Abstract Aerosol-cloud and aerosol-radiation interactions depend on several factors such as the physico-chemical properties, geographical and temporal variability, and vertical distribution of atmospheric aerosols. Of particular importance are cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and black carbon (BC) particles as a subset of the atmospheric aerosol population. CCN are a prerequisite for cloud droplet formation, and variations in CCN loading can modify cloud properties. BC can efficiently absorb solar radiation, induce local heating and inhibit cloud formation. In order to determine the effects of CCN and BC on clouds, precipitation, radiation and the Earth’s energy budget, atmospheric loading and spatio-temporal distribution of aerosols are highly relevant. Thus this dissertation addresses and helps to elucidate the spatio-temporal variation and co-variability of CCN and BC with extensive field measurement data from aircraft and ground-based measurements. The data analyses focus on anthropogenic pollution, wildfire emissions and volcanic aerosols. In the Anthropocene, the distribution and abundance of atmospheric aerosols have changed drastically. Major sources of anthropogenic particulate pollution are the combustion of fossil fuels and biofuels as well as emissions from open biomass burning. The ubiquitous presence of anthropogenic air pollution, especially over continental regions in the Northern Hemisphere, hampers the assessment of anthropogenic influence on aerosol and climate due to a lack of unperturbed reference measurements. The abrupt reduction in human activities during the first COVID-19 lockdown created unprecedented atmospheric conditions that allowed us to investigate and quantify changes in the tropospheric composition in response to changes in anthropogenic emissions. The results reflect a strong and immediate influence of human activities on air quality, the role of BC as a major air pollutant in the Anthropocene, and close links between the atmospheric burdens of CCN and BC. Measurement data from five aircraft missions in polluted environments reveal characteristic relationships between CCN and BC in urban haze from Europe and East Asia, highly aged biomass burning smoke over the tropical Atlantic and the Amazon rainforest, and lightly aged biomass burning smoke over Europe, Brazil, and Asia. Over Europe and Asia, the vertical distribution of CCN in the lower troposphere up to altitudes about 5 km is highly sensitive to regional anthropogenic emissions. Over the tropical Atlantic ocean, the vertical distribution is strongly influenced by the longrange transport of mineral dust and biomass burning smoke, but volcanic eruptions also contribute to the aerosol load.

Tesis por compendio / [EN] Historiography has bestowed upon the works of the treatise writer Guillermus de Podio a leading position in the history of Hispanic music theory. This is due not only to the intrinsic interest of his works, but also to his decisive influence, especially on the theorists of the 15th century. Nonetheless, existing studies still allow room to learn more about him. The first part of this doctoral dissertation focuses on the writer's contentious life story. Although there have been several hypotheses set forth concerning the author's name, origin, and identity, data universally accepted by experts on his background were limited to his Hispanic origin and to the fact that he was a priest. Newly discovered unpublished documents found in various civil registers and religious archives now allow us to study the rich and extensive professional career of Guillem Molins, alias de Podio (*1420c; +1500), a distinguished musician who played important roles related to music in some of the most prominent cathedrals of the Crown of Aragon (Barcelona, Girona, and Valencia), as well as in the service of the Royal House of John II of Aragon and his wife Juana Enríquez. In the second part we gain further knowledge of the musical environment of the author in the court of John II where the musician worked during the king's reign in Aragon (1458-1479). This dissertation helps to fill a historiographical gap that exists in existing studies concerning music in the court of the Aragonese monarchs. The historical record of the kingdom of John II was heretofore the most obscure from a musicological point of view throughout the nearly two centuries from 1336 to 1516, between the reigns of Peter the Ceremonious and Ferdinand the Catholic. A methodical analysis of archival sources, some of which were already known but not thoroughly studied, and others never considered for use in musicology, has allowed us to more closely examine different areas of music in this royal court, notably, the regulatory, economic, and social aspects. Moreover, it has been possible to describe, to varying levels of detail, the various groups of musicians that formed part of these royal houses, and their activities. The third and final part is focused on Guillem de Podio's work Enchiridion de principiis musice discipline contra negantes illa et destruentes and on the only manuscript that includes it (I-Bc, A.71). The analysis of this short codex is particularly noteworthy since it represents the first time that distinct parts of its structure have been studied in detail, as well as its watermarks, signatures, and capital letters. This new information, as well as other data provided (such as biographical data on musicians Antonio Marlet and Juan de Sanabria, who are cited in the manuscript) lead to a new hypothesis about