Giovanna Marussi, Matteo Crosera, Stefano Fornasaro
et al.
This study investigates 49 gold <i>solidi</i> issued between the 4th and 5th century AD to determine their chemical composition. The coins were first catalogued by recording mass, diameter, and thickness. All specimens underwent non-destructive µ-EDXRF analysis to identify main elements, followed by semi-quantitative fineness evaluation. To validate these results, six coins were randomly micro-sampled: material was dissolved in aqua regia and analysed by ICP-AES for gold quantification and ICP-MS for high precision trace element determination. The non-destructive analyses showed consistently high gold percentages, confirming authenticity and the extensive use of this noble metal during the studied period. Two distinct groups were identified based on the XRF Pt/Pd ratio, suggesting the use of gold from different sources. Comparison of μ-EDXRF and ICP-AES gold contents shows no statistically significant differences; however, this apparent agreement should be interpreted cautiously, as it mainly reflects the limited resolving power of ICP-AES at very high gold concentrations rather than definitive evidence for the absence of surface-related effects. Trace elements analysis detected low concentrations of Cu, Sn, and Pb suggesting the use of alluvial gold for minting. The presence and correlation of terrigenous elements (Al, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, Sr) indicate soil as the burial site.
Nikoleta V. Nikolaidou, Anastasios Asvestas, Agathi Anthoula Kaminari
et al.
Religious panel paintings (icons) play a pivotal role in the rituals of the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church. However, their continuous use often results in physical degradation, prompting remedial interventions. Quite commonly, alterations were treated by simply applying new paint layers directly over the decayed original, while in some cases, old icons were overpainted merely as a means to renovate and modernize them. Therefore, numerous overpainted icons are currently housed in churches, museums, and private collections across Greece. This study focuses on the investigation of a post-Byzantine icon of Christ Pantokrator, which displays extensive overpainting while retaining a few visible fragments of the original composition. The objective was to assess the extent and condition of preservation of the original artwork, to identify materials and techniques used both in the initial painting and in subsequent restoration phases, and to distinguish between those phases. To achieve these aims, a fully non-invasive diagnostic methodology was implemented, including visible light photography, ultraviolet radiation imaging (UVR/UVL), hyperspectral imaging (MuSIS HS), infrared reflectography (IRRef), X-ray radiography, and macroscopic X-ray fluorescence scanning (MA-XRF). The findings confirm that the original painting remains substantially preserved and is of high artistic quality. Moreover, analysis revealed at least two distinct phases of overpainting, likely dating from the 20th century, while the results suggest that the original artwork probably dates to the first half of the 18th century. The study highlights the need to use complementary techniques in order to non-invasively assess complex artifacts like overpainted icons and offers valuable insights into historical restoration practices providing foundation for future conservation planning.
This article discusses the role of images in archaeological disciplines and the contribution that graphic sciences can make to research in this subject area. In archaeology, and not only, ‘visualization’ differs significantly from the more commonly used noun ‘representation.’ In this sense, archaeological visualization is a practice of reconstructing and understanding the past rather than documenting and representing only the material remains that have come down to us. From archaeological drawing to virtual reality, numerous techniques and tools from the graphic sciences are applied in archaeology. Some of these can now be ascribed to the disciplinary tools, while others fall outside the specific skills of the archaeologist and require interaction with the disciplines deputed to visualization and, thus, with the graphic sciences. In order to better understand the difference between visualization and representation in archaeology, the article uses prenuragic altar of Monte d’Accoddi as a case study to focus on the creation of different graphic-visual products starting from the same model, in order to demonstrate the role of different graphic artefacts.
Chizhevsky Andrei A. , Ponomarenko Elena V. , Orudzhov Eduard I.
The issue of agriculture in the Ananyino cultural and historical region is one of the most acute in modern archaeology of the Volga region in the Early Iron Age. Since the end of the XIX century and up to the 80s of the XX century, it was considered indisputable that agriculture existed in this area already in the early Iron Age. However, in the 90s of the XX century, there appeared works that showed the shortcomings and incomplete validity of these views. As a result of studies in recent years, it was possible to receive both indirect (palynology data on the presence of pollen from cultivated plants, information about swidden agriculture, the presence of tools for cultivating the land in collections) and direct (barley and flax finds) evidence of the existence of Ananyino agriculture. Judging by the AMS analysis of barley from the Makaryevskoye hillfort, developed agriculture existed among the population of the post-Maklasheevka culture of ACHR already in the VIII–V centuries BC.
