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Featured Application: Improvement in VR/AR solutions for application in cultural heritage. Currently, virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) technologies are becoming more and more widely used in various fields of human activity, including archeology. The aim of this article is to analyze the possibilities of using VR and AR technologies in broadly understood activities related to underwater archeology. This work is a review and presents current applications of VR and AR in underwater archeology based on case studies. This paper presents the development of VR and AR technologies, including in the field of underwater archaeology, and generally describes the process of creating VR and AR applications for underwater archeology purposes, with particular emphasis on data collection methods. Then, the areas of application of these technologies in underwater archeology and related areas were generally presented and the barriers to their use were discussed. The most important part of the work is a discussion of the use of VR and AR in underwater archeology based on the selected case studies. The article ends with a summary of the current state and a discussion of the possibilities of developing virtual technologies in the applications of underwater archeology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This paper presents the results of a pilot landscape‐scale seismic survey undertaken in Apalachee Bay, Florida, across a submerged landscape that contains dozens of Pre‐Contact sites. In addition to the goals of improving the geophysical and remote sensing ground model for this submerged landscape, the survey also sought to undertake the first independent scientific test of the contentious ‘HALD’ methodology, an acoustic resonance method that it is claimed to identify knapped lithic artefacts at and/or below the seabed through the identification of distinct ‘haystack’ responses. The results of this work indicate that the HALD method, as currently described, produces results that could not be scientifically replicated in this survey. We conclude that any HALD ‘haystack’ signal should therefore not be considered as an example of detection of human‐modified lithic material but rather as a geophysical anomaly that requires additional constraints before it can be used to reliably identify human‐modified lithic materials. Thus, although the authors note that laboratory studies have successfully produced an acoustic signal in human‐modified lithics, the field‐based methods remain yet to be reliably determined. In addition to these results, the landscape mapping survey also recorded valuable information on buried and previously unrecorded landscape features that have archaeological significance and that may guide future site prospection. We therefore conclude that despite the results of the HALD test, the well‐preserved submerged landscape of Apalachee Bay region provides a highly useful testing ground for methods that can be deployed elsewhere globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the 19th century, the study of shell middens has played an important role in archaeological research. Shell midden and broader coastal archaeology have transformed our understanding of human relationships with aquatic habitats, demonstrating the importance of marine environments to human evolution and ecology, the colonization of islands and establishment of maritime trade networks, changing social and political dynamics, and a variety of other issues. During the past two decades, shell midden research has greatly increased, marking an exciting time for new discoveries and heightened collaboration with Indigenous communities. Several key research trends in shell midden archaeology during the past 10–15 years include research on site distribution and temporality, underwater archaeology, historical ecology, terraforming, landscape legacies, and community collaboration. These research trends demonstrate the ways in which shell midden archaeologists are shaping our understanding of the human past and environmental change around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reverend Thomas Bridges' Yagan-English dictionary (1879) has hitherto been little explored outside of linguistics but is highly valuable as a complementary source to archaeological, ethnohistorical, and ethnographic records in Tierra del Fuego (Argentina and Chile). The dictionary contains 22,800 entries and yields rich information concerning the marine lifeways of the Yagan and their and intimate knowledge about Fuegian seascapes. The idea behind this paper is that environments have strong bearings on linguistic vocabularies. Treating words as archaeological objects that map onto landscapes, we identify important landforms for Yagan marine foragers and Norwegian fisher-farmers in a comparative study of word frequencies in Bridges' dictionary and Ivar Aasen's Norwegian dictionary (1850). Moreover, we explore in detail how marine lifestyles and Fuegian seascapes emerge in Bridges' dictionary and discuss the dictionary's relevance for historical archaeology in Tierra del Fuego. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining a ship's identity is usually based on a critical and integral analysis of several approaches and lines of evidence. Based on Harpster's seminal work, an insight into this endeavour is developed here for the Deltebre I site. The archaeological information obtained since 2008 from the remains of the cargo, hull structure, equipment, and personal possessions, combined with documentary data, helped to address the dating, type, function, and provenance of the vessel. More specifically, we discuss its links with the British ordnance ships Southampton and Magnum Bonum, lost in 1813 at the mouth of the Ebro river, Spain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Arqueologia is the property of Revista de Arqueologia 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.)

