Historical Investigation Research Articles

Different Stories for Different People - Engagement with the Archaeology of HS2 Area North

The UK high-speed railway High Speed Two (HS2) will link London and the Midlands following the route of the 19th-century London and Birmingham Railway. After years of work, including the largest programme of historic environment investigation in the UK across a swathe of the landscape over a number of years, the construction stage is now in progress. The lead document for the delivery of the historic environment works is HS2's generic Written Scheme of Investigation, the Historic Environment Research and Delivery Strategy (HERDS). One of the central principles of HERDS is to derive public benefit from the historic environment works, by meeting community engagement objectives and building a legacy of knowledge and skills. This article was delivered as a paper at the European Association of Archaeologists' (EAA) conference in 2023, themed 'Weaving narratives', in an HS2 session entitled 'Different stories for different people'. It discusses some of the principles of audience and narrative development that can be transferred to other archaeological projects from the discoveries in the Midlands (HS2 Area North). Three steps are highlighted. Firstly, engage with and listen to stakeholders and community representatives early in the project lifespan, using professional expertise. Secondly, assimilate key themes and local issues, create partnerships, and identify heritage champions to support the design of activities. Thirdly, work together to deliver a range of events and activities tailored to a variety of audiences using bespoke platforms and styles. Adopting this approach, and having clearer mechanisms for measuring and evaluating the benefit of the outcomes, demonstrates worth and benefits the sector. For project legacy, the goal is to use the stories to transfer skills, information, good practice and ownership.

The Garden at Pingle Farm: An Unsettling Investigation

AbstractThis paper presents a reflection on the process and results of an historical archaeological investigation of a South Australian colonial farm garden. It demonstrates how the researcher allowed the emotions evinced by the site’s history as a frontier site to contribute to the discussion of the research’s relevance for contemporary Australian society, related to themes of national identity and coming to terms with a colonial past.

The visual construction of the people’s country and the Chinese nation: political aesthetics in the Ethno-documentaries of New China

This paper discusses the political positioning of the people and the cultural image of the Chinese nation through the lens of the Social-historical Scientific Documentary Films of China’s ethnic minorities (hereafter referred to as “the Ethno-documentaries”) by restoring the problem to the site of the investigation of humanities and social sciences and the General Surveys on (Folk) Arts in the early years of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in the 1950s. Through detailed analysis of specific Ethno-documentary films, this paper explores how the social sciences conducted its “Social and Historical Investigation of China’s Ethnic Minorities” via the medium of film to convey the advanced social concepts and ideological work of the new regime through the historical narrative of art and politics. This study highlights three key points. First, the “Chinese nation” as a modern political concept dates its origins back to the 1920s with the emergence of the “National Heritage Reorganization Movement” and the “Doubting Antiquity School.” However, it was only through the medium of the Ethno-documentaries that this concept was visually and aurally represented in films for the first time, which draws our attention to the fact that the entry point for understanding modern China lies in discerning the relationship between culture and politics. Second, when discussing the relationship between culture and politics, this study juxtaposes the Ethno-documentaries and “art for workers-peasants-soldiers,” which developed during the same period. These two forms of art focus respectively on national history and the suffering of the lower classes of society, and it is this intertextual nature of the historical narrative that jointly anchors the cultural and historical view of New China. Lastly, historical view is the core of the humanities, social sciences, and art disciplines in New China. Previous studies have mainly attributed certain phenomena to the “politicization” or “pan-politicization” of a particular historical period due to disciplinary barriers and cultural trauma and have stopped discussing such topics in depth. In contrast, the significance of the political aesthetics in the Ethno-documentaries is to have transformed classical Chinese artistic language into a modern one to represent the Chinese people and the Chinese nation. It also raises a question of re-sinicization of many modern political issues that have persisted until now: How do today’s Chinese art works vividly depict the prosperity of this country and its hardworking and courageous people?

