A new genus and species, Battenispermum hirsutum, is described from the Early Cretaceous mesofossil flora of Catefica, Portugal. The new taxon is based on five ovulate structures with up to three ...seeds surrounded by an outer cup formed from partly fused bracts. The seeds are small, about 2.4–3.3 mm long and 1.0–1.6 mm wide, orthotropous with a chlamydospermous organisation. The nucellus is surrounded by a thin integument, a sclerenchymatic inner seed envelope and an additional outer envelope of four bracts, fused for most of their length. The seeds are three- or four-angled in transverse section and elliptical in lateral view with the free tips of the outer envelope forming short, apical projections around the micropyle. The outer surface of the inner seed envelope is almost smooth, while the abaxial surfaces of both inner and outer bracts of the compound ovulate structures are covered by a dense indumentum of long and stiff trichomes. Battenispermum hirsutum clearly belongs to the chlamydospermous BEG complex (Bennettitales-Erdtmanithecales-Gnetales), but it is distinguished from all previously described fossils by the presence of two distinct seed envelopes, a feature otherwise known only for extant Gnetum. The seeds of Battenispermum hirsutum differ, from those of extant Gnetum in other features, including the much simpler micropylar region.
•A new chlamydospermous seed is described from the Portuguese Cretaceous.•The new taxon Battenispermum hirsutum is distinctive in having two seed envelopes.•The new finding adds new information on the morphological variation in BEG seeds.•Supports the importance of the BEG group in the Early Cretaceous floras.
A new genus and species, Battenispermum hirsutum, is described from the Early Cretaceous mesofossil flora of Catefica, Portugal. The new taxon is based on five ovulate structures with up to three ...seeds surrounded by an outer cup formed from partly fused bracts. The seeds are small, about 2.4–3.3 mm long and 1.0–1.6 mm wide, orthotropous with a chlamydospermous organisation. The nucellus is surrounded by a thin integument, a sclerenchymatic inner seed envelope and an additional outer envelope of four bracts, fused for most of their length. The seeds are three- or four-angled in transverse section and elliptical in lateral view with the free tips of the outer envelope forming short, apical projections around the micropyle. The outer surface of the inner seed envelope is almost smooth, while the abaxial surfaces of both inner and outer bracts of the compound ovulate structures are covered by a dense indumentum of long and stiff trichomes. Battenispermum hirsutum clearly belongs to the chlamydospermous BEG complex (Bennettitales-Erdtmanithecales-Gnetales), but it is distinguished from all previously described fossils by the presence of two distinct seed envelopes, a feature otherwise known only for extant Gnetum. The seeds of Battenispermum hirsutum differ, from those of extant Gnetum in other features, including the much simpler micropylar region.
ABSTRACT
Frequently preserved in archaeological and palaeontological sites, the tiny size of small‐mammal remains favours percolations into underlying layers along stratigraphic sequences. This is ...one of the various post‐depositional processes that may affect the integrity of the original deposits and therefore the subsequent scientific interpretations. Recent developments in sample preparation offer the possibility of detecting intrusive episodes through the absolute dating of minute amounts of bone (down to 10 mg), meaning that isolated elements (such as mandibles in this case) are sufficient to obtain reliable radiocarbon dates if collagen is moderately to well preserved. The radiocarbon dates obtained here for small‐mammal bones (recovered from pre‐Bølling to recent deposits) and their comparison with previous dates obtained from other sources (large‐mammal bones, charcoal, botanical samples, etc.), with different protocols and instruments, illustrate the potential of small‐mammal dating to reveal (and eventually contribute a solution to) stratigraphical issues in different archaeological contexts.
In this paper would be shown, on the example of border region commanded by Isa-beg Ishaković, the example of the timar system in the Ottoman border regions of the old type, in Rumelia. The ...characteristic for this border region type is the multi level timar holding, which would be abandoned as a concept in the next decades. The examples of the border region of the new type, without multi level timar holdings are the provinces of Smederevo and Bosnia. For border region of Isa-beg Ishaković has been preserved the census book dated 1455. The detailed analysis of this register gives the possibility to make a picture about the land holding and social relations in this very importatnt region of the time.
