Archaelogical Sites Research Articles

The accumulation of selected elements in wood from archaelogical site in Biskupin (Poland)

Contents of 40 elements were determined in samples of archaeological and contemporary wood of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and oak (Quercus robur L.) after 10 years of their deposition in two environments (bottom sediment vs. wet peat) at a Lusatian culture archaeological site in Biskupin (Poland). Contents of the elements were also determined in the soil, in which wood samples were deposited. The assays were performed using Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and the results were interpreted based on statistical analyses (t-test, one-way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD). It was stated that greater contents of elements were recorded for lake bottom deposits compared to wet peat. It was also established that Q. robur (both modern and archaeological) contained more minerals than P. sylvestris. Regardless of the deposition conditions, species and degree of wood degradation, the concentration of chemical elements is too low to influence the degradation process of the remains of the Lusatian culture sludge in Biskupin.

Análise de manifestações patológicas. Três estudos de caso / Analysis of building pathologies. Three case studies

Masonry buildings are the main part of the Architectural heritage in the World. The need of preservation for the historical memory, together with the exigence of fruition and use, has evidenced the need of appropriate analysis tools. In general, the stresses in masonry structures are usually considerably lower than those required for their material failure, so that the stability is mainly due to their shape and self weight. These aspects allowed in the past the simple realization of construction models in a reduced scale in order to assess the stability. As the history has pointed out, the behaviour of constructions is strongly linked to the workmanship and the good realization of the construction details. Local or global collapse can occur in fact due to pathologies arising during the construction or to bad realization of construction details. This paper deals with this last aspect, examining three different masonry buildings: the first one is a brick masonry building in Bologna: San Barbaziano Church, the others are two Roman domus in two different archaelogical sites in Campania: Villa Regina (Boscoreale, Napoli) and Villa dei Misteri (Pompeii, Napoli). The defects have been divided into two classes: structural defects and non structural ones. It is shown that structural defects can cause a global damage and could involve significant interventions.

Il Fondo Edifici di Culto. Tutela, valorizzazione e sviluppo sostenibile

SOMMARIO: 1. Brevi cenni introduttivi - 2. Il Fondo Edifici di Culto: struttura e patrimonio - 3. La missione del Fondo Edifici di Culto - 4. Conclusioni. Worship Buildings Fund. Protection, promotion and sustainable development ABSTRACT: In the XIX century (mainly dating to the Sixties), laws were enacted for the secularization of all the religious assets. In order to protect, maintain and run this extremely rich, diversified and priceless estate, a Worship Buildings Fund (called Fondo Edifici di Culto = FEC) established by Law no. 222 (1985). Its holdings include many worship buildings (about 840 churches, abbeys, monasteries and convents), sacred objects, artworks, museums, archaelogical sites, book collections; as well as non-religious buildings (farms, schools, barracks and so on), and protected natural areas. Therefore FEC’s purposes need a renewed attention. A new governance will help to achieve the double goal, that is to administer faithfully the policies and objectives which best fulfill the needs, concerns and interests of this precious heritage and to support sustainable development.

Discrimination and Provenances of Phoenician Red Slip Ware Using both the Solid State Electrochemistry and Petrographic Analyses

AbstractSolid state electrochemistry based on the voltammetry of immobilized microparticles (VIMP) methodology is applied to a series of 80 Phoenician Red Slip samples from the archaeological sites of Motya (Sicily, Italy), Mogador (Morocco), Ramat‐Rahel (Israel), Sulky (Sardinia, Italy), Tas Silg (Malta), Pantelleria (Italy), and Cádiz (Spain), dated from the 8th to the 6th century BC. Upon attachment of sub‐microsamples to graphite electrodes in contact with aqueous H2SO4 electrolyte, voltammetric features due to the reduction of Fe(III) minerals and the oxidation of Fe(II) ones, complemented with electrocatalytic effects on oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions, provide characteristic electrochemical fingerprints for pottery samples. A consistent sample grouping discriminating between different potteries from different archaelogical sites, is obtained, all results being consistent with morphological, compositional and mineralogical data. Petrographic analysis supports the grouping, defining the manufacture and firing procedure for the different archaeological context.

Ceramic materials from Cuatrovitas archaelogical site (Spain). A mineralogical and chemical study for determining the provenance and the firing temperature

The characterization of ceramic materials from archaeological sites is of great importance to learn about the human traditions and regional History. In this work, 12 pieces of ceramics of the Cuatrovitas Archaelogical Site (Bollullos de la Mitación, Seville, Spain) were studied to approach the provenance of the raw material and the firing temperature. In addition, raw materials, from possible sources areas used for the manufacture of those ceramics, were also studied. Mineralogical characterization by XRD and chemical analyses of major, trace and rare earth elements were performed on both raw and ceramic materials. Thin sections, SEM-EDS analyses and micro-XRF mapping were carried out to complete the mineralogical and chemical characterization. The results show that there are two types of ceramic materials, probably prepared by mixtures of different clays and sandy materials. A feasible source area for those raw materials could be the alluvial of the Guadiamar River. According to the mineralogy of the high-temperature phases found in the ceramic pieces, two firing temperatures can be approached: one at 800–850 °C owing to the presence of calcite, and another at 900–950 °C because of the presence of diopside and gehlenite.