Jiří Orna, Jiří Šneberger, Veronika Kočí Dudková
et al.
Zvyšující se potenciál přírodovědných analýz rozšiřuje možnosti poznání složení stravy, které bylo dříve založeno především na vysoké výpovědní hodnotě ekofaktů. Proto byly k izotopovým analýzám vybrány soubory získané archeologickým výzkumem dvou plzeňských pohřebišť, a to pohřebiště u kostela sv. Bartoloměje na centrálním plzeňském náměstí a pohřebiště z lokality U Zvonu na východním historickém předměstí, kde stál měšťanský špitál se sakrální stavbou zasvěcenou sv. Máří Magdaleně. Výsledky provedených izotopových analýz byly porovnány s písemnými a archeologickými prameny. Řešeny byly také rozdíly ve stravě nejen mezi lokalitami, ale také s ohledem na historický vývoj města Plzně a také s ohledem na pohlaví a věk zkoumaných jedinců. Využita byla také metoda radiouhlíkového datování. Její provedení mělo umožnit získání dat k poznání chronologického vývoje zkoumaných lokalit.
Countries in Southeast Asia have a unique and diverse culture due to its varied ethnic groups having different traditions and beliefs. The process of manufacturing building materials such as brick masonry is one aspect where this distinctiveness is manifested. This study provides a general analytical chemistry method that will estimate the original firing temperature of a historical brick material from a convent in Milaor, Camarines Sur, Philippines. Different instrumental techniques were utilized namely the Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). From these techniques, the chemical and mineralogical composition of the brick was reported. The clay mixture used in the production of the brick is known to be non-calcareous and low refractory, that was fired in an oxidizing atmosphere. The brick’s microstructure is classified within the initial vitrification stage based on the features of the mineral transformations. The results of this study point to an estimated firing temperature range of 650°C to 850°C. An emphasis on the importance of chemical analysis in studying cultural heritage materials in the Southeast Asian region is also highlighted on this paper.
Ang mga bansa sa Timog-Silangang Asya ay may natatangi at magkakaibang kultura sanhi ng iba’t ibang mga pangkat etniko na may magkakaibang tradisyon at paniniwala. Ang pamamaraan ng paggawa sa mga materyales ng lumang gusali tulad ng ladrilyo ay isang aspeto kung saan naipapamalas ang pagkakaiba-iba nito. Ang pagaaral na ito ay nagbibigay ng isang pangkalahatang pamamaraan ng mapanuring-kimika para tantyahin ang orihinal na temperatura ng paggawa sa lumang ladrilyo mula sa isang kumbento ng Milaor, Camarines Sur, Pilipinas. Iba’t ibang mga instrumento ang ginamit tulad ng Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy at ang Scanning Electron Microscopy na nakakabit sa Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). Mula sa mga intrumentong ito, ang kemikal at mineral na komposisyon ng ladrilyo ay iniulat. Ang mga pinaghalong luad na ginamit sa paggawa ng ladrilyo ay masaasabing hindi gaanong madami ang bilang ng kalsiyo at mababang refractory, na sinunog sa isang kapaligiran na sagana sa hangin. Ang mga pinaka-maliliit na istruktura ng ladrilyo ay masasabing nasa paunang yugto ng pagtunaw ng mga mineral sa luad, batay sa mga pagbabagong anyo ng mga ito. Sa mga resulta ng pagaaral, masasabi na ang tantyang temperatura ng pagsunog ay nasa 650°C hanggang 850°C. Binibigyan ng diin ang kahalagahan ng pagsusuri ng kimika sa pagaaral ng mga materyales na pamanang kultura sa rehiyon ng Timog-Silangang Asya ay naitala din sa pagaaral na ito.
Martin Kuna, Roman Křivánek, Ondřej Chvojka
et al.
