Department Of Archaeology Research Articles

Explore to Mantai, the Ancient Port-city and the International Trade-hub of Maritime Silk Road in Northern Coast of Sri Lanka

Abstract. Mantai Ancient Port City is located in Mannar, Northern Coast of Sri Lanka, archeological reserves declared by the Department of Archeology in Sri Lanka. In concern with historical international trades for almost 2000 years, Mantai had been an excellent port city as discovered by 1980s investigations. Today, this historically valued archeology reserves are being covered by various unauthorized constructions. The artifacts found in 1980s excavations figured out in further research directives to unveil the ancient cultural and social relations that had been experienced over two millennium around the globe. This research paper elaborates change detection of temporal aspects of unauthorized constructions within the respective geographical domain. Change detection researches are based on the historical maps, aerial photographs, satellite images and recent spatial data sources played over the application software. The investigation mission deployed in 1980 had unveiled evidences of civilization history and artifacts from many countries. However the archeological research and investigations were disrupted in 1983 with escalation of civil war in Northern Province. The Research elaborates visual facts and figures of the constructions erected after 1980 against their chronological measures. The research team further discusses about the tremendous variety of fields that Mantai opens to collaborate with the international research organizations.

Beginnings of Polish archaeological museums in the 19th century

The first Polish archaeological museums or those with archaeological departments – institutions dealing withgathering collections, conducting research, organizing exhibitions and publishing works devoted to archaeology, as it was understood at that time – began to be established in the mid-19th century. They were created by scientific societies or on the initiative of private individuals. They were: the Museum of Antiquities of the Kraków Scientific Society, the Museum of Antiquities in Vilnius, the Museum of Polish and Slavic Antiquities in the Grand Duchy of Poznań, the Museum of the Toruń Scientific Society, the Museum of the Lubomirski Princes in Lviv and the Dzieduszycki Natural History Museum in Lviv. The article discusses the beginnings of Polish archaeological museums, their creation, the scope and shape of the collections, methods of obtaining artefacts, the headquarters and the further fate of these institutions.

Exploring in the Ancient Urban Center of Samatata: Initial Documentation of Archaeological Discoveries in the Lalmai Hill Range, Cumilla, Bangladesh

The study aimed to investigate the Lalmai Hill range in Cumilla, Bangladesh, which was the capital center of ancient Samatata, to uncover new archaeological sites. Over the years a total of 50 archaeological sites have been identified on the hills' flat tops and slopes through multiple phases of exploration conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India's Eastern Circle, the Department of Archaeology and Museums of Pakistan, and the Department of Archaeology under the cultural ministry of the Bangladesh Government. The archaeological sites discovered provide a captivating glimpse into the 7th to 8th century AD. This era is characterized by significant cultural and societal transformations, making it a compelling and pivotal period to explore. While most of these sites were discovered in the northern and middle parts of the Hill range, this study specifically focused on the southern part. Through several field surveys, a new archaeological site was discovered in the south zone of the Hill range. The findings revealed ancient bricks, wall structures, and potshards, indicating the presence of past human activities at the site. These findings provide insights into the historical and cultural significance of the region. Further exploration and excavation of this site and other potential areas within the Lalmai Hill range are warranted to enrich our understanding of the past culture and unearth other hidden treasures

Professor P.V. Denisov – A Distinguished Alumnus of Kazan University

This article considers the role of the Kazan school of history and ethnology in the development of Professor P.V. Denisov’s views and professional expertise. Kazan University is the alma mater of numerous notable Chuvash researchers. Many studies on the Chuvash people were performed within its walls, particularly by N.V. Nikolsky, V.K. Magnitsky, I.Ya. Yakovlev, N.I. Zolotnitsky et al. P.V. Denisov, who rose to prominence as a scholar and lecturer within the scientific and educational centers of Kazan, carried on their work with great merit. Here, his collaborations with Kazan colleagues and his substantial contributions to the advancement of ethnology and pedagogy were analyzed. Based on the analysis, several conclusions were drawn. P.V. Denisov dedicated his life to promoting science and mentoring further generations of highly qualified and skilled historians and ethnologists. His academic and pedagogical endeavors were mostly connected with I.N. Ulyanov Chuvash State University, where he taught historical and ethnographic disciplines, as well as established and headed the Department of Archaeology, Ethnography, and Regional History. Throughout his life, he published 120 scholarly works and supervised 20 holders of candidate and doctorate degrees in history. He was proud to be an alumnus of Kazan University and always maintained friendly and professional ties with his colleagues from Tatarstan. P.V. Denisov’s heritage and achievements have become deeply ingrained in Russian ethnology and pedagogy. His influence and ideas live on in the memories of his students. The obtained results hold both scientific and practical significance, shed light on the history of ethnology in the Volga–Ural region, and provide valuable material for studying and sketching the lives of famous Kazan University alumni.

