Abstract The Neolithic of the northeastern Iranian Plateau is defined basically by the materials recovered from the twin mounds of Sang-e Chakhmaq, the West Mound and the East Mound. The radiocarbon dates from these mounds span almost two thousand years, from around 7000 BCE to the last centuries of the sixth millennium BCE, with a chronological hiatus between ca. 6700–6200 BCE. Recent excavations at a proto-ceramic Neolithic site, Rouyan, in the vicinity of Sang-e Chakhmaq, provided occupational evidence, augmented by a series of Radiocarbon dates, which fill in the long-standing temporal hiatus of the Neolithic of the region. Both 14 C dates and archaeological evidence from this excavation suggests that Rouyan was founded simultaneously with the West Mound of Sang-e Chakhmaq, but its occupation continued without discontinuity into the fifth millennium BCE. The excavation also yielded a small ceramic assemblage from the earliest deposits of the site, indicating the site’s first settlers were familiar with this technology as early as ca. 7000 BCE.

Abstract Research on Trojan metallurgy has traditionally focused on the composition and circulation of copper and its alloys, though early excavations provided limited stratigraphic dating for Early Bronze Age objects. More recent excavations (Korfmann/Pernicka) have yielded well-stratified finds, which were examined in this study through X-ray fluorescence and lead isotope analysis. Arsenical copper dominates the assemblage, followed by unalloyed copper and tin bronze—the latter appearing in Troy II (Late) and vanishing in Troy IV, primarily within the citadel. Notably, some Troy II–III objects derive from geologically old copper sources absent in the Aegean/Anatolian core region, with the Arabian Peninsula proposed as a possible origin. Some tin bronzes exhibit regional lead isotope signatures, suggesting local alloying rather than exclusive importation of finished bronze. Statistical tests further confirm that arsenic, antimony, and cobalt concentrations remain stable across corroded and uncorroded samples, supporting their reliability for compositional analysis.

This article offers a refined perspective on the so-called “unusual rooms” identified at the archaeological sites of Kavat-Kala and Zamakhshar in Khwarezm. Incorporating findings from recent excavations, architectural analysis, comparative studies within the Islamic world, and references to medieval sources, the study posits that these spaces may have functioned as libraries or archival repositories. Earlier interpretations considered utilitarian purposes such as storage, dovecotes, or meeting halls. However, specific architectural elements — including symmetrical niches, benches (suffas), and intentional spatial layouts — suggest a design optimised for manuscript storage and use. This reinterpretation enhances our understanding of the intellectual milieu of medieval Khwarezm, highlighting its role as not only a political and economic centre but also a dynamic hub of scientific and cultural activity. The evidence points to a widespread written culture, with potential instances of both public and private libraries among the urban elite. Furthermore, the recurrence of similar room types across various estates implies either centralised planning or the intentional adoption of architectural forms linked to scholarly distinction. The research advances knowledge of educational practices, manuscript preservation, and knowledge transmission in Central Asia during the 12th—13th centuries, offering significant insights into the broader intellectual history of the Islamic world.

ABSTRACT Insect remains can provide unique insights into past environments, yet their preservation and post-depositional alterations – particularly chromatic changes – remain poorly understood. Recent excavations along the French Atlantic coastline uncovered numerous archaeological structures dating from the Neolithic to Late Antiquity. Archaeoentomological samples collected from these structures reveal significant variations in the preserved insect remains. The frequency of morphological alterations, degree of fragmentation, and quantity of subfossil insects recovered vary between samples, influenced by the type of archaeological structure, the embedding substrate, the storage methods, and the taxa considered. Chromatic alterations, visible to the naked eye, appeared more uniform. This pilot study initially aimed to determine whether fibre-optic reflectance spectroscopy could detect original colouration no longer visible to the naked eye, by comparing archaeological specimens with modern reference material. Spectral analyses showed colour differences correspond to taphonomic alterations rather than hidden original hues. By documenting these changes and assessing spectroscopy’s applicability to archaeoentomological material, this study establishes a methodological baseline and reference dataset, opening new avenues for insect taphonomy research and improving palaeoenvironmental reconstructions.

Abstract This report discusses recent excavations in a residential neighborhood of Palenque and the broader implications of a preliminary analysis of chert and obsidian flaked stone. We argue that the high relative frequency of obsidian blades, chert drills, cores, and primary core shaping debitage from one residential group is evidence for multicrafting and intensified production beyond the immediate needs of the household.

