she never seeks a reward for her kindness; moreover, she is so generous that she wants to share what she possesses with others. Whereas she does not tolerate is a lie, she has always told me that if you don’t tell the truth, you will only hurt your self-respect.In short, my best friend is one of the most important people in my life. Therefore, I believe that she has contributed greatly to my ability to show compassion and sensitivity for others.

JOBS Essays - Insurance, Actuarial Science, Risk, Actuary

JOBS The world we live in is overflowing with choices and chances. Every day, each and every human must make thousands of decisions. Some decisions may be rather simple to make, or not present a high chance for an unfavorable outcome. While one may decide the apple they picked up from the store is not very sweet, the cost lost on the apple is rather minimal and the consumer will most likely be presented with many more opportunities to pick a delicious apple. However, some choices are much more complicated. Decisions such as where to invest ones money, or what physical challenges to endure, present very serious consequences. If the wrong decision is made, one could lose their financial security, or even their life. To minimize the chances of such disasters, humans engage in risk assessment. We calculate the chances of each choice resulting in an unfavorable outcome, rank the choices from lest to most likely to end in disaster and pick the top result. This process is performed countless times throughout ones life, but hardly ever consists of an actual mathematical equation. However, there are some who do quantify risk numerically. Actuaries use the ideas of probability and game theory to objectively assess the risk in a variety of chances. They may calculate the risk of ones house being flooded, or of one falling ill. They may calculate the risk of an investment losing money, or of a plane crashing. Actuaries implement the ideas of applied mathematics for those who cannot do so themselves, and eventually figure the means by which a client can minimize the risks facing them. Yes, actuaries do figure insurance rates, but they also do so much more. As I researched the field of actuarial science, I decided that actuary should be synonymous with mathematical risk manager, for actuaries are responsible for figuring risk, minimizing risk, and minimizing the impacts of disasters that have already occurred. They complete these tasks objectively and with the power of my favorite subject, mathematics. After hours of independently researching the field of Actuarial Science, I contacted Mr. Michael Miller. Mr. Miller is the Director of Insurance Pricing at Catlin Inc., a private insurance company in Atlanta, Georgia. With a Masters of Science in Mathematics and classification as a Fellow of Casualty Actuarial Society, Mr. Miller has thrived in the field of Actuarial Science for twenty years. He has even achieved the position of President of the Casualty Actuarial Society of the Southeast. These credentials drew me towards Mr. Miller, and I was thrilled when he allowed me to interview him. From a simple outline of the career path, to details concerning the traits that allow one to thrive in the field, Mr. Miller provided me, a potential actuary, with the information needed to fully understand the requirements and responsibilities of the field. I first asked Mr. Miller about his typical work day. What tasks did he perform? What responsibilities was he given? As a director, Mr. Miller replied that he oversees the work of actuaries below him to ensure that every worker is on task. He also spends much of his time in meetings, discussing what projects in which the company should pursue involvement. Unfortunately, Mr. Millers management position minimizes his technical work, so I researched the daily tasks of an entry level actuary as well. The daily activities of the typical entry-level actuary can be placed in one the following two categories: technical work or exam preparation. Entry-level actuaries are responsible for much of the technical work that Mr. Miller rarely performs. Mr. Miller listed some of these tasks, including modeling data in Excel, computing data, and creating presentations for data. However, he stated that such tasks were temporary, as many actuaries eventually work their way up to management positions. The means of achieving such status rely on the second category of entry-level actuarial work, exam preparation. To become an actuary, an individual must pass a series of licensing exams. Actuaries must pass a series of seven exams, which test ones knowledge of subjects such as probability, economics, and finance. The process can take from four to eight years, and take up much of a young actuarys time. Typically, a