-
Mediterranean Studies, Mediterranean archaeology, Archaeometry, Heritage Conservation, Archaeoastronomy, Digital Photogrammetry applied to Archaeology, and 16 moreArchaeology, History, Cultural Heritage, Cultural Heritage Management, Cultural Heritage Conservation, Chronology, Aegean Bronze Age (Bronze Age Archaeology), Neolithic Archaeology, Mesolithic Archaeology, Palaeolithic Archaeology, Ancient Technology (Archaeology), Ancient technology, History of Science, History of Astronomy, Raman Spectroscopy, and Spectroscopy edit
-
The Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry (MAA) is an Open Access Journal that covers various interdisciplinary ... moreThe Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry (MAA) is an Open Access Journal that covers various interdisciplinary topics (Natural Sciences applied to Archaeology (Archaeometry, conservation science): Methods and Techniques of Dating, Analysis, Provenance, Archaeogeophysical surveys and Remote Sensing, Geochemical surveys, Statistics, Artifact and Conservation studies, Ancient Astronomy of both the Old and New Worlds, all applied to Archaeology, History of Art, and in general the Hominid Biological and Cultural evolution; bioarchaeology; excavation reports; significant archaeological/historical issues of mediterranean and neibourgh countries; environmental archaeology, ethnoarchaeology and more.
www.maajournal.com edit -
Prof Ioannis Liritzis, Editor in Chiefedit
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The most discussed natural catastrophe in the Mediterranean region is the major eruption of the Thera volcano. The third Thera and the Aegean World (1989) conference reached some agreement on its relative chronology: the catastrophe came... more
The most discussed natural catastrophe in the Mediterranean region is the major eruption of the Thera volcano. The third Thera and the Aegean World (1989) conference reached some agreement on its relative chronology: the catastrophe came when the Late Minoan IA pottery style was in use. The more recent identification of tephra at Mochlos (1995), however, suggests that the eruption occurred when the LM IA pottery was at its very end. It, in fact, started off the LM IB pottery style-the marine style. Irrespective of the exact absolute date of the eruption, an attempt will be made to pinpoint the effects it had at the Central Palace Sanctuary at Knossos.
Recent analysis of preserved fauna from the 1952-58 excavations at Lerna stored in Argos and Stockholm allows us to reexamine the fauna published in 1969 by the late Prof. Nils-Gustaf Gejvall as the first of the Lerna final report... more
Recent analysis of preserved fauna from the 1952-58 excavations at Lerna stored in Argos and Stockholm allows us to reexamine the fauna published in 1969 by the late Prof. Nils-Gustaf Gejvall as the first of the Lerna final report volumes. The present detailed study combines the revised phasing, detailed context information, and fuller analysis of the preserved samples including butchery and burning data.
The thermoluminescence (TL) and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating of crystalline materials, first applied to calcites (limestone buildings), has been extended to carved megalithic monuments made of granites, basalt and... more
The thermoluminescence (TL) and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating of crystalline materials, first applied to calcites (limestone buildings), has been extended to carved megalithic monuments made of granites, basalt and sandstones derived from archaeological sites. Various applied criteria for potential dating included pulsed blue light stimulation, different preheating and solar simulator bleaching, while the single (and multiple) aliquot regeneration and additive dose procedures were used for equivalent dose determination. The decay curves of signal loss follow a power law, n-p ; for blue stimulation the signal loss of quartz and feldspar is better approached by an exponential law, 1-aln(n).
The archaeological site in Via La Farina, Block P, in Messina, is unique in many ways, due also to the high quantity of samples of iron slag. The slag was examined to identify the production centres of such materials, and, after... more
The archaeological site in Via La Farina, Block P, in Messina, is unique in many ways, due also to the high quantity of samples of iron slag. The slag was examined to identify the production centres of such materials, and, after characterization, was compared to similar material, exclusively for product typology, from different archaeological sites in the province of Messina, situated in the Peloritani Mountains (Messina city, S. Marco d'Alunzio, Milazzo, Francavilla di Sicilia, Novara di Sicilia as well as the archaeological site of Halaesa, near Tusa). Mineralogical characterization of the phases carried out by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Rietveld data elaboration, morphological study of slag findings and a semi-quantitative analysis by scanning electronic microscope (SEM+EDX) were performed. A chemical investigation was carried out by electron probe micro analysis (EPMA), to determine major element,. Minor and trace elements were determined by LA-ICP-MS. All the examined slag is related to iron metallurgy, and, in the case of Via La Farina, there is firm archaeological evidence pinpointing to smelting activity.
In this article a previously proposed interpretation of Minoan 'horns of consecration' as a symbol of sun is reexamined. A clay model of 'horns of consecration' from the peak sanctuary of Petsophas, the results of astronomical research on... more
In this article a previously proposed interpretation of Minoan 'horns of consecration' as a symbol of sun is reexamined. A clay model of 'horns of consecration' from the peak sanctuary of Petsophas, the results of astronomical research on Minoan peak sanctuaries, the idols of the so-called 'Goddess with Upraised Arms" and a clay model of 'horns of consecration' from the Mycenaean cemetery of Tanagra are put forward as evidence for a possible adoption-or a parallel development under the influence of adjacent cultures-by the Minoans (and by the Mycenaeans, at least after 1400 B.C.) of religious notions related to the Egyptian symbols of the 'mountain' and the 'horizon', both connected with the Sun in Egyptian cosmology and religion. It is concluded that the 'horns of consecration' may represent a practical device as well as an abstract symbol of the Sun, a symbol of catholic importance, which embraced many aspects of Minoan religious activities as represented on Minoan iconography.
Archaeological discoveries in Nabataean major places such as Petra and Hegra (Madain Saleh) reflect a clear exogenous influence. This study will therefore try to study the possible Lycian influence upon the Nabataean cultural achievements... more
Archaeological discoveries in Nabataean major places such as Petra and Hegra (Madain Saleh) reflect a clear exogenous influence. This study will therefore try to study the possible Lycian influence upon the Nabataean cultural achievements especially in terms of the content of the tomb inscriptions and the design of the tombs.
A total lunar eclipse occurred during the night preceding the decisive Battle of Gaugamela (20th September 331 BCE), when the Macedonian army, led by Alexander the Great, finally defeated the Persian king Darius and his army. This... more
A total lunar eclipse occurred during the night preceding the decisive Battle of Gaugamela (20th September 331 BCE), when the Macedonian army, led by Alexander the Great, finally defeated the Persian king Darius and his army. This astronomical event, well known to historians, had a relevant role on the battle outcome. The eclipse was described in detail by Babylonian astronomers, though, unfortunately, the text of their report has only partially been preserved. We have reconstructed the evolution of the phenomenon as it appeared to the observer in Babylonia, by using the positional astronomy code "Planetario V2.0". On the base of this reconstruction we suggest a number of integrations to the lost part of the text, allowing a finer astrological interpretation of the eclipse and of its influence on the mood of the armies that set against each other on the following morning.
A ~2200 year-old question related to Hannibal's invasion route across the Alps into Italia, has been argued by classicists without recovery of material evidence. A comparison of topographical descriptions in the ancient literature with... more
A ~2200 year-old question related to Hannibal's invasion route across the Alps into Italia, has been argued by classicists without recovery of material evidence. A comparison of topographical descriptions in the ancient literature with environmental parameters in the Alps, attempted here for the first time, provides a database against which various pathways can be assessed. Identification of sites using geological, geomorphological, astronomical, chemical and petrological methods leads to the exclusion of certain transit points and targeting of others where geoarchaeological excavation might yield important evidence related to the military culture of ancient Carthage.
This article includes a study of the composite capitals on the Hadrian's Gates at three locations: Gerasa, Antalya, and Ephesus. Hadrian's Gates were selected as a case study because it is one of the most important Buildings with... more
This article includes a study of the composite capitals on the Hadrian's Gates at three locations: Gerasa, Antalya, and Ephesus. Hadrian's Gates were selected as a case study because it is one of the most important Buildings with composites capitals. A typological study of composite capitals shows two types, the first, composite capitals (Ionic capital with flutes and acanthus leaves), The second, composite capitals (Ionic capital with Palme and acanthus leaves), Those types were used on Hadrian's Gates during the Roman Period. The study includes description and comparative study of the composite capitals found in Hadrian's Gates and other Roman Locations.
Diagnostic studies performed on an ancient coin are presented in order to find if the coin is authentic or is a coinage proof. Our investigation includes Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) and... more
Diagnostic studies performed on an ancient coin are presented in order to find if the coin is authentic or is a coinage proof. Our investigation includes Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) and Cathodoluminescence (CL). The coin is a Drachma representing on the obverse the portrait of Poseidon and, on the reverse the figure of Anfitrite riding a seahorse while Eros is shooting an arrow. The coin is well known in the numismatic studies and originals can also be found in Catanzaro, Naples or Milan museums. The EDX analysis, executed on narrow points of the surface, revealed Pb and Cu as main components of the coin on both sides: 51% of Pb and 35% of Cu their weight and surprisingly on both sides traces of gold was found. The maximum dimensions and the percentage in weight of the small revealed gold spots were respectively on the order of 20 µm and 95%. At the same time luminescence emission induced by electron bombardment (CL) on these spots was executed. This analysis confirmed SEM results, though the presence of Au was more evident than in SEM analysis. In fact CL analysis showed a little presence of Au throughout the sample surface.
Schist is a common siliciclastic geological material that has been extensively used in buildings as brick, tile and roofing slates. Its use, especially in the Mediterranean sea is widespread through the centuries. There are various... more
Schist is a common siliciclastic geological material that has been extensively used in buildings as brick, tile and roofing slates. Its use, especially in the Mediterranean sea is widespread through the centuries. There are various examples from the ancient Greece, such as monuments from Knossos, Karthaia, as well as from modern Greece, such as traditional houses, etc. Schist is a metamorphic crystalline rock composed largely of silicon minerals, such as quartz, muscovite mica and feldspars. The type and composition of schists, as well as, the concentration of each mineral depends strongly on the type and the origin of the schist. Its past and modern use makes it a suitable candidate for archaeological dating, as well as, for retrospective dosimetry purposes. In the present work a preliminary characterization of schist is performed in order to investigate if some basic properties required for dating applications can be found in this material. The preliminary study concerns the optical stability, the sensitization and line-arity of the Infrared Stimulated Luminescence (IRSL) resulting from feldspars, as well as the post IR Blue Optically Stimulated Luminescence (post-IR Blue OSL) resulting mostly from quartz. The results indicate that both signals are rapidly bleached when the sample is exposed to sunlight. The dose response was found to be linear for radiation doses at least up to 75 Gy for the IRSL signal and at least up to 25 Gy in the case of post-IR Blue OSL. The use of a single aliquot measurement protocol, due to the lack of sensitisation, extends the latter dose response linearity region up to 75 Gy for the post-IR Blue OSL signal of schist. Finally, the application of the double single-aliquot regenerative-dose protocol to schist was investigated, in order to recover, successfully, the equivalent dose in 4-11 μm grains of the compound.
This paper examines the emergence of the non-submerged type of round building in the settlements of prehistoric Aegean, including Crete. It complements our earlier discussion of the Minoan evidence that concentrated on the properties of... more
This paper examines the emergence of the non-submerged type of round building in the settlements of prehistoric Aegean, including Crete. It complements our earlier discussion of the Minoan evidence that concentrated on the properties of architectural form and the cultural semantics of its perishable structure. This work explores the common characteristics that this particular architectural genre acquires in the prehistoric communities of the Greek mainland, the Aegean islands and Crete, along with the features that seem to demarcate distinct chronological and geographical groupings. More specifically , the systematic co-occurrence of features warrant, in our view, the identification of a hitherto unidentified round building type, detected in the iconography of Minoan Crete. It is the Minoan evidence par excellence that presents the greatest diversity of architectural variants, contexts and apparently function. On a more general level, the tradition of a round building type is inferred on the basis of the persistent adoption of a particular architectural form, along with the local adaptation of certain peculiarities that impinge on its cultural semantics. Our treatment of the material defines a conspectus of topics for further research, posing a frame for the historical understanding of a general building shape that in the Aegean may often, but not always, preserve the form and contents of a typical settlement house.
Apollo's sacred island, Delos, is an extended archaeological site, which contains important monuments dating from prehistoric to Hellenistic times. In this article the orientation of some of the most significant monuments of the site are... more
Apollo's sacred island, Delos, is an extended archaeological site, which contains important monuments dating from prehistoric to Hellenistic times. In this article the orientation of some of the most significant monuments of the site are studied. Each monument has been measured by means of modern accurate geodetic and as-trogeodetic methods and instrumentation so that its plan, its main (longitudinal) axis, the profile of the perceptible horizon as seen from the monument and the astronomical azimuth of the main axis are determined. Special attention and study have been reserved to the Cave of Kynthos (Andron), as the latter was considered as an ancient observatory. This study attempts also a possible dating of the measured monuments based on their orientation and its relation to special celestial bodies. All data deduced by measurements and calculations, as well as historical information have been used for the creation of a database in Macromedia software.
The college-mosque of Sultan Hassan is considered one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture not only in Egypt but also in the East. Its open interior courtyard is paved with three different types of marble slabs. These marble... more
The college-mosque of Sultan Hassan is considered one of the finest examples of Islamic architecture not only in Egypt but also in the East. Its open interior courtyard is paved with three different types of marble slabs. These marble slabs suffer from severe deterioration. Causes of this deterioration were determined accurately through the ocu-lar examination of the courtyard and confirmed by the laboratory tests which were carried out on samples representing the three common types of marble used in the floor namely the white, the red and the black marble. Sun light and heat are the main deterioration factors and the consequent thermal expansion is the main property which led to the detected deterioration phenomena. Types and mechanisms of deterioration affected the floor were described and explained.
A lot of papers in museums and libraries suffer from unsuitable environmental conditions that can lead to brittleness and fragility. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of cellulose acetate and chitosan at different concentrations... more
A lot of papers in museums and libraries suffer from unsuitable environmental conditions that can lead to brittleness and fragility. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of cellulose acetate and chitosan at different concentrations for the preservation of historical papers. The untreated and treated samples were submitted to different accelerated ageing cycles. Analytical techniques used for the evaluation process were tensile strength and elongation measurement, UV-spectrophotometer, XRD, and SEM. The results revealed that heat-moist-light ageing cycle affected the properties studies more than other ageing cycles. The lower concentrations gave an improvement better than the higher concentrations of cellulose acetate and chitosan.
According to Theophrastus of Eressos (4th c. B.C.) Melian-earth was a very bright white color used by the painters of his era. Pliny the Elder described it as the white pigment of the famous painter Appeles (c. 352-308 BC). Earlier... more
According to Theophrastus of Eressos (4th c. B.C.) Melian-earth was a very bright white color used by the painters of his era. Pliny the Elder described it as the white pigment of the famous painter Appeles (c. 352-308 BC). Earlier investigations on the island of Melos (Aegean Sea) have not identified the specific place of the extraction of this material, because of the unknown chemical character. In our new analytical data from excavations (Turkey, Italy, England) the presence of a TiO2 phase in the white ground decoration of ceramics has been testified, especially after the meticulous exploration of the island of Melos with a new point of view. At the western side of the island Kaolin was found in the locality of Kontaros with 1% by weight TiO2. Analytical results from the white layer of decoration of the white ground Lekythoi give us the same level of TiO2. We propose that the famous white pigment well known as melian earth in antiquity could be a kind of natural Titania as impurity in the Kaolin.
The northern rim of Al Jafr basin was the focus of a massive quarrying effort during the late Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. At that time, massive volumes of chert were extracted from the Muwaqqar Chalk Marl and the Umm Rijam... more
The northern rim of Al Jafr basin was the focus of a massive quarrying effort during the late Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. At that time, massive volumes of chert were extracted from the Muwaqqar Chalk Marl and the Umm Rijam Formations that crop out in the Umm Rijam, Khuzayma and Al Athriyat mountains. The landscape of the region is marked by a 100 km long escarpment marking the hydrological divide between the Al Jafr and Al Hisa basins. This escarpment and associated buttes were the exposures from which the chert was extracted. This was done from the nodules of the Muwaqqar Chalk Marl Unit beds and from the beds of the Umm Ri-jam Formation. Various patterns of extraction were developed based on the nature of the geological formation. The soft marl and chalk of the MCM led to narrow and deep digging into the exposures. The hard limestone of the Umm Rijam formation led to wide and shallow extraction patterns. Hilltops on the plateau served as sites for stone workshops. These sites were readily accessible and apparently defendable. They probably served dual purposes; a place to work stone and as observation posts defending the stone extraction activities in the lower areas.
This paper is an initiative study of the solarization phenomenon of archaeological glass that until now has been recorded, but not extensively studied. It also aims to reveal the fact concerning this phenomenon as a photochemical process... more
This paper is an initiative study of the solarization phenomenon of archaeological glass that until now has been recorded, but not extensively studied. It also aims to reveal the fact concerning this phenomenon as a photochemical process that affects the spectral and optical properties of ancient glass. Many solarized or purpled glasses found at Barsinia archaeological site in Jordan were collected and analyzed using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) technique to identify the elemental composition of these glasses. Furthermore, many pieces of decolorized or colourless glasses containing reduced manganese were exposed to a concentrated ultraviolet (UV) radiation in accelerated weathering chamber for long times. A preliminary examination by light transmission microscopy and using double beam spectral photometers allowed determination of the changes in optical properties (transmittance and colour) of selected glasses. However, it is the goal of this paper to show that solarization becomes more than an aesthetic problem when it occurs on glass components of an optical system. Solarization may also permanently degrade a material's physical or mechanical properties.
The Ayia Triadha cave excavation project aims to explore early maritime connections in the Aegean during the Late Neolithic I and II and the Early Bronze Age. The cave lies in a strategic position close to the crossroads that connect... more
The Ayia Triadha cave excavation project aims to explore early maritime connections in the Aegean during the Late Neolithic I and II and the Early Bronze Age. The cave lies in a strategic position close to the crossroads that connect insular regions and the mainland. We also aim to explore the manifestations of the so-called Saliagos culture of the Cyclades and the Aegean. This culture is connected to the White-on-Dark pottery horizon (late sixth to early fifth millennium B.C.) found in the cave. The Final Neolithic/LNIIa material is also present in the cave in large quantities. It is closely connected to the Attica-Kephala horizon (late fifth/fourth millennium B.C.) known from the Cyclades and the southern part of mainland Greece. Of great importance is the identification of an Early Bronze Age context, located inside a small chamber, off the main entrance corridor. In this paper we present our preliminary results from the 2007 field season and some aspects of the 2008 campaign together with research strategies we plan to apply in the future.
The prehistoric 'altar' of Monte d'Accoddi-near Sassari, Sardinia-is a unique monument in the whole Mediterranean area. It is indeed a huge ʺpyramidʺ constructed out of cyclopean masonry, but it exhibits a monumental access ramp similar... more
The prehistoric 'altar' of Monte d'Accoddi-near Sassari, Sardinia-is a unique monument in the whole Mediterranean area. It is indeed a huge ʺpyramidʺ constructed out of cyclopean masonry, but it exhibits a monumental access ramp similar to the Mesopo-tamian Ziggurats. The monument is extremely ancient since its first phases of construction date back to 3200 BC; it is usually interpreted as a sacred center perhaps devoted to the ʺMother Earthʺ. Although pretty little is known about pre-nuragic religion, astronomical alignments have been documented in contemporary sites in Sardinia. Therefore , with the aim of contributing to the interpretation of such a unique construction, we have carried out a new, complete archaeoastronomical survey of this monument and its annexes, which is presented here. It turns out that, the presence of astronomical references at the site becomes apparent if the alignments defined by the menhirs located in the fields nearby are analyzed. Indeed, there exists convincing evidence that, from the summit of the platform, lines of sight at the eastern horizon guided by a white limestone menhir and by a reddish stone menhir located at some two hundreds meters from the monument framed the rising of the Sun at winter solstice, pointing to the rising of Sirius and to the southern extreme declination of Venus respectively, while the same menhirs were likely used as backsights for the standstills of the Moon as observed from the eastern corners of the monument.
In this paper we report the results of the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of humans from two Middle Bronze Age cemeteries at Asine, Greece: Barbouna (n=6) and the East Cemetery (n=13). In general, the dietary pattern of... more
In this paper we report the results of the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of humans from two Middle Bronze Age cemeteries at Asine, Greece: Barbouna (n=6) and the East Cemetery (n=13). In general, the dietary pattern of adults and juveniles shows a heavy reliance on mainly terrestrial foods; C3 plants and a varying amount of animal protein (meat, milk or dairy products). The high nitrogen values of some individuals from the East cemetery indicate a substantial consumption of animal protein, although the carbon values show that no detectable amounts of marine foods, or C4 plants such as millet had been consumed. High nitrogen values as well as the high slaughter age of domestic animals, as found in previous studies point towards a significant utilization of milk and dairy products at Asine. A low increase of nitrogen values in subadults younger than one years of age from Barbouna compared to females at the East cemetery indicates that these children may have been fed breast milk as well as supplementary foods. Therefore, despite the poor preservation and uneven sample size, the Asine isotopic data give us information on diet during the MH period, as well as variation between the members of the community.
The Ottoman Empire was forged over disintegrating Byzantium, stretching across Anatolia and the Balkans and ruled for almost five centuries. One crucial parameter that allowed for its quick expansion has been a combination of economic... more
The Ottoman Empire was forged over disintegrating Byzantium, stretching across Anatolia and the Balkans and ruled for almost five centuries. One crucial parameter that allowed for its quick expansion has been a combination of economic wealth and superiority of armed forces. The Ottomans succeeded in both sectors by promoting innovative technology in the field of silver and steel production for supplying their monetary system and weapons industry. Rich mines and smelting workshops provided increased output in metals, allowing for quick expansion and economic growth. Some of the major centres for silver and steel production are being discussed in this paper in conjunction with analytical data from smelting residues.
This paper presents the preliminary results of a survey and excavations conducted in 2006 on small cemeteries at Wadi Mudayfaʹat and Wadi Abu Khasharif, which are located c. 30 km southeast of the village of al-Hussayniah on the Desert... more
This paper presents the preliminary results of a survey and excavations conducted in 2006 on small cemeteries at Wadi Mudayfaʹat and Wadi Abu Khasharif, which are located c. 30 km southeast of the village of al-Hussayniah on the Desert Highway in southern Jordan. In total five graves were excavated. Preservation was excellent including human and other organic materials (hair, leather, textiles). Preliminary scientific dating points to the period between the second and fourth centuries AD. The research questions discussed are:-the date, the relationship between the cemeteries and surrounding sites, the significance of this area, the identity of the groups buried, the burial techniques and practices adopted and what influenced them and the funerary gifts included with the dead.
This article examines scenes of Eos pursuing/abducting youths on 5 th-century Athe-nian vases. Eos, the personification of Dawn, is the only woman assuming the role of a pursuer in rape. The theme strangely becomes very popular with vase... more
This article examines scenes of Eos pursuing/abducting youths on 5 th-century Athe-nian vases. Eos, the personification of Dawn, is the only woman assuming the role of a pursuer in rape. The theme strangely becomes very popular with vase painters to a degree comparable to ephebes pursuing a woman. The iconography of the scenes is systematically analysed and evaluated. All theories explaining the popularity of the theme from its presumable use as a parable for death are considered. Eos is moreover compared to other winged figures in pursuit that are popular in the same period, especially Sphinx and Eros. Conversely, it is illustrated how Eos' pursuits of youths are thoroughly coined on the same model as ephebe rape scenes. These may have been so popular because they expressed prevalent social notions about how women, like animals, would need subduing/taming by the ephebe, future citizen hunters, before they could assume their appropriate place in society. With Eos the hunter becomes the prey of a wild woman, who has transgressed the control limits set by the social system. Eos is promoted as the ultimate model of what a woman should not be.
The use of subsoil materials have been used in buildings long time ago, for more than 10,000 years. This study investigates the different characteristics of brick units used in one of the Roman baths in Gadara archaeological site. This is... more
The use of subsoil materials have been used in buildings long time ago, for more than 10,000 years. This study investigates the different characteristics of brick units used in one of the Roman baths in Gadara archaeological site. This is achieved by studying the raw materials and the different technological measurements of brick units: shapes, dimensions and visual description. Moreover, it studies the construction techniques and deterioration problems, by using some scientific techniques and analytical procedures such as EDX for defining the elemental and chemical characteristics of brick samples, Polarizing microscope and XRD for studying the mineralogical components, in addition to the use of SEM that was used for studying the morphological characteristics of the samples. Furthermore, this study determines the different physical, mechanical and thermal properties of the collected samples according to different scientific techniques and standard tools such as digital camera, magnifying glass and mechanical sieves. The results of the study prove that the brick units are divided into two types cubit square and rectangular shapes which are used as external casing layers. They are characterized by homogeneous chemical characteristics and different visual appearances according to the firing degrees and firing conditions (oxidizing or reduction). On the other hand the differences of these physical properties play specific roles in the deterioration cycles, and their mechanisms affect the brick units. Finally, the study provides a definition of the effective methods, materials and preservation measurements for restoring and maintaining the investigated monument.
As a consequence of police operations in Messina (Sicily), a huge quantity of perfect imitations of ancient coins, realized by a sicilian forger, has been recently found. Such fakes have been realized by the lost wax casting technique and... more
As a consequence of police operations in Messina (Sicily), a huge quantity of perfect imitations of ancient coins, realized by a sicilian forger, has been recently found. Such fakes have been realized by the lost wax casting technique and reproduce coins issued by different authorities in different historical epochs. In order to overcome the obvious subjectivity of the traditional (autoptical) numismatic analysis, which sometime provides contrasting interpretations, five of these fakes have been analysed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersed X-Ray Fluorescence (EDXRF). The results obtained have given information on the microstructure, the homogeneity and the elemental composition of the alloys used by the forger. Furthermore, evident traces of the chemical treatment utilized for the artificial ageing of the coins have been found. Due to the presumable and dangerous large diffusion of these sicilian fakes in the international market, the results of such analyses may certainly be of noticeable interest for Numismatics and forensic applications as well, representing a set of proofs to be used in the unmasking of analogous counterfeiting cases.
This study aims to establish and design effective methods to conserve two Bedouin dyed textile objects selected from the museum of Jordanian heritage and to improve the physical and environmental conditions in which items are kept to... more
This study aims to establish and design effective methods to conserve two Bedouin dyed textile objects selected from the museum of Jordanian heritage and to improve the physical and environmental conditions in which items are kept to optimize their long-term chances of survival. The conservation processes that were used in conservation of the selected objects can be used a guide for conservators to conserve other similar textile objects. Investigations and analysis were used to identify the fibers and the extent of deterioration by using noninvasive methods. Transmitted Light Microscopy (TLM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy associated with EDAX (SEM-EDAX) were used for identifying the fibers and the deterioration. The results showed that the textile artifacts studied were very dirty, had white spots occupying cavities and holes, wrinkles and creases, fiber damages. Previous damage may due to the improper display methods in the museum or due to the incompatible environmental conditions surrounded the artifacts during exhibition such as: light, temperature, relative humidity, pollutants and microorganisms. For these reasons, the textile objects were cleaned using wet cleaning methods that improved the physical and mechanical properties of textile objects and returned them to their original shape as much as possible. Then the textile objects were mounted and supported by stitching on to backing fabric stretched on wooden frames. Finally, and according to the requirements of the museum, the objects were displayed temporarily inside showcases in an aesthetically pleasing manner.
A very well preserved ancient water clock was discovered during excavations at the Amphiaraeion, in Oropos, Greece. The Amphiaraeion, a famous religious and oracle center of the deified healer Amphiaraus, was active from the pre-classic... more
A very well preserved ancient water clock was discovered during excavations at the Amphiaraeion, in Oropos, Greece. The Amphiaraeion, a famous religious and oracle center of the deified healer Amphiaraus, was active from the pre-classic period until the replacement of the ancient religion by Christianity in the 5 th Century A.D.. The foretelling was supposedly done through dreams sent by the god to the believers sleeping in a special gallery. In these dreams the god suggesting to them the therapy for their illness or the solution to their problems. The patients, then threw coins into a spring of the sanctuary. In such a place, the measurement of time was a necessity. Therefore, time was kept with both a conical sundial and a water clock in the form of a fountain. According to archeologists, the large built structure that measured the time for the sanctuary dates from the 4 th Century B.C.
Climatic conditions (temperature, relative humidity, wind blowing and rainfall) are the main factor of deterioration affecting the archaeological building in Jordan. The annual averages of climatic elements in the Umm Qeis area during the... more
Climatic conditions (temperature, relative humidity, wind blowing and rainfall) are the main factor of deterioration affecting the archaeological building in Jordan. The annual averages of climatic elements in the Umm Qeis area during the last 30 years are 15.49 C o temperature, 24.63% relative humidity, 283 mm rainfall and 16.63 knots for the wind speed. These factors represent some of the most serious factors affecting the deterioration cycles of building materials in general and archaeological materials in particular. This study investigates the effect of climatic conditions on the acceleration of weathering processes in Jordan, focusing on the exfoliation as a major deterioration symptom affecting basaltic blocks used in western theater of Umm Qeis archaeological site. The techniques used in this study include Digital Caliper, EDX, XRD, Polarized microscopy and SEM. The results have shown that the samples suffer from several deterioration factors that lead to severe deterioration forms through different mechanisms. These forms include exfoliation, material loss, mineral weathering, crust formation and crystallization of soluble salts. Exfoliation form was divided into 4 categories according to the rate of exfoliation grades and the thickness of exfoliated layers: Complete, High, Moderate and Slight. On the other hand, the basalt artifacts in the study area have been affected by other aggressive factors of damaging mechanism such as thermal dilatation, ice pressure, vibration, microbiological infection. All of these deterioration factors lead to a breakdown in its essential components and create different weathering products such as salts and some loosen decay products.
This paper concerns the shells from the 1969-74 excavations at Sarepta (Lebanon) under the direction of the late J.B. Pritchard (University of Pennsylvania). Most of the 500 marine shells, ranging in date from the LB I to Roman/Byzantine,... more
This paper concerns the shells from the 1969-74 excavations at Sarepta (Lebanon) under the direction of the late J.B. Pritchard (University of Pennsylvania). Most of the 500 marine shells, ranging in date from the LB I to Roman/Byzantine, are typical Mediterra-nean forms. Of special interest are three large accumulations of crushed Murex trunculus of LB II, LB III to Iron I, and LB III or Iron I date. The Sarepta shell purple-dye evidence is described in detail and is compared with the other evidence from the Eastern Medi-terranean.
The equivalent dose De determination of limestone-made ancient constructions by thermoluminescence (TL) prevents accurate measurements and requires plateau test of bleached curves. Optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) of quartz and... more
The equivalent dose De determination of limestone-made ancient constructions by thermoluminescence (TL) prevents accurate measurements and requires plateau test of bleached curves. Optical stimulated luminescence (OSL) of quartz and feldspar minerals for surface dating is routinely applied for De but not for limestones. Here the OSL of present traces of such minerals removed with powder from surface limestone bleached by sunlight overcomes this issue and offers an alternative way for De. This is verified with further test examples.
The earliest known man made glass comes from Mesopotamia and dates to the 23 rd century BC. By the 16 th century BC the first glass vessels appear in Mesopotamia, but the earliest evidence for the fusion of glass from raw materials has... more
The earliest known man made glass comes from Mesopotamia and dates to the 23 rd century BC. By the 16 th century BC the first glass vessels appear in Mesopotamia, but the earliest evidence for the fusion of glass from raw materials has been found at the 13 th century BC Egyptian site of Qantir. Chemical analyses of this elite Late Bronze Age material have produced compositional distinctions between glasses found in Mesopotamia and Egypt. It is however debatable whether trace element concentrations provide a (geological) provenance for the glasses. By using neodymium and strontium isotopes to fingerprint well-dated chemically analysed 15 th to 11 th century BC glass samples, we show that independent primary production probably occurred in both Egypt and Mesopotamia in the 14 th century BC, and that both of these areas exported glass to Greece. We also discuss the technological implications for glass manufacture and colouring that these new data provide. The results add significant new scientific evidence for glass trade between Late Bronze Age palatial societies. Moreover, it is the first time that this methodology has been used to investigate Bronze Age glass.
The weathering phenomena that have affected El-TUBA Minaret, one of the most important Islamic stone minarets in middle delta in Egypt; that has suffered from several factors of deterioration due to weathering phenomenon. The present... more
The weathering phenomena that have affected El-TUBA Minaret, one of the most important Islamic stone minarets in middle delta in Egypt; that has suffered from several factors of deterioration due to weathering phenomenon. The present investigations concern the weathering factors that may have affected the minaret via the following methods and techniques: a) Contact-free methods used to study the chemical and min-eralogical composition of building materials before and after weathering effects such as SEM-EDX and XRD, b) Non-destructive methods to find out percentage of range of decay which has affected these materials as well as the deteriorating roles of the surrounding environment. This method has been used to make an anatomical scheme of these features especially to specific deteriorated parts by GIS and other digital imaging techniques. All results confirm that the degradation factors affecting the minaret building materials are essentially attributed to direct effects of weathering phenomena. These weathering phenomena arise from physical and chemical mechanisms which have lead to many deterioration forms on the following two scales: a) Macro scale of weathering phenomena (e.g. structural damages, crakes, loss of plumb and walls bulging), b) Micro scale of weathering phenomena (e.g. hydrated salts, bursting, flaking, coloration, scaling, skinning, exfoliation and soiling). Discussion on the management and rehabilitation of this monument is made, since it is one of the religious shrines in Egypt.
This study focuses on the changes in the properties of bones that resulted from ʺheat-ageingʺ at different temperatures and long term of exposure compared to archaeological samples. It also aims to prepare aged samples similar to... more
This study focuses on the changes in the properties of bones that resulted from ʺheat-ageingʺ at different temperatures and long term of exposure compared to archaeological samples. It also aims to prepare aged samples similar to archaeological samples for the experimental studies in the conservation of bone artifacts. FTIR, XRD, UV spectropho-tometry, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, polarizing and SEM microscopes were used as analytical techniques. The results revealed that ʺheat ageingʺ technique used at different temperatures (200 o C and 300 O C) and times (from 1 hour to 13 hours) affected the properties of change in colour, loss of bone density, destruction of the surface morphology , increasing the crystallinity index which, was similar with the archaeological sample after 8 and 12 hours of exposure. The study concluded that ʺheat ageingʺ at 300°C after 8 hours can give properties close or similar to archaeological samples.
In this work we explore the effects of various grinding and thermal-oxidative treatments applied to natural and artificial iron-based materials available (or related to those available) during GraecoRoman antiquity. The raw materials... more
In this work we explore the effects of various grinding and thermal-oxidative treatments applied to natural and artificial iron-based materials available (or related to those available) during GraecoRoman antiquity. The raw materials examined are: (a) commercial natural iron pigments (ochres, natrojarosite, caput mortum), (b) artificial melanterite (FeSO4. 7H2O), (c) mineral pyrite (FeS2) and mineral metallic hematite. Additionally explored are: (a) the non-attested in surviving sources, yet highly probable during antiquity, route of pigment preparation from iron (or steel) plates exposed to vinegar vapors, (b) a Vitruvius recipe for purplish pigment via vinegar quenching of hot ochre. We obtain oxide pigments with colors ranging from yellowish and red to brownish and purplish. The puzzling variation of colors obtained by subjecting iron-oxide containing materials to identical oxidative heat treatments is found to be explainable on the basis of starting grain size and possible size modifications. We also show, by using highly purity starting materials, that purplish colors obtainable in certain cases by heat treatment do not necessitate, as often claimed, the presence of impurities such as manganese etc. A framework of antiquity color possibilities for iron-oxide based pigments obtainable under the conditions explored is included. All samples prepared are examined via scanning electron microscopy for micromorphology coupled with EDAX for composition, and X-Rays Diffraction for mineralogy.
This study aims at monitoring, controlling and prevention the fungal deterioration of the museum textiles in the museum of Jordanian heritage as a case study. In this study valuable fungal deteriorated textile samples collected from... more
This study aims at monitoring, controlling and prevention the fungal deterioration of the museum textiles in the museum of Jordanian heritage as a case study. In this study valuable fungal deteriorated textile samples collected from different areas in the storage rooms and the display halls in the selected museum, were used for isolating fungi. Both of the plate method with the manual key and the direct observation method by SEM were used for identification of the fungi. The results show that the most dominant fungi isolated from tested samples belong to Aspergillus, Penicillium, Chaetomium and Alternaria species. The results show that all kinds of textile fibers in both storage room and display halls in the selected museum suffer from fungal attack. This study confirms that the textile collections are displayed and storied in very poor environmental conditions. This study established a strategy for controlling and prevention of the fungal deterioration problem on textile objects in the Museum of Jordanian Heritage and includes disinfection of the biodeteriorated textile objects, and then controlling the environmental conditions surrounding the objects in display show-cases and storage cabinets. For disinfection of fungal deteriorated textiles with active fungal infestation the study suggested some fungicides that are safe for both textile objects and conservators.
Aphrodite's Kephali is a small hilltop site in Eastern Crete. Its pottery indicates that it was inhabited during Early Minoan I (EM I), ca. 3200-2700 B.C. The fortified site has a considerable amount of storage, including nine pithoi. The... more
Aphrodite's Kephali is a small hilltop site in Eastern Crete. Its pottery indicates that it was inhabited during Early Minoan I (EM I), ca. 3200-2700 B.C. The fortified site has a considerable amount of storage, including nine pithoi. The analysis by gas chromatography of sherds from the site indicates that vessels contained olive oil and wine. These results are the earliest documented presence of both of these commodities in Crete. The evidence is important because the domestication of the olive and grape at this early period in Crete has been previously questioned.
It is known since the 19 century that in the layout of the pyramid field of the pharaohs of the 4 th Egyptian dynasty at Giza, a "main axis" exists. Indeed, the southeast corners of these monuments align towards the site of the temple of... more
It is known since the 19 century that in the layout of the pyramid field of the pharaohs of the 4 th Egyptian dynasty at Giza, a "main axis" exists. Indeed, the southeast corners of these monuments align towards the site of the temple of Heliopolis, which was plainly visible in ancient times. It was later discovered that a similar situation occurs in the main pyramid field of the subsequent dynasty at Abu Sir. Here, the northwest corners of three chronologically successive pyramids again voluntarily align towards Heliopolis. However, the temple was in this case not visible, due to the rock outcrop-today occupied by the Cairo citadel-which blocks the view. In the present paper, a inter-disciplinary approach based on historical, topographical and archaeoastronomical analysis is developed in an attempt at understanding such peculiar features, which governed from the very beginning the planning of these wonderful monuments. A general pattern actually arises, which appears to have inspired the choice of the sites and the disposition on the ground of almost all the funerary complexes of the kings during the Old Kingdom. In particular, this pattern helps to explain the choices in the location of the funerary complexes of Niuserre in Abusir, of Unas in Saqqara and of the kings of the 6 th dynasty at south Saqqara.
This paper focuses on the materialization of technological practices as a form of identity expression. Contextual analyses of a Mycenaean workshop area in the Late Bronze Age citadel of Tiryns (Argolis, Greece) are presented to... more
This paper focuses on the materialization of technological practices as a form of identity expression. Contextual analyses of a Mycenaean workshop area in the Late Bronze Age citadel of Tiryns (Argolis, Greece) are presented to investigate the interaction of different artisans under changing socio-political and economic circumstances. The case study indicates that although certain technological practices are often linked to specific crafts, they do not necessarily imply the separation of job tasks related to the working of one specific material versus another. Shared technological practices and activities, therefore, may be a factor in shaping cohesive group identities of specialized artisans. Since tracing artisans' identities is easier said than done on the basis of excavated materials alone, we employ the concepts of multiple chaînes opératoires combined with cross-craft interactions as a methodology in order to retrieve distinctive sets of both social and technological practices from the archaeological remains. These methodological concepts are not restricted to a specific set of steps in the production cycle, but ideally encompass reconstructing contexts of extraction, manufacture , distribution and discard/reuse for a range of artefacts. Therefore, these concepts reveal both technological practices, and, by contextualising these technological practices in their spatial layout, equally focus on social contacts that would have taken place during any of these actions. Our detailed contextual study demonstrates that the material remains when analysed in their entirety are complementary to textual evidence. In this case study they even form a source of information on palatial spheres of life about which the fragmentary Linear B texts, so far, remain silent.
Any cleaning process for pottery objects has to consider not only the effectiveness of the treatment but also the potential damage for the art object. Cleaning is one of the most common of the treatment processes used on pottery... more
Any cleaning process for pottery objects has to consider not only the effectiveness of the treatment but also the potential damage for the art object. Cleaning is one of the most common of the treatment processes used on pottery conservation. A variety of mechanical and chemical methods is currently used in restoration practice. Unfortunately, pottery objects are subjected to various deterioration factors, starting in manufacturing process and passing through burial and excavation stages. This study aims to present and explain an application of already established cleaning methods to four pottery pots excavated from the archaeological sites of Khirbet edh-Dharih and Hayyan al-Mushref in Jordan. It also tackles the decision making problems about which methods should be applied to which pots, according to the conservation state and the technological features. Addition to the visual examination, SEM was used to investigate the surface morphology of each object. XRD was used to determine accurately the mineralogical composition of pottery objects as well as the different kinds of dirt which deposited on their surfaces. It could be concluded that the selected pottery objects were very dirty and covered with dust, soil particles, soot and calcareous crusts. The selected pottery objects were cleaned using refiring, mechanical, wet and chemical cleaning methods according to the type of dirt and nature of each object. Finally, objects were consolidated and strengthened to ensure their safety in the condition of storage or display, and to prevent them against the various environmental conditions.
This research characterizes marble chancel screens and their supporting columns, confiscated from treasure thieves, probably from northern Jordan in order to manage the most fruitful conservation and restoration interventions for them. It... more
This research characterizes marble chancel screens and their supporting columns, confiscated from treasure thieves, probably from northern Jordan in order to manage the most fruitful conservation and restoration interventions for them. It provides new archaeometric data and determines the probable source of the marbles. The results of mineropetrographic, X-ray diffraction and carbon and oxygen stable isotope analyses show that the marbles most probably are Proconnesian-1. The results agree with the historical records supported by archaeometric analyses that Proconnesos marble was widely used during the Roman and Byzantine periods for architectural purposes. The results suggest that color style of Proconnesian marble astonished the Byzantine stonemasons and architects thus have been widely used.
Acquired external ear exostoses are an auditory disorder presumably associated with prolonged or repeated exposure to cold aquatic activities. At the ancient necropolis of Thasos, Greece, a low prevalence of auditory exostoses has been... more
Acquired external ear exostoses are an auditory disorder presumably associated with prolonged or repeated exposure to cold aquatic activities. At the ancient necropolis of Thasos, Greece, a low prevalence of auditory exostoses has been documented in one adult male out of an initially larger number of individuals from the ancient necropolis of Thasos, although the city-state was renowned in antiquity for the strength and dependency on its fleet and its seafaring activities in the Aegean and the Black Sea as supported by historical and archaeological records. In addition to auditory exostoses, this individual showed distinct similarities of infracranial axial and appendicular skeletal changes of skeleto-muscular robustness, trauma, and degenerative manifestations to a select sample of 16 males out of 57 individuals interred in proximal contextual associations near the shoreline which may comprise a pattern of occupational conditions when juxtaposed to the context of the larger skeletal population studied at Thasos so far. This study also presents comparative ethnographic information relative to occupational changes documented among a surviving group of wooden boat craftsmen on Thasos, comprising nine male individuals of diverse age-subgroups and intra-trade specializations. It is proposed that the low incidence of external auditory exostoses from ancient Thasos may not necessarily reflect issues of preservation or population sample, but rather the speci-ficity of activities within the domain of specific maritime occupations.
DNA from fossil human bones can provide valuable information for understanding intra-and inter-population relationships. Using the DNA preserved inside crystal aggregates from human fossil bones containing relatively large amounts of... more
DNA from fossil human bones can provide valuable information for understanding intra-and inter-population relationships. Using the DNA preserved inside crystal aggregates from human fossil bones containing relatively large amounts of collagen, we demonstrate the presence of reproducible mtDNA control region sequences. Radiocarbon dates from each bone show that the burial caves were used for up to 600 years during the Chalcolithic period (5 th-4 th millennium BP). A comparison of the ancient DNA sequences with modern mtDNA databases indicates that all samples can most likely be assigned to the R haplogroup sub-clades, which are common in West-Eurasia. In four cases more precise and confident haplogroup identifications could be achieved (H, U3a and H6). The H haplogroup is present in three out of the four assigned ancient samples. This hap-logroup is prevalent today in West-Eurasia. The results reported here tend to genetically link this Chalcolithic group of individuals to the current West Eurasian populations. Abbreviations: aDNA, ancient DNA; CRS, Cambridge Reference Sequence; mtDNA, mitochon-drial DNA; HVS-I, Hypervariable segment 1. Data deposition: The sequences reported in this paper have been deposited in the GenBank database (accession nos. EF060054-EF060059, DQ020117).
he toured Southern Euboea visiting several sites (see appendix). His observations, written in notebooks, have never been published, but are of interest in several respects: What was to be seen, how was the condition of the monuments, how... more
he toured Southern Euboea visiting several sites (see appendix). His observations, written in notebooks, have never been published, but are of interest in several respects: What was to be seen, how was the condition of the monuments, how were they interpreted by other researchers before Schaubert and by himself and what sources did he use. In addition there are a number of excellent line drawings of monuments presenting detailed information about them. Eduard Schaubertʹs travel notes belong to the comprehensive surveying tradition of the island which begun in 1833 when Euboea passed by treaty from the Ottoman Empire to the newly founded Kingdom of Greece. The governmentʹs objective was not only a profound knowledge of ancient Greece, it was also striving to bring about the countryʹs economic and urban revival. The two presentations, given at the conference in Styra, are focussing on Schaubertʹs observations. They are part of a wider research project on the architectʹs travels in Euboea, the Northern Sporades (1847) and Boeotia (1848). The forthcoming critical edition will provide an insight of his life as an architect, town planner, and archaeologist.
The Karystian Plain (the Kampos) is part of the Karystia that had not been archaeologically explored in a systematic way despite its obvious economic importance for the inhabitants of southern Euboea. In the course of two seasons of... more
The Karystian Plain (the Kampos) is part of the Karystia that had not been archaeologically explored in a systematic way despite its obvious economic importance for the inhabitants of southern Euboea. In the course of two seasons of fieldwork the Kampos Survey was able to cover approximately forty percent of the designated survey area. In the process we located 36 previously unknown archaeological findspots ranging in date from the end of the Neolithic to the Late Byzantine times. In this paper we present our preliminary results. Our data suggest that the Kampos was as important to the ancient Karystian as it is to the area's inhabitants today.
This paper deals with the so-called Dragon houses in southern Euboea and particularly in the region of Styra. In the publications of both N.K. Moutsopoulos and T. Skouras a series of different houses are mentioned, but without precise... more
This paper deals with the so-called Dragon houses in southern Euboea and particularly in the region of Styra. In the publications of both N.K. Moutsopoulos and T. Skouras a series of different houses are mentioned, but without precise information on their location. Thus, my first aim was to rediscover these houses and to verify wheter they correspond to the type of the well-known houses at Palli Lakka, Kapsala and on Mount Ochi. I soon realized that some of the Dragon houses in the lists of the two authors are in fact ancient farmhouses or watch towers. I will present the typology of the "real" Dragon houses and will also compare them with some stone houses found in other regions around the Mediterranean: in Italy, France, Switzerland, and the former republic of Yugoslavia. Despite different opinions concerning their function, I will add some arguments in favor of that proposed by Moutsopoulos. I believe that we are dealing with shepherd dwellings, used perhaps only part of the year, mostly in summer, when shepherds crossed mountains with sheep and goats or maybe even with some cows.
ABTRACT This paper offers a brief outline of the results of the salvage excavations undertaken in recent years by the 11 th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities (IA EPKA) in the area of Lefka, Nea Styra, together with a brief... more
ABTRACT This paper offers a brief outline of the results of the salvage excavations undertaken in recent years by the 11 th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities (IA EPKA) in the area of Lefka, Nea Styra, together with a brief description of surface finds in the region of Styra. A more extensive archaeological description and topographical assessment of all known sites, including farm houses, towers, possible sanctuaries, tombs and quarrying areas will be provided in a forthcoming larger study by the author. The brief assessment of old and new data presented here is given as a preliminary summary of the topography of the ancient demos of Styra, which, according to inscriptional data, was incorporated in the Eretrian territory, during the last years of the 5 th century B.C.
The Optical Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) surface dating employing the single-aliquot regenerative (SAR) technique on quartz was applied to some small enigmatic buildings made of large marble schist slabs in a skillful corbelling... more
The Optical Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) surface dating employing the single-aliquot regenerative (SAR) technique on quartz was applied to some small enigmatic buildings made of large marble schist slabs in a skillful corbelling technique, and a fortified megalithic gate, at Styra, Kapsala, Laka Palli and Kastro Armena in southern Euboea. The function and origins of the structures have created a puzzle that has fed the imagination and lead to various interpretations by many scholars. No archaeological excavations or methods of dating have been available for the megalithic-like structures. The dates reported suggest the earliest construction to have taken place during the Classical period. Re-use of these structures has occurred during Hellenistic and Roman times (the latter associated with the large scale quarrying of marbles), as well as, in Medieval times (found in agreement with the historical literature) and the contemporary period (as reported by shepherds). In all cases the datable slabs were rather reset as repairs .
The imposing remains of the Aghios Nikolaos fortress are well known to the inhabitants of Styra. They lie near the summit of Mt. Kliosi and enjoy a panoramic view over much of southern Euboea. A topographical survey and short excavation... more
The imposing remains of the Aghios Nikolaos fortress are well known to the inhabitants of Styra. They lie near the summit of Mt. Kliosi and enjoy a panoramic view over much of southern Euboea. A topographical survey and short excavation were conducted at the site in 2004 and 2005. Results of the investigation suggest that the Eretrians, after the annexation of Styra, constructed the fortress at the beginning of the 4th century BC to guard the border with Karystos to the south. Evidence is also presented for a 5th century BC sanctuary that occupied the rocky plateau near the summit. The 4th century fortress was partly dismantled in Byzantine and later periods and the stones were re-used in later fortifications nearby.
The existence of an Early Bronze Age coastal site in the district of Nea Styra has been known since the end of the 19th century when three marble figurines of early Cycladic type had been found in the area. During the 20th century survey... more
The existence of an Early Bronze Age coastal site in the district of Nea Styra has been known since the end of the 19th century when three marble figurines of early Cycladic type had been found in the area. During the 20th century survey investigations conducted by Greek and foreign archaeologists offered new evidence which demonstrated the significance of the site during the Early and Middle Helladic periods. A new figurine of early Cycladic type, which recently came to light at Nea Styra due to the control of building permits by the 11th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, reaffirms the identification of the area as one of the three most important sites on Euboea during the Early Helladic II period. This paper focuses on a newly discovered figurine and its typological character. The new find is compared to the figurines that had been found in the 19th century at Nea Styra. We hope that the scheduled excavations on the private land plot where the new figurine was found will offer new data leading to a better understanding of the character of the Early Helladic settlement in this part of southern Euboea.
The preliminary investigation of the astronomical orientation of monuments at Styra, southern Euboea, includes the triple so called 'dragon house' complex at Laka Palli, one dragon house at Kapsala and one on the summit of Mount Oche, and... more
The preliminary investigation of the astronomical orientation of monuments at Styra, southern Euboea, includes the triple so called 'dragon house' complex at Laka Palli, one dragon house at Kapsala and one on the summit of Mount Oche, and a monumental gate in the megalithic fortification wall at Armena. Recent luminescence testing dates these remains to approximately the Classical period with apparent re-use in Roman and later times. Thus far no definite astronomical orientation has been determined in the layout of the structures and no celestial stone markers or similar features have been found associated with the dragon houses, however, the relationship of significant stars, constellations and solar stands was well known in antiquity, and the limited results presented here suggests the possibility for further investigation. This study, which considered possible orientations related to sun rise and sun set for the summer and winter solstice , as well as, alignments towards equinoxes and major bright stars and constellations , did observe a general preference for a southern orientation at most of the sites and a possible feature for time observations in the dragon house complex at Laka Palli.
Recent regional surface surveys have placed more focus on rural investigations, but the means of transport and communication within those rural surroundings has not always received adequate attention. The Southern Euboea Exploration... more
Recent regional surface surveys have placed more focus on rural investigations, but the means of transport and communication within those rural surroundings has not always received adequate attention. The Southern Euboea Exploration Project has under-taken a new phase of research in the Karystos area with the goal of developing a methodology that allows for a more detailed record of the pre-modern land routes. On the Paximadhi peninsula it was possible to identify numerous fragments of suspected ancient routes dating to the Classical and Hellenistic periods. In the majority of cases these fragments were closely associated with adjacent datable ancient sites. By taking into consideration the evidence recorded during the survey it was sometimes possible to propose the extension of these ancient segments and to theorize the directions, lengths, and purposes of ancient networks.
Experiments designed to evaluate protocols for preparation and luminescence measurement of small samples (<100 mg) from high fired ceramics are described. These include: additive TL of untreated material; multiple stimulation (Predose TL,... more
Experiments designed to evaluate protocols for preparation and luminescence measurement of small samples (<100 mg) from high fired ceramics are described. These include: additive TL of untreated material; multiple stimulation (Predose TL, OSL, TL) of hydrofluoric washed fragments; Simplified Predose and SAR OSL of silicate powders from hydrochloric and fluorosilicic acid treatment. The 110°C TL signal in the Simplified Predose technique minimised required sample size, but growth with cumulative predose was sub-linear. For exponential extrapolations 11/26 faience samples yielded results within 1σ of typological expectations, but substantial scatter was interpreted as relating to radiation quenching effects. Extrapolation errors were investigated by deactivating samples and regenerating their predose responses. Acid treatment of cores drilled from sherds enabled preparation of mineral and grain-size fractions while avoiding crushing effects, and damage to or contamination by the glaze and decoration. Results of luminescence measurements indicate that future work should focus on the use of open detection filter combinations to increase signal levels, to enable quenching corrections in predose measurements and the use of high temperature TL signals.
A more exact dating of the Chiemgau meteorite impact in Bavaria, southeast Germany, that produced a large strewn field of more than 80 craters sized between a few meters and several hundred meters, may provide the indispensable fundament... more
A more exact dating of the Chiemgau meteorite impact in Bavaria, southeast Germany, that produced a large strewn field of more than 80 craters sized between a few meters and several hundred meters, may provide the indispensable fundament for evaluating its cultural implications and thus enable an extraordinary case study. A straightforward answer has not yet been provided due to e.g. scarce existence of diagnostic material, lack of specialised micromorphologists, absence of absolute dating data etc. Here we report on a first OSL dating applied to a catastrophic impact layer that features both impact ejecta and tsunami characteristics attributed to proposed falls of projectiles into Lake Chiemsee in the impact event. The OSL dating was conducted on a quartzite cobble and four sediment samples collected from an excavated archaeological stratigraphy at Lake Chiemsee that comprised also the impact layer. In a first approach the analyses were based on the assumption of zero luminescence resetting clock from the induced impact shock for the quartzite cobble, and a solar bleaching of tsunami-generated sediments. Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) was applied using the Single Ali-quot Regeneration (SAR) protocol and relevant reliability criteria. For sediments the beta-TL method was also applied. Reported ages fall around the beginning of 2 nd millennium BC. Special attention is given to the peculiar situation of OSL dating of material that may have been exposed to impact shock of strongly varying intensity, to excavation, ejection and ejecta emplacement, the latter overprinted by and mixed with tsunami transport processes resulting in possibly very complex bleaching scenarios largely differing from the original assumptions.
In the last ten to twenty years, an increased number of ceramic objects regarded as ancient from the accompanying thermoluminescence analysis test certificates have come out of China and into the art market. However, further testing has... more
In the last ten to twenty years, an increased number of ceramic objects regarded as ancient from the accompanying thermoluminescence analysis test certificates have come out of China and into the art market. However, further testing has shown that in many cases they are recent products. The counterfeiting methods used are numerous, usually in the form of sculptures that consist of old and new parts, or that have been recently carved from an old, plain and worthless fired artefact are as frequently encountered as objects that have been made from a mixture of pulverized antique ceramics and modern binding agents. The paper describes methods for the uncovering of such fakes.
One of the most frequently recurring questions in archaeology concerns the age of the studied objects. To date, determining the chronology of the Puuc and Chichen Slate pottery of Chchen Itza, based on the stylistic change in the pottery,... more
One of the most frequently recurring questions in archaeology concerns the age of the studied objects. To date, determining the chronology of the Puuc and Chichen Slate pottery of Chchen Itza, based on the stylistic change in the pottery, has been problematic. The Thermoluminescence method of dating pottery was applied to samples of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, which contain volcanic glass as temper. They were analyzed using the fine grain technique. The radisotopes that contribute to the accumulate annual dose in ceramic samples (40 K, 238 U, 232 Th) were determined by means of Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy and Neutron Activation Analysis technique, while the artificial irradiation of the samples was carried out using 90 Sr source beta radiation. We obtained results indicating the following dates. The results demonstrate a chronological order of dates. Most results are in accordance with the established dates of Chichen Itza. However, Puuc and Chichen Slate did not show differences of 200 years as previously proposed, and there is evidence of an earlier period than those two pottery periods. This necessitates a reconsideration of the chronology of Chichen Itza.
Obsidian is a volcaniclastic mineral extremely hard to break, which was used in prehistoric Greece (and elsewhere in the World), in order to provide tools, weapons, knives and arrowheads. The present work aims to characterize this... more
Obsidian is a volcaniclastic mineral extremely hard to break, which was used in prehistoric Greece (and elsewhere in the World), in order to provide tools, weapons, knives and arrowheads. The present work aims to characterize this extremely precious tool stone by using both thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques and investigate its potential use for luminescence dating purposes. Basic TL and OSL properties, such as TL and OSL thermal and optical stability, repeatability, TL and LM-OSL glow curve shape and mainly the linearity of the TL and OSL signals as a function of beta dose were investigated. Artificially irradiated samples indicate all promising luminescence features, such as the 110 o C TL peak and dose response sub-linearity for intermediate doses, quick and effective bleaching all over the entire TL glow curve, along with quite linear CW-OSL dose response for doses larger than 5 Gy. The lack of predose sen-sitisation indicates the suitability of the material for single aliquot measurements. Furthermore, several features provide indications that the signal does not relate to quartz, but in fact to other sili-cates. Unfortunately, both lack of bleaching ability for NTL signal, along with a peculiar shape of NOSL, provide major difficulties in dating applications.
This work focus on the Thermoluminescence (TL), the Spatially Resolved Spectral Cathodolumi-nescence (CL) and Raman spectroscopy (Raman) of white marble specimens collected from the archaeological park of Aiani (Greece) and from patterns... more
This work focus on the Thermoluminescence (TL), the Spatially Resolved Spectral Cathodolumi-nescence (CL) and Raman spectroscopy (Raman) of white marble specimens collected from the archaeological park of Aiani (Greece) and from patterns of Iceland calcite and Macael marble for comparison purposes. The spectra CL were measured with a high sensitivity cathodoluminescence spectrometer MonoCL3 of Gatan (UK) attached to an FEI-ESEM microscope (CL-ESEM). The experimental set of spectra CL curves of Aiani white marbles suggest that the blue band is more resistant to weathering in comparison with the red band which drops down easily under weathering. The comparison among CL spectra of CaCO3 patterns give a slight difference between the small 330 nm peak, detected in marble and not observed in the monocrystal pattern of Iceland calcite. The Backscattering Electron Dispersed (BSED) images of the white marble are similar to the CL mono-chromatic plots at 330 nm which highlight the surfaces with remarkable clarity, suggesting a CL emission-defect associated to the marble crystal interfaces, such as protons or hydroxyls. Conversely , the 395 nm monochromatic mapping depicts a CL image emitting from bulk and not from interfaces attributable to point defects or cationic activators in Ca 2+ positions. The blue band of the spectra luminescence of marble is composed by several peaks associated to very different types of luminescent defects. This statement is not inconsequential since in archaeological TL dating of marbles the regenerated luminescence in the blue region of the spectrum is a serious difficulty and further research on this topic is necessary.
Geoarchaeology is a growing discipline in archaeological science. It aims at the natural environment as context of past human societies and at the interaction between both, the environment and man as part of a joint ecosystem. This topic... more
Geoarchaeology is a growing discipline in archaeological science. It aims at the natural environment as context of past human societies and at the interaction between both, the environment and man as part of a joint ecosystem. This topic is also of considerable concern of present societies. Like other historic sciences, geoarchaeology requires accurate chronologies. Since one deals in geoar-chaeology predominantly with sediments and rocks, luminescence methods play a key role. This is demonstrated in two case studies from Phlious in southern Greece and Nasca in southern Peru. The results show clearly climatically triggered social developments and feedbacks to the environment.
This study aims to place the prehistoric settlement of Smintheion in northwestern Turkey in its temporal setting on the basis of the dating of the quartz from pottery and sediments collected from the site employing Optically Stimulated... more
This study aims to place the prehistoric settlement of Smintheion in northwestern Turkey in its temporal setting on the basis of the dating of the quartz from pottery and sediments collected from the site employing Optically Stimulated Luminescence and Thermoluminescence techniques. The site belongs to the problematic Middle Chalcolithic period in western Anatolia. This period represents a cultural upheaval in western Anatolia as it has a completely different material culture when compared to that of the preceding Early Chalcolithic period. The pottery and sediment samples were collected from two different locations of the Middle Chalcolithic settlement at Smintheion for dating study. The fact that this examined settlement is represented by a single cultural level provides an opportunity to obtain secure and reliable dates for the settlement. Results of this study show that the site can be dated to a period between 4800 and 4500 B.C.
It has been recently reported by several studies that a thermally transferred optically stimulated luminescence (TT-OSL) signal from quartz grains can be used to extend the dating range for quartz samples. The TT-OSL signals are believed... more
It has been recently reported by several studies that a thermally transferred optically stimulated luminescence (TT-OSL) signal from quartz grains can be used to extend the dating range for quartz samples. The TT-OSL signals are believed to consist of a recuperated OSL (ReOSL) component and a basic-transferred OSL (BT-OSL) component. In the present work the TT-OSL signals from several types of unfired quartz samples were studied. A special protocol was used, which allowed the measure the OSL from very deep traps (VDT) as a function of the OSL stimulation temperature. It was found that all quartz samples exhibit TT-OSL signals, which are depended on sample and on the OSL stimulation temperature. The activation energy of the process was evaluated and the influences of the TT-OSL on the ReOSL dating protocol are discussed.
Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating was applied to constrain the timing of aeolian activity and surface stability around the Final Palaeolithic site at Arendonk-Korhaan. The sequence under investigation consists of coversands... more
Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating was applied to constrain the timing of aeolian activity and surface stability around the Final Palaeolithic site at Arendonk-Korhaan. The sequence under investigation consists of coversands and an intercalated bleached horizon, which is thought to represent the Usselo Soil of Allerød age. This horizon contains a concentration of lithics that can be attributed to the Final Palaeolithic Federmesser culture. All samples show satisfactory luminescence characteristics. While the equivalent doses and dose rates show an unexpected spread, the resulting optical ages are internally consistent and in agreement with geological and archaeological expectations. The coversands under-and overlying the bleached horizon are dated at 14.2 ± 1.1 ka (n = 5) and 11.7 ± 0.9 ka (n = 2), respectively; the horizon itself yields an age of 14.1 ± 1.3 ka. As such, the results allow distinguishing two discrete phases of aeolian deposition, and they confirm that the intercalated bleached horizon represents the Usselo Soil of Allerød age. It is concluded that, throughout the Late Glacial, the site was only fit for human occupation during the milder climatic and environmental conditions of the Allerød stage.
One of the most common materials that appear in archaeological excavations is the ceramics. Ceramic is an evidence for different activities and cultural periods. Thermoluminescence (TL) has been shown to be a very effective method for... more
One of the most common materials that appear in archaeological excavations is the ceramics. Ceramic is an evidence for different activities and cultural periods. Thermoluminescence (TL) has been shown to be a very effective method for dating of archaeological ceramics. In this paper, we present the results of 18 Zapotec ceramics from different archaeological sites of the Caxonos River Basin, Northern Sierra of Oaxaca, Mexico, analyzed by TL. Based on these results, we established the first chronological data set of this important Mesoamerica site. Our new data give evidence for the existence of a trade route through the Caxonos River Basin used since 500 AD between the central valley of Oaxaca and the Gulf of Mexico. Methodologically we used the fine grain technique (4-11μm) and for the determination of the paleodose the additive method was applied.
The possibility of dating archaeological glass by means of luminescent techniques has been investigated in recent years, despite the difficulties of this application, mainly linked to the amorphous structure of the material. We focused in... more
The possibility of dating archaeological glass by means of luminescent techniques has been investigated in recent years, despite the difficulties of this application, mainly linked to the amorphous structure of the material. We focused in particular on mosaic glass, after the encouraging results obtained on byzantine and medieval samples. Further studies were devoted to the comprehension of the luminescent mechanisms in silica glasses, and to the investigation of the relationships between luminescence, colouring or opacifier ions and crystalline phase of the vitreous matrix. The results of a study on the dosimetric characteristics of thermoluminescence (TL) and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) of a few medieval blue-green mosaic glasses from the San Lorenzo church (Milan) are presented, and the experimental protocols established to identify their suitability for dating are discussed.
Turquoise is one of the amongst first gem stones used in jewelry and possessing cultural value since 2000 BC (at least). This work attempts characterize this stone scientifically using both thermally (TL) and optically stimulated... more
Turquoise is one of the amongst first gem stones used in jewelry and possessing cultural value since 2000 BC (at least). This work attempts characterize this stone scientifically using both thermally (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques. The experimental investigation included 1) the study of the natural TL and OSL signals, 2) the reproducibility of TL sensitivity over repeated irradiation and TL readout cycles, 3) dependence of sensitivity on annealing temperatures and 4) the TL and OSL dose response curves. The potential use of the TL and OSL techniques in determination of provenance, accidental dosimetry and probably to authenticity and dating purposes are then discussed.
The new technique for the calculation of U and Th concentration which is based on the alpha particle spectrum taken from a thick sample by using a silicon detector is briefly described. Within the present study two major advantages of the... more
The new technique for the calculation of U and Th concentration which is based on the alpha particle spectrum taken from a thick sample by using a silicon detector is briefly described. Within the present study two major advantages of the technique will also be presented: the potentiality for detecting and providing an estimation of disequilibrium in the U and Th series-when present-for especially young sediments, and the potential use of the technique as a new method for isotopic dating of speleothems and other materials. Also the validity of the basic equation and the accuracy of this technique is tested.
The effect of thermal quenching plays an important role in the thermoluminescence (TL) of quartz on which many applications of TL are based. In present work it is investigated that the thermal quenching parameters i.e. the activation... more
The effect of thermal quenching plays an important role in the thermoluminescence (TL) of quartz on which many applications of TL are based. In present work it is investigated that the thermal quenching parameters i.e. the activation energy W and the dimensionless parameter C, are more or less the same for every kind of quartzes or sample dependent on strong external treatment like a high temperature annealing. This preliminary investigation of seven quartz samples of different origin showed that the thermal quenching parameters W and C are common (universal) for most of the quartz samples.
Cranial trepanation is one of the most ancient surgical operations. This kind of ʺoperationʺ has been reported in prehistoric Greece with several specific case studies. In this paper, a significant case of trepanation, on a male skull,... more
Cranial trepanation is one of the most ancient surgical operations. This kind of ʺoperationʺ has been reported in prehistoric Greece with several specific case studies. In this paper, a significant case of trepanation, on a male skull, dated to the Late Bronze Age, is presented. Our interest was pointed firstly to the verification of the technique, secondly the description of the trepanationʹs shape and finally to the surgical procedure. A series of imaging techniques were implemented including X-ray diffraction and CT scan imaging. The observations of the skull support our statement as to the nature of the trepanation. This specimen represents one of the earlier confirmed cases of trepanation in Greece. We also discuss when and how this technique came to Greece.
During the excavation works adopted in 2008 by Yarmouk University team, with the support of the Jordanian Department of Antiquities at Tell al-Husn archaeological site located in northern Jor-dan, a considerable collection of pottery... more
During the excavation works adopted in 2008 by Yarmouk University team, with the support of the Jordanian Department of Antiquities at Tell al-Husn archaeological site located in northern Jor-dan, a considerable collection of pottery objects and shards were found. Dating these pottery objects was very important to reveal the historical and archaeological aspects of this significant site in northern Jordan. Thermoluminescence (TL) techniques is one of the most accurate and absolute method for dating pottery. An appropriate collection of pottery shards was collected and prepared for measurement using this technique. It shown that pottery objects are dated back around to 3400 to 3700 years BP (Late Bronze Age). This age is consistent with that estimated by archaeological (ty-pology) studies.
From the early results of our archaeoastronomical investigations at the peak sanctuaries on Petsophas and Mt Juktas, we inferred that the Minoans had a lunisolar calendar that began at a particular phase of the moon on or following the... more
From the early results of our archaeoastronomical investigations at the peak sanctuaries on Petsophas and Mt Juktas, we inferred that the Minoans had a lunisolar calendar that began at a particular phase of the moon on or following the autumn equinox. We used classical archaeoastronomical methods: a digital theodolite with observations of the sun to determine the orientation of the coordinate system, measuring the orientations of foundations to celestial bodies, and determining the positions of celestial bodies at the appropriate times in the past using our own programs. In our later investigation of the palace at Knossos, we found further evidence including the impressive use of a reflection in the central palace sanctuary to determine the beginning of the Minoan year and for knowing when to intercalate a lunar (synodic) month in the lunisolar calendar. The reflection occurred at the precise moment of sunrise at the equinoxes and also during the eleven days before the spring equinox and after the autumn equinox. We also discovered that the non-integral length of the solar year would have been revealed by the unique shift of the reflection during a series of four years. Later results at three other Minoan sites underscored the probability that the Minoans had a solar calendar and twelve solar months.
During the surface researches which we initiated to identify the Prehistoric and Protohistoric cultures in the geography of the city of Manisa located at a highly strategic point in the Western Anatolia, examinations were carried out also... more
During the surface researches which we initiated to identify the Prehistoric and Protohistoric cultures in the geography of the city of Manisa located at a highly strategic point in the Western Anatolia, examinations were carried out also in the volcanic area known as "Katakekaumene" in the Ancient Age. In our studies on this land, we examined the human-animal fossil foot prints which had been found accidentally during the construction of Demirköprü Dam. In a location very close to these prints, the first rock painting of the region was detected. The point that should be elaborated is the link between these rock paintings and the owners of the discovered foot prints.
Archaeomagnetic research has enabled the determination of the secular variation record of the past geomagnetic field and has been used as a tool for absolute and relative dating. The archaeo-magnetic secular variation of declination can... more
Archaeomagnetic research has enabled the determination of the secular variation record of the past geomagnetic field and has been used as a tool for absolute and relative dating. The archaeo-magnetic secular variation of declination can be used in conjunction with architectural building plan orientation angles (strike directions) to establish, whether or not, a magnetic compass was possibly used to align buildings. Until now, it has been speculative as to, how or why, Minoan buildings were orientated in an approximate North-South direction or at 'askew' angles to one another. Here, it is observed, that, the orientation angles, of some significant Minoan buildings on Crete which have been compared to the archaeomagnetic (secular variation of declination) reference curve record (Bulgaria) for that period, are consistent with the possible use of a magnetic compass. Four of the six main Palaces and other significant buildings may have been oriented using this method. This may indicate the first recorded use, by the Minoans of a magnetic compass. These findings have archaeological implications (chronology) and are of significant interest architecturally. They are also relevant to Minoan religious and cult studies and may have implications for Mi-noan maritime navigation studies.
Tell El-Dabaa is one of the important archaeological sites in the Eastern part of the Nile Delta. It is located at about 7 km north of Faqous city, Sharqiya governorate, Egypt. The ancient name of El-Dabaa area was Avaris, which had been... more
Tell El-Dabaa is one of the important archaeological sites in the Eastern part of the Nile Delta. It is located at about 7 km north of Faqous city, Sharqiya governorate, Egypt. The ancient name of El-Dabaa area was Avaris, which had been considered as the main capital of Hyksos (Dynasty XV) from 1650 to 1542 B.C. The whole area was covered by the deltaic deposits during the successive flood events along Nile Delta. Geomagnetic and geoelectric surveys have been carried out in order to outline the subsurface archaeological remains in this area. The target area, which is about 10000 m 2 , was surveyed in grid pattern each of 20x 10 m for magnetic survey and 20 × 20 m for geoelectri-cal resistance survey. Integrated results of the magnetic and geoelectric data analysis have succeeded in delineating a clear subsurface picture of archaeological remains. The results show many linear anomalies, which may represent buried walls, as well as some small archaeological remains detached from the main walls. Also, we could notice some rectangular features with different sizes, which might be described as remains of different archaeological buildings. Besides, some circular structures with small size obtained and could be interpreted as columns foundations.
An archaeomagnetic directional study of Late Minoan archaeological materials, (burnt mud brick, a clay/ash horizon and hearth material), was carried out at locations within the archaeological complex at Malia, Crete. The study aimed to... more
An archaeomagnetic directional study of Late Minoan archaeological materials, (burnt mud brick, a clay/ash horizon and hearth material), was carried out at locations within the archaeological complex at Malia, Crete. The study aimed to establish the suitability of materials for archaeomag-netic sampling and to obtain archaeomagnetic directions for comparison with other Late Minoan "fired" sites on Crete. Results from 42 oriented samples measured on a fluxgate spinner magne-tometer from homogeneously distributed burnt mud brick (constituting low elevation, in situ, partition walls), gave precise values of ancient field directions for, Malia Palace (area 13) and Maison Δα. These directions are statistically identical (at a 95% confidence level) and also identical to directions obtained from other Late Minoan archaeological sites, on Crete. This, may suggest, simultaneous 'fire-involved' destruction. Other archaeomagnetic directions obtained from Malia (Quartier ε), from a 'clay/ash' horizon (34 samples) and hearth (19 samples), produced some spurious results, with detrimental consequences for directional accuracy. For the burnt mud brick, small viscous components were easily removed and evidence from coercivity spectra obtained, after step-wise alternating field demagnetizations, suggests that, the magnetic carriers are single domain, (low titanium), titanomagnetite.
In this study, the qualitative and quantitative anatomy of six wood charcoals from an early Bronze Age settlement in the island Imbros (Gökçeada) were presented. Taxonomic identification on the basis of wood anatomy showed that two of... more
In this study, the qualitative and quantitative anatomy of six wood charcoals from an early Bronze Age settlement in the island Imbros (Gökçeada) were presented. Taxonomic identification on the basis of wood anatomy showed that two of them belong to the genus Quercus (section Ilex and cf Quercus), and four of them belong to the genus Pinus. Any fireplace is absent at the location of wood charcoals in G9 plan square. It appears that the woody branches on the horizontal roof of the building fell down to the floor after a big fire. It is most likely that the woody genera identified in the study were used for roof construction.
This paper presents new evidence concerning the discovery of an ancient tomb in the vicinity of Petra in southern Jordan. The discovery of intact ancient tombs is very rare in the countryside of Petra. Research fieldworks have revealed... more
This paper presents new evidence concerning the discovery of an ancient tomb in the vicinity of Petra in southern Jordan. The discovery of intact ancient tombs is very rare in the countryside of Petra. Research fieldworks have revealed too many structure sites and very small number of tombs. This paper offers a thorough description to a recently discovered tomb in southern Jordan. It also includes discussion of the dating evidence and the function of such tomb. The tomb is quite significant in terms of its layout, masonry and location. Tombs of this type have not been recorded hitherto in the study area or elsewhere in Jordan.
Black, red and brown coloured surfaces of several ancient potsherds from an archaeological site of northern Greece, dated from the prehistoric (16 th c. BC) to the Hellenistic (3 rd c. BC) era were analysed by Raman microspectroscopy,... more
Black, red and brown coloured surfaces of several ancient potsherds from an archaeological site of northern Greece, dated from the prehistoric (16 th c. BC) to the Hellenistic (3 rd c. BC) era were analysed by Raman microspectroscopy, non-destructive X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled to Energy Dispersive system (ESEM-EDX) and Thermogravim-etry (TG). Black colour comprises of amorphous carbonaceous material and iron oxides (hematite and/or magnetite), red colour is due to hematite (the raw material being iron oxides and hydroxides either from an ochre deposit or an iron-rich clay deposit) and brown from a mixture of hematite and calcite. The decoration seems to have been applied before firing, and the colours were obtained of mixtures of specific proportions of the main constituents and by controlling the kiln atmosphere (combined reducing and oxidizing). The possibility of post-firing decoration on the prehistoric sample is also discussed.
The present paper aims to apply different analytical techniques to characterize some ancient pigments from the first group of samples collected on the wall paintings of the mortuary temple of Seti I (c.1291-1278 BC), El-Qurna (Luxor,... more
The present paper aims to apply different analytical techniques to characterize some ancient pigments from the first group of samples collected on the wall paintings of the mortuary temple of Seti I (c.1291-1278 BC), El-Qurna (Luxor, Egypt). The analytical characterization has been carried out by means of optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDS), μ-Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results allowed the identification of different pigments used in the poly-chromatic decorations of the temple and to establish a preliminary analytical database of the chromatic palette used in this period of the Egyptian history.
The Nabataean period (c. 312 BC-AD 106) stands out as a period of prosperity, expansion, cultural growth and a relative political unity. It is clear that the Nabataean commercial activities as well as their involvement in the lucrative... more
The Nabataean period (c. 312 BC-AD 106) stands out as a period of prosperity, expansion, cultural growth and a relative political unity. It is clear that the Nabataean commercial activities as well as their involvement in the lucrative trade of aromatics had been the major acknowledged influence on the Nabataean urban settlements, economic development and architectural renaissance. This paper focuses on the international Nabataean relations with the west and their influences on the Nabataean cultural achievements. The specific question of this work investigates the influence of international maritime and long distance trade as well as the influence of Asia Minor on the Nabataean culture. It discusses the southwestern Asia Minor archaeological evidence uncovered in Nabataea. Attention focuses on the nature and extent of the Nabataean material remains found in the Mediterranean and south west Anatolia and discusses the southwestern Anatolian influence on the cultural achievements of the Nabataeans.
In Cyprus stone was the primary building material, either as rubble or in a dressed form (called ashlar), since the Neolithic period. Initially stone was used only as rubble but later during the Late Brone Age ashlar stone appeared for... more
In Cyprus stone was the primary building material, either as rubble or in a dressed form (called ashlar), since the Neolithic period. Initially stone was used only as rubble but later during the Late Brone Age ashlar stone appeared for the first time on the island. The aim of this paper is the presentation of the results of a systematic research regarding the different types and uses of ashlar stone and the techniques followed during the Late Bronze Age in Cyprus in comparison with other Medi-terranean areas. The macroscopic and microscopic examination of selected samples showed that sedimentary rocks of various geological formations were used as ashlars. One, two or even three different types of stones were transported from the quarries nearest to the settlements. Some characteristic methods of stone dressing, such as finishing only the visible faces and creating drafted margins around the face of the ashlar blocks, are to be found not only in Late Bronze Age settlements but also in more recent examples from the last two centuries. The choice of ashlar and the methods of construction can be related to social, religious and political factors and were not only based on aesthetic criteria and practical issues. Thus, the most impressive structural solutions were followed in the construction of temples and public buildings, whereas more simple methods can be observed in residential complexes.
This paper presents laboratory analyses of selected pottery sherds from the ancient site of Udhruh in southern Jordan. The site exhibits pottery sherds from Nabataean times up to the late Islamic period. However, in this study the samples... more
This paper presents laboratory analyses of selected pottery sherds from the ancient site of Udhruh in southern Jordan. The site exhibits pottery sherds from Nabataean times up to the late Islamic period. However, in this study the samples were randomly chosen. The analyses were carried out using a scanning electron microscope equipped with specialist software. The paper establishes the historical context of Udhruh, the methodology employed, and the results of the study. The results reveal differences in the chemical composition of samples, and a variety of manufacturing techniques, only some of which appear to have been of local inspiration.
The calibration of Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-Rays Spec-trometry (SEM-EDS) for elemental quantitative analysis is an important task for characterization, provenance and absolute dating purposes. In... more
The calibration of Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-Rays Spec-trometry (SEM-EDS) for elemental quantitative analysis is an important task for characterization, provenance and absolute dating purposes. In particular the potassium determination is an important contributor to dose rate assessments in luminescence and Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) dating. Here a SEM-EDX is calibrated on different archaeological and geoarchaeological materials against standard laboratory samples as well as measured by micro X-Rays Fluorescence (μXRF) and flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) techniques. A common linear relationship is obtained for most elements and certain rock types used and two clear linear regressions for two types of rocks; one for granite, diorite, microgranite and sediments and another ceramic sherds, soils, marble schists, breccia. Such linear regressions become readily available for a future fast, efficient and accurate way of potassium determination.
Palaeomagnetic and anisotropy measurements were carried out on Minoan ash deposits obtained from the deep-sea cores, (V10-50 and V10-58), South Aegean Sea. Three distinct layers have been reported within the ash deposit in core (V10-50).... more
Palaeomagnetic and anisotropy measurements were carried out on Minoan ash deposits obtained from the deep-sea cores, (V10-50 and V10-58), South Aegean Sea. Three distinct layers have been reported within the ash deposit in core (V10-50). Based primarily on grain-size differences, a link to three separate eruptive phases of Santorini has been suggested. Magnetic results were unable to resolve any differences between these layers which suggests that the eruption may have been a 'single event'. Some magnetic parameters indicate that the final ignimbrite phase of the eruption of Santorini is most likely to have been responsible for the bulk of the deep-sea ash deposits, although a contribution from the first phase (phreatomagmatic and/or Plinian air-fall) cannot be excluded. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate a primary sedimentary fabric and quiet depositional conditions for V10-50 ash sediment. A more disturbed petrofabric is observed for V10-58 suggesting, bottom current activity and/or slumping. The mean palaeomagnetic inclination calculated from appropriate V10-50 results is:-60.2° ± 4.3° (corrected for anisotropy and geographical location differences of sites). This is statistically identical to values obtained for burnt mud brick from destruction sites in eastern Crete but different to the mean palaeomagnetic inclination obtained for central Cretan sites. A comparison with the secular variation (inclination) data for the Balkan region and for Greece, suggests that the eruption/s of Santorini occurred in the period between ~1540 and 1500 BC.
The 'double SAR' protocol procedure permits the determination of two equivalent dose (De) values for each polymineral aliquot; an IRSL De resulting mostly from feldspars along with a post-IR OSL De for a mixed signal for quartz (mostly)... more
The 'double SAR' protocol procedure permits the determination of two equivalent dose (De) values for each polymineral aliquot; an IRSL De resulting mostly from feldspars along with a post-IR OSL De for a mixed signal for quartz (mostly) and feldspar grains. The objective of the present study is to test for the first time its usefulness for polymineral, coarse silt, closely-spaced deep-sea sediment samples. A new, 'double SAR' IRSL dataset is presented for the sedimentation ages of a deep-sea sediment core of the Hellenic Trench, drilled from a water depth of 4 km, near the deepest site of the Mediterranean Sea, outside Pylos, Greece. Post IR quartz-based optical dating was previously proved to be consistent with AMS radiocarbon ages, obtained from planktonic foraminifera from the same core. IRSL De values are, with one exception, always much greater than the corresponding (post-IR) OSL results. This result suggests that for the present study 'double SAR' protocol procedure was proved to be extremely effective method for separating the luminescence signals from quartz and feldspars. Furthermore, De values obtained after infra-red stimulation and thermoluminescence generally agree within errors. This quantitative equivalence of those two sets of De values implies that as in the case of IRSL, TL signal is also feldspar-dominated. IRSL ages vary between 3.5 and 7.8 ka with associated errors up to 9%. Application of 'double SAR' protocol to coarse silt, closely-spaced deep-sea sediment samples seems advisable, despite the fact that the post-IR blue OSL signal is the most stable signal, and is preferred for dating.
In the last decades, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has been successfully used in archaeological and forensic anthropological applications to locate relatively shallow features, even though the technique can also probe deeper into the... more
In the last decades, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has been successfully used in archaeological and forensic anthropological applications to locate relatively shallow features, even though the technique can also probe deeper into the ground. GPR is a non-destructive method based on the propagation of electromagnetic waves in soil, rocks or other media. This prospection method has rarely been used previously in Romanian archaeology and never for a necropolis. GPR surveys of the Măriuța-La Movilă necropolis (Călăraşi county, southeastern Romania) led to the identification of several new structures: a prehistoric pit belonging to the Kodjadermen-Gumelnița-Karanovo VI culture (Complex 1/2008), a grave from the IVth century A.D. (Complex 2/2009) and a modern burrowing pit (Complex 1/2009).
Cylindrical rock columns in the Great Mosque in Diyarbakir Old City are investigated for their lithology and architecture. The columns belong to four different rock types, namely pre-Tertiary meta-ophiolites, Eocene limestones, Miocene... more
Cylindrical rock columns in the Great Mosque in Diyarbakir Old City are investigated for their lithology and architecture. The columns belong to four different rock types, namely pre-Tertiary meta-ophiolites, Eocene limestones, Miocene limestones and Plio-Quaternary basalts. The columns from the first three lithologies are reused during the construction and/or renovation of the Great Mosque. Thin sections prepared from 18 columns of this building confirm they are derived from the rocks exposed in the region. The reuse of the columns is approved by inconsistent column lengths, multi-segment column shafts, lithologically mixed columns and presence of thin wedges at the bottom of column bases. These columns are not used to support the main body but rather either for partial support or only for decorative reasons.
Royal funerary landscapes in Egypt show a remarkable continuity in the use of symbols and in the interplay between natural and man-built features. In such a context directionality, both in the sense of succession of elements and of... more
Royal funerary landscapes in Egypt show a remarkable continuity in the use of symbols and in the interplay between natural and man-built features. In such a context directionality, both in the sense of succession of elements and of orientation of single buildings and tombs, plays a relevant role in governing the landscape in accordance with the idea of "cosmic" order, the basis of the temporal power of the Pharaoh. This paper investigates cognitive aspects of the funerary royal landscapes of the New Kingdom, with special emphasis on the connections with astronomy and orientation. A close similarity between the sacred landscape at western Thebes and the early dynas-tic funerary landscape at Abydos comes out and such a similarity may have been one of the reasons for the choice of Valley of the Kings as royal Necropolis. The original, actually unique way in which old symbols and features were re-elaborated by Akhenaten in planning his funerary landscape at Amarna is also highlighted.
It is undisputed that the use of computed tomography gives the researcher an inside view of the internal morphology of precious findings. The main goal, in this study, is to take advantage of the huge possibilities that derive from the... more
It is undisputed that the use of computed tomography gives the researcher an inside view of the internal morphology of precious findings. The main goal, in this study, is to take advantage of the huge possibilities that derive from the use of CT Scans in the field of Vertebrate Palaeontology. Rare fossils skull parts (Ospetrosum of Elephas tiliensis from Tilos, Phanourios minor from Cyprus and Candiacervus sp. from Crete) brought to light by excavations, required further analysis of their inside structure by non destructive methods. Selected specimens were scanned and exported into Di-com files. These were then imported into MIMICS Software in order to develop the required 3D digital CAD models. By using distinctive reference points on the bone geometry based on palaeon-tological criteria, section views were created thus revealing the extremely complex inside structure and making it available for farther palaeontological analysis.
Biodeterioration of mural paintings by Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus Fungi has been proved in different mural paintings in Egypt nowadays. Several researches have studied the effect of fungi on mural paintings, the mechanism of... more
Biodeterioration of mural paintings by Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus Fungi has been proved in different mural paintings in Egypt nowadays. Several researches have studied the effect of fungi on mural paintings, the mechanism of interaction and methods of control. But none of these researches gives us the solution without causing a side effect. In this paper, for the first time, a recent treatment by antibiotic "6 penthyl α pyrone phenol" was applied as a successful technique for elimination of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. On the other hand, it is favorable for cleaning Surfaces of Murals executed by tembera technique from the fungi metabolism which caused a black pigments on surfaces.
Some cartonnage fragments from Hawara, Fayoum Excavation were examined to identify pigments , media and grounds. It belonged to the Greek-Roman period. They were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive X ray analysis (EDS)... more
Some cartonnage fragments from Hawara, Fayoum Excavation were examined to identify pigments , media and grounds. It belonged to the Greek-Roman period. They were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive X ray analysis (EDS) equipped with Scanning electron micros-copy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). These techniques were used to identify the composition and morphology of grounds, nature of pigments and media used in car-tonnage fragments. The coarse ground layer was composed of calcite and traces of quartz.
Mummification is considered one of the most important in the history of ancient Egyptian civilization. The artificial mummification process started in the Fourth Dynasty during the Old Kingdom reached its peak in the New Kingdom. This... more
Mummification is considered one of the most important in the history of ancient Egyptian civilization. The artificial mummification process started in the Fourth Dynasty during the Old Kingdom reached its peak in the New Kingdom. This review focuses on the usage of mummification materials such as Natron salt, Coniferous resin, Mastic, Myrrh, Beeswax, Bitumen, Cassia, Onions, Lichen, Henna and Gum Arabic in ancient Egypt to determine their effectiveness in the preservation of the body. For each material, the chemical formula, the history, and the role in the preservation of the body are presented. It is shown that natron salt was the most important material to desiccate a corpse, and that the vegetable materials mentioned above have anti-bacterial properties that protected the body from microbial attack.
The paper discusses the geometrical designs of the hieratic numeral signs. It shows the regular-grid-patterns of squares upon which, the shapes of the already decoded hieratic numeral-signs, have been designed. Also, it shows the design... more
The paper discusses the geometrical designs of the hieratic numeral signs. It shows the regular-grid-patterns of squares upon which, the shapes of the already decoded hieratic numeral-signs, have been designed. Also, it shows the design of some hieratic numeral signs, based on subdividing the circle; and the hieratic signs of modular notation. It might reveal the basic geometrical level of understanding of anonymous ancient Egyptians who designed them some four thousand years ago.
Archaeologists collect vast amounts of digital data around the world; however, they lack tools for integration and collaborative interaction to support reconstruction and interpretation process. TeleArch software is aimed to integrate... more
Archaeologists collect vast amounts of digital data around the world; however, they lack tools for integration and collaborative interaction to support reconstruction and interpretation process. TeleArch software is aimed to integrate different data sources and provide real-time interaction tools for remote collaboration of geographically distributed scholars inside a shared virtual environment. The framework also includes audio, 2D and 3D video streaming technology to facilitate remote presence of users. In this paper, we present several experimental case studies to demonstrate the integration and interaction with 3D models and geographical information system (GIS) data in this collaborative environment .
Intercultural relations and trade are important components of understanding of historical interrelationships between regions and cultures. One of the most interesting objects of trade is stone, because of the expense and difficulty of its... more
Intercultural relations and trade are important components of understanding of historical interrelationships between regions and cultures. One of the most interesting objects of trade is stone, because of the expense and difficulty of its transport. Thus, the source of marble used in the Nabatean city of Petra was investigated using established petrological, geochemical and isotopic analyses. Specifically, marble from Qasr al Bint and the Colon-naded Street baths were sampled and investigated. The results of these analyses show that the marbles came from sources in Asia Minora and Greece. The most likely sources of the marble are the quarries of Thasos, Penteli, Prokennesos and Dokimeion. The choice of marble followed the desired utilitarian and aesthetic function of the stone. These results show that active trade in stone was part of the cultural interaction of the period.
The excavation of a Roman villa in the city of Granada (Andalusia, Spain) has provided major information about the use of geotechnical principles and methods of building a house in the 1 st century A.D. The study of the building... more
The excavation of a Roman villa in the city of Granada (Andalusia, Spain) has provided major information about the use of geotechnical principles and methods of building a house in the 1 st century A.D. The study of the building techniques shows that the inhabitants of the Granada basin had ample knowledge of architectural engineering and its relationship to the geologic characteristics in the area of Granada. This knowledge was applied by architects to the foundations of buildings to prevent natural risks, mainly rainfall damage to unstable geologic material, a shallow phreatic level, and periodic floods. The architectural design was adapted to these considerations although the building studied is a simple house, more similar to the pars rustica of a villa than a luxury villa.
This paper focuses on the spectroscopic and thermal analysis of the archaeological samples of mortar and plaster from middle Bronze Age and Achaemenid period in Seyitömer Höyük. The composition of the samples was investigated using X-ray... more
This paper focuses on the spectroscopic and thermal analysis of the archaeological samples of mortar and plaster from middle Bronze Age and Achaemenid period in Seyitömer Höyük. The composition of the samples was investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and thermogravimetric thermal analysis (TG-DTA). The results showed that human used different types of raw materials in the preperation of the mortar and plaster in the Middle Bronze Age and Achaemenid period. The material used in middle Bronze Age contains muscovite whereas the material in Achaemenid period contains albite. Although, the chemical composition of the mortar and plaster used in the period were similar, the calcium content of the plaster is relatively higher than the one of the mortar indicating peo-ple's awareness of the binding properties of calcite.
Eusebius of Caesarea, in (Onomasticon) said that: "Ailath (Aila) is situated at the extremity of Palestine between the southern desert and the Red Sea where cargo was transported by ship from both Egypt and India". There is no doubt that... more
Eusebius of Caesarea, in (Onomasticon) said that: "Ailath (Aila) is situated at the extremity of Palestine between the southern desert and the Red Sea where cargo was transported by ship from both Egypt and India". There is no doubt that port of Aila-'Aqaba was important for the sea trade during the Byzantine Period and ancient times. Aila acquired significance in the Byzantine Empire commerce and seafaring according to the information derived from the Byzantine historians , documents and pilgrim's archaeological excavations. This paper focuses on Byzantine Maritime Trade in port of Aila during the period between the fourth and seventh centuries A.D, its importance in the flourishing of trade of southern Jordan, and its relations with other major trade centers such as Gaza, Alexandria and Ethiopia. It appears that port of Aila played a major role in the economy of Byzantine Empire and international trade as attested in the accounts of historians, pilgrims who visited the area during this period, and archaeological excavations which revealed that Aila was at least a transit point and perhaps even a production site for fish sauce or related products in the Byzantine period.
calculated by NASA together with the analysis of the weather's and the environment's description (long nights, plants, animals and peoples' habits) and the astronomical data (guiding constellations and Venus in the east horizon) mentioned... more
calculated by NASA together with the analysis of the weather's and the environment's description (long nights, plants, animals and peoples' habits) and the astronomical data (guiding constellations and Venus in the east horizon) mentioned by Homer in the epic, constitute an autumn return of Odysseus to Ithaca five days before the above characterized day. The latter offers a precise astronomical dating of the event and dates the legendary Trojan War's end as well.
3D modeling of cultural heritage objects is an expanding application area. The selection of the right technology is very important and strictly related to the project requirements, budget and user's experience. The triangulation based... more
3D modeling of cultural heritage objects is an expanding application area. The selection of the right technology is very important and strictly related to the project requirements, budget and user's experience. The triangulation based active sensors, e.g. structured light systems are used for many kinds of 3D object reconstruction tasks and in particular for 3D recording of cultural heritage objects. This study presents the experiences in the results of two such projects in which a close-range structured light system is used for the 3D dig-itization. The paper includes the essential steps of the 3D object modeling pipeline, i.e. digitization, registration, surface triangulation, editing, texture mapping and visualization. The capabilities of the used hardware and software are addressed. Particular emphasis is given to a coded structured light system as an option for data acquisition.
Parion is one of the most important settlements located in the ancient Troas region, in which the city of Troy was the center. Many remarkable and precious archaeological remains have been unearthed so far which point out the city's... more
Parion is one of the most important settlements located in the ancient Troas region, in which the city of Troy was the center. Many remarkable and precious archaeological remains have been unearthed so far which point out the city's importance during the Hellenistic and Roman Age. In this study, a first attempt to obtain high resolution images of the subsurface of Parion to guide the archaeological trenches was made by an initial geophysical survey applying Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) technique. The apparent resistivity data, collected using pole-dipole electrode configuration along 11 transects, were inverted by two-and three-dimensional smoothness-constrained least squares algorithms. Relatively compatible results were obtained from two inversion processes. Parallel transects showed the resistivity distribution in three-dimensional images and thus both the horizontal and vertical extents of the anomalous zones were displayed. Additionally, some high anomaly zones located at the end of the first six transects were backed up by archaeological trenches. Thus, taking into account these findings, the other resistivity anomalies located at the different parts of the surveyed area are thought to be the most promising locations for archaeological excavations.
This paper presents the results derived from an archaeometric study undertaken on glass samples from the Roman town of Augusta Emerita (Mérida, Spain). The main goal of the research was to provide for the first time some compositional and... more
This paper presents the results derived from an archaeometric study undertaken on glass samples from the Roman town of Augusta Emerita (Mérida, Spain). The main goal of the research was to provide for the first time some compositional and technological insights into the glass finds unearthed in this town. Glass samples from different sites and chronology, either from inside or from outside the perimeter of the ancient town and from the first to the sixth century AD, were analyzed and characterized through optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDS), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry and VIS spectrophotometry. Resulting data indicated that all the samples studied were natron-based soda lime silicate glasses, even though two chronological and compositionally distinct groups were distinguished. One composed of Early Empire glasses and a second one composed of glasses from the fourth century AD onward, which was characterized by the presence of the so-called HIMT (high iron, manganese, and titanium) glasses. Comparison with coeval glasses suggested that Augusta Emerita shared the same trade glass circles than other contemporary Roman towns, within the frame of a secondary production scale. Finally, some outstanding differences connected to composition and chronology were found, since Late Roman glasses presented a higher and distinct degree of alteration than Early Empire ones.
Archaeological excavation at Chieming-Stöttham in the Chiemgau region of Southeast Germany revealed a diamictic (breccia) layer sandwiched between a Neolithic and a Roman occupation layer. This exotic layer bears evidence of its... more
Archaeological excavation at Chieming-Stöttham in the Chiemgau region of Southeast Germany revealed a diamictic (breccia) layer sandwiched between a Neolithic and a Roman occupation layer. This exotic layer bears evidence of its deposition in a catastrophic event that is attributed to the Chiemgau meteorite impact. In the extended crater strewn field produced by the impact, geological excavations have uncovered comparable horizons with an anomalous geological inventory intermixed with archaeological material. Evidences of extreme destruction, temperatures and pressures including impact shock effects suggest that the current views on its being an undisturbed colluvial depositional sequence as postulated by archaeologists and pedologists/geomorphologists is untenable.
