Search

Alexandria's archaeological sites face a threat of segregation between their vitality as cultural-touristic sites and the community, and so is the case with Kōm al-Nāḍūra archaeological site and its historic urban setting. It is inaccessible and unrecognisable to the public, despite its multi-layered history of the Fatimid and Mamluk eras, Ottomans, the French Expedition and Muḥammad 'Alī's reign. Kōm al-Nāḍūra area is overshadowed by the Greco-Roman archaeological remains, including the Catacombs of Kōm al-Shokāfa, Pompey's Pillar and Kōm ad-Dikka. Also, the site does not connect with other tangible historical assets of cisterns, Arab city wall remains and Sufi mosques. Following the notion of contemporary archaeology for Kōm al-Nāḍūra to endorse it as a catalyst to connect the surrounding traditional activities and integrate its multi-layered heritage to achieve sustainable urban conservation. It promotes intercultural dialogue and connects the spatial-conceptual urban dots. Also, the absence of scientific publications documenting the historic urban setting of Kōm al-Nāḍūra area; raised this paper to investigate its chronological evolution from the Fatimid era until nowadays. It highlights forms of practice and addresses gaps within the political ecologies of urban heritage. If managed by practitioners, collaborations between individuals and the constitution of the heritage of local policies may take place, thus linking culture with sustainable urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of the degradation state of an unearthed ancient artefact concerns the identification of the material composition and of the corrosive compounds that are present at the surface. The standard investigation makes use of a combination of invasive and non-invasive techniques and complex devices, while it also relies on the extensive experience of the restorer. The current paper puts forward a new possibility of employing an alternative computational solution with the support of deep learning that recognizes and delineates all the corrosive compounds from stereo microscope images of the surface of a metal item. With the input received from a portable microscope, such a fast non-destructive tool would provide straightforward assistance at the excavation site, as well as a second opinion for novice investigators. Iron archaeological objects are considered and four corrosion compounds are identified and outlined by the deep learning models, i.e. Fe 2 O 3 , FeSO 4 , FeCl 3 and FeO. The results show that the deep computational identification and delimitation of the four corrosive types is meticulous even with a minimal annotation provided for training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The restoration of archaeological artefacts is naturally utterly important for preserving the cultural heritage. The first step that is undertaken in this process is the chemical analysis of the object, in order to decide the best procedures for its restoration. The gold standard in approximating the concentration of the elements in its composition (in percentages, between 0 and 100) is performed through an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) machine. While this is a non-invasive approach, it comes at substantial financial and training costs, and possible radiation exposure of the investigator. In this context, the present paper explores the potential of a deep learning regression model to give an estimate on the concentration of a given element from stereo microscopy slides of historical artefacts, as an alternative means to the XRF. Two problems with different degrees of complexity are examined in turn. The first one is represented by the consideration of iron objects, where the metal is strongly dominant in the chemical structure. The second comes both as a complement to the other, in order to expose the model also to non-iron items, and as a more difficult task of identifying the degree of copper that is present only as part of an alloy constitution. While for iron the one absolute value prediction of the model is always very close to the XRF approximation, copper has a wider distribution of its concentration among objects, which is more challenging to learn; hence, performance for a singular absolute estimation can rise only with the increase in the amount of data. A window of error acceptability was also implemented and it allows for an approximation that is sufficient for grasping the degree of the metal in the composition that is necessary for the restoration procedures. The findings therefore provide a first step in putting forward a computational support tool that represents a less expensive and less dangerous alternative for approximating the elemental analysis before artefact reinstatement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers how epistemic analyses (Birkin and Polesie, 2011; Foucault, 1970, 1990a, 1990b) may assist with the development of sustainability economics (Bartelmus, 2010; Baumgärtner and Quaas, 2010a, 2010b; and Söderbaum, 2011) and the capability approach (Ballet et al., 2011; Martins, 2011; Rauschmayer and Leßmann, 2011; Scerri, 2012). It was the French social theorist Michel Foucault (1926–1984) who coined the term “episteme” to refer to the “possibility of knowledge” that determines the development of thought and knowledge in a given period. For Foucault epistemes were the “buried” foundations of knowledge that his epistemic “archaeology” could unearth. In 2007, Foucault was identified as the most cited author of books in the humanities by Thomson Reuters' ISI Web of Science. This paper begins with a brief definition and description of epistemic analyses. A summary analysis of the Modern episteme and neoclassical economics is then provided and this is followed by outline evidence for the emerging episteme. Finally the opportunity is considered for the emerging episteme to reinforce and enhance sustainability economics and the capability approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The paper deals with application of an originally developed methodology for repair and seismic strengthening of St. Clement’s Church, Plaoshnik, Ohrid. To renovate the structure based on the original foundation dating back to the 9th century, complex multidisciplinary investigations were performed in the field of archaeology, conservation, engineering and construction. Presented in this paper are the investigations related to the design of the structural system based on elaborated architectonic bases that are to preserve the authenticity of the structure, performed geotechnical investigations of the site and defined input seismic parameters. A linear-elastic and nonlinear dynamic analysis of the structure was performed. Based on the obtained results, the concept of repair and seismic strengthening of the church was adopted. It consisted of incorporation of horizontal and vertical steel ties in the bearing walls of the structure. This method, which is based on the philosophy of “minimal intervention–maximal protection”, had originally been developed at IZIIS, Skopje and it has been experimentally and analytically verified. The techniques of consolidation of the authentic foundation of the structure and the existing walls with original fresco-paintings are also presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Lichens are organisms capable of colonizing almost every type of materials, provided they are stable and have sufficient exposure to light. The growing of lichens on bone surface is rare, due to the speed to which this substrate is weathered and destroyed. For the most part, documented cases occur in extreme environments, such as the Arctic and Antarctic, where bone elements remain unaltered for long periods, although they have also been found in other latitudes. The aim of this paper is to describe the taxonomic diversity of the lichens growing on a set of human bones recovered at a looted Late Holocene aboriginal cairn burial (chenque) in southern continental Patagonia (Piedra Museo archaeological locality, Deseado Massif, Santa Cruz, Argentina). In the analyzed bone assemblage (NISP = 56), a total of 63 lichen thalli were recorded. They were assigned to seven different species, except one case that could only be determined at the genus level. This is the first well-described record of lichen flora growing on human bone remains for South America, having important implications for both archaeological and forensic sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre Commemorations team (JCCC), part of the British Ministry of Defence, is responsible for managing the identification of human remains from British casualties who fell during WWI and WWII primarily. With this task in mind, the work to identify and rebury the historic battle casualties is at the heart of this team's work. In addition, the team also considers new evidence regarding possible identification of an individual buried as "unknown" and they administer the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. This paper provides an insight into the work undertaken by this Team, identifying and commemorating the remains of WWI and WWII British casualties. The paper also includes several case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Agent-based modelling provides a means for understanding both contemporary and future systems, and also the archaeological past. This article explores the appeal of agent-based modelling for understanding archaeological societies. Taken from the 2011 American Association for the Advancement of Science meetings, this paper and the following papers help advance our understanding of both real and modelled systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • The EnIfPe model assesses how limitations impacted information flow in past societies. • Poor information flow led to compromises in sustainable practices. • The dimensions of our lived environment shape our ability to wield information. • Archaeological cases are essential for contemporary debates on sustainability. Analyzing the spatial and temporal properties of information flow with a multi-century perspective could illuminate the sustainability of human resource-use strategies. This paper uses historical and archaeological datasets to assess how spatial, temporal, cognitive, and cultural limitations impact the generation and flow of information about ecosystems within past societies, and thus lead to tradeoffs in sustainable practices. While it is well understood that conflicting priorities can inhibit successful outcomes, case studies from Eastern Polynesia, the North Atlantic, and the American Southwest suggest that imperfect information can also be a major impediment to sustainability. We formally develop a conceptual model of Environmental Information Flow and Perception (EnIFPe) to examine the scale of information flow to a society and the quality of the information needed to promote sustainable coupled natural-human systems. In our case studies, we assess key aspects of information flow by focusing on food web relationships and nutrient flows in socio-ecological systems, as well as the life cycles, population dynamics, and seasonal rhythms of organisms, the patterns and timing of species' migration, and the trajectories of human-induced environmental change. We argue that the spatial and temporal dimensions of human environments shape society's ability to wield information, while acknowledging that varied cultural factors also focus a society's ability to act on such information. Our analyses demonstrate the analytical importance of completed experiments from the past, and their utility for contemporary debates concerning managing imperfect information and addressing conflicting priorities in modern environmental management and resource use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods for mass-grave documentation have changed markedly since