Archaeological Collections from the Jōmon Period in the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera)

This article presents an analysis and additional description of archaeological items of the Jōmon period from A.V. Grigoriev’s collection (No. 1294) at the Department of Archaeology of the Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (Kunstkamera) RAS in St. Petersburg. The study focuses on the description of decorative motifs and the stylistic attribution of selected samples of pottery. The analysis is based on the published data about the Ōmori shell mound (Tokyo, Honshu Island), visited by Grigoriev in 1878 as a part of the expedition from the Imperial Russian Geographical Society. The early stage of the Japanese archaeology is described with reference to the Ōmori shell mound. Special attention is given to specific features of the Jōmon decorative style. The geographic location of the site suggests that the samples are associated with the Kasori B and Horinouchi styles. Contrary to the Russian tradition, the emphasis is made on stylistic interpretation rather than technology and typology. The combinations of large zonally arranged rectangular designs and spiral motifs are typical of the Kasori B style, to which several samples belong. Others reveal vertically and horizontally arranged patterns consisting of incised arcuate and straight lines, typical of the Horinouchi style.

ИСТОРИЯ ИЗУЧЕНИЯ ПОСЕЛЕНЧЕСКИХ ПАМЯТНИКОВ САРМАТСКОГО ВРЕМЕНИ В ЛЕСОСТЕПНОМ ПОДОНЬЕ

The article reveals the history of the study of hillforts and settlements of the first centuries AD on the Upper Don. The author substantiates the identification of three chronological stages in the history of settlement archeology of the Upper Don region. The first of them is associated with pre-revolutionary studies of local history societies, as well as with the work of the Upper Don expedition in the Lipetsk region and the expedition of the Voronezh State University in the Voronezh region. At this time, the process of accumulation of material from the first centuries took place, and its interpretation was limited to the term “early Iron Age”. The second stage of research began in 1978 with the creation of the Scythian-Sarmatian brigade of VSU (A.P. Medvedev) and its targeted study of burial mounds and settlements of the Sarmatian period in the forest-steppe Don region. During the same period, work was carried out by the LGPI expedition (A.N.Bessudnov), State Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of the Lipetsk Region (I. E. Biryukov, I. A. Kozmirchuk), as well as employees of the Department of Archaeology and History of the Ancient World of VSU (Yu. D. Razuvaev, M. V. Tsybin, A. S. Savrasov, A. D. Pryakhin, N. A. Tropin, etc.). The third stage is distinguished by the work of both scientific expeditions (A. M. Oblomsky, I. E. Biryukov, G. L. Zemtsov, Yu. D. Razuvaev, D. V. Akimov, etc.) and protective archaeological excavations. Discussions on the identification of groups of hillforts and settlements of the Sarmatian period are considered, and controversial issues of their dating are identified. From the historiographical analysis of the current state of the problem, further directions of its research logically follow: highlighting the cultural uniqueness of the settlements of the Upper Don and, especially, their chronology.

LIVE IN SCIENCE AND EDUCATION: OLENA SMYNTYNA

This article is about Pr. Olena V. Smyntyna, DSc in History, Head of the Department of Archaeology, Ethnology and World History of the Faculty of History and Philosophy, co-ordinator of certificate programs, and the pro bono Head of the J. Garibaldi Center for Italian History and Culture at Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University.