Diyarbakir, which is located in the region of Southeastern Anatolia, is a settlement with a history that is thousands of years old. The walls surrounding the historic city centre, which reached their current extent in the 4th century,... more
Diyarbakir, which is located in the region of Southeastern Anatolia, is a settlement with a history that is thousands of years old. The walls surrounding the historic city centre, which reached their current extent in the 4th century, have been the most important symbol of the city since their construction. However, as they are no longer used for defence, the Diyarbakir city walls have been neglected, and repairs and maintenance have been insufficient. To properly preserve the walls, which have begun to degrade rapidly, it is necessary to ensure their correct analysis and documentation. In this study, in accordance with the information obtained from research conducted from January to June of 2012, the current status of the walls and the challenges associated with their conservation are presented together with their history and architectural features.
The compositions of copper-base tools, weapons, ornaments and ceremonial metalwork from numerous Late Bronze Age Aegean sites reveal a pattern of specific alloy combinations for the fabrication of certain classes of objects. Thus the... more
The compositions of copper-base tools, weapons, ornaments and ceremonial metalwork from numerous Late Bronze Age Aegean sites reveal a pattern of specific alloy combinations for the fabrication of certain classes of objects. Thus the majority of weapons and tools were made of high tin bronze whereas bronze statuettes, tripods and cauldrons contain small amounts of lead and in some cases tin is present in low amounts. Such diversity reflects the direct relationship between the compositions of prehistoric bronze objects and the art of their fabrication, because both the alloy additions and the impurities exert a pronounced effect on the forming capacity of alloys. In order to understand the correlation between composition and formability of Minoan bronzes, replica compositions with varying tin and lead contents were experimentally reproduced and their forming capacities were tested. Deformation and heat treatment of five tin and two leaded tin bronze alloys was attempted in order to replicate the forming stages for the shaping of cutting tools and bronze sheet for vessels and cauldrons. The amount of cold-working and annealing intervals, required to test the effects of workability on alloy properties, has been reflected as hardness values and transformations of the structural characteristics for each sample. It has been shown through the course of the experiment that high tin bronzes could be formed by frequent, short annealing stages at 600˚C and that it is possible to work-harden leaded bronze as long as time and temperatures are closely monitored.
In this work three types of "Caroselli" from different sites in Calabria have been studied. The "Carosello" is a structural hollow element made of clay, placed in arches, in domes or even in the walls of buildings such as churches and... more
In this work three types of "Caroselli" from different sites in Calabria have been studied. The "Carosello" is a structural hollow element made of clay, placed in arches, in domes or even in the walls of buildings such as churches and houses, with the function of relieving vaults and main structures. Diagnostic tests have been conducted on the "Caroselli" in order to determine the presence of luminescent material, the final goal being the age assessment of such artifacts using thermoluminescence (TL) techniques. Of course the historical frame of the buildings, to which "Caroselli" belong, is known from their style and architectural considerations. The scope of our dating is to supply additional information to clarify whether "Caroselli" were used from the very beginning of building construction or employed in subsequent restorations. The dating process has been conducted using two protocols, the Multiple Aliquot Additive Dose (MAAD) and the Single Aliquot Regenerative-dose (SAR), both by applying TL. The correction obtained by the SAR TL method is preferred because it allows a more accurate estimate of the equivalent dose and avoids problems arising from sample sensitivity. The results show that the three "Caroselli" can be respectively dated back to 1844±11, 1825±40, 1803±30 A.D.. Such results suggest that for two sites ("Madonna del Buonconsiglio" church and "Torre dello Zuino" colonial house), the "Caroselli", as structural elements, were used since the beginning of the building construction, while for the remaining site ("Pettoruto" church) probably the "Caroselli" were added in a successive restoration of the building, since the historical context of this building belongs to the fourteenth century.
Survey work was carried out in the region of Mushash Hudruj near the Jordanian-Saudi borders in 2004, 2005 and 2009. The finds of this project include a north Arabian inscription, a cairn, an animal trap, stone circles, flint mines and... more
Survey work was carried out in the region of Mushash Hudruj near the Jordanian-Saudi borders in 2004, 2005 and 2009. The finds of this project include a north Arabian inscription, a cairn, an animal trap, stone circles, flint mines and water harvesting systems. These features demonstrate that this region was utilized by pastoral nomads who depended purely on a mobile subsistence pattern, governed by the availability of pasture and water. This pattern of seasonal movement is still practiced by modern Bedouin who move mainly within the wadi system which have become the main areas of attraction for Bedouin since prehistoric times, and have played a major role in the survival of these groups and their flocks.
sculpted monument commemorating a war waged against the Romans by Shapour I, the second Sassanid king, has been archaeo-metrically studied. This relief monument carved into the rock in the mountains has faced a considerable destruction... more
sculpted monument commemorating a war waged against the Romans by Shapour I, the second Sassanid king, has been archaeo-metrically studied. This relief monument carved into the rock in the mountains has faced a considerable destruction process. Petrography, wet chemistry experiments and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were performed to identify rock samples for conservation and preservation purposes. The rock used in this monument is limestone and dolomite. According to XRD analysis, a significant amount of quartz is present in the stone structure. The results of analysis and stone type identification show that a significant quantity of surface sediments and dissolved sulphate, chloride and nitrate salts have been deposited on the surface of the monument due to its proximity to the salty Urmia Lake, which is considered an important factor in the destruction process.
The experimental archaeology project presented here aimed at the reconstruction of a dwelling, at the 1:1 scale, belonging to the Kodjadermen-Gumelnitsa-Karanovo VI culture (5th millennium BC), based on archaeological data accumulated... more
The experimental archaeology project presented here aimed at the reconstruction of a dwelling, at the 1:1 scale, belonging to the Kodjadermen-Gumelnitsa-Karanovo VI culture (5th millennium BC), based on archaeological data accumulated from research carried out mainly at the site of Sultana-Malu Roşu (South-East Romania). This reconstruction was followed by the estimation of the volume of materials used for raising the construction in conjunction with the human factor and the time needed for building it. Further, a reconstruction and verification of different techniques for the construction of surface area houses was made. The sources for this project were based on archaeological remains discovered in the field, such as, fragments of walls with impressions of building materials, charred fragments of posts, the size and arrangement of the post holes, and on the indirect information provided by miniature house models of Kodjadermen-Gumelnitsa-Karanovo VI dwellings, which are mostly reflected by ethnographic data. These data were used to verify some of our hypotheses.
Why archaeological artefacts are the way they are? In this paper we try to solve such a question by investigating the relationship between form and function. We propose new ways of studying the way behaviour in the past can be asserted on... more
Why archaeological artefacts are the way they are? In this paper we try to solve such a question by investigating the relationship between form and function. We propose new ways of studying the way behaviour in the past can be asserted on the examination of archaeological observables in the present. In any case, we take into account that there are also non-visual features characterizing ancient objects and materials (i.e., compositional information based on mass spectrometry data, chronological information based on radioactive decay measurements, etc.). Information that should make us aware of many functional properties of objects is multidimensional in nature: size, which makes reference to height, length, depth, weight and mass; shape and form, which make reference to the geometry of contours and volumes; texture, which refers to the microtopography (roughness, waviness, and lay) and visual appearance (colour variations, brightness, reflectivity and transparency) of surfaces; and finally material, meaning the combining of distinct compositional elements and properties to form a whole. With the exception of material data, the other relevant aspects for functional reasoning have been traditionally described in rather ambiguous terms, without taking into account the advantages of quantitative measurements of shape/form, and texture. Reasoning about the functionality of archaeological objects recovered at the archaeological site requires a cross-disciplinary investigation, which may also range from recognition techniques used in computer vision and robotics to reasoning, representation, and learning methods in artificial intelligence. The approach we adopt here is to follow current computational theories of object perception to ameliorate the way archaeology can deal with the explanation of human behaviour in the past (function) from the analysis of visual and non-visual data, taking into account that visual appearances and even compositional characteristics only constrain the way an object may be used, but never fully determine it.
The treasury is the icon monument of the world heritage site of ancient Petra city. Unfortunately, this important part of the world's cultural heritage is gradually being diminished due to weathering and erosion problems. This give rise... more
The treasury is the icon monument of the world heritage site of ancient Petra city. Unfortunately, this important part of the world's cultural heritage is gradually being diminished due to weathering and erosion problems. This give rise to the need to have a comprehensive study and full documentation of the monument in order to evaluate its status. In this research a comprehensive approach utilizing 2D-3D documentation of the structure using laser scanner and photogrammetry is carried parallel with a laboratory analysis and a correlation study of the salt content and the surface weathering forms. In addition, the research extends to evaluate a set of chemical and physical properties of the case study monument. Studies of stone texture and spatial distribution of soluble salts were carried out at the monument in order to explain the mechanism of the weathering problem. Then a series of field work investigations and laboratory work were undertaken to study the effect of relative humidity, temperature, and wind are the main factors in the salt damage process. The 3D modelling provides accurate geometric and radiometric properties of the damage shape. In order to support the visual quality of 3D surface details and cracks, a hybrid approach combining data from the laser scanner and the digital imagery was developed. Based on the findings, salt damage appears to be one of the main problems at this monument. Although, the total soluble salt content are quite low, but the salts contamination is all over the tested samples in all seasons, with higher concentrations at deep intervals. The thermodynamic calculations carried out by this research have also shown that salt damage could be minimised by controlling the surrounding relative humidity conditions. This measure is undoubtedly the most challenging of all, and its application, if deemed feasible, should be carried out in parallel with other conservation measures.
Nabataean pottery is distinguished by the thinness of its walls, which were sometimes only 1.5 mm thick. It was a pinkish/red color, often decorated by hand with dark brown flower and leaf designs. The typical (egg-shell) shallow open... more
Nabataean pottery is distinguished by the thinness of its walls, which were sometimes only 1.5 mm thick. It was a pinkish/red color, often decorated by hand with dark brown flower and leaf designs. The typical (egg-shell) shallow open bowls productions were very difficult to make on the potter's wheel, demonstrating how skilled their craftsmen were. Nabataean painted pottery from Petra Jordan were examined in order to determine the mineralogical characteristics of the raw pigment materials used for their production and to elucidate the ceramic manufacturing technologies employed. Optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS) were the analytical techniques used. The initial examination of the ceramic shreds in optical microscopy showed all samples to be identical in their paint and paste textures. The mineralogical composition of the paste (unpainted outer surface) is typical of a clay poor in calcium and fired at moderate-high temperature in an oxidizing atmosphere. The paste is composed of quartz, plagioclase, potassium feldspar, hematite, dolomite, and calcite. The latter two phases might be attributed to post-depositional contamination, since examination with both optical and scanning electron microscopes show fine carbonate particles deposited in the pores and cracks of the shred. The paint on the inner surface of the vessel, on the other hand is composed of hematite as a major phase with only some quartz and plagioclase.
A first attempt is made to provide a global picture of the megaliths in Thrace (South East Europe); also the problems related to their dating are explicated. The location and the conventional (indirect) dating of the menhirs and dolmens... more
A first attempt is made to provide a global picture of the megaliths in Thrace (South East Europe); also the problems related to their dating are explicated. The location and the conventional (indirect) dating of the menhirs and dolmens mainly in Bulgaria, but partially also in Greece and Turkey are summarized. The necessity of direct dating-preferably by luminescence means-is discussed. International collaboration is proposed for creating a full and precise picture of the Thracian megaliths within the chronological framework of the pan-European (Mediterranean) megalithic region.
Evaluation of bone mineral density (BMD) of the ancient peoples has received great interest by anthropologists. The aims of this study are to investigate the lumbar vertebrae of the Iasos people during the Byzantine period, in order to... more
Evaluation of bone mineral density (BMD) of the ancient peoples has received great interest by anthropologists. The aims of this study are to investigate the lumbar vertebrae of the Iasos people during the Byzantine period, in order to determine the prevalence of bone loss and to interpret dietary conditions of ancient Mediterranean populations. Lumbar vertebrae belonging to twenty eight skeletons of the 6 th c AD were analyzed by radiographs and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The BMD values for each biologic sex and age group were compared. The correlation between the BMD and radiological features was also analyzed. The mean BMD was 0.940 g/cm 2. BMD was decreased by aging in both sexes, but it was not significant. Osteopenia was found in 11 (39%) and osteoporosis in 4 (14.3%) out 28 vertebrae. The BMD was normal in 13 (46%) out of 28 vertebrae. Osteopenia was present in 7 (38%) of 18 male vertebrae and 4 (40%) of 10 female vertebrae. The spine score was high in the male group and there was a strong positive correlation between the BMD and spine score for both sexes. This study revealed that the BMD decreased by aging and that osteopenia was a problem in both sexes of the Iasos people during the 6 th c AD. There was no correlation between the BMD and radiological features for age groups and biological sexes.
The present review intends to give an overview on the type of information that is possible to gather from the application of different non-invasive and micro-destructive analytical techniques. Typically, methods that require the... more
The present review intends to give an overview on the type of information that is possible to gather from the application of different non-invasive and micro-destructive analytical techniques. Typically, methods that require the withdrawal of a sample, such as metallography, SEM-EDS, AAS, FTIR and Py-GC-MS are employed. Through their use, it is possible to identify the material constitution, to evaluate the degradation behaviour and the state of conservation of excavated bronze artefacts. It is also underlined how a non-invasive approach might be used whenever no sampling is allowed, though some limitation should be considered. Furthermore, analytical techniques play an important role in the characterisation and evaluation of the effectiveness of protective coatings and corrosion inhibitors before and after restoration procedures. An interesting aspect is the implication of science for the recognition of forgeries, when analytical studies provide evidences able to prove or deny objects' authenticity.
The present paper aims to characterize some Roman plasters from the reign of the Emperor Diocletian in the late 3rd century AD. These plasters were applied over Pharaonic walls from the reign of Amenhotep III (c.1402-1364 BC) at Luxor... more
The present paper aims to characterize some Roman plasters from the reign of the Emperor Diocletian in the late 3rd century AD. These plasters were applied over Pharaonic walls from the reign of Amenhotep III (c.1402-1364 BC) at Luxor temple, Upper Egypt. For the characterization of theses plasters, several analytical techniques were applied such as optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron mi-croscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDS), X-ray powder diffraction analysis (XRPD), micro-Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies (µ-Raman and FT-IR). Based on the results of these analyses, the stratigraphic structure of the plaster layers was identified as fine coat 'intonaco' which is based mainly on lime and coarse coat 'arriccio' which consists of silica sand, phases of calcium carbonates and different pozzolanic additives. Moreover, the results revealed the green pigment as green earth (celadonite), the red pigment as red ochre, the yellow pigment as yellow ochre and the white pigment as calcium carbonate.
Literature has records of the use of obsidian that shows the existence of a knowledge base on raw material resources around Lake Van extending to very ancient times. Against this background, very little information can be obtained from... more
Literature has records of the use of obsidian that shows the existence of a knowledge base on raw material resources around Lake Van extending to very ancient times. Against this background, very little information can be obtained from literature about accurate location of historical mining activities in the region today. An ancient mining and processing complex, located northwest of the city of Van (Turkey) has been discovered by chance in 2007. The purpose of this article is to describe this historical mining area. The site contains mining structures such as shafts and galleries, and heaves of stone chips indicating some ore enrichment activities taking place there. The XRD and chemical analyses show the samples taken from the ore vein are rich in Manganese (Mn) and Barium (Ba), and it is concluded that the Zilan Valley Mining and Processing Complex was for Pyrolusite (MnO2), Barium or both. The site is being described for the first time in the literature and offers an opportunity to fulfill the gap in literature regarding mining history. The discovery and the description of the site would also have implications in a wide multidisciplinary scientific community, including metallurgy, archeology, and world heritage.
Aeolianites are carbonate-cemented deposits of coastal dune sands, mostly of Quaternary age. Even though aeolianite exposures on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea are frequent, very few records have been documented from the coasts of... more
Aeolianites are carbonate-cemented deposits of coastal dune sands, mostly of Quaternary age. Even though aeolianite exposures on the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea are frequent, very few records have been documented from the coasts of either the Aegean or the Black Sea. The present study deals with evaluating and comparing both compositions and thermoluminescence (TL) ages of two recently reported samples of coastal aeolianites. Both were recovered at the Turkish coasts of Tenedos (Bozcaada) island, Aegean Sea and Şile, Western Black Sea. In the latter case, being the first record for the specific coastal area, the oldest age obtained was dated at 158±25 ka while the youngest age yielded was 108±14 ka. These values imply that both deposition and cementation occurred during the high sea stand of marine isotope stage 5 (MIS 5). In the case of Tenedos, the aeolianites were deposited between the early stage of the oxygen isotope stage 2 period (OIS 2) and the very late phase of the oxygen isotope stage 3 period (OIS 3). These latter TL results are in excellent agreement with a previous study of the same complex after applying OSL. Besides the ages, a number of luminescent features and properties in conjunction with compositional data suggest the dissimilarity for the quartz samples extracted from the aeolianites recovered at these two sampling sites, excluding thus any transport from one sampling site to the other, despite the short distance of the two sampling sites and the meteorological data regarding the preferable wind directions between them.
In this study, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) method was applied for Clandestine cemetery detection in Çanakkale (Dardanelles), west Turkey. Investigated area was a historical area which was used as tent hospitals during the World War I.... more
In this study, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) method was applied for Clandestine cemetery detection in Çanakkale (Dardanelles), west Turkey. Investigated area was a historical area which was used as tent hospitals during the World War I. The study area was also used to bury soldiers who died during the treatment process in tent hospitals. Because of agricultural activity grave stones were used by local people, thus, most of the graves were lost in the field. 45 GPR profiles were applied with a GPR system (RAMAC) equipped with 250 MHz central frequency shielded antenna. After main processing steps on raw data, migration was applied to improve section resolution and develop the realism of the subsurface images. Although the GPR in results before migration the anomalous zones are visible, after migration the results became much more visible both in the profiles and 3D illustrations, thus, migrated GPR data were preferred to locate the buried martyrdoms.
This study presents the results of morphometric analysis of a total of 473 skulls ascribed to adult animals were sufficiently complete to allow the measurement of their foramen magnum; and for 472 of them the foramen magnum index could be... more
This study presents the results of morphometric analysis of a total of 473 skulls ascribed to adult animals were sufficiently complete to allow the measurement of their foramen magnum; and for 472 of them the foramen magnum index could be calculated. The dorsal notch was only seen in the group of mesocephalic dogs where about 17% of all skulls exhibited this feature. The average length of the dorsal notch was found to be 2.59 mm. Not a single skull in the dolichocephalic dog group showed any sign of a dorsal notch. The results of this study show that the dorsal notch in the foramen magnum widely seen dogs of the Middle Ages, and point to a morphological variation.
This paper studies the role the women played in ancient Nabataean society in particular in legal, political and social life, in reference to some epigraphic and archaeological evidences. Most of the information concerning Nabataean... more
This paper studies the role the women played in ancient Nabataean society in particular in legal, political and social life, in reference to some epigraphic and archaeological evidences. Most of the information concerning Nabataean society come from Graceo-Roman written resources and were not always unbiased. Therefore, the epigraphic and archaeological resources provide us with new information that leads us to a better understanding of the Nabataean woman in politics, ritual activities, social life, costumes and jewelry and her property rights.
A Late Period gazelle mummy housed in the Agricultural Museum in Cairo, Egypt was selected for this study. The mummy showed different signs of deterioration, such as white spots, missing tissue, gaps in the linen bandages, and accumulated... more
A Late Period gazelle mummy housed in the Agricultural Museum in Cairo, Egypt was selected for this study. The mummy showed different signs of deterioration, such as white spots, missing tissue, gaps in the linen bandages, and accumulated dust. This study aims to describe the signs of deterioration; to explain the mechanisms of deterioration, and to apply appropriate conservation techniques to the mummy. To achieve these goals, the mummy was first examined by means of visual assessment, AutoCAD, light microscope, microbiological investigation, scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), amino acid analysis and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The conservation techniques used were mechanical and chemical cleaning, consolidation of wrappings and bandages, completion processes and reconnecting loss part of the gazelle's leg. The results of investigation revealed that the mummy suffered from a loss of amides in the bone which increased their crystallinity, as well as oxidation and hydrolysis mechanisms. The wrappings were identified as Cyperus papyrus L. The mechanical and chemical cleaning used removed the surface dust and dirt without damage to the components of the mummy. The wrappings and bandages became strong after using Klucel G as a consolidant material. The paste used in the completion process gave significant results in filling cracks and missing parts of the mummy's back. In general, all the conservation processes of the mummy revealed its aesthetic value.
A geophysical survey including magnetic and electromagnetic conductivity survey were made on the Divrigi Citadel in Sivas, Turkey. Eight areas were surveyed according to archaeologists' suggestions for the initial geophysical research.... more
A geophysical survey including magnetic and electromagnetic conductivity survey were made on the Divrigi Citadel in Sivas, Turkey. Eight areas were surveyed according to archaeologists' suggestions for the initial geophysical research. Derivatives of the magnetic data provide well identified images. There were two circular anomalies with 7-7.5 m in diameter and probably a buried channel anomaly with 9 m length. A schematic image map was prepared for next excavation campaign and interpreted as snow wells for this area. ElectroMagnetic Conductivity Profiler Survey (EM-CPS) measurements were made on the some low intensity anomalies in two areas. In these measurements, conductivity and in-phase quantity values were recorded. There was a good correlation between magnetic anomalies and conductivity measurements. A conductive area (19-28 mil-liSiemens per meter, mSm-1) overlies the magnetic anomaly with low intensity. A trench is excavated and that excavation allowed us to reveal the geophysical survey results. Preliminary results show that the Divrigi Citadel could be used as the workshop area. Correlation of geophysical surveying and the excavation results show that the geophysical data and advanced processing methods are valuable tools to gather spatial information about individual buried archaeological objects.
The Phaselis Hadrian Gate locating Kemer (Antalya, Turkey) has become the subject matter of the archaeometrical examinations conducted within the scope of the restoration & conservation project. The archaeometrical methods of physical,... more
The Phaselis Hadrian Gate locating Kemer (Antalya, Turkey) has become the subject matter of the archaeometrical examinations conducted within the scope of the restoration & conservation project. The archaeometrical methods of physical, chemical and petrographical were applied to the samples from the monument that were examined to get their raw material characteristics (basic physical properties, binder/aggregate ratio, particle size distribution in aggregate, total soluble salt and types of salt), mineralogical and chemical compositions, and microstructural properties (Optical Microscopy and XRF). The physical conditions of the building stone samples were determined by means of basic physical tests. Limestone samples were physically very weak in condition and also affected by past forest fires. Conductometric analyses were conducted to find out about the soluble salt content of the stones and their pH values. The total soluble salt contents of stones in weak basic condition had very high rate caused by environmental impacts. Aggregate/binder in mortar and the grain size distribution of aggregate were found by means of aggregate granulometric analysis. The total binder and sand sized aggregate compositions of the mortar samples were quite similar and 1:4 and 2:3 in ratio. The petrographical characteristics of the stone and mortar samples were determined by thin section optical microscope analysis. Ancient gate were limestone of the main rock group of local formation. The binder type of the mortars were lime and classified into three main groups petrographically. Micro-XRF analysis was carried out to determine the chemical composition of two ancient metal clamp pieces as iron and lead. The element analysis for stone, mortar as well as the soil sample was undertaken applying the PED-XRF analysis in order to characterize and determine the raw material origin of limestones and mortars. The types of the lime mortar, which makes up the binding structure of mortar samples, were assessed in terms of their hydraulic properties by the Cementation Index data.
Chemical composition made by PIXE and XRF of silver coins which have been minted in the Ecbatana mint houses in the Parthian period (247 BC-224 AD) implies silver sources, which has been extracted for issuing coins. Also, it gives... more
Chemical composition made by PIXE and XRF of silver coins which have been minted in the Ecbatana mint houses in the Parthian period (247 BC-224 AD) implies silver sources, which has been extracted for issuing coins. Also, it gives information about the economic and political conditions of the era under study. Fifteen Perthian and twenty two Sasanian (459-651 A.D.) silver coins were analyzed. The silver metal, which has been used in this Satrap, has been explored when commercial activity and population gone high, more silver has been extracted and access to the new sources was necessary by the Parthian. Here, we analytically show the number of mines for extraction of silver in this satrap and possible number of silver ore sources.
Eleven bronze objects in the Reza Abbasi Museum have been analyzed by the Particle-Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE) technique. The policy of the Reza Abbasi Museum is to house objects rescued from looting or from the antiquities trades,... more
Eleven bronze objects in the Reza Abbasi Museum have been analyzed by the Particle-Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE) technique. The policy of the Reza Abbasi Museum is to house objects rescued from looting or from the antiquities trades, therefore authenticity and period of the objects have been determined by the museum experts. The experts believe that the objects under study, including bronze armors and harnesses, belong to the Urartian period in the first millennium BC and are attributed to the Lurestan province in Central Zagros. The purpose of this work is to characterize and to understand the provenance of them. During the study, besides the major components, including Cu and Sn, trace element that was Fe along with Ti, Zn and Mn were also detected. High amounts of copper and tin and also existence of Fe indicate that Cu and Sn have been extracted separately from their ore minerals (chalcopyrite and cassiterite) and then through bronze making processes they were forged together. Consequently, it can be concluded that extractions were not from one natural ore mineral. This was an important feature of metalworking in that space-time grid.
This study aimed to find the relationship between the drilling resistance (DR) of a stone and its porosity. 40 sandstone and limestone samples (20 each lithotype) were taken into consideration in this study. The samples were... more
This study aimed to find the relationship between the drilling resistance (DR) of a stone and its porosity. 40 sandstone and limestone samples (20 each lithotype) were taken into consideration in this study. The samples were mineralogically and petrographically investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and polarized light microscopy. The sandstone samples were identified as quartz arenite that is composed of Quartz, Kaolinite and Calcite, while the limestone samples were identified as micritic limestone that is composed of Calcite. The average DR of the samples was measured using a Drilling Resistance Measurement System (DRMS), and the porosities were determined using a RILEM standard test method. A mathematical relationship between the DR and porosity was derived for both stone types. It was found to be a linear inverse relationship in both cases. The derived relationships were used to calculate the porosities of additional sandstone and limestone samples based on their measured average DR. The values of calculated porosities showed acceptable accuracy when compared with measured values. Therefore, this technique is recommended to estimate the porosity of stones with similar mineralogical compositions.
Nif (Olympos) Mountain is a wide archaeological site in west Anatolia (Turkey). Surface investigations and excavations have been done in the area since 12 years. The magnetic method as a geophysical prospection method was applied on an... more
Nif (Olympos) Mountain is a wide archaeological site in west Anatolia (Turkey). Surface investigations and excavations have been done in the area since 12 years. The magnetic method as a geophysical prospection method was applied on an area of 500 m2. This method was chosen because such a prospecting technique provides a great amount of high-resolution magnetic data in a very short time. A correlation could be made between the derivative methods used in this study. Analytic signal (AS) method revealed not only grave but also surrounding stones. The total derivative method could not separate stones and grave. Normalised Standard Total Derivation (NSTD) method gave similar results with AS. Magnetic investigations in Dagkizilca sector of Nif (Olympos) Mountain revealed some interesting results. We expected all anomalies to belong to buried archaeological materials in this area due to the surface disturbances of this site The data processing identified interesting magnetic anomalies that lead to test excavations, which in turn resulted to the unearthing of a grave, as well as, illegal intervening by antiquity robbers.
A two-phase geophysical survey is presented, whose aim was to investigate parts of the Ottoman Hamza Bey mosque located at Thessaloniki, Greece. Along with ground penetrating radar (GPR), which is a fully non-destructive method, a number... more
A two-phase geophysical survey is presented, whose aim was to investigate parts of the Ottoman Hamza Bey mosque located at Thessaloniki, Greece. Along with ground penetrating radar (GPR), which is a fully non-destructive method, a number of electrical resistivity tomographies (ERTs) were carried out. Bentonite mud electrodes were used instead of metal stakes, in order to comply with the non-destructive character of the whole operation. Our aim was to study the subsurface geological structures at the location of the mosque, and to detect and possibly map any ancient remains concealed under the monument. Both ERT and GPR results indicated a distinct, near surface horizontal discontinuity which was attributed to the presence of an ancient floor at the atrium area of the mosque. This floor was then revealed after a subsequent excavation. Moreover, high resistivity anomalies and distinct GPR signals were observed deeper at the atrium area. They are attributed to possible voids, remains of ancient walls, or other man-made structures concealed under the floor of the monument.
We conducted a geochemical study to characterize the composition of ceramics, tiles, and local sediments from the Poggio Colla Etruscan archaeological site north of Florence, Italy. We consider whether these wares were locally produced,... more
We conducted a geochemical study to characterize the composition of ceramics, tiles, and local sediments from the Poggio Colla Etruscan archaeological site north of Florence, Italy. We consider whether these wares were locally produced, as well as address the broader question of the organization of the ceramic industry at Poggio Colla. X-ray fluorescence was used to determine sample geochemistry. We also used X-ray diffraction and petrography to infer the mineral content; thermogravimetic analysis to consider the effects of firing; and macroscopic observations for qualitative content and textures. The mineral constituents in typical Podere Funghi and Poggio Colla pottery sherds and tile fragments included abundant quartz, some feldspar, and minor amounts of mica. Lithics (including a red sandstone) and grog were also observed. Comparing groups using principal component analysis showed that the compositions of the Podere Funghi and Poggio Colla tile and pottery groups are similar but the rock and sediment specimens were compositionally different. This lends support to the hypothesis that diverse components of a ceramic industry co-existed in close proximity to the Poggio Colla acropolis, although neither a kiln nor a specific local source has yet been identified.
Recent analysis of preserved fauna from the 1952-58 excavations at Lerna stored in Argos and Stockholm allows us to reexamine the fauna published in 1969 by the late Prof. Nils-Gustaf Gejvall as the first of the Lerna final reports. The... more
Recent analysis of preserved fauna from the 1952-58 excavations at Lerna stored in Argos and Stockholm allows us to reexamine the fauna published in 1969 by the late Prof. Nils-Gustaf Gejvall as the first of the Lerna final reports. The first fauna reanalysis was on the Late Helladic II-III material and published in this journal in 2008. The present detailed study of the much earlier Early Helladic II material uses the revised phasing, detailed context information, and fuller analysis of the preserved samples including butchery and burning. The final report on the architecture and pottery for this period was published by Wiencke (2000).
Susa is a city in Khuzestan located in the Southwest of Iran. This city was the capital of ancient Elam and then became the capital of the Achaemenian dynasty afterward. One of the significances of Susa in this period , is that it has... more
Susa is a city in Khuzestan located in the Southwest of Iran. This city was the capital of ancient Elam and then became the capital of the Achaemenian dynasty afterward. One of the significances of Susa in this period , is that it has being the beginning of the Royal Road, the one that led Iran to Aegean sea. Susa hill has been one of the most important issues for researcher and archaeologists and continued excavations in the area from 1850 up to the present show its importance. Susa potteries have clarified this area's ambiguous culture and civilization since around the fifth millennium BC and continued their life despite the restless history of the Susa city. The arrival of Islam introduced a new era in Susa pottery, and the new forms and decorative designs revived the pottery of this city. Despite its increasing popularity at the time, Islamic Susa pottery has been almost completely ignored by authors and researchers and rarely remarked upon by most Islamic sources. Susa potters were hard working, and most of the decorative techniques were done professionally. In this paper pottery motifs were extracted in a linear form by Rhinoceros 4.0 software and have been studied in four groups of geometric, floral, animal and inscription motifs separately in order to discover not only the design styles, but the importance and status of each genre, in addition to considering the influences of other centers or eras. The quantitative study on objects in this paper indicates that most of the motifs are geometrics, while the fewest are animals; the most common composition of motifs in a material is geometric-floral. Despite the considerable influence of previous periods and other centers of Persian pottery, as well as, the influence or imitation of contemporary centers and the significant importance of the "religious" factor, this paper also shows that Islamic Susa has best manifested its prehistoric traditions, and has deliberately used them along with specific Islamic styles.
Elemental analyses of silver coins provide valuable information about political and economical situation and also about the mines and metallurgy of minting time. The variation of the elemental concentration may be due to the use of... more
Elemental analyses of silver coins provide valuable information about political and economical situation and also about the mines and metallurgy of minting time. The variation of the elemental concentration may be due to the use of different ores for making coins. In this research nine silver coins belonging to Anatolian Seljuk's along with five silver coins belonging to Iranian Seljuk's were analyze by PIXE. The Elements discovered in the coins include: Ag, Au, Pb, Cu, Fe, Ca, Si, Cl, Ti, and Bi. The comparison between Ag rates in these coins revealed that rate of Ag in Roman Seljuk's coins is more than Ag rate in that of Iranian Great Seljuk's. This may indicate a higher level of technique used by Roman Seljuk for extracting silver and issuing coins. High rate of Cu in both Roman and Iranian coins showed that these high rates were deliberately added. Finally, the same amount of Lead used in both types of coins is due to similar technology used for extracting silver from Lead and Zinc ores.
A stone die of the Minoan period, discovered near Palaikastro in Crete, Greece, in 1899, was selected for this study as bearer of astronomical significance. Strong evidence is presented in favor of its use (especially of the "ray-bearing"... more
A stone die of the Minoan period, discovered near Palaikastro in Crete, Greece, in 1899, was selected for this study as bearer of astronomical significance. Strong evidence is presented in favor of its use (especially of the "ray-bearing" disc on its right-hand side) as a die for the construction of a device that could determine eclipse dates during the Minoan period (circa 15th century BC); additionally, two more practical uses for it are examined: as a sundial and as an instrument for the determination of the geographical latitude.
Twenty one ceramic shreds, from the Early Bronze Age fortified town of Khirbet Al-Batrawy in Jordan, with known archaeological contexts, were tested concerning the preservation of organic residues using gas chromatography-mass... more
Twenty one ceramic shreds, from the Early Bronze Age fortified town of Khirbet Al-Batrawy in Jordan, with known archaeological contexts, were tested concerning the preservation of organic residues using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique. Conventional solvent extraction and alkaline hydrolysis (saponification) were used for the extraction of residues preserved in their fabric. Five of these shreds showed significant preservation of lipid constituents, mainly free fatty acids. The preliminary results of this research provide data on the possible use of plant oil in these vessels and resinous material probably to seal the internal surfaces of the vessels. These results are in conjunction with the archaeological evidence on the availability and use of plant oil in this region, which contribute to the understanding of the usage of ceramic vessels at the site during the Early Bronze Age.
In order to retrofit and conserve the archeological site of Kom El-Dikka, Alexandria, Egypt, a systematic study of construction materials was applied. The samples of mortars, brick and limestone samples have been taken from the remains of... more
In order to retrofit and conserve the archeological site of Kom El-Dikka, Alexandria, Egypt, a systematic study of construction materials was applied. The samples of mortars, brick and limestone samples have been taken from the remains of ancient Auditorium, houses and baths (300 AD). The analytical techniques showed that different qualities of mortars and brick were used for different purposes. Almost impermeable hydraulic mortars were found in contact with draining canals. This was the initiative to start combining advanced analyses of mortars and other construction materials by determining their physical and chemical characteristics in order to find the textural features and the alterations of the structure and understand their resistance to weathering. Here samples were analyzed and examined by using Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), SEM attached with EDX, Polarizing microscope, Optical microscopy in transmitted polarized light, XRD, DTA-TGA, Grain Size Distribution, Pore Media Characterization, while some limestone and mortars were tested, to determine their uniaxial compressive strength, porosity, water absorption, proportion of constituents of cement mortars, and durability. The paper focuses on the interrelation of findings from the above-referred examinations. The use of reactive siliceous materials in combination with lime, as well as, the excellent gradation of aggregates used seems to be the ancient protocol of the good performance of the ancient mortars. It is concluded the high skillfulness of ancient masons of the classical period in construction materials.
This study proposes a new non-contact approach allows detecting, measuring and tracking the change of cracks in the historical structure using photogrammetric techniques and computer methods. The proposed procedure used an accurate... more
This study proposes a new non-contact approach allows detecting, measuring and tracking the change of cracks in the historical structure using photogrammetric techniques and computer methods. The proposed procedure used an accurate generation of true orthophoto of the studied structure using precise 3D surface representations derived from laser scanning and several digital images that entirely cover the object of interest. Cracks are extracted from the generated orthophoto using a series of image processing techniques. The developed algorithm is applied to analyze and monitor the structural damage in Amra Palace, a UNESCO world heritage site, in Jordan desert.
One of the largest medieval shipwreck excavations has been performed in Yenikapı since 2004 and resulted with 37 ships from Byzantine Period. Four of them (YK13, YK16, YK25, YK36) were galleys. Wood of thirteen different plant species was... more
One of the largest medieval shipwreck excavations has been performed in Yenikapı since 2004 and resulted with 37 ships from Byzantine Period. Four of them (YK13, YK16, YK25, YK36) were galleys. Wood of thirteen different plant species was identified using anatomical identification of 619 wood pieces that were collected from the site. In building of planking Pinus nigra Arnold., Ce-drus libani A.Rich., and Castanea sativa Mill were used. Platanus orientalis L. and Ulmus L. sp were preferred as floor timber. Keels were Platanus orientalis L. and Quercus L. sp., and treenails were Spartium junceum L. and Quercus sp. Because of wide distribution of these tree species within and northern of the Mediterranean Basin, and also having a common trade of wood of these tree species, the origin of the galleys could not be determined exactly.
The Silk Exchange of Valencia, Spain, is one of the best examples of late Gothic civil architecture in Europe, and was declared a World Heritage Monument by UNESCO in 1996. Prior to cleaning and conservation, technical examination... more
The Silk Exchange of Valencia, Spain, is one of the best examples of late Gothic civil architecture in Europe, and was declared a World Heritage Monument by UNESCO in 1996. Prior to cleaning and conservation, technical examination identified the original pigments used to paint the walls, keys, vaults, arches and columns in the main hall, the Contract Hall. Cross sections of remnants of original colour (blue, green, red, gold, etc.) were investigated with optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray analysis, X-ray diffraction techniques and UV light. The study has revealed that the original paint today remains only in very limited areas. Evidence for a later maintenance operation of repainting was also found in the inscription that runs around the Contract Hall. The information has been very useful for deciding on the cleaning and conservation process.
In this study, the photogrammetric measurement technique was used to document the Ivriz relief , which is located under the Kocaburun Rock on Mount Aydos in the village of Ivriz (Ay-dınkent), Konya-Eregli. This relief has been standing... more
In this study, the photogrammetric measurement technique was used to document the Ivriz relief , which is located under the Kocaburun Rock on Mount Aydos in the village of Ivriz (Ay-dınkent), Konya-Eregli. This relief has been standing since B.C. 720 but suffers from man and environmental agents. It has been standing high from ground on rock façade. Therefore a 3D (three-dimensional) model of the monument was obtained as a result of the work conducted for protection. Conservation has been done by close-range photogrammetry technique. Using close-range photogrammetry, in which only some brief field work was done with a majority of the other work being conducted in an office, documentation can be efficiently performed using free equipment and software as well as scaled archives to produce three-dimensional models of historical and cultural heritages in a digital environment.
Throughout time, plants have been central to human life; plants have provided humans with food, wood, fuel, cosmetics, medicine, and humans have attributed symbolism to plants, including fertility, power, and purity. The Istanbul... more
Throughout time, plants have been central to human life; plants have provided humans with food, wood, fuel, cosmetics, medicine, and humans have attributed symbolism to plants, including fertility, power, and purity. The Istanbul Archaeology Museum houses many stone statues and sarcophaguses featuring a variety of figures. Among other things, these figures depict fighting, richness, fertility, peace, gods, and plants. Plants are represented as whole trees, cones, leaves, fruits and flowers. These figures help us to understand both the cultural history of these plants and ancient human relationships with plants. The purpose of this study is to identify the genera and species of the plant figures on the stone statues, reliefs and sarcophaguses from the Hellenistic and Roman periods in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum and to discuss their historical importance. To this end, a list was created to record the inventory number, original location where the remains were found, and the age and historical time period of 47 Roman and Hellenistic statues and sarco-phaguses. A total of 24 different types of plants were identified: acanthus leaves, apple, apricot, bay laurel, common grape wine, common fig, a whole eastern plane tree, eggplants, a globe of artichoke, oak leaves and fruits, olive, opium poppy, pear, a cone of umbrella pine, pine leaves and cones, pomegranate, quince, walnut, wheat, strawberry fruit, and date palm leaves, fruit, and stems.
Elemental analysis of silver coins provides valuable information regarding mines and mint houses which coins has been minted for circulation. Additionally, the analysis will yield information about the political and economical conditions... more
Elemental analysis of silver coins provides valuable information regarding mines and mint houses which coins has been minted for circulation. Additionally, the analysis will yield information about the political and economical conditions among the coins have been circulated among the cities which the coins have been issued. Several silver coins belonging to Roman Seljuk which has been ruled in Anatolia have been analyzed for the first time by using multi-elemental non-destructive PIXE technique. Our studies reveals that silver, copper, Iron, gold and lead are the major, minor and trace elements as key elements in the PIXE technique and distinguishing of mint houses. Average of Ag in coins showed higher amount of Ag is in coins minted in Konya which indicates a good stability and economic situation at this city. High concentration of Cu in coins indicates that, it has been added deliberately to show monetary policy or economic necessity.
After mongols second invasion to Iran by Holako (1253 AD) some political and cultural vicissitudes occurred and these events could be observed on coins. These changes included the Caliph's name elimination from coins in prior dynasties... more
After mongols second invasion to Iran by Holako (1253 AD) some political and cultural vicissitudes occurred and these events could be observed on coins. These changes included the Caliph's name elimination from coins in prior dynasties (e.g. Seljuks'). In the Ilkhanid period (1256-1336 AD) title of kings were written in Uighur language on coins while at end of this period the names and titles were written in Persian. Here, 16 silver coins belonging to Ghazan, an Ilkhanid King, were analyzed by PIXE system. Regarding compositional elements that reflects minting conditions and states in Ghazana's reign period. The silver presence varied between ~68-93%, while the high rates of copper deliberately added, implies political and economical exigencies.
Pottery as a major artifact crafted by human is a key elements to reconstruction of the past cultures. Presence of important Sasanian-Islamic sites in the Fars region reflects the variety and concentration of different groups of people in... more
Pottery as a major artifact crafted by human is a key elements to reconstruction of the past cultures. Presence of important Sasanian-Islamic sites in the Fars region reflects the variety and concentration of different groups of people in this area. Extensive archaeological investigations in the region have provided us with a mass pottery collection to be used in better understanding the Sasa-nian and early Islamic societies through more precise, technical studies. The present paper sets to give a better picture of the pottery assemblages from the Sasanian-Islamic sites (Bishapur, Sar Mashhad, the city of Gur, Darabgird, Istakhr) and the historical city of Siraf as a main port of the Sasanian era through macroscopic and laboratorial analyses of the available material.
Small ceramic flasks with thick walls and narrow openings were produced in Phoenicia. These flasks were common in Phoenicia, the southern Levant and Cyprus in the early Iron Age, namely in the 11th-mid-9th centuries BCE. Their shape,... more
Small ceramic flasks with thick walls and narrow openings were produced in Phoenicia. These flasks were common in Phoenicia, the southern Levant and Cyprus in the early Iron Age, namely in the 11th-mid-9th centuries BCE. Their shape, size, decoration and find-contexts suggest that they contained some precious materials and were part of a commercial network operating in these regions. We analyzed the lipid contents of 27 such containers from 5 archaeological sites in Israel using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The organic extractions of 10 of these flasks contained cinnamaldehyde (C9H8O), a major component of cinnamon. In antiquity the cinnamon tree grew only in South and South East Asia. As cinnamaldehyde is found in small quantities in some modern potential contaminants, possible contamination of the small flasks with this compound was carefully assessed. Significantly, two recently excavated small flasks that were not handled directly contained relatively high concentrations of cinnamaldehyde. Other vessel types from the same archaeological sites and in some cases the same contexts did not contain cinnamal-dehyde. Thus it is unlikely that the presence of cinnamaldehyde in the flasks results from contamination. This finding raises the intriguing possibility of long distance trade in the early Iron Age, assuming that the extracted cinnamaldehyde is indeed derived from the bark of the cinnamon tree. This is consistent with other suggestions that trade from South/South East Asia to the West took place at such an early date.
This paper deals with the study of two ceramic mihrabs located in the complex of Kilan Mosque, Baland Mosque. Concerning the general form of those Mihrabs; raw material and decorative methods of their covering, rather than the most... more
This paper deals with the study of two ceramic mihrabs located in the complex of Kilan Mosque, Baland Mosque. Concerning the general form of those Mihrabs; raw material and decorative methods of their covering, rather than the most important artistic characteristics as well as the analyses of their decorative motifs and the most important foreign influences. The obtained results revealed that quartz is the dominant component of the tiles' core; goethite was the yellow pigment materials used, while the tiles are deeply affected by soluble salts and relative humidity. The decorative richness and the decorative style used in the mihrabs are prevailed in Timurid period and were seen also in the contemporary buildings of Samar-kand and Iran.
Art, Science and Technology are the main elements of Artwork Investigation which requires the mutual understanding of artistic, historical and technical issues in a multidisciplinary environment. In this research we will introduce an oil... more
Art, Science and Technology are the main elements of Artwork Investigation which requires the mutual understanding of artistic, historical and technical issues in a multidisciplinary environment. In this research we will introduce an oil painting from the collection of Hosni El-Bannani who was one of the pioneer's artists of the impressionist art movement in Egypt. His oil painting was suffering from many deterioration aspects and was planned for conservation treatments. A digitization and investigation project was initiated to run in parallel to keep record of the physical condition of the painting and to monitor the remedial treatment process. This case study will focus on the digitization and investigation phases within the framework of a proposed workflow. Several acquisition techniques that have been used will be presented; multispectral imaging , high resolution scanning, microscopy, analytical qualitative and quantitative studies. The analysis of the results identified clear under-drawings and composition shift that correspond to the original style of the artist. Moreover, the digital record of the results for the surface and the strata will be used as an identifier of the art object and for further studies. Finally an interactive application has been developed to be used for investigation, layers comparison and presentation.
This paper attempts to identify the materials used in Qajar easel paintings. For this purpose a Kamal-al-Molk easel painting named "Egyptian Girl" has been chosen as the case study. Analytical techniques of polarized light microscopy... more
This paper attempts to identify the materials used in Qajar easel paintings. For this purpose a Kamal-al-Molk easel painting named "Egyptian Girl" has been chosen as the case study. Analytical techniques of polarized light microscopy (PLM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluo-rescence (XRF) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in conjunction with art historical study were the main tools used to identify used pigments including oil, varnish and canvas fibers in the painting. According to the result of this research, the artist's palette is green earth, white lead, red lead, ce-rulean blue, raw amber, copper pigment, and white zinc was used as the white color for restoration purpose. plant-based glue, shellac and linseed oil were used as adhesive, varnish and drying oil in the painting. In addition, the fiber used in the canvas of the painting has been identified as cotton, while that used in restoration of the painting identified as wool.
Byzantine, Late Byzantine-Early Umayyad, and Umayyad Pottery from Barsinia, north Jordan, was investigated in order to examine the effects of the political transition on pottery production traditions. WD-XRF, AAS and SEM-EDX were used for... more
Byzantine, Late Byzantine-Early Umayyad, and Umayyad Pottery from Barsinia, north Jordan, was investigated in order to examine the effects of the political transition on pottery production traditions. WD-XRF, AAS and SEM-EDX were used for bulk and matrix compositional analysis, while petrography, XRD, and refiring test were used for mineralogical investigation. The results show that, although there was obvious changes in the typology of pottery, there were no considerable differences in pottery production traditions and the raw materials selection in the rural communities during the periods of interest in north Jordan. This verifies use of same local source and potter to produce different styles.
Archaeointensity results were obtained from ceramic sherds incorporated in the 'mortar' of two Rhodian Byzantine churches. Samples were analysed using a modified Thellier method with samples orientated so that the Natural Remanent... more
Archaeointensity results were obtained from ceramic sherds incorporated in the 'mortar' of two Rhodian Byzantine churches. Samples were analysed using a modified Thellier method with samples orientated so that the Natural Remanent Magnetization is at right angles to the applied laboratory field. Only a few samples showed high magnetic stability and an archaeointensity result was obtained from ceramic sherds (tilebrick) from the lower interior walls of the church (Afandou Ka-tholiki). Comparison with the Geomagnetic Field Variation plot indicated the probability density of possible dates between ~1000 to ~1500 AD. a date, broadly consistent with historical records.
Bethany beyond the Jordan, where Jesus is said that was seating of stone staircase, a foundation base and a small church near the river he was baptized on the east bank of the Jordan River, has revealed a Byzantine complex. This raises... more
Bethany beyond the Jordan, where Jesus is said that was seating of stone staircase, a foundation base and a small church near the river he was baptized on the east bank of the Jordan River, has revealed a Byzantine complex. This raises the number of churches identified in the region of Jordan River to four plus three at Tell el-Kharrar (Elijah's Hill), nearly two kilometers east of the river. The discovered architectural remains represent a unique Byzantine complex on the eastern bank of Jor-dan River.
Given the long history of human occupation on Cyprus, and the intensely disturbed and eroded nature of its landscape, the present-day topography has been linked to 10 2-3 years of human settlement and land use. Luminescence dating methods... more
Given the long history of human occupation on Cyprus, and the intensely disturbed and eroded nature of its landscape, the present-day topography has been linked to 10 2-3 years of human settlement and land use. Luminescence dating methods provide a chronological framework to interpret landscape processes and human-environmental interactions over this timescale, and coupled with landscape studies in the Vasilikós and Dhiarizos valleys, the means to test this assumption. The first case study examines the landscape in the Vasilikós valley, populated and exploited with regard to its natural resources since the Neolithic. The second case study examines the landscape around the Chalcolithic settlement of Souskiou-Laona where the underlying geology, geomorphology and environment contributed to the choice of site. The luminescence chronologies reported herein suggest that modifications in the first-order catchment hydrology occurred over timescales in excess of 10 3 years. It is shown that the present-day topography in Cyprus was initiated in the latest Pliocene-Pleistocene, as a result of pronounced uplift of the island and the environmental conditions which prevailed, and that only minor modifications to this first-order topography have occurred since, with the reworking , and re-deposition of Early-Middle Pleistocene sediments over timescales of both 10 2-3 and 10 4-5 years.
Although the methodology to date pottery and pebbles by thermoluminescence (TL) is based on identical principles, the procedure followed to retrieve the accumulated dose in burnt pebbles offers extra difficulties. In addition, the... more
Although the methodology to date pottery and pebbles by thermoluminescence (TL) is based on identical principles, the procedure followed to retrieve the accumulated dose in burnt pebbles offers extra difficulties. In addition, the distinction between burnt and unburnt pebbles is not always free from the subjective influence inherent to the visual inspection. Based on the dependencies of the 110 o C TL peak and the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signal of the E'1 center with the heating temperature of quartz, the aim of this study is to extend the method to classify burnt and un-burnt pebbles independently from visual inspection. For this, several pebbles collected from the East block of the Pedra Furada rock shelter (São Raimundo Nonato, Piauí, Brazil) were used to create a burning pattern assessing TL and EPR responses as a function of the heating temperature. The results showed that the 110 o C peak was not observed in those pebbles that were heated below 400 o C and the intensity of the E'1 signal abruptly decreased with heating above 400 o C. TL and EPR signals of specimens previously classified as "burnt" and "unburnt" appeared in good agreement with the values related to the burning pattern. This method offered the possibility to estimate the temperature in which some pebbles were heated in the past.
Aiming at the evaluation of the dose absorbed by ancient mosaic glasses, we present the results of a study performed on eight glass mosaic tesserae from the two XI century byzantine World Heritage Greek monasteries of Daphni, outside... more
Aiming at the evaluation of the dose absorbed by ancient mosaic glasses, we present the results of a study performed on eight glass mosaic tesserae from the two XI century byzantine World Heritage Greek monasteries of Daphni, outside Athens, and Hosios Loukas, in Phocis, 67 km from the capital. Exploiting the presence of quartz crystalline inclusions in the glass matrix, the dose was measured using the pre-dose effect associated to the 110°C peak of quartz. The preliminary encouraging results allowed the correct discrimination between the original tesserae and those related to modern restorations.
Feldspars are amongst the most widely used minerals for luminescence dating, besides having certain drawbacks such as anomalous fading. The present study attempts, for the first time in the literature, a direct correlation between the... more
Feldspars are amongst the most widely used minerals for luminescence dating, besides having certain drawbacks such as anomalous fading. The present study attempts, for the first time in the literature, a direct correlation between the thermoluminescent intensity and specific structural parameters of alkali feldspars, such as the probability of Al-cation to occupy specific sites in the forming tetrahedra and the volume of the unit cell. The TL intensity was studied in the present study, in both terms of integrated signal throughout the entire glow curve region, as well as TL peak resolved integral following de-convolution analysis. In both terms, the TL intensity was found to be extremely sensitive to the aforementioned structural parameters. Moreover, the TL signal of the de-convolved shallow TL peak (termed as P1 throughout the text) was proved to be a diagnostic tool towards discriminating among the three phases of K-feldspars, namely sanidine, orthoclase and microcline, besides X-Rays and Transmission Electron Microscopy.
A typical oil painting stratigraphy consists of the canvas substrate, the ground layer, the layer of paint and eventually the varnish layer. The ground layer, a mixture of inorganic and organic material could be a very helpful tool for... more
A typical oil painting stratigraphy consists of the canvas substrate, the ground layer, the layer of paint and eventually the varnish layer. The ground layer, a mixture of inorganic and organic material could be a very helpful tool for indirect dating. The present study presents preliminary lumi-nescence measurements on the main inorganic constituents of the ground layers for paintings between the 15 th and the 20 th century. Eight different substances were selected, based on the most common materials applied throughout these centuries. Most among the materials subjected to the present study present TL glow curve with different, unique shape. Notable exceptions stand in the case of the most recently invented materials such as zinc white, titanium white and lead white. Towards direct dating purposes, a number of luminescence features, such as sensitivity, sensitization after repeated cycles of irradiation-measurement, bleaching ability as well as thermal stability were studied for both cases of TL as well as OSL. Preliminary results indicate that kaolinite and gypsum stand as very promising candidates towards luminescence dating of portable paintings. Further work is required in order to establish their usefulness.
Neutron imaging techniques are non-destructive tools that can help to understand the processes involved in manufacturing and restoration of cultural heritage artefacts. The interaction of neutrons with matter is markedly different from... more
Neutron imaging techniques are non-destructive tools that can help to understand the processes involved in manufacturing and restoration of cultural heritage artefacts. The interaction of neutrons with matter is markedly different from the interaction of other types of radiation, enhancing features where light elements are involved. Imaging of relative levels of neutron absorption is based on photography of scintillations produced in a ZnS screen doped with LiF, where Li is used as a neutron to charged particle converter. In this work we present studies made in the Portuguese Research Reactor applied to the characterization of restorations with resin, absorption of natural oils, and water retention.
Two different early-Islamic furnace glass fragments from excavations at al-Raqqa, Syria, extensively studied by means of archaeological, typological, isotopic and chemical analyses were used in the present study and for the application of... more
Two different early-Islamic furnace glass fragments from excavations at al-Raqqa, Syria, extensively studied by means of archaeological, typological, isotopic and chemical analyses were used in the present study and for the application of luminescence techniques in the investigation of technology and provenance. The techniques applied were detailed thermoluminescence (TL) and also linearly modulated optically stimulated luminescence (LM-OSL); the latter was the first time it was applied in this way. The sequence protocol applied was very simple, focusing on the variation of sensitivity, sensitization and glow curve shape for both TL and OSL. The results highlight the potential use of luminescence measurements in establishing additional analytical criteria for investigating technological and provenance aspects of archaeological glasses.
Ditch and pit fills from four archaeological sites in the Baixo Alentejo region of Portugal were studied to explore the relationship between Luminescence Profiling (IRSL, OSL, TSL, sensitivity and sensitization) and X-ray diffraction... more
Ditch and pit fills from four archaeological sites in the Baixo Alentejo region of Portugal were studied to explore the relationship between Luminescence Profiling (IRSL, OSL, TSL, sensitivity and sensitization) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Series of small (ca. 10 g) samples were collected , through the different fill materials. XRD results show that the predominant mineral is calcite (40-90%), and this exhibited the strongest relationships with luminescence behaviour. In the present sites it was often related to high absorbed doses, and so to residual signals rather than low dose rates. Commonly, the calcite content and the absorbed dose value tended to increase from the top to the bottom of a section. Layers with lower calcite content and residual luminescence signals were used to stratigraphically define different phases of accumulation. The best reset luminescence signals for dating at these sites come from the layers with the lowest calcite content. In other cases similar absorbed doses through archaeological stratigraphies, independent of composition, were interpreted to indicate that signals in the different mineral fractions were well reset prior to accumulation in the structure.
Direct dating of prehistoric pottery from desert environment is complex, due to the lack of the attributes required for the archaeological chronological methods. Pottery samples from Sudan were therefore studied by means of... more
Direct dating of prehistoric pottery from desert environment is complex, due to the lack of the attributes required for the archaeological chronological methods. Pottery samples from Sudan were therefore studied by means of Thermoluminescence (TL) and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) to establish the best measurement protocol for dating such ceramics. These techniques exploit the time-dependent accumulation of charge carriers in defects present in mineral components of ceramics, like quartz and feldspars. To evaluate the amount of such charges, which is a measure of the energy released in matter by natural ionizing radiation, two different protocols were firstly tested: the Multiple Aliquot Additive Dose protocol (MAAD) for TL and the Single Aliquot Regen-erative dose protocol (SAR) for TL and OSL. Both methods allowed the discrimination of Neolithic from Mesolithic pottery, even if the data were generally affected by high uncertainties, and the presence of a few aberrant results was observed. Moreover, a further independent technique for measuring the population of defects was attempted: the Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR), in both Continuous Wave (CW-EPR) and Pulsed methods (EDEPR). This application was problematic in naturally irradiated samples, due to the low EPR sensitivity and the high Fe (III) background spectrum observed under Continuous Wave measurements. Preliminary encouraging results were instead obtained with the Pulsed technique , which was only tested before on few artificial irradiated samples.
Knowing the maximum temperatures attained by stonework during past fires in historical buildings is important to understand the damage caused to the materials and the subsequent weathering history after the fire. Thermoluminescence (TL)... more
Knowing the maximum temperatures attained by stonework during past fires in historical buildings is important to understand the damage caused to the materials and the subsequent weathering history after the fire. Thermoluminescence (TL) provides a tool to assess such temperature but different protocols exist. TL has been tested to assess the maximum temperature reached by a past fire on the surface of calcitic sandstone (frequently used in historical buildings in Saragossa, Central-Eastern Spain). We have prepared subsamples of this sandstone annealed from 200°C to 700°C. Quartz extracts from such samples were used for testing different TL protocols, from measuring the erosion of the whole TL glow curve of quartz extracted to test the Thermal Activation Characteristic (TAC) and other more recent approaches, such as comparing the sensitization of the integrated 110, 200 and 250-400°C peaks at different irradiation doses or a full predose protocol. The erosion of the TL glow curve of quartz seems to underestimate the attained temperature while the other tested protocols indicate that the temperature reached was 400°C.
The distribution of K, Th and U in various types of weathered rocks (granite, schist, dolerite and aplite), belonging to the Beiras uraniferous province in the Fornos de Algodres area of Northern Portugal, was studied. Since the... more
The distribution of K, Th and U in various types of weathered rocks (granite, schist, dolerite and aplite), belonging to the Beiras uraniferous province in the Fornos de Algodres area of Northern Portugal, was studied. Since the concentration of naturally occurring radionuclides in rocks depends much on the geological context, levels of ionizing radiation and radon emission may vary as a function of geological origins and processes. Our study aims to contribute to the knowledge of the background concentrations of these elements from rocks in a region that is generally enriched in uranium, and consequently with higher potential risk. These are used to estimate dose rates to which people might be exposed at the land surface, as well as dose rates within each context, relevant to luminescence dating, and identify sources of enhanced radon emission. The concentrations of natural radionuclides were obtained using two methods for comparison, the field gamma spectrometry (FGS) and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), as their combination may help detect spatial variations and disequilibrium in the U series. The mineralogi-cal study of rock types was performed by X-ray diffraction of powder samples. INAA and FGS results were commonly similar. The K, Th and U contents in the studied area are variable, but usually are higher than average upper continental crust values. A granitic weathering profile was encountered in which significant leaching of K had occurred, producing a ca. 30% difference in dose rate. The greatest U contents were observed in a weathered aplite dyke intersecting the granite; radon escape of up to 590 Bq kg-1 was inferred, producing a 300% difference between dose rates based on INAA or FGS data. However, the enrichment in U is not restricted to aplite; its heterogeneous distribution may cause localized enrichment, which was detected in the other lithol-ogies: notably, soils on moderately radioactive bedrock were enriched in Th and U by colluvial movement.
A group of 22 hollows filled with sediment were found excavated in the ground during the construction of an auditorium in the city centre of Santiago de Compostela (NW Spain). This city is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The hollows... more
A group of 22 hollows filled with sediment were found excavated in the ground during the construction of an auditorium in the city centre of Santiago de Compostela (NW Spain). This city is part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The hollows were from 3.30 m to 0.8 m depth and from 1.5 to 1 m diameter. Fourteen of them were excavated and some materials recovered (sediment, charcoal and fragments of vessels) to date the infill. The hollows were used to move and store water (as most of them are connected by channels), and their characteristics and arrangement are similar to leather tanning workshops found in the same city. Samples of the sediment infill recovered from two hollows and a pottery fragment taken from another one, were dated by OSL and TL, respectively. Recovered charcoals were also dated by AMS 14 C for independent age comparison. OSL signals were suitable for dating and evidences of partial bleaching of quartz grains extracted from the sediment were observed from small multi-grain aliquots. The Minimum Age Model was used to calculate the equivalent dose and OSL results provided ages in agreement with independent ages, providing crucial information on the city growth in medieval times.
Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating and radiocarbon (14 C) dating were performed to determine absolute ages of Paleolithic paleosol layers from the Suheol-ri site in Cheonan, Korea. The results obtained from OSL dating of very... more
Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating and radiocarbon (14 C) dating were performed to determine absolute ages of Paleolithic paleosol layers from the Suheol-ri site in Cheonan, Korea. The results obtained from OSL dating of very fine sand-size (63-125 m) and fine sand-size (125-250 m) quartz showed that the OSL dates agreed well with each other and that all Paleolithic paleosol layers were buried after complete optical bleaching. The results obtained from 14 C dating of acid-, neutral-, and base-humic acids (HA, HN, and HB) indicated that 14 C dates of paleosol samples are only reliable when the 14 C dates for HA, HN, and HB substances correspond with each other. Comparing between the OSL dates and 14 C dates based on the typology of Korean Paleolithic stone tools and geological stratigraphy, we concluded that the OSL dating method is more reliable and effective than 14 C dating for reconstructing the absolute chronology of Korean Paleolithic paleosol layers.
In the present study, an attempt is being made to date samples from three archaeological sites in the Mediterranean using surface luminescence dating techniques. The methods are well established and this study is an effort to apply it to... more
In the present study, an attempt is being made to date samples from three archaeological sites in the Mediterranean using surface luminescence dating techniques. The methods are well established and this study is an effort to apply it to monuments that have not being dated with these methods before. Megalithic structures are eligible for absolute dating using OSL approaches in routine-based procedures. The structures that were chosen for dating are Osirion and Seti A' Temples in Abydos, Egypt, and a precipitate from a Saudi Arabian rock art site. OSL ages obtained for the Saudi Arabia monument refer to geological episodes that ascribe at the Middle Bronze Age (middle 2 nd mill. BC) while for the two Egyptian monuments, the results report for ages during the Middle Kingdom Age and of a younger date, spanning from the beginning till the end of 2 nd mill. BC indicating original or later architectural phases.
Today's physical landscape in the Ghent city area (E Flanders, Belgium) is the result of human activity. Previous studies that aimed at understanding the city in its former environmental context focused on reconstructing the... more
Today's physical landscape in the Ghent city area (E Flanders, Belgium) is the result of human activity. Previous studies that aimed at understanding the city in its former environmental context focused on reconstructing the hydrographical network. The role of Late Quaternary aeolian processes and landforms has not been considered. Incited by a reappraisal of the evidence in historical records, our study aims at contributing to an improved understanding of the significance of this windblown (micro) relief. In this paper, we report on results from optical dating of two aeolian sequences (near the "Emile Braunplein" and the "Hoogpoort") in the historical city centre. Optical dates of ~ 11 ka-~ 15 ka indicate deposition during the Late Glacial, and allow refining the Quaternary geological map of the area. Anthropogenic activity on this sediment is supported by a cart mark observed in the upper part of the sediments and post-sedimentary reworking of the top of the "Hoogpoort" sequence. This confirms that Pleistocene aeolian formed elevations were present and at least as relevant to Ghent city's settlement history as a local Tertiary outlier (the "Blandijnberg") and the regional river-ine environment.
It has been about forty years since the dose-rate conversion factors commenced to appear in ta-bular forms and, ever since, periodical updates have been published. The present work contributes to this continuous updating, using the latest... more
It has been about forty years since the dose-rate conversion factors commenced to appear in ta-bular forms and, ever since, periodical updates have been published. The present work contributes to this continuous updating, using the latest evaluated nuclear data for the 238 U-, 235 U-and 232 Th-series, as well as for 40 K and 87 Rb, obtained from the Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF) database and the Nuclear Wallet Cards. An estimate of the accuracy of the dose-rate conversion factors is further attempted for the first time, by taking into account individual uncertainties in all quantities involved in the calculations. A literature comparison between all previously published dose-rate conversion factors is presented and their Historical Mean (HM) values are calculated. The standard deviation from the HM is introduced as a measure of the fluctuation in individual updates. A selected example is given to show that the use of the HM instead of the present dose-rate conversion factors has a minimal impact on dating calculations performed by the thermoluminescence, the optically stimulated lumi-nescence and the electron spin resonance methods. It is concluded that there is no justification in periodically reviewing the dose-rate conversion factors and thus, the present values can be considered as a revised overview that future dating applications should safely rely upon.
Multiple leaf-masonry-walls are one of the most important, immediate and characteristic features of Islamic architecture. In Cairo much of masonry monuments have been constructed along different periods on this unique style. Many years... more
Multiple leaf-masonry-walls are one of the most important, immediate and characteristic features of Islamic architecture. In Cairo much of masonry monuments have been constructed along different periods on this unique style. Many years ago, where it has been built from two external stone block leaves and another one internal core leaf in a variety of materials and forms. Damage analysis and assessment of multiple leaf-masonry-walls have to bear in mind the conservation rationale, which is essentially leaving the structure as found, with minimal intervention whenever possible. The intervention should be sympathetic to the original character of the building and carrying out to maintain its structural stability. A detailed investigation relies on the previous experience of engineering, restoration as well as understanding of the short comings of theoretical calculations and assumed loads versus actual behavior and loading structural monitoring of critical elements to check movements as well as crack growth is important in reaching a final conclusion. Core samples and non-destructive load testing results are also obtained and used to verify analysis and observations. Predicting the behaviour of multiple-leaf masonry walls is a challenging issue, given the influence of a wide range of factors as the mechanical properties of the two external leaves and internal core materials, their dimensions and the way they are connected to each other. In the present paper, experimental results in specimens are carefully analyzed and reviewed. Simplified calculations for practical assessment of existing walls are also addressed. Two main case studies in respect of multiple leaf-masonry-walls are studied. The first one as an example for the bearing walls in historical buildings is Wkallah Radwan Bik Al-Fakari. The second one as an example for the retaining wall is Sultan El-Ghouri palace wall remains.
This paper aims at discussing the Bedouin funeral rites mentioned by European travelers who visited Transjordan in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries; there was a focus on the inaccuracy of these accounts in referring to some... more
This paper aims at discussing the Bedouin funeral rites mentioned by European travelers who visited Transjordan in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries; there was a focus on the inaccuracy of these accounts in referring to some particular funeral rites as being originally of Bedouins, also in generalizing them among all tribes. Such misinterpretation came from not considering the level of sedentarization of tribes, as well as cultural influences of urban and rural communities living in the same region. Two approaches were followed; the first was by interviewing members of a focus group, which was selected from a population that included clans still living a pure nomadic life, even after the sedentarization of Bedouins in the 1960's, the other approach was by exploring the history of sedentarization of tribes under discussion. Such approaches made it possible to distinguish the original nomadic funeral rites from those of settling groups in Transjordan.
The Qajar Period (1794-1925 AD) had special features in the history of art in Iran. Art and paintings are greatly influenced by the art and culture of Europe during this period. The influence of Eu-ropean art began from the Safavid... more
The Qajar Period (1794-1925 AD) had special features in the history of art in Iran. Art and paintings are greatly influenced by the art and culture of Europe during this period. The influence of Eu-ropean art began from the Safavid dynasty (1501-1722 AD), and reached its peak during the Qajar Period. This study investigates Kamal-al-Molk's living conditions in order to evaluate the social, political and cultural life of Kamal-al-Molk regarding the context and environment in which a painting of an Egyptian girl is found. On the one hand, the history of the related painting will be discussed for further understanding of its art, and on the other, a comparative study performed to identify the relationship between the painting and other works attributed to Kamal-al-Molk paintings evaluated in the comparative study including the two works of "Egyptian woman" and "Egyptian man" by Kam-al-al-Molk at the Malik Museum. This study investigates whether the "Egyptian girl", installed at the Islamic Museum of the Iranian Islamic Parliament is correctly attributed to Kamal-al-Molk. Archeological and art research approaches are used for the purpose of this study. Through an archeological approach to the "Egyptian Girl" considering the signature date, subject , colors and composition in the painting, in conjunction with instrumental analysis on used material and technique which has been reported in another paper by the authors, the attribution of this artwork to Kamal-al-Molk is called into doubt.
This study presents the preliminary description and evaluation of the architectural remains (namely, the city walls surrounding the acropolis and the lower city, the theater on the western skirts of the acropolis, the three bridges... more
This study presents the preliminary description and evaluation of the architectural remains (namely, the city walls surrounding the acropolis and the lower city, the theater on the western skirts of the acropolis, the three bridges spanning the Uludere stream, the rock-cut tombs located on the northwestern and northeastern peripheries of the city) identified in the ancient city of Hypaipa during the field survey in the summer of 2012. Hypaipa, on which we do not have any detailed knowledge except for a few references in ancient sources and in some traveller records, is regarded as one of the cities in the Lydian region. The city whose foundation is presumed to date back to the Lydian period (the last quarter of the 7 th century B.C. to the first half of the 6 th century B.C.) had a distinct status because of its Persian temple dedicated to the Persian goddess Anahita. With particular reference to this temple, Hypaipa was mentioned in a number of ancient sources along with Hie-rocaesareia. In addition to its temple, Hypaipa was also famous for Arakhne, one of the well known mythological figures in the antiquity. Hypaipa appears to be a rather developed settlement, particularly in the Roman period. Moreover , the rock-cut tombs that we discovered to the north of the acropolis dating back to the 6th century BC constitute the earliest findings of the 2012 field survey in Hypaipa carried out by our team, providing further evidence for the significance of the site in connection with the Lydian and Persian archaeologies.
The supreme council of antiquities in cooperation with the French mission discovered the Ptolemaic temple of Komir in 1979 in Esna, Upper Egypt. The Ptolemaic temple of Komir was built of regional sandstone and preciously decorated with... more
The supreme council of antiquities in cooperation with the French mission discovered the Ptolemaic temple of Komir in 1979 in Esna, Upper Egypt. The Ptolemaic temple of Komir was built of regional sandstone and preciously decorated with reliefs and inscriptions. Investigation of the condition of the sites, together with physical, chemical, and mechanical tests of their material revealed that, it is collapsed and only partly preserved and it disposes of some still buried rooms. The Komir temple is exposed to different deteriorations processes caused by internal and external stresses due to the mineral composition of the building materials, climate factors, salts crystallization and groundwater. In this study, the deterioration problems of the wall reliefs were investigated for the aim of its conservation. For this purpose, the building was documented by drawings and photographs. The chemical, physical and structural characterization were performed by means of X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and observation of thin section by transmitted light optical microscopy (LOM), polarized microscope, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) attached with EDX and thermogravimetric (DTA &TGA). The physical and mechanical properties were done. The results showed that, sandstone is mainly composed of quartz, albite, orthoclase, microcline and dolomite. The density and porosity values of deteriorated sandstone are 1.52 g/cm3 and 25%. Results also showed that the deterioration of stone materials is due to the aggressive action of the environmental agents. Soluble salts, such as chlorides and sulphates were found in efflorescence samples. These results and information allowed the identification of the types of salts and deterioration features may be used in the future for conservation purposes.
The paper is an attempt to show the architectonic method of the ancient Egyptian designers for encoding the horizontal-projections of the moon's declinations during two events of the minor lunar standstills, in the design of the site-plan... more
The paper is an attempt to show the architectonic method of the ancient Egyptian designers for encoding the horizontal-projections of the moon's declinations during two events of the minor lunar standstills, in the design of the site-plan of the horizon of the Giza pyramids, using the methods of descriptive geometry. It shows that the distance of the eastern side of the second Giza pyramid from the north-south axis of the great pyramid encodes a projection of a lunar declination, when earth's obliquity-angle was ~24.10°. Besides, it shows that the angle of inclination of the causeway of the second Giza pyramid, of ~13.54° south of the cardinal east, encodes the projection of another lunar declination when earth's obliquity-angle reaches ~22.986°. In addition, it shows the encoded coordinate system in the site-plan of the horizon of the Giza pyramids.
The Nymphaeum structure is considered one of the most important historical buildings still standing in the heart of Decapolis City Philadelphia (Modern Philadelphia Capital of Jordan, Am-man). The Nymphaeum has been dated to the second... more
The Nymphaeum structure is considered one of the most important historical buildings still standing in the heart of Decapolis City Philadelphia (Modern Philadelphia Capital of Jordan, Am-man). The Nymphaeum has been dated to the second century AD, during the Roman period consists of two floors: a ground floor which was built above an old water course; and the second floor consisting of three large apses decorated with two rows of niches designed to host statues. The structure remained in use into the late Byzantine and early Islamic periods. The current paper highlighted new discovered architectural features at the Nymphaeu. These new features have added a number of facts regarding the building techniques and materials as well as the site function and its uses.
Despite previous and continued excavations at Petra, many questions regarding the city center are still ambiguous for the archaeologists. The ruins on the side of the valley raised many questions about the nature, the function and the... more
Despite previous and continued excavations at Petra, many questions regarding the city center are still ambiguous for the archaeologists. The ruins on the side of the valley raised many questions about the nature, the function and the dating of these structures. For these reasons an excavation has been conducted at this site. The excavation uncovered an important public building which contained a public bath, used in the Nabataean, Roman and Byzantine periods, an apse and, in front of it, a platform and a structure with marble floor. The connection among these structures is not completely clear. Further investigation and analyses is required.
This review aims to reappraise the history of Petra region during the Crusader period (A.D.1100-1188), based on both historical and archaeological sources. It discusses the archaeological evidence of Crusader settlement in Petra and... more
This review aims to reappraise the history of Petra region during the Crusader period (A.D.1100-1188), based on both historical and archaeological sources. It discusses the archaeological evidence of Crusader settlement in Petra and al-Wuayra castle, and gives a description of the castle. It also considers the expeditions of the Crusaders kings to Petra during the first half of 12 th century, drawing from the historical accounts of Crusader historians which provide important information about al-Wuayra castle, and some economic and social aspects in Petra during this period. Attention also focuses on the writings of 19 th-20 th century European travelers and the end of Crusader occupation in Petra.
The aim of this investigation is to develop a material and technique for detects the smallest traces of poison gases and for the instantaneous rate of atmospheric corrosion of archaeological materials indoor. This paper describes the... more
The aim of this investigation is to develop a material and technique for detects the smallest traces of poison gases and for the instantaneous rate of atmospheric corrosion of archaeological materials indoor. This paper describes the development and use of a single walled carbon nanotubes with ZnO (SWCNT/ZnO) composites as a Networks to investigate it as resistive gas sensors for NO2 detection. Sensor film was coated on an sapphire substrate by spin coater. At room temperature, SWCNT/ZnO composites with equal weight ratio have shown quite high sensitivity to NO2 concentrations as low as 1 ppm, this gives the opportunity to us it as a sensor to control the environment of the places where the cultural heritage materials are found. All ZnO (SWCNT/ZnO) tested sensors exhibit high stability and relatively low response and recovery time. The highest response values of the composite were achieved at temperatures ranging between 100 and 300°C and gas concentrations higher that 50 ppm. For all gas concentrations, the SWCNT/ZnO sensor shows much impressive performance at temperatures higher than 100°C compared to pure SWCNT sensor. The results show that this type of material is surprising, revealed that the measured sensitivity upon exposure to NO2 strongly depends on the changing matrix of the microstructure and the preparation conditions of the composite material. The gas detection mechanisms as well as the optimal gas sensing parameters were discussed.
This study reports the first recorded discovery of three-rooted mandibular molars (3RM) from a Middle Age archaeological population unearthed in Van, Eastern Anatolia. A historical context is given for the research site, Dilkaya Mound,... more
This study reports the first recorded discovery of three-rooted mandibular molars (3RM) from a Middle Age archaeological population unearthed in Van, Eastern Anatolia. A historical context is given for the research site, Dilkaya Mound, which has a history of approximately 2500 years. In total 462 permanent first and second teeth, 219 deciduous teeth, and a total of 682 mandibular teeth belonging to 358 individuals from Early Iron Age and Middle Age populations were included in this study. The earliest recorded population on site which dates to the Early Iron Age shows no sign of 3RM1 and 3RM2. The 3RM1 feature first appears in Anatolia at a rate of 1,05% by the Middle Age. The frequency of 3RM2 was found at a rate of 0,67%, and 3RM3 at a rate of 2,44 % in the population. Three rooted deciduous lower first molar teeth (3rm1) were observed at a rate of 2,44%; a new feature in the literature. The results of our study support the existing explanation that genetic drift plays a significant role in the distribution of 3RM via the wave of migration to the west from Asia during the Middle Age.
This paper refers to the role of sacred texts in defining a building by using some texts more than others, by highlight some issues in a context while skip others, or by adopting references from the Quran or Hadith to bolster certain... more
This paper refers to the role of sacred texts in defining a building by using some texts more than others, by highlight some issues in a context while skip others, or by adopting references from the Quran or Hadith to bolster certain beliefs. The sacred texts in this mosque depend mostly on the Shiites Imams' speech, some from Hadith of Prophet Mu-hammad, and the minority of the sacred texts is taken from the Quran. Minority here is not in terms of quantity but in using the context to confirm the Shi'a ideology in contrast with the Sunni ideology, by depending on the interpretation of the sacred texts in Quran. The reasons for this clearly appear in the influence of ideologies using sacred texts from the same religion, among Sunni and Shi'a, to attract people to a certain ideology and to simultaneously stand against the other which was the method used in the middle age. In this paper, the focus will be on tracing the meanings that characterize this mosque in the Islamic world by reflecting on its history, architecture, and arts element. This mosque was first established following the Sunni ideology, then, it was transformed to belong to the Shi'a in the Safavid Period to spread their ideology.
Kumkale that is an old Ottoman fort is located near the ruins of ancient Troy. Cannons throwing huge balls were placed in the fort of Kumkale such as other forts on the side of Dardanelles in the period of Ottoman Empire. Ottoman Empire... more
Kumkale that is an old Ottoman fort is located near the ruins of ancient Troy. Cannons throwing huge balls were placed in the fort of Kumkale such as other forts on the side of Dardanelles in the period of Ottoman Empire. Ottoman Empire attended to the World War I against Allied Forces in 1914. The Allied forces attacked as bombarding Ottoman's batteries in Dardanelles. Firstly, the British began their interest in Kumkale with an unsuccessful bombardment on 19 th of February, 1915. They followed this up on 25 th of February with a bit more success, their warships staying out of range as they pounded the area. When they were leaving from Kumkale, Allied Forces destroyed the cannons. Since then, the destroyed cannons were buried in the ground. However, approximate places of them were recorded in military archives. Here, buried cannons were successfully investigated by magnetic and ground penetrating radar (GPR) methods in three regions, where pieces of cannons, phone cable between array of cannons, equipment used in maintenance and repair of the cannons and pieces of cannons were located.
This article explores historical and contemporary approaches to the use of genetic and archaeological evidence in the interpretation of European Prehistory. It begins by reviewing the early work of anthropologists, which was ambitious in... more
This article explores historical and contemporary approaches to the use of genetic and archaeological evidence in the interpretation of European Prehistory. It begins by reviewing the early work of anthropologists, which was ambitious in scientific scope and effort, but doomed in interpretation by the framework of colonial expansion and racial hierarchy within which it arose. It briefly considers the emergence of serology and genetic studies, and the gradual displacement of the racial paradigm following the Second World War. The Neolithic transition and the genetics of populations in Europe model of Ammerman and Cavalli-Sforza is used to generate a fuller discussion of the dimensions involved in combining archaeological and genetic evidence, and alternative mechanisms are explored. The potential for ancient DNA to contribute to this and other debates is raised, and the prospects offered by more recent scientific developments in human genetics are considered. Genetic studies-modern and ancient-have become established as having the potential to support archaeological investigations with considerable breadth and time-depth. The paper aims to offer a nuanced consideration of a number of issues arising from this discussion and concludes that genes, environment, language and archaeology are individually and together legitimate and pressing subjects of enquiry for the scholar of the past.
Although Anatolia includes a rich anthropological data source, studies based on nonmeasurable features are limited. Thus, this study, aiming to contribute to this field, compares 30 nonmetric features belonging to 47 skeletons from the... more
Although Anatolia includes a rich anthropological data source, studies based on nonmeasurable features are limited. Thus, this study, aiming to contribute to this field, compares 30 nonmetric features belonging to 47 skeletons from the Datça Peninsula, dated to the Roman period, with 19 non-measurable features on the skulls of individuals belonging to 9 different populations that lived in different geographical areas between the Early Bronze Age to the first quarter of the 20th century. Biological relations between Ancient Anatolian populations were investigated by multivariable statistical processes. Use of epigenetic features is an informative method for determining the degree of biological proximity or distance in ancient populations. The non-measurable features of the cranium are of great value to researchers for the assessment of both hereditary and environmental factors when studying such populations. In this study, 30 nonmetric features of 47 skeletons, dated to the Archaic and Roman periods, excavated from the Datça Peninsula between 1993 and 2001, were investigated. The parietal foramen was the most frequently observed feature (43.7%). The lambdoid bone (23.5%), bone on the asterion (20%), zygomaticofacial foramen (16.6%), foramen ovale (14.2%), and bone on the lambda (12.5%) were among the most frequently encountered epigenetic characters. Cluster analysis showed 2 different groupings. Those findings are remarkable and show the presence of biological and environmental similarities between ancient Anatolian populations.
The study presents a general methodology for designing, developing and implementing predictive modelling for identifying areas of archaeological interest. The methodology is based on documented archaeological data and geographical... more
The study presents a general methodology for designing, developing and implementing predictive modelling for identifying areas of archaeological interest. The methodology is based on documented archaeological data and geographical factors, geospatial analysis and predictive modelling, and has been applied to the identification of possible Macedonian tombs' locations in Northern Greece. The model was tested extensively and the results were validated using a commonly used predictive gain, which proved the efficiency of the model's predictive ability and its capability in providing answers to a series of questions related to archaeological research issues.
From the paganism to the rise of monotheism and onwards, kings and rulers have introduced religion as part of their conduct in the socio-political construct of the society. One of the great rulers of the Old Testament, Solomon has been an... more
From the paganism to the rise of monotheism and onwards, kings and rulers have introduced religion as part of their conduct in the socio-political construct of the society. One of the great rulers of the Old Testament, Solomon has been an important figure not only in Hebrew history but also in Christian and Islamic traditions. The purpose of this study is to make an iconographical evaluation of Solomon's depic-tions in mural paintings and mosaics of Christian tradition and Ottoman illuminated manuscripts with regard to the typology and evolution of an idealized sense of imperial rule.
This article provides a study of Corinthians capitals with interlocked helices from four main locations: Jordan (Jerash (Gerasa), Petra); Lebanon (Baalbek); Egypt (Alexandria); Italy (Rome); and Libya (Lepcis Magna). A typological study... more
This article provides a study of Corinthians capitals with interlocked helices from four main locations: Jordan (Jerash (Gerasa), Petra); Lebanon (Baalbek); Egypt (Alexandria); Italy (Rome); and Libya (Lepcis Magna). A typological study of Corinthian capitals with interlocked helices show two main types, the first, interlocked normal helices, the second, interlocked flowered helices. Those types were used on in general on temples during the Roman period. The study included is descriptions of the capitals, which are then compared with one another. It has been noted that capitals with interlocked helices were rare compared to Corinthian capitals having normal helices, such as those that were generally used during the Roman period. This would suggest that the scheme was a new one in the East; likewise, that it was introduced from the Western provinces. Interestingly enough, those found in the Eastern provinces are more developed than those found in the Western ones, especially with respect to the first type. Furthermore, we can also say that this architecture developed during the First and Second Centuries, and thus reflect the new architectural elements and decorations such as those that were not used before.This preliminary comparative study serves as an introduction to the study of architectural elements and decorations in Jordan used during the Roman Period.
This paper presents for the first time, the archaeometric characterization of the ceramics of an archaeological deposit located in the Almar river Valley (Salamanca, Spain) and the study of some soil samples from this archaeological site.... more
This paper presents for the first time, the archaeometric characterization of the ceramics of an archaeological deposit located in the Almar river Valley (Salamanca, Spain) and the study of some soil samples from this archaeological site. Colour characterization was performed according with Munsell Soil Color Chart. X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and polarizing petrographic microscopy observations were carried out to determine the mineralogical composition of the ancient ceramics. Minor and major elements were studied by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Specific surface area was measured using BET methodology. Finally, a multivariate statistical analysis was performance in order to distinguish families of ceramics as a function of their geochemi-cal and mineralogical composition. The chemical, mineralogical and morphological study characterization of these ceramic materials allows the establishment of three different groups related with the origin of the raw materials. Only one of the ceramic groups was manufactured in the archaeological area. However, the ceramics of the other two groups were probably brought by the ancient inhabitants to the archaeological site. Finally, it was possible determine conclusions about aspects of their manufacture, i.e. the use of non-plastic inclusions in some ceramics to improve the refractoriness of the ceramics.
Ceramic and soil/clay samples obtained from three different areas of the Hasankeyf (Batman, Turkey) archaeological site and the near vicinity of river bank Dicle were investigated archaeometrically. The petrographic characteristics of the... more
Ceramic and soil/clay samples obtained from three different areas of the Hasankeyf (Batman, Turkey) archaeological site and the near vicinity of river bank Dicle were investigated archaeometrically. The petrographic characteristics of the samples were determined by thin section optical microscopy analysis, furthermore the chemical structures were determined by XRF, SEM-EDS and TGA analyses. According to their ma-trix/aggregate content, aggregate type/distribution/dimension, porosity, and the properties of clay (matrix) structure of ceramics were classified. The clay types of the samples are mainly illite, smectite and kaolinite. The samples have similarities with the soil of the region and they are also similar to each other in terms of both chemical compositions and petrographic characteristics. According to their Sr and Zr content, the samples must have been manufactured mainly by using local clay with terrigenous origin as raw materials.
The composition and corrosion behavior of five archaeological lead scale weights from Qasr Ar-Rabbah in Jordan is studied using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray micro-analysis (SEM-EDX). X-ray diffraction (XRD)... more
The composition and corrosion behavior of five archaeological lead scale weights from Qasr Ar-Rabbah in Jordan is studied using scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray micro-analysis (SEM-EDX). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was used to identify the mineralogical composition of the corrosion layers. It is found that the weights were relatively pure lead objects with the presence of minor elements that were associated with lead in its ores. The corrosion layers were basically composed of the stable corrosion product cerussite PbCO3, which however obscured the surface details and contained micro-cracks.
A solar eclipse's evolution was described in the Iliad in a stepwise mode manifested in increasing gradual darkness, during a warm day at late noon; from Sarpedon's death time to few later from Patroclus' death time. We examined the solar... more
A solar eclipse's evolution was described in the Iliad in a stepwise mode manifested in increasing gradual darkness, during a warm day at late noon; from Sarpedon's death time to few later from Patroclus' death time. We examined the solar eclipses within the time span 1400-1130 B.C. and we found that only the annular solar eclipse on 6 th June 1218 yr B.C. observable in Troy with significant obscuration 75.2 % fits fully with the Homeric descriptions.
The present study presents the results of the preliminary marine geophysical survey conducted in 2006 at the gulf of Sounion, southern Attica, Greece. The site is of great archaeological importance since cape Sounion served as a... more
The present study presents the results of the preliminary marine geophysical survey conducted in 2006 at the gulf of Sounion, southern Attica, Greece. The site is of great archaeological importance since cape Sounion served as a navigational landmark and a naval fortress protecting the sea-lanes towards the metropolis of Athens and the silver mines of Lavreotiki during the Classical and Hellenistic periods. Parts of the coastal ancient installations are now submerged. The results of the collected geophysical data include the examination of the seafloor texture and stratigraphy. Therefore a geomorphological map of the gulf was constructed based on the configuration of the substrate and the seafloor stratigraphy. Archaeological remains lying on the seafloor have been detected on the sonographs and have been correlated with the results of previous studies. The development and the evolution of the gulf during the prehistoric period were evaluated via the sea floor stratigraphy and the prediction of sea level change in the area based on the eustatic and glacio-hydro-isostatic response. The sea level change during the historic period was examined and a relative sea level rise of at least 2,5-3,0 m was suggested for the last 2500 years based on the marine geophysical survey results.
An Egyptian bronze statuette of the god Osiris has been discovered along with other ritual dei-ties' statuettes and other metallic ritual equipment at Sais. It was temporarily inventoried with number 31/12/26/11C at the Egyptian Museum in... more
An Egyptian bronze statuette of the god Osiris has been discovered along with other ritual dei-ties' statuettes and other metallic ritual equipment at Sais. It was temporarily inventoried with number 31/12/26/11C at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Its period, its specific burial place, and the certain excavation date were unknown. The statuette is an uncommon case; it was heavily corroded, covered with a thick crust of green corrosion products, has textile impression, missing its head, and has an unusual deep crack into its feet. It was examined, analyzed and conserved. Visual and stylistic examinations revealed that it is most probably dating to the Third Intermediate Period (1070-664 BC) or the Late Period (664-323 BC). Its style belongs to the Lower Egyptian style, and the direct solid lost-wax technique was used in the manufacturing process. Stereo-microscopic images revealed the Pseudomorph phenomenon on its surface. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that the main compositions of the corrosion layer are oxychlorides, carbonates and sulphates covering copper and tin oxides. Structural examination and the elemental analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with dispersive spectrome-try (EDS) proved that the statuette was made of bronze material of Cu-Sn-Pb alloy. The high amounts of tin and lead affected on the mechanical properties of the bronze alloy and surely on its deterioration. Mechanical cleaning was applied so as to remove the superficial deposits / encrustations in a controlled and minimally obstructive way and then reaching a smooth layer which preserves the detail and shape. The surface of the Osiris statuette was protected with a corrosion inhibitor and protected against further corrosion attack with a protective coating.
Dental caries is commonly used to provide information about the diet of populations, both archaeological and modern. A skeletal sample of 32 adults from the site of Almyros in Corfu, dating from the late Archaic (7 th century B.C.) to the... more
Dental caries is commonly used to provide information about the diet of populations, both archaeological and modern. A skeletal sample of 32 adults from the site of Almyros in Corfu, dating from the late Archaic (7 th century B.C.) to the 2 nd century A.D., was studied for caries and ante-mortem tooth loss (AMTL) with a special interest in sex differences. According to archaeological information the population of Almyros had a poor economy with a minimal consumption of proteins and vegetables. Literary sources suggest sex discrimination in ancient Greek diet but no such difference was known until now in the population of Almyros. Therefore, the goal of this study is to explore possible dietary differences between sexes in the Corfu population using caries frequency, locations and degree as nutritional factors. According to our results females present a higher percentage of caries than males (13.6% females, 4.3% males) and a difference is noted on location and degree as well. However, the same difference is not noted in AMTL where males present slightly higher frequency than females. This study provides valuable data for the population of Almyros and highlights the significance of caries degree and caries locations in reconstructing diets of ancient populations.
Cremated human bone fragments excavated at the monumental burial site at Salaminos 35 Street in Kerameikos of Athens, Greece, dated to the range of the 8 th decade of the 5 th century BC were the subject of anthropological study. A number... more
Cremated human bone fragments excavated at the monumental burial site at Salaminos 35 Street in Kerameikos of Athens, Greece, dated to the range of the 8 th decade of the 5 th century BC were the subject of anthropological study. A number of bone fragments included surface stains of various discolorations. The purpose of this interdisciplinary study combining a forensic anthropology-chemistry substrate was to determine which metal(s), if any, and under what circumstances may have caused the staining on the bone surfaces. To determine this, a Collision/Reaction Cell Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (CRC ICP-MS) method with microwave accelerated sample digestion was developed and validated for the quantification of metals in bone. The concentrations of Na, Mg, Al, K, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Rb, Sr, Sn, Ba, Pb and U in the stained bone samples were compared to concentrations in unstained bone fragments and sediment samples from the same contextual archaeological association. The sample analyses and comparisons showed that 14 of the 15 stained bone samples analyzed contained significantly higher concentrations of various metals. Of the seven metals readily available during Classical antiquity (Au, Cu, Ag, Pb, Sn, Fe and Hg), four were detected at significantly high concentrations (Cu, Sn, Fe and Pb) in some samples, Ag was tested for but not detected in any sample while Au and Hg were not tested for. The metals that occurred most often at significantly high concentrations were Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Mg and Fe. _____________________________________________________________________________ KEYWORDS: ICP-MS, bone, metal, stain, polyandria, 5 th century BC ______________________________________________________________________________ 260 LOHNE & AGELARAKIS ©
Mediterranean, its surrounding tribes and wonders have attracted attention of most societies and on the other hand, this region has been the center of medical philosophical thoughts and astronomy and had important historical,... more
Mediterranean, its surrounding tribes and wonders have attracted attention of most societies and on the other hand, this region has been the center of medical philosophical thoughts and astronomy and had important historical, archeological and cultural role in the world. Persian literature in Iran has deep history and it has paid attention to their achievements and thoughts due to communication with cultures and societies. Mediterranean and its attributes are manifested in Persian literature from legend to reality and poets and writers have dealt with these features. In the present paper, we mention characteristics of Mediterranean by studying these works. In literary, astronomical, historical, archeological, geographical, cultural and mythological works of Persian language, attributes of Mediterranean and its wonders can be studied. These words allude to Mediterranean in Persian poem and prose: daryāye meditarāne, daryāye Maqreb, daryāye rum, daryāye šām, daryāye abyaz, daryāye tennis, bahre rum and bahre abyaz. We find some literary, astronomical, historical and archeological peculiarities of the Mediterranean in Persian literature: Its strangeness, Mediterranean greenery in the fall, density of Mediterranean's water that ship can't arrive at there, limitless of Mediterranean, Its red fish that has human face and another fish that has bestial voice, its glassy fish, its flying fish and its stone that solaces lovers and so on.
Archaeological excavations in Yenikapı revealed valuable information about the ship building techniques in Byzantine period. The purpose of this study is to perform wood identifications of the 27 trade ships of Yenikapı and to discuss and... more
Archaeological excavations in Yenikapı revealed valuable information about the ship building techniques in Byzantine period. The purpose of this study is to perform wood identifications of the 27 trade ships of Yenikapı and to discuss and compare the wood use from 6 th to 11 th century. Using standard wood identification techniques, 3122 wood samples from 27 trade ships were identified. Wood identification revealed these important outcomes: Wood use changed from earlier time (5 th-6 th) to later (7 th-9 th and10 th-11 th). During 6 th-8 th centuries generally conifer woods were preferred. Later, during 9 th-11 th broad-leaved trees (elm, oak, chestnut species) had been used. The reasons of this change may be (1) preferring more resistant woods, (2) obtaining of the wood material. Wood identification showed that the origin of the ships might be around of the Marmara Coasts and northern forests. Conifer trees in earlier ships might be from the planted areas by the Bosporus, and broad-leaved trees in later ships might be from the northern forests. Most of the ships have also very low number of different woods such as walnut, poplar and hornbeam. These woods may indicate some small repairs in the ships.
The interest in arsenic copper and its use in antiquity is on a speedy rise. The potential values of such commodity have drawn significant attention. According to many litera-tures that will be presented throughout this paper, there is... more
The interest in arsenic copper and its use in antiquity is on a speedy rise. The potential values of such commodity have drawn significant attention. According to many litera-tures that will be presented throughout this paper, there is great evidence. that real tin bronze replaced arsenic bronze during 2350-2200 B.C. in the central plateau of Iran. "Chah-Messi" copper mine could be a key point of such investigations. Indeed, multi-melange metallic outcrops made this region to a great metallogenic zone. Archaeometal-lurgical investigations based on geological survey in "Chah-Messi" copper mine in northern part of the central Iranian desert indicate that during the 2 nd millennium BC ancient mining and metallurgy were carried out because of outcropping of hydrothermal copper mineralization. The main point of this work focuses on the characterization of the extractive slags with respect to the Cu-As-Sb bearing minerals. Mineralogical-petrochemical studies have been carried out via reflected-and transmitted light microscopy including electron probe microanalyser (EPMA) to perform the analysis of the chemical composition of phases. Based on the results, the material proved to have high amount of Cu, CaO and iron oxide and low in MgO, MnO. Furthermore the result of this study indicated that the Chalcosite and covellite were the processed ore. Lauzonite (Cu-As-Sb) and domeykite (Cu-As) were the dominant Cu-As-Sb bearing minerals which could have the primary influence on the smelting processes and composition of extracted metal. Such characteristics are the hall mark of this region.
