Scientific Heritage Research Articles

Monuments of Bugo-Dniester and Trypil culture in the scientific heritage by P. I. Havlyuk

The purpose of the article is to generalize and evaluate the scientific conclusions of P. I. Havlyuk about the development of archaeological cultures of the Neolithic (Bugo-Dniester) and Eneolithic (Trypil) eras. The research methodology is represented by: the principle of historicism, the systemic approach, the methods of logic and grouping, the comparative-historical and problem-chronological principle. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that the article summarizes P. I. Havlyuk conclusions about early agricultural archaeological cultures in the Eastern Podil, as well as their assessment by other archaeologists. To write the article, unpublished manuscripts from the personal fund of P. I. Havlyuk, stored in the Vinnytsya Regional Museum of History and Nature and archaeological research reports from the Scientific Archive of the Institute of Archeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine were used. The point of view of P. I. Havlyuk about the peculiarities of the material culture of the population during the Neolithic and Eneolithic eras in the Middle Pobuzhzhia is presented. The following issues were considered: topography of settlements (planning features), characteristics of housing construction, economic activity (agriculture and animal husbandry) and crafts (pottery, weaving and tool making). The article also mentions the settlements of the Bugo-Dniester culture discovered by the archaeologist (Glynishche, Glynske I, Ladyzhyn I, Ladyzhyn II, Samchintsi, Skibyntsi, Sokiltsi, Trostyanets) and Trypil culture (Borysivka, Velyki Yaruzhki, Verbivka I, Verbivka II, Gunchanske, Ivanky, Klishchiv, Pechera, Rakhnianske, Soroka, Ulanivka, Chortorija). They are chronologically systematized and a scientific interpretation is presented. Conclusions. The archaeologist was the first in Vinnytsia to start a systematic study of Neolithic monuments. He managed to find out the peculiarities of material culture and present his own interpretation of the development of the population of that time. The discussion about the published conclusions of P. I. Havlyuk continues.

Tatar Dialectological School in Kazan University: Origins, formation and development

One of the well-developed scientific areas in Tatar linguistics is dialectology, its main task being the study of the living spoken language of indigenous peoples, that is, local dialects. It studies the phenomena of folk speech that are not included in the literary language, conducts the scientific analysis in this field and determines the territory of their usage.For several centuries, consistent and systematic research workhas been carried out in the area of Tatar people's spiritual culture, the history of various ethnic groups, the characteristics of their language, their way of life and customs. This work, devoted to studying live speech, to recording materials related to individual subdialects and dialects of the Tatar language, to collecting factual material and its scientific interpretation, began in the first half of the 18th century. The scientific study of Tatar dialectology at Kazan University has a history of more than two centuries, so a wealth of experience has been accumulated in this area; the tradition of studying Tatar dialects and subdialects at the university continues to this day, being one of the most relevant and sought-after scientific trends followed by the Department of Tatar Linguistics. For the first time providing its systematic study, this article describes the formation and development of the Kazan University Dialectological School, which is the main object of our research. This constitutes the scientific novelty and relevance of the article. The study of the history of this scientific school in an educational institution goes hand in hand with the study of the scientific research of the outstanding scholars, who made great contributions to Tatar dialectology, leaving rich scientific and methodological heritage.

The history of floristic research of forest biogeocenoses in the Northern Steppe Dnipro region