НАЧАЛО АКАДЕМИЧЕСКОЙ АРХЕОЛОГИИ В БАШКОРТОСТАНЕ

During the post-war period, archaeological research was rapidly advancing in the Soviet Union. After the All-Union Archaeological Conference in 1945, the Moscow Branch of the Institute for the History of Material Culture (henceforth IHMC) became the main center for archaeological research and organizer of field studies throughout the USSR. At a meeting of the Department of History and Philosophy in 1951, together with a plenum of IHMC and the USSR Academy of Sciences, a decision was made to expand archaeological research across all regions of the country. An archaeological team is forming at the Bashkir Scientific Research Institute of History, Language, and Literature, which was part of the USSR Academy of Sciences since 1951. In 1953, a sector of history, archaeology, and ethnography was created, and archaeological expeditions were launched. Initially, field research was conducted as part of the Bashkir Archaeological Expedition under the leadership of IHMC. Since 1957, independent archaeological units have been formed. In 1959, a department of archeology and ethnography became part of the IHLL. The same year, a collection of articles dedicated to archaeological studies in Bashkortostan were published for the first time. In 1978, an independent sector of archaeology appeared, the successor of which is the Department of Archaeological Research currently operating as part of the IHLL. Thus, in 2023–2024 it will be 70 years since the beginning of archaeological research in the IHLL. It is also the anniversary of the beginning of systematic academic research of the territory of the Southern Urals and the design of Ufa as the center of archaeological research in the region. In addition to documentary evidence of the formation of the archaeological structure in the IHLL, the article provides statistics on archaeological expeditions in the territory of Bashkortostan. An analysis of these data shows that, between 1955 and 1963, units organized by academic institutions of the IHMC (Institute of History of Material Culture) and IHLL dominated among them. Due to active fieldwork, by 1970, information had been obtained on 2,059 archaeological sites located within the BASSR and data on these sites had been systematized into the academic catalog “Archaeological Map of Bashkiria.” In general, the mid-1950s to 1960s can be characterized as the period when a systematic archaeological survey was being formed on the territory of Bashkortostan. The main focus of this process was the IHLL

Fatimid Dinar Dated 364 A.H. Discovered in Qurh Site, Al Ula Governorate, Saudi Arabia

In Excavation Season XIV in 2017 at Qurh by the Department of Archaeology, College of Tourism and Archaeology, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, a rare gold dinar was found, minted in Egypt in 364 A.H. (975 A.D.) by Al-Mu‘izz li-Din Allah. The dinar was discovered in square C17, area 3, Qurh (Almabiat) site. It was numbered 27 in the archaeological registry. Square C17 is an architectural extension of the excavation squares C18, C19, C20, D17, D18, D19, and D20. The dinar is the first discovered gold coin in the excavation seasons that began in 2005 at the site. The findings of Qurh are varied in terms of material, manufacturing technology, and provenance. Thus, they include local and imported artifacts. Examining the gold dinar showed a thick layer of dust and calcifications on the surface. The present study tackles the scientific method of examining the gold dinar, diagnosis of deterioration products and causes, stages of restoration and conservation, and analysis of the inscriptions on the reverse and obverse after restoration.

Bricks, Mud and Lime Mortars in Heritage Restoration: A case study

This paper is based upon an extensive eight-year experience in the restoration of monuments from the World Heritage Site Patan Darbar Square to Tripureshwor Mahadev Temple, Sattals, and Garden Area and the Sama Center, representing historically significant Malla, Shah and Rana period architectures respectively, after the Gorkha earthquake of 2015. These monuments date back from 6th to the 20th century. All structures employ a masonry system as the structural system. The main materials observed in these heritages were burnt clay bricks, stones, mud mortars, and lime mortars. This study examines the technical aspects such as material properties (compressive strength, bending strength, mechanical properties), and composition of mortars according to their use in different locations and types of structures, even within the same building. The study acknowledges the Department of Archaeology’s preservation and monument act, highlighting the potential for material reuse in heritage restoration. The primary aim of this study is to comprehensively understand and analyze the strength of antiquated materials and traditional mortars used in historical construction and restoration. It provides practical recommendations for future preservation efforts.

