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Bernard Suits is commonly thought to have defined games as challenges. This paper argues that Suits could not have done so without ruining his larger philosophical project. It then argues that he did not do so. Suits defined game playing in quantitative terms (i.e. being more or less efficient) not qualitative ones (e.g. difficulty, struggle). The paper concludes by exploring the consequences of this shift in perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient wooden constructions, also known as wooden cultural relics, refers to ancient wood that has been modified or crafted by human activities. To ensure its preservation, it is crucial to gain further understanding of the decomposition mechanisms affecting archaeological wood. In this study, we investigated the microbiome diversity and cellulose decomposition processes in a 6300-year-old ancient wooden construction at the Tianluoshan site (7000–6300 cal BP) in Zhejiang Province, China. High-throughput sequencing (HTS) was employed to analyze the metagenomic functions, specifically focusing on the microbial communities' cellulose-degrading pathways using bioinformatic approaches. The findings revealed that the excavation of archaeological wood significantly altered the environment, leading to an accelerated deterioration process. This degradation was primarily influenced by carbohydrate metabolism and xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism pathways within the complex ecosystem consisting of bacteria, archaea, fungi, microfauna, plants, and algae. Proteobacteria, actinobacteria, ascomycota, and basidiomycota were identified as the main sources of bacterial cellulose-degrading enzymes. The results obtained from this evaluation will provide valuable insights for the development of targeted conservation strategies and prioritization of preservation efforts for the ancient wooden constructions found in different regions of the Tianluoshan site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along the western coastal plain of the Red Sea, the discovery of lithic tools proved that the occurrence of archaeological remains belonged to the Stone Age era. Unfortunately, until recently, most of the Stone Age site plans in the western Red Sea periphery have been unknown because of change in climate in addition to covering these sites with a large layer of sand. Recently, remote sensing (RS) data have proven to be effective at identifying buried archaeological sites using radar satellite imagery due to their ability to penetrate the land surface. This paper aims to identify and reconstruct several potential Stone Age sites using radar satellite images in the Tokar region, North-Eastern Sudan, on the western plain of the Red Sea. Radar (Sentinel-1 SAR GRD: C-band) data were processed utilizing the advantages of the Google Earth Engine platform and Snap software. The results of this research showed that some potential settlements belonging to the Stone Age era (expectedly dating back to the end of the Pleistocene and/or the initial phase of the Holocene) have subcircular shapes with some interior subcircles. These results shed new light on the potential construction technique, size, and function of the settlement in the Stone Age era and can provide some initial insights into the ancient lifestyle in this region. Additionally, this study can aid in future archaeological surveys and excavation missions in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern technology was applied to the data recorded during the excavation of Santo António de Tanná in the 1970s. The original recording techniques and the subsequent attempts, in the 1980s, to extract further information from the data are described. With the advent of modern and extremely powerful desktop computers this information has now been reprocessed, enabling three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of control points on the site to be determined and a 3D rendered model of the site created. Using this model of the internal hull of the ship, measurements can be made to determine the shape and form of the ship. This paper examines the original methodologies used and compares the modern measurements with the manual measurements taken over 50 years earlier. An investigation to determine the accuracy of the two systems is described together with an analysis of the techniques involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a list of individuals who participated in the archaeological excavation at the Theban Temple of Pharaoh-Queen Tausret from 2012 to 2016. It includes the names of staff members, such as archaeologists, Egyptologists, and photographers, as well as the names of the workforce, including masterine, toria, and basketmen. The purpose of this list is to record the individuals involved in the excavation for the benefit of future scholars. The document appears to be a comprehensive record of the diverse group of individuals who participated in the archaeological expeditions in Egypt during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the discovery of mud-brick structures in the Tausret Temple concession in Egypt. The structures, labeled Features 5 and 7, were found beneath a later funerary enclosure and are believed to be part of a single structure. The mud-brick structure is approximately 14 meters long and 3.25 meters wide, with two niches or rooms built into it. The function of the structure is unclear, but it may have been part of a mud-brick enclosure wall for the New Kingdom temple. The structure was later reused during the Third Intermediate Period and the Late Period for funerary purposes. Several faience objects and stamped mud bricks were found in the vicinity of the structure, as well as wooden furniture pieces. The text also discusses clusters of ceramics found in different areas surrounding a mud-brick structure in the TC area. The clusters contain a variety of pottery, including storage jars, incense burners, and offering vessels, dating from the New Kingdom to the Byzantine Period. Some clusters are associated with specific periods, such as the Saite-Persian Period, while others show a mix of ceramics from different periods. The assemblages suggest possible cultic activity and may be related to embalming practices during the Saite Period. The ceramics found in TC78 are unique and may indicate an earlier date than the other clusters. The text further discusses the discovery of two mud-brick structures at the Tausret temple complex. The first structure [Extracted from the article]