the manuscript's origin (at least of its oldest part) from the city of Valencia. A new contextualised introduction to the ideas contained in the Enchiridion aids in the accessibility of the work's translation into Valencian/Catalan, which is included in the appendix. Among the remaining appendices, the ones that may be highlighted due to their importance and utility are those focused on the nearly complete transcription of the documents of interest, as well as the prosopographic catalogue (collection of biographies, including the documents consulted and bibliographies) of people related to music and who were with Guillem de Podio at the institutions where he worked. / [ES] La historiografía ha otorgado a la producción del tratadista Guillermus de Podio una posición preeminente en la Historia de la teoría musical hispánica, merced no solamente al interés intrínseco de sus obras, sino también a la influencia determinante que ejerció, especialmente, sobre los teóricos del siglo XVI. No obstante, los estudios hasta ahora existentes dejaban todavía lugar para avanzar en el conocimiento sobre su figura. La primera parte de este trabajo se focaliza en la controvertida cuestión biográfica. A pesar de que anteriormente se habían planteado diversas hipótesis sobre el nombre, origen e identidad del autor, los datos unánimemente admitidos por los especialistas sobre su trayectoria se reducían al origen hispánico y la condición sacerdotal. Nuevos documentos inéditos localizados en diversos archivos civiles y religiosos permiten ahora contemplar la rica y dilatada trayectoria profesional de Guillem Molins alias de Podio (*1420c;+1500), un distinguido músico que ejerció oficios musicales relevantes en algunas de las catedrales más destacadas de la Corona de Aragón -Barcelona, Girona y Valencia- así como al servicio de las casas reales de Juan II de Aragón y su esposa Juana Enríquez. En la segunda parte, se avanza en el conocimiento del entorno musical del tratadista en la corte de Juan II de Aragón, a quien el músico sirvió a lo largo de todo su reinado (1458-1479). Este trabajo contribuye a llenar un vacío historiográfico en los estudios sobre la música en la corte de los monarcas de Aragón, pues el reinado de Juan II era, hasta ahora, el más oscuro, desde el punto de vista musicológico, en los casi dos siglos que transcurrieron entre los de Pedro el Ceremonioso y Fernando el Católico, es decir, desde 1336 hasta 1516. Un vaciado sistemático de las fuentes archivísticas -algunas conocidas, pero poco exploradas, y otras nunca consideradas en musicología- ha permitido aproximarse a diversos aspectos -normativos, económicos, sociales- relacionados con el hecho musical en esta corte. Asimismo, ha sido posible caracterizar, con diferente grado de detalle, los diversos conjuntos de músicos que formaban parte de las casas reales y su actividad. La tercera y última parte está dedicada a la obra Enchiridion de principiis musice discipline contra negantes illa et destruentes de Guillem de Podio y al único manuscrito que la ha transmitido (I-Bc, A.71). El estudio de este pequeño códice recibe un impulso en este trabajo, puesto que por primera vez se estudia en detalle su estructura de fascículos, las marcas de agua, las signaturas y las letras capitales. Estos nuevos datos, y otros que también se aportan -como las referentes a detalles biográficos de los músicos Antoni Marlet y Juan de Sanabria, citados en el manuscrito- conducen a la formulación de una nueva hipótesis sobre el origen del manuscrito -al menos de su parte más antigua- que apunta a la ciudad de Valencia. Una introducción contextualitzada a las ideas presentes en el Enchiridion sirve para acercarse a la traducción de la obra al valenciano/catalán, que se ofrece en apéndice. Entre el resto de apéndices del trabajo destacan, por la entidad y la utilidad, el dedicado a la transcripción, mayoritariamente completa, de documentos de interés (apéndice III), así como el catálogo prosoprográfico (apéndice II), o colección de biografías, documentos consultados y bibliografías de aquellas personas relacionadas con la música que coincidieron con Guillem de Podio en las instituciones donde sirvió. / [CA] La historiografia ha atorgat a la producció del tractadista Guillermus de Podio una posició preeminent en la Història de la teoria musical hispànica, mercés no només a l'interès intrínsec de les seues obres, sinó també a la influència determinant que exercí, especialment, sobre els teòrics del segle XVI. No obstant això, els estudis fins ara existents deixaven encara lloc per a avançar en el coneixement sobre la seua figura. La primera part d'aquest treball es focalitza en la controvertida qüestió biogràfica. Tot i que anteriorment s'havien plantejat diverses hipòtesis sobre el nom, l'origen i la identitat de l'autor, les dades unànimement admeses pels especialistes sobre la seua trajectòria es reduïen a l'origen hispànic i a la condició de prevere. Nous documents inèdits localitzats en diversos arxius civils i religiosos permeten ara contemplar la rica i dilatada trajectòria professional de Guillem Molins àlies de Podio (*1420c; +1500), un distingit músic que va exercir oficis musicals rellevants en algunes de les catedrals més destacades de la Corona d'Aragó -Barcelona, Girona i València- així com al servei de les cases reials de Joan II d'Aragó i de la seua esposa Joana Enríquez. En la segona part, s'avança en el coneixement de l'entorn musical del tractadista en la cort de Joan II d'Aragó, a qui el músic va servir al llarg de tot el seu regnat (1458-1479). Aquest