Archaeological Studies Research Articles

Re-wilding Ritual: An Archaeological Study of Plants in Ritual Contexts in the Traprain Law Environs, Scotland

ABSTRACT The study of European prehistory has often associated natural objects as menacing presences rooted in fears concerning, at a basic level, continued subsistence and combative conciliatory ritual practice. Nevertheless, in this time, ritual is imprinted upon entire landscapes with natural objects manipulated to construct ritual spaces. This article considers the nature and purpose of natural objects, specifically plant species, within prehistoric ritual practice in Scotland through consideration of the Traprain Law environs, East Lothian. Within prehistoric contexts, the Traprain Law environs are formed partly through the physical manifestations of ideology in a network of ritual sites. In this context, plants as natural objects are a community integral to ritual networks, whether through ritualized clearance, symbolic usage in cremation, votive offering, or deposition prior to site abandonment. There are many ways in which plant remains occupied space within ritual taskscapes in prehistoric Scotland.

Incipient Salinization: A Case Study of the Spring of Asclepieion in Lentas (Ancient Lebena), Crete

Sanctuaries devoted to Asclepius were established and operated for almost a thousand years in various Greek and Roman cities throughout the Mediterranean region. The Asclepieion sanctuary in Lentas (formerly known as Ancient Lebena) in Crete was famous for receiving water from a sacred spring. In Ancient Lebena, Levinaion was a famous centre for hydrotherapy, physiotherapy, and a psychiatric hospital. In the present paper, we aim to assess the hydrochemical status of this sacred spring that holds a prominent position in archaeological and historical studies. The main objectives of this study are: Initially, to present supervisory evidence (archaeological, geological, hydrochemical) of an area that was a water resource management model for many centuries, carrying out therapeutic work. The second objective is to present and compare hydrochemical data in the last century, i.e., from 1915 to 2021. The third objective is to highlight and warn of an incipient saltwater intrusion in the area along the Lentas coast. The fourth objective is to propose an alternative and sustainable form of water resources management in the region that requires the study and rational utilization of the sporadic small water springs in the region. Our study focuses on a basic hydrochemical analysis of spring and borehole water in the remains of Levinaion in the Lentas region, and their comparison with sparse historical data of the sacred spring water, aiming to interpret the impact of the changes in the spring water resources that occurred in recent decades due to urban modernization. Our results highlight (i) visible fluctuations in chemical composition of borehole water samples; (ii) a neutral to alkaline pH in borehole waters and an alkaline pH in spring waters; (iii) undetectable arsenic in Lentas borehole water, unlike historical data of Lentas spring water; (iv) low values of dissolved radon in Lentas borehole water and the spring water of Kefalovrysa; and (v) a timeless constant and hypothermic nature of the water of both the sacred spring and borehole of Lentas, and also of the Kefalovrysa spring. The recorded historical data, i.e., from 1915 to 1957, due to the absence of substantial anthropogenic activity in the area, can be used as reference values (natural background levels, NBLs) for the Lentas area. Our findings emerge with the need to bring again the flowing spring water of the sacred spring of Lentas in its original form through sustainable management and re-discover its beneficial therapeutical effects.

The barn owl as an accumulator of bone remains in central western Argentina: multi-taxa neo-taphonomic approach and implications for Holocene contexts

