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The study probes into archaeological exploration carried out in two places — Daramdin and Samanden in the Sikkim-Darjeeling Himalayas. The site of exploration is selected based on place names mentioned in the folktales of the Lepchas. In this regard, two folktales are considered – Rumlyang Tungrong, which is premised in Daramdin, Sikkim and the legend of Sokpa Dhunga in Samanden, Darjeeling. Investigations evinced finds of potsherds strewn across the terraces of Daramdin and an erected stone in Samanden. As for the analysis of pottery sherds, the data set collected exhibited limitations in strength, due to which scientific analytical techniques like XRD and EDX were employed to understand the provenance and pottery production methods. Meanwhile, for the erected stone in Samanden, the material manifestation of the folktale allowed us to discuss the efficacy of the folktales in aiding investigations in finding potential archaeological sites.

The research subject is the 18th century ceramics discovered in the course of the reconnaissance excavation at the Tsaritsyn guard line, the 18th century fortification monument, conducted in 2020. The object of study is the “Rampart of the Tsaritsyn guard line (Rampart of Anna Ioannovna)” which is a military engineering complex created in the Volga-Don interfluves in 1718–1720. Archaeological work with research purposes was carried out there at first time. Archaeological explorations led to the discovery of pottery fragments dating back to this period in a new location of the Tsaritsyn guard line. The research purpose is to present and characterize newly discovered 18th century ceramic materials found at the territory of the Tsaritsyn guard line. The research methods include description, typological analysis, statistical characteristic and comparison with the material found at the well-known 18th century archaeological complexes of so-called Cossack towns along the Don River. Identification of a new 18th century location of artefacts, statistical processing, archaeological drawings of found pottery fragments, graphic reconstructions of pottery forms are practical outcomes of the study. The main conclusion of the study is that the discovered ceramic complex in the new location of the Tsaritsyn guard line is similar in type, manufacturing technique, ornamentation and statistical ratio to materials from Cossack towns on the territory of the Volgograd region (Ilovlinsky, Kachalinsky, Starogrigorievsky) which are dated by coins of the first third of the 18th century. The new archeological materials are interpreted in the known data context and supplement the currently quite limited statistical framework of archaeological finds from the Volga-Don region of the early 18th century. The found pottery types can be used to further develop a typology of this period ceramics.

The paper features the results of archaeological studies carried out on the periphery of Zhaiyk settlement. Reconnaissance and exploration work was carried out in 2013. Later, archaeological excavations were carried out based on the exploration materials. The main part of the work was carried out in an easterly direction from the main objects of the settlement. As it is known from the results of the study of previous years, most of the settlement was demolished during agricultural work and destroyed due to erosion of the coast. No remains of ground structures have been found in this part of the settlement. Exploration work has shown that in the eastern and northeastern parts of the settlement, the modern horizon contains many fragments of burnt bricks, metal, and ceramics. On the basis of the archaeological material obtained during the excavations and compared with the recovered materials, the settlement can be tentatively characterized as a single-layer monument and generally dated within the Golden Horde period.