treball contribueix a omplir un buit historiogràfic en els estudis sobre la música en la cort dels monarques d'Aragó, puix el regnat de Joan II era, fins ara, el més obscur, des del punt de vista musicològic, dins dels gairebé dos segles que van entre els de Pere el Cerimoniós i Ferran el Catòlic, és a dir, des del 1336 fins el 1516. Un buidat sistemàtic de les fonts arxivístiques -algunes conegudes, però poc explorades, i altres mai no considerades en musicologia- ha permès aproximar-se a diversos aspectes -normatius, econòmics, socials- relacionats amb el fet musical en aquesta cort. Així mateix, ha sigut possible caracteritzar, amb diferent grau de detall, els diversos conjunts de músics que formaven part de les cases reials i la seua activitat. La tercera i darrera part es dedica a l'obra Enchiridion de principiis musice discipline contra negantes illa et destruentes de Guillem de Podio i a l'únic manuscrit que l'ha transmès (I-Bc, A.71). L'estudi d'aquest petit còdex rep en aquest treball un impuls atès que, per primera vegada, s'estudia en detall l'estructura de fascicles, les marques d'aigua, les signatures i les lletres capitals. Aquestes noves dades, i altres que també s'aporten -com ara les referents a detalls biogràfics dels músics Antoni Marlet i Juan de Sanabria, citats en el manuscrit- condueixen a la formulació d'una nova hipòtesi sobre l'origen del còdex -almenys de la part més antiga- que apunta a la ciutat de València. Una introducció contextualitzada a les idees presents a l'Enchiridion serveix per a acostar-se a la traducció de l'obra al valencià/català, que s'ofereix en apèndix. Entre la resta d'apèndixs del treball destaquen, per l'entitat i la utilitat, el dedicat a la transcripció, majoritàriament completa, de documents d'interès (apèndix III), així com el catàleg prosoprogràfic (apèndix II) o recull de biografies, documents consultats i bibliografies d'aquelles persones relacionades amb la música que varen coincidir amb Guillem de Podio en les institucions on va servir. / Villanueva Serrano, FJ. (2016). Guillem de Podio (*1420c; +1500): Estudi biogràfic crític, entorn musical a la cort de Joan II d'Aragó i l'obra Enchiridion de principiis musice discipline contra negantes illa et destruentes [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/62154 / Premios Extraordinarios de tesis doctorales / Compendio

Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) related to protected areas (PAs) originated in the 1980’s in Zimbabwe, Africa, in the buffer zone communities of Africa’s National Parks. CBNRM attempted to address the problems associated with colonial, protectionist style ‘fence and guns’ conservation management approaches, which excluded resource-based communities from conservation areas. CBNRM attempts to meet the biodiversity conservation objectives of conservation areas, and the sustainable development and livelihood objectives of neighbouring communities. While CBNRM initiatives have been well documented internationally over the past decades, little is known about the status of CBNRM within Canada. In order to bridge this knowledge gap and to link trends in conservation and protected areas management internationally to Canada and to British Columbia (BC), this thesis examines the potential for community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) affiliated with BC's Protected Area System. “Potential” is determined by comparing the situation in BC to the international CBNRM experience. The study draws on a sample of Conservancies from the categories of the BC Protected Area (PA) System, focusing particularly on the nine Sea-to-Sky Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) Area Conservancies and neighbouring First Nations communities: Squamish, L’il’wat and In-SHUCK-ch. Information has been obtained through interviews (guided by semi-structured questionnaires) conducted with BC government informants and First Nations representatives, supplemented by key documents. The questionnaire examined the potential for CBNRM according to a.) the community's perspective: potential (costs and) benefits of the protected area, including goods and services, cultural and social benefits and sustainable economic development opportunities provided by the protected area; and benefits of community involvement in natural resource management and protected area governance; and b.) the conservation perspective: benefits through community cooperation in biodiversity conservation within the targeted protected area. Other factors that have been identified through the international experience to affect CBNRM initiatives, such as use regulation; tenure; policies and legislation; awareness of and support for the protected area; and community capacity were thoroughly examined across all sources of information. This study finds that there is potential for CBNRM affiliated with the BC PA system in protected area designations such as ‘Conservancies’. Potential relates to the role of CBNRM in biodiversity conservation, meeting the aspirations of BC’s First Nations communities, and in recognizing First Nations as legitimate stakeholders in protected areas and conservation management. As in the international experience, numerous social, political, economic and other factors present opportunities and challenges to the adoption of CBNRM in BC. This thesis concludes with key recommendations for protected areas and conservation management in BC and Canada and identifies opportunities to further explore key topic areas that arose from the research findings.

