Archaeological Research Articles

Scale morphology is a promising, additional tool for exploring the taxonomy and ecology of freshwater fishes

AbstractIt has long been recognized that presence–absence, localisation, size, number and shape of fish scales can be important taxonomic features. Although there are some notes on the relationship between scale morphology and ecological needs, in the absence of a sufficiently large and detailed database, the morphological variability of fish scales and the factors responsible for this variability have not yet been explored in detail. For this reason, a database—which contains the shape and relative size data of 193 freshwater fish taxa of 14 orders, originated from five biogeographic realms—has been built. Database analyses showed that both the scale shape and relative size are proper taxonomic indicators. They can be used to separate higher taxonomic categories (e.g., orders), and by the simultaneous analysis of shape and size scale morphology, we showed increased sensitivity for species‐level detachments. Our results suggest that while both the shape and the size of the fish scales are genetically determined, they are also useful descriptors of the niche segregation (habitat use, flow preference) of close relative species. Scale morphology is a promising additional tool to specify the environmental preferences of lesser known or close relative recent and extinct fish species. And also can be of great help in such cases when only the scales are available for taxonomic identification, for example, in the research field of archaeology and palaeontology.

The cross-disciplinary influence of aerial measurement techniques: Exploring archaeological studies through photogrammetry and LiDAR

This research aimed to evaluate the efficacy of contemporary digitization methods for archaeological sites, specifically focusing on aerial approaches. The study is concentrated on the examination of two primary methods: LiDAR sensor and photogrammetry. The chosen case study revolves around the Camp of the V Macedonica Legion, a pivotal feature of the former Roman city now known as Turda, a city in Cluj County, Transylvania, Romania. Through analysis and comparison, the paper revealed that each of these aerial 3D scanning techniques possesses unique strengths, which, when combined, offer a comprehensive approach to archaeological digitization. These complementary attributes must be carefully considered and integrated considering the specific requirements and objectives of the archaeological project at hand when selecting the appropriate method. Furthermore, the research underscores the pivotal role of presenting archaeology in 3D, emphasizing its significant impact on both public and academic audiences. Achieving this presentation necessitates the utilization of specialized software for modelling, rendering, and animating objects of interest, thus enhancing the accessibility and engagement of archaeological findings. The comprehensive findings of this study demonstrate the vast potential offered by aerial 3D scans in the field of archaeology. Moreover, it serves as a potential call for the meticulous selection of the analysis method, recognizing its crucial role as a valuable tool for researchers and archaeologists. By leveraging 3D technologies in their activities, professionals in the field can significantly enhance the accuracy, depth, and accessibility of their archaeological investigations, thereby enriching our understanding of the past.

Chronology of the Bronze Age in southeast Transylvania

The southeastern part of Transylvania has a specific location in the Carpathian Basin. Being situated on the western fringe of the Eastern Carpathians, influences from west (inner Transylvania and the Great Hungarian Plain) and east (Moldavia and the northern Pontic area) can be traced through human history. The mountains were never an impenetrable border, and their porosity has made it possible for external cultural influences to expand. As a result southeastern Transylvania can be seen as a “contact zone” between East and West, where the above-mentioned influences have sometimes been weaker, but have never ceased: the continuous contacts and links were always present between the two sides of the Carpathians, something that has been confirmed by the numerous archaeological discoveries. While in recent years more and more 14C data have been reported from central and western Transylvania, this number has been negligible from the study area. In the last three years we have managed to measure 33 samples from 23 key-sites belonging to the Bronze Age, covering the whole period. The results have brought us closer to answering the questions that have preoccupied specialists dealing with the Bronze Age for decades. Many of the dates are the first ones for some of the cultures present in the study area (for example, for the Jigodin and Gáva Cultures), offering new, independent dating. The new results confirm many of the earlier suppositions regarding the Bronze Age chronology of the area, but have also raised some problems, which will need to be clarified in the future.