Crescents are flaked stone tools found throughout western North America that are often associated with waterbodies and projectile points diagnostic of the late Pleistocene and early Holocene, such as the Western Stemmed Tradition. Archaeologists continue to debate the function of crescents and they remain poorly dated outside of the Channel Islands. Here we report a crescent from recent excavations at Connley Cave 6 in central Oregon and provide a first look at associated stratigraphy, radiocarbon ages, and tools. The crescent's age (ca. 9715-9245 cal BP) and associated projectile points are remarkably like the crescent from Little Steamboat Point-1 Rockshelter in Oregon and suggest that people who used Cascade points during the early Holocene also made crescents. This work helps refine the age of crescents and our understanding of their associated toolkits.

This paper re-examines the spatial structure, extent, and character of Daesung-dong Ditched Enclosures I and II, which functioned as ritual spaces in the Haedongcheon Stream area of ancient Gimhae Bay during the Bronze Age. Analyzing recent excavation findings from the perspective of landscape archaeology, these enclosures are compared with similar ritual circular ditches in the mid-western and Yeongnam regions. Daesung-dong Ditched Enclosure I, which encircles Gujibong Hill, along with its internal features, is interpreted as a ‘separate settlement (byeol-eup)’ with independent ritual authority. It is presumed to have functioned as a ‘sodo,’ a ritual space for the village headman (cheongun) as described in historical accounts. In contrast, Daesung-dong Ditched Enclosure II, a five-ring ditch, contains features like a dwelling presumed to be a priest's residence and a refuse pit for ritual purposes. The presence of pottery from the Bronze Age to the early Iron Age suggests it may have been an indigenous ritual space linked to the earth god. The study concludes that both enclosures were broadly contemporaneous, representing a ritual ditched enclosure village. This settlement, which combined villages and smaller settlements in the Haebancheon area, is considered a 'large village (daechon)'. The material and social system that enabled its development was based on a complex society formed through the fusion of indigenous Bronze Age and northern migrant cultures. This settlement is believed to be the prototype of the ‘euprak’ of Byeonjin-Guyaguk, which later shifted its center.

Archaeobotany in south-east Nigeria is still a growing field of study. While the northern and southwestern parts of Nigeria have a longer history of archaeobotanical research, the south-eastern region has only seen relatively recent studies, with much still unknown about its archaeobotanical history. This paper highlights the progress made so far in the development of archaeobotanical research in southeast Nigeria, a region with a rich history, cultural diversity, and geographic significance in West Africa. The article begins by reviewing the state of archaeological and archaeobotanical investigations in the region with the aim of identifying what has been done so far and what remains to be done. The paper then discusses the achievements, challenges, and prospects associated with the growth of archaeobotany, emphasising the need for local capacity building to advance the field. Recent archaeobotanical research in Igbo-Ukwu is used as a case study, demonstrating the ongoing work in the region and the potential it holds for understanding the paleoenvironment and early agricultural practices. Palynological and botanical macro-analysis of samples from recent excavations at IgboUkwu reveals the presence of wood charcoal, food residue, seeds/fruits such as Elaeis guineensis, Vitex sp., Pennisetum glaucum syn. Cenchrus americanus and Canarium sp., as well as fungal and pteridophyte spores, all associated with the 10th–13th century CE cultural deposits. The paper concludes that south-east Nigeria offers great potential for unlocking Africa’s rich agricultural history and hence the need to develop archaeobotanical research in the region.

Recent excavations at the Phoenician coastal site of Tell el-Burak, a large-scale agricultural production centre in use during 725–350 BCE, have uncovered the first Iron Age wine press in Lebanon. This discovery enabled a systematic, interdisciplinary study of its plaster, offering insights into ancient construction technologies. The analysis extended to two other plastered installations found in separate rooms within the complex, allowing for a comprehensive comparison. An integrated program of archaeometric analysis, including optical microscopy in polarising light, X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetry, and organic residue analysis, was applied to samples from these three structures to investigate plaster composition and technological variability. Previous studies identified the use of crushed ceramic fragments in a lime-based plaster. Now, new analyses provide deeper insights into the nature of the binder, revealing how the addition of ceramic sherds may have enhanced the plaster’s mechanical properties and hydraulicity, making it a significant early example of hydraulic mortar. These findings confirm the existence of a local, innovative tradition of lime-plaster manufacture in southern Phoenicia. This investigation not only sheds light on the specific technological practices of Tell el-Burak, but also contributes to the broader understanding of Phoenician and Punic technological advancements in the Iron Age Mediterranean.