Object segmentation, a key type of image segmentation, focuses on detecting and delineating individual objects within an image, essential for applications like robotic vision and augmented reality. Despite advancements in deep learning improving object segmentation, underwater object segmentation remains challenging due to unique underwater complexities such as turbulence diffusion, light absorption, noise, low contrast, uneven illumination, and intricate backgrounds. The scarcity of underwater datasets further complicates these challenges. The Segment Anything Model (SAM) has shown potential in addressing these issues, but its adaptation for underwater environments, AquaSAM, requires fine-tuning all parameters, demanding more labeled data and high computational costs. In this paper, we propose WaterSAM, an adapted model for underwater object segmentation. Inspired by Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA), WaterSAM incorporates trainable rank decomposition matrices into the Transformer's layers, specifically enhancing the image encoder. This approach significantly reduces the number of trainable parameters to 6.7% of SAM's parameters, lowering computational costs. We validated WaterSAM on three underwater image datasets: COD10K, SUIM, and UIIS. Results demonstrate that WaterSAM significantly outperforms pre-trained SAM in underwater segmentation tasks, contributing to advancements in marine biology, underwater archaeology, and environmental monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the archaeological interest in shipwrecks in the Caribbean Sea during the Modern Period (16th to 18th centuries). It highlights the challenges of looting and lack of protection for cultural heritage sites. The study analyzes historical documents to identify 692 shipwrecks, categorizing them based on archaeological interest and causes of shipwrecks. The research aims to improve knowledge of the maritime history of the Caribbean through underwater archaeology, emphasizing the importance of archival data and modern prospecting techniques. [Extracted from the article]

Between 2013 and 2015, the Republic of Indonesia's Directorate of Preservation of Cultural Heritage and Museums held a series of capacity-building workshops at Selayar Island in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Maritime archaeologists and practitioners from various government and research institutions attended the training program, including foreign delegates from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries. The program's field school centred on the Bontosikuyu shipwreck site. This shipwreck is dated to the late 13th to early 14th century CE based on 14C dating of organic remains and ceramics analysis. It is considered one of the earliest shipwreck sites around the South Sulawesi region and is significant for understanding further the maritime trade of the eastern Indonesia area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many ships from Thonis-Heracleion, a submerged city on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt, show numerous parallels with the construction of the Nilotic freighter baris as described by Herodotus (Hist. 2.96). During the spring mission of 2022 four massive constructional pieces of the bow from these ships were excavated and studied. Bow pieces played an important role in the structure of a baris. Obtained information complements the documentation of a baris as described by Herodotus and serves as a new architectural signature for this type of construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper deals with a whole series of ceramics from a private collection belonging first to Vasile Cosma and then sold in 1976 and in 2009 to the National Museum of History and Archaeology of Bucharest (MNIR). These objects, essentially amphora, come from late sixties-early seventies underwater discoveries, in the Mangalia harbor, 2 May village and Constanța harbor areas.