the first forensic investigations nearly 70 years ago. Recently, however, there has been little advancement in developing new and better methodology, especially when compared to other forensic disciplines and even within traditional archaeology. This paper proposes a new approach, using 3D modelling for the documentation and eventual analysis of mass-graves. Structure-from-Motion (SfM), which creates digital 3D models from a set of still photographs, was tested on a small, simulated mass grave. The results of this test suggest that the method offers resolution previously unavailable to mass-grave investigators, and facilitates stronger analytical potential than the more traditional methods. Further tests are needed to validate these methods, but these initial findings are promising and their application could enhance our knowledge of mass grave dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nan Kiln and Lantian Kiln site in Jingdezhen were excavated in 2012 by Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and other units. According to the archaeological materials, many experts agree that the ceramic industry of Jingdezhen, the porcelain capital of the ancient world, can be dated back at least to Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD). An in-depth study on the celadon of the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties (897–979 AD) unearthed from these two sites is very important for exploring the origin and early development of Jingdezhen ceramic industry. This paper comparatively analyzes the chemical composition and processing characteristics of the celadon aforementioned to shed light on the early celadon of Jingdezhen and its initial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of ontologies to represent geographical knowledge has received a lot of attention recently. Nevertheless, classical ontol- ogy languages are not able to represent incomplete and uncertain knowledge, which are very important characteristics of several situations in geographic domain. Based on our previous work, we propose a solution for handling uncertainty and for dealing with inconsistency in geographical applications. In this paper, we present an extension of the OWL 2, named Poss-OWL 2, based on our Poss - SROIQ(D) description logic (DL). Then we describe some reflections about the inference system. Illustrative examples, from archaeological domain, are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents a method to assist in the tedious task of reconstructing ceramic vessels from unearthed archeological shards (fragments) using 3D computer vision-enabling technologies. The method exploits the shards surface intrinsic differential geometry information (one of many possible tools) coupled with a series of generic models to produce a virtual reconstruction and rendition of what the original vessel may have looked like. Generic models are constructed based on a host of factors including expert historical knowledge of the period, provenance of the artifact, and site location. The generic models need not to be identical to the original vessel, but they must be within a geometric transformation of it in most of its parts. The method is suited for ceramic vessels with some relief (i.e., surface with molding, carving, or stamping), as this method exploits surface intrinsic features for alignment. The alignment of the shards against the generic model uses a novel set of 3D weighted curve moments. The transformation is computed from corresponding parabolic contours on the shard and the generic model. A distance error metric is used to access the accuracy of alignment of a fragment to a given generic vessel model. The method is also extendable to surface markings. For a vessel that has no relief, color information or surface breaks can be used for the alignment. The method is tested on a subset of 3D scanned Independence National Historical Park (INDE) ceramic artifacts and the generic models created by experts. This work is part of an ongoing research activity in computational archeology that exploits many different tools and features to help in the mending process. Only the use of surface differential geometry information is reported here. This aspect is complementary to various other tools reported elsewhere by us and others, such as surface breaks, texture, color, etc. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Research on the assessment of the effects of conservation/restoration treatments on stone material has been significant in recent years, with focus on the early observation of decay caused by the application of these treatments. However, in the case of archaeological sites, research is still scarce and few studies on the subject have been published. Restoration, as everything else, has changed according to trends, mainly guided by the release of new products and technologies, an experimental field where scientific assessment of suitability, efficacy and durability pre-evaluations of treatments are not always conducted. Some efforts have been made to solve this problem in the architectural field, where functional needs and technical requirements force to set clear standards. Unfortunately, archaeological sites, unlike historic buildings, have specific features that preclude the extrapolation of these results. A critical review of the methodologies, products and restoration materials is necessary, coupled with deeper research on degradation mechanisms caused by these treatments in the mid- and long-term. The aim of this paper is to introduce the research on the above issues using Merida as a case study. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Even if, in our opinion, the “European Social Model” ESM is more of a linguistic convention rather than a, legal and institutional reality, more of a discourse “reality” rather than an interlocutor reality, rather a “trace” and not a presence, or neither a presence nor an absence as Derrida would say in its deconstruction exercises, it is at the center of debates related to both its conceptual reconfiguration, and the identification of new sets of transnational public preferences formalized in the new terms of the “social contract”, as well as the transformation of these new terms and values into efficient technologies for dealing with the “new social issues”, this time at a supranational level. In this paper, we propose an exercise of “archeology of knowledge” of the field, an attempt of figuring out some of the causes which lead to the questioning of the existence of a European social model. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper uses a combination of archaeological, geomorphologic and radiometric data from the coast of Sardinia, in Italy, to purpose a reconstruction of the sea-level and coastal changes during the recent period in the whole island. The archaeological remains have been used as one of indicators to interpret the recent movements, uplift or subsidence, long the coastal tracts of the island; the evidences are represented by quarries, megalithic buildings, submerged towns, roman villas, the latter by harbor structures, Medieval testifies and other ruins like the wrecks for a long span. In summary, the comparison between the geomorphologic evolution, archaeological indicators and radiometric data suggests a different sea-level uplifting corresponding to the different Pleistocenic evolution in some places of the island; in some cases there is an evident correspondence between the submerged remains and the presence of the grabens that characterizing the geological structure of the Sardinia. The submerged archaeological indicators are intended to identify the level of the sea, in most situation, they indicate the presence of a sea level lower than their base subject to the tidal range at the time which can be only be approximate. However, the presence of a single type of indicator does not know the precise level of the sea; in the same way it is very difficult to distinguish between eustatic and tectonic components. The combination and correlation between different data at the regional level is the only possibility to have an interpretative hypothesis for movements. Unfortunately it is rare to have all three indicators in one place. The results are given in recognition of areas of greatest subsidence, evidenced by some ancient cities, with the more stable areas and those that behave differently showing that even in historic and protohistoric Sardinia, while considered a stable land, suffer a continuous weak lifting or subsidence comforted by archaeological data showing that, at the same time, the progression of the phenomenon is different. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Partial matching is a fundamental problem in shape analysis, a field that is recently gaining an increasing importance in computer graphics. This paper proposes a novel approach to performing partial matching of surfaces. Given two surfaces and , our goal is to find the best match to within . The key idea of our approach is to integrate feature-point similarity and segment similarity. Specifically, we introduce a probabilistic framework in which the segmentation and the correspondences of neighboring feature points allow us to enhance or moderate our certainty of a feature-point similarity. The utility of our algorithm is demonstrated in the domain of archaeology, where digital archiving is becoming ever more widespread. In this domain, automatic matching can serve as a worthy alternative to the expensive and time-consuming manual procedure that is used today. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, we formalize the digital library (DL) integration problem and propose an overall approach based on the 5S (streams, structures, spaces, scenarios, and societies) framework. We then apply that framework to integrate domain-specific (archeological) DLs, illustrating our solutions for key problems in DL integration. An integrated Archeological DL, ETANA-DL, is used as a case study to justify and evaluate our DL integration approach. More specifically, we develop a minimal metamodel for archeological DLs within the 5S theory. We implement the 5SSuite tool set to cover the process of union DL generation, including requirements gathering, conceptual modeling, rapid prototyping, and code generation. 5SSuite consists of 5SGraph, 5SGen, and SchemaMapper, each of which plays an important role in DL integration. We also propose an approach to integrated DLs based on the 5S formalism, which provides a systematic method to design and implement DL exploring services. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Geoarchaeology is the application of geological and geomorphological techniques to archaeology and the study of the interactions of hominins with the natural environment at a variety of temporal and spatial scales. Geoarchaeology in the UK over the last twenty years has flourished largely because it has gone beyond technological and scientific applications. Over the same period our ability to reconstruct the 3-dimensional stratigraphy of fluvial deposits and the matrix of fluvial sites has increased dramatically because of a number of technological advances. These have included the use of LiDAR (laser imaging) and radar to produce high-resolution digital surface models, the use of geophysics, particularly ground penetrating radar and electrical resistivity, to produce sediment depth models, and the use of GIS and data visualisation techniques to manipulate and display the data. These techniques along with more systematic and detailed sedimentological recording of exposed sections have allowed the construction of more precise 3-dimensional (volumetric) models of the matrix of artefacts within fluvial deposits. Additionally a revolution in dating techniques, particularly direct sediment dating by luminescence methods, has enabled the creation of 4-dimensional models of