The long-term research projects within the Faynan Basin of southern Jordan continue to yield new and unexpected finds of all periods. This report focuses upon the investigation of the region in the Faynan floodplain, an area known from previous archaeological survey and limited excavation. Renewed investigation in 2019 focused upon analysis of the environmental impact of early metallurgy upon the ancient population through the excavation of five (5) EB IB tombs, and this paper outlines the unexpected nature of the graves, their contents, and preliminary observations of the human remains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parts of a subterranean hiding complex and a miqveh (ritual bath) were excavated at Ḥorvat Maskana in 2020. The Byzantine pottery from the excavation, along with the dating of the plaster, suggests that the complex was used in the Byzantine period and may originally have been hewn in the Roman period. Additional hiding complexes with not only Roman but also Byzantine pottery exist elsewhere in Galilee. The presence of Byzantine pottery inside some of the hiding complexes points to the possibility that their use should not be limited to the Roman period, and that there may have been limited use in the Byzantine period by the local Jewish Galilean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the 19th century publications evaluated in this article, "Mycenaean" features and objects were first linked to the concept of "civilisation" by H. Schliemann in 1878 and subsequently, in 1879, to a specific "culture" or "civilisation" by both A. Furtwängler and G. Loeschcke, and F. Lenormant. In 1883, A. Milchhöfer introduced the term "mykenische Cultur", which Schliemann used only in his last excavation report on Troy, published in 1891. Before that, in 1886, Furtwängler and Loeschcke had used the terms "mykenischer Culturkreis" and "mykenischer Kreis", and they had also written of a "mykenisches Reich". In the same year, in his excavation report on Tiryns, Schliemann had still used the formulation "tirynthische und mykenische Civilisation". In the archaeological publications considered here, the terms "culture" and "civilisation" were not explicitly defined. With regard to the use of the terms "culture" and "civilisation" both by Schliemann and by the colleagues who contributed to his books or who were cited by him, it is noticeable that both terms were apparently understood at least on the whole synonymously. An evaluation of the "height of culture" or "height of civilisation" can be found in passages by Schliemann and his colleagues, and in each case evolutionist ideas can be identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essay "Hallstatt Period Rectangular Farmsteads in the Old Bavarian Loess Landscape: The Hascherkeller Site Revisited" deals with the rectangular farmsteads of the Hallstatt period in the old Bavarian loess landscape. Such a farmstead was discovered at the Hascherkeller site on the northern outskirts of Landshut. The excavations were carried out between 1978 and 1981 and led by Peter S. Wells. After four decades, the excavations were resumed and completed. The most important result of the fieldwork is the stratigraphic disentanglement of the numerous ditches. A similar double structure was also discovered about 200 m further southwest. The study focuses on the latest excavation results and the role of the manor house settlement type in the settlement system of the early Iron Age settlement. [Extracted from the article]

Discovered in 1920, the princely grave of Hoby is a central feature of the EarlyRoman Iron Age archaeology. It is one of the richest graves of the so-called "Lübsow Group" and contained high-quality objects of Roman origin and no less high-quality artefacts of local production. At the beginning of the 21st century, amateur archaeologists discovered pottery from the Early Roman Iron Age and several metal finds at a distance of 250 metres from the burial, which came from a settlement site that was contemporaneous with the grave and has been excavated since 2005. Within the framework of a Danish-German cooperation project, these features are being examined. Simultaneously, the inventory of the princely grave is also being reviewed – the results of the antiquarian studies on the indigenous objects from the tomb carried out separately can be presented here. The examinations of the fibulae and the buckle as well as the comparative analysis of the composition of the imported vessels point entirely to a dating of the Hoby tomb to the Claudian period, i. e. to subphase B1b. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Iron Age Amber: Analytical Methods, Possibilities, and Initial Results" deals with the origin and analysis of amber. Various analytical methods such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR) and Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) were used to investigate the chemical properties of the amber samples. The results show that Baltic amber can be distinguished from other types of amber. The study contributes to a better understanding of the origin and composition of amber from Iron Age archaeological sites. The literature "Iron Age Amber 423" contains a list of scientific publications on the topic of amber and provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research. [Extracted from the article]