The study of the history of flora research in the forests of the Northern Steppe of Ukraine is extremely important for understanding the ecological processes and changes occurring in this region. The forests of the Northern Steppe Dnipro region, as unique ecosystems, have undergone significant transformations under the influence of anthropogenic factors. Understanding the historical aspects of these changes allows us to assess the current state of the forests and develop effective strategies for their conservation and restoration. This article aims to highlight the historical development of botanical research, from ancient historians' descriptions to modern scientific works. Despite its importance, the historical course of flora research in the forests of the Northern Steppe of Ukraine has remained insufficiently studied. The lack of a systematic review of research, from ancient times to the present, has limited the ability to fully understand the changes in species composition and ecological conditions of these forests. It is also important to assess the contributions of the first European travelers and scientists to the study of the region's flora and to determine the impact of anthropogenic factors on these ecosystems. The article provides a detailed review of historical sources related to the study of the flora of the forests of the Northern Steppe of Ukraine. The works of ancient historians, such as Herodotus, and European travelers of the XVII–XVIII centuries, including Guillaume Le Vasseur de Beauplan, Johann Anton Güldenstädt, and Peter Pallas, are considered. The contributions of XIX century scientists, such as Karl Friedrich von Ledebour and Ivan Schmalhausen, are analyzed. Special attention is given to the research of the XX century, which reflects changes in ecosystems under the influence of industrialization and agricultural development. The study revealed that anthropogenic factors, in particular, deforestation, the expansion of agricultural lands, and melioration works, have significantly affected the flora of the forests of the Northern Steppe of Ukraine. The analysis of historical data showed that past botanical research is an important source of information for modern understanding of the region's ecological dynamics. These data help develop strategies for the conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems. The historical development of flora research in the forests of the Northern Steppe of Ukraine is an important part of the scientific heritage, which contributes to expanding knowledge about natural resources and ecological processes of this region. Studying the historical aspects of changes in species composition and ecological conditions of the forests allows for the development of effective strategies for their restoration and conservation. The results obtained emphasize the need for further research and efforts to preserve biodiversity and restore the forest biogeocenoses of the Northern Steppe Dnipro region.

Unveiling the photostability of the molecule of colour shikonin: From solution to the solid state

Shikonin, Shk, is a molecule of colour characterized by its natural phenolic-based compound composition, belonging to the naphthoquinone family. It is known for its low solubility in water and limited resistance to lightfastness. Shk is present in variable amount in the dried roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, Lithospermum officinale, and Alkanna tinctoria. The dyestuff extracted from these plants has historically been employed in Asia and Europe for textile dyeing, producing various shades of purple. Despite the historical significance of this dye, it has received limited attention in the context of cultural heritage studies. In the present work, Shk and model hydroxynaphthoquinone dyes were irradiated with polychromatic and monochromatic light in solution and in the solid state, mimicking paint mock-ups, to evaluate their photochemical stability. Low photoreaction quantum yield values (ϕR < 10−5) were observed in solution, providing quantitative evidence for the high stability of this molecule to light exposure. Chromatographic-mass spectrometric analyses carried out on the irradiated solutions and extracts from artificially aged Shk paint mock-ups, detected 5,8-dihydroxy-2-(1‑hydroxy-3-oxo-4-methyl-4-pentenyl)-l,4-naphthoquinone as degradation product, together with newly identified intermediate species involved in the complex photodegradation process. These indicate that, both in solution and in the solid state, the photoreaction of Shk proceeds with a similar mechanism. In the context of heritage science, this work contributes to highlight the potentialities of the adopted noninvasive approach, corroborated by results collected by chromatographic-mass spectrometric techniques, in identifying Shk in historical and archaeological specimens through its absorption and emission features and/or by detecting its degradation products which are, for the first time, characterized in terms of their UV–Vis absorption and emission spectral properties.

Значение научного наследия В.Д. Сорокина для развития теории административно-процессуального права как самостоятельной отрасли российского права

Based on the analysis of the opinions existing among administrative scientists about the existence of administrativeprocedural law as a separate branch of law, the reasons preventing such recognition are formulated in the article. Consideration of these reasons through the prism of V.D. Sorokin’s scientific heritage, in particular, the main properties of the process developed by him as a legal category and a mechanism of legal regulation operating at the macro level (at the level of branches of law), allowed the author of this article to conclude that these reasons are not an obstacle to the recognition of administrative procedural law as an independent branch of Russian law.

