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Rapid acquisition of millimeter‐resolution subterranean images can significantly improve the efficiency of archaeological excavation and facilitate the preservation of artifacts. For excavation sites with limited space, small and portable imaging equipment is necessary. Compton backscatter imaging (CBI) is a single‐sided non‐destructive testing technique, which typically requires a short scan time to obtain high‐resolution images. It has great potential in archaeological excavation, supporting archaeologists to make quick judgments. This research utilized a compact, easy‐to‐carry handheld backscatter system, making it particularly suitable and beneficial for on‐site archaeological excavation. Tests were performed in the framework of the excavation of a chariot pit at Dajuan Han Tomb in Xi'an (Shaanxi Province, China) to validate the applicability of this technique in imaging soil structure changes and detecting cultural artifacts. The experimental results show that CBI can clearly image bronze artifacts buried underground, which means practical value in archaeological excavation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Anatolian Archaeology is the property of Ataturk University Coordinatorship of Scientific Journals and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Han Dynasty Ruins in Chengcun Village of Wuyishan City, also known as the Ruins of the Imperial City of the Minyue Kingdom, are located on the hilly slope southwest of Chengcun Village, Xingtian Town, Wuyishan City, Fujian Province, China. These are ruins of a Han Dynasty city. Wuyi Mountain's World Cultural and Natural Heritage Committee declared it a World Heritage Site in 1999. It is also the only imperial city site from the Han Dynasty that has been declared a World Heritage Site in China, and it is the most well-preserved large-scale imperial city site from the Middle Ages on the Pacific Rim. This study used comprehensive archaeological techniques, including archaeological excavation work, site information recording, erosion situation analysis, and geological surveys, to design and implement protective engineering projects in response to existing problems. In this study, the researchers conducted a geological survey of the study area to analyze the topography, rock and soil distribution characteristics, groundwater storage conditions, and geotechnical engineering conditions. At the same time, they explored the preservation status of the site, including the preservation status of the East Gate and the East City Wall, and they analyzed the causes of damage. Finally, the investigation and analysis results guided the design of a site display project, which included safeguarding against collapse and erosion, treating trees and shrubs, and designing the exhibition project for the East Gate. This study provides some practical reference for the excavation and archaeological work of the royal city in the surrounding areas. At the same time, in terms of the technical process of the project, it is also hoped to provide ideas for international ancient city excavation, display, and protection projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Documenting tangible cultural heritage using 3D modeling techniques is gradually becoming an indispensable component of archaeological practice. The 3D modeling techniques based on photogrammetry and LiDAR scanning enable high-accuracy and high-realistic reconstruction of archaeological sites, and have been proven a powerful tool for documenting archaeological excavations. However, dynamically documenting an ongoing excavation using these techniques is still considered tedious, time-consuming, expensive, and dependent on expertise. Moreover, the application of 3D modeling techniques in archaeological excavations still faces some technical challenges, such as modeling with multi-source and multi-scale data, fusing local models at different times into a whole, achieving fast modeling while GPU workstations are not available in the field, and evaluating the quality of 3D models. As a result, there are still very few archaeological teams deeply engaged in dynamic documentation with 3D modeling techniques, and traditional drawing sketches and taking photographs still dominate. In these senses, documenting the archaeological excavation at the Yunxian Man site (located in Hubei, China) is an invaluable opportunity for exploration and practice. Archaeologists determined to conduct dynamically documenting at the beginning of the 6th excavation project for the site, and established a rotation system to reconcile physical excavation with digital preservation. Through repeated practice and communication, we proposed a workflow and pursued several new methods to enhance the feasibility of dynamically documenting, and obtained 4D models of the ongoing archaeological excavations. In 2022, the Yunxian Man site unearthed the most intact fossil of hominin cranium from about one million years ago in the Eurasian continent, preserving important and scarce anatomical features of early humans in Asia. As the original taphonomic context of the fossil corroded away during physical excavations, the digital documentation consisting of 4D models serves as permanent original data source in subsequent archaeological research. Moreover, we obtained cross-scale 3D models from geographical environment to archaeological site, excavation area, and cultural remains, and all of these 3D models are in an actual, unified coordinate framework. Thus, we can contribute to multidisciplinary cross-collaborative research through data sharing. Considering that digital documentations serve a great value in archaeological research, this paper focuses on sharing the workflow and methods to facilitate digital preservation