Self-supporting thin Shells in Italy. Space and Structure of the Industrial Buildings (1930-1970)

In the Twentieth Century, the industrial buildings featured a broad experimentation on the load-bearing structures suited to the production spaces. Among the structural elements explicitly designed for factories were reinforced concrete thin shells. In Italy, where reinforced concrete was the predominant construction technique for the entire century, the evolution of the thin shells for industrial buildings traced a significant story: starting from the introduction of foreign systems and patents in the 1920s, the design and construction of the thin shells gradually stacked to national productive and technological specificities. This paper presents a historical investigation of the application of thin shells in Italy between 1930 and 1970, remarking, thus, the local contribution of Italian contractors and designers in the evolution of both the design solutions and production process. Furthermore, the study presents a systematic historical and technical framework related to thin shells to support the actions of knowledge and safeguard the industrial building heritage.

Tamil Schools in the Federated Malay States under British Colonial Rule 1895-1941

In the time of British rule of the Federated Malay States (FMS) from 1895 to 1941, many Indians, especially the Tamils from South India, were brought in as labourers. Long-term Tamil primary schools were established to cater to their children's educational needs. This article presents a historical investigation of the development, challenges, and disparity faced by Tamil primary schools in the FMS between 1895-1941. The study employs thematic content analysis to study the primary and secondary historical sources. The findings report that four themes surrounding challenges and disparity emerged among Tamil schools in the FMS, namely building and equipment; subjects and syllabi; schoolteachers; and teacher training. The study underscores the development of Tamil schools in the FMS, the significant issues faced by the schools under British colonial rule, and the implications for children of Tamil migrants. Significantly, this study contributes new knowledge towards the history of education during British colonialism, emphasising the crucial role of Tamil schools in preserving language and culture and potentially shaping future research in this area.

An Evaluation of the Safety of Half-Dose Direct Oral Anticoagulants Following Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Pilot Study.

Background Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) patients on preoperative anticoagulation therapy present a challenge for adult reconstructionsurgeons. The goal in managing such patients is to limit bleeding complications associated with administering the medications while preventing medical complications from withholding them. At our institution, we began a protocol in 2017 that utilizes a half-dose direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) regimen for one week followed by resuming of the full-dose regimen in select patients who underwent TJA. This study investigated the 90-day safety profile associated with this protocol compared to previous literature. Methodology A retrospective review of 898 patients from a single institution was conducted including allpatients receiving a half-dose DOAC protocol for one week followed by resuming of the full-dose regimen after total knee and total hip arthroplasty between 2017 and 2022. Data were collected on patient demographics, type of surgery, and DOAC dosage. Ninety-day complications were collected and separated into reduced dose complications of DOAC (such as cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) or venothrombotic events (VTEe)) and DOAC therapy-related complications (including wound and bleeding complications). Results In the total hip arthroplasty (THA) subgroup (n = 396, 44.10%), there were four major VTE occurrences, aligning with therange seen in historical protocols. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) incidents were three and one, respectively, both within the historical range. In the total knee arthroplasty (TKA) subgroup of 502 (55.90%) patients, there were seven major VTE events, with five DVTs and two PEs, also aligning with historical ranges. Medical complications in the THA group included no CVA events and one myocardial infarction, with the latter slightly higher than the historical range. In the TKA group, there were two medical complications, both being CVAs. Regarding bleeding complications, THA patients showed four major bleeding incidents, two blood transfusions, and two hemorrhages, with these numbers comparable to or lower than historical ranges. There were seven minor bleeding events. For TKA, there were two major bleeding events, two blood transfusions, no hemorrhages, and five minor bleeding events. Wound complications in THA included five surgery-related complications, two cases of wound dehiscence, and three infections. TKA patients experienced 17 surgery-related complications, six cases of wound dehiscence, and 11 infections. Conclusions This study suggests that the half-dose DOAC protocol in patients undergoing TJA is non-inferior to historical full-dose DOACprotocolswarranting further investigation to generalize across broader populations.

