Mediterranean Context Research Articles

Early Vitreous Materials from Spain: Chronological and Compositional Variability in the Bronze Age Beads from the Alicante and Albacete Provinces (about 1650–900 cal BCE)

This research constitutes a systematic archaeological and archaeometric study on ornamental vitreous material from Spain dated to the Late and Final Bronze Age (LBA–FBA, about 1650–900 cal BCE). Our multi-analytical approach combines morphometric, textural, and chemico-mineralogical analyses with typo-chronological and spatial investigations to diachronically quantify the distribution of the beads and highlight how their recipes vary over time. The analyses were performed on a set of 17 beads coming from four archaeological sites in the Alicante (Cabezo Redondo, Cueva de las Delicias, and Peña Negra) and Albacete (El Amarejo) provinces. We were able to document the first mixed-alkali glassy faience ever recorded in Spain and the oldest Egyptian blue bead discovered in western Europe. Additionally, we discovered that plant-ash glasses seem to predominate in this area during the LBA and up to the early FBA. It is only during the FBA (tenth to ninth century BCE) that the earliest natron glasses start to appear, and they show the iron-rich and the aluminum-cobalt variants already observed in numerous beads from European and Mediterranean contexts dated from the tenth to the eighth century BCE.

Exploring the relationship between elderly women responses, multi-domain factors, and street geometry indicators: A case study in a Mediterranean context

Exploring the relationship between elderly women responses, multi-domain factors, and street geometry indicators: A case study in a Mediterranean context

Academic Resilience and its Relationship With Emotional Intelligence and Stress Among University Students: A Three-Country Survey.

In Mediterranean countries, resilience among university students remains underexplored, despite its critical role in managing academic and personal stressors. Emotional intelligence (EI) and perceived stress are known to influence resilience but require further investigation in culturally diverse settings. To explore the relationships between academic resilience, EI, and perceived stress among university students in three Mediterranean countries characterized by diverse academic and cultural systems. 1833 undergraduate students from 12 universities in Egypt, Jordan, and Oman. A cross-sectional correlational design was employed. Participants completed the academic resilience scale (ARS-30), Schutte self-report emotional intelligence test (SSEIT), and perceived stress scale (PSS). Multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors of academic resilience. The mean resilience score was 67.4 (SD = 18.4). EI positively predicted resilience (B = 0.57, β = 0.66, p < 0.001), whereas perceived stress was negatively associated (B = -0.48, β = 0.15, p < 0.001). Other significant predictors included good health, advanced academic years, GPA, nationality, and participation in stress-management training. Variables, such as gender, age, and field of specialty, did not significantly influence resilience. The model explained 54% of the variance in resilience (R2 = 0.54, p < 0.001). This study provides novel insights into the predictors of resilience in culturally diverse Mediterranean contexts. Emotional intelligence and stress management are critical for enhancing academic resilience. Universities should integrate EI training, stress reduction programs, and resilience-building initiatives into their curricula. Future research should explore longitudinal trends and culturally tailored interventions to promote resilience.

Integrated Biotechnological Strategies for the Sustainability and Quality of Mediterranean Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and Sea Bream (Sparus aurata).

This review examines the current state of the supply chain management for Dicentrarchus labrax (sea bass) and Sparus aurata (sea bream), two key commercial fish species in the Mediterranean. It provides a comprehensive analysis of sustainable innovations in aquaculture, processing, and packaging, with particular attention to circular economy-based biopreservation techniques. A major focus is on the Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system, an advanced farming approach that enhances sustainability, promotes circular resource utilization, and improves fish welfare. By fostering ecological balance through the co-cultivation of multiple species, IMTA contributes to the overall quality of fish products for human consumption. Beyond aquaculture, the review addresses the critical challenge of food loss, which stems from the high perishability of fish during storage and processing. In this regard, it highlights recent advancements in biopreservation strategies, including the application of antagonistic microorganisms, their metabolites, and plant-derived extracts. Particular attention is given to the development of edible antimicrobial films, with a focus on the valorization of citrus processing by-products for their production. By centering on innovations specific to the Mediterranean context, this review underscores that a holistic, integrative approach to supply chain management is essential for transitioning the aquaculture sector toward greater efficiency and sustainability.