The newly revised 2017-2018 British Columbian high school curriculum, as a prevention education response to a growing concern around children and youths’ mental health, indicates that students will learn the signs and symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression and be able to explain strategies to promote mental well-being (Province of British Columbia, 2016). Youth voices may help in shaping this curriculum objective. This study explores the meaning that five high school students, who were trained to facilitate an anxiety-prevention program, make of the problem of anxiety and prevention through their narratives, applying a narrative methodology and analysis. These youth narratives do not provide a singular explanation, truth or understanding of anxiety; like all narratives, they hold multiple truths. The youth narratives are drawn from the participants’ local experiential knowledge as well as prevailing discourses that shape their understanding. The types of narratives in this inquiry include: i) the quest for problem-free childhoods; ii) the genesis of knowledge; and iii) overcoming giant stigma by connecting. There are implications and considerations pulled from the narratives, including how a prevailing psychologized discourse may obscure contextual factors in making sense of anxiety and prevention. This inquiry may help educators and other professionals to imagine what else could be possible in conceptualizing the problem of anxiety and implementing prevention programs. It is hoped that this study will add to the current dialogue around prevention and support strategies in British Columbian schools and beyond. / Graduate / 0525 / 0680 / 0519 / 0533 / 0347 / arfelix3@gmail.com

L’objectif de ce travail est l’amélioration des courbes de variation séculaire de la direction (inclinaison I et déclinaison D) et de l’intensité (F) du champ magnétique terrestre en Europe occidentale durant le premier millénaire av. J.-C. 47 fours, foyers et lots de tessons céramiques ont été étudiés pour constituer de nouvelles structures de référence. La datation du moment d’acquisition de l’aimantation a été définie en analysant l’ensemble des informations archéologiques et chronométriques disponibles sur les sites. 39 nouvelles archéodirections ont été obtenues après désaimantations thermique et par champ alternatif. Les 18 archéointensités ont été déterminées par le protocole de Thellier-Thellier et généralement corrigées des effets de l’anisotropie et de la vitesse de refroidissement. Les courbes de variation séculaire françaises, construites par moyenne mobile et par la statistique hiérarchique bayésienne, ont été étendues jusqu’en 1500 av. J.-C. pour la direction et jusqu’en 800 av. J.-C. pour l’intensité. L’inclinaison a une variation non monotone entre 65 et 75° entre 1500 et 0 av. J.-C. Les variations de la déclinaison et de l’intensité sont très fortes avec un maximum en 800 av. J.-C. (30° pour D et 90 µT pour F) et un minimum (-5° pour D et 60µT pour F) en 250 av. J.-C. L’interprétation géomagnétique de la variation séculaire est difficile en raison des lacunes des jeux de données de référence hors Europe. Ces nouvelles courbes plus fiables améliorent la datation archéomagnétique au premier millénaire av. J.-C. et étendent son application à l’âge du Bronze final. Du fait de la forte variation séculaire, le premier âge du Fer est la période la plus propice. / This study aims to improve the Western Europe secular variation curve of the direction (inclination I and declination D) and the intensity (F) of the Earth’s magnetic field during the first millennium BC. New archaeomagnetic reference data were obtained from 47 kilns, hearths and sets of pottery sherds with precise magnetization acquisition ages determined through a comprehensive review of available archaeological and chronometric informations. 39 new archaeodirections were computed after thermal and alternating field demagnetizations and 18 new archaeointensities were determined by the Thellier-Thellier protocol with anisotropy and cooling rate corrections. The new French secular variation curves, built using hierarchical bayesian statistics, were extended to 1500BC for the direction and to 800BC for the intensity. Inclination vary non-monotonously (between 65 and 75°) between 1500BC and 0AD. Variations in declination and intensity are very strong with a maximum at 800BC (30° for D and 90µT for F) and a minimum at 250BC (-5° for D and 60µT for F). Interpreting the geomagnetic significance of this strong variation is hindered by the scarcity of data outside Europe. However it provides a useful marker for reliable archaeomagnetic dating in Western Europe during the Iron Age, especially during the Early Iron Age thanks to the strong secular variation. The new directional curve also allows the extension of archaeomagnetic dating to the Final Bronze Age.