This article examines history-writing in Safavid Iran and, in particular, the notable chronicle from the time of Shah ʿAbbas I, the Tārīkh-e ʿĀlam-ārā-ye ʿAbbāsī
(TAAA). It rethinks Safavid ...history-writing via the perspective of environmental history. This article asks, "How was the natural world represented in the chronicle, and in what way did this representation shape the Safavid historical narrative?" It argues that the ways in which the TAAA portrays human encounters with nature suggest ʿAbbas' unique sovereignty over it. Because of his piety and devotion, he was considered blessed with divine grace, making him the only human being with the ability to regulate natural manifestations-that is, to dominate, to manipulate, to survive, and to contain nature. Against a backdrop of an absence of environmental readings of Safavid history, the article suggests looking at the TAAA's representation of this natural world as a powerful legitimizing force for ʿAbbas' reign, as it is one that has not yet been foregrounded.
Written by Abū al-‘Alā Ibn Hassūl Hamadānī, Tafdīl al-Atrāk ‘alā Sā’ir al-Ajnād is the first of the historical works written during the Seljuq period. This work was written during the conquests of ...Sultān Tughril and in the political-military competition and struggle environment between the Buyids and the Seljuqs. Ibn Hassūl who took aim at literary men-historian al-Sābī’s work named al-Tājī fī Akhbār al-Dawlat al-Daylimiyya carried the political-military competition and struggle between the Buyids and the Seljuqs to the field of historiography. He wrote Tafdīl al-Atrāk as an answer to Abū Ishāk al-Sābī’s work, al-Tājī. Therefore, the first and the main part of the Tafdīl al-Atrāk was devoted to criticize the historiography of al-Sābī on the origin of the Dailamites and the Buyids. Although Ibn Hassūl criticized severely al-Sābī’s style of historiography, he followed himself a similar way in the writing of Tafdīl al-Atrāk. As al-Sābī praised genealogy and characteristics of the Dailamites, the Buyids and Adud al-Dawla at al-Tājī, Ibn Hassūl also praised genealogy and virtues of the Turks, the Seljuqs and Sultān Tughril at Tafdīl al-Atrāk. In this article, the issue of the degree of success of Ibn Hassūl in competition with al-Sābī in the field of historiography will be discussed. The findings of this study show that Kitāb al-Tājī was used as a source by succeeding historians because it contains detailed and original information on the history of the Dailamites and the Buyids. However, Tafdīl al-Atrāk was hardly ever used as a source by later historians since his author Ibn Hassūl remained indifferent to recording of historical events about the Seljuqs and Tughril Beg.
. In the 8th decade of the 15th century, during the rule of Stephen the Great, political relations were established between Moldavia and Venice. The Moldavian-Venetian relations from this era were ...determined by the fact that the two states were involved in the anti-Ottoman fight: Venice since 1463, Moldavia since 1473. Venice, after being decisively defeated in 1470 was obliged to adopt a continuous defensive attitude against the Turks. Attracting Stephen the Great in the anti-Ottoman fight might have constituted a factor that would determine Mehmed II to sign a treaty with Serenissima that would be more advantageous to the city of Venice. Through the relations with Venice, Stephen the Great was looking to ensure himself an extremely efficient support in the anti-Ottoman fight.
The paper shows how the first Yugoslav rock opera Gubec-beg was created, how its spectacular stage production made its way into the repertoire of Zagrebʼs Komedija Theatre and the Vatroslav Lisinski ...Concert Hall in Zagreb, how important it was for Yugoslav culture at home and cultural diplomacy abroad and for public opinion regarding this performance. The paper is written on the basis of documents from the Archives of Yugoslavia, the Diplomatic Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, the domestic press and periodicals (entertainment, music, daily, youth, political, musicological, theatre), and academic and scholarly literature.
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