LEIDSE
A
GEOLOGISCHE
MEDEDELINGEN,
palynological
Vol.
38,
1966,
investigation of
interesting sections
in
31-36. separate published
pp.
some
1-6-1966
archaeologically
northwestern Surinam
BY
D.M.
Laeyendecker-Roosenburg
Summary
The
article
present
reconstructing
dating.
An
the
deals
history
attempt
with
also
was
investigation
palynological
a
of the
occupation
made
of this
discover
to
area
what
by
kind
of
INTRODUCTION
The
tropical
I
went
to
very
lowlands,
useful
Geyskes
(fig.
It
neighbourhood
is
studying
land
wish
sciences.
both
little
July
director of the Museum of
the
17
the
In
palynological
to
express
Wageningen
are
1962,
2,
me
where
my
Foundation For
Surinam And
which
to
gratitude
paid
The
him and
Dr.
the
to
Advancement Of
The Netherlands Antilles
for the
during
expenses
my
stay in Surinam.
To
the
grateful
carried
van
his
Machinale
for
assistance.
out
their
Landbouw
The
in Leiden under the
der Hammen,
stimulating
of about 250
meter
the
to
I
research
supervision
am
has
very
been
level
"paths"
from
of
the
all
smaller
directions;
mounds
during
the
the
be
found.
which rises
and
a
Most
prominent
used
ditch
A
lead
Dr.
for
above
number
found
are
these
purposes
"Hertenrits".
mound
beside
the
of
mound
Geyskes
cultivating
the
dia-
a
m
this
to
"paths"
to
of
the
about 2
swamp.
these
along
According
from
about six
artificial mound with
inhabitation
swamp
in
radiocarbon
earthworks, apparently
canoeing)
were
sections
sampled
m,
for
mounds.
smaller
to
an
surrounding
(probably
succeeded
with
We
"Hertenrits",
of
one
the
raised
fields.
this
Geologically
plain.
marine
brackish
to
of Surinam
part
belongs
it consists
Lithologically
from
clays
the
the young
to
of
heavy
grey
Demerara
clay
formation.
of Dr. T.
whom the author is indebted for
enthusiasm and
made,
We
Wageningen,
numberof
"Hertenrits",
coastal
Stichting
northeast of
swamps
is
the
Surinam.
connection
inhabitants.
early
artificially
of the Hertenrits
archaeology
Research
(WOSUNA),
the
the
by
grown
in-
Geyskes,
Surinam, accompanied
of
Netherlands
In
was
the
archaeology.
August
to
northern
palynological correlation in
a
2).
to
crops
site in
archaeological
of
km from the coast,
palynologists
sections for this purpose. Dr. D. C.
sample
to
for
however,
Surinam from
to
and
archaeologists
has been done in reference
vestigation
an
In
collaboration of
often been
has
of
means
THE
PRESENT
The
help.
be
VEGETATION
coastal
young
plain
of northwestern Surinam
subdivided
into
inundated
hand,
and
rather
the
one
ridges
on
the
locally
with
dry
other hand.
In
of associations
great variety
plots
generally only
of forest.
water
as
well
the
On
The
the
as
levees
swamps
the
forest associations
environment.
the
areas,
salinity
level of
levees
to
are
along
of the
the
may
swamps
on
and
find
we
of herbaceous
dominance of species alternates
in
the
areas,
a
elements,
and
ridges
be found. The
with the
soil
changes
and
of
ground-water
the
are
factors which determine this environment.
In this
be
can
A.
It
part
of Surinam the
Mangrove-forest
occurs
tides
the
and
1.
Sketch
grove-forest
map
zone
and
of
northern
location
Surinam
showing
of the Hertenrits
area.
Man-
the
along
flood the
coastal
coast
shore and
barrier,
riverbanks
approximately
Fig.
following vegetation types
noticed.
far
as
in
furthermore
to
the
point
counter-currents.
There
are
two
distinct types.
and
swamps
along
beyond
upstream
up
spring
as
brackish
the
the
reached
storm
behind
estuaries
salt
by
limit,
tidal
Fig.
2.
Sketch
map
of the
Hertenrits
area.
