Garbage Pits Research Articles

Geo-Spatial Technology for Identifying Optimal Well Locations in Kolugala Pahalagama Grama Niladhari Division for Effective Groundwater Management

This study utilized Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to pinpoint optimal locations for establishing wells, addressing the issue of declining water yields in the Kolugala Pahalagama Grama Niladhari Division (GND); a geographically diverse region. The research integrated geospatial data, including geolocations of sample wells, garbage pits and quarterly water level measurements collected through field surveys. Several thematic layers, namely, geology, elevation, slope, drainage density, soil type, and land use types were analysed to delineate groundwater potential zones within the GND. Satti's analysis hierarchy was employed to assign appropriate weights to these factors, reflecting their influence on groundwater recharge and well productivity. Spatial analysis revealed that 9.64% of the area displayed very good groundwater potential, 42.17% had good potential, 39.76% showed moderate potential, and 7.23% exhibited poor potential. The distribution of existing wells was also evaluated, showing that 6% were located in very good groundwater potential zones, 56% in good groundwater potential zones and 38% in moderate groundwater potential zones. Despite this, only 34% of the wells were placed in regions suitable for the establishment of wells, while the majority, 66%, were located in unsuitable areas. Notably, 18 wells displayed lower water levels, likely due to their excessive distance from neig-bouring wells. Further spatial analysis identified 29 hectares as unsuitable and 54 hectares as suitable for the future establishment of wells. These findings underscore the significance of geographic factors in the placement of wells, emphasising the need for strategic planning to ensure that wells are sited in areas with high groundwater potential, thus improving long-term water yield sustain-ability in the region.

A cross-sectional study on sanitation and hygiene in rural villages in Southeastern Maharashtra: On our way to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal No. 6

Introduction: Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-6 highlights the importance of clean water and sanitation. The Swachh Bharat Mission, a flagship program of the Government of India, aims at ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water, hygiene, and universal access to effective systems for disposing of waste, especially in rural areas; this, in turn, is of mammoth importance for achieving the SDG-6 by 2030. The present study was thus devised to determine the availability of sanitation facilities and assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding hygiene among residents of villages in Southeastern Maharashtra. Materials and Methods: This community-based study used a multistage sampling technique to select study participants. The duration of the study was one month. The study involved 1663 participants. A Marathi-translated version of the pretested questionnaire was used, which enquired about the socio-demographic details, availability of water and sanitation facilities along with questions to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding sanitary latrines, use of footwear, hand washing, and domestic waste disposal. Association of socio-demographic profile with different parameters assessed in the questionnaire was assessed using SPSS software (version 26.0); results were considered significant if p<0.05. Results: The study involved 1663 participants with a mean age of 36.7 years, (SD=12.9 years). Water was available to all the households. All the villages had an open drainage system. Sanitation facilities were lacking in 23 households. Open-air defecation was practiced in 6.9% of the households. All the family members used footwear while going out in 68% of the households. Hand-washing was practiced by 43% of the population. Sixty-nine percent of the study participants disposed of domestic waste in the garbage pits dug in their backyard which was later burnt, whereas 31% disposed of in the surrounding premises. Conclusion: Open defecation still exists. The awareness regarding sanitation, footwear use, hand washing, and domestic waste disposal was better among literate participants. With just a few years left to the 2030 deadline to achieve the SDGs, we must inject a sense of urgency and immediately accelerate our actions at the individual and community levels.