The article deals with the strategies of the Imperial German Archaeological Institute to also benefit archaeology from the construction of the Anatolian Railway at the end of the 19th century. One focus is on the stay of the classical philologist Alfred Körte in Anatolia, who was supposed to support the railway construction project in archaeological matters with the help of the Archaeological Institute and the support of the director of the Anatolian Railway Company, Otto von Kühlmann. The resulting controversies with the Ottoman authorities are presented and reference is made to collection items that were transferred to the German Empire as a result of this collaboration. The article also raises the question of to what extent the interplay between archaeology and railway construction, as demonstrated by the Anatolian Railway, provided useful experiences for the construction of the Baghdad Railway under completely new political conditions. [Extracted from the article]

Archaeologists traditionally assess the archaeological record of the International Four Corners area through a perspective focused on external cultural traditions and processes. In particular, prior interpretations view the history of this portion of the American Southwest/Mexican Northwest as either the northern periphery of the Casas Grandes culture or the southern extent of the Salado culture. However, there are few systematic investigations of excavated sites and individual site excavation reports that offer competing views of a highly connected frontier or a weakly integrated, independent series of residential sites. To better understand the dynamics of the region, I analyzed ca. 80,000 ceramic artifacts from 11 sites and compared the assemblages. Results demonstrate that sites in the area have dynamic internal histories that do not readily fit within existing models for peripheral zones. I interpret the collective assemblages as indicative of a borderlands zone wherein mixed identities, exchange networks, and ethnicities abounded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of prehistoric archaeology, the concepts of notation and notational sequences were first introduced by Alexander Marshack in 1964 to describe the orderly arranged series of marks commonly found engraved on Upper Paleolithic artifacts. Three key concepts can be inferred from the detailed artifact accounts published by the American researcher, the first of which is that each mark was notational and therefore symbolic for a natural or cultural event and the resulting series record of those events. The second is the notion that each mark was meant to represent a day, making the corresponding series an observational or calendrical record. The third and last is the hypothesis that notational sequences reveal lunar periodicities. This was met with skepticism and along with methodological issues attracted most of the early criticism on his research, but the first two concepts still stand as the only modern theory addressing the symbolic meaning and use of non-figurative visual creations from the Magdalenian and earlier cultures. Later criticism was more focused on the technological analyses performed by Marshack and their implications for our ability to identify notations in the archaeological record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition between the Final Bronze and Early Iron Age remains one of the least understood periods in the archaeology of southern Central Asia. In this paper, we introduce the newly discovered site of Kimirek-kum-1 (floruit ca. 1250–1050 cal b.c.) in the old delta of the Zerafshan River in present-day Uzbekistan. Combined pedestrian survey, geomagnetic prospection, hand augering, and stratigraphic excavation, conducted between 2021 and 2023, demonstrate the site's unique potential to improve our understanding of the Final Bronze/Early Iron Age transition and the interface between the Central Eurasian steppes to the north and the Indo-Iranian world to the south. Notably, our investigations yielded nearly 400 objects in copper alloys, lead, gold, and semi-precious stone. These findings strongly suggest that Kimirek-kum-1 represents a substantial new Final Bronze/Early Iron Age center with extensive external links. It raises critical questions about the continuity of long-distance exchanges and elite networks after the end of the Oxus civilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores some challenges of archaeological interpretation and classification through an enclosure at Inchnadamph in Sutherland, northwestern Scotland, a site that has proven difficult to interpret. Despite a small number of archaeological interventions, including topographic and geophysical survey and excavation, the site remains enigmatic. We discuss the different interpretations suggested for the site in turn, concluding that the enclosure does not fit readily into existing classification schemes. This raises issues surrounding the use of classification systems, prior assumptions, and the need for critical thinking in interpretation. These are universal issues, applicable beyond the Scottish example chosen, and this paper highlights concerns and difficulties encountered by all who deal with the classification of sites and monuments. Ultimately, this challenges some of our preconceptions and sheds light on the limits of our knowledge, as well as the limits of our classification systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Egyptian Eastern Desert, southeast of Aswan, the Wadi el-Hudi Archaeological Expedition discovered extensive evidence of pastoral nomads living, working, and grazing animals at several archaeological sites. Site 51, newly discovered in January 2023, is a short-term domestic shelter with natural alcoves used by pastoral nomads for millennia. It includes over fifty newly discovered rock inscriptions of cows, ibexes, tally marks, and graffiti. Several grinding stones and nearly a hundred cupules demonstrate the nomads' collection and processing of local plants while they tended their animals. Additionally, other travelers also sheltered at Site 51 throughout the millennia. This discovery adds to the increasing evidence that, in addition to being an ancient Egyptian site for the mining of amethyst and gold, Wadi el-Hudi was an important zone for pastoral nomads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The necropolis of Heliopolis in Egypt has not been systematically explored and is not yet fully excavated. During the excavations of Ard Neqabet El-Muhamin in the years 1987-88, three tombs were discovered, dating back to the Greek-Roman period. The tombs contain various objects from different time periods and materials. The aim of this research is to examine these objects in detail and publish their archaeological information in order to date and illuminate them. [Extracted from the article]

