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Framework Archaeology is a Joint Venture agreement between Oxford Archaeology (OA) and Wessex Archaeology (WA) to provide archaeological services to BAA (formerly British Airports Authority, now Heathrow Airport Holdings Ltd). Given the potential scale of some of BAA's projects, the joint venture enables Framework Archaeology to draw on the full resources of both OA and WA, including site staff, specialist managers, administrative support, and technical facilities. In 1993, BAA plc and Heathrow Airport Limited submitted a joint planning application to develop an additional passenger terminal complex (Terminal 5), together with the provision of aircraft aprons and taxiways, and include the realignment of rivers and landscaping. The resulting archaeological excavations were undertaken as three main phases of work. Excavations in 1996 by the Museum of London Archaeology Service of approximately 4 ha of sludge stockpile areas (site code POK96). Between 1999-2000 Framework Archaeology excavated approximately 21 ha in the Perry Oaks sludge works and adjacent areas (WPR98). Framework Archaeology also undertook excavations between 2002-2007 as part of the construction of Terminal 5 (PSH02, TEC05) covering a further 50 hectares. Importantly the aim of the Terminal 5 archaeological programme was to move beyond the description and recovery of archaeological remains and to arrive at an understanding of the history of human inhabitation and the practical ways in which people established their presence in the material, social and political conditions of their day.

This study aims to assess the extent to which blockchain technology (BCT) may constitute an alternative to the conventional stock trading system and emphasize the changing roles of the key parties. It is expected that BCT would enhance the performance of the process across the three stages (i.e. trading, clearing and settlement within the stock exchange environment). A thorough literature review is conducted to understand the BCT performance modeling techniques and approaches (empirical and analytical) and to examine the theoretical potentials and capabilities of BCT in the financial markets. The case study and simulation methods are used to evaluate the impact of BCT implementation in optimizing the process of trading, clearing and settlement in Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) stock-trading activities. This paper presents a simulation analysis comparing a blockchain system with a traditional trading system in the context of stock market. The simulation procedures involve modeling processes over different durations and transaction volumes, using metrics such as process time and cycle time to evaluate performance. The performance index combines these metrics with weights to ensure accurate and consistent measurements. Simulation results reveal that the blockchain system significantly outperforms the current trading system, especially at higher transaction volumes, highlighting its scalability and efficiency. A threshold of 30,000 transactions is identified as the point where blockchain’s benefits become apparent. The analysis shows that blockchain significantly elevate the process efficiency. It reduces both cycle time and process time across varying transaction volumes, maintaining consistency and reliability. Additionally, a simple simulation using the Hyperledger Fabric platform demonstrates the practical implementation of a permissioned blockchain for clearing transactions, emphasizing the system's capability to manage high transaction volumes efficiently and securely. The use of blockchain network for handling seamless transactions using pre-defined smart contracts significantly improves the performance of the stock trading processes, specifically in the clearing phase. Interestingly, the BCT system drops the need for a “third party” (i.e. stock custodian) across the three stages. At the end of the paper, we propose a thereat mitigating model for stock trading with a new blockchain system.

Traditional culture of settlement is an important medium to record the process of balance between human and nature, and it was passed down from generation to generation in different forms (e.g. sacrificial culture, social structure, belief worship). With the intensification of global multicultural integration, the integration relationship between culture and nature has become an important approach for the protection and inheritance of traditional culture. Now, the relationship between artistic creation and ecological environment has been extensively studied. The scientific consensus regarding the influence of ecological environment on artistic creation has gained widespread recognition. Nevertheless, previous research neglects the relationship of traditional culture and natural environment, as well as different spatial characteristics, which are closely related to agricultural production and living. Based on the in-depth investigation of 23 traditional settlements of Yi minority in Southwest China, this paper conducted spatial analysis based on aerial photography, satellite maps and field investigation to analyze the relationship of culture-environment-space. Our results showed that there are significant differences in settlement space (e.g. landscape pattern, landscape space, architectural form) of Yi minority distributed in different areas. Under the same cultural background, the dispersed layout appears in Liangshan with high altitude and cold climate; the mountain foot layout appears in Central Yunnan and Northwest Guizhou with flat terrain and mild climate; the centralized layout appears in Honghe with narrow valleys and hot climate. These results shows that traditional culture comes from the natural environment, and the settlement space built under the guidance of the traditional culture must be in harmony with the natural environment. Therefore, protecting the traditional culture plays an important role in the sustainable development of urban and rural settlements. In addition, our findings may serve to inheritance and protection of traditional culture in other area all over the world.

This paper describes a procedure for settlement prediction of shallow foundations on carbonate sands, but it is fully applicable and valid for siliceous sands. For practical purposes, the design of shallow foundations resting on medium dense and dense granular soils is typically governed by limiting settlement to tolerable values. Predicting foundation settlement is therefore important, but in standard practice it is necessarily based on indirect (and therefore often conservative) determinations of soil compressibility (or modulus), due to the intrinsic difficulties in obtaining direct measurements.While numerical analyses incorporating non-linear soil behaviour may be a preferred method for computing expected total and differential settlement of shallow foundations of given geometry and stiffness on sand under static loading, the method described in this paper consists of a simplified and expeditious method based on equivalent linear elasticity. The method uses: i) the elastic soil stiffness profile at small strain, E0(z) obtained from the shear wave velocity as the primary measurement of deformability and ii) the reduction in modulus as a function of strain magnitude, E(ε) to account for stiffness non-linearity. The beneficial effect on the soil initial stiffness of the applied footing load is also considered. The method was developed as an on-site tool for checking the compaction of hydraulic fills made of carbonate sand to form artificial islands, but its application can be extended to other natural and anthropogenic coarse-grained materials.

Introduction. The available methods of assessment of bearing capacity by deformations of foundations mainly take into account single static loads of short duration or cyclic loads with unchanged values during the whole period of operation. The effect of cyclic loading of non-stationary regimes on the behavior of soil bases is practically not studied. In this connection, the research was carried out to develop a method for calculating the settlement of the bearing capacity of clay foundations under block cyclic loading.Materials and methods. To achieve the purpose of this paper, experimental studies of clay foundations in triaxial compression and tray test devices, as well as theoretical studies to determine the bearing capacity and settlement of clay foundations under different loading regimes were carried out.Results. On the basis of existing calculations of bearing capacity and settlement of foundations and the study of the behavior of clay soils under cyclic loads, the equations in compact form are obtained, which make it possible to take into account the peculiarities of deformation of clay soils significantly reducing the complexity and accuracy of the calculations. The development of methods for calculating the bearing capacity and settlement of clay foundations under block cyclic loads is at a sufficiently high level.Conclusions. A method for calculating the bearing capacity of clay foundations under block cyclic loading is proposed and an engineering method for calculating the settlement of clay foundations is developed, based on the method of layer-by-layer summation, which takes into account the simultaneous change in the spatial stress-strain state and mechanical characteristics of soils in the process of mode block cyclic loading.

