Settlement Organization Research Articles

Living Seaward: Maritime Cosmology and the Contemporary Significance of Natar Fampompar, a Stone Boat Ceremonial Structure in the Village of Sangliat Dol, Tanimbar Islands

ABSTRACT Natar Fampompar is a stone boat ceremonial structure (natar) in the village of Sangliat Dol on Yamdena Island, Tanimbar Islands, Island Southeast Asia. Located in the village center, it is the only Tanimbarese natar that continues to be used for clan meetings and ceremonial events. As such, it arguably represents the most significant cultural site for understanding Tanimbarese tradition. This article documents the Natar Fampompar and six associated cultural heritage sites. We discuss their historical origins and relevance to the people of Sangliat Dol; how maritime cosmology and maritime identity are evident in social organization, settlement organization, ceremonies, and people’s daily lives; and the function of natar before and after the introduction of Christianity. Initial archaeological work is reported. Finally, this research raises the issue of heritage theft and sale, particularly the carved prow stones of the Natar Fampompar, and how the people of Sangliat Dol hope for their return.

More than floors and domes – contexts around ovens in the late neolithic of the Central Balkans

Even though ovens are the most prominent feature in the Vinča culture houses, they have often been neglected in the archaeological publications. Usually, only the information about their location or number of floors is provided, but more detailed descriptions are missing. This is also influenced by their poor preservation in the archaeological record, as parts of their upper structure are often missing. But, although fully preserved ovens represent quite a rarity, contexts surrounding them are usually filled with different categories of artefacts and architectural features. These complex contexts that include ovens, offer plethora of information about different socio-economic phenomena in the Late Neolithic of the Central Balkans. Therefore, ovens should be perceived as more than just fire installations for food processing and house heating, as they can offer insight into household organization and symbolic aspects of the Neolithic life. Additionally, ovens located in the outdoor spaces can provide information about settlement organization and social dynamics on a larger scale. In this paper, different contexts around ovens are presented and interpreted – from functional, economic, social, and symbolic perspective.

Integrating and Dividing in a Late Bronze Age Society: Internal Organization of Settlements of the Tisza Site Group in the Southern Carpathian Basin, 1600–1200 b.c.

ABSTRACT Recent research in the later Bronze Age of the southern Carpathian Basin has revealed an extensive network of large, often-enclosed settlements. Within this network, a particularly dense group of sites has recently been characterized: the Tisza Site Group (TSG). Building on advances in inter-site relations in recent research, we explore social organization within settlements using five case studies from different parts of this network. Using a multi-proxy approach of satellite imagery, systematic surface survey, and geophysical prospection, we studied the distribution of archaeological features and surface traces of activity within the enclosed space. Results indicate that sites in the TSG shared a common ethos regarding the use of space and the role of the built environment that was specific to LBA occupation of this landscape. Activity areas with domestic assemblages distributed in low-density relative to the enclosed space indicates settlement and specialist subsistence activities took place in parallel.

Международные тренды цифровизации валютно-финансовых отношений: от глобализации к децентрализации

The need for the use of new, digital forms of organization of monetary and financial settlements with foreign partners, as well as the formation of a national system of secure payments. The article presents the result of analysis of motivations of introduction of digital currencies of central banks (positive and negative moments of the considered process). The article gives an overview of existing international payment systems, including the Russian one, and identifies advantages and disadvantages. The main tendencies of the cryptocurrency market as a possible mechanism of formation of decentralized finance are considered.

Introduction of the Approach for Reviving the Sub-Municipal Level as a Spatial Aspect of Decentralization in Serbia

Decentralization is a globally accepted concept of separation, the diversity of structures within the political system, the transfer of resources, activities, and powers in the decision-making process, and the division of tasks from the central government to lower authorities. It is implemented in both developed and developing countries, with different aims and consequences. In Serbia, the urban-centric development model and centralized governance caused rural settlements to become non-viable, and services and opportunities were deprived. This research has been undertaken in order to provide a deeper understanding of the territorial aspect of decentralization in Serbia and how it affects rural areas. It strives to offer a methodological framework for the identification of central settlements in rural areas of Serbia that will serve as a focal point for settlements networking in order to facilitate the spatial integration of rural areas and governance at the local level. This research encompasses (i) the identification of rural nodes as bearers of balanced governance and spatial development; (ii) the delimitation of their gravity sphere; and (iii) the determination of the relationship between settlement organization models and decentralization in Serbia. The research results indicate that identified rural nodes can be valuable to developing a holistic understanding of rural issues, supporting a bottom-up approach and regional disparities mitigation.