The planned astronomical orientation and positioning of all kinds of monuments was proved by numerous investigations all over the world since the 19 th century. Some cult, social or utilitarian purposes dictate a concrete orientation for... more
The planned astronomical orientation and positioning of all kinds of monuments was proved by numerous investigations all over the world since the 19 th century. Some cult, social or utilitarian purposes dictate a concrete orientation for each one. In this paper are being determined the individual orientation and the dating of Parthenon and He-phaisteion as well as a strong relationship between these significant monuments of the classical era is emerged. The exceptional symmetric placing of these monuments, as proved by this research, in ancient Athens is truly remarkable. Thus the strong religious relationship between the temples is also geometrically documented. The modern instru-mentation used today and the special developed astrogeodetic methodology permit the accurate (some arc seconds) determination of a monument's orientation. Additionally this fact may be also a long discussion between archaeologists, archaeoastronomers and humanists.
The presence of bloodstains certifies that a wounded human body has been enveloped in the Shroud of Turin and that most parts of this corpse came in direct contact with the cloth during the burial procedure. On the contrary, the ventral... more
The presence of bloodstains certifies that a wounded human body has been enveloped in the Shroud of Turin and that most parts of this corpse came in direct contact with the cloth during the burial procedure. On the contrary, the ventral body image, by correlation between image intensity and cloth-body distance, shows codified information regarding the distance from which the cloth was versus the body at the time of the image formation. At first sight, this last statement seems to be impossible for a human corpse. Therefore, the coexistence of the bloodstains and the body imprints on both sides of the Shroud could be seen as unnatural, especially when we consider that a deterministic process as the UV radiation or the action of an electrostatic field (corona discharge), as well as manmade chemical and thermal treatment. These processes do not explain all the known characteristics of the body images (ventral and dorsal) because they do not distinguish the fibrils that must be yellowed from the ones that must retain the background colour. In this paper we prove that a natural stochastic process can offer a rational and scientific explanation that can account for all the known properties of these bloodstains and body images. However, another possible explanation that must be taken into account is a natural process involving the production of oxygen that yields a latent image.
The Yucatan peninsula is a limestone based karst region. However, most of the pottery fragments from the Mayan Postclassic period of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, contain volcanic materials as temper. Petrographic thin section analysis... more
The Yucatan peninsula is a limestone based karst region. However, most of the pottery fragments from the Mayan Postclassic period of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, contain volcanic materials as temper. Petrographic thin section analysis of pottery from Chichen Itza and related Yucatan archaeological sites shows that volcanic materials in the paste composition have two distinguishing characteristics. The glass shards and pumice fragments found in the pottery are fresh in form, mineralogically homogeneous and their size consistent with the size of components generally found in airborne volcanic ash. And, lithic fragments in the clay matrix indicate a pyroclastic origin, though their degree of weathering is variable. Considering these facts we conclude that the volcanic materials in northern Yucatan pottery originated from different time lapse tephra, manifesting from strong volcanic eruptions during the Classic and Postclassic period of the Mayan civilization. The study of pottery composition suggests that the volcanic eruptions and the consequent influence upon ancient Mayan civilization.
In order to perform a physico-chemical multitechnique characterization, 26 fragments of Red Polished ware from the archaeological survey in the Kouris river valley (Limassol district, Cyprus) have been analyzed. Despite the gloss-like... more
In order to perform a physico-chemical multitechnique characterization, 26 fragments of Red Polished ware from the archaeological survey in the Kouris river valley (Limassol district, Cyprus) have been analyzed. Despite the gloss-like macroscopic aspect of the potsherd surfaces, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) morphological observation revealed traces of mechanical polishing on the surfaces and the lack of a slip. Energy Dis-persive X-ray (EDX) elemental analyses in both scan and map modes confirmed the absence of differentiation between body and surface composition. Chemometric evaluation on EDX bodies data showed a lack of sub-classification. Mineralogical patterns, obtained by X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD) analysis revealed great variability among samples and the presence of amphiboles in 14 sherds, whose identification as horneblende and riebeckite was confirmed by petrographic examination. The unusual presence of these minerals in a ceramic ware fits with the Kouris valley geology, in agreement with traditional models of local raw materials exploitation for protohistoric societies. XRPD data, together with SEM images evaluation, pointed to firing temperatures ranging from 800 to 1050°C, suggesting the use of kilns instead of open fires or pits; on the other hand the colour heterogeneity testified to limited control of the kiln atmosphere.
Sex determination is an important issue of anthropological and forensic sciences. Determination of sex is a priority issue for further analysis of unidentified ancient human remains, because all techniques of identification are markedly... more
Sex determination is an important issue of anthropological and forensic sciences. Determination of sex is a priority issue for further analysis of unidentified ancient human remains, because all techniques of identification are markedly different for males and females. The present study provides sex determination using discriminant analysis from tibia measurements in an ancient Anatolian population. In this study, a total of 7 tibia measurements were taken from 123 adults of known sex (62 males and 61 females) in Medieval Dilkaya population (A.D. 10 th century). Osteometric measurements included were the length, circumference of midshaft and minimum, transverse and sagittal diameters of midshaft and nutrient foramen levels. Data were analyzed by student t-test and discriminant analysis using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 13.0 program. Results showed that grouping due to sex differentiations was accurate by tibia metric values between 73.5% and 90.2% in Dilkaya population. The midshaft circumference was the best single discriminating variable and results of this study compare with other studies. It is suggested that discriminant formulas developed by tibia measurements in this study can be used for sex determination accurately on fragmentary skeletal remains in ancient Anatolian populations.
The idea of temporality and how this concept is introduced in the ritual domain could be investigated in past cultures through measurements of the orientation of cultic buildings , provided that such orientations are linked with... more
The idea of temporality and how this concept is introduced in the ritual domain could be investigated in past cultures through measurements of the orientation of cultic buildings , provided that such orientations are linked with particular astronomical events. Hel-lenic societies, among those of the Mediterranean Iron Age, had a need to regulate time through a calendar. The orientation of Hellenic temples in present day Greece and the South of Italy have recently been shown to be somewhat dissimilar, despite the obvious cultural links. In the present paper we verify if the samples of orientations of Hellenic temples in five distinct geographic areas are consistent with each other from a statistical point of view. Then we compute the internal variability among these groups by comparing them with other samples of temples across the Mediterranean, both for the Iron and Bronze ages, in order also to find possible long duration effects on the orientation of temples. Despite apparent discrepancies when directly comparing the Hellenic samples, a clear similarity among these groups of temples appear when we compare them with temples from other societies. Such comparison links closer the temples in Greece with those in Lycia and perhaps Cyrene, and the ones in Sicily with those of Magna Graecia. As a by-product, we find other possible concordances among sacred building orienta-tions across the Mediterranean that may deserve further exploration in the future.
The archaeology world has been in a trend of exploring the rural landscapes often inseparable from the periphery of urban localities. The deme of Phoinix, lying in the countryside of the Bozburun Peninsula (in SW Turkey) is a... more
The archaeology world has been in a trend of exploring the rural landscapes often inseparable from the periphery of urban localities. The deme of Phoinix, lying in the countryside of the Bozburun Peninsula (in SW Turkey) is a quasi-coastal rural habitat where the way of implantation of the settlement components quite conceals the typical aspects of a chora. This paper aims to reconstruct the settlement pattern and explain the change process of the long unattended deme of Phoinix as well as the basic motives behind its spatial organization during the Classical and Hellenistic periods. The discussions hereunder are based on the results of the field campaigns carried out in 2009-2012 i and the data insofar as analyzed through the application of photogrammet-ric study and GIS. The results have revealed that the built areas, which are made up of only 2% of terrain, occurred up to 200 m where the slope values reached 30 ο over terra-rosa soil cover, regardless of aspect. The overall silhouette, as highly affected by the fragmented environments, has put forward that the Classical deme transformed itself into a dendritic pattern extending as far as 1.3 km as it grew into the Hellenistic era.
This research aims to reveal the imports of documents, Waqf, and endowment which play a big role to identify the owner of any building, its usage and its planning and boarders, Hence, here comes the major role that documents and endowment... more
This research aims to reveal the imports of documents, Waqf, and endowment which play a big role to identify the owner of any building, its usage and its planning and boarders, Hence, here comes the major role that documents and endowment funds play in introducing the features and details of some buildings, to reveal the architectural and decorative units and elements whose owners were keen on documenting through specialists in building and construction. Besides the importance of documents in getting to know the features and original components of these buildings, they assist in knowing their locations and borders. Also, documents confirm, deny or correct the information stated in historical resources about buildings, along with what researchers and specialists have said. This research will sheds light on Prince Mithqal al-Sodouny house in Azhar Mosque line, as a model for the huge Mamluk houses in Cairo. Fortunately, it was precisely and fully documented and described in Sultan Qaitbay endowment document, dated 1483-1485 A.D. and preserved in the archives of the French National Library in Par-is.
Both Polybius and Livy described a landslide/landslip that blocked the Punic Army's exfiltration from a high col on the water divide in the Western Alps. The landslide, more aptly termed rockfall, has been a source of contention amongst... more
Both Polybius and Livy described a landslide/landslip that blocked the Punic Army's exfiltration from a high col on the water divide in the Western Alps. The landslide, more aptly termed rockfall, has been a source of contention amongst classicists for centuries despite the fact that only two cols-Clapier and Traversette-exhibit rockfall debris on the lee side of the Alps. While the Clapier rockfall is too small and too young to have provided blockage, the Traversette debris is nearly as Polybius described it when he retraced the invasion route some 60 years after the event. His 'two-tier' description of the deposit, a doublet of younger and older rock rubble, including measurements of width and volume are close to modern measurements and prove that he knew, in advance, the route Hannibal had followed. It would take a practiced eye to correctly identify the strat-igraphic complexity inherent in the Traversette Rockfall. Here we present weathering ratios , soil stratigraphic, mineral, chemical and microbiological evidence in support of Po-lybius' observations as a considerable background database for future geoarchaeological exploration. _______________________________________________________________________________ KEYWORDS: Hannibalic invasion, Traversette Rockfall, Physico-mineral-chemical correlation to ancient texts. _______________________________________________________________________________ 78 MAHANEY et al ©
Olive cultivation and oil pressing can be considered as cultural phenomenon characterizing the Mediterranean area. With special reference to the southern Levant, the culture-history of olive cultivation can be traced back as far as to the... more
Olive cultivation and oil pressing can be considered as cultural phenomenon characterizing the Mediterranean area. With special reference to the southern Levant, the culture-history of olive cultivation can be traced back as far as to the Late Neolithic\ Chalcolithic Period. Meanwhile, oil pressing began later on, especially during the Bronze Ages and has lasted until the present time. During the Roman period, olive pressing flourished as indicated by the uncovering of several oil pressing installations. However, the newly complete discovered olive press at the archaeological site of Tell Es-Sukhnah, Jordan shed more light on both the technique of olive pressing and the economic significance of olive beyond the core area of olive cultivation. It helps understanding the economic importance of the northeastern part of Jordan during the Roman period, an area that can be considered a semi-arid one.
The paper by Fazio et al. (2014), claiming, among other things, that a stochastic process was involved in the production of the image on the Shroud of Turin, has major conceptual errors to the extent that its main claims are totally... more
The paper by Fazio et al. (2014), claiming, among other things, that a stochastic process was involved in the production of the image on the Shroud of Turin, has major conceptual errors to the extent that its main claims are totally unsupported and even meaningless. Moreover, the authors are essentially presenting personal opinions disregarding the most fundamental scientific approach. In the following, I address separately the most important errors. 1) The term "stochastic process" is misused and misunderstood by the authors. A sto-chastic process is a mathematical modeling technique used in many scientific domains including computer science, biology, physics, chemistry, and more (Çinlar, 2013). For example, the Brownian motion of particles suspended in a fluid was first mathematically analysed using a stochastic process. A stochastic process needs to have a description of its random variables, with their probability density function, but no such description is presented in that paper. The only model we could try to infer from that paper is from the following two contradictory sentences (appearing near the end of the paper!): "Such damage on the fibrils, which depends on the intensity of the energy sources and their macroscopic effect (yel-lowing of fibrils), is purely probabilistic. In our hypothesis, the dependence of yellowing fibril density versus the distance is linear, [...]" (pp. 8-9). These statements are contradictory: "is purely probabilistic" means that the probability density function is uniform, but that would be impossible because there is a clear image of a body on the Shroud whereas a uniform probability would create a uniform noisy image. On the other hand, if we accept that the "density versus the distance is lin-ear", this would not be probabilistic, but deterministic. So we are left with a stochastic process that creates a noisy image. Misunderstanding of what is a stochastic process can also be inferred from the following statement: "In this case, what was the source of energy? This question is and will remain open because for a stochastic process, if two or more sources of energy are involved (which can well be the case for the Shroud images), it is not possible to know which one has triggered it." (p. 8) This general statement is untrue because several clearly identifiable energy sources can be modeled using stochastic processes. In other words, the fact that a physical process is modeled using a stochastic process has no implication about the energy sources: among other things, they can be clearly identifiable. In summary, for this first point, the authors are not describing a stochastic process, but are refering to a putative random physical phenomenon that would have created the image on the Shroud, which they do not describe with any precision.
This paper presents the late Roman fine pottery i assemblages that have been discovered in summer 2011 at Gadara (Umm Qais) in northern Jordan. Four groups of fine red-slipped pottery could be recognized according to their wares and main... more
This paper presents the late Roman fine pottery i assemblages that have been discovered in summer 2011 at Gadara (Umm Qais) in northern Jordan. Four groups of fine red-slipped pottery could be recognized according to their wares and main shapes: The Pho-caean Red Slip Wares (LRC), the Cypriot Red Slip Wares (LRD), the African Red Slip Wares (ARS), and the Egyptian Red Slip Wares (ERS). This paper is focused on studying these four groups according to their main characters, types, numbers, and the most frequently occurring types. It is also focused on clarifying the trade relations and export between the city of Gadara, during the Roman and Byzantine periods, and the remote production centers of the fine Roman pottery. This study exposed that some types of fine pottery at Gadara were more common than other types; it also demonstrated the existence of new forms of fine pottery.
This study is a review and in several cases it sheds light upon the history of Jerusalem City during the Roman and Byzantine epochs through focusing on a) the demography of the city, b) the names which had been mentioned in historical... more
This study is a review and in several cases it sheds light upon the history of Jerusalem City during the Roman and Byzantine epochs through focusing on a) the demography of the city, b) the names which had been mentioned in historical sources, c) ancient inscriptions and d) its urban design. The review goes through Jewish sources, particularly those which deal with the reign of the Roman leader, Pompey (Pompey the Great) and the Maccabees (Machabees); the reign of the Roman Emperor, Titus, during which the Jews were tortured; the reign of the Roman king of Jews, Herod (or Herod the Great); the reign of the Roman Emperor, Ha-drian; and the converting of the City from paganism to Christianity.
The methodology for the conservation of the mosaic floor of the byzantine bath in Khirbet Yajuz in Jordan is presented. The mosaic was discovered in 1998, and needed urgent protection measures. Both optical investigation and analytical... more
The methodology for the conservation of the mosaic floor of the byzantine bath in Khirbet Yajuz in Jordan is presented. The mosaic was discovered in 1998, and needed urgent protection measures. Both optical investigation and analytical examination of mosaic samples were carried out by stereo optical microscopy and XRD, and both revealed that the tessellatum (Mosaic surface) was subjected to intensive deterioration aspects such as deposited encrustation, salt efflorescence, cracking, surface pitting, discoloration and biological growth. The performed conservation activities included documenting the mosaic by photographs and drawings in scale 1:1; reinforcing the mosaic edges and the preparatory layers with lime mortar; mechanical and chemical cleaning; filling the small lacunae; surface coating using Paraloid B72 ; reburial of the mosaic by sand to avoid the environmental factors, and herbicide application to prevent plants intrusion.
Mevlana Dervish Lodge, which is the place from where the ideas of Mevlana that embraces the world with tolerance, love and humanistic values had been spread, is today a museum sheltering the tomb of Mevlana. It is visited by people from... more
Mevlana Dervish Lodge, which is the place from where the ideas of Mevlana that embraces the world with tolerance, love and humanistic values had been spread, is today a museum sheltering the tomb of Mevlana. It is visited by people from all around the world. The Mevlana Museum is the form of a social complex that has many surrounding historical structures. There is no documentation reflecting the current status of structures around the building due to either lack of performance of a detailed documentation or modifications made in time. In this study; kitchen, dervish rooms and historical ablution fountain within the courtyard of the Mevlana Museum have been measured and documented in detail by terrestrial laser scanning and photogrammetry methods. The laser scanning measurements have been registered consecutively by the iterative closest point (ICP) method, and point cloud model has been composed. Global registration has been applied to point cloud model which has been created in order to decrease the error resulting from the registration consecutively. Then three-dimensional (3D) digital models have been composed by covering the point cloud with texture by the photogrammetric images. Moreover, detail measurements of the object have been provided by composing the inter section of the model with the determined reference plane and digital elevation model has been generated.
A total 103 fragments of Roman glass tableware are studied, unearthed at 7 archaeological sites in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, to establish both similarities and differences in their chemical composition. ICP Mass Spectrometry... more
A total 103 fragments of Roman glass tableware are studied, unearthed at 7 archaeological sites in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, to establish both similarities and differences in their chemical composition. ICP Mass Spectrometry is used to characterize the chemical composition of: (i) major elements, so as to determine the type of glass; (ii) minor elements, added to improve the properties of the glass; and, (iii) trace elements, as indicators of the base raw material of the glass. Multivariate statistical studies are also used to establish links and significant differences between glass samples, shedding further light on knowledge of Roman glass manufacturing techniques in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. Three main conclusions were achieved. (i) There are significant chemical differences between samples from Braga (Bracara Augusta, Portugal) and the other samples. (ii) These other samples may be sorted into three major groups according to their chemical constituents. (iii) Finally, the statistical analysis and the chemical composition of several glass fragments suggest they were found at some distance from their place of manufacture, requiring the reclassification of their archaeological site of prove-nance.
The finding of considerable remains of glass mosaic floors, together with great stone mosaic floors dated back to Byzantine period (6 th to 7 th century A.D) from the Cross Church at the Jerash/Jerasa archaeological site in northern... more
The finding of considerable remains of glass mosaic floors, together with great stone mosaic floors dated back to Byzantine period (6 th to 7 th century A.D) from the Cross Church at the Jerash/Jerasa archaeological site in northern Jordan represented a strange phenomenon (glass mosaic). The chemical analysis of ancient glass mosaic tesserae can provide important information regarding the manufacturing technology of the glass mosaic made during a specific period. The aim of this study is to characterize the chemical and technological aspects of Byzantine glasses excavated from this main archaeological site. For this purpose, a considerable group of glass tesserae of different colours were collected and analyzed by XRF spectroscopy. XRD spectroscopy was used to identify the crystalline phases of glass tesserae and mineralogically to characterize the underlying lime mortar. All samples were investigated by optical microscopy. The results of chemical analyses indicated that the glass tesserae show a clear difference in chemical composition. The majority of the glass tesserae are compositionally homogeneous and belongs to the so-called natron-based silica-soda-lime glass type, whereas some samples are of relatively high level content of lead and aluminium. The tesserae colorants and opacifiers also are varied. Microscopic examination show obvious formal differences among glass tes-serae samples.
Marking bread was an old practice performed in different parts of the old world. It was done for religious, magical, economic and identification purposes. Bread stamps differ from other groups of stamps. Accordingly, the aim of this... more
Marking bread was an old practice performed in different parts of the old world. It was done for religious, magical, economic and identification purposes. Bread stamps differ from other groups of stamps. Accordingly, the aim of this article is to identify such stamps, displayed or stored, in a number of Jordanian Archaeological Museums. A collection of twelve ancient bread stamps were identified and studied. Two of the stamps were of unknown provenance while the others came from al-Shuneh, Dhiban, Khirbet an-Nawafla, Abu-Sido and Jerash. The stamps are presented according to their museum collection since a chronological classification could not be achieved due to the fact that the majority of the stamps were purchased from antiquities dealers.
Krabia School was decorated with wall paintings which were applied at ceiling and walls of halls and rooms by oil techniques. The Krabia School is dating back to Khediew Ismail period (1875AD/1292Higri). These wall paintings suffered from... more
Krabia School was decorated with wall paintings which were applied at ceiling and walls of halls and rooms by oil techniques. The Krabia School is dating back to Khediew Ismail period (1875AD/1292Higri). These wall paintings suffered from several deterioration aspects such as flaking, powdering, cracking, discoloration, salt effects and covered with numerous of dirt, stains and insects remains. In this study painting technique has been examined by means of X-Ray diffraction (XRD), observation of samples by transmitted light optical microscopy (LOM), polarized microscope (PM), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) attached with EDX and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis to determine the origins of archaeological raw materials, ascertain the techniques that had been used to apply the plaster and the paint layers used in Egyptian wall paintings during the 19 th century and to obtain chemical and physical information about ongoing changes. it was noted that the painting layer consist of two layers and the painter's palette was made up of several pigments as zinc oxide, white titanium (TiO2), red lead (minium Pb3O4), mussicot PbO, barium sulfate (BaSO4), Hematite (Fe2O3), vanadium oxide and strontium sulfite SrSO4. In addition, some decay products, such as sodium chlorides and kaolinite were detected.
The aim of this study is to report from the analyses of a corroded iron dagger from the Iron Age city at Tall Abu al-Kharaz, Jordan Valley, and to present the conservation procedures. Preliminary condition assessment was carried out by... more
The aim of this study is to report from the analyses of a corroded iron dagger from the Iron Age city at Tall Abu al-Kharaz, Jordan Valley, and to present the conservation procedures. Preliminary condition assessment was carried out by visual examination and stereomicroscope. X-ray radiography was used to reveal surface details under the external deposits and corrosion layers. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was used to identify the mineralogical composition of the corrosion products. Polarized light microscopy (PLM) was used to examine a cross-section taken from the dagger to determine its corrosion profile and internal metallographic microstructure. The dagger's radiograph showed that the edges and tip of the dagger were its weakest and most corroded parts. XRD results showed that goethite (α-FeOOH), lepidocrocite (γ-FeOOH) and magnetite (Fe3O4) were the main corrosion products. PLM examination showed that the dagger had greatly converted into magnetite. It also showed signs of hammering, carburization and heat treatment during the manufacturing process of the artifact. The dagger was treated by immersion in an alkaline solution to extract any chloride ions present in the artifact. It was then treated with tannic acid to produce a coherent film of black ferric tannate. Finally, it was coated with Paraloid B72 to consolidate it and protect it from atmospheric humidity and corrosive ions in the environmentally uncontrolled storage area.
This brief communication aims to note on the rather rarely reported condition of Stafne's cavity (Stafne, 1942) among ancient Greek populations affecting in this case a 7 th c. BC, older (from 55 to ca. 60/65 years of age) male individual... more
This brief communication aims to note on the rather rarely reported condition of Stafne's cavity (Stafne, 1942) among ancient Greek populations affecting in this case a 7 th c. BC, older (from 55 to ca. 60/65 years of age) male individual retrieved from the "Akpinar" necropolis of Klazomenai (Klazoumen-Urla, Turkey), one of the twelve cities of the Greek Ionian Confederacy located in Asia Minor (Herodotus, 1:142).
Recent investigations of Danish and Swedish passage graves and their orientation patterns show a dominance of orientation directions which can be explained primarily in relation to full moonrises during the summer period. Both the Danish... more
Recent investigations of Danish and Swedish passage graves and their orientation patterns show a dominance of orientation directions which can be explained primarily in relation to full moonrises during the summer period. Both the Danish and Swedish passage graves tend to form clusters. Each cluster has a very similar orientation pattern, and this calls for an astronomical explanation. About 200 Portuguese and Spanish megalithic tombs seem to have similar orientation patterns to the Scandinavian ones; these will be the subject of further studies. A group of megalithic tombs located in West Iberia in central Alentejo and the surrounding area have been chosen for a statistical test case using the same model used for the Scandinavian passage tombs. The test model is based on 1) the Equinoctial Full Moons (EFMs), i.e., the "spring full moon" and the "autumn full moon", 2) the first and last summer full moons (defined as the second full moons in this paper) and 3) the south-ernmost full moon. These are used in the hypothesis for the test case. The model fits 99% of the observations and the test results show a high statistical probability factor p (p = 0.56) when the observed distribution is matched with the model, meaning that the model distribution and the observed distribution likely have the same origin. The comparison between the main body of the observations (98%) and the model is interesting because the probability factor reaches the value of 0.86, which supports the null hypothesis.
In the last years an ever-increasing number of virtual models has been developed for research and communication of archaeological knowledge and hypotheses about cultural heritage monuments. Nowadays whole archaeological landscapes with... more
In the last years an ever-increasing number of virtual models has been developed for research and communication of archaeological knowledge and hypotheses about cultural heritage monuments. Nowadays whole archaeological landscapes with temples and other buildings can be digitally reconstructed in virtual space. A virtual walk through such a landscape provides a proper view of the past as good as it can be derived from archaeological knowledge. Together with advances in character animation this allows the creation of increasingly popular lively and eye-catching installations for public education in museum installations. There are many archaeological remains which have also been interpreted in an astronomical context. Accurate virtual models combined with a correctly modeled sky allow an immediate archaeoastronomical investigation and interpretation, and can then also be used to display the potential finds to a wider audience. However, there is a gap between good sky simulations and good architectural simulations, in that the first are usually not able to render three-dimensional architecture, and the latter usually only allow very simple or at best present-day sky simulations. This paper discusses the use of the popular Unity game engine for the presentation of the archaeological landscape around the two Neolithic circular ditch systems near today's Pranhartsberg (Lower Austria), where one shows a very accurate solstitial entrance orientation .
At the 20th International Conference of the European Society for Astronomy in Culture , held in Slovenia in 2012, Reza Assasi (2013) presented the paper 'Swastika: The Forgotten Constellation Representing the Chariot of Mithras', in which... more
At the 20th International Conference of the European Society for Astronomy in Culture , held in Slovenia in 2012, Reza Assasi (2013) presented the paper 'Swastika: The Forgotten Constellation Representing the Chariot of Mithras', in which he identified Mithras and his quadriga with the constellation Draco, centre of the zodiac in the map of the stars. Thus he proposed a new interpretation that contradicted that accepted by researchers of the Mithraic religion who associate Mithras with the sun. This article aims to show that, contrary to this new interpretation, Mithras should still be identified with the solar deity. Mithraic iconography and liturgy is analysed in the present work, paying special attention to the relationship between the two solar deities Helios and Mithras. The context in which the swastika is depicted is analysed, demonstrating that it never represented a constellation but instead represented the sun. We follow the theory of David Ulansey (1994), which asserts that Mithras should be identified with the "hypercosmic sun", the sphere of fire which Greek philosophers located beyond the starry heavens.
Below Machu Picchu, near the confluence of the Aobamba and Urubamba rivers, lies a large and complex shrine, initially identified by Bingham as the Intihuatana of the Urubamba River. The massive granite stone is approximately on the June... more
Below Machu Picchu, near the confluence of the Aobamba and Urubamba rivers, lies a large and complex shrine, initially identified by Bingham as the Intihuatana of the Urubamba River. The massive granite stone is approximately on the June solstice sunrise axis between Llactapata's Sun Temple and Machu Picchu's Sacred Pla-za. The Intihuatana contains carved steps, east-west sightlines, water channels, a spring, fountains, caves, and basins, also aligned east-west. While many of these motifs are known at other sites, it is less common to find them all at the same shrine. Adjacent to the carved granite stone is a tower, which is symbolically congruent with the Torreon of Machu Picchu, as well as a possible residence and storehouse.
Despite the fact that ancient writings indicate a clear necessity to orient Roman towns according to the path of the sun (Hyginus Gromatius, Constitutio, 1), Le Gall (1975) in an early work made clear that there was no clear preferred... more
Despite the fact that ancient writings indicate a clear necessity to orient Roman towns according to the path of the sun (Hyginus Gromatius, Constitutio, 1), Le Gall (1975) in an early work made clear that there was no clear preferred orientation pattern. However, Le Gall's analysis was done by taking into consideration a sparse number of Roman towns from widely different latitudes, ranging from England to Algeria. However, recent results show that when a restricted geographic area is considered, some patterns of orientation do arise (Magli 2008, González-García and Costa-Ferrer 2011). We present the preliminary results from a survey to obtain a statistically significant sample of the orientation of Roman cities in Hispania. This region was where the greatest number of cities were founded in the western part of the Roman Empire, both during the Republic and the Empire (Laurence, Esmonde Cleary & Sears, 2011), and it provides a perfect test bed for ideas on the orientation of Roman towns. So far, we have measured 43 Roman settlements in Hispania, and we can already verify some of the ideas on how Roman towns were oriented. The orientation of Roman towns in Hispania do seem to follow an astronomical pattern, with certain directions perhaps connected to particularly important dates of the Roman calendar.
In 1931 John Teeple first proposed that the dates recorded on Stela A at Copán evi-denced the Classic Maya knowledge of the Metonic cycle. While his Determinant Theory has long been fully discredited, scholars' explanations of a 6940-day... more
In 1931 John Teeple first proposed that the dates recorded on Stela A at Copán evi-denced the Classic Maya knowledge of the Metonic cycle. While his Determinant Theory has long been fully discredited, scholars' explanations of a 6940-day period have been diverse (e.g. Morley, 1920; Spinden, 1924; Chambers, 1965; Alexander, 1988). The information , however, is not self-evident. At best, the use of the 235-lunar month cycle may only be inferred from a limited corpus of documents, but cannot be confirmed (Bricker and Bricker, 2011). While it may be imprudent to firmly dismiss the hypothesis concerning the Maya awareness of the Metonic cycle, it seems that even if the Maya has some knowledge of it, in practice this knowledge had never been consistently used or disseminated .
Athens was the focus for the development of three philosophies of astronomy-Platonism, Aristotelianism and Stoicism, which were to dominate the classical world up to the fifth century. All three were vital components of Renaissance... more
Athens was the focus for the development of three philosophies of astronomy-Platonism, Aristotelianism and Stoicism, which were to dominate the classical world up to the fifth century. All three were vital components of Renaissance European culture, combining notions of purpose, order and an ensouled cosmos in which all things were interdependent, including people and planets. This consensus was dramatically challenged by the publication of Galileo's Sidereus Nuncius in 1610 which did much to destroyed the physical model of nested spheres on which classical cosmology rested. Teleology, order and ensoulment survived but in an impoverished form and largely excluded from the new scientific, observational astronomy. This paper will examine the use of astronomy by William Shakespeare, the greatest writer in the English language, the majority of whose plays were written prior to 1610, and will explore how key passages and themes in his work relate back to classical Athenian astronomical theory, particularly its relation to fate. It will argue that, through his dramatic narratives, Shakespeare was the last great exponent of classical astronomical theory before the Galilean revolution.
In some of the Iron Age hillforts of the northwest Iberian Peninsula ("Gallaecia", in antiquity), public buildings used as saunas have been found. So far some twenty examples are known, in different states of conservation. These are... more
In some of the Iron Age hillforts of the northwest Iberian Peninsula ("Gallaecia", in antiquity), public buildings used as saunas have been found. So far some twenty examples are known, in different states of conservation. These are distributed between two separated regional clusters, northern and southern. The southern cases display a single pedra formosa ("beautiful stone") to define the entrance to the sweat room. In some cases these are richly decorated with "astral" motives. This fact, and the longitudinal pattern of the layout of the buildings, invites a search for eventual astral alignments. 21 saunas (10 northern and 11 southern) were measured. The results confirm the regional difference also in this respect: Only three of the northern saunas show solstitial orientations, but four of the southern are oriented towards the southern lunar standstill and three others towards dates compatible with the mid-season Celtic feasts.
'The Great Oak' is one of the most important myths presented in the poetry of the Bal-tic Finns. The contents of the myth have been formed and reformed in various cultural environments during many different historical periods. In this... more
'The Great Oak' is one of the most important myths presented in the poetry of the Bal-tic Finns. The contents of the myth have been formed and reformed in various cultural environments during many different historical periods. In this paper, the myth is analysed and its historical development is reconstructed by investigating its details and by comparing it to other similar myths and the known history of the Finnic peoples. It is shown that 'The Great Oak' is mainly a calendric and agricultural fertility myth related to the annual solar and vegetation cycle. Certain mythemes encountered in many variants of the poem reveal that it was related to slash-and-burn cultivation and the success of the annual agricultural yield, the measure of which was the production of beer for festival and ritual use. It turns out that the poem was sung on the fields of Ritvala in Tavastia in the rites held between the start of the sowing season in May and the midsummer. It is thus shown that the concrete use of the poem was connected to the annual rituals performed to ensure agricultural fertility. KEYWORDS: myth of the Great Oak, Finnic mythology, calendric myths, cycle of the year, solar mythology 320 M. RIDDERSTAD
The aquatic world plays an essential part in ecosystems. On the earth it provides the fertilizing, vital basis for life. Devastating giant flooding, however, has been destructive and fatal for certain cultures. Archaic people identified... more
The aquatic world plays an essential part in ecosystems. On the earth it provides the fertilizing, vital basis for life. Devastating giant flooding, however, has been destructive and fatal for certain cultures. Archaic people identified the realm of the water world as the primeval and lasting cosmic ocean, which surrounds and intersperses the world. The respective land ("the earth") and the celestial bodies emerged out of the cosmic sea, both swimming there as the first "aquatics". People identified different species of the celestial fauna and flora as having counterparts in the earthly water world, with the moon, single stars and asterisms, open star clusters, zodiacal star patterns, shooting stars, the Milky Way, and the cosmological structure. Ancient cultures, especially those whose subsistence was based mainly on fishing and navigation, often correlated their time reckonings using lunar cycles and star phases with the rhythms of the water realm (e.g. tides, sea-sonality etc.) and of certain aquatics. Fishing aids (nets, hooks, and spears), boots and ships as well as navigation aids were recognized in certain star patterns. Some celestial aquatics, e.g. certain fish asterisms, were important as navigation aids for seafaring cultures. Finally, their archaic cosmovisions are linked to the cosmic water world: There are widespread ideas about a giant water animal out of which the world was created or about the aquatic monster in the middle of the abyss in the cosmic ocean, causing earthquakes and tsunamis. The combat between an avian and an aquatic illustrates the antagonism and polarity of the upper world and the lower world, closely linked to the earth's water cycle. An example par excellence for a cosmic water plant is the water lily or lotus. The present work sums up some important aspects of the topic, based on selected examples and a comparative methodology.
The earliest large-scale structures in Peru that suggest intentional astronomical orienta
The rituals performed on the peak sanctuary "Tatićev Kamen" (Tatić Rock), located near the village of Kokino, FYR Macedonia, were connected with the agricultural activities of the Bronze Age people in the surrounding area and with the... more
The rituals performed on the peak sanctuary "Tatićev Kamen" (Tatić Rock), located near the village of Kokino, FYR Macedonia, were connected with the agricultural activities of the Bronze Age people in the surrounding area and with the change of seasons. For that purpose the motion of the sun and some other celestial objects were observed over the course of several centuries and their positions on specific dates were marked by stone notches. We present here the new results of the archaeoastronomical research of the site. By relating the stone notch that was used to simultaneously mark two different sky events, the sunrise on the specific morning in May and the heliacal rising of Aldebaran, we indicate the mutual astronomical relation of two different observational platforms: the one with the thrones, on which a ritual that had solar characteristics was performed, and the platform located on the north part of the locality, which was probably used as a observation point of the heliacal rising of Aldebaran.
The longstanding debate about the interpretation of the Concilium Galliarum, celebrated at Lugdunum on Augusts 1 st has been traditionally divided among those in favor of a 'Celtic' tradition and those advocating for a 'Roman' praxis. We... more
The longstanding debate about the interpretation of the Concilium Galliarum, celebrated at Lugdunum on Augusts 1 st has been traditionally divided among those in favor of a 'Celtic' tradition and those advocating for a 'Roman' praxis. We advocate, following the works by Audin, that the study of the urban layout may shed light into this controversy. We find that this Roman grid has a remarkable orientation consistent with the orientation towards the rising sun on days close to this festivity. The location of the main sanctuaries of the city, the municipal sanctuary devoted to the imperial cult and the Three Gaul sanctuary , situated on both sides of the river, reveals interesting astronomical relations. These could be interpreted as an attempt at the time of the early Empire to include the Augus-tus and Rome cult even in areas with a strong pre-existent tradition, like the Gaul
A modification to the gnomonic factor (fg) (Perez-Enriquez 2000) using the concept of Plato's triangle is presented. With the aid of the platonic gnomonic factor (fgp) as we called it, we found that the oracles mentioned by Herodotus in... more
A modification to the gnomonic factor (fg) (Perez-Enriquez 2000) using the concept of Plato's triangle is presented. With the aid of the platonic gnomonic factor (fgp) as we called it, we found that the oracles mentioned by Herodotus in his History (Dodona in Greece and Ammon in Oasis Siwa, Egypt) could have been placed there because the noon shadow of the sun of a vertical gnomon formed Plato's triangle the former, and the Egyp-tian "sacred triangle" (sides 3:4:5) the latter; sites where the value of fgp is equal to 1/1 and 1/3, respectively. This could mean that both concepts were known by Egyptians in Thebes long before, they were formalized by the Greeks. The priestesses, about whom Herodotus talks, knew the right angle triangle concept as an idealization of the sun's observation as it was proposed by Magdolen (2001), i.e., the triangle is the shadow casted by a gnomon. We consider that the idea of the use of a gnomon for site location could be found in other regions along the Valley of the Nile.
Recent research suggests that ancient Greek festivals with nighttime elements had astronomical links to specific celestial sights (Boutsikas, Hannah, Ruggles, Salt). Such an astronomical connection can be posited between the night sky at... more
Recent research suggests that ancient Greek festivals with nighttime elements had astronomical links to specific celestial sights (Boutsikas, Hannah, Ruggles, Salt). Such an astronomical connection can be posited between the night sky at particular seasons and the Mysteries of Eleusis, the pre-eminent religious pilgrimage of the Hellenic and Hellen-istic world. The Mysteries of Demeter guaranteed those initiated at the sanctuary outside Athens a happier lot in the hereafter. By the end of the Republic, cultured Romans headed to Ath-ens to participate in the rites of the Mother and her daughter. Cicero had been initiated at Eleusis and, as an objective observer, he reveals that the Mysteries can be explained through natural philosophy-through science. What natural phenomena occurred in spring and in autumn-when the Lesser and the Greater Mysteries were celebrated? Plato describes gates to the afterlife in the Myth of Er at the end of Republic-infernal gates like the cave of Hades at Eleusis, as well as celestial portals that would be located at the intersections in the sky that he describes in Timaeus. The initiated Cicero's translation into Latin of a section of Timaeus-the part with Plato's celestial X-suggests an astronomical aspect to the Mysteries. Another astronomical connection to the Mysteries of Eleusis could be found two centuries later when the theurgist authors of the Chaldean Oracles connected Hekate-the goddess of crossroads who had helped Demeter in the Homeric hymn-to the World Soul that according to Plato has the form of a celestial X. At that intersection of the Milky Way and the path of the Planets stand the gates to the afterlife according to Macrobius' Commentary on Cicero's Dream of Scipio, while Cicero had based the Dream of Scipio on Plato's soteriological Myth of Er and the cosmological Ti-maeus. At the portals to the afterlife-at the celestial crossroads-stood Hekate, the goddess who opened and closed the gates of Hades and helped Demeter find her daughter.
This article presents the results of an archaeoastronomical study on the orientation of the prehistoric funerary mounds of the Ikh Bogd Uul Mountain, in the easternmost Mongolian Altai mountain range. After introducing the results of the... more
This article presents the results of an archaeoastronomical study on the orientation of the prehistoric funerary mounds of the Ikh Bogd Uul Mountain, in the easternmost Mongolian Altai mountain range. After introducing the results of the measurements taken in the field, we hypothesise that the localisation pattern of mounds could be connected to an alignment with a specific mountaintop that is visible in the south eastern horizon, in coincidence with a specific lunar event: the southern major lunistice. In order to build a significant interpretative framework, we also examine several folk rituals from Central Asia that could be associated with the Mongolian traditional lunar calendar, as well as other moon-related celebrations.
Piedra del Sol is a free-standing rock in Chaco Canyon that marks June solstice sunrise. The petroglyph on the south face of Piedra del Sol in Chaco Canyon may depict the solar corona observed during the total solar eclipse of July 11,... more
Piedra del Sol is a free-standing rock in Chaco Canyon that marks June solstice sunrise. The petroglyph on the south face of Piedra del Sol in Chaco Canyon may depict the solar corona observed during the total solar eclipse of July 11, 1097 CE The southwest area of the rock contains features consisted with a sun watching station and faces December sol-stics sunset. During the 19th century, coronal mass ejection appears to have been observed during two total solar eclipses. The petroglyph on the south face appears to show a configuration of the solar corona that is consistent with a coronal mass ejection (CME). The hypothesis that a CME is depicted at Piedra del Sol is testable and can be disproven if the maximum of solar activity did not occur near 1097 CE. Recent studies indicate that 1097 CE was inded close to solar maximum. Miyahara et al. (2010) locate the maximum in 1098 CE based upon cosmogenic-isotopes. Vaquero and Trigo (2012) also found that 1098 CE was a maximum of solar cycle using a combination of documentary sources. The eclipse of 1097 CE occurred during a period of high solar activity, consistent with the interpretation of the petroglyph as a representation of solar corona during the solar eclipse of that year.
In India, since their inception, astronomy and astrology have operated concurrently and in complementary fashion, providing a grammar and syntax for a single semantic universe. In the present paper, an attempt is made to reveal the... more
In India, since their inception, astronomy and astrology have operated concurrently and in complementary fashion, providing a grammar and syntax for a single semantic universe. In the present paper, an attempt is made to reveal the epistemological and cos-mological foundations of Indian astrology and divination practices, using early astrological Sanskrit sources and historical and textual-hermeneutical methodology. According to traditional Indian sources, the formal cosmological structure is coupled with a rich mythological tradition in order to support a living, meaning-filled cosmos. This cosmos was relevant above all to the terrestrial world, especially to the proper functioning of ancient Aryan society. Astrological practices cannot be differentiated from other social practices on the basis of their symbolic exchange or their rhetorical powers. The concept of "like-ness" (sādṛśya) is fundamental to the operation of the Indian astral sciences. Therefore, to know the grammar and the syntax of the heavens-the unfolding chronology, the modulations of meaning-was essential for Indians if the order of the world and of society was to be maintained.
Orientation studies have recently received considerable attention in the archaeological domain as a source of information that may shed light on a number of anthropological issues such as beliefs systems or landscape and territory... more
Orientation studies have recently received considerable attention in the archaeological domain as a source of information that may shed light on a number of anthropological issues such as beliefs systems or landscape and territory apprehension by past cultures. This is especially important in those cultural contexts, such as the 'megalithic' phenomena , where there are no written additional sources (Hoskin, 2001; González-García and Belmonte, 2010). This is the case of the Hafit and Umm en Nar cultures that dominated the eastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula during the Chalcolithic and the Early Bronze Age (EBA, third millennium BC), in the so-called land of Magan (present day Oman and the Emirates). In a field campaign in January 2012 several ancient EBA necropolises of the region were visited and (when possible) measured in an attempt to shed some light on the orientation customs of these ancient people. This paper presents the data for about seventy monuments, and the first outcomes of the fieldwork show that certain customs were present in the data that are far from being easily understood. This is the first systematic archaeoastronomical approach ever conducted in the Arabian Peninsula.
We have recently discovered that, not far (8 km) from the Monte Arcivocalotto mega-lith (the Campanaru, presented at the previous SAEC Conference), on the top of a hill significantly named "Cozzo Perciata" (i.e., in local dialect "Hill of... more
We have recently discovered that, not far (8 km) from the Monte Arcivocalotto mega-lith (the Campanaru, presented at the previous SAEC Conference), on the top of a hill significantly named "Cozzo Perciata" (i.e., in local dialect "Hill of the pierced one"), there is another pierced rock. It collapsed a few decades ago, but a photograph, taken in the late 1960s or in the first half of the 1970s, shows as it was quite similar to the Campanaru of Monte Arcivocalotto. Furthermore, the lower part of this rock is still in place: it was thus possible to measure the direction of the hole axis. It was found that it points to the top of the Bronze Age sacred rock of Pizzo Pietralunga, with azimuth of 60.6° and altitude over the horizontal plane of 1.7°: this direction exactly corresponds to the one of the sunrise over the local geographical horizon on the summer solstice of the beginning of the second millennium BC. Direct observations performed during the summer solstice of 2013 have actually shown that the phenomenon is still observable. Also in the case of this pierced rock, there are various ethnographic evidences of the symbolical value of the claimed alignment. Concerning the archaeological evidences, in the area of a few meters around the pierced rock of Cozzo Perciata, fragments of Eneolithic and Early Bronze Age ceramics are visible. Thus, also waiting for further archaeological studies that can finally confirm the contemporary frequentation of the Monte Arcivocalotto, Pizzo Pietralunga and Cozzo Perciata sites, the probability that in this area could be found by chance two similar artificially pierced rocks (the ones of Monte Arcivocalotto and Cozzo Perciata), with different and complementary solstitial alignments (to winter and summer solstices) looks to be totally negligible.
This paper proposes that the Greco-Roman zodiac sundials that flourished in Greece and Italy from about the second century BCE to the second century CE were related to a probable zodiac calendar found in astronomical Aramaic manuscript... more
This paper proposes that the Greco-Roman zodiac sundials that flourished in Greece and Italy from about the second century BCE to the second century CE were related to a probable zodiac calendar found in astronomical Aramaic manuscript fragments in the Dead Sea Scrolls from Qumran, dated about c. 2,000 years BP and c. 2,170 years BP. I demonstrate that in the Ethiopic Book of Luminaries the zodiac signs have been substituted by numbered gates of heaven and that this codified model can be traced back to the Qumran texts. Furthermore, that this same pattern is evident in Greco-Roman sundials in an unencrypted form. I conclude that the paradigms in the proposed Qumran zodiac calendar and the Greco-Roman zodiac sundials are the same, making it likely that the Aramaic fragments contain a zodiac calendar.
Between the years 1898 to 1932, Lick Observatory organized a series of 17 solar eclipse expeditions, many to remote regions of the world. The science of these expeditions involved three issues of major significance in the development of... more
Between the years 1898 to 1932, Lick Observatory organized a series of 17 solar eclipse expeditions, many to remote regions of the world. The science of these expeditions involved three issues of major significance in the development of astrophysics during the first three decades of the 20 th century: (1) testing of General Relativity; (2) the physics of non-equilibrium stellar atmospheres; and (3) the role of magnetic fields in solar physics. The responses to these issues provide intriguing insights about the dynamics of paradigm change within astronomical culture, as well as culture in general.
Beginning in 1998, Victor Reijs (Reijs, 1998) made numerous observations of the sun's passage into the Treasury of Atreus through the relieving triangle near the times of the equinoxes. He suggested that this solar orientation was... more
Beginning in 1998, Victor Reijs (Reijs, 1998) made numerous observations of the sun's passage into the Treasury of Atreus through the relieving triangle near the times of the equinoxes. He suggested that this solar orientation was intentional in the design of the tomb and that the relieving triangle was, at least for a time, open to provide observations of these events. This paper takes a different approach regarding the orientation of these Mycenaean Tholoi, based on architectural and topographic considerations. Como (2009) and others describe in detail the construction methodology used in Mycenaean Tholoi and in particular that of the Treasury of Atreus. Numerous researchers have analyzed and discussed the complex forces involved in this structure, which explain the stability of the monument. As an alternative to tholoi orientations based on astronomical considerations , we argue that topographical characteristics of these sites dictate the orientation and to a large extent the construction of the tomb (Maravelia, 2002). The methods of archaeo-astronomy must include all aspects of the site: its topology, the architectural practice of the period, artistic expression, and the cultural aspects of the monument, not just the correlations of the site with respect to astronomical phenomena. The nine tholoi in the general area of Mycenae are examined with respect to their topological siting and relative to possible astronomical phenomena. We find that none of the tomb entrances was intentionally built to observe astronomical events such as the equinoxes.
I have measured orientations of the diagonals of Greek temples using a larger sample than before (Ranieri 2010), amounting to 200 temples, including several Treasures and Megarons. In addition, for each temple, I have used the best plan... more
I have measured orientations of the diagonals of Greek temples using a larger sample than before (Ranieri 2010), amounting to 200 temples, including several Treasures and Megarons. In addition, for each temple, I have used the best plan among those obtainable from the archives of archaeological journals, archaeological reports, and books. This approach has allowed more accurate and reliable geometrical analyses. The results show 57 temples with an unequivocally cardinally oriented main axis. Among the remaining 143 temples, 103 (72% of 143) have their diagonal cardinally oriented, with a standard deviation of about ± 2.5°. For the other 40 temples (28% of 143), the cardinal orientation can be attributed to the diagonals of half of the rectangle of the temple. The results point to a generalized topographical practice of establishing, as the first activity prior to construction , a cardinally oriented line on the terrain.
Humanity's integration into the cosmos is fundamentally shaped by the perception of structured celestial movements: the rotation of the celestial sphere and the various regular paths of celestial bodies. Participating in these cosmic... more
Humanity's integration into the cosmos is fundamentally shaped by the perception of structured celestial movements: the rotation of the celestial sphere and the various regular paths of celestial bodies. Participating in these cosmic regularities has been an objective of human cultures since ancient times. Reproducing their structures may serve to participate in their power and to manipulate or to stabilize their effects. Dance as a rhythmic pattern of movement is a cultural expression especially prone to re-enacting the structured cosmic movements. Hence, ancient traditions have considered manifold relations between dance and ideas about the cosmos. Cultural traditions reporting "cosmic" aspects of dances refer to: (1) the dances of celestial bodies themselves, whose interpretations are based on concrete observations such as the apparent looping of the planets; (2) human dances which are in some sense related to celestial bodies or celestial events, e.g. by costumes which equip a dancer with celestial symbols; and (3) the creation of the cosmos , ascribed by some myths to dance, and the repeated ritual renewal, reassurance, and stabilization of the primordial cosmic order through dance. This article on the one hand considers the definition of "dance" and the elements which make dance a "cosmic dance". On the other hand it considers which astronomical phenomena might particularly fuel the idea of a cosmic "dance". Examples from different cultures worldwide serve as illustrations.
In this study, a sample of 16 burial chambers (rectangular, square and two circular shapes), situated in the Iberian necropolis of the ancient Tútugi has been characterized metrically and geometrically, as well as in terms of noteworthy... more
In this study, a sample of 16 burial chambers (rectangular, square and two circular shapes), situated in the Iberian necropolis of the ancient Tútugi has been characterized metrically and geometrically, as well as in terms of noteworthy astronomical orientation. Furthermore, information compiled from the excavation records of Cabré and Motos (1920) regarding the necropolis satisfactorily coincides with our current results. The first major result in the metric study was the use of a measured pattern (the Tútugi foot) in all the monumental tombs of the necropolis, constituting a unit which we estimate at 0.294m. Also, the study classified the proportions of the burial chambers into three typol-ogies: the golden ratio, the Cordovan proportion, and the one-to-one proportion. The first two proportions were found only in a specific zone (Zone I), which contained the largest and oldest graves, belonging to the founders of the lineage and the subordinates of that lineage. In addition, and as the most important result, all the burials were oriented astronomically , without topographical orientations of note. In these orientations we found the recurrence of certain stars and constellations, which present a scheme that we must interpret , though with scant data available on the religion and beliefs of the afterlife of the Iberian people.
Two of the more remarkable sites of early Japan that have astronomical iconography are Takamatsu Zuka Kofun and Kitora Kofun. Located south of the ancient capital of Fujiwa-ra Kyou in Asuka, these tumuli contain star charts and paintings... more
Two of the more remarkable sites of early Japan that have astronomical iconography are Takamatsu Zuka Kofun and Kitora Kofun. Located south of the ancient capital of Fujiwa-ra Kyou in Asuka, these tumuli contain star charts and paintings adapted from China and Korea in what was the first major wave of cultural diffusion of knowledge from the continent in the early centuries of the common era. While the overall layout of the two tombs is similar, the ceiling star charts are quite different. That of Takamatsu Zuka is square and includes the 28 sei shuku or moon lodges, arranged in correspondence to the four animals of cardinal directions. That of Kitora is circular and contains stars visible to an observer of the chart's base latitude. Following discussion of the geographical and historical context of the two tombs, this article provides an explanation of the iconography of each tomb, including the astronomical and cosmological basis of the ceiling star charts and wall paintings, consideration of anomalies and problems related to each tomb's iconography, and a discussion of the implications of the iconography. While the tumuli reflect some of the best-preserved examples of ancient Chinese cosmological principles, they also indicate that tomb builders may not have fully understood these principles in adapting them to the locale of their construction. The iconography provided a symbolic base for reinforcing the hegemonic power of those who ruled and may have had greater importance in that role than in providing an accurate representation of the cosmos.
We present results of an archaeoastronomical study of the Iberian cave-sanctuary of La Cueva de la Lobera in Castellar (Jaén, Spain), whose foundation has been dated to the second half of the fourth century BCE. The sanctuary consists of... more
We present results of an archaeoastronomical study of the Iberian cave-sanctuary of La Cueva de la Lobera in Castellar (Jaén, Spain), whose foundation has been dated to the second half of the fourth century BCE. The sanctuary consists of several terraces, a cave and a rock shelter that have been artificially modified. The main axis of the cave is oriented along the east-west direction. A small niche at the innermost part of the cave is illuminated at sunset around the equinoxes through an opening located at the western edge of the cavity. We have photographically documented the evolution of the illumination pattern inside the cave, and have found that the shapes of the niche and the patch of light show the maximum coincidence at the temporal mid-point between the solstices, one or two days from the exact date of the astronomical equinox. Finally, we speculate about the similarity between the shape of the patch of light just before sunset and the side face of one of the most common kinds of votive figurines found in this and other contemporary Iberian sanctuaries, which represent schematically an aristocratic female image, which is sometimes assimilated with the image of a feminine deity.
The project presented here started approximately four years ago and concerns the main temple of Olympia, a UNESCO world heritage site, which is visited by thousands of tourists nearly every day. Although Olympia is familiar to everybody... more
The project presented here started approximately four years ago and concerns the main temple of Olympia, a UNESCO world heritage site, which is visited by thousands of tourists nearly every day. Although Olympia is familiar to everybody and its monuments have been well-researched for more than a century, there are still many puzzles related to its history and remains. A new interpretation of the east pediment of the temple and the ensuing debate caused the reopening of the issue of the reconstruction. The historical setting of the temple-building was also reconsidered and led to a detailed study and reconstruction of the architecture as well. All these investigations made extensive use of digital technologies and are presented here as a case study for applying virtual reality to old problems of classical archaeology. The digitization of the extant fragments and a three-year project enabled the production of a virtual 3D reconstruction of the east pediment of the classical temple of Zeus. In addition, the Doric temple itself as well as the famous cult statue made by Pheidias were also reconstructed virtually, making thus the visualization of the long and complicated history of the entire monument possible. The model is highly flexible and can thus be adapted to illustrate and to test different scholarly hypotheses concerning some details, e.g. the arrangement of the central group of the east pediment or the effects of different lighting conditions. It also allows the non-specialist user to manipulate the individual pieces of sculpture, to familiarize him-or herself with their original appearance and position on the building and finally to observe minor details and to learn more about the problems involved in reconstructing ancient works of art. A short video-summary and a CD ROM have been published, both of which can be used for different purposes and audiences.
The combination of 3D acquisition (terrestrial and airborne LiDAR, structured light, structure-from-motion) and 2D imaging (photographic, multispectral, panoramic, or-thorectified, reflectance transformation) techniques allows the... more
The combination of 3D acquisition (terrestrial and airborne LiDAR, structured light, structure-from-motion) and 2D imaging (photographic, multispectral, panoramic, or-thorectified, reflectance transformation) techniques allows the geometry, appearance and other aspects of culturally significant sites to be objectively documented. Traditionally, these data are usually transformed into models such as 3D textured meshes before they are visualized or analyzed-an often time-and effort-intensive process. We propose a system for the direct visualization and analysis of such data, allowing the different aspects recorded to be layered together, and co-visualized with annotations and other relevant information. We describe the required technical foundations, including gigapoint and gigapixel visualization pipelines that enable the dynamic layering of high-resolution imagery over massive minimally-processed LiDAR point clouds that serve as the base spatial layer. In particular, we introduce the pointbuffer-a GPU-resident view-dependent point cache-as the foundation of our gigapoint pipeline, and outline the use of virtual texturing for draping of gigapixel imagery onto point clouds. Finally, we present case studies from sites in Jordan and Italy.
The Mediterranean Archaeological Network (MedArchNet http://medarchnet.org) is a series of linked archaeological information nodes. Each node contains a regional database of archaeological sites, sharing a common database structure in... more
The Mediterranean Archaeological Network (MedArchNet http://medarchnet.org) is a series of linked archaeological information nodes. Each node contains a regional database of archaeological sites, sharing a common database structure in order to facilitate rapid information retrieval and display within and across nodes in the network. On the world scene, archaeology produces major new sources of cultural heritage data and material remains that require innovative methods for study, interpretation and public presentation. To take advantage of the growing body of such data, the MedArchNet cyberinfra-structure provides a workable model for researchers from a wide range of fields dealing with cultural heritage to collaborate, discover and monitor resources. In an era of rapidly expanding population and urban development, a system like MedArchNet can provide mechanisms to monitor archaeological site conditions over time and lessen the impact on cultural heritage resources by careful planning, and can significantly enhance site preservation and development potential in the Mediterranean basin. Furthermore, by uniting archaeological site metadata from many disparate datasets and organizations, the MedArchNet cyberinfrastructure dramatically improves the ability of researchers to ask large-scale, cross-regional questions of the archaeological data, providing fresh new insights into one of the most culturally meaningful areas on Earth.
Periodization is a universal and very popular system of organizing History (Petras, et al., 2006) by arbitrary dividing time into periods such as "Δικτατορία" (dictatorship) in a way that is specific to places and communities. Structured... more
Periodization is a universal and very popular system of organizing History (Petras, et al., 2006) by arbitrary dividing time into periods such as "Δικτατορία" (dictatorship) in a way that is specific to places and communities. Structured collections of time period names and timelines are considered very useful in cultural content documentation and temporal information extraction. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the systematic collection of period names of Greek History. New period names are constantly created or left out of use. Aiming to capture this combination of dispersed specificity and constant evolution, we used the Focused Mono-lingual Crawler (FMC) (Mastropavlos, et al., 2011) and an initial list of 25 "seed-terms" to develop corpora dense in period names with Web retrieved documents. Period names were manually retrieved from the accumulated corpora and were annotated for a set of features, including allomorphs that occurred in the collected corpora and whether the term denoted a fact or a time period or something else as well as for persons, places and other period names related with the term. The linguistic environments where the terms occurred were identified and some of them were fed to the (FMC) as new "seed-terms". This cycle was repeated for three times and yielded 78 period names with an average of 16 paradigms per term and a corpus consisting of 3020 valid XML documents. Some first observations on the strategies employed by Greek communities to coin time period names are reported.
Cyber-archaeology represents the marriage of archaeology, computer science, engineering, and the natural sciences with the aim of taking advantage of constantly evolving technologies for digital data capture, curation, analyses and... more
Cyber-archaeology represents the marriage of archaeology, computer science, engineering, and the natural sciences with the aim of taking advantage of constantly evolving technologies for digital data capture, curation, analyses and dissemination. Digital data collection tools are perhaps the most rapidly changing arenas of development in cyber-archaeology and are becoming affordable tools for every archaeologist. In this paper, we examine two users' approaches to produce point cloud models of archaeological sites using structure from motion (SfM) photography. The experiment took place at the Fountain of Peirene in ancient Corinth, Greece. Their implementation of the technology and their results are compared to highlight the very important role the photo-shooting session can play in the final outcome of the SfM reconstruction. We correlate the users' approaches to the applied algorithms' robust features and known limitations to provide a technical explanation of how archaeologists can significantly improve their success in SfM. As new algorithms and software emerge making SfM a common tool in archaeological documentation the methodology presented in this paper will enable archaeologists to meet the high demand for digital documentation on a global scale.
The identification of areas that are insignificant for archaeological research can be used for guidance and support in projects that involve decision-making about the use of land and modern development activities. On the other hand, the... more
The identification of areas that are insignificant for archaeological research can be used for guidance and support in projects that involve decision-making about the use of land and modern development activities. On the other hand, the identification of areas significant for archaeological research can contribute to archaeological knowledge and mini-mise the risk of unsuccessful excavations. This paper presents a review of the most recent and representative applications of pre-dictive modelling in Archaeology, which demonstrate that predictive models can be successfully exploited by archaeological research and Cultural Heritage Management (CHM).
The history of museum informatics in Russian Federation can be divided in stages according to the use of various computer technologies. At the same time nobody takes in account information technologies. First of all the museum cataloguing... more
The history of museum informatics in Russian Federation can be divided in stages according to the use of various computer technologies. At the same time nobody takes in account information technologies. First of all the museum cataloguing had aim to put information in order and make it accessible. Public presentation of museum collections and results of scientific research required new technologies different from databases. The up-today solutions are mostly based on web-technologies. Information goes to user. According to the Gartner Hype Cycle methodology, there are five key phases in every information technology's life cycle. First, there are one to two years of announcement, followed by testing and risk evaluation. Then, there are two to three years for inflated expectations linked to the implementation and usage of the technology to peak. Finally, this is followed by a recession and a negative slope. It is curious but just the archaeological collections always was in focus of case studies for the museum informatics. They started by scientific descriptions for the special aims of archaeological research using numerical methods. Then a database for the museum catalogue was developed, and finally we continue to look for the modern techniques for the virtual reconstructions and public presentation of our collections to wide public. Sometimes the necessity to avoid expensive hardware results in the good solutions and possibility to find balance between computer and information technologies. Now, for us the problem consists in usability of the information. Our visitors are in need of data and museum specialists are not ready to apply modern techniques for their purposes.
The development of three-dimensional documentation technologies such as LiDAR and Structure from Motion (essentially digital photogrammetry) has led to a recording revolution, as these methods are increasingly applied to field... more
The development of three-dimensional documentation technologies such as LiDAR and Structure from Motion (essentially digital photogrammetry) has led to a recording revolution, as these methods are increasingly applied to field archaeology. 3D methods have the potential to become an integral part of the archaeological toolkit, as they have the capability to produce spatially-referenced outputs, such as orthophotos and digital elevation models (DEMs), with greater efficiency than traditional methods. The combination of Structure from Motion and low-altitude aerial photography can facilitate the production of these GIS outputs, which can then be used for digitization or as basemaps. These methods allow for accurate and precise recording with a relative minimum of field time. As the existing body of 3D data increases in size, museums have the unique opportunity to be able to take advantage of these datasets to update their exhibits and display archaeological context and the process of excavation through visualizations of 3D models. The spread of 3D documentation and recording in archaeology may provide a unique opportunity for collaboration between these two professions, and allow for archaeology to improve its public outreach. The methodology presented here is based on field research in Jordan
Data recording is one of the primary requirements of any archaeological project. Some projects rely on the traditional pen-and-paper methods, while others have begun to employ field data recording applications through mobile computing... more
Data recording is one of the primary requirements of any archaeological project. Some projects rely on the traditional pen-and-paper methods, while others have begun to employ field data recording applications through mobile computing platforms. The former method relies on later transcription of the data, while the later passes over this step, integrating the data from various devices at some later point. Many rely on commercial solutions to solve their data recording needs. Well-known platforms, which have had a long and successful track record with databases, are now being employed for archaeological databases. Although these robust platforms provide straightforward solutions, they are expensive and not easily extensible. OpenDig was developed with a focus on open source frameworks, with the idea that future expansion would be important for any archaeological database. By utilizing open source tools that were born in the World Wide Web, OpenDig provides a complete framework for archaeological data from the field and post-excavation studies. The three main tools that make up the OpenDig framework are: 1) a field recording application for describing archaeological contexts, associated photos, geospatial data, and find; 2) a lightweight data reader and editor for deployment in field laboratories; 3) a full web application for a more complete tool set for reviewing, analysing and disseminating these data acquired from the field. Three tools, on their own, may not seem very different from other solutions available to archaeologists today. However, OpenDig demonstrates the viability of using open source tools and open source data to create a complete system for data recording, analysis and dissemination. The future of archaeological data lays in finding ways to link disparate data sets from various projects and being able to make sensible comparisons. This can only be achieved by providing open access to these data and creating common interfaces that allow archaeologists to link their data with others.
The opening of museums to society brought about radical changes in the museum practice, because their goal is not only the viewing of exhibits but a meaningful contact and communication with the public. According to this view, museums are... more
The opening of museums to society brought about radical changes in the museum practice, because their goal is not only the viewing of exhibits but a meaningful contact and communication with the public. According to this view, museums are trying to approach a wider audience, providing them with the opportunity of personalized use of information and active creation of content in an entertaining and interactive way. The following study explores various approaches that the social media (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Linkedin) can provide to museums, aiming at a constant communication and interaction with the audience. The vertiginous technological development, the digitization, the dissemination and democratization of knowledge, as well as the systematic information of the public by the mass media, have significantly influenced the museums in the way they promote their activities. The social media can be low-cost communication tools while addressing to a wider audience, as they can provide museums with the opportunity to benefit in many ways from their use, offering them the ability to give prominence to both their dynamic nature and the purpose of their actions. By studying the cases of important museums in Australia, America and Europe, it becomes immediately clear that the social media have already formed a basic communication tool for the museum's exhibitions and for the other traits that highlight the educational and entertaining dimension of their character.
Precise digital documentation of cultural heritage assets is essential for its preservation and protection. This documentation increases the efficiency of scientific studies that are being carried out during the restoration and renovation... more
Precise digital documentation of cultural heritage assets is essential for its preservation and protection. This documentation increases the efficiency of scientific studies that are being carried out during the restoration and renovation process. Precise digital documentation makes use of different laser scanners technologies. 3D scanning devices usually provide a large amount of point clouds, which require long post-processing times and large storage space. This paper presents a methodology to obtain simplified 3D models designed to remove redundant points and maintain only representative points, preserving the 3D model aspect and allowing the 3D models to be implemented in different augmented reality application on mobile devices. The 3D mesh optimization methods that have been analyzed and compared are dedicated 3D mesh optimization software (CATIA and Geomagic Studio), open source tools such (Meshlab) and a numerical computing environment (MATLAB). The methodology proposes a split step that can be applied to both assemblies and reconstructed objects. In this step the 3D scan is divided into components (for assemblies) or original parts/restored parts (for restored cultural heritage assets). The efficiency and robustness are demonstrated using different 3D scanned Dacian ar-tifacts.
The Ashes2Art project, an interdisciplinary undergraduate seminar offered every spring at Coastal Carolina University, has developed digital 3D models and other web-based resources related to the ancient site of Delphi, Greece since 2007.... more
The Ashes2Art project, an interdisciplinary undergraduate seminar offered every spring at Coastal Carolina University, has developed digital 3D models and other web-based resources related to the ancient site of Delphi, Greece since 2007. In 2012, the focus was on an archaeometric reconstruction of the 4th century Cyrene Treasury in the Sanctuary of Apollo. The following year the program expanded to explore the development of a comprehensive platform for synthesizing and integrating these disparate sources through an enhanced immersive landscape that leverages geospatial information, state-of-the-art consumer graphics, and gesture-based and audio navigation and interaction. A prototype for this natural user interface driven interactive platform was recently developed by students and faculty in the Ashes2Art program, utilizing a student-constructed 3D digital model of the Cyrene Treasury at Delphi as a test case. Using a virtual reconstruction of the Delphi landscape as a jumping-off point, users can explore the 4th century BCE site and its reconstructed monuments and cultural features. As a user approaches individual models, options allow them to explore the interiors and access interactive features to delve further into related media, scholarly primary and secondary sources, and additional high-detail models. The platform's natural user interfaces also allows for multiple users to interact with the platform simultaneously, allowing for instructor-student interaction and collaboration.
This paper presents an original approach in the virtual reconstruction of destroyed ancient monument types which have no similarities to other standing monuments, or documentation about the design of these constructions. In this case the... more
This paper presents an original approach in the virtual reconstruction of destroyed ancient monument types which have no similarities to other standing monuments, or documentation about the design of these constructions. In this case the virtual reconstruction is a challenging act, which can be done using a large variety of designs. These designs must be validated not just from an archaeological or historical, but also from an engineering point of view, to create valid virtual models from the construction's point of view. For this reason the authors chose to create the virtual reconstructions in Computer Aided Design (CAD) environment, in the detriment of design software's, because it's easier to create the virtual models and to do the simulations in the same software environment. Also in this paper are presented different reconstruction methods (photogrammetry using profile drawings and knowledge database creation) that can be achieved with the use of CAD software. The authors used different levels of details (LOD), which can be helpful in the validation process, where can be observed the structure of the monuments very detailed, and for renderings for dissemination. The case study was conducted on a destroyed Dacian watch tower by an interdiscipli-nary team composed of archaeologists, historians and engineers. The reconstruction of the watch tower was carried out in CATIA V5, and was disseminated through a video render, an virtual reality website and was imported into an augmented reality application. KEYWORDS: 3D reconstruction, 3D model, ancient destroyed monument. 84 ZSOLT BUNA et al ©
We present here some basic ideas and functions of a system developed for cultural, scientific and technical mediations of a good quality but still affordable adapted storytelling. The adaptation concerns mainly the topic variety and the... more
We present here some basic ideas and functions of a system developed for cultural, scientific and technical mediations of a good quality but still affordable adapted storytelling. The adaptation concerns mainly the topic variety and the knowledge deepness. In the first part we discuss the origins of the storytelling approach, its interest in mediation tasks; we also handle the problem of transformation of some narrative functions into operational categories of analysis by means of adequate metadata. In the second part, we give some elements of the knowledge organization underlying such a system and precise the notions of learning profile and of point of view, for a case study concerning a video-based presentation of a Renaissance painting; in our case, we distinguish three profiles and nine points of view. We then give some examples illustrating the capacity of the system to build abundant adapted stories about the chosen painting; we also argue in favour of the local-ontology construction, which supports the whole system, both at the back-and the front-office levels. We finally conclude with some educational enhancements we currently develop (storytelling generalization containing complementary mediation modes, as Problem Resolution and Serious Games, integration of stereoscopic 3D videos, intelligent track of an end-user during her/his reading process as well as customized contextual assistance to her/him reading goal).
The valorisation of the Italian cultural hotspots to enhance the tourism industry has always been at the heart of the local policies. Advanced computer applications can crucially contribute to this aim. In such a conceptual framework, an... more
The valorisation of the Italian cultural hotspots to enhance the tourism industry has always been at the heart of the local policies. Advanced computer applications can crucially contribute to this aim. In such a conceptual framework, an apparently "endless" series of ICT applications, sharing 3D assets, sprang into life in Bologna thanks to an Open Source background. The sequence of projects, that are going to be presented in the article, was initiated by the creation of the stereoscopic 3D medium-length movie "Apa the Etruscan". As an immediate consequence, four other projects have started, re-using some of the 3D models from "Apa ", and more are following. Our experience proves that a non possessive stance towards ones own products, speeds up and optimises time and costs, improving different end-products. The continuous transfer of models, adapted to new requirements, speeds up the productions, allowing to focus more on aesthetics, without damaging neither the source project nor the recipient , and reaching the widest audience possible. The multiplication of references can be seen even in the short term as much more fruitful than creating expensive projects closed in themselves. The rapidity of development and the increasing quality of the final product allows, hence, a distribution able to reach an increasingly wider audience, bringing the promotion of cultural heritage to a newer and higher awareness.
The wide availability of networked mobile devices provides a reliable platform for the development of the so-called communication engine for museums and cultural tourism. This research presents and discusses a novel open framework, which... more
The wide availability of networked mobile devices provides a reliable platform for the development of the so-called communication engine for museums and cultural tourism. This research presents and discusses a novel open framework, which can be employed to augment the visitor's experience and present targeted information in a personalised audio visual interactive manner on users' personal mobile devices. The proposed approach employs state of the art augmented-reality technologies enabling users to sample the information through the use of their personal mobile devices. Instead of using tagging systems such as visible quick response (QR) markers, users are directed to 1) stand on specific appropriately marked information points, 2) scan the area with their appropriately configured mobile device, and 3) access specific geographical or artefact-based ontologies that may include digitally restored buildings in 3D, audiovisual information on specific artefacts and/or other information of interest with directions to access other information points. The proposed framework may be employed at varying levels of complexity, enabling the development of archaeological edutainment scenarios and games. The use of the proposed technology has multiple advantages, such as: 1) highly-specialised hardware is not required, 2) devices can function in both open and closed spaces, 3) the quality of presentation adapts according to the device used, and 4) further information may be accessed as full interaction is supported. In this paper we review the literature and present technologies and related research that may be employed for the presentation of archaeological information. We also describe the proposed open framework, followed by a presentation of a sample application,-Additional uses are proposed in our conclusions.
The lack of efficient digital data processing tools during field excavations is a major bottleneck affecting the delay between data collection and dissemination in archaeology. In this paper, we outline the fundamental methodology of... more
The lack of efficient digital data processing tools during field excavations is a major bottleneck affecting the delay between data collection and dissemination in archaeology. In this paper, we outline the fundamental methodology of ArchField, an integrated digital field recording solution developed to overcome this bottleneck and translate field excavations to virtual museums in real-time. ArchField records sub-centimetre accurate three-dimensional coordinates from Total Stations and RTK GPS units. Recorded field data and measured 3D coordinates are digitally processed to produce auto-generated daily GIS top plans. The processing pipeline enables the generation of publishable online maps from the first day of excavation to the last. It is interoperable with many different GIS viewers and stores data in an online PostGIS database. Digitization of archaeological data in the field is streamlined to facilitate standardization, redundancy and storage that can be immediately made accessible online to the digital community. Consequently, ArchField integrates features such as synchronization, data formatting, re-projection, dynamic labeling and symbolization. It provides immediate online accessibility of field excavations for virtual museums of the future. ArchField enables any archaeological project to inexpensively adopt real-time 3D digital recording techniques in their field methods.
Any form of use of virtual reality or augmented reality in history and archaeology is based on 3D digitized models that are obtained in various ways (3D modeling, 3D scanning , photogrammetry, etc.). These represent virtual replicas of... more
Any form of use of virtual reality or augmented reality in history and archaeology is based on 3D digitized models that are obtained in various ways (3D modeling, 3D scanning , photogrammetry, etc.). These represent virtual replicas of real arti-facts/monuments. In the authors' vision, a digital artifact is represented by the digitized form of a historical artifact/monument. A virtual artifact is a concept that embodies not only the digital form, but also includes metadata, interactive elements, feedback elements, multimedia files, etc. coupled with stereo vision and the ability to interact with them by specific methods involving VR/AR. The quality of the 3D models used in AR/VR applications is influencing the visual experience of the users, and this represents a property of a virtual artifact that can be defined and quantified. The authors propose the introduction of the maximum permissible deviation term as the unit of measurement for the fidelity of the digitized 3D model. The quality of a 3D model does not depend only on the precision of the instrument/equipment used in the primary digitization phase and subsequent operations but also on operations prior to this step, such as mesh creation, surface creation, solid generation, optimization etc. The quality of the virtual/digital model is influenced not only by the methods used in order to obtain the 3D model, but also by the purpose for which it will be used (level of details are influenced by the limited amount of storage capabilities on some devices-AR). Other properties of a 3D model will be defined and exemplified, such as the traceabil-ity of the digital/virtual artifact, compatibility, interactivity and portability. The case study presented in this paper concerns the study of Dacian civilization from the Orastiei Mountains (the ancestors of the Romanian people) and represents the effort of an inter-disciplinary team's work. KEYWORDS: virtual artifacts, digital artifacts, virtual reality, quality 56 CĂLIN NEAMȚU et al ©
3D Virtual Models are the future of the representation of the existing and destroyed architectural heritage. The term reconstruction defines the rebuilding of a monument to its state at the time of its history chosen for that particular... more
3D Virtual Models are the future of the representation of the existing and destroyed architectural heritage. The term reconstruction defines the rebuilding of a monument to its state at the time of its history chosen for that particular representation. In recent years the evolution of the technology, has contributed significantly in many aspects of the field of cultural heritage preservation and recording. Techniques like digital image processing, digital orthophoto production, terrestrial laser scanning and 3D model processing have enabled the production of such alternative products. In this paper two characteristic cases of 3D virtual reconstruction of non-existing monuments are presented: The Middle Stoa in the Athens Agora and the Church of San Prudencio's Monastery in Spain. All data collected were evaluated and used appropriately for the final products. It is evident that the data collected do not all belong to the target periods and not all the data necessary to built up the models are available today. Therefore, one needs to carefully select the data corresponding to the period of study and complete them with suitable hypotheses. It is imperative that both tasks must be done in collaboration with archaeologists and architects. In this context a data hierarchy was developed, based on their reliability and correctness. The data were categorized for their reliability after careful evaluation their accuracy depending on the source. In this paper a 'Reliability' matrix for creation of digital models for cultural heritage research is presented. Sometimes the data appear in more than one source; in this case they must be checked for correspondence. All different sources should be evaluated and used accordingly for the final product. The procedures followed are briefly described and the results are presented and assessed for their reliability and usefulness.
Via Appia was built by the Romans around 312 BCE to connect Rome with Capua during the Samnite wars. The road is an astonishing engineering masterpiece. In particular, the segment which runs from Collepardo to Terracina-61 km long-is... more
Via Appia was built by the Romans around 312 BCE to connect Rome with Capua during the Samnite wars. The road is an astonishing engineering masterpiece. In particular, the segment which runs from Collepardo to Terracina-61 km long-is renowned for being virtually straight; however this "straightness" was never investigated quantitatively. As a consequence, the techniques used by the ancient surveyors and their scope-whether it was only practical, or also symbolic-remain obscure. We report here a high-precision GPS survey of the road, performed with a u-blox receiver and further checked with a dual frequency receiver. We give a detailed analysis of the methods used and of the errors, which are shown to be less than 6'. To our knowledge it is the first time that such a long ancient manufactured structure has been surveyed with such a high accuracy. The results lead us to conclude that astronomy was certainly used in the construction of the road and in that of the associated grid, oriented to the setting of the star Castor and to the cardinal points respectively.
Recent excavations in Tepe Sagzabad in Qazvin Plain, Iran, yielded some archaeological metal artifacts dating to the Early Iron Age. Among different metal fragments, a small tube was found. As a part of systematic analytical research,... more
Recent excavations in Tepe Sagzabad in Qazvin Plain, Iran, yielded some archaeological metal artifacts dating to the Early Iron Age. Among different metal fragments, a small tube was found. As a part of systematic analytical research, thin sheet tube was studied for elemental composition, manufacturing technique and deterioration mechanism using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy combined with energy disper-sive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and Raman spectroscopy. The results of analyses showed that the tube has been made from a thin sheet Cu-Sn alloy. In addition, it was found that the tube was completely mineralized, and there was no sound metal remained in it. Corrosion of the tube was composed of a bilayer structure in which the original shape of the artifact has been preserved. Raman characterization of the corrosion products showed that the inner layer is composed mainly of cupric oxide (tenorite) beneath an outer cuprous oxide layer (cuprite) which has grown outward from the original surface. This is believed to be due to a corrosion phenomenon of bronze alloys known as "decu-prification process". Moreover, microscopic investigation showed presence of elongated inclusions merely in the inner layer indicating both the manufacturing process and the limit of the original surface of the tube.
Archaeometry is the application of scientific techniques used to analyze archaeological materials. The Cretan Bronze Age Minoan Kernos, has hitherto, been regarded as a gaming board or for religious purposes. Here, it is shown, that, it... more
Archaeometry is the application of scientific techniques used to analyze archaeological materials. The Cretan Bronze Age Minoan Kernos, has hitherto, been regarded as a gaming board or for religious purposes. Here, it is shown, that, it was designed, specifically, to predict the occurrence of the 9th. January 1860 BCE Total Solar Eclipse. A prototype magnetic compass was centrally facilitated in a non-magnetic marble structure, whose geomagnetic declination angle, appears to coincide with the Kernos" eclipse prediction-axis orientation. Comparisons of eclipse constructions taken from Kernos measurements, with those of Hipparchus (2nd. c. BCE), appear to be similar, suggesting a common origin. Evidence obtained using a multidisciplinary approach, is testament to the sophistication of Middle Bronze Age science and technology and the ability to create a mathematically-based eclipse predictor and magnetic compass, 3800 years ago and 1700 years before the advent of the Antikythera Mechanism.
The paper presents the geotechnical, geophysical investigations and the numerical static and seismic analysis of selected underground monuments in Alexandria, Egypt i.e. the underground tombs in Mustafa Kamil Necropolis. The analysis of... more
The paper presents the geotechnical, geophysical investigations and the numerical static and seismic analysis of selected underground monuments in Alexandria, Egypt i.e. the underground tombs in Mustafa Kamil Necropolis. The analysis of the static stability and the behavior of complex monuments of this kind under seismic loading, are the key factors for the efficient restoration and retrofitting of these underground monumental structures. In the present paper, we present in a first phase a comprehensible geotechnical survey undertaken in this site, comprising geophysical ambient noise measurements (micro-tremors), as well as field and short-long-term laboratory experiments and tests, in order to define the physical, mechanical and dynamic properties of the soils and soft rock materials. In the second stage, we present the main results of the detailed static and seismic numerical analysis of these underground monumental structures (Catacombs) using the code, PLAXIS b.v with different seismic scenarios corresponding to the seismotectonic features of Alexandria. Advanced soil-rock elastoplastic modeling has been used through out the different phases of the numerical finite element analysis. The aim of the analysis is twofold: (a) to investigate the safety margins of the existing monuments, under their present conditions, against environmental (i.e. weathering) and extreme seismic loads and (b) to investigate the potential improvement of their global behavior applying specific retrofitting techniques. KEYWORDS: Necropolis of Mustafa Kamil, Alexandria underground monuments, ge-otechnical problems, geotechnical investigations, microtremors, creep tests, stability and seismic analysis of underground structures 192 S. HEMEDA et al Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, 15, 1 (2015) 191-207
A sample of 29 glasses uncovered from Tell Es-Sukhnah, Jordan, has been subjected for XRF analysis. The group of sample consisted of two main categories: samples from glass vessels and glass bracelets. The main aim of this analysis is to... more
A sample of 29 glasses uncovered from Tell Es-Sukhnah, Jordan, has been subjected for XRF analysis. The group of sample consisted of two main categories: samples from glass vessels and glass bracelets. The main aim of this analysis is to identify and authenticate the raw materials used in glass production, manufacture technology and the technical choices related to glass objects from the Roman to Byzantine and Islamic occupations at the site. Chronologically speaking, the chemical analysis of the samples enables the distinguishing between Roman soda natron glass and Islamic soda plant ash glass at this freshly excavated site. The most important observation was that the transition in the use of traditional methods and of the same sources of raw materials for glass-making occurred , with obvious modifications, from natron to plant ash and from calcium-rich sand to calcium-free sand through the period from 1 st to10 th century AD at this southern Le-vantine site.
The period extended between the end of the fourth millennium BC, i.e. Chalcolithic Age, and the beginning of the third millennium BC, i.e. Early Bronze Age, was characterized by the existence of a transition phase that did not exceed five... more
The period extended between the end of the fourth millennium BC, i.e. Chalcolithic Age, and the beginning of the third millennium BC, i.e. Early Bronze Age, was characterized by the existence of a transition phase that did not exceed five hundred years. That period called Ninevite 5 and it lasted from 3000 to 2500 BC. Radical changes had happened during that period before the shifting to build the big cities and the establishment of the Akkadian Empire around 2500 BC. After the settlement expansion across the last stage of the fourth millennium that named LC 5 "Late Chalcolithic 5" territories that extended from the south of Iraq to the north of the Syrian Jazireh, we notice that, at the end of the fourth millennium and the beginning of the third one, a recess had occurred to that expansion and the number of inhabited sites, which were dwelled in high population density, had drastically decreased to only reach 30%. Except of some small rural sites in north of Iraq and Khabour Basin in the northeast of Syrian Jazireh, this period was marked _ although it lasted for a short time _ by several features, at top of it all, is its unique and distinguished pottery that it had not been found anywhere before Ninevite 5 and which characterized by its shape, color and decoration. Distinctive pottery is not the only feature that characterized this period but also work specialization in Khabour Basin sites where the Upper Khabour Basin specialized in rain-fed agriculture to grow grains and then transfer them to the Middle Khabour Basin where they used to be cleaned processed and stored in specific facilities. These stored grains used to be either shipped to other sites along the Khabour river, like Mari, or be consumed locally by residents of the sites in Khabour Basin or served as fodder for animals.
Coins of Islamic period are primary sources that have been referred frequently by researchers. Designers of the coins along with rituals and titles always tried to decorate the circular space on the coins. One of these decorations is... more
Coins of Islamic period are primary sources that have been referred frequently by researchers. Designers of the coins along with rituals and titles always tried to decorate the circular space on the coins. One of these decorations is geometrical decoration, which was common prior to Īl-Khānids (658-735 AH/1260-1335 AD)[1]. In Īl-Khānids era, coins widely had geometric designs, especially during Abū Saīd period which architectural elements and architectural scripts were largely used. Base lines that previously had been used only in the building patron name, for the first time were used on coins in Īl-Khānid era. In addition, Hexagram which had been previously used in Islamic architecture more as a symbol of Astronomy was also applied on Īl-Khānid Coins. Mihrāb that is the most sacred Islamic architecture and some signs were use in coins before the Īl-Khānid, were considered by coins designers in Ghāzān era and in the form of mihrāb-like inscriptions was wildly used in coins and Architecture. Square Kufic is the last element studies in this paper which was used under the influence of religious monuments of its time in Abu coins. The reason of using these motifs on coins is not definitely clear yet but in some cases political and cultural mind set of the time played an important part in formation of such designs on coins in Īl-Khānid era. The aim of present study was to investigate the changes in coin designs which may were influenced by architecture and its religious elements till Abu Saīd era.
This paper explores the processes involved in the production of prehistoric paintings using inorganic pigmentation. The focus for discussion involves a number of rock-shelter sites that contain rock art within the western part of the... more
This paper explores the processes involved in the production of prehistoric paintings using inorganic pigmentation. The focus for discussion involves a number of rock-shelter sites that contain rock art within the western part of the Iberian Peninsula, with particular reference to the sites that contain Schematic rock art. A direct date cannot be obtained on rock art that is made with inorganic pigments. However, sampling and subsequent analysis has clearly shown that pigments were produced using tried and tested recipes that involved the use of sometimes organic binders. This paper will explore the chemical and mineralogical qualities of sampled pigments from a selected number of sites within Spain and Portugal and suggest that pigmentation was more than just applying paint to rock.
The rescue excavations, conducted by the Department of Antiquities of Jordan in 1999 and 2000 under the supervision of Alia Khasawneh and Nasr Al-Zubi, in two late Ro-man/Early Byzantine cemeteries at Waqqas and At Turra, in the... more
The rescue excavations, conducted by the Department of Antiquities of Jordan in 1999 and 2000 under the supervision of Alia Khasawneh and Nasr Al-Zubi, in two late Ro-man/Early Byzantine cemeteries at Waqqas and At Turra, in the territories of The Irbid Governorate, brought to light a number of glass flasks among the other funeral objects. A group of sixteen delicate glass flasks from both sites are presented here. This paper demonstrates that the flasks were used as kohl "eyeliner"containers. The analysis of a sample obtained from one of the flasks revealed that it was the mineral Galena. Furthermore , the presence of small applicators (kohl sticks) with the glass flasks confirms their use.
Entheseal changes are potentially useful tools through which the daily activity patterns of individuals within a population may be interpreted through the perspective of a bi-ocultural framework. Studying these patterns in Mycenaean... more
Entheseal changes are potentially useful tools through which the daily activity patterns of individuals within a population may be interpreted through the perspective of a bi-ocultural framework. Studying these patterns in Mycenaean Athens may assist in comprehending intensity of daily behavior of males and females. The upper limb bones of thirty four individuals from the skeletal collection of the Athenian Agora were studied in order to ascertain sex-and age-based differences in entheseal change patterns. The meth-odological approach implemented in this study differs from most previous studies in its analysis, as entheseal change scores were aggregated in groups that correspond to muscle movements. The results indicate that there is little significant overall sexual dimorphism of musculoskeletal entheseal change for this population sample when entheseal change is observed in individual muscle attachment sites. However, when the results are aggregat-ed into groups that correspond to upper limb movements, some differences in behavior between males and females emerge in the youngest available age category, which indicates a differentiation of roles without necessarily a significant difference in degree of rigor. This is consistent with existing knowledge of Mycenaean era Greek settlements. Further research into the utility and application of the aggregation utilized in this study is necessary.
The goal of the study is to compare the dyes used in ecclesiastical post-Byzantine (six-teenth to early twentieth century) textiles of Mount Athos, Greece, with the corresponding organic colourants used in Ottoman (sixteenth to eighteenth... more
The goal of the study is to compare the dyes used in ecclesiastical post-Byzantine (six-teenth to early twentieth century) textiles of Mount Athos, Greece, with the corresponding organic colourants used in Ottoman (sixteenth to eighteenth century) textiles which are preserved in the Topkapi Palace Museum, Turkey. During the historical period of interest , Mount Athos which has been the spiritual centre of Byzantine culture for centuries , was within the borders of the Ottoman Empire (period of Ottoman rule). Samples extracted from forty-six and fifty post-Byzantine and Ottoman textiles, respectively , were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). The analysis of a silk velvet (Topkapi Palace Museum) is presented in detail and serves as an example to describe the methodology that was applied throughout the investigation. More similarities than differences are observed in the results reported for the two textile collections of different cultural identity. The following materials were found in both post-Byzantine and Ottoman textiles: cochineal, madder, lac, young fustic, weld, dyer's broom, buckthorn berries, indigo/woad and tannins. On the other hand, soluble red-wood, old fustic and logwood were found only in post-Byzantine textiles while dyer's chamomile and Rumex species were detected only in few Ottoman objects.
The scientific dating, using comparative analytical techniques, of an icon which is neither dated nor signed was undertaken. This icon is not attributed to any known painter; therefore one should rely on the pigment palette applied for... more
The scientific dating, using comparative analytical techniques, of an icon which is neither dated nor signed was undertaken. This icon is not attributed to any known painter; therefore one should rely on the pigment palette applied for dating. The icon under study is located in Saint Abanoub church in Samanoud, in Egyptian Delta, representing the equestrian Saint George fighting a dragon. The analytical instruments chosen for this study were; optical microscopy, Raman microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spec-troscopy (FTIR). Optical microscopy was used to study the layered structure of the icon which comprised a wooden panel, an imprimatura layer underneath some paint areas, multiple paint layers and a varnish layer. The absence of both the canvas and the white ground layer was apparent. The pigment palette was determined by means of Raman mi-croscopy and the identified pigments were Prussian blue, ultramarine blue, vermilion, chrome yellow, lead white, lithopone and carbon black. These pigments were used solely or combined in complex mixtures to reveal the desired paint shades. The FTIR was used to determine the protected varnish layer as well as the paint medium applied. The identification of chrome yellow and lithopone was the keynote in dating this icon.
The paper reviews the key objectives for the rehabilitation and adaptation of the cultural Resources Management in the Arab world regarding the development of techniques and methods and the information extracted therof. The swift... more
The paper reviews the key objectives for the rehabilitation and adaptation of the cultural Resources Management in the Arab world regarding the development of techniques and methods and the information extracted therof. The swift implementation of such objectives is discussed. The paper presents some innovation to classify the contemporary users of the historic centers into different categories. The study of the relationship between culture and technology has taken several directions in cultural anthropology. It is here urged young archaeologists to be trained in the specialized skills of Cultural Resources Management, learn the principles of international archaeological heritage management, related legislation, methods of surveying and inventories of threatened sites and should have the required essential knowledge about how to coordinate and communicate techniques of site conservation and monuments.
In this paper, the coinage of Islamic empire is described in detail. The First Abbasid Period was explored and the images and script of dinar and dirham is discussed. The study presents that the dinar and dirham of First Abbasid Period... more
In this paper, the coinage of Islamic empire is described in detail. The First Abbasid Period was explored and the images and script of dinar and dirham is discussed. The study presents that the dinar and dirham of First Abbasid Period has changed the scripts and has written the name of legend Mohammad and the kalima. On the gold coin the name of Mohammad was scripted, whereas, on the silver coins Kalima was scripted.
Quart Towers are one of the remaining gates in the medieval wall of the city of Valen-cia (Spain). They were built in the 15th century and have recently been cleaned and consolidated. Prior to this work, a multidisciplinary team conducted... more
Quart Towers are one of the remaining gates in the medieval wall of the city of Valen-cia (Spain). They were built in the 15th century and have recently been cleaned and consolidated. Prior to this work, a multidisciplinary team conducted a physicochemical study to diagnose the state and composition of different materials. Stone, mortar, patinas, salts etc., have been analyzed as well as their state of deterioration Remains of previous interventions have been found in mortars of restitution and application of consolidants that have caused damaging salts. The methodology used is optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microanalysis. The results have been used together with documentary data to identify the components of the materials in order to, if possible, compatibility the material in the damaged areas and to determine the most appropriate techniques and procedures for applying cleaning systems, enabling consolidation and protection of the building without altering the unique characteristics of the original building typology.
Analysis of the symbols engraved on prehistoric unknown use terracotae, the so called frying pan vessels (Teganoschema), reveal a symbolic writing that depicts astronomical phenomena, that are complex calendars based on the Sun and the... more
Analysis of the symbols engraved on prehistoric unknown use terracotae, the so called frying pan vessels (Teganoschema), reveal a symbolic writing that depicts astronomical phenomena, that are complex calendars based on the Sun and the Moon and all then known planets. The frying pan vessels are mainly found in Cyclades, and around the Ae-gean, Crete, Attica, and Thessaly. They are artifacts of the Cycladic civilization of the Early Helladic Era. They have been found mainly in graves and settlements. The first findings came to light during the late nineteenth century in the islands of Cyclades and their possible use is still causing strong scientific interest, as it is unknown. Until now, archaeologists could not determine their use and the meaning of their representations. It was believed that these vessels were used in funeral rituals, therefore depicted patterns like the sun and the sea may be associated with beliefs about the afterlife. We have studied the morphology and the representations of the Cycladic frying pan vessels that are found in museums and in literature dating from the middle of the 4th millennium. In this paper we argue that the Cycladic frying pan contain calendars that are not only based on the periodicities of the Sun and Moon, but in a very advanced knowledge of the movements of the planets, their periodicities in relation to the Earth and the phases of Venus, which is used as calendar, as well as pregnancy and birth predictor calculator..
In the present study, a comprehensive investigation has been undertaken into a wooden Coptic icon dated to the 18th century and painted by Ibrahim El-Nasekh. It is located in Saint Abanoub church in Samanoud, in the Nile Delta, Egypt.... more
In the present study, a comprehensive investigation has been undertaken into a wooden Coptic icon dated to the 18th century and painted by Ibrahim El-Nasekh. It is located in Saint Abanoub church in Samanoud, in the Nile Delta, Egypt. This study included the determination of the pigment palette, the gold layer and the white ground layer and the wooden panel. The analytical instruments used were Optical microscopy, Environmental scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray emission and Fourier transform infrared coupled with attenuated total reflectance "FTIR-ATR". The analysis revealed that the pigments used in this icon comprises indigo (C 16 H 10 N 2 O 2), red lead (Pb 3 O 4), white lead (2PbCO 3 ·Pb(OH) 2) and yellow lead (PbO). The gold areas were made of real gold leaves applied over an orange bole layer. The white ground layer comprises calcium sulphate dihydrate admixed with animal glue. The wooden panel was found to be made of Accacia Pennata (L.) Wild, while Cupressus sempervirens L. var. dupreziana (A. Camus) Silba was used for pegs and traverses. A. MEDHAT et al Mediterranean Archaeology and Archaeometry, 15, 1 (2015) 151-161
This research aims to review what we know about the Nabataean official Syllaeus and the date of his death. Only two early sources that speak of his existence and activities, Strabo and Flavius Josephus, of whom only Strabo was... more
This research aims to review what we know about the Nabataean official Syllaeus and the date of his death. Only two early sources that speak of his existence and activities, Strabo and Flavius Josephus, of whom only Strabo was contemporary with him. This article sets out those primary sources and their context, which allows some deductions and much speculation in the scholarly literature that is not supported by the evidence. This study includes the publication of two previously unpublished coins in the Jordan National Bank, from the collection of Naif Al-Qsus, of Syllaeus. This paper concludes that the Romans and king Aretas IV were both interested in his execution in Rome.
Modern scientific tools and methods are playing an increasing role in illuminating key aspects of past activities of humans on Earth. Such approaches complement the more usual archaeological methods.
Egyptian Islamic Buildings are suffering from a lot of detorioration types, mainly groundwater and salt weathering which have caused the complete loss of the decorations of some of these mihrabs. Many mihrabs in egyptain islamic buildings... more
Egyptian Islamic Buildings are suffering from a lot of detorioration types, mainly groundwater and salt weathering which have caused the complete loss of the decorations of some of these mihrabs. Many mihrabs in egyptain islamic buildings need restoration and conservation, as islamic buildings are one of the most famouse hestorical places in egypt and over the world finding solution for this problem become very urgent. A physiochemical study using analytical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy was done. This characterization study, on one hand helping us to reach for the optimum conservation and completion methods; on the other hand, the deterioration factors of mosaic were determined. All analytical methods indicated that the Al-Mansour kalaoun mosaic mihrab contains lime, Gypsum, Dolomite, Quartz, Calcite and Aragonite. It also proves that sodium chloride (halite) is the principal salt causing deterioration.
This paper presents and discusses the archaeological evidence for Ancient rock art and Thamudic inscriptions from a site in al-Rajif south of Petra in southern Jordan. The site is a large sandstone called Umm Qraieh "Mother of reading" by... more
This paper presents and discusses the archaeological evidence for Ancient rock art and Thamudic inscriptions from a site in al-Rajif south of Petra in southern Jordan. The site is a large sandstone called Umm Qraieh "Mother of reading" by the local people in the village of al-Rajif. Human and animal figures, inscriptions, footprints and other symbols were engraved on the upper surface of the stone during multiple periods. The paper includes a reading of the deciphered inscriptions and a discussion concerning rock art in general and the significance of Umm Qraieh in particular.
