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The origin of copper used in Late Bronze Age (LBA) Egypt is very poorly understood despite its cultural and economic importance attested in archaeological and historical sources. Extensive literature discusses major LBA copper sources such as Cyprus (oxhide ingots), Oman (bun ingots) and Egyptian-controlled sites in the Sinai. This paper presents new chemical and lead isotope data for Egyptian copper alloys excavated in several bronze production workshops from the New Kingdom capital Pi-Ramesse, expanding on earlier data from Amarna. Supporting data is obtained from the analysis of crucible remains from the same context, for which the potential contribution of lead isotope analysis is critically evaluated. Diachronic changes in the provisioning of these Egyptian workshops are discussed, incorporating an extensive overview of currently known Egyptian mining and metallurgy. The results have major implications for our understanding of LBA copper circulation in the wider region, for the first time analysing a major Egyptian ‘consumer’ assemblage. The analytical results reveal a complex picture of variable copper supply to the Ramesside workshops, which involved both the recycling of existing bronzes and the use of freshly smelted copper from various origins to produce fresh alloys. Importantly, this includes crucial new evidence for the melting of (Cypriot) oxhide ingot fragments in crucibles for alloying. The royal, internationally connected nature of these workshops makes Pi-Ramesse an exceptional case study of LBA metal trade, and hypotheses raised in this paper highlight the need for more extensive analysis of ancient Egyptian copper artefacts to grasp metal circulation throughout Egypt's long history. More refined frameworks, incorporating the variety of private as well as royal contexts, will improve understanding of Egypt's ancient economic organisation. This paper offers new perspectives onto LBA metal supply and consumption networks, with broader archaeological interpretative models of economic and political interactions across the wider ancient Near East. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of tourism activities on local water resources remains a largely understudied issue in environmental and sustainable tourism management. The aim of the paper is to present a simple methodology that allows an estimate of direct and indirect local water use associated with different holiday packages and to then discuss relevant management implications. This is explored through the creation of five illustrative examples of holidays to semi-arid eastern Mediterranean destinations: Cyprus (2), Turkey, Greece and Syria. Using available data on water use associated with different forms of travel, accommodation and tourist activities, indicative water footprints are calculated for each of the illustrative examples. Food consumption by tourists appears to have by far the most significant impact on the overall water footprint and this aspect of water use is explored in detail in the paper. The paper also suggests a way of employing the water footprint methodology along with import/export balance sheets of main food commodities to distinguish between the global and local pressure of tourism demand on water resources. Water resource use is likely to become an increasingly important issue in tourism management and must be considered alongside more established environmental concerns such as energy use, using methodologies that can capture direct as well as supply chain impacts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper discusses the composition of the vessel and window glass from three Late Antique Cypriot sites: Yeroskipou, Maroni-Petrera and Kalavasos-Kopetra. Over 170 glass fragments were sampled for quantitative chemical analysis through EPMA measurements. The aim of this work is to establish new insights on the chemical compositions of the glass from Late Antique Cypriot sites to observe the distribution of glass on the island. Furthermore, we compare our dataset with published data of contemporary materials from other regions. Four compositional groups were recognized and correlated to known chemical compositions: Levantine 1, Egypt 1, two types of HIMT glass, HIMTa and HIMTb, while a new group, High Lime Iron Manganese Titanium (HLIMT) has been defined. Glass was supplied to Cypriot glassmakers by both Egyptian and Syro-Palestinian primary producers. Nevertheless, we have observed a specific distribution pattern on the island. In the west, there is about 50:50 ratio between Levantine and Egyptian suppliers. On the contrary, in the central south coast the amount of Egyptian glass drops consistently, in particular in Kalavasos, leaving space to Levantine glass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper aims to explore the formation of crops marks over archaeological features using remote sensing data. Crop marks are very important to archaeological research since they can reveal in an indirect way buried archaeological remains. Several researches have been able to locate subsurface relics via interpretation of multispectral and hyperspectral satellite images. However the best phenophase (time-window) where these crop marks are enhanced and which spectral bands are the most capable for this enhancement are still an open question for the scientific community. This study aims to address these fundamental aspects of Remote Sensing Archaeology. For this reason an extensive dataset was used: two control archaeological sites were constructed in two different areas of Cyprus (Alampra and Acheleia). In these areas both barley