Barn owls are the most widely distributed group of owls in the world and are among the most common accumulators of small vertebrate remains at archeological and paleontological sites. Despite its importance as a bone remains accumulator and predictor of paleoenvironmental conditions due to its generalist habits, the vertebrate prey of this raptor has been scarcely studied from an ecological community perspective, especially considering the diverse range of prey it captures. Archeological, paleontological, and taphonomic studies typically reveal taxon-specific patterns, focusing primarily on small rodents. In order to overcome this problem, we studied an assemblage of vertebrate bones from barn owl pellets in the central Monte Desert of Argentina. Our analysis included the full range of prey taxa, including rodents, marsupials, birds, and reptiles, addressed from both an ecological and neo-taphonomic perspective. We compare the taxonomic and taphonomic findings with those from regional small vertebrate records obtained from various sampling types over the past 50 years to explore recent environmental changes within the Anthropocene. The assemblage of small vertebrate prey presented here comprises five species of cricetids, one species from the Caviidae family, and at least one ctenomyid rodent species. Additionally, the assemblage includes one species of didelphid marsupial, one reptile species, and at least six passeriform bird species that belong to separate families. The overall taphonomic trends are consistent with the typical barn owl pattern. However, our analysis identified a larger percentage of postcranial elements exhibiting signs of digestion compared to pellet-derived vertebrate bone assemblages previously documented. Furthermore, it is important to note that a significant proportion of avian bone fragments exhibit distinct signs of digestion.

Nouvelles données pour la connaissance des environnements sommitaux : étude archéologique des marcairies du Rossberg (68) et perspectives interdisciplinaires

Deux interventions archéologiques ont été effectuées en 2019 et 2020 sur la chaume du Rossberg (68) à l’emplacement des vestiges de deux marcairies modernes. La mise au jour des restes de ces bâtiments regroupant des activités pastorales de moyenne montagne apporte de nouvelles données sur l’architecture d’estive pour la période moderne. En sollicitant une approche volontairement interdisciplinaire pour questionner les environnements de moyenne montagne, l’ensemble a permis de produire une analyse globale des modalités d’occupation des sommets et de discerner une transition dans les pratiques constructives au tournant des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles.

Experimental archaeological study in China: implications for reconstruction of past manuring and dietary practices indicated by δ15N values of Setaria italica and Panicum miliaceum

Understanding the crop management practices of millet agriculture is pivotal for comprehending the development of Chinese civilization. Recent studies have indicated that organic manuring plays a crucial role in ensuring sustainable millet cultivation on the Loess Plateau. However, uncertainties still exist regarding how manuring practices impact the δ15N values of C4 millets compared to C3 cereals. Furthermore, inadequate information on crop δ15N at archaeological sites has led to controversial interpretations of animal and human diets. In this study, we present new findings from an experimental archaeological research conducted in actual loess farmland in China to explore the potential range of variability in grain δ15N values of millets. Our results demonstrate that animal manure significantly increases Setaria and Panicum grain δ15N values, ranging from 2.7 to 9.3‰. Considering trophic enrichment effects on nitrogen isotopes, humans consuming manured millets may yield values ranging from 5.7 to 12.3‰, suggesting alternative explanations for high δ15N values other than animal protein consumption. Opposite to the general hypothesis, the grain δ15N values are systematically lower than those of leaves. The difference between the values of Setaria and Panicum and the process of manure influencing the grain δ15N values are also discussed. Our study provides novel insights into the nitrogen stable isotopic indicator of millet manuring and will serve to set reconstructions of past manuring and diet practices in northern China on a firmer foundation.

THE CATHEDRAL OF SAN MASSIMO IN FORCONA (AQ): ARCHAEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS AND INTEGRATED DIGITAL EXPERIENCES FOR VR EXPLORATION AND SITE ENHANCEMENT

Abstract. The contribution aims to present the results obtained from the archaeological analysis of the architecture of the Cathedral of San Massimo in Forcona (AQ), which took place in 2021, focusing on the digital systems used for the documentation and valorization of the monument. The work is part of a broader research project developed by the University of L'Aquila and focused on the archaeological study of medieval architecture as a function of the creation of a database on a chronological-typological basis of the masonry construction techniques of the city and its territory. The first structure to be analyzed was the Cathedral of San Massimo in Forcona, which, although it is located at a significant distance from the city center, represented a power pole of fundamental importance for the political-economic administration of the territory, at least until the construction of the city of L'Aquila. The documentation carried out through integrated TLS/SfM digital surveys and archaeological analysis allowed first to establish a chronological sequence of the construction phases of the church, but also to hypothesize through 3D reconstructions the historical evolution of the entire architectural complex. These reconstructions then became the digital support for the creation of a series of immersive VR systems aimed at providing experiences of interactive storytelling and dissemination of research outcomes.

