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The Journal has served in its primary role of a platform for presenting the annual input of new archaeological data from Polish excavations in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Near East for the better part of 30 years. Nothing can stay what it is too long and the journal has also undergone an evolution and transformation in an effort to rise to new challenges while sustaining the best of a long-standing and successful tradition. This is about the changing face of the Journal, the newest of which readers now hold in their hands.

The article reviews the published and unpublished evidence for selected natural rocks and minerals collected from the excavations between 1994 and 2015 at the harbor site of Berenike on the Red Sea. This assemblage is part of the natural resources and commodities that were either traded through the port or used by local residents over the 800 years of the harbor’s existence: as an elephant-transfer station and fort in Ptolemaic times, a global emporium in early Roman times (from the rule of Augustus through the 3rd century) and a briskly trading harbor, apparently under Blemmyan control, from the late 4th through the mid-6th century CE when it was ultimately deserted. Aseparate category is building stone, both locally procured and imported. The tabularized review of the material provides abase for a preliminary analysis broken down by utilitarian categories, chronological phases and, last but not least, topographical units, such as harbor-related trenches, domestic quarters, religious buildings and trash dumps. One of the objectives of this approach is to work toward a network visualization of the resources (and other commodities, which include spices/condiments, incense/frankincense, minerals and metals, gold included, precious and semiprecious stones, cameo blanks, ivory, cowry shells, turtle shell, raw glass, as well as botanics/foodstuffs and exotic and domestic animals, not to mention human slaves; also the less obvious resources attested indirectly in the archaeological record like water, wine and olive oil). The results can then be compared in the future to the existing network visualization of the list of goods extracted from the Periplus Maris Erythraei, a 1st-century-AD sailing and trading guide.

TBA

A review article collecting obscure publications and mentions of finds of lamps (made of clay and glass, some of stone and metal as well) and lighting accessories, like wicks, wick holders and lamp stands and holders (polycandela) scattered in reports and papers of the archaeological excavations carried out or under the auspices of the Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology, University of Warsaw, published in the past 60 years since the Centre’s founding in 1959. The article draws upon finds presented conjointly with reports from excavations, often including significant contextual information about the discoveries, which are still to see their final publication. This data is summarized in relevant cases, the author contributing, wherever possible, new insight and interpretations, citing new parallels and introducing occasional corrigenda.

Preface to a special collection volume on lamp studies gathering together material from new and old finds from Spain in the west to the Eastern Mediterranean and even India, mainly from the Hellenistic through Byzantine times.

Excavations by the American–Polish project in Berenike on the Red Sea, co-directed from 2008 by Steven E. Sidebotham (University of Delaware) and Iwona Zych (PCMA University of Warsaw), have aimed at uncovering and reconstructing the ancient landscape of the southwestern embayment, tentatively identified as the harbor of the Hellenistic and early Roman city, and its immediate vicinity. A review of the evidence from the excavation of several trenches in this area paints a picture of the bay—still incomplete—and contributes to a reconstruction of the cultural and economic landscape, the "lived experience" of the town's inhabitants and incoming merchants and sailors during the heyday of "Imperial" Berenike, that is, in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.

Iodine is an essential trace element for humans, and iodine deficiency is a significant health problem. In this study, an improved method for iodine biofortification based on seed germination was established. Solutions of KI (0.15, 0.30, 0.75 and 1.5 mg∙g−1 of seeds) were applied to germinating radish seeds of two cultivars Raphanus sativus L. var. sativus: Warta and Zlata. Compared with the control (seeds treated with water) the iodine content (in the radish sprouts produced by germinating seeds treated with KI were approximately 112.9–2730 times higher. The application KI rates did not adversely affect the biological quality of the radish sprouts. Regarding the biological quality of the iodine-enriched seedlings, we determined their length, dry mater, protein, soluble sugars, chlorophylls, total phenol, ascorbic acid, thiol group content and total antioxidant capacity. The effect of potassium iodide on the selected parameters of their biological quality varied depending on the KI doses and radish cultivars. The results showed that the most appropriate biofortification application rates were 0.15 and 0.30 mg KI per g seeds, because the enriched seedlings had excellent biological quality parameters.

The report brings a comprehensive summary of archaeological fieldwork and survey carried out in Berenike on the Red Sea coast of Egypt and in the Eastern Desert hinterland over the course of two seasons in 2014 and 2015. The completed magnetic map of the site is discussed in some detail, assessing the potential for future excavations. The report covers the most important discoveries of the two seasons, which include fragments of Middle Kingdom Pharaonic stelae, possibly pushing back the foundation of the harbor, archaeological evidence of a rock-cut watercollection system forming part of the Hellenistic-age fortifications and two inscribed stone bases, one of which records a secretary of an aromatics warehouse at Berenike, discovered undisturbed in the courtyard of the Great Temple of Berenike (also called the Serapis Temple). A previously unknown religious(?) complex was discovered on the western outskirts of the site thanks to work with Corona satellite imagery. In turn, analysis of the magnetic mapping of the city revealed an administrative(?) complex in the northern part of the town; the later, 5th and 6th century layers were examined inside a chamber with niche forming part of this complex. Work also continued in the early Roman harbor, uncovering among others a complete timber ship frame, and a collection of garnets in subsidiary buildings in the late Roman temenos located in the entrance to the southwestern bay.