Study of Consumption and Disposal Practices Related to Polythene Shopping Bags


 
 
 The widespread use of polythene shopping bags raises significant environmental concerns about adverse effects to marine ecosystems, wild life and impacts resulting from litter all of which require public resources to mitigate or manage. The main objective of this study is to understand the consumer behaviour on polythene bag usage, their awareness on adverse impacts and their willingness to pay for a tax on reducing polythene bag usage. Data were collected from 100 respondents selected from different locations in Sri Lanka conveniently using a structured online questionnaire. In investigating an economic instruments for reducing pollution from polythene bags, payment from the polluter was obtained from two different methods such increasing the price of the polythene bag and imposing a tax on production of polythene shopping bags. In this analysis, it was considered two different dependent variables and the four independent variables. Those dependent variables are willingness to pay for polythene shopping bag and imposing tax on production. Four independent variables were considered for each regression models such as Household income, number of times of usage of polythene shopping bags, environmental impacts and adequacy about government initiatives. The results indicate that among the respondents 86% have all types of polythene waste and 81% separate polythene waste from their collected waste stream, 60% sort polythene waste as clean and unclean before disposal, 61.50% hand over polythene waste to municipal solid waste collectors and 18% of respondents dump the garbage pit in the backyard and 13% of respondents burn it. Most (85%) of respondents don‘t agree that burning polythene is harmful to life and 92% don‘t agree that dumping polythene bags to garbage pits will provide breeding grounds to mosquitos. Majority is using the bags only one or two times but printed /branded bags are being used one to five times. Majority (36%) of respondents suggests a tax of Rs. 5.00 to pay for a polythene shopping bag which can carry 2-3kg per bag and 31 per cent respondents suggested Rs. 2.00. Most of the respondents prefer to switch to a bio-degradable or reusable bag completely if the government put a blanket ban on polythene. The study suggests that educating and making awareness related to the usage and disposal practices related to the polythene shopping bags is very important for the behaviour of the consumer. Introducing an economic instrument related to increasing the price of the polythene shopping bag or imposing a tax at the production or switch to a reusable bag or any other environmentally friendly alternative as a substitute for polythene shopping bags would be a timely action as the majority of the selected sample is ready and willing to embrace these alternatives.
 Keywords: Polythene, Shopping bags, Reusable, Consumer behaviour, Price
 
 

Challenges of proper disposal of old long-lasting insecticidal nets and its alternative uses in rural south-eastern Tanzania.

Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs), specifically long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs), are the most commonly used, scalable, and cost-effective tools for controlling malaria transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the multiple alternative uses of retired LLINs have been associated with poor disposal practices. The World Health Organization (WHO) has provided guidelines and recommendations for the proper management of worn-out LLINs. This study assessed the existing alternative uses and disposal practices of old LLINs. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods approach was used to assess LLINs existing alternative uses, disposal practices, knowledge, and perceptions regarding WHO recommendations on proper disposal of old LLINs among stakeholders in Kilombero and Ulanga districts, south-eastern Tanzania. A survey questionnaire was administered to 384 participants. Furthermore, the study employed focus group discussions (FGD) and key informant interviews (KII) to elucidate responses regarding existing disposal practices, associated challenges, and alternative uses of LLINs. The insights derived from both study components were subsequently used for inferential analysis. The major challenge influencing the proper disposal of LLINs was limited awareness of how to properly dispose of them. Of the 384 people surveyed, 97.0% were not aware of the WHO recommendations for the proper disposal of old LLINs. All key informants were unaware of the WHO guidelines for proper disposal of old LLINs. The common methods used to dispose of LLINs were burning (30.7%), disposing them into garbage pits (14.8%), and alternative uses (12.2%). Of the 239 respondents with LLINs, 41.0% had alternative use, while 59.0% had no alternative use. The common alternative uses were ropes for tying or covering items (20.9%), garden fencing (7.5%), chicken coops (5.0%), and 7.5% for other minor alternative uses. Strengthening awareness and education on proper LLIN disposal practices among community members and key stakeholders is essential for enhancing malaria control efforts and preventing environmental pollution.

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Dengue Virus Circulation in the Rural Community, Handeni District in Tanga, Tanzania.

