Industrial Archaeology Research Articles

Scan-to-HBIM-to-VR: An Integrated Approach for the Documentation of an Industrial Archaeology Building

In this paper, we propose a comprehensive and optimised workflow for the documentation and the future maintenance and management of a historical building, integrating the state of the art of different techniques, in the challenging context of industrial archaeology. This approach has been applied to the hydraulic work of the “Sostegno del Battiferro” in Bologna, Italy, an example of built industrial heritage whose construction began in 1439 and remains in active use nowadays to control the Navile canal water flow rate. The initial step was the definition of a 3D topographic frame, including geodetic measurements, which served as a reference for the complete 3D survey integrating Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS), Structured Light Projection scanning, and the photogrammetric processing of Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) imagery through a Structure from Motion (SfM) approach. The resulting 3D point cloud has supported as-built parametric modelling (Scan-to-BIM) with the consequent extraction of plans and sections. Finally, the Heritage/Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) model generated was rendered and tested for a VR-based immersive experience. Building Information Modelling (BIM) and virtual reality (VR) applications were tested as a support for the management of the building, the maintenance of the hydraulic system, and the training of qualified technicians. In addition, considering the historical value of the surveyed building, the methodology was also applied for dissemination purposes.

Contemporary Extension Proposal for Adaptive Reuse Industrial Archaeology: Minasın / Minas Mill Example

Industrial archeology deals with the pre-industrial, industrial revolution and the periods after this revolution. One ofthe industrial archeology structures is the mills. The issue of protecting and ensuring the sustainability of mills as ruralindustrial heritage comes to the agenda quite frequently. However, as is the case with other historical buildings thatare in ruins, reintegration work cannot be carried out in mills due to the lack of restitution resources in restorationapplications to today's comfort conditions. In such cases, since the building cannot maintain its original function today,a contemporary addition is designed to suit its new function. Within the scope of this study, conservation suggestionswere made for the Minasın Mill, which remained idle in Isparta, and a contemporary addition was designed. Firstly,the building's survey was taken, and then modern annexes and building elements were designed in 3D and suggestionswere made for its use.

Transforming Bakırköy Powder Magazine, an Industrial Heritage, through Repurposing into a Public Space

Heritage structures from the Ottoman period, such as the Bakırköy Powder Magazine in the Bakırköy district ofIstanbul, served their original purposes when constructed, but technological advancements and societal changeshave rendered them obsolete. In order to ensure the sustainable use of these structures and the transfer ofcultural heritage to future generations, the concept of "Industrial Archaeology," originating in 1950s England, hasgained significance. Advocated by art historian Alois Riegl, this approach proposes adapting industrial heritagestructures to meet the needs of modern society while preserving their historical and cultural values. The case ofBakırköy Powder Magazine serves as a significant example of how such interventions can contribute to thecultural richness of a society. The focus of the research is to examine the historical structure, Baruthane, whichsupplied gunpowder for the Ottoman State, both before and after its repurposing. The building, now functioningas a library, observation terrace, café, and social spaces, is thoroughly evaluated in terms of its historical context,pre-intervention identity, and subsequent architectural features. In this context, the repurposing of industrialheritage structures not only preserves history but also contributes to society by adapting them in a mannercompatible with the needs of modern society.

Community protagonism based on the participatory inventory of Galópolis (Rio Grande do Sul/Brazil): management of an industrial heritage

The article analyzes the participation of the community of the Galópolis neighborhood, located in the southern part of the city of Caxias do Sul (Rio Grande do Sul/Brazil), through the processes of musealization of the territory, stimulating their commitment to the management of the heritage listed through strategies that enhance their protagonism. Part of the master's research defended in the Graduate Program in Museology and Heritage at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (PPGMusPa/UFRGS), it is based on industrial archaeology and action research methodologies to understand the dynamics of museums, combining oral history, documentary, iconological and content analysis with a participatory inventory to achieve an integrative museum perspective that fosters the self-management of a community framed by a paternalistic industrial dynamic. Based on the principles of Social Museology, the aim of this research is to provide a continuous process of reflection on local history, museological discourses and the need to stimulate community protagonism in relation to local demands in an empirical and emancipatory way.

