Excavation Site Research Articles

Development of a Real-Time Flood Prediction and Warning System for Underground Excavation Sites Based on Nomographs

In August 2022, a localized torrential downpour in Seoul highlighted the growing frequency of extreme rainfall events linked to climate change. Simultaneously, rapid urbanization has led to higher population densities and an increase in underground space development and excavation projects, such as the Yeongdong-daero complex transit center and the construction of the Greater Seoul Metropolitan Express Railway (GTX). This study examines the risks to evacuation routes at ‘underground excavation sites’ during heavy rainfall. Based on this analysis, a system for calculating evacuation buffer time and providing real-time flood forecasting and warnings were developed. A testbed was established in a basin susceptible to recurrent flooding, driven by seawater, external water, and internal water. The study modeled excavation sites with depths of less than 10 m, which were the areas currently excluded from intensive underground safety regulations. The flood risks along the evacuation routes were quantified using a depth-velocity product model. To stimulate real-time flood risks, a rainfall scenario was created by combining observed and predicted rainfall data from the weather radar. The real-time flood forecasting and warning system developed in this study, if implemented nationwide in flood-prone areas, could provide timely warnings to site managers and officials, enabling immediate evacuation based on the risk assessments of evacuation routes in different rainfall scenarios.

InSAR-based investigation of ground subsidence due to excavation: a case study of Incheon City, South Korea

Ground subsidence is one of geohazards, particularly in urban environment due to its negative impact to nearby buildings and civil infrastructures. This study investigates the amount and spatial distribution of ground subsidence in Incheon City, South Korea, where ground excavation was made. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) was used to monitor surface deformation around the excavation site. The study analyzed subsidence during an excavation project using Sentinel-1b satellite data, and the InSAR results were compared with traditional leveling methods and field measurements. Notable subsidence during the early construction phase was identified, which demonstrates the effectiveness of InSAR in urban environment. The research contributes to understanding of the excavation-inducing ground subsidence due to the reclamation layer.

Determining the stability of roll-back stretches in steep layers when unloading a coal rock massif

The object of this study is the condition of side rocks in a coal rock massif with preparatory workings. The task solved was to ensure the stability of preparatory workings to improve the safety of miners' activities. The bearing capacity of protective structures in the preparatory mining workings along the length of the excavation section in a coal mine was comparatively assessed. The operational condition of the roll-back stretch, when using a protective technique that involves coal pillars, is provided for at their relative deformation e<0.25 and relative volume change dV<0.1. At a distance of l>50 m behind the cleaning pit, at e³0.6–0.8, there is a decrease in the load-bearing capacity of coal pillars and the destruction of the roof. The loss of cross-sectional area of the roll-back stretch is 50 %. Under such conditions, the level of a roof collapse threat is approaching a critical state. When using rolling bundles made of wooden sleepers at e>0.21 and dV>0.16, conditions are created around the preparatory workings at which the integrity of the roof is ensured through the gradual sealing of protective structures. At a distance l>60 m, the increase in lateral rock displacements reaches the minimum values DU=10 mm, and the loss of the cross-sectional area of the roll-back stretch is 30 %. The kind of functional dependence between the length l (m) of the roll-back stretch with different protection techniques and the relative change in the volume dV of protective structures was experimentally determined. Such a dependence makes it possible to assess the bearing capacity of protective structures along the length of the excavation area in the zone of active influence of mountain pressure behind the cleaning pit. The operational condition of roll-back stretches when using coal pillars is ensured within the limits of their deformation resource, which limits the use of this protection technique. To ensure the stability of preparatory workings, it is advisable to use rolled bundles made of wooden sleepers. After their compaction, the movement of side rocks is limited in the worked-out space of the excavation site

Identification of Architectural Roman Remains in the Complex Archaeological Site of Buto ‘Tell El Fara'in’, Northern Egypt, Using Geophysical and Remote Sensing Data

