Abstract:

The chronology of the Petralona hominid continues to stimulate vigorous debate, and the recent contribution by Falguères assigning an age of ~300 ka has prompted me to a short commentary and critically recall and reassess the reported age with earlier investigations, most of which were missing from the said publication. Between 1980 and 1984 a series of seven papers devoted to the radiochemical dating of speleothems and travertines from Petralona Cave. These works represented some of the earliest systematic applications of Uranium–Thorium disequilibrium dating (U-234/Th-230) to the archaeological context of a hominid fossil. Taken together, earlier seven published studies, the methodological refinement for handling contamination, and the stratigraphic confirmation from the Mausoleum chamber all support a secure assignment of the Petralona hominid to at least 230 ka, most probably 250–300 ka BP.

Abstract: The cave of Altamira (Spain), a UNESCO World Heritage site, contains one of the most fragile and inaccessible Paleolithic rock-art environments in Europe, where conventional geomatics workflows are limited by severe spatial, lighting, and safety constraints. This study applies a confined-space UAV equipped with LiDAR-based SLAM navigation to document and assess the stability of the vertical rock wall leading to “La Hoya” Hall, a structurally sensitive sector of the cave. Twelve autonomous and assisted flights were conducted, generating dense LiDAR point clouds and video sequences processed through videogrammetry to produce high-resolution 3D meshes. A Mask R-CNN deep learning model was trained using manually segmented images to automatically detect cracks under variable illumination and viewing conditions. The results reveal active fractures, overhanging blocks, and sediment accumulations located on inaccessible ledges, demonstrating the capacity of UAV-SLAM workflows to overcome the limitations of traditional surveys in confined subterranean environments. All datasets were integrated into the DiGHER digital twin platform, enabling long-term storage, multitemporal comparison, and collaborative annotation. The study confirms the feasibility of UAV-based SLAM mapping combined with videogrammetry and deep learning segmentation as a robust approach for structural assessment and preventive conservation in Paleolithic caves and similarly constrained cultural heritage contexts.

Abstract: Shell middens of Guyana’s northwestern coast are a tangible record of prehistoric occupation and land use during the Holocene, an era saw increased human impacts on the landscape. Drawing from regional and local environmental data, this paper reviews archival and recently excavated zooarchaeological, bioarchaeological and environmental data sets as an aid to understanding prehistoric land-use, shell midden function, and the complex relationship between Archaic populations and their landscape. We analyse archival and previously published materials which coverers the spectrum of faunal exploitation and incorporates recent isotopic data of human and faunal remains from seven Early to Mid-Holocene Guyanese shell middens as a proxy to infer land use and human predation. We conclude that climate fluctuations during the Mid Holocene influenced fishing intensification and subsequently a shift in human predation, which affected small-to medium-sized fauna as well as vegetation patterns. These changes were shaped by landscape manipulation, influenced by shoreline movement and population mobility. Together these processes left enduring ecological legacies along the northwestern coast of Guyana.

Abstract:

This study presents a zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis of the remaining portion of the Mousterian faunal assemblage from Unit A9 at Grotta di Fumane (northeastern Italy), offering refined insights into Neanderthal subsistence behaviour during Marine Isotope Stage 3. Building on the previously published analysis of the principal portion of the assemblage [1], the new data reaffirm a subsistence strategy focused on selective transport and intensive on-site processing of high-utility carcass components. The ungulate assemblage—dominated by Cervus elaphus and Capreolus capreolus, with additional contributions from Rupicapra rupicapra and Capra ibex—characterised by the dominance of hindlimb elements, moderate cranial representation, and a pronounced scarcity of axial remains. These patterns indicate that carcass reduction commenced at kill sites, where low-yield trunk segments were removed, while high-nutritional-value limb portions were preferentially transported to the cave for secondary processing. Taphonomic indicators, including abundant cut marks, percussion notches, and extensive bone fragmentation, demonstrate systematic defleshing, marrow extraction, and possible grease rendering within the cave, activities that were spatially associated with combustion features. Occasional cranial transport suggests targeted acquisition of high-fat tissues such as brains and tongue, behaviour consistent with cold-climate optimisation strategies documented in both ethnographic and experimental contexts. Collectively, the evidence indicates that Unit A9 served as a residential locus embedded within a logistically organised mobility system, where carcass processing, resource exploitation, and lithic activities were closely integrated. These findings reinforce the broader picture of late Neanderthals as adaptable and behaviourally sophisticated foragers capable of strategic planning and efficient exploitation of ungulate prey within the dynamic environments of northern Italy.

