Abstract The aim of our study is to present the research and prediction possibilities of GIS -based least-cost corridor ( LCC ) analysis on Roman roads in northern Pannonia. The advantage and disadvantages of studying Roman roads in Pannonia is the availability of ancient itineraries, the stations of which and thus their routes have been identified in various ways by historians and archaeologists over the last 150 years. However, the topographical characteristics of Pannonia, and in particular of northern Pannonia, which is the subject of our research, do not limit the identification of areas suitable for transport in the same way as in mountainous regions. Despite the limitations of LCC studies and the advanced Roman engineering technology, which sometimes overrode natural features, we have tried to reconstruct transport corridors which could be considered as reasonable routes according to a ‘topographical logic’. By filtering data from written sources, we have sought to build a dynamic and temporal model for a detailed future study of the transport network in northern Pannonia. Our approach was both predictive and postdictive. Based on the available data, it was not our aim – and perhaps, this is not feasible – to model specific road sections. Rather, we wanted to map those interprovincial corridors where we could predictively identify areas for further research and postdictively interpret existing spatial data.

Abstract Biological and thermal deterioration represent the primary degradation factors affecting buried organic artefacts within the Saqqara necropolis. The examined wooden statue, originating from the Old Kingdom (2575–2134 BCE), was excavated at the Bubasteum archaeological site in Saqqara. During its interment, the artefact underwent thermal decomposition and extensive insect infestation. This study aims to evaluate the condition of both the wooden substrate and the painted layer, as well as to document the conservation interventions undertaken. Analytical techniques employed included visual inspection, USB digital microscopy, optical microscopy (OM), fungal isolation and identification, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The results indicate significant degradation of the statue due to biological infestation and thermal deterioration, manifesting in multiple forms of structural and surface damage. Restoration procedures were meticulously implemented to stabilise and reinforce the artefact. The selected materials and methodologies proved effective in ensuring the statue’s structural integrity. An innovative loss compensation technique was developed to reattach the statue to its pedestal, resulting in the successful conservation of the coffin, which is now prepared for either museum display or archival storage.

Abstract This article explores the role of travel in the formation of cave cults during the Neolithic period in the Aegean. It examines how movement to ritual caves influenced cult practices, considering factors such as geography, accessibility, and cultural exchange. While most Neolithic cave cults functioned as local ceremonial sites, long-distance pilgrimage was rare before the Bronze Age in the Aegean. Two case studies illustrate this dynamic: the Alepotrypa Cave in Laconia, which served as a center for ancestral and offering rituals, and the Cyclops Cave in the northern Aegean, where maritime travel played a role in its ritual use. The findings suggest that Neolithic cave cults were largely local due to strong social ties within farming communities, with interregional cults emerging later as urbanization and social hierarchies developed in the Aegean Bronze Age.

Abstract This article explores the Christianization of Rome’s suburbs from the 4th to the 6th century CE, emphasizing the collaboration between imperial, aristocratic and episcopal actors in shaping the sacred landscape. While competition for prestige and influence was evident, these groups frequently aligned their interests to construct, maintain and integrate martyr shrines into Rome’s religious and social fabric. Imperial patronage funded grand basilicas and aristocratic families provided resources and continuity, while bishops increasingly asserted their authority through liturgical practices and architectural projects. The study demonstrates, how these actors collectively transformed the suburbs into an extension of the city’s Christian identity and reinforcing the power of martyr memory as a unifying force.

Abstract This article synthesises, describes and categorises foreign Late Bronze Age bronze objects in Sweden, which have never been previously compiled. The study explores three main questions: Which types of foreign objects are represented in the metalwork found in Sweden? What is the geographical distribution of these objects? What are the similarities and differences compared to local types? The article shows that foreign objects in Sweden mainly consist of different types of swords and bronze vessels, as well as axes, adornments, and horse gear. This selection indicates that similarity in design and functionality in relation to the local object repertoire was sought after, rather than the allure of differentiating and curious exotica. Indeed, it is often difficult to determine whether objects are foreign imports or locally produced, underlining that similar forms were preferred. The integration of foreign metalwork into local depositional customs, often in combination with Nordic objects, further demonstrates that these objects were adapted into existing local practices and norms. The geographical distribution of the foreign objects highlights various networks and alliances, in a period when, notably, eastern Sweden saw an increase in external contacts in several directions.

Abstract The article confirms that profound economic, social, and political transformations occurred around 1800 BC on the Greek Mainland and especially on the Peloponnese. We underline that the former century – the 19th century saw the creation of chiefdom societies in parts of the Mainland and consider the 18th century to create the economic, social, and political structures of the Mycenaean state. We have seen that the external relations with the tribes on the Greek Mainland were with the Cyclades, while no relations with Crete are attested during the period of the early shaft graves in Mycenae (MHIIIA). In the Eastern Mediterranean, the 18th century BC saw the fall of the Middle Kingdom in Egypt, the rise of the Assyrian dynasty under Shamshi-Addad, the kingdom of Hammurabi of Babylon, the early Hittite kingdom and the establishment of Troy VIa in northwest Anatolia. We consider this tremendous boom in the Eastern Mediterranean to have inspired the creation of the secondary (‘derivative’) Mycenaean state. The intention is to show that using a high-resolution diachronic time scale makes it possible to create a narrative of gradual social, economic, and political transformations from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age in the Aegean area. The article is divided into two sections. First, a summary of the most recent results describing chronology and social transformations in Middle Bronze Age and early Mycenaean Greece (‘status analyses’) and second, a conclusion estimating what these data tell us about the origin of the Mycenaean society. To reach this conclusion, we have constructed an evolutionary model in order to establish a gradual development of Mycenaean society. The conclusion based on our evolutionary model seems to advocate for a strong influence from the eastern Mediterranean countries, creating the social and economic structure of the Mycenaean society.

Abstract This study presents a practical case analysis detailing the outcomes of a survey project conducted on Neolithic megalithic structures on the Mols Peninsula in East Jutland, Denmark. The survey methodology employed digital photogrammetry, utilizing consumer-grade drones and handheld digital cameras. This approach facilitated the merging of aerial perspectives of the local surroundings with terrestrial photographs specifically focusing on the densely clustered stone chambers. Subsequently, the gathered data underwent conversion into various forms, such as orthophotos, surface elevation models, 3D representations, hill shades, point clouds, and textured low-resolution models optimized for online visualization. Among the noteworthy findings, the study included an evaluation of 19th-century drawings, revealing their remarkable precision. However, it was also noted that one of the monuments underwent substantial alterations in 1943. Moreover, the study successfully generated 3D models of the capstones from two dolmens, allowing for their virtual reconstruction. Importantly, the research introduced an innovative technique for mapping burned flints on the field surface surrounding the dolmens by employing low-altitude vertical drone photography – a previously unexplored method.