Archaeological Reports Research Articles

The development of the water supply on the Peloponnese in Greco-Roman times

It has long been clear that the water supply in ancient Greece was transformed over time, with the relative number of various types of water sources varying in time and space. Yet, what patterns this produced has never been explored, and the degree to which trends suggested by local or qualitative studies are representative for larger areas and patterns is unknown. The root of this uncertainty lies largely in the difficulty assembling an extensive and representative material beyond individual sites or cities. Following this, the present article has two aims. The first is to test and evaluate a method for collecting an extensive and (more) representative material for the investigation of the water supply in ancient Greece on a regional scale, based on a systematic review of the material from the Peloponnese published in Archaeological Reports 1887–2012. The second aim is to discuss how the collected data can be used to explore the transformations of the water supply systems on the Peloponnese in the period 900 BC–AD 300. Together the results are intended to develop further the WaterWorks project, which aims to create a better understanding of the development of the ancient water supply. The method produced a considerably better dataset than previously available. The dataset, recorded in an Access database, suggests that some hitherto acknowledged trends are probably valid for larger areas while others are less prominent than previously believed. However, in the end, the dataset is too limited to allow firm conclusions concerning how, and to a larger degree why, the water supply system was transformed over time. The dataset will be made publicly accessible in an open access repository.

Selecting sites and telling stories: fieldwork practice and emerging narratives for the archaeology of HS2 Phase One

The interpretation of our investigations into the past, which can explore the chronological development of a site, the activities of its inhabitants or the environment in which they lived, culminate in the formation of archaeological narratives. These may take the form of a discussion in an archaeological report, a conference presentation or a story in the media. The narratives we develop as a result of archaeological fieldwork are directly influenced by the methodologies we employ. On a large-scale project such as HS2 Phase One, those methodologies can include a variety of survey and sampling strategies, culminating in the selection of specific locations for further investigation. The methodology and decision-making process has been influenced by the Specific Objectives as set out in the Historic Environment Research and Delivery Strategy (HERDS). The narratives produced will be generated for both academic historic environment audiences and the wider public, including local communities and school children. This paper will examine the types of narratives and stories that are produced for different audiences and consider which themes are chosen and the extent to which those are influenced by the research questions we have set out.

Cotton in the Indo-Pacific: Historical Origins, Linguistic Diffusion, and Socioeconomic Impacts

This study investigates the historical origins, linguistic diffusion, and socioeconomic impacts of cotton (Gossypium spp.) in the Indo-Pacific region. By reviewing secondary data from historical texts, linguistic databases, and archaeological reports, the research explores how Gossypium species, domesticated in both the Old and New Worlds, spread through complex trade networks and cultural exchanges. The study analyzes the dissemination patterns of cotton-related terminology across various language families and examines the socioeconomic effects of cotton cultivation and trade, including its influence on labor systems, economic structures, and cultural practices. While the findings highlight cotton’s significant role in shaping global markets and cultural inter-actions, the study’s limitations – such as its reliance on secondary sources, a two-month research duration, and a focus on a specific geographical area – warrant cautious interpretation. These constraints may limit the comprehensiveness and depth of the analysis, suggesting the need for future research to incorporate primary data collection, a broader geographical scope, and an extended study period. Despite these limitations, the study contributes to a nuanced understanding of cotton’s historical, economic, and cultural significance, emphasizing the need for sustainable agricultural practices in contemporary cotton production.

Old Ground Plan - New Insights: The Central Church Compound in Shivta Revised

ABSTRACT The three monumental churches of the Byzantine site of Shivta in the Negev Desert were fully excavated in the first third of the 20th century. Lacking the original archaeological reports, discussion of them has been based mostly on contemporary observations of the ruins. The Central Church, situated in the center of the village and surrounded by houses, has received the least scholarly attention of the three churches. Recently recovered data, including its ground plan executed by Colt’s expedition in 1937, and archival materials published here for the first time, enabled re-examination of the Central Church structure within the compound, its history, date, and identification of the function of some of the rooms. Analysis of old and new data led us to propose an updated plan of the Central Church complex. Accordingly, new insights are proposed regarding the place of the church within the village, its neighboring domestic structures, its relation to the other two churches of Shivta, and the layout of the site.