The palaeopathology of industry, a perspective from Britain

ObjectivesThis article considers the position of palaeopathology of ca. 1750AD onward within the subdiscipline of Industrial Archaeology, and reflects upon the relationship between skeletal palaeopathology and textual sources on disease prevalences. MethodsIt draws upon the author’s experience in engaging with threat-led archaeology. It synthesises key elements of palaeopathological literature, emphasising contributions to the IJPP VSI ‘Changes in Health with the Rise of Industry’, and also the broader literature regarding Industrial Archaeology. ResultsIndustrial Archaeology has seen a recent refocus to include not only a concentration upon technological aspects of industry but also increased emphasis the social context of industrialisation. This movement toward a placement of people as well as machines centre stage has resulted in an environment conducive for paleopathology to make a greater impact upon studies of the period. ConclusionsPalaeopathologists need to ensure that their biocultural work is orientated toward research goals of broader relevance if the impact of their work is to be maximised. We cannot directly align prevalence data generated from skeletal and and written sources; roles played by these two sources of evidence will depend, inter alia, upon the problems being investigated. SignificanceThe success of ‘Industrial Palaeopathology’ will be measured by the extent to which human remains studies move toward centre stage within the broader discipline of Industrial Archaeology. LimitationsMultiple perspectives on disciplinary development are possible. Academic traditions, relationships between university- and threat led-sectors, and the opportunities and challenges engendered by working with human remains, differ in different countries.

High-levels of toxic elements and radioactivity in an abandoned sulphur mine: Insights on the origin and associated environmental concerns

Natural fibrous epsomite crystals containing high amounts of toxic and radioactive elements have recently been discovered in the abandoned sulphur mine of Perticara (Italy). In the present study, all the different matrices that characterize the Perticara mine (air, water, host-rock, minerals, and bitumen) were sampled and investigated employing a multi-analytical approach to define the distribution and origin of these hazardous elements. Water samples showed high Al, Fe, Pb, Mg, and Mn content but not radioactive elements. The bitumen sample showed a higher amount of 210Po and 210Pb (0.12 Bq/g and 0.11 Bq/g, respectively), compared to the host-rock and fibrous sericolite samples, but lower than fibrous epsomite crystals (210Po 5.59 Bq/g; 210Pb 5.93 Bq/g). A high 222Rn concentration was also detected in the tunnels and it is likely the source of both 210Po and 210Pb, which are in radioactive equilibrium, especially in epsomite. This latter mineral, being capable of capturing 210Po and 210Pb, can be used as a helpful mineral indicator for the presence of radioactive elements in similar environmental conditions. Moreover, our results also highlight a slight anomaly in the 40K and 226Ra content of the host-rock, probably derived from the evaporitic sediments of the rock succession. The current risk for humans linked to the mine environment is minor since the activity of the mine ended several decades ago. However, the results of this study must be taken into serious consideration for any future development of this area (e.g., industrial archaeology, farming, educational, scientific and touristic purposes), and represent the basis for the calculation of radiotoxicity and dose assessment, which is fundamental for the correct and safe management of the mining environment and neighbouring areas.

Examining the residual radiological footprint of a former colliery: An industrial nuclear archaeology investigation

Nuclear industrial archaeology utilises radiation mapping and characterisation technologies to gain an insight into the radiological footprint of industrial heritage sites. Increased concentrations of naturally occurring radioactive materials at legacy mine sites are the result of elemental enrichment during coal mining and subsequent combustion. Public safety is of concern around these sites, and therefore, an increased understanding of their associated hazard is essential. Using coincident laser scanning and gamma detection technologies, this study sought to assess the radiological legacy of a coal mine located in Bristol, UK. From this, we can increase our understanding of the residual footprints associated with the local coal mining industry. Samples taken from inside the site were characterised using high resolution gamma spectrometry, wherein the radionuclide content and activities of samples were then quantified. An area of elevated low-level radioactivity was observed at and around buildings believed to belong to the colliery, while Th, U, and K are confirmed at the site from photopeak's of daughter radionuclides. Activities of the radionuclides K-40, U-238, and Th-232 were further quantified during subsequent laboratory analysis. Results highlight an enrichment of naturally occurring radionuclides when compared with global averages for unburned coal. Employing these techniques at further legacy sites would enable an increased understanding of the lasting traces of the coal mining industry, with a focus on NORM enrichment in residual fly ash.

