4th Century AD Research Articles

MILITANSI YANG RELIGIUS: AKTIVITAS DAN PERANAN TAREKAT BEKTASIYAH DI KERAJAAN OTTOMAN, 1300-1800

This article will explain about the history of the Bektasiyah order, which played an important role in the spiritual axis of the Ottoman warriors from 1300 to 1800. This order was able to give the soldiers a high level of jihad militancy to fight against the sultan's enemies and to expand the empire's territory. Balim Sultan, who was close to Bayezid II, succeeded in institutionalizing the Bektasiyah order into a structured tarekat and emphasized the systematic tarekat tradition. The Bektasiyah Order has its own hierarchy for each follower of the Haci Bektas teachings and each level has a certain role as a dedication to the tarekat. This research was conducted with the aim of studying the Bektasiyah order more deeply related to basic matters such as its role, spiritual teachings, and its relation to the Ottomans. The method used when conducting this research is using historical research methods and library research. In the 13th century AD, the Bektasiyah Order experienced an increase in followers from time to time, even though the teachings taught were antinomian and different from Islamic teachings in general. When entering the modern era, this tarekat experienced difficult times due to the policy of sultan Selim III regarding the elimination of Yanisari soldiers because Yanisari soldiers who were also followers of the Bektasiyah order tended to interfere more in royal political issues and no longer had a solid religious foundation.

익산지역 마한문화의 성립과 변천

It is generally believed that Mahan was founded before the 2nd century BC. According to historical records, Mahan began with King Jun's migration and settlement in the Iksan area. Since there are not many cases that have been investigated in relation to the residential areas with living remains, few facts of them are known accurately. The tombs constructed include wooden coffin tombs with stone mound, pit tombs, and jar coffin tombs. Out of them, however, wooden coffin tombs with stone mound and pit tombs from an early period are sporadically identified, and the mainly excavated relics are bronze ware. Following the southward transfer of King Jun, a large group of tombs were constructed as in Madong, and the relics excavated are featuring both bronze and iron ware. In light of this, it can be said that the Mahan society in the Iksan region during the establishment period developed by actively accepting advanced civilization. Around the 1st century, the Mahan society in the Iksan region faced a period of stagnation, and villages began to be built in full swing after the 2nd century AD, reaching a peak in the 3rd to 4th centuries AD. Large-scale settlements appeared in places like Sadeok and Jangshin and small- and medium-sized villages were formed and organically connected to each other around the large-scale settlements in the center. As for tombs, mounded tombs with an encircling ditch began to be built in earnest, and it can be seen as the developing period of Mahan culture.. The Mahan culture in the Iksan area sustained even after Baekje territorialization. Such dwellings as four-pillar and non-four-pillar types of Mahan culture continued and, in some dwellings, fire pits made of plate stone and utensils which can be seen as Baekje elements appear and Baekje pottery is found in the sites of dwellings. Furthermore, dwelling sites with pillars used for walls related to the center of Baekje made an entrance. Tombs of the Mahan tradition also continued to be built even after Baekje territorialization. However, the stone chamber or stone-lined tomb related to the center of Baekje were employed for burial body and the grave goods changed to Baekje pottery, while Baekje pottery was excavated within the burial mound. In the areas of Ipjeom-ri and Ungpo-ri, the lower reaches of the Geumgang River, stone- built tombs of Baekje style were built in the mid-5th century, an evidence confirming that Baekje first took control of the lower Geumgang River, an important waterway transportation route and gateway. After the Gwangam-ri area in the middle of the Mangyeong River basin first became Baekje territory, Baekje central culture seemed to have entered the surrounding areas, too.