Unexpected allies: reintroduced Eurasian beavers boost bat and hazel dormouse activity in Mediterranean riverine ecosystems

Ecosystem engineers such as beavers play a key role in shaping their habitats by modifying their physical environment and providing resources for other species. Beavers alter their surroundings by building dams, lodges, and canals, ultimately transforming rivers into dynamic networks of ponds and wetlands that may enhance biodiversity, by benefiting both terrestrial and aquatic wildlife. Rivers and the surrounding vegetation cover such as gallery and riparian forests are key habitats to several taxa, including bats and small mammals, two species-rich and conservation-relevant groups of vertebrates. Riverine ecosystems provide foraging, shelter, and commuting opportunities to these mammals. Recent evidence from northern Europe and North America suggests positive impacts on bat populations by beaver activities, due to the increased abundance of aquatic insects in beaver-modified environments, whereas the effects upon small mammals are less known. We aimed at assessing the effects of recently released beavers upon conservation relevant bats and small mammals in a Mediterranean context by following a bioacoustics monitoring approach. We compared bat and hazel dormouse diversity and activity at sites with and without beaver activity along three rivers in central Italy. Acoustic surveys confirmed higher bat and hazel dormouse activity levels at “beaver” sites with respect to control ones, particularly in areas surrounded by higher forest cover. Beaver sites exhibited a more pronounced positive response in bat activity levels as the surrounding forest cover increased. We also report that acoustically-detected hazel dormouse responded positively to beaver presence. We thus showed that both bats and dormice appeared to benefit from the presence of beavers at the sampled sites. Our study sheds light the ecological importance of beavers in enhancing habitat diversity and promoting biodiversity across aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, highlighting positive effects upon conservation relevant taxa.

Modeling the Performance of a Continuous Durum Wheat Cropping System in a Mediterranean Environment: Carbon and Water Footprint at Different Sowing Dates, Under Rainfed and Irrigated Water Regimes

This study evaluates the environmental impacts and productivity of a continuous durum wheat cropping system under three sowing dates and two water regimes, i.e., rainfed and irrigation at flowering in the Mediterranean context, specifically in the Capitanata plain of Apulia, Italy. AquaCrop-GIS was employed to model the yield response of durum wheat on the different sowing dates (15 October, 1 November, and 15 November) and with different water management practices. In addition, the Carbon and Water Footprint (CWFP) tool was used to quantify the environmental impacts in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and water use, including green, blue, and total water components. Results indicated that the total greenhouse gas emissions (CO2_eq) from wheat production averaged 1201.3 kg CO2_eq ha−1, with fertilization, in particular the application of ammonium nitrate and urea, being the main contributor. Soil management practices contributed 362.9 kg CO2_eq ha−1. Early-November sowing achieved the highest productivity, 5573 kg ha−1 under the rainfed option and 5722 kg ha−1 under irrigated management, while mid-November sowing resulted in lower yields and 21% higher CO2_eq emissions per kilogram of grain compared to early November. Water Footprint analysis revealed that early-November sowing had the highest green water demand, with negligible differences in blue water use between sowing dates. Overall, the integration of these data showed that optimizing sowing dates and irrigation practices can significantly improve yields and reduce environmental impacts.

A reduction in effective population size has not relaxed purifying selection in the human population of Eivissa (Balearic Islands)

Ibiza (Eivissa) is one of the main Balearic Islands in the western Mediterranean. Recent studies have highlighted the genetic distinctiveness of present-day Eivissans within the region and suggested it could be attributed to the genetic drift caused by recent demographic events. Whether this distinctiveness emerged from a differential demographic history, or rather from a bias for sampling in a small geographic region such as Eivissa, remains an open question, together with the understanding of the functional consequences of demography in the island. In order to clarify these questions and further characterize the distinctiveness of Eivissa within the Balearic and Mediterranean context, we generated whole exome sequences for 31 and 20 individuals from Eivissa and Menorca respectively, a subset of which were also genotyped with the Human Origins array. Our results show that Eivissans present signs of putatively recent genetic isolation that are shared to a lesser extent with Menorca such as more and longer runs of homozygosity and high numbers of intra-population shared IBD segments. Regarding the functional consequences of recent demography, although Eivissans do not present an excess of deleterious alleles or homozygotes comparing to other populations, genetic drift seems to have increased the allele frequencies of neutral and deleterious variants, which can have various medical implications.