for more archaeological projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studia Historica. Historia Medieval is the property of Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Regions densely populated with archaeological monuments pose significant challenges for construction investors and archaeologists during the planning stages of major construction projects. Recognising the archaeological potential of these areas is crucial for planning effective rescue excavations, which have become a standard procedure in construction. This study explores the utility of non-invasive prospection techniques, including artefact field surveys, multispectral imaging, and magnetic surveys, in assessing the area chosen for the I/16 Slaný–Velvary road construction. We specifically focused on the contributions these methods make towards understanding the archaeological context of the proposed construction site. The findings from the magnetic survey were compared with the results of actual archaeological excavations. Through manual visual analysis and statistical spatial correlation, we assessed the effectiveness of the magnetic survey. The ability of magnetic survey to locate different types of archaeological objects proved to be dependent on various factors. The variability of the environmental setting, particularly pedological and geological conditions, is essential. However, the modern anthropogenic impact and the very nature of individual archaeological objects, especially their dimensions, also play an essential role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a final report of the 2011 season of excavation at the archaeological site of Gadara (Umm Qais) in Jordan. The season was directed by Lamia El-Khouri (PhD), during the 15th of June until the 28th of July 2011. The excavation took place in Area Z, along the southern edge of the main colonnaded street (Decumanus Maximus). The main discoveries showed that this part of the city was occupied during several historical periods, from the Late Hellenistic until the Crusader–Mamluk periods. The majority of archaeological artefacts in the excavated area showed clear evidence of intensive human activities mostly in the Late Byzantine, Umayyad and Abbasid periods. This paper includes a full description of the historical levels as well as the most impressive archaeological finds that were collected during the excavation. An isometric reconstruction drawing of the original construction was produced to give a better view of the city of Gadara during the Graeco–Roman period. As it has been delineated by the stylobate and the other architectural remains, this building seems to have been part of an inner courtyard lined by an Ionic peristyle. It was perhaps a sort of square-shaped colonnaded enclosure, a courtyard, or an open-air garden used for exercise, whether it was part of a bath construction, or a palaestra on the atrium of a private house or a gymnasium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution delves into the ways of archaeological reasoning based on material remains, tackled as minute physical traces or signs capable of shedding light on underlying and otherwise unapproachable past phenomena. This is indeed the basis of Microhistory or the conjectural paradigm in History. This article identifies key characteristics regarding this way of inductive or "bottom-up" inference and demonstrates its prospects when applied to prehistoric contexts. To illustrate this point, the article draws on a case study from the protohistory of Iberia: The treasure of Aliseda (seventh–sixth centuries BCE). This one-off assemblage – a true anomaly in its time, past, and present – was accidentally found in 1920 and has thenceforth been subject to assorted interpretations – mainly as individual burial goods from a feminine tomb – using deductive reasoning constrained by strong prejudices. A recent and comprehensive revision of this issue from an inductive and multi-stranded approach – mobilising several independent lines of evidence – has led to a fresh, sounder, and finer-grained micro-narrative. This case exemplifies a successful microhistorical enquiry, which has tracked retrospectively an array of inadvertent observations – from legacy dataset, new fieldwork, and science-based analyses – to illuminate the deviant circumstances framing this occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Mousterian technocomplex is commonly associated with Neanderthals and therefore serves as a proxy for their presence across Europe. Stratified archaeological sites are the most informative because they can yield information about artefacts' spatial distribution and dating. Only a few of the Mousterian sites in Tuscany (Italy) met these conditions and most of these sites are concentrated in the North-Western area, with three specific sites situated in proximity to the village of Piano di Mommio, on the slopes of a small river canyon. Nevertheless, research on the sites stopped early on due to their small extent and complete excavation, which does not allow for additional fieldwork. Methods This article presents previously unpublished field notes, reports, and images, which are then correlated with recent archaeological surveys. Results This combination of historical and contemporary data aims to provide a more detailed understanding of the context in which the assemblages at these sites were found. The insights gained from this research shed light on the arrangement and positioning of artefacts at these locations, offering valuable information to guide future investigations on the assemblages. Conclusions The proposed stratigraphical interpretation adheres to the available information and therefore contributes to a future baseline for new research on the sites and on Neanderthal presence in the area.