Перспективы трансформации системы международных расчетов в Российской Федерации на базе цифровых валют центральных банков

Fragmentation of the global financial and economic space and difficulties in the organization of international settlements cause the restructuring of the international settlement system of the Russian Federation. Russia’s need for a reliable system of international settlements is due to its rapid involvement in the system of international trade, the need for high-tech imports, sales of raw materials and high-grade goods. One of the most promising options for a new design of payment infrastructure protected from sanctions pressure is the creation of an international payment system based on the peer-to-peer model using central bank digital currencies (CBDC). The Committee on Payment Infrastructures is actively theorizing this model. To date, the Russian Federation (digital ruble) and the People's Republic of China (digital yuan) demonstrate a high level of readiness to make settlements in the CBDC. The creation of a payment system based on CBDC fundamentally changes the entire landscape of international settlements, not only reducing the cost of transactions, but also ensuring their reliability, transparency and protection from the negative influence of other countries. Of particular interest is the model of clearing using CBDC in BRICS countries, which will allow for centralized netting of mutual positions of the countries in national currencies and gradual displacement of currencies of developed countries from mutual settlements.

Changing Settlement Organization in the Late Pleistocene of the Wadi al-Hasa, West-Central Jordan

Since the 1980s, surveys in Jordan’s Wadi al-Hasa document dozens of Late Pleistocene hunter–gatherer sites, some of them tested or partly excavated. To track landscape-scale forager mobility and settlement patterns over time, we examine 26 levels from 13 sites dated to the Middle, Upper, and Epipaleolithic using aspects of Barton’s whole assemblage behavioral indicators research protocol, a collection of methods designed to extract patterns from archeological palimpsests. Because forager ethnographies document adaptive strategies that do not map onto the discrete site types employed by archeologists, we evaluate the utility of the latter so far as behavioral inferences are concerned. We show that discrete bimodal contrasts like “curated” and “expedient” and their archeological correlates fail to capture the much more complex reality. Only by using these methods in conjunction with these analytical contrasts can a realistic picture of forager mobility and land use approximating that known from ethnography be attained.

Analysis of the planning, functional, and volumetric-spatial organization of temporary settlements

This article examines the experience of planning temporary settlements for the affected and displaced persons, evaluating global and domestic approaches. The analysis encompasses urban planning situations, volumetric-spatial, and functional-planning organization of temporary residential structures, defining typological characteristics and categorizing them. The main focus is on the functioning of temporary settlements using open, semi-open, and closed systems within the structure of habitation. The analysis of global practical experience reveals that at the urban planning level, temporary settlements constitute a structural and planning element primarily constrained by the population size and the potential use of existing service infrastructure. These indicators dictate the placement of this element (temporary settlement) within the settlement system and its functional purpose (transit or long-term settlements), consequently influencing the operational period (from a few months to half a year, up to 1 year, over 1 year, or indefinitely). The most common type is a settlement with a population capacity of up to 500 individuals, with the distinction of a residential zone as the main, and in some cases, the only zone (without the development of a public area or a common space core). Less widespread are settlements with a population capacity of over 500 to 1000 individuals, where a public center with facilities for domestic services, recreation, education, and work-related activities begins to form, mainly in the central core of the structure. An uncommon type of settlement is a residential structure with a capacity exceeding 1000 individuals, featuring the development of a comprehensive public center with a hierarchical network of sub-centers for social and domestic services and recreation, serving as nuclei for the formation of residential groups. Such settlements operate as closed self-servicing systems, meaning they are not dependent on functional connections with the community or the city within the settlement system. The planning aspects derived from global and Ukrainian experiences necessitate defining a temporary settlement as a new element in the urban planning system. Additionally, there is a need for further typological grouping of the reviewed examples of temporary settlements based on their interdependent developmental characteristics.

Risks beyond the ditch: Copper Age tannery from the settlement of Kamianets-Podilskyi (Tatarysky), Ukraine

The evolution of Neolithic to Bronze Age settlement organization in Central Europe has revealed ditches as an important component of settlement structures. The various shapes and sizes of these features contribute to different understandings of their functions, mainly referring to ditches as elements of fortifications or ritual practices. Based on a newly discovered Copper Age feature at Kamianets-Podilskyi (Tatarysky), Ukraine, our paper contributes to the discussion on the function of ditches in their relation to prehistoric technologies. This study presents evidence on tanning techniques and technologies associated with a section of ditch belonging to the Western Trypillia culture. Due to the uniqueness of this discovery, we applied various analyses, including GIS spatial analyses, palynological, anthracological, archeozoological, malacological, and use-wear studies. The obtained results enable us to recognize the complex practices of Copper Age communities, skillfully combining technical knowledge with an understanding of environmental conditions.