A presente pesquisa de doutorado pretende levantar, catalogar e examinar os vestígios arqueológicos dos contextos funerários, datados entre o intervalo do século XI ao VIII a.C. nos principais sítios da região da Argólida (Mapas 1, 2 e 3), Argos, Tirinto, Asine, Micenas, Náuplia e Lerna. Comparando tais dados entre si, e discutindo-os a partir de fundamentos teórico-metodológicos da Arqueologia das Práticas Mortuárias, objetivamos, por fim, levantar considerações sobre os costumes funerários dessa área, revelando possíveis padrões de enterramento e de comportamento sócio-cultural inseridos nas mudanças políticas ocorridas em um período de longa duração, principalmente, durante o período denominado de Alto Arcaísmo, o século VIII a.C., com o processo de formação da pólis argiva. / This thesis intends to gather, catalogue and analyze the archaeological data from the funerary contexts, dated from the XI to the VIII centuries BC in the main sites of the Argive plain (Maps 1, 2 and 3). Finally, it is also our aim to compare the data collected and discuss them through the theoretical and methodological basis of the Archaeology of Mortuary Practices trying to reach some questions and considerations about the funerary customs and burial patterns of this region and also possible social and cultural behavior characteristic of the shifts occurred mainly during the VIII century BC.

Lors de la période de guerres civiles (49-31 a.C.) qui marqua la fin de la République, les armées, guidées par des imperatores rivaux, jouèrent un rôle central sur la scène politique romaine. Notre étude s’est portée sur l’encadrement des armées dans cette période. Comme dans toute armée, l’obéissance, la discipline voire le dévouement des troupes étaient assurés par des cadres militaires que l’on pourrait qualifier d’officiers, préfets, tribuns militaires, questeurs et légats. On a créé une base de données recensant l’ensemble des conduites individuelles de ces cadres des armées tardo-républicaines. On s’est livré d’abord à une analyse de la position institutionnelle de ces personnages, de leurs fonctions et de la chaîne de commandement dans laquelle ils s’inséraient. On a ensuite examiné les compétences et la formation de ces personnages, qui ne connurent pas de professionnalisation et n’étaient pas des techniciens. Enfin, le rôle politique de ces officiers qui étaient des partisans politiques des imperatores, a fait l’objet d’un examen d’ensemble. / During the Civil Wars which marked the end of the Republican Period in Rome, armies, led by rival imperatores, were important actors of the Roman political scene. This study is about the military cadres during this period. As in any army, obedience, discipline and loyalty were based on the action of military cadres, who can be considered as officers, such as prefects, military tribunes, quaestors and legates. I have created a database, grouping the whole individual actions of these military cadres in late-republican armies. First, I have made an analysis of the institutional positions of these officers, I have studied their functions, and the command chain they were part of. Then, I have studied the competences and the military formation of these individuals, who were not professionals nor technicians. Finally, the political role of these officers, who were kinsmen of the great imperatores, is analysed.

La culture urukéenne de la Mésopotamie du Sud a fait l’objet de multiples analyses afin d’interpréter ses contacts au 4e millénaire. La découverte d'un nombre important de matériel de facture urukéenne sur les sites de la Mésopotamie du Nord a conduit les archéologues à proposer que cette présence était le résultat d'une expansion urukéenne dans cette région. Or, l'utilisation de théories anthropologiques pour l'étude archéologique des contacts culturels permet d'explorer d'autres formes de contact et de proposer l’hypothèse selon laquelle le matériel urukéen découvert en Mésopotamie du Nord est le fruit de la volonté des élites nord-mésopotamiennes visant des intérêts politiques, économiques et sociaux. L'émulation des dirigeants nord-mésopotamiens, qui veulent profiter de la puissance des Urukéens pour renforcer leur statut, ne peut qu'être le résultat d'un compromis entre les élites des deux régions qui y trouvent chacun leurs intérêts. / The urukeen culture of South Mesopotamia has been the subject of many studies to interpret its contacts in 4th millennium B.C. The important number of urukeen material discovered on many sites of northern Mesopotamia has led to the conclusion that this presence was the result of an urukeen expansion in this region. However, the use of anthropological theories for the archaeological study of cultural contacts enables to explore other forms of contact and to propose the hypothesis according to which the urukeen material discovered in these sites is the result of the will of the northern Mesopotamian leaders to reach political, economic and social advantages. The leaders emulation, who want to take advantage of the urukeen power to consolidate their status, is the result of a compromise between the elites of these two regions allowing both parties to find their interests.