Unveiling Vernacular Features: Interdisciplinary Knowledge for the Conservation of Villa Murat in the Sorrento Peninsula

The Sorrento Peninsula is characterized by a significant occurrence of examples of vernacular architecture, which exhibit distinctive morphological and constructive features. These have been the subject of numerous studies. However, some buildings have undergone a process of transformation over time, the details of which have yet to be investigated. Architectures that initially held a rural character were enlarged and ennobled, thereby becoming what could be termed as “villas of delights”. However, these clearly manifest their origin based on the permanence of some vernacular features. This paper focuses on the analysis of a case study, Villa Murat, which is exemplary in illustrating this process. This thorough interdisciplinary research combines historical investigation, based mainly on archival documents, with a direct examination of the Villa. This has enabled the retracing of the building’s evolution and of the events that occurred in it. An integrated survey, which employed photogrammetry and laser scanning, enabled the assessment of the current state of conservation. The ultimate objective of this research is to propose conservative interventions which, in conjunction with the suggested new intended use, could ensure the preservation of the Villa.

Heritage Regeneration Models for Traditional Courtyard Houses in a Northern Chinese City (Jinan) in the Context of Urban Renewal

The fundamental disputes in urban heritage regeneration stem from variations in power dynamics and inherent value systems among stakeholders. Addressing conflicts and power differentials involving governmental bodies, market forces, community residents, experts, and scholars is crucial for fostering sustainable urban heritage development. Recently, these contradictions have grown more pronounced as China’s urbanization has transitioned from rapid expansion to a phase focused on existing urban assets. In the present research, the typical traditional courtyard-style residential buildings in Jinan, a historic city in northern China, were selected as the object of study. These houses often suffer from problems such as outdated infrastructure and low living conditions and have become difficult to adapt to contemporary urban life. A case study approach was employed focusing on a representative courtyard house to develop models for renewing and regenerating urban heritage, specifically tailored to traditional courtyard houses. The aim was to address conflicts and power disparities among urban heritage stakeholders through diverse mechanisms. Methodologically, the research integrates historical study and field investigation, participatory analysis, and policy analysis. Primary data sources include field surveys, historical research, oral interviews, and drone aerial photography. Models were constructed in the present study—namely, the heritage self-renewal, heritage revitalization, and heritage transformation models—for traditional courtyard houses. These models were designed to foster sustainable urban heritage development through collaborative efforts across various stakeholders and administrative levels. They will optimize the renewal mechanism of urban heritage, thus providing diversity and multiple possibilities for the preservation and reuse of architectural heritage in China. They aim to realize comprehensive urban heritage values, including vitality, health, efficiency, and equity, while accommodating the interests of diverse stakeholders.

Quantifying the contributions of precipitation, topography and human activity and their coupling to the development of permanent gully

Gully erosion poses greater threat to ecological and food security globally. The gully development rate and the contributions of primary influencing factors have not been thoroughly understood, primarily due to the complicated environmental conditions characterized by climate, soil, topography, and human activities. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the gully development and contributions of its driving factors from 2013 to 2021 based on historical Google Earth images and field investigation in a typical rolling hilly watershed of northeast China. The climatic factors reflected by precipitation, topographical factors related to gully, and anthropological factors reflected by tillage ridge orientation and linear anthropological factors (LAF) including roads and shelterbelts were obtained. The tillage effect index (TEI), LAF effect index (LEI) and the distance from gully to LAF (DL) were calculated to analyze the influence of anthropological factors on gully development. The results showed that the linear, areal and volumetric gully development rates (RL, RA and RV) showed great variabilities in different periods with the average of 5.69 m year−1, 137.37 m2 year−1 and 428.54 m3 year−1, respectively. The accumulated RL, RA and RV increased exponentially or linearly with accumulated precipitation amount (P), erosive rainfall duration (RD), erosive rainfall (ER), maximum 30-min rainfall intensity (I30) and rainfall erosivity (RE) increased (P < 0.001). The slope of the gully head (HS) was identified as the primary topographic factor influencing RL. Both RA and RV showed positive power relationships with the drainage area of the gully (CA) and the upstream gully head (HA). The human activity reflected by tillage ridge orientation, unpaved road and shelterbelts had different effects on RL and RA. The increased orientation angle between gully and tillage ridge (ROA) mitigated headcut retreat for normal precipitation year but it would aggravate headcut retreat in the periods of continuous heavy rainfall. Gully bank with the ROA of 30−90° was more prone to areal development. The TEI, LEI and DL had significantly positive linear, power or exponential relations with gully development rates. The PLSR and VPA analysis indicated that topography, the interaction between topography and human activity, and the coupled effects of precipitation, topography and human activity were the main contributor of RL, RA and RV, respectively, and accounted for 34 %, 50 %, and 40 % of total variability of RL, RA and RA, respectively. This study can provide guidance for the control of gully erosion and the optimization of land use structure in the gully catchment.