Zinc isotope composition of enameloid, bone and muscle of gilt-head seabreams (Sparus aurata) raised in pisciculture and their relation to diet

The isotope ratios of zinc (66Zn/64Zn expressed as δ66Zn), a vital nutrient, increasingly demonstrate trophic discrimination among vertebrates, making δ66Zn a valuable dietary proxy for ecological, archaeological, and palaeontological studies. Given the novelty of the methodology, tissue-diet and tissue-tissue zinc isotope fractionation factors remain poorly understood and have so far only been studied in a few terrestrial mammals. Here, we investigate δ66Zn compositions of enameloid, bone, and white muscle of seven artificially-fed pisciculture gilt-head seabreams (Sparus aurata) from offshore Israel, in comparison to the Zn isotope composition of their diet. In addition, we also analysed δ66Zn values in the same tissues of wild-caught S. aurata, bluespotted seabream (Pagrus caeruleostictus) and grey triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) caught off the coast of Israel. We determine a tissue-diet δ66Zn offset for Sparus aurata of − 0.04 ± 0.09 ‰ (2SD) for bone, − 0.29 ± 0.06 ‰ (2SD) for enameloid, and − 0.45 ± 0.07 ‰ (2SD) for white muscle. Wild-caught fish have much higher among-individual δ66Zn variability with values distinct from the pisciculture S. aurata, documenting a much more isotopically heterogeneous diet consumed by the wild individuals. Still, tissue–tissue δ66Zn differences in wild-caught individuals are close to those observed in the pisciculture ones with progressively lower δ66Zn values in the order bone > enameloid > white muscle. Our results demonstrate predictable tissue-diet and tissue-tissue δ66Zn differences among fish hard and soft tissues and can be applied to identify the δ66Zn values of dietary input, thereby informing trophic (palaeo)ecological reconstructions.

Why kinship still needs anthropologists in the 21st century

With the rise of ancient DNA studies in prehistoric archaeology, terms such as matriliny and patriliny are commonly used in scholarly literature. From a sociocultural anthropological perspective, however, the two terms are not as simple and unproblematic as is widely accepted among archaeogeneticists. Matriliny and patriliny are umbrella terms for societies with a wide range of political and kinship practices, with or without a state. Moreover, archaeogenetic literature has assumed specific associations with matrilineal and patrilineal descent that are not supported by sociocultural anthropology. To properly understand the diversity of human sociopolitical forms in both the deep and recent past, archaeology – in its broadest sense, including archaeogenetics – must avoid essentializing prehistoric communities without exploring the empirical nuances that are well documented ethnographically. Finally, the article calls for more engagement in debates on kinship and sociopolitical organization in prehistory from sociocultural anthropological perspectives.

Drainage of storm water using the cadastral scale of agricultural land in Wadi Dala’ Hamdan (an archaeological study)