During recent excavations at the archaeological site of Tell Es-Sukhnah in north east Jordan, an in-situ Rohdian amphora was found. The most important thing about that amphora is that both handles are carrying stamps in Greek scripts. The... more
During recent excavations at the archaeological site of Tell Es-Sukhnah in north east Jordan, an in-situ Rohdian amphora was found. The most important thing about that amphora is that both handles are carrying stamps in Greek scripts. The texts contain the name of an eponym, a Rhodian month-name and the fabricant's name. Similar objects in the southern Levant enable dating the stamps to the second century B.C. The imported Amphora at Es-Sukhnah, besides other small finds, highlights the importance of the site during the Hellenistic period. .
This paper focuses on the Abbasid remains that were uncovered during the season of 2011 excavation in Gadara, Jordan. It describes the architectural remains and the main types, shapes, and characters of the groups of pottery findings.... more
This paper focuses on the Abbasid remains that were uncovered during the season of 2011 excavation in Gadara, Jordan. It describes the architectural remains and the main types, shapes, and characters of the groups of pottery findings. Part of the paper is a comparative study for the pottery types. It is clarified the Abbasid settlement in the site through studying the pottery objects, and provides clues on the relations and trade bounds that link the site with the centers of pottery production of the Abbasid period. Especially more light is shed on settlement patterns in the Islamic Umm Qais and attest to the intensive development of the site over a period of the Abbasids.
In aerial and remote sensing archaeology the determination of the best period for the image acquisition in each study area is of major importance. This allows for a large number of marks to be indentied in the selected studied area. The... more
In aerial and remote sensing archaeology the determination of the best period for the image acquisition in each study area is of major importance. This allows for a large number of marks to be indentied in the selected studied area. The first step before the collection of images (archival and/or new image acquisitions) for the studied area is the identification of the Theoretically Best Period for Marks Detection (TBPMD) of the buried archaeological structures. The second step (before the supply of new image acquisitions) is to check the reliability of TBPMD. This study proposes a documentation methodology of TBPMD that is based on the results of a systematic observation (change of intensity) of marks of known archaeological structures. An image acquisitions system (remote control balloon) was used for the pilot study. Images were acquired every month for the period of one year in archaeological positions with known buried structures (Via Egnatia in the plain of Philippi, Eastern Macedonia, Greece). Analytical meteorological-climatic data of the area was collected and studied at the same time. The results of the study are encouraging, as they allow for further reduction of TBPMD in half days.
In 1985, the monument of Qusair Amra a particularly well-preserved Islamic palace site was afforded UNESCO World Heritage Site status. In turn, a steadily increasing number of cultural tourists have visited the area since that time.... more
In 1985, the monument of Qusair Amra a particularly well-preserved Islamic palace site was afforded UNESCO World Heritage Site status. In turn, a steadily increasing number of cultural tourists have visited the area since that time. However, the topic of presentation of heritage resources is still an emergent notion in Jordan. Moreover, an integrated presentation, approaching the world heritage monuments within their natural setting, is necessary for an enhanced preservation and interpretation of the resources. This study is an exploration of the nature of world heritage monuments presented to the public in Jordan through an analysis of a case study. The presentation and protection of Qusair Amra is the subject of a careful analysis in the research presented here. This paper provides an overview of the issues of risks generated by visitors and of presentation of world heritage monuments. The specific aims of the study were to assess the potential and current risks generated by visitors as well giving a general appraisal of implemented heritage presentation techniques. It examined the achievement of heritage presentation in enhancing heritage tourism development in Qusair Amra. On site visits were used to ascertain presentation tools and site management being operated at Qusair Amra. Conclusions and recommendations have emerged from this analysis. The main outcome is the lack of careful planning for heritage presentation at the attraction level. This lack has led to differences in the management of other issues such as interpretation and knowledge of visitor profiles. This research can be used in future tourism planning, tourist management and future interpretation of Qusair Amra.
In this study, pathologies referred to Byzantine period cattle used as draught animals which are discovered in Istanbul Yenikapı Metro and Marmaray Excavation are reviewed. As a result of this review, it is determined that cows and bulls... more
In this study, pathologies referred to Byzantine period cattle used as draught animals which are discovered in Istanbul Yenikapı Metro and Marmaray Excavation are reviewed. As a result of this review, it is determined that cows and bulls are used as draught animals for their workforce and thereupon some pathologies are determined on their extremity bones and posterior parts of their skull. These are symptoms like metapodial asymmetry, proximal, distal and peripheral exostoses, metapodial and cornual depressions, distal lipping, nuchal perforation and dehorning. The skeleton remains of Yenikapı cattle belong to young and old cattle, but it is determined that the individuals with these pathologies are elder ones. The individuals demonstrating these pathologies are both male and female cattle, so it is understood that the animals exploited for draught power are not only bulls, but the females were also used for pulling.
Ethnicity is a self-definition more than a definition by others. The relationship between emic and etic perspectives on identity is of crucial importance if ethnicity, as a phenomenon, is to be understood. In social anthropological... more
Ethnicity is a self-definition more than a definition by others. The relationship between emic and etic perspectives on identity is of crucial importance if ethnicity, as a phenomenon, is to be understood. In social anthropological jargon, 'etic' perspective of ethnicity refers to externally-perceived identity (They-ness) whereas 'emic' perspective refers to self-perceived identity (We-ness). The Nabataeans refered to themselves as (nbÔw), the Nabataeans. Here we concentrate on the second usage of the term "Nabataeans" i.e. the reference of some individuals to themselves as 'Nabataeans. Five inscriptions in which Nabataean individuals referred to themselves as 'Nabataean' were discussed. These texts written by: Ubaidu, Drb, Ýtq, MnÝm, and Mesmar. The reason for concentrating on these texts is that ethnicity is a self-definition more than a definition by others. In light of the analysis and discussion of the five inscriptions' words in which Nabataean individuals asserted firmly that they were 'Nabataean', we conclud that the value of the term (nbÔw), as far as the Nabataean ethnic identity is concerned, resides in the following two facts. First, one of the main indicia of ethnicity is to have an ethnonym. That is, an ethnic group must have a name. Second, this name must be given by the people in question to themselves and not imposed upon them
This research aims at studying the Nabataean architectural terms throughout their inscriptions. It demonstratea the Nabataean inscriptions which contain architectural terms and expressions seeking to point out linguistic indications. This... more
This research aims at studying the Nabataean architectural terms throughout their inscriptions. It demonstratea the Nabataean inscriptions which contain architectural terms and expressions seeking to point out linguistic indications. This also compares the different architectural terms occurred in the Nabataean inscriptions to their cognates in other Semitic languages, and stab to link them with the monuments in which the inscriptions were found and the existing ones. Moreover, the research reviews the historical and geographical distribution of such terms.
Metal jewelry is frequently found in tombs in Jordan dating to Late Antiquity and archaeological data provides a general view of economic prosperity in the region during this period. Metal artifacts recovered from mortuary contexts have... more
Metal jewelry is frequently found in tombs in Jordan dating to Late Antiquity and archaeological data provides a general view of economic prosperity in the region during this period. Metal artifacts recovered from mortuary contexts have long been used by archaeologists as evidence of wealth and socioeconomic status. This paper combines materials analysis with material culture theory to examine the use of metal jewelry in the expression and negotiation of economic status in mortuary contexts in Late Antique Jordan. We contextualize this material within both local and regional social and economic conditions to demonstrate the importance of color in analyzing the choices made by both producers and consumers of metal jewelry.
A paint-decorated pottery tradition is observed in Inner Southwest Anatolia from the early 16th century B.C. to the 11th century B.C. These pottery items, which are characterised by red, brown or black paint decorations over gold wash... more
A paint-decorated pottery tradition is observed in Inner Southwest Anatolia from the early 16th century B.C. to the 11th century B.C. These pottery items, which are characterised by red, brown or black paint decorations over gold wash ware, were first discovered at Beycesultan Höyük and Aphrodisias followed by a significant recent discovery at Laodikeia Asopos Tepesi excavations and included in the Late Bronze Age repertory. This group of wares preserved its general characteristics during the Late Bronze Age as a conservative craft tradition. During both the early and the late phases of the Late Bronze Age the pottery is represented at all three centres with gold-washed wares decorated with similar motifs. The Local Painted Pottery Tradition, which is important for the to-be-revised 2 nd millennium B.C. chronology since it was observed during a specific time period, might be accepted as one of the factors that characterizes the Late Bronze age in Inland Western Anatolia.
Among the multiple applications of Light emitting diodes (LEDs), archaeology and earth sciences have benefited too concerning the determination of time (chronology) based on the thermoluminescene (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence... more
Among the multiple applications of Light emitting diodes (LEDs), archaeology and earth sciences have benefited too concerning the determination of time (chronology) based on the thermoluminescene (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) method of dating artifacts, material culture of archaeological and geoarchaeological significance. Blue Light emitting diodes (LED) is mostly used for stimulation and bleaching of luminescence, in lieu of green and IR LEDs. Ancient inorganic materials made of geological rocks (carving, knapping, mixing, firing) are either fired in antiquity above 450 o C or sun exposed for a short time (surface luminescence dating) and thus the electron traps are completely bleached for the "zero time" clock to set up. The importance of blue LEDs in archaeology was the research product of 2014 Nobel Prize in Physics. On the occasion of blue LED invention and Nobel Prize we offer an extended overview of the development of semiconductor physics focused on LEDs (blue, green, IR) and linked to the principles of OSL dating in archaeology.
Over half a century ago Robert Merrillees raised a brilliant hypothesis according to which Late Cypriot Base Ring juglets, supposedly shaped like inverted poppy seed pod to advertise their contents, traded opium over the Eastern... more
Over half a century ago Robert Merrillees raised a brilliant hypothesis according to which Late Cypriot Base Ring juglets, supposedly shaped like inverted poppy seed pod to advertise their contents, traded opium over the Eastern Mediterranean. This most appealing idea was enthusiastically embraced by students of the Ancient Near East, in spite of the meager scientific evidence supporting it. In order to provide new insights to this intriguing issue four Base Ring I juglets recently found in a secured Late Bronze IIA (14th century BCE) context at Tel Beth-Shemesh, Israel, were submitted for residue analysis at the University of New York at Albany. No traces of opium were found in these juglets. Analysis of 14 additional Base Ring juglets and jugs from Cyprus yielded similar results. Rather, the juglets from Beth-Shemesh contained aromatic oils which could be used externally or consumed for their medicinal benefits. It seems that the one and only positive case as yet of a Base Ring juglet containing opium (from an unprovenanced origin, probably reused) is an exception that proves the rule-Base Ring juglets mainly carried non-narcotic substances.
Encaustic painting uncovered in the hermitage of Apa Apollo at Baouit-Assuit, was studied by means of spectroscopic, chromatography as well as elemental x-ray fluorescence, the analysis revealed unique information's about the composition... more
Encaustic painting uncovered in the hermitage of Apa Apollo at Baouit-Assuit, was studied by means of spectroscopic, chromatography as well as elemental x-ray fluorescence, the analysis revealed unique information's about the composition of the organic binding medium, as well as it deformation and alteration pattern. The elemental analysis highlights also the types of pigments used in the artistic palette used by the painter in order to execute his paintings. Beeswax was proved to be used, from bees which feed on sunflower, lead was the major component of the orange pigment indicating the usage of minium, arsenic sulphide mixed with hema-tite was used for the brownish red color, a copper based blue pigment, probably the Egyptian blue as well as the green earth mixed with Attachmate was also used for green colors. The results of the study gives a new information's about a unique paintings executed with a rare technique, in Egypt.
Research concentrated on the Early Epipaleolithic (Nebekian) in central and southern Jordan. Four archaeological field seasons occurred during the summers of 2009-2012. The excavated sites were on the Kerak Plateau (KPS 75), in the Wadi... more
Research concentrated on the Early Epipaleolithic (Nebekian) in central and southern Jordan. Four archaeological field seasons occurred during the summers of 2009-2012. The excavated sites were on the Kerak Plateau (KPS 75), in the Wadi al Hasa (Yutil al-Hasa and Tor at-Tareeq), and at the Wadi Madamagh rockshelter in the Petra region. Excavations were carried out by the University of Jordan and the University of Pennsylvania. The main goal was to build a systemic view of Nebekian adaptations and to use these data to examine the range of behavioral variability in the Levantine Early Epipaleolithic. Lithic analysis provided data relevant to site function and how hunter-gatherer settlement and subsistence strategies were modified in the face of climatic and paleoenvironmental changes during this period.
This article is concerned with the particular case of the semi-cylindrical barrel vaulted Macedonian tomb of "Eurydice", the earliest known Macedonian contribution to the development of vaulted Hellenistic architecture and structure. This... more
This article is concerned with the particular case of the semi-cylindrical barrel vaulted Macedonian tomb of "Eurydice", the earliest known Macedonian contribution to the development of vaulted Hellenistic architecture and structure. This tomb is considered as a critical case in the problematic chronology of barrel vault application in early Hellenistic architecture (around 340 BCE), represented by the Macedonian tombs. Still, perhaps the most striking features of the tomb-the physical structures of the barrel vault-have not been subjected to geometrical and engineering structural analysis. The paper's scope focuses on the structural assessment of Eurydice tomb construction. The paper primary objectives are to develop an understanding of the structural mechanics of Eurydice barrel vault within the supporting bearing walls, and to investigate the tomb unique geometrical and structural design. In order to accomplish this task, a general historical and structural behavior study was carried out regarding the barrel vault and its geometry, by following the theories developed by recent researchers, in order to compare these results and to rationalize them in this unique example of Eurydice tomb. Mainly, to undertake a task, that till now, was never accomplished. The results of this work show that Eurydice tomb exhibits such a high structural integrity and strength, demonstrating the ability of early Hellenistic architects to construct extremely safe barrel vaulting structures. The paper also argues that, the tomb architect was familiar with the main theoretical laws of structural force mechanics of the barrel vault, which were commonly accredited to the Romans, and that were later on revived until the 18th century.
PIXE and PIGE were used for determination of 23 elements in 50 glass samples excavated in Zlatna Livada-South Bulgaria (dated 11 th-12 th century AD). Elemental concentrations show that the analyzed fragments belong to soda-lime-silica... more
PIXE and PIGE were used for determination of 23 elements in 50 glass samples excavated in Zlatna Livada-South Bulgaria (dated 11 th-12 th century AD). Elemental concentrations show that the analyzed fragments belong to soda-lime-silica glasses. Cluster analysis and bivariate plots indicate the use of natron, plant ash and mixed alkalis as well as production according Near East and Roman-province recipes. The metal oxides responsible for coloration were also investigated. The blue and blue-green colors are due either to CoO or to high concentration of FeO (blue: 3.3-6.3%, blue-green: 1.23-2.83%), melted in reducing atmosphere. The melting under oxidizing environment determined the higher oxidation state of iron oxide and the green color of some of the glasses (0.7-3.4% Fe2O3). Different shades of brown color are due to the high concentration of Fe2O3 (2.4-4.9%) and Mn2O3 (0.3-0.7%) melted in oxidizing atmosphere. Discoloration of the glasses is achieved by the presence of high amount of MnO (0.6-2%). A comparison to other medieval Bulgarian glasses was performed.
This study deals with the characterization of building materials used in a monumental pier of Roman age, located at San Cataldo, the main coastal harbour of the Roman town of Lupiae, modern Lecce (Southern Italy). In the manufacture of... more
This study deals with the characterization of building materials used in a monumental pier of Roman age, located at San Cataldo, the main coastal harbour of the Roman town of Lupiae, modern Lecce (Southern Italy). In the manufacture of the outer curtains three different lithologies have been recognized , all comprised in Pietra Leccese Formation, which crops out in a broad geographical area of Salento Peninsula. Microfossils recovered from limestone blocks are used to suggest a provenance for the source-rock. Microfossils include planktonic foraminifera characteristic of the upper Miocene (Tortonian-Messinian) foraminiferal MMi11 (Neoglo-boquadrina acostaensis Biozone) and MMi13 (Globorotalia miotumida Biozone) biozones. The analysed lithic materials show biostratigraphical characteristics very similar to some samples from Acaya-Strudà zone (some 10 km SouthWest from the ancient harbour): comparative analysis has been performed, supporting a clear identification of the geological origin of limestone blocks. In hydraulic concrete different lithic materials have been used and mixed with a strong mortar. Macroscopic field observation clearly define that limestone clasts, variable in size, derive from the Pliocene Uggiano la Chiesa Formation, that widely crops out locally at San Cataldo; granular fractions of mortar probably derive from beaches and/or sandy dunes, available in the surrounding area, as well.
The study of the decorative of architectural elements is considered one of the most important studies contributing to an understanding of the extent of the cultural and technical development of the Roman society. The Jordan is one of the... more
The study of the decorative of architectural elements is considered one of the most important studies contributing to an understanding of the extent of the cultural and technical development of the Roman society. The Jordan is one of the sites that contain the architecture and the arts through the ages, especially the classical era. The article includes a study of the Basalt Ionic Capitals during the Roman period. Ionic capitals has been selected as a case study because one of the most important architectural elements that have spread through the Greek era and evolved in the Roman era. The ionic basalt capitals spread in some of the Province of Arabia especially in southern Syria (Gadara and Bosra). This article provides a study of Basalt ionic capitals from one main site in Jordan (Gadara); we compare them with other sites in Jordan (Gerasa); Syria (Bosra); Lebanon (Baalbek); Egypt (Alexandria); Italy (Rome); and Libya (Lepcis Magna). In studying ionic capitals, we find two types the first, ionic capitals decorated with the ionic cyma (ovolo), and the second, ionic capitals without the ionic cyma. They study provides a description and a comparative study regarding the first type, wherein those found on the Roman at Gadara and other Roman sites. In studying ionic capitals, appeared the design of the ionic capitals carved of basalt stone resample. it seem from the same school especially in the southern Syria (Gadara and Bosra) it's clear through of the decorative motif of ionic capitals. In general, the Gadara and Bosra artists (the sculptor of the architectural elements) showed great ability and technical skill in producing these decorative elements, using only locally available basalt stone as a raw material.
The present research reports the chemical and mineralogical results of various archae-ometallurgical lead slags from the Ari site at Lavrion, one of the largest ancient sites of Pb-Ag metallurgical activities in Greece, excavated by the... more
The present research reports the chemical and mineralogical results of various archae-ometallurgical lead slags from the Ari site at Lavrion, one of the largest ancient sites of Pb-Ag metallurgical activities in Greece, excavated by the School of Mining and Metal-lurgical Engineering of Greece, under the directorship of Prof. C. Tsaimou. Dating of the metallurgical slags was carried out using radiocarbon measurements, indicating the earliest phase of the Roman Empire. Chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to identify the Ca-rich silicate, oxides and metallic phases. The major constituents of the slag proved to be melilite (akermanite/hardystonite), clinopyroxene, olivine, spinel and glass. Zinc was dissolved in the silicate melt and was mostly present in the form of the zinc member of the spinel and as silicate (hardystonite). Lead, in contrast, behaves as an "incompatible element" and was likely to be concentrated in the residual matrix. Pb was also present in the form of metallic inclusions.
A totally preserved bronze strigil (cleaning blade) from the collection of the Ahli Bank Numismatic Museum in Amman is critically discussed and compared to similar ones ty-pologically and microscopically. In the Graeco-Roman world,... more
A totally preserved bronze strigil (cleaning blade) from the collection of the Ahli Bank Numismatic Museum in Amman is critically discussed and compared to similar ones ty-pologically and microscopically. In the Graeco-Roman world, strigils were objects associated with personal hygiene that are frequently found in baths, gymnasia, healing sanctuaries , and tombs. This implement is rare among archaeological finds in Jordan and therefore its presence in the collections of the country`s museums is meager and thus worth of investigation.
The aim of this study is to determine whether pottery shards from new archaeological survey in south region of Sistan are locally made or imported. Many artefacts especially pottery shards have been found during the archaeological survey.... more
The aim of this study is to determine whether pottery shards from new archaeological survey in south region of Sistan are locally made or imported. Many artefacts especially pottery shards have been found during the archaeological survey. These pottery shards are variable in color; from buff, grey, black, and red. The analytical techniques involved X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), that were applied to determine the major and trace elements and also the mineral content of the pottery shards. The results show that most of the pottery shards taken from archaeological survey in Sistan are locally made. Two of the samples from Islamic Period however shows a different content of chemical composition compared to other shards suggesting a different that Sistan origin. A prehistoric shard also shows a different in chemical composition and not originated from Sistan area. The analysis of pottery shards indicate that since prehistoric period, there has been a local production and trade activity in Sintan that continues until the Islamic Period. Result of the analysis also shows that local community at Sistan since prehistoric period are very skilful and keep a tradition in pottery making until Islamic Period.
Mut temple is located at the south of the great temple of Karnak. Most of parts at this temple belonged to the king Amenhotep III, who furnished it with hundreds of statues of the goddess Mut in her leonine shape of Sekhmet. Amenhotep set... more
Mut temple is located at the south of the great temple of Karnak. Most of parts at this temple belonged to the king Amenhotep III, who furnished it with hundreds of statues of the goddess Mut in her leonine shape of Sekhmet. Amenhotep set up these statues in diorite which had been used in many important ancient Egyptian monuments during the heights of ancient Egyptian civilization. These diorite statues were subjected to different kinds of physical, chemical and biological alteration as a consequence of their exposure to the direct action of aggressive atmospheric agents (tem-perature, humidity, wind, chemical weathering and salts pressure) so, They suffer from different deterioration phenomena such as missing parts, erosion of stone, presence of cracks and micro cracks, disintegration of some parts, crystallization of salts and dirt. A correct evaluation of degradation processes is needed in order to find the appropriate conservation and restoration treatments. For this purpose, an integrated study of the diorite samples in the Mut temple and the evaluation of their conservation conditions were carried out. Little systematic investigation has been done as polarizing microscope (PM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) attached with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), light optical microscope (LOM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and chemical analysis of water to identify their components. Finally, discussed the important recommendations for the restoration, treatment and conservation of diorite statues were carried out.
This study investigates new methods in the Jordanian museums in cleaning of ancient materials by laser cleaning of corrosion or patina products on archaeological corroded objects. This aproach aiming to introduce a methodology for the... more
This study investigates new methods in the Jordanian museums in cleaning of ancient materials by laser cleaning of corrosion or patina products on archaeological corroded objects. This aproach aiming to introduce a methodology for the optimal laser cleaning attitude in archaeological artefacts in Jordanian meuseums. It is study focused on the feasibility of YAG Laser in cleaning of Archaeological artefacts both organic and inorganic that covered with a corrosion or crust. The clustering of inclusion particles of the patina some are hard to remove by the procedure of conventional cleaning techniques, there is an apparent danger by use the traditional methods. These methods escalate the risk of the oxidised corrosion layer breaking away which will lead to loss of details about the the object and other important surface information. The advantage of using YAG pulsed lasers for cleaning of archaeological artefacts patina or corrosion. The lasr technique is well precised controlled and can be cleaned layer by layer or localizied. Thus, it is very significant to identify the chemical composition of the studied artifact surfaces before and after laser treatment. A series of laser cleaning studies has been done on test replica in the laboratory and artificially corroded.
The grapes and wine industry are mentioned in the Bible, The wine press technology it seem the first appeared in the Roman periods, there are many examples from this period in Rome and other sites. In addition, the wine industry continued... more
The grapes and wine industry are mentioned in the Bible, The wine press technology it seem the first appeared in the Roman periods, there are many examples from this period in Rome and other sites. In addition, the wine industry continued in the region of the Roman era to the Islamic Periods through re-use of the contemporary Roman winepress that has spread in some locations in the region. For example, the great wine press at Ya c amun Site that appeared in the Roman period and continued in use during the Byzan-tine and late Umayyad early Abbasid eras.
The discovery of mosaic tesserae at Qasr Mushatta (near Amman) in the absence of any complete mosaics raises a number of questions about the reason for how they got there and what do they tell us. Samples of mosaic stone tesserae and... more
The discovery of mosaic tesserae at Qasr Mushatta (near Amman) in the absence of any complete mosaics raises a number of questions about the reason for how they got there and what do they tell us. Samples of mosaic stone tesserae and mortar were collected from the site and studied for this reason. Petrographic and Scanning Electron Microscope analysis for the tesserae indicate a local provenance for the stone. Mortar composition shows variation in the preparation techniques, and helps in matching the mortar traces found on the tesserae to wall mortar. The study shows that Mushatta Umayyad place was intended to be decorated with wall mosaics, produced most probably with local mosaicists using local materials.
ABSTRACΤ The archaeological excavations conducted at the site Tell Abu Suwwan indicated that it was continuously occupied during two main periods from the Middle Pre-Pottery Neolithic B through the Pottery Neolithic (Yarmoukian). The main... more
ABSTRACΤ The archaeological excavations conducted at the site Tell Abu Suwwan indicated that it was continuously occupied during two main periods from the Middle Pre-Pottery Neolithic B through the Pottery Neolithic (Yarmoukian). The main focus of this paper is to study the pottery assemblage encountered in the Yar-moukian strata at Abu Tell Suwwan. Excavations at Tell Abu Suwwan in 2005-2008 yielded a total of 488 pieces of Yarmoukian pottery. The sample under study includes 86 Yarmoukian pottery sherds that came from in situ contexts ascribable to the Yarmoukian period/culture. This research studied the Tell Abu Suwwan pottery assemblage in detail and presents a parallel study with contemporaneous pottery developments in the southern Levant. The comparative study of indicates that the Wadi az-Zarqa basin was settled during the second half of the seventh millennium BCE (calibrated) with farming communities. The inhabitants of the Yarmoukian sites around Tell Abu Suwwan manufactured similar pottery forms and wares. The results of this study indicate that pots were probably produced at individual sites. However, the notion that there might have been a center of Yarmoukian pottery production in the Wadi az-Zarqa during the Late Neolithic is still under consideration.
The third term of archaeological excavations carried out in the township of Foca, in Izmir province, Turkey revealed what appears to be a pottery workshops and dumping grounds that are capable of illuminating the ceramic industry of the... more
The third term of archaeological excavations carried out in the township of Foca, in Izmir province, Turkey revealed what appears to be a pottery workshops and dumping grounds that are capable of illuminating the ceramic industry of the city, the pottery forms produced, and the chronologies of both. The discovery of the Hellenistic Period Ceramic Workshop Sector near the Persian Cemetery Monument is particularly significant because amphora production of the ancient city of Phocaea was previously unknown, even though workshops and pottery dumps ranging from the Archaic to the Byzantine periods have been discovered at various locations throughout the city center. During the 2001 excavation season, two rooms (referred to as-Alpha‖ and-Beta‖) and a clay basin lying under the old road to Foça revealed numerous amphorae sherds, some with obvious defects, and a piece of a stamped handle. The amphora sherds and several soil samples were subjected to various archaeometric analyses including petrography, and were thus characterized physically and chemically. The Phocaean Chios amphoras have long and cylindrical neck, long and round-section handles, conical body and a pointed base. This form is suitable for the form of Chios amphoras which were produced in 2nd century BC in terms of their typology. The other vessel types which are found in clay pool of the workshop confirm this date. These convergent forms of evidence suggest that this structure was a pottery workshop producing local Chios-style amphorae alongside quotidian wares. Within the archaeometrical investigations, physical, petrographical and chemical properties of the samples were analysed by basic physical tests, thin section optical microscopy, and PED-XRF methods. The samples were groupped by using thin section analysis in their matrix/agregate feature, type/distiribution/size of aggregate, porosity, clay type and structure. The firing temperature of the samples might be the values between the 800 and 950ºC. The clay type of the samples were mainly illite. Most of the samples had the brick particles in their aggregate content. Both petrographical and chemical properties of the samples gave high competibility not only the each other but also to the local rock formation.
In this study, 21 skeletons, obtained from rescue excavations conducted in Diyarbakır/Salat Tepe (Salat Hill) flooded by a lake formed by the Ilısu Dam, were examined in terms of paleopathology, paleodemography, morphology and non-metric... more
In this study, 21 skeletons, obtained from rescue excavations conducted in Diyarbakır/Salat Tepe (Salat Hill) flooded by a lake formed by the Ilısu Dam, were examined in terms of paleopathology, paleodemography, morphology and non-metric features. The analysis of archaeological and anthropological findings reveal that the Salat Tepe people dated back to the Middle Bronze Age. Their small socioeconomic structure based on agriculture, and the inhabitants lived a modest life in harsh conditions. The evidence of small and local agriculture, rather than being an advanced agricultural society, shows that Diyarbakır/Salat Tepe people share the general characteristics of ancient Anatolian societies of the period.
The present study forms part of the research undertaken on the mural paintings from Abydos area in Egypt, and it is concerned with the identification of the materials used in the paint layers of these murals. The methods used in this... more
The present study forms part of the research undertaken on the mural paintings from Abydos area in Egypt, and it is concerned with the identification of the materials used in the paint layers of these murals. The methods used in this purpose are optical microscopes (OM), scanning electron microscope with an energy dispersive X-ray unit (SEM/EDS), X-ray diffraction (XED), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Theses methods led to that the blue color was Egyptian blue, while the green one was Egyptian green; in addition, the red and yellow colors were composed of red and yellow ochres. Finally, the binder used was gum Arabic.
Paper-based photographic collections are an essential part of the Egyptian cultural heritage both for their artistic and documentary value and as a record of the history of photography, as a technique as well as a form of artistic... more
Paper-based photographic collections are an essential part of the Egyptian cultural heritage both for their artistic and documentary value and as a record of the history of photography, as a technique as well as a form of artistic expression. Due to their significance, the interest in photographs is growing worldwide and institutions are making great efforts to increase access to photographic collection, as well as preserve originals for future generations. The threats to photographs are many. They are very sensitive to fluctuating temperatures and relative humidity, frequent handling, air pollution, light, and improper storage and display. Unlike other paper objects, photographs have special conservation requirements due to their complex and unique nature. A private collection was selected for this study. The collection consists of five black and white photographic prints documenting one of the most valuable structures of architectural heritage in the city of El-Mansoura. This paper describes the signs of deterioration present in the collection through documenting the preservation status of El-Shenawy palace photographic collection. It also describes the conservation treatments carried out to prolong their lifespan. Prior to treatment, the photographs were characterized and studied by visual inspection, digital camera, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) provided with an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy unit was used to identify the components of the photographs, assess their preservation status, as well as study the morphology of the paper fibres in both the primary and secondary supports. Microbiological studies and pH measurements were also carried out. The results of the investigations revealed that image silver in most cases suffered from sulfiding, the secondary supports suffered from both oxidation and hydrolysis, and the gelatin binder also showed signs of degradation. Based on the results of previous studies, the following interventive conservation procedures were selected and carried out: disinfection, cleaning, dismantlement of the secondary support, deacidification, tear mending and compensating for losses, remounting, retouching, and rehousing.
In 106 A.D., the Roman empreior Trajan annexed the Nabataean kingdom and formed the new province i.e. Roman Arabia. One of the vexed question regarding the annexation of Nabataea is that was it bloodless or there was Nabataean resistance?... more
In 106 A.D., the Roman empreior Trajan annexed the Nabataean kingdom and formed the new province i.e. Roman Arabia. One of the vexed question regarding the annexation of Nabataea is that was it bloodless or there was Nabataean resistance? Such question of broad significance will be discussed below. In contrast to the general consensus among scholars that the annexation was peaceful, this article will argue that there was Nabataean armed resistance of the Roman annexation of their kingdom. Such an argument will be basid only on archaeological and epigraphic evidence.
A small temple surrounded with Temenos walls has been discovered with the ground researches in 2013-2014 in Keraitai ancient city, where was about 8-9 km in the northwest of Kremna. That temple was designed with the Antis plan, like other... more
A small temple surrounded with Temenos walls has been discovered with the ground researches in 2013-2014 in Keraitai ancient city, where was about 8-9 km in the northwest of Kremna. That temple was designed with the Antis plan, like other temples in many cities within Pisidia region. The significance of the temple is that it was devoted to Men, as evidenced with both an epigraph found in the city and its rock relief of Men found in the vicinity. Keraitai people used to worship to Men, the god of moon with the epithet of Men Keraiton as it has been inferred from the content of epigraph. Therefore, this structure has been the first and important finding to indicate that there was a second temple in the region belonging to Men following the temple of Men in Pisidia Antiocheia.
The poor preservation of many Mycenaean lead vessels, most of which have been found crushed within layers of settlement destruction debris, limits the quality and quantity of information that potentially can be recovered from these... more
The poor preservation of many Mycenaean lead vessels, most of which have been found crushed within layers of settlement destruction debris, limits the quality and quantity of information that potentially can be recovered from these artefacts. This problem has substantially hampered investigation into their social function and status during the Late Bronze Age on the Greek mainland, despite their appearance at many major sites. Using the example of a lead vessel found within the House of Lead at Mycenae, this article presents a mathematical method for the reconstruction of vessel capacity from five basic measurements that are often still retreivable even from crushed specimens: their weight, rim circumference, width of the rim, thickness of the rim, and thickness of the body. Vessel capacity is an important, yet often neglected, metric that directly relates to the use of these objects. Results from this model are compared against those derived from pottery assemblages to strengthen the argument that the most common form of lead vessel was a non-portable, multi-functional storage solution. Evidence from the ceramic corpus suggests that some form of standardisation existed regarding vessel capacity, and further exploration of this issue is needed to gauge the degree of its relevance to the metal assemblage. The wider application of this model will enable the integration of another dataset into this debate, and allow better engagement with these lead vessels from the perspective of their intended users.
In this study, the subsistence patterns of two prehistoric communities on the island of Euboea were reconstructed using carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions of human and faunal bone collagen. The Late Neolithic (5300/5200-3300/3200... more
In this study, the subsistence patterns of two prehistoric communities on the island of Euboea were reconstructed using carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions of human and faunal bone collagen. The Late Neolithic (5300/5200-3300/3200 B.C.) samples were obtained from Tharrounia (human n=14, faunal n=4), while the Early Bronze Age (2900/2850-2350/2300 B.C.) skeletal specimens derived from the coastal settlement of Manika (human n=107, faunal n=7). The average δ¹³C value of human isotopic signatures of Tharrounians was consistent with a C3 terrestrial-based diet. Mean δ 15 N value indicated a diet mainly focused on agricultural products with a systematic exploitation of animal protein (i.e. meat and/or milk products), whereas marine resources were not an important component of Late Neolithic diets. With regard to the inhabitants of Manika, δ¹³C values indicated that all individuals also had a C3 terrestrial-based diet. In terms of nitrogen isotope values, these suggested that the majority of the individuals were consuming animal products on a regular basis and in comparatively higher amounts than the Late Neolithic population at Tharrounia. Besides the contributions from animal and plant protein, the distribution of δ 15 N values showed that some individuals could have supplemented their diets with small amounts of marine food or their δ 15 N values could have been increased as a result of manuring of the crops. Finally, isotopic data pointed out that overall there was a relatively low level of social differentiation as there was little variation in the diet between different groups of individuals in both prehistoric settlements.
Kul Tepe of Jolfa is located at Hadishahr, East Azerbaijan province, northwestern Iran. Kul Tepe is situated near the border of Iran with Azerbaijan and Armenia and, thereby, it assumes particular importance in terms of the study of... more
Kul Tepe of Jolfa is located at Hadishahr, East Azerbaijan province, northwestern Iran. Kul Tepe is situated near the border of Iran with Azerbaijan and Armenia and, thereby, it assumes particular importance in terms of the study of communications with these areas. This site is among the few prehistoric areas of East Azerbaijan province, which has witnessed continuous chronology since the 5 th millennium BC until the start of historic when it experienced systematic archaeological excavations. During two seasons of archaeological excavation, evidences such as pottery, architecture, stone tools and etc., relating to late Chalcolithic age and early Transcaucasia culture were found. Due to the complex issues on the expansion method of this culture in Near East, the potteries of this area withhold significant importance to be studied. The availability of absolute dating from Kul Tepe and also the absence of any gap between these two periods added to the significance of present work. Therefore, ten characteristic potsherds from Late Chalcolithic and ten potsherds from Early Transcaucasia culture (Kura-Araxes) were studied by thin section microscopic (petrographic) method. These potsherds had been obtained during the excavations on Kul Tepe. It has been revealed that the combination of them is consistent with the soil of the area and, thereby, the potsherds of Kul Tepe have been locally produced although they show some differences in terms of technical issues and temper.
This paper discusses the analysis and occurrence of organic residues in Iron Age II pottery sherds excavated at the site of Jneneh. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for separation and identification of organic constituents.... more
This paper discusses the analysis and occurrence of organic residues in Iron Age II pottery sherds excavated at the site of Jneneh. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for separation and identification of organic constituents. Conventional solvent extraction and alkaline hydrolysis (saponification) were used for the extraction of residues preserved in their fabrics. Three sherds among six unwashed and unhandled sherds showed significant preservation of organic constituents derived from natural materials. The results provide data on the occurrence of beeswax that could have been intentionally added on the internal surface of a collared-rim jar for storing liquid substances or dry goods. Unintentional occurrence of beeswax as a result of storing honey including beeswax fragments of the honeycomb is also possible. In addition, biomarkers of plant oil were detected in a medium jug and a small jar that might have been used for daily needs, such as food preparation. The absence of significant organic constituents in the other three vessels could be attributed to the degradation overtime during burial.
The present paper studies the orientation of 32 churches in Thessalonike, that date from the 4 th to the 20 th century. It investigates whether there is a connection of their astronomical alignment to any significant solar date or to the... more
The present paper studies the orientation of 32 churches in Thessalonike, that date from the 4 th to the 20 th century. It investigates whether there is a connection of their astronomical alignment to any significant solar date or to the date of the patron saint's festival. The majority of buildings under investigation (16) follow the city grid, parallel with the roman decumanus maximus, the modern Egnatia street, that is aligned to the rising sun during the winter solstice. Buildings outside the roman city have a variety of orientations. There are 7 cases of alignment on the patron's saint day (5 positive and 2 indecisive). However, the alignent may be to the sunrise (3) or to the byzantine Third Hour (4), the time the Divine Liturgy reaches its climax. This has greater consequencies for the study of the orientation of byzantine churches, as it points to multiple solutions to the problem of the orientation towards the sunrise on patron saint's feast day. KEYWORDS: Thessalonike, astronomical alignment, azimuth, horizon, patron saint's day, sunrise, byzantine third hour, winter solstice, orientation of byzantine churches, orientation of roman cities.
The Nabataeans were highly creative in their adaptation of the Greco-Roman construction techniques. Based on their specific natural resources and lexicon of architectural elements, the Nabataeans thus developed their own techniques.... more
The Nabataeans were highly creative in their adaptation of the Greco-Roman construction techniques. Based on their specific natural resources and lexicon of architectural elements, the Nabataeans thus developed their own techniques. Indeed, the size and elaborate nature of many of their monuments would require such innovations, as physically manifested in the two vertical rows of slots located on the recessed back face wall on either side of the façade of el-Khazneh in Petra in Jordan. These slots have been a matter of some debate on whether their function was for footholds or for scaffolding. Though the slots have been discussed in passing, no scholar has made the in-depth critical investigation in determining their proper technical and functional approach with reference to their preserved fully recorded dimensions. Thanks to a recent study using a combination of 3D laser scanner and reflector-less total station, we now have precise measurements of the well preserved individual slots. This article is concerned with the particular case of these slots. A detailed examination of these slots in relation to their size and depth, position and arrangement within the fa-çade, probably credits their use, both, as foot holes, and as supports for a smart and simple scaffolding structure. The paper suggests and exemplifies that, these slots are part of an authentic Nabataean construction technique, and they were the foundations used to fix a wooden lightweight socket in a diagonal changeabla cantilever scaffolding. This new assumption is supported with schematic sections and illustrations showing alternative combinations of the cantilever scaffolding at different slot heights, using the embedded putlog and diagonal bracing on which the planks are held. Thus, providing the basis for further research, hopefully encouraging a further knowledge of Nabataean scaffolding construction techniques of rock-cut architecture.
Funeral masks were manufactured in ancient Egypt since several periods ago. They consist of one or more material such as wood, textile, gypsum, faience, silver and gold. They were exposed to microbiological infections from the surrounding... more
Funeral masks were manufactured in ancient Egypt since several periods ago. They consist of one or more material such as wood, textile, gypsum, faience, silver and gold. They were exposed to microbiological infections from the surrounding environmental conditions such as fungi and bacteria, which caused various deterioration aspects : stains, disintegration, discoloration, cracking, and may promote the decay of funeral masks. In the last few years, nanoparticles have widely been used in treatment and conservation of artifacts. In this paper, the antimicrobial activities of nanomaterials silver, titanium dioxide and copper II oxide, were evaluated against the fungal strain of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus and the bacterial strain of Bacillus alvei, Gthe short Bacilli, and Gthe Bacilli spore former. Transmission electron microscope TEM, and scanning electron microscope SEM attached with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer EDX unit were utilized for characterization of nanoparticles. The data showed that silver nanoparticles are the best effective one for inhibition the growth of both isolated fungi and bacteria. It was applied for treatment and conservation of three ancient Egyptian funeral masks in saqqara, Egypt.
Thirty two rock cut tombs are studied, from Petra in Jordan) and Madaa'in Saleh (Hegra) in northern Saudi Arabia. Satellite images were used from Google Earth and its accessory facilities on compass and slope evaluation. Some comparison... more
Thirty two rock cut tombs are studied, from Petra in Jordan) and Madaa'in Saleh (Hegra) in northern Saudi Arabia. Satellite images were used from Google Earth and its accessory facilities on compass and slope evaluation. Some comparison of orientations were made with in situ compass and total station reading. There is not an apparent predominate orientation, even though striking directions are found (due south, mostly western, some eastern) which at any rate are related to sunrise, sunset and sun's orbit, at solar stands (equi-noctial, solstitial) when sun light could enter tombs' entrance of the magnificent sculptured facades. Tombs are rather made by wealthy chiefs and officers, and any definite conclusion on deliberate orientation is without a strong argument. Google earth positions compared to in situ measurements present an error of c.2 o .
This research aims at shedding light on the Nabataean practices for tombs dated from the early first century B.C. until the beginning of the second century C.E.. The research studies the different archaeological evidences that contain... more
This research aims at shedding light on the Nabataean practices for tombs dated from the early first century B.C. until the beginning of the second century C.E.. The research studies the different archaeological evidences that contain indications concerning the Nabataean habits pertinent to tombs and dead body protection. The author analyzes the different symbols engraved on the tomb facades seeking to reach a better understanding for the function of these symbols in protecting tombs from any violation. Moreover, the paper examines the protection clauses existing in the Nabataean funeral inscriptions and the role played by religious and civil authorities in this regard.
Contemporary artist Spyros Papaloukas in 1932 undertook a major artistic venture, the painting of the interior murals of the Amfissa Cathedral (Church of the Annunciation) a cross-domed church built in 1868 on the ruins of an early... more
Contemporary artist Spyros Papaloukas in 1932 undertook a major artistic venture, the painting of the interior murals of the Amfissa Cathedral (Church of the Annunciation) a cross-domed church built in 1868 on the ruins of an early Christian basilica. In this 1000 sq monumental work, Papaloukas, even though he follows the strictly established rules of Byzantine ecclesiastical art, he dares to attempt a new approach to the aesthetic merits of Byzantine iconography by introducing elements of the post-Impressionists, the Fauves and the Nabis. Following our earlier work of spectroscopy of mural paintings in this Cathedral, here we present the analysis of ten mortar wall samples regarding granulometry and mineralogy, by XRD, SEM, as well as, a study of resistance-breaking and the level of mechanical strength was determined by comparing the diagrams of power-displacement, where the compressive strength of mortars ranged between 0.5-0.8MPa.
The present work constitutes the first two phases of the archaeometric study of the so-called "Siphnian" ware found in two different geographical regions in Greece, Argilos, in eastern Macedonia, and its metropolis in southern Greece,... more
The present work constitutes the first two phases of the archaeometric study of the so-called "Siphnian" ware found in two different geographical regions in Greece, Argilos, in eastern Macedonia, and its metropolis in southern Greece, Andros island. Identification of the provenance of the Siphnian-type pottery found in the above regions is the principal question that has to be investigated and is of major importance, since socioeconomic interactions between Argilos and Siphnos island are not verified, while there are only few published data about "Siphnian" ware. For this purpose, non-destructive multi-element micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy was employed for the determination of the elemental composition not only of the above Siphnian-type ceramics, but of several other reference groups, which were recruited for comparison purposes. Furthermore, the analytical data were statistically treated using multivariate exploratory techniques (Principal Component Analysis, PCA and Cluster Analysis). As a result, useful provenance associations were derived from the statistical combination of the studied groups. More specifically, results indicate that the Siphnian-type pottery found in Argilos and Andros most probably have common provenance. However, it was proved that neither Argilos nor Andros is the origin of these ceramics, making the determination of their provenance a complicated task.
The New technologies alter our lives and the way in which we perceive it beyond the imaginable. This further ulterior over is the point in space-time in which coalition of science, technology and art openly combined for the 3rd Cultural... more
The New technologies alter our lives and the way in which we perceive it beyond the imaginable. This further ulterior over is the point in space-time in which coalition of science, technology and art openly combined for the 3rd Cultural Revolution, and for environmentally sustainable abundance. However, this time, the "Beyond" not only explores the dynamic 3D screen, it moves on from the bits to the atoms and incorporates 3D-printing and digital cloud-distribution which combined to relevant scanning or photographic technologies create a virtual environment as a real world. We are entering the central source for current and emerging trends in cultural heritage informatics with new disciplines, sub-disciplines and terminology to emerge. Virtual, cyber-archaeology and cultural heritage to cyber-archaeometry, are matters that are tackled. The virtual archaeology case studies, over the World, as a result of advanced technology emerging from computer sciences, however, stress the naturalistic methodology, challenges digital reconstructions and serious games. There may provoke also harassment and emergence of fundamental hermeneutical questions which serve as the basis of a synoptic and synthetic philosophy that combines art and science corresponding to classical techne, logos and ethos.
The main goal of this study was to study and evaluate the organic solvent on the chemical composition of aged paper samples. chemical pulp wood samples, which were, have been cleaned with three types of solvent then a Measurement of... more
The main goal of this study was to study and evaluate the organic solvent on the chemical composition of aged paper samples. chemical pulp wood samples, which were, have been cleaned with three types of solvent then a Measurement of mechanical properties, Measurement of color change by spectrophotometer, PH values, X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) study were undertaken, to see if any significant structural or chemical differences could be detected between-untreated‖ and-treated‖ paper. Dramatic changes in functional groups on the paper surface, as monitored by FTIR, occurred in the samples before and after solvent cleaning. Mechanical properties, however, show that ethyl alcohol, toluene and acetone may give good results in cleaning paper surface, but the solvents accelerated oxidation and hydrolysis of paper samples under heat aging are another point to consider.
This paper is an attempt to show the astronomical design principles that are encoded in the geometrical forms of the largest five pyramids of the fourth Egyptian dynasty, in Giza and Dahshur plateaus, based on using the pyramids'... more
This paper is an attempt to show the astronomical design principles that are encoded in the geometrical forms of the largest five pyramids of the fourth Egyptian dynasty, in Giza and Dahshur plateaus, based on using the pyramids' design-modules that are mentioned in the so-called Rhind Mathematical Papyrus. It shows the astronomical algorithms for quantifying the slopes of pyramids, with reference to specific range of earth's axial tilt, within spherical coordinates system. Besides, it decodes the design of the ancient Egyptian cubit rods with reference to the systems of measurement used by Herodotus and Diodorus, and proves that Herodotus never talked about Giza pyramids and he meant only the pyramids of Memphis in Dahshur. In addition, it proves that the Egyptian arrow of 22.5cm, or half the mean cubit of 45cm, is the largest common divider of the design-modules of these pyramids, and accordingly it retrieves their intended astronomical design dimensions.
The period extended between the end of the fourth millennium BC, i.e. Chalcolithic Age, and the beginning of the third millennium BC, i.e. Early Bronze Age, was characterized by the existence of a transitional period. That period is... more
The period extended between the end of the fourth millennium BC, i.e. Chalcolithic Age, and the beginning of the third millennium BC, i.e. Early Bronze Age, was characterized by the existence of a transitional period. That period is called Ninevite V, where radical changes had happened during it before shifting to build the big cities and the establishment of the Akkadian Empire around 2500 BC. After the settlement expansion across the last stage of the fourth millennium that is named LC 5 "Late Chalcolithic 5", territories extended from the south of Iraq to the north of the Syrian Jazireh, we notice that a recess had occurred to that expansion and the number of inhabited sites, which were dwelled in high population density, had drastically decreased to only reach 30%, except of some small rural sites in north of Iraq and Khabour Basin in the northeast of Syrian Jazireh. This period was marked-although it lasted for a short time-by several features, at top of them all, is its unique and distinguished pottery that it had not been found anywhere before Ninevite V and which was characterized by its shape color and decoration. Distinctive pottery is not the only feature that characterized that period but also work specialization in Khabour Basin sites, and the architectural patterns which were simple and did not contain a lot of luxury aspects, and not too different from previous patterns.
There are two Hittite monuments in Konya whose names are Eflatunpınar and Fasıllar. Eflatunpınar is located approximately 25 km at the North of Beysehir town within Konya province in Turkey. Eflatunpınar monument is belonging to Hittite... more
There are two Hittite monuments in Konya whose names are Eflatunpınar and Fasıllar. Eflatunpınar is located approximately 25 km at the North of Beysehir town within Konya province in Turkey. Eflatunpınar monument is belonging to Hittite Empire Age, was known since XIX century. It is an open air temple of Hit-tite, 6.60 m wide and 7 m high, was built with large block stones. The second one known as Fasıllar Hittite monument lies on a hillside next to the Fasıllar village which is 16 km east of Beysehir town and it is a high relief monument which is made of basalt rock. It is commonly accepted that these two monuments had never been completely finished. J. Mellaart have suggested that Fasıllar monument was not in-situ position, it was moved from Eflatunpınar to Fasıllar village by the local people for decoration purposes. This means that according to J. Mellaart, Fasıllar monument is the part of Eflatunpınar monument. The objective of this study is to investigate whether Fasıllar monument was built for placing on the top of Eflatunpınar monument which is firstly raised a subject by J. Mellaart. For this purpose, three-dimensional (3D) digital model was created for each monument by close-range photogrammetric technique. By the help of the 3D digital models of these monuments, the unity between the monuments were investigated as an engineering approach .
Door locking is the mechanism for access, control and security that relies on a veiled knowledge of mechanics. However, as a symbol of power, authority, wealth and stature, it can reveal many cultural, economic and social practices and... more
Door locking is the mechanism for access, control and security that relies on a veiled knowledge of mechanics. However, as a symbol of power, authority, wealth and stature, it can reveal many cultural, economic and social practices and habits. The subject of ancient classical technology of door locking progress mechanisms is full of interest, and has received considerable attention during the last two centuries including recent years. However, it has not been until now the subject of many scholarly studies, that examine issues such as types, operational function and mechanism technology, access feature and security, and manufacturing based on recent archaeological data and findings. This paper attempts to present a comparative critical assessment and investigation of the mechanical and typological evaluation technology, mainly of the so-called Homeric, the simple and smart Hellenistic tumbler Laconian, in addition to the main advanced and elegant Roman door locking with spring mechanism. The paper shall address mainly the Hellenistic gap in material studies, according to recent archaeological records and findings. It suggests that door locking utilizing spring technology is Hellenistic and not Roman as it was believed. In addition the paper attempts to clarify and present some new aspects and suggestions to several misunderstandings about the locking system origin and the know-how of controlling the sliding horizontal bolt movement. These aspects will be critically discussed and clarified through 2D and 3D graphical reconstructions and models.
The study investigates the chemical composition and production technology of a set of thirty-nine glass samples from the archaeological site of Al-Fudein, northeast Jordan. The samples cover a long span of time dating back to the Roman,... more
The study investigates the chemical composition and production technology of a set of thirty-nine glass samples from the archaeological site of Al-Fudein, northeast Jordan. The samples cover a long span of time dating back to the Roman, Byzantine and Early Islamic (Umayyad) periods. The X-Ray Fluorescence chemical analyses revealed that the samples are soda-lime-silica natron based glasses. The majority of the samples are most probably of the Levantine type I glass, where the silica might come from the Syrian-Palestinian coast. Manganese and copper are the probable generators of the distinguished purple and turquoise colors. The high content of magnesia and potash of 4 Roman and 1 Umayyad samples might indicate the continuity of using plant ash fluxes in certain production centers during the Roman-Umayyad periods or pointing at a possible limited (but not documented before) interregional trade of Sasanian glass during the Roman period .
According to the modernization and urbanization changes, some of post urban spaces missed their utilization and structures. They have been destructed and forgiven completely. The castles and defensive fortifications are among those spaces... more
According to the modernization and urbanization changes, some of post urban spaces missed their utilization and structures. They have been destructed and forgiven completely. The castles and defensive fortifications are among those spaces which have a parted structures from the urban contexts. Their structural and utilization erosion has turned them into the ruined and criminal places. The first step to regulate these buildings are recognition of these buildings. These buildings were classified according to their initial utilization in province of Yazd. In this research, the castles were divided to five classes such as: governmental, residential, military and disciplinary castles, depots and stores, citadels. The results of studies reveal that citadels include the most abundance (10 buildings) in geography province of Yazd. The depots and stores and state castles (7 buildings) are in the next ranks. The military and disciplinary castles (4 buildings) are in the next rank. In last rank are the residential castles (2 buildings).
A cache of artifacts, recovered in 2014 by the cultural heritage squadron of the Guardia di Finanza (Gruppo Tutela Patrimonio Archeologico of the Nucleo Polizia Tributaria di Roma), included two Mycenaean stirrup jars among the pottery... more
A cache of artifacts, recovered in 2014 by the cultural heritage squadron of the Guardia di Finanza (Gruppo Tutela Patrimonio Archeologico of the Nucleo Polizia Tributaria di Roma), included two Mycenaean stirrup jars among the pottery illegally brought into Italy from the Northern Levant. The stirrup jar has one of the most distinctive shapes of the Mycenaean repertoire and is found throughout the Mediterranean around the end of the Late Bronze Age. Even if removed from their original context, both of these stirrup jars can be ascribed to a distinctive cultural milieu within a specific chronological range, based upon morphological and stylistic parameters. Furthermore, their good state of preservation suggests that the original context of deposition may have been a tomb. Comparison with stirrup jars found at key sites in the Eastern Mediterranean allows us to re-contextualize them as part of the wide diffusion of Mycenaean luxury goods in the Levant.
In this paper we are presenting the use-wear traces study of some Lithic artefacts from a cinerary funerary context of Colos. This funerary monument is an hypogea dug in a hillock of a pour quality granite. Culturally it is part of the... more
In this paper we are presenting the use-wear traces study of some Lithic artefacts from a cinerary funerary context of Colos. This funerary monument is an hypogea dug in a hillock of a pour quality granite. Culturally it is part of the Megalithic period, chronologically covering the Final Neolithic and the Chalcolithic. The lithic assemblage found in Colos has a very important symbolic value; in the hoard there are big lithic artefacts made in exotic raw material. Which means they were produced by specialized artisans and the exotic character of the raw-material used induce to hypothesize the presence of long-range commerce. The study of the use-wear traces of this lithic assemblage could clarify the funerary rituals and practices. The main queston of this paper is: these artefacts were prepared only to offer the deceased, or they were used on daily life tasks? In our opinion the use-wear analysis of the lithic assemblage allow to deduce that the lithic assemblage were made and in some cases used in order to celebrate funerary cultural processes.
This research aims at throwing the light on one of the few survived examples of Ancient Egyptian vaulted structures; those are the storerooms of the temples of the Ramesseum and Sety I built in the 13 th century BC. In the first case,... more
This research aims at throwing the light on one of the few survived examples of Ancient Egyptian vaulted structures; those are the storerooms of the temples of the Ramesseum and Sety I built in the 13 th century BC. In the first case, only some of the adobe vaults and walls are still standing; whereas in the second case all the vaults collapesed and only the walls exist. Due to lack of maintanence and also scientific research on this topic, the survival remains may be lost forever. The research started with tracking the chronological developmenet, the architecture and the constuction of the adobe barral vault in Ancient Egypt. The two case studies of the research were visually inspected and the existing damage symptoms and causes were reported and investigated. A structural analysis were carried out to understand the structural behavior and the casues of damage. Finally, a number of interventions were proposed that may help the exsiting ruins to survive.
Supraorbital foramen (SOF) and hypoglossal canal bridging (HGCB) show variation in their morphology and frequency in different populations. It is established that the frequency distribution of these traits are efficient to distinguish... more
Supraorbital foramen (SOF) and hypoglossal canal bridging (HGCB) show variation in their morphology and frequency in different populations. It is established that the frequency distribution of these traits are efficient to distinguish major human populations. In this study, the prevalence of SOF and HGCB in 11 Anato-lian populations from distinct time periods and locations was examined. Frequency differences of SOF and HGCB were evaluated for different age and sex groups. Following Dodo and Sawada (2010) for SOF and HGCB population correlations, this study is the first to present the place of Anatolian populations among world populations. Although significant differences in major human populations were observed by previous studies, there were no significant differences found amongst the Anatolian populations (Today Turkey) in relation to SOF. Similarly, supraorbital edge over the number of holes in size and position showed no significant difference. Though there was an age-related increase in frequency, evaluated data demonstrated no statistical difference between distinct age and sex groups in relation to SOF. The results of evaluation of SOF frequency within HGCB Anatolian people seem to cluster together most similarly with Europeans, in concordance with recent molecular genetic studies, among the 72 world populations. At the end, this study concludes that the frequency distribution of SOF and HGCB is an effective tool to distinguish genetically distant major human populations in large scale, but it is ineffective in comparing chronologically, geographically, and genetically proximate local populations. It is seen that this results are valid for ancient and modern populations.
Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope results are presented for a sample of human and faunal bones and food remains excavated from Pompeii. The well-preserved organic remains provide a valuable resource to examine ancient lifeways associated... more
Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope results are presented for a sample of human and faunal bones and food remains excavated from Pompeii. The well-preserved organic remains provide a valuable resource to examine ancient lifeways associated with a Roman city during a distinct period of time associated with the eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79. Isotopic results indicate human diets that are consistent with the archaeological and documentary evidence for diverse dietary intake for all residents of Pompeii consisting of a range of cereals, fruits, vegetables, seafood, and meat from domestic and wild animals. Males had similar animal protein intakes to those of females, but they ingested significantly greater amounts of seafood than females. The great range of dietary variability among and between males and females indicated by the isotopic data suggests the existence of past dietary distinctions based on social role and/or social class. In comparison to other isotopic studies in the region, human diets at Pompeii are similar to those of Danish farmers and coastal Greek colonies in southern Italy (Metaponto) but included greater amounts of marine protein. Carbon isotope values for domestic animals indicate a C 3-based terrestrial diet, while nitrogen isotope values distinguish herbivores from omnivores and carnivores.
The spread of digital technologies offers a great potential for the creativity and innovation in all aspects of tourism industry. The integration between advanced technologies of ICT and tourism industry plays vital role in enhancing the... more
The spread of digital technologies offers a great potential for the creativity and innovation in all aspects of tourism industry. The integration between advanced technologies of ICT and tourism industry plays vital role in enhancing the tourism services and experiences, particularly, in the context of archaeological tourism. Following this, this study proposes a protocol that offers tourists site/destination and experiences according to their preferences. More specifically, tourists can express various preferences regarding the type of tourism site, their contention level in order to avoid crowded ones, the accessibility and convenience of different sections of a site, and the distance and congestion of the paths lead to such site …etc. Our Contention, Convenience and Accessibility based Smart Tourism-destination Approach (CASTA) is presented in this paper to offer online services for tourists assuming that they are always connected and they do not have advanced IT skills. A tourist has only to send a preference message that specifies all the personal constraints via a smart hand held device. A control unit that resides on the cloud analyzes the message and suggests a tour to certain sites and their sections based on the tourist preferences. Information about tourism sites and their sections , in terms of contention, convenience, and accessibility, is collected by wireless sensor networks and sent to the control unit via a gateway node. Results of simulated experiments of CASTA have shown that it outperforms the shortest path approach which suggests a tour based solely on the distance toward those tourism destinations. Moreover CASTA outperformance shortest path approach that takes the quality of network connections available over the selected paths.
A complete visual, mineralogical, textural, chemical and statistical study is presented of thirty ceramic specimens recovered from various Roman archaeological sites in central Spain (Ávila). Therefore, the novelty of this work is that we... more
A complete visual, mineralogical, textural, chemical and statistical study is presented of thirty ceramic specimens recovered from various Roman archaeological sites in central Spain (Ávila). Therefore, the novelty of this work is that we report the first complete study of pottery fragments in the Ávila region (Castile and Le-on, Spain) dating back to the Roman Empire. Potential/local raw materials were characterised, in order to classify ancient pottery samples by origin. The presence of firing minerals in the ancient ceramic samples was studied, to investigate the technology used in their manufacture. Another innovation of this article is that the statistical study has established links between ceramic samples, shedding further light on knowledge of manufacturing techniques in this region during the Roman Empire. Similar materials were identified in most of the ceramic pieces from the archaeological sites, all present in the local geological environment, which underlines their autochthonous origin. The raw materials were initially chosen on the basis of the final use of the sample (typology of the samples: Terra sigillata hispanica, common pottery and tegulae). The samples were manufactured within three different temperature ranges (temperature > 900Cº, between 900-800ºC and between 800-600ºC) and under three different redox environments (oxidizing, reduction and irregular conditions). Non-plastic inclusions were added, intentionally or otherwise, to the initial clay, depending on the final typology of the sample.
The paper deals with the spread of marked ceramics in the Eastern Anatolian tradition in the Caucasus at the beginning of the fourth millennium B.C. Late Chalcolithic elements found on several ceramics of the Lei-latepe culture in the... more
The paper deals with the spread of marked ceramics in the Eastern Anatolian tradition in the Caucasus at the beginning of the fourth millennium B.C. Late Chalcolithic elements found on several ceramics of the Lei-latepe culture in the South Caucasian region are analyzed and compared to marks on ceramics from Arslan-tepe and the Maikop culture. Archaeological finds of the Leilatepe culture were first discovered in the mid-1980s during excavations by Narimanov in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, where monuments of this culture have been revealed in the Caucasus. The lower layer of the Berikldeebi site in Eastern Georgia also belongs to the Leilatepe culture. Extensive excavations have continued at the Leilatepe, Berikldeebi, Beyuk Kesik I, and Poylu II sites as well as the Soyugbulag kurgans. This study looks at the Northern Caucasian Maikop archaeological culture was formed as a result of migration of the Leilatepe culture tribes to the North. Common peculiarities for both cultures are red-pink, round-based pots bearing marks and some specific features of funeral customs. From this view point, the early Maikop sites are more typical Late Chalco-lithic Leilatepe type than the early Bronze. One of the distinctive features of Leilatepe culture pottery is the recurrent presence of incised signs or "potter"s marks" on the shoulder and rarely near the attachment of the base. Such signs had been impressed on the category of pottery falling into the category of "high quality ce-ramics" made of untempered clay or with plant tempered clay before firing. They are geometric figures composed of straight lines, fingertips and straight lines that accompany them. In some cases fingertips are recalling an image of human face.
Lime based plaster and mortar specimens from three different locations of Smyrna Agora excavations have been investigated within the scope of this study. A two-layer graffito plaster from Basilica (P1 inner layer, P2 outer layer) and two... more
Lime based plaster and mortar specimens from three different locations of Smyrna Agora excavations have been investigated within the scope of this study. A two-layer graffito plaster from Basilica (P1 inner layer, P2 outer layer) and two distinctive mortars from Bouleuterion were collected from the site. While one of the Bouleuterion mortars was masonry mortar from walls (BWM), other one was from the floor blockade (BBM-porous mortar). Physical and mechanical properties of plaster and mortar specimens such as water absorption, density and surface hardness and compressive strength have been determined. Thin section analyses were performed for mineralogical investigations. Aggregate particle size distribution of both plaster and mortar specimens were determined by sieve analysis. The fraction passing through 0.063 mm sieve was considered as the binder. Powder fractions of 0-0.063 mm and 0.063-0.125 mm were used in X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis for the comparison and characterization of binder and aggregate crystal structure respectively. The chemical composition of polished sections of plaster and mortar specimens were also investigated by Scanning Electron Microscope equipped with an Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (SEM-EDS). Test results showed that outer plaster layer (P2) is denser, harder and exhibited higher strength compared to inner plaster layer P1. This strength difference can be attributed to the possibly low water/lime ratio of P2 plaster in order to finish the outer surface of plaster by pressurized troweling. By this way, it is possible to obtain a smooth surface suitable for graffito applications. High compressive strength and surface hardness of Bouleuterion wall mortars (BWM) is due to the presence of crushed brick particles as aggregates which provides a good aggregate-matrix bonding. This improved bonding can be attributed to the pozzolanic activity of crushed brick particles with lime mortar. Dense matrix structure is also responsible for the relatively high mechanical performance of BWM. On the other hand, porous structure of floor blockade mortar located between stones results with low strength and hardness.
Most scientists agree that modern humans left Africa relatively recently. However, there is less agreement about the number of dispersal events and the route or routes taken by humans and when they migrated out of Africa. The earliest... more
Most scientists agree that modern humans left Africa relatively recently. However, there is less agreement about the number of dispersal events and the route or routes taken by humans and when they migrated out of Africa. The earliest evidence for a dispersal of Homo sapiens into Eurasia comes from the central Levant, but it is unclear how geographically extensive this early dispersal was. Likewise, many researchers agree that Neanderthals dispersed back into the Levant during MIS 5 (123-130 Ka.), but it is uncertain where those populations originated. Information from areas geographically intermediate between the Levant and more distal parts of Eurasia is crucial to obtaining a more realistic understanding of the ebb and flow of human Pleistocene populations. This article examines Middle Paleolithic artifact assemblages from Merdivenli Cave in the Hatay Region, southern Anatolia (Turkey) in order to assess the similarities with better known assemblages from neighboring areas. The stone tools from Merdivenli Cave are characterized Levallois production similar to "Tabun C type" Mousterian assemblages, and therefore it is possible that these assemblages were also associated with archaic Homo sapiens, as in the central Levant.
The article deals with the architecture of the Early Bronze Age II fortified hill-top settlement of Keçiçayırı, located in the eastern Phrygian Highlands (north-western Turkey). Measuring ca 130 x 100m, the settlement is established on a... more
The article deals with the architecture of the Early Bronze Age II fortified hill-top settlement of Keçiçayırı, located in the eastern Phrygian Highlands (north-western Turkey). Measuring ca 130 x 100m, the settlement is established on a flat surface on top of a hillock known as Cıbırada, with the fortification wall closely following the external contours of Cıbırada. The row-houses, connected to the fortification wall at the rear often have shallow porches at the front, which open onto a possible central courtyard. The site is of great importance as it shows the existence of fortified settlements in the highlands of the Eskişehir region, already around the middle of the third millennium BC and possibly in connection with intensified trade relations between distant areas. The settlement of Keçiçayırı, which currently represents the only known example of these settlements, may have been built to manage and protect sources of raw materials like flint.
This study aims at isolating, identifying and appropriately treating of archeological objects in Jordanian Museums that were attacked by microorganisms. Archeological objects (organic and inorganic) conserved in three Jordanian Museums... more
This study aims at isolating, identifying and appropriately treating of archeological objects in Jordanian Museums that were attacked by microorganisms. Archeological objects (organic and inorganic) conserved in three Jordanian Museums included: The Museum of Jordanian heritage; Faculty of Archaeology and Anthropology at Yarmouk University (YU), Dar as-saraya Museum in tallirbid (DS) and Museum of archeology, Jordan University (JU). Fifty samples were analyzed. Results indicate the presence of 8 fungal species on tested archeological objects. Furthermore, the identified bacterial isolates were found to be referring to 11 bacterial species. Of these 19 objects 5 were found to be inhabited by the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum, 7 objects inhabited by Aspergillus niger (the black mould) and 8 objects were contaminated by yeast. The fungus P. chrysogenum was found to inhabit mainly bones, wooden objects and clay pots. Yeast was found in bones, snail shells, wood, iron and textiles. However, A. niger was contaminating bones, wooden objects, clay pots, unbaked clay jars and basalt. The pseudodiphtheriticum was found on bones, pottery, stones, bronze and glass objects, whereas, C. aquatium inhabited mortar, stones, bronze and glass. 11 archaeological objects at the archaeological Museum, University of Jordan, were found to be contaminated by 10 bacterial and only one fungal species which is yeast. However, of these 11 objects 9 were found to be inhabited by the yeast fungus and these objects were represented by bones, antiler horn, wood, horns, plaster floor, bronze, glased pottery. Finally, 6 objects representing antiller horn, wood, glased pottery and bone were contaminated by C. aquatium, whereas, 4 objects (bone, horns, wood and albaster) were contaminated with Corynebacterium pyogenes. Furthermore, 7 objects were contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes and these 7 objects include wood, plaster floor, pottery, al-baster and glased pottery.
In the present study, the microbial deterioration of sandstone from the Osirion's Sarcophagus Chamber as affected by rising ground water level was investigated by means of SEM micrograph of fungal hyphae, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and... more
In the present study, the microbial deterioration of sandstone from the Osirion's Sarcophagus Chamber as affected by rising ground water level was investigated by means of SEM micrograph of fungal hyphae, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The following Fungi; Cladosporium cladosporioides, Aspergillus terreus, Curvularia lunata, and Acremonium falciforme were identified on the deteriorated stone surfaces and these findings were tested by SEM investigations. The hyphae penetration of the identified microfungi caused mechanical exfoliation of building stone material as well as changing in color.
The skeleton of an adult male, dating to the Early Iron Age of the Assyrian Period (B.C. 8th-7th cc), recovered in South Eastern Turkey was analyzed. It reveals significant biological and cultural deformations. This so-called Zeviya... more
The skeleton of an adult male, dating to the Early Iron Age of the Assyrian Period (B.C. 8th-7th cc), recovered in South Eastern Turkey was analyzed. It reveals significant biological and cultural deformations. This so-called Zeviya Tivilki individual represents the first known record of circular-type double bandage artificial cranial deformation from the Iron Age in Anatolia. The presence of cranial pathology temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD) on the left side of the mandible, most probably caused by a trauma, was identified and negatively affected dental function and health. In particular, the occlusal surface of the left upper teeth covered by dental plaque indicates that the individual was not able to use this side of his jaw. Signs of the post-cranial pathology diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) reveal that the individual's physical behaviors were effected (limited). Deformations due to physical and physiological stresses on the postcranial and cra-nial parts indicate the individual severely suffered during his lifetime.
This paper reports on a study conducted on archaeological sediments from two sites in the Jezreel Valley, Israel: the Roman military camp of Legio, dating to the 2nd-3rd centuries CE, and the Bronze Age village of Tel Megiddo East, dating... more
This paper reports on a study conducted on archaeological sediments from two sites in the Jezreel Valley, Israel: the Roman military camp of Legio, dating to the 2nd-3rd centuries CE, and the Bronze Age village of Tel Megiddo East, dating to Early Bronze I. The primary purpose of the study was to test the assumption that chronologically-specific metallurgical production and consumption would be evident through trace elements within archaeological sediments. Sediment samples were analyzed using a portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) device, as well as conventional wet chemistry techniques in order to compare the results between bulk element analysis and readily leachable cations, and to assess the feasibility of field-based pXRF for such study. Samples taken from various contexts at each site were analyzed specifically for concentrations of lead, copper, and zinc, which should hypothetically differ between a Roman Period site utilizing lead and brass (a copper/zinc alloy), versus an Early Bronze Age site participating in primarily copper metallurgy. Results demonstrate quantitative differences in the sediments between both sites, as well as the capability of pXRF to detect and quantify such trace elements. The implications of these results are discussed in terms of the archaeo-metallurgical context of the two sites.
The present work aims at evaluating the use of laser in cleaning and analysis of archaeological corroded silver coins. The selected corroded silver coins used in this study have been excavated from burial soil in Najran excavation site... more
The present work aims at evaluating the use of laser in cleaning and analysis of archaeological corroded silver coins. The selected corroded silver coins used in this study have been excavated from burial soil in Najran excavation site where there were more than 2500 rare coins dating back to pre-Islamic eras.. Laser cleaning tests were performed on 2 different types of corroded coins using a Q-switched Nd: YAG laser at 1064 nm. LIBS diagnostics was used to monitor the laser ablation process during the removal of different kinds of corrosion products with the aim of stopping the process once the cleaned surface is reached. XRD analysis was done to characterize the corrosion crust on the coin surface. For evaluating the usefulness of using laser in this study for analytical and cleaning of the selected corroded coins, the same coins were investigated , before and after laser cleaning, with (SEM-EDX). The results showed that for analysis of the corrosion products on the crust on the surface of coin, the best LIBS spectra have been obtained after the first laser shot. The number of laser shots needed for surface cleaning depends essentially on the corrosion layer thickness. Only 5 laser shots were needed for the removal of thin corrosion layers while for thick layers 15 laser shots were used. Laser is successful, effective and safer cleaning technique for removing corrosion products of the studied archaeological coins.
Local legends may contain information about real geological events of the past. Earthquake lights (EQL) can occur in the atmosphere over earthquake epicenter areas and adjacent faults before and during quakes. They may look like diffuse... more
Local legends may contain information about real geological events of the past. Earthquake lights (EQL) can occur in the atmosphere over earthquake epicenter areas and adjacent faults before and during quakes. They may look like diffuse airglow, flashes, fiery pillars, and luminous balls. EQL may cause a mystical experience probably due to the influence of their electromagnetic fields on the brain. Subjective perception and interpretation of EQL depend on religious and cultural traditions. We study a stereotype of EQL interpretation in the legends of the Greek Orthodoxy exemplified by the legends about the foundation of two shrines: St. George Monastery near the Cape Fiolent, Crimea and the Panagia Tripiti Church in Aigion, Peloponnese. It is argued that the similar interpretation of EQL observation in the Crimean and Peloponnesian legends were caused by similar natural and economic living conditions of the Greek population in the both regions in the Middle Ages. We also consider some examples of EQL observation took place in other regions and their interpretation in other denominations. Differences and relations between EQL of mechanoelectrical and degassing origin are discussed. Finally, we consider the role of active faults in the production of a mystical experience and sacralization of an affected landscape.
Excavations of Hellenistic necropolises in ancient Issa located on the island of Vis in coastal Croatia revealed significant amounts of pottery, mostly tableware, dated from the second half of the 4 th to the 1 st c. BCE. Recovered... more
Excavations of Hellenistic necropolises in ancient Issa located on the island of Vis in coastal Croatia revealed significant amounts of pottery, mostly tableware, dated from the second half of the 4 th to the 1 st c. BCE. Recovered pottery contained different stylistic forms thought to have been produced locally or imported. The goal of this study was to report on technological and compositional aspects of pottery economics embedded in the frame of social development of Issaean society. For this purpose, a set of 42 samples was analysed by X-ray diffractometry, polarization and electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence, and automated electron mi-croscopy. The results of archeometric inquiry combined with stylistic traits showed most of the vessels were produced locally whereby the procurement of raw material was dependent on the local occurrences of Terra Rossa. This required a high level of manufacture organisation, defining Issa as a presumably well-established Hellenistic city already in the second half of the 4th c. BCE. At the time the city maintained a strong exchange with the Italian South as suggested by excavated red figure and Gnathia pottery characterized by the superior production technologically compared to local imitations. A rare example of recovered amphoriskoi and their distinct material characteristics provided a strong indication of the presence of Levan-tine pottery in Issaean graves which, until now, has not been attested in the Eastern Adriatic. Such a finding speaks of the involvement of Issa in the Late Hellenistic networks of economic and cultural seaborne connec-tivity between the Adriatic and the Eastern Mediterranean and introduces Issa as a far-flung market of, at the time popular Levantine luxury products.
Quantitative spectroscopy analysis of spear heads and arrow heads of Middle Bronze Age sites of Azer-baijan (second part of the III to the middle of the II millennium BC) has been made to determine the type of the alloy taking into... more
Quantitative spectroscopy analysis of spear heads and arrow heads of Middle Bronze Age sites of Azer-baijan (second part of the III to the middle of the II millennium BC) has been made to determine the type of the alloy taking into account the accepted limits of natural impurity in metals (-0.5% and more). The analyses have shown that copper is the basic materials in all of them. Metallurgical classification the results of sixteen analysis spear heads have shown three of them made of arsenic copper, eight of tin bronze, two of arsenic tin bronze, two of lead tin bronze. Analytical investigations of seventeen arrow heads shown: four of them made of arsenic copper, seven of tin bronze, two of lead tin bronze, one of arsenic tin bronze, two of copper and one of copper lead alloys. Analysis of spear heads and arrow heads shown seven artefacts made of arsenic copper. It shown, that in the Middle Bronze Age on the territory of Azerbaijan continued smelting arsenic copper. But great part of artefacts made of tin bronze, containing tin in the range 2.6-12 %. Spear heads from burial mould dating of XVIII-XVII centuries BC of SouthWest Azerbaijan nearly Iran, Asia Minor contain 12 % tin. Arrow heads from admit burial dating XX-XIX centuries BC there are southeast on the Azerbaijan near border Iran, contain 8.15 % tin. It is shown, that tin on the territory of Azerbaijan in the study period, was available and deriving from territories of Iran, Asia Minor. Known, as ancient tin mining are absent on the Caucasus. Ancient tin mining found on the territory of Iran, Asia Minor, Afghanistan and Central Asia, mostly used in the beginning of the III millennium BC. Sumerian texts dated of III millennium BC position the origin of tin somewhere east of Mesopotamia, so that Iran and its neighboring countries Susa at the late part of the III millennium BC participated in the tin trade, where tin brought to Mesopotamia and there was widely trade. Tin also was imported on the South Caucasus from Mesopotamia, because through that territory trade route existed between Near East with North Caucasus-Maykop. At the final stage of the study period XVI-XV centuries BC expensive import of tin was supplemented by lead from local deposits. Lead was used as an alloying component in five investigated artifacts. The present study has shown that most of spear heads and arrow heads, were melt from raw materials of local origin with addition of imported tin.
Over the last two decades of excavations and surveys, a Mesolithic cultural stage was discovered for the first time in the Aegean which until then had appeared in a few places in mainland Greece. The first Mesolithic site appeared at the... more
Over the last two decades of excavations and surveys, a Mesolithic cultural stage was discovered for the first time in the Aegean which until then had appeared in a few places in mainland Greece. The first Mesolithic site appeared at the Cyclops Cave in Youra of Northern Sporades in 1992 and then the Mesolithic settlement of Maroulas in Kythnos was excavated (1996-2005). The following excavation of the Mesolithic site of Kerame in Ikaria (2007-2008) showed that the Mesolithic culture of the Aegean extended to the eastern side of the Aegean too. The next few years, surveys in the central and southern Aegean yielded new Mesolithic sites such as the sites of Roos in Naxos and Areta in Chalki. So far, nearly all the sites are located next to the sea and seem to have been related to sea movements from island to island. Apparently, the obsidian sources of Melos must have been the main reference center for this period while secondary were the obsidian sources of Yali in Dodecanese. The site Roos in Naxos is particularly important because, besides presenting all the features of a typical Mesolithic site, it expands to an area of dozens of acres, much greater than those of Maroulas in Kythnos and Kerame in Ikaria. The stone industry includes Melian obsidian and flint from Stelida quarry of Naxos. The typology of artifacts refers to stone tools that have also been found in Ikaria, Kythnos, Chalki and the earliest layer X of Knossos. Some types of implements probably indicate that the site of Roos could be dated to a later Mesolithic stage than those of Kythnos and Ikaria.
Sistan, in the eastern half of Iran, is one of the most important archaeological regions from where archaeological sites belonging to the Bronze Age onwards have recovered in abundance. During
If we are ever to find artifacts related to Hannibal's invasion of Italia the actual col route needs to be identified with certainty so that specific sites such as hearths, army bivouac/regrouping areas and other topo-graphic features... more
If we are ever to find artifacts related to Hannibal's invasion of Italia the actual col route needs to be identified with certainty so that specific sites such as hearths, army bivouac/regrouping areas and other topo-graphic features described in ancient texts are brought into focus. Some of the key environmental features include a gorge along the approach route, bivouac area near the summit of the Alps, and a blocking rockfall on the lee side of the range, amongst others. Strange that Kuhle and Kuhle (2012, 2015) provide a rebuttal of the Traversette Pass blocking rockfall (for location see Fig 12.1, Mahaney, 2008) as the route Hannibal followed into Italia when all evidence points to the one rockfall, a massive topographic feature described by Polybius nearly 2200 years ago. They present various quibbles over various translations of Polybius by no end of authors over the last two millennia, excellent photographs of various passes, but with the Traversette Col and major landforms misplaced on Fig. 1, and mention of fieldwork without offering any field evidence of any kind that might lead to historical archaeological exploration. Yet, it is clear from any author translating Polybius' Histories that Polybius did indeed see the rockfall mentioned in all ancient texts and he clearly understood the deposit to be a substantial mass, a two-tier event, that is, older and younger deposits superimposed on one another. Kuhle and Kuhle quote Walbank (1990) as a prime author who disputed translations of Polybius (Scott-Kilvert, 1979) etc. saying the topographic situation and time lines were inventions by others. What then, if one were to go to Paton (1922) revised by Walbank and Habicht (2010), only to find that the translation of the rockfall encounter runs parallel with Scott-Kilvert's translation, the one favored by Mahaney (2008, 2013).
The Pino del Oro gold mines, located in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula and more specifically in the Spanish province of Zamora, form part of the country"s Roman Age mining heritage. These mines differ from all the others in the empire... more
The Pino del Oro gold mines, located in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula and more specifically in the Spanish province of Zamora, form part of the country"s Roman Age mining heritage. These mines differ from all the others in the empire in one respect: they are characterised by the presence of quern-like depressions found in the nearby granitic outcrops where miners ground the ore. A series of petrological techniques was used to determine the most appropriate procedure for gathering information that would help clarify the significance of these man-made formations and whether the type of granite was a conditioning factor in the choice of grinding site. An analysis of the results yielded by the techniques deployed to characterise the two types of granite where the bedrock mortars are found showed that ultrasound velocity (Vp) and the hardness index are the two most suitable for futher research. On the grounds of the Vp and hardness fingings, a hypothesis is put forward on how to determine the stage of usability of the bedrock mortars.
Granite has widely been used in the fields of architecture and sculpture in Egypt, especially in the carving of obelisks, which were one of the most important features of ancient Egyptian civilization. Many granitic obelisks of Ramses II,... more
Granite has widely been used in the fields of architecture and sculpture in Egypt, especially in the carving of obelisks, which were one of the most important features of ancient Egyptian civilization. Many granitic obelisks of Ramses II, were found in the ancient city Tanis (San el-Hagar), Nile Delta, Egypt, that has been considered one of the most important ancient Egyptian cities. Unfortunately, the granitic obelisks at Tanis have been subjected to many deterioration factors, which resulted in numerous deterioration aspects, such as granular disintegration, scaling or spalling, cracking, efflo-rescence, soiling, microbiological colonization. From this standpoint, the materials which are used in the protection of those granitic obelisks must have the property of hydrophobicity in order to protect them from the harmful effects of water. In the last decade, polymer-nanoparticle composites have attracted great interest in the field of culture heritage conservation due to their unique multifunctional properties, resulting from the high surface area and chemical activity of the nanoparticles dispersed in the polymers. In this paper, three types of nanocomposites (PF 4, Fluotanium, Fluozinc) were used for the protection of granitic samples collected from Tanis. The petrographical, mineralogical, and chemical study of the granitic samples were determined by means of polarizing microscope, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray fluorescence, respectively. The properties of the treated samples were estimated by visual examination, colormetric measurements, static water contact angle, total immersion water absorption, abrasion resistance, scanning electron microscope, and self-cleaning test. The durability of the nanocomposites used in this study was evaluated by repeating the measurement of static water contact angle for the treated granitic samples after exposure to ultraviolet irradiation.
Using information and communication technologies (ICT) in tourism planning enhances sustainable tourism and better management, analysis, and decision support in the tourism industry. This study assessed the use of ICT in the promotion of... more
Using information and communication technologies (ICT) in tourism planning enhances sustainable tourism and better management, analysis, and decision support in the tourism industry. This study assessed the use of ICT in the promotion of tourism and the management of Madaba city in Jordan. The approach of this study addressed eleven indicators for the assessment such as: the type of organization, the organization's activities, the ICT and community involvement, the ICT usage within heritage sites; online availability, the training and skills, sharing of information electronically, E-Commerce, the ICT applications, and technology for heritage interpretation. The study targeted ten main stakeholders related to the field of heritage and tourism in the historical core of Madaba including eight destinations and two management organizations. The results show that using ICT technologies in the city of Madaba are abundant, and are not seen as a tool either in the tourism management or in the tourist's visits. Accordingly, an interactive Virtual Tour 360° HD was designed including an online website and mobile application to offer new ways of visitor interaction with the visited sites in Madaba. In addition, a web GIS Map was produced for the downtown of the city to transfer the use of advanced technologies in the integrated management of the city.
Samples from ecclesiastical textiles (epitaphioi) which date in the byzantine period (14th century) and belong to monasteries of Mount Athos, are investigated using High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to a Photodiode Array... more
Samples from ecclesiastical textiles (epitaphioi) which date in the byzantine period (14th century) and belong to monasteries of Mount Athos, are investigated using High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to a Photodiode Array Detector (HPLC-PDA). Prior to HPLC analysis, the historic samples are treated following a two step method, which was recently devised for dyestuff extraction: samples are first treated with hot dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) followed by mild acid (trifluoroacetic acid, TFA) hydrolysis. For the first time the use of cochineal in a byzantine textile is reported herein. According to the HPLC semi-quantitative results the cochineal dye was originated probably from Porphyrophora polonica L. (Polish cochineal) insects. Weld (Reseda luteola L.) is identified in the historic samples by detecting aglycone and glycoside components of the yellow dye, thus demonstrating that compounds which are destroyed under harsh acidic conditions (glycosides) can be recovered by the suggested two step dyestuff extraction method. Finally, kermes (Kermes vermilio Planchon), indigoid dyes which can be either indigo (Indigofera tinctoria L. and others) or woad (Isatis tinctoria L.), and tannins are found in the samples.
Archaeological surveys and excavations carried out in two areas of the municipality of Cañamero (Cáceres, Spain) have revealed the presence of significant Middle Palaeolithic stone tool assemblages. This paper contextualizes the site at a... more
Archaeological surveys and excavations carried out in two areas of the municipality of Cañamero (Cáceres, Spain) have revealed the presence of significant Middle Palaeolithic stone tool assemblages. This paper contextualizes the site at a regional scale and presents its chronological evolution over time, accounting for the different post-depositional processes. To do so, different techniques and methodologies have been implemented, including archaeology, geomorphology, and GIS analysis. The aim is to understand the genesis and evolution of these kinds of Middle Palaeolithic settlements and to characterize them in contemporary soils.
The aim of this paper is to examine and analyze a wooden face that was covered with a transparent layer of wax after finishing the mask. The use of wax and encaustic painting was used in Ancient Egypt during the Greco-Roman period, but it... more
The aim of this paper is to examine and analyze a wooden face that was covered with a transparent layer of wax after finishing the mask. The use of wax and encaustic painting was used in Ancient Egypt during the Greco-Roman period, but it was an extremely rare technique in the Egyptian dynasties. The wooden face that was chosen for this study was carefully examined using light microscopy to identify the wood, which proved to be native sycomore fig (Ficus sycomorus). Digital microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) were used to assess decay of the outer exposed surface that had been covered in the past with a preparation layer composed of calcium carbonate. SEM micrographs showed clear decay of the cell walls due to the penetration of both the preparation layer and fungal hyphae. Microbiological investigation indicated the presence a bacterial and fungal infestation. The wood was infected infected by Aspergillus niger and Ulocladium sp fungi and Pediococcus dextrinicus bacteria. Further assessment was done by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) to calculate the decrease of cellulose crystallinity according to Segal and Fourier Transform spectroscopy (FTIR) to detect the changes of the main wood components (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin).
The excavations conducted at Van Castle Mound, East Anatolia, between 1987 and 2010 uncovered a total of 328 human skeletons dating back to the Medieval period. Thirty trauma cases were identified within the collection, constituting 9.14%... more
The excavations conducted at Van Castle Mound, East Anatolia, between 1987 and 2010 uncovered a total of 328 human skeletons dating back to the Medieval period. Thirty trauma cases were identified within the collection, constituting 9.14% of the entire population. Typology and distribution of the trauma among different sexes indicated that depression fractures, oblique fractures, comminuted fractures, and head deformation were more frequently observed in male skeletons, while a post-fractural infection appeared only in a female skeleton. Trauma cases were more common on post-cranial bones. In addition, a trepanned cranial specimen belonging to a mature individual is identified in which grooving technique was performed. Most of the observed trauma cases were related to heavy labor, unsafe working conditions, and challenges of everyday agrarian life. Previous paleopathological studies from the Medieval Van Castle Mound also indicates an insufficient nutritation and high physical stress.
Beycesultan was an important city located in Western Anatolia during the 2 nd millennium BC. The complex political situation in the area caused conflicts between the Arzawan political entity and the Hitites in central Anatolia. Several... more
Beycesultan was an important city located in Western Anatolia during the 2 nd millennium BC. The complex political situation in the area caused conflicts between the Arzawan political entity and the Hitites in central Anatolia. Several episodes of destruction by fire at the settlement are thought to be results of these conflicts and the human remains found within the settlement were the victims. The site was resettled after these large fire destructions, believed to be by original settlers. The aim of this work to understand the nature of the deposition of the human remains within the settlement and whether these people were killed in the attacks and/or by the fires. The study of human remains from one building reveals that the human bones within this space were deposited secondarily, which raises more questions about the identity of the new settlers.
The present work aims to develop and establish conservation processes for cleaning marine archaeological silver coins-the Shoiba Hoard Coins in Red Sea, Shoiba Port, near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. To help the archaeologists study and date... more
The present work aims to develop and establish conservation processes for cleaning marine archaeological silver coins-the Shoiba Hoard Coins in Red Sea, Shoiba Port, near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. To help the archaeologists study and date these coins, it was necessary to reveal the impeded decorations and the inscriptions on these coins. Before establishing the experimental work to evaluate the selected conservation processes , various tests were performed on different types of the selected coins to assess their statement and condition. XRD analysis was used to characterize the coins. Also scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) attached with energy-dispersive x-ray analyzer (EDX) was used to identify and analyze the corrosion products on the surface of the coins. In this study 5 cleaning methods within various conditions were tested for cleaning the current coins. The efficacy of the combined use of alkaline Rochelle salt and reduction cleaning techniques were evaluated. To evaluate the usefulness of the suggested conservation processes used in this study for cleaning the hoard coins, the coins before, during and after the cleaning processes were investigated by various techniques. SEM with EDAX and XRD techniques were used to characterize the coins after the final conservation. The results showed that the best method that can be used safely and successfully for cleaning of the studied coins is as the following a) initially the corroded coins have to be treated with alkaline Rochelle salt, b) then treated with alkaline dithionite reduction technique or electrolytic reduction technique, finally c) the coins should be rinsed, dried and followed by isolation. The conservation processes developed in this study can be used effectively, safely, and successfully for cleaning of corroded marine archaeological silver coins in this treasure and the simulated marine archaeological coins. The archaeological study of the decorations and inscriptions that appeared on the surface of the coins after their conservation confirms that these coins belong to the Rasulids (Banu Rasul) Dynasty and date back to 1229 to 1454 A.D.
The placement of the Middle Bronze Age settlement Villaggio dei Faraglioni on the Ustica island, one of the best preserved prehistoric village of the Mediterranean area, is analyzed from a cognitive point of view, taking into account... more
The placement of the Middle Bronze Age settlement Villaggio dei Faraglioni on the Ustica island, one of the best preserved prehistoric village of the Mediterranean area, is analyzed from a cognitive point of view, taking into account archaeoastronomy and landscape archaeology aspects. It turns out that the place might have been selected because of its privileged position with respect to the landscape, better than conforming to utilitarian/defensive considerations, as instead occurs for contemporary, for instance Mycenaean, sites. From the village it was indeed possible to follow the rising and setting of the sun in the months close to the winter solstice on the two elevated peaks existing on the opposite side of the island, in a symmetric way. As a consequence, the inhabitants could determine the day of the winter solstice with an approximation of a few days, using this "partial calendar" for agricultural and navigational purposes. A possible astronomical orientation of the urban layout is also analyzed.
The state of preservation of the Cartonnage collection stored in the basement of the Egyptian museum in Cairo, is very poor; it is suffering biodeterioration as a result of inappropriate storage. The analytical techniques utilized in this... more
The state of preservation of the Cartonnage collection stored in the basement of the Egyptian museum in Cairo, is very poor; it is suffering biodeterioration as a result of inappropriate storage. The analytical techniques utilized in this study : optical microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) equipped with an energy dispersive X-ray detector (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopes (FTIR). These analytical techniques aim to specify the layer structure of the car-tonnage (preparation layer, painted layer and gilded layer),they also identify the adhesives used to paste the layers of textile and in binding pigments and gilding. The treatment plan started with consolidating the fragile parts, removing the cotton bandages which we used to maintain the shape of the mask. Japanese tissue adhered with Klucel G is used to support the mask. Lenin ruptures were fixed and consolidated using Chitosan 5%.
Archaeological bones were collected from different sites and conditions in Egypt to be analyzed by multi-techniques to determine the reaction of bones in different burial environments (dry and moist conditions). Different analytical... more
Archaeological bones were collected from different sites and conditions in Egypt to be analyzed by multi-techniques to determine the reaction of bones in different burial environments (dry and moist conditions). Different analytical techniques have been used to accurately recognize archaeological bones such as X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results revealed that XRD confirms that all bone samples taken from archaeological sites have high crystallinity. EDX analysis showed different types of elements. It also proved the increasing of calcium and phosphor elements in archaeological samples compared to the control sample. FTIR indicated deterioration of amides groups compared to the control sample.
Safavid era is one of the important periods in the history of Iran at the Islamic period. In the Safavid period , trade and particularly foreign trade was highly developed due to the established security on the roads. Silk was one of the... more
Safavid era is one of the important periods in the history of Iran at the Islamic period. In the Safavid period , trade and particularly foreign trade was highly developed due to the established security on the roads. Silk was one of the goods that received attention in foreign trade cycle. As a result, a great number of merchants traveled to Iran in this period, and this led to an economic boom in this period. In the Safavid era, gold, silver, and copper coins were minted, but silver coins were used in trade exchanges. In this study, the total of 13 silver coins belonging to the mid and late Safavid era (Shah Abbas II, Shah Sultan Hussein) was analyzed using PIXE method. This study is an attempt to figure out the economic situation of the Safavid period. The amount of silver used in the coins pertaining to Shah Abbas II represents a good grade of the coins belonging to the king. In the reign of Sultan Hussein, coins were of very high grade despite the unde-sired political and social conditions of the country.
This paper is focused on the production, function and cultural interactions of the chalices detected at the Late Bronze Age levels of Beycesultan Höyük. The morphological characteristics and context analysis of the chalices found at... more
This paper is focused on the production, function and cultural interactions of the chalices detected at the Late Bronze Age levels of Beycesultan Höyük. The morphological characteristics and context analysis of the chalices found at Beycesultan Höyük will be discussed, and following this, the chalices function and place within society will be compared with other settlements where chalices have been obtained.
The aim of this study is to shed light on a new Ancient North Arabian inscription which could contain a reference to the Nabataean minister Syllaeus. This inscription would be the second from the known corpus of Ancient North Arabian to... more
The aim of this study is to shed light on a new Ancient North Arabian inscription which could contain a reference to the Nabataean minister Syllaeus. This inscription would be the second from the known corpus of Ancient North Arabian to mention the name of this minister, and could be dated on this basis to the last quarter of the first century BC. The inscription includes the verb ngy which means "to flee", which is discussed alongside the names s¹ly and rm.
In this paper, petrographic, mineralogical and chemical analyses have been performed on plain table-ware fragments discovered in the ancient town of Akrai (modern Palazzolo Acreide, Syracuse, Sicily) and dated between the Hellenistic and... more
In this paper, petrographic, mineralogical and chemical analyses have been performed on plain table-ware fragments discovered in the ancient town of Akrai (modern Palazzolo Acreide, Syracuse, Sicily) and dated between the Hellenistic and the Late Roman periods (4 th-5 th /6 th century A.D.). The project is developed in the context of the archeological debate on the cultural and political process occurred in Sicily since the 3 rd century B.C. and known in archaeological literature as Romanization. In this framework, a gradually substitution of Greek-Hellenistic materials with the Roman ones has occurred in Sicilian colonies and the city of Akrai was deepened involved in this process. As the sensitiveness of material culture to cultural and social changes, the archaeometric investigation has been focused on provenance and technological manufacture aspects of table-ware production, in order to delineate the eventually changes took place in the area during the investigated period. The comparison of obtained data with numerous references local groups of ceramics allows to identify different highly specialized local productions, drawing-back the commercial movements of potteries in Sicily during Roman Age.
The Middle Palaeolithic site of Foz do Enxarrique is located on the right bank of the Tagus River at the mouth of the Enxarrique stream. The excavations revealed a single archaeological level together with a large lithic assemblage... more
The Middle Palaeolithic site of Foz do Enxarrique is located on the right bank of the Tagus River at the mouth of the Enxarrique stream. The excavations revealed a single archaeological level together with a large lithic assemblage associated with a relatively small amount of bones and teeth of large mammals. Uranium-series determinations on equid and bovid teeth provide an average date of 33.600 ±500 BP. The use-wear analysis was conducted on 110 lithic artefacts selected from the finds found in the central area of the excavation. During the use-wear study were analysed all the unretouched flakes with potential functional edges, good surface preservation and showing the presence of removals and/or roundings localized on the edges of the artefacts, thus indicating ancient use. Despite of the good condition of the lithic artefacts and the relatively good preservation of the faunal remains, it is clear that the material has been slightly reworked by to geological and biological factors. The use-wear study shows that the assemblage is dominated by tools with traces of activities linked to the acquisition and processing of animal carcasses but there are also tools with traces linked to the processing of other materials (such as skin and wood). According with the data obtained from the use-wear analysis and from the other studies carried out, we can conclude that the site of Foz do Enxarrique is probably a hunting camp or more likely a medium term occupations base camp, related to seasonal river floods.