Brief overview of two seasons of archaeological survey and excavation carried out in2012 and 2013 at the site of Berenike on the Red Sea coast and in two sub-projects in the EasternDesert: the prehistoric cattle cemetery at Wadi Khashab and the Roman-era emerald mines at Sikaitand Nugrus. Highpoints of the work at Berenike included discovery of the Hellenistic fort andfortifications that mark the original settlement of the site in the third quarter of the 3rd century BC,continued clearance of harbor-related structures in the southwestern bay interpreted as the earlyRoman harbor of Berenike and the uncovering of an earlier phase of the late Roman harbor temple(so-called Lotus Temple) of the 5th–6th century AD in the harbor.

Ten years after the Red Sea III conference: "Natural Resources and Cultural Connections of the Red Sea", held at the British Museum on 27–28 October 2006, enough new data has been made available to warrant another in-depth look at the archaeology of natural resources extraction and processing (mines, workshops, etc.). The main themes of the conference are: 1) economic significance of commerce in natural resources passing through the Red Sea; 2) intermediaries in the natural resources trade (“Who dun’it”); 3) other archaeological categories coexistent with the natural resources trade (pottery, glass etc.); 4) language/epigraphy: terms for natural resources: mining and processing/crafts work; 5) ethnoarchaeological evidence for exploitation and processing of natural resources

Iodine deficiency disorders are one of the serious worldwide public health problem in the world. The need to search for alternative methods of iodine supplementa-tion results from the recommendation of the World Heath Organization and aims to sig-nificantly reduce iodine malnutrition in humans diet. Iodine is not included among essen-tials nutrients for plants, but the plants are able to accumulate it. Seedlings biofortified with iodine can become an alternative source of this element for humans. The aim of the study was to attempt to obtain iodine-fortified lettuce and radish seedlings and to deter-mine the effect of the level of iodine applied in the form of potassium iodide on their bio-logical quality. The following levels of KI were used: 0 (control), 0.075, 0.15, 0.0375, 0.75 and 1.5 mg per Petri dishes. The effect of potassium iodide on the selected parame-ters of their biological quality varied depending on the KI doses and species of plant. The seedlings grown in the presence of KI had a higher iodine content. The results showed that the most appropriate biofortification application rates were 0.075 and 0.15 mg be-cause the enriched seedlings had biological quality parameters similar to the control. Sta-tistically significant differences in the parameters characterizing seedling quality were noted most often in the case of the highest amounts of KI (0.375–1.5 mg). These KI con-centrations reduced seedling’s lenght in radish and lettuce seedling but increased dry weight only in lettuce. A significant increase in ascorbic acid concentration only in the lettuce seedlings was obtained. In comparison with the control, no significant differences in the content of biomass and chlorophyll content were noted in the biofortified seedlings. Thiol group content was decreased in both radish and lettuce, but the antioxidant activity measured by DPPH method only in lettuce seedling extracts.

The study catalogues all currently known finds of bone and antler harpoons and points associated with Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Protoneolithic culture in the southern Baltic zone, between the mouths of the Oder and Niemen rivers. It undertakes an analysis of the category in typological, chronological and cultural terms, taking into consideration results of recent paleogeographic investigations and research on the Stone Age in this region. An important element of this study are drawn plates of nearly all of the discussed objects as well as distribution maps. The author gives a critical analysis of the classic harpoon and point typology presented by J.G.D. Clark (1936) in the context of a broader source base, encompassing finds from the entire Baltic zone. A detailed morphological classification of harpoon barbs is one of the most important tools essential to this end

Objectives The importance of the kynurenine pathway in normal immune system function has led to an appreciation of its possible contribution to autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of treatment with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) inhibitors on the activity of the kynurenine pathway in patients with RA. Material and methods This was an investigator-initiated, prospective, observational study. The study was performed on 30 RA patients (Caucasian, 11 male, 19 female; mean age 45 ±16 years) treated with TNF-α inhibitors. All patients were assessed before and after 6 months of therapy. As a control group, age- and sex-matched, 20 healthy volunteers were recruited. Disease activity was evaluated by the Modified Disease Activity Score with 28-joint count (DAS28). Inflammatory markers were assessed routinely by the hospital central laboratory. Serum concentrations of kynu­renine, serotonin and tryptophan were measured with specific immunoassays. To estimate indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity, kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio was calculated. Results The results of our study showed changes in tryptophan metabolism in RA patients, compared with healthy controls. Surprisingly, RA patients had statistically significant decreased kynu­renine-to-tryptophan ratio ( p = 0.003), which could indicate diminished IDO activation in RA. Moreover, we found no significant changes in kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio after treated with TNF-α inhibitors ( p = 0.490), despite disease remission. Additionally, tryptophan metabolism activity did not correlate with objective markers of inflammation. Conclusions The RA patients had altered tryptophan metabolism, compared with healthy controls. The mechanisms affecting tryptophan metabolism in RA may be complex. We believe that continuing elucidation of pathophysiological pathways relevant in RA offer substantial hope for the development of specific pharmacotherapy for treatment of RA – especially for comorbidity of RA and depression.