Abstract: From the 9th century onwards, Tāmdult was one of the three major caravan ports in west-ern Maghreb, alongside Sijilmāssa and Nūl Lamṭa. By the mid-20th century, the remains of dwellings, metallurgical production sites and fortifications had been located a few kilo-metres south of the present-day oasis of Aqqa, which is irrigated by the resurgence of the wadi of the same name. In 1999, our research, which was based on field surveys and aerial photographs, revealed exceptionally well-preserved traces of a large-scale agricultural system and an irrigation canal network adjacent to the ruins. This completed the picture of this pre-Saharan oasis. An initial study was published in 2011. However, the question of the chronological relationship between the two oases, Tāmdult and Aqqa, remained unre-solved. Processing recent satellite images (Airbus © 2023) of these two oases and creating a WebGIS interface now enables us to refine and correct our observations from 1999. This new data largely confirms our initial proposals, such as the joint development of an urban settlement and an agricultural area with an irrigation network. Furthermore, these new images show the branching structure of the various water distribution channels, the regu-larity of the agricultural land parcels and the existence of interstitial rural settlements. They thus reveal a hierarchy in this distribution that was perhaps insufficiently explored in our initial publication. Given the limited historical sources available, we can now make more informed arguments regarding the possibility of the two oases coexisting over time. We can also propose initial hypotheses about the main reasons for the abandonment of one of the oases and discuss the identity of their founders, which could be local tribal groups and/or branches of the Idrisid dynasty. The central issue of the dossier to which our contribution is addressed — 'The Role of Urban Elites in the Construction of Rural Landscape' — is adapted here to the specific characteristics of the pre-Saharan context in terms of both climate and settlement structure.

Abstract: Oil tanker shipwrecks represent both cultural heritage and environmental risk. These wrecks are historically significant as war graves and simultaneously pose long term threats to marine ecosystems through the potential release of petroleum cargo. During World War II, German U boats targeted tankers along the U.S. East Coast, especially during Operation Drumbeat in 1942. Hundreds of tankers were sunk globally, and many of these wrecks remain intact and retain much of their fuel cargo, classifying them as potentially polluting wrecks (PPWs) which could release millions of gallons of oil if hull structures collapse. Tankers developed from modified sailing ships to standardized steel designs, highlighting petroleum’s strategic importance in modern warfare. The wrecks of these vessels exemplify the intersection of maritime archaeology and environmental conservation, demanding urgent interdisciplinary study to safeguard ecosystems while preserving ocean heritage.

Abstract: This study reviews recent advances in the scientific and technological archaeology of ancient Chinese jade artifacts, focusing on material identification, alteration, provenance tracing. Using non-destructive analytical techniques such as portable XRF, SEM, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, and LA-ICP-MS, archaeometric research has clarified the mineralogical diversity of jades and established systematic methods for differentiating nephrite and turquoise sources. Controlled heating and acid–base experiments have elucidated the mechanisms and color formation of alteration, providing key insights into post-depositional processes. Provenance studies integrating trace-element, rare-earth-element, and isotopic analyses have built multi-level hierarchical models for source discrimination. Micro-wear and experimental replication have reconstructed ancient jade-working technologies, while machine learning offers new perspectives for typology and cultural interpretation. Overall, these interdisciplinary approaches demonstrate that the integration of material science and archaeology is crucial for understanding the technological, cultural, and exchange networks that shaped Chinese jade culture from the Neolithic to the Qing period.