In the context of the interdisciplinary nature of research, which is increasingly characterised by specialised expertise, applying advanced technologies in various ways, the interaction between architecture and the discipline of archaeology finds a broad and fertile field of experimentation.Is this the case with the Italian mission (MAECI) to Ashkelon, a city set along the south coast of the nowadays Israel, which sees a pull of architects from the University of Florence, from the discipline of drawing and surveying, but not only, and Israeli archaeologists involved in the study of the ancient site and, in particular, of Santa Maria in Viridis.In general, archaeological excavation involves irreversible actions: while striving to document as best as possible each ‘layer’ detected by the sensitivity of the operator, it proceeds by successive elisions. This action, not allowing the repeatability of the research and analysis act, defines archaeology as a discipline and not an exact science. The crucial issue for architects who have developed drawing into science is the most objective approach for studying an architectural artefact and the opportunity to make it shareable and analysable at different scales and with several tools. The attempt made is to turn the irreversible activities of the excavation virtually reversible, taking advantage of new technologies and implementing methodological protocols for integrated surveying project in its daily progression and data representation in plans, section, and 3d model that describes the continuity of the surface in its morphology and chromatic representation.DOI: https://doi.org/10.20365/disegnarecon.30.2023.7

As part of the preservation of the archaeological heritage of the republic as a whole, as well as in order to ensure the preservation and further study of the cultural heritage site of federal significance "Ufa-II hillfort", the republican historical and cultural museum-reserve "Ancient Ufa" was established in 2011. The materials of the extensive archaeological research on the territory of the medieval settlement in 2006–2017 became the main source for forming the fund of the museum-reserve. The museum has become a key center for the preservation of archaeological finds, where their study, documentation, conservation and public demonstration are organized. It was museumification, as expected, that became the most acceptable for the preservation and demonstration of archaeological heritage items, while conservation and restoration of the displays, not only ensured longevity, but also raised the demonstrativeness and effectiveness of presentation at exhibitions and expositions. The question of training of own restorers remains open, so the museum is ready for cooperation with specialists in the field of preservation of archaeological heritage.

Background The Mousterian technocomplex is commonly associated with Neanderthals and therefore serves as a proxy for their presence across Europe. Stratified archaeological sites are the most informative because they can yield information about artefacts' spatial distribution and dating. Only a few of the Mousterian sites in Tuscany (Italy) met these conditions and most of these sites are concentrated in the North-Western region, with three specific sites situated in proximity to the village of Piano di Mommio, on the slopes of a small river canyon. Nevertheless, research on the sites stopped early on due to their small extent and complete excavation, which does not allow for additional fieldwork. Methods This article presents previously unpublished field notes, reports, and images, which are then correlated with recent archaeological surveys. Results This combination of historical and contemporary data aims to provide a more detailed understanding of the context in which the assemblages at these sites were found. The insights gained from this research shed light on the arrangement and positioning of artefacts at these locations, offering valuable information to guide future investigations on the assemblages. Conclusions By enhancing our knowledge of Neanderthal presence in this region through this interdisciplinary approach, this study contributes to a better understanding of the Mousterian culture and the broader narrative of human prehistory in Italy. It underscores the importance of integrating historical field data with modern archaeological techniques to advance our understanding of human history.

Regions densely populated with archaeological monuments pose significant challenges for construction investors and archaeologists during the planning stages of major construction projects. Recognising the archaeological potential of these areas is crucial for planning effective rescue excavations, which have become a standard procedure in construction. This study explores the utility of non-invasive prospection techniques, including artefact field surveys, multispectral imaging, and magnetic surveys, in assessing the area chosen for the I/16 Slaný–Velvary road construction. We specifically focused on the contributions these methods make towards understanding the archaeological context of the proposed construction site. The findings from the magnetic survey were compared with the results of actual archaeological excavations. Through manual visual analysis and statistical spatial correlation, we assessed the effectiveness of the magnetic survey. The ability of magnetic survey to locate different types of archaeological objects proved to be dependent on various factors. The variability of the environmental setting, particularly pedological and geological conditions, is essential. However, the modern anthropogenic impact and the very nature of individual archaeological objects, especially their dimensions, also play an essential role.