Settlement Organization and Distribution in Bronze Age Sardinia: Utilizing Cumulative Viewshed Analysis and Spatial Statistics in the Sulcis Plain

ABSTRACT Nuraghi are ubiquitous in the Bronze Age Sardinian landscape, but the reasons for their distribution and wider function remain poorly understood. Here, we evaluate the argument that these megalithic fortified towers were situated for visual control and thus represent nodes of political or coercive power. Using a dataset of 102 nuraghi, we perform a normalized cumulative viewshed to quantify nuraghe visibility in southwestern Sardinia. We analyze the co-occurrence of highly visible areas with variables pertinent to economic control of the landscape using a model comparison approach. The results suggest that there is no underlying structure to the location of the nuraghi that can be related to visual appreciability of the wider environment, indicating that visual control was not an important consideration during the later 2nd millennium b.c. We consider what the driving rationale may have been behind such a predominant site type that is yet apparently unrelated to political control.

On the issue of contour transformation of international settlements in the context of increasing geopolitical risks and fragmentation of the global financial and economic area

Subject. Given the increasing geopolitical risks, new approaches are needed to organize the contour of the international payment system, which ensures safety and reliability of international settlements Objectives. The article aims to assess the approaches of the Committee on Payment and Settlement Systems to creating models of international payment systems, propose a model for organization of international settlements for the Russian Federation, identify the specifics of the existing models of national payment systems of the Russian Federation and PRC for organization of interaction within the framework of the international payment system, evaluate prospects for joining the international payment system of other BRICS countries. Methods. The study employs general scientific methods. Results. Based on the specifics of restrictions on international operations of residents of the Russian Federation, the optimal solution to the problem is to create a closed international payment system on the basis of the payment system of the Bank of Russia, and gradually connect payment service providers from friendly jurisdictions to it, the most promising of which is the Chinese payment system CIPS. Creating a separate international payment system based on Peer-to-Peer type payment infrastructures, using digital currencies of central banks of BRICS countries is a promising model of the organization of international settlements. Conclusions. Building a closed international payment system on the basis of the Bank of Russia's payment system will enable to significantly overcome the existing problems, provide Russian companies and banks with a reliable and safe settlement mechanism for foreign trade and financial transactions.

Inequality or insecurity? The case of pre-colonial farming communities in southern Africa

Comparative studies of inequality based on archaeological data rely on universal notions of status or prestige that are not always meaningful across diverse cultural contexts. Here, the authors evaluate three broadly contemporaneous urban communities (Marothodi, Molokwane and Kaditshwene) in the southern African interior in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries AD. The study combines a statistical measure of inequality, the Gini coefficient, with insights from the rich ethnohistorical archives of African knowledge systems. The results suggest markedly different levels of inequality, but contextualisation points to divergent social strategies for settlement organisation and for managing sociopolitical insecurity. The findings raise important questions about cross-cultural indices of social inequality.

Спец(труд)поселки как населенные пункты в 1930-е годы (на материалах Республики Коми)

In 1930-1931 in the Komi Autonomous Region, special settlements were organized for special settlers – “former kulaks” who were forcibly expelled from their places of permanent residence from areas of complete collectivization. Able-bodied forced migrants and members of their families were transferred to the Komiles Trust to work in logging. In the logging areas of the region, more than 40 special settlements were organized in hard-to-reach places, isolated from local settlements. Problems associated with the lack of roads, remoteness from regional centers, insufficient supplies, and the organization of settlements in swampy areas led to the liquidation of individual special (labor) settlements and a reduction in their total number by the end of the 1930s. Despite the low level of residential premises construction, forced migrants also built buildings for socio-cultural institutions, schools, hospitals, clubs and others, which made it possible to create the internal infrastructure of the settlements.

The world's oldest-known promontory fort: Amnya and the acceleration of hunter-gatherer diversity in Siberia 8000 years ago

Archaeological narratives have traditionally associated the rise of social and political ‘complexity’ with the emergence of agricultural societies. However, this framework neglects the innovations of the hunter-gatherer populations occupying the Siberian taiga 8000 years ago, including the construction of some of the oldest-known fortified sites in the world. Here, the authors present results from the fortified site of Amnya in western Siberia, reporting new radiocarbon dates as the basis for a re-evaluation of the chronology and settlement organisation. Assessed within the context of the changing social and environmental landscape of the taiga, Amnya and similar fortified sites can be understood as one facet of a broader adaptive strategy.