Abstract: This work tends to explore the sensory heritage particularly that of natural light, in the House of the Raised Flower Beds “Maison au jardinières”. This Roman peristyle domus reflects the typical architectural configuration of classical Roman dwellings by the end of the first century AD. To approach this study, we adopted a multidisciplinary method combining architectural and archival research, 3D digital reconstruction, and ray tracing program. The study itself is structured around the conceptual model of ambiance, which allows us to explore beyond the form to the generated ambiance. For the virtual reconstruction, we opted for an analytical, comparative, and interpretative approach. It is based on the architectural principles of Vitruvius. As we expanded on the existing work of French historic monument architects Albert Ballu and Cagnat, while also integrating comparative data from better-preserved Roman houses in the same context and even abroad. These comparative analogues were essential for inferring the likely position and configuration of architectural elements that have not survived in the house under examination. The development of a 3D model provided a comprehensive material of the house and experimental object. After displaying architectural features, spatial organization, we extended the examination to the sensory experience of the inhabitant, we simulated the effects of natural light along a hypothesized path of a visitor, potentially a greeter. By generating image sequences from this path and analyzing them using luminosity histograms, we were able to qualify the levels of luminosity throughout the crossed spaces. This analysis reveals how a sequence of specific luminous impressions shifting in brightness and shadow—would have actively shaped the visitor's perceptual and emotional experience.

Abstract: Background. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of modern-day Lithuanians has been previously studied, and ancient samples have provided insights into earlier populations; however, a comprehensive temporal analysis of haplogroup variation across Lithuanian history remains limited. Therefore, this study investigates the mtDNA haplogroup landscape during the Iron Age compared to the new mtDNA modern data from Lithuania. Methods. Remains of individuals from the Roman (n = 29), Migration (n = 48), and Viking (n = 24) periods spanning Eastern, Central, and Western Lithuania were processed using protocols from Witas et al. (2015). For the modern-day Lithuanian population sample (n = 279), DNA was extracted from venous blood and mtDNA sequenced (352x coverage). Haplogroups were assigned using 36 loci with Haplogrep v2. Results. Fourteen distinct haplogroups in the Iron Age group were identified. Haplogroup H consistently dominated across all periods. The L haplogroup, present during the Roman and Viking periods, was not found in the modern-day Lithuanian population. Despite temporal variation, the top three haplogroups remained relatively stable (H, U, T). Conclusions. mtDNA haplogroup variation landscape over time reveals both persistence and transformation in haplogroup composition. And while haplogroup H remained stable, haplogroup L vanished over time, confirming a dynamic population history. Together with previous ancient mtDNA studies, our results show an influx of haplogroup H into the territory of present-day Lithuania in the late Bronze Age and the early Iron Age.

Abstract: Mount Hermon, located at the juncture of Lebanon, Syria, and Israel, represents one of the most archaeologically and symbolically significant highland regions in the Near East. This study synthesises a comprehensive range of archaeological evidence from the prehistoric through modern periods to reveal the mountain’s enduring cultural, religious, and strategic roles. Drawing on landscape archaeology, cultural ecology, and symbolic archaeology, the research identifies Mount Hermon as a dynamic space where sacred ritual, subsistence adaptation, and military control intersected over millennia. Findings reveal continuous human activity, including Paleolithic habitation, Neolithic agricultural development, Bronze and Iron Age sanctuaries, Roman religious and administrative sites, and medieval Islamic and Crusader fortifications. Despite modern geopolitical tensions impeding extensive excavation, Mount Hermon continues to offer valuable insights into the longue durée of Near Eastern archaeology. The paper concludes with a call for regional collaboration, digital conservation, and renewed excavation efforts to protect and better understand this exceptional cultural landscape.

Abstract: Bioarchaeology continues to generate growing volumes of data from finite and often destructively sampled resources, making data reusability critical according to FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). However, much valuable information remains trapped in grey literature, particularly PDF-based reports, limiting discoverability and machine processing. This paper explores Natural Language Pro-cessing (NLP) and Named Entity Recognition (NER) techniques to improve access to osteoarchaeological and palaeopathological data in grey literature. We developed and evaluated the Osteoarchaeological and Palaeopathological Entity Search (OPES), a lightweight prototype system designed to extract relevant terms from PDF documents within the Archaeology Data Service archive. Unlike transformer-based Large Language Models, OPES employs interpretable, computationally efficient, and sustainable NLP methods. A structured user evaluation involving students, experts, and the general public assessed five success criteria: usefulness, time-saving ability, accessibility, relia-bility, and likelihood of reuse. Results demonstrate that while limitations remain in re-liability and expert engagement, NLP and NER show clear potential to increase FAIRness of osteoarchaeological datasets. The study emphasizes the continued need for robust evaluation methodologies in heritage AI applications as new technologies emerge.