ABSTRACTThe integrated use of remote sensing (RS) techniques, vertical magnetic gradient (VMG) and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) measurements, and, in particular, combined analysis of 2D and 3D data, can provide a viable option for the identification of targets of interest at complicated archaeological sites. In this regard, a case study is Kom C at the archaeological site of Buto (Tell El Fara'in) in the northern Nile Delta (Egypt), where satellite data (Google Earth, Landsat 8 and OrbView‐3), VMG and ERT measurements were collected prior to site excavation. In this particular case, soil salinity in the buried structures, a lack of contrast in magnetic susceptibility and electrical resistivity, as well as the orientation, complex spatial distribution and overlapping of the architectural elements, all contributed to a number of anomalies that were difficult to interpret using only 2D results. Initially, the archaeological remains were identified as being made of mud‐brick based on land surface temperature (LST) estimated from thermal bands (Bands 10 and 11) in Landsat 8. Then, the high‐resolution satellite data, as well as the VMG and ERT (2D, quasi‐3D and full 3D resistivity models), were integrated to produce a comprehensive map of buried archaeological features. Excavations by Kafrelsheikh University in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities recovered archaeological remains, including architectural elements that were perhaps used for official or administrative purposes or pottery‐making workshops during the Late Roman period (between the 4th and 7th century ce). The direct comparison of geophysical results to archaeological evidence from the excavation enabled a robust interpretation of geophysical anomalies visible in the horizontal resistivity depth slice and magnetic maps. As a whole, this case study highlights the value of combining satellite data with the analysis of 2D data and 3D views of geophysical surveys to better understand the real distribution of buried archaeological remains at similar complex sites.

Pits, houses and rondels: New results on the Lengyel habitation in the Žitava Valley, Southwestern Slovakia

Abstract As an intensely debated period, the transition from the LBK to post-LBK societies remains in the centre of attention of researchers dealing with the Early Neolithic in Central Europe. The partly drastic change of the settlement systems, regarding both the patterns and organisation, is indeed an interesting subject and raises questions about the social and economic processes and changes that may have accompanied this development. With this contribution, we present new results from extensive survey activities and excavations of Lengyel sites in the Žitava Valley, Southwestern Slovakia. Most notably, the excavation at the previously unknown circular enclosure of Podhájska, built around 4800 calBCE, yielded new data on various aspects of life in Lengyel contexts. Supplemented by geophysical prospections of other rondel and settlement sites, we now begin to understand the transition process from the Early Neolithic to later periods in this regional context. Varying settlement patterns within this small regional context, as well as new forms to express and maintain communality for the dispersed hamlets during the Lengyel period are remarkable signs for societal reorganisation and an adaption to altered needs of the communities involved.

William F. Grimes: archaeology in the public eye

William Francis Grimes (1905–1988) was Director of the Institute of Archaeology, London, from 1956 to 1973. His career included membership of the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff where he was responsible for the excavation of prehistoric and Roman sites in Wales. In 1938 he joined the archaeology team of the Ordnance Survey and took part in the excavation of the Anglo-Saxon burial at Sutton Hoo. During the war years he undertook rescue excavations prior to the construction of military airfields. He was appointed Director of the Museum of London in 1945 and was engaged with the excavation of bomb-damaged London, including the site of the Roman Mithraeum at Walbrook. In retirement he conducted a number of field projects in Pembrokeshire through the Field Studies Centre at Dale.

Assessing the life cycle impacts of the remediation of shooting ranges in peatland environments