Shield tunnels built in soft soil are prone to settlement, which is often accompanied by convergence deformation, further resulting in a series of damages to the tunnel structure and compromise its safety in service. This paper presents an engineering case on the settlement development and internal drilling grouting remediation of a tunnel section in Shaoxing Metro Line 1, where the inner diameter and thickness of the tunnel linings are increased to be 5.9 m and 400 mm simultaneously. The tunnel settlement arises from a comprehensive analysis of several contributing factors, encompassing ground disturbances such as pile driving, pile extraction, backfilling of pile holes, road structure construction, and road traffic. A grouting remediation plan is thoughtfully designed, including a careful assessment on the necessity for a temporary steel support system which is based on a full-scale three-ring test of the tunnel structure. The deformation of the tunnel during settlement and grouting processes is thoroughly analyzed to investigate the deformation resistance capacity exhibited by the thickened larger-diameter tunnel. The case study and experimental results demonstrate that tunnel structures with an increased diameter and thickness have better deformation resistance than conventional metro tunnels in soft soil layers. The analysis of this study can provide a reference for tunnel structures optimization and similar grouting remediation projects in shield tunnels.

The paper analyzes the regime in Israel/Palestine using a political geographical perspective. It demonstrates how a combination of colonial, national, capitalist and liberal forces have put in train a process of “deepening apartheid” in the entire territory controlled by Israel—between River and Sea. This undeclared regime has been established to guard the 'achievements' of settler colonial Judaization of the land and the domination of the Jewish minority. As described by the Rome Statute, it has become an institutionalized regime of systematic oppression and domination by one group over others, with the intention of maintaining that regime. Hence the political geographical analysis shows clearly that the wide description in academic and international circles of Israel as “Jewish and democratic,” is based on a denial of the clear racialized hierarchy of civil statuses. This setting enhances Jewish supremacy (using different methods) it in all regions, while Palestinians are fragmented into lower rungs on the ethnic hierarchy—de facto and de jure—thereby contradicting the tenets of democratic civil equality. Theoretically, the paper draws on the links between settler colonial expansion, the rise of ethnocracy, partial liberalization under global capitalism, and the making of apartheid. It shows that historically Jewish colonization of Palestine—the underlying logic of the regime—has advanced in six main historical-geographical stages, encountering persistent, and at times violent, Palestinian resistance. The paper then analyzes in more detail the emergence of one regime between River and Sea, in which the state uses military, spatial, economic, and legal powers, as well as geopolitical maneuvering (particularly US support) to oppress Palestinians, while promoting democratic rights and economic development among Jews. This has enabled Israel to integrate and “whiten” Mizrahi and other Jewish groups into mainstream Zionism. Rivaling Palestinian political projects have been fragmented, ghettoized, attacked violently, and severely weakened. The paper shows how Jewish colonization, on both sides of the Green Line (which has also included some tactical withdrawals), has led to the establishment of four hierarchical types of citizenship, governed as “separate and unequal”. The relations between the groups resemble the racialized categories used in Apartheid South Africa and include (a) “White”—Jewish Israelis—with full citizenship rights; (b) “Colored”—Palestinian Arabs with Israeli citizenship with partial rights; (c) “Black”—Palestinians under occupation lacking citizenship or political rights; (d) “Gray”—an emerging group, consisting of non-citizen migrants and asylum seekers.

This paper presents a synthesis of the research carried out in the settlement of Poggio della Gaggiola, located in the upper Reno Valley, enriching the knowledge on the Bronze Age settlement pattern in the Apennines with particular reference to the territory of the province of Bologna. This framework is currently at the centre of a research project on “upland archaeology in the Bronze Age”. Unpublished materials from Renato Scarani’s excavations carried out from 1949 to 1951 are also presented, while the descriptions of the main finds discovered in the 19th century that were lost are revisited. A special in-depth look at the methodologies of investigation and the changing research perspectives in the Apennines, as well as the spatial analysis, suggests interpretations of the geographical and geomorphological context where Poggio della Gaggiola settlement is located.

The paper presents for the first time a detailed chronological and cultural framework of the pottery found in the Pertosa Cave (SA) and preserved in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. Inside this cave, the most important one in the Alburni Massif, is the only known prehistoric cave settlement with piledwelling structures. Discovered in 1898, it has been the subject of a complex series of excavations, reconstructed through archival documentation. The habitation aspect, so far little emphasised by the traditional interpretation, especially for the Final Bronze Age, is said to be uninterrupted from the Middle Bronze Age-phase 2, to the Final Bronze Age-Early Iron Age, when the cult aspect would become prevalent, as testified by the miniature pottery pertaining to the internal stipe.

This paper combines the documentation work of the Eneolithic stratigraphic and structural evidence of the site of Cava Gazzuoli, carried out by SAP archaeological company, and the master's thesis work of F. Barchiesi who subsequently studied the materials. In particular, the study refers to an extensive quarry complex located in the municipality of Modena, on the border with the municipality of Formigine (Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy). After the analysis of the pottery and lithic industry, we suggest that the site (most likely a settlement) belongs to an early phase of the Spilamberto Group (middle 4th-middle 3rd millennium BC), with clear references to the late Neolithic facies of Sant’Ilario.

Annual excavation campaigns took place between 2007 and 2013 at Iepurești archaeological site, where a surface of 85 sqm was opened at the northern periphery of the settlement. A Bronze Age (Glina culture) habitation layer and pits and Eneolithic (Gumelnița culture) habitation layers, houses and pits were identified. A number of 14 artefacts, representing the entire batch of Gumelnița anthropomorphic figurines discovered so far, is analyzed in this paper. Although this batch is not numerous and it is very fragmented, the observations on the manufacturing method, morphology, decorative techniques, and motifs are all remarkably interesting and complete an image, also fragmented (due to the reduced number of excavations in Gumelnița A1 levels), of a less known type of clay objects as those from the Iepurești settlement. The artefacts will be presented in the context of similar discoveries made in habitation layers attributed to the initial stage of the Gumelnița culture, but also in a larger cultural context, of the influences perceived as coming from neighbouring cultural environments.

As time goes by in deep silt, the water in the shallow layers of the soil and the water pressure will both dissipate, causing greater deformation of the soil structure. Based on the analysis of the new pipeline in Zhuhai, the post-settlement of the existing pipeline in the silt is calculated by theoretical analysis and simulation. It is concluded that the displacement deformation of the water supply pipeline after 400 days of sediment consolidation is still in safety control and puts forward some optimization methods to ensure the safety and function of the pipeline and provide the guidance basis for the follow-up maintenance and construction. It has a certain practical value. HIGHLIGHT This paper calculates the late settlement of existing pipelines in the silt through theoretical analysis and simulation calculation and proposes corresponding treatment methods to provide guidance for subsequent maintenance and construction, ensure the structural safety and functional integrity of pipelines, and provide practical reference cases for similar projects in the future.;

Excessive settlement may induce structural damage and water leakage in immersed tunnels, seriously threatening the tunnels’ safety. However, making accurate assessment of the settlement in immersed tunnels is difficult due to the incomplete knowledge of the geotechnical parameters and the inadequacy of the model itself. This paper proposes an effective method to accurately assess the settlement in immersed tunnels. An enhanced beam on elastic foundation model (E-BEFM) is developed for the settlement assessment, with the Bayesian adaptive direct search algorithm adopted to estimate unknown model parameters based on previous observations. The proposed method is applied to a field case of the Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao immersed tunnel. The original BEFM is used for comparison to highlight the better assessment performance of E-BEFM, particularly for joints’ differential settlement. Results show that the proposed method can provide accurate predictions of the total settlement, angular distortion (a representation of tubes’ relatively differential settlement), and joints’ differential settlement, which consequently supports the associated maintenance decision-making and potential risk prevention for immersed tunnels in service.

