Rescue Excavations Research Articles

ТЕХНИКО-ТЕХНОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ АНАЛИЗ КЕРАМИКИ АНДРОНОВСКОЙ КУЛЬТУРЫ С ПОСЕЛЕНИЯ ФИРСОВО-15 (ПО МАТЕРИАЛАМ РАСКОПОК 2020 Г.)

The paper presents the results of the technical and technological analysis of Andronovo ceramics obtained during the rescue excavations in 2020 at the multi-time settlement of Firsovo-15. The composition of the raw materials and molding masses of 18 samples was studied. It was found that most of the vessels were made of medium-hard plastic clays. In total, two recipes for composing molding masses have been identifi ed: clay + chamotte + organic solution, clay + chamotte + organics. Comparison of the data obtained with the result of earlier studies of the materials of the monument allows us to speak of a high degree of uniformity of the Andronovo ceramic complex of the Firsovo-15 settlement. A comparative analysis of the results with the available information on the technology of making ceramics of other Andronovo settlements of Altai demonstrates some originality of the studied complex. It consists in a small variety of recorded recipes, as well as in the presence of the only one type of mineral impurity in the studied sample. The results obtained indicate that the population who left this site had stable traditions in the selection of raw materials and the composition of molding masses, as well as its cultural unity.

NEW RADIOCARBON DATES FOR THE MIDDLE CHALCOLITHIC PERIOD OF THE CENTRAL ZAGROS, IRAN

ABSTRACTAs one of the most extensive prehistoric entities of western Iran, Dalma culture belonging to the Zagros Chalcolithic, flourished in vast areas of the Central Zagros and Northwest Region of the country. This culture is defined essentially by its characteristic ceramic assemblages that show a marked uniformity in terms of technology, vessel forms, and painted designs throughout its territory. One of the main issues regarding this culture is its chronology, which was largely based on comparative studies, a few radiocarbon (14C) dates analyzed in the 1960s–1970s, or a few confusing thermoluminescence dates. In this paper, a series of 15 charcoal samples from a recent salvage excavation at Nad Ali Beig, a single-period site dated to Dalma period, is presented that provide the first reliable absolute dates for a part of the Middle Chalcolithic period of the Central Zagros region. Based on these new dates we may suggest that Dalma culture flourished between ca. 5200/5100–4600 BCE. Furthermore, based on these dates it is now possible to determine the order of appearance of different types of the Dalma culture ceramic assemblage, including the Ubaid-related painted buff ceramics.

Migration and mobility in Roman Beirut: The isotopic evidence

Rescue excavations in Beirut, Lebanon, have uncovered large burial assemblages dating to the Roman period. As the first Roman colony in the Near East, the human skeletons from Beirut provide a unique opportunity to explore migration to the city using biomolecular analyses. This study applies strontium and oxygen isotope analysis to nineteen human skeletons and establishes primary local reference values through the analysis of human and faunal dentition and the utilisation of already available environmental and botanical data from Lebanon. Two possible incomers and two definite migrants – both male and female – were identified who originated from different parts of the Empire. The comparison of isotopic data with the material culture of the graves illustrates how migrant identity is not always expressed in burial, and also how archaeological data can supplement biomolecular results in identifying the type of migration involved in a colonial setting. The results from this study contribute to our understanding of the Roman colonization of Beirut, highlight female mobility during the Roman period, and establish local human isotope ratios which can be used in future research on migration to the city and in the region.

EXCAVATION OF THE BURIAL MOUNDS ON THE LEFT BANK OF THE PSENAFA RIVER NEAR MAYKOP

In 2019 and 2020, 5 km north of the city of Maykop in the Republic of Adygea, security and rescue excavations of mounds were carried out in connection with the construction of a highway bypassing the city of Maykop. Seven burial mounds were investigated, six of which were located compactly as part of the burial mound on the low, left bank of the upper Psenafa River, and one mound was located 1.5 km from the burial mound, but culturally and chronologically related to the studied mounds. During the work in three mounds, stone structures were identified under the mounds, which may represent ritual stone platforms used for memorial purposes. The ceramic fragments found here also made it possible to date this group of monuments. Four mounds contained burials, which made it possible to conduct a sex and age analysis, and the findings obtained – to date these burials. Based on the results of the work, it was concluded that the kurgan field was used twice – by the tribes of the Maykop-Novosvobodnenskaya community and the Meots. The purpose of the article is to introduce into scientific circulation the materials obtained in the course of the work, a preliminary analysis of the findings and interpretation of the buried structures.

