Recent archaeological finds were featured in several articles by Andrew Lawlor in the news focus section of the May 28 Science. A major theme was what the finds reveal about ancient international trade. Here is the summary of “A Forgotten Corridor Rediscovered”:
The interdisciplinary number for archaeology is 930.1 Archaeology, as shown by the unsubdivided Relative Index entry:
Archaeology 930.1
At 930.1 is the see reference: “For archaeology of continents, countries, localities provided for in notation T2—3 from Table 2, see 931–939.” An example of a work about the archaeological site of an ancient city in Oman is The Road to Ubar: Finding the Atlantis of the Sands, classed in 939.49 Arabia Felix to 622. (The NOVA Online program Lost City of Arabia treats the same site.) A classifier who goes to the modern history number for Oman, 953.53 Oman, will find the see reference: “For ancient history to 622, see 939.49.”
What about a work that focuses specifically on international trade? The numbers 930.1 and 931–939 all have in their upward hierarchy 900 History, geography, and auxiliary disciplines. At 900 is the scatter class-elsewhere note: “Class historical and geographic treatment of a specific subject with the subject, plus notation T1—09 from Table 1, e.g., historical and geographic treatment of natural sciences 509, of economic situations and conditions 330.9, of purely political situations and conditions 320.9, history of military science 355.009.” Because class-elsewhere notes have hierarchical force, works about the history—and archaeology—of international trade are classed with international trade.
The interdisciplinary number for international trade is 382 International commerce (Foreign trade), as shown by the unsubdivided Relative index entry:
International trade 382
Adding standard subdivision T1—09 Historical, geographic, persons treatment to 382 yields 382.09 Historical, geographic, persons treatment. That number itself is regular; but the geographic subdivisions have special add instructions. For example, 382.093–382.099 International commerce in specific continents, countries, localities has the notes:
An example of a work about ancient international trade is Rome's Eastern Trade: International Commerce and Imperial Policy, 31 BC-AD 305. The work is classed in 382.09370394 International commerce of Roman Empire with the Middle East (built with 382 International commerce (Foreign trade) plus T1—09 Historical, geographic, persons treatment plus T2—37 Italian Peninsula and adjacent territories to 476 plus 0 plus T2—394 Middle East, following instructions at 382.093–382.099). At T2—37 is the class-here note: “Class here Roman Empire.” At T2—394 is a scatter see reference note: “For a specific part of Middle East not provided for here, see the part, e.g., Egypt T2—32, Palestine T2—33”; consequently, T2—394 should be understood as including parts of the Middle East, such as Egypt and Iraq, that are not listed as direct subdivisions of T2—394.
Recent digs in Iran and Central Asia have uncovered a plethora of ancient cities that traded goods and technologies overland with one another and their more famous neighbors. Now discoveries in Oman and the neighboring United Arab Emirates (UAE) are beginning to show that there was a southern sea route as well, which funneled raw materials such as copper and manufactured goods such as textiles across the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf. Those links reached deep into the eastern Arabian Peninsula. Much is still unknown, including whether Indus traders actually penetrated deep into Arabia, the identities of the sailors who first plied the Indian Ocean, and just how extensive that contact was. But clues continue to emerge from numerous archaeological digs in Oman and the UAE, a region that has become a hotbed of excavation. Work here and in the western Persian Gulf, Iran, Pakistan, and India reveals that this early Arabian culture was a nexus point for the far-flung civilizations of the 3rd millennium B.C.E. This special Focus package also discusses a bevy of archaeological surprises being discovered in Omani soil and fortified coastal settlements that suggest that the Indus Civilization, once considered an insular society, shipped goods to the east.
The interdisciplinary number for archaeology is 930.1 Archaeology, as shown by the unsubdivided Relative Index entry:
Archaeology 930.1
At 930.1 is the see reference: “For archaeology of continents, countries, localities provided for in notation T2—3 from Table 2, see 931–939.” An example of a work about the archaeological site of an ancient city in Oman is The Road to Ubar: Finding the Atlantis of the Sands, classed in 939.49 Arabia Felix to 622. (The NOVA Online program Lost City of Arabia treats the same site.) A classifier who goes to the modern history number for Oman, 953.53 Oman, will find the see reference: “For ancient history to 622, see 939.49.”
What about a work that focuses specifically on international trade? The numbers 930.1 and 931–939 all have in their upward hierarchy 900 History, geography, and auxiliary disciplines. At 900 is the scatter class-elsewhere note: “Class historical and geographic treatment of a specific subject with the subject, plus notation T1—09 from Table 1, e.g., historical and geographic treatment of natural sciences 509, of economic situations and conditions 330.9, of purely political situations and conditions 320.9, history of military science 355.009.” Because class-elsewhere notes have hierarchical force, works about the history—and archaeology—of international trade are classed with international trade.
The interdisciplinary number for international trade is 382 International commerce (Foreign trade), as shown by the unsubdivided Relative index entry:
International trade 382
Adding standard subdivision T1—09 Historical, geographic, persons treatment to 382 yields 382.09 Historical, geographic, persons treatment. That number itself is regular; but the geographic subdivisions have special add instructions. For example, 382.093–382.099 International commerce in specific continents, countries, localities has the notes:
Add to base number 382.09 notation T2—3–T2—9 from Table 2, e.g., international commerce of United Kingdom 382.0941; then, for commerce between two continents, countries, localities or between a continent, country, locality and a region, area, place, add 0† and add notation T2—1–T2—9 from Table 2, e.g., commerce between United Kingdom and communist bloc 382.094101717
Give priority in notation to the continent, country, locality emphasized. If emphasis is equal, give priority to the one coming first in Table 2
† Add 00 for standard subdivisions; see instructions at beginning of Table 1
An example of a work about ancient international trade is Rome's Eastern Trade: International Commerce and Imperial Policy, 31 BC-AD 305. The work is classed in 382.09370394 International commerce of Roman Empire with the Middle East (built with 382 International commerce (Foreign trade) plus T1—09 Historical, geographic, persons treatment plus T2—37 Italian Peninsula and adjacent territories to 476 plus 0 plus T2—394 Middle East, following instructions at 382.093–382.099). At T2—37 is the class-here note: “Class here Roman Empire.” At T2—394 is a scatter see reference note: “For a specific part of Middle East not provided for here, see the part, e.g., Egypt T2—32, Palestine T2—33”; consequently, T2—394 should be understood as including parts of the Middle East, such as Egypt and Iraq, that are not listed as direct subdivisions of T2—394.
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