The auto-balancing mechanism is used in the spin-dry regime of the laundry machine. The high rotating speed and unbalanced mass inside the drum create centrifugal force, which is the cause of vibration. The auto-balancing mechanism consists of a set of balls in the circular guiding track. During the spin-dry process, the balls settle in the opposite position to an unbalanced mass. The centrifugal force of the balls compensates the one of the unbalanced masses. The paper deals with the non-linear numerical simulation of the imbalance settlement and the following parametric study. The solution to the problem is demonstrated on an industrial laundry machine with a maximum capacity of 7 kg of dry laundry and a maximum rotating speed of 930 rpm. The proposed numerical model allows us to investigate the behavior of the auto-balancing mechanism and predict the vibration amplitudes of the system.

This paper investigates the impact of element size on the microstructure of the steel–concrete interface in self-compacting concrete (SCC). Experiments were conducted on two types of test elements: a deep beam measuring 1440 × 640 × 160 mm and a wall element measuring 2240 × 1600 × 160 mm. The SCC mix was consistently pumped from the top, using a single casting point located near the formwork’s edge. Horizontal steel ribbed rebars with a diameter of 16 mm were embedded in these elements. X-ray computed tomography (CT) was employed to provide three-dimensional insights into the microstructure of the rebar-to-concrete interface. An analysis of X-ray CT images from core samples revealed that the microstructure of this interface is influenced by the distance of the specimen from the mix casting point and its vertical position within the element. The combined effects of bleeding, air-pore entrapment, and plastic settlement within the SCI were observed under the top rebars. Their extent was independent of the type of element analyzed, suggesting that the deterioration of the SCI is related to the distance from the top surface of the element. These results elucidate phenomena occurring during the fresh state of concrete near reinforcing bars and their implications for bond properties. To date, some of the standards differentiate between bond conditions according to the depth of concrete beneath the rebar. In the view of the studies, this approach may be unduly rigorous. The findings offer valuable guidance for reinforced concrete execution and design.

The realization of engineering structures in compressible sites, requires in-depth geotechnical reconnaissance, as well as a study of the mechanical behavior of the soil, in order to adapt suitable soil improvement solutions. This is the case with the Annaba viaduct in Algeria, where it was found during the site survey that the soil is poor and very compressible. The foundations in these soils eventually pose the problem of their low bearing capacity and significant settlement. This, therefore, leads to the choice of reinforcement techniques. Among the many methods of improving soils, we have selected the stone column technique. The object of our article is to study the behavior of these columns, in terms of settlement and, through the loading tests on real site, we have found out that the intermediate columns are stiffer and more confined than the bank columns and the percentage reduction in settlements of these two types is important. Then, this experimental study is validated by the Plaxis 2D software, where the configurations are studied to find the best model that approximates the real behavior of the reinforced soil.

This paper concerns the research works on the Golden Horde sites in the North-Eastern Caspian Sea region. In this regard, the reports on archaeological excavations of different time periods carried out on the monuments of Saraychik, Zhaiyk, Zhalpaktal and Aktobe-Laeti of the studied region were reviewed. The analysis of the obtained results of archaeological excavations on the monuments form the basis for determining the direction and goals of further research and therefore does not lose its relevance today. The purpose of the paper is to compile the history of the study of the monuments of the North-Eastern Caspian Sea on the basis of archaeological research results. The results of the study of the monuments in question were subdivided into three stages. The main results of the excavations were determined, focusing on the research activities carried out at each of the monuments.

The fragility curve expresses the probability that an asset exceeds some serviceability state for a given level of environmental perturbation or other loadings. It is an important component in the quantitative risk analysis and resilience evaluation of infrastructure exposed to natural hazards. Incidences of over-settlement of embankments are increasingly reported due to more intense and longer-duration rainfall events. This paper develops fragility curves for the rainfall-induced embankment settlement. For this purpose, an embankment incorporating enhanced seepage and displacement analysis within unsaturated soil conditions is modelled based on a reported case history. A Monte Carlo simulation is used for rainfall infiltration and embankment deformation analysis under various rainfall scenarios. Probability values are obtained to achieve three levels of damage states in terms of road embankment settlement. The parametric analysis produces the exceedance probability curves for various rainfall intensities, saturated permeabilities and embankment slope angles. This work offers an efficient tool for assessing fragility to rainfall-induced excessive settlement of embankments.

This paper presents a novel approach to examining the impact of soil settlement and its spatial distribution on infrastructure. The study focuses on a specific road section in the Friesland coastal plain in the north of the Netherlands, investigating how the Holocene coastal subsurface architecture influences settlement patterns. Our study underscores the importance of integrating multiple datasets, providing data at varying resolutions. The road segment traverses lithostratigraphical units, which include tidal channel and tidal flat deposits, overlaying an older tidal basin system and intercalated peat beds. Through data assimilation of a settlement model optimized with InSAR measurements, we have identified settlement heterogeneities that can be explained by combining high-resolution variations in lithology with gradual changes in lithostratigraphy. This was accomplished by utilizing a medium-resolution model (MRM) based on borehole descriptions and a high-resolution data (HRD) approach based on cone penetration tests along the road. The HRD method proved more effective in capturing abrupt changes in lithology between channel structures, while the MRM provided a continuous representation of the lithostratigraphic setting of the area. Our study demonstrates that subsurface heterogeneities have significant implications for subsidence along roads. Settlement rates increase from 2–4 mm/year towards 9 mm/year along the road section, resulting in a differential settlement of more than 5 mm/year over a distance of less than a kilometer. This is primarily attributed to variations in lithostratigraphy. Overall, this new innovative approach offers a practical and cost-effective solution for predicting subsidence due to settlement, eliminating the need for expensive laboratory tests. By integrating lithology and lithostratigraphy, more efficient road maintenance and management become possible.