Provenance of the pumice manuports from archaeological sites at the Vitim River, East Siberia, Russia

This article presents and discusses the results obtained by X-ray fluorescence and KAr methods regarding pumice pieces found at two archaeological sites: Ust’-Karenga XVI (9000–8000 cal BP) and Kovrizhka III (∼13,000 cal BP) (Vitim River, Transbaikalia, Russia). KAr dating and geochemical characteristics of pumice from the Kovrizhka and Ust’-Karenga sites indicate that they are a product of the eruptions of the Udokan volcanic field, and not the Vitim volcanic field, which are two volcanic regions of Transbaikalia. Ancient people residing at both sites were aware of the same resources within the territories, despite the fact that they lived at different times; this is evidenced by the fact that the archaeological material found in the ritual pit of Ust’-Karenga XVI is similar in terms of cultural remains to the archaeological finds of the Kovrizhka group of sites of the age range from ∼6700 to 13,000 cal BP. In this work, we assume that ancient people used not only stone resources but also thermal springs of the territory of the Udokan volcanic field. Based on the paleogeographical data of the region, we reconstruct the possible routes used by ancient humans to deliver and/or exchange raw materials necessary for economic purposes. Our new data in combination with previously published data for Transbaikalia and other regions of Siberia suggest that the connection between the ancient populations living in these areas often persisted at distances >1000 km.

Medieval groove plane: A wood-carving tool from the archaeological excavations in Elbląg

The author focuses on explaining the way of using and the function of an iron-and-wood object found during archaeological research of a site at the back of a town plot in the Old Town of Elbląg. The object is dated to the 1240s. A search for analogous archaeological finds in combination with the study of other categories of sources, including ethnographic and iconographic ones, made it possible to establish that this was a tool for cutting grooves in wood. It served to produce long, relatively narrow and not very deep grooves, mainly in shingles.

Northwest Transdanubia from the end of the Early Bronze Age until the Koszider Period

Review article of the PhD dissertation submitted in 2023 to the Archaeology Doctoral Programme, Doctoral School of History, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, and written under the supervision of Gábor V. Szabó. The dissertation investigated the processes taking place at the end of the Early and in the Middle Bronze Age in northwest Hungary, predominantly in Győr-Moson-Sopron County, based on sites at Nagycenk, Hegyeshalom, Enese, Győr-Ménfőcsanak, and Mosonszentmiklós. This region between the Devín Gate and the confluence of the Rába and Danube rivers is important for European research on prehistory, as it could have been a gateway between the Carpathian Basin and the western parts of Central Europe. The complex statistical evaluation of the collected archaeological finds and their contexts has revealed the diversity of the material culture (Gáta–Wieselburg, Kisapostag, Transdanubian Encrusted Pottery Culture) and mortuary practices (inhumation and cremation burial rites, diverse patterns of grave furnishing) in the study area and period. In addition, a spatial analysis of the sites indicated a change in the settlement pattern between 2200 and 1500 BC. The typochronological analysis and the radiocarbon data helped specify the chronology and refine the connections maintained with Central European territories.

The Persian plateau served as hub for Homo sapiens after the main out of Africa dispersal

A combination of evidence, based on genetic, fossil and archaeological findings, indicates that Homo sapiens spread out of Africa between ~70-60 thousand years ago (kya). However, it appears that once outside of Africa, human populations did not expand across all of Eurasia until ~45 kya. The geographic whereabouts of these early settlers in the timeframe between ~70-60 to 45 kya has been difficult to reconcile. Here we combine genetic evidence and palaeoecological models to infer the geographic location that acted as the Hub for our species during the early phases of colonisation of Eurasia. Leveraging on available genomic evidence we show that populations from the Persian Plateau carry an ancestry component that closely matches the population that settled the Hub outside Africa. With the paleoclimatic data available to date, we built ecological models showing that the Persian Plateau was suitable for human occupation and that it could sustain a larger population compared to other West Asian regions, strengthening this claim.

Sanxingdui Archaeology and Cultural Publicity

This paper deeply discusses the archaeology and culture of Sanxingdui, and systematically analyzes the importance of the archaeological site from multiple perspectives. Sanxingdui archaeology is one of the most important archaeological discoveries in Chinese history, which shows the unique charm of the ancient Shu civilization through its rich cultural relics and valuable cultural relics. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the external publicity problems of Sanxingdui archaeology and culture, analyze its current situation and challenges, and propose corresponding solutions. Promote Sanxingdui culture through effective Sanxingdui marketing strategies, and attract more tourists to visit Sanxingdui site, so that it can better spread the important value and cultural connotation of Sanxingdui, and enhance its international visibility and influence.