On 1 August 2002, the Allahabad High Court in India, adjudicating the Ayodhya Case, ordered archaeological excavations by the central government agency Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at the site of the demolished mosque Babri Masjid in Uttar Pradesh. The order marked a new moment for the convergence of law and archaeology in India, with archaeological knowledge being produced on judicial demand as evidence in a civil dispute. This paper argues that this marked the emergence of a hybrid episteme of archaeology-as-legal-evidence which redefines archaeology within the framework of law. It traces these tendencies by a close reading of three documents: the judgements of the Allahabad High Court and the Supreme Court in the Ayodhya Case and an order issued by a lower court in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh on 8 April 2021 in the GyanVapi Case. I argue that the new role that archaeology is assuming in courtrooms in India is destabilising the standing of the ASI as the authority of archaeological knowledge and the protector of the nation's material past. It has also produced a category of assertive public that successfully demands production of archaeological knowledge towards ideological ends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New archaeointensity results from the Indian archaeological excavation at the historical Harappa Rakhigarhi site, India, dating from the third millennium BC, are reported. Fifteen samples from nine potsherd fragments were collected and subjected to the IZZI Thellier palaeointensity method. Detailed rock magnetic measurements were performed on representative potsherds. Rock magnetic properties indicate that magnetite is the dominant carrier of remanent magnetization. Archaeointensity values range from 23.65 ± 1.23 µT to 41.22 ± 1.82 µT (mean 32.64 ± 0.81 µT), while corresponding virtual axial dipole movements range from 5.06 to 10.60 x 1022 Am² (mean 8.11 x 1022 Am²). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice (Oryza sativa) serves as a staple food for more than one-third of the global population. However, its journey from a wild gathered food to domestication remains enigmatic, sparking ongoing debates in the biological and anthropological fields. Here, we present evidence of rice phytoliths sampled from two archaeological sites in China, Shangshan and Hehuashan, near the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. We demonstrate the growth of wild rice at least 100,000 years before present, its initial exploitation as a gathered resource at about 24,000 years before present, its predomestication cultivation at about 13,000 years before present, and eventually its domestication at about 11,000 years before present. These developmental stages illuminate a protracted process of rice domestication in East Asia and extend the continuous records of cereal evolution beyond the Fertile Crescent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exchange of information and social interactions on broad spatial scales between human groups in the past can be studied through the provenance of key indicators of distant origin recorded at archaeological sites. The remains of shells of mollusk species, especially when crafted as elements of personal ornaments, express aspects of the behaviors and valuations for the populations that selected, transformed, and exchanged such items. In the southern cone of South America, past hunter-gatherer groups traveled long distances and interacted with communities distributed throughout the territory to acquire goods for technological use, visual display or considered highly valued materials. When recorded at distant locations, these goods of extra local origin are very informative regarding the differences between commonly used home ranges and the occasional access to remote spaces. We present the results of the analysis of the archaeomalacological assemblage of the Baño Nuevo 1 site, a cave with exceptional preservation conditions in Central West Patagonia. This site has yielded a diverse group of artifacts made of shells with origins from multiple distances, as well as evidence of the use of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial species. Its deposits, which extend over the last 11,000 years, reveal an antiquity of at least the middle Holocene for the acquisition, manufacture, use and transport of goods as personal ornaments from shells in the macroregion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northeast China played an irreplaceable role in population migrations and cultural exchanges in East Asia during the Paleolithic. This paper collected 182 archaeological sites to analyse the characteristics of spatial-temporal variations of Paleolithic human activities in Northeast China, and explored the driving mechanisms behind these variations in combination with the paleoenvironmental and archaeological studies. During the Lower Paleolithic, constrained by the relatively cold-dry climate and blocked by the Songnen paleo-lake basin, the population was sparse and distributed only near 40° N at the southern end of Northeast China. Upon entering the Middle Paleolithic, as humans developed greater tolerance to cold climates and adopted more sophisticated survival strategies with the application of small lithic tools, their numbers increased and geographical distribution expanded northward to 45° N at the central region of Northeast China. The Upper Paleolithic saw a considerable increase in population and expansion across almost all of Northeast China except for the eastern Inner Mongolia Plateau. We speculated that 50 ka and 30 ka BP were two key points, both of which may be associated with a significant increase in the frequency of migrations and communications among humans, and the widespread popularity