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Fossils of large animals have long influenced social practices and ideologies in human societies, including the fantastic myths of giants, heroes, and gods in ancient Greece. It has been estimated that purposeful fossil collecting in Greece began in the Late Bronze Age. However, previous archaeological finds of fossils from mainland Greece were not well documented in secure contexts that dated this far back in time. Herein, we present a newly recognized fossilized astragalus bone recently found in the legacy collections of the archaeological site of Mycenae. It was originally recovered by excavations in the 1970s and recently reanalyzed at the Mycenae Museum. Our analysis explored the available evidence of the find location, the state of fossil preservation, and the species represented. The results suggest that a fossilized rhinoceros (Stephanorhinus) astragalus was collected in the past, possibly from afar. Evidence indicates it was brought to Mycenae, where it was deposited near an interesting array of artifacts in a basement storage area of the Southwest Quarter, sometime in the thirteenth century BCE. This find represents the earliest secure evidence of large animal fossil use by people in mainland Greece, dating to the Late Bronze Age.

Apart from northern and central China, the fossil record of the latest Miocene and Early Pliocene of Asia is not well documented and the record of South China during this interval is especially poor. Shuitangba, a site in Yunnan Province, offers a rare window into the paleoenvironment of the latest Miocene in southwestern China. Over 2400 vertebrate and macrobotanical specimens have been recovered from the site. The faunal assemblage is dominated by aquatic avian taxa and many of the mammalian taxa are those that indicate densely vegetated, water-margin habitats. Pollen and carpological remains indicate a temperate to subtropical, broad-leaved/coniferous forest around standing water, with more open areas containing grasses and herbs. Analyses of clay minerals, chemical weathering, and enamel stable isotopes suggest that Shuitangba was warmer and more humid than today, possibly with more pronounced seasonality. Results of community structure analysis indicate that the Shuitangba mammalian community was different from those of other Late Miocene Chinese sites in the high proportions of aquatic-dependent mammalian taxa. While Shuitangba shared mammalian faunal elements with other Late Miocene sites in Yunnan, it was still faunally distinct. Further, Shuitangba was depauperate in its mammalian fauna, which may have been a result of the depositional setting rather than a true reflection of regional faunal diversity.

The Holocene (beginning around 12,000 years ago) encompassed some of the most significant changes in human evolution, with far-reaching consequences for the dietary, physical and mental health of present-day populations. Using a dataset of more than 1,600 imputed ancient genomes1, we modelled the selection landscape during the transition from hunting and gathering, to farming and pastoralism across West Eurasia. We identify key selection signals related to metabolism, including that selection at the FADS cluster began earlier than previously reported and that selection near the LCT locus predates the emergence of the lactase persistence allele by thousands of years. We also find strong selection in the HLA region, possibly due to increased exposure to pathogens during the Bronze Age. Using ancient individuals to infer local ancestry tracts in over 400,000 samples from the UK Biobank, we identify widespread differences in the distribution of Mesolithic, Neolithic and Bronze Age ancestries across Eurasia. By calculating ancestry-specific polygenic risk scores, we show that height differences between Northern and Southern Europe are associated with differential Steppe ancestry, rather than selection, and that risk alleles for mood-related phenotypes are enriched for Neolithic farmer ancestry, whereas risk alleles for diabetes and Alzheimer's disease are enriched for Western hunter-gatherer ancestry. Our results indicate that ancient selection and migration were large contributors to the distribution of phenotypic diversity in present-day Europeans.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neuro-inflammatory and neurodegenerative disease that is most prevalent in Northern Europe. Although it is known that inherited risk for MS is located within or in close proximity to immune-related genes, it is unknown when, where and how this genetic risk originated1. Here, by using a large ancient genome dataset from the Mesolithic period to the Bronze Age2, along with new Medieval and post-Medieval genomes, we show that the genetic risk for MS rose among pastoralists from the Pontic steppe and was brought into Europe by the Yamnaya-related migration approximately 5,000 years ago. We further show that these MS-associated immunogenetic variants underwent positive selection both within the steppe population and later in Europe, probably driven by pathogenic challenges coinciding with changes in diet, lifestyle and population density. This study highlights the critical importance of the Neolithic period and Bronze Age as determinants of modern immune responses and their subsequent effect on the risk of developing MS in a changing environment.