هدفت الدراسة الى إبراز وتوضيح أنظمة تصريف مياه الغيول، التي كانت تمثل عصب الحياة ونظام أساسي تمحور حوله المجتمعات اليمنية القديمة، ومنها مجتمع وادي ضلاع همدان، الذي قامت منشئاته مائية على انظمة ومقاييس متعددة في تصريف المياه وتوزعيها والتي تعود الى فترة ما قبل الإسلام، فمن أهمها نظام معرفة الوقت الزمني، ونظام التوزيع المباشر لمياه الغيول باستخدام القدم، والنظام المساحي للأراضي الزراعية التي استخدم فيها مقياس (اللبن الضهري)،هدفت الدراسة ايضاً الى توثيق ما تبقى من نظام الري القديم، المتوارث عبر الأجيال قبل اندثاره، وانقراضه بموت كبار السن الذين كانوا دولاً عليه. احتوت الدارسة على ثلاثة مباحث استعرض أولها الموقع الجغرافي والمادة التاريخية للوادي، واستعرض المبحث الثاني غيول وادي ضلاع همدان ونظام السقي فيها، وقد ركز المبحث الثالث على ذكر مقياس اللبنة الضهري وعلاقتها بنظام السقي. وقد اعتمد الباحث على المنهج النوعي في تنفيذ برنامج النزول الميداني الى مجتمع وادي ضلاع همدان، وإجراء المقابلات مع كبار السن الذين كانوا يقومون بتصريف مياه الغيول، وكذلك مع كبار السن من ملاك الغيول، بحيث كان يتم اثارة موضوع معين وترك الحوار مفتوح للمشاركين، شريطة أن الباحث سيد الحوار والهدف منها اتاحة الفرصة للتعبير عن بعض القضايا واثراء معلوماتها، من خلال تبادل الحوار بين المشاركين، واستحضار العاصفة الذهنية واستذكار بعضهم لبعض ما كان في الماضي، لان الاستهداف الفردي لكل شخص لم يجدي نفعاً، واستخدم الباحث بعد ذلك منهج التحليل لغرض التحقق من المعلومات. أهم النتائج التي تم التوصل إليها أن نظام الري في وادي ضلاع همدان، كان نظام قديم يعود الى فترات مملكة ذي مآذن وربما اقدم، بحكم نقوش المسند التي تم العثور عليها والتي تتحدث عن تنظيف بعض قنوات الري في الوادي، ومن النتائج ايضاً العثور على تسع منظومات مائية تزامن ظهورها في فترة معينة وذلك لتشابه منشاتها المعمارية والهندسية، وقد رافقها ظهور أنظمة وقوانين لتوزيع المياه باستخدام نظام الوقت الزمني ونظام حساب القدم والنظام المساحي (اللبن الضهري) الذي استخدم في حساب مساحة الأرض الزراعية وكذلك في تصريف مياه الغيول والذي بصدده أجرينا هذا البحث.

Morphometric Study of Humerus in Southern Indian Population

Anthropometry involves measurement of proportions of the human body such as muscles, adipose tissue and bone. The present study was aimed at determining the humeral lengths segments and comparing it with its entire length of humerus in southern part of Indian population. This can be helpful in approximating stature of individuals using typical regression equation. We also compared the data obtained with previous studies conducted on various people in the world, which are valuable both forensic and archaeological studies. One hundred and nineteen fully ossified dried and processed humerus bones (60 right, 59 left humerus) obtained from two medical colleges in Tamil Nadu state SRM medical college, hospital and research centre and Sri Ramachandra Medical College. The morphometric detail of the parts of humerus were measured using digital Vanier caliper. The 6 segments’ length precisely, from utmost proximal point of the head of humerus to the utmost distal point of the circumference of the head as section 1 (Sa-Sb), from the distal point of the circumference of the head to the convergence of two areas of muscle attachment as section 2 (Sb-Sc), and from the convergence of two areas of muscle attachment to the deltoid tuberosity as section 3(Hc-Hd), from deltoid tuberosity to upper margin of olecranon fossa as section 4(Sd-Se), From upper margin of olecranon fossa to the lower margin of the fossa as section 5 (Se-Sf), and from the lower margin of olecranon fossa to most distal point of trochlea as section 6 (Sf-Sg) and maximum length of humerus were measured to the nearest millimeter. The values obtained for the distance of each sections were 35.22±3.939mm, 44.53±5.025mm, 66.27±6.805mm, 125.54±11.429mm, 20.51±1.726mm, and 18.51±1.633mm respectively on the left side, making a total of 310.5763±23.257mm. The values obtained on the right distance segments are as fellow 34.48±3.223mm, 47.05±6.31mm, 67.10±6.942mm, 125.54±11.429mm, 20.51±1.726mm and 17.90±2.447mm respectively on the right side, making a total 311.767±23.435mm. In conclusion present study shows that there is no significant difference obtained for the morphometric measurements between left and right segments except in segment 2.