A Review of Genetic Diversity Based on the Y Chromosome in the Romanian Population.

Y chromosome analysis is used in a number of practical applications, including investigations of criminal cases, establishment of paternity, searching for missing persons, studies on human migration, evolutionary research, and historical and genealogical investigations. Questions about the origin of individual ethnic groups are addressed not only through archaeological, linguistic, and ethnographic methods but also through molecular genetics methods. The study of genetic diversity in Romania is particularly interesting from several perspectives because Romania, located in Southeast Europe, is distinguished by the fact that the Carpathians and the Danube served as natural barriers against the migrations of peoples for centuries, thus influencing the genetic mixture of the population. This is relevant for understanding the history and formation of ethnic groups in the region. In addition, many ethnic minorities live in Romania, which adds an additional dimension of genetic and cultural diversity. This article aims to provide an updated picture of the genetic diversity in Romania and to highlight the significant studies carried out among the Romanian population. By analyzing the articles published in the Web of Science, Scopus, or PubMed databases, which explore genetic diversity using the Y chromosome, the aim is to better understand the current genetic panorama in Romania.

Preserving Literacy for the Transmission of the Traditional Folk Song “Hehuang Huaer” in Qinghai Province, China

Preserving literacy for the transmission of the traditional folk song “Hehuang Huaer” in Qinghai Province, China, by emphasizing literacy for transmission, demonstrates a comprehensive endeavor to protect cultural heritage and promote communal harmony. This comprehensive undertaking involves multiple facets, including historical investigation, educational endeavors, and creative rejuvenation, to guarantee the ongoing vitality and significance of “Hehuang Huaer” for future generations. By employing rigorous academic research, active involvement with the community, and creative advancements, Qinghai Province has effectively safeguarded the intricate linguistic and cultural aspects inherent in this cherished folk culture. By developing a more profound comprehension of the lyrical substance, vocal methods, and emotional portrayal inherent in “Hehuang Huaer,” practitioners and admirers actively contribute to its continuous transmission and enjoyment. Moreover, preserving “Hehuang Huaer” is evidence of Qinghai’s abundant cultural heritage, promoting cohesion, esteem, and a feeling of inclusion among its heterogeneous populations. Overall, preserving literacy for the transmission of “Hehuang Huaer” highlights the significance of cultural preservation in upholding the liveliness and distinctiveness of Qinghai’s cultural heritage.

Too Religious to Protest? Contested Thresholds of Catholic and Muslim “Intransigence” in the French Public Sphere

This article examines French Catholics’ recruitment, organization, and policing of Muslim participants in the 2012 to 2013 anti-same-sex-marriage protests La Manif Pour Tous. It argues that French Catholics are alert to forms of public participation which suggest religious “intransigence” (strict religious observance) and can be said to transgress the secular character of the public sphere. Instead, they craft a public presence that can be interpreted as secular, or “liberally” religious-and-secular, without passing the implicit threshold of intransigence. But French Catholics’ efforts to police Muslims’ and their own public visibility reveal the subjectivity and impermanence of the thresholds that are held as proof of religious intransigence. This article contributes ethnographic evidence to the historical and sociological investigation of “liberal” versus “intransigent” forms of French Catholicism and advances the anthropological study of the inequalities and privileges of Muslim and Catholic representation in secular French politics.