This paper aims to expand knowledge of the potential environmental impacts associated with the remediation of shooting ranges in peatland environments. While the remediation of these sites currently requires the excavation and disposal of contaminated soil to meet local environmental quality guideline values, there is a growing recognition that this remediation process causes substantial environmental impacts. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was undertaken to identify the life cycle impacts and potential mitigation measures to reduce them. The results showed that for the majority of impact categories, downstream landfilling processes dominated impacts; in particular, substantial greenhouse gas emissions were associated with the decomposition of carbon-rich peat soil caused by excavation and removal (119 t CO2 equivalents, representing 67.8 % of the life cycle emissions). In addition, gravel materials used for road building was important to several impact categories. The greenhouse gas mitigation potential was 17 % and included the use of renewable fuels, electric excavators, local site equipment, material selection and the reuse of materials. While the impacts from site infrastructure and excavation may be reduced through appropriate planning and management, the greenhouse gas emissions impact from excavating carbon-rich soil is proportional to the excavated soil volume. Therefore, the acceptability of these impacts should be carefully evaluated against the benefits of reduced contaminant leaching into the receiving environment.

Two-Dimensional Numerical Analysis of the Effects of Different Construction Methodologies on Tunnel Behavior

Abstract: The growth of urban populations necessitates the construction of robust infrastructure, including highways, public transportation systems, sanitation networks, and housing. Consequently, underground space utilization becomes pivotal, prompting the construction of tunnels, access shafts, and galleries. However, such construction encounters challenges due to the unpredictable geotechnical and geological characteristics of the excavation site, especially when sensitive structures are nearby. This study examines the impact of various tunnel construction methodologies on earth mass behavior, with a particular focus on deformations, surface displacements, and forces exerted on linings. To this end, numerical simulations were conducted utilizing ABAQUS finite element software under plane strain conditions. These simulations were designed to simulate conditions akin to a tunnel project in Florianópolis. The numerical model encompasses four layers of soils and rocks, spanning approximately 70 meters in depth and 190 meters in width. The tunnels, with an excavated area of 161.29 m², are situated 20 meters below ground and are equipped with primary and secondary linings. The soils/rock and linings are modeled using Mohr-Coulomb and linear elastic failure criteria, respectively. The soil domain was modeled with CPE4 elements, while the linings domain employed CPE4I elements. The study initially examines the convergence and confinement curves to incorporate the three-dimensional effects of construction, considering the degree of mass relaxation during lining application. The construction sequences for single and twin tunnels entail full-section excavation, subsequent placement of the definitive crown and inverted arch, and side drift associated with half-section and inverted arch. The results discuss and highlight earth mass deformation patterns, critical areas during construction, surface displacement basins, and forces exerted on linings at various excavation phases. The effectiveness of various construction methodologies in reducing deformations and enhancing project safety is evaluated. The conclusions drawn from the numerical analyses offer valuable insights for tunnel project professionals, facilitating the development of more efficient and safer construction practices.

Pedogenic evidence sheds light on the post-Roman pedo-sedimentological and human history of Tarsus, the Roman capital of CE 60, Cilicia, Mersin, Türkiye

The ancient city of Tarsus is underlying a sediment of 400 cm where the contemporary Tarsus grew. The diffusely stratified layers of the deposited sediment from the Kydnos (Tarsus) river overlying the Roman Road excavation site located in the heart of the modern city. The sediment is laden with technogenic materials. The profile of the stratigraphic layers represents a Pedocomplex (PDC) and its horizons are the Pedomembers (PDMs). All the PDMs were described and sampled for physical, chemical, mineralogical, micromorphological, and thermoluminescense analyses seeking pedogenic evidences. The origin of PDC materials is a fluvial and/or lagoon environment (archaeologically predicted date, about 60 CE, and they are calcareous, high in available P and some are high in total phosphorus contents). They have been partially modified by human activity in a settlement area, thus bringing some historical evidence suggesting that the site was part of the growing city after its abandonment. Thin sections show a vigorous biological degradation of the organic residues in the PDMs along with occasional evidence of soil-forming processes. The preliminary conclusions were extracted from the results obtained through the newly formed hydroxyapatite (Hap) determined by micromorphology, therefore proposing the new suffix π for the WRB soil naming system. Primary, high temperature and clay minerals together with TL analyses of the layers, were conducted to reveal the provenance and weathering phases of the horizons. The seeds recovered from an inhabited layer helped to interpret the food and medicinal habits of the local society and the contemporary presence of the lagoon.