Validity of a Short Food Frequency Questionnaire for Toddlers of NELA Birth Cohort Study.

Our aim was to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for the assessment of usual nutrient and food intakes in children of 18 months old. We included 103 toddlers aged 18 months from the Nutrition in Early Life and Asthma (NELA) birth cohort study. A 47-item FFQ was administered twice to parents with a 3-month interval. During that period, we also performed three non-consecutive 24 h dietary recalls (24hDRs) and oral mucosa samples for determining the fatty acid profile (glycerophospholipids). We estimated correlation coefficients of reproducibility for nutrient and food group intakes by comparing both FFQs and validity coefficients by comparing nutrient intakes between the second FFQ and the average of the three 24hDRs. We also explored biochemical validity by comparing the intake of fish from the FFQ with the percentage of fatty acids in oral mucosa cells. The average of correlation coefficients for FFQ reproducibility was r = 0.48 for energy-adjusted nutrient intakes (ranging from r = 0.28 for Na to r = 0.62 for Mg and Zn) and r = 0.35 for the intake of energy-adjusted food groups. The average correlation coefficient for FFQ validity on nutrient intakes was r = 0.48, ranging from r = 0.16 for α-carotene to r = 0.75 for vitamin E. We also found a positive correlation between total omega-3 fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid percentages in oral mucosa cells and the intake of total and white fish, r = 0.31 and r = 0.34, respectively. This study shows that our short FFQ demonstrated moderate reproducibility (mean r = 0.48) and validity (mean r = 0.48) for dietary assessment of most nutrients and foods in 18-month-old children in Spain. This FFQ provides an efficient and minimally invasive method for evaluating toddler dietary intake, particularly in Mediterranean contexts.

Contextualizing UNESCO’s Historic Urban Landscape Approach: A Framework for Identifying Modern Heritage in Post-Blast Beirut

This paper reflects on the application and adaptation of the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL) approach in Beirut, Lebanon, in post-disaster conditions. Adopted by UNESCO in 2005, the HUL approach marked a shift in addressing urban heritage, echoing an evolution in theory. However, contextualizing the HUL approach to address distinct local, geographic, and cultural conditions and reframing its scale and scope of operation remains a challenge. This paper uses a case-study-based methodology as it reflects on the application of the Historic Urban Landscape approach in the post-blast context of Beirut. Commissioned by UNESCO, an interdisciplinary team at the Beirut Urban Lab used the HUL approach to identify modern heritage in Beirut after adapting it to the post-colonial and Mediterranean context of the city. This study contextualized modern heritage definitions, proposed a periodization of modern built and landscape heritage, and designated modern heritage based on its formal/spatial, urban/landscape, socio-cultural, and environmental values. This paper argues that the study contributes to the advancement of the Historic Urban Landscape approach by operationalizing it into an applicable heritage framework, employing a transdisciplinary model that involves local people at the institutional and community levels, and serving as a basis for generating conservation strategies responsive to place and culture. This study also pioneered a comprehensive, integrative, and transdisciplinary reading of modern heritage in Beirut, breaking the professional silos between disciplines and bringing landscape into the identification of heritage in Lebanon.