Molecular archaeological study of horse remains unearthed from Jiulongshan cemetery, Ningxia, China

Molecular archaeological study of horse remains unearthed from Jiulongshan cemetery, Ningxia, China

Timber supply through time – Copenhagen waterfronts under scrutiny

Dendrochronology is not a new method for attaining high-precision dates for archaeological and historic remains of timber. But the extent to which dendrochronology is utilized to attain detailed precision of the dating of complex wooden structures can suffer from the fact that the method is often applied in commercial archaeology, where the extent of analysis is severely limited by cost constraints. Instead of lamenting the potentially lost levels of detail that might have slipped through over the years, it is hoped that by presenting the potential of high chronological precision, that necessitates extensive sampling of timber and wood remains on archaeological sites, a new future will be promoted, in which new wide-ranging sampling strategies will become a more normal practice in archaeology, in both the research and commercial spheres. In this paper, I present some case studies where extensive tree-ring analysis of well-preserved wood remains have resulted in annual chronological detail, allowing an insight into the processes of building, and into the duration of structures that comprised the built environment of past peoples’ lives. In addition, we should not discuss precision dating for urban archaeological study without also touching on the subject of timber trade and timber provenance. Tree-ring studies are increasingly providing us with high precision provenance identification, not just for shipwrecks, barrels and other ‘portable’ objects. It is also allowing us to map trade in bulk structural timber. These analyses are providing us with insights into links between territories.

The Russian Archaeological Project in South America: Principal Findings and Prospects

This study outlines the findings of field and laboratory studies by the first Russian archaeological expedition to South America in 2014–2015 and 2017–2018 in collaboration with colleagues from Ecuador and Japan. The project focused on sites of the Archaic (10.8–6.6 ka BP) and Early Formative period (5.5–3.5 ka BP) in the coastal zone of Santa Elena Province, Ecuador. Excavations at Real Alto (Valdivia culture) and Loma Alto (Las Vegas culture) yielded representative archaeological, anthropological, and faunal samples and a large series of AMS dates, providing a basis for a number of novel proposals regarding the chronology and periodization of cultures, their origin, and early pottery-production in South America. Specifically, we have demonstrated that at the very beginning of the Formative period, two early ceramic traditions coexisted—Valdivia and “San Pedro”. We have demonstrated the peculiarity of the “Tropical package” in the stone toolkit, and traced the previously unknown features of the funerary rites of the Las Vegas and Valdivia cultures. Radiocarbon analysis helped to correct the chronology of the late stage of the pre-ceramic Las Vegas culture (8.0–4.8 ka BP) and to estimate the tentative date of the earliest pottery manufacture at 4.8–4.7 ka BP. In conclusion, we outline the top priorities and prospects of Russian archaeological studies on the Pacific coast of South America, underscoring the importance of international cooperation.

Stone point variability reveals spatial, chronological and environmental structuring of eastern African Middle Stone Age populations

ABSTRACT Stone points are one of the key features used to define the African Middle Stone Age (MSA). Regional patterns in their shape and size through time have been thought to reflect inter-group interactions and networks of populations and are used to define cultural phases within the MSA. However, eastern Africa does not have distinctive and widely applied chrono-stratigraphic point variants that divide its MSA record, which is often described as being highly variable. This paper presents a metric and geometric morphometric analysis of eastern African MSA points and evaluates potential drivers of variation in them in relation to null models of isolation by distance, time and environment. Approximately half of the shape variance in our sample can be explained by spatial, temporal and environmental differences, as well as by size, indicating a degree of demographic continuity through sustained cultural transmission. A portion of the remaining variance likely represents stylistic differences between assemblages, which are often the subject of interest in archaeological studies. The highly variable nature of the eastern African MSA may reflect the region’s refugial positioning within the continent, with point technology a flexible adaptive system that was dynamically employed across Africa during the MSA depending on varying social and ecological contexts, resulting in the appearance of both ‘generic’ and ‘specific’ tool forms at particular times and places.