Landscape diversity, habitat connectivity, age and size determine the conservation value of limestone quarries for diverse wild bee communities

Abstract Abandoned and even active limestone quarries (excavation sites) can represent important secondary habitats for many species, including wild bees, associated with dry grasslands, which are threatened biodiversity hotspots in Europe. However, is not well understood how interactions between local habitat and landscape characteristics influence the value of limestone quarries for wild bees and how this could guide conservation schemes. We studied how wild bee communities in limestone quarries are affected by landscape variables (connectivity to neighbouring dry grasslands, landscape diversity), local quarry characteristics (area, age, woody vegetation cover, flowering plant species) and their interactions. We surveyed bee communities during 208 transects in 19 quarries in southern Lower Saxony, Germany. In total, we recorded 114 bee species (2360 individuals), including 35 endangered species. High flowering plant species richness positively affected bee abundance and richness. Large quarry area was important for determining the presence of endangered bee species. High levels of woody vegetation cover had a negative effect on bee abundance and richness. Bee abundance and richness can increase with quarry age, but only at sites with moderate woody vegetation cover. We found potentially positive interactions between quarry age and landscape diversity and/or habitat connectivity to neighbouring dry grasslands. In particular, high habitat connectivity ensured stable richness of endangered species in old quarries. Synthesis and applications. Observed negative effects of high woody vegetation cover on bee communities highlight the importance of local management to reduce shrub encroachment and reset successional processes in limestone quarries. Local management is particularly important in old quarries of great ecological value, where the adverse impact of high woody vegetation cover on wild bees appears to be most severe. Large and old quarries with high connectivity to neighbouring dry grasslands are especially valuable for endangered bee species. Therefore, landscape‐scale restoration and conservation of dry grasslands is the most promising approach to promote endangered bee species through enhanced habitat connectivity.

Wood hardness drives nest-site selection in woodpeckers of the humid Chaco

Abstract Avian excavators (woodpeckers and other species) select nest sites based on characteristics of the nest patch, nest tree, and substrate. These characteristics could increase foraging opportunities or reduce the risk of predation, but there is also a potentially important role for wood hardness in restricting nest-site selection, a role that has been little explored and is expected to vary among species according to their ability to excavate. We examined patterns of nest-site selection in 8 woodpecker species in the humid Chaco of South America, where the dominant trees have extremely hard wood. We hypothesized that (1) wood hardness is the main factor driving selection of excavation sites, and (2) interspecific variation in body size and foraging behavior (traits frequently related to excavation ability) explain interspecific variation in the wood hardness of excavated nest substrates. From 2016 to 2019 in well-preserved forests of the Argentine Chaco, we compared nesting cavities excavated in wood (cases; n = 42) vs. potential wood substrates without cavities (matched controls) and made 187 focal observations of foraging woodpeckers. Woodpeckers selected nesting substrates with softer heartwood than potential substrates, regardless of any other characteristics of the tree or nest patch. Wood hardness around nest cavities increased with body size and the prevalence of chiseling during foraging, traits that were positively correlated. Woodpeckers often excavated in Prosopis spp. (Algarrobos) but rarely in Schinopsis balansae (Quebracho), a tree with exceptionally hard internal wood, in which cavity adopters frequently nest in non-excavated cavities. Wood hardness is critical to assessing the role of woodpeckers as cavity facilitators, understanding the costs and benefits of excavation, and interpreting excavation patterns across species and forests globally.

An amulet with snake skin from pereyaslavl ryazansky

In medieval worldview, leather objects were often regarded as attributes of magical rituals. The article presents the results of studying a unique leather artifact with organic filling discovered during excavations in the Kremlin of Pereyaslavl Ryazansky (modern Ryazan) at the Vvedensky excavation site. The find comes from the mid-15th century cultural layer. Examination of the contents of this leather bag revealed particles of a snake, which gives grounds for attributing the find as a medieval amulet. Despite church prohibitions, the tradition of wearing such talismans is well known from written and ethnographic sources and is observed among a number of peoples. This first leather talisman found among the archaeological material of Pereyaslavl Ryazansky confirms the fact that the snake cult, which had originated in the Palaeolithic, continued to play an important role in worldviews of later periods. The leather amulet with a particle of a water snake makes it possible to clarify certain aspects of Russian medieval beliefs.