Living Lab for the Diffusion of Enabling Technologies in Agriculture: The Case of Sicily in the Mediterranean Context

Enabling technologies (KETs) offer transformative potential for agriculture by addressing major challenges such as climate change, resource efficiency, and sustainable development across economic, social, and environmental dimensions. However, KET adoption is often limited by high R&amp;D requirements, rapid innovation cycles, investment costs, and cultural or training barriers, especially among small agricultural businesses. Sicily’s agricultural sector, already strained by pandemic-related economic setbacks and inflationary pressures, faces additional barriers in adopting these technologies. To investigate these adoption challenges and develop viable solutions, the ARIA Living Lab (Agritech Research Innovation Environment) was established within the PNRR framework. A qualitative approach was used, involving documentary analysis and data from stakeholders across Sicilian agriculture. This approach enabled an in-depth exploration of sector-specific needs, infrastructure, and socio-economic factors influencing KET adoption. The analysis highlighted that adoption barriers differ significantly across sectors (citrus, olive, and wine), with public incentives and digital infrastructure playing key roles. However, a persistent lack of technical skills among farmers reduces the effectiveness of these innovations. The findings suggest that an integrated approach—combining targeted incentives, training, and enhanced infrastructure—is essential for a sustainable transition to KETs. Future research should examine collaborative efforts between farms and tech providers and evaluate the impact of public policies in promoting the widespread, informed adoption of enabling technologies.

Affectivity, embodied knowledge and reflexivity in creative biographical research on migration in the Mediterranean context

ABSTRACT The biographical and reflexive turn in migration studies has challenged unidimensional and stereotyped representations of migrants and refugees’ stories and subjectivities by bringing into focus their often-marginalized voice, agency, and individual experiences. Moreover, the inclusion of verbal, visual, and embodied information has led to research strategies that might uncover hidden, silenced, and emotionally charged feelings and experiences related to migration. Through the analysis of the unexpected complexity and ambivalence of the outcomes of three workshops held in Italy involving migrants, refugees, and social workers, this article addresses the potential of creative biographical research, i.e. a method that combines biographical tools, participatory strategies, creative and art-based techniques. When strengthened by a reflexive sensibility conceived as an embedded, embodied, and relational practice, this methodology may prove crucial in enhancing our critical exploration of events within specific research contexts and in promoting more rigorous data collection and ethical presence in our research sites.

BASS - Biodiversity Assessments at Small Scales

Much of the work developed on biodiversity dynamics due to climate change focuses on large scales. Yet, we know that small scale is critical to fully understand biodiversity change, particularly for plants and small or less mobile organisms which might seek refuge in sites that keep specific microclimatic and biotic conditions dampening the effects of large-scale changes. The project BASS - Biodiversity Assessment at Small Scales - aims to explore the intricate relationships between small-scale environmental variations in space and time and biodiversity patterns. Central to our study is researching how microclimatic conditions, such as potential solar radiation, influence species occurrence, abundance, community composition and biotic interactions within a Mediterranean context. Our objectives include gaining a deeper understanding of the effects of localised environmental conditions and their change in time on biodiversity, providing critical data for an under-researched Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot region, and examining the dynamics of small-sized species, particularly plants and invertebrates. We have established a network of 16 fixed sampling points across the Lisbon University field station - Herdade da Ribeira Abaixo (HRA), Grândola (South Portugal): eight with high and eight with low potential solar radiation. Each of these plots will serve as a 'mesocosm' for detailed ecological studies in the next decades. This framework will support a variety of research projects each focusing on different taxa and questions, including Masters' theses, PhD dissertations and independent studies, thereby fostering a collaborative research environment. By integrating previously collected data during the last three decades with new findings, we aim to offer valuable insights into the processes underlying ecosystem functioning and change at small spatial scales. This project not only addresses fundamental ecological questions, but also contributes to sustainable landscape management and biodiversity conservation efforts.

Influence of Socioeconomic Status on the Retail Food Environment in Alicante.