EXCAVATION OF THE BURIAL MOUNDS ON THE LEFT BANK OF THE PSENAFA RIVER NEAR MAYKOP

In 2019 and 2020, 5 km north of the city of Maykop in the Republic of Adygea, security and rescue excavations of mounds were carried out in connection with the construction of a highway bypassing the city of Maykop. Seven burial mounds were investigated, six of which were located compactly as part of the burial mound on the low, left bank of the upper Psenafa River, and one mound was located 1.5 km from the burial mound, but culturally and chronologically related to the studied mounds. During the work in three mounds, stone structures were identified under the mounds, which may represent ritual stone platforms used for memorial purposes. The ceramic fragments found here also made it possible to date this group of monuments. Four mounds contained burials, which made it possible to conduct a sex and age analysis, and the findings obtained – to date these burials. Based on the results of the work, it was concluded that the kurgan field was used twice – by the tribes of the Maykop-Novosvobodnenskaya community and the Meots. The purpose of the article is to introduce into scientific circulation the materials obtained in the course of the work, a preliminary analysis of the findings and interpretation of the buried structures.

The Most Important Archaeological Discoveries Relating to the Neolithic to Early Iron Age Cultures of Siberia

On the basis of the current knowledge, key archaeological discoveries made in Siberia and the Russian Far East over the three centuries, and spanning the interval from the Neolithic to the Early Iron Age, are assessed. Principal scholars and their works are listed. Rescue excavations have made it possible to construct archaeological typologies and to model historical and cultural processes. D.G. Messerschmidt’s role as the discoverer of the Early Iron Age of Khakassia and of the Tom rock art site is described. Later, this rock art site was thoroughly studied by A.P. Okladnikov and A.I. Martynov. Achievements of the 20th century continued those of the 18th and 19th centuries. On the basis of typologies elaborated by S.A. Teploukhov for Khakassia, similar cultural and chronological models for neighboring areas of Western Siberia were constructed. A.P. Okladnikov’s typology for the Cis-Baikal Neolithic and Bronze Age were elaborated by his colleagues and students. The earliest stages of the Amur Neolithic with the most ancient ceramics in Northern Asia, dating to 16,780–14,200 cal BC, were described. E.N. Chernykh’s and S.V. Kuzminykh’s theory of SeimaTurbino—a transcultural phenomenon of key importance for the Eurasian Bronze Age—is outlined. While its basic features are better known today, their theory has retained its relevance. With regard to the Early Iron Age, the major excavations concerned mounds such as Arzhan-1, Arzhan-2, and Chinge-Teya-1 in Tuva. In the Altai Mountains, likewise outstanding Pazyryk kurgans (600–200 BC) were excavated. An entirely new stage in Scythian age archaeology was marked by N.V. Polosmak’s excavations of “frozen”, undisturbed burials of middle-ranking and low-ranking Pazyryk people on the Ukok Plateau. Similar burials were excavated by Z. Samashev and H.P. Francfort on the western slopes of the Altai. Pazyryk chronology was elaborated owing to the use of the tree-ring analysis.

Pitfall traps of the 10th century Balinskoye 42 (results results of rescue excavations in 2012 on the territory of the Priobskoye oil field)

Летом 2012 г. были проведены стационарные археологические раскопки группы ям-ловушек Балинское 42 на территории Приобского нефтяного месторождения в Ханты-Мансийском автономном округе – Югре. В ходе работ были изучены два сооружения – остатки звероловных ям. Материалы полевых исследований позволяют достаточно достоверно воссоздать форму и размеры объектов, а по остаткам сгоревших деревянных конструкций удалось определить возраст сооружений (первая треть – конец X в.) и соотнести их с вожпайским периодом кинтусовской археологической культуры.