The ostracod distribution in the Sea of Galilee (Levant): species distribution and post-mortem dispersal of valves and carapaces

The Sea of Galilee is a unique large freshwater or slightly oligohaline natural lake in the Levant. Therefore, it represents an important aquatic habitat in the region that also provides invaluable ecosystem services for the local communities. To improve our knowledge of the lake’s ecosystem and the use of disarticulated ostracod valves and preserved carapaces, micro-crustacean remains commonly used in palaeolimnology and palaeoceanography, as proxies for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions, and to examine the post-mortem dispersal of ostracod remains, 68 surface-sediment samples were collected from the lake bottom in 2012 and analysed for the ostracod assemblages. Both, the noded and smooth, forms of Cyprideis torosa dominate in the Sea of Galilee, with the former more abundant than the latter. Relatively abundant and found at half of the 68 sampling locations or more, are also Ilyocypris hartmanni, I. cf. nitida, Darwinula stevensoni and Neglecandona angulata. In addition, ten less abundant ostracod taxa were recorded in the lake. Of all 15 taxa recorded in our study, ten were also recorded in a study of the Sea of Galilee’s ostracod fauna conducted already in the 1960s. The newly recorded five taxa are relatively rare, and they were mostly found in the region of the Jordan River delta or near the southeastern shore of the lake which were not included in the survey of the 1960s. Thus, there is no evidence for a significant change in the ostracod fauna of the lake over the last half-century. In comparison to the ostracod assemblage from a late Pleistocene archaeological excavation site at the southwestern margin of the lake, the assemblage from the recent survey is slightly less diverse, probably because of the long duration of ca. 5000 years integrated by the sedimentary section of the archaeological site and also due to nearby freshwater inflows from which valves and carapaces were probably washed to the site’s location. Our study also shows that ostracod valves and carapaces are typically relatively abundant in most of the surface-sediment samples collected from locations at 18 m or shallower. In contrast, very few valves and carapaces were recorded at depths greater than 18 m, which is a zone affected by seasonal anoxia in the Sea of Galilee. These few ostracod remains were apparently transported by currents and waves to the central, deeper part of the lake, but their low number shows that such post-mortem dispersal of ostracod remains is insignificant in the deeper part of the lake. Thus, our study provides support for palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimate reconstructions based on ostracod records from single sediment cores obtained from depths unaffected by post-mortem transport and seasonal or permanent anoxia.

Menthol-Based Extraction of Fragile Wooden Coffin Lid (7–10th Centuries CE) in Laboratory Archaeology Excavation

Block lifting is a key step in stabilizing and removing fragile remains at archaeological excavation sites. Due to its favorable working properties and adhesive effect, menthol has recently been proposed as a volatile binding medium for temporary consolidation in archaeological conservation. This paper presents a case study on the use of menthol in the extraction and restoration of a large wooden coffin lid, approximately 1.9 m long and 0.9 m wide, from tomb 11 (M11) at Xie’ertala, located east of a Xie’ertala town in Hailar City, Inner Mongolia, dating to the 7th to 10th centuries CE. This coffin lid had fragmented into numerous wooden pieces, and was preserved in a relatively arid steppe environment, necessitating the extraction of the lid as a consolidated block. The use of menthol for consolidating and lifting the highly fragmented wooden coffin lid was intended to preserve critical archaeological information while avoiding damage to the underlying objects. An analysis of the physicochemical properties of these wooden remains suggests that the timber used for the coffin lid belongs to a common pine species from the Hulunbuir region. The degradation of the coffin lid was relatively mild, as shown by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) results. Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) tests indicated that the hygroscopicity of the archaeological wood was 23.4%, compared to 21.1% for the reference sample, demonstrating good environmental stability. The safety of menthol as a treatment for fragile wooden remains was evaluated by comparing changes in the morphological and porosity characteristics of the coffin lid before and after menthol treatment. After treatment, the widths of the fissures remained largely unchanged, with all relative variations being less than 1%, and the porosity as well as pore size distribution of the wood showed negligible changes. Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) results showed that only 0.6% of menthol residue remained after 8 days of sublimation. This pilot study demonstrates that menthol is a safe temporary consolidant for block lifting and offers a promising alternative to the widely used cyclododecane. In conclusion, this research provided a new approach for conservators to safely lift similarly large and fragile wood remains during archaeological excavations.