X-chromosomal STRs in aDNA kinship analysis.

The analysis of ancient DNA (aDNA) from human skeletal remains can provide useful insights when investigating archaeological finds. One popular application of aDNA is to examine genealogical relationships between individuals recovered at the same archaeological site. For the reconstruction of genealogical relationships, several genetic markers are commonly used: autosomal STRs, mitochondrial lineages (based on SNP-analysis) and Y-chromosomal haplotypes (based on Y-STR-analysis). In this paper, we present the additional opportunities that X-STRs provide in aDNA kinship reconstruction, especially in deficiency cases and for the examination of father-daughter relationships. Possible applications are demonstrated on a range of different kinship reconstructions: confirmation of half-siblingship in the Lichtenstein cave (Germany), exclusion of two potential father-daughter relationships in Goslar (Germany), investigation of three siblingships in Boilstädt (Germany) as well as the confirmation of a father-daughter relationship in Stolpe (Germany). This study shows that the analysis of X-STRs can contribute to the investigation of relationship constellations otherwise difficult to approach (e.g. father-daughter relationships) and that X-STRs are useful to support and complement autosomal STRs, mtDNA and Y-STR data.

Archaeology of psychotropic substances: The problem of analytical detection of ayahuasca

AbstractThe primary objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges involved in detecting ancient ayahuasca, a traditional hallucinogenic drink from the Amazon region, which is prepared using Banisteriopsis caapi liana and other plants, by utilizing advanced analytical techniques. The presence of harmine and harmaline in Andean archaeological findings has led certain authors to speculate that the Banisteriopsis liana may have been the source plant responsible for their occurrence. Consequently, the utilization of this liana can be traced back to at least 500 CE. However, a combination of archaeological, ethnobotanical, biochemical and analytical chemistry considerations has rendered uncertain the true origins of the presence of harmine and harmaline in ancient mummies and artifacts. Thus, the archaeological evidence does not convincingly prove the ancient usage of ayahuasca.

‘Reclaiming their stories’: A study of the spiritual content of historical cultural objects through an Indigenous creative inquiry

Developing methods for communicating, analysing, and interpreting the spiritual context of cultural objects is essential to gaining a deep understanding of the past. In archaeology, Indigenous methodologies in the field of creativity as an embodied exploration can enable archaeologists to understand how we perceive and interpret cultural information. This article examines how art making, within Indigenous cultures, serves as a powerful lens through which archaeological inquiries can be spiritually interpreted. This intricate relationship between art making and archaeological exploration provides a nuanced understanding of the spiritual significance inherent in historical relics. Its objective is to highlight Indigenous creative embodied methodologies, embracing a decolonised perspective that honours Indigenous worldviews. Serving as a bridge, it narrows the divide between creative craftsmanship and the field of archaeology.

Fantastic Flails and Where to Find Them: The Body of Evidence for the Existence of Flails in the Early and High Medieval Eras in Western, Central, and Southern Europe

Flails are one of the most contentious and misunderstood classes of medieval weaponry, despite their prevalence in popular media: some researchers question their existence entirely and the bulk of historians are skeptical of widespread temporal and geographical prevalence, while others, and a significant volume of period evidence, would argue the contrary. While the expansive use of flails in Eastern Europe and Byzantium is familiar, many Central, Western, and Southern European sources are less well known or largely forgotten, especially those stemming from the later-early and early high medieval eras (up to 1250). In this work, I collate and discuss the bulk of the available literary references and artistic depictions of flails and their use alongside some of the archaeological finds from Western, Central, and Southern Europe, with an emphasis on the 12th and 13th centuries. The significance of this volume of evidence is examined, and an assessment of flails as a part of medieval culture and warfare is considered. Collectively, this would suggest that knowledge of flails as instruments of war and associated cultural connotations, if not their actual prevalence and use in warfare, was far more widespread across Europe this time period than has been previously estimated.

Disposal of the Dead in Recently Abandoned Settlement Areas — an Evidence of the Siege of Olbia Pontica by Zopyrion?