ABSTRACT Recent excavations in Grotta Guattari (Circeo Promontory, southern Latium, Italy), in an area that had never been investigated before, the so-called Antro del Laghetto, returned abundant fossil remains of cave hyena. The newly acquired chronology of Grotta Guattari speleothems has allowed us to date the hyena frequentation, and thus the bone accumulations of this part of the cave, around 65 ka (Late Pleistocene, MIS 4). Comparisons with mandibles and upper and lower jugal teeth of extinct and extant hyenas have led to the determination that the species that occupied Grotta Guattari is Crocuta spelaea. The cave hyena from Grotta Guattari had robust jaws and it was relatively large, with some specimens among the largest in Western Europe. Comparisons with the age at death classes of main preys of modern and Late Pleistocene predators suggest that the bone accumulations can be referred to the hunting activity by Crocuta spelaea, which introduced only parts of the carcasses into the cave. Comparisons with dens of modern and Late Pleistocene hyenas suggest this part of Grotta Guattari had a multiple use (storage + communal den), an occurrence already documented in other Late Pleistocene sites. Finally, some cases of cannibalism were described.

ABSTRACT Perinatal burials in the Roman period are rare in military contexts, as such interments were usually limited to domestic settings or, in exceptional cases, public buildings during inauguration rituals. Recent excavations at the Castrum of Legio VI Victrix in León, Spain (29 BC–AD 74), found a perinatal burial inside a contubernium workshop, challenging assumptions about the separation of military and domestic life. Skeletal analysis estimated the age at 38–42 gestational weeks, with death occurring at or shortly after birth from natural causes, as no trauma was found. This discovery offers unique insight into legal frameworks, the presence of women and children in military sites, and ritual practices in early imperial Rome. It challenges traditional views of military sites as exclusively male spaces and highlights the complexity of funerary and ritual practices, emphasizing the need to reconsider responses to perinatal death in Roman society.

This article describes preliminary results of ongoing research at the Greenbrier site (3IN1), a late Mississippian town site now located on privately owned land in the Middle White River Valley in Independence County, Arkansas. In 1999 and 2000 the Arkansas Archeological Society and Arkansas Archeological Survey excavated part of a roughly 9-m 2 burned structure (House 1) initially interpreted as a dwelling. Ceramic sherds from this house and four radiocarbon dates from the site, ranging from AD 1400–1600 (calibrated), indicate that Greenbrier is contemporary with Late Mississippian sites in the eastern Lowlands along the St Francis and Mississippi Rivers. Prestige goods suggest that Greenbrier was part of the wider Mississippian sociopolitical economy and was likely a node along a major trade route. Results from instrumental neutron activation analyses suggest that potters at Greenbrier used local clay sources; however, a chemically equivalent local source has yet to be identified. From December 2019 to October 2021 a gradiometer survey of approximately 30 percent of the estimated site area identified traces of a double-walled ditch and/or palisade that appears to have been expanded at least once. Images from the gradiometer survey show over 123 anomalies that are plausibly interpreted as dwellings, in addition to a central square plaza, and two separate double ditches and/or walls. Spatial patterning of dwellings and wall-like anomalies suggests that the late Mississippian town expanded to accommodate growth of the community. Excavation of House 1 in 2023–24 revealed a central hearth and platform surrounded by posts. Radiocarbon dates on charred plants recovered in recent excavations precisely date the burning of the structure to the mid-sixteenth century and suggest the destruction of the house may be attributable to the De Soto expedition that passed through this area in 1541.