Evolution of urban planning concepts of global urbanization and the framework of transcontinental links

A critical review of the evolution of the concepts of global forms of settlement is given, taking into account the influence of transcontinental and cross-border ties on global urban and interethnic integration processes. Such concepts include: network forms of settlement, megalopolises or megaregions, global or world cities. A brief description and graphoanalytic models of simultaneously existing views on the organization and development of macro-regional and global settlement, as well as an analysis of their impact on global relations, are proposed. The features and problems of the formation of the world settlement framework, as well as methodological and methodological aspects of conflict resolution of urbanization processes and the development of global communications are put forward. The topic of the development of research on urbanization processes in the Russian Federation and in the world is included in the list of priority areas for the development of fundamental scientific research of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences and the Ministry of Construction of Russia. The methodology of the work is based on the consistent use of methods of comparative analysis of the concepts of urban development of the global settlement system, taking into account the formation of a framework of transcontinental connections, as well as graphical comparison (modeling) of these concepts and transcontinental corridors included in the main programs and projects of global transport development.

Evolution of urban planning concepts of global urbanization and the framework of transcontinental links

A critical review of the evolution of the concepts of global forms of settlement is given, taking into account the influence of transcontinental and cross-border ties on global urban and interethnic integration processes. Such concepts include: network forms of settlement, megalopolises or megaregions, global or world cities. A brief description and graphoanalytic models of simultaneously existing views on the organization and development of macro-regional and global settlement, as well as an analysis of their impact on global relations, are proposed. The features and problems of the formation of the world settlement framework, as well as methodological and methodological aspects of conflict resolution of urbanization processes and the development of global communications are put forward. The topic of the development of research on urbanization processes in the Russian Federation and in the world is included in the list of priority areas for the development of fundamental scientific research of the Russian Academy of Architecture and Construction Sciences and the Ministry of Construction of Russia. The methodology of the work is based on the consistent use of methods of comparative analysis of the concepts of urban development of the global settlement system, taking into account the formation of a framework of transcontinental connections, as well as graphical comparison (modeling) of these concepts and transcontinental corridors included in the main programs and projects of global transport development.

Microplaston artificial polymers in the Miass River and Lake Turgoyak (Southern Urals, Russia) in the early stages of colonisation

Aim. To identify the composition and features of the spatial structure of microfouling (microplaston) during the early stages of colonisation of the surfaces of artificial polymer films (LDPE) in the natural habitats of the Miass River and Lake Turgoyak (Southern Urals). The early stages of polymer microfouling which create the basis for further complexity of its spatial mosaic are considered, taking into account the surface microlandscape and the possibilities it creates for the location of community components.Materials and Methods. Fragments of polymer films (LDPE) manufactured for household use were collected in the waters of the Miass River and Lake Turgoyak in June 2023. Samples were selected that were exposed in natural reservoirs for at least several months. Analysis of the composition, structure and spatial organization of microplastonic communities was carried out using light and SEM microscopy.Results. The microplaston in the early stages of growth varied significantly among the habitats studied. On LDPE films from the Miass River they were dominated by sessile armored amoebae (Granofilosea: Microgromiidae), attached diatoms (Bacillariophyta: Achnanthaceae, Cocconeidaceae) developed as a mass and encrusting green microalgae (Chlorophyta, Charophyta) were also found. In Lake Turgoyak cortical green microalgae clearly dominated, together with other diatoms (Bacillariophyta: Rhopalodiaceae, Cocconeidaceae). Trichome and coccoid forms of cyanoprokaryotes (Cyanobacteria: Pseudanabaenaceae, Rivulariaceae, Chamaesiphonaceae, Microcystaceae) were also abundant. The colonisation of films by individual species varied among habitats and also depended on the surface microrelief.Conclusion. Analysis of the microplaston of LDPE films in hydrologically different habitats demonstrated the features of early colonisation of these substrates, the biotope‐specificity of the species and spatial structure of communities, as well as the organisation of colonial settlements of a number of species.