A
The
a.
Avicennia-forest,
levees of the
b.
palynological
Rhizophora-forest,
the
riverbanks
and
the
along
of archaeologically
and
coast
the
on
lower rivers.
The
The
investigation
in
the
near
soft
mud
mouths
of
along
Maximiliana
rivers
and
creeks.
Rhizophora
mangle,
Rhizophora
Laguncularia
and
racemosa
Avicennia nitida,
are
harrisonii,
Rhizophora
almost
in
exclusively
the salt
brackish swamp in and
directly
behind the
íorest
general,
open
the
along
invaded
by
followed
by
In
coast.
pioneer
rather
is
in
stable
and
readily
turn
are
vegetation
of tall herbs.
In
slightly
brackish and fresh
of
water
deep
species,
The
floating
which
Nymphoides),
by
an
forming
tall
one
be
can
together
few
a
Acnida
angustifolia,
Leersia hexandra and
Some of the
of
swamps
of several
layer
rather
Polygonum
THE
be
can
others
arborescens,
sub-
of
Typha
Cyperus
Gramineae,
corymbosa.
by
vegetation
a
Swamp-wood
It varies
passes
surinamensis
where
absent.
the
Machaerium
of
occur
mensis,
shrubs
officinalis
a
more
Annona
present
it
coast
Erythrina
and
Tabebuia
glauca.
In
stands
insignis.
swamp-wood
In
grows,
surina-
Triplaris
Simaba
americana,
find
we
extensive
Pterocarpus,
done with
All
the
multi-
the soil
an
m
is inundated
accumulation of
stratum
is
always
Characteristic
surinamensis,
this
periodically
of the
most
a
thick
year,
layer
of
two
storeys;
which leads
of pegasse.
A
trees
of
sonic
In
or
Tabebuia
formation
seasonal
heading
are
Virola
with
two
Palms
are
occur
areas.
procera,
and
types
their
refer
we
area,
C. Lindeman
J.
each
were
have
samples
the
at
(1953).
200
the
a
same
was
KOH
H 3.
first
way,
solution
furthermore
mixture;
pollen
have
all the
sum
trees
spores have
included;
every
(10
in
ultra-
an
used.
was
diagrams,
taken
sampling
gravitative separation
pollen grains
In the
sample.
the
Sonde, except (partly)
treated in
were
(SAMPLE
PRINCIPLES)
been
surface;
Dachnovsky
equipment
of the
INVESTIGATION
PALYNOLOGICAL
thereafter followed
;
In
order
to
of
changes
der
been counted from
used for
construction
and herbaceous elements
been excluded
The
storeys
well
get
clear
a
as
general
and used
proposed
into
insight
environment,
1963
Hammen,
from this
and
the
principal
diagrams
by
der
van
were
der Hammen
van
Hammen
&
1964).
diagrams
are
of
composed
the
three
following
groups.
elements
a.
Mangrove
b.
Herbaceous
c.
Forest
Mangrove
In
elements
swamp
elements
than
(other
mangrove)
elements
these
general
influence.
always
are
A
to
not
the
that
an
species
sampling
was
location
easily transported by
of
percentage
increase
of
marine
percentage of Avicennia
high
the
high
a
means
relatively
indicates
near
very
diagrams
elements
mangrove
water;
abundant
at
or
(the pollen grains
van
der
Hammen,
1963).
Rhizophora
pollen
is
high percentage
was
the
(Muller,
growing
material
more
of it
on
easily transported.
may
also
the spot,
was
indicate
that
but it is also
deposited
far
off
the
possible
the
shore
1959).
Herbaceous swamp elements
tant
pollen types
in
re-
of this group, which
ceae,
Typha,
Compositae
angustifolia,
Cyperaceae
(Acnida cuspidata)
occurrence
represent
in
are:
impor-
Cypera-
Amaranthaceae-Chenopodiaceae
and
ranthaceae
The
occur
percentages through all the diagrams,
Gramineae
etc.
swamp-forest
forests
inundated
insignis,
vegetation
found in this
THE
section
the
general
The
the
Carapa
crepitans.
to
herb
Symphonia globulifera, Triplaris surinamensis,
Marsh-forest
Under
and consists
present.