Landslide Distribution and Development Characteristics in the Beiluo River Basin

The Beiluo River Basin, situated in the central region of the Loess Plateau, frequently experiences landslide geological disasters, posing a severe threat to local lives and property. Thus, establishing a detailed database of historical landslides and analyzing and revealing their development characteristics are of paramount importance for providing a foundation for geological hazard risk assessment. First, in this study, landslides in the Beiluo River Basin are interpreted using Google Earth and ZY-3 high-resolution satellite imagery. Combined with a historical landslide inventory and field investigations, a landslide database for the Beiluo River Basin is compiled, containing a total of 1781 landslides. Based on this, the geometric and spatial characteristics of the landslides are analyzed, and the relationships between the different types of landslides and landslide scale, stream order, and geomorphological types are further explored. The results show that 50.05% of the landslides have a slope aspect between 225° and 360°, 68.78% have a slope gradient of 16–25°, and 38.97% are primarily linear in profile morphology. Areas with a high landslide density within a 10 km radius are mainly concentrated in the loess ridge and hillock landform region between Wuqi and Zhidan Counties and in the loess tableland region between Fu and Luochuan Counties, with a significant clustering effect observed in the Fu County area. Loess–bedrock interface landslides are relatively numerous in the northern loess ridge and hillock landform region due to riverbed incision and the smaller thickness of loess in this area. Intra-loess landslides are primarily found in the southern loess tableland region due to headward erosion and the greater thickness of loess in this area. Loess–clay interface landslides, influenced by riverbed incision and the limited exposure of red clay, are mainly distributed in the northern part of the southern loess tableland region and on both sides of the Beiluo River Valley in Ganquan County. These results will aid in further understanding the development and spatial distribution of landslides in the Beiluo River Basin and provide crucial support for subsequent landslide susceptibility mapping and geological hazard assessment in the region.

Opportunities And Threats Of Historical Evidence And Data Via Corpus-Based Software: A Case Study On Gerard Malynes

The aim of this paper is to exploit the informative nature of datasets that can be created from corpus-based software to explore specific phenomena in early modern specialized discourse, and to corroborate the adoption of the same software for historical analysis. Particular relevance will be devoted to the special nature of historical evidence, which has caused critical issues in the reliability of the data collected for the purpose of historical investigation of English. Spelling variation, in this sense, is one of the most crucial problems of Early Modern English, and this has often affected the reliability of data to be collected via software, especially when statistical findings are involved. The normalisation of historical texts has contributed enormously to make texts better readable for historical corpus analysis; and, consequently, to improve the accuracy and manipulation of data. Moreover, several tools used in corpus linguistics have benefited from the normalisation of spelling variants in the same terms, e.g. part-of-speech taggers for historical variety. This case study will attempt to explore the data retrievable from corpus-based software like VARD, #LancsBox and CQPweb, and to use them to corroborate a preliminary analysis of early modern economics discourse in two treatises written by Gerard Malynes in 1601 and 1623.

Historical Investigation of Ming loyalist(明遺民) on the Korean Peninsula : Migration Process, Geographical Distribution, and Historical Influence

Historical Investigation of Ming loyalist(明遺民) on the Korean Peninsula : Migration Process, Geographical Distribution, and Historical Influence

A Historical Exploration of the Selected Writing Trends on As-Sīrah An-Nabawiyyah (Prophetic Biography) from the First Century of Islam to the Contemporary Times

This research paper seeks to explore trends or tendencies in as-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah (Prophetic Biography) emphasizing the historical investigation of selected writings on this subject from the first century of Islam until contemporary times. Muslims and others find exemplary qualities in every aspect of the Prophet’s life that inspire them to love him, understand his sayings, and follow his deeds, and accept all his decisions. Also, Muslim scholars rely on the Prophetic Sīrah to understand and explain the Islamic Sources, al-Qur’an and as-Sunnah. Initially, most works on Sīrah focused on the composition of the Prophet’s biography, and subsequently, their writers became interested in recording its events in separate books. This study aims to highlight the writing trends on the Prophetic Sīrah throughout Islamic history, and then, examine selected writings addressing the demands and concerns of their times. This work starts with an introduction, and then, continues the discussion on the literal and technical definition of the Prophetic Sīrah, the phases of its writing trends, firstly, from the first century to the third century, secondly, from the fourth century to the golden age of Orientalism, and, lastly, from nineteenth century to contemporary age. This study arrives at insightful findings that for each age, there has been a trend or tendency in the writing of the Prophetic Sīrah according to the demands and concerns of the time. The researchers propose that the demands of modern-day writing trends on the Prophetic Sīrah include rhetorical (Kalāmī), philosophical (Falsafī), and social (Ijtimā’ī) approaches.