and wheat, were cultivated. In situ spectroradiometric measurements were taken over a whole phenological cycle (2001–2012) for both areas. More than 30 in situ campaigns were performed and more than 2600 ground measurements were collected. The phenological analysis of these measurements have shown that a period of only 15 days is best suitable for monitoring crop marks which is connected with one phenological stage; during the beginning of the boot stage of the crops. This period can be used in areas having similar climatic condition as Cyprus (Mediterranean region). Also as it was found, this phenological stage of crops might be also influenced by the climatic conditions of the area. The evaluation of a proposed Archaeological Index was performed at the Thessalian plain (central Greece), where several Neolithic settlements are established. The evaluation was made using both Hyperion and Landsat images. The results have shown that the proposed Archaeological Index is suitable for the enhancement of crop marks in satellite imagery. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the present study, we determined the frequency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in Cyprus using two different procedures in two separate adult population groups: a semiquantitative fluorescence test on blood spotted on filter paper and a quantitative spectrophotometric test on liquid blood. The frequency of G6PD deficiency among healthy adult males was found to be 5.1% using the semiquantitative procedure and 6.4% using the quantitative procedure. Neither method was able to detect all the expected female heterozygotes (5.3% and 47.1% of the expected number, respectively). A total of 21 male hemizygotes, 1 female homozygote and 9 female heterozygotes that tested positive for G6PD deficiency were studied at the molecular level. All 32 chromosomes were genotyped and five different mutations were identified. The Mediterranean mutation in exon 6 (563C→T) (Ser188Phe) was found to be the most common variant in the Cypriot population, accounting for 52.6% of the deficient alleles. In the remaining chromosomes, four different mutations were identified: three known mutations, Kaiping 1388G→A (Arg463His), Chatham 1003G→A (Ala335Thr) and Acrokorinthos 463C→G (His155Asp), and one previously undescribed mutation in exon 3, 148C→T (Pro50Ser), which we called G6PD Kambos. We conclude that the frequency of G6PD deficiency in Cypriot males is 6.4%, and that this deficiency is the result of several different mutations. Although all the individuals carrying the Mediterranean variant can be detected using a semiquantitative screening method, a quantitative enzyme measurement is required to detect the G6PD variants with less severe enzyme deficiencies, while the most appropriate method for heterozygote detection is DNA analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In Cyprus, as part of the exercised official food microbiological control, 28 835 of a large variety of foodstuffs were examined during the years 1991–2000. Parameters examined included Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio spp., E.coli and aerobic plate count. The results indicate a prevalence of 1·8% for Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes, with desserts ranking first as the primary vehicle for Salmonella spp. and cured meats for L. monocytogenes. S. aureus was isolated in 0·7% of the samples examined in significant, potentially hazardous levels (>104 cfu g−1), whereas B. cereus in 1% of the samples in numbers (>104 cfu g−1). The most common food vehicle for both pathogens was found to be traditional Cyprus cheese. V. parahaemolyticus and V. cholerae non-01 were isolated exclusively from imported frozen, raw prawns and shrimps at isolation rates of 6·9% and 1·3%, respectively. The incidence of E. coli at levels >102 g−1 amounted to 6% of the samples examined, with traditional Cyprus cheese being the leading food vehicle. High aerobic plate counts were found in desserts, ready-to-eat meals, sandwiches and cured, non-fermented meats. The results presented in this paper indicate for the most part the good microbiological quality achieved by the majority of the food industry in Cyprus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Developing a monitoring system and a conservation strategy against the negative impact of global change on threatened plant species, is nowadays the challenge for conservation experts. The Plant Micro-Reserve (PMR) approach became a highly effective approach in protecting plant species, since mild active management of vegetation plots and protection of plant populations takes place. The PMR has greatly evolved since its initial concept of managing a large network of PMRs, to having fewer protected areas subject to intensive scientific monitoring (e.g. Intensive Monitoring PMR; IM-PMR). This study further improved the IM-PMR approach by focusing on the threatened plant species of Ophrys kotschyi in Cyprus. The proposed IM-PMR enhances the available knowledge on the biology, physiology and ecology of the targeted plant species, through implementing an intensive monitoring system and assessing its genetic diversity. Within the framework of IM-PMR, the population size of O. kotschyi recorded statistically significant differentiation during the monitoring period, most likely due to the vegetative dormancy of the species. The subpopulation size and dormancy in O. kotschyi was correlated with precipitation and air temperature for specific months. In addition, the different local climatic conditions and the species dormancy between years seem to influence the flowers production among individuals, in