ABSTRACT Underwater archaeology relies on expensive and time‐consuming invasive methods for identifying and excavating objects buried in the seabed or identifying layers in shallow and intertidal environments. Especially shallow and intertidal environments are challenging due to locally high levels of sedimentation that offer good conditions for preserving organic material, that is, archaeological objects, in stabile and low‐oxygen environments. We present a system capable of dense (25 cm × 25 cm) survey coverage that enables nondestructive decimetre‐scale visualization of buried objects and sedimentary layers lying in the subsurface. The system comprises an autonomous surface vehicle (ASV) equipped with a single‐channel 2D Chirp sonar. A description of the vehicle design is presented, and results from five field tests demonstrate the ability of the system to collect high‐resolution acoustic data in a variety of shallow water environments. The system shows an example of the linearized zero offset reflectivity inversion dataset, visualizing a known buried shipwreck from the medieval period in Avaldsnes, Norway. The ASV system holds global implications as it can serve as a noninvasive first‐stage survey in sensitive heritage or archaeological areas. Areas where traditional methods are challenging, or invasive methods are dissuaded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence of ancient Maya exploitation of salt, other marine resources, settlement, and sea trade is hidden in flooded mangrove landscapes on the cays, mainland, and in shallow offshore locations on the south coast of Belize. This article includes a discussion of the coastal economy from the Middle Preclassic through the Postclassic periods (600 B.C.–A.D. 1500). Data from sites discovered and excavated since 1982 in the coastal area of the Port Honduras and Paynes Creek National Park support a model of coastal reliance on marine resources and tree crops. The need for a regular supply of coastal salt to inland cities may have expanded the market for other marine resources. Obsidian imported from volcanic highlands documents long-distance trade throughout prehistory in the area. The island of Wild Cane Cay expanded its role in long-distance coastal trade after the abandonment of inland cities in southern Belize at the end of the Classic period. Inundation of the region documented from the depths of radiocarbon-dated archaeological deposits below the water table and from a sediment core indicates sea-level rise of at least 1 m that submerged the coastal sites. The waterlogged deposits provided an ideal matrix for preservation of vertebrate material at Wild Cane Cay. The red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) peat below the sea floor in a shallow lagoon preserved wooden buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combustion features are routinely studied using micro-geoarchaeology in prehistoric sites, providing information on human social life. In submerged prehistory such features have not been studied from the microscopic perspective, and here we present a study of three combustion features from two submerged Neolithic sites from the southeastern Mediterranean: Atlit-Yam (ninth-millennium cal BP) and Neve Yam (eighth-millennium cal BP). Mineralogical analyses were utilized to detect heated clay while quantification of phytoliths, ash pseudomorphs, and dung spherulites allowed determination of fuel sources. Micromorphology was deployed to determine whether or not the features represent in situ combustion activities and to understand formation processes. Two installations from Atlit-Yam contain evidence for short in situ fire events that were fueled by wood and reached 700–900 °C. One installation from Neve Yam contains reworked deposits that bear evidence for combustion at 500–700 °C, includes remains of wood ash and livestock dung. However, this feature cannot be identified with certainty as an in situ combustion feature. This research shows that pyrotechnological, functional, and social information can be gleaned from underwater combustion features using a micro-geoarchaeological approach and techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Historia i Polityka is the property of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun 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.)

Coastal and underwater archaeological sites pose significant challenges in terms of investigation, conservation, valorisation, and management. These sites are often at risk due to climate change and various human-made impacts such as urban expansion, maritime pollution, and natural deterioration. However, advances in remote sensing (RS) and Earth observation (EO) technologies applied to cultural heritage (CH) sites have led to the development of various techniques for underwater cultural heritage (UCH) exploration. The aim of this work was the evaluation of an integrated methodological approach using ultra-high-resolution (UHR) bathymetric data to aid in the identification and interpretation of submerged archaeological contexts. The study focused on a selected area of the submerged Archaeological Park of Baia (Campi Flegrei, south Italy) as a test site. The study highlighted the potential of an approach based on UHR digital bathymetric model (DBM) derivatives and the use of machine