The monitoring of performance characteristics of resins was always an issue for the conservation community, since the stability of the art objects depends on the service life of conservation materials used. Among the resins commonly... more
The monitoring of performance characteristics of resins was always an issue for the conservation community, since the stability of the art objects depends on the service life of conservation materials used. Among the resins commonly applied in the field of paintings conservation, four of the most popular ones, Paraloid B72, Primal AC33 (acrylic polymers), Ketone Resin N (cyclohexanone) and Laropal A81 (urea-aldehyde) were selected to be comparatively studied under accelerated ageing conditions. These resins have been used by the art conservators either as consolidant materials of the paint or as protecting varnishes for the painting surface. The behaviour of the coatings under thermal ageing was investigated following a methodology depositing films of all materials onto different solid substrates (silicon wafers, quartz and simple glass slides) depending on the method of analysis used. Accelerated thermal ageing tests were conducted at 100 o C, for up to 432 hours. The morphological characteristics of the resins films (crack formations and surface alterations, coherence of film layers, thickness and surface roughness) were examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Chemical changes of the resins were studied with FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, while colour properties and thermal-chemical stability were also studied with spectro-colorimetry. It was found that, although all four displayed changes concerning their colour and film thickness, the two acrylic polymers and the aldehyde resin exhibit high stability against chemical degradation compared to the cyclohexanone based resin. Complementary solubility and swelling testing were also applied and significantly aided in supporting the spectroscopy observations. Finally, microscopic examination of most resin films revealed cracking features which may sometimes render them unsuitable for application under uncontrollable conditions.
The aim of this work is obtaining information on the provenance of some very peculiar green (or black-green) stones used both as façade and floor decorations in the Messina Cathedral. Historical sources and available literature data... more
The aim of this work is obtaining information on the provenance of some very peculiar green (or black-green) stones used both as façade and floor decorations in the Messina Cathedral. Historical sources and available literature data suggest that these materials could belong to the amphibolite of the Peloritani Mountains. In order to verify the true provenance, some stone samples were studied through various analytical methods (SEM-EDS, XRPD, XRF). The investigated specimens resulted to be metabasites showing pseudo-morphic and vein textures, with relicts of olivine replaced by serpentine-forming a mesh textures-and or-thopyroxene mostly altered to bastite. Pseudomorphic minerals are serpentine (lizardite and chrysotile), magnetite, amphibole (tremolite-actinolite series) and chlorite (talc-chlorite). These results demonstrate that the analysed green stones cannot belong to the amphibolite outcrop of the Peloritani Mountains. Otherwise, they show mineralogical and petrographic features very similar to those of "verde Calabria", a rock typolo-gy largely exposed in the Northern Calabria area-belonging to the ophiolitic series-and widely used in the last century as building material.
The Madaba city has two main locations are included art of portraits in mosaic pavements from Byzantine period. The first one is in Church of the Virgin Mary and the second from in the Hippolytus hall both located in the central of the... more
The Madaba city has two main locations are included art of portraits in mosaic pavements from Byzantine period. The first one is in Church of the Virgin Mary and the second from in the Hippolytus hall both located in the central of the Madaba City. The study examines a selection of visual arts, such as human portraits and human portraits represent of the Goddess in order to detect certain important aspects of ancient society in Jordan from the Byzantine era. The study found that the respective artist was able to implement his drawings on those floors in accordance with the principles and rules relating to the technical work. This led to a highlighting of the aesthetic side of these works, although there are some portraits was destroyed of the churches in the region. Additionally, the artist was able through these portraits to give an idea of some show beliefs that existed before the advent of Christianity in the region. These drawing of the portraits are an important historical document of members of Byzantine society, especially given the scarcity of records documenting daily life during this period.
Islamic historiography has long been identified as a secondary source (behind material culture) to study late antiquity and Medieval period in the Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean cultures. But since recently , as the rate of... more
Islamic historiography has long been identified as a secondary source (behind material culture) to study late antiquity and Medieval period in the Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean cultures. But since recently , as the rate of archaeological findings in the region started to decelerate, the need to revisit these texts as primary sources of study arose. Moreover, the ability of Islamic history books to provide data on subjective aspects of the past societies, the sort of data which is probably not reflected through material culture solely, have also caused a growing interest in these evidence. This study explores examples of Muslim historiography regarding the events depicted in Sasanian rock reliefs (224-651 A.D), and tries to show the effects of using Islamic histories in archaeological research particularly by addressing three main issues; First to show how accurate the data exploited from Islamic historiog-raphy could be, second, to what extent are Islamic texts capable of providing additional data to what material culture offers, and lastly, how these two sources of evidence (Material and texts) could be tested against each other to reveal validity of one another. Moreover, with a careful scrutiny on the Islamic texts and rock reliefs, this study suggests that a methodical study of both textual and material data simultaneously could offer new insights into the political history of Sasanians.
In the Natufian lithic component at Hayonim, both in the cave and the terrace, numerous artifacts of pink/red color may be recognized. Cherts with similar appearance are not present in the geological environment surrounding the site in... more
In the Natufian lithic component at Hayonim, both in the cave and the terrace, numerous artifacts of pink/red color may be recognized. Cherts with similar appearance are not present in the geological environment surrounding the site in Northern Israel. Pink chert available in Jordan is shown to be of different nature. Thus this leaves us with the hypothesis of intentional heat treatment of locally available iron-rich yellow chert, of Cenomanian age. Based on experimental replication of chert firing and SEM analysis, we argue that a well-mastered and controlled use of fire was practiced by some skilled craftsmen at Hayonim throughtout the Late Epipalaeolithic.
SEM-EDX analysis is used in this study to investigate the production technology of 20 fragments of glass bracelets of uncertain date uncovered from the reused west cemetery of Umm el-Jimal in northeastern Jor-dan. While six bracelets are... more
SEM-EDX analysis is used in this study to investigate the production technology of 20 fragments of glass bracelets of uncertain date uncovered from the reused west cemetery of Umm el-Jimal in northeastern Jor-dan. While six bracelets are complexly decorated with multi-colored glasses, the rest are plain and mono-colored. Most of the bracelets appear macroscopically deeply colored or black. Styles and chemical analysis indicated an Islamic origin to the bracelets. Chemically, the bracelets are divided into natron, plant-ash and mixed-natron-plant-ash groups. Red, white, yellow-green decorations were produced by dispersing micron-scale copper crystals, tin oxide and lead-tin oxides in the glass melt, respectively. The results indicated recycling of older glass for the production of some bracelets and use of metal and alloy by-products as glass col-orants.
In this case study, Proton-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) analytical technique has been applied to thirty-eight Iranian silver coins, selected from a private collection. The purpose was to study the fineness evolution from beginning of the... more
In this case study, Proton-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) analytical technique has been applied to thirty-eight Iranian silver coins, selected from a private collection. The purpose was to study the fineness evolution from beginning of the 13 to the 16 th century AD in Iran. The content and variation of metallic and non-metallic elements Fe, Cu, Zn, Ag, Au and Pb were observed. It was found that Cu, Pb, Zn and Au were mainly present along with silver as major component. The content of Ag as the main constituent of the coins varies from 55 to 97 %. This significant variation in the content of the major constituent reveals the economical difficulties encountered by each dynasty. It could be also attributed to differences in the composition of the silver mine used to strike the coins in different locations. The results offer valuable information about the economy of the periods under study.
The study deals with the characterisation of paint layers from the wall paintings that decorated two excavated Roman villae rusticae in Slovenia. The villa in Mošnje, located in the NW of Slovenia, was built in the 1st half of the 1st... more
The study deals with the characterisation of paint layers from the wall paintings that decorated two excavated Roman villae rusticae in Slovenia. The villa in Mošnje, located in the NW of Slovenia, was built in the 1st half of the 1st century AD and was in use until the end of the 2nd century AD, while the coastal villa in Ško-larice, built in the second quarter of the 1st century AD, remained in use until the mid-5th century. Stratigra-phy and painting techniques were studied using optical microscopy, with pigments identified via Raman microspectroscopy supported by FTIR microspectroscopy and SEM/EDS. The results of this analysis revealed that whereas the Školarice wall paintings were mainly executed using the fresco technique and some areas with the secco technique, both techniques were identified equally in the Mošnje paintings. Red ochre, lime white and carbon black pigments were identified in both the Mošnje and Školarice paintings, although the latter were also characterised by the use of yellow ochre and green earth.
The objective of this paper is the investigation of the behavior of historic masonry structures subjected to static and seismic forces and the formulation of numerical models for use in structural analysis. The case study presented her... more
The objective of this paper is the investigation of the behavior of historic masonry structures subjected to static and seismic forces and the formulation of numerical models for use in structural analysis. The case study presented her regards the seismic analysis of El-Sakakini palace (1892 AC) in Cairo, Egypt (damaged by the earthquakes occurred in 1992 and 1995). Firstly, we collected all data regarding the site, the geometry of manufact, the characteristics of materials of construction, the structure and the soil medium, etc. The paper presents the next part which includes the static and seismic performance of these structures is investigated according to statistical data from recent earthquakes and finally an analytical model of describing their performance is developed. An analytical, plasticity-based Model is presented for the inelastic analysis of traditional masonry structure. The proposed Model is applied to the analysis of El-Sakakini palace in Cairo. A non-linear model is developed, aiming at capturing the key in elastic mechanisms. The analytical model is implemented in the finite element code Robout Millineum and validated against experimental results. The results obtained suggest that for such structures non-linear static analysis provides a reasonable prediction of damage at the base of the palace, but is not however suitable for predicting the overall damage along the palace's entire height. The conclusive aim of the project is then to develop guidelines for the evaluation of the static and seismic vulnerability of historic masonry palaces. Ultimately, the analysis presenting the optimal structural interventions to remedy the existing damage and to prevent the formation of the same mechanisms under the action of future earthquake.
To date, much less is known about the nature and scope of tourism experience at the museums in Jordan. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the motives and emotional involvement for local and international visitors traveling to a... more
To date, much less is known about the nature and scope of tourism experience at the museums in Jordan. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the motives and emotional involvement for local and international visitors traveling to a sample of major museums in Jordan. A questionnaire was administered to domestic and international tourists in main 8 museums in Amman, Irbid, Madaba, and salt (N = 203). The findings of the study reveal that exploration was the main motivational factor for visitors traveling to museums in Jor-dan. The study further indicates that pleasure obtained from the visit to the museums is the major emotional involvement dimension for the respondents. Furthermore, the study shows that relaxation is a significant predictor for the involvement dimensions: pleasure, importance and loyalty. These findings enhance our understanding of tourism experience at museums in Jordan and they could be used to improve the overall tourism products and offerings in Jordan.
This work presents the archaeometric characterizations of glazed pottery from Al-Fustat by using multi-analytical techniques. Pot sherds investigated by colorimetry, Polarized Light Microscope OLM, XRD and SEM. In the studied samples,... more
This work presents the archaeometric characterizations of glazed pottery from Al-Fustat by using multi-analytical techniques. Pot sherds investigated by colorimetry, Polarized Light Microscope OLM, XRD and SEM. In the studied samples, quartz added to the pottery body paste. In addition, additive materials commonly added to the raw materials such feldspars, mica, amphibole, pyroxene and calcite. Mineralogical and morphological analysis of the matrix indicate that the firing temperature carried out at 900 ºC. Elemental analytical of glaze layer indicate lead glaze was used in the Fatimid glazed pottery. Source of glaze color identified in Fatimid glaze, since Fe used widely in the preparation.
Recent research at Areta in the northern side of Chalki Island (Dodecanese) has revealed an enormous quantity of lithics of the Mesolithic period. It is the first time that such an old settlement is located in the area of the Dodecanese,... more
Recent research at Areta in the northern side of Chalki Island (Dodecanese) has revealed an enormous quantity of lithics of the Mesolithic period. It is the first time that such an old settlement is located in the area of the Dodecanese, thus extending to the southeast of the Aegean the already known Mesolithic network of sites and creating a sea route from Cyclades to Dodecanese. Apart from the Melian obsidian, there is great abundance of obsidian from Yali of Nissiros used for making tools despite its poor quality. The last few years' surveys of the Aegean University discovered an extensive Mesolithic site at the southern part of Naxos that follows the usual model of Mesolithic occupation with the selection of sites very close to the sea. The types of tools in both sites exhibit a number of analogies with the sites of the Aegean Mesolithic such as Maroulas in Kythnos and Kerame 1 in Ikaria. Dissimilarities between the above-mentioned inventories result first of all from the fact that different raw materials were exploited. Despite of the missing absolute dates, the regularity and increase of geometrical tools, and the presence of other microlithic forms may suggest that the lithic industry of both sites represents a later phase of the Aegean Mesolithic. The lithic industry of the Upper Mesolithic resembles with the lithic repertory of the aceramic level X of Knossos showing an origin from the Aegean and not from the East.
A first attempt to date the Kastrouli settlement at Desfina (Delphi Phokis) has been made by optical lumines-cence dating (OSL) on three ceramic and radiocarbon (C-14) of one bone sample. An initial archaeological reconnaissance of the... more
A first attempt to date the Kastrouli settlement at Desfina (Delphi Phokis) has been made by optical lumines-cence dating (OSL) on three ceramic and radiocarbon (C-14) of one bone sample. An initial archaeological reconnaissance of the partially looted site has produced some indication of use during late Helladic and later periods. Our four ages by luminescence and C-14 have shown that this site was used initially in Late Hellad-ic period, and reused during the Middle Geometric, the Early Archaic and the Classical periods.
This study presents the first OSL dates for a well structure presumed to have been built by pastoralists in Qulbān Banī Murra, Jordan. The site is assumed to belong to the Chalcolithic culture (5 th millennium BC). It includes partly... more
This study presents the first OSL dates for a well structure presumed to have been built by pastoralists in Qulbān Banī Murra, Jordan. The site is assumed to belong to the Chalcolithic culture (5 th millennium BC). It includes partly megalithic burial fields connected to a water management system. Two sediment samples, composed from reddish silty material used as a hardened lining material for the well structures, were dated using OSL (quartz OSL and feldspar post IR-IRSL). The good agreement between the two chronometers confirms that the sediment was fully reset at the time of burial, and so gives confidence in the reliability of the chronology. The average age derived from quartz of the two samples is 4.6±0.2 Kyr BC and 4.77±0.27 Kyr BC for ages derived from feldspar. Both ages are in agreement with earlier assumptions. These dates represent some of the first instrumental ages for this widespread water-using culture.
The Homeric Epic, Iliad, describes the Trojan War's events during a period of only seven days around Pa-troclus' death. These events are initiated after Athena's appearance as a shooting star. During this period, the poet describes in... more
The Homeric Epic, Iliad, describes the Trojan War's events during a period of only seven days around Pa-troclus' death. These events are initiated after Athena's appearance as a shooting star. During this period, the poet describes in detail various physical phenomena, which attributed to the gods. Zeus' thunderbolts in a clear sky, 'divine' screams, a fallen thunder stone inducing odor of sulphur, sporadic yellow, red and dark clouds appearing out of nowhere, red droplets are falling from the sky, river Xanthus is flooding and turns into red, Hephaestus' 'flames' ignite fires, whereas seismic activity and raising of the sea level are recorded. The above phenomena can be explained as a consequence of the local weather's circumstances and landscape peculiarities, as well as due to the partial solar eclipse's manifestation, which occurred during the same period. We analysed all these descriptions in detail and we concluded that an intense astronomical phenomenon like a meteor shower including some fireball's explosions is indicated by the poet, in parallel with the Trojan War's combats. This is in accordance with the mythological account of a comet's appearance during Troy's fall, because meteor showers produced by the remnants of the comets, when they approach to the Sun.
In this work, a provenance and technological investigation on cooking-ware potteries from the ancient Greek-Roman town of Akrai (Palazzolo Acreide, Syracuse, Sicily) has proposed. A multi-methodological approach have been used to study... more
In this work, a provenance and technological investigation on cooking-ware potteries from the ancient Greek-Roman town of Akrai (Palazzolo Acreide, Syracuse, Sicily) has proposed. A multi-methodological approach have been used to study the manufacture quality of analysed materials; in detail, petrographic, mineralogical, spectroscopic, chemical, porosimetric and micro-morphological analyses have been applied. The study provides fundamental contribute in archeological issues related to circulation in Sicily of cooking-ware productions during Late Roman Age; in fact, the obtained results allow to recognize in the site the presence of different well-known cooking-ware Roman productions, highlighting interesting questions about the technological and manufacture properties of this class of materials.
High resolution 3D point cloud recording is a demanding task for generating meshed surface and CAD object models. Accurate, complete and realistic 3D point cloud is expected from the adopted recording technique. Due to the complex... more
High resolution 3D point cloud recording is a demanding task for generating meshed surface and CAD object models. Accurate, complete and realistic 3D point cloud is expected from the adopted recording technique. Due to the complex structural environments of the heritage sites, complete, yet suitable, object coverage by Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) is not guaranteed. The recent improvements in image stereo matching algorithms allow for an automatic dense point clouds acquisition. Acquiring 3D point cloud using images has many advantages related to flexibility and portability. The choice of the best technique relies on the site configuration and the performance of the selected sensor. This paper demonstrates the potential benefits of integrating TLS and Dense Stereo Matching (DSM) techniques in order to form a complete and detailed representation of Dar Es-Saraya Museum. The paper fully discusses the processing and registration of the TLS and DSM data in creating a 3D point cloud of the museum to be used in a more accurate CAD model.
Safavid era is one of the important periods in the history of Iran at the Islamic period. In the Safavid period , trade and particularly foreign trade was highly developed due to the established security on the roads. Silk was one of the... more
Safavid era is one of the important periods in the history of Iran at the Islamic period. In the Safavid period , trade and particularly foreign trade was highly developed due to the established security on the roads. Silk was one of the goods that received attention in foreign trade cycle. As a result, a great number of merchants traveled to Iran in this period, and this led to an economic boom in this period. In the Safavid era, gold, silver, and copper coins were minted, but silver coins were used in trade exchanges. In this study, the total of 13 silver coins belonging to the mid and late Safavid era (Shah Abbas II, Shah Sultan Hussein) was analyzed using PIXE method. This study is an attempt to figure out the economic situation of the Safavid period. The amount of silver used in the coins pertaining to Shah Abbas II represents a good grade of the coins belonging to the king. In the reign of Sultan Hussein, coins were of very high grade despite the unde-sired political and social conditions of the country.
Astronomical observations of the ancient Maya consisted of a determination of various calendar cycles commensurating with the synodic cycles of the relevant celestial bodies. This practice of commensuration-of converting distinct synodic... more
Astronomical observations of the ancient Maya consisted of a determination of various calendar cycles commensurating with the synodic cycles of the relevant celestial bodies. This practice of commensuration-of converting distinct synodic cycles into a single calendrical cycle-was a common practice in the life of the Maya day-keepers. By quantifying the multiples of synodic revolutions along a single scale of the Calendar Round combined with the Long Count, the Maya skywatchers created relationships easily represented and compared. The Lunar Series consisted of six glyphs, referred to by letters, E, D, C, X, B, and A and represented the attempts to create the cyclical calendrical structure capable of predicting the synodic period of the Moon. In this paper, I am providing a method of detecting possible intercalations needed to fit the lunar motion and a possibility of the use of a 4784-day period, derived from the Xultun Lunar Table, as a lunar correction cycle. By this means, all Lunar Series from Dos Pilas receive reasonable explanations.
The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be the largest radio telescope facility in Africa when it is completed which is estimated to be a decade into the future. The |Xam group of the San people of South Africa lived in the region of the... more
The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be the largest radio telescope facility in Africa when it is completed which is estimated to be a decade into the future. The |Xam group of the San people of South Africa lived in the region of the Karoo Desert where the Square Kilometre Array is being built. Several European countries are part of the SKA collaboration (Spain, Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom,
Scientific illustrations, thanks to the vision of great artists fascinated by astronomical research and astro-nautics, have provided us with an accurate depiction of the possible views which mankind will one day observed from locations... more
Scientific illustrations, thanks to the vision of great artists fascinated by astronomical research and astro-nautics, have provided us with an accurate depiction of the possible views which mankind will one day observed from locations other than our planet. In this talk I will pay homage to some of these geniuses who serve science, and underline the scientific, artistic, political, and social implications deriving from a wise use of space-art.
Until 1995, it was thought that the Pantheon of Augustus had the entrance on the south side in contrast to that of the next scheduled time of Hadrian, which has placed it in the north. The archaeological excavation executed by the... more
Until 1995, it was thought that the Pantheon of Augustus had the entrance on the south side in contrast to that of the next scheduled time of Hadrian, which has placed it in the north. The archaeological excavation executed by the Sovrintendenza Capitolina di Roma, under the supervision of P. Virgili, during 1995-97, have shown that the Pantheon of Augustus had almost the same plan that Hadrian had rebuilt later and that we can see today. Even the surveys, conducted during 2007-2009 on the Mausoleum of Augustus, inside and on the forecourt, allowed to advance new hypotheses about the ground plan of the monument and its rearrangement made by a successor of Augustus. In 1990, N. Lanciano published a reading of the Hadrian's Pantheon as a solar calendar that use the light entering from the oculus and scans the interior space, at solar noon, on Equinoxes and Solstices days, in addition to the April 21 birthday of Rome. These researches show the two buildings, Pantheon and Augustus' Mausoleum, have more formal and symbolic links than was supposed. With attention to contemporary written sources, issues arise: the orientation of the axes of the buildings and their distance; the organization of the squares on which they open; the geometry of the inner dome and hall of the Pantheon. The urban complex of Augustus includes also the monumental sundial, mentioned by Plinius and partially excavated by Buchner in 1979, and the Ara Pacis location and its function: the most recent researches lead to exclude some hypotheses still present in articles and in the web. In the modern reuse (1990) this obelisk is a gnomon in the above horizontal sundial.
The purpose of this paper is to outline a clear view of the Iliad and Odyssey data about the Sun, that could lead us beyond purely literary comments. The excursus identifies and analyzes those poems passages that may shed light on the... more
The purpose of this paper is to outline a clear view of the Iliad and Odyssey data about the Sun, that could lead us beyond purely literary comments. The excursus identifies and analyzes those poems passages that may shed light on the Homeric world 'pre-scientific' knowledge about the Sun. We'll start from the Sun mentioned in the Achilles' Shield, the first description of the cosmos in Western literature. We will talk about his position in space, where it is mentioned after Earth, sea and sky, but immediately before the other stars and constellations. We will identify an important similarity in that order with the cuneiform texts from the ancient Near East. We will draw considerations on the nature of the Sun, through the epithets that accompany it and through the similarities in the Homeric text. We will emphasize the implications of the epithet ἀκάμας, "tireless", and other expressions. We will talk about the description of his movements from dawn to the zenith and until dusk, and its use for orientation: there are formulas in the Homeric text, which employ the sun to indicate the East and the West. The Sun is also used in Homer to describe temporal transitions. We will focus on the relationship between Sun and Ocean, and we will see that the ocean can be understood as a deliberate metaphor of the horizon. We will also discuss about the Sun as ancestral force hierarchically inferior to the Olympians gods and about some of its anthropomorphic features: he sees and hears everything. Constantly monitors the facts about the gods and men, and as well as vision and hearing has even speech. He is also able to generate. We'll see how these qualities highlight the role of the Sun as the guarantor of the cosmic order.
The ziqqurat is the symbol of the Mesopotamian sacred architecture in the western thought. This monument, standardized at the end of the III millennium BC by the kings of the Third Dynasty of Ur, has changed during the history of... more
The ziqqurat is the symbol of the Mesopotamian sacred architecture in the western thought. This monument, standardized at the end of the III millennium BC by the kings of the Third Dynasty of Ur, has changed during the history of Mesopotamia its shape and architecture, but remained till the end of the Neo-Babylonian Period in the I millennium BC the highest structure of the city. The ziqqurat is the only monument visible over the settlements wall with a strong visual impact around the urban and the countryside landscape. Despite its simple structural function, a high mud brick platform to sustain an upper temple, the ziqqurat appears in the Mesopotamian art and literature as a structure of primary importance, a connection between the earth, domain of the god Enlil, with the sky, domain of the god Anu. The ideological function to connect the earth and the sky was related also with the rituals performed in the high temples built above these monuments , usually linked with important seasonal royal rituals. The paper will analyze this particular aspect of ziqqurat, looking also to their orientations and to the changing in the relationship between these monuments and the urban landscape through the centuries.
It is well known that the vast majority of the Greek temples of Sicily are oriented to the rising sun. However the factors which influenced the specific orientation of each temple or of each group of temples can be of various nature and... more
It is well known that the vast majority of the Greek temples of Sicily are oriented to the rising sun. However the factors which influenced the specific orientation of each temple or of each group of temples can be of various nature and no general key is actually applicable. In particular, we show here the role of local topography in orientation, trough two relevant case-studies: the temples of the urban sector of the Valley of the Temples, Akragas, and the temples of Selinunte.
The Alcantara Valley is one of the most famous natural and archaeological area in Sicily but paradoxically is the least studied and valued. While for the part of nature there is the "Ente Parco Fluviale Dell'Alcantara", one of the five... more
The Alcantara Valley is one of the most famous natural and archaeological area in Sicily but paradoxically is the least studied and valued. While for the part of nature there is the "Ente Parco Fluviale Dell'Alcantara", one of the five Sicilian regional parks, on the other, for the archaeological"s one, the fact that the river divides the area into two administrative courts, or two provinces, has caused an abandonment of the sites and the complete lack of interest. The project 'the Rock Sites of the Akesines: by the Sicels to the Byzantines', directed by the Institute of Sicilian Archaeoastronomy in partnership with the Soprintendenza and the University of Catania, plans to map all rock sites of Alcantara Valley and study its astronomical orientations in order to realized, in a later stage, a real tourist itinerary. One of the most fascinating sites certainly is Rocca Pizzicata, where there are several man-made emergencies, including a rare rock altar facing east. But starting from the eastern side of the Alcantara Valley, near the ancient Naxos, where lie the remains of the first Greek colony in Sicily, these sites are numerous, and among them we must surely be included:
We conducted an investigation on the orientations and geometrical content of the Mithraea of Ostia Antica. A geometrical CAD study based on the most reliable plans from the Archives of the Sovrintendenza Speciale per il Colosseo, il MNR e... more
We conducted an investigation on the orientations and geometrical content of the Mithraea of Ostia Antica. A geometrical CAD study based on the most reliable plans from the Archives of the Sovrintendenza Speciale per il Colosseo, il MNR e l'Area Archeologica di Roma-Ostia Antica, aside with the identification of geometrical and numerical schemes and associated length units, allowed us to identify the axes of the Mithraea. Then the orientations of the axes were measured on field by means of a professional compass with ± 0.5° uncertainty. The distribution of these measured azimuths follows the topography of the city. On the contrary, the Decu-manus, the main street of the town, presents an indubitable orientation toward the Winter Solstice Sunset. This was ascertained by measuring the coordinates of four significant points along the street with the help of a palmar Trimble GPS which averages 100 measures per point. The exceptional density of Mithraea in Ostia led us to suppose that a symbolic cosmic-solar value is to be searched in the orientation as a whole of the town itself, founded half a millennium before the first presence of Mithraism in Rome. The Decumanus could be considered the very holder of this symbolic value with its orientation toward the Winter Solstice Sunset, possibly making of Ostia a very special place for Mithraicism.
There is a long-lasting debate, started in the nineteenth century by d"Arbois de Jubainville and Jullian, among others, regarding the pan-Celtic nature of the mid-season (or rather, start of season) feasts known from the Mediaeval Ireland... more
There is a long-lasting debate, started in the nineteenth century by d"Arbois de Jubainville and Jullian, among others, regarding the pan-Celtic nature of the mid-season (or rather, start of season) feasts known from the Mediaeval Ireland (set on 1 st November, February, May and August). D"Arbois indicated that one of these feasts coincided with the festival celebrated during Roman times at Lugdunum (Lyon) on August 1 st from 12 BC onwards. We recently verified that the orientation of the earlier parts of this Roman colony were laid out facing the sunrise on this date since its foundation in 43 BC, prior to any possible link with Augus-tus. This fact prompted us to investigate the orientation of other Roman cities in Gaul, particularly those named Lugdunum which still contain Roman buildings capable of being measured. The most complex of these is Lugdunum Conuerarum (present-day Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges). With a Celtic name and mixed Aquitaine-Latin culture, it is oriented towards the sunrise on February 1 st. Other cities in Gaul and Hispania have also been considered, which have similar orientations. We therefore verify the pan-Celtic character of the mid-season feasts. Finally, we present the hypothesis that the conversion of these feasts from a luni-solar calendar to the solar Julian calendar took place in the centre of Gaul at some time between the reigns of Cae-sar and Augustus. At a later stage, this model would be exported by early Christianity into Ireland, then serving as an interpretative inspiration for scholars such as d"Arbois de Jubainville and others.
In the 1720s a patronage relationship developed between King João V (1689-1750) of Portugal and the Ital-ian astronomer Francesco Bianchini (1662-1729). This was hardly surprising in a time when Portuguese diplomatic and cultural... more
In the 1720s a patronage relationship developed between King João V (1689-1750) of Portugal and the Ital-ian astronomer Francesco Bianchini (1662-1729). This was hardly surprising in a time when Portuguese diplomatic and cultural relations with Rome were so intense. Dom João V ambitioned to be treated by the papacy on a par with Spanish and French kings who held the titles Rex Catholicissimus and Rex Christianissimus. Bianchini dedicated his opus magnum, the book Hesperi et Phosphori (Rome, 1728), to the Portuguese monarch, the generous patron of the opulent volume. In this work the Veronese presented detailed observations of the planet Venus and the cartography of spots he saw on its apparent face. Bianchini labeled those features honoring Portuguese and Italian historical figures. The dedication, inscribing the glory and power of the Portu-guese king in the heavens, is to be seen in the context of the preceding cases of Galileo, with his four Medi-cian Stars, and of Giovanni Domenico Cassini's discovery of four moons of Saturn, dedicated to Louis XIV. If to Dom João V this patronage was part of an effort to enhance status and prestige of the Portuguese monarchy in Europe, in particular within the catholic world, to Bianchini it meant an opportunity to accomplish and communicate more efficiently his astronomical discoveries.
For almost two centuries mythologists, cultural historians and philologists tried to decipher the Greek myth of Ixion and to determine the nature of his fiery wheel. All those efforts led to many diverse conclusions, most of which fall... more
For almost two centuries mythologists, cultural historians and philologists tried to decipher the Greek myth of Ixion and to determine the nature of his fiery wheel. All those efforts led to many diverse conclusions, most of which fall into two main categories: solar symbolism and weather phenomena. In this work we show how the wheel of Ixion can be identified with the 22° solar halo. The arguments that best support our hypothesis are: a) the deep connection between Ixion and rainmaking magic: the 22° halo is a sign of an upcoming worsening of the weather; b) Hermes ties Ixion to the wheel: the planet Mercury, associated with Hermes, orbits the Sun with the same apparent amplitude of the halo; c) the halo (that could well be described in mythical terms as a "fiery wheel"), is quite bright and easy to see but no Greek myth is known to be mention it: Ixion could fill the gap; d) the wheel is imposed to Ixion after his conjunction with Nephele, a cloud, and the halo can only occur in presence of clouds; e) the previous interpretations, both solar and atmospheric, are now congruous since the halo appears around the Sun and anticipates stormy weather. The etymology of Ixion, its Sanskrit parallel Aksha and its meaning are also discussed.
The megalithic temple on the Rock of Cefalù, known as the name of the Temple of Diana, is a structure of which up to now has not been able to understand the real function. The megalithic temple has a main entrance direct to the west,... more
The megalithic temple on the Rock of Cefalù, known as the name of the Temple of Diana, is a structure of which up to now has not been able to understand the real function. The megalithic temple has a main entrance direct to the west, through which starts a corridor leading to the rocky cistern characterized by a dolmenic coverage. After the first drawings and reliefs between '700 and '800, respectively of Jean Houel and George Nott, the first official archaeological excavations were made by Pirro Marconi in the first half of the twentieth century. These excavations allowed to acquire more informations about the age of the temple and the cistern. The authors have developed the first complete archaeoastronomical study of the building, allowing to find out how the facility would serve as vestibule to the cistern of proto-historic age, and in particular how the megalithic architecture is a real sun temple. The front door of the temple is indeed oriented to the point where the sun sets at the equinoxes. This finding suggests that in these periods of the year the solar hierophany most likely invited to come inside the temple to reach the cistern, where they carried cults and rituals related to water. This study allows the identification of the temple as a Artemision.
Men have always been fascinated by the vault of heaven. The stars have been synonymous with immortality with their continuous and cyclical presence. Because of their immortality stars and planets were considered heavenly images of gods.... more
Men have always been fascinated by the vault of heaven. The stars have been synonymous with immortality with their continuous and cyclical presence. Because of their immortality stars and planets were considered heavenly images of gods. With the rise of the Kassite dynasty, in the second half of the 2 nd millennium BC, a transformation happened in the religious thought and in the representation of the gods. A gradual but continuous transformation in their depiction could be noticed, with the introduction of the symbolic representation that substituted the anthropomorphic one. Symbolic divine representations are the main subject of the decoration of the kudurrus, the Babylonian boundary stones. Between them the crescent, the eight pointed star and the sun-disk take a prominent place, always being placed in the upper part of the kudurrus. Analyzing each symbol represented it is thus possible to note an iconographical change and some differences in their relative positions. The aim of this paper is to identify recurring symbolic patterns on Kassite kudurru reliefs, and to understand their meaning. Reconstructing the heavenly vault of the Kassite period, it is possible to make a comparison between the patterns identified and astral conjunctions. These patterns represent not only divine symbols, but also a probable time image of the sky, with its own specific meaning.
This paper presents a complex Iberian sanctuary from the archaeological diggings realized in the Iberian oppidum of Puente Tablas (Jaén, Spain). The sanctuary, dated form the first half of the sixth century BC, covers an area over 300m 2... more
This paper presents a complex Iberian sanctuary from the archaeological diggings realized in the Iberian oppidum of Puente Tablas (Jaén, Spain). The sanctuary, dated form the first half of the sixth century BC, covers an area over 300m 2 and is divided in three different terraces with elements as significant as a shrine shaping a bull's skin, a set of four caves or a water canal that goes across the sanctuary from north to south. The underlying idea in this sanctuary and the findings that surrounds it, is the representation of an annual cycle from the illumination of the Stela (as a representation of a goddess) along the corridor of the door that gives access to the oppidum in the days of the equinox in the Sunrise, producing a spectacular play the light and shadows. To complete the mentioned play of light during such a particular date, the disposition of the fourth cave, along with its access, allows the entrance of the sunrays only in the dawn of the equinotial days, and just after the Stela, illuminated in the edge of the Sunrise, is cover with the shadows produced by the gate in the wall.
The Gundestrup cauldron is one of the most emblematic and studied archaeological relics of the Celtic world but also one of the most mysterious. Observation of the night sky, the symbolism of the cauldron and of numbers five and eight,... more
The Gundestrup cauldron is one of the most emblematic and studied archaeological relics of the Celtic world but also one of the most mysterious. Observation of the night sky, the symbolism of the cauldron and of numbers five and eight, traces of an Indo-European base-ten computation, the antiquity of the octaeteric calendar system, all suggest a new interpretation of the Gundestrup cauldron, based on the cycle of Venus. The five inner plates would each respectively represent the structure of time, as it appears in a computation close to that of the « octaeteris », rhythmed by the synodic cycle of the planet Venus, of the Moon and of the Sun. As for the eight outer plates, as Paul Verdier had suggested, they would represent astronomical events, or in other words, the dates or the periods associated with the appearance-disappearance of celestial object(s) or constellation(s). We particularly underline the importance of the male and female arm movements seen on the different plates. The shining hands of the divinities would rise just like the diurnal body (the Sun) or the nocturnal body (Venus), rising at dawn and in return setting at twilight. The figures associated with the Deities would evoke the constellations they represent, at times under, or, at other times, just above the horizon or sometimes higher up in the night sky. So each motif would recall nocturnal celestial events, observed at dawn or at twilight, corresponding to the heliacal rising or setting of the constellations detected. The two plates portraying the female divinity, her arms folded away under her shoulder line recalling the earthly horizon, would evoke the disappearance of Venus below the horizon, each of these two plates corresponding to the two periods during which the planet is not visible.
We present archaeoastronomical and ethnohistorical evidence related to the ushnu and the spring equinox full Moon on Inca contexts, in central-northern Chile and northwestern Argentina (1470-1536 AD). From the perspective of the landscape... more
We present archaeoastronomical and ethnohistorical evidence related to the ushnu and the spring equinox full Moon on Inca contexts, in central-northern Chile and northwestern Argentina (1470-1536 AD). From the perspective of the landscape archaeology and the astronomy in culture we analyze the lunar cycles of 18.03, 18.61, and 19 years, including synodic and intercalary months. As hypothesis we assume the use of the Citua ceremony, in the lunar month of September, to determinate the solar year of 365 days and the 354 days lunar cycle, useful to predict eclipses (1 Metonic-12 lunar months = 1 Saros). The analysis of twelve Incan sites in the Collasuyu, between the 18.5° and 34° south latitude, show us the importance of architecture, rock art, the gnomon, and horizon landmarks, to determinate not only solstices and equinoxes, but also major and minor lunar standstills, and the crossover related to the full Moon. We conclude that the Incas were able to predict lunar eclipses, with political and ideological purposes, thanks the use of these astronomical cycles in ritual contexts. In other words, a mnemonic system that allowed coordinates the main ceremonial activities with lunar and solar cycles within the Inca ceque calendar.
Mankind has been observing the sky since ever and also intentional human activity of interpreting what is seen in the sky is very old. The usefulness of studies aimed at analyzing the possible astronomical content of ancient structures... more
Mankind has been observing the sky since ever and also intentional human activity of interpreting what is seen in the sky is very old. The usefulness of studies aimed at analyzing the possible astronomical content of ancient structures and artifacts is thus not in doubt. However, many archaeologists still do not acknowledge Archaeoastronomy as a useful subsidiary science for Archaeology. This situation is mainly due to two factors. On the one hand, many archaeoastronomical works devoid of any scientific content continue to discredit even the most serious researches in the field. On the other hand, the purely humanistic formation of most archaeologists does not incline them to accept the evidence that archaeoastronomers present in support of their arguments. While the first problem can hopefully find a solution with a strict self-control of the archaeoastronomical community, the solution of the latter is more complex. Actually, the difficulty of proving the presence of astronomical contents in an ancient artifact is, in large measure, real and certainly not ascribable only to the lack of scientific expertise. However, the problem of the credibility of a scientific study is indeed becoming more and more serious in all disciplines. In fact, the pressure in the whole scientific community to increase one's output, for a positive assessment of the activities of a researcher, is causing numerous cases of poor scientific ethics. Obviously this situation has very negative consequences especially in those disciplines, such as clinical trials, which have a strong social impact. For this reason, the community of Pharmacology scholars is considering to introduce a standard procedure, which is to be explicated in the evaluation of the credibility of the results of a research. We will show how a similar standard procedure can be adapted to increase also the credibility of the archaeoastronomical studies.
The problem of regional uniqueness and intercultural relations of traditional images of Thunder-god as mythological celestial, cosmogonic, astronomic-calendaric and atmospheric being remains relevant to this day. Perkūnas image, his... more
The problem of regional uniqueness and intercultural relations of traditional images of Thunder-god as mythological celestial, cosmogonic, astronomic-calendaric and atmospheric being remains relevant to this day. Perkūnas image, his representations and attributes share certain similarities in different European cultures but they are still not investigated from visual point of view. This semiological investigation is mainly based on a comparative and interdisciplinary analysis of visual and narrative representations of the Baltic and Antique Thunder-gods. It aims to reveal the intercultural contex-tuality of the symbolic elements of images of Baltic Perkūnas and to demonstrate their similarities with the attributes of supreme Antique deities Zeus and Jupiter. A diachronic intercultural analysis of local, national or regional representations of Baltic Thunder-god helps avoid a localized ethno-centrism in explaining images of European deities as mere elements of a regional culture and will shed new light on their broader ar-chetypal basis. It aims to bring some controversial, unique and fragmented interpretations of Baltic Thunder-god symbolism into the light of a wider transcultural historical context. The author draws from a wide range of comparative data: from Lithuanian, Prussian, Eastern and Western European Christian, and other classical sources. This complex overview is primarily based on medieval and folk art images, artefacts and architecture. Folklore, language and other ethnographic material and mythology related data are also used. Such a comparative and interdisciplinary attitude to the European Thunder gods" attributes, drawing on anthropology, art history and folklore approached from a Baltic perspective, will help to establish new insights into the deeper understanding of celestial symbolism implicated in similarities of thunder god"s attributes and congeniality of these mythical representations tradition till our days.
The role of the bear as a calendric deity among the Finnic and Finno-Ugric peoples echoes it general importance in all aspects of the northern cultures. The Finnic peoples divided their year into four parts by two Bear Days in January and... more
The role of the bear as a calendric deity among the Finnic and Finno-Ugric peoples echoes it general importance in all aspects of the northern cultures. The Finnic peoples divided their year into four parts by two Bear Days in January and July, and the Summer and Winter Nights between those. In the earliest wooden folk calendars in Finland that can be traced to the 13th century, those calendric marker days had already been fixed into the Julian year, but in earlier times, they would have been determined by a lunisolar or lunar calendar. The calendric system of the late Iron Age Finns and other Finnic peoples was lunisolar with intercalation, and its structure and main marker days indicate that it had several layers of different age: the "Bear Year" seasonal division, the idea of the eight-divided solar year-probably of Indo-European origin-, and a basic lunisolar intercalation calendar with twelve or thirteen months. The Finnish celestial lore related to the bear can also be connected to the seasonal positions of the Big Dipper asterism. While the seasonal calendric significance of the bear in Eurasian cultures is probably very ancient, possibly even Paleolithic, the connection of the Finnic Bear Year seasonal division and lunisolar calendars can be traced at least to the late Neolithic period.
The intent of this study is to describe the directional relations employed in the Babylonian Astronomical Diaries and visually demonstrate their function with charts showing positions of the Moon, planets and stars as viewed on dates... more
The intent of this study is to describe the directional relations employed in the Babylonian Astronomical Diaries and visually demonstrate their function with charts showing positions of the Moon, planets and stars as viewed on dates corresponding with diary entries. The Babylonians observed and recorded celestial events each night for over six centuries during the first millennium BC. A number of cuneiform tablets containing these astronomical diaries have been recovered and were later translated by Abraham Sachs and Hermann Hunger. The majority of diary entries track the position of the Moon with reference to 31 "normal stars," all within 10 degrees of the ecliptic. Entries specify the moon as being "above," "below," "in front of," or "behind" a second body by a specified distance in "cubits." The extant tablets fail to adequately define the reference system used for the topographical relations. Computer-generated star-charts that are specific for the date and location of selected diary entries show a general interdependence between the topographical relations and the celestial course of the Sun, Moon, and planets. John Steele has discussed the Babylonians as having considered the Moon and planets to move through the zodiac within their own individual bands. This is considered with regard to graphical data that represents a distinct correlation between diary descriptions and the path of the general direction of ecliptic travel.
We present a compilation of orientations of seven temples dedicated to the Phoenician goddess Astarte across the Mediterranean. The chronology of the earliest temple corresponds to the Early Bronze Age-temple of Baalat Gebal at Byblos,... more
We present a compilation of orientations of seven temples dedicated to the Phoenician goddess Astarte across the Mediterranean. The chronology of the earliest temple corresponds to the Early Bronze Age-temple of Baalat Gebal at Byblos, 2800 BCE-but the rest dating back to the Iron Age, from IX to IV BCE. We find that most temples follow a sun-rising or moon-rising orientation pattern but three of them show westerly orientations in the range of azimuth between 232 and 239. These values are consistent with the orientation custom found by Esteban & Escacena (2013a, b) in a sample of Iron Age sanctuaries of the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula that show direct influence by Phoenician colonisation. One of the potential targets of these westerly orientations is the setting of Venus at its extreme southerly position. This possibility can be related to the well-known ties between the Phoenician goddess Astarte and planet Venus.
The Mausoleum of Theodoric (520 ca.), one of Ravenna's most globally renouned monuments and UNESCO heritage site, has been object of archeoastronomical research in the past years. This paper examines the orientation of the building as... more
The Mausoleum of Theodoric (520 ca.), one of Ravenna's most globally renouned monuments and UNESCO heritage site, has been object of archeoastronomical research in the past years. This paper examines the orientation of the building as well as other elements of the architecture, especially the small openings of the building, to investigate their possible archaeoastronomical significance. The architectural survey was carried out with a laser scanner device (Faro-Focus 3D, software Scene) while the textures were extracted using digital photomodelling software. Starting from the archaeoastronomical analysis, a 3D model was developed to check astronomical phenomena and allow the communication of scientific content through several forms of media. This second part of the contribution is part of the experiments conducted by the research group (Incerti and Iurilli 2014), (Incerti and Iurilli 2015), focusing on new means of multimedia communication, both interactive and not. The research looks at virtual models as a means of edutainment, aiming to maximise the fruition of artifacts and cultural sites.
Skyscapes are a combination of landscape, sky, and people in the context of a full place experience including the temporal dimension. When a viewer becomes aware of rhythms in sky and environments, memories and history unravel. The viewer... more
Skyscapes are a combination of landscape, sky, and people in the context of a full place experience including the temporal dimension. When a viewer becomes aware of rhythms in sky and environments, memories and history unravel. The viewer enters a dialogue with place and experiences the skyscape through watching, allowing the exploration of its meaning. This project is an interdisciplinary approach towards skyscape through deeper engagement with the place of Clifton campus at Nottingham Trent University (NTU). A phenomenological approach will identify locations that reveal memories and an affectional dimension. The panorama will be implemented into a planetarium software (Stellarium) to experience the passage of celestial objects in time, and reveal rhythms and cycles through which the Clifton campus defines itself. Essentially, it will illutstare how place and therefore skyscape is explored.
The simulations of the sky for the very far past are briefly discussed, and a possible application to the study of the Bear constellations, in particular for the epoch of the last glacial maximum, is presented; reference is made to the... more
The simulations of the sky for the very far past are briefly discussed, and a possible application to the study of the Bear constellations, in particular for the epoch of the last glacial maximum, is presented; reference is made to the different length of seasons, climate and environment. Many ethnographic studies described the special relationship between men and bears, in connection also with a cosmic hunt, and it may be possible that such a relation dates back to the Palaeolithic epoch.
This chapter examines research carried out to date on the Sky Bear and seeks to demonstrate the implications of this line of research for-cultural astronomy‖. It begins by reviewing research that has been done cross-culturally on bear... more
This chapter examines research carried out to date on the Sky Bear and seeks to demonstrate the implications of this line of research for-cultural astronomy‖. It begins by reviewing research that has been done cross-culturally on bear ceremonialism, focusing on the role of circumpolar stars, Dipper stars and stars adjacent to them, and how they came to be integrated, cognitively, into an over-arching cosmology shared by different hunter-gatherer populations across the N. Hemisphere. Next, using three mutually reinforcing ethnographic datasets, the manner in which, specifically in Europe, this archaic worldview, characterized by embodied reciprocity, allowed humans, animals and nature to be bound together. The cosmology, grounded in the belief that humans descended from bears, integrated skyscape and landscape into a single interlocking reality. Furthermore, the worldview can be understood as embodying a-relational epistemology‖ or-relational ecology‖. This more culturally-informed approach coincides with the goals of-cultural astronomy‖ as well as the methodology and goals of the emerging field of archaeological ethnography. The reasons that these particular sky resources were chosen to project this set of spirtual beliefs skyward are also addressed. In the final section I suggest that the skyscape acts a kind of mnemonic device. As such, it is a cognitive resource, readily available to the social collective in question, which can act as a repository for past beliefs. Anchoring key components of a cosmology in the stars above allows the resulting skyscape to act as an enduring-memory bank‖. In short, the datasets analyzed facilitate the reconstruction of a European-wide ethno-cultural substrate that points to an archaic relational cosmovision and the belief that humans descended from bears as well as providing evidence for the way that skyscape and landscape were integrated into this cosmology.
In the first decade of the 21st century, the Egyptian-Spanish Mission on Archaeoastronomy of ancient Egypt performed a detailed statistical analysis of the orientation patterns of the temples of Pharaonic Egypt, resulting in most... more
In the first decade of the 21st century, the Egyptian-Spanish Mission on Archaeoastronomy of ancient Egypt performed a detailed statistical analysis of the orientation patterns of the temples of Pharaonic Egypt, resulting in most interesting outcomes such as the justified proposal of seven families of astronomical orientations (Belmonte, Shaltout and Fekri, 2009). A preliminary analysis of what we may dub as cosmic landscapes in certain Egyptian locations, such as the Giza pyramids or Karnak, followed up (Belmonte, 2012: 215-250). On the other hand, the Spanish Archaeological Mission at Herakleopolis Magna has been excavating for several decades in one of the most important ancient sites of Middle Egypt, making extraordinary archaeological discoveries in what once was the capital of Egypt during the 9 th and 10 th Dynasties and again of a chiefdom for a short period during the Lybian epoch (Pérez Die, 2009). It was hence decided that a new complete survey of the site should be made with an astronomy and landscape perspective in mind. This paper presents the result of such a survey where the relationship between land-and skyscape at the main monuments of the city is put in the spotlight. One important outcome has been the possible orientation to Canopus − the second brightest star of Egyptian skies − of the main temple of the city, the one devoted to the patron divinity of Herakelopolis, the ram-headed god Heryshef. Epigraphy is integrated in the analysis and possible mythological relationships are explored, including the connections with other ram-headed deities of the Egyptian pantheon, such as Amun-Re or Banebdjedet. Interestingly, the temples of these divinities at Thebes and Mendes also show alignments that could be related to Canopus, offering a new challenge in the relationship between skyscaping and religion in the civilization of Pharaonic Egypt.
STAR is the first italian App for smartphone and tablet entirely dedicated to the cultural astronomy sites in Rome. The user will be guided on a journey to discover mithraea, sundials and Astronomy related places of the Capital. In most... more
STAR is the first italian App for smartphone and tablet entirely dedicated to the cultural astronomy sites in Rome. The user will be guided on a journey to discover mithraea, sundials and Astronomy related places of the Capital. In most cases, these sites are visited by millions of tourists for their historical and artistic value but their astronomical significance point of view is not valorise. Despite many ancient monuments also enclose a strong astronomical significance, linked for example to the original constructive purposes, this aspect is largely ignored by the general public. The aim of STAR is therefore offer the opportunity to discover an unexpected, original and evocative side of the city of Rome to a widest possible audience through an innovative technological support, simple and attractive, which STAR wants to be. This App aims to involve the foreign tourist as the Roman citizen rediscovering the city, the neophyte as the expert of this topic. With STAR it is possible to modulate the itinerary, to choose the number and type of sites to visit, depending on the time available, and the favorite way to reach the sites. Moreover, the user will have the opportunity to select the type of presentation of the site based on the desired level of detail. To add emotional impact to the experience, making more effective the communication of contents, the App allow to reveal the original appearance of the sites or bring to light hidden details using the virtual augmented reality. This tool also allows you to discover places otherwise not be visited because they are not easly accessible, in particular for those who are suffering from disabilities, with particular reference to mitrei for their underground nature. Moreover, STAR replace or compensates the lack of in situ traditional communication systems, mostly absent or very reduced.
An essential difference between the western and eastern provinces of the Roman Empire is the fact that sophisticated urban cultures had developed in Asia Minor and the Levant centuries before the Romans arrived. Underlying the Hellenized,... more
An essential difference between the western and eastern provinces of the Roman Empire is the fact that sophisticated urban cultures had developed in Asia Minor and the Levant centuries before the Romans arrived. Underlying the Hellenized, and later Roman, veneer was a myriad of older local traditions and languages, which had an immense impact upon Roman religious tradition through elements such as the introduction of new religious practices. Following the path of previous studies, in this article we try to discern how Roman culture was inherited and adapted to the heterogeneous Eastern traditions and how it could be reflected in the architecture and urban layout, mainly in what concerns to the orientation of the urban structures. Considering ancient writings, such as those of Higynius Gromaticus (Constitutio, I), the orientation of these features could follow the position of certain celestial bodies, mainly the sun, which would imply a careful observation of the sky. Developing the lines of previous studies on the orientation of Roman settlements in the western part of the Empire (González-García et al., 2014 & Rodríguez-Antón et al., 2016), a number of Roman cities and military settlements in modern-day Jordan, Syria and Palestine are analysed here. Through this approach, we try to obtain a first insight into whether their orientations looked towards astronomical positions and wether there existed common patterns comparing with those sites previously measured in Hispania or Britannia. This would help us to obtain a wider vision of Roman ritual practices, cosmovisions and how Roman culture could have evolved, spread and became assimilated through lands and time.
Rock-cut monuments culture covers the Balkan Peninsula, Asia Minor and the European Mediterranean. It includes numerous rock sanctuaries in additionally processed rock massifs. Trapezoidal rock niches are especially popular. They are... more
Rock-cut monuments culture covers the Balkan Peninsula, Asia Minor and the European Mediterranean. It includes numerous rock sanctuaries in additionally processed rock massifs. Trapezoidal rock niches are especially popular. They are always cut at a big height, on the vertical walls of visible from afar separate rocks and massifs, predominantly on the sunlit side. Most frequently, niches are trapezoidal, with about 1 meter in height and 40-50 cm in depth. Usually, they are in groups of 3 or 4, up to above 100. Up to now, 5000 separate niches are localized. We can differentiate them mainly on their form:-circle (elliptic, oval);-rectangular;-trapezoidal. Only research of trapezoidal rock niches in the Eastern Rhodopes is suggested in this project. Their specific situation connects them with the ancient cults-worship the Mountain, the Rock, as well as the Sun. It is not clear what kind of tools was used for niches production, and when they were made. Artifacts show that niches were used mainly in the period of 2500-1500 BC. Later, they were reused. An interdisciplinary approach is needed to apply for the full investigation of rock-cut trapezoidal niches. We should apply methods of archaeoastronomy, cultural science, ethnography, and other sciences. Taking into account the widespread culture of trapezoidal niches in Mediterranean civilizations, authors suggest collecting team of specialists for localization, documentation and dating of the trapezoidal rock niches. This research could be conducted through realization of a large-scale scientific European project lasting 3-5 years.
The Maltese island have megalithic temples of extraordinary interest for archaeoastronomy. In literature we find different works that involve most of its archaeological sites. The temple of Borġ in-Nadur, set on the top of a hill by the... more
The Maltese island have megalithic temples of extraordinary interest for archaeoastronomy. In literature we find different works that involve most of its archaeological sites. The temple of Borġ in-Nadur, set on the top of a hill by the Marsaxlokk Bay in southern Malta, is less well known than the rest of the others, even though it started off as a major attraction for grand tourists and travellers in the Early Modern and Colonial periods. It was explored in the second half of the 1920s by a team of British archaeologists, led by Margaret Murray, who gradually uncovered the ruins of typical Maltese megalithic temple dated to the 3rd millennium BC. In 2011 the efforts of an international team of scholars brought to the publication of a general reassessment of the evidences about the temple of Borġ in-Nadur and the artefacts collected during its exploration, emphasizing its importance for the Maltese Temple Period. The new picture that emerged has reactivate the research around the Borġ in-Nadur temple attracting for the first time the interest of scholars in archaeoas-tronomy. The archaeoastronomical study of the Borġ in-Nadur's archaeological site is the first of its kind, as the archaeological remains were put into evidence in 2010, and pays particular attention to the temple. At the moment it is difficult to determine the exact plan of the entire temple, and therefore its axes, but the apsidal building and the main entrance are quite intact. Although this research is at its early stage of development, with regards to archaeoastronomical issues and features related with the temple of Borġ in-Nadur some preliminary considerations can be put forth.
Study of spatial-temporal organization of the sanctuary interior of rock-cut monument with rock arch is presented in this work. The sanctuary is located in the Western Rhodopes, village of Kovachevitsa, Garmen Municipality and it is... more
Study of spatial-temporal organization of the sanctuary interior of rock-cut monument with rock arch is presented in this work. The sanctuary is located in the Western Rhodopes, village of Kovachevitsa, Garmen Municipality and it is archaeologically dated back to the Eneolithic. The monument is about 20 meters long and it is part of a large rock ridge. The topographical, landscape and microrelief features of this monument are described and the excellent view of the ancient observer to the sky and local horizon is noted. An analysis is made of the structural elements of the sanctuary and possible observational purposes. Astronomical azimuths of the base lines connecting the arch opening and the other elements of the sanctuary are determined. It has been found that sunrise during the summer solstice can be observed from the observational platform through the arch opening. Chronological boundaries of existence of the rock-cut monument are determined. They refer to the era of the late Eneolithic-III-II millenium BC.
Hayden et al. (2012) have questioned whether there was a Palaeolithic "astronomy", yet nevertheless show that ethnographic evidence confirms such knowledge amongst extant "complex hunter-gatherers". Included in their critique is a... more
Hayden et al. (2012) have questioned whether there was a Palaeolithic "astronomy", yet nevertheless show that ethnographic evidence confirms such knowledge amongst extant "complex hunter-gatherers". Included in their critique is a rejection of Marshack"s (1972) suggestion that Palaeolithic modern humans made non-decorative lunar notational systems. During fieldwork in the Basque country in March 2015 the authors examined the orientation of the Praileaitz I cave in the valley of the River Deba. The site excavation report (Peñalver, 2014) reveals that the cave was a place of ritual for local hunter-gatherers during the Magdalenian period around 15,500BP. The cave was one of 22 probably inhabited by the same group during the Magdalenian. Since none of the remaining 21 caves displayed any evidence as being places of ritual, then this data-set allows a statistical procedure to identify what particular portfolio of characteristics led to this cave being chosen as a place of ritual. The Praileaitz I cave has a vulva shaped entrance, 29.5 pendants arranged around the cave"s chambers, an outward facing vestibular seat, red ochre crayons, a cutting antler baton and abstract "art". Many of the pendants displayed marks consistent with Marshack"s lunar model. The field archaeoastronomy reveals that the cave entrance had an alignment on summer solstice sunrise. This lunar-solar astronomical finding shows a step-change from tracking discrete months as demonstrated by Marshack to organising "lunar" rituals abstracted from any particular month displaced onto a solarized time scale. This suggests that the Magdalenian Praileaitz I rituals served as a bridging ritual form between monthly, synodic, rituals in the early Palaeolithic and later monumental alignments on the solarized sidereal moon in the Mesolithic, as for example at Warren Field in Scotland (Gaffney et al., 2013), and in the Neolithic, as for example at Stonehenge (Sims, 2006).
In this paper I will analyse the different features of the Pleiades in the astronomical, astrological, and calendrical interpretation as well as their mythical and cultural background in ancient Mesopotamia. According to cuneiform... more
In this paper I will analyse the different features of the Pleiades in the astronomical, astrological, and calendrical interpretation as well as their mythical and cultural background in ancient Mesopotamia. According to cuneiform sources, the Pleiades are among the most important stars. They are simply known in Sumerian as-the Stars‖ (MUL.MUL), while their Akkadian name,-the Bristle‖ (zappu), links them to the imagery and the cultural context of the-Bull of Heaven‖ constellation (Taurus), to which they belong. Pleiades are frequently depicted as seven dots or seven stars, and identified on a mythological level with groups of seven divine beings. In fact, the Sumerian ideogram for-seven‖ is used as an alternative name for the Pleiades. In particular they show a close relation to a group of demons, called the Seven (Sebēttu), that, according to an etiological myth, causes the eclipse of the moon. The relation of the Pleiades to the war and death sphere is strengthened by their association with the Netherworld god Nergal/Erra, as well as their identification with the god's planet (Mars). Finally, the Pleiades are among the few celestial bodies that receive a cult, and specific prayers are dedicated to them. From the sources it emerges that the Pleiades are mainly related to the movement of the Moon, and it is worth noting that the list of constellations of the ecliptic begins precisely with the Pleiades. Furthermore, the Pleiades play an important part in the calendrical reckoning, a role that is clearly stated in almanacs as the MUL.APIN, as well as in the intercalation scheme based on the conjunction of the Moon and the Pleiades.
Experiencing the landscape and skyscape in which for example an astronomically relevant ancient site is located allows for a deep exploration of possible meanings of embedded alignments. In Skyscape Archaeology phenomenology of the... more
Experiencing the landscape and skyscape in which for example an astronomically relevant ancient site is located allows for a deep exploration of possible meanings of embedded alignments. In Skyscape Archaeology phenomenology of the landscape is commonly used. Following from this approach and similar to the phenomenology of nature inspired by Goethe, a deep and detailed engagement with a site and standing stones can offer the opportunity to tap into meanings so far overlooked. The following will illustrate how the experience of shadows cast by and on a standing stone at Gardom's Edge can add to an archaeoastronomical narrative. During the summer solstice the stone seems to lose its shadow or embody it in stone. When looking at anthropological evidence, the shadow can be an essential part of any living being. It becomes clear that a monument with a lost shadow has gained an added dimension of power and liminality; thereby possibly constraining its position within the landscape. Using this example, a more general phenomenology of shadows will be developed that can allow other researchers to find their way into a deeper and richer engagement with a site or monument. Ultimately, it will allow another avenue towards skyscape archaeology.
In the past decades, there have been a number of studies about the orientation of the Sardinian monuments (domus de janas, dolmen, tombe di giganti, nuraghes, megaron and sacred wells) (Zedda 2013, Gonzalez et al. 2014). These monuments... more
In the past decades, there have been a number of studies about the orientation of the Sardinian monuments (domus de janas, dolmen, tombe di giganti, nuraghes, megaron and sacred wells) (Zedda 2013, Gonzalez et al. 2014). These monuments characterized the landscape of prehistoric Sardinia. Here we are presenting the results of a study of the orientation of the "capanne delle riunioni" ("meetings huts"). The "meetings huts" are particular buildings placed inside the nuragic villages dated between the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age (XIII-IX sec. a.C.) sometimes developed around preexisting nuraghes or sometimes in nuragic villages without any nuraghe. These buildings are huts of considerable dimensions, characterized by specific furniture which distinguishes them from the other inhabited areas which constituted the villages. Inside the "meetings huts" took place the meetings of the heads of the families and/or liturgical and religious meetings. The orientation of the "meetings huts" confirms the astronomic target of the nuraghes.
The OAS Project has been run with the support of the Spanish research funding agencies during the last dozen years. Within its framework, research on cultural astronomy has been developed for a series of ancient civilizations, from the... more
The OAS Project has been run with the support of the Spanish research funding agencies during the last dozen years. Within its framework, research on cultural astronomy has been developed for a series of ancient civilizations, from the Atlantic Islands to the Arabian Peninsula and beyond, with the Meditterranean Sea as the principal axis of action of the project.
A large fraction of archaeoastronomical surveys is concerned with the evaluation of azimuth orientations of artificial, or sometimes natural, structures to find a correlation with potential astronomical targets, like sunrise/sunset, or... more
A large fraction of archaeoastronomical surveys is concerned with the evaluation of azimuth orientations of artificial, or sometimes natural, structures to find a correlation with potential astronomical targets, like sunrise/sunset, or the interplay of light and shadow at particular dates like the solstices. Given the difficulties of observing such a structure during months or even years, it seems very desirable to record or reconstruct the structure in question and bring a virtual 3D model into a computer system capable of accurately rendering the sky, the model, and light and shadow effects depending on proper astronomical simulation, also including the situation at other times. Applications for such a system can be manifold. Horizon panoramas in various desktop planetarium programs have already previously allowed assessment of single-viewpoint observations with proper horizon altitudes. But the ability to load a properly georeferenced and accurate 3D model into virtual space and identify and observe sight lines combined with a recreation of past skies, or to observe light and shadow effects that would change over weeks and months within just minutes of simulation, should allow much better understanding of the potential use of such structures, and can clearly illustrate and demonstrate these phenomena also for a wider audience. Likewise, an archaeologically sound virtual reconstruction beyond today's often deteriorated state can be used to recreate the likely appearance of the site in past times. A few such installations can be seen in museums, but none of them are widely available. The author has initiated development of a plugin for the popular open-source desktop planetarium Stellarium to allow research on 3D virtual reconstructions which has recently been greatly refurbished and integrated into the regular distribution of Stellarium. The paper also describes other contributions made by the author towards application of Stellarium for research and communication of cultural astronomy.
An 18-digit number for the length of the Perfect Year was given by Proclus in his commentary on Plato's "Republic". The number was corrupted in the manuscript tradition and now it is known up to some missing and uncertain digits. Previous... more
An 18-digit number for the length of the Perfect Year was given by Proclus in his commentary on Plato's "Republic". The number was corrupted in the manuscript tradition and now it is known up to some missing and uncertain digits. Previous attempts to reconstruct Proclus' value as a multiple of planetary periods known in ancient Babylon and Egypt led to number which has nothing in common in its writing with the one of Proclus, except the scale. Our approach to finding the original Proclus' value is based on the assumptions that it should include as multiples some of Babylonian and Egyptian planetary periods and that the other prime factors should be of same (or at least comparable) scale as the planetary periods, known to the ancients. The value could contain also other periods, in particular, of Greek origin. After careful examination of all possible candidate numbers for the original Proclus' value of the Perfect Year only one among them is shown to satisfy the assumptions. At least one of them can be related also to metaphysical concept (the significance assigned to amicable numbers 220 and 284 by the Pythagorean tradition), which is in agreement with Proclus' method to calculate the Perfect Number. Another multiple, with difference of one year, appears as time interval, derived from the Turin Royal Canon, including its mythological columns, which may be also considered as confirmation of its significance for the ancient astronomers.
The aim of the present paper is to extend the archeoastronomical study sample on the orientation of Roman cities to the analysis of a number of cases in the Rhine area. The starting point is a study of the orientation of Augusta... more
The aim of the present paper is to extend the archeoastronomical study sample on the orientation of Roman cities to the analysis of a number of cases in the Rhine area. The starting point is a study of the orientation of Augusta Treverorum (present day Trier; Goethert, 2003). Goethert assumed that the orientation of the decuma-nus maximus was towards sunrise at the autumn equinox, on September 23 rd as the dies natalis of the city. This event would deliberately coincide with the anniversary of the birth of Augustus, and would have determined the establishment and orientation of the new urban layout. However, our in situ measurements of the orientation of the urban network at several sites of the Roman town rule out this hypothesis. We find an orientation that is more in line with those documented for other Roman cities and camps elsewhere in the Roman provinces (González-García et al., 2014; Rodríguez-Antón et al., 2016). Moreover, measurements made in the Lenus Mars temple indicate a recurrent phenomenon of cultural hybridization. Here the temple, located outside the city walls on the west bank of the river Moselle, combines a possibly Celtic orientation with Roman symbolic beliefs. In reality, the alleged orientation towards the dies natalis of Augustus is verified for Cologne. There are a number of circumstances that make this choice logical for a city that was initially planned as the capital of the Augustan province of Germania and the seat of an ara of imperial worship.
Hindeloopen is a small city in the province Friesland, The Netherlands, and was mentioned in 822-825 AD in the monastery of Fulda. Hindlip is a place in Worcestershire, England, and the oldest record of the village is from 966 and it is... more
Hindeloopen is a small city in the province Friesland, The Netherlands, and was mentioned in 822-825 AD in the monastery of Fulda. Hindlip is a place in Worcestershire, England, and the oldest record of the village is from 966 and it is also indicated in the Domesday book. Etymologically, the first part of both names "Hinde" is linked to "hind"; a female deer and the second part , "loopen/lip", is linked to running or leaping. In this paper it is proposed that this combination of words was used to designate the constellation Capricornus that is usually regarded as a leaping goat or running hind. The main indication for this is obtained from the many German names for the plant chicory, which are: zonnewende (solstice), krebskraut (cancer-herbe), kankerkraut (cancer-herbe), hemelslötel (heaven's key) and hintlope/hindelope. The chicory is mentioned as a plant with superstitious powers that had to be harvested by a special ritual that involves a stags antler or a piece of gold like the mistletoe. The original coat of arms of Hindeloopen and the one that is used nowadays, which is a canting arms, are both consistent with the iconography for the constellation in Germanic/Norse mythology. The widespread of the plant name hintlope in Germany, the locations of the places with a variant of the name Hindeloopen and nearby places with Anglo-Saxon suffixes indicate that the name Hindeloopen was introduced by the Anglo-Saxons during the Migration Period. Place name-and church founding legends, local holidays and current place name meanings in Friesland are consistent with this theory.
Among the Sesto Fiorentino (Florence) Etruscan tombs, the most renowned and best preserved are the two architectonically impressive seventh century BC tholos tombs of La Montagnola and La Mula. Another tholos (Tumulo Montefortini) is... more
Among the Sesto Fiorentino (Florence) Etruscan tombs, the most renowned and best preserved are the two architectonically impressive seventh century BC tholos tombs of La Montagnola and La Mula. Another tholos (Tumulo Montefortini) is placed in the near city of Artimino, circa ten km away from Sesto. The tombs belonged to powerful Etruscan princes and greatly differ for magnificence from other tombs in the surroundings. Several Etruscan tholos tombs were found spread in northern Etruria. We have studied the geometry of La Montagnola and La Mula conducting the analyses in CAD working on the best available plans using qualified best-fit methods (Kasa, 1976). The scheme that resulted for La Montagnola (the only one complete and with its original dromos) send back to the classification by Ranieri (2008) of the geometries of the Mycenean tholos tombs. we have been searching for the employed length units and found to conform to greek-roman cubits and palms. Simulations of the ancient sky with Stellarium have shown that the alignements of all the three tholos tombs can be associated to the minor lunar standstill, in a region of the sky that the Etruscans denoted as pertaining to the death. In turn, the toponymy "Artimino" can be reasonably interpreted as deriving from the name of the Etruscan goddess Aritimi, associated with the Moon, the death, the night, the nature and the woods.
Convex cut mirrors manufactured from the volcanic glass obsidian had been known since Neolithic time (7400/7100 to about 6200 BCE) in Çatalhöyük, Turkey. A Herschelian type telescope made with an obsidian mirror ( 12 cm) allowed to see... more
Convex cut mirrors manufactured from the volcanic glass obsidian had been known since Neolithic time (7400/7100 to about 6200 BCE) in Çatalhöyük, Turkey. A Herschelian type telescope made with an obsidian mirror ( 12 cm) allowed to see the Moon"s craters sharp and distinct, the phases of Venus as well as the discs of Venus and Jupiter. The moons of Jupiter however are not visible due to the low degree of reflection of the used obsidian mirror. A specimen with a much better reflection or a bigger one would result in improved views of celestial objects. The paper reports on the making of the telescope and its potential application. Moreover, as a general basis, the study addresses the prehistory and symbolism of mirrors, with special focus on a possible assignment for skywatching.
The lights that
Our paper is focused on Late Chalcolithic solar-chthonic rock-cut structures for time measuring. Here we present two objects from the Eastern Rhodopes, Bulgaria-two additionally processed natural caves, which can be used for determining... more
Our paper is focused on Late Chalcolithic solar-chthonic rock-cut structures for time measuring. Here we present two objects from the Eastern Rhodopes, Bulgaria-two additionally processed natural caves, which can be used for determining of the winter solstice-the beginning of one calendar cycle. Tangarduk Kaya cave sanctuary is situated near the village of Ilinitsa, Kardgali district. The different parts of the cave are formed after natural processes of Karst formation and human activity. At the level of the cave gallery floor the entrance aperture is widened and its vertical section is in a special form if they see from the inside outwards. The end of the gallery is obviously formed as altar. Archaeoastronomical investigations show that Tangarduk Kaya cave sanctuary could be connected with the cult of the Great Mother-Goddess. In the period between 3000-2000 B.C. the projection of the entrance aperture during the winter solstice reached 0.4 m from the base of the altar. Besides, this cave sanctuary could be used for determining of the year's duration and its beginning, with enough accuracy. The other rock-cut object Parmakla Kaya cave sanctuary near the village of Nochevo, Asenovgrad Municipality is in the same category. In the bedrock there is a natural cave, which is additionally processed. Orientation of the main axis of the cave is also in the meridian. Solar projection of the entrance on the day of the winter solstice is with a maximum length along the central axis. This also allows determining the duration of the solar tropical year. On the vertical part of the rock massif, whose front is south oriented about 40 trapezoidal niches are carved. They are divided into two groups around the entrance of the cave. Probably, they are integrally related to the monument and their orientation allows observation of different shade effects during the movement of the sun on the celestial sphere. KEYWORDS: rock and cave sanctuaries, solar projections, solar culminations, cult of the Great Mother-Goddess. 402 P. MAGLOVA et al
In the fourth century, a new settlement was built over an ancient pre-existent building (eighth century BC), situated in the top of a hill and associated to an emerging aristocratic system which is presumed to have disappeared at the end... more
In the fourth century, a new settlement was built over an ancient pre-existent building (eighth century BC), situated in the top of a hill and associated to an emerging aristocratic system which is presumed to have disappeared at the end of the Early Iron Age. This new settlement is, nowadays, kwon as La Gessera and was first excavated over a hundred years ago. Located in the western side of the modern day province of Tarragona, this building, with a hexagonal floor plan, covers the entire rocky surface, making it an unassailable fortress, and allowing it to control a vast amount of the surrounding area, especially from and to the Ebro River. Nevertheless, the unusual floor plan of this building, combined with the lack of water and the inability to collect basic resources, suggests that this construction was more than just a simple house. In that case, it could be seen as a special place, even though we still do not know what the building was used for. Perhaps, the astronomical orientation could lead us to think it is remarkable. The well-known preference for orientating significant buildings towards significant astronomical events is also to be found here. The orientation of the main axis points unambiguously to the Equinoctial Sunrises, and it also coincides with the corridor that goes through the building from east to west. Besides, the biggest and most remarkable room in the building looks to the west. What is more, the seemingly unnecessary thick wall could easily have been used as an altar. The apparent lack of straightness of the corridor could be perfectly explained by observing the sunlight of the Equinoctial dawn. Only on those two particular days does the winding corridor allow the sunlight to illuminate the room to which it leads.
During the fieldwork on Danish megalithic monuments it became more and more clear that the type of megalithic monuments known as passage tombs (i.e. passage graves, passage mounds or dolmens with a passage) can be linked to tomb-to-tomb... more
During the fieldwork on Danish megalithic monuments it became more and more clear that the type of megalithic monuments known as passage tombs (i.e. passage graves, passage mounds or dolmens with a passage) can be linked to tomb-to-tomb relations. Often these relations can develop into very complex structures in the landscape. The same situation is seen in Ireland where clusters of passage tombs have been investigated by Dr. Frank Prendergast, which show similar features as the Danish clusters. Probably this line relationship has a more widespread international character. This can be demonstrated by using data sets from other areas where data for megalithic monuments are available. The idea is to extract the directions between units from the UTM coordinates where the measured direction of the passage or opening of the tomb indicates a tomb-to-tomb relation. The example here uses data from Swedish passage tombs in the Falbygden area. Investigations from other sites around the Mediterranean show similar characteristics for ancient megalithic monuments, which also include the Egyptian pyramids. Sometimes geometrical patterns are identified. The conclusion is that lines/sightlines could have been very important for societies through Neolithic times and antiquity.
The Cathedral of Santiago (Spain) is one of the three most sacred sites in Christendom together with Saint Peter in Vatican and Jerusalem, and it is the focal point of a pilgrimage route since the Middle Ages. The present Cathedral of... more
The Cathedral of Santiago (Spain) is one of the three most sacred sites in Christendom together with Saint Peter in Vatican and Jerusalem, and it is the focal point of a pilgrimage route since the Middle Ages. The present Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is the result of a long-lasting effort of building and reconstruction with two main break-points, the erection of the Romanesque building in the 12th and 13th centuries and its reform during Baroque times (s. "XVII"). Built at the site of a previous Roman and later Germanic cemetery, its orientation is fully compatible with the canonical rule for the Middle Ages in Spain and indicates an attempt to follow a given date in the Julian calendar, March 25th. This is one of the three calendar dates that are related to the Apostle according to the Codex Callistinus, a writing describing the pilgrimage to Santiago from the XIIth century, the other two being July 25th and December 30th. In the present essay we investigate how the different dates related to this Saint have been incorporated in the original design of the Cathedral and its transformation through time, either through the orientation or by illumination effects, particularly in the Romanesque and the later Baroque reform.
The cult of Santa Mariña is very popular in the region of Galicia, in northwest Spain. According to tradition, she was born and martyred in two sites at the heart of the modern-day province of Ourense: she was born and grew up around the... more
The cult of Santa Mariña is very popular in the region of Galicia, in northwest Spain. According to tradition, she was born and martyred in two sites at the heart of the modern-day province of Ourense: she was born and grew up around the lagoon of Antela, and was martyred in the parish of Santa Mariña de Augas Santas, where she performed miracles and where her tomb is still preserved. Both places are located in the territory of the Limici, a pre-Roman Celtic tribe, and contain a remarkable amount of archaeological material from the Iron Age and Roman times. An archaeoastronomical study has revealed that the most important archaeological sites have a number of significant solar and lunar relationships attributable to the Celtic tradition (lu-nistices, Celtic mid-season festivals, the cosmos divided into three levels). Christianity preserved these structures through the feast dates of the saints worshipped in different parishes and other places, and their arrangement in different local landscapes. Episodes of Mariña"s life and her places of worship are important because they coincide with significant points in the astronomical alignments that have been detected. Hyda-tius of Chaves (c. 400-469) a Limici scholar, bishop and author of a Chronicle, is considered responsible for introducing the cult of Santa Mariña, and as the driving force behind the Christianization of a land-scape/skyscape that was previously defined by a Celtic worldview.
The advances of interactive 3D technologies and the rapid expansion of the Internet have led to the development of a wide variety of solutions for the dissemination of cultural heritage using digital technologies. One such promising... more
The advances of interactive 3D technologies and the rapid expansion of the Internet have led to the development of a wide variety of solutions for the dissemination of cultural heritage using digital technologies. One such promising approach are Virtual Museums, i.e. digital environments for the presentation of exhibit collections. Currently one may identify two distinct trends in Virtual Museums: exhibition spaces built in Virtual Worlds such as Second Life, and the Google Art Project. A common characteristic of these approaches is that they both aim to replicate the experience of visiting the physical museum space and observing the exhibits. However, looking deeper into several aspects of their interface, one can notice significant differences: modelled vs digitized exhibition space, low-res vs hires image presentation, single-vs multiuser visiting experience, static vs interactive exhibits, etc. The aim of our research is to compare the two environments in terms of their effect on the visiting experience and to attempt to identify the critical design features that contribute mostly to the experience. We have setup a study for the comparative evaluation of the two approaches based on the visiting experience of the same exhibition space. We have selected a museum wing already present in the Google Art Project (the 5th floor of the Museum of Modern Art of New York-MoMA) and modelled a replicate of it in OpenSimulator, an open source alternative to Second Life. The analysis of the results indicate that both approaches have been found attractive by the users, but for different reasons, and led to the identification of a number of features that positively affected the experience and have been considered important by the participants.
Populating virtual worlds with computer controlled characters is a key issue in virtual heritage applications, an argument that can also be held as valid for the majority of virtual world applications. Virtual heritage worlds usually tend... more
Populating virtual worlds with computer controlled characters is a key issue in virtual heritage applications, an argument that can also be held as valid for the majority of virtual world applications. Virtual heritage worlds usually tend to be either devoid of people, or include computer-controlled characters that function as animated props, demonstrating pre-scripted and repetitive behaviour. In more advanced approaches, digital characters in special roles, such as virtual guides, may also be situated in the virtual world. Recent virtual heritage reconstruction works seem to acknowledge the necessity of incorporating non-human controlled characters that include intelligence in order to enhance presence and provide the user with an engaging experience. This paper presents the design and development of Virtual Agora, a virtual heritage application in the Open Simulator environment aiming to replicate daily life in an ancient Greek agora using biologically-inspired motivational agents. The application follows a multi-layered motivational model for agents that includes biological, as well as psychosocial needs. Every agent possesses a set of basic attributes that relate to its biological and physical characteristics, as well as its personality. Furthermore, agents are endowed with a set of behaviours that satisfy particular goals and consist of a sequence of actions towards achieving this goal. In addition to this generic action set, every agent possesses an extra set of actions, based on its assignment of a role or profession. The roles and the respective behaviours have been designed and selected based on available resources regarding life in the ancient agora of classical Athens. In the current implementation visitors can walk around the environment observing daily activities performed by the digital characters and interact with them by asking questions about aspects of their profession.
Open linked data technologies pave the way towards the semantic Web of the future by a) exploiting the abundance in data availability, b) enhancing the continuing application developments in the Web and computer technologies, c)... more
Open linked data technologies pave the way towards the semantic Web of the future by a) exploiting the abundance in data availability, b) enhancing the continuing application developments in the Web and computer technologies, c) increasing the availability of game engines towards an expansion of techniques and d) bridging culture and education with gaming. In this context, we introduce an innovative and content-dynamic web-based virtual museum, which relies and exploits the rich content of distributed web cultural resources and supports the creation of custom painting virtual exhibitions for cultural and educational purposes based on gaming technologies.
With the advent of digital museum interactives as a widely available learning offer in all types of museums, including history of art and archaeology museums, an ongoing debate has been established: Do these-usually screen-based-museum... more
With the advent of digital museum interactives as a widely available learning offer in all types of museums, including history of art and archaeology museums, an ongoing debate has been established: Do these-usually screen-based-museum interactives assist visitors in focusing on museum objects and artefacts? Or do they distract and take away the attention from the real museum objects on display? We present the Loupe, a tangible Augmented Reality prototype in form of a magnifying lens, which allows museum visitors to get information in context about museum artefacts. We detail the design and content creation process that was employed in order to create a thematic tour for the Greek Gallery of Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam. An evaluation study with 22 adult participants was carried out, using both qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods, so as to explore the utility and usability of the Loupe as well its learning and affective impact. Our findings suggest that the acceptance of the Loupe as a museum interactive and learning resource, was related both with its qualities as a tangible as well as with the structure of the content and the narratives revealed.
A 3D-recording project was introduced into practice in 2014 by Tomsk State University during investigation of Timiryazevo burial site (5th-10th centuries AD). During the excavation, three-dimensional models of the whole archaeological... more
A 3D-recording project was introduced into practice in 2014 by Tomsk State University during investigation of Timiryazevo burial site (5th-10th centuries AD). During the excavation, three-dimensional models of the whole archaeological site were made at each stage, as well as individual records of all artifacts. 3D recording was conducted by SFM technology. The data obtained was used for research and in work on the exhibition project ‖Secrets of Timiryazevo Burial Site: The Circle of Life and Death in Siberian Shamanism‖. The exposition centers on unveiling the meaning of the rite of burying lookalike dolls of the deceased, which was practiced by many indigenous peoples of Siberia. The exposition is designed to enable the visitor to pass through the whole cycle of knowledge extraction together with archaeologists, the-detectives of the past‖: from a bunch of strange miniscule objects found in the sand to reconstruction of the whole sophisticated rite of the-ultimate funeral‖ including the burial of the deceased's lookalike doll. The tools used to develop the topic included a stereoscopic video created with Autodesk 3D Studio MAX 2014 and displayed in the exhibition. Stereoscopic videos displayed by specialized museum equipment create a total participation effect, enabling any visitor to watch excavations step by step, in all their detail and from all perspectives.
This paper focuses on the evaluation of automated image based techniques which are used lately in order to produce three dimensional digital models of cultural heritage objects. This implies a doubt as to how accurate and reliable are the... more
This paper focuses on the evaluation of automated image based techniques which are used lately in order to produce three dimensional digital models of cultural heritage objects. This implies a doubt as to how accurate and reliable are the products of these automated algorithms and how efficient they are for providing the necessary 3D material for the virtual environments. The implementation of this innovative approach has gradually become very popular in the field of Cultural Heritage during the last five years. Non-specialists found a way to easily produce 3D reconstructions just by taking a few images and using Structure-from-Motion and Multiview Stereo algorithms implemented by commercial or open source software. However, this fact led to debatable results, as a lot of ambiguities are lurking hidden in the "happiness" of automation. In order to assess the metric performance of these algorithms an innovative metric evaluation strategy has been designed. A very accurately measured test field, set up mainly for calibrating digital cameras, was used as an object of well-known ground truth. It was established that the accuracy of the resulting 3D reconstruction depends on the spatial analysis and the general quality of the original digital images, on the careful selection of the parameters provided by the software, the properties of the object itself and the computing power available.
Standardised metadata for the development and storage of learning objects that draw on cultural content have not been provided as yet. There are well established standards for documenting learning objects, such as the IEEE/LOM and the... more
Standardised metadata for the development and storage of learning objects that draw on cultural content have not been provided as yet. There are well established standards for documenting learning objects, such as the IEEE/LOM and the LRE/LOM, and for documenting cultural content, such as the CIDOC-CRM and the SPECTRUM. However, these standards do not provide for standardised metadata of learning objects that exploit cultural objects and enable descriptions of the type Alpha is a learning object made by X and contains a digital image of Joconda made by DaVinci; nor do they provide for a solid framework for DBs that could answer to questions such as "Provide me with learning objects supporting Geography lessons about Greece that are addressed to 14-year olds and contain pictures by one of Papaloukas, Vassileiou, Tsarouhis" or "Provide me with either learning objects or digital pictures of pieces of art on harvesting wheat". Furthermore, existing large repositories of digital objects have not been designed for such hybrid objects. Thus, EUROPEANA contains only cultural content while the LRE and the Greek Φωτόδεντρο only learning objects. In the overall, it is clear that if education at a European level is meant to profit from cultural objects and cultural object repositories according to EU plans (Eurydiki 2009), the process of developing and storing learning objects that contain cultural content should be strengthened with standardised documentation and storage tools. We report here on the development of an ontology that is the unification of LRE/LOM (the standard for learning objects) and CIDOC-CRM (the standard for cultural objects). We also report on the development of a database that conforms to the unification of LRE and CIDOC ontologies.
The role of museums and heritage venues is a multifaceted one; they have (or are expected to have) a certain amount of social responsibility, in the context of communicating information to the visiting public. The manner of presentation... more
The role of museums and heritage venues is a multifaceted one; they have (or are expected to have) a certain amount of social responsibility, in the context of communicating information to the visiting public. The manner of presentation and interpretation of their objects, spaces or history can have a significant impact on the visitor. This extends to how the visitor engages, both physically, mentally, and emotionally with the items on display, or the venue / location itself, and the interpretative tools and systems. This paper seeks to explore the role that emotions can play within museum and heritage interpretative and interactive tools and systems, considering the expectations of both visitors and professionals in relation to emotional engagement. The study drew on surveys to create a picture of the expectations and perceptions of both the visitors and the professionals. By assessing this data, with reference to the extant literature, it was possible to determine the similarities in the expectations from visitors, and museum and heritage professionals. At the same time, the study provided insight into some of the potential issues regarding interpretation and interpretative tools within these contexts.
The paper highlights the reasons for implementation and the functions of a system that proposes advanced facilities for setting up adapted storytelling-based presentations. Educational and cultural mediations are privileged but not... more
The paper highlights the reasons for implementation and the functions of a system that proposes advanced facilities for setting up adapted storytelling-based presentations. Educational and cultural mediations are privileged but not exclusive. In the first part we propose a quick review of the state-of-the-art concerning the storytelling shift in ICT research and development; we discuss, specifically, its power to render interpretation strategies salient, promote reading and, hopefully, understanding. In the second part we briefly describe the most innovative functionalities of the system both in constructing and visualizing presentations. We particularly focus on: i. the creation of the presentation fulcrum, ii. the construction of a presentation, iii. the implementation of an-intelligent‖ module that offers contextualized assistance, able to expand and adapt a presentation to different reception expectations and iv. the indexing/research module. We finish with a brief discussion about some evaluation results and conclude with the contributions of the presented approach.
In this paper, the authors propose a new way to navigate inside virtual architectural environments such as those used in the field of Virtual Archaeology. This approach is based on the study of human movement inside real buildings.... more
In this paper, the authors propose a new way to navigate inside virtual architectural environments such as those used in the field of Virtual Archaeology. This approach is based on the study of human movement inside real buildings. Authors describe the design of a computer aided navigation system that could facilitate visitors of virtual reconstructions in taking their journey inside digital 3D environments in a more human-like manner. This research considers aspects related to human attention and non-linear narratives in order to develop a new computer aided navigation paradigm using excellent capabilities of real-time visualisation, interaction and human-computer interfacing provided by a game engine. This system obtains information from the virtual environment, which is perceptually enriched by the presence of metainformation associated to the importance in terms of interest of every part, space or element present in the scene. Using this tool, the designer of the experience can influence the user walkthrough in the virtual archaeological environment to meet the expectations of the visit, follow thematic paths or adapt to different user profiles.
This paper will propose and address issues that contribute to a serious challenge for virtual heritage: that there are few successful, accessible and durable examples of computer game technology and genres applied to heritage. Secondly,... more
This paper will propose and address issues that contribute to a serious challenge for virtual heritage: that there are few successful, accessible and durable examples of computer game technology and genres applied to heritage. Secondly, it will argue that the true potential of computers for heritage has not been fully lever-aged and it will provide a case study of a game engine technology not used explicitly as a game but as a serious pedagogical tool for 3D digital heritage environments.
In this study, material characteristics of glass mosaic tesserae from Antandros ancient city, western Turkey, were investigated. The main objective of this study was to determine the compositional group of the glass tesserae. Their color,... more
In this study, material characteristics of glass mosaic tesserae from Antandros ancient city, western Turkey, were investigated. The main objective of this study was to determine the compositional group of the glass tesserae. Their color, mineralogical, chemical and microstructural characteristics were determined using colorimeter, x-ray diffraction, x-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscope. The results show that all the Antandros glasses were produced by using coastal sand as Levantine I glasses and exhibit similar compositions with natron type glasses (Roman type glasses), except for lower natron levels. Lower natron levels indicate that Antandros mosaic glass may have been produced in 7 th century AD or natron may have been provided from a new flux source due to the shortage of Egyptian mineral soda or due to economic reasons glass manufacturers succeeded to produce same glass with low flux addition. Antandros glass tesserae were all opacified with antimony oxides and colored with transition metal oxides which are common used in Roman Period.
Baetican amphorae of the type Dressel 23 found in Late Roman consumption centres from the northeastern Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands were archaeometrically investigated in order to characterise the materials and examine their... more
Baetican amphorae of the type Dressel 23 found in Late Roman consumption centres from the northeastern Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands were archaeometrically investigated in order to characterise the materials and examine their provenance. A combination of analytical techniques was used, including optical microscopy (thin-section analysis), X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The results show two main fabrics and a number of other less represented fabrics. Some of these fabrics comprise all the samples of the variants Dressel 23a and 23c, and can be related to a provenance in the Gua-dalquivir/Genil valleys, while other fabrics include all the Dressel 23d samples and their provenance must be situated in the coastal area of Málaga, based on their petrographic composition and the integration of the archaeological information. Some samples of Almagro 51A-B amphorae are also analysed, and show the same chemical-petrographic composition as the Dressel 23d individuals, this indicating that they both come from the same workshops. The results suggest that the arrival of Dressel 23 amphorae from the Málaga area to the analysed consumption centres may have been more significant in the Late Roman period than usually acknowledged.
In the 6 th and 5 th centuries B.C., Gela (Italy, Sicily) was one of the most important production centres of architectural terracottas in the Mediterranean basin. Nevertheless, few archaeometric data are actually available in scientific... more
In the 6 th and 5 th centuries B.C., Gela (Italy, Sicily) was one of the most important production centres of architectural terracottas in the Mediterranean basin. Nevertheless, few archaeometric data are actually available in scientific literature on this interesting artifacts class. Here we report an archaeometric characterization of Geloan coroplastic materials. In particular, an investigation on finest architectural terracottas found in dumps archaeological contexts in Gela has been carried out with the aim at identifying the distinctive features of the production and the manufacturing techniques. The group of samples includes various remarkable architectural elements: painted sima and geison fragments, and acroteria specimens. Information about provenance, fabric features, technology and manufacturing techniques have been obtained by performing petrographic (OM), mineralogical (XRD) and chemical analyses (XRF). Moreover, as most of the identified petrographic fabrics have revealed the presence of volcanic temper, EDS chemical analysis have been performed on clinopiroxenes, being the latter ones an effective tool for provenance at-tributions. Finally, an analytical characterization of the painted polychrome decoration has been carried out by using Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy-Dispersive Spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and mi-cro Raman spectroscopy. The obtained results allow us to define, for the first time, the technological features of the Geolan architectural terracottas production, opening new perspectives in the study of the coroplastic art in archaic Sicily.
This paper presents and discusses the results of the multi-analytical study carried out on a group of 39 Late Bronze Age artefacts from the site of Porto do Concelho, Central Portugal. The chemical composition of the objects was... more
This paper presents and discusses the results of the multi-analytical study carried out on a group of 39 Late Bronze Age artefacts from the site of Porto do Concelho, Central Portugal. The chemical composition of the objects was determined by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) and their microstructural features were identified by Optical Microscopy (OM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The results show that metals are binary alloys (Cu+Sn) and leaded bronzes (Cu+Sn+>2.0 wt.% Pb), with a variable content of impurities, such as Pb (when lower than 2.0 wt.%), Fe, As, Ag, Sb and Ni. The microstructural characterization carried out on 21 artefacts allowed the identification of two main operational sequences: 10 objects show a dendritic microstructure suggesting that metals have not undergone any post-casting treatment; 11 artefacts display the presence of annealing twins with, in some cases, slip bands, resulting from the application of thermal and mechanical treatments. The analytical results are compared to those of other metal collections from regional LBA, and together with the bibliographic information available become an opportunity to question and rediscuss the real nature of a collection of metals that most of archaeologists consider as a typical LBA founder's hoard.
Recent excavations at the multi-period site of Datça/Burgaz in southwestern Turkey have revealed a sequence of occupation spanning from Geometric, Archaic and Classical periods. The zooarchaeological remains obtained from the Datça/Burgaz... more
Recent excavations at the multi-period site of Datça/Burgaz in southwestern Turkey have revealed a sequence of occupation spanning from Geometric, Archaic and Classical periods. The zooarchaeological remains obtained from the Datça/Burgaz site provide a basic description of the faunal assemblages in the context of both local and regional dietary strategies of the various societies throughout the above-mentioned periods. All calculations are based upon a number of identified specimen frequencies. According to the results of this study, domestic cattle were the most plentiful species in the assemblage. Ovicaprine, including sheep and goats, and pigs were second and third most abundant respectively. In addition, wild species and equids are also represented in the fauna. Though frequencies of the samples change over the periods, cattle are found dominant in all periods. When consider the number of sample, the most statistically reliable among the groups at hand due to sample size (n=933) is the Classical Period.
Between 2015 and 2016 the Instituto Geográfico Nacional de España (Spanish Geographical Institute) made public the results of a LiDAR flight over the entire national territory. In the case of Andalucía, this flight was done between 2013... more
Between 2015 and 2016 the Instituto Geográfico Nacional de España (Spanish Geographical Institute) made public the results of a LiDAR flight over the entire national territory. In the case of Andalucía, this flight was done between 2013 and 2014. Among its many applications, our goal was to highlight its use for aerial detection of unknown archaeological remains, which could be identifyed in other spanish roman cities similars to Torreparedones, where the amphitheatre seems has been indentificated by this methods. A good number of the studies on aerial archaeology in Spain based on LiDAR PNOA (National Aerial Orthophoto Plan-acronym in Spanish) do not necessarily entail a subsequent surface exploration. Surelly, LiDAR-PNOA will be the only way of archaeological survey in many cases. For this reason, we are interested in adjusting the method to make this aerial exploration resource useful and reliable, as we expose it here.
Po-pure (porphyra) denotes the deep red/ purple colour delivered from sea shells extraction and processing of five species and conversion to dye has been practice in ancient world, especially in the Mediterra-nean Sea. Archaeological... more
Po-pure (porphyra) denotes the deep red/ purple colour delivered from sea shells extraction and processing of five species and conversion to dye has been practice in ancient world, especially in the Mediterra-nean Sea. Archaeological excavations have shown that murex was used in Greece and in other areas, such as Egypt, Israel, Turkey, Italy, Spain and generally throughout the Mediterranean basin. The colour of murex was priceless and used in wall-paintings and textiles. Many fabrics have been found in Crete, Egypt and Is-rael. Considering the ancient texts, including those of Plutarch, Pliny, Aristotle, Herodotus and Xenokrates, it has been shown that its identification can be advanced by studying chemical production of purple-dye, while using spectroscopy and chemical analysis the basic chemistry, the dibromoindigotin (DBI), is identified. The present report reviews major murex producing workshops in the Mediterranean and archaeomet-rical analyses that identify this marine shell.
The enigma of Hannibal's route across the Alps in 218 BC is one of the most enduring questions of antiquity. Many authorities, some of whom have never ventured into the mountains, have argued for various preferred crossings of the Alps.... more
The enigma of Hannibal's route across the Alps in 218 BC is one of the most enduring questions of antiquity. Many authorities, some of whom have never ventured into the mountains, have argued for various preferred crossings of the Alps. Earlier efforts to identify the route focused on the two-tier rockfall and regrouping area on the lee side of the Range, originally described by Polybius in his The Rise of the Roman Empire, by Livy in The War with Hannibal, and later by Sir Gavin de Beer who searched out the topography and stream dynamics in the area of several projected crossing routes. Recently, attention shifted to the alluvial mire in the upper Guil River after cores and sections (sites G5 and G5A, Mahaney et al., 2016a) revealed the presence of churned-up or bioturbated beds, called the Mass Animal Deposition (MAD) layer. At approximately 45 ±15 cm depth, the top of the MAD layer contains abundant bacteria belonging to the class Clostridia that are found in the mammalian gut and fecal deposits, all dated by AMS 14 C to 2168 cal yr BP (i.e., 218 BC with a 95% confidence interval). Samples for magnetic susceptibility collected from three additional sections (G5B, G5C and G5D) carrying the churned-up beds reveal heightened magnetic intensity within these bioturbated sediments that is suggestive of high magnetite content, one form of iron that often was used to cast weapons in ancient times. Magnetic susceptibility levels are highest within the churned-up beds with minor exceptions in two of the three sections analyzed, possibly indicating the presence of weathered tools, implements or weapons lost or discarded. The available data is sufficient to suggest that a GPR survey of the entire mire might well lead to recovery of the first artifacts from the invasion that would shed enormous light on the culture of ancient Carthage.