Buyeo is known as the central area of Sabi Capital City, the last capital of Baekje, and since investigations began in the 1980s, annual excavations have uncovered a variety of remains from different periods. The Gwanbuk-ri site plays a key role in hypothesizing the location of the royal palace within Sabi Capital City, where large timber-frame building foundations, ornamental ponds, and roadways have been investigated. These remains provide crucial clues to the urban planning of Sabi Capital City and the arrangement of its palace complex; in particular, recent excavation results—such as large-scale platform construction, square pond remains, road remains—have further enhanced the resolution of our understanding of the palace precinct’s layout. Compared to other areas within Sabi Capital City, the Buyeo Gwanbuk-ri site is situated at a relatively higher elevation and possesses ideal conditions for constructing major facilities, including the Baekje-period royal palace. Together with these locational advantages, the creation of extensive earthen platforms and the placement of core Capital City facilities conferred prestige on the palace precinct. These platforms and the arrangement of principal structures serve as important indicators of Baekje’s technological prowess and economic capacity, demonstrating the existence of deliberate urban planning in this area. After Baekje’s fall, the site’s status as a regional center gradually diminished during the Unified Silla period; however, the high degree of overlapping building remains around the large timber-frame foundations indicates that its function as a central hub persisted. In the Joseon period, the installation and use of a guest hall (guksa), local government office (dongheon), and inner quarters (naea), along with the establishment of a third-class road, illustrate that the site continued to serve as the urban core of Buyeo-eup to this day. In this study, the spatial extent of the Buyeo Gwanbuk-ri area—which has maintained its role as an urban precinct from the Baekje period to the present—was defined and its locational advantages and the characteristics of its archaeological distribution were examined. Based on the process by which spatial functions and characters have overlapped over time, the way in which the Gwanbuk-ri remains were utilized up to the Joseon period was examined. The results indicate that the Gwanbuk-ri site not only functioned as a locus of concentrated royal power but, through successive layers of occupational reuse, emerged as a complex and multifunctional core area within Sabi Capital City.

In the past, establishing a clear chronology for the Epipalaeolithic and Neolithic periods in eastern Mazandaran proved challenging. A major obstacle had been the lack of radiocarbon dating. Previous dates provided by Coon and McBurney were not considered reliable, even after recalibrations. However, over the last fifteen years, new archaeological fieldwork and research have significantly enhanced our understanding of these periods. Recent excavations at the PN sites of Touq Tappeh and Tappeh Valiki have provided new information about the Epipalaeolithic and Neolithic chronology and dating. The sites yielded the oldest dating of the PN in northeastern Iran so far, making the PN of eastern Mazandaran start at least from the first half of the 7th millennium BC and lasted until the early 6th millennium BC (c. 6600–5800 BC). While Tappeh Valiki represents the oldest dates, the PN periods may have started in the region even earlier, given the presence of potteries from the lowest layers of the site. Analysis of the available material from these sites through dating indicates strong regional connections, while also showing inter-regional connections. The new dating from the old and new Epipalaeolithic and Neolithic sites of eastern Mazandaran suggests there is no gap between them, which is not surprising given the favorable environment during the early Holocene.

There are numerous elements in the art of the Book of Kells which resonate closely with Pictish sculpture. These have been catalogued and analysed most carefully by Isabel Henderson (1982), while Julian Brown explored the possibility of a Pictish origin for the manuscript on more palaeographical grounds (1972). While Iona has become generally accepted as the Book's birthplace in the scholarly narrative, the evidence supporting this hypothesis is tenuous, and the manuscript's 'Pictishness' demands acknowledgement. This paper re-evaluates the evidence in the aftermath of the recent excavations at Portmahomack on the Tarbat peninsula. It also examines some of those 'Pictish' instances in the light of convincing new theories about the creation of the Book of Kells (MacGabhann 2015), and it asks how those instances fit into the modus operandi of the manuscript as a whole. Given the mobility of scribes and books, as well as the fact that Iona was part of 'Greater Pictland' during the probable period of the Book of Kells' creation, it is impossible to draw firm conclusions about the manuscript's origin. It is, however, possible to ask why and how the artists chose to work in such a Pictish idiom.

The Holocene in Australia is characterised as a period of dramatic social and economic reorganisation in Aboriginal culture across the continent, with some of the most evident changes visible in the archaeological record of subsistence patterns. The zooarchaeology of key sites suggests that during the Mid- to Late Holocene, hunters switched emphasis away from high-yield large macropods to a diversity of smaller-bodied animals as a response to changing environmental conditions, demographic demands and/or available technologies. One such key site is Graman B4 (GB4), where a transition from kangaroo to possum occurred around 3000 years ago. However, the low resolution of legacy data from sites such as GB4, and contrary results from more recent excavations elsewhere, question the integrity of this broader trend. Here, we revisit the issue of subsistence change in eastern Australia through an original analysis of the archaeological fauna from the adjacent site Graman B1 (GB1), which has an older sequence extending into the early Middle Holocene. We find a persistent pattern of macropod-majority meat contributions throughout the entire ~6500 year sequence with varying degrees of reliance on smaller animals. Only within the last 2000 years are there signs of emergent specialisation in possum acquisition, though this is not at the expense of macropod hunting. We also detect a sharp decline in the use of GB1 coincident with the first occupation of GB4. Our results highlight the importance of high-resolution taxonomic identification and close consideration of animal body mass, as well as data from more than one site within an archaeological complex, to the construction of representative chronologies in Australian Holocene subsistence change.