Major migration events in Holocene Eurasia have been characterized genetically at broad regional scales1-4. However, insights into the population dynamics in the contact zones are hampered by a lack of ancient genomic data sampled at high spatiotemporal resolution5-7. Here, to address this, we analysed shotgun-sequenced genomes from 100 skeletons spanning 7,300 years of the Mesolithic period, Neolithic period and Early Bronze Age in Denmark and integrated these with proxies for diet (13C and 15N content), mobility (87Sr/86Sr ratio) and vegetation cover (pollen). We observe that Danish Mesolithic individuals of the Maglemose, Kongemose and Ertebølle cultures form a distinct genetic cluster related to other Western European hunter-gatherers. Despite shifts in material culture they displayed genetic homogeneity from around 10,500 to 5,900 calibrated years before present, when Neolithic farmers with Anatolian-derived ancestry arrived. Although the Neolithic transition was delayed by more than a millennium relative to Central Europe, it was very abrupt and resulted in a population turnover with limited genetic contribution from local hunter-gatherers. The succeeding Neolithic population, associated with the Funnel Beaker culture, persisted for only about 1,000 years before immigrants with eastern Steppe-derived ancestry arrived. This second and equally rapid population replacement gave rise to the Single Grave culture with an ancestry profile more similar to present-day Danes. In our multiproxy dataset, these major demographic events are manifested as parallel shifts in genotype, phenotype, diet and land use.

Historical and ethnographic sources depict use of portable braced shaft weapons, or pikes, in megafauna hunting and defense during Late Holocene millennia in North and South America, Africa, Eurasia and Southeast Asia. Given the predominance of megafauna in Late Pleistocene North America during the centuries when Clovis points appeared and spread across much of the continent (13,050-12,650 cal BP), braced weapons may have been used in hunting of megaherbivores and defense against megacarnivores. Drawing from historical examples of pike use against lions, jaguars, boars, grizzlies, carabao and warhorses we consider the possibility of a fluted lithic pike. Associated osseous rods have been problematic as Clovis foreshafts due to the bevel angle and the apparent weakness of the splint haft when great strength is needed for deep penetration in megafauna hunting. However our review of Late Holocene pike use in megafauna encounters indicates the sharp tip becomes less important after hide or armor has been pierced because compression is sustained. Thus, foreshaft collapse after hide entry may not limit but rather increase the efficacy of the braced weapon. We conduct preliminary static experiments to model a fluted pike that adjusts during compression such that haft collapse and point detachment (when point jams on impact with bone) preserve the fluted biface, beveled rod and wooden mainshaft tip. In addition to Clovis point attributes and association with osseous rods, potential archaeological correlates of Clovis pike use include the high frequency of Clovis point isolates and concentrations of complete points with unbutchered mammoth remains at sites such as Naco in Arizona.

The phenomenon of lithic miniaturization during the Late Pleistocene at times coincided with increased artifact standardization and cutting edge efficiency-likely reflecting the use of small, sharp artifacts as interchangeable inserts for composite cutting tools and hunting weapons. During Marine Isotope Stage 2, Upper Paleolithic toolmakers in northern East Asia specifically used pressure techniques to make small, highly standardized lithic artifacts called microblades. However, little is currently known about how microblades affected the cutting edge efficiency of the toolkits they were a part of. We applied three methods of analyzing cutting edge efficiency to two Upper Paleolithic assemblages recently excavated from Tolbor-17, Mongolia, that document the periods before and after the introduction of microblade technology to the Tolbor Valley. A model incorporating allometric relationships between blank cutting edge length and mass suggests no difference in efficiency between the two periods, while two more conventional approaches both indicate a significant increase. The potential for improved cutting edge efficiency is only observed when the microblade sample is artificially inflated via simulation. Our results highlight challenges related to detecting and interpreting archaeological differences in cutting edge efficiency at the assemblage level.