Pterocarpus officinalis,
E.
high
OF
bromoform-alcohol
that
least 20
at
Hura
them for five minutes in
percent)
A
etc.
Swamp-forest
It is
be
article of
samples
boiling
species
D.
and
is
infrequent.
are
the
water
Genipa
glabra,
near
mixed
Tabebuia and
only
in the young coastal
and
fresh
Triplaris
sometimes
palms
mainly
Astrocaryum sclerophyllum
mention
may
the
on
to
beginning
which is
is the
is
available;
general
and
Pterocarpus
with besides
flora,,
In
lunatum
localities
other
is
type
to
and
high,
m
swamp-forest,
of herbs
layer
brackish swamps
brackish
slightly
the
is found
swamp-wood
In
A
light
enough
plain.
into
A transitional
high.
m
open scrub
an
10—15
storey forest,
forest.
completely
The
in appearance from
one
gradually
very
than 20
more
each
cm,
Wymstra,
widely
closed
low,
the
to
COURSE
From
(van
a
we
details
contents
constructed,
mainly Cyperaceae.
C.
whereas
canopy,
sum.
floating peat-
a
with
thickness,
trees
TREATMENT AND
a
(Amaran thaceae),
covered
are
meters
still
the dominance
to
amongst
Rhynchospora
and
mat.
vegetation
Montrichardia
(Cyperaceae),
in
of grasses and
according
cuspidata
pioneer
a
(Nymphaea
floating
a
species,
find
we
succeeded
association
herbaceous swamp
or
water
aquatics
divided into several types
of
further
baccata
Ocenocarpus
the
and
sp.
subglandulosa
the reader
10
association
the
Avicennia-
water
which
communities,
apparently
an
with
greatly
undergrowth.
the
Amongst
botanical
water occurs
33
vary
reach
flexuosa
the
to
Eschweilera
racemosa.
Open swamps
Open
their numbers
Geonoma
spp.,
belong
For
B.
Surinam
n.w.
maripa, Euterpe oleracea,
Mauritia
Bactris
mangrove-forest
of the
species
but
presented,
in
locality.
growing
and
sections
interesting
of this
brackish
(Cyperus
articulatus)
seem to occur
group
type,
(Tubuliflorae).
in
conditions
the
Typha
and
as
a
Amagroup.
diagrams
(Lindeman
may
1953).
D.
34
Compositae
found
rather
occur
showing
or
diagrams
indifferently.
low
very
Polygonum
are:
M.
Laeyendecker-Roosenburg
Occasionally
the
percentages through
persicaria
Sagittaria,
type,
Malvaceae, Convolvulaceae. Amaranthaceae-Allernanthera
and
type
in
only
the
Solanaceae
dominated
zones
in
occur
the
diagrams
herbaceous
by
swamp
for
The percentages
general
anything
than
(other
Forest elements
in
closed
a
mangrove)
these
elements in
low.
very
is
It
detailed about
more
the
difficult
their
swamp, with
Looking
the
PRETATION
HS
A section
conclude
reference
The
swamp
pollen
INTER-
this
influence
being
barrier.
above
The
2 and
fig.
0—
a
peaty
a
brown-grey
cm
a
lighter
the
be divided into
a
normal
a
time
about 50
was
cm
downwards:
mottled
coloured
clay.
heavy
clay.
grey
a
order
diagram
zone
zone
D
C
to
B
The
with
mottled horizon
our
are
the
description
has
zones
of the
been
diagrams,
made. In
the
represented:
than 90
more
Avicennia
than
more
percent
beginning
A
H
corresponds
the
(dominance)
Avicennia
upper part
less
herbaceous
percent
for
;
elements
the
zones
profile
and
spring
of 1964 Dr.
In
the
digging
420
to
the
A.
The
—
the
between this
trip
A
zones
high
elements,
may
the
following
than
fall
be-
in
of the
and
trees
the
just
offshore
in
river estuary
a
on
high
mud
succession of
other
events may
together
of other
percentages
tree
sediments, probably deposited
flats,
(van
the
in
in
der
a
lagoon,
Hammen,
or
B.
tages
—
and
elements
be
The sudden
at
the
decrease of
prevailance
of
the transition from
eventually
1963).
explained
by
a
drier
Rhizophora
the
period
or
A
a
to
took
able
were
and
by
pollen
man.