learning and statistical techniques to automatically extract and discriminate features of archaeological interest from other components of the seabed substrate. The results achieved accuracy rates of around 90% and created a georeferenced vector map similar to that usually drawn by hand by archaeologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the work of NOAA Ocean Exploration in exploring deep waters and discovering scientific, economic, and cultural treasures. Between 2024 and 2026, NOAA Ocean Exploration will conduct exploratory seafloor mapping and remotely operated vehicle (ROV) explorations in the Pacific Basin. The article emphasizes the importance of community-driven archaeology and the involvement of the Asia-Pacific archaeology community in contributing to research prioritization and participating in live operations. NOAA Ocean Exploration aims to fill gaps in our understanding of the marine environment and protect ocean health while enhancing our appreciation of the ocean's significance. The article highlights the community-driven model of exploration, which involves collaboration with various stakeholders, including state, local, and tribal governments, as well as Indigenous communities, to address data gaps and prioritize archaeological research. The program invites archaeologists, historians, and resource managers to submit their priorities directly to NOAA Ocean Exploration, and sensitive data is protected through non-disclosure agreements. The article provides two case studies that demonstrate the importance of partner collaboration in marine archaeology investigations. The article concludes by emphasizing the importance of partnerships and international collaboration in exploring and protecting underwater cultural heritage resources in the Pacific Basin. [Extracted from the article]

Presence of a steam pinnace at Lyness, Orkney Islands, was first documented in United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) records by letter from a local scallop diver. Historic Environment Scotland (HES) tasked ORCA and Sula Diving Ltd to document this wreck during the Scapa Flow 2013 Marine Archaeology Survey. Side scan sonar and oral history provided initial clues to the identity. Reference to archival data and the Pinnace 199 renovation project (Portsmouth Historic Shipyard) enabled confirmation of its identity and understanding of how the vessel came to lie on the seabed off Rinnigal Pier. Photogrammetry revealed preservation status and during biological surveys two species of national conservation importance were recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The archaeology of inland waters is a relatively recent scientific branch in the Czech Republic. The insufficient state of research affected the first attempts at extensive documentation and evaluation of river finds and has caused many challenges. Results of a pilot study aimed at processing and evaluating river finds dated from the Palaeolithic to the Early Middle Ages discovered in the two largest Moravian rivers, the Morava and the Thaya, endeavoured to identify and describe these issues and improve the protection of underwater cultural heritage in the respective rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

This paper shows the state of research on stone and lead anchors in the Mediterranean during Antiquity, analyzing succinctly the main works [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article critically reviews four decades of development of maritime and underwater archaeology in India (MUAI). Established in 1981, the first Marine Archaeology Centre at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research—National Institute of Oceanography in Goa, India, has conducted a series of maritime and underwater investigations. The country has also attracted international collaborations mainly focused on maritime ethnographic studies. As such, the discipline has seen steady growth, but its progress unfortunately remains slow and is struggling to keep pace with the developments happening within the discipline globally. A significant setback was in 2015 when the Underwater Archaeology Wing (UAW) of the Archaeological Survey of India was defunct. Furthermore, India is not a signatory to the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage. This raises the question—what does the future hold for the MUAI? The government's plan to establish the country's first National Maritime Museum to display maritime past and its intention to revive the UAW to boost research indicates some optimism towards the survival of the field. Nonetheless, there exists gaps in research approaches and methodologies adopted so far and problems and challenges faced by the discipline that are hindering its growth. Along with discussing the aforementioned issues, this paper concludes with prospects for the future of MUAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Central American region, comprised of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, has a rich and diverse cultural heritage. This heritage has endured through various contexts, showcasing resilience over time. Despite the increasing interest in underwater cultural heritage in recent decades, there has been limited headway in the conservation, protection, and dissemination of his invaluable legacy. Given this