Analisis Konsep Sejarah (Bernard Lewis) dan Filsafat Strukturalisme: Kajian Makna Simbolis Temuan Candi di Situs Batujaya

The Batujaya site is one of the relics that reveal the historical heritage of Indonesia in the Hindu-Buddhist era. The objectives of this study are to; 1) Analyzing the study of historical concepts (Bernard Lewis in the case at the Batujaya Site and 2) Reviewing evidence of historical findings) at the Batujaya Site through the philosophy of structuralism (meaning of symbols in the temple area. This research uses qualitative methods (case study approach) through observation, interviews, and excavation reports. The results of the study stated that in the historical concept of Bernard Lewis related to the history of rediscovered has a connection with the discovery at the Batujaya Site which reveals lost history, and can be found by being reconstructed by historians through archaeological reports that have contributed to the collective memory of the Indonesian nation. In addition, the discovery at the Batujaya Site has structuralism meaning as evidenced by the existence of a temple stupa or Vivote Table symbolically about the beliefs of Buddhism.

Beyond the dominant narratives: Identifying Indigenous and African individuals in Quebec St-Lawrence Valley colonial cemeteries by three-dimensional morphometrical analysis of the temporal bone

In Quebec, written accounts of free or enslaved Indigenous and African individuals during colonial times are few and limited. Three-dimensional geometric morphometric methods applied on 214 temporal bones individuals are used to explore intra-cemetery population variation throughout three centuries (1683–1878), to identify plausible non-European or admixed individuals. First, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was generated from populations originated from Africa, North-America (Indigenous) and Europe where colonial cemeteries are projected to assess their degree of overlap with the reference groups. Second, Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) based on typicality probabilities also allowed to assign unknown individuals to the three reference groups. Our results highlighted discrepancy between PCA and DFA. With the PCA, Quebec colonial groups overlap with the Europeans except for three individuals. For the DFA, 64 % (n = 136) were classified as typical to one group and 36 % as atypical (n = 77). Most were European, (82 %; n = 112), followed by those as Indigenous (7 %; n = 10), intermediate between Africans and Indigenous (6 %; n = 8) and Africans (5 %; n = 7). Compared with previous research, one individual from the first Protestant cemeteries of St-Matthew in Quebec could be assessed as plausible African or admixed origin. Two others need further analysis: one from St-Matthew and one from the first Catholic cemetery of Notre-Dame in Montreal. Finally, in response to dominant narratives that focused mainly on Euro-colonists, this research provided for the first time a new snapshot of several colonial population diversity in Quebec, underlining the presence of marginalized groups -especially those of African origin, who are absent from the archaeological reports under study.

Interim Report on Gribshunden (1495) Excavations: 2019–2021

Abstract We present an interim archaeological report on the shipwreck of the Danish-Norwegian flagship Gribshunden. Built in 1485, extensively employed by King Hans as his floating castle, and ultimately lost in June 1495 en route to Kalmar, the ship carried people and material selected to further the political goal of re-unifying the Nordic region. Three field campaigns led by Lund University and Blekinge Museum since 2019 have delivered a compelling assemblage of mundane artefacts and high-status items, some without precedent, and all conveying new information beyond the events of the ship’s loss. Highlights include wooden casks, a milled tankard, a purse of silver coins, artillery and accoutrements, several crossbows and accessories, mail armour elements, and an assortment of exotic spices. Laboratory analyses of these and other finds allow new avenues of inquiry and provide deep insights into the late medieval world. This manuscript is derived from a conference presentation. It delivers an overview of recent scientific results, alerts readers to detailed studies already published, and offers waypoints to ongoing research threads.