Dengue virus is among the most important re-emerging arbovirus that causes global public health attention. Dengue has historically been thought of as an urban disease that frequently occurs in rapidly urbanized settings. However, dengue has become more widespread in rural regions in recent years. Understanding the changing dengue epidemiology in different geographical settings is important for targeted intervention. In Tanzania, dengue fever is not frequently reported because of the poor surveillance infrastructure, underestimation, and a lack of consideration of dengue as a priority. Therefore, the true burden as well as the risk factors for increased transmission has not been fully ascertained, particularly in rural areas. A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted in June 2021, involving a total of 362 participants of all age groups. We investigated the prevalence of acute dengue infection, seroprevalence, and associated factors among the community in three villages of the rural Handeni district. The prevalence of acute dengue infection (based on PCR) was 2.2% (8/362). Dengue-specific IgM and IgG antibodies were detected in 3.3% (12/362) and 5.2% (19/362) of the participants, respectively. Adult participants who were having vegetation around their houses were more likely to be DENV seropositive (AOR = 2.4, CI = 1.88-4.18, p value = 0.05). Children living in houses with garbage pit around their households were less likely to be DENV seropositive (AOR = 0.13, CI = 0.03-0.56, p value <0.01). DENV continues to circulate in rural Tanzania, causes an alarming situation, and necessitates prompt public health action to enhance vector surveillance and control in rural communities.

Implementing Effective Strategies to Foster Environmental Care Character among Students

This study employs a qualitative research approach with a case study design to investigate the teacher's strategy in developing students' environmental caring character, as well as the factors that support and hinder this strategy in the 3T area. The research subjects consist of school principals, teachers, and students at public elementary school Belitang, Indonesia. Data were collected using interviews, observations, and documentation analysis, and analyzed through data reduction, presentation, and conclusion. The study finds that the teacher's strategy in cultivating the character of caring for the environment for students is successful, as it involves planning, directing, and implementing environmentally sound policies, providing motivation, creating conducive learning conditions, giving positive directions, and changing student behavior towards the environment. Supporting infrastructure, such as the availability of landfills and cleaning equipment in each class, also contributes to this success. However, the lack of a garbage pit remains an inhibiting factor, leading to the scattering of final waste in the school's backyard.

Involvement of Rural People in Swachh Bharath Mission – A Study on Socio Economic Profile

Study was carried out in 2020-2021 from Dharwad taluk (Dharwad district) and Muddebihal taluk (Vijayapura district) of Karnataka. The present research aimed to explore the existing awareness and involvement about Swachh Bharath Mission among rural people. A total of 320 respondents were selected for the study through purposive random sampling technique. Data was collected through personal interview method and analayzed through frequency and percentages. Swachh Bharath Abhiyan is not a new programme. Launched in 1986 as the central rural sanitation programme, the scheme advanced became the total sanitation campaign (1999) and nirmal bharath abhiyan (2012). Some regard it as simply a retitling. It can be concluded from the study that, higher percentage of the respondents belonged to poor class of socio-economic status. Half of the respondents were members of self-help groups. Maximum per cent of respondents possessed television followed by mobile and radio. Gram panchayath was the Source of SBM information according to majority of respondents. Most of the respondents had simple Indian toilets at their houses and more than half of the respondents constructed the toilets through government financial support. Large majority of the respondents carrying the water in bucket to the toilet and little more than the one third of the respondents mentioned inadequate water facility as the reason for non-construction of toilet. Nearly half of the respondents were using cotton cloths during menstruation. Major per cent of the respondents were practice of changing pads/cloths during menstruation at an interval of 5-7 hrs. Large majority of the respondents had open drainage system and majority of the respondents did not practice segregation of wastes and majority of the respondents disposing waste in garbage pit.