Defining methods for architectural and planning organization of temporary settlements for internally displaced persons in Ukraine

This article analyzes the main issues of architectural and planning organization of temporary settlements for internally displaced persons. It identifies the current demands for increased flexibility and resilience in planning and explores a new type of temporary housing with a progressive (permanent) core. Special attention is given to incremental design and participation as methods of uniting the efforts of designers, communities, and governments into a single strategy for providing sustainable housing for affected populations. A review of the research revealed two main problems in the strategic planning of housing assistance: the issue of stability in the concept of "temporary housing" and the challenge of flexible planning solutions. In response to this, the introduction of new transitional types - "transitional shelters" designed using materials and structures that can be upgraded or reused in more permanent housing units, and "progressive shelters" - stationary, rapidly deployable shelters on designated land (with appropriate zoning) intended for future conversion into permanent housing units. In a methodological sense, both types feature a permanent, stable core and temporary residential volumes or structures that gradually evolve into a permanent living environment—a concept known as incremental architecture. It changes the morphological understanding of temporary housing, allowing it to be engaged at all stages of housing assistance alongside participatory methods and "advocacy planning" that regulate the involvement of communities and affected populations in planning activities together with specialists and local authorities. The experience of rebuilding the affected city of Constitution in Chile has shown that these methods can enhance the flexible nature of architecture (its planning possibilities and solutions for reuse and reconfiguration) and potentially create new values of permanence. Additionally, a review of the existing Ukrainian experience has revealed a lack of tools for uniting the efforts of designers, communities, and the government into a single strategy for temporary housing policy, thus preventing temporary shelter and housing facilities from meeting all the necessary (social, cultural, and infrastructural) needs of residents. This implies that a polyvalent strategy may be recommended for affected rural communities, simultaneously satisfying the needs of permanent residents and providing affected communities with temporary homes with the potential for permanent residency, as it is impossible to accurately assess the terms of temporary housing use and population repatriation until the end of hostilities.

DESCRIPTION OF THE METHOD OF INTEGRAL EVALUATION OF THE EFFICIENCY OF DESIGNING ENERGY-EFFICIENT ECOLOGICAL SETTLEMENTS IN THE URBAN BUILDING SYSTEM

The article considers the description of the methods of integral assessment of the effectiveness of designing energy-efficient ecological settlements (hereinafter - EES) in the urban planning system, which allows to determine the potential opportunities of the territory for the formation and development of these urban planning entities. The conducted analysis will make it possible to identify "bottlenecks" in the development of territorial communities for the organization of energy-efficient ecological settlements, to develop practical recommendations for increasing the efficiency of designing energy-efficient ecological settlements, based on the existing potential of the territory. 
 As a result of the conducted research, a unified structural model of EES design was developed. The model consists of four stages, each of which defines structural elements and their relationships. A total of four stages of the model are defined. The first stage is the characterization of the territory. The territory characterization stage is one of the key stages in the system of designing ecological energy-efficient settlements. This stage involves research and data collection on the territory that will be used for the design of the ecological settlement. 
 The main goal of this stage is to determine the potential of the territory, as well as its limitations and problems that may arise during the implementation of the project. The main stages of territory characterization in the system of designing ecological energy-efficient settlements are defined as follows. Analysis of the topography of the territory: at this stage, the relief, hydrography, geological features of the territory and other factors that affect the natural environment are studied. Study of climatic conditions: the climatic regime of the territory is determined, which may include temperature, precipitation, seasonal changes, wind regime and other parameters. Soil research: at this stage, the structure, composition and quality of soils are studied, which are an important factor for the design of buildings and other engineering systems. Study of the flora and fauna: at this stage, the flora and fauna of the territory are studied, determining their diversity and level of protection. Assessment of the resource potential of the territory: at this stage, the analysis of the economic and social potential of the territory, including information on resources, is carried out. 
 For the analysis of the territories, the characteristics of sustainable development were determined as elements for the formation of the evaluation system. At the next stage, the efficiency factors of EES design were determined, which were formed into evaluation blocks: ecological, social, economic, geographical, technical, energy-saving. Based on the analysis, a system of indicators was formed, which became the basis for the formation of the evaluation model.

Looking through the lens: a photovoice study examining access to services for newcomer children

ABSTRACT Purpose Canadian new immigrant families (also known as newcomers) encounter challenges navigating systems when trying to access programmes critical for their children’s healthy development. The purpose of this study is to understand how newcomer families find and use early childhood programmes and services from the perspective of families and early childhood educators (ECEs) working within a settlement organization. Methods Using photovoice methodology, newcomer family members (n = 8) with young children and ECEs (n = 6) participated in a series of virtual workshops to share photos and reflect on their experiences. Results Participants discussed the systemic barriers that obstructed newcomer families’ access to services for young newcomer children. Financial challenges due to unemployment/underemployment, language and cultural differences were emphasized. Despite these barriers and challenges, participants shared how culturally responsive programmes enhanced their connections to programmes and services. Both groups of participants discussed the critical role of social networks in supporting newcomers to use programmes by helping families become aware of available services and assistance with various processes such as registration. Conclusions This research illustrates the lived experiences of newcomer families and identifies opportunities to address inequities, improve early childhood programmes, and enhance families’ access to programmes and services.