Unhealthy dietary habits are associated with chronic non-communicable diseases and may contribute to increased mortality in all countries of the world. Food environments determine the accessibility, availability, and promotion of food, thus playing an important role in people's diets, but they are context-dependent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the availability and accessibility of food in food outlets in different neighborhoods of the city of Alicante. Cross-sectional study. Trained researchers conducted food store audits using the validated Nutrition Environment Measures Survey in Stores for Mediterranean contexts (NEMS-S-MED) tool. Data were collected from food stores within a socioeconomically diverse sample in Alicante (n = 63). We compared the availability and affordability of "healthier-less healthy" food pairs, scores between food store types (supermarkets, specialized, convenience stores, and others), and socioeconomic levels in Alicante in 2022. The present study highlights that the food stores with the greatest availability and accessibility to healthy foods are supermarkets, as opposed to specialized stores and convenience stores. In addition, differences were found in the accessibility and availability of healthy foods by neighborhoods with different income levels, being more accessible in the residential neighborhood with the highest income level. Tourism could explain the differences in the food retail environment, with a high-income neighborhood showing similar results to low-income neighborhoods. The results obtained invite reflection on the development and adoption of policy strategies that promote the availability and accessibility of healthy food in the most disadvantaged areas.

Isolated Mediterranean foraging: wild greens in the matrifocal community of Olympos, Karpathos Island, Greece

BackgroundStudies on the in-depth documentation of wild greens use in the Mediterranean Diet (MD) are vital to understanding patterns of cross-geographical change in wild food ingredients in the Mediterranean context, their appreciated taste, and possible evolution. Our present study aims to document the leafy, wild-sourced plant portion of the MD in the unique and isolated matrifocal community of Olympos, North Karpathos Isle, Greece.MethodsAn ethnobotanical field study focussing on traditionally wild-sourced edible greens (chórta) was conducted during the spring of 2023 via 42 semi-structured interviews with local people.ResultsOur study documented 69 wild green taxa, along with their culinary uses and linguistic labels. Half of the gathered wild greens have a bitter taste (i.e. members of Asteraceae and Brassicaceae), while 70% of the top-quoted greens are bitter. These greens were mostly consumed cooked. Nearly half of the quoted taxa had been previously recorded as used in the food system of central Crete. In contrast, one-fourth of the folk phytonyms recorded in Olympos do not match the ones found in Crete and the rest of Greece, which may be linked to the Doric culture that the community remained attached to because of its isolation. However, the plant-human interaction kernel is similar to that of surrounding areas. Moreover, the community of Olympos seems to rely less on aromatic wild greens (compared with Crete).ConclusionCross-cultural foraging comparison is crucial for better understanding the circulation, exchange, and evolution of local plant knowledge under the MD umbrella. Our study assesses, in particular, how noteworthy phytolinguistic differences indicating different ancient trajectories of cultural encounters/exchanges may not necessarily be reflected in differences in terms of plant reports. As often postulated in linguistic ethnobiology, ancient linguistic labels sometimes remain as “empty shells”. Given the fragile environment and the increasing over-tourism during the summer months the study site is experiencing, the presented data could contribute to a more substantial shift towards sustainable eco-tourism initiatives involving the foraging and cooking of wild greens.

Afforestation of common land in the Classical Karst: relations between the authorities, the local population, and the economic consequences of afforestation

The findings of environmental history are in the service of ecology and represent an important contribution to the understanding of the sustainable management of land. The aim of this article is to shed light on the relations between the local population and the authorities regarding the afforestation of common land in Komen in the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, placing them in a broader Mediterranean context. The local population was not opposed to afforestation per se, but to the prohibition of usufruct on afforested land, which had major economic consequences for the local population. Authorities did not always take into consideration the annual agricultural processes, local customs, and natural resource needs in their afforestation decisions. The prohibition of usufruct was followed by a shortage of fodder and firewood, which led to forest violations to satisfy demands. Thus, afforestation has undermined the basis of agriculture. In addition, already afforested land remained under common ownership for a relatively long time.

The King’s Mellifluous Tongue Study, Social Bonding, and the Making of Middle Armenian as a Language of the Elite in Medieval Cilicia

This article on social history examines the study of Middle Armenian manuscripts at the Cilician court, placing the language’s development within a Mediterranean context that includes Outremer French and Byzantine Greek. In particular, it argues that King Het‘um I (d. 1270) bolstered his status as educated king through the commission of two works from theologian Vardan Arewelc‘i (d. 1271): an encyclopedic compendium and commentary on grammar, which aided vernacular study in different ways. By balancing the microhistory of these manuscripts against the macro-history of Cilician Middle Armenian’s configuration in writing, this article shows how vernacular Armenian became an object of elite study, seemingly capable of representing all the knowledge in the world.