Abstract The stability of circular footings under eccentric vertical loads is a significant problem in geotechnical engineering. Therefore, this paper shows the results of experimental tests carried out on an eccentrically loaded circular foundation on sand soil. The focus of this research is on examining how eccentric loads affect the behavior of circular footings on sand soil, both with and without skirts. Various load eccentricities (e) equals zero, 2.50, 5.00, 7.50, 10.00, 12.50, 15.00, 17.50 and 20.00 mm are used. In addition to, a 60 mm-diameter circular foundation and sand with an 85% relative density (Dr) are used in this experimental study. To study the effect of changing the skirts depth on the load-settlement response skirts with different depths (h) = 60 mm, 150 mm, 240 mm are used for vertical reinforcement. In comparison to the unreinforced condition, test findings show an improvement in ultimate bearing capacity. When the skirts are positioned at the ideal embedment depth L/D = 4, it is found that the circular footing's load-settlement behavior is enhanced by 92% and 93% in case of using (e/D) ratio = 0.125 and 0.25 compared to the unreinforced case.

This paper presents the performance of PVD and vacuum consolidation as ground improvement method at the construction of Kayu Agung – Palembang Toll Road. The analysis was based on observation data collected between STA 00+000 and STA 09+000. The PVD was installed to a depth where the conus resistance of 80 kPa was achieved. Thus, the length of PVD varies from 5 to 13 m while the actual depth of clay deposit could reach 20 m. As many as 42 settlement plate data were collected and analyzed using Asaoka method to obtain the predicted final settlement, the coefficient of consolidation and the time to reach 90% degree of consolidation. The results were compared with the duration of vacuum consolidation application and the recorded settlement when the vacuum pressure was stopped i.e., when settlement plate recorded no differential settlement in three readings. The duration of vacuum consolidation application generally longer than the t90 predicted by the method and the actual settlement was larger than the predicted final settlement. This study concluded that the variation of the t90 and the magnitude of settlement at t90 have close relationship with the length of PVD and the condition of the soil layer.

Showing interest in the topics of populations, settlement and territories in France also means thinking about the future. The use of six variables, each of which is likely to evolve according to the main trends - i.e., what will happen to dynamics currently observed - or to undergo ruptures - i.e., changes in trajectory - can lead to the development of dozens of scenarios. The aim of this paper is to present three scenarios, the interest of which is both to better understand the current dynamics and to reflect on possible evolutions.

It is known that peat soil is highly compressible. A constituent of peat soil from Klias, Sabah covering a wide range of index properties of fiber contents, specific gravity, organic contents and moisture contents were subjected to one-dimensional consolidation tests. This paper presents the engineering properties and compressibility behavior of sapric type of tropical peat soil. In this role, the high compressibility of Klias peat stands out as a most significant engineering property. With this intention, the purpose of this paper is to provide a simple and analytical means for predicting the consolidation settlement of sapric peat deposit under loading. The rate of primary compression, after a certain time. Increases with the logarithm of time. Loading applied from low stress to high stresses started from 2, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 200 kPa resulting in high compression index, Cc and ratio, C’c. The Klias peat soil represented sapric type of tropical peat with organic content is 98.43% and lower fiber content which is about 18% of the specimen. Compressibility index Cc, Coefficient of consolidation Cv, and Compression index, Cc, was identified as a crucial component of parameters in determination of settlements behaviour of peat soil. The coefficient of consolidation, Cv, was determined within the range of 1.264 to 12.911 cm2/min and requires special considerations in laboratory testing procedures and interpretation of results.

The paper addresses the issues of dating of Ostolopovо village in the Republic of Tatarstan. The settlement was located in the central part of the Volga Bolgaria and was connected with the large cities of this state. Since 1955 it is destroyed by the Kuibyshev reservoir. The settlement was investigated in 1969 by Kazan archaeologist T.A. Khlebnikova. She was convinced that the settlement arose in the 10th century, possibly at the end of the 9th century, and existed until the 12th century. In 1991, E.P. Kazakov expressed an opinion that this settlement originated not earlier than the second half of the 10th century. The purpose of this paper is to draw a conclusion about the time of emergence of this settlement. For this, artifacts were used, collected from the 1980s to the 2000s from the destroyed cultural layer, and the excavations at the settlement, carried out in 1997–2017 by K.A. Rudenko. Artifacts of several categories have been studied. These are products made of glass, stone, iron and non-ferrous metals. Of interest are the glass beads made in the Middle East, which were widespread in Volga Bolgaria in the 11th – 12th centuries. Very rare items discovered on the settlement include a glass ring and bracelet made in Byzantium dated the 11th century, a miniature lapis lazuli pendant of the same time period, and fragments of a glass lamp and a perfume glass bottle made in Syria or Egypt in the 11–12th centuries. Items related to the population of the Kama region – the ancient Mari and Udmurts – were revealed. These are personal hygiene items and jewelry. Other discovered items are Arab coins of the Buwaihids (Buyids) issued in the late 10th – early 11th centuries. In addition, a large number of iron artifacts associated with the Askiz archaeological culture of Southern Siberia were found. They were dated from the second half of the 11th century to the first half of the 12th century. Thus, an analysis of the artifacts revealed that Ostolopovo settlement did not appear earlier than the end of the 10th century. It actively developed in the 11th – early 12th centuries.

Ultra-soft soil is distributed in coastal areas around the world and has poor engineering properties. There is a significant difference in settlement between semi-rigid pile and surrounding soil under embankment load. Based on existing research results, the settlement calculation formula of ultra-soft soil composite foundation reinforced by semi-rigid pile is derived in this paper. Based on the Alamgir displacement model, assuming a three-zone model of pile skin friction with a negative skin friction plastic zone in the upper part of the pile, an elastic zone in the middle part of the pile, and a skin friction-bearing plastic zone in the lower part of the pile, the upward and downward penetrations of pile, and pile–soil slip deformation characteristics are considered. Analytical expressions for settlement calculations of semi-rigid pile composite foundations under embankments were derived based on differential equations for pile–soil load transfer in the unit cell. The influences of pile diameter and the compression modulus of the underlying layer at the pile end on the settlement characteristics of the semi-rigid pile composite foundation are discussed. The results show that the derived theoretical calculation method is in good agreement with the field measurement and laboratory model test results. Ultra-soft soil composite foundations have long settlement stabilization times and large settlement deformations. Penetration deformation occurs at the semi-rigid pile end. The relationship between pile end resistance and pile end piercing deformation is hyperbolic. The compression modulus of the underlying layer has a great influence on pile end penetration. The lower the compression modulus of the underlying layer, the larger the penetration deformation of pile end. The larger the pile diameter is, the smaller the penetration deformation is.