Visual Identification-Based Spark Recognition System

With the development of artificial intelligence, image recognition has seen wider adoption. Here, a novel paradigm image recognition system is proposed for detection of fires owing to the compression of lithium-ion batteries at recycling facilities. The proposed system uses deep learning method. The SparkEye system is proposed, focusing on the early detection of fires as sparks, and is combined with a sprinkler system, to minimize fire-related losses at affected facilities. Approximately 30,000 images (resolution, 800 × 600 pixels) were used for training the system to &gt;90% detection accuracy. To fulfil the demand for dust control at recycling facilities, air and frame camera protection methods were incorporated into the system. Based on the test data and realistic workplace feedback, the best placements of the SparkEye fire detectors were crushers, conveyors, and garbage pits.

Комплекси глиняних виробів ХVІІІ століття з Черкас (за матеріалами розкопок 2020 року)

Опубліковано матеріали гончарних комплексів ранньомодерного часу (XVIII століття),виявлені в середмісті Черкас 2020 року, що походять з двох археологічних об’єктів: гончарногогорна (вул. Остафія Дашковича, 7) та сміттєвої ями (узв. Старособорний, 32/1). Під час їхдослідження виявлено значну колекцію глиняного посуду та кахель.&#x0D; In Early Modern time Cherkasy was a small town. It was a center of Cherkasy starostvo of Kyivvoivodeship of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (Rzeczpospolita) by 1793. Finds dated to the 18thcentury are often found at the excavations here along with the materials belonging to the other periods.Such finds are mainly concentrated in the center of Cherkasy, at the territory of the Upper and Lower townaround the “Polish” castle (the modern Hill of Glory).This paper presents the ceramic complexes of Early Modern time (18th century), which wereinvestigated in Cherkasy in 2020. Materials are coming from the excavations in the city, which wereconducted by Cherkasy Archaeological Expedition of the Institute of Archaeology of the NAS of Ukraineheaded by Dmytro Kushtan. The large collections of materials are associated with pottery kiln, excavatedat Ostafyi Dashkovych street 7 and garbage pit from Starosoborny Descent 32/1.Ceramics is represented by wheel-made pottery and oven tiles. Kitchen pots, often decorated withpainted and incised ornamentations, dominate among pottery. The collection also includes lids, semi-bowlsand bowls. The other category of finds is represented by oven tiles. They are referred to the “box type”,having flat rectangular external surface and walls on the other side of it. The external surface is decoratedwith stamp ornamentation represented by geometric and plant compositions in Baroque style.Collections of ceramic finds from the 2020 excavations in Cherkasy are typical for pottery centersin the Middle Dnieper region of the Early Modern time. According to numerous analogies, they are datedby the early 18th century.

Prevalence and risk factors of Avian Influenza Viruses among household ducks in Chattogram, Bangladesh.

Avian influenza viruses (AIV) increase commercial and backyard poultry mortality and morbidity, reduces egg production, and elevates public health risk. Household ducks propagate and transmit HPAI and LPAI viruses between domesticated and wild birds in Southeast Asian countries, including Bangladesh. This study was conducted to identify epidemiological factors associated with AIV infection among household ducks at Chattogram, Bangladesh. We randomly selected and collected blood and oropharyngeal swab samples from 281 households ducks. We evaluated the serum for AIV antibody using cELISA and tested for H5 and H9 subtypes using the HI test. We tested the swabs with real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (rRT-PCR) for M gene, and H5, H9 subtypes. In the duck populations, the household level AIV sero-prevalence was 57.7% (95% CI: 51.6-63.3) and RNA prevalence was 2.4% (95% CI: 1.0-5.0). H5 and H9 subtype sero-prevalence was 31.5% (95% CI: 22.2-42.0) and 23.9% (95% CI: 15.6-33.9). H5 and H9 subtype RNA prevalence were 0% (95% CI: 0.0-1.3) and 2.4% (95% CI: 1.0-5.0). We determined household-level OR (Odds Ratios) for the "combined (mixed materials-mud and concrete or metallic)" category was 2.2 (95% CI: 1.1-4.2) compared with "wooden/bamboo" category (p = 0.02); 2.8 (95% CI: 1.2-6.6) in households with duck plague vaccine coverage compared with no coverage (p = 0.01); and 2.4 (95% CI: 0.6-9.7) in households that threw dead birds in bushes and the roadside compared with households that buried or threw dead birds in garbage pits (p = 0.21). M gene phylogenetic analysis compared M gene sequences to previously reported Bangladeshi H9N2 isolates. The evidence presented here shows AIV circulation in the Chattogram, Bangladesh study areas. AIV reduction can be achieved through farmer education of proper farm management practices.