Archaeological data repositories usually manage excavation data collections as project-level entities with restricted capacities to facilitate search or aggregation of excavation data at the sub-collection level (trenches, finds, season reports or excavation diaries etc.). More granular access to excavation data collections would enable layered querying across their informational content. In the past decade, several attempts to adapt CIDOC CRM in order to provide more explicit descriptions of the excavation universe have resulted in the use of domain-specific model extensions (e.g. CRMarchaeo, CRMsci, CRMba). Each focuses on corresponding aspects of the excavation research process, while their combined usage has potential to support expressive data mappings at the sub-collection level. As part of the ARIADNEplus project, several CIDOC CRM developers and domain experts have collaborated to undertake conceptual mapping exercises, to address the practicalities of bringing excavation data descriptions together and to link these to our overall aspirations in terms of excavation data discoverability and reusability. In this contribution, we discuss the current state and future directions of the field of semantic representation of archaeological excavation data and consider several issues that constrain the applicability of existing solutions. We identify five key enabling technologies or research areas (Conceptual models and semantic data structures, Conceptual modelling patterns, Data mapping workflows and tools, Learning technologies and Semantic queries) and assign readiness levels to assess their level of technological maturity. Our research demonstrates that while the existing models and domain-specific extensions are deemed adequate, there is a need for more user-friendly methods and tools to structure data in meaningful and interoperable ways. The next steps involve consolidating relevant semantic structures, improving modelling implementation guidance, adhering to consistent workflows, developing engaging curricula, and documenting real-case examples to demonstrate the benefits and results of semantic data integration.

Copyright of Archeologia dell'Architettura is the property of Edizioni all'Insegna del Giglio and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The primary challenge for the earthen sites of great historic and scientific value in China is attributed to drying cracks. We investigated 105 exposed partial-cave tombs in the Yangguanzhai Site Cemetery to understand drying cracks' growth process and characteristics. Real-time monitoring and observations were further conducted toward one specific tomb during archaeological excavation for finer-grain records. Results show that these cracks grew rapidly on the soil surface during the early stage of the excavation and some then transformed to more severe deterioration, such as gullies and collapses. Intriguingly, most drying cracks found on the side surface grew initially from top areas and extended downward vertically and independently. By contrast, their counterparts on the bottom surface were curved and twisted with one another. The changes of the soil properties and water content in soil at different depths suggest that larger porosity and smaller-size soil particles facilitate faster water absorption and evaporation of superficial soil, whereas low rates of water evaporation and soil desiccation on the flat bottom surface slows down the formation of drying cracks. Further investigations and field experiments are the next steps in building complete growth models of drying cracks and fully understanding the underlying mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2018, Art University of Isfahan’s Department of Archeology has focused on the Zāyandehrud Riverbasin, particularly its eastern and western parts, to better understand the archaeological landscape of the region andits changes through time. Field studies in the eastern part of the basin near Varzaneh have identified large numbersof new sites from different periods. Due to its geographical location at the center of Iran, the region could act asa hub between the four corners of the Iranian plateau in different periods. The similarities between the materialcultures from the studied region and those from other parts of the Iranian plateau, particularly during the EarlyBronze Age (EBA), also bear witness to the linking character of the region.The identification of over 200 sites spanning the EBA to the Timurid period and excavations at two EBA(013, 051) and a probable Iron Age site (006) indicates an auspicious environment and prosperity at the timefor the lower part of the Zāyandeh-Rud basin, which today has been transformed into a desert or semi-desertlandscape. The diversity of sites, including settlements, cemeteries, and architectural remains, as well as evidenceof industrial activities such as pottery production, mining, metallurgical activities, and production of semi-preciousstone artifacts, highlight different aspects of human life in the surveyed area.

Copyright of Zpravoday Hnede Uhli is the property of Brown Coal Research Institute, j.s.c. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Universitatis Lodziensis: Folia Archaeologica is the property of Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Lodzkiego and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this paper is to present the results of archaeological research carried out in 2022 at the site of Baričko brdo -- Lug near Lukavac. Having above mentioned in mind, the methodology used during the two phases of archaeological research and the flow of work in the field is first briefly described. Next, the condition of the site prior to the fieldwork is described, followed by a description of previous archaeological research. What follows is a presentation of the results of archaeological excavations carried out during all the phases of archaeological research and geophysical surveys carried out during 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Recent Period Turkish Studies / Yakın Dönem Türkiye Araştırmaları is the property of Recent Period Turkish Studies / Yakin Donem Turkiye Arastirmalari and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