A Study of the Accuracy of a 3D Indoor Camera for Industrial Archaeology Applications

The paper aims to study the geometrical quality and opportunities of the state-of-the-art 3D camera Matterport Pro and examine its potential for industrial archaeology applications. The presented study consisted of two steps. In the first step, the geometrical quality of the camera-generated point cloud was investigated on the calibration test field. The geometrical quality was checked in two ways: (1) with distance comparison between reference targets and (2) with point cloud comparison. The coordinates of the reference targets were determined using a high-precision total station, while the FARO Scanner generated the reference point cloud. The study established that Matterport Pro has a scale systematic error that must be accounted for in 3D modeling and the inventory of archaeological objects. In the second step, the geometrical quality of the camera was checked for the actual archaeological object. As such an object, the historical copper-shaft Quincy Mine in Michigan State Upper Peninsula was considered. The specific subject of the study was one of the largest hoist engines in the world. The Matterport Pro camera scanned the indoor environment of the hoist engine house. The accuracy of the 3D model of the hoist engine was checked using additional linear measurements on-site. It was found that the accuracy of 1% showed that the camera specification can be improved through calibration. As an output of the second step, the accurately refined 3D model of the hoist engine’s interior was built. That model was embedded into a 3D model of the hoist engine’s house for usage in virtual tours of the Quincy Mine Museum. Finally, a virtual tour was created of the Quincy Mine house with exterior and interior models referenced to the geographical frame.

Paul Bishop, landscape and local history: a life and a legacy

ABSTRACT Paul Bishop’s interest in local history was longstanding. As he neared retirement, he expanded his researches into local landscapes and a longheld interest in industrial archaeology. As Paul's desire to minimise his carbon footprint increased, so did his research into the local area where we lived in East Dunbartonshire. As well as using his skills and experience as a geomorphologist, Paul extended his research methods, examining dovecotes, horse gins, ha-has, lime kilns, bleachworks, flax mills, the linen industry and other topics related to his great loves: landscape, mills and local history. Paul went in, waders and all. This piece is designed to trace the origins of Paul’s enthusiasm for local history, to discuss the characteristics of Paul’s involvement in this research area, his collaborations and his significant contribution to local history in Scotland, not only through research but by his service to various groups and bodies involved in Scottish local history. Part of Paul’s legacy is his ability to enthuse and engage people in learning about their local environments. He leaves behind an extensive archive. A more general point is made about personal archives and how we might approach them in order to preserve such materials.

The Debated Discovery of Dolomite and the Proposal of a New Geosite at Borcola Pass (Eastern Italian Pre-Alps) in Honor of Giovanni Arduino

Within the Venetian Pre-Alps, the Borcola Pass connects the Posina (Vicenza province) and the Terragnolo (Trento province) valleys. The Posina valley is located north of Schio (Vicenza) within the Italian Southern Alps structural unit. In this area, the injection of Paleogene basaltic dykes along fault/fractures in the late Triassic Dolomia Principale unit has produced a local metamorphism of the dolomite rock into a marble characterized by the presence of brucite veins. This marble was studied in the eighteenth century by the famous Italian scientist Giovanni Arduino, who understood its metamorphic origin. In fact, the marble is always associated with sub-vertical basaltic dykes intruded into the carbonate rocks of the Pre-Alps. Arduino performed also chemical experiments on the marble. The reading of the description of the experiments induced later authors (e.g., Maraschini, von Morlot, Mc Kenzie) to infer that Arduino unknowingly discovered the mineral called dolomite. In this work, we propose that the abandoned Borcola Quarry should be nominated as a geosite, to allow its conservation and popularization and to preserve the memory of a probably minor, yet informative step in the long-lived history of the discovery of dolomite. In addition, this site presents other reasons of interest, such as petrography, mineralogy, structural geology, industrial archeology, and eco-geotourism. The proposed geosite is therefore of great importance in terms of its multidisciplinary scientific value, aesthetic appeal, and educational value.