The archaeological site of Březnice (Czechia) represents one of the large settlements of the Late Bronze Age (Ha A2/B1, 14C: 1124–976 BC) in Bohemia. The site became known mainly for a high number of so-called ‘trenches’, oblong pit features (breadth around 1 m, length 4–7 m), remarkable not only for their specific shape but also for their contents (unusual amounts of pottery, daub, loom weights and other finds, often with traces of a strong fire).In 2018–20, a research project focusing on the study of the site was realized. Magnetometer survey became an integral part of the project since it represented a way to obtain an overall image of the site. A 5-channel fluxgate gradiometer from Sensys (Germany) was used; the vertical gradient of the Z component of the Earth magnetic field was measured. In total, the survey covered an area of over 17 hectares and included over 1.8 million measurements. Profiles were orientated from east to west and data taken bidirectionally (alternate lines in opposite directions), in a 0.5 × 0.2 m grid.The site is extraordinary due to the fact that all archaeological features discovered so far belong to a single archaeological period (Late Bronze Age). This makes the acquired data set exceptional. It can be further used by archaeologists and geophysicists, both to create alternative models of the dynamics of prehistoric settlements and to better understand the nature and interpretive possibilities of the magnetometer data in archaeology as such.
Computer applications to medicine. Medical informatics, Science (General)
Collaborative or community archaeology as a methodological approach has a long history and is becoming increasingly common in the Maya world. This article draws from the authors’ experiences on three distinct archaeological projects to discuss the benefits and obstacles we confronted while conducting collaborative research with contemporary Maya communities as well as lessons we learned that can increase the odds of a mutually beneficial partnership. After summarizing the history of the research projects and the expectations for and contributions of the scientific and community stakeholders, we propose several characteristics that were particularly helpful. These include the need for all parties to engage in sincere and sustained dialogue, to be flexible, and to take others in account when making any plans that affect them. Most importantly, we urge archaeologists to collaborate with community endeavors beyond those that are directly related to their research, offering a few examples of how archaeological skills, equipment, and social capital can be used to address a wide range of local concerns beyond patrimony and heritage.
Saprykina Irina А., Kuz’minykh Sergei V. , Pelgunova Lubov А.
The article presents results of an analysis conducted by the authors in order to study chemical composition of items from non-ferrous metals found on the Ananyino burial ground. A number of research methods, including OES, XRF and TXRF was applied to study a selection of 387 samples of arrow- and spearheads, celts, tail-pieces, warhammers, poleaxes, knives and daggers, as well as items of attire and jewelry, some sporadic details of harness and bridle. The fi ndings are quite comparable. The results were classifi ed by the geochemical principle of 1,0% alloyage threshold. It was found out that the sample primarily consists of copper items, including “pure” copper and copper with a wide range of trace elements (particularly, Ni, As, Sb). The core (48%) consists of copper items with traces of antimony and arsenic, or “pure” copper (7%), tin or triple bronze (40%); it also includes some other types of alloys based on copper or silver (5%). As the analysis has shown, complex ores seem to be the most probable source of copper. Traditionally, the Urals, the Sayan and the Altay Mountains, Kazakhstan and the Northern Caucasus were regarded as the most probable minefi elds to supply ores to the barren regions of Eastern Europe. While ore sources for products made of metallurgical “pure” copper are localized within the Ural mining and metallurgical region, metal sources for items cast from different groups of alloys (rather than imports of ready-made products) require further research.
The king Numa received a shield as a gift from Jupiter. The shield acted as a talisman: it was the sign of the alliance between Rome and the god. To hide the talisman, Numa wanted it reproduced in numerous copies by the smith Mamurius Veturius. These shields became the sacred weapons of the Salii. Can a man reproduce, without fault, a sacred object built by a god? Is it lowful to dissolve an identity through its multiplication?
Da quasi trent’anni gli scavi dell’Università degli Studi di Milano a Calvatone (CR), diretti dalla prof. Maria Teresa Grassi, stanno riportando alla luce i resti dell’antico vicus romano di Bedriacum, importante centro strategico e commerciale ubicato lungo la via Postumia. Alle attività di scavo e di studio dei materiali, dal 2011, si affiancano una serie di attività atte a valorizzare l’importanza storico-archeologica del sito e a comunicare al grande pubblico le scoperte realizzate.
Revisamos os critérios para a construção da tradição Aratu pelos principais autores. Compilamos dados sobre as dimensões dos sítios, a implantação no ambiente, cerâmica e os sepultamentos, dentre outros aspectos.
O presente artigo objetiva discutir o papel da Carta Arqueológica do Patrimônio Cultural, enquanto uma ferramenta capaz de propiciar o conhecimento e a garantia de gestão e proteção do patrimônio na região do Baixo Rio São Francisco, como também, apresentar o seu caráter político.