New Data on Armed Conflicts in the Altai During the Rouran Period: The Choburak I Cemetery

This study focuses on a burial at a Rouran period cemetery, Choburak I, in the Chemalsky District, Republic of Altai, where altogether twelve burials were excavated by an expedition from the Altai State University. In kurgan 34a, a burial of a 30–35-year-old male with a horse was excavated. The burial goods included weapons, items of horse harness, utensils and domestic artifacts. The head of the buried individual had been replaced by the cranium of a ram, and certain postcranial bones revealed multiple injuries inflicted by a cutting weapon. The burial is attributed to the Dàlián tradition, associated with the Bulan-Koba culture. The analysis of the burial goods and a radiocarbon estimate suggest that the burial dates to the middle or second half of the 4th century AD. Injuries testify to armed conflicts, in which males had taken part, and support the belief that violence in the Altai was high during the Rouran period. The case is interpreted as one of decapitation. Given the parallels in adjacent regions, is can be hypothesized that the head of a ram had been used as a basis for a mask. Apparently, this peculiar custom was associated with the ritual in which the missing bodily part was replaced in specific cases of violent death.

AESTHETICS OF PLAK-PLIENG GRAVESTONE OF LAMURI KINGDOM ACEH: A STUDY ACCORDING TO SUSANNE KNAUTH LANGER'S AESTHETIC CONCEPT

The Lamuri Kingdom in Aceh has relics in the form of gravestones called "Plak-plieng" stones, which are concrete evidence and records of the history of the kings who were buried with these gravestones. This Plak-plieng gravestone is thought to be a gravestone made by local people during the reign of the Lamuri kingdom with a mixed population who emigrated from outside Aceh at that time. The Lamuri Kingdom was an Acehnese Hindu kingdom that existed in the 4th century, turned into Islam or a sultanate in the 9th century, and lasted until the 15th century. The Plak-plieng gravestone, which is characteristic of the Lamuri royal graves, was rediscovered in 1890. Based on the date written on the gravestone found, the Plak-plieng gravestone dates to the 12th century AD. Thus, the Plak-plieng gravestone was made during the Islamic era, or when Lamuri became an Islamic kingdom. The type of research in this study is research using a descriptive method. The descriptive method is a method used to look for elements, characteristics, and properties of a phenomenon. The method begins with collecting data, analysing the data, and interpreting it. This descriptive research tries to reveal and explain the problems that occur in society, especially the problem of searching for symbolic aesthetics on the Plak-plieng gravestones of the Lamuri kingdom of Aceh. The Plak-plieng gravestone contains various symbolic elements that we can find using Susane K. Langer's theory. The findings of the symbolic aesthetic meaning found are divided into several parts according to Langer's aesthetic theory. On the Plak-plieng gravestones of the Lamuri Kingdom of Aceh, symbolic aesthetics are found as a symbol of art. The implied value of this gravestone gives us an idea of the high artistic value that existed in past societies. In this way, we can see that the level of artistic taste of the people of Aceh in the past was very high. The discovery of the inscription on this gravestone also explains the glory days of a kingdom led by the owner of the gravestone. This day dates back nine hundred years. In this way, we can learn about the value of art in the past through the Acehnese civilisation and how they found materials for making sturdy gravestones and a variety of ornaments that were very complicated and beautiful.

Communication of Science & Technology in Ancient India and its Relevance in Contemporary Scenario

Communication is an essential part of all social beings and humans especially have been successful in fighting adversities throughout their evolutionary history because they could communicate and invent necessary tools and procedures to help their survival. It goes without saying that a group as a whole can prosper only if it is able to think of ideas and communicate among them as well. Discovering and inventing concepts is something that falls under the domain of science whereas sharing it with others for them to be applied and executed comes under communication. Science and communication have come together to make great strides in our history of development. India’s contribution is also unparalleled when it comes to science and communication. It is quite evident from old texts that our ancestors had exemplary communication skills. The knowledge of mathematics, medicine, and complex philosophy was majorly communicated through chants and verses. The oral tradition transitioned to written texts on copper plates, on barks and on leaves and eventually using paper by the end of 12th and 13th centuries AD. From verses and hymns, they turned to prose explaining Astronomy, Mathematics, Medical Science, Technology and Agriculture. Communication in the ancient past of India was abundant with discussions and debates adhering to rules and regulations. All these rules are quite applicable to the communication of science and technology, even in the modern era. Therefore, more research in ancient Indian communication pattern might actually be quite helpful in uncovering rich tradition of knowledge sharing.