Use of Vertical Greenery Systems for the domestic scale treatment of greywaters for fit-for-purpose reuse. Applicability and future prospects.

Abstract Only less than 1% of the Earth’s water is fit for human activities. Domestic consumption accounts for roughly 20% of all uses of water, adding pressure to the increasing water scarcity stress. Water intakes of residential buildings for all everyday uses are constituted by a high-quality resource, which is either costly to produce or conspicuous in amounts to withdraw from natural sources. The present proposal aims to test the feasibility of the application of decentralized greywater treatment strategies, based on the use of vertical greenery systems integrated into residential buildings to assess both the optimal scale of application in residential settlements and a comparative analysis on reclaimed water resource savings. The aim is to promote the circular use of water resources by allowing for fit-for-purpose employment, thus reducing the overall intake due to the residential sector. The methodology hereby proposed has been developed using as a case study the most widespread residential typologies in the Southern Italian context, such as single detachment, row houses, low and medium-rise apartment buildings. The result is the proposition for each residential typology of a retrofitting strategy that employs the integration of a green infrastructure inside the residential spaces. Until now, the Mediterranean context has been characterized by limited use of strategies directed towards the efficient employment of water resources, since the mild climatic conditions have always provided for an adequate amount of freshwater. Therefore, limited studies have been carried out on the application of those strategies in Mediterranean landscapes. However, the rapid shift in precipitation patterns due to climate change has defined the need to quickly embrace new strategies, systems, and technical solutions for improving water use efficiency and promoting reuse.

Reseña de: Krasilnikoff, Jens A. &amp; Lowe, Benedict (editors): The Greeks in Iberia and their Mediterranean context

Reseña de: Krasilnikoff, Jens A. &amp; Lowe, Benedict (editors): The Greeks in Iberia and their Mediterranean context

Issues of Sampling and Representativeness in Large‐Scale LiDAR‐Derived Archaeological Surveys in Mediterranean Contexts

ABSTRACTLandscape‐scale LiDAR‐based studies are becoming increasingly prevalent in archaeology, mainly focusing on detecting archaeological sites to create datasets for spatial analysis. However, the representativeness of these datasets in accurately reflecting the surviving distributions of archaeological sites has often been overlooked. This paper discusses issues of sampling and representativeness in LiDAR‐derived datasets, particularly within the scope of large‐scale landscape studies in Mediterranean contexts. Drawing insights from the Ancient Hillforts Survey, which analysed 15 296 km2 in south‐central Italy, the study examines the variability in the visibility of different site typologies in open‐source but low‐resolution LiDAR data. Through an examination of hillforts, platform farms, settlements, field systems, traces of Roman centuriation, and transhumance routes, the paper highlights significant variability in the identification and mapping within and across different site types. Recognizing the need to account for this variability in the development of spatial analysis, the paper discusses the use of sampling areas to address this variability. This approach aims to effectively mitigate potential biases in analysis, emphasizing the necessity for nuanced methodologies in interpreting LiDAR data for archaeological research.

How much does reclaimed wastewater cost? A comprehensive analysis for irrigation uses in the European Mediterranean context

ABSTRACT The new European Union regulation on the minimum requirements for the use of reclaimed water for irrigation entered into force in June 2023, thereby imposing concerns regarding the costs of this non-conventional resource for potential users in the context of increasing water scarcity in the Mediterranean region. This research offers a comprehensive cost assessment of reclaimed water production based on the financial information gathered from wastewater treatment plants located on the Mediterranean coast of Andalusia (Southern Spain). The results offer valuable information for policy-makers, water operators, and potential users to assess the economic viability of utilising reclaimed water as an alternative source to scarce conventional resources.