This paper analyzes the bearing capacity of two-layered soil medium using finite element (FE) software ABAQUS/CAE 2023. Although geotechnical engineers design foundations for layered soil, majorly current geotechnical studies emphasize single homogenous soil. So, this research has significant novelty as it focuses on layered soil and adds to the current literature. A nonlinear FE model was prepared and analyzed to determine the ultimate bearing capacity of two-layered soil (sandy soil over clayey soil). The Drucker–Prager and Mohr–Coulomb models were used to represent sandy soil and clayey soil layers, respectively. Strip footing material properties were considered isotropic and linearly elastic. This study performed parametric studies to understand the effects of thickness, unit weight, and the modulus of the elasticity of sandy soil on the ultimate soil bearing capacity. Additionally, it also analyzed the effect of the cohesive strength of clayey soil on layered soil bearing capacity. Results showed that an increase in sandy soil layer thickness strengthens the layered soil, and thus, improves the bearing capacity of soil. Increasing the sandy soil layer thickness over footing width (h1/B) ratio from 0.15 to 2.0 improved the ultimate bearing capacities with elastic settlements of 350 mm and 250 mm by 145.62% and 101.66%, respectively. Additionally, for a thicker sandy soil layer, an increase in the unit weight and modulus of the elasticity of sandy soil led to higher ultimate bearing capacity. Furthermore, it was concluded that an increase in clayey soil’s cohesive strength from 20 kPa to 30 kPa resulted in a 24.31% and 3.47% increase in soil bearing capacity for h1/B = 0.15 and h1/B = 2.0, respectively. So, the effect of cohesion is prevalent in the case of a thicker clayey soil layer.

This paper summarizes the results of studies in the Petrova Niva Locality within the Sboryanovo Archaeological Reserve. It refers to the previous research on the study area and briefly comments on its environmental conditions and natural resources. The available data on earlier habitation in the area from the Neolithic, Hellenistic and Late Roman periods are also presented. This study’s focus is on the Medieval structures in the Locality. These are placed into three individual phases based on stratigraphic observations and a set of repeating features. The first phase includes dug-in dwellings whose pits are disturbed by other negative structures. The second phase comprises dwellings that disturb earlier Medieval houses. The last phase consists of mainly above-ground structures that overlie dwellings from the previous two phases. Some specific features of the different construction periods are outlined, like the wooden structure characteristic of the first period, the significant use of stone and the presence of stone ovens and food storage pits during the second, and the above-ground structures with a stone socle and perishable upper wall courses in the third. Arguments for the three phases’ dating are based mainly on metal artifacts, specifically jewelry. Altogether, the Locality’s Medieval structures have been dated to the second half of the 9th – 10th c. based on the observations described here. Archaeological evidence from the Locality’s Medieval habitation points to an economy focused mostly on agriculture (cereal and leguminous crops) and animal husbandry (small ruminants and support animals including cattle, horses, donkeys, and dogs). Evidence for a number of crafts suggests their practice in a household environment. Data pointing to iron processing is also discussed. Data on settlement organization during the first two phases of habitation in the Petrova Niva Locality points to a community of free peasants and suggests collective ownership of resources (probably including the land), shared responsibility, and the fair distribution of goods within the community. In contrast, the preserved structures from the latest phase of Medieval habitation attest to a feudal estate with its separate territory and inhabited and served by a relatively limited number of people with specific skills and occupations. The change to this economic model is dated in the 10th c. Archaeological studies searching for a necropolis related to the Locality’s Medieval habitation are briefly discussed here as well. The final section of this study attempts to review the settlement in the Petrova Niva Locality in the context of synchronous settlement sites in the region.

The aim of this paper is to research applicability of the existing alternative dispute resolution methods’ in the administrative law and give some suggestion for their improvement. Firstly, in this paper, the concept of alternative and consensual dispute resolution in administrative law is analysed. After that, the advantages and disadvantages of the non-jurisdictional forms of disposing an administrative matter are pointed out. Then, the contemporary regulations devoted to such methods in Croatia are presented. The experiences of alternative dispute resolution methods in Poland are also discussed, because Poland tried to establish this system in the very similar environment like in Croatia, but several years ago. Finally, in conclusion authors give their attitude on applicability of non-jurisdictional forms of dispute resolution in Croatian administrative law and suggest some steps for their improvements.

The subject matter of this paper is the notion of spite ("inat" - relentless gridge and obstinacy in spite of consequences) and spiteful conduct as a special social preference. The goal is to examine the significance of spitefulness and its implications in analyzing the litigation and the choice between trial and settlement. In this paper, spitefulness is viewed from the perspective of different economic science disciplines (behavioral economics, experimental economics, neoclassical economic analysis of law) as well as psychology and evolutionary biology. Yet, primacy is given to the behavioral economics point of view, where spitefulness is defined as a willingness to inflict harm on others at one's own detriment and expense. In that context, the paper presents statistics on the number of civil proceedings in Serbia, together with comparative data on this matter, and discusses the implications of spiteful behavior on the number of civil proceedings. The paper sets out a conceptual framework for further empirical research on spite and spiteful conduct, and their importance in deciding whether to initiate litigation and/or choose between trial and settlement. It also examines the preferences of the Serbian citizens on this issue in order to address the following questions: do Serbian citizens prefer to litigate, and what is the role of spite in that context?

[Introduction] In order to learn from the development experience of the Singapore power market, analyze its settlement and risk management characteristics, and provide suggestions for the construction of power market in South China. [Method] After a ten-day research and study on the Singapore′s power market, the author combined with her own experience in the construction of the power market in the southern region to form this paper. [Result] This paper briefly introduces the general situation of Singapore′s power market, systematically analyzes the settlement mechanism and settlement algorithm of Singapore′s power market, and introduces the characteristics of its power market risk management in detail. [Conclusion] The Singapore power market pays attention to the top-level design of the power market, the sound policies and regulations and rules system, the clear curing of core processes, and the diversification of talent reserves. It is worth learning from the process of building a regional integrated power market in Southern China.

In recent years, scraped tires have become an environmental and economic problem. Reusing waste tires for reinforcing slope can be a suitable solution for the disposal and reduction of the number of scrap tires. In this paper, a series of experimental model tests have been carried out to investigate the behavior of horizontal elements of waste tire (HEWT) in stabilizing sandy slopes. Digital images taken of the side of the model during incremental loading and particle image velocimetry (PIV) were used to investigate the slope under surcharge loading. Some important parameters such as the length, number, and location of the reinforcing tire layers were studied in this paper. There is an obvious plastic zone on the unreinforced and reinforced sandy slope shown using PIV. It shows that scrap type reinforcement highly improved the strength of the sandy slopes model resulting in bearing capacity about 3.5 times higher and settlement about 3 times lower in comparison with the unreinforced sandy slope.

The paper starts from the hypothesis that the examined area is characterized by a process of intensive functional transformation accompanied by certain population changes. The transformation of the settlement structure is shown in the area of Šumadija district. The trend of demographic and economic development was observed with a historical overview. It was upgraded with quantitative analyzes (chain index, population change index, functional classification, index of specialization and localization) for the period 1971–2011. The aim was to determine the degree of socio-economic transformation of Šumadija district and the regularities according to which these changes took place. Industrialization generally brings changes in the functional orientation and redistribution of the population. The deagrarianization was one of the main features, with parallel emigration of the rural population. These changes were intensive in 1961–1981, when the peak of employment in secondary activities was registered. Since then, significant spatial transformation in Šumadija district was visible. Special analyzes were used to confirm the assumption that Kragujevac is a dominant labor center, an administrative and service nucleus, which has a propulsive influence on the development of its immediate surroundings (suburban belt) and the wider area (Šumadija district). The contribution of this paper is in the understanding of the scope, spatial distribution, and intensity of changes that have occurred in Šumadija district. It introduces the historical circumstances and quantitative research into a broader concept as a basis for understanding the trajectories of spatial and socio-economic development, and responds to many social challenges specific for this territory.