Role of the Regulation Framework in Occupational Safety in Construction Excavation Works—A Survey Analysis in Turkey

The construction sector is known to have the highest risks of occupational accidents. A rationale for this high occurrence of occupational risks can be related to legislative requirements to enforce safe construction practices within this sector. Within the context of excavation works in Turkey, this study investigates the leading risks for any compliance shortfalls and ultimately presents recommendations to mitigate occupational accidents’ occurrences during excavation works in the construction sector. Based on a quantitative methodology, a closed-ended survey consisting of 35 questions and based on legislative requirements was applied to project managers in the construction industry, such as site supervisors, occupational safety experts, auditors, and control personnel. A sample size of 277 responses was found to have stability and validity through a reliability analysis and an exploratory factor analysis, and was used for testing statistical significance via cross-tabulation analysis and chi-square tests. The findings revealed that the major deviation of safety in excavation works from legislative requirements is executing works during adverse weather conditions. Moreover, it was also noteworthy that protective curtains did not surround the excavation sites, and most of the employees encountered ground slippage during excavation work. Therefore, the findings revealed preliminary research that will contribute positively to providing incentives for a focus on and development of relevant security and technical measures. It also provided information to protect the safety and welfare of the workers involved in excavation works. Finally, though these findings may be considered context-specific, this research can be used for comparative purposes for similar studies into the safety practices of excavation works in different countries, where generalized findings can be later derived to inform academia and practice.

Analysis of shield tunnel response to bilateral pit excavation with a focus on perimeter pressure and deformation mechanisms

This study aims to investigate the responses of shield tunnel structures subjected to disturbances caused by bilateral pit excavation, and it systematically reveals for the first time the impact mechanism of bilateral pit excavation on the distribution of perimeter pressure and deformation patterns of shield tunnels. Using a bilateral pit excavation project in Nanjing as a case study, this research establishes methods for calculating longitudinal displacement and circumferential pressure of tunnels under bilateral pit excavation conditions, employing the image source method for analysis. A refined three-ring segment model is developed, and the load structure method is used to analyze the impact of deep foundation excavation on the tunnel located between the two excavation sites. The results indicate that, compared to unilateral excavation, bilateral excavation significantly increases the perimeter pressure at the top and bottom of the tunnel, with a smaller increase in pressure at the arch waist. The deformation pattern is characterized by contraction at the top and bottom and expansion at the waist, forming a transverse elliptical deformation. The maximum vertical convergence values of the middle segment ring are 25.00 mm at the top and 25.88 mm at the bottom, with a vertical absolute convergence value of 44.5 mm and a convergence ratio (ΔDt/Dt) of 0.72%. As the foundation coefficient increases, the perimeter pressure at the top and bottom of the tunnel also increases. When the tunnel is closer to the foundation pits (Sp decreases), the perimeter pressure at the bottom of the tunnel increases. Conversely, as the distance between the two foundation pits (S) increases, the impact of excavation on the tunnel shifts from the upper part to the lower part, resulting in decreased upper perimeter pressure and increased lower perimeter pressure. The research findings provide important references for similar engineering projects.