Lower Dnipro Region Hileia in Antiquity Times

With the discovery of Yahorlyk settlement, the Kinburn Peninsula has recently attracted a great deal of attention in studying the colonization process in the northern Black Sea region. In particular, the comparison of archaeological and ancient Greek literary sources with paleogeographic data makes it possible to restore the dynamics of changes in the geographical situation in antiquity times in the Buh-Dnipro estuary region and gives additional information on forming Greek-barbaric relations in the region. The natural conditions in the Buh-Dnipro estuary region have changed much over the past millennia due to fluctuations in the Black Sea level. In antiquity times, the Kinburn Peninsula was known in the antiquity literary tradition as Hileia, i.e. wooded area, Polissia. But the configuration of the coastline was completely different, and the area was covered with deciduous forest. The Tendra Spit (Achilles’ Run in antiquity times) was connected to the mainland by an isthmus. In addition, the arms of the Dnipro delta flowed through the peninsula, and they might have been navigable in antiquity times.&#x0D; At the early stage of Greek colonization, namely at the end of the 7th century BCE, on the bank of one of the Dnipro delta arms a settlement was found, which by its morphological characteristics, is defined as a temporary seasonal marketplace where craftsmen worked in the warm season, and according to the typological characteristics of their products the conclusion is made that they were natives of the Dnipro region, the Balkans, the North Caucasus, and the far eastern regions like the Volga region, the Cisurals, and even Southwestern Siberia. The marketplace functioned for a century and its decline was associated with the founding of Olbia, where craftsmen from afar could stay longer than in the temporary marketplace regardless of seasonal weather changes, and rent premises for placing temporary workshops. From Olbia, those craftsmen could spread their activities to the chora settlements, supplying the local population with small production items, as evidenced by solitary worn-out with use casting molds at some of them, as well as by the burial of a barbarian metalworker in Marytsyne burial ground near Olbia. After the craftsmen had left, the constructions were cleaned and all the remains of the workshops were dumped in specially dug garbage pits, similar to the one excavated in the central part of the city in 1982, or in the cellar under the destroyed construction, also excavated in the central part of Olbia in the 1950s.

THE COMPLEX OF BUILDINGS FROM EARLY MODERN PERIOD OF PIDBORECKYI MONASTERY ON THE OSTRIV DUBOVETS NEAR DUBNO

On the territory of Pidboreckyi monastery, the complex of unknown buildings opened. They allow reconstructing some parameters of monastery buildings and give possibility to image better the planning situation of the east side of monastery territory during all time of its existing. Information about that how the part of Ostriv Dubovets had been adapted for dwelling, economic and utilized constructions for monastery requires had got. One of the main results is that the build periods, facts of repair and replanning of monastery buildings found out. After 1660s, there were weighty construction and repair works in the monastery. The great garbage (object 2) that started used after 1600 conserved in the middle of XVII c. On this place, the new dwelling building with the large stove was build. It is possible and co-ordinate with archaeological materials that this building could existed until the end of the monastery history. Then the new economic buildings constructed near that one. The new garbage replaced on the east beyond the limits of this new building.&#x0D; On the excavated area 2 no long-lasting dwelling or economic constructions were found. It may means that the monastery yard situated here. Objects 23, 30, 34, and 37 had materials identical to the complex from the garbage (object 2) in excavated area 1. However, they are much smaller, which indicate the necessary in meanwhile garbage pits. Charcoals, everyday tools, dismantled constructions of stoves were dropped here. The forming of these objects caused by repaired works after 1660s. In the second part of XVIII — first part of XIX centuries the territory of cemetery widen on this place. The 55 graves excavated here. The facts of reconstruction and repair of monastery economic buildings showed on the examples of objects 10 and 12.