An Introduction to Nuclear Industrial Archaeology

The legacy of the early days of the Atomic Age consists of many problematic sites worldwide, including radioactive waste dumps, uranium mines, spent fuel reprocessing plants, and defunct processing and enrichment plants. Although nature quickly reclaims abandoned sites, any remaining radioisotopes can pose a threat for millennia to come, long after the benefits gained from nuclear technology have faded. The field of nuclear industrial archaeology specialises in finding and characterising these sites to support local communities and site owners. Where maps and building plans have been lost, nuclear archaeologists deploy state-of-the-art analysis techniques on the ground to unravel the current state of legacy sites, and quantify the remaining radioactive inventories to the standard required by the nation the site is located within. The objectives of nuclear industrial archaeology are varied and site dependent. Whether the objective is to puzzle the forgotten history of activity back together or safeguard and recover dangerous radioactive materials, nuclear industrial archaeology adapts radioanalytical laboratory and site-surveying techniques in order to understand the site and allow scientists to communicate this information to support remediation efforts. This paper discusses current methodologies alongside a case study.

Spontaneous Officinal Plants in the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park: Tradition, Protection, Enhancement, and Recovery.

The aim of this study was to deepen our knowledge on the heritage and traditional uses of some medicinal plants of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park (Salerno province) and to evaluate their productive potential, in order to increase possible uses to recover and enhance the territory. Biometric surveys and biomass evaluation were carried out. Two types of aqueous extract were prepared using air-dried samples of six harvested species and tested for anti-germination activity on Lepidium sativum L. Hydrolates were recovered via steam distillation from aromatic species and the chemical-physical characteristics were determined. Historical evidence of industrial activity was collected in the territory of Sanza on Monte Cervati, where lavender essential oil has been distilled in the past century, and characterization of the essential oil components was carried out. The ethnobotanical uses detected mainly concerned traditional medicine and nutritional, ritual, or religious uses. The experimental results highlight that spontaneous medicinal plants could become potential sources of local economic development, with uses not only in the phytotherapeutic sector, but also in others, such as food and agriculture for weed control. Moreover, the evidence derived from industrial archeology could represent a further driving force for the enhancement of the territory's resources.

An in-depth look at the application of GIS for industrial heritage documentation

The use of geospatial technologies to identify and document architectural heritage, with the associated benefits for managing information, is already relatively widespread. However, there has been little discussion about the difficulties, decision-making process and problems encountered when using GIS to digitize data, identify and document this heritage. This study sets out to propose a conceptual work to explore the relationship between immovable industrial heritage documentation and GIS application on the basis of case studies, in particular: the identification and documentation of the industrial heritage in the Eurocity of Guadiana and the olive mills in Écija. After discussing the workflow developed, the difficulties and problems encountered, and how these determine the structure of the GIS model, the decision-making process and the results, this paper concludes that further progress is still necessary to acquire a more pragmatic vision of the use of GIS in the field of industrial archaeology.

Археологические работы на территории фаянсового завода Казариновых в 2020–2021 гг.

Studies of the faience industry of the second half of the 19th century are continuing in the Kirov region. During the 2020–2021 period, the Kazarinovs factory was discovered, it was also taken under state protection and its systematic study began. This is one of the first archaeological works in Russia on such a monument of industrial archeology. The obtained collection allows drawing conclusions about the product range and its decor, as well as about the technological features of production. It was found that unlike, for example, many others entrepreneurs, the Kazarinovs did not produce a wide range of products. The small number of labels made it possible to assume that the Kazarinovs did not put labels on all their products and therefore the products of local factories can be stored in museum collections, but their attribution due to the absence of labels is not possible. The findings of saggers and sagger triangular pins made it possible to clarify the firing process and more fully describe the production of earthenware.