Mapping the elemental distribution in archaeological findings through advanced Neutron Resonance Transmission Imaging

This work highlights recent application of energy-selective neutron imaging at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, specifically focusing on the development of Neutron Resonance Transmission Imaging (NRTI) at the INES instrument. NRTI is a nuclear technique based on resonant neutron absorption reaction, which combines the sensitivity to elemental and isotopic composition with detailed morphological information, using the epithermal portion of the neutron flux available on the INES instrument at the ISIS facility. Unlike standard neutron radiography and tomography methods, NRTI preserves detailed time and energy information for each detector pixel, enabling enhanced visualisation of elemental distribution inside an object’s volume, with the potential for quantitative elemental analysis. These features combined with the non-destructiveness of NRTI make the method promising for applications in the field of Cultural Heritage, especially when it is employed in a multi-technique approach to provide complementary information about the composition and the crystalline structure of archaeological artefacts. A study related to Heritage Science is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of NRTI in non-destructive investigations of inhomogeneous artefacts, specifically focusing on the excavation finds related to the first evidence of ancient brass production in Milan, Italy, during Roman times.

SCIENTIFIC HERITAGE OF A.I. LEVSHIN AS A VALUABLE SOURCE ON THE HISTORY OF KAZAKH STATE

The preservation of national identity, history and culture of peoples occupies a central place in social development. History is one of the main elements of statehood, restoring and preserving the connection of times, the continuity of history and traditions of statehood. From this point of view, the scientific legacy of the outstanding Russian scientist of the first half of the XIX century Alexei Iraklievich Levshin (1797-1879) has acquired great importance for researchers of the Kazakh statehood, the history of the Kazakh people. This article presents the experience of using, studying and understanding the creative heritage of A. I. Levshin, as the primary primary source of the history of the Kazakh state, in the context of our other sources of knowledge about Kazakhstan and the Kazakhs in order to create a voluminous and objective historical picture.Goals.The purpose of the study is to study the creative heritage of A. I. Levshin, as well as its use and understanding as a valuable source on the history of the Kazakh state. Results.The most valuable in a scientific sense is the formed A. I. Levshin, the concept of studying the history of peoples. Levshin collected huge factual data from this position, very extensive information, were intertwined with the ethnopolitical history of Kazakhstan and the Kazakh people. Conclusions. The scientific heritage of A. I. Levshin can be attributed to the most valuable sources for researchers of the ethnopolitical history of the Kazakh people. The historical data collected by him confirms the presence in the Kazakh Khanate of common features inherent in all states: territory, people, government.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Heritage Environments and Their Analysis: A Review

In the recent years, there has been an increased interest in indoor air quality in heritage environments, specifically in relation to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These could originate from objects, furnishings, visitors and staff, as well as from olfactory exhibitions. This interest led to a number of studies investigating the “typical” emissions for diverse materials and their impact on the surrounding environment. The analysis of volatile compounds emitted by objects helps in the characterization of the material composition, its conservation history or its degradation processes. This contribution reviews how volatiles are emitted from objects and the commonly used sampling techniques for heritage science applications. A variety of methods are available, from bulk air sample collection to preconcentration using samplers. The commonly studied object types contributing to indoor VOCs are discussed. These include emissions from heritage objects, conservation products, furnishing materials and display cases. Furthermore, olfactory exhibitions are discussed in terms of indoor air quality. Finally, the findings are compared with the current guidelines on indoor volatile concentrations.

Exploring the current meaning of plaster face casts in museums: the case of Lidio Cipriani’s facial masks at the Anthropological Collections of the University of Bologna (Italy)

ABSTRACT Among the different types of anthropological items that have been amassed over time for research and didactic purposes (e.g. identified human osteological series and anthropometric instruments), plaster face cast collections still enclose a sensitive nature when exposed in museums, being midway between objects and human remains, between scientific items and cultural heritage. The present work focuses on the plaster face casts stored at the Anthropological Collections of the Museum System of the University of Bologna (Bologna, Italy). The main subject is a series of copies of the human facial masks realised by Lidio Cipriani (1892–1962), an anthropologist of the University of Florence, during his scientific missions in African and Asian regions during the European colonial expansion. Starting from this collection, we want to emphasise our recent experience as the Self Steering Committee of the University of Bologna for the pillar Cultural Heritage of the alliance Una Europa, aimed at critically reflecting on the value of those plaster face casts, unveiling their dissonance. Then, we will present our results in the frame of the renewed principles of the discipline, reflecting on the scientific, cultural and social implications that this kind of anthropological asset may have today.