Beneath the surface: A historical exploration of trepanation practices across cultures and eras.

This research article explores the ancient origins of trepanation, unravelling its early instances and the associated cultural beliefs that have shaped cranial surgery. It scrutinises the medieval and Renaissance periods, elucidating the evolution of trepanation techniques within the context of advancements in medical knowledge and societal changes. In addition, the research investigates the diverse practices of trepanation across cultures, offering insights into the unique approaches, beliefs and rituals associated with this ancient surgical procedure. Examining the decline of trepanation in mainstream medicine, the article assesses the factors contributing to its diminishing prevalence and the emergence of alternative surgical methods. The study also delves into sporadic resurgences of trepanation in unconventional contexts, providing a nuanced understanding of its enduring fascination. In exploring trepanation's impact on modern medicine, the article sheds light on its contributions to the study of cranial anatomy, the evolution of surgical tools and the broader narrative of medical progress. Ultimately, this historical investigation contributes to a comprehensive understanding of trepanation, revealing the intricate interplay between medicine, culture and the human quest for knowledge and healing.

Whitehead and Victorian Philosophy of Science: A Historical Investigation of the Concept of Hypothesis

Abstract In the Harvard lectures of 1924–1925, Alfred North Whitehead proposed that our various intellectual activities amounted to an attempt to understand the world and our experiences through hypothesizing. He explained the importance of hypothesis in scientific research and extended the idea of hypothesis to the philosophical method called “speculative philosophy.” For Whitehead, philosophy was the attempt to formulate general hypotheses that can transcend disciplines. This paper is intended to explore the possible influence of Victorian philosophers on Whitehead. Victorian philosophers such as John Herschel, William Whewell, and John Stuart Mill discussed the role of hypothesis in scientific discovery. Was Whitehead aware of this tradition? Was he influenced by it? This article indicates that Whitehead at least indirectly inherited the Victorian idea of hypothesis, notably in the thought of Whewell, as mediated by Charles Darwin.

The Role of Monetary Policy During the Financial Crises

This study delves into the pivotal role of monetary policy in navigating through a spectrum of financial crises, spanning from the tumultuous Great Depression era to the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. By meticulously assessing the efficacy of monetary interventions, this paper endeavors to furnish a thorough historical investigation, elucidating the dynamic evolution of monetary policies as quintessential instruments for crisis mitigation. Employing a comparative approach through case studies, it discerns recurring patterns and discerns nuanced implications crucial for informing future monetary policy frameworks. Emphasis is placed on distilling invaluable lessons from past crises, thereby underlining the imperative for policymakers to glean insights from historical precedent in crafting robust strategies to navigate the complexities of contemporary financial landscapes. Ultimately, this research aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of the role of monetary policy in crisis management and provide guidance for policymakers in effectively deploying monetary tools in response to future economic challenges.

Grassroots Solidarity for Refugees in Hostile Grounds: Spatial Practices of Bottom-Up Inclusion in Verona

The article aims to shed light on everyday bottom-up practices of local solidarity groups in a predominantly exclusionary and nativist context. Considered as one of the most hostile settings in the Italian peninsula, with an elevated presence of far-right and populist right actors, the city of Verona offers an interesting case as con-comitantly the capital of migration of the Veneto region. Against the elevated presence of an ethnonationalist outlook to urban membership, a local network of grassroots actors challenges exclusionary practices in solidarity with newcomers from various legal statuses and backgrounds. These grassroots actors sharing the memory of collective struggles collaborate to overcome both social hostility and limitations of the institutional reception system in their own hometown. Premised on 3 years of fieldwork, the analysis draws from personal testimonies alongside visual narratives and archival research in offering a multidimensional historical investigation of everyday solidarities in an unlikely setting.