of highly mobile microblade technology, respectively. In addition, the environmental analysis of archaeological sites revealed a continuous spread of Paleolithic humans to areas with higher elevations, steeper slopes, and lower temperatures. Meanwhile, they were becoming less reliant on water resources and were more widely conducting activities in open-air areas, showing that the environmental adaptability had been continuously improving over time. This study can provide a reference for the reconstruction of the migration history of early humans in East Asia, and is also of great significance for a comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary process of early human-environment interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the significance of the Temple of Bel in the history of Palmyra, highlighting key aspects of its design and development. It reviews the measures taken by the archaeological authorities during the French Mandate (1920–1946) to manage and conserve the monument, such as relocating the local community outside the archaeological site far from the sanctuary and the implementation of repairs to the cella. Finally, it discusses the damage wrought by ISIS in 2015 to Palmyra, which included the partial destruction of the temple using explosives, and revisits the work of the specialists who examined this structure after it was destroyed. In order to preserve Palmyra's cultural legacy, the relevance of the cella's future conservation needs as a priority are underscored, not simply for the World Heritage Site, but within the wider context of Syria and the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2017 salvage excavation conducted at the site of Lajjun within Kibbutz Megiddo, Israel, revealed layers of refuse, primarily ceramics, constituting a household midden with finds indicating a 12th-century date and a Frankish cultural affinity. The midden can be associated with the occupation of the ancient settlement of Lajjun by Frankish settlers intermittently in the 12th and 13th centuries c.e. , representing a first archaeological window into the Frankish activity at the site and complementing the historical data on the village known from Crusader sources as Le Lyon (Lajjun). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hazard zone methodology: The paper employs a hazard zone methodology, typically used for managing erosion risk to modern infrastructure, to assess and manage the risk to coastal archaeological heritage. • Coastal archaeological heritage at risk: Coastal archaeological heritage in Aotearoa/New Zealand is under threat from coastal erosion, with accelerated risk due to rising sea levels. • Projected sea-level rise impact: The study predicts that a relatively modest 20 cm of sea-level rise, expected by 2040, may put around 8 % (155) of coastal archaeological sites at risk, and a more significant 1 m of sea-level rise could threaten approximately 19 % (356) of sites. • Connection to indigenous communities: The coastal archaeological heritage is closely tied to Māori, the indigenous ancestral communities of Aotearoa/New Zealand. • Adaptive planning pathways: Scenarios are presented to assist stakeholders in assessing heritage risk, providing an opportunity for coastal managers to incorporate heritage considerations into adaptive planning pathways. Coastal archaeological heritage is in danger of being lost to coastal erosion, the risk of which is amplified by accelerating sea-level rise (SLR). In Aotearoa/New Zealand, coastal archaeological heritage is closely associated with indigenous ancestral communities, but our understanding of the spatiotemporal variability in coastal erosion risk for cultural heritage is limited. Coastal erosion hazard zones have typically been implemented to manage erosion risk to modern infrastructure at regional scales. In this study, we applied a hazard zone methodology in the context of coastal archaeological heritage for a selected region of Aotearoa (Te Tai Tokerau/Northland). Historical coastal change analyses reveal that most beaches in the region have been stable or slightly accretionary over the past ∼80 years, but a reversal of this trend is likely under the projected SLR, which is expressed in the coastal erosion hazard zones. Our analyses indicate that ∼8 % (155) of coastal archaeological sites in Te Tai Tokerau/Northland may be at risk of erosion with a relatively modest 20 cm of SLR, which is expected for the region by 2040, and ∼19 % (356) of sites are threatened by 1 m of SLR. Scenarios are presented that should assist a broad range of stakeholders to assess heritage risk and provide an opportunity for coastal managers to include heritage within adaptive planning pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Archaeological Site of Panama Viejo (Panama) comprises a protected area of 28 km2 within present‐day Panama City, on America's Pacific coast. In 1519, the Spaniards founded the city of Panama Viejo to secure a natural port in an area inhabited by indigenous peoples since at least the eighth century CE. The site, along the coastline and between two rivers, became a principal gateway for goods and people travelling between Europe and Pacific settlements to the east (Realejo) and the west (Trujillo, Lima, Arica). Within one century, however, Panama Viejo's natural port and freshwater infrastructure collapsed, leading to the city's relocation after corsairs attacked it in 1671. This study combines archaeological, geographical and historical analyses to explain how and why human interactions with the local environment made the settlement increasingly untenable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The last two decades witnessed increasing scholarly interest in the history of water management in southern Mesopotamia. Thanks to many geoarchaeological research projects conducted throughout the central and southern Iraqi floodplains, a general understanding of the macrophases of anthropogenic manipulation of this vast hydraulic landscape has been achieved. However, current narratives mostly rely on studies at a regional scale and are based on excessively long chronological phases (often spanning a whole millennium). A finer‐tuned analysis at a submillennial scale is needed to better appreciate the dynamics that led to the development of artificial canals and irrigation systems and the creation of harbours in cities and other navigation‐related facilities. The Iraqi‐Italian QADIS project is addressing this issue through a systematic geoarchaeological investigation in the south‐eastern area of the Qadisiyah province. We aim to update the current narrative by analysing case studies involving specific periods of occupation. We performed 17 boreholes to propose a date on the functioning period of the hydraulic works in five selected archaeological sites of this region. This approach allowed us to understand changes in water management strategies in both the short and the medium term (i.e., on a scale of centuries). In this paper, we present the results for the fourth and third millennia B.C.E. This period witnessed a crucial passage from the basic exploitation of natural watercourses for irrigation and occasional navigation to the emergence of the first system of artificial canals and intraurban harbours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Morgado Superior Rock Shelter is located near the city of Tomar, in Central Portugal. This site presents important funerary contexts that according to published information encompass the Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Bronze Age. Other non-funerary uses have not yet been characterised but were briefly suggested. A faunal sample of the 1988 and 2012 interventions is analysed from a zooarchaeological and taphonomical perspective, focusing on the leporid remains that largely dominate the assemblage. Clear indicators of a human origin are absent, while a configurational approach allows the description of exogenous and intrusive origins. The characteristics of the registered consumption taphonomical indicators are suggestive of scat and non-ingested accumulation by foxes. Furthermore, this study allows us to discuss some aspects of the formation of the stratigraphy of this important cave necropolis, while also serving as an example of the expected results of foxes' action on leporid remains in an archaeological site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a critical review of the results of the Asuka Historical Museum's excavation of the Asukadera wooden pagoda site in Japan since 2015, and its implications for Buddhist cultural exchange in East Asia. The second section examines the Asuka Historical Museum's categorization and scientific analysis of the beads, pearls, horse gear, earrings, gold and silver artifacts, mica, and śarīra containers. We assert that most objects excavated from the Asukadera wooden pagoda site are relics from the Asuka era (538–710), when the pagoda was first established in 593, and only a limited number of artifacts, such as the śarīra [relics] container, were added after the wooden pagoda was burned down in 1196. The third section compares the archeological remains from the Asukadera wooden pagoda site and the reliquary objects from the Paekche Wanghŭng-sa site (577) and Mirŭk-sa site (639), which have been conventionally considered to be its models. What the relics from these three historical sites have in common is that they include clothing accessories nobles wore as they participated in the Buddhist rituals of enshrining the śarīra in a wooden pagoda. However, some differences in the metallic craft items, such as crowns and belts, were still found between Paekche and Japan, which was due to the difference in costume styles in the respective countries at the time. Also, horse gear and lamellar armor unearthed from Asukadera sites was not found in Paekche temple sites, but is similar to earlier Japanese kofun (megalithic tumuli) grave goods, which provides evidence that as Buddhism was transferred to Japan from Paekche, it was not accepted in completely the same form. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper sets out new recommendations for recording structural iron nails. Despite their ubiquity, iron nails have received limited analytical and interpretative attention and recording practices are highly variable. Too often current recording is time‐consuming and costly without providing meaningful information. This paper proposes a new recording methodology, developed through analysis of the Roman structural nail assemblage from the MHI A14 Cambridge‐Huntingdon excavations alongside experiments in nail shaping, with wider context provided by medieval and post‐medieval assemblages from the City of London. This approach includes a new nail typology, recommendations for bulk recording of basic details for whole assemblages (using counts and typologies), alongside detailed recording (shank morphology and further metric data) for certain nail groups. Shank morphology is a particularly important aspect proposed here, being indicative of how nails were used in antiquity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Amber is a material of great social value that has been identified at various archaeological sites on the Iberian peninsula dating to Late Antiquity. The objects, mostly necklace beads, have been discussed to date with limited results in relation to a small number of studies. This article presents the characterization by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) of 52 amber beads from four Late Antique necropolises in the province of Granada (south‐eastern Iberian peninsula): Cortijo del Chopo (Colomera), El Castillón (Montefrío), Marugán (Atarfe) and Fuente Santa (Loja). The results obtained demonstrate the Baltic origin of the amber at these sites and advance our knowledge of this type of product in Hispanic Late Antique funerary contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the authors present the salient archaeological results of a diachronic, interdisciplinary research project on rural settlement and land use in a region of low mountains in southern Germany. Despite clear locational disadvantages, in particular great distances to drinking water sources, archaeological excavations and an extensive dating programme