Abstract: In 2021, archaeologists found that a bronze mirror was wrapped with yellow-green fiber sheet in the Western Han tomb M68 in Dabuzi Cemetery in Xi'an. For ascertaining the composition and function, Scanning electronic microscope(SEM), Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) and Pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometer(Py-GC-MS) were combined for the morphology and components’ analysis. The results showed that the surface of the yellow-green fiber sheet was very rough without curtain patterns, and the fiber was intertwined disorderly. The paper was quite thick with various thickness(the average thickness was 0.58 mm)and the average diameter of the fiber was 20.71 μm. There were obvious transverse joint stripes on the fiber cell with longitudinal stripes characteristic of ramie or hemp. The main ingredients were cellulose, semi-cellulose and lignin. Based on the above comprehensive joint experiments, the yellow-green fiber sheet in M68 was presumably ancient hemp paper made of fixed-mould method. Moreover, it was speculated to be package materials since no characters were found.This paper was of great significance for studying Chinese paper making technique.

Abstract: This study investigates the origins, development, and legacy of ancient urban centres—termed the “Mother of Ancient Cities”—through a comprehensive archaeological lens, and connects these insights to the trajectories of contemporary global urbanisation. Drawing from archaeological case studies in Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, ancient Egypt, Mesoamerica, and elsewhere, the research highlights the infrastructural, religious, and socio-political innovations of early cities. It explores how ancient urban models inform present-day urban planning and resilience strategies while critically examining urban decline and collapse. The study adopts an interdisciplinary methodology, integrating archaeological data, urban theory, and comparative analysis to offer a reframed narrative of urban evolution—not as a linear progression, but as a cyclical, adaptive, and culturally diverse phenomenon. Emphasising the relevance of ancient experiences in the context of rapid modern urban expansion and environmental challenges, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how past urban forms can guide sustainable and inclusive future cities.

Abstract: This study aims to describe the types, content, and meanings of inscriptions found at the La Maddusila and We Tenri Olle tomb complexes in Barru Regency. In addition, it provides an overview of the cultural development in the Tanete region from the 16th to the 20th century. These two tomb complexes serve as the research objects to contribute knowledge regarding Islamic epigraphy. This research employs a qualitative descriptive method using an archaeological approach, involving literature review, field surveys, direct observation, documentation, and interviews. The data processing includes transliteration, transcription, and interpretation of the inscriptions. The findings indicate that the types of calligraphy used include three styles of Arabic script Khat Naskh, Khat Kufi, and Khat Tsuluts as well as the Lontara script. In general, the inscriptions contain information such as the name of the deceased, date of death, title or position held, as well as prayers, Qur’anic verses, dhikr, the shahada (declaration of faith), and the phrase of tawhid (oneness of God).

Abstract: Amphorae are a significant type of Roman pottery, serving as both transport containers and indicators of economic and technological practices across the Empire. Despite their importance in interpreting local economic dynamics in Roman Lusitania, the production origins, technological characteristics and functional roles of amphorae from Conímbriga in Portugal remain poorly understood. Previous research has focused primarily on typological comparisons with imported forms, providing limited insight into whether these vessels were produced locally or how they were incorporated into regional trade and agricultural systems. This study takes a multi-analytical approach to examine a group of ten amphorae dating from the 1st to the 5th century AD. While these vessels formally resemble well-known types from Gaul and Hispania, they appear to have been manufactured locally using fabrics consistent with those found in regional common wares. To examine the raw materials, production techniques and possible contents, the analysis integrates a typological assessment with a range of archaeometric methods, including optical microscopy (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Recent gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) results contextualise these data further, enabling an exploration of how specific technological choices may have influenced or reflected the intended function of the amphorae. The findings shed new light on local ceramic production and contribute to broader debates concerning Roman provincial economies and material culture.

Abstract: The objective of this article is to provide a critical analysis of maritime heterotopia as a category for reinterpreting ships, shipwrecks and maritime landscapes between the 16th and 18th centuries. Through an interdisciplinary approach combining history, underwater archaeology, heritage theory and literary analysis, it explores the ways in which maritime spaces, especially ships and shipwrecks, functioned as 'other spaces' – following Foucault's concept of heterotopia – in the articulation of imperial projects, power relations, experiences of transit and narratives of memory. A particular focus has been placed on the examination of shipwreck accounts, which are regarded as microhistories of human behaviour in contexts of crisis. These accounts have been shown to offer insights into alternative social structures, dynamics of authority, and manifestations of violence or solidarity. A review of the legal framework and practices related to shipwrecks in the Spanish Carrera de Indias is also undertaken, with particular emphasis on their impact on maritime legislation and international law. The article proposes a reading of maritime heritage as a symbolic and political device in constant dispute, where material remains and associated narratives shape collective memories, geopolitical tensions and new forms of cultural appropriation. Shipwrecks thus become sites of rupture and origin, charged with utopian, dystopian and heterotopic potential.