Rescue Excavation in Aggtelek-Baradla Cave in 2019

The team of the Institute of Archaeological Sciences of the Eötvös Loránd University conducted a rescue excavation in the Baradla Cave in 2019. The work concentrated in a passage leading to a less-researched branch of the cave (the so-called Róka-ág [Fox Branch]) and one of the lesser rooms named Biológiai labor (Biological Laboratory). The passage towards the low and narrow Róka-ág was used for millennia, as attested by the objects from various historical periods and the stakeholes, probably related to former wooden walkways, discovered there. We unearthed an intact Neolithic culture layer preserved by a travertine (calc-sinter) deposit in Biológiai labor, while the metal detector survey carried out in the cave simultaneously with the excavations yielded Late Bronze and Early Iron Age, as well as medieval metal objects. The most significant discovery of our metal detector specialists was a Middle Bronze Age depot of decorative bronze clothing accessories. The recovered findings and observed features confirmed that the internal spaces of the Baradla Cave served as venues for ritual activity in the Neolithic and the Bronze Age.

‘Heritage Under Fire’: The Office of Works and Historic Monuments in Wartime

ABSTRACT The Ancient Monuments Branch of the Office (later, the Ministry) of Works, a department of the UK government, was the chief custodian of Britain’s historic monuments during the major conflicts of the 20th century. It accumulated what has been described as the greatest national collection of historic monuments ever assembled and oversaw state protection through the scheduling and listing of historic sites. 1 This article sets out the context for the Office of Works’ involvement in historic monuments before outlining the impact of the First and Second World Wars on its activities. During the first conflict there was significant damage to historic monuments and many sites were refused guardianship due to depleted resources. The Second World War saw the Branch avert a serious threat to Hadrian’s Wall, as well as help oversee the emergency photographic recording of historic buildings, the rescue excavation of archaeological sites, and a salvage scheme to repair and preserve bomb-damaged buildings. This article outlines how the conflict acted as a catalyst for change, leading to greater appreciation of historic monuments and new measures to protect them, most notably through the creation of a national list of historic buildings, a significant legacy that remains with us today.

UAV Image-Based Plan Drawing Method in Submerged Terrestrial Archaeological Settlements: The case of Kibotos

Documentation with drawing and photography is one of the most important stages in archaeological excavations and surveys. It takes a long time to draw walls by stone by stone during the excavations. Carrying out these studies on land that does not belong to human habitats, such as underwater, is an activity that requires extra effort, time, and experience. This article will examine the possibility of drawing the plans of the structures unearthed or detected in the archaeological underwater excavations and surface surveys in shallow waters with the help of aerial photographs in a shorter time and with less effort. The research results show that the photograph-based archaeological plan drawing is an excellent and suitable method for shallow water archaeological excavation and surveys. It reveals that it can save time and labour in surveys and rescue excavations where time is limited.

Chronological context, species occurrence, and environmental remarks on the Gelasian site Pedrera del Corral d’en Bruach (Barcelona, Spain) based on the small-mammal associations

ABSTRACT Here we present the results of a study of the small mammal assemblage recovered from a now disappeared karstic fissure located in a quarry called ‘Pedrera del Corral d’en Bruach’. The site was located at 330 m a.s.l. in the Garraf Massif, ca. 20 km south of Barcelona. An archaeological rescue excavation was conducted in 2006 by the Grup de Recerca del Quaternari, focusing on sieving the sediments that had accumulated at the foot of the quarry face. Fortunately, some faunal remains and sediment were recovered, which were later processed and sorted. Two hundred and seventy small mammal remains were identified at genus or species level, bringing to light 15 taxa. The assemblage is typical of the Mammal Neogene 17 (MN17) biozone, placing this site in the Gelasian stage of the Early Pleistocene. It is noteworthy that the first record of the glirid Glirulus pusillus in Iberia is documented. Based on the small mammals identified, the surrounding environment of the Garraf Massif is judged to have been characterised by open forest landscape and more humid environmental conditions than nowadays. Finally, the site provides a remarkable contribution to what is known of the Iberian small mammals of this time period.