document an unexpectedly long continuity of prehistoric settlement in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field of archaeological excavation has seen enormous developments as a result of the quick development of digital technologies. It is critical to acknowledge the long-term benefits of new approaches. In this regard, this study intends to suggest a system that provides archaeologists with digital tools that allow them to fully and effectively document their excavations in real time while in the field, which is specifically designed for classical and Byzantine archaeology. The system not only facilitates traditional documentation practices but also integrates advanced geospatial technologies and augmented reality, enhancing the accuracy and depth of archaeological research and preservation. This dual functionality enables both the efficient recording of excavation data as experienced by excavators on-site and the detailed documentation processed by researchers post-excavation. The objective of the application is to generate a sophisticated system that will enable the excavation data and experience that the excavator gains on the site of work to be recorded in real time, as well as the documentation that is subsequently processed and accomplished by the researcher or by other researchers. The system saves detailed images and 3D models of artifacts and excavation sites. This ensures that every detail is recorded while preserving the data for future analysis and reference. Lastly, the application was tested in realistic use case scenarios and real-world settings, which increased the system's credibility and demonstrated its capability to enhance the procedures involved in archaeological excavation and documentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work reports the study of metal fragments from Roman pipes excavated from the archaeological site of Pompeii and currently preserved in the deposits of the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN). The Roman pipe, called the tibia, is a reed wind musical instrument similar to the Greek aulos. It can be made of wood, bone, and/or metal. Materials consisting of metal Cu-based alloys were excavated from archaeological burial environments. This research aims to identify the composition of the alloys, characterize the corrosion patinas, and identify any ancient surface treatments on the fragments. Non-invasive and micro-invasive techniques were used to achieve this aim, i.e., optical microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectrometry. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the materials and manufacturing techniques used for these instruments, as well as the degradation processes occurring over the centuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological sites constitute one of the main tourist attractions in the heritage offerings of most populations. Their ability to convey the ways of life and construction techniques of past societies through physical remains positions them as a culturally significant alternative for visitors. However, their physical conservation, essential for efficiently ensuring information with precision, poses a serious challenge for the various professionals involved, as numerous social and anthropic risks threaten long-term preservation for the enjoyment of future generations. Of all traditional building materials, earth is undoubtedly one of the most fragile and sensitive to loss in the absence of the original protection systems, so that a precise assessment of its threats is essential to minimizing the destruction of these non-renewable assets. The objective of this study is to evaluate the most determining human risk factors within the territorial scope of the Iberian Peninsula, including aspects such as its musealization, suitable interpretation, visit planning, agricultural land use, vandalism and rural depopulation. This is achieved through a literature review and on-site data collection from 85 archaeological sites, as well as the development of an analysis tool to assess the degree of vulnerability, aiming to develop prevention measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic sherds from approximately 20 samples of lead-glazed tableware, recovered from diverse archaeological sites, including three repurposed storage pits transformed into dumpsters within the medieval city of Santarém (13th–14th century), underwent a meticulous examination. This investigation utilised techniques such as micro-Raman, ground-state diffuse reflectance absorption, and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopies, in addition to X-ray diffraction and stereomicroscopy. A parallel study was conducted on contemporaneous European ceramics (glazed sherds) sourced from archaeological sites dating back to the 13th–15th centuries in Saintonge (France), Ardenne, Zomergem, and Bruges (Belgium), as well as Surrey–Hampshire, Kingston, and Cheam (England). The first premise for comparing the Santarem samples with European production locations was their frequent commercial relations with Portugal and the frequency of these productions being found in Portugal. The colour of the ceramic bodies is predominantly white or whitish, with a few exhibiting a vivid red hue. Analyses of the fabric, mineralogical, and elemental composition of the sherds suggest that the majority of Santarém's glazed ceramics were locally or regionally produced, potentially derived from a Pliocene kaolin-rich sand formation. However, this conclusion is not supported by the absence of discovered lead glaze kilns or workshops in Santarém for the late Middle Ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disturbances in tropical forests can have long‐lasting ecological impacts, but their manifestations (ecological legacies) in modern forests are uncertain. Many Amazonian forests bear the mark of past soil modifications, species enrichments, and fire events, but the trajectories of ecological legacies from the pre‐contact or post‐colonial period remain relatively unexplored. We assessed the fire and vegetation history from 15 soil cores ranging from 0 to 10 km from a