Abstract: We investigate the applicability of visual foundation models, a recent advancement in artificial intelligence, for archaeological remote sensing. In contrast to earlier approaches, we employ a strictly zero-shot methodology, testing the hypothesis that such models can perform archaeological feature detection without any fine-tuning or other adaptation for the remote sensing domain. Across five experiments using satellite imagery, aerial LiDAR, and drone video data, we assess the models’ ability to detect archaeological features. Our results demonstrate that such foundation models can achieve detection performance comparable to that of human experts and established automated methods. A key advantage lies in the substantial reduction of required human effort and the elimination of the need for training data. To support reproducibility and future experimentation, we provide open-source scripts and datasets and suggest a novel workflow for remote sensing projects. If current trends persist, foundation models may offer a scalable and accessible alternative to conventional archaeological prospection.

Abstract: Throughout the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, slavery was a central element of life in colonial and early national New York. The places where the enslaved buried their dead, referred to today as African Burial Grounds, remain important sites of reflection and remembrance for many New Yorkers. However, little literature exists discussing New York’s African Burial Ground sites from a broad, comparative perspective. This study examines seven African Burial Grounds in New York City and the Hudson Valley, two historically significant regions of New York State. GIS models of all seven sites, taken together with a variety of archaeological data, reveal that while the individuals interred in New York’s African Burial Grounds represent a wide variety of lived experiences, certain unifying patterns nonetheless emerge in the spatial dialectics of their final resting places. The findings have implications for the preservation of Black cultural heritage throughout southeastern New York State.

Abstract: This research aims to analyze the impact of visitor activities on damage in Liang Kabori Cave with a focus on acts of vandalism, such as graffiti, taking cave stalactites and stalagmites, and environmental pollution in the cave area. This research uses a descriptive qualitative method with an archaeological approach, including data collection, processing, and interpretation. Data were obtained from literature study and field survey through observation, interview, and documentation. Observations were made of archaeological objects, the cave environment, and visitor behavior towards the Site. Interviews involved the caretaker who acts as the party responsible for maintaining, supervising, and providing information about the site and visitors in order to explore their understanding of the importance of cave preservation and awareness of the prohibition of vandalism in the cave. The documentation was conducted to obtain data related to the forms of vandalism damage to the site. The results showed that the high number of visitors can provide potential damage to the site. Uncontrolled visitor activities often cause damage, especially in the form of vandalism. Therefore, a more systematic and collaborative approach is needed, by increasing the number and capacity of caretakers, developing strict visit regulations, strengthening the site management system, and expanding the role of local communities as conservation partners, so that this site is maintained as an important part of the nation's cultural heritage. This research is expected to serve as a basis for conservation efforts in Liang Kabori Cave as well as a reference for the management of other caves in Indonesia.

Abstract: This study investigates the Roman land division system, centuriation, using LIDAR data and historical data to understand the landscape during the Roman period, in this case between Roman cities such as Siscia and Andautonia. LIDAR data analysis provided evidence of the preservation of Roman centuriation system in present day forest Turopoljski lug. The azimuth suggests that the centuriation aligns with Siscia's ager, while the precise territorial limits between the two agers remain unclear. Additionally, the orientation of Siscia's streets and the alignment of modern roads like Zagrebačka street suggest continuity of Roman road systems. The research also sheds light on the agricultural nature of the region, challenging traditional views of Turopolje as a swampy, forested area. The presence of Roman-era drainage systems and the re-evaluation of the historical landscape indicate that the region was actively cultivated. The study also discusses the abandonment of the centuriation system after the Roman period and its subsequent transformation into forested land. Future research should focus on the exact borders between the agers of Siscia and Andautonia, and the ongoing influence of Roman land divisions on later historical landscapes. This is the first time that centuriation grid was discovered in the continental part of Croatia.