Incoming immigrants to places like Canada tend to be religious and thereby have sympathies counter to prevailing secularizing trends that emerge in research praxis. This paper presents an illustrative case study of Community-Based Research (CBR) that starts from the community to be studied. We illustrate how CBR can be an effective tool for engaging community stakeholders in solving community problems when stakeholders are part of faith-based institutions. This is accomplished by drawing on Ochocka and Janzen (2014) and Janzen et al. (2016), who discuss the hallmarks of CBR that we used to structure a case study with The Salvation Army (TSA). This paper focuses on TSA as a religious institution and how CBR supports TSA’s adjustment to enhance its relationships with a community it finds itself serving: newcomers. We first outline the hallmarks of CBR and show how they are expressed in our case study. Second, we extend Ochocka and Janzen (2014) and Janzen et al. (2016) by focusing on the functions of CBR to illustrate further the outcomes that can emerge from this sort of approach and make recommendations for researching with faith-based institutions.

The prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) is an essential means to mitigate the settlement of soft soil foundations in coastal areas of South China. The commonly used elastoplastic analytical method cannot directly reflect the interaction of different PVDs and the resulting displacement of soft soil. At the same time, these elastoplastic analysis and numerical simulation methods are greatly influenced by the values adopted for rock and soil material parameters. In this paper, we present a stochastic medium model that can directly reflect the interaction of different PVDs and the resulting displacement of soft soil. It is not affected by the characteristics of rock and soil themselves and can also reflect the actual deformation process of soft soil. According to engineering practice, the settlement curves of soft soil foundations in coastal areas of South China with PVDs exhibited distinct normal distribution characteristics, which was consistent with the description of settlement by the stochastic medium model. Hence, based on the stochastic medium model, this paper analyzed the settlement mechanism of PVDs and established a stochastic medium model for the settlement calculation of PVDs. A function for the soft soil foundation in the coastal area of South China cross-section settlement curve was presented by back analysis of the PVD model. We chose the stochastic medium model based on this methodology to explore the interaction between different PVDs. The above models were then applied to an expressway in South China. Comparing actual settlement monitoring values to calculated values obtained with the PVD model, the error between the two models was less than 15%. This research provides a new settlement calculation method of PVDs in soft soil foundations in the coastal area of South China and a new basis for designing soft soil foundations.

The potential implementation of the digital currency issued by central banks (CBDC) in the economy raises a number of challenges, including the idea of decentralization and the loss of the central bank's ability to effectively monitor the payments market and the fear that CBDC could exclude traditional payment solutions. Finding the balance in implementing CBDC-based payment solutions, integrating traditional payment ensuring that all stakeholders benefit from incentives so that they are interested in being involved in the process of distribution, use and processing of CBDC, while increasing financial inclusion and creating a competitive market for private sector payment solutions instruments is the new challenge for regulators. This paper addresses current limitations in implementing a CBDC-based payment solution, the potential risks of using CBDC, reducing the exclusion of traditional payment players and what this type of currency needs to ensure so that the implementation adopted by the users on a large scale.

The Tasmola Culture of Central Kazakhstan, dated to the 8th–5th centuries BC, was discovered more than half a century ago by M.K. Kadyrbaev. He studied dozens of kurgans, on the materials of which he characterized the mortuary rites and funerary equipment of the new culture at a high professional level. On the basis of the materials from the burial sites, he for the first time considered the features of the economic activity of the population of the Saka period in Central Kazakhstan. Recent materials, including those obtained from the settlements, make it possible to largely extend the existing conclusions and assumptions of those years. At the settlement of Abylai, located in the territory of the Karaganda Region of the Republic of Kazakhstan, six seasons of archaeological excavations were carried out in 2016–2021. First results of the traceological analysis of stone tools from this site have already been published by the authors. In this paper, we report the results of the traceological study of a new series of stone tools from the Abylai settlement. In 2021, 254 stone objects were examined, functions of 202 of which were determined. As the analysis showed, 185 tools were used in various economic areas. The remaining 15 items were identified as kitchen utensils; there was also one mortar for grinding paints and one small altar (‘credence’), which is very often found in the burials of this culture. The 185 tools are divided into 5 classes, each of which belongs to a certain area of economic activity (ancient industries). Among those, 92 articles (49.73 % of the total number) are tools for the earthworks. Fifty articles (27.03 %) belong to the class of grinding tools. These are pestles and upper and lower grindstones, which were used for grinding plant products. Next 26 tools (14.05 %) were used in the processing of skins (tanning industry). Thirteen tools (7.03 %) were used in metalworking, including the work with iron products. Four tools (2.16 %) were used to process bone and wood. Among the results obtained, of a particular importance are the finds of numerous hoes and grating tools, as well as tools for metalworking, on which traces of iron surface are clearly identified. In addition to the whetstones, used for dressing knives and other iron objects, the new series of tools contains stone anvils, on the working surface of which some iron scale preserves.

Gypseous soils are considered one of the most problematic soils. The skirted foundation is an alternative technology that works to improve the bearing capacity and reduce settlement. This paper investigates the use of square skirted foundations resting on gypseous soil subjected to concentric and eccentric vertical load with eccentricity values of 4, 8, and 17 mm in 16 experimental model tests. To obtain the results by using this type of foundation, a small-scale physical model was designed to obtain the load–settlement behavior of the square skirted foundation; the dimension of the square footing is 100 mm × 100 mm with 1 mm thickness, the skirt depth (D s) was 0.5, 1, and 1.5B (where B is the footing width). The footing rests on dry gypseous soil with a relative density of 33%. The tests show that the gypsum content of the soil is 59%. The result shows that the highest bearing capacity for the square shape footing with D s/B = 1.5 subjected to concentric load results in an improvement ratio of 190%. For the eccentric load, with D s/B = 1.5, the increase in bearing capacity is about 120% at e = 8 mm when compared with using a foundation without a skirt.

Development of the transport infrastructure in Poland has contributed to the implementation of various technologies of construction of bridges and their components. Use of reinforced soil for construction of embankments, retaining structures (RSS walls) and abutments is one of the solutions which has been frequently used for the past twenty years. Shortly after its development, the technology proposed by Henri Vidal in 1966 also gained appreciation in Poland [4]. Reinforced soil bridge abutments started to be widely used in Poland at the turn of the 20th century. The bridge facilities at the junction of Trasa Siekierkowska route and Wał Miedzeszyński Street in Warsaw, which were built in the years 2000÷2002, are an example of structures from that period. The authors of this paper have been particularly interested in the outermost supports of the reinforced concrete flyovers which were constructed in the form of intermediate reinforced soil abutments. Offsets – the vertical displacements, in the range of 15÷25mm, emerging between the level of the road surface and the steel elements of the expansion joints which separate the flyover’s structure from the embankment – were observed in 2015, in the course of regular inspections. While accounting for the observations which have been made, the surveying measurements and the ground investigation, the paper diagnoses and describes the mechanism which led to the emergence of the offsets. Potential patterns of the occurrence of additional settlements, as the reason for emergence of the offsets, were identified and analyzed. The settlement of the outermost support (abutment), as a result of increase of relative density of alluvial sands due to the dynamic interaction of the roadways of Wał Miedzeszyński Street, was analyzed. Analytical and numeric approaches were used in the course of analysis while relying on PLAXIS and MIDAS software.