The estimation of sex is a fundamental step for physical anthropologists. The present study confirms the presence of sexual dimorphism in cranial traits of a modern Greek population and produces sex predicting logistic regression... more
The estimation of sex is a fundamental step for physical anthropologists. The present study confirms the presence of sexual dimorphism in cranial traits of a modern Greek population and produces sex predicting logistic regression equations, which are subsequently applied on the crania of archaeological Greek populations. This study uses 24 landmarks and 25 traits based on distance and angle measurements. Equations, were formulated for the cranium in whole, as well as, isolated cranial regions and single traits. The application of these equations on the archaeological Greek populations yielded an accuracy of classification over 70% in the sphenoid region, the maxilla and the cranium in whole and for three single traits. Hence, the results suggest that our equations based on the modern Greek population can successfully be used in sex prediction of archaeological Greek populations.
The settlement of Dava Göz situated about 15km SW of Khoy and 1.5km north of the Dizaj Diz town in NW Iran. Dava Göz is a small site at north of the Lake Urmia, measuring about 100×100m (ca. 1ha). The first season of archeological... more
The settlement of Dava Göz situated about 15km SW of Khoy and 1.5km north of the Dizaj Diz town in NW Iran. Dava Göz is a small site at north of the Lake Urmia, measuring about 100×100m (ca. 1ha). The first season of archeological excavation primarily aimed to clarifying the chronology, settlement organization, and respond to some of the fundamental questions such as the transition process from Late Neolithic to Early Chalcolithic (Hajji Firuz to Dalma) and identifying different cultural horizon including Late Chalcolithic (LC1 and LC2 periods) and also outlining cultural condition of the region during prehistoric periods. The present paper is intended to expose briefly the main stratigraphic, architectural and material data from the site. The stratigraphy of the settlement is now well understood and covers the Late Neolithic/Transitional Chalcolithic (Hajji Firuz/Dalma=Period I) and Chalcolithic (Pisdeli=LC1=Period II and Chaff-Faced Ware horizon=LC2=Period III) phases of the regional culture of north of the Lake Urmia Basin. Actually, Dava Göz is one of the scant well excavated settlements that give new and fresh information on the developments of the Lake Urmia Basin communities between the sixth to fourth millennium BC (5400-3700/3600 BC), and on their relationships with the contemporary Caucasian cultures as well as with those located further west and south, in Eastern Anatolia and in the Syro-Mesopotamian region. The first preliminary result of excavation , suggest special function for Dava Göz. It seems clear that this site could be consider as winter land for some agro-pastoral groups of Lake Urmia Basin who trying to find some pasturelands and preparing same raw materials like obsidian for the settlements of Urmia region The implications of the findings will discuss along with limitations and future research directions.
The present work details the findings of the anthropological study of the skeletal material unearthed from the Kastrouli archaeological site on July 2016. The skeletal material was significantly deteriorated with most of the bones... more
The present work details the findings of the anthropological study of the skeletal material unearthed from the Kastrouli archaeological site on July 2016. The skeletal material was significantly deteriorated with most of the bones fragmented beyond a level to yield any information. Despite almost no single bone was found intact, hence no metrics for stature estimation are provided herein, a number of sufficiently preserved femur bones along with numerous teeth were identified and allowed for MNI estimates for this commingled burial. We identified 15 adults along with 2 subadults, an infant and a fetus. Skeletal remains of domesticated animals were also recovered from the same undisturbed context, for which the recovered archaeological artifacts suggest that the tomb was Mycenaean/Late Helladic in date. KEYWORDS: Kastrouli archaeological site, Mycenaean/Late Helladic tomb, skeletal remains, anthropological study. 266 M.E. CHOVALOPOULOU et al.
Ul is an archaeological site located on a hilltop near modern Oliveira de Azeméis (NW Portugal). It had several occupations over time, at least sporadically since the Bronze Age, and is nowadays a small parish with a number of scattered... more
Ul is an archaeological site located on a hilltop near modern Oliveira de Azeméis (NW Portugal). It had several occupations over time, at least sporadically since the Bronze Age, and is nowadays a small parish with a number of scattered houses and a church, built against and around the Northern slope. Occasional fieldwork, some of it lacking publication, was carried out during the 20th century, followed by a new set of test trenches, as well as two series of geophysical surveys using GPR and electomagnetic induction methods. Some of the results from both the non-invasive and invasive approaches are presented in this paper, and integrate an ongoing discussion about Iron Age and Roman settlement in the NW of the Iberian Peninsula. KEYWORDS: Roman hilltop site, regional settlement, castro culture, GPR, electromagnetic induction 180 A. DE MAN et al.
The aim of this paper is to gain insights into the mechanisms by which new socio-materialities were co-created in western Iberia as a result of encounters between people of Atlantic and Medi-terranean cultural and technological... more
The aim of this paper is to gain insights into the mechanisms by which new socio-materialities were co-created in western Iberia as a result of encounters between people of Atlantic and Medi-terranean cultural and technological backgrounds during the Late Bronze Age (1400/1200-700 BC). Particular emphasis is placed on the landscapes where socio-cultural encounters took place and where material images, artefacts and technologies were hybridised, integrated or recreated. To do this, typology and archaeometry information is taken into consideration. The material evidence analysed comprises specific objects such as gold items, bronze axes, statue-menhirs and stelae, which sheds light on the ways in which the social identity of the Atlantic people shifted or was altered through these encounters, and to what extent the people adopted and adapted socio-material practices within a shared cultural milieu.
We have interpreted much of the symbolism of Göbekli Tepe in terms of astronomical events. By matching low-relief carvings on some of the pillars at Göbekli Tepe to star asterisms we find compelling evidence that the famous 'Vulture... more
We have interpreted much of the symbolism of Göbekli Tepe in terms of astronomical events. By matching low-relief carvings on some of the pillars at Göbekli Tepe to star asterisms we find compelling evidence that the famous 'Vulture Stone' is a date stamp for 10950 BC ± 250 yrs, which corresponds closely to the proposed Younger Dryas event, estimated at 10890 BC. We also find evidence that a key function of Göbekli Tepe was to observe meteor showers and record cometary encounters. Indeed, the people of Göbekli Tepe appear to have had a special interest in the Taurid meteor stream, the same meteor stream that is proposed as responsible for the Younger-Dryas event. Is Göbekli Tepe the 'smoking gun' for the Younger-Dryas cometary encounter, and hence for coherent catastrophism?
One of the major problems facing the World Heritage Site of Petra is of salt damage caused by weathering effect; this study examined and monitored the salt types and distribution within four different monuments at the site; these were the... more
One of the major problems facing the World Heritage Site of Petra is of salt damage caused by weathering effect; this study examined and monitored the salt types and distribution within four different monuments at the site; these were the Treasury, Palace Tomb, Deir Tomb, and the Theatre. The study examined the interaction of both single salts and the salts in mixed solutions and their effect on each other's solubility, it also determined the 'safe' levels of relative humidity where salt damage in monuments or objects contaminated with these salts can be minimized.
The Jordanian Museum of Cultural Heritage houses the oldest human skeleton unearthed in Jordan; Radiocarbon analysis revealed a date of approximately 16000 years BP. The purpose of the study is to reconstruct the biology and way of life... more
The Jordanian Museum of Cultural Heritage houses the oldest human skeleton unearthed in Jordan; Radiocarbon analysis revealed a date of approximately 16000 years BP. The purpose of the study is to reconstruct the biology and way of life of an individual who lived in an era that is still ignored by archaeologists in the region. The methods of the reconstruction include bioarchaeological investigation, XRD, XRF, FTIR, pH meter, and microbiology. The reults indicate a 31-years-old male with an estimated height of about 172.4-175.2 cm. The bone pathology on the vertebrae and long bones suggests that the individual endured hard daily life activites. His teeth showed oblique dental wear that is attributed to using them as tools. The cause of death was probably due to a blunt force trauma to the left side of the skull. The bone analyses using XRD, XRF, FTIR, and pH meter ruled out bone diagenesis, which nominate the skeleton for further chemical analyses. The microbiological tests revealed the presence of a wide range of microorganisms: Aspergillus viger, Pencillium chryogenum, Penicillum digitatum, yeasts, Corynebacterium equantium, Corynebacterium pyogemes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas pseudoaclingenes, Staphylcococus aureus, Salmonella enterica, and Corynebacterium pseudodiphthriticum. For the purpose of exhibiting the skeleton at the Museum and ensuring longer survival, the previous conservation materials (P.V.A) were replaced by new ones (Paraloid B 72).
The paper presents the excavations of 2016 season at the Mycenaean site of Kastrouli, Phokis. The site has been looted in the past decades and excavated in a very limited scale by the Archaeological Service. It is located on the top of a... more
The paper presents the excavations of 2016 season at the Mycenaean site of Kastrouli, Phokis. The site has been looted in the past decades and excavated in a very limited scale by the Archaeological Service. It is located on the top of a rocky hill and delimited by a fortification wall, probably constructed in two phases, the earliest of which could be Mycenaean. A hybrid rock-cut and built chamber tomb, excavated at the west-ernmost part of the fortified area, contained an undisturbed commingled burial of at least fifteen individuals. The main pottery shape is the stirrup jar, and the small finds include Phi and Psi figurines, steatite beads, and fragments of gold foil. The period of the original use of the tomb falls between the LH IIIA 2 and the LH IIIC Early or Advanced. There is some evidence that the tomb has been reused in the Middle Geometric Period .
In this article, we conduct a study of 104 samples (pieces, technological elements, lumps and frit remains) recovered from the 17th century glass workshop of Sa Gerreria (Majorca, Spain). A SEM-EDS analysis of the chemical composition of... more
In this article, we conduct a study of 104 samples (pieces, technological elements, lumps and frit remains) recovered from the 17th century glass workshop of Sa Gerreria (Majorca, Spain). A SEM-EDS analysis of the chemical composition of 104 samples and the analysis of distinct groupings obtained from a statistical treatment of the data using principle components analysis (PCA) have revealed the type of production developed in the workshop, at both the qualitative and the quantitative levels. On the one hand, this study has contributed interesting information regarding the characteristics of local production, particularly little known aspects such as the types of pieces manufactured and their diverse colourations and decorations. On the other hand, this study has allowed us to identify, for the first time through the study of the materials themselves, the existence of a group of typologically consistent samples that does not match the composition of the products made in this workshop and are most likely related to objects of an imported nature. In conclusion, this study has allowed us to develop a more in-depth understanding of the Island of Majorca's role in peripheral production, exchange networks, and the circulation of knowledge regarding the recipes and techniques used by the Sa Gerreria workshop and their relationship with production contexts closely linked to Barcelona and the territories that composed the ancient Crown of Aragon. This understanding has been developed for the first time from a new perspective that is not exclusively documentary.
Cleaning artworks is a very difficult process as the usage of pure organic solvents increases the toxicity and environmental impact of the cleaning techniques. Magnetic gels are very promising materials for cleaning movable and immovable... more
Cleaning artworks is a very difficult process as the usage of pure organic solvents increases the toxicity and environmental impact of the cleaning techniques. Magnetic gels are very promising materials for cleaning movable and immovable artwork surfaces. The synthesis of a well-known magnetic nanoparticle gel was initiated by esterifying polyethylene glycol with anhydride concurrently. The new magnetic gel, made by cross-linking magnetic nanoparticles of CoFe 2 O 4 into a copolymer based network of 3-octadecyl-1-vinyl imidazolium bromide (C 18 VIBr) and N,N′-Methylenebis acrylamide, was used in cleaning Coptic fresco painting models. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning electron microscope, polarized microscope and the Optical microscope were used to monitor the success of synthesis of the new gel with the magnetic nanoparticles in cleaning the artwork surfaces. ـــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ ـــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــــ
This study traces and analyzes the itinerary followed by Argo and her crew, according to the unknown author of Argonautica Orphica: The voyage of the Argonauts from Iolcos to Colchis and their return following a different path, from... more
This study traces and analyzes the itinerary followed by Argo and her crew, according to the unknown author of Argonautica Orphica: The voyage of the Argonauts from Iolcos to Colchis and their return following a different path, from Phasis River through central Europe to the Atlantic Ocean and then through the Mediterranean Sea. Conclusions are drawn about whether such a voyage could be possible in the remote antiquity and the "problematic" points of the description are pointed out.
Optical microscopy (OM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry have been applied to the analysis of Black Glazed pottery from Pompeii (Italy), to have information about their provenance. The ceramic sherds,... more
Optical microscopy (OM), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry have been applied to the analysis of Black Glazed pottery from Pompeii (Italy), to have information about their provenance. The ceramic sherds, dating from the fourth century BC to the first century BC, were considered, on the basis of archaeological assumptions, to be locally produced. Clayey sediments from the Salerno area were sampled as a potential source for the production of these ceramics and therefore investigated with the same analytical techniques. The comparison of sampled clays and pottery sherds provided evidence for their compositional similarity, in particular by use of a multivariate statistical approach (PCA). The compatibility of the raw materials considered is clearly in evidence and corroborates the use of these possible sediments for the production of the ceramic body of the Black Glazed pottery.
Archaeological small finds provide a variegated myriad of data of crucial importance to the study of their finding contexts. Anyway, only a close all-around examination can give a full comprehension of their multiple functions. The... more
Archaeological small finds provide a variegated myriad of data of crucial importance to the study of their finding contexts. Anyway, only a close all-around examination can give a full comprehension of their multiple functions. The production of reliable documentation is thus an essential process and this paper illustrates a fast, reliable and easy tool to collect documentation during the excavation season. The tool, named Penguin 3.0, was developed at the Geodesy and Geomatics Division-Sapienza University, exploits the potentialities of the Occipital Structure Sensor, a low-cost sensor able to rapidly generate reliable 3D models of small objects. This sensor can be connected directly to a mobile device (i.e. smartphone or tablet) and it collects the 3D information of the scanned object in real-time. The aim of this work is to perform a methodological presentation of the acquisition procedure in order to highlight the pros and cons of using this 3D scanning technology to capture 3D models of archaeological small finds. The step by step acquisition process is fully described with the goal of identifying a standardized procedure able to generate reliable and accurate 3D models. This new tool introduces the idea of an objective metrical classification of finds and of a not-anthropic graphic and photographic documentation of them. It is thus the first step towards an automatic pre-classification of finds on a broad scale, making free the archaeologist's time and mental energy for the momentum of study and interpretation.
The turn of the 12th century B.C. traditionally has been cast as a period of turmoil and upheaval in the eastern Mediterranean. Although recent scholarship qualifies "the Collapse," the dominant narrative continues to be one of... more
The turn of the 12th century B.C. traditionally has been cast as a period of turmoil and upheaval in the eastern Mediterranean. Although recent scholarship qualifies "the Collapse," the dominant narrative continues to be one of disruption, regression, and isolation. East Crete has been painted with a similar brush. Yet the century that followed the final demise of Bronze Age Knossos remains generally understudied, despite scholarly recognition of the region"s importance for the reconstruction of both local Cretan and pan-Mediterranean histories at the end of the Late Bronze Age. As a small contribution to this discourse, we present here an interdisciplinary analysis of a noteworthy Late Minoan IIIC Early (ca. 1175 B.C.) stirrup jar from the western Siteia foothills of East Crete. Organic residue analysis utilizing gas chromatography has allowed us not only to identify the value-added product contained within the jar, a perfumed oil, but also to consider its individual ingredients in light of known craft practices and agricultural activity from the earlier Neopala-tial period. Our results reveal surprising evidence of specialized craft continuity in East Crete at the conclusion of the Bronze Age, which suggests a historical picture more complex than traditionally imagined. This will be the first in a series of OpenARCHEM studies of legacy objects employing both traditional and scientific methods.
Sistan plain, located in the north of Sistan and Baluchestan province, is one of the most significant cultural area in eastern Iran. This region is located between south Asia (Indus valley) and Western Asia (Mesopota-mia) and also has... more
Sistan plain, located in the north of Sistan and Baluchestan province, is one of the most significant cultural area in eastern Iran. This region is located between south Asia (Indus valley) and Western Asia (Mesopota-mia) and also has been a connector between cultures of Central Asia and South of Persian Gulf area. Sistan was the main area to connecting between west and south Asia. Much of the cultural items found in the site under exploration were huge bulk of diverse pottery. Most pieces of pottery found in the Sistan plain were of the pottery belonging to Shahr-e Sukhteh, and its villages dating back to the third millennium BC, Dahan-e Gholaman of the Achaemenid period 550 BC and a large number of sites belonging to the Islamic period, which vary in term of the colour ranging from buff, gray, black and red and in terms of thickness. This study aims to determine the morphological relations of the pottery of Sistan plain using semi-quantitative X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) methods. In this regard, 52 pieces of pottery from prehistoric , historic and Islamic eras, which were collected from archaeological surveys, were analysed. The samples were gathered from Gerdi domain, Dahaneh Gholaman, Shahr-e Sukhteh, south of the Hamoun Lake, Rostam castle and around the Shileh River. The instrumentation and cluster analysis of pottery sherds indicated that the prehistoric pottery pieces of Sistan plain have a different composition compared with that of Sistan area. Moreover, the glazed pottery pieces of the Islamic era are different from those of Sistan plain in terms of their chemical and have silica compounds, gypsum and aluminosilicate, which indicates the continuity of local technology, production and trade in Sistan to the Islamic period. In addition, the composition and structure of pottery in this region accounts for the high level of skills and knowledge of potters, who made a variety of pottery pieces with diverse applications in the local communities, which continued from prehistory to the Islamic era in this plain.
In a paper recently published in this journal, Martin B. Sweatman and Dimitrios Tsikritsis from the University of Edinburgh (School of Engineering) have suggested an interpretation for the early Neolithic monumental enclosures at Göbekli... more
In a paper recently published in this journal, Martin B. Sweatman and Dimitrios Tsikritsis from the University of Edinburgh (School of Engineering) have suggested an interpretation for the early Neolithic monumental enclosures at Göbekli Tepe as space observatories and the site's complex iconography the commemoration of a catastrophic astronomical event ('Younger Dryas Comet Impact'). As the archaeologists excavating this site, we would like to comment on a few points that we feel require consideration in this discussion.
In this communication, we present the archaeological and archaeometric results on a collection of 188 ceramic receptacles from the archaeological excavations carried out in the old Born market of Barcelona (Spain). The market was... more
In this communication, we present the archaeological and archaeometric results on a collection of 188 ceramic receptacles from the archaeological excavations carried out in the old Born market of Barcelona (Spain). The market was converted in a cultural centre and officially opened in September 2013. The centre's key attraction is its archaeology which has been re-imagined to communicate the horrors following the fall of Barcelona to Bourbon siege during the Spanish War of Succession in 1714. These artefacts had been published in a former study as small vessels to sell products in little quantities. However, due to the scarce information on materials of similar shape and dimensions, their interpretation is not clear and need more investigation. The archaeological comparative study demonstrates that these small ceramic receptacles can be better interpreted as grenades. They had probably been prepared with the aim of using them in an extreme attempt of defence against the Bourbon attack. The complementary archaeometric investigation suggests that the assemblage is formed by a homogeneous production made with a calcareous clay from local marine sediments.
In archaeological research, the collection, storage, query and analysis of data is conducted with the help of the Geographical Information System (GIS) in order to acquire the most accurate information about the area. Spatial analyses... more
In archaeological research, the collection, storage, query and analysis of data is conducted with the help of the Geographical Information System (GIS) in order to acquire the most accurate information about the area. Spatial analyses made with the help of GIS in ancient cities contribute to revealing the social, cultural and survival features of these cities. The aim of this study is to examine the rationale for spatial site selection in Knidos ancient city, which is in the Turkish province of Muğla and which has different city planning with its geographical features. For this reason, firstly, a digital elevation model that reveals the topography of the city was constituted. Then, the database design and spatial analyses (slope, aspect and visibility) were conducted in line with the aim of the study in ArcGIS 10.2 Software. The site selection rationale for structures was evaluated through spatial analyses (slope, aspect and visibility) in Knidos ancient city. Site selection rationales of the historical structures have been ascertained related to the preferred planning form of the period (grille planning), the geography of the city, the functions given to the historical structures, the visibility of structures, the ports which were as a focal point of the city, the ideological point of view and the reflection power of the ruler's.
Ingots recently recovered from the seabed near Gela, a major harbour of Sicily, reveal an unexpected side of ancient metallurgy. The ingots were found near remains of a ship and earthenware dated around the end of the VI century BC and... more
Ingots recently recovered from the seabed near Gela, a major harbour of Sicily, reveal an unexpected side of ancient metallurgy. The ingots were found near remains of a ship and earthenware dated around the end of the VI century BC and probably coming from the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean sea. The ingots were analysed by means of X-Ray Fluorescence spectroscopy via a portable spectrometer. Results indicate that they are mostly consist of copper and zinc although many of them have a significant amount of lead. This alloy is nowday called brass, but in ancient time it was know as orichalcum, one of the rarest and most precious alloy along with gold and silver. Only small items of orichalcum dating before Christ were found so far. The visual examination corroborate by evaluation of dimensions and weight, are consistent with the dating hypothesis and reveals important information about the casting production. The discovery of more than twenty-two kilos of ingots is extraordinary: a first ray of light upon a forgotten technology, which involved also smelter plants (maybe more than one), a commercial network, and a number of end users, who certainly appreciated the properties of shining orichalcum: ductility, mechanical strength, durability, and value.
The research was aimed at providing the most important finds and presenting the results of the archaeological excavations at Umm Qeis season 2016. Prior to the excavations, topographical and stratigraphical investigations were carried out... more
The research was aimed at providing the most important finds and presenting the results of the archaeological excavations at Umm Qeis season 2016. Prior to the excavations, topographical and stratigraphical investigations were carried out of the temple. The excavation revealed a Hellenistic temple, based on the archaeological data collected and materials analysis during the different seasons. The data collected include pottery sherds, structural remains, glass, and metal objects. Detailed recording and documentation, such as a plan, cross sections, and drawings, has been done. The latter excavations helped to uncover evidence relating to all the areas from the Hellenistic to the Roman period, but specifically focused on Hellenistic temple, because this is the most complete of the Distyle in antis temples found at the site, despite being one of the oldest.
Sungai Mas, Kuala Selinsing or Pulau Kalumpang and Santubong are the name of the ports that existed since the early of the AD centuries where they played part as the port of accumulator and supplier and afterward, flourished to be a... more
Sungai Mas, Kuala Selinsing or Pulau Kalumpang and Santubong are the name of the ports that existed since the early of the AD centuries where they played part as the port of accumulator and supplier and afterward, flourished to be a renowned entrepot port in the 5 th or 6 th A.D., especially Sungai Mas and Santubong. Sungai Mas and Santubong, for instance are not only the entrepot but also places where the socio-culture along with the science and technology evolved, shaped by the combination of the locals and foreign expertise. Amongst the expertise of the locals' Malay on the area is the skill to produce products such as earthenware in a massive quantity since the early of the century. Abundance of raw material around Bujang Valley and Santubong allows local communities to master in smelting activities and producing products from iron ore. The skill that initially belongs to the foreigners but later mastered by the locals in these three locations is the technology to produced and manufactured Indo-Pacific glass bead. Abundance of Indo-Pacific glass beads and its raw materials are discovered in Sungai Mas, Kuala Selinsing and Santubong. Based on the absolute dating conducted for these sites show that Kuala Selinsing has been manufacturing their Indo-Pacific glass beads since 2 nd A.D. meanwhile Selinsing and Santubong started in 6 th AD. This is justified by the discovery of the archeological finding in raw form which is glass lump used in producing the glass bead and the composition study which shows a different composition material with glass bead from India. The raw materials of glass suggested by Alastair Lamb in 1966 came from the Middle Eastern of Mediterranean in form of glass fragments. It can be concluded that the basic in the science and technology enable the locals' communities to master the foreign technology for their advantage on that time when the Indo-Pacific glass beads became an important commodity from 2 nd A.D. to 11 th A.D.
From at least the Late Neolithic through the end of the Bronze Age and onwards, people continued to inhabit the settlement of Asine. For this reason, the site makes an interesting starting point for discussing long term change. This short... more
From at least the Late Neolithic through the end of the Bronze Age and onwards, people continued to inhabit the settlement of Asine. For this reason, the site makes an interesting starting point for discussing long term change. This short paper presents new data on the animal bones from Bronze Age Asine. The data set is used for a zooarchaeological discussion of the site from a diachronic perspective in terms of centralization and regional change. This has not been attempted previously. Zooarchaeological patterns from urban or central sites in other parts of the world are compiled as a framework for this purpose. The focus is on patterns of relative taxonomic abundances, anatomical distribution, mortality curves and sex distributions of cattle, sheep/goat and pigs. These are examined specifically for the animal bone assemblage from Bronze Age Asine. Differences and/or similarities with the general trends indicative of centralization are discussed for the study site. The results show that the Early Helladic Asine should be seen as a smaller rural site. The even relative abundances of cattle, sheep, goat and pigs indicate that the animal management was not specialized but rather mixed, pointing the site was relatively independent in terms of animal management. The increase in sheep/goat during the Middle Helladic indicates an increasing dependency on animals yielding secondary products, symptomatic of regional and centralized organization. This supports the archaeological evidence of the site, indicating that it was an important village to its immediate valley during this period. This function persisted during the Late Bronze Age. From a zooarchaeological perspective, it is not likely that Asine was a regional center. Some degree of sustainable animal management was probably existent near or at the site. I propose that Asine should be seen as an intermediary key site in the communication system as well as for the exchange of animals.
Comprehensive studies of Palaeolithic sites and the application of modern analytical techniques are still incredibly rare in coastal central Italy. In this paper, we present the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic cave deposits excavated in the... more
Comprehensive studies of Palaeolithic sites and the application of modern analytical techniques are still incredibly rare in coastal central Italy. In this paper, we present the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic cave deposits excavated in the travertine quarry of Cava Muracci (Cisterna di Latina, central Italy) and summary describe the multidisciplinary approach carried out on findings discovered therein. A large faunal assemblage, fossil faeces (coprolites) and a small lithic collection have been examined along with reliable dating analyses for the interpretation of the context. The site proved to be extensively frequented by cave hyena (Crocuta crocuta spelaea) between 34-44 ka BP, with a marginal human presence also attested. This study demonstrates that a holistic approach is crucial for enhancing our understanding of the archaeological context of the area, previously interpreted using studies of fauna or lithic industries alone. The evidence gathered from Cava Muracci and the results from their study provide a valuable reference database from which to draw upon for future investigations.
The approximation of the raw material source as well as the minimum and maximum firing temperatures in the pottery production technology can be determined depending on the mineralogical and chemical changes in the ceramic components. For... more
The approximation of the raw material source as well as the minimum and maximum firing temperatures in the pottery production technology can be determined depending on the mineralogical and chemical changes in the ceramic components. For the determination various analytical techniques are used such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal analysis (TGA-DT), Scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP). In this paper the possible clay resources of Halaf pottery from Tilkitepe is required to determine. The analyzed pottery fragment and the clay samples were collected around the mound. Experimental studies were carried out at temperatures of 600 o C, 700 o C, 800 o C and 900 o C. The results show that the Halaf type ceramic piece from the mound is most probably made using local clay sources in the region and fired at temperatures below 800 °C under oxidation conditions.
Variations are one of the most important criteria to present the similarities and differences among populations and individuals. There are different variations that can also be observed on the mandible. One of these variations is the... more
Variations are one of the most important criteria to present the similarities and differences among populations and individuals. There are different variations that can also be observed on the mandible. One of these variations is the accessory mental foramen (AMF), which is rarely seen on jaws. The paleodemographic analyses conducted on the Byzantine skeletons found in Göztepe Tumulus showed that the population consisted of 24 individuals. Of those 24 individuals, the mandibles of 14 adults were examined macroscopically, and an AMF was found on 3 of them. The examination of the mental foramens (MFs) in terms of their shape showed that 9 oval and 5 circular MFs were found on the left sides of 14 mandibles, and 7 oval and 6 circular MFs were found on the right sides. The present study is important because it is the first study conducted on the AMFs belonging to the Byzantine population in Anatolia.
The process of authentication involves a wide variety of steps that are intimately linked and completely interdependent. In this research voltammetry of micro-particles (VMP) is used to date and authenticate a five late Roman lead balance... more
The process of authentication involves a wide variety of steps that are intimately linked and completely interdependent. In this research voltammetry of micro-particles (VMP) is used to date and authenticate a five late Roman lead balance weights. The chronology of the archaeological finds together with lead balance weights was estimated to be 4 th century AD. A set of independent experiments: square wave voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) with the corresponding calibration curves obtained from several archaeological samples, which have been done in our laboratory. The collected sample were corroded under burial conditions in calcareous soils, are consistent with an attribution of the age of both studied lead samples. The ratio of PbO2 and the porous PbO which formed during the process of led corrosion in the calcareous environment reflects the date of corrosion. These attribution, however, must be taken with caution because of the differences in the aging process for the studied samples and the lead materials used for calibration purposes corresponding to the reduction of the PbO 'continuous' patina formed under the ordinary exposure of the lead piece to the atmospheric environment. The ratio between peaks resulted from the corrosion process of Ancient led and reference one revealed the date of corrosion. Assuming the 4th century AD chronology of the lead samples erection to be correct, it was found that the applied method provide the same result which is consistent with archaeological estimations.
This work was developed to train graduate students as part of the Delphi4Delphi project dealing with the digital reconstruction of the archaeological site of Delphi. In this part of the project, various technologies were used for 3-d... more
This work was developed to train graduate students as part of the Delphi4Delphi project dealing with the digital reconstruction of the archaeological site of Delphi. In this part of the project, various technologies were used for 3-d digital mapping cultural heritage structures for maintenance and restoration purposes. The use of various surveying technologies such as UAS, Total station, digital camera, Lidar scanner and GPS to map in 3d the remaining of the monument Tholos and the surrounding area in Delphi Greece and based on such mapping to restore the entire structure is covered in detail. The remains of such monuments are a few columns standing up joined with original elements on top. In this part of the project GPS was used to establish the reference system, total station was used to measure a number of control points for UAS, close range photogrammetry and Lidar scanner, UAS was used to map precisely the surrounding area together with the structure, close range photogrammetry and Lidar scanner were used to map the vertical surfaces of the structure. Processing of above data from all surveying technologies created enough point cloud to map precisely the remains of the structure and expand their architectural design to precisely restore the entire Tholos monument. Also all digital data are used by software for the construction of 3D terrain and 3D models which when inserted into Game Engines software aim at the creation of educational scenarios.
The Nabataean Mansion at az-Zantur in Petra is one of the most elaborated architectural monuments has so far been discovered, and still among the few excavated Nabataean domestic architecture in the region. It covers a large area (1200m... more
The Nabataean Mansion at az-Zantur in Petra is one of the most elaborated architectural monuments has so far been discovered, and still among the few excavated Nabataean domestic architecture in the region. It covers a large area (1200m in area), and was richly decorated with mosaic, opus sectile, fresco and molded stucco. The date of its first two phases has been established on stratigraphic sequence of pottery, coins and cross-cultural evidence to the Nabataean period of the first century AD. The origin of the plan of this mansion , however, may be considered as a matter of debate. The excavator has suggested that this mansion was inspired by Ptolemaic palatial architecture, e.g the Palazzo delle Collonne in Cyrenaica. Here we argue, on space syntax method (SSM) basis, another possible source for the plan of this mansion i.e. the "Seleucid Governor Palaces'. Space Syntax analysis has wide application in and for archaeology including understanding features of social architecture, functional pattern of buildings, social identity, amongst others. The SSM method will be applied to compare, beside the spatial layout, the syntactic values and genotypes of the Nab-ataean mansion at az-Zantur-Petra with other palatial architecture in the Hellenistic Near East i.e. with the recently discovered Seleucid governor palace in Syria.
The Mount Lebanon range has permanently formed a main barrier to communication between the coast and the Bekaa valley. During the Roman period, official authorities were confronted to a significant challenge in establishing an efficient... more
The Mount Lebanon range has permanently formed a main barrier to communication between the coast and the Bekaa valley. During the Roman period, official authorities were confronted to a significant challenge in establishing an efficient route joining the colony of Berytus to its territorial possessions in the northern Bekaa which included the town of Heliopolis Baalbak. This case study aims to find the least cost path for the road between both cities based on slope dependent functions using GIS technologies. Three generated models are cross-referenced to historical and archaeological data for validation purposes. The validated path indicates that the planning of the Berytus-Baalbak Heliopolis road seems to have been primarily based on minimizing energy cost by reducing the crossing distance over steep slopes.
Chromogenic prints were the classic form of color photography in the latter half of the 20 th century. Overall, photographs are considered composite objects with complex structures. However, color photographs are much more complex in... more
Chromogenic prints were the classic form of color photography in the latter half of the 20 th century. Overall, photographs are considered composite objects with complex structures. However, color photographs are much more complex in structure than black and white; and therefore present special preservation challenges. Since photographs are in high demand due to their numerous applications, they often suffer from damage as a result of improper and frequent handling. Particulates, which may be greasy, grimy, abrasive, and chemically or biologically active, settle on shelves and on collection materials causing both physical and chemical damage. Accordingly, photographs may benefit greatly from surface cleaning treatments. Treatments chosen for this experiment were based on the following solvents: acetone, toluene, ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol. Changes promoted in the binder and image silver, as a result of these treatments, were measured in order to evaluate the benefits and potential problems of each treatment and estimate if they can be used without unacceptable change in the original image now and in the future. The tests are based on the consideration of the following criteria: changes in the surface characteristics through digital imaging, atomic force microscopy (AFM); changes in the density of image silver through densitomet-ric measurements; changes in the chemical structure of the gelatin binder through attenuated total reflec-tance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), changes in color and gloss through spectrocolor-imetric measurements; and disturbance of the binder (i.e. ninhydrin test). Data obtained from naturally and artificially aged samples were compared with those of the control samples.
From the late fourth millennium to the early third millennium, an homogenous culture with common features emerged in a vast region, including the northern part of the Iranian plateau, the east and northeast of Turkey, Syria, and the... more
From the late fourth millennium to the early third millennium, an homogenous culture with common features emerged in a vast region, including the northern part of the Iranian plateau, the east and northeast of Turkey, Syria, and the Mediterranean coast. This culture is known with different names, such as the Transcaucasian, Kura-Araxes, Yannik, Karaz, and so on. One of its main features is the glossy, Incised and black pottery. There are many discussions about the origin and the causes of its spread. Various factors, especially immigration, trade, expansion, and imitation have been stated for the justification of this expansion. In this study, the Kura-Araxes pottery was studied in three regions, namely Tape Kelar at Kelardasht (North of Iran), Kul tape at Jolfa (Northwest of Iran), and Tape Gourab at Malayer (West of Iran). In this research, 30 pottery fragments of Kura-Aras culture were analysed by thin-section and petrography method for provenance studies. It is found that these pottery fragments were localized and consistent with the minerals and structures of the studied areas despite the diversification of soil and materials used in the production process.
The ancient city of Spradon, which is located in the Ispartakule area of the district of Avcılar in İstanbul, dates back to the Late Roman period. A total of 90 individuals, including 58 in graves, were found at the excavation site.... more
The ancient city of Spradon, which is located in the Ispartakule area of the district of Avcılar in İstanbul, dates back to the Late Roman period. A total of 90 individuals, including 58 in graves, were found at the excavation site. Osteoarchaeological investigation concerning skull morphology has been focused on metopic suture. Of the 6 metopic suture examples seen in the roman society of Spradon, 5 were observed in young adults, while 1 belonged to a senior adult. A metopic suture was observed in 5 of the 38 females (13.2%) and in 1 of the 31 males (3.2%). The metopic suture rate in the ancient city of Spradon was calculated as 8.7%, and rates were found to be similar with other Roman period populations in Anatolia. When the comparison is made on Old Anatolian Populations, metopic suture is seen especially in coastal regions of Anatolia in geographical sense. In addition, there is less metopic suture in the internal regions. Statistical Analysis supports this hypothesis.
An evaluation of the engraved petroglyphs of Meymeh Plain in the Central of Iran, from field work in 2014 is presented. More petroglyphs were detected in South and SouthWest of Meymeh near the villages of Has-san Robāt and Ziād Abād on... more
An evaluation of the engraved petroglyphs of Meymeh Plain in the Central of Iran, from field work in 2014 is presented. More petroglyphs were detected in South and SouthWest of Meymeh near the villages of Has-san Robāt and Ziād Abād on the old road Meymeh-Golpāyegān around the seasonal rivers locally called Chāvorchan and Pāgodār that are dewatered today. The petroglyphs can be placed in three groups: animal, human, and inscriptions related to the Islamic period which is introduced here. The research was conducted using the archaeological and field methods. Two inscriptions of Islamic period and the painting of the ibex on them can be helpful in dating the petroglyphs as engraving that has the highest frequency among the paintings. Comparison of the stylistic of the ibex motif with the rock motifs in the other regions in the Near East and its relationship with prehistoric settlements and its usage to the subsistence economy of the Neo-lithic, especially chalcolithic period implies that the ibex motif in the rock art has begun at least from the Chalcolithic period. Another aspect of the mixture motifs used on the surface of the rocks in the Meymeh plain is their symbolic style. To some extent, such a feature can be seen in their abstract images. The Central plateau of Iran in the Islamic middle centuries was a part of the caravan's routes. Images of animals such as camels and a rural with a suffix ''Robat'' (Cāravānsarā) with Islamic inscription in this area could be a reason for depicting Cāravān (traveler) pathway in the past (Fifth Century AH/11 th c AD).
In modern literatures, the location of Pi-Hahiroth at which the Pharaoh of Moses sank is unknown; and during the reign of which Pharaohs the Israelites have lived in Egypt is still unconfirmed. Besides, the historic and chronological... more
In modern literatures, the location of Pi-Hahiroth at which the Pharaoh of Moses sank is unknown; and during the reign of which Pharaohs the Israelites have lived in Egypt is still unconfirmed. Besides, the historic and chronological scenarios suggested by modern scholars regarding this period differ from those mentioned by the Greek and medieval historians. Therefore, the paper shows the location of a mouth of an inland lake, in the western coast of Sinai that ramifies from the Suez Gulf, which according to Al Maqrizi the medieval Egyptian historian, Moses and the Israelites crossed it during the exodus. Regarding the dissimi-larity in chronological data from different sources, the paper shows that the Egyptians used diverse time intervals, and four types of years, namely: the Earth's solar year of ~365 days, the pilgrimage year of 6 months, the administrative year of 3 months, and the lunar year of ~30 days. Besides, regarding the dissimi-larity in historic scenarios and names of pharaohs, the paper shows how to pronounce their names, similar to that mentioned by Greek and medieval historians, using the proper phonetic values and color-codes of signs, in addition to the rule of pronouncing the core and cover parts of the word in black texts. Finally, the paper shows that the pharaohs of Abraham, Joseph, and Moses are the so-called Amenhotep-III, Seti-I, and Ramesses-V, respectively.
The mosaic artists at Qasr al-Hallabat possessed great technical skill. Comparative study of the decorative elements increases our understanding of the relationship between Qasr al-Castal and Byzantine sites. The artists, whether they... more
The mosaic artists at Qasr al-Hallabat possessed great technical skill. Comparative study of the decorative elements increases our understanding of the relationship between Qasr al-Castal and Byzantine sites. The artists, whether they were Muslim or Christians, had no difficulty in using their experience of traditional motifs, including those found in churches, to decorate the palace of the new Muslim rulers. Qasr al-Hallabat is one of the most important structures with geometric mosaic pavements in Jordan. The purpose of this study is to examine the individual designs in comparison with others to understand influences from the region and beyond. Wherever possible, comparative examples have been chosen from sites that are relatively close so that a comprehensive overview of mosaic production in the region may be possible. Every effort has been made to discern the major sources of influence at Qasr al-Hallabat, and in particular those coming from Asia Minor and elsewhere outside of the region.
This paper presents experimental and numerical investigation of a historical masonry building, Omar Toson palace, subjected to static and earthquake loading in order to assess its structural behaviour and seismic vulnerability with... more
This paper presents experimental and numerical investigation of a historical masonry building, Omar Toson palace, subjected to static and earthquake loading in order to assess its structural behaviour and seismic vulnerability with respect to its actual state of conservation. The static behaviour and the dynamic properties of the Palace have been evaluated using the finite element modelling technique, taking into consideration all the geometrical and material nonlinearities, in order to investigate the seismic behaviour of the structure by means of nonlinear analysis. A macro-modelling approach has been used based on the concepts of homogenisated material and smeared cracking and crushing constitutive law. The calculations took the values for external loads, earthquake and displacement into consideration. A full 3D non-linear time-history analysis of the entire structure has been done in order to correctly assess the seismic vulnerability of the palace. The numerical analysis has given a valuable picture of possible damage evolution and provides a basic understanding of the structural performance under seismic loads that can support the selection of possible retrofitting measures.
Bronze disease is the most important phenomenon giving rise to the destruction of the bronze objects. There are various methods for preventing and slackening the disease. In this regard The use of corrosion inhibitors in the field of... more
Bronze disease is the most important phenomenon giving rise to the destruction of the bronze objects. There are various methods for preventing and slackening the disease. In this regard The use of corrosion inhibitors in the field of historical metal protection has been widely considered. But, the most important method which is also the best method offered for such a purpose is the use of benzotriazol (BTA) and 2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazol (AMT) inhibitors. Under ideal circumstances, these inhibitors deliver good inhibition and can control the disease. The most important problem posed by such inhibitors is their being toxic and carcinogenic. In the current research paper, the natural inhibitors residing Honey in concentrations ranging from 1600ppm to 2000 ppm in sodium chloride corrosive solution, 0.5M, were applied on a bronze alloy in a percentage similar to the archeological alloys, 10% Wt Sn, Cu-10Sn composition. The effects were evaluated by the use of Potentiostat device based on weight loss ,humidifier space and SEM-EDX. The best inhibitory power of honey was shown in a corrosive environment of 0.5M sodium chloride, 1800ppm, According to the data from Potentialostato device and classical massometric method. SEM-EDX results of corroded surfaces of coupons after one month in inhibitive and corrosive environment showed inhibitive effect for honey.
This paper addresses the value of re-surveys in two different regions with different cultural and landscape formation histories: the Upper Volturno basin in Molise (the hinterland of the colony of Aesernia, modern Isernia), and the... more
This paper addresses the value of re-surveys in two different regions with different cultural and landscape formation histories: the Upper Volturno basin in Molise (the hinterland of the colony of Aesernia, modern Isernia), and the Melfese area in Basilicata (the hinterland of the colony of Venusia, modern Venosa). In these areas, we compare legacy datasets with newly acquired survey data in the same areas, and compare the results by means of statistics (Chi-square) and visual exploration (cartographical and GIS-based analysis). The statistical comparisons of these different surveys show that site numbers may change significantly. This paper explores the reasons for these dynamics in the archaeological surface record by focussing especially on landscape changes.
Qasr al rabbah is an exceptional site that lies on the main Trajan road (the royal road) which passing between Debaan and Karak, also provides unique evidence of the characteristics that illustrate its importance in ancient time. X-ray... more
Qasr al rabbah is an exceptional site that lies on the main Trajan road (the royal road) which passing between Debaan and Karak, also provides unique evidence of the characteristics that illustrate its importance in ancient time. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) on Roman glass was chosen as a reliable technique to obtain and identify the raw materials, including the type of modifiers that were used as well as the colorants and opacifiers used in Roman glass objects. Forteen glass samples have been analyzed using XRF technique and statistical analysis both descriptive and multivariate. The study revealed two groups of glass in the same region. The obtained results indicated the use of Natron as fluxing agent with alkali contents as well as using the soda ash too as a second type. Two compositional groups have been identified in this study, potash soda lime silicate K2O (Na2O)-CaO-SiO2 (K2O/Na2O>1), soda potash lime silicate Na2O (K2O)-CaO-SiO2 (K2O/Na2O<1) and potash silicate K2O-SiO2 glass systems, respectively. According to the visual inspection of the assemblage different corrosion effects are noted. A few glass fragments show a significantly higher degree of corrosion. It is the only sample in which a silver iridescent and a browning layer have been formed. Biocorrosion also appear as an additional weathering factor. Moreover, the inner surfaces of the walls of some color-less sherds demonstrate high polymerization, which is not noted on the outside surfaces of the same samples. The glass samples slightly tinted in yellow-green by the natural sand impurities, was evidently and heavily corroded and gave indeed Na concentrations well below what was expected from the known historical glassmaking.
The primary objective of the present work is to make a comparison between the red glossy slip of Urartian pottery (commonly known as Urartian red polished ware) and local clays by conducting a variety of examinations. As a result of these... more
The primary objective of the present work is to make a comparison between the red glossy slip of Urartian pottery (commonly known as Urartian red polished ware) and local clays by conducting a variety of examinations. As a result of these investigations, the authors will suggest the most likely clay sources for ceramics and the slip that may have been used by the Urartian potters. Four samples from Ayanis Fortress have been characterised from the chemical, mineralogical, morphological and petrographic points of view. Scanning electron microscopy, optical microscope, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive spectrometry, chemical analysis and colour measurement investigations have been carried out on the ceramic body and red glossy slip to determine their characteristics and technological features. In addition, three local clays were characterised by chemical, mineralogical and petrographic analyses. Test pieces made from local raw material were fired in a traditional updraft mud-brick kiln in order to better understand the paste and red-slip-making processes of Urartu. The results obtained from the different analyses demonstrate significant similarities between ceramic samples and fired clay test pieces. It may be concluded that it is possible these local clays were used in production of Urartian red glossy ceramics.
This paper addresses the archaeometric analysis of several wall coatings applied to diverse architectural structures (wells, silos and domestic spaces) from the Chalcolithic site of Su Coddu/Canelles (Sardinia, Italy; c. 3400-2850 BC).... more
This paper addresses the archaeometric analysis of several wall coatings applied to diverse architectural structures (wells, silos and domestic spaces) from the Chalcolithic site of Su Coddu/Canelles (Sardinia, Italy; c. 3400-2850 BC). The study of the samples was carried out by means of optical microscopy by thin-section analysis, micro X-Ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy combined with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy. The study showed the application of successive layers of different thickness and granu-lometry to isolate the architectural structures. On the one hand, up to two layers made with a Tertiary fossil-iferous marly clay as plaster are documented. On the other hand, the application of a very thin final layer very rich in calcite is observed in the majority of the samples studied. The analyses conducted evidence certain variability in the technological choices made by the craftpeople. However, it is also observed a clear adaptation of the properties of the studied materials to the insulating and waterproofing function that they played in such architectural structures.
The archaeological record of the Late Neolithic-Chalcolithic-Early Bronze Age of the Negev Desert exhibits prevalent east to west orientations. This is understood in literature as an expression of preoccupations that characterized... more
The archaeological record of the Late Neolithic-Chalcolithic-Early Bronze Age of the Negev Desert exhibits prevalent east to west orientations. This is understood in literature as an expression of preoccupations that characterized emerging pastoralist elites, namely: afterlife beliefs, mortuary cult and ancestor worship. Such archaeological remains are generally explained as astronomical alignments and are tentatively related to the position of the setting sun on the day of the summer solstice. Orientation seems to be also the central theme in the oral traditions of contemporary pastoralists. While the material remains exhibit orientation in space, the oral traditions, which are illustrated at their best in star-lore, exhibit an orientation in time: the cyclic renewal of seasons is observed in the east to west passage of stars and asterisms. As material and spiritual expressions of the beliefs that characterize pastoral nomads, the archaeological record and star-lore seem to be closely related. However, due to polar shift and the precession of equinoxes, contemporary star-lore orientates itself differently from its Chalcolithic-Early Bronze Age forerunner, therefore it cannot reflect the spatial orientation exhibited by tumuli fields, walls, masseboth and other remains from the said periods, except in a very approximate manner. A significant precession of equinoxes occurred in the early phases of the Middle Bronze Age. The event apparently left a deep mark on cultures worldwide and it was likely paralleled by shifts in symbolism. Moreover, in the Negev, the precession was also accompanied by a climatic deterioration. Nomadic mythology and star-lore had to readjust to the new coordinates that superseded an apparently perfect previous order. The majority of the rock art corpus in the Negev is dated-based on stylistic considerations-to the period that preceded the shift. However, a few of the engravings attributed to the Early Bronze Age become meaningful only when related to the changes that occurred during and after the precession of the equinoxes. Other petroglyphs reflect precisely Chalcolithic-Early Bronze Age realities, but their symbolic implications outlived the astronomical context in which they were conceived and are still meaningful to the Bedouin pastoralists of today.
Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) systems are used during surveying in cultural heritage applications, supported by recent developments in the electronics and computing. The aim of this article is to present a statistical study of the... more
Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) systems are used during surveying in cultural heritage applications, supported by recent developments in the electronics and computing. The aim of this article is to present a statistical study of the accuracy of registration methods (target (sphere), specific point and surface-matching) used for merged of the scans captured from different scan stations. A Mensi GS 100 terrestrial laser scanner was used to scan an historical building. The point clouds reflecting the building facade were registered using these registration methods and were transformed into the same geodesic coordinate system. A Leica TPS 1200 Total Station was used to measure the coordinates of specific points on the building facade and compare them with the coordinates of the same points using three different scan-registration methods. The t-student test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used for point-and method-based comparisons, and it was found that the coordinates did not exhibit any statistically significant variation. Better results were obtained with target-based registration methods compared to other methods, and with surface-matching methods compared to methods using specific points. Although the results of the registration methods used in this study had certain similarities, variation in their accuracy was determined to be statistically significant.
The aim of this paper is to dig deeper in order to gain a better understanding of the territorial logic of Roman roads, following some recent approaches based on the use of digital modelling tools. Taking the case of the so-called via... more
The aim of this paper is to dig deeper in order to gain a better understanding of the territorial logic of Roman roads, following some recent approaches based on the use of digital modelling tools. Taking the case of the so-called via XVII (a ca. 330 km itinerary which joined Bracara Augusta and Asturica Augusta, NW Iberian Peninsula), the paper explores various factors, both natural and cultural, which may have been determinant in the layout of main roads in the Roman period. This study has followed a non-reconstructive methodology based on the theoretical idea of "least-cost paths" implemented by way of GIS tools. The analysis combines different variables which have an impact on human mobility (such as terrain slope and altitude, and the a priori existence of some primary nodes) and different spatial scales of analysis. As an outcome, we have achieved a detailed understanding of the factors behind the layout of this road and, in doing so, we have also drawn some conclusions regarding the historical context of its origin and development. The methodology and some of the results may be pertinent for the analysis of Roman roads elsewhere and, to some extent, for the wider analysis of ancient roads.
Aqueous cleaning of ancient paper samples is a common treatment for the removal of degradation products, external contaminants and salts, which can cause degradation of cellulose by hydrolysis or oxidation processes. The present study... more
Aqueous cleaning of ancient paper samples is a common treatment for the removal of degradation products, external contaminants and salts, which can cause degradation of cellulose by hydrolysis or oxidation processes. The present study examined the influence of selected cleaning treatments on chemical properties of some historical paper samples and studying the efficiency of cleaning methods in removing of degradation products. It also investigated the effects of five different cleaning treatments, namely immersion in de-ionized water, akapad paper sponge, hydro gellan gum, Cellulose nano Crystal gel and cleaning with wol-bers solvent gels on ancient cellulosic paper supports. In particular, the effect of the cleaning treatments on different properties of cellulosic paper supports, namely colorimetric properties (CIE L*a*b* coordinates), crystallinity index (X-Ray diffraction), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and pH (cold-extraction method), were investigated. The study concluded that all cleaning treatments affected the colorimetric properties of the selected paper samples.
Muqarnases, which are one of the most significant building elements brought in the architecture by Islam art, are three dimensional and complex geometrical compositions that are made with prismatic elements constituted with specific rules... more
Muqarnases, which are one of the most significant building elements brought in the architecture by Islam art, are three dimensional and complex geometrical compositions that are made with prismatic elements constituted with specific rules in specific combinations, with both ornamental, bearing features. Therefore, the surveys of muqarnases require a long, fragile, dangerous and difficult process. At that point, photogrammetry works come in and make the process of survey short, free of danger and mistakes as a useful application. Digital close range photogrammetry is one of the most active and efficient methods among the works to protect and document the cultural heritage by the means of the improvements of digital technology. Within the scope of this study, the surveys of the muqarnases in the portals of the Anatolian Madrasahs in Konya, Karaman and Aksaray in Central Anatolia Region were obtained with the use digital close range photogrammetry technique and 3D documentation works were made. With the 3D works, morphological features and differences of the muqarnases were determined. It was aimed to contribute to works to protect and document Konya Karatay Mad-rasah, Karaman Hatuniye Madrasah and Aksaray Zinciriye Madrasah.
The principal findings of a project begun in 2001, of introducing scientific methodology into the study of the rock art of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, are briefly summarised in this paper. They include the first scientific and direct... more
The principal findings of a project begun in 2001, of introducing scientific methodology into the study of the rock art of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, are briefly summarised in this paper. They include the first scientific and direct rock art datings reported from the Middle East. The project, commenced by the Deputy Ministry of Antiquities and Museums, is continuing under the auspices of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage. It has led to the discovery of large rock art site complexes numbering tens of thousands of motifs, and to the successful nomination of major rock art properties to the UNESCO World Heritage List. More specifically, the work of this project has also resulted in a preliminary chronological sequence of Arabian Peninsula rock art, the basis of which is briefly presented in this review paper. All petroglyphs analysed so far in Saudi Arabia have been shown to be of the Holocene, with specimens dating from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPN) up to the historical period.
Socio-cultural anthropology has a fairly long record of contributing expertise to the analysis and interpretation of rock art, although that record was somewhat neglected in recent times. The present paper offers an updated usage of that... more
Socio-cultural anthropology has a fairly long record of contributing expertise to the analysis and interpretation of rock art, although that record was somewhat neglected in recent times. The present paper offers an updated usage of that legacy from a particular methodological angle, by putting it into practice through comparative means for South West and West Arabian evidence from the hilly and mountain parts of the region"s transition zones to the east. That evidence was primarily established during an ethnographic documentation and field work project of the late 1970s and early 1980s. The visual results from this as well as from other projects presently are systematically classified and analyzed in Vienna, in the framework of the Institute for Social Anthropology"s "Visual Archive for South West Arabian Ethnographic Materials" at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. This article builds on a first survey of about one dozen examples of rock art cases, but selects only a couple among them considered to be fairly representative of the overall collection. The empirical sample then is addressed by means of comparative insights from socio-cultural anthropology. The sample primarily represents visualizations of hunting scenes. The analytical and methodological tools best suited for discussing it are derived from anthropology"s expertise about the contexts and relevance of human hunting activities under early scriptural conditions. As long as few other methods of dating can yet be applied to most of the materials in this particular sample, and parallel to possibly more reliable ways of dating in the future, precise conceptualizations about the contexts and features of hunting under early scriptural conditions will remain indispensable. KEYWORDS: Rock art from southern Hijaz, eastern Asir and north Yemen; hunting in historic South West Arabia; eastern mountain hunting scenes in South West Arabia"s rock art; contexts and features of hunting in South Arabia"s pre-Islamic and early Islamic history; 62 A. GINGRICH
Qatar possesses numerous cultural tourist attractions such as museums, archaeological sites and heritage attractions. The question posed by this paper: How to boost Qatar Rock Art sites through reconsideration of the current cultural... more
Qatar possesses numerous cultural tourist attractions such as museums, archaeological sites and heritage attractions. The question posed by this paper: How to boost Qatar Rock Art sites through reconsideration of the current cultural tourism map?. These Rock Art sites provide audience with a great opportunity to interact with values, rituals and symbols of one of the oldest communities who lived on this area of the Arabian peninsula. The paper provides a historical overview of Jabal al-Jusāsiyyah Rock Art site, and examines how representative is Qatar Rock Art on Qatar Tourism Authority media, digital and printed media. Support is given by a first undertaken questionnaire presented to Qatar University students about this Rock Art. It concludes that Rock Art sites are neither presented nor advertized on Qatar tourist map and there is lack of statistics and analysis of tourists types, practices and motivations to visit Rock Art sites in Qatar. Here we propose that Rock Art sites is a chance to include them in cultural tourism, which would lead to the diversification of income sources, therefore, be compatible with the sustainable development in the State of Qatar.
During the 2006 field season of the Wadi Raghwan Archaeological Project (WRAP) over a hundred examples of petroglyphs were encountered by the survey team in the Wādī Raghwān drainage basin within the Ma"rib Governate, Republic of Yemen.... more
During the 2006 field season of the Wadi Raghwan Archaeological Project (WRAP) over a hundred examples of petroglyphs were encountered by the survey team in the Wādī Raghwān drainage basin within the Ma"rib Governate, Republic of Yemen. While most of the petroglyphs exhibit iconography that is common throughout Arabia, four specific genres, each in different locations, stand out as particularly striking among the repertoire of rock art known in the Yemen and adjacent countries. Three of the genres have parallels elsewhere within Arabia, although the details of their rendering are rather different. The locations and contexts of all four suggest specific landscape relationships and symbolism; one seems to represent person-to-person combat, another seems to have a special symbolic or "cultic" value, and two locations seem to have likely associations with camel caravans. The fourth genre belongs to a genre best described as a "cognitive map", and its parallels are rare within Arabia.
The direct dating investigation of rock art remains a deficit issue yet the surface luminescence dating of rock surfaces initiated in the 90's has made some considerable progress. The luminescence dating of lithic surfaces inheres a dual... more
The direct dating investigation of rock art remains a deficit issue yet the surface luminescence dating of rock surfaces initiated in the 90's has made some considerable progress. The luminescence dating of lithic surfaces inheres a dual mechanism regarding bleaching / growth of luminescent signal by depth and exposure time. The present overview reconfirms the suggestion that rock surfaces contain a record of exposure and burial history and that these events can be quantified. The physical mechanisms in trapping / de-trapping of electron traps, under different conditions of sun exposure and burial, the mathematical modeling of experimental and simulated data (modified double exponential and cumulative log-norm) and some World examples are briefly reviewed.
The petroglyphs and pictographs of Oman are little known, but for the last 9 years I have been involved, through the Omani Ministry of Heritage and Culture, in a series of surveys of the Jebel Akhdar Mountain range, that have resulted in... more
The petroglyphs and pictographs of Oman are little known, but for the last 9 years I have been involved, through the Omani Ministry of Heritage and Culture, in a series of surveys of the Jebel Akhdar Mountain range, that have resulted in the location of several important sites. The recording of these sites, on occasion in advance of major roadwork modernization projects, has for the first time enabled detailed research of the rock art in the area. This is being undertaken through the research of: superimpositions; cross-dating with known artistic expressions elsewhere in the region; the known dates for the introduction of writing systems in Ancient Arabic and Standard Arabic alphabet; the study of various objects of material culture; and the presence of certain animals in the rock art (such as turtles, oryxes, goats-like animals, camels and horses). I propose a preliminary chronology consisting of several major phases spanning the last 7,000 years.
This paper seeks to define how far we can associate weapon representations in rock art of northwest Arabia with the technological changes and the artists' perceptions about violence and warfare. In the pursuit of this goal, various... more
This paper seeks to define how far we can associate weapon representations in rock art of northwest Arabia with the technological changes and the artists' perceptions about violence and warfare. In the pursuit of this goal, various representations of weapons and copper alloy weapons from northwest Arabia are discussed with emphases placed on design and use. The rock art representations of bows, daggers, swords, shields and body armours are categorised in respect of their typological features that can be derived from scenes of conflict and hunting. These groupings suggest no detailed typologies can be drawn from the rock imagery of weapons; instead, it is possible entertain only a few typological parallels in respect of the material evidence and imagery from the Arabian Peninsula and Mesopotamia. On the other hand, complex scenes of conflict enable us to explore perceptions about the uses of different types of weapons. Among the twenty-seven examples of complex conflict scenes in my rock art sample, three combinations of weaponry are detected in the setting of combat on foot: (1) bow and dagger, (2) spear and round shield, (3) sword and round shield. These weapon combinations are mostly observed in melee scenes and they reflect versatile combat skills that might have existed or been expected among Pre-Islamic warriors.
The aim of this paper is to present the first results of organic residue analysis of pottery from two Lebanese archaeological sites, Jiyeh and Chhîm. The standard approach in investigations of this type consists of mass spectrometry and... more
The aim of this paper is to present the first results of organic residue analysis of pottery from two Lebanese archaeological sites, Jiyeh and Chhîm. The standard approach in investigations of this type consists of mass spectrometry and gas chromatography technique, which enabled the detection of organic fractions absorbed by pores of the pottery. In the present paper, new method of liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry has been used in order to identify organic fractions. Sixteen fragments of vessels from different forms, periods and archaeological contexts have been analysed. The selected samples came from three vessel categories, kitchen vessels for cooking and store liquids, transport amphorae and storage pithoi, dated from Persian to Byzantine period. The procedure of sample extraction and HPLC-MS/MS analysis allowed to find vessels with the potential traces of the use for food product preparation and/or storage and separate it from different vessels (without traces of organic residues). Organic substances have been detected in the majority of the investigated samples.
The Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic site of Tuleilat Ghassul is located on the northeastern corner of the Dead Sea and was occupied throughout the Fifth Millennium BCE. It is the type-site of the Ghassulian culture and, covering 20... more
The Late Neolithic and Chalcolithic site of Tuleilat Ghassul is located on the northeastern corner of the Dead Sea and was occupied throughout the Fifth Millennium BCE. It is the type-site of the Ghassulian culture and, covering 20 hectares, is one of the largest Chalcolithic sites in the southern Levant. This paper analyses the worked bone objects from Hennessy's (1967-77) and Bourke's (1994-99) Sydney University excavations at Ghassul, currently stored in the Salt, Amman Citadel and Yarmouk University museums in Jordan. The aim is to investigate the production methods and describe specific form/function combinations of worked bone tools at Ghassul and to contextualize the assemblage through comparative analyses with contemporary artefacts recovered in Jordan. Results display a variety bone objects categories like pointed tools, spatulas and decorated objects. Stereomicroscopic analysis documents different production processes on bone objects surfaces. Bone objects at Teleilat Ghassul illustrate the development of bone crafting during Chalcolithic period.
This study develops an approach to examine parameters that are used for the estimation of seismic loads for historic buildings. A literature review is presented, and data from the literature and laboratory tests are used to assess the... more
This study develops an approach to examine parameters that are used for the estimation of seismic loads for historic buildings. A literature review is presented, and data from the literature and laboratory tests are used to assess the provisions that should be satisfied after the restoration of such buildings. In the analysis, frames with nonlinear properties that model stone masonry plain frames are used to estimate the equivalent seismic acceleration that these frames can resist. To investigate the response of masonry monuments to strong earthquakes, the observed response of many temples is considered during seven earthquakes in Greece, and the response spectra are defined for equivalent damping levels of 5%, 10%, and 20%. The aforementioned approaches are used to examine the possibility of further reducing the considered seismic loads for the evaluation of these structures. Alternative methods for the justified reduction of the seismic force by increasing the behavior factor are proposed. Finally a case study is presented on the initial contsruction stage of a byzantine basilica. In this case, the observed failure of the main roof of the temple and the limitation of damages to the rest of the structure thanks to the use of the findings of the present research is justified.
The skeletal study of archaeological material is the only detailed source of demographic information on ancient populations and investigating sex differences is crucial for the reconstruction of the social structure of past societies.... more
The skeletal study of archaeological material is the only detailed source of demographic information on ancient populations and investigating sex differences is crucial for the reconstruction of the social structure of past societies. Determination of skeletal sex can be achieved using visual (non-metric) or metric methods. Metric methods are considered more appropriate for assessing sex in archaeological skeletal remains since the accuracy of non-metric methods decreases in cases of fragmented bones. Additionally, it is well established that the expression of sexual dimorphism is population specific. Therefore, sex prediction equations should be used only when the sample is known to come from the same population from which the functions were derived. The aim of this study is to test the application of sex prediction equations, which were produced using measurements from the arm bones of a modern Greek population, in ancient Greek skeletal remains. For the purpose of this research five ancient populations were examined; Ancient Corinth, Corfu, Agia Triada Thebes, Edessa and Thebes. According to our results, ulnar sex prediction equations cannot be considered adequate for sex determination of ancient skeletal remains. On the contrary, humeral as well as radial sex prediction equations can be considered adequately reliable for sex determination of ancient skeletal remains. More specifically, sex prediction equations containing the humeral vertical head diameter, its combination with the humeral epicondylar width as well as the maximum radial distal width, achieve a classification accuracy over 72%.
Relative dating of archaeological bones by the measurement of fluorine, uranium, and nitrogen content (FUN method) is a well-established method. In this study, bone samples of Salt Men mummies of Chehrabad salt mine of Zanjan, IRAN, were... more
Relative dating of archaeological bones by the measurement of fluorine, uranium, and nitrogen content (FUN method) is a well-established method. In this study, bone samples of Salt Men mummies of Chehrabad salt mine of Zanjan, IRAN, were relatively dated on the basis of FUN method. The amount of fluorine in the selected samples was measured by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, while the amount of uranium and nitrogen was determined by ICP-MS, and CHNS and Kjeldahl techniques, respectively. The results obtained suggest that firstly, corpse no. 3, then corpse no. 5, and finally corpse no. 2 have been buried. Comparing results obtained from FUN tests with radiocarbon ages of the samples showed that this methode could adequetly determined the sequence of the archaeological bones and their burial times. Moreover, this study revealed the high accuracy and precision of FUN relative dating test in the archaeological sites such as salt mines, where the samples are well-preserved, and also showed suitable consistent of the results obtained with the results of radiocarbon dating method.
In this research, a total of 186 metacarpal and 275 metatarsal bones were used from the 4739 bovine bones which were collected from the Yenikapi Metro and Marmaray excavation of the port of Theodosius in Istan-bul. The bovine bones were... more
In this research, a total of 186 metacarpal and 275 metatarsal bones were used from the 4739 bovine bones which were collected from the Yenikapi Metro and Marmaray excavation of the port of Theodosius in Istan-bul. The bovine bones were investigated by radiocarbon (14C) dating, and the cattle bones between Early Byzantine (4 th-7 th centuries) to Late Byzantine (15 th century). A total of 16 osteometric measurements were taken from each metapodial. When the withers height was estimated according to the Matolcsi multipliers without regard to the gender differences of the metapodial bones, it was observed that they varied between 120.97 and 123.52 cm on average. The presence of individuals with withers heights ranging from 103.45 to 148.10 cm suggests the existence of improved cattle breeding to obtain larger animals as well as steer cattle. The wide interval scale of the withers heights seen in the Byzantine cattle suggests that Roman animal breeding was still an influence in this period. However, the presence of small-size cattle in the port area of Theodosius also suggests the presence of smaller, local individuals.
This paper discusses the analysis of organic residues preserved in the fabric of twelve pottery sherds (two Bronze Age and ten Iron Age) excavated from three sites: Jneneh, Sahab and Tell Abu al-Kharaz. Gas chromatography-mass... more
This paper discusses the analysis of organic residues preserved in the fabric of twelve pottery sherds (two Bronze Age and ten Iron Age) excavated from three sites: Jneneh, Sahab and Tell Abu al-Kharaz. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for separation and identification of organic constituents. Conventional solvent extraction was used for the extraction of residues preserved in their fabrics. The analysis showed that five sherds out of the twelve preserve significant organic constituents derived from plant and animal sources. The results inform that plant oil (most likely olive oil) could have been introduced into four Iron Age vessels (three from Jneneh and one from Tell Abu al-Kharaz) while animal fat of unknown source could have been introduced into one Iron Age vessel from Sahab. Evidences of the availability and exploitation of plant materials, such as oils and animal fats during the Iron Age were also presented in this paper.
Following our earlier paper (Kalachanis et al., 2017), we elucidate some parts referring to earlier attempts to decipher on a geomythological approach. Literature on geomythology may be traced back to ancient times (Plutarch, Plato,... more
Following our earlier paper (Kalachanis et al., 2017), we elucidate some parts referring to earlier attempts to decipher on a geomythological approach. Literature on geomythology may be traced back to ancient times (Plutarch, Plato, Homer, Hesiod etc), yet later investigations have bestowned famous trips based on scientif-icaly based identification of places (Liritzis et al., 2017). Such a detailed attempt had been provided by the book of Mr. Sotiris Sofias 1 (Sofias, 2009) which referred to the voyage of Argonauts. The author has made known of three important elements 1. The 'Apsyrtides Islands', the small islands at the mouth of Ancient Fasis River (today's Rhion) was found for the first time by Mr. Sofias utilizing old maps and information of Georgian archaeologists. Mr. Sofias used a map of Poti in Georgia dated 1857, where the Apsyrtides islands, are depicted, which today do not exist, because the flow of the river was diverted in the beginning of the 20 century. This information is important as it gives a clear picture of the topography of the area. Our team had referred to the existence of islands in this area (based on the ancient text), pointing out that since then the topography of the area has changed. Mr. Sofias has proved this hypothesis. 2. The passage of Caucasus through an ancient diolkos 2 , proposed for the first time in 2009 by Mr. Sofias after many months of research with maps of the Embassy of Georgia in Athens, is the present Kluhori passage. This diolkos, referred by Orpheus as "Narrow Erytheia" was connecting the springs of two ancient rivers Cyaneos (present Kodori) and Psathis (Kuban). In his work, he gives details and maps. This information is extremely important as it proves that there really was a way of passing the Caucasus. In our own research we referred to the possible route of Argos through five Caucasus Rivers , without any reference to any diolkos. 1 Surveing Engineer/GIS expert, geographer, chartographer, sotosofias@yahoo.gr 2 The Diolkos (Δίολκος, from the Greek διά, dia "across" and ὁλκός, holkos "portage machine") was a paved trackway which enabled boats to be moved overland. The shortcut allowed ancient vessels to avoid the long and dangerous circumnavigation.
Tin-bronze makes its appearance in Southern Levant during the Early Bronze IV, the post-urban phase of the last centuries of the 3 rd millennium BC, when arsenical copper was still the most widespread copper alloy. Only from the following... more
Tin-bronze makes its appearance in Southern Levant during the Early Bronze IV, the post-urban phase of the last centuries of the 3 rd millennium BC, when arsenical copper was still the most widespread copper alloy. Only from the following Middle Bronze Age tin-bronze will be the utmost spread alloy. The adoption of tin as alloying metal purports new technological skills, and a changed trade supply system, through new routes, thanks to itinerant coppersmiths. The examination of dagger TS.14.143 found in an EB IV (2300-2000 BC) tomb at Jericho by mean of trace elements and Energy Dispersive X-ray Diffraction analyses, provided info about its metal composition and technology. The detection of tin, testified only by a few specimens at the site so far, allows some reflections about the beginning of diffusion tin-bronze, and the presence of a small-scale melting activity in the post-urban phase in the key-site of Jericho.
The research presented here is about documentation, analysis and sharing new discoveries of Juffain mega-lithic field. Using Geographic information system (GIS) to produce topographical maps is the basis for the conservation and the... more
The research presented here is about documentation, analysis and sharing new discoveries of Juffain mega-lithic field. Using Geographic information system (GIS) to produce topographical maps is the basis for the conservation and the development of a Dolmen Heritage Park. A previous survey with Perugia University, was performed in 2016, which provide insight about the high density of megalithic structures and study of structure distribution. While collecting data for a topographical map, of the structural types there are two different categories, single and centers. Single structures are those that stand alone they are, D, Dolmens; TU, Tumulus; T, Tomb; PA-Patio, W-Wall, CA-Cave, CIS-Cistern, S-Silo, P-Press, QS-Quarry Stone, C-Circle and SS-Standing Stone. Five major stunning discoveries relating to the dolmen culture is found. In rank of Importance, here are the discoveries: (1) borders and boundaries, show that each of the dolmen groups stand alone, (2) domestic meeting places point to a sedentary society, (3) quarries and cup hole centers demonstrate a high scale of distribution of central places, and (4) ritualistic centers indicates a higher level of human relationship. (5) New 54 new dolmens were identified. Furthermore, ceramic typology identified 7 major pottery types with an additional 3 minor types. Understanding dolmen types and the megalithic structures related to them was attained using a holistic approach. Our study of the six types (1, 2, 3,/…6) is revisited with the result of the Six basic principles lead to the certain association of social groups, most likely clans at Juffain.
Karpathos forms one of the islands of the Dodecanese, situated in the southeast Aegean along the string of islands between Rhodes and Crete. It is argued in this paper that Karpathos can provide useful insights into the processes... more
Karpathos forms one of the islands of the Dodecanese, situated in the southeast Aegean along the string of islands between Rhodes and Crete. It is argued in this paper that Karpathos can provide useful insights into the processes conventionally termed as 'Minoanisation' and 'Mycenaeanisation'. In the first part of the paper, we outline recent approaches to Minoanisation and Mycenaeanisation, followed in the second part by a presentation of the available data that indicate external cultural influence. In the concluding section, it is proposed that the terms Minoanisation and Mycenaeanisation cannot fully account for the processes unfolding in Bronze Age Karpathos. Our investigation of the available evidence shows that Minoan cultural influence on the island did not obliterate local traditions, nor was it fully replaced by the adoption of Mycenaean cultural practices in the final phase of the Late Bronze Age. It is proposed that the amalgamation of local, Minoan and Mycenaean cultural traits that characterised Karpathos in Late Minoan/Late Helladic III, can best be explained as a phenomenon of hybridisation, which underpinned a distinct cultural identity.
The origins of copper-based metallurgy on the island of Cyprus, which became the main supplier of the metal in the Late Bronze Age in the Mediterranean and whose name became associated with the metal, is relatively obscure. While metal... more
The origins of copper-based metallurgy on the island of Cyprus, which became the main supplier of the metal in the Late Bronze Age in the Mediterranean and whose name became associated with the metal, is relatively obscure. While metal extraction and metal artefacts became increasingly important in the broader Near East, early metallurgy on Cyprus remains poorly known, and it is often postulated that metals were of limited importance on the island prior to the Philia phase. Here we present a unique context from the Late Chalcolithic (ca. 2800-2400 BC) from the excavations at Chlorakas-Palloures that has considerable ramifications for this debate.
Stratonikeia is one of the oldest settlements in southwestern Anatolia and at the same time significant for an understanding of the Hellenistic period. Archaeological records of Stratonikeia date back to around 2000 BC. This study... more
Stratonikeia is one of the oldest settlements in southwestern Anatolia and at the same time significant for an understanding of the Hellenistic period. Archaeological records of Stratonikeia date back to around 2000 BC. This study provides new information not only about luminescence age but also about mineralo-petrographic, geochemical characteristics of bricks taken from Erikli Basilica in Stratonikeia (Turkey). In this study, mineralogical data of TL and OSL dating of two bricks and two sediment samples will be presented. The bricks have highly similar mineralogical composition, consisting mainly of quartz and muscovite. These results are supported by XRD studies. In order to perform the thermoluminescence (TL) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, the equivalent dose (ED) and the annual dose (AD) of the samples were determined using different estimation techniques. The TL ages of bricks are determined to be 1189±89 and 576±40 years. The IRSL ages of the bricks are determined to be 1167±85 years and 545±50 years. Additionally , supporting the TL and IRSL ages, the OSL quartz ages of the two sediments obtained from the top of the layer under the floor are discovered to be about 1100 years. Mineralo-petrographic, geochemical, dating and archaeological studies have revealed that the age of bricks is different from each other. Furthermore, Erikli Basillica was built in bricks, consisting of raw materials taken from different quarries in different periods. Within the framework, the first report of the experimental approach has been published from Stratonikeia archaeological site located in Muğla, Agean Anatolia.
An integrated investigation of engineering archaeometry was carried out using dynamic identification, dynamic monitoring and Infra-Red (IR) thermography for the study of the dynamic behavior of Mallorca cathedral in Spain. The cathedral... more
An integrated investigation of engineering archaeometry was carried out using dynamic identification, dynamic monitoring and Infra-Red (IR) thermography for the study of the dynamic behavior of Mallorca cathedral in Spain. The cathedral is a large historical masonry structure built during 14-16th c. Dynamic identification and monitoring allowed the capturing of eight natural frequencies of the cathedral. IR thermography was used as a complementary inspection technique in the context of a continuous monitoring. Usually, IR thermography is used punctually for the inspection of a part of an inspected structure. Here an alternative was tried as the IR camera was installed for two two-weeks periods in the winter and in the summer of 2011 to monitor the stone surface temperature of a large portion of the cathedral. The correlation between the cathedral natural frequencies and the stone surface temperature of some selected structural elements was investigated and compared with the correlation with the external and the internal temperatures. It was found that the correlation with stone surface temperature was lower than that with external temperature. The study allowed a better understanding of the influence of temperature changes on the structure's dynamic behavior.
Unknown dyestuffs from a red crimson coloured historic fabric are analysed with both High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled with Diode Array Detection (DAD) and Liquid Chromotography coupled with Mass... more
Unknown dyestuffs from a red crimson coloured historic fabric are analysed with both High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) coupled with Diode Array Detection (DAD) and Liquid Chromotography coupled with Mass Spectrometry(LC-MS.)The dyed fabric dates back to 18th-19th centuries AD and is located in the National Museum of Beit El Omma in Egypt. the lengthwise and crosswise yarns have different colours, thus different dyes are anticipated. Chromatographic separation of the hydrolysed samples of the lengthwise and crosswise yarns is performed with H2O: MeOH: 37% HCl (1:1:2; v/v/v; 400 µL) using a gradient elution program of HPLC/DAD with two solvents. HPLC / DAD analysis results prove that the green dye of the lengthwise yarn originates from tannin and Gallic acid from rich natural resource ie., Gall oak or Walloon oak. Meanwhile, the red dye of the crosswise yarns is produced from a synthesised material, known as Orange II (acid orange 7). LC-MS is used to analyse the same dyes samples using Electrospray Ionisation Interface (ESI) ion source operating in negative mode to confirm the given results. This remarkable combination of natural and synthetic dyes on the same fabric is rarely encountered.
Granaries are bioclimatic conservation structures with various forms using in different countries. In the past, granaries have been an important structure in both the storage and conservation of products (such as like wheat, barley,... more
Granaries are bioclimatic conservation structures with various forms using in different countries. In the past, granaries have been an important structure in both the storage and conservation of products (such as like wheat, barley, oats). According to the historical documents, the Taşkale village includes the studied granaries have been using as a settlement area since the Byzantine period. Recently, rockfalls have observed on the walls of the northeastern parts of these historical granaries. The geological and geotechnical features of the rock units used in these areas were determined to understand such problems. In the field, the rocks with different colours and textural characteristics have taken into account and sampling has carried out from three different levels. Laboratory studies were conducted for determining the mineralogical, chemical, pet-rographic and geomechanical properties. The granaries in the region carved in the fossiliferous reefal lime-stones and clayey-sandy limestones. These limestone levels are more sensitive to atmospheric conditions than the overlaying travertine. The aim of the study is to provide geotechnical data to use in the conservation processes of the ancient Taşkale granaries.
During the restoration works of the Sant'Agata La Vetere church in Catania, a campaign of archaelogical excavations was conducted in order to study the complex site around the religious building. According to tradition and to historical... more
During the restoration works of the Sant'Agata La Vetere church in Catania, a campaign of archaelogical excavations was conducted in order to study the complex site around the religious building. According to tradition and to historical sources, the site was very interesting because a part of the church, in particular the crypt, was built incorporating an apse of the roman praetorium palace. Starting from this assumption, the present study is focused on the resolution of the chronological question about the different construction phases of the crypt. In agreement with archaeologists and architects, samples of bricks are collected in specific area. The ThermoLuminescence (TL) methodology was applied performing measurements on polymineral fine grain phases extracted from each brick. The Equivalent Dose (ED) values were evaluated from TL signals through Added Dose procedure. The annual Dose Rate (DR) was calculated using the radioactive content of samples estimated by ICP-MS analysis and environmental and cosmic dose rates obtained by in situ gamma measurements. From the obtained ages, three phases of construction were individuated: 3 rd , 7 th-8 th and 17 th centuries. In particular, the first one could be correspond with the end of the roman period, and it seems to confirm the archaeological hypothesis based on the historical sources. From a methodological point of view, the archaeological issue contributed to study the behaviour vs time of the alpha efficiency coefficient k. The results showed that the value obtained after 30 days has to be considered.
In this work, we present the preliminary results of the archaeometric analysis of several ceramic and clay samples from two Celtiberian hillforts of the Iron Age from the Spanish Central Plateau: El Ceremeño and its cemetery (Early and... more
In this work, we present the preliminary results of the archaeometric analysis of several ceramic and clay samples from two Celtiberian hillforts of the Iron Age from the Spanish Central Plateau: El Ceremeño and its cemetery (Early and Middle Iron Age) and the oppidum of Los Rodiles (Late Iron Age) including La Rodri-ga, a potter's workshop contemporary to Los Rodiles. Clay samples were collected from all sites in order to carry out a provenance analysis and to determine if the ceramic production of the proposed archaeological sites was local or foreign. Mineralogical analysis was performed by Thin-Layer Petrography (TLP) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), whereas chemical analysis was done by X-Ray Fluorescence: Semi-quantitative (XRF) and Trace Elemental analysis (XRF-t). Moreover, to complete the study a thermal analysis was carried out by a dilatometer (DLT). Although the number of samples evaluated was limited, in all the studied cases, the analyzed pottery was clearly found to be made with the clay from the surroundings of the archaeological sites.
Presented here are a pair of preserved footprints discovered in 2014 at the site of Barcın Höyük, a Neolithic site located in northwestern Turkey. Found within the entrance of Structure 2a, the footprints date to approximately 6400 cal.... more
Presented here are a pair of preserved footprints discovered in 2014 at the site of Barcın Höyük, a Neolithic site located in northwestern Turkey. Found within the entrance of Structure 2a, the footprints date to approximately 6400 cal. BC. Footprints are rarely discovered in prehistoric settlements, adding significance to their study and to the conditions that led to their formation and ultimate preservation. This article provides anthropological estimations for the individuals who left the footprints and discusses the possibility of symbolism using contextual information and ethnographic and archaeological parallels. The measurements and analyses confirm that the footprints are the bare left and right foot of a single individual and provide clues about the biological profile of the individual. The footprint of the right foot produces various measurements such as footprint length, breadth and heel breadth. When compared with known standards, the print appears likely to be of an adult male 169.9 cm tall (with a 16.78 CI at 95% ranging from 153.1-186.66 cm) and weighing 71.9 kg (with a 31.14 kg CI at 95% ranging from 40.76-103.04 kg).
As salt crystallization is one of the most serious damages in historical porous materials (e.g. potteries, bricks, etc.), desalination is highly important process in conservation. Since this process is irreversible, and object has direct... more
As salt crystallization is one of the most serious damages in historical porous materials (e.g. potteries, bricks, etc.), desalination is highly important process in conservation. Since this process is irreversible, and object has direct vicinity with water, preventing the misrepresentation of valuable archaeological and archaeomet-rical data of historic object will be substantial. On the other hand, a considerable amount of water is used in this process because of a huge number of excavated potteries in archaeological sites, therefore, controlling the amount of rinse water consumption is extremely desirable. As this process is a multivariable system, a new approach based on a mathematical design of experiment, response surface methodology (RSM), was used as a n aid in determining the significance of the various parameters and optimization of this process. The input (independent) variables in the experimental design were immersing time, agitation rate, firing temperature (as void fraction indicator), type and concentration of surfactant. For each variable, five levels were selected in a batchwise pilot tests. Electrical conductivity (EC) and Ca 2+ concentration of rinse solutions were measured as responses of experiments. It was found that the most effective parameters in the immersing desalination process are: firing temperature of specimen, immersing time, and agitation rate. The experimental results revealed that desalination process in optimized conditions results in speed up the operation time up to less than 8% and saving up to 50% water consumption compared to conventional method at the same desalination achievement. The accuracy of the modeling was validated with triplicate experiments. It was found that the average Ca 2+ concentration and EC value in rinse solution fit approximately 90% with RSM predicted data.
Resinous materials are considered the most important embalming agent, which help in the preservation of ancient Egyptians bodies over time. They differ in type and amount from one mummy to another based on the period, embalmer and the... more
Resinous materials are considered the most important embalming agent, which help in the preservation of ancient Egyptians bodies over time. They differ in type and amount from one mummy to another based on the period, embalmer and the social position of the deceased. With the aim of evaluating the role of resinous materials in the preservation of the wrapping textiles of mummies in the present study, three wrapping textile fragments (Anc. 1, Anc. 2 and Anc. 3) were collected from three mummies dating back to the ancient Egyptian Late Period (525-343 BC). These fragments differ in their amounts of adherent resin. The three fragments were soaked in a mixture of dichloromethane and methanol (DCM: MeOH, 1:1 v/v) in order to extract resinous materials from the fibers of the linen textiles. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of the extracts proved that the Anc. 2 and Anc. 3 samples included resinous materials; while, the Anc. 1 sample did not contain any adherent resinous materials. Linen fibers from the three tested fragments were investigated by stereomicroscope, microbiological investigation, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and FTIR. The results showed that resinous materials have an important role in protecting the linen wrappings from microbial damage. They also preserved the fibers' morphological structure from deterioration caused by weathering. The FTIR results proved increasing oxidation of the Anc. 1 sample and the decreasing of its crystallinity index more than the other samples as a result of its direct contact with environmental deterioration factors.
Ceramic roofing tiles were first invented during the Early Bronze Age (or Early Helladic [EH] period, ca. 3100-2000 BCE) and have been identified at 22 sites in mainland Greece. In this paper, I present a newly discovered assemblage of EH... more
Ceramic roofing tiles were first invented during the Early Bronze Age (or Early Helladic [EH] period, ca. 3100-2000 BCE) and have been identified at 22 sites in mainland Greece. In this paper, I present a newly discovered assemblage of EH tiles from the site of Mitrou (East Lokris) and offer the first detailed, comparative analysis of EH tile production. I demonstrate that there was a shared tradition for the appropriate form and dimensions of tiles in mainland Greece. This uniformity, however, belies heterogeneity in production among sites and through time. The reconstructed chaîne opératoire of Mitrou"s tiles, for instance, has affinities with the tiles of Zygouries (Corinthia) and Kolonna (Aegina), but not of the later House of the Tiles at Lerna and most tiles from Tiryns in the Argolid. With these results, I reveal a distinct network of interaction in mainland Greece in which construction knowledge was disseminated and maintained.
The article deals with study of capacity of medieval amphoraе that are spread over sites of the 8th-10th centuries in the Northern part of the Black Sea region. Such vessels were manufactured in pottery centers of Byzantine Taurica. The... more
The article deals with study of capacity of medieval amphoraе that are spread over sites of the 8th-10th centuries in the Northern part of the Black Sea region. Such vessels were manufactured in pottery centers of Byzantine Taurica. The task complexity is related to lack of written sources on regulation of the Black Sea amphorae production in Taurica and on the state control of volumetric standards applied to ceramic containers. 176 intact vessels found at monuments of Crimea, Taman peninsular, the Sea of Azov basin, the Don river basin and the Caucasus served as the material for this study. The method of 3D modeling (with use of Autodesk 3Ds Max computer program) was employed for solution of the task. The results of the study suggest that some amphorae groups can be associated with at least five capacitive standards based on Byzantine volume units of wine. KEYWORDS: maritime trade, medieval «pontic» amphorae, capacity. 120 E.V. SUKHANOV
The salt damage is one of the main decay features in archaeological sites and monuments. The Northern Theater of the Roman archaeological site of Jerash in Jordan is facing considerably this decay agent. The current study is a... more
The salt damage is one of the main decay features in archaeological sites and monuments. The Northern Theater of the Roman archaeological site of Jerash in Jordan is facing considerably this decay agent. The current study is a comprehensive evaluation of the main environmental conditions within the case study area with a detailed assessment of the soluble salt content at varied periods on the theater. The study extended to evaluate the relation between salts content and salt distribution with the main recorded environmental conditions. The current research fieldwork observation and data collection has shown that wind speed had a major role in salt crystallisation and distribution in porous building materials, and thereby in the ultimately stone decay rates. The study has also demonstrated the importance of using thermodynamic calculation in evaluation the salt distribution and behavior as major action in stating the preventive conservation measures in archaeological sites and monuments.
New studies on prehistoric obsidian artifacts and their provenance have been published by Iranian and international researchers during recent years, which showed, that some obsidian tools might have come from an unknown source located in... more
New studies on prehistoric obsidian artifacts and their provenance have been published by Iranian and international researchers during recent years, which showed, that some obsidian tools might have come from an unknown source located in Iran (perhaps Sahand or Sabalan Mountains). The aim of this paper is to discuss recently discovered obsidian sources in northwest Iran. After a brief introduction of recent obsidian studies in Iran the paper addresses some recent filed work and the geochemical analyses of samples from these surveys (from Tajaraq near Miyaneh and Ghizilja near Bostababad in the Bozghoosh Mountains) by using portable ED-XRF analysis. The results suggest that three major obsidian groups can be distinguished, which are classified as group A and B of Tajaraq besides a single group of Ghizilja. The implications of the new results are discussed along with actual limitations and future research directions.
The Growth of fungi on wooden artifacts is accompanied as a rule by various physic-chemical processes making wood rigid, brittle and deformed. Therefore it is necessary to evaluate some fungicides for the preservation of wooden artifacts... more
The Growth of fungi on wooden artifacts is accompanied as a rule by various physic-chemical processes making wood rigid, brittle and deformed. Therefore it is necessary to evaluate some fungicides for the preservation of wooden artifacts in order to eliminate any deformation caused by microorganisms. This study represents an attempt to use some triazole fungicides with different concentrations (propiconazole and tebuconazole) in order to assess the chemical stability of wood damaged by fungi. Fungal ageing over different periods of time was applied by using three species of fungi (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium chrysogenum), which were collected from different historical buildings in Egypt (such as The Mosque of Sabiile and Koutab Suleiman Agha Selehdar dated back to 1837-1839 AD, The Mosque of El Mouayed Sheikh Al-Mahmoudi dated back to 1415 to 1421 AD etc.), and were identified in previous work. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to evaluate the fungicides used. The results revealed that it is unfavorable to use propiconazole in the treatment of wood infested by Aspergillus flavus. However, tebuconazole can be used safely to treat wood infested by this fungus. The results also proved that increasing propiconazole and tebuconazole concentrations was needed to achieve acceptable protection against Aspergillus niger. In case of Penicillium chrysogenum, it is noticed from the results that the increased in propiconazole and tebuconazole concentrations is not recommended for treatment and a low concentration (0.25 %) is sufficient to inhibit the fungal effect.
Hundred twenty archaeological ceramics (potsherds, figurines, stirrup jars) as well as experimental bri-quettes made from local clays fired at different temperatures were examined for their color index chromatic scale. Color was measured... more
Hundred twenty archaeological ceramics (potsherds, figurines, stirrup jars) as well as experimental bri-quettes made from local clays fired at different temperatures were examined for their color index chromatic scale. Color was measured on clean surfaces, clearly fine decoration layers, from the Late Mycenaean settlement at Kastrouli, Central Greece. The aim is to critically assess these quantitative attributions of a color index to ceramic surfaces which depends on several factors, such as the type of clay, firing regime, subjective evaluation, lighting conditions. Our endeavor and aim are to classify groups of similar color that may imply same firing conditions and clay sources. The color perception within a chromatic context is investigated and the effect of light on color appearance is assessed. Indeed, apparent subjective differences in Munsell color evaluation, the sensitivity of chosen surface area and photo shooting setting under different light conditions are observed. Initially the evaluation of different color components, e.g. R, G, B; Lab; HSB, were examined using stereoscopic images as well as a mini digital micro USB microscope and edit with image processing software. Finally, the 3D plots and statistical clustering of RGB as average integrated and separate values with associated standard deviation error produce groups of similar ceramics compared to the briquettes. Results were corroborated by cluster analysis of R, B, G of sherds and fired clays.
This contribution proposes a combination of archaeological fabric analysis and petrographic research applied to the study of 35 sherds of Graeco-Italic amphorae mostly found in Palermo, but also in Pantelleria and Malta (Tab.
Archaeological excavations carried out in the town of Palermo revealed important traces of metallurgical activity related to the Punic Panormos. Five samples of iron slags, recovered during the digging, were characterized by... more
Archaeological excavations carried out in the town of Palermo revealed important traces of metallurgical activity related to the Punic Panormos. Five samples of iron slags, recovered during the digging, were characterized by micro-structural, mineralogical and chemical investigations as well as by environmental scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray fluo-rescence. The studied remains are spongy, rust colored, with a plano-convex shape and their textural and mineralogical features suggest they are metallurgical slags produced during smithing process. Wüstite, magnetite, fayalite, kirschsteinite, hedembergite, cristobalite and quartz are the main identified mineral phases, while goethite, lepidocrocite and calcite occur as minor secondary phases. The iron slags show heterogeneous structures such as hammering clues, layering in wustite crystals and presence of calcium-rich minerals which are consistent with a broad variation of the forging temperature due to the use of different smithing techniques. This assumption is confirmed by the different crystallization temperatures of the detected mineral phases. Skeletal and dendritic shapes are indicative of rapid cooling and, possibly, quenching. The chemical composition is dominated by iron, silicon and calcium and it is almost constant for all the samples suggesting that they were produced with similar raw materials and technology. The high Ca content suggests the use of carbonate-bearing rocks, widely outcropping over the Palermo territory, probably exploited as fluxing ores for the metallurgical process. The multidisciplinary approach adopted in this study provided new data for a better understanding of the metallurgical techniques evolution in the Sicilian territory in ancient times. Since the studied iron slags represent the unique traces so far known of metallurgical activity in the ancient Palermo town, our results open interesting perspectives for future study of metallurgy in ancient Sicily.
This paper presents the results of an inorganic and organic approach to Roman amphorae found at the rural Roman site of Sa Mesquida (Mallorca). A set of amphorae were discovered in some rooms of the earlier phases of the villa. These... more
This paper presents the results of an inorganic and organic approach to Roman amphorae found at the rural Roman site of Sa Mesquida (Mallorca). A set of amphorae were discovered in some rooms of the earlier phases of the villa. These amphorae were assigned to a general Tarraconensian and Italic provenance on a macroscopic level. In order to verify this and to accurately determine the provenance an archaeometric characterization was carried out on twelve amphorae. The analytical approach combined wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF) for the chemical analysis, as well as powder x-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical microscopy by thin-section analysis (OM) for the mineralogical and petrographic characterization. In addition, organic residue analysis by gas-chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was applied to investigate the content of some of the amphorae for which wine was suggested on an archaeological basis. The results have allowed for a better provenance determination identifying some amphorae from specific workshops or micro-regions within ancient Tarraconensis, as well as a better definition of the Italic materials. The organic analysis has confirmed the presence of wine in the analysed samples.
The harbor town of Jaffa (Tel Yafo) was vital for the medieval Crusader States, functioning as a place where reinforcements, pilgrims, and communications entered the Latin East. An assemblage of five ship nails from Jaffa that were... more
The harbor town of Jaffa (Tel Yafo) was vital for the medieval Crusader States, functioning as a place where reinforcements, pilgrims, and communications entered the Latin East. An assemblage of five ship nails from Jaffa that were removed for reuse in the 13 th century AD are examined and shown to be informative for understanding Crusader iron production, economic sustainability in the Crusader States, and the connections between northern European and Mediterranean ship construction traditions. Archaeometallur-gical analyses of these ship nails demonstrate the first metallographically documented examples of Crusader steel recovered from archaeological contexts, as well as rare evidence of uncorroded Crusader alloys (non-numismatic). The analysis also provides likely evidence for the use of iron hardware from the northern European tradition in the Crusader-period Levant.
Iron gall ink (IGI) was the most common writing ink for centuries, meanwhile one of the major responsible factors for paper degradation. Corrosive constituents are responsible for acid hydrolysis and metal-catalyzed oxidation. The study... more
Iron gall ink (IGI) was the most common writing ink for centuries, meanwhile one of the major responsible factors for paper degradation. Corrosive constituents are responsible for acid hydrolysis and metal-catalyzed oxidation. The study proposes a new stabilization treatment using two aquatic plants biomass. Handmade biomass interleaving paper (BIP) was produced from duckweed Lemna gibba L. Lemnaceae (L. gibba) and water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes (E. crassipes).The produced BIP offered a promising syner-gy of deacidification and stabilization of model and historical samples. The treatment impact was evaluated on thermally aged and on post treated model inked paper using pH measurement, Fe 2+ detection and colori-metry. Moreover, removal capacity of corrosive metal ions; Zn 2+ , Cu 2+ , Fe 2+ , Mn 2+ , and Pb 2+ was assessed. The BIP biosorption and preference of corrosive transition metals were evaluated using atomic absorption spec-troscopy (AAS) and combined scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). All produced BIP absorbed transition metals in different concentrations, particularly L-BIP treatment gave the maximum removal of corrosive metals after treatment for 24 h in the order Fe > Mn > Cu > Zn > Pb.
The main objective of this research is to evaluate using four plant essential oils; marjoram, camphor, clove, and basil as an eco-friendly methods for their antifungal activities against Aspergillus niger and Alternaria alternata as two... more
The main objective of this research is to evaluate using four plant essential oils; marjoram, camphor, clove, and basil as an eco-friendly methods for their antifungal activities against Aspergillus niger and Alternaria alternata as two of the most common fungi infesting the heritage oil paintings and other heritage objects. The research focuses on: 1) evaluating the efficacy of the four selected essential oils in suppressing the selected fungi cultivated on agar plates. It is found that clove and camphor oils respectively are the most potent oils due to their optimum antifungal activity. Both efficiently inhibited the growth of both fungi especially at higher concentrations. 2) evaluating the using of clove and camphor oils in suppressing the selected fungi cultivated on simulated canvas painting model, camphor oil at concentration 80% (v/v) showed a better antifungal activity than clove for both fungi. Camphor oil had been proven as the most potent antifungal oil and preserving the simulated canvas painting models with no notable side-effects on the properties of painting models.
This paper discusses the first geochemical characterization of obsidian fragments from the prehistoric site of Roccapalumba (Palermo, Italy). The Neolithic age of the prehistoric settlement was constrained by pottery and flint tools... more
This paper discusses the first geochemical characterization of obsidian fragments from the prehistoric site of Roccapalumba (Palermo, Italy). The Neolithic age of the prehistoric settlement was constrained by pottery and flint tools discovered in the same archaeological context. To define the provenance of the investigated obsidian artifacts major and trace element analyses have been carried out by using scanning electron micros-copy (SEM-EDX) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The comparison with literature data of the Central Mediterranean source areas, based on trace elements content and their ratios allow of constraining a provenance of the Roccapalumba obsidians from the Lipari Island. The obsidian lava flow from Gabellotto Valley is the most probable source of volcanic glass at Lipari and also the most exploited in the Mediterranean area for manufactured tools. The obtained results can contribute in reconstructing the trade/exchange and procurement relationships occurred between the prehistoric human groups inhabiting Sicily during Neolithic age.