The Future of Heritage Science and Technologies: Papers from Florence Heri-Tech 2022

The Future of Heritage Science and Technologies: Papers from Florence Heri-Tech 2022

Towards FAIR Data Management in Heritage Science Research: Updates and Progress on the INFRA-ART Spectral Library

The heritage science sector is facing a critical need for accessible and comprehensive data resources to facilitate research, preservation efforts, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The concept of FAIR data management involves embracing principles and practices that ensure that data are Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. This work presents an overview of the latest updates on the INFRA-ART Spectral Library, an open access spectral database of cultural-heritage-related materials that was designed as a digital support tool for heritage research specialists that work with (portable) non- or minimally invasive spectroscopic techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF), attenuated total reflectance–Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, or Raman spectroscopy, among others. The database is an ongoing compilation of high-quality curated data that currently incorporates primary ATR-FTIR and XRF spectra and a preliminary dataset of Raman and short-wave infrared (SWIR) reflectance spectra on over 900 different materials typically found in painted works of art. For increased and sustainable accessibility, the database follows the European Commission’s recommendations on access to scientific information, as well as the FAIR guiding principles on research data that result from publicly funded research. The INFRA-ART Spectral Library is registered as a resource within the Open Science Cloud (EOSC) Portal and is among the services offered by the Romanian hub within E-RIHS (European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science) DIGILAB.

I.L. MAYAK AS A REVIEWER OF SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE ON THE HISTORY OF ANCIENT ROME

The subject of this study is a part of the scientific heritage of the Honored Professor of Moscow University, Iya Leonidovna Mayak (1922-2018), represented by her reviews on national and foreign monographs on Roman history, published in 1958-1999. The article deals with I.L. Mayak’s motives for writing the reviews, the methodological foundations of her analysis, her requirements for the source base and the historiographical rating of classical studies, their structure and the logic of presentation. It is noted that I.L. Mayak was opposed to dogmatism in the application of the theory of socio-economic formations as well as a hypercritical attitude to sources related to archaic Rome, the spread of which she considered to be the methodological consequence of Kantianism. It is shown that I.L. Mayak not only monitored the diffi cult process of rehabilitation of the ancient tradition as a source for studying the archaic Rome, but herself actively promoted this process, in particular by means of reviewing other people’s works. Th e study considers the requirements set out by I.L. Mayak for classical studies such as the need to provide a terminological analysis of sources data, to trace changes in the content of concepts over time, to show the possibility of various interpretations of the given facts. In the formulation of theoretical constructions I.L. Mayak considered essential to provide a concept against the background of the concepts introduced by predecessors, and if the problem was debatable, to indicate the view clearly and definitely. The analysis of reviews written by Iya Leonidovna allows us to conclude that they make it possible to expand our understanding of her academic views, especially on those problems of Roman history, which she did not directly examine in her monographs and articles, in particular, on the issue of preserving polis paradigm in the late Roma n Empire. Reviews by I.L. Mayak reflect her image memorable to many generations of historians: she was respectful to colleagues, however critical of their work, delicate in remarks, stringently academic in expressing her thoughts. The article shows the polemic sharpness and dialogic character of the reviews by I.L. Mayak.

Linguistic activity of Shahtakhtli during the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic

The end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries are considered a period of revival of national awakening, self-awareness and the emergence of ideas of independence in the aesthetic and public opinion of Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic occupies a special place in the history of state independence of our people. In the Republic of Azerbaijan, special importance is attached to the literary language. Azerbaijani linguistics has an ancient history. Studying the history of this linguistics, determining the role and place of outstanding linguists, enlightened intellectuals who played an important role in its development, is of great importance in terms of writing a complete history of the linguistic thought of our scientific linguistics. The Azerbaijani people, with a rich history and enormous scientific heritage, have produced outstanding public figures. At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, one of the greatest linguists of Azerbaijan, who rose to the level of European standards, was the great public figure Muhammad Agha Shakhtakhtli. The prominent prose writer M. Shakhtakhtli tried to implement the ideas of education by publishing journalistic articles in the Russian-language press of the Caucasus, raised with government authorities the importance of educating the people through the media, and preached the need to reform the alphabet. . Studying and working in Europe, in the capital of France, Paris, M. Shakhtakhtli grew up as an outstanding linguist and published numerous articles in the European press about Eastern culture, the development of Azerbaijani education, and the reform of the Arabic alphabet.