Geyskes.
to
the
study
samples
down
Geyskes
again
additional
samples
of
190
at
The
increase
influence of
C.
has
easy
been
fact
is
in-
that
belonging
decrease of
of
is
consists
Zone D
not
of the
of
impression
and it
diagram
zone
cm
because
diagram
the
close resemblance
a
diagram HS,
part
a
the dia-
complete
to
zonation. The
and
us
the
to
took
250
at
to
it
an
Cyperaceae
Gramineae
be
may
man.
C14
a
in
sample
this
which
depth,
cm
section,
gave
piece
a
following
the
result.
1265
Hertenrits
—
hole
3,
—
woodsample
± 60 B.P.
This
date,
part
of
AD 685
zone
B
Diagram
HR
In
swamp
the
corresponds
(Avicennia
section
has
the
(beside
to
a
level in
the upper
increase).
percen-
zone
swamp
B
may
regressional
or
the
with
the
zone
zones
In
also
in
the
the lower
the
to
zone
the
B,
a
top
the
zone
dominate,
increase of Avicennia
C and
a
base of
D
are
in
to
diagram
curves
part
C
this
for
of the
zone
C,
the
HS
not
also
is
shows
a
herbaceous
marked
upper
that
occur
Cyperaceae
diagram
potsherds
(see
diagram
which
by
the
of
parts
also present. A small difference
Avicennia does
horizon of
zone
"Hertenrits"
in
percentages;
relatively high percentages.
that
(fig. 6)
of
sampled.
bottom
swamp elements
zone
mound)
northeast
been
diagram HR,
herbaceous
zone
take
to
that there is
same
enormous
Geyskes
of wood
are
Zone
domin-
mangrove
percentages ofRhizophora,
indicate
and
spectrum
give
not
we
now
and B
The
corporated
does
site
diagram
the
recognize
From
relatively
the
again
cm.
last
transition from
with
is
The
Dr.
by
of the
cm.
GRN-1897
be reconstructed.
Zone
of
are
representing
possible
was
curve.
elements.
With these
we
upper
Rhizophora,
of other
elements
upper limit
zones;
by
(fig. 5)
1962 it
300
Dr.
herbaceous
percent
20
rise
the
have been influenced
of
visited
curve.
of the rise of the Avicennia
10 and
tween
a
water
closed
diagram
section 3, taken
to
summer
ascribed
average of 40 percent
an
sea
was
elements.
swamp
("Hertenrits")
3
the
and
herbaceous elements.
maximum
80
concept of
possibly
of the
upper part
undisturbed succession.
fall of
with
environment,
partly
In
of
the
The
file
parts, the upper part being slightly
into four
lagoon
indicate that
may
herbaceous
may
Diagram
to
and little mangrove elements; upper limit the
zone
by
may
simplify
limit the
zone
D. —
ated
missing.
sub-division
the
actual
between
seen
transgression.
gram. It appears
darker.
In
is
probable,
the
as
starts
zone
marine
more
After this
correspond
to
seem
diagrams.
two
So
coast.
environment.
for the
map
creek
a
seems
off
this
curve;
Zone
up
units
lithological
zonation in
a
layer (pegasse).
cm
.
the
time
cut
This
—
minor
to
cm
.
water
been
forming
in the
obtain
to
represent
water
profile presents
10
120—.
C.
Zone
picture
"Hertenrits"
diagram
10 —120
The
3.
the surface.
lithological
ridge
and
thus
This section has been taken from the mound. The pro-
level of the
the
sampling,
and
earlier
the
a
diagram.
from
samples
see
in order
sampled
was
AND
undisturbed section of swamp sediments. At the
of
in
fresh
to
have
then
might
formation,
topographical
ridge
a
"Hertenrits"
Avicennia
(fig. 4)
northeast of the
m
brackish
a
recent
such
lagoon
by ridge
DATA
sampling sites,
(Hertenrits Swamp)
200
herbaceous
POLLEN
THE
OF
a
The
sea
diagrams
to
bshaviour.