the four monitoring years. Nevertheless, the low natural fecundity compared to the artificially pollinated plants and the absent correlation with any of the climatic parameters, might be closely related to the lack of pollinators at this site. The genetic diversity (H T = 0.456) is higher compared to other endemic and short-lived perennial species, while the genetic differentiation among the subpopulations of O. kotschyi showed significant substructure (F ST FIS=0.5 = 0.097*). The subpopulation within IM-PMR showed relatively lower genetic diversity among the largest subpopulations of O. kotschyi , and the highest percentage of linked loci. Such observations support the non-random association of different loci in this subpopulation, and the ineffective pollen flow within this single subpopulation. The improvement of the original PMR approach in the current IM-PMR proposal denotes that different ecological aspects are taken into account towards gaining a holistic knowledge on a target species. The IM-PMR approach as implemented for O. kotschyi , could lead to the development of an integrated conservation approach for rare, threatened, or endangered species. • From Plant Micro-Reserve (PMR) to intensive monitoring Plant Micro-Reserve (IM-PMR). • IM-PMR feasible within/outside nature protected areas in public/private land. • IM-PMR enhances knowledge on biology/physiology/ecology of target species. • IM-PMR as an intensive monitoring system and an assessor of genetic diversity. • This paper promotes the IM-PMR approach utilizing the case of Ophrys kotschyi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen has a significant contribution to global warming and its reduction in agriculture is expected to reduce N 2 O emissions having however adverse effects on the productivity of agricultural ecosystems. Maintaining systems productivity with alternative N sources i.e manure and composts could be a strategy also to mitigate N 2 O emissions. In this paper, we present the effect of different N sources (organic and chemical) on field N 2 O emissions and how these emissions are associated with soil available N forms (NH 4 + and NO 3 −) in three different rain-fed crops namely barley, pea and vetch grown in Cyprus for two growing seasons. The daily emissions ranged from −3.11 to 12.3 g N–N 2 O/ha/day, while cumulative emissions ranged from 119 g N–N 2 O/ha to 660 g N–N 2 O/ha depending on crop and nitrogen source type. The emissions showed a seasonal pattern and WFPS has been identified as a critical soil parameter controlling daily N 2 O emissions. The daily N 2 O fluxes in the current study derives mainly from nitrification irrespectively crop type or nitrogen source type. Specific emission factors for each crop cultivated under different N source type were calculated and ranged from 0.03% ± 0.02–0.34% ± 0.09. The application of manure and chemical fertilizers cause similar intensity of N 2 O emissions while compost exhibited the lower emission factors. These findings suggest that composts could be integrated in a nutrient management strategy of rain-fed crops with less N 2 O emissions. The high background emissions found suggest also that other factors than external inputs are associated with N 2 O emissions and further studies including the response of microbial community structure and their contribution and association with N 2 O emissions. • Nitrous oxide emissions are very low in rain-fed Mediterranean like climates. • Emission factors from organic N sources ranged from 0.25 to 0.03%. • Organic manure had similar emission factor compared to ammonium nitrate. • Compost exhibited the lowest N 2 O emissions. • N 2 O fluxes had a seasonal variation and were crop depended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Aegean-type wall paintings of Tell el-Dabca, Egypt, steatite was used as a constituent of the white colour. Previous research has revealed that the use of talc as a pigment can be considered as an important marker of Aegean craft traditions. In this case study it is therefore of primary importance to trace back the origin of this particular mineral and rock, especially since it can be found in several locations in the Mediterranean including Egypt, Crete and Cyprus. While there is still no generally valid strategy to assign archaeological objects made from this particular material to a specific steatite deposit, the physio-chemical characterisation of the latter mostly relies on the measurement of Rare Earth Elements (REE's) or other methods focusing on the chemical composition of the whole rock. In this paper, a new way to determine steatite origin is presented using electron microprobe characterisation of spinels inside the steatite matrix. Those tracer minerals can not only be the source of information concerning the formation of steatite but their core composition can in some cases also reflect the primary composition of the precursor ultramafic rock. This method focuses on the geotectonical history and genesis of the protolith rather than on steatite's chemical composition. The results reveal the spinels to have similar characteristics to those of supra-subduction ophiolites in the Egyptian Central Eastern Desert. We suggest a correlation between gold and steatite exploitation and thus the use of local raw materials for the creation of the Aegean-type paintings. • Spinel chemistry can be used for sourcing archaeological steatite. • Steatite in Tell el-Dab'a Aegean-type wall paintings is from the Eastern Desert. • There is no generally valid strategy to provenance steatite. • New approach to the provenance of steatite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]