The long-standing assumption that aboveground plant litter inputs have a substantial influence on soil organic carbon storage (SOC) and dynamics has been challenged by a new paradigm for SOC formation and persistence. We tested the importance of plant litter chemistry on SOC storage, distribution, composition, and age by comparing two highly contrasting ecosystems: an old-growth coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forest, with highly aromatic litter, and an adjacent coastal prairie, with more easily decomposed litter. We hypothesized that if plant litter chemistry was the primary driver, redwood would store more and older SOC that was less microbially processed than prairie. Total soil carbon stocks to 110 cm depth were higher in prairie (35 kg C m-2) than redwood (28 kg C m-2). Radiocarbon values indicated shorter SOC residence times in redwood than prairie throughout the profile. Higher amounts of pyrogenic carbon and a higher degree of microbial processing of SOC appear to be instrumental for soil carbon storage and persistence in prairie, while differences in fine-root carbon inputs likely contribute to younger SOC in redwood. We conclude that at these sites fire residues, root inputs, and soil properties influence soil carbon dynamics to a greater degree than the properties of aboveground litter.

Abstract: Dental data can reveal evidence for a past population's oral health, nutrition, and certain cultural activities. This study aims to explore oral health and dental attrition during the late Bronze Age in order to explore health outcomes in different subgroups as well as aspects of foodways and changes in subsistence strategies during the second millennium BCE in northwest China. To do this, the skeletal remains of adult individuals associated with the Siwa material culture (1400–1100 BC) from the Mogou site (n = 28) were macroscopically assessed and compared with previously published data derived from a subsample of individuals associated with Qijia period material culture complex (1750–1400 BC) from the same site. The results show that the Siwa‐period population experienced a high frequency of carious lesions and antemortem tooth loss associated with advanced attrition (of both molars and nonmolar teeth), which did not vary significantly by sex. Females had a higher prevalence of carious lesions and antemortem tooth loss than did males, while males had a higher prevalence of dental calculus. These male/female health outcomes are also attested during the earlier Qijia period at the Mogou site. The Siwa period differs from the Qijia in that females experienced slightly worse attrition than their predecessors. Overall, oral health does not diverge significantly between the Qijia and Siwa periods, suggesting that the factors that contributed to oral health including dietary practices may have persisted diachronically for individuals buried at this site.

The natural environment of the Gansu-Qinghai region in northwest China exhibits spatial variation, resulting in distinct adaptive strategies among populations in different geographical areas. In this study, we analyzed the diachronic trend and regional variations in caries prevalence among 10 different middle and late-Holocene groups by examining dental caries data to explore the correlation between different adaptation strategies and caries frequency. Frequency data was used to compare dental caries between populations, and the Chi-square test was employed to detect statistical differences. A multidisciplinary approach was employed to investigate the relationship between these changes and the adaptive strategies adopted by the populations in this region. The result shows that there was a gradual increase in caries prevalence over time in eastern Gansu, which corresponded with development of millet farming and social hierarchy. In the Hexi Corridor, caries prevalence exhibited fluctuations attributable to climate variability, human migration, and regime change. The research proposes that changes in adaptive strategies due to various social and environmental factors are reflected in human teeth, while also presenting a novel endeavor of aggregating a large, multisite bioarchaeological dataset in order to investigate the interactions between Holocene populations and palaeoenvironments in northwest China.