The present contribution focuses on extraordinary features with human remains of the 4th century BC which have been discovered to the west of the core city area of Olbia Pontica. There are numerous multiple burials within former settlement structures. The deceased were put in them without any grave goods, mainly in irregular positions and in some cases with obvious traces of external violence. Based on the archaeological finding, which is presented here for the first time exhaustively, we review the suggestion of previous research: a possible connection of these features with human remains with the siege of the city by the Macedonian general Zopyrion, which has been recorded in literature.

Jewellery of Pastyrske Circle among Materials of Saltiv Culture: Data Analysis

In the paper, jewellery from sites and assemblages of the Saltiv culture, which do not chronologically fit within the boundaries of its existence, are considered. In the article the jewellery characteristic of the Pastyrske hillfort is analysed (group II, subgroup 2). It is represented by two burial complexes and two hoards. Sukha Homilsha cemetery 1 was investigated by V. K. Mikhiev. Burial no. 29 (fig. 1) contained a medallion pendant similar to finds from Pastyrske hoard of 1949 and a number of other assemblages from the second half of the 7th to the first half of the 8th centuries. Burial date: late 8th — early 9th centuries. Staryi Saltiv cemetery was investigated by V. H. Borodulin and V. K. Mikheev. In catacomb no. 21 (fig. 3) in a female burial was found anthropozoomorphic fibula — type VI-D according to O. M. Prykhodniuk or type II.1 according to V. Rodinkova. The date of the burial is debatable: V. S. Aksionov dates it within the boundaries of 750—770, while O. V. Komar believes that it belongs to the Middle Saltiv horizon II, that is, from 790s. Varvarivka hoard discovered in 2017. The complex includes: tools associated with metalworking, handicraft products for general purposes and for the processing of organic raw materials, household items. Bronze items are divided into three groups: armour details (?), raw materials and jewellery. A fibula, similar to the find from catacomb no. 21 of the Staryi Saltiv cemetery, belongs to the items of the Pastyrske circle. Khorosheve hoard discovered in 2021. The asssemblage includes: implement for working with metal, raw materials and weapons. The rest of the items are bronze jewellery, most of which belong to the Pastyrske circle: one earring and three fibulae. All the considered monuments of the Saltiv culture with finds of jewellery from Pastyrske hillfort are concentrated in the Siverskyi Donets basin. The main stage of their existence is defined within the chronological boundaries of the Pastyrske hillfort existence — the middle of the 7th — the middle of the 8th centuries. Two hoards of the Pastyrske circle are known in this region — Zaitsiv and Korobovi Khutory. Archaeological finds of fibulae and an earring of this circle were also revealed in this region. These data indicate that the Slavic population with significant cultural and trade ties with Pastyrske hillfort lived in the Siverskyi Donets basin during the second half of the 7th — the first half of the 8th centuries. The chronology of burial no. 29 of the Sukha Homilsha cemetery differs from the chronology of the existence of the round pendant by at least half a century (table 1). The chronology of the hoards from Varvarivka and Khorosheve is embedded in the general boundaries of the Saltiv culture existence: from 740—750 — the first decades of the 10th century. The chronology of the female burial from catacomb no. 21 of the Staryi Saltiv cemetery is debatable: 750—770 or from the 790s. An analysis of items belonging to the Pastyrske circle from the sites and assemblages of the Saltiv culture indicates that these adornments could have been reused. They do not necessarily indicate the contacts of the Slavic population with the inhabitants of the Khazar Khaganate.