Changing ecologies, shifting behaviours: Behavioural responses of a rainforest primate, the lion-tailed macaque Macaca silenus, to a matrix of anthropogenic habitats in southern India.

With the uncontrolled expansion of anthropogenic modifications of the environment, wildlife species are forced to interact with humans, often leading to conflict situations that have detrimental effects for both wildlife and humans. Such interactions are escalating globally, making it crucial for us to devise strategies for both, the management of conflict and the conservation of these often-threatened species. We studied a case of potentially detrimental human-wildlife interactions between an endemic, habitat-specialist primate, the lion-tailed macaque Macaca silenus and resident human communities that has developed in recent years in the Western Ghats mountains of southern India. Primates provide useful model systems to understand the extent and nature of behavioural changes exhibited by wildlife in response to anthropogenic habitats with varying degrees of human influence. We documented behaviours, including foraging and intra-species social interactions, to examine the decisions made by the macaques as they exploited four human-modified habitats, which, for the purpose of this study, have been qualitatively characterised to include structural features of the habitat, type of food resources available and the presence of humans. Access to human-origin food, either cooked or packaged, acquired directly from homes or garbage pits, in the human-dominated habitat appeared to significantly reduce active foraging and searching for food, allowing them to engage in other behavioural activities, such as resting. Furthermore, patterns of reciprocated affiliation dissipated in certain human-dominated habitats, with individuals seeming to have adopted novel behavioural strategies, leading to altered social dynamics in the troop, possibly in response to provisioning. This study thus highlights the importance of understanding behavioural changes displayed by animals in response to human interactions; such knowledge could be crucial for the planning and implementation of management and conservation strategies for endangered species such as the lion-tailed macaque and possibly other wildlife in the increasingly anthropogenic landscapes of the tropical world.

Oase de animale din aşezarea neolitică târzie de la Uivar, județul Timiş. Eșantionul din S. XI / Animal bones from the late Neolithic settlement of Uivar, Timiș County. The sample from S. XI

Oase de animale din aşezarea neolitică târzie de la Uivar, județul Timiş. Eșantionul din S. XI / Animal bones from the late Neolithic settlement of Uivar, Timiș County. The sample from S. XI

Understanding Storage Pits: An Ethno-Archaeological Study of Underground Grain Storage in Coastal Odisha, India

Preservation of grain has been a matter of concern for humankind through time. Various types of grain storage facilities are reported from archaeological sites in India, the earliest being from the Neolithic period. Most of these are in the form of pits, which are diverse in style and fashioning. In general, archaeological pits are classified as storage pits, pit silos, dwelling pits, and garbage pits on the basis of morphology, size, and content. To understand the functional use of pits requires not only archaeological acumen in the field and scientific study in a lab but a thorough understanding of existing practices of pit construction and use. Ethnoarchaeological research in a country like India, where many such traditions are still practiced, plays a vital role in identifying grain storage pits. Ethnographically, the most popular storage methods in India are above ground, including various kinds of easily transported bamboo containers, bags, baskets, wooden and tin boxes, storage pots, jars, and clay bins. One of the few places where underground storage facilities (pits) remain in use is in the Ganjam district of Odisha. This article documents the process of underground grain storage in this district and attempts to interpret archaeological evidence for pit storage in other parts of India.