The two ideals shaping the content of modern science

Much has been written over the years regarding the norms, values, and ideals of modern science—in a word, what is expected of science and scientists. Most frequently, however, attention has focused on the conduct expected of scientists (e.g., Merton’s norms) rather than on the specific content expected of their scientific contributions, and attention has also tended to focus on the current scene rather than on the events that produced it. So. a kind of two-fold gap exists in our understanding of our scientific heritage. Why is this important? Because it turns out that the two general ideals that have shaped the content of modern science right from the start seem to contradict each other. Nonetheless, they both have enjoyed weighty reasons offered in their defense and they both have exerted strong holds through the centuries on scientists and nonscientists alike, and still exert these holds. And the tradition has not offered any satisfying resolution. So, it is high time we deal with this situation. At least, that is what I attempt to do in this paper.

A dialogue between science and conservation: another naïve exploration in response to Salvador Muñoz-Viñas

This article is a response to Salvador Muñoz-Viñas’ 2022 article in this journal, ‘Conservation science, conservation practice and the conservator’s knowledge: a naïve exploration’. In his article, Muñoz-Viñas outlines 46 questions related to a conservation treatment that, we are told, cannot be answered by using the scientific method. This forms the basis for a vindication of the value of the knowledge of conservators, as well as a critical exploration of the limits of heritage science. In my response, I also present a list of questions related to a hypothetical scientific experiment. I have chosen questions that cannot be answered by science alone, because they require the expertise of conservators. In that way, I showcase a heritage science that respects the tacit knowledge of conservators, indeed, that depends on it. Essentially, the way we ask questions shapes the way we answer them. I argue that we must ask inclusive questions that help us collaborate across perceived disciplinary boundaries. The limitations of heritage science identified by Muñoz-Viñas are genuine, but we disagree in the attitude we should have in front of them. Interesting research happens only at the limits of scientific knowledge, precisely where heritage science has the most acute need for the knowledge of conservators.

POLITICAL MENTALIZATION OF THE FRENCH RULING ELITES: A POLITICAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL ESSAY

The study focuses on the main stages of the historical past of French civilization, in the depths of which the political mentality of the ruling elites was formed. The authors explore the mental and civilizational results of the five-hundred-year Romanization of Gaul. The role of Christian proselytism in the formation of a monotheistic mentality and the political role of the Church of Gaul are revealed. The thesis about the mental heritage of the Roman Empire in the formation of the foundations of the new Christian nation is revealed. As a result of the convergence of Roman culture and barbaric cults, an original mental space was formed, where Catholicism became the state religion of the Frankish Empire. The conclusion is made about the historical and mental-political significance of chivalry not only for France, but also for Europe. Next, the authors turned to the topic of the influence of the Renaissance on the elites, who, having assimilated the mental models of the Italian Renaissance, built their national identity on their basis. In the Renaissance epoch, the centuries-old theologo-political nature of French political power was transformed into a subject-pragmatic system of absolutism. For the first time in the history of Europe, politics was separated from religion. Christian dogmas as the basic mental attitudes of the elites have given way to the sense-generating primacy of secular principles of real politics. During this period, anti-absolutist and anticlerical mental and political attitudes emerged in the elite environment on the soil cultivated by the Renaissance, which determined the course and nature of the revolutionary events of the 18th-19th centuries. During the period of the Consulate and the First Empire, Napoleon I and then his followers pursued a policy of mental reconstruction of the elites. The final two sections talk about the philosophical, theological and scientific heritage of the great intellectuals of France, the power activities of its outstanding rulers, who had a significant impact on the evolution and development of the political mentality of modern French elites.