Dolge njive - Draga: Roman Crucium? The Roman roadside settlement in Dolenjska (southeast Slovenia)

The paper presents the archaeological sites in the environs of the modern settlement of Bela Cerkev and the results of archaeological excavations in 2002, prior to motorway construction. Excavations at four (?) different, but contiguous locations (Dolge njive, Draga 1, Draga 2 in Draga 3) revealed and documented part of the line of the road, the masonry foundations of buildings, numerous post-built structures, a cemetery and domestic material, dating to the Roman period. The paper also considers hypotheses surrounding the location of the Roman-period roadside settlement of Crucium. It is posited that the excavation on these sites have revealed the location of the Roman roadside settlement of Crucium, which was occcupied or functioned in the period from the 1st to the 4th Centuries AD.

Sufi Archipelago:Biography and Thoughts of Hamzah Fansuri

This research aims to explore the ulama tradition through the biography and thoughts of Hamzah Fansuri, a leading scholar and writer during the Aceh sultanate in the 16th century AD. Through a qualitative and historical approach, this research analyzes Hamzah Fansuri's works and explores his Sufism thoughts. includes the concepts of metaphysics, ethics and theology. Data was collected from a variety of primary and secondary sources, including classic manuscripts and contemporary academic studies. The results of this research show that Hamzah Fansuri not only played a role as a propagator of Sufism but also as a pioneer in Malay literature who succeeded in integrating local and Islamic elements in his work. It is hoped that this research can make a significant contribution to the study of Islamic intellectual history in the archipelago and inspire further research on other classical scholars.

The Existence of Islamic Politics Against Heterodox of Islamic Movements in Indonesia: Post-Independence Rifa'iyah Sect

This research explains the relationship between politics and Islamic movements which influence each other with their respective roles in society. Political discussions include power, ideology, legitimacy, government, state, nation and others. The political consequences have had a huge impact on the orthodoxy and heterodoxy of the Islamic movement in Indonesia. This study focuses on the Rifa'iyah case in the 20th century AD. The Rifa'iyah group is heterodox because it is considered to deviate from Islamic teachings in general. This causes heterodox groups to experience discrimination and prohibitions from the Central Java Prosecutor's Decree. The uniqueness of Rifa'iyah's living pattern is in groups and in rural areas. This minority group received political asylum and blended into society until their struggle succeeded in revoking the prohibition decree. Especially the emergence of reform which has become the political aspirations of the Islamic community. This research is a qualitative type using a social-historical approach. The data collection method is library research, while the data analysis method is descriptive analysis. The research results show that politics has a role as accommodative, hegemonic and power. Rifa'iyah's strategy is to adjust its political role to regain its legality by collaborating with political parties, studying academically by holding seminars, and taking advantage of the reform period. The existence of politics can dissolve or maintain heterodox.

North and South in Medieval Iberia: A historical and environmental estimate through isotopic analyses.

The Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula is a period of special interest for studying the relationship of climate change with historical and socioeconomic processes. Between the 8th and 15th centuries AD, the Peninsula was characterized not only by complex political, cultural, and social transitions but also by major variations in the climate. The objective of this study was to examine differences in diet and mobility between distinct populations of the Peninsula and explore the possible relationship of diet, mobility, and culture with environmental variables and geographical settings. For this purpose, we obtained stable isotopic ratios of carbon and oxygen (δ13C and δ18O) from the enamel apatite of first upper incisors from 145 individuals at eight archeological sites that represent both Christian and Islamic communities and both rural and urban social settings. Results revealed a dietary difference between Christian and Islamic populations, observing a greater contribution of C4 plants, possibly sorghum, in the diet of the latter, especially in a rural setting. The disparity in oxygen isotopic ratios between populations from the North and South of the Peninsula is consistent with modern climatic differences between these regions. In this line, intraregional variability in oxygen isotopic ratios may hint at diachronic occupation phases under varying climatic conditions. The few isotopic outliers in our sample suggest overall low mobility levels.