한국 융기문토기의 연대 재고

Raised-design pottery is a type of pottery representative of the early Neolithic period in Korea. Particularly in the southern part of the Korean peninsula, pottery was divided into four types and created a long tradition of pottery lasting about 1,000 years. It is a well-known fact among Neolithic researchers in both countries, Korea and Japan that this type of pottery has been found in many coastal sites in the northwestern Kyushu region in Japan. In particular, the Koshitaka Site on Tsushima Island, Nagasaki Prefecture, is famous for the discovery of many pottery of the first half of the comb-patterned pottery, which is common to the southern part of the Korean peninsula, including Raised-design pottery. We, the Department of Archaeology, Kumamoto University, have conducted excavations at this site four times since 2015, jointly with the Tsushima Board of Education, and have obtained various information about the characteristics of the site that were not well understood until now. This paper examines the revision of the age of Raised-design pottery, one of the results of excavations that could not be fully explained due to the limited number of characters in the previous report, by adding new materials. In analyzing the dating values, we studied the types of charcoal, seeds, and charcoal attached to pottery, examined the presence or absence of a marine reservoir effect by the C value, and performed calibration using IntCal 20 and Marine 20. As a result, the age values indicated by the plant samples showed the most reliable age values, and in the case of Korean Neolithic sites located on the coast, it was reconfirmed that the influence of the marine reservoir effect is large. Although Raised-design pottery in southern Korea and Tsushima follow almost the same pattern changes, we concluded that the existing chronology of Raised-design pottery in Korea is about 400 years older than the new chronology based on reliable age values and that a revision is necessary.

Harris Lines as Indicators of Physiological Stress in the Middle Holocene Cis-Baikal

This article is a plain language summary of a master’s thesis completed in 2022 through the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Saskatchewan. The goal of this research was to study Harris lines (HL; transverse lines in human and animal long bones that are only visible through X-rays) in the skeletal remains of hunter-gatherers from the Middle Holocene (~9000–3000 years BP) Baikal region of the Russian Federation. HL have often been associated with stress events such as malnutrition or disease in early life. Thus, this thesis expected to highlight differences in the lived stress experiences of two distinct cultural periods from the region which had already been shown in previous studies on stress. Individuals 25 years and younger at time of death from two cemetery populations dating to the Early Neolithic (EN; 7560–6660 years BP) and one from the Late Neolithic (LN; 6060–4970 years BP) were examined for HL. The data was then compared between EN and LN individuals to determine if one population experienced greater stress than the other based on higher HL counts. This thesis demonstrated that HL are not irrefutably tied to stress in EN and LN populations from the Cis-Baikal and HL are not reliable determinants of how often or how many periods of stress they experienced during development. This thesis also challenged ongoing critiques in the study of HL, including image capture methods, to facilitate future research and discussion relating to HL.

Queer Reproductive Decision-Making in Saskatoon

This article is a plain writing summary of a master’s thesis researched and written in the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Saskatchewan between 2020-2023. This thesis examined how eighteen queer people living in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan made their reproductive decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic by asking what meanings do queer people in Saskatoon find in their reproductive decision-making processes, and how do those meanings influence those processes during the COVID-19 pandemic? Three themes emerged from these interviews. The first was how queer family structures are formed, including an analysis of the nuclear family and the ways that approach does or does not work for queer families and the gendered problems queer people face when contemplating pregnancy. The second centres on safety, with people born and raised in Saskatchewan prioritizing social safety and people born in different, sometimes less queer-supporting countries prioritizing physical safety when making reproductive decisions. The third is the relationship between COVID-19 and place, dissecting how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the meanings of place through social distancing and isolation, and how the space between places (i.e., travel and remote connection software like Zoom) has changed meaning during this pandemic. This research has implications for informing institutional responses to Canada’s declining population levels and to better support queer people in making their reproductive decisions.

Castrum Sive Fortalicium in Woźniki in the Light of the Latest Field Survey

Situated among marshy meadows, the cone-shaped gord in Woźniki has been an object of interest for researchers since the early twentieth century. However, probing excavations were only carried out by the staff of the Archaeology Department of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom in 1957. They confirmed the historic character of the site, but provided little information on the appearance of the buildings or stages of their functioning. Unfortunately, in the twentieth century the gord was destroyed and its plateau is now heavily levelled. In 2023, it was decided to return to the research of the site, using non-invasive techniques. A thorough re-examination of the surface was also performed with a metal detector and spatial planigraphy. This yielded a number of new interesting results, providing a reason for further research of the site.