Concrete touchdown: new technology influences industrial buildings in Norway, 1912–1920

Construction technology developed quickly during the first decades of the twentieth century. This influenced the construction of industrial buildings at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage site of Rjukan and Notodden in Norway. Behind the construction was Hydro, a company founded in 1905 to produce synthetic nitrogen fertiliser to increase the world’s food production. This industrial development demanded large structures such as hydropower stations and production facilities. Concrete was introduced for the first time during this period, and systems are characterised by heavy concrete bearing walls and mixed bearing walls where concrete and steel were combined. Such systems demanded significant material resources and resulted in the development of steel and concrete skeleton frames. The development of viable systems was achieved through research in materials science and structural engineering, in both the USA and Europe. This paper discusses how concrete influenced construction and building systems at this site. Similarities to industrial buildings and other building typologies are evident and connect the site to the international context of architecture and engineering history. Understanding the characteristics of individual buildings and presenting them in an order of a construction systems will support the work of architects and engineers in future conservation schemes.

Полевые дневники Б.А. Куфтина, руководителя Тунгусской экспедиции, как источники эпохи становления советской этнографии

The article analyzes the travel diaries of the head of the Tunguska expedition of 1927–1928, Boris Kuftin (1892–1953). Methods and materials. Participants of the Tunguska Expedition conducted field research on Lake Baikal and the Far East in places where Evenks, Nanais, Negidals, Nivkhs, Oroches, and Udeges people lived. They collected valuable ethnographic materials about the ethnocultural features of settlement, types of dwellings, fishing activities, life cycle rituals, shamanism, holidays, and features of the language and folklore of the Tunguso-Manchus and Paleoasiats. Field notebooks of B.A. Kuftin are stored in St. Petersburg, in the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography (the Kunstkamera) of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and contain a large volume of ethnographic and anthropological information, drawings, shamanic texts, and various life support technologies. Results. However, in addition to them, the scientific heritage of the scientist has a travel diary, which reflects personal road observations and impressions of B.A. Kuftin, subjective characteristics of regional transport infrastructure in the first quarter of the 20th century, his own assessments of the development of Siberian and far Eastern historical science, their relationship with world science, and museum business in Eastern Siberia and the Far East. During the route, B.A. Kuftin met a large number of scientists – representatives of different scientific disciplines – who showed aspects of their complex social relations at the time.

Archaeological Reconstructions of the Ethnogenesis of the Eastern Slavs in the Scientific Heritage of Volodymyr Baran and Denys Kozak

Archaeological Reconstructions of the Ethnogenesis of the Eastern Slavs in the Scientific Heritage of Volodymyr Baran and Denys Kozak

HISTORY AND PROSPECTS OF THE STRUCTURAL-FUNCTIONAL METHOD IN ETHNOLOGY: IMPLEMENTATION IN FAMILY RITUALS, STREET ART AND ACTIVITIES OF LOCAL ARTISTIC COMMUNITIES

The purpose of the article is to establish which structures should be considered the most characteristic and typical for the founders of the structural and functional analysis in ethnology – C. Lévi-Strauss, A. Radcliffe-Brown, E. Leach, V. Turner, V. Propp. The researcher singles out the main structure for each of them and demonstrates its functional capabilities. For Radcliffe-Brown, in the author’s opinion, the structure of the tribe and family relations between its members in one of the areas of Western Australia is fundamental. From the scientific heritage of Lévi-Strauss, the structure of the division into components of the ancient Greek myth about Oedipus stands out. Characteristic for Leach is the structure of “condensation”, in which two interconnected functions give rise to a third one, usually based on symbols and metaphors. A structure characteristic of Turner is a diagram of the spatial symbolism of a certain ritual of one Central African tribe. As an example of Propp’s structuralism, the division of a folk tale according to the functions of the characters is given, where each of the functions has a conventional designation, and as a result, we get the formula of the fairy tale plot. The author concludes that the possibilities of the structural and functional method are far from exhausted. Thanks to the examples presented in the article, it was possible to establish that the method of structural and functional analysis, initiated in the middle of the last century, can be successfully used in the latest research, in particular, the study of Ukrainian national rites of the family cycle, as well as street art and activities of artistic communities.