Insectos en contextos urbanos: su rol como evidencia en un caso de reuso de objetos del siglo XIX

Durante la excavación de los restos de una letrina y un pozo de basura del siglo XIX ubicada en la ciudad de Buenos Aires (Argentina), varios metros por debajo de la superficie actual del terreno se recuperaron docenas de botellas de vidrio perfectamente conservadas, originalmente utilizadas como contenedores de bebidas alcohólicas. Dentro de una botella se hallaron numerosas pupas y puparios de moscas cuyo análisis reveló que se trataba de ejemplares de al menos seis especies saprófagas (que se alimentan de materia orgánica en descomposición) y de un coleóptero adulto depredador de las mismas, todos habitualmente utilizados para la interpretación de contextos arqueológicos funerarios. Su presencia en el interior de una botella ordinaria de vidrio obligó a considerar por qué el contenido de ese recipiente en particular atrajo a estos insectos, cubrió sus requerimientos tróficos y posibilitó el desarrollo de su ciclo de vida, a la vez que estimar en que proceso de reutilización se vio involucrada la pieza para encontrarse asociada a dicho registro entomológico.

O necropolă medio-bizantină cercetată la Nufăru, jud. Tulcea, punctul Trecere bac. Consideraţii arheologice preliminare / A Middle Byzantine necropolis investigated at Nufăru – Trecere bac, Tulcea County. Preliminary archaeological remarks

Cercetările arheologice desfășurate în intravilanul localităţii Nufăru (jud. Tulcea) au contribuit la descoperirea unei fortificații ridicate a fundamentis la sfârșitul secolului al X-lea, cu o locuire prelungită până la mijlocul secolului al XIII-lea și mai multe zone funerare. Una dintre necropolele așezării medio-bizantine, aflate în capătul nordic al promontoriului stâncos pe care se desfășoară așezarea, în punctul Trecere bac, a fost cercetată în campaniile 1999– 2002, 2004– 2014 și 2016. Ocupând zona de la nord de zidul fortificației bizantine și instalația portuară dezafectată, cimitirul se plasează, din punct de vedere spațial și cronologic, între două niveluri de locuire (unul anterior, marcat de locuințe de suprafață, celălalt ulterior, reprezentat de gropi menajere), perioada în care a fost utilizat putând fi considerată sfârșitul secolului al XI-lea – începutul secolului al XIII-lea. Mormintele cercetate în punctul Trecere bac sunt exclusiv de inhumaţie, cu dispunerea în şiruri paralele. Defuncții au fost depuși în decubit dorsal, cu orientarea V-E, cu cu unele deviaţii determinate de anotimpul în care s‐ a făcut înmormântarea. În general, s- a practicat înhumarea individuală, dar se înregistrează și cazuri de morminte duble, de suprapuneri de complexe funerare, precum și practicarea reînhumării. Depunerea defuncților s- a făcut în gropi simple, puţin adânci, de formă rectangulară şi oval- alungită, uneori trapezoidală, în resturile unor complexe de locuire anterioare sau pe/ în stâncă, în cadrul a 10 cripte. Au fost înregistrate şi cazuri de folosire a protecției/ delimitării cu piatră, a sicrielor, precum și înhumarea pe paturi de pietre, pe zidul sau pe pavimentul instalației portuare. În unele cazuri, craniul înhumatului era așezat pe o piatră, pe o cărămidă sau pe un olan. Dintre cele 450 de complexe funerare, au fost înregistrate 215 schelete în conexiune anatomică, în decubit dorsal, integral sau doar parțial conservate, cu reînhumarea scheletului afectat (documentată în 45 de cazuri), precum și grupări de oseminte umane, rezultate din deranjamentele provocate de acțiunile legate de alte înhumări sau de amenajarea complexelor de locuire ulterioare. Morminte documentate doar prin cranii apar în 31 de cazuri. Există, de asemenea, și o mare cantitate de oase umane recuperate din complexele menajere care au suprapus nivelul necropolei și pentru care nu a fost posibilă întotdeauna stabilirea complexului funerar de proveniență. Întretăierea unor complexe funerare, deranjamentele interne provocate, înhumările dublate de reînhumări, indicând o mare densitate a necropolei, se pot explica, probabil, și prin absența marcării pe teren a mormintelor. Nu este exclus totuși ca, măcar în unele situații, să fie vorba și de existența unei conexiuni între un anumit loc din cimitir și un grup de decedați, cu eventuale legături de rudenie între ei. Pentru scheletele bine conservate, a putut fi înregistrată poziția craniilor (normală sau spre piept, pe partea dreaptă sau pe cea stângă), a antebrațelor (cu cele cinci variante de bază – pe lângă corp, pe bazin, pe abdomen, pe piept și pe umeri – , cu diferitele subvariante) și a picioarelor (în general, întinse, paralele, rar încrucișate, flexate lateral, dreapta sau stânga). Inventarul funerar, prezent în 67 de morminte, este reprezentat de piese de podoabă (ale capului, gâtului şi mâinilor), de port și de cult, la care se adaugă monede (indiciu al practicării depunerii „ obolului lui Charon ˮ ). Necropola din punctul Trecere bac reprezintă cea mai importantă dintre zonele funerare identificate la Nufăru și se încadrează în seria cimitirelor de inhumaţie creştine ale Dobrogei medio-bizantine.