At Tell Yunatsite, a prehistoric settlement mound located in the Upper Thracian plain of Bulgaria, stratigraphic relationships between archaeological deposits are incredibly complex. Such complexity then prompted our exploration into developing a new methodology for the documentation of complex stratigraphic relationships. Here, we present the results of a new photogrammetry-assisted methodology that was developed to compensate for the shortcomings of currently utilized stratigraphic documentation methods, such as the Wheeler-Kenyon box grid and the Harris Matrix. First, using a UAV drone, we produce a high-resolution photogrammetric model of the entire site. Second, with structure from motion photogrammetry, we produce 2.5D models of excavation units in stratigraphic succession. Finally, utilizing GIS and Blender (a 3D computer graphics software application), we digitize the horizontal extents of each archaeological deposit and "fill" the space between their successive surfaces (from top to bottom) until a faithful 3D model of each deposit is generated. These deposit models are then combined and rendered simultaneously to form 3D block models of the excavation units that may, in turn, be cross-sectioned in any direction to view stratigraphic relationships in virtual profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thousand-year-old history of Canossa castle is still unclear in many aspects. In fact, despite the fame of the Rocca, the systematic studies that took into consideration also the data of archives related to it have been few. The renewed interest in archaeological investigations at the Castle has led in recent years to a research project that would fill this gap by systematizing past data. The preliminary results have been encouraging and much new it is possible to say about the research and valorisation activities carried out by the archaeologist Don Gaetano Chierici.

Excavating an ancient Maya city requires a long-term archaeological project that entails adequate documentation procedures for the unearthed remains, frequently of monumental scale and with difficult preservation conditions. A digital laser scanner survey methodology was designed and implemented to document the exposed architecture and to follow-up the archaeological excavation of the Maya site of La Blanca (Peten, Guatemala). All scans collected during the different field seasons were stored and aligned in a common reference system. Thus, an accurate digital three-dimensional database was obtained, including all the architectural remains found, some of which had to be reburied to ensure their preservation. The resulting database is a helpful repository that facilitates to extract all the graphic outputs required for: planning the next excavation campaigns, monitoring the preservation of the buildings, studying the architecture and construction technology in detail, and disseminating the excavation results. This paper describes the methodology and procedures used to build-up this database.

During 2020, a conservative intervention was carried out in the 4th century archaeological area located inside Palazzo Spada (Rome); in this hypogeic room found during the excavation in 2009 there are precious opus sectile floors with different compositional schemes, a rare example for the richness of decoration, extension and conservation, as well as valuable faux marble wall paintings along the perimeter. The intervention included a preliminary and final survey campaign, removal of deposits, disinfection, cleaning, fixing of erratic marble elements, making the plaster safe; in addition, the detachment and re-alignment of a more compromised portion of the main hall was carried out, a phase that allowed the study of the executive technique to be studied in depth from the substrates to the identification of the marbles used. At the same time, a new archaeological excavation was carried out which brought to light a cistern with groundwater inside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Zephyrus is the property of Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ge-Conservación is the property of Instituto del Patrimonio Cultural and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Musei Moraviae: Scientiae Sociales is the property of Moravske Zemske Muzeum and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Since 2018, Art University of Isfahan's Department of Archeology has focused on the Zāyandehrud River basin, particularly its eastern and western parts, to better understand the archaeological landscape of the region and its changes through time. Field studies in the eastern part of the basin near Varzaneh have identified large numbers of new sites from different periods. Due to its geographical location at the center of Iran, the region could act as a hub between the four corners of the Iranian plateau in different periods. The similarities between the material cultures from the studied region and those from other parts of the Iranian plateau, particularly during the Early Bronze Age (EBA), also bear witness to the linking character of the region. The identification of over 200 sites spanning the EBA to the Timurid period and excavations at two EBA (013, 051) and a probable Iron Age site (006) indicates an auspicious environment and prosperity at the time for the lower part of the Zāyandeh-Rud basin, which today has been transformed into a desert or semi-desert landscape. The diversity of sites, including settlements, cemeteries, and architectural remains, as well as evidence of industrial activities such as pottery production, mining, metallurgical activities, and production of semi-precious stone artifacts, highlight different aspects of human life in the surveyed area.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Staleta Praha is the property of Narodni Pamatkovy Ustav and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Staleta Praha is the property of Narodni Pamatkovy Ustav and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Staleta Praha is the property of Narodni Pamatkovy Ustav and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As powerful economic and cultural centers, fortified sites played an important role in early medieval society. In Central Europe, early medieval fortified site research has been an essential topic for several generations. However, gradual changes in the landscape are a threat to these cultural heritage monuments. The main task of this paper was to compare the previous results from archaeological excavations with new data acquired by geophysical methods. The presented study is based on the three methods widely used in archaeology: magnetometry, ground-penetrating radar, and electrical resistivity tomography. New surveys provide information about the internal structure and the state of preservation of the fortifications in a non-destructive way. Comparison of the results encourages the evaluation of archaeological excavation and helps determine the suitability and effectiveness of geophysical methods in specific natural conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence of past earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and floods has been discovered during archaeological excavations. The Nara National Research Institute for Cultural Properties (hereafter referred to as "NABUNKEN") has been constructing and releasing the "Historical Disaster Evidence Database" constructed upon Geographic Information System (GIS; hereafter referred to as "HDE-GISdb") by compiling disaster evidence information from excavation sites throughout Japan. Through this initiative, we aim to build an information infrastructure that will facilitate not only the elucidation of disaster occurrence mechanisms and local disaster histories but also disaster prevention and mitigation research. This paper discusses the effectiveness of HDE-GISdb using a case study of the Palace and Capital of Nagaoka sites in Kyoto Prefecture to visualize potential hazards, which cannot be read from topography, by disaster evidence recorded in Holocene and Pleistocene deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studia Archaeologica Brunensia is the property of Masaryk University, Faculty of Arts and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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Copyright of Hercegovina. Journal of Cultural Heritage & History (Since 2018) is the property of Sveuciliste u Mostaru, Filozofski fakultet and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Geophysical prospection and small-scale archaeological excavation were undertaken on the site of Kaštelina, a Late Iron Age hillfort settlement located on the Stolac promontory in the eastern part of Rab island (Kvarner Gulf, Croatia). Within the frame of the “Archaeological topography of the island of Rab” program, a Polish–Croatian team applied a series of multidisciplinary methods to study the occupational history of the site, its preservation, the nature of selected site features and future research potential. Ground-penetrating radar and magnetometer surveys, combined with the implementation of the Amplitude Data Comparison (ADC) method, led to the detection of remains of Late Iron Age building structures distributed over the northwestern side of the Stolac promontory. Archaeological excavations verifying the findings of the geophysical survey resulted in the discovery of a dwelling with associated outdoor features. A preliminary assessment of the outcome of a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the site of Kaštelina emphasizes the importance of the collected data for a general understanding of Late Iron Age settlements and their internal organisation in a wider context.