Conservation, consolidation and restoration of the Holy Annunciation Church, Vatasesti village, region of Oltenia, Romania - Architectural and structural particularities

The present article discusses the process of architectural and structural diagnosis of a late 18th century, brick masonry built, Christian church located in Vătășești village, Vâlcea county, Romania, presenting the particularities discovered. The church is dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and The Holy Annunciation and it is listed under the LMI code (List of historical monuments of Romania) VL-II-m-B-09968. Its registration in the list of historical monuments inscribed in the National Cultural Heritage of Romania was realized especially thanks to its original byzantine style mural paintings (frescoes) still left almost intact on the interior walls, the only serious damage made to it being found on the paintings once found on the outside walls. In order to properly conserve, consolidate and restore the vernacular monument, the process of diagnosis had to include research and investigations of various and complementary areas such as 3D scanning using laser scan technology, the archaeological report, the mural paintings restoration experts report, the chemical analysis of the painted surface, the biological analysis of different materials, humidity reports, stratigraphy research, the geological and topographical reports, the compression strength of bricks test and structural analysis using 3D modelling and the Etabs software. The materials and techniques used for the consolidation and restoration works had to be non-invasive, ecological and reversible, using steel nets and hydraulic lime for the consolidation of the brick masonry. The architectural interventions on the drainage system, facades, roof, interior floors, lighting system, and all the interventions that the article describes were subordinated by the need to preserve and highlight the Romanian orthodox frescoes that give great value to the monument. This article explains the importance of proper research and measurements ought to be done in order to have a well-coordinated process later, designing the consolidation and restoration project.

Archaeological monuments of Ancient Egypt in the collection of V. S. Golenishchev (based on the materials of card index)

This paper continues study of the unpublished archival material kept in the Department of Ancient Orient at the State Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts. The aim of this publication is to put into scientific use the provenance data written by Golenischeff’s hand on Egyptian objects from his own collection. In present paper we analyse the information from the so called ‘fichiers’ (cards) indicating the strict location, from which the object comes. The purchase of an object at some place did not mean, however, the same geographical provenience of an object. Sometimes Golenischeff indicates this provenance from dealers’s words. The cards also bear indirect references (Latin cf. and French à comparer — “to compare”) to many geographical locations, and to the publications of outstanding researchers of that time (W. M. Flinders Petrie, G. Quibell, E. Naville et al). Consequently, we may suppose the same provenance for these ‘compared’ (i. e. analogous) monuments. Occasionally the information about the purchases is combined with details about the dealers (legal antiquarians or illegal diggers). In this paper we also add the information from the Golenischeff’ notebooks kept in Paris and from the archaeological reports (one of them is a newly published material). A unique evidence gives us the inscriptions made by Golenischeff’ hand (in black ink or graphite pencil) on the surface of some ceramic. So far, we are aware of 8 such objects (in one case there is a paper sheet with an indication of geographical site).

Tauroctony Relief from Dardagan Revisited / Nova interpretacija tauroktonije iz Dardagana

This paper examines the tauroctony relief from the village Dardagan, near Zvornik (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and proposes a new interpretation of the monument. Contrary to previous views, which deemed the relief as a primitive work executed by an unskilled sculptor, the careful analysis of its stylistic, compositional, and iconographic features, as argued in the paper, reveals its semi-finished nature. Since the existence of the workshop at the quarry in Dardagan was recently proven, the tauroctony relief is interpreted as its product. Moreover, it is the sole evidence that, besides funerary monuments and architectural elements, the workshop also produced votive images for specific cults. The tauroctony from Dardagan represents a unique instance of a semi finished Mithraic sculpture discovered at its production site within the Roman province of Dalmatia. Furthermore, an examination of archaeological reports and original photographs of Milica Kosorić allowed for a better understanding of the context of the tauroctony’s discovery, providing new insights into the small finds and rock-carved figures so far associated with the cult. It is argued that these finds cannot be linked to the cult of Mithras and that the existence of the mithraeum at the site remains hypothetical.

3 Newsround

‘Newsround’ offers a platform for new discoveries that do not appear within the specialist contributions of this year’s Archaeological Reports, but which nevertheless warrant emphasis, either as a result of their particular characteristics or for the contribution they make to broader archaeological narratives. This section is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather an overview of archaeological research in Greece. It comprises largely preliminary reports (results of excavations that took place up to and including August 2023, where possible) that complement the digital content made available through Archaeology in Greece Online (https://chronique.efa.gr). Due to the diachronic nature of a number of the sites, and for ease of reference, the material is organized geographically in the first instance and then chronologically (earliest to latest) within each section as far as possible.