Lahan Basah dan Arkeologi Nusantara

AbstractReferring to the assumption that the technology gives deep influence to the human ability to adapt the environment, we have found that the research result could describe the influence of environment to human being in the simplest level in cultural evolution. In line with that, the role of human in changing the environment will increase in parallel with the development of technology. As one of environmental form, there’s a wide wetland in Indonesia which is known as an wetland country and people also depend on it. Wetland has an importand value in contributing the biological variance, world climate regulator, source of food, etc that give the benefit to the human’s life and others. It’s not surprising that there’s lot of archaelogical sites on wetland area.

A Multi-Data Source and Multi-Sensor Approach for the 3D Reconstruction and Web Visualization of a Complex Archaelogical Site: The Case Study of “Tolmo De Minateda”

The complexity of archaeological sites hinders creation of an integral model using the current Geomatic techniques (i.e., aerial, close-range photogrammetry and terrestrial laser scanner) individually. A multi-sensor approach is therefore proposed as the optimal solution to provide a 3D reconstruction and visualization of these complex sites. Sensor registration represents a riveting milestone when automation is required and when aerial and terrestrial datasets must be integrated. To this end, several problems must be solved: coordinate system definition, geo-referencing, co-registration of point clouds, geometric and radiometric homogeneity, etc. The proposed multi-data source and multi-sensor approach is applied to the study case of the “Tolmo de Minateda” archaeological site. A total extension of 9 ha is reconstructed, with an adapted level of detail, by an ultralight aerial platform (paratrike), an unmanned aerial vehicle, a terrestrial laser scanner and terrestrial photogrammetry. Finally, a mobile device (e.g., tablet or smartphone) has been used to integrate, optimize and visualize all this information, providing added value to archaeologists and heritage managers who want to use an efficient tool for their works at the site, and even for non-expert users who just want to know more about the archaeological settlement.

Portable near Infrared Spectroscopy and Imaging on Archaeological Sites and Samples in the MOBIMA Project. Part 1. Field Spectroscopy

Johan Linderholm and Paul Geladi report on the start of the MOBIMA project to use NIR spectroscopy and imaging to examine archaelogical sites.

Holocene sediment at Iduk III near Kom al-Diba'a archaelogical site, Egypt

Holocene sediment at Iduk III near Kom al-Diba'a archaelogical site, Egypt

Variabilidad genética mitocondrial: comparación de muestras de dos sitios arqueológicos del noroeste argentino

Variabilidad genética mitocondrial: comparación de muestras de dos sitios arqueológicos del noroeste argentino

Las acumulaciones holocenas y su datación arqueológica en Mediana de Aragón (Zaragoza)

This area, contammg many archaelogical sites, make possible the acoomplishment of some datations relating to different geomorphological processes. Two accumulative stages separated by erosion periods can be distinguished. The oldest accumulative level has finished elaborating after the Roman age; the la test accumulation does not provide any chronological accurancies, so long as it has not supplied any postroman remains. These changes in the geomorphological processes are supposed lO be due basically lo clima tic changes.

14C Dating Human Skeletons from Medieval Archaelogical Sites in Kamakura, Japan: Were they Victims of Nitta Yoshisada's Attack?

We investigated the radiocarbon ages and carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios of human skeletal remains from burials at the Yuigahama-minami and Chusei-Shudan-Bochi sites in the Yuigahama area (Kamakura, Japan), which we believe are associated with the great attack on Kamakura by Nitta Yoshisada in AD 1333. The human bones produced enriched δ13C and δ15N values that could be affected by consumption of protein from marine fish and/or mammals with high δ13C and δ15N, and therefore older apparent 14C ages. We thus estimated the marine reservoir effect on human skeletons to determine their true ages. The IsoSource isotope mixing model was employed for reconstructing percentages of marine protein in the human diet, and calibrated calendar dates for the 14C ages were calculated using the marine percentages. At the Yuigahama-minami site, most skeletons from individual burials now date to the last phase of the Kamakura period or the early part of the Muromachi period, while skeletons from mixed human-animal multiple burials date to the latter part of the Kamakura period. The humans from the individual burials, consisting of normal ratios of adult males, could have died a natural death, though the site could also have been used to inter victims of the battle of 1333. The humans from mixed human-animal burials, consisting of a high proportion of infants, were not victims of the 1333 battle, but the site may have been used to inter victims of the Kamakura earthquake in 1293, which resulted in a catastrophic tsunami. On the other hand, the skeletons from multiple burials in the Chusei-Shudan-Bochi site all date to the middle Kamakura period. Coupled with the fact that most humans in the site are male but show no evidence of injuries by sword cuts, it is likely that burials of the Chusei-Shudan-Bochi site could have been a collective interment following the Jinji earthquake in 1241, the Shoka earthquake in 1257, or the Shoka famine in 1258 in the middle Kamakura period. The results of this study indicate that humans from burials in the Yuigahama region were not necessarily victims of the attack by Nitta Yoshisada on Kamakura, but instead were likely victims of natural disasters such as large earthquakes and severe famines, which often occurred in the middle Kamakura period.