Brass metallurgy in Urartu: Recent evidence from eastern Anatolia

Traditionally, the beginning of substantial and deliberate brass production through the cementation process has been placed to the Early Roman period. Sporadic early finds have accordingly been considered to be the result of various experimentations by eastern Mediterranean metallurgists at least since the Late Bronze Age. Several Anatolian finds, dated to the early first millennium BC, that were made from zinc rich alloys have been interpreted within this framework. In ancient Urartu, however, the mastery and application of advanced metal technologies of both casting and working of copper-alloys as well as blacksmithing are well documented. This study aims to provide a further understanding of this phenomenon by shedding light on the development of zinc metallurgy in eastern Anatolia based on recent finds unearthed during the rescue excavations at Murat Tepe and Murat Höyük in the Murat River basin in modern eastern Türkiye. In both cases the metal assemblages from stratified contexts were analysed by the means of multiple archaeometallurgical methods. The results from portable XRF (pXRF), metallography, micro-hardness, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and Raman spectroscopy analyses have showed that zinc was intentionally used as an alloy additive in order to fabricate brass. Moreover, in one case, the chemical composition consisting of zinc (Zn), tin (Sn) and copper (Cu) was detected, which indicates different alloying practices for the production of different types of objects. These new observations raise further questions about the deliberate production and manufacturing of brass prior to the wide spread of this metal technology in the Roman period.

Application of Phytolith (Microbiomorphic) and Non-Pollen Palynomorph Analyses to the Geoarchaeological Study of the Graft Farmyard, the Netherlands

The aim of the present paper is to discuss the application of phytolith (microbiomorphic) and non-pollen palynomorph (NPP) analyses to the geoarchaeological study of a Medieval – Early Modern Time period farmyard in Graft, a settlement located in the polder region of North Holland, the Netherlands. The authors have assessed the potential of the methods chosen for studying this type of archaeological site during rescue excavations, when archaeologists often have a limited number of samples or methods for geoarchaeological analysis. The studies conducted have proved the informative value and effectiveness of microbiomorphic and NPP analyses in rescue excavations, especially when applied in combination, thus providing controlling and complementary information for each analysis. The data obtained have provided an important insight into the archaeological interpretation of the cultural layer within the farmyard. In addition, more information was gained on the local palaeoenvironmental dynamics and the phases of economic activity at the farmyard during the 13th–17th centuries CE.

Preliminary Report of the First Season of Excavation at the Achaemenid Period (Iron Age IV) Cemetery in Mersin, Semnan Province, Iran

ABSTRACT This article presents the results of the first excavation season of the Mersin cemetery, in the Semnan region, Iran. The cemetery was discovered through surface reconnaissance for the documentation of the area’s archaeological heritage before the construction of the Finesk Dam. Rescue excavations were then conducted in 2014 in three distinct areas of the necropolis. Particularly interesting were results were obtained from trench 3 in which 15 tombs dating to the Achaemenid period were found. This discovery is of particular importance because it reveals interesting information about the Late Iron Age in the area, which was virtually unknown prior to these investigations.

Digging Up Jericho: Past, Present and Future

Digging Up Jericho: Past, Present and Future

Professional Archaeology in the UK under COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic had serious effects on the delivery of commercial archaeology in the United Kingdom during 2020 and 2021. This article presents a contemporary history of two years of practice and political developments. Because of commercial archaeology’s place within the broader construction sector, it became a ‘protected’ industry, resulting in a massive increase in the amount of work undertaken. Archaeology adapted remarkably well to the difficult and dangerous conditions of the pandemic, while encountering new challenges in staff recruitment.

Pottery traditions in Kydonia: Preliminary results from the petrographic analysis of three pottery assemblages in Chania

Chania, or Minoan Kydonia according to the Linear B tablets, has been an important Minoan settlement throughout the Bronze Age. Systematic and rescue excavations on the hill of Kastelli since the 1970 s has revealed the presence of a major palatial centre of the Late Minoan III (LM IIIA1-B1) period that kept thriving even after the collapse of the Minoan palatial system. This paper deals with the combined analysis of three assemblages from Chania covering all phases of the Postpalatial period (LM IIIA1 to LM IIIB2). The petrographic analysis of an array of coarse and fine wares allowed the in-depth investigation of pottery production throughout the LM III period and the establishment of the main pottery recipes. Issues of provenance and technology of manufacture are investigated with emphasis on the use of different types of raw materials for the production of coarse wares used for domestic purposes as well as semi-fine and fine wares used for transportation and consumption of staples and liquids. With an approach incorporating pottery from different contexts and different chronological horizons of the LM III period this paper examines continuity and discontinuity in the use of fabrics and clay recipes in time and at a micro-regional level. Last but not least, the technological characteristics of the renowned ‘Kydonian workshop’ are examined.