Digital music is one of the most important commodities on the market due to music royalty distribution in Korea. As the music market has been transformed into a digital music market by means such as downloading and streaming, the distribution of music royalties via online service providers (OSPs) has become a highly important issue for music rights holders. Currently, one of the most important issues in music royalty distribution in Korea is the unfair distribution of royalties due to the indiscriminate repeat streaming of digital music. To prevent this, music consumption log data from several OSPs were collected via a day-based system; however, there was a limit on the identification of detailed information on the use of music in its current state. This paper analyzes the structural problems and limitations related to the settlement of music royalties and provides a structure in which there can be transparent settlement and distribution between users and rights holders as an institutional measure. We also propose various AI (artificial intelligence)-based applications using music consumption log data. The proposed system will hopefully be used for public purposes.

The Roman conquest of Hispania, although well-known through written sources, still requires many clarifications at the archaeological level. Apparently, no trade contacts were made with the western Atlantic territories during the early stages of the Italic presence in the Iberian Peninsula. In this paper, we try to accomplish a transversal reading of the main data available on the older contexts that confirm the presence of the Roman Republic in this territory. Decimus Iunius Brutus undoubtedly played a decisive role as governor of Ulterior between 138 and 133 BCE, revitalising the Romanization of western Iberia. Archaeological data from the area of Lisbon and the Lower Tagus peninsula, as well as elements from the Mondego valley, seem to support this interpretation.

This paper seeks to analyze the perspectives of peaceful settlement of labour disputes in the Republic of Serbia and to answer the basic questions concerning this field, in a scientifically valid way. The paper encompasses and processes the methods of peaceful settlement of labor disputes in the Republic of Serbia, the ways of realization in the legal system, with a special emphasis on the activities and results of the Republic Agency for peaceful settlement of labor disputes. The initial hypothetical claims that with increased confidence in the institute of peaceful resolution of labor disputes, the prospects for peaceful resolution are growing, were tested with empirical research. The results of the research process, conducted during the second half of 2016, have been analyzed and presented in the last section of the paper. In order to comprehensively examine and re-examine the basis and sustainability of hypotheses, the survey included 330 interviewees of different educational backgrounds. The author analyses and displays the results obtained.

Measuring the status of achievement of the SDGs is the task and concern of many countries in the world, including Indonesia. Indicators for achieving the SDGs enclose three main pillars, namely environmental, economic, and social. The updated land use/land cover information is needed for environmental pillars. One imperative land cover information is built-up land, which acts as a detector for expanding urban areas and measuring SDGs' target indicators. Indonesia's cultural diversity affects the distribution pattern of built-up land, especially settlements. This is a challenge in the up-to-date and rapid mapping of built-up land. This research aims to analyze the ability and transferability of the Random Forest model for built-up areas and settlements using Google Earth Engine (GEE) in Banyumas, Cilacap, and Tegal. Around 19 predictors from multi-sources satellites are integrated to identify four land cover classes. Discussion on predictor composition to improve model accuracy also carried on. The results showed that the algorithm separated four land cover classes, with the highest accuracy for separating water bodies and other classes (vegetation and open land), OA above 90%. Machine confusion regarding the separation between housing classes and other buildings was still found (F1 score 0.67 - 0.69). Applying the model to the other two areas resulted in a similar statistical trend to the trained model. However, the classification method developed in this paper can assist in the rapid description of land cover if up-to-date data from official sources are not available.

The aim of the article is to systematize and conceptualize the similarities between the paleo-ethnographic culture of the Yakuts and the Xiongnu of Central Asia, and to assess the possible ways of their appearance and incorporation into the new environment. In addition to the published data on this topic, the main source for the preparation of this paper was authors’ field archaeological material, collected during many years of expeditions. Among the materials of the Yakut Culture, a group of objects, the origin of which is associated with the Xiongnu-Xianbei time, includes some motifs of the traditional Yakut ornament, as well as artifacts — fragments of a compound bow, whistling arrowheads, Wushu coins, burial structures, etc. The earliest finds of these types of articles come from the cultural layers of the settlement of Ulakhan Segelennyah on the Olekma River, dated to the period within 110 BC — 350 cal AD. It is believed that the Xiongnu-Xianbei community was formed at the end of the 2nd — beginning of the 3rd c. AD after the fall of the Xiongnu Empire under the blows of warlike Mongol-speaking Xianbei. We conclude that in the Middle Ages the ancestors of the Yakuts had direct or indirect cultural ties with the Xiongnu. This could happen in the way of the resettlement of a small group of Xiongnu or Xiongnu-Xianbei to the north, or, more likely, it was the result of contacts between the Xiongnu or the ancestors of the Yakuts during their residence in the south of Siberia in the Early Middle Ages. The broadcasting of Xiongnu cultural traditions through the tribes of the Tashtyk Culture of the Minusinsk depression, with which, according to some researchers, the ancestors of the Yakuts once had active ethnic and cultural contacts, is also possible. In the Yakut Culture, the southern elements turned out to be in demand, as evidenced in particular by the funerary structures of the Yakuts in the Late Middle Ages. In the Lensky region, there was a further development of products of the indicated types, which led to the formation of a peculiar appearance of the traditional culture of the Yakuts.

Inclined–vertical framed retaining walls were recently developed and successfully adopted in engineering practice. However, relevant empirical methods for the evaluation of ground movements due to excavation have not been established. This study aimed to establish a calculation method for assessing ground movement due to excavation and to evaluate the damage probability of nearby buildings. A series of numerical models were carried out, and a database was established with their results. In this paper, simplified equations are proposed for predicting the profiles of subsurface and surface settlements, as well as lateral movements, utilizing the database. The accuracy of the simplified equations was validated by monitoring data from three case histories of the inclined–vertical framed retaining wall. Finally, the damage potential index was used to obtain the probability of damage to buildings located outside the excavations, while considering different positions.

The paper discusses recent fieldwork at the Meroitic settlement site of Selib 2, a town located on the west bank of the Nile between the Third and Fourth Cataracts, investigated by the Banganarti/Selib Polish Archaeological Mission since 2010. The fieldwork was concentrated on uncovering the earliest occupation strata from the 1st/2nd century CE. Two mud-brick buildings were fully excavated, along with contemporaneous occupational horizons, yielding, among others, unique bell-shaped decorated vessels, a copper plate, and a female clay figurine. Storage jars used as ovens and cooking places were present in all phases and can be considered as a characteristic furnishing of the explored households. Moreover, an archaeological reconnaissance extended the boundaries of the settlement eastward, providing new data for studies of the settlement plan and its various stages of development.