A Late Antiquity case of a chronic osteomyelitis from the population of Cortijo Coracho, Córdoba, Spain (IV-VIII centuries AD).

The Cortijo Coracho archaeological site dates from the Late Antiquity period, from the 5th to the 8th century AD. During this period, a number of populations settled in the area (Germanic peoples until Visigothic rule, Byzantine until the arrival of the Arabs, etc.), each of them concentrating the historical characteristics in the Sub-Baetic that are currently known. The Cortijo Coracho archaeological site is currently located in the city of Lucena (Cordoba, Spain), found after the works on the A-45 motorway. The necropolis consists of 294 inhumations and the remains of a basilica, although after a series of surveys it is estimated that there are around 700 additional burials, which would make it the largest necropolis with ad sancti burials surrounding a martyrial basilica dating back to the 4th century AD. Among the burials, 397 subjects were recovered, which implies a large presence of shared and/or reused burials. These subjects were transferred to the city's museum, where they were examined, reorganised and classified. At this point, subjects of scientific interest were found, as is the case of subject 204, the topic of this article. This individual, described as an adult male, is an example of the living conditions of this period, since despite his injury on the left lower extremity, a double fracture aggravated by a chronic osteomyelitis infection, he continued to use that limb. This paper will give the details of that distinctive lesion and the possible hypotheses underlying it.

Костяные коньки из погребения раннего этапа аланской культуры Северного Кавказа

The article publishes a mortuary complex of the late 3rd – early 4th centuries AD of the early stage of the North Caucasian Alan culture from kurgan 23 of the Oktyabrskiy I burial field in the Republic of North Ossetia –Alania, which contained a pair of bone skates. Bone skates have been known from written iconographic and ethnographic sources since the 12th century until the first half of the 20th century; however, the attribution of these items as skates raises doubts among a number of researchers, most likely due to the fact that almost all such artifacts, along with other similar bone items (tools), were found in the material remains of settlement sites. The researchers’ doubts resulted in a discussion, the main aspects of which are specified in the paper. The skates being published are made from the hind metapodia of the right legs of two domestic horses. Each of the artifacts has two holes for strings to attach the skates to the shoes. The skates are part of the grave goods of a young man or a youth, along with other leisure items (astragals) of young people. Finds of bone skates in burials are few in number, and, apart from the North Caucasian finds, there are only four Viking Age complexes in Swedish burial grounds. Bone skates were not a regular part of grave goods for centuries among any of the peoples, as evidenced by the insignificant number of burials with skates. Most researchers are convinced that bone skates were mainly used for entertainment by children, teenagers, and young people, which, in our opinion, is consistent with the material remains from kurgan 23 of the Oktyabrskiy I burial field. The grave goods also included a set of astragals (48 examples) associated with leisure items.

Radiocarbon dating of samples connected to rock-cut features at Myrina Kastro (Lemnos Island, Greece) and calculation of the regional marine reservoir effect in the Late Bronze Age in the Aegean Sea

AbstractThe Kastro peninsula constitutes the extension towards the West of Myrina, the Lemnos capital, on the western coast of the island, in the North Aegean Sea. The ongoing research project on rock-cut features and rock-art of this complex site included a five-year (2002–2007) subsurface investigation, during which, among other mobile finds, charcoal and seashell samples were also collected, associated in situ to rock-cut features. Subsequently, in an attempt to bring about information on the dating of the rock-cut site, an investigation based on 14C has also been undertaken. Therefore, the purpose of the present paper is the AMS dating of the unearthed anthropogenic deposits and the calculation of the regional marine reservoir effect during the end of the Late Bronze Age. Our results show that the age of the deposits is spanning from the 13th century BC till the 6th century AD. Moreover, the 14C ages of two pairs of charcoal-seashell samples showed that the mean marine reservoir age R(t) in this region from the 13th to the 10th centuries BC is 175 ± 59 14C yrs and the mean local sea surface reservoir deviation ΔR is found to be –288 ± 108 14C yrs (within 1σ).