Menace of Waste Management in Kawempe Division Kampala- Uganda

Lack of solid waste management is one of the menaces that greatly affect Kawempe Division in Kampala capital city. A couple of sub-parishes within Kawempe division are encompassed by many an unlawful sets of landfills and solid waste disposal places. These landfills are locally termed “garbage pits”. These open waste collection facilities have led to spread of some diseases like typhoid as result of Leachet finding its way to ground and surface water sources and contaminating it in the neighborhood of these waste collection areas.

Water and Hygiene Quality in the Borgop-Cameroon Refugee Camp and its Potential Adverse Impacts on Environment and Public Health

The world is currently experiencing one of the greatest refugee crises since the World War II. Africa is particularly concerned. The present investigation, conducted in summer 2016, aims at assessing the living conditions of refugees within the prisms of the water sanitation and hygiene promotion (WASH) standard in the Borgop-Cameroon refugees camp. For this, structured questionnaires are issued to 164 refugees and 6 United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) officials posted in the field. Both sets were complemented with key interviews, field observations and secondary data. It is found that some WASH standards such as the average amount of water needed per person, existence of protected water source, the proximity with water sources, the number of people per latrine, the distance between latrine and the closest water source and the existence of garbage pits round the camp are met conformingly to the sphere standards. However, there are many concerns regarding the queuing time at the tap, the presence of non-coverable water recipients, the non-accessibility of every household to a toilet, the presence of human feaces in the environment and the use of non-intimate or secure toilets. Such investigation can be very useful for the safety of millions of refugees in the world.

Ritual Depositions versus Garbage Pits: A Re-evaluation of Pottery Deposits and Offering Pits at the Late Bronze Age City of Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus

This paper examines the material from a number of pits and wells from suburban areas of Hala Sultan Tekke, Cyprus. The aim is to identify pits and wells which contain intentionally deposited material other than rubbish. The Late Bronze Age metropolis of Hala Sultan Tekke offers an excellent opportunity for this study, as a considerable number of pits and wells spanning the complete Late Cypriot Bronze Age were excavated and well-documented over the course of almost five decades of archaeological research. As we have very little evidence of ritual practice – distinct cultic structures are as yet unknown at Hala Sultan Tekke – the re-evaluation of selected pottery deposits will offer a key towards a better understanding of possible ritual activities. In addition, Hala Sultan Tekke is – so far – the only Late Cypriot site, where we can see a clear connection between offering pits containing mainly pottery deposits and tombs, as these structures are found in close proximity to each other. This situation supports the view that the material from the offering pits reflects specific rituals for the deceased. Finally, the evidence of ritual feasting at other Late Cypriot sites, such as Kouklia Evreti, Kalavasos Ayios Dhimitrios and Enkomi, will briefly be discussed in order to present a more comprehensive picture.