Russian-Ukrainian War: Biographical Discourse on Ukrainian Heroes

In this article, the author addresses the importance of encyclopedic publications aimed at highlighting and popularizing the defenders of Ukraine. These individuals not only protect their homeland in the war against Russia but also, through their successful and heroic deeds, defend the contemporary global order embodying a humanistic, democratic path of civilization development. The Russian-Ukrainian war, lasting almost a decade, with the last two years being full-scale and particularly brutal and destructive, has vividly exposed the gap between Ukrainians and Russians, dispelling long-held notions of fraternal nations. Ukrainians represent democracy, peace, and progress, while Russians embody totalitarianism, aggression, and decline. Throughout centuries, regardless of Russia's political system, it exploited Ukraine by annexing territories, exploiting natural resources, looting archaeological findings, destroying ancient landmarks, appropriating history, culture, language, and ruthlessly targeting talented Ukrainians, depriving the nation of its elite. Today, all masks have been torn off: the leadership of the Russian Federation seeks to permanently resolve the Ukrainian issue, committing genocide on the sovereign territory of Ukraine. Unfortunately, the war has “opened the eyes” of many Ukrainians, prompting them to recall not only the sad moments of its history but also times of glory and world fame. Stories of the victorious regiments of Russian-Ukrainians under Prince Sviatoslav, the daring Cossacks Ivan Sirko and Ivan Bohun, and the exploits of Ukrainians during the First and Second World Wars have come to the forefront. Ukrainian historical scholarship has already produced substantial research on these periods of military history, including encyclopedic formats. The building the biographical references, especially encyclopedias, about heroes of the Russian-Ukrainian war is relevant from various perspectives: not only preserving the memory of contemporary elite Ukrainians but also laying the groundwork for future research in history, including military history, and biographistics.

Galactic Archeology with Luminous Red Giant Oscillations in Gaia DR3 Photometry

Asteroseismology has significantly advanced the field of Galactic archeology, providing essential insights into the formation and evolution of our Galaxy. Here we present an asteroseismic analysis of 103 luminous red giant stars that were observed by Gaia in our Galaxy and the Large Magellanic Cloud. Leveraging a period–luminosity–amplitude relationship determined using data from the OGLE mission, we measure distances to these stars of up to 100 kpc, probing distances more than a factor of 2 beyond where Gaia parallaxes can be measured accurately. We have determined distance uncertainties of 8% or better for 80% of the stars in our sample and reduced known distance uncertainties for stars in this sample by more than a factor of 2 on average. Applying this approach to future Gaia data releases can provide more precise and accurate distances and constrain fundamental properties for 10,000+ stars across our Galaxy.

Aid from the Elf-Ruler: Line 1314a and the Pre-Christian Antecedents of Beowulf

Abstract: Line 1314b of Beowulf is regularly emended to “alwalda” (Ruler of All) from the manuscript form “alf walda” (Ruler of Elves). But the other instances of “alwalda” in Beowulf do not have visible space between the l and the w , and no plausible motivation for the addition of an f and a space has been proposed if the exemplar read “alwalda.” We contend, therefore, that MS “alf walda” is correct, and that the compound refers to the pre-Christian deity Yngvi-Freyr (to use the more familiar Norse name) rather than to the Christian God. We note that in the same passage in which “alf walda” appears, the Danes are called the “Ingwine” (friends/followers of Ing) and that later in the poem Hrothgar’s daughter is named “Freawaru” (watchful care of Freyr). Connecting this material with archaeological finds at Gamle Lejre that indicate the sacrifice of pigs (Freyr’s sacred animal), the place name Hleiðra (“the place of the tent”), and the statement in line 175 that the Danes made sacrifices “æt hærgtrafum” (at the pagan tabernacles), we argue that “alf walda” is part of a larger pattern of connections between the Danes in Beowulf and pre-Christian Germanic practices that appear to have been understood by one of Beowulf’ s sources (and perhaps by the Beowulf -poet) but which were opaque to later scribes.

Archaeology of Modern Conflict and Heritage Legislation in Lithuania during Thirty Years of Restored Independence