scenario, Central American underwater archaeologists are embarking on a comprehensive review of the evolution of underwater archaeology. This undertaking will address significant events that have shaped the political, academic, and social landscape. Each participating country will contribute to this exploration through three crucial stages, highlighting the progression of this discipline. The goal is to identify commonalities at the regional level. By employing this comparative approach, the objective is to identify strategies that can effectively promote the implementation of underwater archaeology in the region. The ultimate aim is to foster increased commitment and support for preserving underwater cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the great recent discoveries in maritime archaeology was the discovery, in 2015, of a hitherto unknown shipyard in the Cilicia Region. Approximately 294 slipways/shipsheds were found on Dana Island (Pitusu-Pityoussa) in eastern Rough Cilicia (Cilicia Trachea), on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Recent studies carried out in 2023 on the island have added to our knowledge of the techniques of landing and servicing vessels, while also uncovering an additional small slipway at this location. Some of the rock-cut slipways for the ships have modestly sized rock-cut constructions behind or between them, and these have been interpreted as service areas for the tenders to the mother ships. These features may indicate that maintenance of both the ship and tender was carried out simultaneously. The rock-cut slipways on Dana Island have different characteristics and range considerably in type and size, implying the use of different slipping techniques at various periods. A number of these features are present on other known ancient slipways in the Mediterranean, such as Rhtymna, Eulimna and Matalon (Crete), Tell Dor (Israel), and Apollonia (Cyrenaica-Libya). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Direito e Práxis is the property of Editora da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (EdUERJ) 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 Industrial Metrology Business Unit of Nikon Corporation, on behalf of ScottishPower Renewables and Maritime Archaeology (MA), Southampton, UK, has employed X-ray CT (computed tomography) to visualise the internal structure of an anchor found in the North Sea. The non-destructive method of internal inspection and measurement has helped to determine approximately when it was made. The results indicate that the artefact, initially thought to be potentially Roman, is probably more recent, likely dating to between the late 16th and early 17th centuries CE. This paper presents the discovery, recovery, analysis and interpretation of a significant find from a UK offshore wind farm and underscores the valuable role that non-destructive X-ray CT played in the investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underwater photogrammetry presents unique challenges due to the optical properties of water that, if not correctly taken into account, might affect the quality of the survey and the related 2D and 3D products. It is recognized nowadays the importance to train newcomers to underwater surveying, and extend and consolidate the knowledge of best practices for underwater data acquisition. Starting from this consideration, we propose the development of POSER, a 3D simulation framework designed to facilitate the teaching of underwater imaging principles. The project, an ISPRS Educational and Capacity Building Initiative, is built upon the open-source platform Blender, incorporating realistic modelling of the physical properties of water, including light refraction, scattering, and absorption phenomena, to simulate underwater surveying conditions. We foster a learning-by-doing approach, providing users with ready-to-use application scenarios inspired by real-life case studies. They will cover a range of application fields, from marine ecology to archaeology and subsea metrology, and allow users to address the complexities of underwater surveying practices. This paper introduces POSER to the community, presenting its educational vocation and describing its constituent components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deriving bathymetry by means of multispectral satellite imagery proves to be a replicable method, offering high-resolution coverage over large areas while keeping costs low. Maritime archaeologists often require bathymetric mapping at a high resolution and with a large spatial coverage. In this paper, we demonstrate the implementation of SDB in maritime archaeology using high-resolution (5 m/pixel) data from Vegetation and Environment monitoring on a New Micro-Satellite (VENμS) imagery. We focus on the area of the Roman harbour of Sebastos, located at Caesarea Maritima along the Israeli coast of the Eastern Mediterranean. For extracting SDB, we take an empirical approach, which is based on the integration of satellite imagery and sonar depth measurements, resulting in a blue-green band ratio algorithm that provides reliable results up to a water depth of 17 m. Comparison with in situ depth measurements yielded an RMSE of 0.688 m. The SDB mapping is complemented by satellite-based identification of above- and below-water rocks. The presented