Urban Planning and Urban Lots in Cluj during The Modern Period. A Historical-Archaeological Perspective on the Emmanuel de Martonne, Hermann Oberth and Gaál Gábor Streets

"Over the past two decades, the accelerated development of historical urban centers in Transylvania has determined an increase in archaeological rescue interventions. The phenomenon was also documented in Cluj‑Napoca. However, the legislative framework and the attitude of local decision‑makers remain deficient in protecting and capitalizing on the built historical heritage and archaeological remains in the urban area. The lack of complex research programs focusing on Transylvanian urban environments has also enabled widespread ignorance regarding the archaeological remains of the modern period. The development of the entire field of study of urban historical archaeology has thus been inhibited. This field of archaeology provides the theoretical framework and methodological background for the research carried out in the second part of 2021 on three of the secondary streets of the historical center of Cluj: Gaál Gábor St., Hermann Oberth St. and Emmanuel de Martonne St. The contextualization of the discoveries in the three streets adjacent to the famous Platea Luporum intra muros (Farkas utca, Mihail Kogălniceanu St.) has facilitated the analysis of urban planning efforts throughout the modern age, as well as their antecedents and origins. The research has highlighted different situations for each of the streets in question, regarding their period of origin, possible mutations, and connections with the associated urban lots. Emmanuel de Martonne St. is a late modern creation, planned and executed in two stages during the second half of the nineteenth century. Unlike it, Hermann Oberth St. is considerably earlier in date, possibly medieval, with a well‑defined and documented trajectory since the seventeenth century. Furthermore, Gaál Gábor St. was originally an obscure footpath that originated in the first half of the eighteenth century. It now has a partially altered trajectory due to urban systematization works dated to the beginning of the twentieth century. Their simultaneous research has allowed us to follow a long process of reconfiguration and multiplication of the street network in this micro‑area of historical Cluj."

The role of highland regions in interregional connectivity: Upper Galilee in the Early Bronze Age

The Early Bronze Age I–II transition in the southern Levant (c. 3000 BCE) is attested by significant changes in the organization of settlement systems, and economic modes of production and distribution. This study examined settlement patterns in the mountainous Upper Galilee and adjacent regions during the Early Bronze (EB) I–II. The regional settlement history was studied using a systematic survey of archaeological sites, as well as an analysis of all available archaeological data from previous surveys and salvage excavations. This study demonstrates that, despite the complexity of surveying multi-period mountainous sites, a systematic survey can contribute to reconstructing individual site histories and the region’s history as a whole. In the Early Bronze Age, the Mountainous Upper Galilee, usually considered peripheral to the large, newly-established urban centres of the lowlands, played a significant role that has previously been overlooked. In addition, this study offers an integrative highland–lowland model for the changing settlement landscapes at this transition.

The Aterian site of Phacochères (northern Algeria): a zooarchaeological perspective

ABSTRACT The Phacochères site (formerly known as Les Allobroges) is a small ravine belonging to a karst system in northern Algeria. The rescue excavations conducted in 1960s at this site have yielded an exceptionally rich assemblage of vertebrates associated with Aterian stone tools. These faunal fossils collected in sandy clay levels are characteristic of the North African Upper Pleistocene and they represent a remarkable model for understanding the structure of prehistoric mammalian associations, palaeoenvironmental reconstruction and past habitat diversity. Based on biochronological and palaeoenvironmental data, the assemblage is attributed to Marine Isotopic Stage 5 (MIS 5) defined by a forest and grassland ecosystem. This paper reports the results of an analysis of the modifications of this faunal assemblage produced by human and carnivore activity. It suggests that the Aterian occupants of the site preferentially oriented their hunting towards large prey such as buffalo and aurochs and that they were able to compete with other carnivore predators. Nevertheless, the assemblage represents a palimpsest accumulated by different predators, both human and carnivore, that results from events that overlapped with brief human occupations of the site.