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the application of geophysical methods to reconstruct the palaeo‐landscapes of sites of special historical interest in support of the planning of archaeological researches. Given the extent of the surface to be investigated, electromagnetic methods have proven to be very suitable for their speed, resolution and versatility for this objective. In particular, coastal areas of the Mediterranean have undergone significant changes in the position of the coastline, because of changes in sea level and sediment inputs that have covered natural harbours used for the establishing colonies. In this paper, we present the results of a geophysical survey conducted using frequency‐domain electromagnetic (FDEM) method carried out to get the geometry of a coastal area near to Emporiae (NE, Spain), which was supposed to form a natural port that was used by Greeks and Romans for its first colonial settlements on the Iberian Peninsula. The results obtained from a dense network of apparent conductivity measurements, supported punctually by other geophysical data (VES and ERT) and boreholes, has allowed us to define the geometry of the basin and confirm the hypotheses of the existence of harbour buried under the coastal and alluvial sediments in the bay close to the remains from Greek and Roman times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The area known today as Lavreotiki corresponds roughly to the ancient mining district of Lavrion, located in the south‐easternmost part of Attica in Greece. In Classical times, the 5000 hectares of mines and metallurgical workshops provided the wealth to enable the Polis of Athens (the Athenian city‐state) to become the leading hegemonic political power in the Greek world. During this time, Thorikos was one of 10 Attic Demes in the mining district, extending over a complex system of alluvial valleys and across the slopes of the surrounding hills. Archaeological research in this area has previously revealed a theatre, a double doric stoa, mines and metallurgical workshops, dispersed or in clusters. The geoarchaeological investigation presented in this paper attempts to shed light on the spatial organization of the ancient Attic Deme of Thorikos through developing an understanding of the contemporaneous palaeoenvironment. It is designed to test the hypothesis that the 'Double Doric Stoa' building was originally part of the Thorician community centre, that is, its Agora, and to suggest possible locations for the Deme's harbour. A geophysical survey of the Thorikos Valley was conducted in regional mode utilizing frequency electromagnetic method (FEM) measurements in order to accommodate a local salinization phenomenon and in local mode, around a 'Double Doric Stoa' building, with FEM and ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) measurements. The survey used electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) profiles for deep investigation. This multi‐proxy survey generated a stratigraphy for the palaeoenvironment around the 'Double Doric Stoa' building and revealed outlines of anthropogenic, probably ancient, structures. The results suggest that the surveyed area and its features lay on a peninsula‐like land formation, close to the palaeo‐coastline (thus providing clues to the location of the ancient harbour), and that the dispersion and outlines of the buried anthropogenic structures corroborate the interpretation of the site as the Thorician Agora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper deals with the results of fresh archaeological exploration carried out in the Malakand district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan, with the objectives to document the cultural heritage sites and monuments of archaeological and historical importance. Behind the objective, the core question needs to be addressed, what is the archaeological importance of present-day district Malakand? During the survey, some new archaeological sites dated from pre-Buddhist to the Buddhist, Hindu Shahi and Islamic periods were brought to light. An attempt is therefore made here to highlight the endangered archaeological assets of Malakand district to draw the attention of the concerned authorities for their proper acquisition, maintenance and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring how ancient people created and inhabited specific sites remains a mysterious challenge for archaeologists. The Al‐Khuribah site is one of the most crucial archaeological places in the north‐western part of Saudi Arabia, and its existence is dated from the eighth to the first century bc. The area is characterized by various archaeological remains that engender debate on the interpretation of those remains among the archaeological community. Aerial images, ground magnetic surveys, and excavation results have been integrated in the proposed area for current and future excavation planning. A Google Earth aerial image for the study site revealed that surface pattern characteristics of the site are in the form of remains of adjacent houses with relatively small rooms. Despite composition similarities between the archaeological remains and host sediments, the integrated results of the analysed aerial image and magnetic gradient results showed significant archaeological features that cannot be traced using one method. To complete the interpretation of an archaeological character at a site, the results of the analysed aerial image and magnetic gradient have been evaluated through successive excavation. Overall, the results evidently support the hypothesis regarding the type of occupation of people living close to the religious temple that was excavated in the area earlier. To support such a hypothesis, the archaeological remains, which include