DIAGRAMS
THE
For the location of the
Diagram
at
situation,
in
OF
DISCUSSION
phase.
from the
lagoon
elements.
are
stationary
It is
occurs
fig. 3).
in
at
and
these
B
zone
all.
of
Notable
Gramineae.
species
interesting
apparently
occur
to
note
at
the
A
THE
pegasse
Dr.
the
is
that
there
layers.
The
Geyskes
In
and
this
This
for
the
B.
zone
BP
C14
this
In
the
filled
was
slight
a
of
far
and
B
B
in
there
visualize the
site in
the bend of
In
started
period
a
that
HR
of
zone
in
stay
up
a
C
see
the
have
that
available,
built up
zone
the
time
the fact
the
,
occupation
area
one
Indian
of
make
to
was
zone
it
the
C
meaning
possible
to
necessary
on
in
and
water-levels
the
In
may
village
beginning
on
and
area.
present;
an
con-
much
not
was
higher
it
H3
history
small and
the
was
C, apparently
relatively
last part
of
zone
thrown up
related
to
of the
the
data
low mound
B,
during
from the Llanos de
fields
one
rits"
BEDS
area,
small
are
at
one
Diagram
A
Next
one
section
above
to
agricultural
mound
as
a
centre
the
Only
the
rits" grew their
"paths",
mound
and
Geyskes
on
marine
giant
number of
series of fields
these
fields
people
were
are
kind of
of the "Herten-
tropical
America,
raised fields and
other earthworks like the mound the "Hertenrits"
earthworks
provide
drainage,
piled
was
resemble
is
However,
a
is
diagrams
into
up
fields
the
in
edible.
"Hertenrits"
A.
could b:
the
known
the
as
pollen
not
in
occur
that
a
the
that
food for
of
curve
any
of the
Several
some
other
of
species
fruits
produce
are
names
fact
of
producer.
(Rubiaceae).
shrubs
grains
basic
a
area
found in
the
by
type that gives
does
Vernacular
pollen
No
explained
poor
Duroia
are
genus
the
plants
be
pollen
and
in
section
sp.),
very
one
importance
this
fields
may
(Manihot
which
are
Marmeldoos and
e.g.
Komaramara.
The
show almost
the
apply
It is
the
resembles
diagram
curves
difficult
raised
in
the
zones
fact the
easily
may
to note
vegetation
the
HS
C
and
Fungi
and
A
in
D
the
other
where
occur
diagram.
be
may
which
sections,
this
that the Avicennia-
marked in the
are
sections
B,
(when
In
made).
was
this section than in the
the upper parts of the
ated,
We
of the hiatus
place
field
interesting
deeper
in the
changes
course.
percentages for spores of
Lithologically
to
the
it may be
High
ones.
in
diagram HS,
same
indicate the
to
and
maximum lies
the
the
zonation.
same
ditch
respect
correl-
correspond
diagrams,
being
mottled.
THE
AGE
are
OF
THE
TRANSGRESSION
AND
TO
THE
MOUND
5)
RELATION
date of
initial
the
near
represents
Other
45
C14
the
C14
have
years
dates
As
may
the
to
pegasse
The
pegasse
at
mound
of
was
the
further
preparation).
details
of the
layers
of
artificial
layers
are
these
because
correct,
in situ.
time of the
these
built after
year
these
(and probably
archaeology
is
They
is,
that
700,
the
700.
at
dates
mound
not
may
of the
building
dates
the
dates
it
from after about AD
transgression,
on
took
700.
application
be
the
are
900
conclude
transgression
indicate inhabitation of the
about AD
level
a
apparently
We may
last
ITS
± 60 (GRN-845) and AD 820
not
they represent
the
phase.
this
to
corresponds
C. Zone C
zone
The conclusion from
probably
up
from
been removed
levels
3
3 and
(fig.
after about AD
AD 905
at
profile
mound.
of
date that
(GRN-1898).
the
H
diagram
phase
transgressional
a
certain that
For
crops.