the creation and preservation of these sites. These 4-dimensional models have the ability to provide far more information about the processes of site creation, preservation and even destruction, and also allow the integration of these processes with independent data sources concerning cultural evolution and climatic change. All improvements in the precision of dating fluvial deposits have archaeological importance in our need to translate events from a sequential or geological timeframe to human timescales. This allows geoarchaeology to make a more direct contribution to cultural history through the recognition of agency at the individual or group level. This data can then form a component of biocomplexity or agent-based modelling which is becoming increasingly used in the natural sciences, particularly ecology and geomorphology and which can be used to test scenarios including the impact on, and response of, hominins to abrupt or catastrophic environmental change. Whilst catastrophic events clearly represent the atypical they can be illuminating in revealing cognitive processes resulting in abandonment, coping, mitigation and innovation. These points are exemplified using two in-depth case studies: one from the Holocene geoarchaeological record of the River Trent in Central England and the other from the Palaeolithic record from rivers in South West Britain. In the former the interaction between climate change and human activity is illustrated at the year to century timescale whilst in the other the timescale is millennial. These case studies have deliberately been chosen to be as different as possible in temporal and spatial scale with the aim of examining the applicability of methodological and theoretical aspects of geoarchaeology. Lastly the paper considers the problem of scale in geoarchaeology and concludes it is process-dependency, which ultimately affects the questions we can ask, and that questions of human response to climate change are fundamentally a product of materiality and cognitive processes. This demands an in-depth contextual approach to such questions rather than database-driven assertions of causality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Tropical forest animals are at high risk worldwide as a result of over-exploitation and forest clearing. Zooarchaeological studies of animal use by the ancient Maya of the southern lowland regions of Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and Mexico provide long-term historical information on animal populations under conditions of human population growth and climatic change that is valuable to both archaeology and conservation biology. In this paper, zooarchaeological data from 35 chronologically defined faunal sub-samples recovered from 25 ancient Maya archaeological sites are used to assess the effects of ancient hunting on animal populations of the Maya region between the Preclassic and Colonial periods (2000 BC–AD 1697). The variations in species abundance are used as a proxy for describing changes in ancient Maya hunting practices and hunted animal populations, interpreted on the basis of hunting efficiency models from foraging ecology. A significant reduction in the proportion of large mammals, particularly Odocoileus virginianus, in zooarchaeological assemblages between the Late Classic (AD 600–850) and Terminal Classic/Postclassic periods (AD 850–1519) suggest that over-hunting during the Late Classic may have led to a reduction in availability of these animals to the ancient Maya hunters in the later periods. This finding is discussed in relation to important social and environmental variations to evaluate the impact of hunting and other factors such as forest clearance and climate on ancient animal populations in the Maya region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the context of exhumations of individuals who died during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), since the year 2000, over 780 mass graves have been excavated using archaeological methodology and following forensic protocols. Most of the recovered more than 9600 bodies have tended to be from the Republican civil population, the majority having been executed extrajudicially. However, a number of exhumations relate to the remains of soldiers who died in combat. In fact, approximately 100 individual or mass graves have been investigated and exhumed, containing the remains of combatants. These burials tend to be in the same location where they fell, usually in the front line, or close to the field hospitals where they went after being wounded initially. During the recovery of the human remains, a number of artefacts related to the uniform as well as personal effects have been found. An interdisciplinary approach from archaeology, anthropology, genetics, history and other disciplines has enabled the identification of some of these combatants. The aim of this paper is to present the data obtained from these combatants and highlight the work undertaken in Spain, and the efforts by scientists to exhume, identify and return the remains to relatives where possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will discuss the complexity of the investigation of mass graves in today's Serbia (part of ex Yugoslavia), belonging primarily to WWII with an exception of one mass grave from WWI, through the prism of historical events behind it. By interpreting historical and political circumstances, we will show why and on what occasions mass graves, as cultural-historical monuments and symbols of the sufferings of Serbs, Jews, Romani, and other nations or ethnic groups, remained outside the focus of expert teams. Also, through examples of explored sites related to WWII (Višnjica, Topola, Kragujevac, Ada Ciganlija), it will be shown the importance of engaging the forensic expert teams to locate sites, identifing victims and interpretation of historical events from their perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]