After the Lithuanian National Revival in 1988 and the restoration of independence in 1990, the public on their own initiative searched for the remains of fallen anti-Soviet Lithuanian partisans (1944-1953), excavating the burial sites of partisan remains, their bunkers and dugouts. Such excavations prompted the need to establish regulations and procedures for the exhumation and transfer of the remains of victims of 20th-century conflicts and occupation regimes. Government resolutions adopted in 1992 obliged prosecutors, archaeologists, anthropologists and forensic medical experts to be involved in the exhumation procedure and to carry out the exhumation in accordance with the basic requirements of archaeological research. Owing to the restoration and destruction of authentic partisan bunkers and dugouts, the increase in archaeological investigations at 20th-century conflict sites, as well as the emergence of a distinct field of modern conflict archaeology, the 2022 revision of the Archaeological Heritage Management Regulation stipulated the necessity to carry out archaeological research prior to any excavation works at all 19th- and 20th-century conflict sites. Between 1995 and 2022, a total of 171 permits for archaeological excavations at 20th-century conflict sites were issued. Investigations were mostly carried out at the burial sites of Wehrmacht and Polish Home Army (Armia Krajowa) soldiers of the Second World War and Lithuanian partisans. Partisan bunkers, dugouts, campsites, battlefields also received considerable attention. Today, more than 1700 20th-century conflict sites have legal protection in Lithuania. These include Lithuanian Partisan War sites (mainly sites of death and burial), burial sites of soldiers from the First and Second World Wars, sites of massacres and burials of Jews, and other sites associated with the Soviet and Nazi occupation regimes. This article focuses on 20th-century conflict sites in Lithuania, examining issues of their protection, heritage conservation and archaeology, as well as current trends in archaeological research methodology.

Robotic fabrication of clay acoustic resonators

Digital fabrication offers the potential for the creation of complex geometries and mass-customized products; however, most 3D printers do not scale sufficiently to create architectural scale components. Robotic fabrication methods may bridge the gap, offering the possibility of architectural-scale 3d-printing capabilities. It has been found that the combination of multiple Helmholtz resonators tuned to different frequencies can create broadband absorption. This research pairs CAD parametric design with robotic clay extrusion as a method of acoustic resonator mass customization. The history of architectural acoustics together with recent archeological discoveries unveils a long-established practice of using clay vases as acoustic devices. And while the efficacy of these vases in historical settings has been contested, the use of large arrays of carefully tuned acoustic vases remains largely unexplored in contemporary practice. This paper presents the acoustic vases' unique history, defines its geometry and performance, and projects the potentials of the acoustic vase in current practice through modelling, simulation, and fabrication. A full-scale prototype wall with 126 robotically 3d-printed clay resonator vases was designed and constructed. The 1:1 prototype was shown in the “Robotic Clay,” which was exhibited at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery in Waterloo, Canada.

Этнокультурная история и современное измерение Ордена знак почета института истории, языка и литературы УФИЦ РАН: от башкирского академцентра к федеральному институту

The Institute of History, Language and Literature of the Ufa Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences is a federal academic institution with a humanitarian profile, the key research area of which is comprehensive Bashkir studies. The Institute, which celebrated its centenary in 2022, has gone a long way from the Society for the Study of Bashkiria at the Academic Center of the People’s Commissariat of Education of Bashkiria, which united ascetic researchers, to the authoritative scientific center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The institution has made and continues to make an invaluable contribution to the study of the archaeology, ancient and modern history, and material and spiritual culture of the multinational region. The Bashkir people, one of the many ethnic groups in the Russian Federation, are the focus of this work. The team’s contributions, which have been recognized in the scientific community of Russia and beyond, not only have a scientific value but also have applied and practical significance. These contributions demonstrate the researchers’ ability to solve problems that face modern humanitarian science, in a qualitative manner. His century-old scientific biography and ethnocultural history include significant archaeological discoveries, fundamental monographic and collective research, scientific collections, multi-volume collections of the Bashkir folk art, anthologies of the Bashkir literature, numerous linguistic and encyclopedic dictionaries that incorporated creative ideas, thoughts, achievements of several generations of scientists (M.A. Burangulov, T.H. Akhmadiev, N.V. Bikbulatov, I.M. Gvozdikova, R.G. Kuzeev, H.F. Usmanov, M.V. Murzabulatov, S.N. Shitova, N.A. Mazhitov, A.H. Pshenichnyuk, N.H. Maksyutova, S.F. Mirzhanova, Z.G. Uraksin, F.G. Khisamitdinova, A.I. Kharisov, G.B. Khusainov, N.T. Zaripov, A.M. Suleymanov, F.A. Nadrshina, etc.). From the study of archaeology in the Southern Urals region and its ancient history and culture, to understanding modern socio-cultural processes and modern history in Bashkiria, anthropology, ethnography, and the Bashkir language research, computational linguistics, dialectology, folk art, literary studies, archeography, and the study of written and printed materials – these are the main research areas of the Institute’s scientists.