Археологические исследования ИГИ УрО РАН

The article describes the results of field and desk research of the Department of History, Archaeology and Ethnography of the Humanitarian Research Institute of PFRC UB RAS at the present stage, it analyzes the directions and topics of the conducted research. Of special interest is the study of the Rozhdestvenskiy archaeological complex - the city of Afkul dating back tothe X–XIV centuries, which is a part of the social and economic zone of Volga Bulgaria. The high level of development of metallurgical craft in the spheres of ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy is noted. The most important and exciting discovery of recent years has been the study of a coppersmith’s workshop, which is the only one found in the archaeological sites of medieval times in the Volga-Kama region. Brief results are given of the Plotnikovo burial ground studies reflecting the process of ethnogenesis of Komi-Permyaks. The archaeological materials reveal direct links with the region of Novgorodchina. The results of the Ugorian epoch studies in Prikamye region are considered, the main results of the Bayanovo burial ground studies are described. The conclusions are drawn about the originality of medieval Prikamye jewellery working.The research has been carried out on the period of Russian colonization. The results are presented of complex historical and linguistic studies aimed at identifying the ancient water-drawn system in Perm Prikamye and the ways of penetration of the old Russian population into the region

The politicization of historical research in the ethno-national area in the second half of the ,70s of the 20th century in MSSR

In the 70s of the last century, a new research direction appeared in the MSSR historiography, which tried to reveal a certain role of Romanized population in the ethnogenesis process in the East of Carpathian Mountains. The exponent of this point of view was archaeologist Ion Hâncu (21.07.1931–24.05.2003). But the local ”scientific” forces (N. Mohov, V. Zelenciuc, etc.), with a pro-Russian and anti-Romanian orientation, did everything possible to prevent Hâncu’s opinion from being promoted, and he was excluded from the ranks of researchers. On August 22, 1977, N. Mohov wrote a letter to B.A. Rîbakov, director of the Institute of Archaeology of the USSR Academy of Sciences. The answer of B. Rîbakov from October 13, 1977 is currently known, in which Hâncu’s concept is appreciated as „anti-Slav”, it „exaggerating the role and importance of Romanic ethnic element” on the area of Pruto-Nistru interfluve, the author being accused of anti-Slav, ideologically „vicious” concepts and lack of professionalism. B.A. Rîbakov’s letter clearly points out that „until the XIVth century, there is no evidence of any significant East Romanic population” and that one of the peculiarities of „Moldavian nation formation is a close contact and mixing of Voloche population with the native Old Russian population”, which „differentiates ... Moldovans from Romanians and the other East-Romanic peoples”. As a consequence of these concerted actions of scientific authorities of the USSR and the MSSR, Ion Hâncu was removed from the position of head of the Archaeology Department within the MSSR Academy of Sciences, and his monograph, which was to appear in 1978, was taken out of printing.

Teaching and Researching the History and Archaeology of Jordan during the Bronze and Iron Ages (ca. 3600 – 1200 BC)

The history of nations is their political and cultural identity, but this recorded history, which began with the knowledge of writing in the East about 3200 years BC and has continued until the present, has seen difficulties and declines in civilizations. What concerns us in this article is shedding light on an important period of Jordan’s ancient history – the Bronze and Iron Ages (c. 3600-332 BC) – which scholars of religion and the Bible contect with stories in the Bible beginning with the the Israelites leaving Egypt, their coming to Palestine and their establishing their state. It is important for us to shed light on who undertook and undertakes recording that history and the methodologies followed and the interpretation of antiquities and ancient inscriptions related to that history. We have seen that it is necessary to the extent possible to clarify Jordan’s role in the study of Jordan’s ancient history by the Jordanian universities that study history and archaeology and related fields. Since the establishment of the emirate in 1921, Jordan has attached great importance to archaeology, establishing a Department of Antiquities that remained under the control of the Mandate until the Arabization of the army in 1956. Also, in the same year in which the University of Jordan was established (1962), a Department of History and Archeology was established, and the university sent students abroad to study ancient history. Some other Jordanian universities did likewise. Unfortunately, recent years have seen a decline in research and teaching about the Bronze and Iron Ages; a number of faculty members in this field have retired, and universities have either refrained from sending students abroad or have stopped hiring new faculty members. In addition, the sub-sciences related to archaeology have overshadowed the original, hoping that students will get a job, as a result of graduates in archaeology flooding the market. In order for the matter to be rectified, it is necessary to establish a research center or centers based on scientific research and publishing in the ancient history of Jordan, following a unified approach based on scientific evidence.

