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Pesticides, synthetic fragrances and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contaminated two glacier-fed streams (Amola, Mandrone) and one spring (Grostè) in the Italian Alps. Ten compounds (chlorpyrifos (CPY), chlorpyrifos-methyl (CPY-m), galaxolide (HHCB), tonalide (AHTN), fluorene (Flu), phenanthrene (Phen), anthracene (Ant), fluoranthene (Fl), pyrene (Pyr), benzo[a]anthracene (BaA)) accumulated in aquatic larvae of chironomids (Diamesa steinboecki, D. latitarsis, D. bertrami, D. tonsa, D. zernyi, Pseudokiefferiella parva, Orthocladiinae) and tipulids. Their tissue concentrations (detected by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry) ranged from 1.1 ± 0.1 ng/g d.w. (= dry weight) (CPY-m in D. tonsa from Amola) to 68.0 ± 9.1 ng/g d.w. (Pyr in D. steinboecki from Mandrone). HHCB, AHTN, and CPY, with one exception, were accumulated by all aquatic insects. Six compounds (CPY, CPY-m, HHCB, AHTN, Fl, Pyr) also contaminated carabids (Nebria germarii, N. castanea, N. jockischii) predating adults of merolimnic insects. Their tissue concentrations ranged from 1.1 ± 0.3 ng/g d.w. (CPY-m in N. germarii from Mandrone) to 84.6 ± 0.3 ng/g d.w. (HHCB in N. castanea from Grostè). HHCB and AHTN were accumulated by all Nebria species. Intersite and interspecies differences were observed, which might be attributed to different environmental contamination levels. There was a stronger similarity between species from the same site than among the same species from different sites, suggesting that uptake is not species specific. At all sites, the concentration of xenobiotics was higher in larvae than in water and comparable or higher in carabids than in larvae from the same site, suggesting trophic transfer by emerging aquatic insects to their riparian predators., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

We study the bounce cosmology to construct a singularity-free f (R) model using the reconstruction technique. The formulation of the f (R) model is based on the Raychaudhari equation, a key element employed in reconstructed models to eliminate singularities. We explore the feasibility of obtaining stable gravitational Lagrangians, adhering to the conditions f R > 0 and f R R > 0 . Consequently, both models demonstrate stability, effectively avoiding the Dolgov–Kawasaki instability. Our assessment extends to testing the reconstructed model using energy conditions and the effective equation-of-state (EoS). Our findings indicate that the reconstructed super-bounce model facilitates the examination of a singularity-free accelerating universe for both phantom and non-phantom phases. However, in the case of the reconstructed oscillatory bounce model, two scenarios are considered with ω = - 1 / 3 and ω = - 2 / 3 . While the model proves suitable for studying a singular-free accelerating universe in the ω = - 1 / 3 case, it fails to demonstrate such behavior under energy conditions for the ω = - 2 / 3 scenario. The reconstructed models accommodate early-time bouncing behavior and late-time cosmic acceleration within a unified framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the use of tritium (3 H) and cesium (137 Cs) as temporal markers in ice cores extracted from temperate glaciers. We present a complete tritium profile for a 46 m ice core drilled from the Adamello Glacier, a temperate glacier in the Italian Alps, and compare it to the 137 Cs profile from the same ice core. Our analysis reveals tritium contamination between 19 and 32 m of depth, which can be attributed to the global radioactive fallout caused by atmospheric nuclear-bomb testing that took place in the 1950s and 1960s. Results show that the radioactive peak associated with 1963 does not occur at the same depth for both 3 H and 137 Cs; instead, the tritium peak is 1.5 m above the cesium one. Our hypothesis is that this misalignment is caused by meltwater-induced post-depositional processes that affect 137 Cs, which is more sensitive to percolation than 3 H. The total inventory of 137 Cs in this ice core is also among the lowest ever reported, providing additional evidence that the presence of meltwater has affected the distribution of this radionuclide within the ice. In contrast, the total tritium inventory is comparable to what is reported in the literature, making it a more reliable temporal marker for temperate glaciers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organochlorine pesticides (DDTs, HCHs, HCB) and selected PCBs were analyzed in samples from a firn core drilled on the Lys Glacier (4240 m above sea level, Monte Rosa Group, Italian Alps) in Summer 2000. The samples covered a relatively short time interval (from 1997 to 2000) and a seasonal detail breakdown was possible. A probable seasonal trend was observed only for gamma-HCH, a pesticide currently used in some European countries. For all other chemicals, a seasonal trend was not evident, and this supports the hypothesis of the prevailing role of long-range transport in comparison with local emissions for POP pollution in high mountains. The role of temperature on air-snow exchange has also been highlighted.