Depositing skeletal remains in Czech and Moravian ossuaries and associated climatic variations

AbstractSamples of the bones of 47 individuals from 46 Czech and Moravian ossuaries were dated by the 14C method and analyzed for the collagen isotopic composition of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N). Most of the data for the ages of the remains corresponded to the cooler and damper periods described over the past 1000 years. Of the studied samples, the greatest number of remains corresponded to the Spörer (1400–1570), Dalton (1790–1830) and Wolf minima (1280–1350). One sample studied falls within the Maunder minimum (1645–1715). It can be assumed that these minima are connected with a reduced production of food and fodder, that may have initiated famines, epidemics and armed conflicts. Individual climatic minima showed positive correlations between δ13C and δ15N values, indicating that the individuals studied consumed complementary plant or animal diets to different degrees. The elevated δ15N values in our studied samples compared to the skeletal compositions of the population of the La Tène period (380 – 150 BC) and Germanic inhabitants in the territory of Bohemia (5th–6th centuries AD) and Great Moravia (9th–early 10th centuries AD) might reflect the effect of greater consumption of animal proteins or the proteins of omnivorous animals and fish, which compensated for the lack of plant foodstuffs during the colder periods.The isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen of the bone collagen for the Spörer and Dalton minima differs from the Wolf minimum. The younger minima show higher δ15N values for a given δ13C value.

Fibulae in the Form of Overlays in the Archeology of the Western Balts of the Merovingian Age

The article is devoted to a unique phenomenon in the archeology of the Baltics – Aestii and Prussian brooches imitating belt linings and details of a horse headband. They date from the early 5th – early 8th century AD. According to its shape, these brooches are divided into two variants. Fibulae var. 1 of the early phase of the era of the Great Migration of Peoples are associated with the Aestii of Sambia on the threshold of the emergence of the Prussian archaeological culture, and the clasps of var. 2 came out of the workshops of the western part of the Masurian Lake District in the final phase of the mentioned era. The sizes and shapes of the studied brooches directly point to their prototypes: linings of various accessories. By searching for such analogies, the origin and dating of brooches-overlays obtained as a result of excavations of burial grounds on the western outskirts of the Baltic world is clarified. The brooches of both of the aforementioned variants, belonging to the bearers of the cultures of various Western Baltic tribes, were made over the course of three centuries (with interruptions). Fasteners var. 1 were included in male and female burial complexes. Fasteners var. 2 belonged exclusively to male complexes. The social affiliation of the owners of brooches var. 2 can be defined as members (or relatives) of a squad group. It was professional warriors who had luxurious horse headbands with fours, imitating the Frankish models of the Merovingian era. A similar phenomenon was noted on the example of women’s pendants with retinue symbols in Eastern European antiquities of the Viking Age, which was not previously noted in Russian archeology.