Scientific, administrative, teaching, educational activities of the outstanding Russian scientist S. F. Platonov have found reflection in numerous publications. His daily life, his behavior in an informal setting, in the family, during the vacation period are of great interest. Summer vacation of S. F. Platonov in 1909 in the district town of Valuyki continues to arouse interest among researchers. It attracts attention, first of all, by the archaeological excavation that was carried out here. Its results were the subject of analysis by the outstanding archaeologist A. A. Spitsyn, who wrote an article, the manuscript of which has been in the archive for over a hundred years. At the same time, a lot of inaccuracies and mistakes were made in the works of the Voronezh researchers who addressed the topic. An important direction of S. F. Platonov had a correspondence in the summer. While on vacation, S. F. Platonov continued to maintain active ties with his colleagues and institutions. Therefore, the place of rest was chosen taking into account the availability of postal services. Interesting archival materials have been identified that allow us to call new names of those who wrote to Valuyki, to outline the geography of sending letters. Among them are the chairman of the Tver province scientific archival commission I. A. Ivanov (Tver), Chairman of the Novgorod Society of Antiquity Lovers M. V. Muravyov (Novgorod), employee of the Archaeographic Commission V. V. Maikov (St. Petersburg), teachers of the Women’s Pedagogical Institute V. Volkovich and Z. Capital (Geneva). Most of the letters by S. F. Platonov from Valueki have been published, but they continue to come to light. One unfinished letter is published in the article. The letter allows us to concretize some little-known facts about the stay of the Platonov’s family in the district town of the Voronezh province.

Abstract Volatile organic solids, such as cyclododecane or menthol, have been employed as temporary reinforcement material during archaeological excavations. They are usually applied as melts and reinforcement is achieved once the melts solidify. Such solidification process can induce internal stress on the artifacts, which can be a big concern, especially to those very precious and fragile ones. However, information about such stress is still extremely limited at present. This paper proposes an experimental method based on resistance strain gauge technique to monitor the deformation induced by solidification of menthol melt. Bending tests are performed on very thin glass slides. The solidification process of menthol melt is well characterized by the development of mechanical strains. Then, menthol melts are applied to three kinds of simulated samples, i.e. glass, sandstone and rice paper, to investigate the mechanical response of preserved bodies upon solidification. It is found that menthol melt will generate certain amount expansion or contraction of the objects upon solidification. The stresses induced, evaluated according to obtained strains, are generally quite small, indicating that application of menthol as reinforcement material is safe in mechanics for cultural relics.