various sized kilns, numerous linear wall features, and some of the daily used objects, must be analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An integrated geophysical survey has been conducted at the Tarragona’s Cathedral (Catalonia, NE Spain) with the aim to confirm the potential occurrence of archaeological remains of the Roman Temple dedicated to the Emperor Augustus. Many hypotheses have been proposed about its possible location, the last ones regarding the inner part of the Cathedral, which is one of the most renowned temples of Spain (twelfth century) evolving from Romanesque to Gothic styles. A geophysical project including electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and ground probing radar (GPR) was planned over 1 year considering the administrative and logistic difficulties of such a project inside a cathedral of religious veneration. Finally, both ERT and GPR have been conducted during a week of intensive overnight surveys that provided detailed information on subsurface existing structures. The ERT method has been applied using different techniques and arrays, ranging from standard Wenner-Schlumberger 2D sections to full 3D electrical imaging with the advanced Maximum Yield Grid array. Electrical resistivity data were recorded extensively, making available many thousands of apparent resistivity data to obtain a complete 3D image after a full inversion. In conclusion, some significant buried structures have been revealed providing conclusive information for archaeologists. GPR results provided additional information about shallowest structures. The geophysical results were clear enough to persuade religious authorities and archaeologists to conduct selected excavations in the most promising areas that confirmed the interpretation of geophysical data. In conclusion, the significant buried structures revealed by geophysical methods under the cathedral were confirmed by archaeological digging as the basement of the impressive Roman Temple that headed the Provincial Forum of Tarraco, seat of the Concilium of Hispania Citerior Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the actual problem of the subject aspect of the unlawful carrying out of the archaeological explorations, excavations, other earth-moving and submarine works at the object of the archaeological heritage (according to the Criminal Code of Ukraine part 1,Article 298). During carrying out of the analysis of the subject aspect of the given crime such important characteristics of guilt as essence, extent of guilt, form and content of it have been revealed. The possibility of the commitment of a crime specified by the Criminal Code of Ukraine part 1, Article 298 both with the special intent and with the criminal negligence has been given grounds

This article reports on the first results of the archaeological excavation of the Haban colony site in Sârospatak begun in 2010. It describes the circumstances of the origin of the Anabaptist colony that can be located precisely from topographical data, and briefly outlines the history of the Haban colony in Sârospatak. In the first two years of the exploration on the basis of a research programme, the archaeological exploration of the house at No. 8 Kövi Sándor utca began; the main aim was to clarify the stratigraphy of the place with test trenches. In the course of the work an unexpected quantity of archaeological finds that can be linked to Anabaptist ceramics came to light. Especially important are the finds that can be linked to the firing kiln: the bricks of the kiln, the firing slabs, saggars, fragments of the crucibles used to melt the glazes. The lead-glazed ceramics of the Anabaptists are little known in research on Early Modern ceramics. The lead-glazed ceramics unearthed from the site of the Sârospatak colony differ strikingly from Early Modern pottery of the region. It will be the task of further research to decide whether the Habans produced lead-glazed ceramics exclusively for their own needs or also for the market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Talakadu is a well known historic place situated on bank of the river Cauvery in Mysore district of Karnataka. The place is close to concave side of a prominent meander where large amount of sand has accumulated. It is believed that after construction of a reservoir upstream, sand was exposed to wind action burying the structures of Ganga dynasty and other later kingdoms. A number of buried sites have been identified by archaeological excavations conducted so far. Presently the area forms sand dunes with thick plantation cover. Analysis of RADAR data (fine beam RADARSAT and ENVISAT ASAR) led to identifying a hitherto unknown buried channel through the Old Talakadu town adjoining the excavated archaeological sites. The study suggests that RADAR penetration through the plantation canopy seems to have occurred as observed by comparing with corresponding optical data of LISS-IV. Below the canopy, sand and shrubs on top of the channel (topographically low area) are acting as smooth surface providing dark tone on radar imagery. During field validation GPS was extensively used to navigate through the forest canopy and locate the buried channel, excavated archaeological sites as well as other anomalous patterns. Synergistic application of optical (RESOURCESAT-1 LISS-IV and CARTOSAT-1 & 2) and radar (fine beam RADARSAT and ENVISAT ASAR) data led to identifying remote sensing based guides for archaeological exploration. Integration of known archaeological sites with the identified anomalous patterns was done in GIS environment. This study adds on to the knowledge base of the site and compliments already known information and suggested new areas for further archaeological exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]