Past and Future Impacts of the Relative Sea Level Rise on the Seafront of Ancient Delos (Cyclades, Greece) and Flooding Scenarios by 2150

Sea level rise due to global warming is a continuing and, disappointingly, accelerating process which has already affected and will further impact coastal lowlands and the social and economic activities in these areas. Delos Island, situated in the middle of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, was considered the most sacred of all islands in ancient Greek culture and was a trading hub for the entire eastern Mediterranean. Uninhabited since the 7th century AD, and consistently the focus of research and touristic attention, the island is designated as an archaeological site and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Previous studies on the relative sea level (rsl) changes suggest a steadily rising rsl during the last 6300 years, starting from a sea level of −4.80 ± 0.20 m in the Late Neolithic. The seafront of the ancient city of Delos is subject to the effects of rsl rise, which have caused significant coastline retreat and exposure to the northerly winds and waves, whereas parts of the coastal lowland, where the remains of the ancient city lie, are inundated, forming extended wetlands. The future impacts of rsl rise on the seafront of ancient Delos are illustrated on very-high-resolution digital surface models, evaluating both the flooding risk under different climatic projections, as provided by the IPCC AR6 report, and the ongoing land subsidence, as recorded by GNSS data. An rsl rise ranging from 87 cm (SSP1-2.6 scenario) to 148 cm (SSP5-8.5 scenario) is anticipated by 2150, requiring both resilience strategies and adaptation solutions as well as mitigation policies to cope with the effects of climate change.

Impact of coseismic uplifting on relative sea level change in the Southern Adriatic during the past 4.500 years – New evidence from Dubrovnik epicentral area based on analysis of algal rims and tidal notches

The Southern Adriatic is recognized as one of the most seismically active regions of the Central Mediterranean. It hosted the strongest historically known and instrumentally recorded earthquakes in Croatia and Montenegro. We conducted a detailed study of algal rims and tidal notches along the Dubrovnik–Konavle coastal area, aimed to contribute in reconstruction of relative sea level (RSL) change, palaeoearthquakes and neotectonics during the last 4500 years. The RSL reconstruction based on high-resolution geochronology showed that the spatial variability of RSL change is largely controlled by local tectonics, leading generally to an alternation of periods of RSL rise and rapid falls caused by coseismic uplift events. During the interseismic periods RSL rose at rates from 1.03 to 0.7 mm/yr before AD, followed by a slowdown to ~0.43 mm/yr, and reaching ~1.3 mm/yr after 1850s. The only exception relates to a period of slow RSL drop probably related to the 3.2 ka cold event. Rapid RSL falls caused by coseismic uplift indicate the occurrence of several large-scale events during the 4th–6th centuries AD, the 800–1360 cal AD period, and in 1395, with hints of earlier events between 1395 cal BC and 565 cal AD. These instances correspond to either unknown or insufficiently documented earthquakes. Conversely, the earthquakes in 1520 and 1667 have been clearly identified. The most compelling evidence of coseismic uplift is associated with the 1667 Dubrovnik earthquake, with an estimated uplift of 40–60 ± 15 cm documented along 40 km of coastline. Analyses of multiple sites with the same high-resolution marker show that Holocene tectonic deformations vary along different fault segments with minimum uplift rates ranging from ~0.3 to ~0.9 mm/yr over ~1.5 ka. The main seismogenic source responsible for coseismic uplifts is attributed to the Dalmatian unit basal thrust and its NE-dipping splays at the Adria-Dinarides boundary.

Blacksmith: Between history, culture, and economy

This research was aimed at describing the historical, cultural, and economic value of blacksmith activities. The research method used was a literature study (library research). Data collection techniques were carried out through collecting research results that had been carried out and published in reputable indexed journals, Google Scholar, etc. The research results showed that blacksmithing had historical value whose development varied in each region of the world. In Asia, especially Indonesia, the historical development of blacksmithing was estimated to have existed since the 7th century AD. This was based on findings on temple wall reliefs, inscriptions, and ancient manuscripts found as relics from the royal era. Meanwhile, the historical development of blacksmiths in Europe, Africa, and other Asian regions was quite diverse, having developed from 1150-1400 BC. The blacksmiths of Dokdak Village also had cultural values ​​that were very important to be passed on. This was based on data which showed that in blacksmithing activities there were cultural elements, namely the knowledge system, livelihood system, and equipment and technology systems used. Furthermore, Dokdak Village's blacksmith activities had economic value, because the carried-out activities could produce production goods that have economic value. Based on this, it is important to protect and maintain the livelihood of blacksmiths to pass on values ​​to the younger generation.