The Nerang Broadbeach Roadway (NBR) embankment in Australia is founded on soft clay deposits. The embankment sections were preloaded and surcharged-preloaded to limit the post-construction deformation and to avoid stability failure. In this paper, we discuss the NBR embankment’s geology, geotechnical properties of the subsurface, and long-term field monitoring data from settlement plates and piezometers. We demonstrate a comparison of cone penetration test (CPT) and piezo cone dissipation test (CPT-u) interpreted geotechnical properties and the NBR embankment’s foundation stratification with laboratory and field measured data. We also developed two elasto-viscoplastic (EVP) models for long-term performance prediction of the NBR embankment. In this regard, we considered both the associated and the non-associated flow rule in the EVP model formulation to assess the flow rule effect of soft clay. We also compared EVP model predictions with the Modified Cam Clay (MCC) model to evaluate the effect of viscous behavior of natural Estuarine clay. Both EVP models require six parameters, and five of them are similar to the MCC model. We used the secondary compression index of clay in the EVP model formulations to include the viscous response of clay. We obtained numerical models’ parameters from laboratory tests and interpretation of CPT and CPTu data. We observed that the EVP models predicted well compared with the MCC model because of the inclusion of soft clay’s viscosity in the EVP models. Moreover, the flow rule effect in the embankment’s performance predictions was noticeable. The non-associated flow rule EVP model predicted the field monitoring settlement and pore pressure better compared to the MCC model and the associated flow EVP model.

The paper aims to apply such principles of territorial planning in border areas and regions under the threat of war, which will allow to meet the primary needs of the population under relatively peaceful conditions and, in emergency situations, will reduce the vulnerability of territories and populations. To solve this problem, the issues specific to the border regions and principles of their classification were studied, which were found both in international documents and in scientific publications. In the example of the Meghri community of Syunik Marz, RA, such factors directly related to spatial planning, such as geographical location; natural, economic, and cultural resources; territorial placement of settlements; population; and infrastructure, were investigated. To solve the problem of access to public services, the infrastructures for providing the primary needs of the population were selected and categorized according to access levels. The study's findings led to recommendations for using these spatial planning concepts, which will guarantee that all the residents in the community's settlements have access to services.

Introduction: This paper analyzes the formation and development of major medieval settlements that emerged in the 14th–16th century within the boundaries of the modern Bakhchysarai. We studied written and archaeological sources to examine the evolution and structure of these settlements, and provide a general overview of the surviving architectural ensembles and landmarks. Bakhchysarai, the former capital of the Crimean Khanate, is one of those Crimean settlements where the medieval planning structure of the old town and the original organic links to the natural landscape survive to this day. Purpose of the study: We aimed to identify the historical background and specifics of how the Old Town and the surrounding historical complexes formed in Bakhchysarai. Our research involved examining historical, archaeological, and contemporary scientific sources and written media, as well as selecting and analyzing theoretical works, normative documents, and architectural designs relevant to the subject at hand. When making a systemic summary of the data that we examined, we used the following methods: structural and functional analysis, synthesis, deduction, generalization, and the comparative historical method. Results: Our findings show that, at the early stages of statehood in the Crimean Khanate, several settlements thrived in the region: Eski Yurt, which started out as a cultural, administrative, and economic hub and eventually became a major religious center; Qırq Yer, an ancient fortified cave settlement that survived into the early 20th century; and the Salacık settlement at the foot of Çufut Qale, which became the most direct precursor of the new capital in Bakhchysarai. The ruins of these settlements are part of the modern Bakhchysarai’s cultural heritage; they lie within its boundaries and greatly influence its modern appearance.

Introduction. Starting from the early Iron Age, the high root bank of the Belaya — downstream from its confluence with the Sim River and virtually to the Ufa Peninsula — was serving a natural barrier that separated the local tribes from nomadic populations who would sporadically penetrate into the left-bank flood pastures. It is along this barrier line that a group of sedentary settlements (hillforts of Okhlebinino I, II, Akberdino I-III, Shipovo, Monchazy) was discovered and identified as those of the Kara-Abyz culture. Supposedly, this advance warning system was still functioning in later periods too, i.e. the pre- and Golden Horde eras, and was somewhat related to antiquities of the Chiyalik archaeological culture. Goals. The work aims to introduce into scientific circulation archaeological materials from the Iron Age and the Late Middle Ages obtained as a result of repeated examinations and explorations at the site of Monchazy located 40 km southeast of Ufa in the lower reaches of the Sim River. The article provides data on the cultural layer of the monument, its defensive structures, introduces analogies to the found metal products, and reveals their cultural and historical aspects. Results. The results obtained indicate the site of the monument was used by both the Kara-Abyz population of the Southern Cis-Urals in the early Iron Age and the late medieval ‘Chiyalik’ residents. The paper also notes that this territory (the middle reaches of the Belaya between the mouths of the Bir and Sim rivers) was a transit area for carriers of Kara-Abyz ceramics with sand admixtures, while carriers of the Chialik culture quite often used fortified promontories of earlier eras (fortified settlements of Kara-Abyz, Bazhino, Ufa I, Ufa II). The publication also provides a broad historical cross-section of the eras (early Iron Age and Late Middle Ages) in relation to the territory on the right bank of the Belaya River. The work also provides data on the archaeological environment near the hillfort of Monchazy. The rather extensive archaeological materials make it possible to conclude as to the difference between ceramic traditions among the population of the Kara-Abyz archaeological culture. It is also noted that nomadic groups of Kipchaks that arrived in the territory of the settlement could have been included in the cultural environment by sedentary carriers of Chiyalik ceramics who professed Islam

Introduction. Tell Sabi Abyad is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Balikh basin, located about 30 km south of the Syrian-Turkish border. It consists of four mounds excavated in different seasons. The excavation was initiated by a Dutch archaeological expedition that started on 1986 and finished in 2010. It was led first by Professor M. Van Loon and then by P. Akkermans. Methods and materials. The research was based on the results of archaeological excavations, published by the excavation team. The historical reconstruction method was used to study the materials of the site. Results. The study of excavation materials of the Tell Sabi Abyad monument made it possible to identify the cultural layers, which revealed religious buildings, dwellings, farm buildings, as well as other traces of the long-term human presence. The paper describes chronological layers and the amount of artefacts at different periods. The research made it possible to acquire new facts that can clarify the existing knowledge about Northern Mesopotamia of the Neolithic era. Conclusion. The study of the monument showed that the houses were built on stable towering platforms, had a regular residential character, and involved bricks, clay, wood, and cane. Most of the houses had a rectangular layout and were connected to each other by small openings (doors). There were also houses with roof entrances. In addition, circular buildings, the tholoi, were found. In the late chronological layers, the era of Halaf culture, the tholoi were widely used not only as places of worship, but also for housing and food storage.