Changes in paleo-groundwater levels revealed by water wells and their relationship with climate variations in imperial Southern China.

Based on records of the bottom elevations of 511 ancient water wells from published archaeological reports, we reconstructed the paleo-groundwater levels (PGWL) in urban areas of Chengdu, Changsha, Nanjing, Suzhou, Suqian, Yancheng, Fuzhou, and Guangzhou cities in southern China. Our PGWL reconstruction shows that PGWL varied in two patterns. In the inland monsoon region (Chengdu and Changsha), there was a low PGWL in Jin (AD 266-420) and South Song (AD 1127-1279), and a high PGWL in Tang (AD 618-907) and Ming (AD 1368-1644). In the coastal region (Yancheng, Fuzhou, and Guangzhou), there was a low PGWL in Jin (AD 266-420) and Ming (AD 1368-1644) but a high PGWL in Tang (AD 618-907) and Song (AD 960-1279). Via cross-wavelet transform and wavelet transform coherence analyses, we found that monsoon and temperature significantly drove the PGWL fluctuations at the inter-centennial scale. East Asian Summer Monsoon-induced precipitation has continuously affected cities in the inland monsoon area represented by Chengdu and Changsha over the past 2,500 years. It has also intermittently affected Nanjing and Suzhou when EASM intensified. In parallel, temperature influenced the PGWL in coastal cities such as Yancheng, Fuzhou, and Guangzhou via the changes in the sea level. Also, the temperature affected the PGWL in relatively inland cities during climatic anomalies such as the Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age. This study demonstrates the value of archaeological records in learning how climatic factors influence the PGWL variation and its mechanism.

Book review:] Beljaev L. Byzantine Jericho: Excavations after a Century. Ed. by Acad. N. A. Makarov. Moscow: Indrik, 2016. 500 p., ill.

The book of L. A. Beljaev “Byzantine Jericho” publishes four seasons of the first modern Russian archaeological mission in the Southern Levant. This is, however, not just a usual archaeological report, but a review of history of research of Russian archaeologists and Biblical scholars in the region from its beginning in the end of the 19th century through nowadays. Due to the multidisciplinary approach of the author the publication is provided with the survey of archaeology and topography of the Jericho Oasis as well as with the report on conservation of the site.

Gemstones from Roman Britain: Recorded in the Portable Antiquities Scheme

Roman gems have continued to be discovered in Roman Britain and published in archaeological reports and notes since the author completed his Corpus of Gems from British Sites in 1978. A new source of glyptic material can be found in the on-line publication of Portable Antiquities (Portable Antiquities Scheme) which includes intaglios, most of them found without stratigraphical context, by users of metal detectors, though many are set in rings, which provide significant aids in dating. Others were clearly re-used as they are set in seal matrices or medieval rings and were frequently freshly imported at that period from southern Europe. In the High Middle Ages, as in Roman times, intaglios reflect the interests, and patterns of thought of those who wore and valued these beautiful objects.

Hemudu – Chinese early Neolithic culture

The subject of this research is the Chinese Neolithic Hemudu culture (河姆渡文化), it will be 50 years since its discovery in 2023. Its age is estimated at 6500-7000 years. Based on the analysis of archaeological reports, materials of the Hemudu Museum and research of Chinese and Russian scientists, the authors put the light on the geographical location of the ancient settlement of Hemudu, the history of its discovery, its main typological features, which led to identifying it as a independent culture of the Neolithic period of Eastern China. Hemudu had a great influence on the cultural genesis of Chinese civilization. More than 40 prehistoric settlements are attributed to the Hemudu culture. In this article, the authors gave a brief description of one of them – the ruins of Xiangjiashan (鲞架山遗址). The main conclusions of the study are as follows: the discovery and identification of the Hemudu culture was a major breakthrough in Chinese Neolithic archeology. It proved that the Yangtze basin was also the birthplace of ancient Chinese culture and rewrote the history of the development of Chinese civilization. In terms of its typological features, the Neolithic settlement of Xiangjiashan is similar to Hemudu, which indicates their genetic connection. The remains of the early Xiangjiashan period filled the gap in the history of the Hemudu settlement, making it more logical and understandable for researchers. All finds made not only in the settlement of Hemudu, but also in Xiangjiashan are extremely important for understanding the development of Chinese culture.