3D characterization of the Mila 18 archaeological site in Warsaw, Poland: From imaging to excavation

Archaeological site investigations in urban environments are often beset with challenges such as (1) an absence of buried artifacts due to recent disturbance from infrastructure development or (2) community concerns about potential site impacts from excavations. Noninvasive geophysical surveys that use a combination of methods can help mitigate the risks of uncertain outcomes by identifying areas where culturally significant features are more likely to be uncovered. We show how new technology and traditional geophysical survey methods were used to characterize the subsurface of the Mila 18 Memorial site in Warsaw, Poland. This site is one of the most important places of remembrance for the Holocaust and coincides with the location of an underground bunker that was used by Jewish resistance groups during the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. In this case study, we showcase the use of drone multispectral imaging and handheld lidar scanning in conjunction with other geophysical techniques including electrical resistivity tomography, ground-penetrating radar, magnetic gradiometer, twin-probe resistance, and fixed-frequency electromagnetic surveying. The geophysical results were included in an interactive 3D site model to help identify a suitable site for excavation. To document the excavation and to validate and further interrogate the geophysical survey results, we used lidar-based photo-textured scans of the excavation that were incorporated into the 3D site model.

Analysis on Dewatering Tests at Deep Excavation Sites of Soft Soil Areas in Aquifer-Connected Conditions

Analysis on Dewatering Tests at Deep Excavation Sites of Soft Soil Areas in Aquifer-Connected Conditions

On methodology of describing archaeological porcelain and faience of Modern and Contemporary Times

The article substantiates why it is important to commit to a number of characteristics to process and describe fine ceramics from the Modern and Contemporary cultural layers and introduce these ceramics for scientific use. Such characteristics imply the material of products (porcelain, faience, semi-faience, maiolica), morphology and function (cups, saucers, plates, dishes, etc.), decor, including decoration techniques (painting, printing, decal, etc.), manufacturers’ stamps including techniques of their application (printing, decal, stamp, stencil, etc.). Archaeologists and museum experts give specific examples that illustrate what information can be extracted from a detailed description of these parameters in the archaeological porcelain and faience. This information can be used for interpretation of both the finds themselves and the cultural layer where they were discovered. The study offers separate description of specifics and significance for individual and mass finds. Individual finds in the first place serve for historical and cultural affiliation and chronology of an archaeological heritage object. Therefore, it is suggested to describe such finds committing to the characteristics that make it possible to determine the place and period of origin of the artifacts themselves as accurately as possible. Whereas mass finds are severely destroyed objects not subject to restoration. Some of them might be left behind at the site of archaeological excavations, and irretrievably lost as a consequence. That is why the research suggests options for setting out their most important historical, cultural and scientific parameters in statistic tables. The study raises problematic methodological issues regarding the possible interpretation of the statistical data obtained.

"Cultural Layer of Kurgan City": Determination, Studying, Findings, Issues and Prospects"

Cultural Layer of Kurgan City archaeological monument was established in 2005. Since 2009 it has been exposed to archaeological excavations at different city mansions dated 1700s – early 1900s and situated within the determined site of cultural heritage. The article briefly describes 14 excavation sites. All works were subject to a commercial contract. It allowed to research relatively substantial areas of the monument. Excavations were arranged in various parts of the historic development including periphery. The research of the periphery is unlikely under the scheduled works. The article describes how the monument was detected and studied and what findings were made. The study reveals how the archaeological finds correlate with the discovered records of the main owners of these mansions. Cultural Layer of Kurgan City archaeological monument is a unique source of information about the tangible culture of citizens in the mid–1700s through the early site 1900s. The paper reviews how the monument was explored through the prospective of particular finds, natural science researches, construction technologies and particular serial sites. The authors generalize the ceramic production, glass production and hygiene in the area. The article outlines the key problems associated with inadequate research of the Cultural Layer of Kurgan City and inferior comparison of archives and archaeological materials. The total area of the monument is 978 thousand sq. m. Yet, due to various reasons it annually loses several thousand square meters with no hope of return.