Concerns regarding the historical accuracy, archaeological practices, and representation of cultural heritage (CH) in commercial video games (VGs) have fueled unending debates about their educational value. However, beyond offering interactive and engaging narratives, it is argued that these games play a vital role in CH. This work delves into the complexities inherent in representing history, archaeology, and CH within commercial VGs. It examines the portrayal of CH as a construct within these games, underscores the importance of collaborative efforts – between game developers, heritage professionals, and members of the communities represented – in their development, and highlights instances where commercial VGs can foster CH awareness. While many commercial VGs touch upon history and archaeology or embody diverse cultures as the platform for their narratives, the focus is placed on Shadow of the Tomb Raider to illustrate the many points found in this work because the game is said to ethically come close to representing the effects of archaeology on local populations and descendants of ancient people. The aim is to catalyze discussions among educators, researchers, game developers, heritage experts, and other stakeholders about the role of commercial VGs in enhancing learning and promoting consciousness about matters vital to cultural identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The history of rare diseases is largely unknown. Research on this topic has focused on individual cases of prominent (historical) individuals and artistic (e.g., iconographic) representations. Medical collections include large numbers of specimens that exhibit signs of rare diseases, but most of them date to relatively recent periods. However, cases of rare diseases detected in mummies and skeletal remains derived from archaeological excavations have also been recorded. Nevertheless, this direct evidence from historical and archaeological contexts is mainly absent from academic discourse and generally not consulted in medical research on rare diseases. Results: This desideratum is addressed by the Digital Atlas of Ancient Rare Diseases (DAARD: https://daard.dainst.org), which is an open access/open data database and web-based mapping tool that collects evidence of different rare diseases found in skeletons and mummies globally and throughout all historic and prehistoric time periods. This easily searchable database allows queries by diagnosis, the preservation level of human remains, research methodology, place of curation and publications. In this manuscript, the design and functionality of the DAARD are illustrated using examples of achondroplasia and other types of stunted growth. Conclusions: As an open, collaborative repository for collecting, mapping and querying well-structured medical data on individuals from ancient times, the DAARD opens new avenues of research. Over time, the number of rare diseases will increase through the addition of new cases from varied backgrounds such as museum collections and archaeological excavations. Depending on the research question, phenotypic or genetic information can be retrieved, as well as information on the general occurrence of a rare disease in selected space–time intervals. Furthermore, for individuals diagnosed with a rare disease, this approach can help them to build identity and reveal an aspect of their condition they might not have been aware of. Thus, the DAARD contributes to the understanding of rare diseases from a long-term perspective and adds to the latest medical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The architectural study and analysis of ancient monuments help us in their complete understanding and classification in modern science. The monumental architecture of ancient Constantinople is one of the topics that is not only not sufficiently studied, but also has not found its rightful place in today's architecture and archeology. An important monument built in the late antique City is the rotunda at “Myrelaion”. After carefully collecting data from the various research activities and excavations, we can find its parallels in the Capitol in Rome, but also in the Rotunda of Galerius in Thessaloniki. The overall analysis allows us to hypothetically determine its height, and the type of dome, but also helps us to place it on the worthy second place in size among the domed halls in the world and first place in Constantinople. The transition of the function of the rotunda as a type of building for religious needs to representative ones is also noted [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a state-of-the-field assessment of the use of digital resources and tools in ancient Mediterranean studies teaching. 1 This includes a presentation of the results of a recent survey focusing on pedagogical practices and multimedia use among ancient Mediterranean studies professionals and an overview of the benefits and challenges of incorporating rich-format media and digital resources into learner-centered curricula. The article also provides a summary of methodological approaches that can enhance learning retention and promote authentic and deep learning, with the goal of empowering students to think critically about the ancient past and their modern world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on the identification and study of the features of cognitive metaphors of the past and related concepts in the Greek linguistic picture of the world. The analysis considers the nominations: ιστορία (history), κληρονομιά (heritage), παρελθόν (past) and αρχαιότητα (antiquity). The research sets main cognitive structures in the source domain that are inherent to all analyzed concepts. Metaphorization predominantly takes place around the image-scheme of the path (“sourcepath-goal”), personification and perception of the concepts in the target domain as objects. The path has a structure-shaping role: both linear and labyrinthine path models are registered, while the movement mostly occurs in the opposite direction with the focus on the starting point of the journey (the source). Ethno-specific feature includes orientational metaphor, which suggests that the past is up. The broad scope has personification (first of all, with social and professional roles), as well as objectification, based mostly on visibility or concealment of the objects, as well as on their physical characteristics. A distinctive feature is the perception of antiquities as neighbors that exist side by side with the modern population, and antiquity, on the contrary, as a poet communicating with poems. One can also highlight the perception of the past and heritage as exhibits – something that is exposed to the public and is source of pride. Besides, natural phenomena and the construction are the common source of metaphorization for the past, history, heritage and antiquity in the Greek linguistic picture of the world.

The authors considers the history of the study of the Khan Shahghali’s mausoleum (tekiye); archaeological research data, written records and graphic sources are used, previously published works on this issue that need a critical approach and addition are drawn in, and the results of archaeological studies conducted nearby the site in 2020 as part of the restoration program are given. As a result of archaeological studies, the depth of the mausoleum foundation and the base of the underground crypt were revealed, two stratigraphic horizons associated with the construction and restoration of the building were identifi ed, remains of structures and post holes of scaff olding associated with the construction of the mausoleum were identifi ed in the test pits. The studies have not revealed layers in this area that were formed earlier than the middle of the XVI century. It is concluded that the mausoleum (tekiye) was built under the infl uence of Sufi traditions that appeared in the Golden Horde period.