Ecology and demography of early Homo sapiens: a synthesis of archaeological and climatic data from eastern Africa

ABSTRACT Eastern Africa maintains a key position in debates surrounding the emergence of Homo sapiens across Africa. Extensive research in the region has revealed a rich fossil record in association with a ‘generic’ but variable Middle Stone Age (MSA) material culture, providing an important laboratory for testing hypotheses about the behavioural evolution of our species. For example, multiple archaeological studies of the eastern African MSA note a link between the distribution and density of sites, archaeological diversity and environmental conditions, with ecology and demography often cited as key drivers of cultural evolution. This article formulates new hypotheses using theoretical models of complex fitness landscapes of evolution and reviews the archaeological and climatic records of Middle-late Pleistocene eastern Africa in the light of these ideas. It proposes that evidence from eastern Africa implicates much of the region as a refugial zone within Pleistocene Africa, providing consistently suitable conditions for survival that were characterised by high and changing biodiversity, facilitating population growth and interconnectivity as well as material culture diversification. Interactions between different evolutionary processes likely resulted in the complex cultural mosaic observed across Africa, including the appearance of ‘specific’ innovations against a backdrop of more ‘generic’ MSA elements.

A pilot bioavailable strontium isotope baseline map of Southern British Columbia, Canada

Strontium isotopes are used for provenience and mobility studies in archaeology, ecology, and forensic studies, and rely on accurate baseline maps that are used to compare and interpret human and animal strontium ratios. Here, we present a bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr map, also called an isoscape, for southern British Columbia derived from modern plant samples’ 87Sr/86Sr ratios. We sampled 67 medium root depth plants over a 900 km transect from the southern BC coast to inland BC to capture the natural 87Sr/86Sr ratios of plants along the four major geological belts in British Columbia. Non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis and pairwise Wilcox tests were used to examine whether the geological belts had statistically significant mean differences. It was found that the province could be effectively divided into east and west, with the Coastal–Intermontane and Omineca–Foreland regions having statistically different means from each other. 87Sr/86Sr ratios had statistically significant relationships with salt deposition, volcanic deposition, and mean age of the underlying lithology. Generally, 87Sr/86Sr ratios increased with distance from the coast as the atmospheric input of radiogenic strontium from marine-derived rainwater decreased and the input of radiogenic strontium isotopes from the underlying geology of the Rockies in the far east of the province increased.

Karaites in the Ulus Jochi era and in the Crimean Kha­nate: The question of the origin of Karaite communities on the Crimean peninsula

Research objectives: An analysis and generalization of materials on the history of the emergence of Karaite communities on the territory of the Crimean peninsula in the era of the Ulus of Jochi and the Crimean Khanate. Research materials: As a result of comparing published materials on the history of the Crimean Karaites, data from archaeological and epigraphic studies, as well as in the process of studying the funds of the Russian State Historical Archive (RSHA, St. Petersburg) and the State Archive of the Republic of Crimea (SARC, Simferopol), information was analyzed related to the problem of the emergence of Karaite communities on the territory of Crimea in the era of Ulus Jochi and the Crimean Khanate. Results and scientific novelty: Many episodes in the history of the Crimean Karaites still remain outside the field of view of researchers. There is also the problem of interpretation of sources. In particular, this concerns the controversy about the origin of the Crimean Karaites and the time of their appearance on the territory of the Crimean peninsula, a process that had been going on for more than 100 years with the discussion sometimes going beyond scientific argumentation. The stages of the scientific study of the past of the Crimean Karaites are characterized by different levels of intensity, as well as large variety of methods and approaches used. Interest in this problem first arose among representatives of Russian academic circles in the first half of the 19th century. The Russian administration became interested in the history of the Karaites in part because the ideas of the European Enlightenment, which largely determined the policy of the Russian government in a number of key areas, implied the spread of Russian culture and education to the “Asian peoples.” In relation to the Karaites, Krymchaks, and Ashkenazi Jews, the Russian government adopted laws and regulations, in accordance with which the Karaites were able to legislatively strengthen their legal status. The Russian government, however, used restrictive measures by pursuing a discriminatory anti-Jewish policy against the Jewish population. The Karaites managed to get the authorities to recognize them as a community that differed from the Rabbanites while they received various legal and economic preferences. The same time period marked the onset of the large-scale activity of the famous collector of Jewish antiquities, Abraham Firkowicz, who initiated the creation of an extensive collection of manuscripts related to the history of Jewish communities, including in the Crimean peninsula. Based on the materials presented, it was concluded that the Karaite community could have appeared in the Crimea not earlier than the second half of the 13th century. Active resettlement of Karaites to the Crimea from the territories of the Middle East, Byzantium, and subsequently from the Ottoman Empire had been taking place since the middle of the 14th century. These chronological periods are also supported by material evidence of the stay of the Karaites in this region (archaeological and epigraphic studies of medieval Solkhat, Mangup-Kale, and Chufut-Kale).