From elsewhere in
of the
sampled,
Cassava
beginning
a
to
dug
earth
which
Indians,
to
a
describes
area.
This
samples.
in
swamp.
these fields
which the
a
in
as
they prob-
areas
in Bolivia. He found drained
were
cultivated food
ordinary
place
of
2)
lead
water-level of the
Dr.
beds
(fig.
well
as
areas
dry
(fig. 7)
was
the time
of the "Herten-
photographs
Between these
"paths".
According
to
the
(RAISED FIELDS)
gets the impression
To the
situated.
raised
the aerial
35
temple grounds.
where
mounds,
mound date
looks
cobweb.
fields
"Hertenrits"
±
If
raised
dry
the
(1963)
Mojos
ditches
where
and
from
influence.
AGRICULTURAL
Denevan
N.
but that
growing
a
William
in
In
served for burial and
ably
The C14
conclude from all
found
are
flooding.
to
Surinam
n.w.
to
build
(in preparation).
to
a
during
first
the
and
discussion
a
area
Geyskes
we
the bulk of the mound
of
(for
In order
34).
p.
see
Apparently
was
as
mound. For further details
Hertenrits
now
time
much
Hertenrits
only
depression
surrounding
mound
no
that
with
this
there
of the
was
marine influence
more
boundary
inhabited. From
small creek. At the
a
at our
rapidly
was
the
indicating
sections
drawn
other words
creek
B
zone
follows.
as
difference in elevation between
no
topography
general
that
sediments that
difference in altitude between the
the
con-
mound.
present
was
Towards
with
area was
potsherd-layers
of the
explained
this
C
zone
conclude that
may
creek
a
zone
of
1265
at
pollen
it appears
be
remained.
that there is almost
be
we
6)
built up,
that the Hertenrits
of
site
end
of
beginning
building
may
the
in
3
(fig.
the
dated
was
deposition
and
zone
towards
time
the
filled up
was
may
3
of
depression
clusion
that
sediments.
new
so
potsherd-layer
the
occur
Mounds
subject
areas
artifical
below
just
too
potsherds
of the
This
course
by
up
B-C it
that
conclusion
this
ended,
B-C.
zones
the
normal
(fig.
of
pegasse
a
first
after
beginning
beginning
In
to
Just
the
HR
diagram
site.
the
us
abnormally long.
At the
remarkable
3,
the
found
potsherds
below
just
time inhabited
sediments
was
and
clay
of
occurrence
cm,
boundary
analysis
H
diagram
is
leads
first
By
first
of 260
it is
(GRN-1897).
taining
The
boundary
6).
of
which have been
sections
interesting
known.
mound it
the
concentrated just above and below
are
HR
through
interchange
an
below the
just
same
was
is
depth
a
diagram
and
in
at
”HERTENRITS”
Geyskes
potsherds
layers.
pegasse
noted
layer
THE
sections of Dr.
appears
by
OF
HISTORY
From
of archaeologically
palynological investigation
at
the
may
least
longer).
see
Geyskes
(in
D.
36
M.
Laeyendecker-Roosenburg
REFERENCES
—
&
T.
A.
Tertiary
R. &
Brinkman,
of
the
three
L.
Denevan,
W.
works
of
N.,
T.
Vol.
van
Quaternary
Vol. 29,
p.
of
in
A
classification
the
coastal
and
plain
map
of
the
Additional
in
28, 4,
der,
1963.
British
125—180.
comments
Northeastern
p.
on
Bolivia.
the
earth-
American
540—545.
A
Leidse
study
Geol.
on
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Meded.,
1964.
A
palynological
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183—241.
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&
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H.
of
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The
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Palynology
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Vogel, J.
Am.
1953.
The
1959.
Muller, J.,
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palynological
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p.
Lindeman, J. C.,
of
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1963.
Mojos
Antiquity,
Hammen,
sediments
In
Guianas.
Pons, 1965.
J.
Holocene
Wymstra,
of British Guiana.
of
the
Orinoco
Micropaleontology,
T.
V.
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1964.
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349 —369.
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part
1.
delta
and
Shelf
Ex-
1,
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1—32.
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The