approach can readily be replicated in other regions using various types of multispectral satellite imagery, particularly when only coarse bathymetric sonar data are available, thus substantially contributing to our ability to perform maritime archaeological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical data concerning key developments in global human history now lie submerged on continental shelves where investigations confront significant challenges. Whereas underwater excavations and surveys are expensive and weather dependent and require specialized training and equipment, remote sensing methods can improve chances for success offshore. A refinement in one method, a semi‐automated analysis protocol that can help to identify Pleistocene and Holocene era archaeological deposits in bathymetric LiDAR datasets, is presented here. This method employs contour mapping to identify potential archaeological features in shallow water environments in Apalachee Bay, Florida. This method successfully re‐identified multiple previously recorded archaeological sites in the study region and detected at least four previously undocumented archaeological sites. These results suggest that this procedure can expand on methods to identify and record submerged archaeological deposits in sediment‐starved, shallow‐water environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applying image processing algorithms to enhance the clarity of underwater images can significantly assist in the visual interpretation of subsea environments. Taking advantage of techniques to maximise the information extracted from the captured input data to produce the highest quality output ensures a higher utilisation of the valuable recorded content which may have been collected at the high cost of a laborious diver survey or an expensive ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) expedition. Adopting photogrammetric 3D reconstruction processing in underwater imaging has enabled the creation of high-fidelity digital 3D models which have been used to map subsea infrastructure for maintenance and repair, coral reefs for ecological monitoring, and in the primary context of this article, shipwrecks sites for maritime archaeology and accident investigation. Alongside exploring algorithms to reduce the characteristic haze of underwater photography, this article illustrates the advantages of optimising the processes utilised at distinct stages of the photogrammetric 3D reconstruction workflow to improve the photorealism of the digital 3D models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a retraction notice for an article titled "Promise and performance of agricultural nutrient management policy: Lessons from the Baltic Sea." The article was published in the journal Ambio in 2022. The retraction notice states that the article has been retracted and provides a link to the retraction notice on the Frontiers in Marine Science website. The summary does not provide any information about the content of the retracted article or the reasons for its retraction. [Extracted from the article]

• Iron deposits in Nanhai I shipwreck wood were hydroxyl iron oxide and pyrite. • Near-neutral DTPA and amidoxime cellulose had high iron deposit removal efficiency. • Na 2 S 2 O 4 improved the iron deposits removal efficiency of EDTA-2Na. Iron deposits are commonly found in marine archaeological wood, causing acidification, degradation, and mechanical damage to marine archaeological wood. This study focused on extracting iron deposits from loose wood samples taken from the Nanhai Ⅰ shipwreck. The removal efficiency of iron deposits in wood using materials, such as EDTA-2Na, DTPA, C 6 H 17 N 3 O 7 , Na 2 C 2 O 4 , amidoxime cellulose, DFO, EDTA-2Na-H 2 O 2 , DTPA-H 2 O 2 , EDTA-2Na-Na 2 S 2 O 4 , and DTPA-Na 2 S 2 O 4 , was evaluated. Analysis using scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction identified the presence of iron deposits in the wood of the Nanhai I shipwreck including goethite (FeOOH) and pyrite (FeS 2). The removal efficiency was evaluated by ICP-AES and results showed that amidoxime cellulose and DTPA had higher removal efficiency for iron deposits in wood. The difference between the iron deposits removal efficiency of DTPA and EDTA was significant after the addition of oxidant (H 2 O 2) and reductant (Na 2 S 2 O 4) to the systems, respectively. The addition of oxidant H 2 O 2 to DTPA improved the iron deposits removal efficiency of DTPA from wood within 30 days. Furthermore, the addition of reductant Na 2 S 2 O 4 to EDTA-2Na significantly improved the iron deposits removal efficiency of EDTA-2Na from wood. These findings provide a valuable reference for developing efficient methods for removing iron deposits during the practical protection of the Nanhai I shipwreck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a result of its geographic location, cultural diversity and historical trajectory, the Gaza strip is a key zone of scholarly enquiry and has a central role in the historical, social, political, economic, legislative and environmental discourses for the wider region. Existing historical knowledge of Gaza is dominated by combative narrative trends that emphasise the events of the 20th and 21st centuries and invoke archaeology extensively. In this context, cycles of material preservation