PUNJAB'S TOURISM POLICY IN FOCUS: AN IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS

The tourism industry has gained immense popularity in the 21st century and for many developed and developing countries owing to its socio-economic dividends. Tourism requires systematic planning for its development. The purpose of tourism planning is to efficiently manage the supply and demand of tourism in the area. Tourism policies are formulated to include tourism planning to increase tourism in the country. This policy paper analyzes the Punjab Tourism Policy, 2019. The Punjab Tourism Policy 2019 was formed with a view to providing a holistic and cross-cutting framework for strengthening the tourism infrastructure and improving governance and regulation regime. The policy aimed at promoting a soft image of the province and Pakistan and attracting more foreign as well as local tourists for overall economic uplift and well-being of communities. The review of the policy and analysis of the available information and data shows that considerable progress has been made in the tourism sector of Punjab. There has been some investment in the physical infrastructure of existing sites and new attractions have been identified and development started. A separate Department of Tourism and Archeology has been created and subordinate organizations like TDCP, DTS, etc. are being revitalized. Moreover, various steps including but not limited to outsourcing of resorts by TDCP, and installation of safety measures such as Punjab Tourism Squad by DTS, have been initiated. Despite significant progress, various factors have hindered the achievement of set goals owing to political, administrative, and financial factors. It is high time that the government took stock of the situation by mid-course review of the policy to remove bottlenecks that hinder the realization of the full potential of the tourism sector.

Diving into the collections: Analysing two excavated Sotho-Tswana compounds in the Suikerbosrand, Gauteng Province

In this article, we set out to publish the results of extensive excavations conducted in the late 1980s and early 1990s by staff and students of the Archaeology Department, University of the Witwatersrand, at two Late Iron Age stone-walled compounds in the western foothills of the Suikerbosrand massif, near Johannesburg. While these two compounds, Sun Shadow and Boschoek, have been extensively cited in the literature, their data have never been published. Here, we analyse the distribution of their collected artefacts, in conjunction with their field maps, to better understand the spatial organisation of these two Molokwane-style stone-walled compounds. We were also interested to assess the merits of revisiting under-analysed archaeological materials housed in the University of the Witwatersrand’s collections. The results revealed frustrating gaps and shortcomings in the collections, but also shed new light on the social organisation of these settlements. Overall, we feel that the exercise was worthwhile and we encourage similar such studies in the future, allowing researchers to explore the scientific potential of the masses of buried treasure within the university’s collections.

Chapter 11 Sacred Places and Contested Spaces in Maine: The Long Shadow of Colonial Science in the Light of Repatriation

ABSTRACTThe Nevin site in Maine has become a contested space as Wabanaki people seeking to repatriate their ancestors confront archaeologists who adhere to the antiquated postulates of their predecessors. Warren K. Moorehead, of Phillips Academy's archaeology department, focused field work on Maine's so‐called “Red Paint” cemeteries from 1912–1920. Moorehead acknowledged the antiquity of the cemeteries but saw the people as members of a “lost civilization” culturally distinct from later Indigenous groups. Douglas Byers succeeded Moorehead and excavated graves at the Nevin site from 1936–1940. Despite radiocarbon dates and a better understanding of the Archaic period, Byers did not attribute Nevin's lavish grave goods to that early era. The confusion sowed by Moorehead and Byers still influences contemporary archaeologists and museum personnel who resist Wabanaki efforts to repatriate their ancestors under contemporary legislation. Despite the lack of robust research on in‐migration, prevailing ideas about the Late Archaic in Maine envision a population replacement by southern immigrants. This hypothesis opposes claims of cultural connectedness by contemporary Wabanaki peoples. Here, we explore the archaeological legacy associated with the Nevin cemetery and challenge archaeologists to confront colonialist science that permeates repatriation.