Organochlorine chemicals (OCs) (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes, hexachlorocyclohexanes, and hexachlorobenzene) were measured in ice melt water from five glaciers in the Italian Alps. Even though the data collected may not be sufficient for a precise description of persistent organic pollutant release patterns from glacier melting, they have, however, highlighted the potential for surface water contamination. Concentrations were of the same order of magnitude in all glacial streams, indicating comparable contamination levels in different glaciers of the alpine region. OC levels in nonglacial springs sampled in the same areas are usually lower. Even if differences during the melting season (from spring to autumn) have been identified, a regular seasonal pattern in OC concentrations was not observed. Risk for the aquatic environment is excluded through direct water exposure, but it is likely to occur through biomagnification and secondary poisoning exposure.

The paper analyses the glaze of a ceramic sherd found in the southern sector of the Durres amphitheatre. Specifically, the sherd was found in a layer datable to the late 12th to early 13th century, which can be interpreted as a dismissal layer of a pottery kiln in use between the early and second half of the 12th century. The glaze was analysed using SEM–EDS and Total XRF techniques. The green-ocean glaze with a blue-sky decoration of the fragment has As-Co and Pb–Sn-Si compounds as pigments and phosphorous as a modifying agent and a flux. The glaze composition is SiO2 47.6 wt.%, TiO2 0.22 wt.%, Al2O3 4.08 wt.%, FeOtotal 0.22 wt.%, MnO 0.08 wt.%, MgO 0.23 wt.%, CaO 2.51 wt.%, Na2O 1.55 wt.%, K2O 5.16 wt.%, P2O5 3.01 wt.%, SnO2 4.13 wt.%, As2O5 4.13 wt.%, PbO 25.4 wt%. Fe is expressed as FeOtotal. The trace elements composition (ppm) is Co 3684, Ni 1023, Cu 819, Zn 3070, Bi 3172, and Sr 205. We introduced a robust glaze classification scheme based on chemistry. This scheme categories the glaze as alkaline-lead SnO2-opacified. We examined uncommon compounds formed in various textural contexts to establish the production origin and technique peculiarity. The glaze glasses form three different compositional domains: one represents the parental high-temperature initial glass composition, and two are related to immiscible segregations forming at lower temperatures. Five phases of the apatite supergroup were identified, along with other phases distributed throughout the glaze. The compounds present, such as Pb and Sn silicates, leucite, and k-feldspar and their balances, constrain the firing temperature to 720 ℃ and 900 ℃, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research delves into the investigation of a ceramic sample discovered in the southern sector of the Durrës Amphitheatre, with a primary focus on comprehending its composition, origin, and cultural importance. The sample reveals similarities with protostonepaste through meticulous chemical analysis, yet a more profound correlation with protostonepaste concerning normative composition. Despite its porcelain-like external appearance, the ceramic demonstrates chemical consistency with a finely balanced amalgamation of crushed kaolinised leucogranite, frits, and talc, accounting for a dominant proportion of 60% compared to the other constituents. Our findings suggest that the ceramic traces its origin to Iran, specifically the Kashan and Qamsar areas, dating back to the twelfth century. The geological attributes of the region have significantly influenced the choice of raw materials for producing high-temperature ceramics. Additionally, the presence of arsenic and cobalt in the glaze further corroborates its Iranian provenance. This discovery significantly accentuates Durrës' pivotal role as a crucial conduit for East–West interactions, including its historical ties with Venice. Trade links between Durrës and Syrian–Iranian area were established as early as the tenth century. Furthermore, the analysed ceramic fragment was unearthed within a layer corresponding to a period of abandonment within the productive context. This period dates to the late twelfth century—early thirteenth century. These findings offer compelling evidence of this urban sector's continued commercial and economic significance throughout the central centuries of the Middle Ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primordial black holes (PBHs) are known as one of the potential candidates for dark matter. They are expected to have formed due to the direct gravitational collapse of density fluctuations in the early Universe. In this regard, examining the merger rate of PBHs within modified theories of gravity can offer a deeper insight into their abundance. In this work, we delve into the calculation of the merger rate of PBHs within the theoretical framework of f (R) gravity. Our analysis reveals an enhancement in the merger rate of PBHs compared to that obtained from general relativity. Additionally, modulating the field strength f R0 induces shifts in the PBH merger rate, presenting a potential observational signature of modified gravity. We also explore the upper bounds on the abundance of PBHs obtained from f (R) gravity models by comparing the results with gravitational-wave and observational data. The results indicate that in certain regions not excluded by benchmarking data, the parameter space for these upper bounds may be considered reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an updated picture of the seventh- to eleventh-century CE production and distribution of local and imported wine jars and amphorae across Palestine, which--together with selected data on pottery production sites and winepresses--reflect changes in habits of wine consumption by the country's population. Beginning in the seventh century CE, a gradual decline occurred in the manufacturing of Gaza jars, simultaneously with an increasing use of southern coast bag-shaped jars. Wine import to Palestine also declined from the seventh century CE on. From the eighth century CE onward, Palestinian wine, whose production gradually diminished, was designated predominantly for local consumption and marketed in regional bag-shaped jars. Finally, this study shows that the sixth-century CE decline of the settlement system and viticulture apparent in the Negev Highlands did not uniformly affect the southern coastal plain, which reflects a nuanced picture of continuous yet gradually declining activity of wine production and marketing until the end of the Byzantine period and sometimes later. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of potentially toxic element concentrations in fish is an important topic from the point of view of both nature conservation and human consumption. The aim of this study was to assess the concentrations of S, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, Rb, Sr, Mo, and P in benthic and pelagic fish species in the Karatal river, which is fed by melting glaciers from the Dzungarian Alatau in Kazakhstan. In September 2022, 48 fish samples were collected. It has been demonstrated that the accumulation of chemical elements in fish species can be explained by both the physiological parameters of the fish species and the influence of glaciers that feed river habitats. The data presented in this study provide a synergistic view of pollutants affecting fish populations. Benthic fish contained more manganese and strontium than pelagic species, while the mutual accumulation of potassium, chromium, rubidium, and molybdenum was higher in pelagic fish. The synergistic concentration of calcium and phosphorus in pelagic fish was higher than that in benthic species, while the amount of zinc and sulfur was higher in benthic animals. Relatively elevated levels of mercury in fish were found. The study contributes to the discussion about the role of glacial environments in loading pollutants to aquatic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper consists of the study of the topographic setting of urban medieval tombs in Bologna (5th-15th century), so far published. Through a comparison with other cities in Emilia-Romagna (Ravenna, Classe, Rimini, Modena, Reggio Emilia, Cesena, Parma, Piacenza, Faenza, Voghenza, Imola and Forlì), this study permits to observe some characteristic features of funerary areas and tombs in Bologna, providing elements for advancing hypotheses on the dating of the first appearance of in urbe tombs during the early Middle Ages. Furthermore, it makes possible to ascertain the absence of early Middle Ages graves in the abandoned North-West districts of Bononia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archeologia Medievale: Cultura Materiale, Insediamenti, Territorio is the property of All'Insegna del Giglio s.a.s. 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 article discusses the use of ³H and 137Cs as temporal markers in ice cores extracted from temperate glaciers. We present a complete tritium (³H) profile for a 46 m ice core drilled from Adamello glacier, a temperate glacier in the Italian Alps, and compare it to 137Cs profile from the same ice core. Our analysis reveals contamination of tritium between 19 and 32m of depth, which can be attributed to the worldwide radioactive contamination caused by atmospheric nuclear bomb testing in the 1950s and 1960s. Results show that the radioactive peak associated with 1963 is not coincident for ³H and 137Cs, but the ³H peak occurs 1.5m above the 137Cs one. This misalignment is caused by meltwater-induced postdepositional processes that affect 137Cs, which is more sensitive to percolation than ³H. The total inventory of 137Cs in this ice core is also among the lowest ever reported, providing additional evidence that meltwater disturbed its distribution into the ice. On the contrary, the total tritium inventory is comparable to what is reported in literature, making it a more reliable temporal marker for temperate glaciers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nucleation of the rural population was a widespread phenomenon during the Middle Ages that interested many areas of Western Europe. However, many of these sites are now deserted with the underlying phenomena causing these abandonments not always easy to reconstruct. Archaeologists have been interested in these medieval settlements since the middle of the 19th century, and remote sensing has played a decisive role in mapping hundreds of them. This also applies to many parts of the Po Valley but not the Romagna plain, where hundreds of medieval sites are known but almost exclusively based on written sources. However, the increasing availability of aerial and satellite images offers a valuable opportunity to bridge this knowledge gap. The systematic study of legacy images allowed the mapping of new defensive elements and reconstruction of the general plan of six deserted medieval fortified settlements in the broader hinterland of Ravenna. PlanetScope 3m resolution images were later exploited to continuously monitor these sites during periods prone to crop marks formation to detect the presence of wide crop/soil marks (e.g. ditches). Six successful field verifications demonstrate that these 'coarse' images are sufficient to plan drone surveys that can allow the mapping of additional smaller features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The centuriations were public lands delimited and divided in regular lots by Rome as a result of the conquest but also the conceptual appropriation of new territories, which were transformed according to particular ideas of space. Despite previous works rejecting the astronomical hypothesis for the orientation of Roman centuriations, recent publications have supported the role of particular astronomical phenomena in the design of Roman land and urbanism in Italy. The aim of this work is to determine whether the orientation of the centuriations follows any pattern, and to determine the precepts, if any, underlying the election of privileged directions. We present a statistical study of the orientation of 67 centuriations in Italy—the largest sample of this type ever studied in this region—that considers the conditions of the surrounding environment together with a comparative analysis with a dataset of the same type that includes 52 Italian Roman towns. The results show interesting patterns shared by both centuriations and towns, some of them coinciding with relevant astronomical events in the Roman