and damage—often accompanying other forms of violence—have attracted the attention of academics and international media. Among the corollaries of this situation, is the destruction and marginalisation of vulnerable cultural heritage, particularly maritime cultural heritage, which is subjected to additional environmental, climatic, and anthropogenic pressures. As a means of countering the challenges on current field research in the region and to further assess the damage and threats faced by archaeological fabric, this paper combines data from coastal and archaeological research conducted in the Gaza Strip to create a benchmark for the study of its maritime archaeology. Additional information on the alteration of coastal landscape is deduced through the analysis of aerial photographs and satellite imagery. This study falls within the scope of the Maritime Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and Africa Project (MarEA). MarEA aims to comprehensively document and assess vulnerable maritime archaeology (underwater, nearshore, coastal) and produce baseline information that can enhance existing infrastructure on archaeological monitoring and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeology and Engagement Manager at the National Trust property of Sutton Hoo, reflects on the discovery of the ship burial in 1939 and Its portrayal in the 2021 film, The Dig. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underwater video enhancement plays a critical role in improving the visibility and quality of underwater imagery, which is essential for various applications such as marine biology, underwater archaeology, and offshore inspection. In this article, we present a novel approach for enhancing underwater videos. Our method employs fuzzy logic and a unique fuzzy channel weight coefficient to effectively address challenges in underwater imaging. The method aims to improve the perceptual quality of underwater videos by enhancing contrast, reducing noise, and increasing overall image clarity. The key component in our approach is the integration of fuzzy logic based channel weight coefficient which is adaptively selected to enhance the video frames. The fuzzy channel weight coefficient-based method assigns weights to different color channels in a manner that optimally addresses the underwater imaging conditions. To evaluate the performance of our fuzzy enhancement algorithm, we conducted experiments on the Fish4Knowledge database, a widely used benchmark dataset for underwater video analysis. We quantitatively assessed the improvement in video quality using various metrics, including Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Structural Similarity Index (SSIM), and entropy. Our results demonstrate that the proposed fuzzy logic-based enhancement method outperforms existing techniques in terms of video quality enhancement and underwater image correction in terms of PSNR, RMSE and SSIM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underwater cultural heritage (UCH) is an irreplaceable resource with intrinsic value that requires preservation, documentation, and safeguarding. Documentation is fundamental to increasing UCH resilience, providing a basis for monitoring, conservation, and management. Advanced UCH documentation and virtualization technologies are increasingly important for dissemination and visualization purposes, domain expert study, replica reproduction, degradation monitoring, and all other outcomes after a metric survey of cultural heritage (CH). Among the different metric documentation techniques, underwater photogrammetry is the most widely used for UCH documentation. It is a non-destructive and relatively inexpensive method that can produce high-resolution 3D models and 2D orthomosaics of underwater sites and artifacts. However, underwater photogrammetry is challenged by the different optical properties of water, light penetration, visibility and suspension, radiometric issues, and environmental drawbacks that make underwater documentation difficult. This paper introduces some of the recent applications of photogrammetric techniques and methods for UCH documentation, as well as the needs and shortcomings of the current state of the art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"A Practical Guide to Maritime Archaeology with a Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region" by John D. Broadwater is a short and easy-to-read book that aims to familiarize individuals with maritime archaeology in the Mid-Atlantic region. It covers topics such as terminology, types of archaeological investigations, research design, survey methods, site mapping, analysis, and reporting. The book emphasizes seeking guidance from professionals and obtaining appropriate permissions. However, there are some concerns about a section on time-sensitive projects and the lack of inclusion of certain resources and organizations in the appendices. Overall, the book is a useful guide for hobbyists with a good understanding of archaeology who want to conduct their own research projects in the Mid-Atlantic region. [Extracted from the article]