The paper presents the preliminary results of the excavations of 2017 season at the Mycenaean site of Kastrouli, Phokis. It attempts as well a preliminary interpretation of the data obtained during the 2016 season , now based on the first... more
The paper presents the preliminary results of the excavations of 2017 season at the Mycenaean site of Kastrouli, Phokis. It attempts as well a preliminary interpretation of the data obtained during the 2016 season , now based on the first results of the still ongoing archaeometric research. During the second season of excavation a circular feature in the eastern side of the fortification wall has been investigated, and a second gate with its access ramp has been located, in addition to the gate already known on the western side. On the E-SE side of the fortified area some walls and foundations visible on the surface led to the excavation of the Building 1, which has been destroyed by fire. Further, a very long wall belonging to a large building (Build-ing 2), or possibly to a complex of buildings, has been cleaned and documented on the southern terrace of the fortified area. Finally, two large holes dug by looters, one close to the Western gate and the other close to the Tomb A, have been examined and refilled with soil.
The direction of solar light and how it relates with the Apollo Temple in Delphi is investigated. Following up earlier investigation of defining the time to delivering an oracle and the historical reported position of a golden Apollo... more
The direction of solar light and how it relates with the Apollo Temple in Delphi is investigated. Following up earlier investigation of defining the time to delivering an oracle and the historical reported position of a golden Apollo statue in the rear of the main structure (opisthodomos, adyton or Temple's sanctum) the sun lighting the statue's face during selected solar stands is virtually constructed. Based on both ancient and contemporary sources, an accurately-oriented 3D model of the Temple was created, which incorporated windows in the sanctum area. A light and shadow study followed to establish the movement of shadows and presence of sunlight around and inside the Temple, during the important days for the ancient cult. It is shown that the shining of God's golden statue would have been possible, through windows, giving a distinct impression of Apollo's presence in Delphi especially during his absence in the three winter months to the hyperborean lands between winter solstice and spring equinox. A. VLACHOS et al.
Following a long and protracted survey of all targeted approach routes, cols of passage and exfiltration pathways projected to have been followed by Hannibal and his generals when they crossed into Italy in 218 BC, the physical evidence... more
Following a long and protracted survey of all targeted approach routes, cols of passage and exfiltration pathways projected to have been followed by Hannibal and his generals when they crossed into Italy in 218 BC, the physical evidence points to the Col de la Traversette, first identified by Sir Gavin de Beer in the 1960's. The first attempts to identify the route out of a dozen possible transits, focused not only on historical interpretations using the evolution of place names but on physical evidence possibly resident in hearths, al-luvial terraces and rock rubble masses along the various approach routes. The primary argument following ten years of investigating every approach route from the Col Agnel in the south to the Col Mt. Cenis in the north, was that if the only blocking rockfall described by Polybius was present below the Traversette col, then mires or fans on either side in France and Italy might contain a record of Hannibal's passage. Beyond their key positions as water sources and foraging areas, the French mire and coalescing alluvial fan sediment in the upper Po, might carry evidence of the ecologic disturbance that could be radiocarbon dated to the Hannibal time line of 2168 cal yr BP or 218 BC. It is this long quest to unlock the Hannibalic invasion route that opened up key areas for historical archaeological exploration. This forensic cross/discipline exercise might serve to highlight a valuable method useful in solving other elusive ancient historical archaeological problems.
Five seasons of researches at the Middle Pre-Pottery Neolithic B site of Nahal Karkom (Southern Negev, Is-rael) have highlighted a campsite consisting of a few, stonewalled curvilinear structures in a beehive arrangement. The site... more
Five seasons of researches at the Middle Pre-Pottery Neolithic B site of Nahal Karkom (Southern Negev, Is-rael) have highlighted a campsite consisting of a few, stonewalled curvilinear structures in a beehive arrangement. The site experienced three intermittent, seasonal occupations within a short time frame, probably starting from the first half of the VIII millennium B.C.E. It has yielded a range of typical Southern Levan-tine PPNB material culture: the lithic assemblage features the use of bidirectional core technology, with a preponderance of bladelets and small blades, tranchet axes, borers, tanged projectile points, ground stones. The location of the site and the nature of the findings are indicative of repeated (probably, winter-late spring) occupations of this Southern Negev marginal zone by a band carrying on a mobile foraging existence , or a logistic stop of a small group residentially based elsewhere.
Medusa is a powerful Greek methodological creature that had a face of a woman with snakes instead of hair, her name is derived from the Greek verb μέδω meaning "to guard or protect", which makes it one of the important decorative elements... more
Medusa is a powerful Greek methodological creature that had a face of a woman with snakes instead of hair, her name is derived from the Greek verb μέδω meaning "to guard or protect", which makes it one of the important decorative elements related to classic funeral forms of art including wreath, light torch, snake and anchor, which all were supposed to protect the dead in their afterlife. The head of Medusa was to be found on different artistic works from Greek and Roman Civilizations, which had their significant influence on the cultural aspects of Ancient Near East; consequently classic mythological characters and symbols would be found in architecture and other artistic works of Nabataean (4 th Century B.C.-106 A.D.), Hatran (3 rd Century B.C.-3 rd Century A.D.) and Palmyrene (3 rd Century A.D.) Kingdoms. This paper aims at shedding the light at the different depictions of Medusa in artistic works of these Ancient Arabic Kingdoms, as well as the different symbolic functions related to them.
This study investigates the consolidation effect of nanosized particles of calcium hydroxide dispersed in alcoholic medium on limestone. The treatment materials were applied on limestone samples from Jersah archaeological site as well as... more
This study investigates the consolidation effect of nanosized particles of calcium hydroxide dispersed in alcoholic medium on limestone. The treatment materials were applied on limestone samples from Jersah archaeological site as well as other fresh samples. Different parameters were taken into consideration to evaluate the efficacy of the consolidation material and include: porosity, water uptake, compressive strength, drilling resistance and salt crystallization damage resistance. Comparison between these properties before and after consolidation showed that the application of nano-particles prepared in propanol-1, significantly improved the mechanical properties of the treated stone. Compressive strength increased by about 37% for archaeological stone and by about 25% for fresh ones, the drilling resistance increased by about 75% for archaeological stone and by about 52% for the fresh ones. Nano-sized lime has no significant effect on porosity; decreased by 4.6% and 3.2% for archaeological and fresh stones respectively, while water uptake value (w-value) decreased by 8.4% for archaeological stones and by 17.2% for fresh stones. Nanolime consolidant improved salt crystallization damage resistance by about 29% for fresh stone and by about 32 % for archaeological samples. The main disadvantage of the nanolime consolidants is the relatively low penetration depth; the average consolidant uptake value ranged between 6.14 kg/m 2 hr 0.5 for archaeological stones and 1.52 kg/m 2 hr 0.5 for fresh stone.
The present paper is devoted to the study of wall paint of the late 16 th-early 17 th centuries with zoomorphic image of St. Christopher located at the Assumption Cathedral (which became UNESCO object in 2017) of the town-island of... more
The present paper is devoted to the study of wall paint of the late 16 th-early 17 th centuries with zoomorphic image of St. Christopher located at the Assumption Cathedral (which became UNESCO object in 2017) of the town-island of Sviyazhsk and is the first investigation of Russian murals of this time. The work includes archaeometry examination of wall paint with portable X-ray fluorescent spectrometer (pXRF) for the pigment's determination and by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (OM-SEM) for fresco structure study with some notes of the appearance of an unusual image of the saint and history of this fresco creating. The analysis found the ancient masters used red and yellow ocher, umber,-green earth‖, blue smalt as colorants. The discovered cinnabar, minium, lead white, paints with chromium, titanium and nickel are evidence of restoration work of the different time. As studies have shown some regions of fresco have several painting layers indicating alterations in original image of Saint Christopher with the dog head. Results of plaster examination showed that it was made from dolomite raw material. In addition, white scurf near the cracks in the wall has been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Separation of calcium and magnesium structures due to degradation process of the fresco base was revealed on the OM-SEM-pictures.
The majority of textiles in ancient Egypt are made from the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum). Cloth made from flax is defined as linen. It was predominantly used for wrapping Egyptian mummies, an important stage in the mummification... more
The majority of textiles in ancient Egypt are made from the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum). Cloth made from flax is defined as linen. It was predominantly used for wrapping Egyptian mummies, an important stage in the mummification process. Fungal deterioration of ancient linen textiles is one of the most serious problems in the museum field. The relationship between ancient linen objects from different periods and their susceptibility to fungal deterioration is a critical issue in collections management in museums. In the present study, four groups of samples were prepared with different aging conditions. These samples were inoculated with the spores of four species of fungi that possess cellulolytic activity (Alternaria alternata, Chae-tomium globosum, Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium oxalicum) and incubated for one month. The control and deteriorated samples of each group were evaluated by using visual assessment, light microscope (LM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), viscometer method and Fourier transform in-frared (FTIR) spectroscopy. It was concluded that fungal mechanisms of deterioration occurred in the form of hydrolysis, oxidation, depolymerization and recrystallization processes. Decreasing the influence of fungi by increasing the aging of linen textile samples was demonstrated. A. alternata and C. globosum showed the highest enzymatic activity in the samples from all groups as compared with other species.
Archaeometric analysis based on Optical Microscopy, X-Ray Fluorescence and Ion-Beam analysis were used to study a golden funerary belt with an anthropomorphic and zoomorphic iconography. This complex gold and enamel work shows the... more
Archaeometric analysis based on Optical Microscopy, X-Ray Fluorescence and Ion-Beam analysis were used to study a golden funerary belt with an anthropomorphic and zoomorphic iconography. This complex gold and enamel work shows the portraits of a man and a woman, as well as a libation scene, can be dated to the Early Hellenistic period. The data obtained point to a Near Eastern workshop (Babylon) as the place of manufacture , while comparative typology leads us to the Far East (Afghanistan) as the presumable origin of the morphotype. Elemental analysis results raise anew the old debate on the use of cadmium in the solder alloys. Finally, from the iconography we suggest to identify the manly figure with one of the few small format portraits of Alexander the Great.
We present the results of a comprehensive mineralogical and geochemical (archaeometrical) investigation of ceramics dating to the Early Bronze Age II (2600/2500-2200 BC) and the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1600 BC) from sites located in the... more
We present the results of a comprehensive mineralogical and geochemical (archaeometrical) investigation of ceramics dating to the Early Bronze Age II (2600/2500-2200 BC) and the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1600 BC) from sites located in the Upper Meander Basin of Denizli province in southwestern Anatolia. We analyzed the mineralogical and petrographical characteristics of the samples using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and optical microscopy, and we examined the chemical compositions with X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF). In general, the primary components of the ceramics include coarse-grained quartz, biotite, muscovite, pyroxene, plagioclase, and metamorphic rock fragments; we estimate a firing temperature under 800°C. The ceramics appear to be locally manufactured, given the close relationship between their mineralogical properties and the local geological structure and topography. Our analysis indicates that people living in the mountainous, plateau, and lowland areas each preferred different clay deposits in their pottery production. All of these areas, however, shared similar production technologies.
Exposure to atmospheric conditions results in considerable deterioration of calcareous building stones, lime mortars and plasters in archaeological monuments, requiring several conservation treatments. During the consolidation treatments... more
Exposure to atmospheric conditions results in considerable deterioration of calcareous building stones, lime mortars and plasters in archaeological monuments, requiring several conservation treatments. During the consolidation treatments of the deteriorated calcareous stones, compatibility can best be achieved by introducing a material that would have similar chemical composition and mineralogical structure with the original stone. In recent years, studies on the preparation of Ca(OH)2 nanodispersions for the consolidation of limestone and marble have increased but the preparation processes of these nanodispersions are usually complicated and time consuming. This study aimed to prepare Ca(OH)2 nanodispersions in ethyl alcohol at sufficient concentration levels with a practical method for the consolidation of calcareous archaeological materials. The preparation of higher concentrations of Ca(OH)2 nanodispersion in ethyl alcohol was done by using nano sized CaO and its dispersion in ethyl alcohol. Deteriorated marble pieces from Roman Marble Quarry near Pessinus Archaeological site (Ballıhisar, Turkey) were treated with the prepared Ca(OH)2 nanodispersion and kept at high relative humidity (~90%) at room temperature in the laboratory. Efficient penetration of the nanodispersion, and increase in the physi-comechanical properties of treated marbles were followed by examinations with polarizing microscope, SEM, XRD and ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements. Carbonation of the dispersion was followed by ti-trimetric analysis. Calcite was the main polymorph observed after carbonation. The results showed that consolidation treatments with Ca(OH)2 nanodispersions similar to the one prepared in this study can be used for all calcareous archaeological materials that need improvements in their physical and mechanical properties.
The small Iron-Age hillfort of Baroña (Porto do Son, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain) was inhabited during the last centuries BC and is in a singularly hostile environment on a small peninsula facing the Atlantic Ocean at the western end of the... more
The small Iron-Age hillfort of Baroña (Porto do Son, A Coruña, Galicia, Spain) was inhabited during the last centuries BC and is in a singularly hostile environment on a small peninsula facing the Atlantic Ocean at the western end of the Muros-Noia estuary. The habitat is composed by a mere twenty houses defended by a stunning complex of three lines of massive walls. A large rocky acropolis with faint but clear signs of human activity hangs over the habitat. The study of the acropolis reveals the possibility that they include awareness of the surrounding landscape and relevant moments of the solar cycle. A monumental stairway adjacent to the acropolis leads towards the cliff overlooking the sea and seems aligned with the winter solstice sunset happening on the ocean beyond. Over the acropolis, the rock that dominates the area presents carved basins and slender petroglyphs related with winter and summer solstice sunrises while the eastern horizon is dominated by Mount Enxa that signals 1st May sunrise as seen from the acropolis. Finally, summer solstice sunrise seen from the acropolis coincides with a little hill some 2.5 kilometer away on which slope a panel with petroglyphs presents the only carved representation of the sun known in Galicia and the panel itself is related to some astral calendric relations. We argue that the hillfort"s location seems to be a special place chosen to be a crossroad between the sky, the land, and the sea, i.e. the three elements constituting the Cosmos according to the Celtic tradition and shared by other Indo-European traditions.
This paper explores the potential significance, in archaeological, archaeoastronomical, and symbolic terms, of a NW/SE oriented row of 54 stone cairns, locally known as 'the path of the spirits'. The row of 54 cairns, which is apparently... more
This paper explores the potential significance, in archaeological, archaeoastronomical, and symbolic terms, of a NW/SE oriented row of 54 stone cairns, locally known as 'the path of the spirits'. The row of 54 cairns, which is apparently oriented towards the setting of the sun at the summer solstice, also displays a suggestive spatial proximity to an outstanding Late Bronze Age funerary complex. The row of cairns, which has been originally documented in the arid high mountain landscape of the Ikh Bogd Uul Mountain, Eastern Mongolian Altai, does not seem to feature in the archaeological literature of Mongolia. Nevertheless, both these characteristics, namely a NW/SE orientation and a spatial proximity to a Late prehistoric funerary mound, can be also observed in a row of 9 stone cairns documented in the satellite imagery a few kilometres away, on the southern slope of the Ikh Bogd Uul Mountain. In this paper, besides the description of such archaeological features, the hypothesis that the articulation of rows of cairns with a powerful orientation and numerical symbolism could be rooted in ancient and traditional Eurasian cosmologies and could play an important role in the local sacred and funerary geographies is discussed.
In a previous work based on different oral traditions collected at the beginning of the XX Century we verified that inside the cathedral of Saint James different illumination effects take place over the figure of Saint James located at... more
In a previous work based on different oral traditions collected at the beginning of the XX Century we verified that inside the cathedral of Saint James different illumination effects take place over the figure of Saint James located at the main altar, in particular at important dates related with Christianity and the own Saint. However, despite the fact that illumination effects occur and therefore suggest that they were sought and not a coincidence, we should ask how the builders of the cathedral could "create" them during the baroque reform of the cathedral. This is precisely the objective of this paper, to show how they could create this project of illumination or how they readapt a previous tradition that took place in the Romanesque building. To do that we count with different primary sources such as texts, drawings, ethnographic resources and cross-references. On a more methodological level, this is a study that deals with very different methods from diverse disciplines, such as archaeoastronomy or cultural astronomy, archaeology, architecture and ethnography. It is important to take into account, that the cathedral is an architectural project where the builders thought and planned a structure suitable for people in which the Christian imaginary had to be present, and therefore this illumination effects would play a very important role. However, such project was a living organism that evolved through time by the different reforms. Such reforms not only involved changes in the architectural styles but also in the concepts behind such styles. In particular it is important for our study how the concept and use of light within the temples changed along these centuries and how the light phenomenology was incorporated with a different meaning in the subsequent reforms. Finally, we recreate the possible method that the builders used based on architectural treatises.
Since its discovery, the Neolithic sanctuary from Parta, Timis county, Romania has been the subject of many archeoastronomical and ethnoastronomical studies. While interesting, the sanctuary itself is no longer visible in situ, with a... more
Since its discovery, the Neolithic sanctuary from Parta, Timis county, Romania has been the subject of many archeoastronomical and ethnoastronomical studies. While interesting, the sanctuary itself is no longer visible in situ, with a scaled replica, based on original materials, accessible inside the National Museum of Banat in Timisoara. Studies have focused on its solar alignment, lunar and stellar symbolism, eclipses, and horizon astronomy. The lack of actual azimuth readings of the original sanctuary make any astronomical alignment studies challenging if not impossible. The only evidence lies in the original experiment performed in situ during the autumnal equinox sunset on 23 September, 1982, and on maps showing the direction of the North. Regarding eclipses, the high ΔT uncertainty in Neolithic times makes any eclipse study questionable. In this paper we critically review prior work and introduce our own hypotheses regarding some interesting aspects of the sanctuary. We also identify possible horizon markers for the WSSR and equinoxes.
This article presents a colloboration between a research astronomer and a professional artist. The paintings resulting from this transdisciplinary work are inspired by stories of recent astronomical discoveries, and by images from... more
This article presents a colloboration between a research astronomer and a professional artist. The paintings resulting from this transdisciplinary work are inspired by stories of recent astronomical discoveries, and by images from ground-and space-based telescopes. During the collaborative process, the dialogue between the scientist and the artist emerges as a new language that changes the perspective of each. The work remains true to science while utilizing the possibilities of the oil-based medium. The aim of this project is to extend the art-science conversation to audiences viewing the work.
There is increasing evidence to suggest that cosmological factors were applied in the planning and orientation of Roman towns, at least under Augustus. Among others, this is the case of Colonia Augusta Praetoria Salassorum (Aosta) in... more
There is increasing evidence to suggest that cosmological factors were applied in the planning and orientation of Roman towns, at least under Augustus. Among others, this is the case of Colonia Augusta Praetoria Salassorum (Aosta) in Italia, Colonia Urbs Iulia Nova Carthago (Cartagena) in Hispania Citerior Tarraconensis, Colonia Copia Claudia Augusta Lugdunum (formerly Colonia Copia Felix Munatia, Lyon) in Gallia Lugdunensis, Colonia Augusta Treverorum (Trier) in Gallia Belgica, and Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium (formerly Ara Ubiorum, Cologne) in Germania Inferior. For the sake of strengthening the sample of cities studied, and identifying orientation patterns from a chronological and astronomical perspective, a number of public structures from Colonia Ulpia Traiana (Xanten) in Germania Inferior were measured. This town was a Roman colony, founded in A.D. 98 by Trajan with a contingent of veteran soldiers and a group of Germanic people. The result was the establishment of a typical Roman settlement with an orthogonal urban grid, whose planning and orientation took cosmological factors into account. In this case, in contrast to the previous examples, we propose that the decumanus maximus was not oriented directly according to the solar arc, but that instead it was possibly linked with other celestial bodies. In addition, the Gallo-Roman temple supposedly dedicated in this town to the Matronae or the Matres was oriented according to the major lunar standstill ("lunistice"). Therefore, this study aims to present the first results regarding the urban orientation of Colonia Ulpia Traiana according to a non-solar pattern, and attemps to provide a preliminary explanation for it from a cultural perspective.
Among the archaic cosmologic and cosmogonic concepts of cultures worldwide and across time the metaphor of the world as a giant living entity is significant. People cultures considered the universe to be e.g. an animal, a giant human, or... more
Among the archaic cosmologic and cosmogonic concepts of cultures worldwide and across time the metaphor of the world as a giant living entity is significant. People cultures considered the universe to be e.g. an animal, a giant human, or an egg. The anatomy of certain creatures, in particular of the human being, served as an excellent model for the world"s spatial construction, time-factored changes and cycles of reproduction. The giant cosmic living being showed a form of metabolism, respiration, and reproduction, appearing e.g. as wind currents, water cycle, seasons, tides, lifecycles of plants, animal, and humans, linked to celestial phenomena. People especially considered heaven and earth to act like the human reproductive organs and identified the cosmos with a giant womb. Moreover, the cosmogonic first and essential dichotomy, which causes the world"s diversities, was compared with a kind of primordial sacrifice of a giant cosmic living entity. People regarded the landscape, a cave, a dwelling, a cultic building, or a settlement as an embodiment of the cosmic living entity in miniature, reflecting the characteristics of the macrocosmic being. This study gives an overview of ideas considering the world as a living entity, with respect to cultures through the ages. Concepts of iatromancy are included. The methodology uses approaches of comparative mythology, studies of religions, archaeology, anatomy, medicine, and social anthropology.
The parish of the "Santi AngeliCustodi" ("Holy Guardian Angels") is a church in Rome, built between 1924 and 1925 by the architect Gustavo Giovannoni. The interior has a single nave with four side chapels, above which large windows open,... more
The parish of the "Santi AngeliCustodi" ("Holy Guardian Angels") is a church in Rome, built between 1924 and 1925 by the architect Gustavo Giovannoni. The interior has a single nave with four side chapels, above which large windows open, and is decorated with numerous frescoes. One of these, located above the little side door on the left side of the nave, represents a Nativity.This fresco is directly illuminated by sunlight entering through the window, located above the Chapel to the right of the main church entrance, just at midday of the few days between the winter solstice and Christmas, when, since the founding of the church, the celebration of the Mass officiated by the Parish Priest begins.This coincidence may suggest that a voluntary hierophany has been searched. However, this lighting effect is very likely due to chance alone. In fact, the orientation of the church axis is due to the fact that the architect wanted it in line with the bridge that crosses the Aniene river and there is no documentation or testimonies of any specific criteria for indoor decorative painting. On the other hand, no importance in the celebrations has ever been given to the particular lighting effect of the fresco of the Nativity in the Christmas period. This case shows that the statistics is not sufficient to demonstrate the intentionality of a hierophany, in the absence of historical, archaeological or textual evidence: in fact, in this case, it was possible to establish that the lighting effect was not intentional just because it occurs in a modern monument, on which full documentation and testimonies of living witnesses are available.
This paper attempts to answer the question if the skyline phenomenon of the reappearing Sun can be seen from several monuments as part of an Neolithic Orcadian culture? Several sites are evaluated. Within Maeshowe (a chambered cairn) one... more
This paper attempts to answer the question if the skyline phenomenon of the reappearing Sun can be seen from several monuments as part of an Neolithic Orcadian culture? Several sites are evaluated. Within Maeshowe (a chambered cairn) one can experience the Winter Solstice Sun, but also the reappearing setting Sun some 20 days before/after Winter Solstice day behind Ward Hill and reappearing for a few minutes at the right slope of Ward Hill. This phenomenon looks not to have been witnessed in historic past. As this reappearing Sun is a phenomenon of the skyline (fore sight) due the steep slope of the two hills; it can also be witnessed at other locations (back sights) on Orkney. Based on visual 4D computer simulations; the Sun"s reappearance has been recorded at Ness of Brodgar and Breckness settlements in 1999. At that time Historic Environment Scotland was informed about the possible archaeological importance of the Ness of Brodgar and Breckness. Chance artefacts and recent excavations at Ness of Brodgar show that there is indeed significant archaeology in the form of a large likely ceremonial centre. Interviews were broadcasted in 1997, 2000 and 2012 by Radio Orkney and BBC Scotland to ask listen-ers/viewers for experiences around the reappearing Sun. This provided a link to a contemporary sighting of light reflections on Ward Hill. Several interpretations of the landscape with its built environment are provided: from the possible conscious perception of the reappearing Sun; through a symbolic link with the possibly sacred Hoy hills; to the incorporation of such foci into humanised space that links sky, land and humans with an annual rhythm: a possible pilgrim route.
The archipelago of the Aeolian Islands is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, to North of the Sicilian coast. Since 2000 the Aeolian Islands are an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The human presence in the archipelago is attested since very... more
The archipelago of the Aeolian Islands is located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, to North of the Sicilian coast. Since 2000 the Aeolian Islands are an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The human presence in the archipelago is attested since very ancient times (Bernabò Brea, 1958). The prehistoric people were in fact attracted by the presence of large quantities of obsidian, glassy substance of volcanic origin through which the Aeolian Islands were the center of flourishing trade routes (Tusa, 1999). In this paper we analyze the positioning of the prehistoric villages of the Eolian Islands taking into account archaeoastronomy and the aspects of landscape archeology. In particular, the study is aimed at understanding if in the choice of the site used for the construction of the various villages, the profile of eastern or western horizons may have played a determining role or not. Here we present preliminary results of the study made with the satellite data (Google Earth) and data measured by the first measurement campaigns in the field (april 2017). The in situ measurement campaign will be completed in autumn 2018.
According to the Maya records, in 682 CE the Dos
When philosophers, poets or astronomers have tried to comprehend the vastness of the universe, from early times to the present days, the possibility of an infinite universe has appeared as an appealing speculation. Although, we do not yet... more
When philosophers, poets or astronomers have tried to comprehend the vastness of the universe, from early times to the present days, the possibility of an infinite universe has appeared as an appealing speculation. Although, we do not yet have a compelling answer to the question: "is the universe infinite?" our present cosmological knowledge provides us with some clues to delineate which is the most likely answer. This contribution aims to address this question from the point of view of the history of thought, from the ancient philosophers to the present astronomers, taking into account the interweaving relationship between scientific knowledge and culture. Its connection with the solutions to the so-called Olbers' paradox will be analysed in detail, including those appearing in literary works, like the prose poem Eureka (1848) by Edgar Alan Poe.
During an expedition to the Texas-Mexican border area in September-October 1858, the Belgian astronomer Jean-Charles Houzeau (1820-1888) admired-a beautiful comet‖. At that moment, he was not aware that the comet had already been... more
During an expedition to the Texas-Mexican border area in September-October 1858, the Belgian astronomer Jean-Charles Houzeau (1820-1888) admired-a beautiful comet‖. At that moment, he was not aware that the comet had already been discovered in June 1858 by Giovanni Battista Donati. Houzeau sent detailed descriptions of his whereabouts to his family and to a colleague at the University of Brussels. Donati's comet, with its curved tail extending 40 degrees across the sky, became a big news event, and inspired visual artists worldwide. Many paintings and sketches were produced. Some of these artworks show quite literal transcriptions of the surroundings, and even have scientific overtones, whereas others are more artistic than exact. The comet also inspired jewelry artisans, and poets: some lyric poems include-just like some artworks do-elements that refer to mid-nineteenth century scientific developments. A basic ephemeris analysis shows that the cometary passages allegedly attributed to the same comet in the time span 104-1858 AD cannot be assigned to a single comet. An analysis of a drawing by William Hayes Hilton leads to the conclusion that the artist could not possibly have painted the landscape and the starscape at the same moment and at the date suggested by the position of the comet with respect to the star Arcturus. A similar conclusion is reached for a painting by British artist William Dyce. The artistic representations of this comet indirectly contributed to familiarization of the mid-nineteenth century public with some specific stars and constellations. As such, Donati's comet showed the road to the stars.
The globe of Hipparchus is not preserved. For that reason, it has been a source of much speculation and scientific inquiry during the last few centuries. This study presents a new analysis of the data given in the commentary on Aratus'... more
The globe of Hipparchus is not preserved. For that reason, it has been a source of much speculation and scientific inquiry during the last few centuries. This study presents a new analysis of the data given in the commentary on Aratus' poem by Hipparchus, in comparison with other contemporary Babylonian and Greek astronomical data, as well as their predecessors in the first millennium and their successors up to Ptolemy. The result of all these studies are the following: i) although the data of Ptolemy and Hipparchus are undoubtedly correlated, it is certainly also wrong to accuse Ptolemy having simply copied and transformed it without correct citation; ii) although Hipparchus presumably observed most of his star catalogue with his own instruments, we cannot neglect Babylonian influences. Hipparchus was educated in Greek astronomy but, in his time, there are traces of Babylonian influences since at least two centuries. Since we are unable to definitely prove that Hipparchus used Babylonian data, we are not sure if there are direct Babylonian influences in his time or as a consequence of his education only. Finally, we present a virtual 3D-image showing what the globe of Hipparchus might have looked like.
The development of the signs of the zodiac as a division of the band through which the moon, sun, and planets travel into twelve equal parts represents a major step in the history of ancient astronomy. The development of the uniform... more
The development of the signs of the zodiac as a division of the band through which the moon, sun, and planets travel into twelve equal parts represents a major step in the history of ancient astronomy. The development of the uniform zodiac took place in Babylonia in the late fifth century BC and was subsequently transmitted to other parts of the ancient world. In this paper I present a preliminary discussion of the development of the zodiac as a framework for positioning celestial bodies. This development took place within a Babylonian tradition which was both observational and computational. In addition to consideering the conceptual framework of the zodiac, I pay particular attention to the way that names for the signs of the zodiac were assigned.
We discuss the peculiar planning of the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, in the Canary Island of Tenerife (Spain), when compared to the nearby and essentially contemporary Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which served as a maritime port of the... more
We discuss the peculiar planning of the city of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, in the Canary Island of Tenerife (Spain), when compared to the nearby and essentially contemporary Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which served as a maritime port of the former city. For this we review our previous study of the exact spatial orientation of twenty-one historic Christian churches currently existing in the old part of La Laguna, which we compare with the analysis of six similar buildings located in Santa Cruz, and presented here for the first time. In both cities, we take the spatial orientation of historic churches as good indicators of the original layout of the respective urban lattices. Although we find a clear orientation pattern for La Laguna, which singles out an absolute-value astronomical declination slightly below 20°, pointing to a preferred date close to the July 25th feast-day of San Cristóbal de Licia, in the case of Santa Cruz this trend is not followed. On the contrary, the pattern we find for Santa Cruz, within the uncertainties due to the low statistics, and apart from one equinoctial and one solstitial oriented churches, is consistent with an orographic orientation within the canonic limits of sunrise. This result highlights the uniqueness of the city of La Laguna, and supports the idea suggesting its deliberate planning in the early 16th century.
The island of Gran canaria in the Canarian Archipelago is characterized by the presence of sanctuaries at the top of significant mountains and on the scarps of the huge volcanic calderas of the island (the so-called almogarenes) where... more
The island of Gran canaria in the Canarian Archipelago is characterized by the presence of sanctuaries at the top of significant mountains and on the scarps of the huge volcanic calderas of the island (the so-called almogarenes) where particular rituals took place at precise moments of the year. In particular, the area of the Caldera de Tejeda presents a paradigmatic example of an adaptive process to a harsh but attractive environment, offering an excellent horizon, with impressive natural monuments such as the Roques Bentayga and Nublo acting as reference landmarks, where land-and skyscapes could be in close contact and permanent interaction. This chain of facts suggests it as the perfect location for a Cultural Landscape interconnected with the sky which might be defended within UNESCO and IAU Astronomy and World Heritage Initiative. The recently discovered light and shadow effects at Risco Caído are indeed a highlight within this particular context. In Gran Canaria, dedicated fieldwork strongly suggests that most of the high-mountain sanctuaries could be related with solar and lunar observations and, probably, astral cults. After presenting a wider cultural context of sites arorund Spain and the world, this paper will show how Gran Canaria ought to be considered as an excellent laboratory where the close relationship between land-and skyscapes in human culture can be illustrated; and how the area selected within the island is a paradigm, within this particular framework, as a marvellous example of a Cultural Landscape worth being declared as World Heritage.
The Clava Cairns of the Central Highlands of Scotland were recognised by Aubrey Burl (1973) as largely lunar orientated. Their defining feature is a southwest orientation, as described by Audrey Shore Henshall (1972), Stuart Piggott... more
The Clava Cairns of the Central Highlands of Scotland were recognised by Aubrey Burl (1973) as largely lunar orientated. Their defining feature is a southwest orientation, as described by Audrey Shore Henshall (1972), Stuart Piggott (1982), Clive Ruggles (1999) and Richard Bradley (2000). However Balnuaran of Clava has two passage-graves which Ewan MacKie (1975) found aligned with midwinter sunset and Bradley (2016) compared this orientation with those of Maes Howe, Durrington Walls and Stonehenge. Bradley (2000) also suggested that midsummer sunrise at Balnuaran of Clava connected the central ring-cairn with a separate monument at Mains of Clava, neither monument being directly opposite Balnuaran's passage-graves. This posed questions about the comparative roles of ring-cairns and passage-graves, light versus dark, potentially summer versus winter. This paper considers the major lunar limit, by exploring the topography of the region's river systems which are orientated northeast-southwest. Skyscape archaeology fieldwork focused on the southern horizon and the major lunar limit at one hundred and thirty eight locations. One hundred riverside (non-cairn) locations constituted the expected baseline for data, plus thirty eight cairn sites. Each exhibited a lunar horizonal event during major lunar limit years, ranging from normal to invisible. Most Clava cairns were located at sites where interesting lunar phenomena were visible, such as skimming, disappearing and emerging, despite the bulk of the terrain being in midsummer full moon darkness (non-visibility) during major limit years. Balnuaran of Clava was significantly different, exhibiting midwinter sunset, while experiencing midsummer full moon darkness, confirming Ruggles' (1999) description of the site as exceptional.
In this paper we analyze the strange case of two churches located not far from each other, identified with the same name, Sant'Apollinare, situated one in Carpignano Sesia (No) and the other in Fisrengo-Casalbeltrame (No), at about ten... more
In this paper we analyze the strange case of two churches located not far from each other, identified with the same name, Sant'Apollinare, situated one in Carpignano Sesia (No) and the other in Fisrengo-Casalbeltrame (No), at about ten kilometers each other, in the region of Piedmont, Italy. In a deed dated 1174 A.D it is mentioned the Templar Mansione Sanctum Apollinarem, in the area of Novara, where the Count Guido of Biandrate donates to the Templars everything he owned in the region Ruspalia, but there is not any indication or land registry map to identify the exact position of the mansio. In these two places the Order's presence is indicated by the archive historical documents, mostly, related to acts of buying and selling, but despite this there is a diatribe for the identification of the " Templar Church". Additional means of identification can be offered by an archaeoastronomical analysis of the temples within the context of their surrounding landscape and skyscape. A twofold approach was chosen, consisting of an archaeoastronomical examination of the temple's orientations, and an analysis of placenames and documents which. The two churches have been measured "in situ. Subsequently an appropriate statistical study was carried out in order to infer the distribution function of the astronomical orientations with the aim to perform an appropriate archaeoastronomical analysis. A set of appropriate statistical tests, based on artificial Neural Network, were designed and applied in order to check the possible solutions. The result is that the church that best meets the features of the Templar churches built in Piedmont is the church Sant'Apollinare in Carpignano Sesia.
The Incas are renowned for their architecture, skillful masonry, complex political organization and their extensive system of roads. One of their most remarkable achievements was the ascent and the building of ceremonial structures on... more
The Incas are renowned for their architecture, skillful masonry, complex political organization and their extensive system of roads. One of their most remarkable achievements was the ascent and the building of ceremonial structures on many of the highest peaks of the Andes, including Llullaillaco with an altitude of 22,110 feet, containing the world's highest archaeological site. Offerings on the summits were made after state-supported pilgrimages, which often involved weeks or months of travel, covering distances of 1000 km or more. This paper discusses the sacrifices on the summit of Llullaillaco, their possible astronomical attributes and explores the meaning behind these challenging endeavors. Llullaillaco can be climbed only during the southern summer, between November to March. The summit platform contained the bodies of three children, a 13-year-old girl and a boy and girl aged 4-5 years. Because the burials were in undisturbed conditions when excavated by Reinhard and his colleagues they also provided evidence for the role of astronomy in this ceremony. The platform has been rotated toward December solstice sunrise, which would have been an extraordinary endeavor, considering the difficulties of building and orienting stone structures at such an extreme altitude. Alignment of the young boy to sunrise on Capac Raymi may have been intended. The girl may have been oriented to June solstice sunrise. These ceremonies appear to have been a combination of imperial geopolitics and reciprocity between humans and mountain deities.
The almogaren (rock-cut sanctuary) of Risco Caído was discovered in 1996 in the Canary island of Gran Canaria. It is a paradigmatic example of a complex where light and shadow effects of an astronomical character have been found within... more
The almogaren (rock-cut sanctuary) of Risco Caído was discovered in 1996 in the Canary island of Gran Canaria. It is a paradigmatic example of a complex where light and shadow effects of an astronomical character have been found within the recent archaeological discoveries of a religious and ritual character in the Canaries. The main artificially excavated camera of the cultural complex Cave 6 takes the form of a cylinder, topped with a dome in the form of paraboloid. In this dome, a 2m long tunnel is excavated by which the light of the Sun penetrates at dawn, from spring to autumn equinoxes. The entering light projects enigmatic images on the western wall of the sanctuary, where numerous pubic triangles (vulvae − the universal symbol of fertility −) are recorded in low relief. Two dots of light of the sun first illuminate the decorated wall in March 19th (and september 25th) in the proleptic Gregorian Calendar, colliding and forming a single image for the time of the equinox, thus allowing the determination of a rough midpoint in time between the solstices. The rising and ascending sun then penetrates the cave during the spring and summer months, reaching its extreme at the moment of the summer solstice when the light takes a form roughly resembling a phallus illuminating the vulvae. This paper will desscribe the site and these series of illuminating effects and will discuss how this could have been interpreted by the ancient inhabitants of the island within the context of a lunar-solar calendar related to the cycle of fertility and permanent regeneration of life.
Traditional archaeological location modelling, whilst very informative about spatial patterns across a 2D spectrum, can be limited in its contribution to understanding human choice about location. On the other hand, projects combining... more
Traditional archaeological location modelling, whilst very informative about spatial patterns across a 2D spectrum, can be limited in its contribution to understanding human choice about location. On the other hand, projects combining statistical tests with models influenced by individual immersion techniques have a far better chance of understanding the choices people made in regards to place and confirming the likelihood of these apparent choices. In the past we have statistically tested and confirmed the likelihood that the points on the horizon as indicated by monument alignments as a regional group, were statistically different in terms of direction, altitude and distance from the monuments, compared to any other place on the surrounding visible horizon for monuments within particular regions. That is, the chosen points on the horizon indicated by the alignments do not appear to be random. We then tested the likelihood that monuments were erected with astronomy in mind in different locations across Scotland, using simpler standing stone monuments by region, and some complex monuments individually, like stone circles. We have also used 3D panoramas to view how things were seen at each site from the viewpoint of an individual. We have now created new statistical approaches to test different questions we might have of these panoramas. Most pertinently, we now have a test that can assess whether the two dominant horizon shapes found, which affect which astronomical bodies can be seen at these monuments, were likely chosen by their builders or if their shapes are likely determined by chance factors.
The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (built pre-450), is one of Ravenna"s UNESCO protected monuments, renowned worldwide for the extraordinary mosaic decorations that cover its internal surfaces. The famous starry vault profoundly engages and... more
The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (built pre-450), is one of Ravenna"s UNESCO protected monuments, renowned worldwide for the extraordinary mosaic decorations that cover its internal surfaces. The famous starry vault profoundly engages and inspires the observer. Its accurate representation of the real sky has been analysed and described, as has its mystical and symbolic meaning in relation to the iconographic tradition of the time. Archaeoastronomical research was carried out on the building by Giuliano Romano, who measured its orientation. The azimuth value of 180.2° highlights a north-south bearing, unique among the other Byzantine buildings in Ravenna. This paper also examines other architectural elements beyond the orientation, with particular attention paid to the building"s small slit windows, investigating their possible archaeoastronomical significance. A functional 3D model was developed from the archaeoastronomical analysis data to display the original morphology of the building (the floor was about 140 cm lower due to subsidence), and astronomical phenomena, and to provide a multimedia way of communicating the scientific content produced. This final part of the contribution forms part of the trials conducted by the research group into interactive and non-interactive multimedia communication based on virtual models as an edutainment tool for the enjoyment of cultural sites and artefacts.
It has been proven that many of the rhyolite and dolerite bluestones that reside within the Sarsen circle of Stonehenge originate from the Preseli Hills of Wales (Bevins, Ixer; 2013, 2014). Yet, no evidence can be found that the rows of... more
It has been proven that many of the rhyolite and dolerite bluestones that reside within the Sarsen circle of Stonehenge originate from the Preseli Hills of Wales (Bevins, Ixer; 2013, 2014). Yet, no evidence can be found that the rows of stones that are circumjacent to the Preseli Hills have ever been investigated to determine if any orientations to features within the Hills exists, or, whether they may possess any astronomical orientation as occurs with Scottish stone rows (Thom, 1967; Fisher, 2013). References to these sites, are few (Burl, 1993; Williams,1988) and information is somewhat anecdotal. To expand the knowledge base, five sites, each comprising of a pair of stones, were investigated by means of site visits and 3-dimensional computerisation in order to envisage any potential orientations, to either the Hills themselves or celestial events, during the period of the suspected construction of the Mid-Neolithic to early Bronze age time frame. The resultant investigation determined that not only do the sites have potential orientations toward the lunar minor and major limits, but concur with the concept of duality as proposed by Sims (2016).
Theatre has a longstanding and surprising tradition of familiarity with the starry night and its investigators but alas, since Ariosto's Negromante, Della Porta's Lo Astrologo and the many comedias of the Golden Age of Spanish Theatre the... more
Theatre has a longstanding and surprising tradition of familiarity with the starry night and its investigators but alas, since Ariosto's Negromante, Della Porta's Lo Astrologo and the many comedias of the Golden Age of Spanish Theatre the adepts of the stars are almost invariably portrayed as tricksters, buffoons and greedy cheaters pretending to be experts of astrology and magic. Comedy is everywhere in modern Europe the only genre associated to such characters and to the study of the universe, at least until the 19 th century, when farcical dramaturgy is complemented by some minor tragedies (e.g. Nievo's pioneering Galilei, Andreev's To the Stars, Gsantner's Tolternicus and Ogilvie's Hypatia) that slowly pave the way to 20 th century dramas centered on science (the prototype is Brecht's Life of Galileo). I propose a voyage through the history of theatrical astrologers/astronomers tracing the evolution of the complex relationship between stars and stage and at the same time analyzing the ascent of the contemporary science-play format where the dramaturgy either inflates becoming verbose, philosophical and sometimes ironical or tends to dissolve in a multisensory experience of cosmos, history and society called Postdramatic Theatre.
Archaeoastronomers have made great strides in development of research methodologies, yet there is limited curriculum available to train new practitioners. If we seek results that address current archaeological research questions, then our... more
Archaeoastronomers have made great strides in development of research methodologies, yet there is limited curriculum available to train new practitioners. If we seek results that address current archaeological research questions, then our work must necessarily be pertinent to such questions and grounded in rigorous archaeoastronomy fieldwork and analytical methods. Furthermore, the inferences we create should be supported by the points of intersection between archaeoastronomical data and archaeological theory (Iwa-niszewski, 2015). To achieve these objectives, practitioners must be aware of current archaeological research questions, trained in archaeoastronomy methods, and aware of the intersections between archaeoastronomi-cal data and archaeological theory. Historical and ethnohistorical information from a wide variety of cultures demonstrate that visual astronomy may be interconnected with cosmovision, politics, ritual, religion, and economics in variable and unique ways. Research must be iterative and interdisciplinary. To illustrate variations in interdisciplinary sources, we briefly present two case studies. These case studies underscore the variability of sources supporting archaeoastronomy research; therefore, a curriculum and supporting instructional materials to train practitioners must by definition be interdisciplinary (see, e.g., Magli, 2016). Such a curriculum is under development for the University of Oklahoma's College of Professional and Continuing Studies (OU PACS). One key charter of OU PACS is interdisciplinary study. The OU PACS Archaeo-astronomy program will integrate astronomy, anthropology, archaeology, history of science, and history of religion. The program is initially planned to include five (5) graduate courses offered as a graduate certificate. The program prominently features North American archaeoastronomy and will include a field methods practicum.
The present research aims to clarify a certain visual and mythical-poetic elements of Lithuanian folk culture as codified images and symbols associated with the mythology of Baltic Aušra, Aušrinė (Morning star, Sun Maiden and Sunrise) and... more
The present research aims to clarify a certain visual and mythical-poetic elements of Lithuanian folk culture as codified images and symbols associated with the mythology of Baltic Aušra, Aušrinė (Morning star, Sun Maiden and Sunrise) and to highlight previously unnoticed systemic relations between investigated cultural phenomena, based on the tradition of the mythical world-view. Forms of particular rake type patterns in folk textiles, their ancient archaeological analogues, and their folk names are analysed. Comb/rake pattern forms and folk names are investigated as elements of mythical-poetic images, related to a combing action, in folklore and customs associated with textile techniques. Ethnographic, folkloric and archaeological data, and other local cultural and transcultural material is examined from an interdisciplinary perspective, using historical and typological comparative and semiotic approaches, and from ethnological and mythological points of view. The investigation of the Aušrinė image mythical-poetic context of wedding folklore, customs, textile technologies and patterns reveals that its semantic field embraces folkloric extraordinary maidens, divine virgins, characterised by the attributes of comb and rake, and the actions of hair combing and hair braiding, and hay raking. Magic-symbolic hair combing and braiding actions were very important in Baltic wedding rites of passage. This kind of textile technique, as well as the comb pattern on sashes in this context, are interpreted as a codification of the wedding transformation related to Morning Star mythology.
The towns of Aventicum (Avenches, Switzerland) and Augusta Raurica (Augst, Switzerland) were the main
During a major standstill the maximum declination of the moon at successive lunations varies by only a small amount. Observing the extreme north/south position of the moon would require an alignment of high precision. Alexander Thom... more
During a major standstill the maximum declination of the moon at successive lunations varies by only a small amount. Observing the extreme north/south position of the moon would require an alignment of high precision. Alexander Thom believed that this had been done in the Early Bronze Age. Most of the claimed sites are in Scotland. Atmospheric conditions, especially variation in temperature and pressure can cause variation in atmospheric refraction, particularly at very low altitude. Large variations have been found to be common in Chile and North America as result of which Bradley Schaefer has stated that the results claimed by Thom would not be possible. However there is no reason per se why atmospheric conditions in other parts of the world should be relevant to Scotland. Investigations in Scotland have found that refraction variation, even down to one degree altitude, is typically less than one minute of arc. It is concluded, therefore, that it is unreasonable to claim that refraction variation elsewhere would prevent the possible existence of precise lunar alignments in Scotland. Recent investigations by the present author, provides evidence for the possible existence of such alignments.
The contemporary world is strongly shaped by the complex links between the local and the global in the present phase of capitalism. This scenario is essential for understanding cultural dynamics, including those that are of main interest... more
The contemporary world is strongly shaped by the complex links between the local and the global in the present phase of capitalism. This scenario is essential for understanding cultural dynamics, including those that are of main interest for cultural astronomy. Nevertheless, the special epistemic status that is usually assigned to academic astronomy helps hide the power relations involved in public debates about the knowledge of the sky. In this context, the recurring conflicts between large international astronomical enterprises and local communities are special situations that bring these disguised aspects of astronomy to light. Therefore, our work draws on these clashes to discuss the tensions among different notions of celestial space, knowledge, territory, public interest, and identity, taking as a case study the rising controversy relating to the construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) in Hawai"i, within the context of the XXIX General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union. Also, we analyze the specific role of cultural astronomy in these types of conflicts, which once again demonstrates the political character of all knowledge.
Fifty thousand years ago, humans demonstrated their urge to explore by leaving Africa and radiating out across the planet. About fifty years ago, they mastered the technology to leave the planet for the first time. Now, we are poised to... more
Fifty thousand years ago, humans demonstrated their urge to explore by leaving Africa and radiating out across the planet. About fifty years ago, they mastered the technology to leave the planet for the first time. Now, we are poised to venture out into the Solar System and beyond, to the stars. Only 600 people have been in Earth orbit, and just 12 have stood on another world. For most of its history, the-Space Race‖ was a superpower rivalry born out of the Cold War. Now, new countries involved and a burgeoning private sector has bold plans for tourism and commerce beyond the Earth. The next fifty years should see colonies on the Moon and Mars, the mining of asteroids, a space elevator, and increasing human exploration of the Solar System. Space travel is poised to transition from being the activity of an elite few to being a broader aspect of human culture. The dream of human travel to the stars may finally be within reach.
We measure the orientation of 297 early Christian churches (mainly in the Eastern Illyricum) by remote sensing (i.e. Google Earth). Of this, we select a subset of 194 churches that do not seem restricted in their placement by their... more
We measure the orientation of 297 early Christian churches (mainly in the Eastern Illyricum) by remote sensing (i.e. Google Earth). Of this, we select a subset of 194 churches that do not seem restricted in their placement by their surroundings, and conclude that 98% of them point within the solar sunrise arc. The mean orientation is towards the equinox sunrise, although the concept of equinox seems ambiguous. Even if there is some circumstantial evidence, there seems to be no accepted custom of orientation based on the date of foundation, on the sunrise on the patron saint's feast, or towards the sunrise on major feasts.
During the 13th century the Czech state became a major power, significantly influencing the political situation in Central Europe. Alongside with the increasing positions of power of the Czech state, important changes also occurred in the... more
During the 13th century the Czech state became a major power, significantly influencing the political situation in Central Europe. Alongside with the increasing positions of power of the Czech state, important changes also occurred in the interior of the country. Remarkable economic development led to a process of urbanization throughout the country's territory. Concurrently in the wider European region similar political, social and economic changes favored analogous developments, including a new intellectual movement reviving the ancient Greek natural philosophy, including astronomy. It is certain that this fact did not leave unaffected the architectural thought and creativity of the era. The present paper studies the orientation of fifteen of these new Czech towns, developed in the late 13th century, for a possible astronomical connection.
Amongst the many astronomical phenomena that have inspired speculation regarding their nature, the
The aim of this work is to describe different kinds of astronomical and astrological works written in the sixteenth century, with special emphasis on Portuguese and Spanish texts. This period is especially relevant in the development of... more
The aim of this work is to describe different kinds of astronomical and astrological works written in the sixteenth century, with special emphasis on Portuguese and Spanish texts. This period is especially relevant in the development of astronomical culture in Portugal and Spain, since this was the age of the great overseas explorations, when astronomical navigation became of fundamental importance. The astronomical culture of that time involved ancient and new concepts, and old revisited narratives about the cosmos and its influence in many facets of the sublunary world. The present research describes the influence and transformation of the classical and medieval astronomical culture in the specific context of sixteenth century Iberian texts. There were different publics involved in the production and study of those works, such as navigators, priests, physicians, farmers, astrologers and scholars. Those different aspects of astronomical and astrological knowledge were not distinct, there was a significant overlap between them; and the educated public required some broad acquaintance with those several approaches. Some popular treatises, called Chronographia, or Reportorio dos tempos, provided astronomical and astrological information required by the general public. This overview of those sources can contribute to a better and more comprehensive understanding of the astronomical culture in that period.
In the northern-most Island of the Japanese archipelago, Hokkaido, there live indigenous hunter-gathers known as the Ainu. Among the Hokkaido Ainu, each nuclear family lived in a house, called chise. Each chise contained a sacred window,... more
In the northern-most Island of the Japanese archipelago, Hokkaido, there live indigenous hunter-gathers known as the Ainu. Among the Hokkaido Ainu, each nuclear family lived in a house, called chise. Each chise contained a sacred window, rorun-puyar (or kamuy puyara) at the opposite side of the entrance and the skull of a ritually killed bear during the Iomante (sacred bear ritual) would be carried into the house through this window. Previous ethnographic research has suggested that the sacred window was facing east, but regional variation in the direction of the window has also been observed. Among 1,034 burials from the Pre-Modern Ainu Period (circa. 13 to 17 century), there is a strong tendency for burials to be oriented toward the east, but in this case too local variation exists. The orientations of houses and burials seem to have been decided based on several other factors, such as river orientation, land slope, and various others. Ainu villages were typically arranged along a river and the river's upstream movement towards a sacred mountain was just as important as the eastward orientation noted above. Thus, we need to develop a more integrated view of the ways Ainu understand nature and orientation in order to increase our comprehension of these questions .
A new software tool is introduced in this paper. It renders the local horizon for a terrestrial observer and the sky tracks of celestial objects that are of interest in cultural astronomy, with sufficient precision for historical times,... more
A new software tool is introduced in this paper. It renders the local horizon for a terrestrial observer and the sky tracks of celestial objects that are of interest in cultural astronomy, with sufficient precision for historical times, by using open-source software tools and geographical data. Unlike popular planetarium software in which the researcher must know in advance the approximate date that an astronomically interesting event may have occurred, this tool allows the researcher to find the dates that events of cultural interest happened in the past and provides a basic visual representation of how they could have been observed from a location of interest. Celestial events such as the rising and setting of the Sun, Moon and planet Venus can be graphically compared to specific azimuthal orientations in order to determine possible astronomical intentionality. The software has been tested by the authors in their own research work, who were able to save resources such as travel time and expenses, since there was no need for further visits in astronomically interesting dates to the site.
Evolution of megalithic and rock-cut monuments used for astronomical observations and practices in ancient Thrace are presented in this work. Classificaton is made after independent archaeoastronomical research of the rock-cut monuments... more
Evolution of megalithic and rock-cut monuments used for astronomical observations and practices in ancient Thrace are presented in this work. Classificaton is made after independent archaeoastronomical research of the rock-cut monuments and cave sanctuaries. The discovery and the accumulation of "in situ" material allow to identify the signs of the formation of a number of their parameters-territorial, chronological, functional. One of the promising areas of research, for example, is to distinguish different rock shrines and megalithic complexes associated with long term astronomical observations and astronomical practices. Another area is the specification of the affiliation of individual objects to synchronously existed settlements and tribal communities. This way, reasons for their appearance, function and place in everyday life of citizens and society in Ancient Thrace can be justified. Here we consider examples of positional astronomical observations, projective systems, and monochrome paintings with calendar records. We present the concept of "dynamic structure of the rock-cut monument", which means that the site is characterized not only with space but also with time parameters as cyclicity and duration of existence connected with various cults and cult practices. The evolution of astronomical facilities and practices is shown by the suggested typology of the rock-cut monuments according to their locality, landscape of the environment, functional astronomical elements, and accuracy.
During the Summer of 2016, the Planetarium of Rome organized a successful and innovative public observing event: E Lucevan le Stelle. Intended to revamp the attention for the local Planetarium and Astronomical Museum-closed since 4 years... more
During the Summer of 2016, the Planetarium of Rome organized a successful and innovative public observing event: E Lucevan le Stelle. Intended to revamp the attention for the local Planetarium and Astronomical Museum-closed since 4 years for renovation works-the event was a call to citizens and amateurs to join the Planetarium astronomers at 8 different locations in the city with their own telescopes for free stargazing sessions, like a diffuse urban star party. Each place was selected in relation to an astronomical theme, with "guided tours" to the evening sky narrated by the Planetarium astronomers, illustrating the cultural relevance of each location with reference to the history of astronomy in Rome. By connecting the squares and the parks used as observing spots, the circuit of E Lucevan le Stelle invited the public to create a new constellation over Rome and name it. Inspired by the historic effort of Pope Sixtus V, who traced the streets around the Basilica of S. Maria Maggiore in the shape of a star, and by other astronomical readings of the network of churches and landmarks, the goal of this event was to bring to light the ancient connections between Rome and the stars, in the spirit of the European Year of Cultural Heritage. By switching off the main lights at each location, the project aimed at encouraging a direct participation to a collective repossession of the urban sky. The overall attendance to the event was estimated to be approximately 7000 people.
This paper discusses different aspects of sun light linked to a religious rite and combined with ecclesiastical architecture. Our focus is on the four points of the solstices which form two sectors, one towards the sunrise and the other... more
This paper discusses different aspects of sun light linked to a religious rite and combined with ecclesiastical architecture. Our focus is on the four points of the solstices which form two sectors, one towards the sunrise and the other to the sunset. This examination is mainly based on the study of the ancient thought of scholars and Fathers of the Church. Despite the deep significance of the solstices (the Births of Jesus Christ and John the Baptist, His forerunner), only few of the over two hundreds medieval churches, situated in the North of Italy and long the old pilgrimage route, the Via Francigena, are oriented towards the solstice and equinox rise/set points on the horizon. Georeferenced surveys on field with astronomical calculations were carried out on these sacred buildings by the author and the results were strengthened with primary and secondary written sources. Throughout medieval times on path of faith a lot of hostels and sacred buildings were founded for pilgrims and travellers and a great deal of diaries written by the pilgrims survived so far. These travel reports record important building descriptions and knowledge of that time. In detail we will discuss a medieval drawing, one of the few we can admire and which represents the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. It is particularly interesting to note, in this accurate drawing, the position of the doors of the building which appear oriented to the eight Winds Rose and the summer/winter solstices; the niches which show the cardinal points; and the Sepulchri that incorporates an Easter alignment. Finally, we discuss solsticial alignments of medieval church axes and of the position of sunlight inside sacred buildings among the summer solstice, when the sun is at its highest and simultaneously begins to appear lower.
One consequence of the exploration of the solar system is the accumulating body of images of the surfaces of planets, comets, moons, and asteroids. These images are landscapes, although the land they represent may be quite unlike Earth.... more
One consequence of the exploration of the solar system is the accumulating body of images of the surfaces of planets, comets, moons, and asteroids. These images are landscapes, although the land they represent may be quite unlike Earth. Extraterrestrial landscapes may incorporate conventions of representation that provide a familiar grounding for the viewer. However, images of alien landscapes also break some of those conventions and force us to consider the nature of landscape itself. The presence of artistic conventions in the pictures of non-terrestrial landscapes taken during missions to various bodies in the Solar System suggest a counterpart in the history of earthly landscape images. Conventionalizations in these images may be the consequence of imager design, processing, and editing of images that converge around or mimic repre-sentational norms found in pictorial images of terrestrial subjects. Deviations from the norms of terrestrial representation may constitute the emergence of an aesthetics of mediation, which may be the result of the unique conditions found on the body itself or the result of human intervention in the imaging process. "Normalized" views of extraterrestrial landscapes simulate a human viewpoint in color or perspective, but certain aspects of imaging technology, and associated science goals, dissociate the earth-bound viewer from the unearthly terrain.
The need for a university training program in Cultural Astronomy has been pointed out by several academics for years. The arrival to the discipline of professionals from different fields has resulted in a lack of standardization in the... more
The need for a university training program in Cultural Astronomy has been pointed out by several academics for years. The arrival to the discipline of professionals from different fields has resulted in a lack of standardization in the field studies. This paper describes the process of design, creation and implementation of the first Cultural Astronomy Degree carried out by the Department of Archaeoastronomy and Cultural Astronomy of the Space Science Faculty of the National University Autonomous University of Honduras (UNAH). The conception of the program through the analysis made of the academic tendencies in Cultural Astronomy on a global scale is summarized below. The program itself is described, detailing each of the subjects and modules that make up the program and the different competences that complement the knowledge of the graduates. Finally, the academic and social objectives pursued by the implementation of this program in Central America are explained.
Rapa Nui, the easternmost settlement and most isolated trade outpost in ancient Polynesia, represents one of the most ambitious feats in Polynesian wayfinding, and by default reflects the high level of competence in navigation and... more
Rapa Nui, the easternmost settlement and most isolated trade outpost in ancient Polynesia, represents one of the most ambitious feats in Polynesian wayfinding, and by default reflects the high level of competence in navigation and interpretation of astronomical and natural phenomena, currently a popular field of inquiry in Polynesian ethnoastronomy. However, as skywatching was not limited to navigation, the full scope of Rapanui applied astronomical observation and complexity of astronomical devices was much broader. Observatories, calendric calibration systems, "star-maps," and structures with astronomical alignments, have all been identified for Rapa Nui, yet the two main challenges confronting researchers is the scarcity of extant information, as well as degradation and site location due to errors in the official mapping of the island. The present investigation reexamines and extends the Astronomy concept inventory of the ancient Rapanui, with regards to the toponymy of local stars and asterisms, and an inquiry into the stars and methods used by traditional navigators to locate Rapa Nui in past times. The results have been analyzed within both a local and regional context. In addition, our team did a re-appraisal of the astronomical functions of the Matariki (Pleiades) stone and related petroglyphs in the area of Papa Ui Hetu'u (star-gazing rock) on Poike Peninsula, which E. Edwards and Antonio Belmonte had investigated in 2004. For the first time, this collected data was evaluated within the context of a digital planetarium, permitting the review and identification of alignments between astronomical phenomena and sites of observation as if viewed in situ and in the pertinent chronology; together with photogrammetry/3D-modelling of astronomical devices at Papa Ui Hetu'u, these techniques offer a new and more precise line of research, rendering intriguing results.
The importance of perceptions of geographical latitude and its calendrical properties have been emphasized in studies of cultural astronomy (Broda 2004), as well as the link that is generated between the landscapes that serve as horizons... more
The importance of perceptions of geographical latitude and its calendrical properties have been emphasized in studies of cultural astronomy (Broda 2004), as well as the link that is generated between the landscapes that serve as horizons and the observations themselves, especially solar. The pre-Hispanic world views, quite possibly, were heavily loaded with dualistic perspectives, especially the astronomical phenomena among the American tropics (Isbell 1982: 354). The search for temporary refer-ents, especially seasonal associating them with contrasting moments such as sowing activities in front of harvest, with positions of the sun, both in the zenith and in the nadir. In this context in Inca archeology, spatial configurations have been identified, which could be qualified as ritual landscapes, constituted by carefully designed settlements and their corresponding geography of the environment, immediate geography as well as geographical aspects at great distances. Settlements and ge-ographies closely linked by scheduled ritual activities, such as pilgrimage tours, territorial exercises and memory constructions. These particular configurations were denominated as Cuzco, which the Inca society replicated in several territories and many of them to great distances at continental level (Hylop 1990, Far-rington 1999), while Cuzco represented a concept goes beyond trying to repeat Symbolic spaces in the Inca foundations in the wamanis (spaces where certain ancestors exercised territoriality), in an attempt to hier-archize the spaces as part of a process of constitution and unification of the Tawantinsuyu. In this sense, in the "New Cuzcos" we find manifestations of the Inka ideology, but these are not copies or repetitions of their imperial capital, but they sought to adapt to particular situations in the conquered territories (Pino Matos 2004). The strategy of appropriation of the conquered sacred sites was based on the re-signification of the local huacas (deities and ancestors located in notable aspects of geography) in function of a significant solar phenomenon, (Example: In Chinchaycocha, the ushnu de Pumpu is in the direction of an important local mountain-Nevado de Ulcumayu-, that coincides with the sunrise the day of the passage of this star by the zenith (Pino Matos and Moreano Montalvan 2014), in the Shincal, the ushnu is oriented towards the sunrise at the middle temporal equinox and towards huacas in the eastern and western hills. In the present work, two sites will be analyzed, one in Argentina and the other in Peru, trying to understand the management of time and the construction of ritual landscapes at different latitudes during the Inca period .
The Jesuit order had an intense missionary activity in America during the colonial period. In particular, from the sixteenth century until their expulsion in 1767 they carried out an extensive and well-known work among the Guarani groups,... more
The Jesuit order had an intense missionary activity in America during the colonial period. In particular, from the sixteenth century until their expulsion in 1767 they carried out an extensive and well-known work among the Guarani groups, in what became known as the Jesuit Province of Paraguay (now part of Argenti-na, Paraguay and Brazil). The large number of missions founded on this undertaking (30 survived the last period), were establishments with a well-studied urban plan one of whose axes was that of the church, which differs from both the urbanism proposed by the "Leyes de Indias" and the most classic ecclesiastical arrangements. This urban plan is of great importance for South American urbanism since it is an alternative paradigm to the order proposed by the colonial legal framework and constitutes a particular reinterpretation of the Baroque, which integrates contributions of the Guarani conceptions. Although Jesuit urbanism in the region has been studied, it has not been done within the framework of cultural astronomy. In general, the works of cultural astronomy dedicated to the orientations of churches have divided these studies by chronological periods, and by geographical areas. We believe that adding focused approaches to specific religious orders can be very fruitful given the variety of methodologies and intentions. With this idea we undertook a joint study of the orientations of the Jesuit missions of the Guaraní region. During the fieldwork the sites of the 30 missionary villages in question were visited in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. We have measured the twenty-one existing ruins and analyzed the old planes of the nine of which there are no recognizable material remains. The work deals with the results of this survey by putting in to dialogue with existing studies on Jesuit urban-ism and with the chronicles and writings of the Jesuits themselves. We seek to establish the relevance of astronomical observation for the ordering of these missions and their interaction with other criteria. One of the first results shows that the orientation axes of the churches of these missions do not follow the arrangement expected in general in Christian churches, associated to the solar range. We discuss what the orientations found can tell us about the methods used to bring them to practice and relate these evidences to the testimonies of the Jesuits themselves.
In the year of 2016 started the Research Project Archeology, Archaeoastronomy, Calendar and Landscape Olmec and Maya (PIAACPOM). It focuses on archaeoastronomy, and in this field season, research was steered in the state of Tabasco,... more
In the year of 2016 started the Research Project Archeology, Archaeoastronomy, Calendar and Landscape Olmec and Maya (PIAACPOM). It focuses on archaeoastronomy, and in this field season, research was steered in the state of Tabasco, Mexico. The work is centred on the methodology of the case studies, which allow to know in greater detail each of the archaeological zones. The places researched in this paper are the Olmec site La Venta and the Zoque like archaeological zone of Malpasito, and also San Claudio and Comalcalco, these representatives of the Mayan culture. All of them have an architecture in which a series of measurements have been carried out. The objective is to know in more detail the intention of their orientation and, to a certain extent, the relations with the surrounding landscape, in these cultural regions. The work will cover cases of orientations ranging from the relationship between settlements, such as La Venta, to the general profile of a site and the relationship it has with the landscape, in the case of Malpasito and San Claudio. The architectural component is also studied, such as a burial chamber, a temple structure at Comalcalco or the orientation axis of some structures at San Claudio. The different levels of information complement each other and help to better understand the intention that existed about orientation in Mesoamerica. In summary, it is possible to see how the orientation was considered in the planning of spaces, constructions, building traces, location, among others, from the smallest to the largest structures. In this work it will be shown with different cases how the result is in some way the same. The orientation was an aspect of great relevance in Mesoamerica, and it reveals that it can be associated with iconography, architecture, settlement and landscape.
The Canary island of La Palma (ancient Benahoare) is one the richest island territory of the world in rock art manifestations (Martín Rodríguez and Pais Pais, 1996); there are dozens of petroglyph stations in a territory of only 700 km 2.... more
The Canary island of La Palma (ancient Benahoare) is one the richest island territory of the world in rock art manifestations (Martín Rodríguez and Pais Pais, 1996); there are dozens of petroglyph stations in a territory of only 700 km 2. These groups of petroglyphs, carved in a delicate way by picking or lining techniques, often are representations of geometric forms (spirals, concentric circles, meanders, etc.) of great beauty. If their number were not enough to illustrate the importance that they had for the former aboriginal settlers of the island, the situation and orientation of some of them would confirm the ritual significance that these artistic manifestations must have had for them. Across the island, important rock art stations such as "El Verde" (discovered in 1982 and named originally "El Cementerio", Pais Pais and Herrera García, 2007) can be found. A beautiful phenomenon of light and shadow can be observed there, illuminating the petroglyphs on site during sunset at the summer solstice. This and other phenomenology located elsewhere in the island show the close relationship between Benahoare"s rock art and astronomy. An especially puzzling petroglyph can be found in a place named Monte Braulio on the westernmost coast of the island (see Figure 1 a). This is one of the biggest single glyphs found in La Palma and it is nearly isolated. The petroglyph was carved on an inconspicuous almost horizontal lava platform that occupies an approximate surface of 3 m 2. Our hypothesis is that it represents the world known to the inhabitants of the island. A metric and morphologic analysis of the petroglyph allows stressing the idea that we are facing a map of Benahoare, as imagined in the mind of its ancient inhabitants in a similar way as other prehistoric "maps" discovered so far (Harley and Woodward, 1987). The "map", which is perfectly orientated according to the cardinal points, is completed by another smaller spiral-shaped petroglyph (perhaps a solar representation) located at the map"s east side (and therefore on the region of the horizon where sunrise happens). Both the map and the additional glyph are composed of a set of grooves, small channels and cup-marks, which could have been used for sympathetic magic rituals in order to call for rain, a major important necessity for the islanders in a territory where fountains were nearly absent. If we are correct, this will be one of the best examples of emic maps ever produced before the development of modern cartography.
In recent years the open-source desktop planetarium Stellarium has gained high popularity for simulation in archaeoastronomy, and we have improved recent versions to also become accurate enough for such applications. A dedicated plugin... more
In recent years the open-source desktop planetarium Stellarium has gained high popularity for simulation in archaeoastronomy, and we have improved recent versions to also become accurate enough for such applications. A dedicated plugin which we introduced a few years ago can be used to visualize loadable scenes of 3D reconstructions of past or present monuments in their landscape. However, while Stellarium can simulate the view of the sky and positions of celestial objects and their respective motions over several millennia in sufficient accuracy for most historical applications, the 3D plugin until recently could only show one static version of a landscape. However, landscapes and monuments may have changed, temples may have been rebuilt and rededicated in part to reflect changes in the sky caused by precession, changes in ecliptic obliquity or stellar proper motion. Our latest developments in Stellarium now enable the simulation of phased or temporally evolving three-dimensional sceneries under Stellarium's sky by configuring parts of the 3D model with material properties that can be used to hide parts of the monument when they don't fit the epoch of the currently simulated sky.
This paper looks at the astronomical context for morality and ethics. It explores the ways in which astronomy has inspired theories of good and evil. It will argue that astronomy often has a moral component and that the stars and planets... more
This paper looks at the astronomical context for morality and ethics. It explores the ways in which astronomy has inspired theories of good and evil. It will argue that astronomy often has a moral component and that the stars and planets have often been seen as inclining humanity to either good or evil acts, or can be used in order to infer standards of human behaviour. It will also be argued that by influencing culture, astronomy requires or encourages action. The codification of morality in relation to astronomy can be traced to Pharonic Egypt, was developed in the Hellenistic world and reached a full form in the first-century CE in works such as Claudius Ptolemy"s Tetrabiblos, in which the planets were ascribed personalities. These planetary personalities were embodied in every individual character and could incline people to good or evil depending on the planets" disposition at any one time. The notion of the seven deadly sins-one for each planet can be traced to this system. The idea is, then, that morality is a dynamic system, moving in space and time as the planets move. While an individual may be inclined to do evil at a particular moment or location in space and time, they might equally be disposed to do good. The system was challenged from a number of perspectives. Hermetic and Gnostic cosmology proposed that, because the entire cosmos was evil, the only solution was to escape from it entirely and the Catholic theologian Thomas Aquinas critiqued the claim that the planets could directly influence moral choice. The paper will conclude with reference to the impact of modern astronomy on morality: the use of Newtonianism to support theories of natural justice and universal human rights, and the application Einsteinian relativity to the theory of cultural relativism, in which no one culture can claim to be superior to any other.
The topic of this study was the mineralogical and petrographic characterization of bedding mortars (made of different layers) and tesserae of Roman age (3 rd century A.D.), taken from the mosaic of the Frigidarium of "Villa Bonanno",... more
The topic of this study was the mineralogical and petrographic characterization of bedding mortars (made of different layers) and tesserae of Roman age (3 rd century A.D.), taken from the mosaic of the Frigidarium of "Villa Bonanno", brought to light by archaeological excavations conducted in the historical centre of Palermo. The collected samples have been analysed by thin-section optical microscopy (PLM), and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectrometry (SEM-EDS). The study was aimed to define the "recipe" (composition of aggregate and binder, aggregate size distribution, aggregate/binder ratio), in order to assess the provenance of raw materials (supply site/area) and to acquire useful information in order to formulate "restoration mortars" that should be most comparable with the original ones, for replacements and/or integration. Rock types constituting the coloured tesserae were also characterized by thin-section optical microscopy. The mineralogical and petrographic investigations allowed establishing two different recipes used for the formulation of the studied mortars in terms of both compositional and textural features. The aggregate is composed by diverse proportions of detritic calcareous granules (both bioclasts and limestone fragments deriving from the local outcropping biocalcarenites and limestones), siliceous sand (monocrystalline quartz, chert and quartzarenite fragments), volcanic ash (pozzolana) and sometimes cocciopesto. The resulting hydraulic binder was the product of the "pozzolanic reaction" between volcanic ash and the aerial lime (specifically made by the calcination of locally available magnesian limestone or dolostone). The coloured tesserae can be all classified as compact limestones of Mesozoic or Cenozoic age, likely of local provenance.
The commercial consolidating siloxane compounds EAS 40, Rhodorsil Consolidante RC90 and RC80, and the silicone water repellent agents Rhodorsil H224 and Hydrophase were carefully applied to stone specimens and tested to ascertain their... more
The commercial consolidating siloxane compounds EAS 40, Rhodorsil Consolidante RC90 and RC80, and the silicone water repellent agents Rhodorsil H224 and Hydrophase were carefully applied to stone specimens and tested to ascertain their chemical nature and their stability under oxidative stress and degradative environments. The resins were applied to laboratory samples (Carrara marble and Vicenza white limestone specimens) and subjected to controlled natural weathering and artificial ageing. The film morphology and the penetration depth was observed and measured by SEM-EDS determinations, while the stability of the resins was monitored by FTIR, SEM-EDX, colorimetric measurements and sponge tests. The results were compared with those obtained from a spread sampling of Venetian surfaces treated in the second half of the XX c. with Sogesil XR893 and X54-802, silicone resins which are no longer on the market. The overall results prompted a number of considerations on the effects of the resins applied to stone materials and offered the authors the opportunity to make a practical contribution to current practices in the consolidation of stone materials.
This research aims to deepen knowledge on geomaterials used in building operations of a very important monumental complex belonging to the "Porta Mediana" necropolis the archeological site of Cuma. The entire site counts 70 mausoleums... more
This research aims to deepen knowledge on geomaterials used in building operations of a very important monumental complex belonging to the "Porta Mediana" necropolis the archeological site of Cuma. The entire site counts 70 mausoleums among which, the one named "Sphinx complex" or A63, is particularly important. For its realization several geomaterials have been used. Analytical results were carried out from several techniques such as optical microscopy, microchemical and mineralogical-petrographical analysis, scanning electron microscopy with EDS and X-ray powder diffraction. This approach allows to clarify the provenance of natural geomaterials and also the technological processes involved in the production of artificial geomaterials (mortars, plasters, cocciopesto). Phlegrean tuffs, due to their easy workability and good mechanical features, were used mainly for masonries and for decorative function (a bas-relief of a "sphinx" for example). As far as artificial geomaterials are concerned, the use of a volcanic aggregate, was privileged too. Some examples of imported stones were also found: limestones and marbles, the first one implemented as a building material for cippi of the fence while the second one for prestigious coating elements. Results permitted to evaluate building techniques of the period and mainly the wide potential of Phlegrean fields' materials when used as a bulding stone. This research aims also to give important informations for restoring and conservative actions useful for mausoleums of the entire site.
Roman mortars from a mausoleum (named D46b) belonging to the archaeological site of Porta Mediana necropolis, in Cuma (Naples, Southern Italy) have been studied by means of petrographic, mineralogical and micro-chemical analyses. The aim... more
Roman mortars from a mausoleum (named D46b) belonging to the archaeological site of Porta Mediana necropolis, in Cuma (Naples, Southern Italy) have been studied by means of petrographic, mineralogical and micro-chemical analyses. The aim of this research is to fill the knowledge gap regarding mortar-based materials used in Roman age within this wide archaeological site. Two typologies of mortars (bedding and coating) were collected from mausoleum's masonry. They were lime-based with addition of pozzolanic materials, according to Vitruvius' recipe. Raw materials, such as volcanic sand and limestones, mainly from local sources, were preferentially used as aggregate, both for great availability and good properties. As regard production techniques, the multi-layer feature of the coating mortars, once again shows the great knowledge of the building art. Each layer is the result of a precise choice, as shown by the differences both in texture and petrographic features. Data from detailed mortars characterization have infer the outstanding skill of Roman craftsmen, as already proved by extraordinary durability of buildings. The research was very useful not only to increase the knowledge of this ancient culture but also to planning conservative actions, that, through mortar reproduction or the research of suitable materials, can promote the safeguard of this invaluable heritage.
This paper presents the results of an interdisciplinary archeometric study on Early Mesolithic pottery from the prehistoric site of Kabbashi Haitah, located 35 km north of Khartoum (central Sudan), along the Nile Valley. A large set of... more
This paper presents the results of an interdisciplinary archeometric study on Early Mesolithic pottery from the prehistoric site of Kabbashi Haitah, located 35 km north of Khartoum (central Sudan), along the Nile Valley. A large set of potsherds, selected after a preliminary macroscopic analysis of 1075 fragments representing the various vessels (mainly plain and globular in shape, with various rim diameter), macrofabrics and decoration types (either with or without incised or stamped decorations, i.e. incisedwavy line and rocker stamp) was analysed to define the type of the raw materials used and their manufacturing technology. The mineralogical and petrographic features, determined by optical microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction, indicate that the pottery was produced using an illitic clay tempered with quartz and/or K-feldspar derived from granite/syenite grinding, and fired in the temperature range between 750 and 900°C.
The stone used on the monuments, especially if they come from ancient times (e.g. medieval period), when exposed to the atmosphere, they are frequently affected by weathering and bio-deterioration processes. Thus, these latter produce... more
The stone used on the monuments, especially if they come from ancient times (e.g. medieval period), when exposed to the atmosphere, they are frequently affected by weathering and bio-deterioration processes. Thus, these latter produce various chemical and mineralogical transformations of substrate at the interface with the atmospheric agents as function of intrinsic compositional and physical characteristics of the material. Moreover, if there also are ancient treatments on the surface of geomaterials, the investigation field is further complicated. This research aims to analyse the surfaces of different volcanic lithology (basalts, andesite, pyroclastic rocks) used in the medieval Romanesque churches of Sardinia (XI-XIV cent.) having high historical architectural and cultural relevance. By mineralogical and petrographic analysis (OM) and other different analytical methods (XRPD, colorimetry) the investigations addressed to define: i) petrographic features of volcanic rocks substrate; ii) chemical and mineralogical composition of coatings/crusts and any salt fano-and cryptoefflorescence; iii) compositional and microstratigraphic characterization of ancient treatments (i.e., Ca-oxalate films) on the surface of facades; iv) chromatic modifications of surface with respect to the sub-strate due to the alteration processes. The results show the incidence of several factors in the alteration process, as function of the occurred time, petrophysical features and composition of geomaterials, their position in the monument structure, exposition to the weathering processes, microclimatic characteristics, environmental conditions.
The work aims to define the origin of the architectural stone elements worked by Romans and reused in the St. Saturno Basilica, between the late Antiquity and Romanesque periods. Thus, different rocks (marbles, various facies of... more
The work aims to define the origin of the architectural stone elements worked by Romans and reused in the St. Saturno Basilica, between the late Antiquity and Romanesque periods. Thus, different rocks (marbles, various facies of limestones, volcanic rocks) used to construct the ancient building were sampled and analysed. All the different kinds of stones were sampled from the Basilica, taking precise reference to the various construction phases and structural changes of the monument occurred in the centuries. The sedimentary and volcanic lithologies belong to the local outcrops of Cagliari Miocenic geological formation (e.g. limestone) and to other volcanic outcrops of south Sardinia, respectively. By means of a multi-method archaeometric study (mineralogical-petrographic observations on thin sections and 18 O vs 13 C stable isotope ratio analysis), the provenance of classical marbles used for manufacturing Roman architectural elements (column shafts, bases, capitals, slabs, etc.) were defined, which are thought to come from extra-regional sources. The results show that the marbles come mainly from Apuan Alps (Italy) and subordinately from Greek quarrying areas.
In this work we report the results of the analysis of clay and sand raw materials collected from the Corfu island (Kanoni area, Ionian Sea). The mineralogical, petrographic and chemical data were compared with those of some archaic... more
In this work we report the results of the analysis of clay and sand raw materials collected from the Corfu island (Kanoni area, Ionian Sea). The mineralogical, petrographic and chemical data were compared with those of some archaic "Corinthian B" amphorae (late 6 th-mid 5 th c.BC) found in the archeological excavations at Gela (Sicily), and with those of local common wares and tiles from Sibari (ancient Sybaris/Thurii), in southern Italy. Indeed, the "Corinthian B" transport amphorae, largely diffused in the Mediterranean basin during archaic and classical periods, are supposed to come from several possible centers, including mainly Corfu and Sibari. The combination of both chemical and petrographic investigations strongly supports the archaeological hypothesis of the presence of Corfu products among the archaic "Corinthian B" amphorae from Gela.
This paper explains how an interdisciplinary study, examined and faced under different points of view (geologists, architects and restorers), can be very useful in planning and performing the apt conservation measures of a monument. As an... more
This paper explains how an interdisciplinary study, examined and faced under different points of view (geologists, architects and restorers), can be very useful in planning and performing the apt conservation measures of a monument. As an example, the restoration case of Villa Cerami balustrade (Sicily, Catania) is reported here. This approach, applied preliminarily to the restoration, allowed identifying the materials, the type and the causes of degradation, as well as to plan and perform the necessary conservation measures. The study was planned in three steps: i) anamnesis-prediagnosis (historical analysis; geometric survey; 3D survey ; analysis of degradation type; degradation maps; static verification); ii) diagnosis (investigation project and diagnostic analysis); iii) therapy (material restoration; swott analysis, intervention mode and architectural project to fill up the missing parts). Static verification was performed in order to choose whether to save or replace some of the most degraded balusters; during this step, the 3D survey allowed a more accurate assessment of the structural risk. The mineralogical composition and the petrographic features of the constituent materials were determined by X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy, respectively. In order to investigate possible changes in the stone material properties due to degradation, a physical characterization using the distribution of pore access size and pore volume was performed with mercury intrusion porosime-ter (MIP). The material knowledge of its degradation state allowed to choose also the protective product by means of a compatibility test (UNI 10921:2001).
In the study of ancient pottery, thin section analysis represents the basic approach to study mineralogical and petrografic features in order to obtain preliminary information about the production technology and origin of archaeological... more
In the study of ancient pottery, thin section analysis represents the basic approach to study mineralogical and petrografic features in order to obtain preliminary information about the production technology and origin of archaeological ceramics. However, even if thin section analysis allows investigating the textural and structural characteristics of potteries, peculiar features related to clay paste and temper composition, as well as provenance issues, can be detailed addressed only by quantitative mineralogical and chemical studies. In the realization of thin sections, a negative face is always produced, similar to the thin section itself; these remains can be used for additional analyses, such as high spatial resolution micro-chemical studies using, for example, a micro-laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) scanner. LIBS is a spectroscopic technique that, exploiting the laser radiation, is able to bring into the plasma state micrometric portions of the sample, and to analyse its content through the study of the optical emission of the plasma itself. Unlike other techniques, LIBS can detect and quantify also light elements such as aluminium and magnesium. Images produced by the micro-LIBS instrument show the spatial distribution of the chemical elements within a portion of the sample, which may have dimensions from a few hundred microns up to several centimeters. The combination of these images with algorithms derived from image processing techniques may return interesting information and supporting data to in-depth investigate pottery components detected by optical microscopy observations. In this work, we present the results of an experimental study performed on thin-section negatives with different grain size, surface treatments and aggregates, coming from some Neolithic Italian sites, exploring the potential of the LIBS method in micro-chemical studies of ancient potsherds.
From the 9th to the 11th century, Sicily has been part of the Islamic oecumene, the dār al-Islām. Up until now, very few studies have been carried out on the centres of pottery production of this period, and most of them concern the... more
From the 9th to the 11th century, Sicily has been part of the Islamic oecumene, the dār al-Islām. Up until now, very few studies have been carried out on the centres of pottery production of this period, and most of them concern the Emiral capital of the isle, Palermo. The archaeometric data obtained with chemical and minero-petrographic analyses on Islamic pottery found in Paternò-a town situated in the southwestern slope of Mt. Etna-has provided a certain number of issues of very important matter. The selection of the samples has been made among the archaeological finds coming from the excavation near the church of Cristo al Monte, on the hilltop, which represented the inner part of the medieval madīna. The mineralogical and chemical characterization of the ceramic body has been attained using optical micros-copy on thin sections and X-ray fluorescence respectively, in order to define the probable provenance of each sample. Further information of technological matter has been provided using X-Ray diffraction on powdered samples, which furnishes mineralogical data useful to hypothesise the firing temperatures: the main task attained on this issue was the focus on the self-slipped ware with salted water, one of the main technological class in Islamic Sicily. Finally, energy dispersive X-Ray fluorescence was adopted for a preliminary investigation of pigments used to decorate the lead glazed pottery. The issues related to both the local and imported pots-the latter represented almost completely by Palermo"s products-provided some important historical and archaeological information about the means of Sicilian pottery production during this important period.
A micro-chemical study of ancient mortars has been performed with the aim to evaluate merits and potential of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technique in determining composition of mixtures and evaluating the reactivity of... more
A micro-chemical study of ancient mortars has been performed with the aim to evaluate merits and potential of Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) technique in determining composition of mixtures and evaluating the reactivity of volcanic aggregates, taking advantages from its micro-destructivity and no sample preparation requirements. LIBS maps have been acquired on areas of about 25 mm 2 on a set of mortars suitable characterised by the occurrence of volcanic rock fragments with a relevant range in grain size. Na, Mg, Al, Si and Ca have been detected and raw maps have been processed using appropriate image processing and statistical methods (i.e.: PCA, false colour images, self-organized maps). The compositional images have been evaluated and interpreted in the light of the supporting data obtained by classical optical microscope and SEM-EDS methods. Results evidenced the possibility to employ LIBS for a preliminary micro-chemical characterization of mortars, revealing also the potentiality of the method to provide compositional and spatial distribution data on aggregate grains and hydraulic phases.
An archaeometric survey allowed to understand the causes of an atypical ongoing decay, manifested by a 19th century fresco of an unknown artist titled 'The divine adoration of King St. Louis IX', held in the Church of 'San Francesco dei... more
An archaeometric survey allowed to understand the causes of an atypical ongoing decay, manifested by a 19th century fresco of an unknown artist titled 'The divine adoration of King St. Louis IX', held in the Church of 'San Francesco dei Cappuccini', in Racconigi (Northwestern Italy). The wall painting suffered of a diffuse darkening, principally affecting the red garments and flesh of some of the portrayed religious characters. The adopted multi-analytical approach (consisting of X-ray powder diffraction, micro-Raman and FT-IR spectroscopies) pointed out that the causes of the manifest darkening were represented by multiple, strictly intertwined factors. In particular, a partial but progressive blackening of the red pigments had occurred, due to an incipient conversion of hematite (Fe2O3) into magnetite (Fe3O4). Such a transformation, possibly confined in a very thin, superficial and discontinuous film on the pigmented layers, had been favoured by an ongoing sulfation-and consequent alteration of calcite into gypsum due to exposure to gaseous sulfur compounds (SO2 and SO3), produced after the burning of oil in votive lamps, candles and incense positioned directly below the artwork. In addition, these combustions caused a significant amount of particulate (soot and powders) to cumulate on the fresco surface, thus contributing to generally enhance the dimming of the whole painting. These results gave way to a restoration intervention, which removed most of the gypseous efflorescences and particulate from the artwork surface, thus rendering at best its original chromatic aspect and brilliance. While performing these operations, the signature of the presumed artist-identified as Dionigi Faconti, a renowned Italian painter of the 19th century-and the date of realization of the artwork (1852) were recovered.
In the framework of the archeological investigations of an outstanding Roman Villas in Tuscany (Villa dell"Oratorio, in the territory of Capraia e Limite, Florence), archaeometric studies have been perfomed with the aim to characterize... more
In the framework of the archeological investigations of an outstanding Roman Villas in Tuscany (Villa dell"Oratorio, in the territory of Capraia e Limite, Florence), archaeometric studies have been perfomed with the aim to characterize building and decorative materials and retrace construction phases and manufacture technology. The Villas, built in the middle of the 4 th century, includes a hexagonal structure, about 30 meters in diameter, decorated with painted wall plasters and beautiful figurative floor mosaics. The structure is equipped with apsed rooms (at least 5), exhibiting similarity with some monumental triclinia of Constantinople and Rome. Archaeometric analyses have been carried out on mortars, stones and vitreous tesserae, with the aim to identify the raw materials and support the archaeological investigation about cultural models and economic status of the aristocratic owner in the Late Roman Tuscany. Mortars samples from different building units of the Villas have been studied through minero-petrographic and thermogravimetric methods. Stone tesserae have been analyzed by minero-petrographic and sedimentologic methods, to obtain information on the provenance of the raw materials used. Finally, Raman spectroscopy and SEM-EDS analyses have been performed on vitreous tesserae, to obtain information on colouring and opaquening agents. The studies carried out on the building elements suggested that, in spite of iconographic and architectural models proper of the great Mediterranean villae, local and spolia raw materials were used in this great construction work.
Wasabi (Wasabia japonica) is an edible plant containing different phytochemicals. It is very interesting to exploit its natural antimicrobial impacts in controlling the biodeterioration of organic artifacts such as papyrus. In this study,... more
Wasabi (Wasabia japonica) is an edible plant containing different phytochemicals. It is very interesting to exploit its natural antimicrobial impacts in controlling the biodeterioration of organic artifacts such as papyrus. In this study, the authors investigated the in vitro antifungal activity of Wasabi towards several fungal species associated with the biodeterioration of archaeological papyri in the Grand Egyptian Museum-Conservation Center. The examined fungi showed antifungal activity with maximum activity against Penicillium lanosum ΙΙΙ. The minimal inhibitory concentration ranged between 0.2 to 1.6% while the minimum fungicidal concentration increased to 2.5%. In vivo treatment studies were applied using thermally aged biodeteriorated papyrus samples. The microbiological test revealed that Wasabi can completely eradicate Aspergillus flavus and P. lanosum after three days of exposure. Finally, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Colorimeter were used to assess the treatment after short and long terms. These findings suggest that Wasabi can be useful sources of fungicidal preparations for the disinfection of biodeteriorated papyrus artifacts. Our research introduces the practical use of Wasabi for the first time in the conservation field, especially after confirming its long-term safety.
The monastery of St. John the Theologian in Patmos, which dates back to the 11th century, is today a major spiritual and artistic entity in the Mediterranean archaeological, ecclesiastical and cultural history. Since 1999, the monastery... more
The monastery of St. John the Theologian in Patmos, which dates back to the 11th century, is today a major spiritual and artistic entity in the Mediterranean archaeological, ecclesiastical and cultural history. Since 1999, the monastery has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, which demonstrates its historical significance. The monastery preserves and holds a significant number of works of great archaeological, ethnographical and historical value which have not been studied systematically. In particular, the archaeological textiles, which were recently donated by Mr. Albert-Jean Antonelli and kept in the monastery, have not attracted the interest and special attention of the scientific community (historians, archaeologists, con-servators) and the literature is scarce. The monastery keeps 84 Coptic textiles: (82 Coptic textile fragments, one large tunic and one large tapestry fragment) which date between the 4 th and 7 th centuries A.D. This paper will briefly present the unpublished Coptic textile collection focusing on the paradoxical ways of display methods with incompatible materials and the application of scientific techniques to identify the fibre structure and the dyes used, via FTIR, SEM, OM and SEM methods.
This paper updates the published timing of the Mediterranean Sea's flooding, as well as its causation. In so doing, we correct an historic error committed by geologists nearly two-hundred years before present that has all of science and... more
This paper updates the published timing of the Mediterranean Sea's flooding, as well as its causation. In so doing, we correct an historic error committed by geologists nearly two-hundred years before present that has all of science and related fields of inquiry based on the tenet that there was never a worldwide flood. In correcting geology's error, we unify science with the human narrative tradition.
A set of fragments of 5 different archaeological vessels (Hellenistic period amphorae handles found in the same context) has been examined and compared with the modern sample (made from clay taken from the same stratigraphy). The research... more
A set of fragments of 5 different archaeological vessels (Hellenistic period amphorae handles found in the same context) has been examined and compared with the modern sample (made from clay taken from the same stratigraphy). The research aims and tasks have been the following: a) a search for a criterion of similarity or difference in archaeological ceramics from the point of view of chemical composition or physical properties; b) a trying of development of a technique for less-or non-destructive rapid analysis of archaeological ceramics. During the analysis of the obtained results data, we did not find any unambiguous signs could separate the set on groups. The obtained data analysis has shown that all the amphorae fragments set and tempered clay are from the same clay source. During the experiment the research task was changed to confirmation of the homogeneity of material and production technology for the set. The combination of the four (4) methods was used: kappametry, magnetic hysteresis measurement, XRF and MAS-NMR.
We present the results of the archaeological excavation carried out at the Solana del Bepo mine that have allowed us to contextualise the surface finds made in the 1940s. It had been possible to locate the prehistoric workings and to... more
We present the results of the archaeological excavation carried out at the Solana del Bepo mine that have allowed us to contextualise the surface finds made in the 1940s. It had been possible to locate the prehistoric workings and to characterise the mined ores by pXRF elemental, -XRF and LIA analyses. The mining implements found in the excavation and the earlier surface finds were typologically described and classified. To precise the chronology a set of samples were radiocarbon dated. The results confirm that Solana del Bepo was an active copper mine at least throughout the first half of the second millennium cal BCE, that is the Ear-ly/Middle Bronze Age of northeast of the Iberian Peninsula. The studies carried out there and in other mines in the county of Priorat (province of Tarragona) allow us to advance some considerations regarding the nature of the exploitation of local copper ore, its chronology and the regional dispersion of the metal obtained.
Bronze was well known in ancient Egypt since the 12 th dynasty (1991-1759 B.C). Bronze artifacts endure different types of corrosion due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors before and/or after extraction. This led to various deterioration... more
Bronze was well known in ancient Egypt since the 12 th dynasty (1991-1759 B.C). Bronze artifacts endure different types of corrosion due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors before and/or after extraction. This led to various deterioration aspects: corrosion products of several colors, pits, cracks, grooves and lost parts. Nanometerials and nanocomposites were widely used for the inhibition of microorganisms , consolidation, and protection of arti-facts. But very few studies were concerned with the completion of lost parts, which is considered a challenge in the conservation of cultural heritage. This research focused on finding out a suitable nanocomposite for this purpose. Three polymers: Paraloid B-66, Plexisol P-550, and thermoplastic polyurethane were evaluated through mechanical properties before and after exposure to artificial ageing (ultraviolet radiation). Nan-copper and nano-silver particles were added in three concentrations 0.25. 0.5, 1% w/v to plexisol P-550, which donate the best results to form nanocomposites. Shear strength and color change of nanocomposites were determined. Transmission electron microscope TEM was utilized for characterization of nano-particles. Whereas stereomi-croscope SM, polarizing microscope PLM, scanning electron microscope SEM, attached with energy dispersive X-ray unit EDX, and portable X-ray fluorescence p-XRF spectrometer were used to diagnose deterioration phenomena , to determine microstructure and to analyse chemical composition of the studied statue's alloy. Data declared that 1% nano-copper plexisol P-550 composite was the best one for improving mechanical properties without effect on color. It was applied for the completion of lost parts in an ancient Egyptian bronze sacred Ibis bird statue, Late Period (664-332 B.C), from the Grand Egyptian museum, Giza, Egypt.
Southeastern Iran consists of several different geographical zones. Archaeologically, Halil Rud Basin is one of the most important parts of the region. This little known basin includes two different geological parts, highlands and... more
Southeastern Iran consists of several different geographical zones. Archaeologically, Halil Rud Basin is one of the most important parts of the region. This little known basin includes two different geological parts, highlands and lowlands. This dichotomy was to cause interactions between the two areas. The evidence for interactions between the highland mobile pastoralists and lowland urban centers in the urban phase of the 3 rd Millennium BCE in Southeastern Iran has been elusive. However, it is supposed that scattered highland settlements have played a very subservient role in developing the cultural landscape of the region during this period. In May-June 2012, an archaeological project was carried out by one of the authors (NE) at the area of Hanzaf Dam in the highlands of Halil Rud Basin. This paper deals with the results of the project that includes excavations at two Bronze Age pastoral sites, and destroyed cemetery dating back to the Bronze Age. Furthermore, it attempts to present the strategy of pastoralism in the Halil Rud basin based on the ethno-archaeological studies. Finally, we suggest that the pastoral societies had a main role in the prehistoric economic landscape of the Halil River Valley by exploiting the natural resources (instance; copper).
The paper discusses the seismic assessment of Mallorca cathedral in Spain. This cathedral is an audacious Gothic structure built on the island of Mallorca during 14th-16th centuries, characterized by its large dimensions and slender... more
The paper discusses the seismic assessment of Mallorca cathedral in Spain. This cathedral is an audacious Gothic structure built on the island of Mallorca during 14th-16th centuries, characterized by its large dimensions and slender structural members. For that purpose, different analysis methods were used. A 3D Finite Element (FE) model of the cathedral was created and then updated based on in-situ dynamic identification tests. Nonlinear static (pushover) analysis was firstly carried out applying the seismic loads in the longitudinal and transversal directions of the cathedral considering both positive and negative signs. The pushover results were compared with the results of the kinematic limit analysis as a way to cross check the seismic safety assessment. Although for such a large historical structure, the nonlinear time-history (dynamic) analysis requires a very high computer effort, an attempt to perform this type of advanced analysis was carried out. KEYWORDS: Seismic assessment, Mallorca cathedral, pushover analysis, non-linear dynamic analysis, limit analysis 42 A. ELYAMANI et al.