post‐colonial Surinamese archaeological site. We show that (1) fires occurred from 96 bc to recent times and induced significant vegetation change, (2) persistent ecological legacies from pre‐contact and post‐colonial fire and deforestation practices were mainly within 1 km of the archaeological site, and (3) palm enrichment of Attalea, Oenocarpus and Astrocaryum occurred within 0, 1, and 8 km of the archaeological site, respectively. Our results challenge the notion of spatially extensive and persistent ecological legacies. Instead, our data indicate that the persistence and extent of ecological legacies are dependent on their timing, frequency, type, and intensity. Examining the mechanisms and manifestations of ecological legacies is crucial in assessing forest resilience and Indigenous and local land rights in the highly threatened Amazonian forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores dance improvisation as an alternative mode of understanding the archaeological heritage site beyond representational knowledge. Drawing on projects undertaken on Liangzhu Archaeological Site over the past five years (2018–2023), we have employed dance improvisation as a method for participants to explore here and now interactions with the heritage site, focusing on their sensing, feeling and thinking. Using an A/r/tography methodology, this study considers how intersections of art-making and writing allow new meanings and bodily interpretation to emerge during the improvisation process. Participant reflection notes reveal how embodied encounters create space for rhizomatic interpretations of the archaeological site, transcending power dynamics embedded in existing politically-sacred and archaeologically-authoritative knowledge systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prehistoric and historic iron metallurgy in the Holy Cross Mountains in central Poland developed along with human Przeworsk Culture activity (during the Roman period) and within the boundaries of the Old-Polish Industrial District (OPID) during the Middle Ages and during recent centuries. At the Świślina catchment, there are many archaeological sites showing intense prehistoric metallurgical activity. The later medieval and modern iron industry was significantly smaller. At the Doły Biskupie site, slags and microscopic iron spherules (hammerscales) were found in alluvia. The microscopic spherules separation method (MSS) enabled analysis of these small artefacts created during iron ore smelting and forging. Iron spherules were detected in floodplain sediments, which are characterized by increased content of trace elements. The presence of these artefacts in shallow sediment layers in the confluence section of the river may be an indicator of archaeologically confirmed prehistoric metallurgical activity in the catchment area. Study of these residues enabled an attempt to reconstruct the river valley environment during the prehistoric and historical period. The MSS method can be used to detect iron spherules in alluvia in other river catchments, confirming the presence of yet-undiscovered bloomery sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Megalithism in Sardinia (Italy) had its highest expression during the Bronze Age with the creation of monumental complexes known as Nuraghes. These unique monuments have recently been the subject of in-depth investigations for their potential to be recognized as World Heritage Sites (by UNESCO). The main purpose of our research was to make a contribution to obtain a more in-depth characterization of these monuments by testing a 3D model of a complex Nuraghe, integrated with an analysis of the geolithological context. This work first focused on the geological and typological investigation of the materials used in its construction, which was then compared with the geolithological characteristics of the region. A survey of the outcropping remains was carried out by means of Structure-from-Motion Multi-View Stereo (SfM-MVS) photogrammetry with UAV ground and aerial acquisition using APS-C photo sensors, georeferenced with an RTK-GNSS ground survey. The level of accuracy of our digital models shows the potential of the proposed method, giving accurate and geometrically consistent 3D reconstructions in terms of georeferencing error, shape and surface. The survey method allows for the virtualization of the current state of conservation of the Nuraghe, giving a solid basis to set up further (future) archaeological excavations and to contribute to knowledge on the architecture of the structures. This study also provides useful information on the nature and origin of the construction materials and proposes a hypothesis on the original dimensions of the monument, which is often a topic of debate in the world of archaeology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Arctic region, microbial degradation poses a significant threat to the preservation of archaeological deposits, actively consuming irreplaceable cultural and environmental records. In this study we assess the potential effects of the last 40 years of climate change on organic archaeological deposits within the UNESCO World Heritage area Kujataa in South Greenland. We use the dynamic process-oriented model, CoupModel to simulate soil temperatures and soil moisture contents at four archaeological sites in the area. The results show that the organic deposits have experienced a substantial warming the last 40 years, which combined with decreasing soil moisture contents creates a dangerous combination that can accelerate the degradation of organic materials. Currently, there are 583 archaeological sites registered within the area. Our findings highlight that the current climatic conditions are not conducive to organic preservation. The greatest risk of degradation lies within the relatively dry continental inland areas of the study region, where all Norse Viking Age settlements are situated. However, even at the "cold" and "wet" outer coast, the combined effects of rising summer temperatures and declining soil moisture levels may already be exerting a noticeable impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]