The article presents a chronological overview of the study of the Uvek settlement. Arguably one of the oldest cities and major political and economic centers of the Golden Horde, Ukek stood at the intersection of the Northern branch of the Great Silk Road and the Great Volga Trade Route, providing trade caravans and embassies a safe way across the Volga on their further journey to the Crimea or Scandinavia. It is noted that having been weakened by the decline of trade and the plague outbreak, Ukek was completely destroyed by Tamerlane and soon forgotten. It is safe to say that much of the credit for conducting research of that archaeological site belongs to researchers from countries other than Russia. The aim of the article is to reveal the role of German researchers in the study of Ukek. Methods of research. The author provides a timeline of the research of the Uvek archaeological site carried out by German archeologists. Having consulted various sources, primarily academic papers, the author has been able to collect information about the German researchers of Ukek and analyze their academic contribution. It is noted that the first scientific publication about Ukek was published in German as German researchers revealed the connection between Ukek and the Uvek settlement and started the first excavations there. As a result of the analysis, the article concludes that German archeologists, being at the origins of the research of the Uvek archaeological site, contributed to the formation of the traditions of the archeological schools of Volga region. The author emphasizes that the course of the study of the Ukek heritage is important for understanding the cultural and historical processes in the Volga region that facilitated academic links between this region and Europe.

The survey and excavation of bunkers and dug-outs from the anti-Soviet partisan war in Lithuania which started in 2010 was a turning point both in the research into guerrilla warfare and Lithuanian archaeology. The next decade was marked by an increasing number of surveys and excavations at Lithuanian guerrilla war sites, the expanded directions of research, and their dissemination both to scholarly and general audiences becoming an integral part of Lithuanian archaeology. The article outlines the research into guerrilla war sites that were conducted in Lithuania between 2010 and 2019, presents their results, and discusses the survey and excavation directions of bunkers, dug-outs and their surroundings, camps, battlefields, disposal sites, and other partisan war sites. The author outlines the changes that have taken place in the research into the partisan war, and discusses the significance of archaeological data and the future prospects of research into the anti-Soviet partisan war in Lithuania as a separate field of archaeology.

Despite its status as a highly-prized and coveted fungi in gastronomy, many aspects of the subterranean life cycle of the Burgundy truffle (Tuber aestivum) are still unknown, because in situ observations of the formation and maturation of truffle fruitbodies remain difficult. Here, we adopted a suite of archaeological fine-scale excavating techniques to provide unique spatiotemporal snapshots of Burgundy truffle growth at three sites in southern Germany. We also recorded the relative position, fresh weight, maturity level and genotype composition of all excavated fruitbodies. Varying by a factor of thousand, the fresh weight of 73 truffle ranged from 0.1 to 103.2 g, with individual maturity levels likely representing different life cycle stages from completely unripe to fully ripe and even decaying. While only a slightly positive relationship between fruitbody weight and maturity level was found, our results suggest that genetically distinct specimens can exhibit different life cycle stages at the same period of time and under the same environmental conditions. We therefore argue that truffles are likely able to grow, mature and ripe simultaneously between early summer and late winter of the following year. Our case study should encourage further eco-archaeological truffle excavations under different biogeographic settings and at different seasons of the year to gain deeper insights into the fungi's subterranean ecology. The expected cross-disciplinary findings will help truffle hunters and farmers to improve their harvest practices and management strategies. Our eco-archaeological excavations in different natural habitats in southern Germany provide snapshots of the subterranean formation, maturation, and genetic variation of in situ Burgundy truffles (Tuber aestivum) and should encourage cross-disciplinary studies to further improve harvest practices and management strategies of one of the most coveted gourmet foods. [Display omitted] • Eco-archaeological excavations can reveal snapshots of truffle growth. • Individual truffles can grow, mature and ripe simultaneously at the same site. • Genetically distinct truffles can concurrently exhibit different life cycle stages. • Dog-based truffle harvests are usually biased to small fractions of fruitbodies • More in situ truffle excavations are needed to inform hunters and farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]