Continuous research and excavation lead to the discovery of the 2 nd A.D. prehistoric settlement in the mangrove area located in Pulau Kalumpang, Perak, Malaysia. The findings encountered included pottery and earthenware, bones and... more
Continuous research and excavation lead to the discovery of the 2 nd A.D. prehistoric settlement in the mangrove area located in Pulau Kalumpang, Perak, Malaysia. The findings encountered included pottery and earthenware, bones and abundance of various colors and shapes of glass beads. Glass beads are a handy archeological finding for its convenience size, portability and attractive material. An analysis using Field-emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) conducted on the seventeen glass beads samples. The samples are the combination of seven major colors and three shapes. The analysis resulted to a composition that high in silica (52.0% to 78.0%), aluminum (9.0% to 20%) and sodium (3.0% to 19.0%), a key feature of South East Asia's Indo-Pacific glass beads. The composition also shows no similarities composition to the glass beads from China, Europe and India. Different trace elements compared to the glass beads Sg Mas, Kedah pointed that the glass beads found was made in Pulau Kalumpang and the raw materials from broken glass were originated from Middle East.
The ancient city of Cyme, located in the Aliağa district of Izmir, was a member of the Aiolis Union and was founded by immigrants from Greece at the end of the second millennium BC. In three separate periods, excavations were carried out... more
The ancient city of Cyme, located in the Aliağa district of Izmir, was a member of the Aiolis Union and was founded by immigrants from Greece at the end of the second millennium BC. In three separate periods, excavations were carried out in the necropolis in the east of the city and a total of 343 graves were uncovered. These graves dating from the eighth century BC to the first century AD show the process of transition from the practice of cremation to inhumation and provide information about burial customs and grave types. Nine different grave types were used for burials.
Most of church icons are suffering of bad display and storage conditions that cause damaging of its physical and chemical structure. In this study, we identified the conservation state of an icon taken from the Bethany museum in Jordan.... more
Most of church icons are suffering of bad display and storage conditions that cause damaging of its physical and chemical structure. In this study, we identified the conservation state of an icon taken from the Bethany museum in Jordan. The icon was also investigated by means of Fourier Transfer InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy, and X-ray Fluoresces (XRF) to identify the chemical compositions for pigments, ground layer and varnish. Results were used to decide level of interventions to restore the icon. The choice for the intervening materials were based on compatibility with original materials and good reversibility.
The archaeological belt accessories are important chronological indicators, thus, can be very useful when studying some historical periods. As being subject to fashion, they carry potential information about social status, gender and... more
The archaeological belt accessories are important chronological indicators, thus, can be very useful when studying some historical periods. As being subject to fashion, they carry potential information about social status, gender and ethnicity of the owner as well as about commercial connections and production centers. Archaeometric investigations of the development of belt accessories from the Great Migration Period in Bul-garia lags significantly considering the large amount of finds of this kind. In this study a set of 60 buckles from NorthEastern Bulgaria dated from the 3 rd to the 7 th centuries AD were investigated using inductively-coupled-plasma atomic-emission-spectrometry (ICP-AES) and inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS) to check similarities or differences between them. The results show that these belt accessories were made of various kinds of copper alloys such as bronze, brass, or nearly pure copper.
This paper analyses and discusses marble found at the Roman site of Udhruh in southern Jordan. Marble is highly valued in Roman culture, and while its use in architecture was widespread across the empire, there were only a relatively few... more
This paper analyses and discusses marble found at the Roman site of Udhruh in southern Jordan. Marble is highly valued in Roman culture, and while its use in architecture was widespread across the empire, there were only a relatively few high quality sources. Southern Jordan was not one of these, and so Udhruh's marble was sufficiently highly regarded to be transported into the region from distant sources. Marble from the site was studied and then sampled followed by petrological, mineralogical, and geochemical investigation techniques to identify the possible source of marble. Results indicate that Udhruh's marble is quite hard cal-citic marble exhibits exhibit xenoblastic texture, and the chemical composition indicates marble quarries in Greece with a probable contribution from Petra.
Research Interests:
All papers published in MAA 2019 Vol.19, No 2
For all back issues and Early Views/PreProofed Articles visit: www.maajournal.com
For all back issues and Early Views/PreProofed Articles visit: www.maajournal.com
Research Interests:
Classical Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Landscape Archaeology, Archaeological Science, and 8 moreDigital Archaeology, Cultural Heritage Conservation, Heritage Conservation, Archaeometry, Ancient DNA (Archaeology), Mediterranean archaeology, Ancient chronology, and Roman Archaeology
Archaeological excavations conducted in Magdala in the last decade have recovered a large number of pigments and coloring materials from two main contexts: (1) the first-century synagogue (the oldest one discovered in the region of Lower... more
Archaeological excavations conducted in Magdala in the last decade have recovered a large number of pigments and coloring materials from two main contexts: (1) the first-century synagogue (the oldest one discovered in the region of Lower Galilee), and (2) the market located on the shores of Lake Tiberiades (the Sea of Galilee). The pigments recovered from the synagogue are from the remains of mural paintings preserved there, while the coloring materials recovered from the market are shaped like balls of different sizes. The two main aims of this study are: (1) to conduct the physical-chemical characterization of the remains of the mural painting preserved in the synagogue and the coloring materials found in the market, and (2) to compare the results. To achieve our objectives, we used a multi-technical method based on a combination of optimized physico-chemical analysis techniques for identifying organic and inorganic substances. These comprised microscopic techniques (LM, SEM-EDX), spectroscopic techniques (ATR-FTIR), chromatographic techniques (GC-MS), and others (UV-vis, XRPD). Our results suggest that color in ancient Magdala was used not only for pictorial purposes but also for several others. The components of some of the colored balls discovered in the market, for example, indicate that they had a cosmetic and/or medicinal use, which invites analysis of interesting issues related to customs and everyday life in this first-century Jewish settlement in Lower Gali-lee.
Rock column is one of the most representative structural elements used in Roman buildings. Its main section is the shaft, a cylindrical conduit between the base and the chapiter. Their decontextualization sometimes makes it difficult... more
Rock column is one of the most representative structural elements used in Roman buildings. Its main section is the shaft, a cylindrical conduit between the base and the chapiter. Their decontextualization sometimes makes it difficult their provenance. This is the case of granite shafts coming from the ancient Colonia Augusta Firma Astigi, nowadays Écija (Seville, Spain). In this paper, 52 pieces of granite shafts preserved both along the streets and in the Municipal History Museum of Écija have been studied, to understand the provenance of the granite used in its construction and the type of building where they were employed. An approximation of the granite composition based on the quantity of the main minerals was carried out by digital image analysis. This non-invasive technique allows us to identify the main characteristics of the granites according to their provenance. Additionally, the column heights were calculated according to Roman treatises of architecture. The combination of these techniques allowed us to determine the quarries of the granite columns. The results showed that 20 shafts may come from the Troad region (Turkey), which granite was one of the most commonly used in the Roman constructions on the provinces; although granite from other quarries, i.e. Gerena (Spain) or Forum (Egypt), might have been used in this city during the 2 nd century AD too. The relationship between provenance of the granite and height of the column allows us to specify aspects referred to the magnification of buildings or the sponsors of the monumentalization of public spaces carried out in time of the Roman emperor Hadrian.
The aim of this research is to deepen the knowledge of the urban plan of the Roman city of Carteia, in particular its central sector. The origin of this settlement dates back to the 4th century B.C and in 171 B.C became the first Latin... more
The aim of this research is to deepen the knowledge of the urban plan of the Roman city of Carteia, in particular its central sector. The origin of this settlement dates back to the 4th century B.C and in 171 B.C became the first Latin colony outside Italy, getting the name of Colonia Libertinorum Carteia. In 2005, exhaustive three-dimensional cartography at scales 1:1000 and 1:500 and a high resolution orthophotography surveis carried out on the site. The analysis of the paleo-relief provided by the previous images suggested the possible location of a Roman chariot racing circus inside the walls of the city. In order to prove it, in 2016 a geophysical exploration was done over this geomorphological anomaly. We used georadar (GPR), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and magnetic survey to contrast the results. The resulting anomalies were tested on 2017 with the archaeological tranches that allowed us to confirm the existence of an intramural circus.
The objective of this paper is to develop a new methodological model to assess the vulnerability of defensive remains in rammed earth walls in historical centers. To do this, the vulnerability index based on cause-effect matrix has been... more
The objective of this paper is to develop a new methodological model to assess the vulnerability of defensive remains in rammed earth walls in historical centers. To do this, the vulnerability index based on cause-effect matrix has been adapted for constructions which main component is rammed earth walls and combined with a Georeferenced Information System (GIS). Medieval defensive fences have been studied in three historical centers in the province of Seville (Carmona, Estepa and Seville). 20 sections belonging to medieval rammed earth walls fortifications (10th-15th century) have been analysed. In the case of Carmona, the bases of the walls are from the Carthaginians period (3rd century BC). The sections were divided into 199 minimum units of analysis (MUA), with walls, towers, gates, shutters and fortresses. 2450 m of earth walls were studied in the three cities. The tools used to assess the vulnerability index were Leopold matrixes and cataloguing cards filled out after onsite inspection. As a result, a descriptive study of weathering forms that affect the structures and a vulnerability index that identifies the most vulnerable structures is presented. The information gathered is very useful in decision-making and prioritization of strategies in the preservation of urban heritage environments.
Although insoluble salts are one of the most common alteration forms that archaeological ceramics can present , the methods for their removal have not really changed within the past forty years. Furthermore, not many studies on the topic... more
Although insoluble salts are one of the most common alteration forms that archaeological ceramics can present , the methods for their removal have not really changed within the past forty years. Furthermore, not many studies on the topic have been recently published. In this paper, a methodology to study the suitability of different traditional treatments for the removal of these salts, has been established. For this aim, ceramic mock-ups made out of a marketed red clay were fired up to 700ºC in an electric kiln. Their composition and physical properties were studied. Several tests were conducted in laboratory for the growth of calcium car-bonate deposits similar to the ones that can appear naturally on archaeological ceramics. The method that provided the more alike deposits, was followed and applied onto the ceramic mock-ups. Different cleaning treatments based on three chemical products and three application methods were put into practice for the removal of such deposits. The products included two acids and a chelating agent and the application methods were direct and indirect, by immersion and using pulps and gels. The specimens' characteristics were studied again to determine their changes due to the cleaning treatments. The analytical techniques of XRD and SEM, for mineralogical and elemental composition, microroughness, colour measurements, stereoscopic microscopy were used, and results showed efficacy differences linked to the product and application method. In general, the products applied by immersion and cellulose pulp poultice were more effective than gel treatments, which were less effective with any of the three products tested.
SPECIAL ISSUE: Selective peer Reviewed articles of 4th International Congress Science and Technology for the Conservation of Cultural Heritage.
Sevilla, March 27-30, 2019
Sevilla, March 27-30, 2019
The technological parameters of representative pottery samples attributed to Precucuteni (5050-4600 cal BC) and Cucuteni (4600-3500 cal BC) cultures identified at Târpești (Neamț County, Eastern Romania) were determined using a complex... more
The technological parameters of representative pottery samples attributed to Precucuteni (5050-4600 cal BC) and Cucuteni (4600-3500 cal BC) cultures identified at Târpești (Neamț County, Eastern Romania) were determined using a complex archaeometric approach. The site is located in the northeastern part of the present-day Romania occupying a small plateau situated in a hilly region. In order to evaluate the raw materials and the firing process we have used optical microscopy (OM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and magnetic measurements. Further on, the XRPD data were statistically treated using hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) taking into account position and peak intensity, the Euclidian distance as metric and the average linkage method as a linkage basis for gaining a more refined estimation of the mineralogical transformations induced by the firing process and for defining homogenous group of samples. Based on the multivariate statistical analysis we could determine the most representative sample from each group, which was disccussed separately in order to identify the specific mineral phases responsible for the separate grouping. In addition, the mineralogical transformations were investigated by measuring the magnetic properties, especially the major hysteresis loop (MHL) of the pottery samples. All the Precucuteni pottery falls within the same group with some of the Cucuteni pottery samples due to the similar firing temperature range, while the other group containes only Cucuteni A pottery which were exposed to a higher temperature. Besides the similarities in the firing regime, our results revealed afinities in the raw material selection and processing between the Precucuteni pottery and some of the Cucuteni samples.
A set of 15 of variously coloured and decorated Roman glass coming from Casa Bacco deposit at Pompeii were investigated by wavelength-dispersive electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The analyzed objects are glassware and were selected on... more
A set of 15 of variously coloured and decorated Roman glass coming from Casa Bacco deposit at Pompeii were investigated by wavelength-dispersive electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The analyzed objects are glassware and were selected on the basis of their different color (colorless, light blue green, light blue yellow, blue, yellow-amber and emerald green). The sample set includes two finely decorated glass objects, on which a morphological study by back-scattered electrons (BSE) technique was carried out. The aim of the paper was the chemical characterization of Pompeii glass also in relationship to the contemporary analyzed Roman glasses from Mediterranean area. Based on the results, the Pompeii glass fragments are soda lime silica glass, the typical composition of the Roman glass, usually found in many Western European sites, produced with selected raw materials, from the eastern Mediterranean, possibly in or near to Egypt. In particular , the chemical composition of green emerald glasses suggests the use of plant ash, related to the production of the emerald green color, possibly being made in the same eastern Mediterranean area.
Depending on requirements of the building type, ashlar masonry (that is a masonry technique composed of rectangular blocks); varies in terms of dimension of blocks, staggering ratio, wall profile, etc. Determination of impact of these... more
Depending on requirements of the building type, ashlar masonry (that is a masonry technique composed of rectangular blocks); varies in terms of dimension of blocks, staggering ratio, wall profile, etc. Determination of impact of these variables on resistance is critical for the intervention decision process and sustainability of integrity and authenticity of dry masonry constructions. Therefore, the aim of the study is to determine characteristics effecting structural resistance and failure mechanisms of ashlar Cilician dry masonry watchtowers under lateral loading by quasi-static tilt analysis. Thus, the towers were documented in detail by traditional documentation techniques, the type of stone material were determined by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) equipped with X-Ray Energy Dispersive System (EDS) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis to identify friction coefficient and density values of stones to be used in simulation. Then virtual towers designed based on caharacteristics of case study towers were analysed by quasi-static tilting method. The towers present differences in terms of staggering ratio, which is the ratio between horizontal distance between joints (s) and height of the related course (h), and proportional relationship between heigth (H) and length (L) of the tower. Consequently, it is seen that staggering ratio affected out-plane resistance of the towers, increase in staggering ratio increased structural resistance. High staggering ratio (s/bh=1.4) provided total behavior. When the H/L ratio increased (H/L ≥2), the collapse angle of the towers decreased and slenderness of the towers increased, bending was observed. These results demonstrate that ancient masons were probably aware of structural precautions for resistance, they tried to use these techniques within the limits of the sources of the area.
Non-destructive analysis by means of portable X-ray flourescence (pXRF) and Raman spectroscopy of color traces on sculptures and architectural parts from the Delphi Museum, Phokis, Greece, are presented. These sculptures and architectural... more
Non-destructive analysis by means of portable X-ray flourescence (pXRF) and Raman spectroscopy of color traces on sculptures and architectural parts from the Delphi Museum, Phokis, Greece, are presented. These sculptures and architectural parts are dated to the Archaic period (7th-6th c. B.C.). The main question to be answered is the mineral/pigment used for each part and therefore to reconstruct the color palette of the artists. For this research, sixteen archaeological exhibits of the Delphi museum were analyzed with two different spectroscopies, and the white, red, black, yellow and blue pigments were identified.
Traditionally, the study of the Roman military presence in Galicia (Spain) and Northern Portugal has been based on the fragmentary documentation offered by Greek and Latin authors or epigraphy, with archaeology occupying a very secondary... more
Traditionally, the study of the Roman military presence in Galicia (Spain) and Northern Portugal has been based on the fragmentary documentation offered by Greek and Latin authors or epigraphy, with archaeology occupying a very secondary place in these historical narratives. In particular, the information is very scarce for the period between the 2 nd century BCE and 1 st century CE, when these territories were conquered and integrated into the Roman world. This work presents new Roman military sites discovered through an integrated methodology involving an intensive application of remote sensing techniques in order to provide information to foster a paradigm shift in this field of study. Distributed over a wide geographical area and displaying a wide morpho-typological and locational diversity, this new archaeological evidence not only reflects the ability of the Roman army to adapt to local natural and cultural environments, but also reveals a major operational and logistical assortment that may relate to the diachronic nature of the military presence in the region.
This paper investigates the applicability of the phenomenological approach articulated by the Nineteenth Century German architectural theoretician Gottfried Semper (1803-79) of-Cladding as the origin of architec-ture‖, to understand the... more
This paper investigates the applicability of the phenomenological approach articulated by the Nineteenth Century German architectural theoretician Gottfried Semper (1803-79) of-Cladding as the origin of architec-ture‖, to understand the surface design of Hellenistic Macedonian tomb architecture. The phenomenological approach to dematerialization in surface design, introduced by Semper, has never been investigated and studied in Hellenistic architecture. Based on Semper criteria, the study argues that Hellenistic architecture of the Macedonian tombs demonstrated a distinctive conceptual freedom of design, associated with the development of the masonry technology of semi-cylindrical barrel-vaulted chambers. This development endowed Hellenistic architectural and the morphology of its surface façade design continuous creativity and innovation. The study analyzes various examples of Macedonian tombs dated from the 4th to the 2nd centuries BCE. The aim of this research is to reveal crucial phenomenal aspects of cladding/masking of the Macedoni-an tomb's façade. Thus, dealing with its surface as an effect rather than an object, the study will shed light on a crucial reality that was censored in previous studies of Macedonian tombs architecture which considered it a lifeless mask. Based on Semper theory, the study will show that the issue of meaning in Hellenistic architecture is related to the manner with which surface design is approached. Thus, ornaments and decorations at its façades go beyond decorating, to become further tools for potent expression and cultural reference of the Oikoumene. As conclusion, Hellenistic surface façade design contributed to effective branding and image making within its larger Pan-Mediterranean context of the Greco-Macedonian and Ptolemaic Alexandri-an, Pompeian second style, Nabataean architecture and later the Renaissance. The hugely influential Oikoumene Hellenistic design approach may have a lasting impact on architectural design even today.
Research Interests:
Near Eastern Archaeology, Prehistoric Archaeology, Historical Archaeology, Cultural Heritage, Landscape Archaeology, and 7 moreArchaeological Science, Cultural Heritage Conservation, Heritage Conservation, Archaeometry, Digital Photogrammetry applied to Archaeology, Mediterranean archaeology, and Roman Archaeology
Silver and gold alloys have been widely applied in the making of precious objects during the byzantine and post byzantine eras. A major category is the "ecclesiastical silver", which was used in the celebration of the liturgy (chalices,... more
Silver and gold alloys have been widely applied in the making of precious objects during the byzantine and post byzantine eras. A major category is the "ecclesiastical silver", which was used in the celebration of the liturgy (chalices, disks, asterisks, blessing and benediction crosses, processional crosses, liturgical fans, wedding crowns etc.). This study focuses on post-byzantine ecclesiastical silver chalices, kept in parish churches and monasteries of Eastern Thessaly. They have been studied with non-destructive analysis technique (XRF) for the clarification of the role of gold (Au) in the Silver-Copper-Gold alloy. The main question answered in this work is whether gold (Au) was part of the compositional alloy or decorative and moreover if it was applied with amalgamation procedure (Au-Hg alloy). By using X-Ray fluorescence spectroscopy, mathematic procedures for data processing it is proved that in all cases gold was decorative and applied with fire gilding amalgamation process. Thus, in this work, it is proved that "fire mercury process" was the primary procedure for gilding ecclesiastical silver in Eastern Thessaly in the post-byzantine period.
This paper focuses on a Late Bronze Age-kohl box‖ from Tepebağ Höyük (Plain Cilicia, Turkey), one of the few well-dateable and securely-stratified examples of peculiar cosmetic containers found generally between Egypt and the northern... more
This paper focuses on a Late Bronze Age-kohl box‖ from Tepebağ Höyük (Plain Cilicia, Turkey), one of the few well-dateable and securely-stratified examples of peculiar cosmetic containers found generally between Egypt and the northern Levant. To date, this category of artefacts has received scant scientific attention, partly because most known specimens come from museum collections or poorly-stratified contexts. The-kohl box‖ from Tepebağ Höyük is notable not only because it is well-dated (15 th-3th centuries BCE), but also because it is the earliest known example from Anatolia. The piece under study is a rectangular basalt object decorated with zoomorphic motifs and characterised by long narrow tubes containing residues of a black pigment. Morphological and chemical composition analyses with Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (SEM-EDS) carried out on the residues reveal high concentrations of lead sulphide. Based on textual evidence from Egypt as well as similar chemical composition studies conducted on other similar finds, we can with confidence indicate that the Tepebağ Höyük example contained kohl. An ethno-archaeological study of modern kohl manufacture in southeastern Turkey further corroborates this hypothesis and provides interesting details regarding the possible secondary ingredients in kohl recipes. In addition, it confirms ancient sources that mention kohl also being an effective treatment against ophthal-mic ailments.
The present work introduces a laboratory multi-technique study for a unique heritage object from the Persian Safavid art preserved in Egypt. This study is alleged to be the preliminary one of such heritage embroidered and appliqued... more
The present work introduces a laboratory multi-technique study for a unique heritage object from the Persian Safavid art preserved in Egypt. This study is alleged to be the preliminary one of such heritage embroidered and appliqued leather tapestry. The aim of the present study is to reveal the type(s) of fibers and dyes used in crafting this rare artwork and the deterioration forms as well. The study used the Stereo Microscope (SM), the Scanning Electron Microscope coupled with EDX unit (SEM-EDX), ATR-FTIR and the MALDI-TOF MS. The object is composed of different layers; a textile substrate, a blank leather layer upon the textile substrate, a blackish leather layer, pre-cut white leather patterns appliqued upon the blackish layer using threads, the entire surface is embroidered with dyed threads. The obtained results revealed that the textile substrate is a plain cotton. The embroidery threads are also cotton, dyed with natural indigo, madder and Persian berries. Dyes' mordants were not verified, probably due to the high proportion of dust and soiling matters. The object is suffering from many deterioration forms; namely drying, brittle fabric and threads, faded dyes, lost threads and parts, stains in both the textile substrate and the embroidery threads, and much amount of dust and soiling matters.
Tomb orientation is a serious matter in mortuary ritual. By contextualizing the predominant orientation of a cemetery, we may find the religious belief of afterlife. In the case of the Guo cemetery (770 B.C. to 665 B.C.), China, most... more
Tomb orientation is a serious matter in mortuary ritual. By contextualizing the predominant orientation of a cemetery, we may find the religious belief of afterlife. In the case of the Guo cemetery (770 B.C. to 665 B.C.), China, most burials were aligned with their heads to the north which is slightly deviated to the east. Such an orientation is definitely pointing to the North Polar Star, which is the abode of the Supreme One in later religious belief of the heaven. In textual materials the target of the tomb occupants heading to is the Dark Capital of the underworld, also located to the to the north end of the universe. Considering the identical locations of the North Polar Star and the Dark Capital, we may conclude that both the Heavenly Court and the Underground Capital are located in the center of the supernatural world. From the distribution of the Guo cemetery , we can sense two layers of motions, the tomb occupants are heading and ready to depart to the center of the supernatural world. The tomb is the home of the dead, and the posthumous journey to the center of the supernatural world is to report their arriving, in order to live a better life in the other world. Placing the dead with their head toward north is a common practice of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, and the change of deviation from west to east coincides with the change of the North Polar Star from Thuban to Kochab, hence, the religious belief about the afterlife observed from the Guo cemetery should be a common for Chinese Bronze Age. A brief connection to analogous Mediterranean practices is discussed.
This paper shows the results of chemical analyses performed on a set of ceramic vessels retrieved from the Roman camp built after the battle of Baécula (208 b.C.) on the site known as Cerro de Las Albahacas (Santo Tomé, Jaén, Spain). The... more
This paper shows the results of chemical analyses performed on a set of ceramic vessels retrieved from the Roman camp built after the battle of Baécula (208 b.C.) on the site known as Cerro de Las Albahacas (Santo Tomé, Jaén, Spain). The paper also assesses the sampling strategy and its influence on the interpretation of the results. A set of 16 ceramic vessels of Iberian typology used by the Roman army was studied in order to analyse the chemical markers associated with their contents. The method consisted in joint use of GC-MS, HPLC-APCI-MS and GC-C-IRMS. The chemical markers identified beeswax and vegetable lipid, mainly in amphorae, while non-ruminant fat is associated with a different type of ceramic vessels. Based on the products identified, the paper puts forward interpretation on the types of food or beverages consumed by Italian-Roman soldiers at the time of the 2nd Punic War.
Höyük Settlement is located within the boundary of Çal district of Denizli Province. It was strategically located on a natural passage and an important centre surrounded by walls during the 2 nd millennium BC. Surveys conducted in the... more
Höyük Settlement is located within the boundary of Çal district of Denizli Province. It was strategically located on a natural passage and an important centre surrounded by walls during the 2 nd millennium BC. Surveys conducted in the Upper Menderes Basin have revealed that the mountainous and plateau areas are at least as densely settled as in lowland sections and these areas have significant importance in archaeological point of view. An intensive archaeological survey was conducted in order to find answers on Höyük settlements. Therefore, The Middle and Late Bronze Age ceramics which were found in the settlement area were evaluated from archaeological and archaeometric perspective. These ceramics were characterized by using typological evaluations, optical microscopy and X-Ray Fluorescence analyses (XRF). Analogical evaluations shown that the settlement's interregional relations reach from Central Anatolian to the West Anatolian shores, but the local features known from Beycesultan are prominent. Archaeometric analyses revealed that the Middle and Late Bronze Age ceramics contain metamorphic rock fragments and very abundant carbonate. Small and fine quartz grains, a small amount of pyroxene and plagioclase minerals and abundant carbonate are observed in these samples. The results obtained from the intensive survey supported the idea that the importance of the settlements in the mountainous and plateau areas increased after the decline seen in the region in 16 th century BC.
The extraction of DNA from archaeological human skeletal remains provides valuable data about past societies for anthropologists, archaeologists and palaeontologists. Traditionally, anthropological methods are limited if sex determination... more
The extraction of DNA from archaeological human skeletal remains provides valuable data about past societies for anthropologists, archaeologists and palaeontologists. Traditionally, anthropological methods are limited if sex determination of infant, juvenile or fragmented human remains are examined. However, studies on ancient DNA from human remains are best way for sex determination. In represent study, two DNA extraction protocols (phenol chloroform/commercial kit) were performed. A total of 37 samples taken from the 27 skeletons were exposed to different environmental conditions obtained from 8 different archaeological sites across Anatolia region of Turkey. Contamination precaution was applied as per preservation of the ancient samples. PCR was done using X-STR kit from DNA samples and the success rates of DNA extraction methods following amplification were completed. After the ancient DNA analysis, morphological results were compared to PCR-based amplification results in terms of sex determination. Due to the good preservation of ancient samples and methods of DNA extraction and amplification performed, 25 of the 37 ancient samples (67.5%) could be amplified successfully. When anthropological sex determination was compared to molecular analysis, it was seen that 85% of the results were consistent. In this study, femoral and petrous bones had better results than the teeth samples. Based on the results of this study, we can say that at least two samples should be taken from each individual for ancient DNA studies to confirm molecular results. Molecular sex determination will be useful fragmentary human remains when it impossible, to determine an individual's sex from morphological features.
A total of sixty-five radiocarbon dates from Ulucak Höyük, including charcoal and short-lived species taken from Level VI-Level III, clearly prove a long history of occupation at the site, from 6850 cal. BC to 5460 cal. BC. Based on this... more
A total of sixty-five radiocarbon dates from Ulucak Höyük, including charcoal and short-lived species taken from Level VI-Level III, clearly prove a long history of occupation at the site, from 6850 cal. BC to 5460 cal. BC. Based on this radiocarbon seriation, this article explores the origins of sedentary life its gradual transformation , and abrupt changes at the site. A discussion of the sequence of events is also presented within a regional framework. Ulucak Höyük is one of the earliest sites with evidence of farming and animal husbandry in the Aegean. Archaeological materials and radiocarbon dates confirm the existence of initial Neolithic layers, ca. 6850 cal. BC. Radiocarbon dates suggest that occupation between Ulucak VI and V continued without a gap. However , a gradual transformation has been observed starting from Level Vb onwards, which overlapped more or less with the 8.2 ka Climate Event. After a short gap between the Late Neolithic and Early Chalcolithic, an abrupt change in almost every aspect of material culture occurred around 5600 cal. BC.
The beginning of the Anatolian Early Bronze Age (EB I-3400-3000 BC), roughly contemporary with the Late Uruk period in Mesopotamia, is marked by the rise of small kingodms whose exact character is not clearly definable because of the... more
The beginning of the Anatolian Early Bronze Age (EB I-3400-3000 BC), roughly contemporary with the Late Uruk period in Mesopotamia, is marked by the rise of small kingodms whose exact character is not clearly definable because of the absence of writing. In this period, the cultural settings of the Anatolian Peninsula are rather varied and seem at least in part to reflect the large range of environmental diversity across the region, and the numerous imposing mountain ranges that act as natural barriers to interaction. Decades of research on pottery analysis have contributed to broadly define geo-cultural groups whose boundaries often coincide with major natural borders. This paper aims at presenting new evidence on one of these cultural groups, the "Pisidia/Lakes Region", through the chrono-typological and spatial distribution analysis of ceramic assemblages from ca 40 years of survey projects in the area. During Pisidia/Lake District survey, red or black brilliantly burnished, thin walled and shallow fluted pottery and amphorae characterizing the Beycesultan EBA culture was discovered for the first time in the region. Furthermore a comparison is made to other better-known cultural groups, and with stratified contexts from excavated sites in the western Anatolia including for instance Manisa-Gavurtepe, Beycesultan and Küllüoba. Brilliantly black burnished shallow fluted pottery from Manisa-Gavurtepe"s early phases sign to the western border of Beycesultan EBA I culture. In addition to this, few examples of same type of pottery from Küllüoba excavations shows that, Beycesultan EBA I culture has also relations with northern regions.
This paper presents the elemental composition of a representative group of glass-working and-production samples from Amarna in the collection of the Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung Berlin, obtained by quantitative laser ablation... more
This paper presents the elemental composition of a representative group of glass-working and-production samples from Amarna in the collection of the Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung Berlin, obtained by quantitative laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). These analyses were carried out to verify the results from a set of on site analyses of glass objects at Amarna, carried out by pXRF. The main research question of this study was whether the various sources of Co-ore can be identified using transition metal data from pXRF analysis only. The 40 samples from the Berlin collection were confirmed as belonging to the group of Type A, Co-and Co-Cu coloured glass objects, produced in the Egyptian 18 th dynasty, coloured with cobalt-containing ores originating from the western desert in Egypt (close to the Dakhla and Kharga Oases). The element composition revealed correlations between Co and Al, Mn, Fe, Ni and the REEs. However, the major, minor and trace element composition revealed no further distinction between the various workshops in the collection, indicating that similar recipes and raw materials were used in the workshops at Amarna. Thus, quantitative pXRF using Co, Ni, Mn and Zn concentrations alone, such as by pXRF, can be used as an indicative instrument for provenancing cobalt in glass objects, directly on site of objects that cannot be removed from a site or a museum collection.
Aristotle saw a great winter comet with a tail reaching up to Orion. It was Comet Encke on 31 December in 372 BC. When it became visible in the morning, after 9 January 371 BC, Ephoros saw its nucleus split up in two parts. The sword of... more
Aristotle saw a great winter comet with a tail reaching up to Orion. It was Comet Encke on 31 December in 372 BC. When it became visible in the morning, after 9 January 371 BC, Ephoros saw its nucleus split up in two parts. The sword of the Angel of the Lord seen above Jerusalem, as punishment for the sins by King Da-vid, was Comet Encke in 964 BC. The sword was redrawn at Ornan"s threshing floor on 8 June 964 BC. Da-vid bought this place and built an altar that later became the Altar of Salomon"s Temple in Jerusalem. A second century BC text contains a unique record of a bright comet observed at the end of the Shang Dynasty: "When King Wu [of Zhou] attacked King Zhou [of Shang], a comet appeared and tendered its handle to Yin". This was Comet Encke on 22 June 1060 BC and 17 days later, on 9 July in 1060 BC, Encke seems to have been depicted on a rock carving in Sweden. A stele at the temple of Amon at Gebel Barkal in Nubia, mentions first the important victories at Megiddo, in year 33, and Mittani, in year 23 of the reign of Pharaoh Thutmosis III. However, the text also mentions an important celestial phenomenon during his 47 th year of reign. The description fits very well with the bright appearance of Comet Encke at the end of January in 1460 BC. This supports the High Chronology for Egypt with 1506 BC as the first year of reign of Thutmosis III, the sixth Pharaoh of the 18 th Dynasty in Egypt.
The magnetic nano particles (MNP's) presented in cobalt ferrite CoFe2O3 and magnetic nano wires (MNW's) presented in spinel nickel zinc ferrite magnetic nanowires NiZnFe2O3 are popularly used in medicine field and in electronics. In... more
The magnetic nano particles (MNP's) presented in cobalt ferrite CoFe2O3 and magnetic nano wires (MNW's) presented in spinel nickel zinc ferrite magnetic nanowires NiZnFe2O3 are popularly used in medicine field and in electronics. In present work they have been used in conservation field for consolidation of 2 models (one for application of MNP and other for MNW) of an Egyptian fresco painting (3 rd to 7 th c. AD) kept in Coptic museum. They are filling the gaps inside the structure and improve the way of penetration of the magnetic nano materials through surface. The two treated models were studied by Fourier transform infrared(FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Spectrophotometer to determine the visual properties, and morphological and physical properties of the treated two models. The effect of different morphology of magnetic nano wires and magnetic nano particles on the mechanical characteristics of treated models using means of mechanical tests was evaluated. Both the two models proved that there is an improvement in mechanical properties occurring in both, but the magnetic nanowires act as nano wire in combaining the interior structure, thus, the model treated with MNW exhibited high resistanceto in bursting and hardness tests.
This study focuses on a multi-analytical method to identify the pigments, ground layer, and previous restoration materials used on a polychrome wooden coffin (Late Period) from Saqqara, Egypt. It utilized technical imaging, optical... more
This study focuses on a multi-analytical method to identify the pigments, ground layer, and previous restoration materials used on a polychrome wooden coffin (Late Period) from Saqqara, Egypt. It utilized technical imaging, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscope attached to X-ray dispersion unit, X-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results showed the use of hematite and cinnabar for the red painted layers, Egyptian blue for the blue painted layer, yellow ochre for the yellow painted layer, Atacamite and Paratacamite for the green painted layer and carbon for black painted layer. The ground layer was calcium carbonate. The original binding medium was animal glue, while the previous consolidation materials were poly vinyl acetate (PVAC) and beeswax.
This study is focused on the compositional and structural analysis of ancient gilts of the famous renaissance artist Antonello Gagini Annunciation's sculptural group, made in 1504 AD and now preserved in the church of St. Theodore martyr... more
This study is focused on the compositional and structural analysis of ancient gilts of the famous renaissance artist Antonello Gagini Annunciation's sculptural group, made in 1504 AD and now preserved in the church of St. Theodore martyr in Bagaladi, Reggio Calabria, Italy. For this purpose, a combination of spectroscopic techniques was employed. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spec-troscopy was used for the quantitative elemental analysis of the investigated samples. In order to identify their crystalline mineral components and to study their microstructure, Raman Scattering (RS) measurements were carried out. The chemical composition of the investigated samples allowed to identify elements and compounds, closely related to the sample preparation and preservation, with the aim to improve the knowledge of the gilding on stone materials in the late Renaissance and in order to suggest to restorers the best interventions to minimize the conservation problems that could affect the durability of the precious artefact.
Since the dawn of civilization, there have been epidemics and pandemics. They are, in reality, an unintended consequence of civilization. Prehistoric societies (our ancestors), surely have been affected by diseases, but they had few... more
Since the dawn of civilization, there have been epidemics and pandemics. They are, in reality, an unintended consequence of civilization. Prehistoric societies (our ancestors), surely have been affected by diseases, but they had few opportunities to exchange germs outside their own culture since the earliest humans lived in small isolated bands. The condition shifted drastically when, about 10,000 years ago, the agricultural revolution replaced a nomadic, hunting-gathering society, with a sedentary lifestyle. Here we present our views on the causes of pandemics, the human and natural causal factors, review some hallmarks of regional / global diseases from history, while in outbursts we recall the theory of complexity from the non-linear human cultural evolution.
Research Interests:
This study tests the use of Frequency Ratio (FR), Statistical Index (Wi), and Binary Logistic Regression (BLR) methods for establishing predictive maps for Iron Age sites in the Bekaa (Lebanon). As such it stands as the first attempt to... more
This study tests the use of Frequency Ratio (FR), Statistical Index (Wi), and Binary Logistic Regression (BLR) methods for establishing predictive maps for Iron Age sites in the Bekaa (Lebanon). As such it stands as the first attempt to use archaeological predictive modelling on a national level. The models were generated using an archaeological database consisting of 42 Iron Age I and 30 Iron Age II sites located in the Bekaa valley in Lebanon and six geo-environmental factors: distance to rivers, distance to cropland, slope, aspect, elevation, and terrain texture. The accuracy and predictive capacity of these models were tested using Kvamme's Gain value. The results indicate that the FR method is more reliable in locating areas of archaeological potential than Wi and BLR. The analysis of the FR-and Wi-based models shows that distance to rivers, terrain texture, and elevation provide the most significant classes affecting settlement incidence. On the other hand, in the BLR, distance to crops and distance to rivers are the most statistically significant explanatory variables for identifying areas with high archaeological probability. The archaeological predictive maps produced in this study form a valuable tool for cultural heritage management and any future archaeological investigation of the Bekaa region.
The purpose of this work is to study fourteen ancient sundials from in-situ measurements and discuss the significance and importance of time measurements in antiquity. The time measuring marble devices have been found in Attica, Greece... more
The purpose of this work is to study fourteen ancient sundials from in-situ measurements and discuss the significance and importance of time measurements in antiquity. The time measuring marble devices have been found in Attica, Greece (at National Archaeological Museum, Piraeus Museum, Stoa of Attalos at the Athens Agora, Epigraphical Museum of Athens). These sundials date from the Hellenistic and Roman period. Two of them still have the original gnomons. Six out of fourteen are preserved in good condition; the others are fragments of the original sundials. Detailed in-situ measurements along their present-day hour lines and curves (solstices and equinoxes) are taken. The methodology followed is based on Gibbs' methodology for south-facing conical sundials with slightly modifications/alterations depending on the present-day grid of lines and curves of the sundials. Conclusions about their geographical latitude of operation and their accuracy construction are drawn.
During the excavations conducted at level V of İnönü Cave, which is located on the western Black Sea coast of Anatolia, 10.198 beads were found in a small pot above the bedrock. While 93 of the beads, the vast majority of which were... more
During the excavations conducted at level V of İnönü Cave, which is located on the western Black Sea coast of Anatolia, 10.198 beads were found in a small pot above the bedrock. While 93 of the beads, the vast majority of which were produced from steatite, were produced from agate, 27 of them were produced from gold, 1 of them was produced from electrum, and 1 of them was produced from radiolarite. C14 analyses that were performed to obtain the absolute dates of this level, which bears the traces of the first settlers of the cave, and to date this group of finds, revealed that this level belonged to the last quarter of the 5th millennium BC (cal. 4260-3976 BC). The SEM-EDS analyses of 7 beads selected from among the steatite beads in İnönü Cave were performed to understand steatite bead production techniques in the Chalcolithic Age. Furthermore, their detailed images were obtained with a polarization microscope. These studies revealed that steatite beads consisted of two sections, including the inner main body/core and the section covering the outer part of the bead, and produced by heat treatment. Based on these data, beads were attempted to be experimentally produced in the laboratory environment. The definition, analogical and chronological evaluation of these steatite beads and SEM-EDS analyses and experimental practices are comprehensively presented in this study.
The-Marmi Mischi‖ (mixed glass mosaic tesserae) are artificial calcium-rich glass decorations, typically used in southern Italy and Sicily during the Baroque period (1600-1700) to decorate walls and altars of religious edifices. In this... more
The-Marmi Mischi‖ (mixed glass mosaic tesserae) are artificial calcium-rich glass decorations, typically used in southern Italy and Sicily during the Baroque period (1600-1700) to decorate walls and altars of religious edifices. In this study, we provide new archaeometric information on the raw materials, pigments and opacifying agents used to produce-Marmi Mischi‖ of-Pallium altaris‖ from the Messina Regional Museum. To reach this objective, all the studied glass decorations were analysed by means of non-destructive portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF). Some of the decorations were further subjected to Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) in the laboratory. Two types of glasses were recognised. The first one-bluish green in colour-is a basic or slightly modified-carcara glass‖, characterized by high concentrations of P. The second type-dark blue, turquoise, light turquoise and red in colour-is a-carcara glass‖ modified by craftsmen, containing high amounts of colouring agents (Cu, Pb, Sn, Sb). The presence of schreibersite in some of the analysed samples indicates that forming occurred in extremely reducing conditions and proves that the glasses were produced in CaO furnaces called-carcara‖ and used to produce lime. Moreover, our results suggest that: i) the dark blue, turquoise and bluish green nuances are as a result of Fe 2+ , with minor contribution by Cu and Co; ii) the light turquoise nuance is related to Fe 2+ and Cu 2+ , with minor contribution by Co; and iii) the red colour is as a result of the reduction of copper to the metallic state by Sn and Pb. Ca-antimonate (Ca2Sb2O7) was identified as an opacifying agent for the blue glassy decorations, whereas metallic Cu was identified for the red. The overall results of the chemical and physical characterization of the-Pallium altaris‖ glassy decorations from the Messina Regional Museum suggest that the used raw material was-carcara glass,‖ to which various chemical elements were suitably added to obtain the desired nuances.
The aim of this study is to introduce the rural area of Karadiğin Hill, which is located in the northeast of Kremna ancient city in Central Pisidia, and provide information about rural settlements in the region, while evaluations were... more
The aim of this study is to introduce the rural area of Karadiğin Hill, which is located in the northeast of Kremna ancient city in Central Pisidia, and provide information about rural settlements in the region, while evaluations were made on the architectural features of the houses in the settlement and different suggestions are presented. As a result of this study, it has been shown for first time that a rural settlement organization was formed in the central Pisidia. The new findings helped to understand the formation of Roman settlements with rural areas mainly in the 2nd century AD. When looking at the settlement order of Karadiğin Hill, it is noteworthy that it consists of rectangular, one-room simple hybrid spaces. This model mainly constitutes the building block of rural settlements in Central Pisidia. In fact, the Roman rural settlements have been a follow up of the rural settlement model that has been going on since the Iron Age with minor changes. The topographic structure that characterizes the settlement order made it compulsory for the rural population to cluster on high rocky hills close to the valley slopes or agricultural lands. The documented findings at Karadiğin Hill reveal that olive and olive oil production was a favorable occupation in the region; and it seems that olive-olive oil production is popular in rural areas similar to Karadiğin Hill geomorphology (e.g. İnarası, Hisarköy Asartepe), whereas in regions such as Karapınar Asartepe and Kumaryaylası, grape-wine production is preferred. As a result of our long-term studies in the region, it was determined that the urban population and rural population dispersed at the same rate during the Roman period.
The purpose of this research is to carry out a scientific-based characterization of one of the most important historic masonry building in Egypt, the mausoleum of al-Imam al-Shafi'I, which is considered one of the few buildings still... more
The purpose of this research is to carry out a scientific-based characterization of one of the most important historic masonry building in Egypt, the mausoleum of al-Imam al-Shafi'I, which is considered one of the few buildings still surviving dated to Ayyubid period (13th century). The study aims at determining not only the characteristics of the building materials' components, their relative proportions and morphological features, but also the causes of damage, decay and alteration phenomena occurred, in order to relate the structural and mechanical behavior of the construction materials depending on their compositional and microstructural nature and finally to setup proper restorations protocols. Comprehensive studies have been implemented on stone masonry walls through an interdisciplinary procedure including in-situ investigations, and experimental testing on extracted core-samples together with the updated measurements and documentations of the current state of the mausoleum. The followed integrated diagnostic approach based upon field survey data allowed the identification of the mineralogical characteristics, fabric morphology, physical and mechanical properties of the construction materials including limestone and lime-based mortars of the inner and outer leaves of the stone-masonry walls, which give very important information for conservation and restoration strategies. Methods employed included X-Ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX), petrographic microscopy and thin sections.
In this paper, a nondestructive multiscientific analytical technique approach was used in order to map and identify how the palette of pigments and the painting techniques used by ancient Egyptian artisans on wooden substrate, since old... more
In this paper, a nondestructive multiscientific analytical technique approach was used in order to map and identify how the palette of pigments and the painting techniques used by ancient Egyptian artisans on wooden substrate, since old kingdom to the New Kingdom (2575-1070BC), have been developed and enriched in the Greco-Roman period (30 BC-AD 311). For first time the multiscientific combined methodology is applied on a polychrome naos dates back to Greco-Roman period, and shed light on the degradation of some of this pigments. The painted materials layered on the wood surface were analyzed by several scientific methods; optical microscopy (OM), technical photography, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, FTIR-ATR, Imaging techniques (IR, VIL, UV). The application of technical photography provided useful information about the spatial distribution of the surviving original pigments, in particular visible-induced luminescence, which played an important role to recognize spatial distribution of areas containing Egyptian blue, Ultra violet induced luminescence emphasize using two kind of white pigments. The results obtained by this technique indicate that the brown color is obtained by using a mixture of black (ivory black) and red pigment (cinnabar) which considered a new developing for the methods commonly used for obtaining brown color. Besides using lead white in the areas of bright white as overpaint for dull white substrate, using mixture of Egyptian blue and earthy green to obtain bluish green, the use of Huntite as an underpaint layer over the preparation layer in the yellow pigment area is due to its bright white color that reflects light from the paint and gives it more color saturation and brightening and yellow pigment is orpiment, however examination indicate that areas of degraded orpiment appear off-white.
In this work, strontium stable isotopes and trace elements analysis were used for assessment of migration phenomena in five human skeletons, found in 2017 in Tepe Silveh excavation in Piranshahr, northwestern Iran. On the basis of the... more
In this work, strontium stable isotopes and trace elements analysis were used for assessment of migration phenomena in five human skeletons, found in 2017 in Tepe Silveh excavation in Piranshahr, northwestern Iran. On the basis of the associated findings, these skeletons belong more likely to the Millde Islamic Periods (Seljuk era). Due to the proximity of the site to the Iran, Iraq and Turkey boundaries, this study, as the first investigation about the likely migration of the ancient occupants of this region, is of a high importance. The elemental content of both tooth and bone samples of the skeletons was analyzed by ICP-MS technique and the strontium isotopes ratio (87 Sr/ 86 Sr) and trace elements ratio (Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca) were obtained to address whether these skeletons are local or non-local. The results of strontium isotope analysis (87 Sr/ 86 Sr) showed that all the samples could be considered as non-local, where the isotopic ratios were out of local range (local mean ± 2SD). Moreover, the results of trace elements analysis proved the strontium isotope results, where the difference between the ratio of Ba/Ca and Sr/Ca in tooth enamel and bone shows the possible non-local nature of the skeletons, or in other words, it could be said surely that these people have spent their childhood in different places.
The article deals with study of medieval amphoraе that are spread over sites of the 8th-10th centuries AD in the Northern part of the Black Sea region. Such vessels were manufactured in pottery centers of Byzantine Taurica. The general... more
The article deals with study of medieval amphoraе that are spread over sites of the 8th-10th centuries AD in the Northern part of the Black Sea region. Such vessels were manufactured in pottery centers of Byzantine Taurica. The general aims of this study are the analysis of northern-pontic amphorae shapes and the reconstruction of chronological changes of morphology of these vessels. The sources of study here consist of 197 whole and restored amphorae from 49 sites of the 8th-10th centuries from the territory of Eastern Europe (Crimea, Taman, Caucasus, the Don, the Volga, the Dnieper basins). Appropriate analytical techniques were used: Chi square tests were applied in biplots of geometric parameters on their shapes; analysis of the functional parts conditions and comparison of these data with the general proportions of amphorae, statistical analysis (canonical analysis for geometrical morphometry) of the data using MorphoJ making possible to use a variety of methods of multivariate statistics. The results of the study show that potters of Crimean workshops of the 8th-10th centuries who made northern-pontic amphorae followed two different Early Byzan-tine tradition of ceramic container production. These two traditions initially had fundamental differences in the shape of vessels and the decor of the external surface. Chronological changes of northern-pontic ampho-rae shapes can be described as a process of gradual erosion and mixing of these two pottery traditions. The results helped to discover the main trends and patterns in the chronological evolution of northern-pontic amphorae morphology.
This paper examines Late Bronze Age spindle whorls and loom weights found in the ongoing excavations at Beycesultan Höyük restarted in 2007 in context. Some supporting evidence on the functions of weaving tools has been obtained based on... more
This paper examines Late Bronze Age spindle whorls and loom weights found in the ongoing excavations at Beycesultan Höyük restarted in 2007 in context. Some supporting evidence on the functions of weaving tools has been obtained based on the context. The lack of written sources on weaving in Western Anatolia entails directly description of the weaving of this region through archaeological material. Spindle whorls in various forms and sizes indicate that different types of yarns were produced in the settlement while the numerous loom weights in the settlement imply the weavings be woven on the warp-weighted vertical looms of different sizes. The weaving tools found in the houses with several rooms indicate that weaving was practiced as a specialized occupation by some members of the household. It may be assumed that spinning could be done in almost any room, but wider courtyards were generally preferred for weaving with a loom. The storage rooms or living rooms of the houses were areas where the weaving tools were collected/stored after the weaving was stowed/stored. Despite similarities with Central Anatolia and Western Anatolia, local effects on weaving tools are quite dominant. With a large number of decoration elements unique to Beycesultan, some spindle whorls and loom weights found also support this view. The data renders Beycesultan höyük as an important textile production center in Western Anatolia. Hundreds of spindle whorls and loom weights found that will also dim light on the settlement and the region's Late Bronze Age weaving in region.
The Abjad numerals are a decimal system, where the numerical value of the 28 Abjad letters are used to denote construction dates in a word, phrase or a hemistich inscribed on the façades of old Islamic buildings. The system is precise and... more
The Abjad numerals are a decimal system, where the numerical value of the 28 Abjad letters are used to denote construction dates in a word, phrase or a hemistich inscribed on the façades of old Islamic buildings. The system is precise and accurate but has only been researched sporadically. Therefore, this study is concerned with describing, analyzing, and documenting the historical dimension and the major uses of the Abjad numeral system in the Arab region. It illuminates its use as a poetic chronogram to determine the construction dates of two case studies in Al-Ain (UAE); al-Jahili Fort and the Eastern Fort, which have been dated to the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries, respectively. The engraved verses (poems) are deciphered and discussed in comparison to other parallel examples from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, in order to determine the major characteristic features of poetic chronograms. Additionally, the study traces the roots of the idea of assigning numerical values to the writing signs in Mesopotamia and its surrounding region since the late third millennium BCE. It concludes that using Abjad numerals embedded in a word in a chronogram is similar to the Greek inscriptions found from different archaeological sites in the 3 rd and 4 th centuries CE, while the earliest recorded poetic chronogram relates to a later date around the 14 th century. Finally, the study recommends that further documentation of chronograms should be undertaken, due to their historical value as well as the necessity to provide an accurate, absolute date for individual structures.
One of the main factors that make the conservation of heritage by 3D modeling inaccessible, especially in developing countries, is the high cost of the terrestrial laser scanner. One alternative solution is close-range photogrammetry,... more
One of the main factors that make the conservation of heritage by 3D modeling inaccessible, especially in developing countries, is the high cost of the terrestrial laser scanner. One alternative solution is close-range photogrammetry, which is widely used as a less-expensive technique for the documentation of historical and cultural heritage through usually high-resolution DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) cameras. While main previous works have focused on the use of such high-end cameras, this paper studies the potential of the recent entry-level phone camera for performing close-range photogrammetry as an affordable abundant tool. To achieve this goal, Marinid Royal Necropolis from the UNESCO heritage city of Fez in Morocco were photographed and 3D modeled using a smartphone and a DSLR camera. The results are compared to a set of control points (CPs) collected using a total station and then evaluated through some statistical variables. Also, to analyze the impact of several parameters, Cloud-to-Cloud (C2C) distance is calculated for each 3D model. The mean C2C distance between 3D models and CPs clouds ranged between 6.8 mm and 11.6 mm using a few CPs, and from 11 mm to 21 mm without using any CPs. All comparisons suggest that the obtained results employing the smartphone camera are comparable, stable, and even slightly more accurate than DSLR cameras in our case.
Hittite Empire (13 th c. BC) preferred open-air temples, centered around the Tarhuntassa region and the Beyşehir basin, which are estimated to be within the borders of the modern Konya province. The Eflatunpınar and Fasıllar monuments are... more
Hittite Empire (13 th c. BC) preferred open-air temples, centered around the Tarhuntassa region and the Beyşehir basin, which are estimated to be within the borders of the modern Konya province. The Eflatunpınar and Fasıllar monuments are open-air temples in this region and they are still standing almost 2000 years although they are worn out. The Eflatunpınar monument was included in the temporary UNESCO World Heritage list in 2014. Fasıllar monument, the depictions of mountain god and lions stand out culturally. The aim of this study is to investigate the reasons for the site selection of the Eflatunpınar and Fasıllar monuments while also taking into account the lifestyle and the settlement forms of the Hittites. In the research process, the features of the monuments and their spatial relations with their surroundings and with each other were analysed through maps with the help of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). It was determined that the reasons behind the site selection of these monuments were the land use structure, water and the thought to sacralize it, and the need to reflect the magnificence of the political power and possess strategic transportation routes.
Clay-based building materials have been very popular in construction and common in cultural heritage sites around the Mediterranean. The excavation of the Late Bronze Age settlement of Thessaloniki Toumba (northern Greece), revealed an... more
Clay-based building materials have been very popular in construction and common in cultural heritage sites around the Mediterranean. The excavation of the Late Bronze Age settlement of Thessaloniki Toumba (northern Greece), revealed an abundance of this type of material with apparent preservation problems mainly caused by swelling phenomena due to water absorption and/or humidity fluctuations. This led to the alteration of the structural and aesthetic integrity of the archaeological findings, jeopardizing the preservation of the site and as a consequence, the archaeological evidence that they contain. Triggered by the identification of swelling clay phases in the sixteen samples of mud-bricks, this work studies the effectiveness, in terms of anti-swelling action, of two different categories of calcium hydroxide materials: saturated solution of calcium hydroxide (limewater) and various types of laboratory produced nano-lime dispersions. The effect of the dispersion medium (water and mixed polar solvents) on the reactivity of calcium hydroxide with clays and the stabilization of their microstructure were investigated on laboratory produced clay briquettes containing different percentages of montmorillonite (1, 5 and 15 % w/w). The interpretation of mineralogical (XRD) and chemical results (FTIR) highlighted the significance of the dispersion medium for the treatments and the beneficial role of laboratory prepared nano-lime dispersions when they are used as swelling inhibitors. Nanolimes were able to react and stabilize the external layers of clays through the formation of C-S-H, thus resulting in increased durability of mud-briquettes against swelling .
The Binbirkilise region has maintained its existence as an important religious and cultural center from the Hittites to the last period of the Eastern Roman Empire. There are many monuments in the region dating back to these periods.... more
The Binbirkilise region has maintained its existence as an important religious and cultural center from the Hittites to the last period of the Eastern Roman Empire. There are many monuments in the region dating back to these periods. Among the region monuments, a Roman mausoleum draws attention along with its construction system and original form. This mausoleum was recently (2015) completely unearthed in the archaeological excavations carried out by the archaeologists of the Karaman Museum. Since then serious deterioration problems started to occur of atmospheric, biological and human origin. Several non destructive techniques (NDT) were applied and relevant measurements undertaken such as; temperature (ST), surface moisture (SM), Schmidt hammer rebound (SHR), and P-wave velocity (Vp) tests, 3D photogrammetry, thin sections, polarizing microscope, XRF analyses, XRD, mainly used to determine the deterioration conditions of building stones on the surface. The NDM innovative approach contributed to the understanding of the deterioration dynamics. It has been determined that a white crust formation on the parts of the monument unearthed by excavations and this crust formation affects the deterioration process of the building stones.
With an increasing demand for luxury gold during the Han period (206 BCE-220 CE), exotic techniques and materials were used to create elite objects fashioned in styles that reflected contact with foreign lands. Here a group of gold... more
With an increasing demand for luxury gold during the Han period (206 BCE-220 CE), exotic techniques and materials were used to create elite objects fashioned in styles that reflected contact with foreign lands. Here a group of gold artefacts recently excavated from the royal Western Han tombs in central China, is discussed, with a focus on the decorative techniques of hoof-shaped gold and other artefacts. In previous studies these objects were considered to be either emblems of immortality in Chinese tradition or clan symbols of the Xiongnu people. Drawing from archaeological record and epigraphic evidence, it is argued that the filigree work from the royal Western Han tombs can be attributed to the influence of Hellenistic art. The portable XRF analysis shows that the Han period filigree works were made of refined gold, while microscopic (optical and scanning electron microscopy) examination indicates that the twisted wire of the Dalian dragon buckle was produced with strip-twisting technique that was very common in the Hellenistic jewellery. The interdiscipli-nary study of prestige gold provided a new interpretive framework for understanding trans-cultural contact between Han China and the Hellenistic world. The contextual analysis of the gold artefacts with foreign features presented in the current paper shows that the quest for exotica along with the desire for "heavenly horses" among the ruling elites acted as the driving force that led to an unprecedented extent of imperial expansion of the Han court in Central Asia, as well as the establishment of a vast trading network during the first century BCE.
The present study intends to assess the performances of two kinds of ancient mortar in the Church of the Holy Cross Gerasa in Jordan. The conservation of ancient construction requires a worthy characterization of the most significant... more
The present study intends to assess the performances of two kinds of ancient mortar in the Church of the Holy Cross Gerasa in Jordan. The conservation of ancient construction requires a worthy characterization of the most significant mortar components before starting the conservation, after the results obtained, and during the restoration process of the ancient site to decide how to react. The objective of this work is through FTIR perform experimental contribution to study the influence of organic part on the mechanical behavior of mortar (construction and conservation) and to minimize the risks of low tensile strength. Nowadays it is becoming increasingly important to apply the new techniques for sustainability and compatibility issues to conserve the historical monuments, particularly from increasing deterioration in the mortar's joints of the church. New results obtained concerning the identification of the binding materials of mortars, in particular the proteinaceous material (Egg-White) used in the church, and to collect more information to be used for the compatibility, which will be applied for the first time in Jordan. Furthermore, the results will make a new approach in Jordan to accept it in the field of restoration. It concludes that it is easy to identify all the organic part components of the mortar using the Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) in the band of the organic material between 1480-1420 cm-1), supported by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)/ (DTA peak at around 250 ºC). The investigations of both methods yielded precise information about mortar production technology and revealed an additive proteinaceous material in the mortars.
This current article is focused on the characterization of the preparatory mortar layers and tesserae from the mosaic floor of the Hippolytus Hall at Madaba, located in southwest Jordan. The chemical analysis of the ancient mosaic mortar... more
This current article is focused on the characterization of the preparatory mortar layers and tesserae from the mosaic floor of the Hippolytus Hall at Madaba, located in southwest Jordan. The chemical analysis of the ancient mosaic mortar and tesserae can provide valuable data regarding the ancient materials and technological processes applied for the production of the mosaic floor in the Byzantine period in Jordan. As well as, the conservation of the mosaic requires knowledge concerning the construction techniques, properties of the used materials as well as the deterioration factors. For these purposes, a considerable group of stone tesserae of different colors were collected together with two mortar samples from the preparatory layers and analyzed by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electronic Microscope attached to energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDX). The results showed that the mosaic floor composed of three layers (statumen, nucleus, and supra nucleus). The supra nucleus and nucleus layers mortars are a lime-based mortar and the Calcite (CaCO 3) is the main mineral of both samples, which indicates that the mortar used in preparatory layers of the mosaic is localized lime mortar. In addition, the good adhesion between mosaic layers can explain the favourable state of conservation , stability and long-term durability of this mosaic floor Besides, these results revealed that Calcite is the main mineral of all limestone tesserae samples (CaCO 3). The calcite here is a microcrystalline Calcite is known as Micrite.
The revival of economic and cultural contacts between Greece and the Levant during the early first millennium BCE has received much attention in scholarship, as Aegean imports found in the Eastern Mediterranean provide a reliable... more
The revival of economic and cultural contacts between Greece and the Levant during the early first millennium BCE has received much attention in scholarship, as Aegean imports found in the Eastern Mediterranean provide a reliable framework for interregional synchronization. In this article, we discuss Aegean sherds that were found in stratified Iron IIA contexts during recent excavations at Megiddo, one of the crucial sites for the establishment of Greek Protogeometric and Geometric chronology. An archaeometric analysis of these sherds suggests that some of them originated in Euboea. The specific Aegean provenance of the other fragments remains uncertain, but based on typological observations, two items, probably from the same vessel, appear to have originated from an Aegean milieu. The exposure of such imports at Megiddo, with its well-established stratigraphy, ceramic typology and radiocarbon dating system, is another contribution to the chronological synchronization of Greece and the Levant in the early first millennium BCE.
Water is an integral component of direct and indirect decomposition processes that may lead to the deterioration of stone building materials in cultural heritage. Since the deterioration effects caused by water may cause irreversible... more
Water is an integral component of direct and indirect decomposition processes that may lead to the deterioration of stone building materials in cultural heritage. Since the deterioration effects caused by water may cause irreversible problems in the whole monument, the detection of water is extremely important. Although there are many methods of moisture measurement (nuclear magnetic resonance, electrical resistance measuring, infrared thermography, radar, moisture meter) in the literature, there is no study in which deep and surface moisture values are evaluated together in monuments. For this purpose, the Lukianos Monument (Beyşehir, Konya-Turkey), which was created by carving on the rock surface, was investigated for a better understanding of the causes and development of the deterioration mechanisms of cultural stone heritage using surface moisture (SM) and deep moisture (DM) meters. It was aimed to determine the behavior of surface and subsurface water in the stone material by applying both methods. For this, firstly, deep and surface moisture data were processed on orthophoto obtained from the photographs of the monument. The P-wave velocity (Vp) test was also performed to determine the deterioration effects caused by water, which is mostly present in the form of moisture in structures on the rock. According to the results obtained from the study, contour scaling type deterioration and lower P-wave velocity values were obtained in parts where low DM values were determined in response to high SM values. The development of biological colonizationwas commonly observed in the regions with high moisture (surface and deep) values.
Excavations carried out at the Yenikapı quarter of Istanbul under the Directorate of the Istanbul Archeological Museum between 2004-2013 and have brought the historical importance of the port to light. During the salvage excavations in... more
Excavations carried out at the Yenikapı quarter of Istanbul under the Directorate of the Istanbul Archeological Museum between 2004-2013 and have brought the historical importance of the port to light. During the salvage excavations in Yenikapı, hundreds of leather sandals and leather objects from the Byzantine period have been uncovered. The aim of this study is to determine both tanning and coloring materials of eight leather objects belonging to the Byzantine period and physicochemical characterize the leather structure. A complementary analytical approach has been used to characterize leather objects. The ATR-FTIR analysis revealed that the leather objects were tanned with vegetable tannins (gallotanins, condensed tannins and hydrolyzable tannins). By HPLC-DAD analysis, it is known that tannin dye plants were used to color the leather (Quercus infectoria or Quercus ithaburensis). The EDS analysis result showed the possible use of cupric sulfate (CuSO 4) for preliminary preparation before tanning leathers during the Byzantine period. In addition, SEM was used for visual assessment of the degree of deterioration of leathers. Based on the EDX analysis, biological deterioration factors and changes in the element ratio have shown that the leather objects deteriorate. In addition, pH, moisture content and CIE* Lab values show that there is a deterioration in the structure of leathers under the sea. The study will sheds light to leather conservation studies.
Among the many problems in the archeology of Djarkutan, there is one seemingly particular issue, which, however, is of exceptional importance in understanding the spiritual culture of Proto-Bactrian civilization. This is a question about... more
Among the many problems in the archeology of Djarkutan, there is one seemingly particular issue, which, however, is of exceptional importance in understanding the spiritual culture of Proto-Bactrian civilization. This is a question about cenotaphs, or false burials, their place and role in the ritual-cult practice of the ancient agricultural society of Southern Uzbekistan. The use of cenotaphs as specific objects of archaeological research allows us to clarify many aspects of socio-ideological and ritual-symbolic transformations in the culture of complex societies. Meanwhile, the question of the place and significance of cenotaphs in the funerary practice of Sapalli culture of Bronze Age is still a poorly explored topic In a number of works devoted to complex societies of Bronze Age of Central Asia, cenotaphs are usually mentioned in passing or in the most general views. However the ritual meaning of cenotaph burials goes far beyond the burial practice and has social and ideological sense. Cenotaph rituals was diverse and historically changed both in time and in space. In this article, I will try to consider some cultural specifications and historical positions of cenotaphs in social and ritual-cult functions on example funeral objects of Sapalli culture. I attempt to show that cenotaph ritual is a means of transmitting vital issues of society and social challenges. My proposal is being developed comprehension of cenotaphs as specific symbolic practice and as a mode of regulating social relations, reflecting experiences of integration inside the cultural system. The formation of rituals and other symbolic actions is determined, first of all, by the formation of a new system of social-normative values in proto-state civilizations.
The current paper investigates the influence of artificial thermal weathering on marble for the purpose of developing an improved classification system to assess marble deterioration based on non-destructive ultra-sonic velocity... more
The current paper investigates the influence of artificial thermal weathering on marble for the purpose of developing an improved classification system to assess marble deterioration based on non-destructive ultra-sonic velocity measurements. Different samples of historical Greek and Turkish marble used in Roman archaeological structures in two Jordanian archaeological sites were selected and subjected to four heating cycles at different temperatures. The induced changes in the microstructure and physico-mechanical properties of the marble were examined and correlated with ultrasonic wave velocity measurements. Results showed that thermal weathering, particularly at temperatures beyond 200 ˚C, produces considerable microcracking in marble. The developed cracks act to significantly increase the porosity of marble and result in a corresponding significant reduction in ultrasonic velocity of marble. Consequently, a simplified relationship between ultrasonic velocity and marble porosity has been proposed and an improved classification system for assessing marble deterioration has correspondingly been developed. This system allows for efficient assessment of the condition of archaeological marble objects and structures in a simple and non-destructive way. The results of this paper indicate that the deterioration of marble, regardless of its fabric characteristics, can reliably be assessed based on non-destructive ultrasonic velocity measurements. The consideration of rock fabric parameters, however, helps provide a more comprehensive evaluation and interpretation marble damage.
Despite its ubiquity in historical and mythological narratives, the ancient region of southern Phokis in central Greece has been approached primarily as a backdrop for more prominent neighbors (e.g. Delphi, Boiotia), whose roles have been... more
Despite its ubiquity in historical and mythological narratives, the ancient region of southern Phokis in central Greece has been approached primarily as a backdrop for more prominent neighbors (e.g. Delphi, Boiotia), whose roles have been codified in extant histories. Archaeological research has been likewise limited, with the result that southern Phokis has remained largely untouched and unintegrated into the larger narratives of each of the major periods of antiquity. Recent work by the Southern Phokis Regional Project (SPRP) in the Desfina Plain is correcting this lacuna. SPRP is blending the strongest attributes of several disciplinary approaches (e.g. classics, archaeochemistry, digital humanities) to produce a comprehensive transdisciplinary study of the natural and cultural landscape of the region, thereby illuminating the important role of southern Phokis during some of the richest epochs of human history. Our 2018 study of Desfina's natural and cultural environs, bolstered by excavations at the Mycenaean citadel of Kastrouli (ca. 1350-1000 B.C.E.), is revealing that southern Phokis served as a major, if not the primary, gateway to points south and west for northern Phokis, western Boiotia, and perhaps even eastern Lokris by securing access to the Corinthian Gulf. Our survey has documented ambitious engineering works that include a major hydrological project reminiscent of the Kopais Basin and "Cyclopean" terrace walls that sculpt the landscape. These achievements testify to a level of socio-cultural complexity and interconnectivity previously overlooked. In the shadows of Mount Parnassos, Desfina makes the best case yet to be not only the home of Echedameia, destroyed by Philipp II during the Third Sacred War, but also Homeric Anemoreia.
The surveys of the Istanbul Prehistoric Research Project that have been carried out since 2014 in and around the Istanbul Büyükçekmece Lake, discovered not only prehistoric materials but also a considerable number of small findings,... more
The surveys of the Istanbul Prehistoric Research Project that have been carried out since 2014 in and around the Istanbul Büyükçekmece Lake, discovered not only prehistoric materials but also a considerable number of small findings, ceramics and architectural elements from the Classical Period. A great deal of effort was spent to identify the long wall, extending roughly along the lake"s ancient coast line, which surfaces during the years of drought when the lake"s water recedes considerably. Antique geographers mention the region in a line or two, as a small town named after Athyra(s), a river flowing into the Marmara Sea from the north. Procopius, an important historian of the 6th Century, informs us in his book "On Buildings"(Greek: ΠερὶΚτισμάτων, PerìKtismáton; Latin: De aedificiis) that Emperor Justinian built a reservoir at the request of people affected by drought in a town called Athyra, near Constantinople. At first glance, knowing that the lake now not only supplies its ever-growing nearby population but also provides fresh water to Istanbul, the information given by Procopius didn"t seem to be convincing. The team focused its efforts to investigate if the embankment belongs to the mentioned dam, or not.The team consulted the historic records and also correlated with the other surface findings such as different artifacts, ceramics, and architectural elements to build a context. Underwater Side Scan Sonar, Geomorphological and Paleoclimatological work confirmed that the region, despite its ample fresh water sources available nowadays, was suffering a serious drought during the sixth century.
New data are presented from non-destructive structural investigations in the Istanbul Yerebatan (Basilica) Cistern (placed in the top 10 sites in Turkey on the UNESCO World Heritage List) for restoration purposes. Degradation identified... more
New data are presented from non-destructive structural investigations in the Istanbul Yerebatan (Basilica) Cistern (placed in the top 10 sites in Turkey on the UNESCO World Heritage List) for restoration purposes. Degradation identified is discussed in relation to past earthquakes. Istanbul has housed many civilizations and searching for the traces of earthquakes in historical sites in a city which has experienced many large earthquakes during this process will assist in illuminating the past. It is possible to see traces of these earthquakes in the Yerebatan (Basilica) Cistern, serving as the largest enclosed water storage in Istanbul for nearly 1000 years. In line with this aim, research was completed with the high-resolution ground penetrating radar (GPR) method on both the floor and internal side walls of the cistern which is undergoing restoration. In this study, deformation was determined in the layers of water insulation on the floor of the cistern and it was understood these deformations were associated with degradation in the 336 columns acting as supports for the cistern. Drilling in anomalous sites determined by GPR screening identified traces of repairs and it was concluded that the degradation causing anomalies may be related to past earthquakes.
The present study focuses on the investigation and analytical techniques used to study a rare Iranian leather tapestry dates to the 16 th-17 th century. This study is a complementary part of an earlier one on the fibers and dyes of the... more
The present study focuses on the investigation and analytical techniques used to study a rare Iranian leather tapestry dates to the 16 th-17 th century. This study is a complementary part of an earlier one on the fibers and dyes of the same object. Both parts concern a pioneered archaeomatrical study for such rare types of embroidered and appliqued leather tapestries. The present study reveals the type(s) of leather, tannins, pigments, and media used in the object, and the deterioration forms as well. The study used the SM, SEM-EDX, MA-XRF, ATR-FTIR, and MALDI-TOF MS. The obtained results revealed that the object is composed of; a textile substrate, a blank beige goatskin layer upon the textile substrate, a blackish goatskin layer colored with iron oxide and bone black in Arabic gum, white cattle leather patterns colored with calcium carbonates in Arabic gum and appliqued upon the blackish layer, the whole object is fixed and ornamented using dyed embroidery threads. Mimosa and alum were revealed as tanning materials for the leathers. The object suffers from many deterioration forms, namely dust and soiling matters, cracks, macro-cracks, drying, brittleness, shrinkage, lost parts, stains, and erosion of colored surfaces.
Silcrete and chert were used for the manufacture of stone tools in early prehistoric (Middle / Late Palaeolithic and Mesolithic) times in Central Evia island. We have undertaken an analysis of visual characteristics of prehistoric... more
Silcrete and chert were used for the manufacture of stone tools in early prehistoric (Middle / Late Palaeolithic and Mesolithic) times in Central Evia island. We have undertaken an analysis of visual characteristics of prehistoric artifacts and the potential source rocks exposed in the area to provide evidence of use of locally available raw material. Field geological surveys indicate that silcrete, chert nodules in limestones, and varicolored cherts within siliceous mudstones and sandstones in the area were potential raw materials for prehistoric knappers. Geological mapping and detailed studies of the mineralogy, texture and geochemistry of critical rock types demonstrate extensive use of different silcrete facies associated with weathered ultramafic ophio-litic rocks and chert nodules occurring within Upper Cretaceous limestones. SEM, XRF, XRD and ICP-MS analytical methods were employed. The hard, massive, buff reddish-brown variety of silcrete triggered the main interest of prehistoric knappers. Provenancing of lithic tools made of silcrete is facilitated by the presence of disseminated grains of relictic chromite/spinel and serpentine, and the high Cr, Ni, Fe, Mg, Co, V contents. Chert nodules are depleted in almost all the major, minor and REE elements, except for silica and Ca. It is concluded that the chemistry of cherts alone is not considered a reliable approach to resolve the critical problem of sourcing of chert artifacts, with detailed field surveys in neighboring areas and petrographic analysis needed for compelling source to artifact correlations.
This paper presents results from the initial stage of an ongoing project exploring changes in pottery production at the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age transition in the southwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula. For the chosen study area... more
This paper presents results from the initial stage of an ongoing project exploring changes in pottery production at the Late Bronze Age/Early Iron Age transition in the southwestern part of the Iberian Peninsula. For the chosen study area this period is of particular interest because of the introduction of new pottery types, manufacuring techniques, and possibly also different organisational models in the wake of the Phoenician expansion into the western Mediterranean. The initial stage of our project focused on samples from the key site of Setefilla, with a methodology based on both non-destructive and destructive analysis of ceramic samples: 1) non-destructive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), 2) very precise optical emission spectrometry (OES) and 3) petrography of pottery samples. The results of this research show a significant correlation between manufacturing techniques, type of clay paste used and elemental composition. Alongside this approach we also conducted a radiocarbon dating programme on cremated human remains from the site, to provide a chronological context for any changes observed in the pottery assemblage over time. Our results demonstrate that through systematic spectrographic and petrographic analysis we can overcome some of the basic problems relating to the chemical and petrographic identification of different pottery groups, with a view to establishing the provenance of so-called "imports".
This research is concerned with the investigation of Egyptian and Egyptianizing artifacts dating back to the period comprised between the 10 th century BC and the first half of 6 th century BC, which were found in some archaeological... more
This research is concerned with the investigation of Egyptian and Egyptianizing artifacts dating back to the period comprised between the 10 th century BC and the first half of 6 th century BC, which were found in some archaeological sites of eastern-central Sicily. The examined Aegyptiaca include thirt-four items consisting of scarabs, funerary statuettes, figurines and unguentaria, which are mostly preserved at the regional archeology museum "Paolo Orsi" in Syracuse and, only in part, at the regional Aeolian museum "Luigi Bernabò Brea" in the Lipari island. Some of the investigated objects are made of faience (a glazed non-clay ceramic material, coated with an alkali-based glaze), while some others are in steatite or other stones. Through the chemical investigation of the selected artifacts, the study aims to extend the compositional dataset available on Aegyptiaca, as well as to identify the colorants used for the preparation of the investigated glazes. For such a scope, non-destructive bulk chemical analyses through portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF) were carried out on both the bodies and the overlying coloured glazes. A rather variable chemical composition was found in terms of both bodies and glazes, thus pointing to the use of different recipes and/or workshops for the investigated artifacts. The results obtained demonstrate the validity of this analytical technique in revealing the elemental composition of artifacts belonging to museum collections.
In this research project, we studied the ancient Timgad site which has been classified on the World Heritage List of Humanity by UNESCO, in order to understand quantitatively and digitally what was its urban and architectural spatial... more
In this research project, we studied the ancient Timgad site which has been classified on the World Heritage List of Humanity by UNESCO, in order to understand quantitatively and digitally what was its urban and architectural spatial configuration as no earlier studies were made about this archeological site. The approach to this important question was the space syntax method via its digital tools applications, such as Depthmap and Agraph. Using these software programs and quantitative metrics, it was possible to identify elements that lead us to distinguish between the spatial properties within the urban site related to access, flow, individual behaviour, and the amenities inside of an average building, with considerations which are related to accessibility, movement, and way of life. These findings lead us to assess the spatial archeological value. Valuable elements to the architects, urbanists, and archaeologists are related to the understanding of the social domestic life found through the excavated archeological buildings within the framework of human anthropology.
The first encounter between archaeologists and the sites or areas of their study is the topsoil. Still, very little attention is paid to the processes that create the matrix of the topsoil and the archaeological assemblage contained... more
The first encounter between archaeologists and the sites or areas of their study is the topsoil. Still, very little attention is paid to the processes that create the matrix of the topsoil and the archaeological assemblage contained within it, and hence to what data can be obtained from it. This paper, which is part of a larger study on the formation of the archaeological record at Tel 'Eton, aims to reconstruct the way the topsoil was formed. For this purpose, we studied not only the mound's topsoil and archaeological layers below it, but also the site's environment, in terms of texture (sedimentation/decantation method), color (Munsell charts), phosphate concentration (Olsen method) and vegetation (aboveground plant biomass). Results showed differentiation between the sampling groups and geographical settings in all the measured parameters-in both values and variance. The data imply that the mound's topsoil was created by an upward movement of materials and their homogenization in the topsoil. Our results strongly suggest that these processes are likely to be more frequent on mounds, compared to their uninhabited environment. Beyond new insights on the processes of archaeological soil formation, this study has implications for both chemical and archaeological phenomena, such as the presence of artifacts on the surface, the color of archaeological soils, the widespread use of archaeological sites for agriculture (from antiquity to the 20 th century), and the provenance of mud-brick material.
In this study the results of physico-chemical analysis for mortar and plaster specimens from Frangokastello castle in Sfakia (western Crete) and the subsequent designing of compatible restoration mortars are being presented, as part of a... more
In this study the results of physico-chemical analysis for mortar and plaster specimens from Frangokastello castle in Sfakia (western Crete) and the subsequent designing of compatible restoration mortars are being presented, as part of a wider project for the sustainable management of the monument. In order to compose a compatible restoration mortar or plaster a reverse engineering process has been adopted. Primarily, a study of mortar and plaster specimens, that constitute a representative sampling from the monument, was performed. The analyses included macrosopic characterisation and microstructural examination using microscopy on samples and on fine polished cross-sections of them. Additionally, chemical and mineralogical analyses were executed including Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD). In the framework of thermal analysis, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TGA and DTA) were performed in order to obtain information regarding hydraulic components of the mortars. Finally, the granulometric curves of selected specimens were produced and contributed to the classification of samples in different groups and construction phases. Elaborating all these results and the state of the conservation, compatible raw materials were chosen, including hydraulic lime and other binder and aggregates. The designed mortars were subjected to durability tests, so that the mechanical behavior of the restoration mortar could be comparable to the historic ones. Subsequently, colouring experiments were carried out in order to approach one or more existing plasters for partial use. The result of this work aims to constitute a directive for the restoration of the monument, concerning the use of compatible mortars.
The purpose of this paper is the comparison between the original and restored carbonate material of the bell tower of the Church Matrix in the Longobucco village (Calabria, Italy), built in Romanic style during the XII or XIII century.... more
The purpose of this paper is the comparison between the original and restored carbonate material of the bell tower of the Church Matrix in the Longobucco village (Calabria, Italy), built in Romanic style during the XII or XIII century. The characterization of the original and restored material was performed through micromorphological, pet-rographic and geochemical approaches utilizing optical and electron microscopy (SEM) observations, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), mercury porosimetry, and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Both materials are composed of low-magnesium calcite with siliciclastic inclusions, more abundant in calcarenites. The main differences are linked to the texture of the two rocks. The very porous continental calcareous tufa is made up of microbialitic boundstones with stromatolitic and thrombolytic-like microfacies. The marine calcarenite is composed of bioclastic grain stones and has a low porosity. The study shows the importance of the micromorphological and geochemical approach for the characterization of the physical-chemical properties of carbonate materials utilized in restoration and suggest that, for any restoration, the monument and territory history, but also the deeply knowledge of the material is deemed necessary.
Because human modification has been significant enough to alter the atmospheric chemistry, some scholars argue that our planet Earth is going beyond the Holocene and coming into a new geological epoch, the An-thropocene. While the... more
Because human modification has been significant enough to alter the atmospheric chemistry, some scholars argue that our planet Earth is going beyond the Holocene and coming into a new geological epoch, the An-thropocene. While the Anthropocene concept is widely acknowledged, some key issues, such as the starting point of this epoch and how humans influenced climate, are unclear. This paper provides an overview of the long-term, broad-scale interactions between climate evolution and increasingly intensive human activities (mainly farming) in Early China. It firstly reviews both the traditional "climate in charge" hypothesis and Ruddiman's "anthropogenic greenhouse gases" hypothesis. Then pollen and isotope data on paleo-climate is summarized to shed light on the climatic history in China from ~3500 BCE to ~220 CE. It is followed by an overview of the cultural history within the same time span. Finally, by integrating these two lines of evidence, the dynamic process of the interplay of human activity (particularly farming) and climate is synthetically discussed. Based on the evidence, I argue that the onset of the Anthropocene is a prolonged process with a notable mark in the early centuries CE.
The intensification of metallurgical production and the rise of social stratification that started around the end of the 4th millennium BC are well-represented in archaeological literature. During this period, numerous changes in... more
The intensification of metallurgical production and the rise of social stratification that started around the end of the 4th millennium BC are well-represented in archaeological literature. During this period, numerous changes in architecture, burial customs, and ceramic manufacture can be detected in archaeological levels. Most of the analyses so far conducted on ceramics have focused on ware groups, forms, decorations, and functions, with less attention traditionally paid to the process of skeuomorphism, which has often been described as 'imitation'. More recent studies have shown that the transfer of techniques, shapes and decorative elements between media and production processes (e.g. from metal or stone vessels to ceramic vessels) played an important economic role in ancient societies. This article employs the pottery of the Early Bronze Age from inland Western Anatolian, to understand the impact of metal vessel manufacture on ceramic production. Examples of skeuomorphism are provided, particularly noting surface colours, handle attachments and decoration , and an analysis made of the contexts of retrieval to suggest the possible reasons for their presence.
Many interpretations of the ancient cadastre of the Roman colonies of Pola and Parentium on the Istrian peninsula in Croatia have been offered recently on the basis of satellite imagery and the Croatian topographic map. This grid,... more
Many interpretations of the ancient cadastre of the Roman colonies of Pola and Parentium on the Istrian peninsula in Croatia have been offered recently on the basis of satellite imagery and the Croatian topographic map. This grid, spreading continuously over an area of roughly 1200 km 2 , was identified through numerous structures which correspond to the ancient Roman metric system, but they were never a part of further research. This approach enabled identification of structures that were most often visible in the contemporary cadastre, like modern roads or field boundaries, but gaps were left in areas where the modern cadastre did not reflect the ancient one. Until the commission of airborne laser scanning (ALS or LiDAR), from which our research began, one of these gaps was on the northern side of the Lim bay, in the Municipality of Vrsar. Interpretation of ALS data resulted in detecting different, multi-temporal spatial organisations of the landscape, among which were numerous, previously unidentified, remains of the Roman limites. The results of this interpretation guided the field inspection. Different surface manifestations of individual remains were categorized, and it was defined which are the original Roman structures. The results of this structural survey subsequently guided the archaeological excavations. Only with the combination of these procedures it was possible to understand the original construction of the limites.
Nowadays, after more than twelve decades of studies involving many scientists from all over the world, we do not know the originary chemistry of the Shroud of Turin. This state of affairs is due to the uncertainty between two... more
Nowadays, after more than twelve decades of studies involving many scientists from all over the world, we do not know the originary chemistry of the Shroud of Turin. This state of affairs is due to the uncertainty between two possibilities. The first one, deduced by Heller and Adler, asserts that the surface chemistry is linen cellulose structure. The two scientists have obtained this result by microanalysis of the samples extracted from the Linen of Turin. The second one, deduced by Rogers and subsequently studied with Arnoldi, supports the hypothesis that the linen threads were, in origin, covered with a thin layer of impurities. Also this result has been experimentally obtained. In fact, by microchemical tests, using iodine on thread pieces of the Shroud linen, it was detected the starch impurities presence. This study is an attempt to analyze the Rogers' hypothesis: a Maillard reaction between amines (nitrogen compound with a free-NH 2 group), coming through the corpse wrapped in the Linen of Turin and reduced sugars, due to the manufacturing procedure, present on the surface of the above linen cloth. Therefore, as it has already affirmed, we have two different visions. However , we must take also into account that the second one hypothesis needs, at same time, the presence of amines and the absence of aromas and/or burial ointments. The aim of this our study is to see if the above hypothesis (the one of Rogers with Arnoldi) is able to yield on the linen a color distribution characterized by a I(z) correlation between the intensity of color and the cloth-body distance, as it occurs to the Shroud of Turin.
In this inquiry, a polychrome cartonnage mummy case, discovered at the archaeological site of El-Lahun at Middle Egypt, was investigated. Fragmented cartonnage samples were non-destructively examined by digital microscope and high... more
In this inquiry, a polychrome cartonnage mummy case, discovered at the archaeological site of El-Lahun at Middle Egypt, was investigated. Fragmented cartonnage samples were non-destructively examined by digital microscope and high resolution field-emission scanning electron microscope, which was outfitted with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (FE-SEM/EDX). For further understanding, spectroscopic study on some samples was fulfilled by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results implied linen fibres as the base support, while thin calcareous layer mixed with gum Arabic worked as preparatory layer 'gesso'. The pigments on the cartonnage palette contained Egyptian blue (synthetic blue cuprorivaite), orpiment (brilliant arsenic sulfide mineral), yellow ochre (iron oxyhydroxide, silica, and clay mineral), and red ochre (iron (III) oxide, silica, and clay mineral). What's more, the green pigment was created through mixing together amounts of Egyptian blue and yellow ochre. While the yellow paints contained a blended layer of yellow ochre and orpiment. The results certified that gum Arabic was the adhesive used in both the 'gesso' and pictorial layers. Extreme physical damage, salt efflorescence, and biological attacks were documented on the cartonnage. Fungal species of Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Penicillium spp. were verified. To minimize the damage and maintain the condidtion of the cartonnage, a unified restoration project was requested. The procedures covered disinfection using eco-friendly plant extracts-essential oil, cleaning, consolidation of the fragile surface, stabilizing the paint layers, reinforcing detached areas, and filling missing parts. Particularly, the results provided appreciable data on the painting materials and the proposed date of the cartonnage.
This study examines an ensemble of thirty-two Romanesque churches in the region of Boí Valley and Aran Valley in the Spanish Pyrenees, built between the 11th and 13th centuries. The data obtained allowed for a geometric study of the... more
This study examines an ensemble of thirty-two Romanesque churches in the region of Boí Valley and Aran Valley in the Spanish Pyrenees, built between the 11th and 13th centuries. The data obtained allowed for a geometric study of the orientation of these churches based on four Romanesque liturgies: Gemma animae (c.1120), by Honorius of Autun; Rationale divinorum officiorum (c.1150), by Jean Beleth; Mitralis de Officio (1190), by Sicard, Bishop of Cremona; and Prochiron, vulgo rationale divinorum officiorum (1291), by Guillaume Durand. A group of these churches have been equinoctially oriented. The mountainous topography does not allow a setting-out by observing the solar ortho, because the angular altitude of the skyline (AAS) is >0º. Therefore, we conclude that, due to their precision azimuth (Az) (91.41º, ± 1.91º), they have been traced using instrumental systems inherited from Vitruvius, Hyginus Gromaticus, Gisemundus, or Gerbertus Aureliacensis. It is concluded that the method of land surveying sources of Gisemundus (c.800), is the one that geometrically allows the sacral orientation from East to West to be plotted with less error.
This paper presents synthesis of a nanomagnetic sponge loaded with oil in water (O/W) microemulsion for removing aged varnish from an Egyptian inlaid wooden jewelry box artifact, Ottoman period, 18 th century. It was displayed in the... more
This paper presents synthesis of a nanomagnetic sponge loaded with oil in water (O/W) microemulsion for removing aged varnish from an Egyptian inlaid wooden jewelry box artifact, Ottoman period, 18 th century. It was displayed in the museum of faculty of applied arts, Helwan University, Giza, Egypt. The box had several deterioration aspects, one of them is damage of the varnish layer which deformed the box appearance. Magnetic nanoparticles of CoFe 2 O 4 were incorporated into a copolymer based network of polyethylene glycol and acrylamide to obtain nanomagnetic sponge. It was loaded with two (O/W) microemulsions: the first one is based on poly (HEMA): Poly (methyl methacrylate/2hydroxyethyl 1 methacrylate); and, the second is based on Texapon-P (ammonium lauryl sulphate). Portable USB microscope, scanning electron microscope attached with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) unit, x-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to characterize the inlaid wooden artifact and to evaluate the efficiency of the nanomagnetic sponge. The data confirmed that the box was fabricated from pinus pinea wood, was inlaid with ivory of different colors, brass alloy, and wooden veneer. Nanomagnetic sponge loaded with poly (HEMA) succeeded in removing the aged varnish layer without leaving any residues due to its new magnetic ability, neither penetrating the surface, nor swelling of the binding material used in adhesion of inlay pieces.
Sir A. Evans the founder of prehistoric archaeology excavated in Knossos, Minoan Crete, but he did not cover the calendric aspect of the Minoan Civilization 2600-1100 BC. He unearthed artifacts which could have been interpreted as... more
Sir A. Evans the founder of prehistoric archaeology excavated in Knossos, Minoan Crete, but he did not cover the calendric aspect of the Minoan Civilization 2600-1100 BC. He unearthed artifacts which could have been interpreted as calendars but he considered them as board games played under unknown rules. Archaeoastronomers have tried to solve the calendric Minoan problem, and through the orientation of the sun they have found the time of the two solstices and the two equinoxes. Based on these, they have tried to build up a Minoan twelve-month solar calendar. Probably they were preoccupied by the knowledge of the Egyptian twelve-month solar calendar of 30 days each and therefore they thought that the Minoans followed the Egyptian prototype. However, this was not the case. The principle of orientation was easy to be found and understood by the 20th century archaeoastronomers but for the farmers, shepherds, and fishermen of the Minoan age it was extremely difficult to understand. The expert authorities (priesthood) of the Minoan people, observed the orbit of the moon and the sun, and they invented a kind of calendars. The division of 365 days in smaller manageable periods of time was pictured on earthy materials, ceramics, or flat stones, named the kernoi. Thus, it was easy for any Minoan to make a solar calendar. The professional guilds were most benefitted. From 165 stone pieces of kernoi the 73 well preserved Minoan flat kernoi some of those are decodes as solar calendars.
To investigate the possibilities of identifying Attic vase painters based on element compositions, ten black-figure vases preserved in the Izmir Archaeological Museum were analyzed using a handheld XRF, Hitachi instrument. This technique... more
To investigate the possibilities of identifying Attic vase painters based on element compositions, ten black-figure vases preserved in the Izmir Archaeological Museum were analyzed using a handheld XRF, Hitachi instrument. This technique enables in situ analysis of the museum objects and surface analysis of whole vases. Vases attributed to Gorgon Painter, Sophilos, KY Painter, Rhodos 12264 Painter, Lydos, Affecter, Antimedes, and Leagros Group were selected as the study group. Higher Zn levels in the black gloss, dark red, and white paint areas than the corresponding ceramic bodies were detected. Elevated V and Cu levels were also determined in black gloss and dark red layers. When Zn/Ti ratios in the body, dark red paint, and black gloss are plotted, vases by Sophilos and Lydos show similar compositional signatures. Therefore, we argue that the chemical composition of the paints could reveal painters' characteristics based on the hypothesis that dark red and white paints could have been prepared by painters as a special mixture of their own.
Two mural paintings located in the "House of Garden", recently excavated in the Regio V of the archaeological site of Pompeii (Campania, Southern Italy), were studied. The mural paintings are in room 3 of the house. The first is a... more
Two mural paintings located in the "House of Garden", recently excavated in the Regio V of the archaeological site of Pompeii (Campania, Southern Italy), were studied. The mural paintings are in room 3 of the house. The first is a large-scale scene representing Venus with a male figure (possibly Adonis or Paris since he has a bow) and Eros, while the second one is a fine female portrait, perhaps depicting the domina of the house. All analyses were carried out in situ, using a new non-destructive methodology based on the acquisition of good-resolution visible images and the chemical information obtained by a portable hand-held X-ray fluorescence device. All data were statistically combined using a computer program, named SmART_scan, obtaining maps of the distribution of the elements (or compounds) on the painting. Visible induced luminescence (VIL) was used to confirm the presence of Egyptian Blue. The study performed on the two mural paintings allowed us to identify the various pigments used and to determine the presence of degradation products, such as soluble salts and a violet-black discoloration that, in the first painting, has modified some of the original colours, producing substantial changes in the interpretation of the figures. The results of the work show that the SmART_scan methodology, coupled with an X-ray fluorescence device and a good-resolution visible image, is a valid tool for obtaining the spacial distribution of each element and often of the pigments as combination of them, on large surfaces in a short time and at low cost.
The Neolithic site of Ulucak (Central-Western Anatolia) presents one of the best currently available sequences for the beginning of the Neolithic way of life in the region. Ulucak's crucial phase V features a gradual rise in the variety... more
The Neolithic site of Ulucak (Central-Western Anatolia) presents one of the best currently available sequences for the beginning of the Neolithic way of life in the region. Ulucak's crucial phase V features a gradual rise in the variety and importance of pottery and of other clay objects. This phase's dating has wide implications for cultural relations within Anatolia and the Aegean. I present a joint Bayesian model for Ulucak V, resolving problems of the earlier modeling by adding an old-wood probabilistic correction. The obtained model corrects the previous estimates of 6500-6000 calBCE for Ulucak V to a likely considerably shorter period within 6400/6300-6000/5900 calBCE, and raises the possibility of a hiatus between the aceramic Ulucak VI and the pottery-bearing Ulucak V.
During the 15 th season of excvations and restorations (2019) at Tell es-Sultan, ancient Jericho, in Palestine, a spouted vase was found in a section, laying on the floor of a room in a very clear stratigraphic location. The vessel... more
During the 15 th season of excvations and restorations (2019) at Tell es-Sultan, ancient Jericho, in Palestine, a spouted vase was found in a section, laying on the floor of a room in a very clear stratigraphic location. The vessel belongs to a renowned pottery type of the Early Bronze Age IV/Intermediate Bronze Age (2300-2000 B.C.E.), named "teapot" in the archaeological literature. Due to its state of preservation (the room had been burnt and the vase was still complete and with its inner content preserved), the Jericho "teapot" was analyzed in the CNIS Laboratory of Sapienza University of Rome in order to identify its content. XRF, SEM and 14 C have been performed to clarify the nature of remains inside the vase, as well as a thorough typological study for comparisons from other archaeological contexts bearing relevant information. The results of these exams have shown that the vase was not to be used on a fireplace, rather to serve as ewer. Remains of the content show a variable use of the vase and point to sweet beverages, olive oil and salt as its last contents.
Cultural heritage (CH) is a unique expression of human achievement which is endangered today. The world is losing many monuments and sites more rapidly than it can even be documented. Its documentation, protection , and proper management... more
Cultural heritage (CH) is a unique expression of human achievement which is endangered today. The world is losing many monuments and sites more rapidly than it can even be documented. Its documentation, protection , and proper management are critical to enabling the scholars of heritage to study and interpret it, on behalf of and for the benefit of present and future generations. Documentation prior to any intervention in the CH is now an integral part of any conservation and preventive plan and process. It is also an essential prerequisite to form a comprehensive understanding of cultural significance and factors affecting CH conditions. As a baseline, surveying, recording, and documentation are critical for monitoring changes over time, degradation , modifications and/or conservation intervention in addition to risk assessment and mitigation. This anthology will review 50 International Charters, Conventions and Principles along nine decades (1930-2020) and will highlight 27 out of them related to documentation, recording and surveying. More analytically, this study reviewed 13 charters of the 27 from the period from the 30's to the 90's of the 20 th Century, another 14 from the first and second decades of the new millennium (2000-2020), four significant publications on «recording» from English Heritage, initiatives of CIPA and Getty Conservation Institute, and the 10 representative documents of the second decade of the New Millennium together with one notable publication of CIPA. The paper aims to present a critical review, assessment and investigation of these International Charters, Conventions and Principles related to the three main terms; surveying, recording, and documentation of CH. They will be discussed within the conservation, monitoring and management scope, from data collection to data sharing. The paper will trace the evolving conception of these terms and their interplay in the aforementioned Charters.
The paper draws on long-lasting random survey work by the University of Ioannina in southern Salamis. Its aim is to highlight the trajectory of the valley of Kanakia, in the southwest part of the island, during the transition from the... more
The paper draws on long-lasting random survey work by the University of Ioannina in southern Salamis. Its aim is to highlight the trajectory of the valley of Kanakia, in the southwest part of the island, during the transition from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. The material record at hand, originating from surface collections and limited trial trenches from seven sites at the valley of Kanakia, suggests a Late/Final Neolithic dispersed mode of habitation followed by a concentrated one by the Early Helladic II period (mid 3 rd millennium B.C.). This attested settlement nucleation by the Early Helladic II period may bespeak for a process of social transformation at the coastal site of the Kanakia acropolis, which emerged as the urban centre of Salamis in the Late Mycenaean period (13 th cent. B.C.).