"A Categorisation of the Ships and Boats of the Egyptian New Kingdom, Volume II" by Michael Allen Stephens is a book that provides a classification of hull shapes and expanded typologies of watercraft from New Kingdom Egypt. The author acknowledges the lack of archaeological hull remains from this period and relies on iconographic and textual evidence, as well as boat models, to study the subject. The book examines various aspects of sailing technology, including deck structures, rigging, towing, and rowing. While the book could benefit from improvements in production quality and organization, it is a valuable resource for those interested in Egyptian nautical archaeology. [Extracted from the article]

This paper introduces an efficient method for 3D instance segmentation based on 2D object detection, applied to the photogrammetric survey images of archaeological sites. The method capitalizes on the relationship between the 3D model and the set of 2D images utilized to compute it. 2D detections on the images are projected and transformed into a 3D instance segmentation, thus identifying unique objects within the scene. The primary contribution of this work is the development of a semi-automatic image annotation method, augmented by an object tracking technique that leverages the temporal continuity of image sequences. Additionally, a novel ad-hoc evaluation process has been integrated into the conventional annotation-training-testing cycle to determine the necessity of additional annotations. This process tests the consistency of the 3D objects yielded by the 2D detection. The efficacy of the proposed method has been validated on the underwater site of Xlendi in Malta, resulting in complete and accurate 3D instance segmentation. Compared to traditional methods, the object tracking approach adopted has facilitated a 90% reduction in the need for manual annotations, The approach streamlines precise 3D detection, establishing a robust foundation for comprehensive 3D instance segmentation. This enhancement enriches the 3D survey, providing profound insights and facilitating seamless exploration of the Xlendi site from an archaeological perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited visibility in the underwater environment often restricts opportunities for archaeological prospection. Especially in reservoirs with a high content of suspended solids, methods based on acoustics prove to be extremely useful. This study represents the first high‐resolution acoustic mapping and archaeological prospections of the Old Oder Canal, which has extremely poor visibility. The study site is located near the town of Krosno Odrzańskie in Poland. The town is one of the country's most significant river crossings and settlements of mediaeval origin (including its wooden bridges). The following research objectives were identified: (1) exploration of the Old Oder Canal, including underwater acoustics and archaeological prospections; (2) analysis and interpretation of the study area based on acquired datasets; and (3) evaluation of secondary features of the river bathymetry for identification of archaeological objects. Possible locations of archaeological objects were determined based on analysis and interpretation of multibeam echosounder measurements of the riverbed. Fieldwork allowed structural elements of mediaeval bridges to be found and dendrochronological sampling performed. Feature selection analyses allowed the determination and evaluation of geomorphometric attributes, combining the characteristics of the discovered objects and diagnostics in order better to differentiate archaeological remains. Proposed secondary features may facilitate archaeological explorations in difficult environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early to middle Holocene was marked by considerable variability in lake levels in the Lake Superior Basin due to a combination of meltwater runoff, isostatic adjustment, shifting glacial margins, and climate change. These processes likely had a large impact on the preservation and visibility of coastal archaeological sites dating from the Early Period (Paleoindian) to the Middle Period (Shield Archaic). Of particular interest is the brief interval after 9300 cal. B.P. when ancestral Lake Superior dropped to its lowest level (Houghton) and human populations may have made incursions deeper into the basin. Elsewhere in the Upper Great Lakes, this period is associated with offshore archaeological sites submerged by rising water levels later in the Holocene. New geological data from the Thunder Bay, ON, region yield exceptional insight into the paleohydrology of the Houghton phase and, hence, the underwater archaeological prospects of this low water phase in the northern Lake Superior Basin. These data indicate that the lake reached its lowest level by at least ~9100 cal. B.P. but was highly unstable, at least initially, due to a combination of climate and meltwater runoff. Early underwater sites may be confined to two short, hydrologically closed, lowstands between ~9100 and 8700 cal. B.P. and would have been impacted by at least one lake transgression. Such sites, however, may still hold better potential for organic preservation and the visibility of large cultural features compared to their terrestrial counterparts. Coastal sites occupied when the lake was hydrologically closed may be especially well‐preserved due to rapid inundation before the gradual, and generally erosional, Nipissing transgression occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]