Research, protection, and possibilities of re-use of post-war industrial heritage in the Czech Republic

Buildings of an industrial nature dated from the 1950s through '80s are often quite interesting from the standpoint of typology, architecture and technology, and correspond to the development of technological industrial efforts of that era. Still, they sit on the periphery of professional interest, in both the Czech Republic and abroad. The topic of industrial architecture which existed by the 1950s is already positioned in the professional spheres on the research and protection of industrial heritage, as well as the methodological development of industrial heritage. Industrial archaeology usually deals only with the industrialization period, and at the same time is difficult for contemporary researchers to postpone the debate forward. Our contemporary research thus plays very important role in evaluation of a typical and atypical examples of industrial buildings of that time. We continually lose many iconic buildings as well as a strata of historical culture as efforts are ongoing to determine both the ways we can protect this portion of industrial heritage and detail the problems that emerge in efforts to reuse it.

Industrial heritage of a lumber company in Santa Catarina state, Brazil: considerations about industrial archaeology and the history of material culture

The current article introduces industrial landscape formation in Brazil’s southern backcountry early in the 20th century, and the implementation of a large log extraction and processing complex – the extracted lumber was well preserved in midwestern Santa Catarina State up to that time. The operation of large lumber processing facilities (including the construction of company-town), which was boosted by substantial changes in destruction of the natural environment was little affected by such ventures, at that time. A population of squatters composed of Portuguese-Brazilians and indigenous peoples lived in this area before enterprise was implemented. Subsistence in this region was based on systems that were little systems that had little impact on the environment. The present study focuses on industrial archaeology of the lumber company; thus, we herein present the basic background of both cultural heritage and archaeology studies that have been slowly developed in this area.

‘The Cradle of the Industrial Revolution’ : The Museumification of the Ironbridge World Heritage

This paper analyses the heritagization process focusing on the case of the Ironbridge and the Blists Hill Victorian Town in the Ironbridge World Heritage sites. The Ironbridge gorge area was transformed from industrial ruins into ‘the cradle of the Industrial Revolution’ through the process of the museumification. The Industrial Archaeology brought up in 1959 raised the necessity of excavation and preservation of industrial ruins. The development of Telford New Town project was the direct moment of the establishment of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. Then the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust which runs 10 museums became the main actor of industrial heritage management. As a palimsest process, new meanings were added to industrial heritage. In the first stage of industrial heritagization, elite innovator who made ‘the first’ was praised. However, new attention on tension between elite and masses and memory politics emerged recently. The restoration of history of coracle is the example. The Blists Hill Victorian Town raises the issue of authenticity of industrial heritage. As a fake town, the Blists Hill Victorian Town is not the case of nostalgic commercialization of the past but the public history space which provides the immersion to visitors and meditates history and masses.

Timber, Sail, and Rail: An Archaeology of Industry, Immigration, and the Loma Prieta Mill by Marco G. Meniketti