A New Example of Early Medieval Multiculturalism: The Tomb of Qu Qing and His Wife in Anyang

The materials of a new burial complex in Anyang (Henan Province, China) combining features of the tombs of Northern Qi and Sui, and of the “Sogdian” tombs of the 6th century AD are presented. From the text of the epitaph placed in the burial chamber it is known that aristocrat Qu Qing and his wife Lady Han were buried there. Qu Qing was the grandson of Qu Jia, the founder of one of the ruling dynasties of the Gaochang Kingdom. His wife came from a noble family, possibly with Wuhuan roots. The set of stone items, including door leaves, an engraved panel above them, an engraved screen, and a burial bed decorated with engravings, reliefs and paintings, serves as a valuable source of information about the heterogeneous culture of Early Medieval China. The images on the door and the panel above it are similar in content and style to the murals of the Northern Qi tombs. The plots of the compositions on both sides of the stone screen came from early collections of xiaoshuo prose, that can be classified as zhiguai xiaoshuo (“tales of the miraculous”). The stone bed is similar in design and partly in decorative motifs to the objects from the “Sogdian” burials of the Northern dynasties and Sui. The tomb demonstrates an example of adaptation and transformation of borrowed elements of funeral rites under the influence of Han culture. The combination of Confucian, Taoist, Buddhist and Zoroastrian images and motifs reflects the situation of religious syncretism typical of the early Middle Ages.

Dating mortars and bricks of Santalla de Bóveda Monument (Lugo, NW Spain)

Santalla de Bóveda Monument (Lugo, NW Spain) is a small semi-buried building, under the Bóveda parish church, built in the 18th century, with an apsidal quadrangular floor plan, which was divided into three naves, a small vaulted apse and a rectangular floor plan vaulted, where paintings depicting birds and plant elements have been well preserved. The monument has aroused great interest since its discovery, but its chronology and functionality has always been the subject of controversy. Several hypotheses have suggested that the monument was built in the Roman period and some others around the 5h, 8th or 9th century AD. However, any direct evidence or absolute age has been provided until today. The stratigraphic analysis of the building suggests five constructive phases. Bricks and mortars of all phases were sampling to perform absolute dating techniques and to get a precise and accurate chronology. Radiocarbon dating of mortars and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating of bricks and mortars have been used to this purpose. A total of 34 samples were taken, being 20 used for luminescence (mortars and quartz aggregates) and 15 used for 14C ages (charcoal fragments of lime mortars). 5 brick samples were also dated by Thermoluminescence (TL). The obtained ages have allowed, for the first time, stablishing an accurate and precise chronology being the first phase assigned to the 4th Century AD. Alterations of the building and the vault paintings were performed in the early 7th century, while the construction of the second floor and occasional repairs were performed during the 10th-12th centuries.

The animal remains from Calle Almendralejo nr. 41 (Mérida, Spain): A contribution to our understanding of animal husbandry in the capital of Roman Lusitania

The study of zooarchaeological collections from Mérida is still rare, lacking above all information on the Romans diet and animal management. Here we present the description of the fauna found in a dump next to the northern part of the Roman wall, which also includes some contexts of ritual nature, dated to the 1st century AD until the beginning of 5th century AD. The osteological remains of animals have shown that most of them come from food waste and worked bones. We can see that there is a temporal evolution in the use of that space and in the species used, with smaller animals being preferred in the first phase and cattle being more abundant in the 4th century. Some improvement indicators were also identified, as would be expected for a provincial capital, such as Emerita Augusta. Also, ritual burials of numerous dogs as well as a skeleton of the oldest specimen in Iberia of Egyptian mongoose, camel and an edible dormouse, constitute interesting discoveries in this assemblage, demonstrating that this is an exceptional sample.