The article considers process of fixing the names of the Golden Horde cities in medieval Arabic sources. The materials of the study were Arabic-language writings of XIII–XV centuries. As a result of the study it was noted that there was no stable name of the Golden Horde state. In most cases Arab chroniclers linked the name of the state to the name of the ruler or to a certain geographical location of the Golden Horde state. The information of medieval Arabic works about the Golden Horde cities is fragmentary and descriptive, and does not give a complete picture of a medieval city. Most of the presented information concerns the settled regions of the Golden Horde Empire. Despite the narrative style of the reports about the cities of the Golden Horde, they generally provide information that complements the data of other historical records.

Hans Seybolt was a monastery scribe from Lower Bavaria who lived in the second half of the 15th century. In 1476, he attended the wedding between the Hungarian king Matthias Corvinus and the Neapolitan princess Beatrix as an envoy of the count of the Palatinate. He left a detailed report about that event, which is preserved as a transcript in the only copy that is in the State Library of Bavaria under the signature Cgm 331. Seybolt's report also contains brief information about the Bosnian king Nicholas of Ilok and his son Lawrence, which are the subject of this paper's analysis.

During the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina 1992-1995, the special library of the Oriental Institute was destroyed. A significant contribution in the process of restoration and replenishment of the library fund in the post-war period was made by the Hamid Hadžibegić’s personal library, which arrived as a gift at the Oriental Institute in 2001. The library has over 1,000 publications that belonged to this established scientist and researcher of the past of Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose basic research had a strong influence in the scientific universe of Ottoman history researchers. This paper presents the dedications of colleagues and friends in his books and journals as cultural reminders and documentary records that, with their structure, text, dating and signature, represent a source of significant information about the life and work of this scientist.

When Austria-Hungary occupied Bosnia and Herzegovina, it brought many social and cultural changes. One of them was suppressing the widespread culture of holding and carrying arms that existed in Ottoman Bosnia. Holding arms was still possible but under strict control. Firearm holders were, therefore, a very tiny, privileged group inside society. In this paper, we analyze the ethnic/religious and social structure of this group in the case of the Tuzla Circle in 1904. How large was this group? Were there differences along ethnic and social lines in terms of firearm holding rates? These are the key questions we are seeking answers to in this paper, with an aim to get the first insight into the broader picture of firearm holding in the entire province under the Monarchy’s control.

In this article, the author analyzes the place and role of prominent Bosnian Muslim religious authority Husein Ðozo in the 13th SS Division, the background and reasons for his joining this division, his views on current issues and challenges of the Second World War, as well as his fate after returning to Yugoslavia and being arrested in 1945. The author points out that Ðozo’s postwar involvement, in his fundamental ideas, does not represent a radical break with the tendencies and views he advocated in the thirties and forties, but rather a continuity of efforts to realize and reflect on the position and perspective of Islam and Muslims in the contemporary world.

The supply of food to the army and the civilian population during the First World War was a major problem for the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Food shortages plagued the population of Bosnia and Herzegovina throughout the war, and the worst famine was in 1917. The pronounced problem with nutrition was a consequence of underdeveloped agriculture, which could not produce sufficient quantities of food even in peaceful times, so the deficit had to be imported. Although the authorities immediately after the outbreak of war took into their own hands the management of the most important articles of food, it quickly became clear that the supply and nutrition of the population would become one of the most important and difficult issues of the state. In the procurement of food and its distribution in the country through provisioning, the authorities faced numerous problems, such as insufficient and irregular transport, abuses, etc. However, its immediate consumers had the most trouble with provisioning. Due to the shortage of the most necessary foodstuffs, the population was forced to manage as best they knew how to survive. The most difficult situation, however, was in the passive parts of the country, where the people were dying of hunger.

In the text, the author provides an overview of the history of the Serbs in the Požega valley using archival material, literature and interviews with the remaining members of the Serbian national minority. The author first brings information about the circumstances of Serb immigration to the area of the Požega valley, and then deals with the customs and way of life of the Serbs. He devoted a special chapter to the Second World War. The socialist period was covered in the following chapter, which also covered the culture of remembrance of the Second World War and the neglect of religion. The last chapter deals with the Homeland War in the Požega valley and the suffering of Serbs in that area.