context, together with others in which differentrequirements would have been prioritized. In summary, we should consider the sky as an element involved in the creation of Roman urban and rural spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During forensic archaeological research conducted in 2021 in the Comacchio Lagoon (FE), we detected new data concerning the ancient local hydrography to the west of Argine Agosta, an ancient bank, in Valle Fossa di Porto. A systematic campaign of geophysical surveys for heritage and archaeology was conducted with a hydrographic drone equipped with a single-beam bathymetric sensor echo sounder, sub-bottom profiler, and side-scan sonar. In combination with the indirect non-invasive investigations, systematic surveys of the walkable areas were also completed. These remote-sensing studies have relocated the River Vatrenus palaeo-watercourse, while visual census have brought to light a system of wooden palisades with floors made of wood associated with some scattered finds belonging to the material culture dating back to the Mediaeval and Renaissance periods. A preview of the results of this case study is presented here, contributing to the reconstruction of the ancient landscape and waterscape area of the Valle Fossa di Porto. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing use of geophysical investigations for archaeological purposes is now provided also by Italian reforms about preventive archaeology. They allow not only the discovery or the spatial definition of possible buried archaeological evidence, but they are also able to define the state of preservation of ancient structures. The Bocca delle Menate archaeological site is in Comacchio village territory, situated in Ferrara provence (Emilia Romagna region, Italy). The archeological site provides important evidence of the Roman presence in the Po Delta (Italy). The Roman villa was excavated between 1958 and 1959, during the reclaiming works in the Mezzano Valley (Comacchio, Ferrara). An archaeological preliminary survey and a geophysical field trip using Geomagnetic and Frequency Domain Electromagnetic Methods were carried out, following the aim to identify the planimetry of the villa previously excavated and eventually newly discovered archaeological remains. The geomagnetic results detected the archaeological buried structures, even if the original disposition of them is not completely highlighted. The electromagnetic method was able to depict the geological and geomorphological background surrounding the Roman villa. The obtained results highlighted that the applied geophysical methods are excellent tools for the preservation, protection, and monitoring of archaeological heritage previously excavated, adding to their already known importance as best tools for new archaeological buried remains detections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Cartagine. Studi e Ricerche is the property of Cartagine. Studi e Ricerche 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 aim of the paper is to reassess urban trajectories in the Mediterranean during the passage from Late Antiquity to the early Middle Ages. This will be done by focusing on the sites of Amorium, Gortyn, Eleutherna, and Comacchio, places which transcend both the terrestrial and maritime, and the political and military frontiers of the Byzantine empire and the Umayyad Caliphate. Archaeology and material culture will be used - in a comparative perspective - to dissect urban bodies in terms of use of space and function of spatial relationship. This is in order to document the construction of urban models, structures, and infrastructures, which, although often stemming from diverse centralized political and administrative policies, nevertheless accommodated common, cross-cultural developments, including the creation of commercial and artisanal facilities, construction or restoration of religious buildings as foci of settlement, and resilience of local elites as a catalyst of patronage and levels of demand. Particular attention will be given to the role of public spaces as the frame of reference. Indeed, such spaces will be used to show how artistic and architectural displays operated, cultural assumptions could be (re-) discussed, and different types of buildings coexisted. In this respect, the paper will also explore the continuous importance of civic infrastructures and religious buildings as pillars of a yet coherent urban fabric, representatives of the power and wealth of local city-oriented elites, and conveyors of political, artistic, and spatial symbolism, as mutually recognized and experienced by the communities frequenting seventh-to-ninth century eastern Mediterranean urban spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is part of a project of the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape for the enhancement of the widespread archaeological heritage of the Po delta area. Excavation activities, carried out in 2015, allowed the sampling of the stratigraphic elements and artifacts of the archaeological site of the lighthouse tower of Baro Zavelea, municipality of Comacchio (Ferrara, northeast Italy). In this work, the geochemical characterization of sediments and building materials was conducted using granulometric analyses, X-ray fluorescence analysis, and calcimetry on different types of samples, including sands, clays, mortars, and bricks, with the scope to better characterize all of the different types of sediments collected. This multidisciplinary approach allowed the diagnostic and evaluation of the state of conservation of Baro Zavalea. Granulometric analyses highlighted the fact that depositional environments were of very different natures: fluvial environments and paleo–alveo environments. In addition, XRF analysis allowed the discrimination of different clay samples, some from basins poor in carbonates, while, for the construction of the bricks of the second wall structure, clays rich in carbonate were chosen to add lightness to the structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Mediterranean Knowledge is the property of International Centre for Studies & Research (ICSR) Mediterranean Knowledge 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.)