Malignant tumors affecting the head and neck region in ancient times: Comprehensive study of the CRAB Database.

In the modern world, cancer is a growing cause of mortality, but archeological studies have shown that it is not exclusive to modern populations. The aim of this study is to examine the epidemiologic, social, and clinicopathologic features of head and neck cancers in ancient populations. To do this, we extracted all records that described malignant lesions in the head and neck region available in the Cancer Research in Ancient Bodies Database (CRAB). The estimated age, sex, physical condition of the remains (skeletonized, mummified), anatomic location of tumors, geographic location, chronology, tumor type, and methods of tumor diagnosis were collected. One hundred and sixty-seven cases were found, mostly originating from Europe (51.5%). Most records were of adults between 35 and 49 years of age (37.7%). The most involved site was the skullcap (60.4%), and the most common malignancies were metastases to the bone (65.3%) and multiple myeloma (17.4%). No primary soft tissue malignancies were registered. The results of our study indicate that head and neck cancers were present in ancient civilizations, at least since 500,000 BCE. The available data can help to improve the current understanding of the global distribution of head and neck cancer and its multidimensional impacts on populations in the contemporary world.

THE PROCESS OF FORMATION OF THE JEWISH SUBURBAN QUARTERS IN LVIV

nderstanding of formative and historical processes is basic for the comprehensive approach to the regeneration of historical city quarters, those of the ancient Jewish ghetto of Lviv in particular. According to archaeological and scientific urban studies, theneighbourhood started its development as part of the princerly “posad”, having an ancient Volyn road trading route as one of its forming factors (which survives to this day). Through the centuries jewish community has organically grown here, forming a unique ensemble of residential, religious and public buildings which naturally integrated in the spatial-planning structure of the city as it grew. One of the most prominent structures was the Great Suburban Synagogue (XVI cent.) which was the centre of ghetto’s life and spatial structure. Degradation of historical urban matter of the ghetto was caused by the tragedies of WWI and WWII, which also obliterated ghetto’s social basis and absence of any further practical and public re- consideration for the spatial-planning and historic background of the neighbourhood. Today, most of its blocks have remained a gray zone in the structure of the city center for more than 70 years. Disregard for the ghetto’s formation history and cultural background resulted in inconsistency of realised development approaches and interventions and general public unawareness of the district’s role in the history of the city. The author conducts research and visualizes the characteristic stages of the ghetto’s development, as well as the formative factors that determined it, taking 3 neighbouring historical quarters within its bounds as a basis for study. With this work, author aims at During the research, on-site study and measurements were performed, archival materials and historical iconography were analyzed, modern research works on the history of Lviv and Halychyna were analyzed too, and the obtained information was summarized. As a result, development of the historical quarters of the Jewish suburban district was characterized and structured from princerly times to present day while highlighting the quarters’ architectural and spatial-planning value.

Regarding the historical and archaeological study of the early mediage monuments of the Nakhichevan region

Regarding the historical and archaeological study of the early mediage monuments of the Nakhichevan region