Abstract Recent archaeological research at the early medieval site complex in Ciepłe, Pomerania, has uncovered unexpected evidence of events from the 1620s. Although the area has long been known for its three strongholds, the discovery of seventeenth-century fortification remains came as a surprise. Historical accounts and previous studies had documented the presence of human remains and medieval artifacts, but the recent excavation in 2023–24 provided new insights. The identification of musket balls, a bullet mold, and archival Swedish maps confirmed the existence of a Schweden Schanze – earthworks – on the remnants of an early medieval stronghold. Additionally, human remains belonging to six individuals, along with several loose bones were uncovered in the context of earthworks. Initially assumed to be early medieval, radiocarbon dating disproved this hypothesis, linking them instead to the early seventeenth century. Given the historical context, the most plausible interpretation associates these burials with the Battle of Gniew (1626), a key conflict between Polish and Swedish forces. These findings offer new perspectives on the historical use of the site and the broader military history of the region.

Starting from the premise of its highly strategic position as a major intersection of several natural communication routes linking large geographic units (Transylvania, Banat, Oltenia, Muntenia), the present study addresses issues arising from the re-evaluation of older painted materials discovered within the early Neolithic deposits at the Limba-Oarda de Jos site, alongside the analysis of other materials uncovered during recent excavations carried out in the course of constructing the A10 Sebeș-Turda Highway (2016–2017). What in 2002, at the time of publishing the initial early Neolithic surface dwelling (Starčevo-Criș IIIB), appeared to be merely a working hypothesis regarding the Limba site’s location and significance within the development of Neolithic cultures in the Mureș Valley, has since become much more evident. This has occurred through the scientific analysis of other contemporary habitation complexes. Thus, a series of materials presented now, belonging to the so called polychrome painted pottery cultural horizon, revealed through the thorough analysis of complexes in the Bordane sector during the 2016 excavation campaign, support a possible historical reality: that within this area, we might document evidence of cohabitation between Starčevo-Criș communities - which had strong connections with regions south of the Carpathians - and the Vinča communities, newly arrived from the west along the Mureș Valley.

Despite the widespread acceptance of the Clactonian during the earlier part of the Hoxnian interglacial (MIS 11c) in Britain, the subsequent occurrence of a non-handaxe signature early in the following interglacial (MIS 10/9) has received less coverage and remains contentious. Recent work on MIS 9 in Britain has re-evaluated the archaeology of the period. This paper offers a critical assessment of the non-handaxe signature in MIS 9 Britain, including the addition of Redhill in East Anglia from recent excavations. The paper is an evaluation of the evidence for distinct core and flake assemblages, analysing the technology and offering a comparison with handaxe sites from the interglacial. Four non-handaxe sites can be identified in the Thames and East Anglia; the technology of the artefacts they yield represents a base line that cannot be differentiated from the wider Lower Palaeolithic other than in terms of the presence/absence of handaxe manufacture. Due to the lack of positive identifiers, the MIS 9 technology cannot be linked directly to the Clactonian and should be treated separately. Given the temporal pattern of occurrence early in the interglacial in both MIS 11 and MIS 9, and no convincing functional or raw-material explanations, the assemblages are interpreted as a cultural signature. This fits into the wider variation across Europe during the Lower Palaeolithic linked to the ‘Cultural Mosaic Model’, and a further example of the nuanced chronological patterns emerging in the Lower Palaeolithic of Britain.

Kataliondas Kourvellos is located at the base of an unusual rock knob, in the lower Troodos foothills, about 20 kilometers south of Nicosia. Recent excavations by the University of Geneva revealed that the site was occupied both in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period, at the end of the 8th millennium BCE, and in the Cypro-Classical period, in the 4th century BCE.During the Cypro-Classical period, the site seems to have functioned as a rural sanctuary, but the purpose of its location there is not clear: among other explanations, one could be its link with the mining, smelting, and/or trade of metal resources (the lower Troodos foothills have been exploited since the Bronze Age for their copper and other mineralogical resources).