For 100 years, Egypt’s scientists have watched as their nation’s story was largely told by institutions from Europe and the United States. Can a stunning new museum change that narrative? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Early Republican Period, Kemalist History studies generally became a part of the nation-building process. The Kemalist elite rejected the religious tradition on which the Ottoman nation system was based and instead adopted a millet system centered on Turkish national values. For this reason, historical science has played a key role in creating a nation whose roots are based on a common past. In addition, historical studies in the early period also aimed to establish a link between the Ancient Civilizations and the Turks, against the different states that claimed rights over the Turkish Lands, to take the Turkish presence in Anatolia back to the Ancient Ages and thus to claim Anatolia. In order to achieve this goal, in addition to historical science, archaeological and anthropological studies were also carried out with state support. With Kemalist history studies, which started especially after 1928 and intensified in the 1930s and centered on the Turkish History Thesis, it was aimed to reveal a Turkish presence that was strong against the West and had great services to civilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review considers the state of historical studies of ancient Israel in light of the publication of two recent books on the subject. While this recent scholarship nuances and advances our understanding of the history of the southern Levant, it also reveals ongoing methodological tensions due to the field's long-running commitments to post-Enlightenment, European (especially German) approaches to the historical analysis of biblical texts. Simultaneously, these two histories point towards some productive ways in which we might move forward in the study of the history of ancient Israel. These productive potentials include reevaluating our historical methods across specialties and approaches and seeking alternative approaches to history writing that make space for fragmentation, multiplicity, and irresolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient texts dedicating or commemorating temples that can be associated with archaeological remains such as architecture and inscriptions, along with identifiable kings who built or commemorated those temples and the specification of the elapsed number of years from a past event, are known from Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Levant over the span of several centuries. Although the texts originate from differing religious, cultural, and geographic contexts and were recorded on various mediums, the similarity in content, style, and objective indicates a shared tradition and allows the grouping of these texts into a distinctive category. These temple construction and dedication texts document a king or kings involved in the construction, reconstruction, or remembrance of a temple, a deity with whom the temple was connected, the location of the temple, and the specific number of years elapsed between construction or dedication and another significant cultural or religious event. Known examples come from Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, Phoenicia, and Israel, spanning the 13th to the 2nd centuries BC, along with a text from ancient Rome that was likely influenced by this practice. Because the kings named are known from various historical documents and inscriptions, archaeological remains related to the temples have often been recovered; since the construction or dedication texts record elapsed years in reference to another event, these texts can be analyzed in regard to their viability as sources for the history and chronology of the ancient Near East in the context of religion and official records of the state. Investigation of these texts alongside king lists and temples reveals that temple construction and dedication texts of the ancient Near East that included mention of elapsed years provide valuable, detailed, and accurate information that can be used to identify the existence of ancient temples in time, corroborate periods of kingship or other important events, and contribute to understanding a method of historical chronology used by the ancients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heritage science is an established and thriving field of enquiry. Initially considered as inherently cross-disciplinary, encompassing both the needs of conservators and practitioners and the high-quality evidence produced by scientists, heritage science has, through its expansion in recent years, formed a discipline in its own right. Here, we examine how heritage science can, and to an extent has, moved beyond the straightforward scientific analysis of historical materials and artefacts through an exploration of heritage science’s interactions with four key themes: (i) historical and archival research, (ii) conservation practice, (iii) policy at governmental, organisational and institutional levels, and (iv) a view to how new technologies, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, can shape the future of heritage science. Much of the review narrative is framed via the analysis of UK-based case studies; however, they deal with issues that are international in nature (universal) and therefore transcend the UK context. Taken together, we demonstrate that heritage science as a discipline is capable of directly instigating or (re-)framing new areas or avenues of research, as well as enhancing and feeding into existing research questions, and has adapted and evolved along with emerging technologies and funding opportunities.

This is an introduction to the Special Issue on Microhistory and Archaeology.

Abstract: Based on a corpus of texts and archaeological sites, as well as on an analysis of trade networks, this article aims to provide an initial assessment of the question of roofing materials in Brussels at the end of the Middle Ages (13th-16th centuries). It demonstrates the importance of the material triad of thatch, tile and slate, and sheds light on their contrasting development over the period, both in the city and in its immediate hinterland. It also attempts to sketch out the specific socio-economic features of the use of slate. It draws up an inventory of the gaps and grey areas that remain to be explored. Its ambition is above all to serve as a basis for further research, necessary to improve the still partial state of knowledge.