New AIR for the Archaeological Process? The Use of 3D Web Semantic for Publishing Archaeological Reports

The management of archaeological excavation data has been the subject of scientific debate in the last decades: critical elements have been identified, such as maintaining analytical data and the derived knowledge entangled, and other relevant aspects, like data curation, accessibility, and long-term preservation, have emerged. This study describes, illustrates, and evaluates the use of the Archaeological Interactive Report (AIR), a cutting-edge information system designed to manage excavation data that is oriented toward the 3D web semantics. AIR is a web platform for recording archaeological investigations live, an online archive that incorporates the complete dataset of the investigations, and a multimedia visualization system providing a 3D environment for data analysis and assemblages, testing interpretation hypotheses, and publishing dynamic editorialization outputs. AIR is applied and evaluated within the case study of Västra Vång (southeastern Sweden), demonstrating that it is possible to use a flexible ontological data model tailored to the archaeologists’ needs.

Review of The Archaeological Survey of the Desert Road between Berenike and the Nile Valley: Expeditions by the University of Michigan and the University of Delaware to the Eastern Desert of Egypt, 1987–2015


 
 
 The Archaeological Survey of the Desert Road between Berenike and the Nile Valley: Expeditions by the University of Michigan and the University of Delaware to the Eastern Desert of Egypt, 1987–2015. Edited by Steven E. Sidebotham and Jennifer E. Gates-Foster. American Schools of Oriental Research, Archaeological Reports, vol. 26. Boston: American SchooLs of Oriental Research, 2019. Pp. xxiii + 480, illus. $84.95. [Distributed by ISD, Bristol, CT]
 
 

Archive of the archaeological cabinet of P. G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University: experience of systematization

The article deals with the general description of archaeological reports and materials stored in the Archaeological Cabinet of P.G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University. At this stage drafts of texts of archaeological reports for the years 1974 to 1991 are analyzed in the article. The authors conclude that this corpus of materials can fill several gaps in study of archaeological sites of Yaroslavl region that Have been fully excavated or destroyed.

Building an Integrated Database of North-Eastern African Archaeological and Heritage Sites for Mapping Complex Social Landscapes

This dataset contains archaeological and heritage sites of the Marmarica region (NE-Libya/NW-Egypt), ranging from the Late Bronze to the Roman times. It has been developed in the framework of the PERAIA project, which aims to analyse the long-term history and interaction patterns along the harsh environments of north-eastern Africa. The records contain accurate geographic location of sites, including place names, typology, chronology, and metadata of documented remains, along with information regarding the environmental and ecological context. Additionally, the dataset accounts for the specificities of the region’s varying environmental conditions and their potential impact on archaeological heritage. All this information associated with each archaeological site was collected from published field data surveys, maps, archaeological reports, and it was subsequently cross-checked with historical aerial photographs and satellite imagery to detect, and to register known and unknown sites within the study area. Regarding the potential reuse of all this data, the dataset is deposited on the project website and linked to Zenodo.

The Case Study of the Graves Discovered in 1958 at Apulum-Dealul Furcilor Cemetery, Individual and Collective Social Identities in Roman Graves

The Roman cemetery at Apulum, Dealul Furcilor is one of the well-known and researched Roman sites of this kind from Dacia. Archaeological excavations started in the 19th century and are continuing today. During the Romanian communist regime, the discovered graves and their inventory were published in archaeological reports. Unfortunately, the reports do not include a detailed description of the finds. Additional papers focused on the artefacts and their functionality within the graves were never written. For these reasons, the excavations from this period need reconsideration. Most of the discoveries made in 1958 were stored inside the deposit of The Archaeology and Art History Institute in Cluj-Napoca and were the main subject of my unpublished master’s thesis entitled Identități individuale și colective în necropola romană de la Apulum-Dealul Furcilor. Studiu de caz – descoperirile din anul 1958, “Babeș-Bolyai” University, Cluj. This article resumes the study made in the thesis, provides a detailed catalogue of the archaeological finds and an analysis of the osteological remains found in the deposit at Cluj-Napoca.