Reviewed by: Timber, Sail, and Rail: An Archaeology of Industry, Immigration, and the Loma Prieta Mill by Marco G. Meniketti Erik Loomis (bio) Timber, Sail, and Rail: An Archaeology of Industry, Immigration, and the Loma Prieta Mill By Marco G. Meniketti. New York: Berghahn Books, 2020. Pp. 222. Marco Meniketti is a long-time leader in the field of historical archaeology, and in Timber, Sail, and Rail he combines his professional history with his personal interest in immigration. As an Italian American working in California, he is deeply invested in the extent to which one can read an archaeological site for ethnicity. Given the complex and varied ethnic history of the West Coast timber industry, Meniketti decided to test this thesis. [End Page 1199] He is the first to note that his successes were modest. In short, the archaeological record does not definitely demonstrate variegated ethnic roles and cultures in this particular California timber camp between 1885 and 1920. Whether this dims your view of this book depends on what you intend on getting from it. While the failure of a thesis might often lead one to question a book's value, Meniketti still goes far in demonstrating the ethnic history of this mill and strongly shows what we might glean from the archaeological record around it. The Loma Prieta Mill was located outside of Santa Cruz, California. It was a sizable operation in a part of the West Coast that has received less attention from logging scholars than Northern California or the Pacific Northwest. It operated in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, providing much-needed wood to the economic engine of San Francisco. Like many of these timber camps, it also had an ethnically diverse workforce, made up of Italian, Irish, Mexican, and French workers. Meniketti provides a solid history of the timber industry in the area around San Francisco to ground readers in the history. He then explores the immigration history of the West, with its usual focus on anti-Chinese agitation among white workers, the rise of Scandinavian labor in the Pacific Northwest, and then the population growth of southern and eastern Europeans. That history is quite valuable to readers, though many may already know the outlines. But Meniketti's real interest is in the archaeological record. Over three field seasons, he and his team worked with the California State Parks to explore and excavate the mill site. Readers of this journal will be particularly interested in his deep-dive descriptions of the technologies deployed at the site and the histories of their use. From saws to flywheels, Meniketti provides a detailed analysis of timber technology. The geographical origins of bricks in the boiler are used to highlight the globalized nature of the industry, for example. It is in the housing and detritus left by laborers that Meniketti most hopes to demonstrate the ethnic background of workers. He ran into problems here from already cleared dump sites, but he also managed to excavate several housing arrangements. He and his team found plenty of material, but it proved difficult to make any particular ethnic connections with the objects. In the end, glass artifacts and discarded pocketknives don't provide much of a window into ethnicity. He can guess though. When finding a piece of glass with either Chinese or Japanese etching, he extrapolates that he has possibly found a Japanese person in the camp practicing traditional medicine or a piece of equipment from a Chinese cook killed during the 1906 earthquake. Well, it's something and Meniketti doesn't make elaborate claims for it. He is after all a professional archaeologist with little to prove in his distinguished career. He notes that finding a Scottish pipe, for example, tells us almost nothing about who used it because they were imported in such large quantities at the time [End Page 1200] to be nearly ubiquitous. Again, these may be limited claims, but they tell readers much about life in the timber camps. In the end, Meniketti's findings may be modest, but Timber, Sail, and Rail is still a valuable examination of the timber industry's technology, culture, and people in the late nineteenth and early twentieth...

Abangares, Guanacaste. mining production as an example of industrial archeology in Costa Rica

This article focuses on the investigative potential of the contexts associated with a case of gold extraction developed in Costa Rica by a transnational during the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The intensity with which the ore was extracted from the Abangares mountain range, as well as the state-of-the-art technology at the time, which is present in a large part of the mines called Tres Amigos and Tres Hermanos (La Sierra district); makes this place an optimal space for the development of anthropological, archaeological and historical research. However, to start we will focus on the evidence found on the property of the Ecomuseo de Las Minas de Abangares, an instance directed by the local government (municipality). Several of the material remnants of this mining production are found "in situ" and with part of them the Ecomuseum of Las Minas de Abangares was created, which has a declaration of "Historic Architectural Monument" according to Law 7555 of Costa Rica. The foregoing constitutes one of the first declarations of an asset as industrial architectural heritage in the country (declared in 2001) and that offers possibilities for future research, conservation and dissemination in Costa Rica of these contexts.

Port Cities Creative Heritage Enhancement (PCCHE) Scenario Approach: Culture and Creativity for Sustainable Development of Naples Port

In the international debate, creative and cultural responses to climate change and environmental sustainability are increasing in policies and practices. Creativity and cultural heritage enhancement can guide the definition of new trajectories of sustainable urban development, particularly in port-city interaction areas. In Europe, port-city interaction areas have been transformed into laboratories of cultural and creative experimentation for the sustainable management of cultural heritage and the urban quality of public spaces. Starting from the studies developed on the main measurement frameworks of creative cities and sustainable development policies, the paper aims to investigate the possibility of developing a “Port-cities Creative Heritage Enhancement” approach to assess and plan possible cultural and creative transformations of historical-architectural buildings, industrial archaeology, and symbolic urban spaces in the port-city interaction areas of Naples.