Distribution parameters of guanaco ( Lama guanicoe), pampas deer ( Ozotoceros bezoarticus) and marsh deer ( Blastocerus dichotomus) in Central Argentina: Archaeological and paleoenvironmental implications

In this paper we use non-ambiguous collections and sightings data from the 18th century to generate potential distribution models of three species of South American ungulates. These ungulates ( Lama guanicoe -guanaco-; Ozotoceras bezoarticus -pampas deer- and Blastoceros dichotomus -marsh deer-) have different and specific environmental requirements. Through MaxEnt software, twenty-two environmental variables that characterize the distribution area of each species are defined. Once the models are generated, they are compared with the faunal associations found at Late Holocene archaelogical sites in order to infer paleoenvironmental conditions. We also discuss the role played by humans in the faunal associations which are "anomalous" or inconsistent with those models, like the spatial overlap of guanaco and marsh deer.

Frequency of Dental Caries in Four Historical Populations from the Chalcolithic to the Middle Ages

The majority of dental carie studies over the course of historical period underline mainly the prevalence evolution, the role of carbohydrates consumption and the impact of access to dietary resources. The purpose of the present investigation was to compare population samples from two archaeological periods the Chacolithic and Middle Age taking into account the geographical and socio economical situation. The study concerned four archaelogical sites in south west France and population samples an inlander for the Chalcolithic Age, an inlander, an costal and urban for the Middle Age. The materials studied included a total of 127 maxillaries, 103 mandibles and 3316 teeth. Data recorded allowed us to display that the Chalcolithic population sample had the lowest carie percentage and the rural inlander population samples of Middle Age the highest; in all cases molars were teeth most often affected. These ones differences could be explained according to time period, carious lesions were usually less recorded in the Chalcolithic Age than the Middle because of a lesser cultivation of cereals like in les Treilles Chacolithic population sample. In the Middle Age population samples, the rural inland sample Marsan showed the highest frequency of caries and ate more cereal than the coastal Vilarnau and the poor urban St Michel population samples, the first one ate fish and Mediterranean vegetal and fruits and the second one met difficulties to food access, in both cases the consumption of carbohydrates was lesser than Marsan population sample who lived in a geographical land convice to cereals cultivation.

Gis and Archaelogical Site Location Modelling

Gis and Archaelogical Site Location Modelling

Diagnostic and analytical study of Punic terracotta pieces excavated from the archaelogical site of Mozia (Sicily)

The study on Punic terracotta elements excavated from the archaeological site of Mozia refers to some diagnostic and analytical examinations of ceramics, with a particular interest in the clay typology. It also draws our attention on the technique involved in the production of such products, from the making to the cooking.

Arqueologia, dinâmica das vertentes e perdas de solo

O texto tem como objetivo tecer algumas considerações sobre sítios arqueológicos e dinâmica das vertentes utilizando-se de conhecimentos da Geomorfologia e da Agronomia, como movimentos de massa e perdas de solo. Estas considerações baseiam-se em observações de campo realizadas em pesquisas desenvolvidas no Planalto Central Brasileiro, especialmente nos últimos cinco anos. São apresentados alguns casos nos quais se faz necessária a adoção de práticas geoarqueológicas para uma melhor interpretação do contexto ambiental dos sítios arqueológicos, especialmente a distribuição horizontal e vertical dos vestígios arqueológicos.

Sedimentary Environments and the Height of Relative Sea Level during the Late Holocene at Kasumi-Awara Archaelogical Site in the Toyooka Basin, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

Sedimentary Environments and the Height of Relative Sea Level during the Late Holocene at Kasumi-Awara Archaelogical Site in the Toyooka Basin, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan

Unbridled Development of Urban Space and its Implications for the Preservation of Landmarks

The process of expansion of urban centers in Brazil has been distinguished by the complete absence of planning. As a result, urban environments lead to land uses encroaching on, defacing and destroying landmarks. Attention is given to the Morro da Queimada Archaelogical Site. This represents an important cultural heritage of the 1720 movement of secession during the gold rush. Several ruins of mining equipments such as houses, wells, shafts and galleries have been gradually destroyed. The process of the site's loss of distinct character has been monitored since 1950 using aerial photographs and cartography. Collected data indicate a conservative annual land-use change rate of about 1.5%. This rate points to the complete destruction of the site in 2008. This paper proposes the creation of the Morro da Queimada Historical Park, within the limits of the remaining set of ruins.

The upper pleistocene site of Cueva Bajondillo (Torremolinos, Málaga, Spain). Research and dissemination

It is the aim of this article to present a synthesis of the state of research carried out at Cueva Bajondillo and the publications dealing with this archaelogical site written from 1989 to the present moment specially focusing on the stratigraphic plot corresponding to the Upper Pleistocene.