Ce travail de thèse s’inscrit dans la continuité de nombreux travaux consacrés à l’un des thèmes de recherche préférentiel de l’archéologie syrienne, à savoir l’identification des étapes du processus qui voit, au cours du IIIe millénaire av. J.-C., la transformation des sociétés villageoises vers un niveau d’organisation complexe et l’émergence des villes. À travers une perspective d’analyse double, à la fois urbaine et architecturale, cette étude s’est attachée à identifier les différentes phases de la transformation urbaine de certains sites-clés, tels que Tell ‘Atij, Tell Bderi, Tell Chuera, Tell Habuba Kabira, Tell Hariri, Tell Melebiya et Tell al-Raqa’i. L’analyse approfondie de la morphologie de ces établissements, des modes d’aménagement de l’espace bâti, de leur nature, de leur développement au fil du temps, ainsi que des caractéristiques de leurs habitats et leurs évolutions, a permis de mettre en évidence certaines dynamiques évolutives propres aux agglomérations en voie de transformation vers un « statut urbain » proprement dit. La récurrence de ces dynamiques sur plusieurs des chantiers analysés – bien qu’à des époques différentes – conduit à reconnaître au moins trois étapes dans le processus d’urbanisation des sites proto-urbains de la région syrienne. C’est seulement à la suite de cette évolution en trois temps que les compétences urbanistiques nécessaires à la mise en place d’un vrai plan d’urbanisme sont acquises et maîtrisées, et que les premières villes font leur apparition. Enfin, l’analyse des habitats nous a permis de constater qu’au sein de chaque implantation, un « concept » propre et spécifique d’habitation est adopté et développé au cours du temps. Il a également été possible d’esquisser une évolution des caractères propres aux espaces publics et privés. / This thesis is part of the continuity of work devoted to one of the preferred research themes of Syrianarchaeology, namely the identification of the process through which, during the 3rd millennium BC, village societies attained a complex organizational level and cities emerged. Through a dual analytical perspective, both urban and architectural, this study focuses on identifying the different phases of urban transformation of key sites, such as Tell ‘Atij, Tell Bderi, Tell Chuera, Tell Habuba Kabira, Tell Hariri, Tell Melebiya and Tell al-Raqa'i. An in-depth analysis of the morphology of these establishments, the methods of planning the built environment, their nature, their development over time, as well as the characteristics of their housing and their evolution, has made it possible to highlight certain evolutionary dynamics specific to proto-urban areas undergoing transformation towards an "urban status" as such. The recurrence of these dynamics across several ofthe sites analysed – although carried out at different times – leads to the key contribution of this thesis: the definition of at least three stages in the urbanisation process of proto-urban sites in the Syrian region. It is only as a result of this three-stage evolution that the urban planning skills necessary to implement a real urban planning are developed and mastered, and that the first cities appear. Finally, the results of the analysis we conduct on habitats show that within each location, a precise and clear-cut "concept" of housing is adopted and developed over time. Here, it is also possible to sketch an evolution of the features specific to public and private spaces.

Vegetation science, like any science, uses classification to organize knowledge about plants and plant communities. Classification is helpful for understanding how different plant communities relate to one another and their environments, for facilitating further studies of vegetation, and for conservation. To familiarize onself with vegetation of a large area, it is very convenient and efficient to begin with a few general units, such as plant orders rather than with many very detailed units, such as plant associations and subassociation. We offer such an approach and think that the information given in this series will be sufficient to assign any forested coastal community to one the orders or suborders. In spite of a history of vegetation studies in British Columbia, there has not yet been any attempt to develop a comprehensive hierarchical classification of plant communities for the province. As the culmination of fifty years of detailed surveys carried out by V.J. Krajina and his students, the Ecology Program Staff of the BC Forest Service, and other workers, we used tabular and multivariate analyses of 3,779 sample plots established in natural, old-growth, submontane, montane, and subalpine forest communities in coastal BC to develop a hierarchy of vegetation units according to the methods of biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification.