Heritage, Volume 7, Issue 7 (July 2024) – 24 articles

This article investigates the status of earthen architectural heritage (EAH) in the Gourara region of Algeria in light of contemporary developments and the sovereign decisions taken by the Algerian state, specifically the upgrading of the region to a wilaya (province) in 2019, and the accompanying direct impact on the oasis system, which is renowned for its fragile character. The research started by focusing on perplexing questions: What factors contribute to the region’s abandonment of earthen architecture? Moreover, could documentation serve as the optimal method for its preservation? In an attempt to explore and comprehend this distinctive heritage, characterized by its diversity, durability, and sustainability, this heritage has been linked to identity and local civilization dating back to prehistoric times, with evidence of their existence still present. Following a research approach and with the prospective purpose of preserving these buildings and what remains of them, the associated skills, materials, and construction techniques used in their development were investigated based on a descriptive, analytical, and documentary historical approach. Finally, the authors interviewed several qualified builders to collect knowledge of the local indigenous building practices. The research findings suggest that there is an urgency to consider a new perspective and strategies to preserve and protect EAH. Full article

Artificial intelligence has inspired a significant number of studies on the interface between cultural heritage and photography. The aims of these studies are, among others, to streamline damage monitoring or diagnoses for heritage preservation, enhance the production of high-fidelity 3D models of cultural assets, or improve the analysis of heritage images using computer vision. This article presents the results of a systematic literature review to highlight the recent state of these studies, published in the last five years and available in the Scopus, Web of Science, and JSTOR databases. The aim is to identify the potential and challenges of artificial intelligence through the connection between cultural heritage and photography, the latter of which represents a relevant methodological aspect in these investigations. In addition to the advances exemplified, the vast majority of studies indicate that there are also many obstacles to overcome. In particular, there is a need to improve artificial intelligence methods that still have significant flaws. These include inaccuracy in the automatic classification of images and limitations in the applications of the results. This article also aims to reflect on the meaning of these innovations when considering the direction of the relationship between cultural heritage and photography. Full article

A common practice used by the Germans and collaborators in World War II, as part of the Holocaust, was to use existing Jewish cemeteries as places for mass burial. Research was completed at the Old Jewish Cemetery in Riga, Latvia, the Livas Jewish Cemetery in Liepaja, Latvia, and the Zaliakalnis Jewish Cemetery in Kaunas, Lithuania. The Old Jewish Cemetery in Riga was adjacent to the Riga Ghetto and was used to bury individuals murdered in the ghetto. In Kaunas, an area of the Zaliakalnis Jewish Cemetery is devoid of grave stones, and literature sources and testimony indicate that this area was used for the mass burial of Jews from the Kaunas Ghetto and other mass killings. In Liepaja, the local Jewish Heritage Foundation believes that there are mass graves within the Livas Cemetery. Methodologies for this research include the use of a pulseEkko Pro 500-megahertz ground-penetrating radar (GPR) system. Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) data were collected through a linear array of electrodes coupled to a direct current (DC) resistivity transmitter and receiver. Analysis of aerial photography and satellite images was also employed at each location. ERT and GPR data indicate three separate trench anomalies in the Old Jewish Cemetery in Riga. The presence of these anomalies corroborates Holocaust survivor testimony that bodies were buried in mass graves in that area. In the Zaliakalnis Jewish Cemetery in Kaunas, ERT and GPR data indicate an anomaly in the western part of the cemetery, and ERT data further indicate two other possible mass graves. In Liepaja, preliminary GPR analysis indicates an anomaly in a cleared section of the cemetery. Based on the presence of geophysical anomalies in all three cemeteries, which correlate with literature sources and Holocaust survivor testimony, there is a high probability that mass graves are present at each site. Future research directions include expanding the search areas in each cemetery, additional literature and testimony-based research, and the addition of other geophysical methodologies. Full article

The osteotome was a hand-cranked medical chainsaw designed in 1830 by the German surgeon Bernhard Heine. Before Heine, surgeons used crude, manual tools, such as hammers, chisels, and handsaws. The osteotome was among the first mechanical tools used in orthopedic surgery, and it preceded the later use of the motorized chainsaw for woodcutting. Due to the small number of units manufactured, questions remain about the osteotome’s usage. To facilitate conservation and assist with investigation, Heine’s osteotome was digitally reconstructed. As with other digital reconstruction attempts in cultural heritage, assumptions were made to facilitate reproduction. To highlight the functional similarities and contrasts between early and contemporary tools, its parts were compared with contemporary chainsaws and surgical tools. Contemporary orthopedic surgeons have largely shifted away from medical chainsaws, such as the osteotome, in favor of reciprocating saws. Due to its small size and medical purpose, the osteotome was designed for greater precision than a modern industrial chainsaw. Based on the reproduction and comparative analysis, the device was likely used in a manner more similar to modern medical reciprocating saws than to its direct descendant, the industrial chainsaw. The Heine osteotome mechanized surgery and its descendants are still used in medicine and the industry. The osteotome model enabled an analysis of its function and use. Full article

Digital technologies can support designers in balancing architectural heritage conservation and performances using multidisciplinary approaches. Fire safety represents a challenging issue, especially in public historical buildings hosting vulnerable occupants, since heavy modifications are often required to facilitate their evacuation. Digital tools based on evacuation simulation are able to verify the impact of other sustainable, compatible evacuation management and planning approaches, especially considering the use of generic software, which can be used by low-trained technicians according to rapid setups. Nevertheless, simulator reliability should be experimentally verified through case study applications. This work thus offers the experimental verification of a rapid setup-based generic evacuation simulator in the context of a significant case study (the “Omero Museum”, Ancona, Italy), placed in a historic building hosting vulnerable occupants (disabled, elderly, children), thanks to a full-scale evacuation drill. The rapid setup described different vulnerable occupants’ categories according to literature data. Comparisons between drill and simulation results, using consolidated verification indicators, showed the overall reliability of the proposed approach, and thus encourage additional tests in historical buildings. The proposed setup-based simulator could be combined with other digital tools (virtual reality, BIM-related) to provide full support to fire risk and evacuation assessments when vulnerable occupants are present. Full article

Religious tourism is one of the oldest forms of mobility for travel. This study aims at validating the motivational dimensions of demand in religious tourism. The present research was carried out with tourists who had attended the pilgrimage of the Virgin of Montserrat in the city of Montecristi (Ecuador), an important tourist destination that stands out for its culture and intangible heritage. This quantitative study had a sample of 298 valid questionnaires that were analyzed through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The results identified five motivational dimensions: experience belief, experience religion, social exploration, escape, and shopping. The results will serve as a guide for private companies to develop products from religious tourism. Likewise, the research contributes significantly to the academic literature on religious tourism in emerging destinations. Full article

Water Sowing and Harvesting (WS&H) is an ancestral knowledge widely used as a sustainable technique in water management. This study aims to analyse the importance, promotion, and cultural heritage of WS&H techniques through a literature review in Ecuador, considering applications of ancestral techniques by region (coastal, Andean and insular) with a strengths, opportunities, weaknesses, and threats (SWOTs) analysis and a focus group for a strategy proposal of the water supply. The methodology of this study includes the following: (i) an analysis of the evolution of WS&H studies in Ecuador; (ii) a presentation of WS&H techniques and their applications; and (iii) the contribution of WS&H to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), complemented by a SWOTs analysis. The results show that, in Ecuador, WS&H is a method of Nature-based Solutions (NbSs) applied to the problems of water scarcity and is affordable, ecological, and has high efficiency, improving agricultural productivity and guaranteeing water supply for human consumption. The Manglaralto coastal aquifer, a case study in the coastal region of Ecuador, involves WS&H management and artificial aquifer recharge. WS&H structures became a reference for the sustainable development of rural communities that can be replicated nationally and internationally as a resilient alternative to water scarcity and a global climate emergency, contributing to the SDGs of UNESCO. Full article

In this review, topic modeling—an unsupervised machine learning tool—is employed to analyze research on pigments in cultural heritage published from 1999–2023. The review answers the following question: What are topics and time trends in the past three decades in the analytical study of pigments within cultural heritage (CH) assets? In total, 932 articles are reviewed, ten topics are identified and time trends in the share of these topics are revealed. Each topic is discussed in-depth to elucidate the community, purpose and tools involved in the topic. The time trend analysis shows that dominant topics over time include T1 (the spectroscopic and microscopic study of the stratigraphy of painted CH assets) and T5 (X-ray based techniques for CH, conservation science and archaeometry). However, both topics have experienced a decrease in attention in favor of other topics that more than doubled their topic share, enabled by new technologies and methods for imaging spectroscopy and imaging processing. These topics include T6 (spectral imaging techniques for chemical mapping of painting surfaces) and T10 (the technical study of the pigments and painting methods of historical and contemporary artists). Implications for the field are discussed in conclusion. Full article

Along the Arctic and sub-Arctic coasts of Alaska, Siberia, north-eastern China, Hokkaido, Scandinavia and Iceland, people have dressed in clothes or worn shoes made of fish skin for millennia. (Within this article, the terms fish skin and fish leather are used to indicate different processes of the same material. Fish skin: Skin indicates the superficial dermis of an animal. Fish skin is referred to as the historical raw material that is tanned following traditional methods such as mechanical, oiling and smoking tanning, using materials such as bark, brain, urine, fish eggs and corn flour. Fish leather is used to refer that the fish skin has passed one or more stages of industrial vegetable or chrome tanning production and is ready to be used to produce leather goods). These items are often decorated with a rich colour palette of natural dyes provided by nature. In this study, minerals and raw materials of plant origin were collected from riverbanks and processed by Arctic seamstresses who operated as designers, biochemists, zoologists, and climatologists simultaneously. During our research, an international team of fashion, tanning and education specialists used local Arctic and sub-Arctic flora from Sweden, Iceland, and Japan to dye fish leather. Several plants were gathered and sampled on a small scale to test the process and determine the colours they generated based on the historical literature and verbal advice from local experts. This paper describes the process and illustrates the historical use of natural dyes by the Arctic groups originally involved in this craft, building on the traditional cultural heritage that has enabled us to develop sustainable dyeing processes. The results are promising and confirm the applicability of these local plants for dyeing fish skins, providing a basis for a range of natural dye colours from local Arctic flora. The aim is to develop a moderate-sized industrial production of fish leather in this colour palette to replace current unsustainable chemical dyeing processes. This project represents an innovation in material design driven by traditional technologies, addressing changes in interactions between humans and with our environment. The results indicate that new materials, processes, and techniques are often the fruitful marriage of fashion and historical research of traditional methods, helping the industry move towards a more sustainable future. Full article

This study investigates the practices and rules of Genoese gilding, drawing insights from a 16th-century manuscript containing regulations for gold leaf production. Employing X-ray and ion beam techniques, we quantitatively assess the manuscript’s gold leaf thickness without destructive sampling. Artisanal goldbeater-produced leaves of different thicknesses, applied with a guazzo or mordant technique, served as standards. Further analysis of samples with unknown thickness from the furniture of Palazzo Spinola di Pellicceria in Genoa (Italy) has confirmed the method’s applicability to practical cases. External beam Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analyses were carried out using 3 MeV protons at the LABEC accelerator laboratory in Florence. A linear relationship between Gold Lα peak yield and leaf thickness, as measured by RBS, has been established for optimal calibration of portable or hand-held X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) instrumentation for in situ measurements. Moreover, the caratage of the gold foil preserved in the manuscript has been assessed. Full article

The Japanese textile tradition is renowned for its intricate designs achieved through a variety of dyeing techniques, including kasuri, shibori, and paste-resist dyeing. These techniques are often combined within a single textile, resulting in exceptionally elaborate creations. Our paper delves into the technical aspects and complexities of these methods, highlighting the dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation in Japanese textile production. Our scientific endeavour focused on some textiles dating between the 19th and 20th centuries and belonging to the Montgomery Collection of Japanese folk art. Employing non-invasive techniques such as visible reflectance spectroscopy and ER-FTIR spectroscopy, we uncovered key insights into the materials and methods utilized in the creation of these textiles. Our analysis revealed a diverse array of pigments and dyes, including plant-derived, inorganic, and synthetic variants. These findings illuminate the cultural syncretism between traditional Japanese practices and the adoption of new materials from the West, underscoring the dynamic nature of textile production in Japan. Furthermore, ER-FTIR spectroscopy elucidated the predominant use of cotton as the primary fibre in the textiles, aligning with historical records of Japan’s role as a major producer of cotton yarn. Analysis of white areas within the textiles revealed evidence of resist-paste dyeing techniques, particularly tsutsugaki and katazome, through the absence of dye penetration and the characteristic appearance of white lines. Confirmation of indigo dyeing techniques (aizome) was achieved through ER-FTIR spectroscopy, providing reliable identification of indigo and Prussian blue in various shades of blue present in the textiles. Additionally, the detection of Western-derived dyeing method (utsushi-yūzen) and free-hand painting (kaki-e), offers insights into the diversity of dyeing practices employed by Japanese artisans. The presence of proteinaceous materials and synthetic dyes observed in some textiles has implications for conservation practices, suggesting the need for tailored approaches to ensure the preservation of these culturally significant artifacts. Overall, these scientific results shed new light on the materials, techniques, and cultural contexts underlying Japanese textile production, advancing our understanding of this rich artistic heritage and informing future research endeavours in textile science and conservation. Full article

The first half of 2023 was dominated by a public discussion of the nature and implications of generative artificial intelligence (genAI) models that are poised to become the most significant cross-cultural global disruptor since the invention of the World-Wide Web. It can be predicted that genAI will affect how cultural heritage is being managed and practiced, primarily by providing analysis and decision-making tools, but also by genAI generated texts and images, in particular reconstructions of objects and sites. The more speculative interpretations of contexts and alternative interpretations generated by genAI models may constitute manifestations of cultural heritage in their own right. But do these constitute human cultural heritage, or are they AI cultural heritage? This paper is a deliberation of the realities and future(s) of cultural heritage in a genAI and post-genAI world. Full article

Implementing digital technologies, such as augmented reality and 3D modeling, to various cultural sectors is an ongoing procedure, especially favorable after the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though such technologies are common to museums, galleries and archaeological places all over the world, little research or practical cases have been developed when it comes to theaters and theatrical costumes. The proposed research article describes the methodology of both reference material collection and application development, while an analysis of functions and aesthetic results are described, especially when it comes to 3D modeling. This paper’s aim is to reveal that theatrical operations (as part of the cultural sector) as well as structured parts (such as acts, performances and costumes) can be preserved and served to larger audiences via technological means, such as an augmented reality application. Full article

The debate about how to conduct energy interventions in built heritage remains open. At present, the various European and national regulations allow the absence of energy intervention in cases where the character of a building with recognized heritage value would be jeopardized. This situation means that heritage preservation and energy improvement are divided into two airtight and unconnected blocs. It is possible and necessary to break that dichotomy by taking steps that enable both blocs to interrelate. Based on a methodology previously proposed by the authors to regulate changes in the urban landscape due to the rehabilitation of residential building façades, as a novel aspect, this article proposes taking a further step in the methodological process. Several criteria to balance the level of energy intervention for all buildings are thus introduced, according to the urban and architectural characteristics of each building, irrespective of their use and degree of protection. It is concluded that such a balance is possible when certain indicators are used and when determined action criteria are applied. However, one of the architectural characteristics more susceptible to being affected when undertaking an energy intervention on a building’s thermal enclosure is the materiality, which becomes especially important in the case of brutalist architecture with reinforced concrete, one of its most identifying features, giving it a specific personality. That architectural movement was therefore chosen for a case study, applying the proposed methodology to three brutalist buildings in the area of San Sebastián, Spain. Full article

Many aspects of intangible cultural heritage have associated objects of material culture that augment or enable aspects of intangible heritage to be exercised or emphasized. Christmas markets have been publicized as the quintessential event in Germany leading up to Christmas, with the over 2000 locations attracting large numbers of local, domestic, and international visitors. From their origins as mercantile venues during the medieval period, Christmas markets have evolved into multisensory social and experiential events, where the acquisition of Christmas decorations or gifts has been supplanted by the consumption of mulled wine in a social setting. Christmas markets represent intangible cultural heritage staged in ephemeral surroundings. While the abundance of material culture in Christmas markets is widely understood, this focuses on the objects offered for sale at the markets, rather than the objects that characterize a Christmas market and enable its functioning. This paper provides the first comprehensive assessment of the portable material culture associated with the German Christmas markets, covering objects as diverse as payment tokens, lapel pins, special postmarks, beer mats, and commemorative cups issued for the consumption of mulled wine. These objects, as well as numerous other manifestations of material culture, are discussed in the wider framing of the materiality of the markets, examining their ontological qualities within the multiple spheres in which these objects attain meaning (i.e., personal, event, social, and public spheres). It demonstrates that the wide range of alienable material culture associated with German Christmas markets has different manifestations of materiality, depending on the viewpoint of the user (i.e., participant, vendor, organizer), and these manifestations have different expressions of representativeness. On this foundation, this paper examines the various groups of portable and alienable material culture and discusses them in terms of their authenticity and to what extent these are representative of German Christmas markets. While all items have a connection with Christmas markets and function as symbolic shorthand souvenirs, commemorative cups issued for the consumption of hot drinks as well as the deposit tokens associated with these are both genuine and authentic and are also representative of the conceptual, social, and experiential dimensions of the event. Full article

Natural stone has been used worldwide in the construction of archaeological and historical heritage. However, its preservation continues to be threatened by weathering and degradation phenomena. Water is widely recognized as the most threatening external component that contributes to stone deterioration, increasing the need for the development of protective hydrophobic coatings to eliminate water penetration. This study intends to contribute to the better understanding of natural stone treatment strategies to prevent water penetration and subsequent stone alteration by studying the effect of coating and stone substrate temperatures, and the number of coating applications, on the effectiveness, compatibility, and durability of commercial hydrophobic coatings. The results obtained revealed that while more than one application increases coating hydrophobic effectiveness, it frequently leads to changes in the aesthetic appearance of natural stone, including whitening and darkening of the substrate’s original hues. Improved hydrophobic effectiveness (maximum gain of ≈ 9%) is also achieved when applying the commercial coatings at 4 °C to natural stone substrates maintained at room temperature, conditions that are feasible to be used in real life. Additionally, the commercial coating composed of silane/siloxane with modified fluorinated additives was found to be the most effective and durable hydrophobic solution. Full article

Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) plays a pivotal role in heritage conservation endeavours, offering a robust framework for digitally documenting existing structures and supporting conservation practices. However, HBIM’s efficacy hinges upon the implementation of case-specific approaches to address the requirements and resources of each individual asset and context. This paper defines a flexible and generalisable workflow that encompasses various aspects (i.e., documentation, surveying, vulnerability assessment) to support risk-informed decision making in heritage management tailored to the peculiar conservation needs of the structure. This methodology includes an initial investigation covering historical data collection, metric and condition surveys and non-destructive testing. The second stage includes Finite Element Method (FEM) modelling and structural analysis. All data generated and processed are managed in a multi-purpose HBIM model. The methodology is tested on a relevant case study, namely, the church of Santa Ana in Seville, chosen for its historical significance, intricacy and susceptibility to seismic action. The defined level of detail of the HBIM model is sufficient to inform the structural analysis, being balanced by a more accurate representation of the alterations, through linked orthophotos and a comprehensive list of alphanumerical parameters. This ensures an adequate level of information, optimising the trade-off between model complexity, investigation time requirements, computational burden and reliability in the decision-making process. Field testing and FEM analysis provide valuable insight into the main sources of vulnerability in the building, including the connection between the tower and nave and the slenderness of the columns. Full article

Spectroscopic techniques were carried out to identify the dyes used on the famous mediaeval Lady and the Unicorn tapestries kept in the Cluny Museum. Among the six tapestries, La Vue shows a colour variation between the front, which appears blue, and the back, which appears violet, on the Lady’s skirt. In the Middle Ages, it was common for the violet colour to be made with a blue dye bath (woad or indigo) followed by a red bath, which could be madder, cochineal, kermes, or orchil. Since orchil is known to be very unstable to light, its potential use in the original recipe was investigated and a study on this dye was performed. Contactless analyses (hyperspectral imaging in the visible-near-infrared range and UV fluorescence spectroscopy) were carried out on both the tapestry and mock-ups prepared following various mediaeval recipes. The investigation allowed for the identification of woad and orchil on the back of the tapestry, which was preserved from exposure to light. In addition, an ageing study elucidated colour degradation, revealing not only the different responses to light of different dyes but also the effect of specific dye preparations on light resistance. The experiments showed that the longer the maceration, the higher the light resistance of the dye. Furthermore, the red orchil colour fades faster than the woad. Full article

Crowdsourcing applications that integrate storytelling and geotagging capabilities offer new avenues for engaging the public in cultural heritage. However, standardised evaluation frameworks are lacking. This paper presents an applied evaluation methodology involving the analysis of relevant web-based tools. Towards this goal, this paper presents the development of crowdsourcing applications using, as a case study, the collection of myths and legends associated with the monumental heritage site of the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes in Greece. Additionally, the paper presents an evaluation conducted through a criteria-based approach and user-based survey. The study reviews the concepts of crowdsourcing and digital storytelling within digital heritage, along with current concepts of living heritage and folklore, and examines relevant initiatives. The evaluation follows a four-stage methodology: (i) initial web-based tool selection based on the minimum requirements of web compatibility, crowdsourced data display, and map-based storytelling capability; (ii) application development using the selected web-based tools; (iii) a five-criteria assessment, based on the factors of open access, usability/tool support, participatory content/story creation, metrics provision and metadata model usage; and (iv) a crowd-based survey, indicating the most effective option. Findings from 100 respondents reveal limited exposure to participatory storytelling applications but interest in contributing content. Social media and influential figures serve as key channels for promoting crowdsourcing open calls. The results highlight gaps in understanding user expectations and perceptions, suggesting future research for gaining insights into engagement rates. Full article

Finding prehistoric sites, on the sea floor off the United States, has proven to be a difficult task. Over four decades of innovative attempts have produced few discoveries. This discussion outlines the difficulties in finding submerged prehistory on the sea floor, examines current methodology(ies), and presents a new methodology that demonstrates promise based on research conducted over the past decade. The purpose of this discussion is to outline the problems facing archaeologists searching the sea floor for archaeological sites. It is less of a critique of past efforts and methodologies used in those attempts. Without those efforts, a reason for developing a different methodological approach would be unnecessary. Any “one size fits all” methodology is limiting, and the scant number of marine archaeological sites located off the shores of the United States can attest to the need for practitioners to continue refining their methods. This is especially the case on the continental shelf of the eastern United States, where sediment cover is often meters, or several meters, thick. This opportunistic methodology developed on the continental shelf of the Georgia Bight, western Atlantic Ocean, has located intact paleo-landforms with in situ, palaeoecological remains thereby offering promise for future archaeological discoveries. Full article

The transition from vernacular architectural patterns to current architecture in rural Iran has led to various socio-cultural and environmental problems in the last decade. This study explores the nature of this transition, which has been overlooked in the studies of vernacular architecture in Iran. Furthermore, this article contributes to the ongoing academic debate on the decline and transformation of vernacular architectural patterns in the context of modernization. It analyzes the forces behind the decline and rise of vernacular settlements in a case study area, the Salami region of the Khaf district in Iran’s Khorasan Razavi province, by exploring how it is possible to reinterpret vernacular architectural patterns in the context of current architecture to utilize the new developments in rural Iran not as an obstacle but as an opportunity for improvement. To this end, this article explores vernacular architectural patterns in a case study area in Iran, supported by socio-cultural aspects and the environmental conditions of the region. This study conducts architectural and anthropological fieldwork on three vernacular houses in a case study area and uses participant observation and informal interview methods to understand the people and their interaction with their built environment. The findings of this article thus contradict previous studies on learning from vernacular architecture by shedding light on vernacular architecture in Iran as a system by demonstrating the inextricable links between different vernacular architectural patterns. Therefore, this study argues that to draw lessons from vernacular architectural patterns for current architecture in rural Iran, it is necessary to limit its communication concerning people’s contemporary needs but not to neglect this communication completely. Full article

This interdisciplinary investigation of the human remains of Balduin Helm, one of the most important abbots of the Fürstenfeld monastery, provides novel information on this historic individual. This is particularly interesting since Balduin, during the early 18th century, was involved in the renovation of this large Bavarian monastery. Metastatic prostate cancer was found as evidenced by multiple mixed osteolytic–osteoblastic bone lesions in all available vertebral bodies, fragments of both os coxae, and isolated metastases in skull bones. Distribution, radio- and histomorphology, and especially the immunohistochemical detection of prostate-specific antigens in those metastases definitively confirm this diagnosis. Further investigation, especially by stable isotope analysis, showed a balanced high-level diet with considerable contribution from animal protein and significant freshwater fish. These additional findings suggest a significant radiocarbon reservoir effect as an explanation for a “too old” radiocarbon date. Finally, the obviously high-level protein diet may have contributed to the tumorigenesis which caused the death of the abbot at an advanced age. Full article

Heritage bridges constitute an integral feature of the urban landscape in numerous cities. However, it is common for these structures to surpass their life cycle, rendering them ill-equipped to withstand the dynamic demands of users and extreme events, particularly hydrological occurrences. This research presents a methodology for the assessment of heritage riverine bridges, with a focus on the Grau Bridge in Peru as a case study. The investigation commences with an exhaustive literature review, complemented by a historical examination, followed by a preliminary diagnosis. Subsequently, hydrological and hydraulic studies are presented, encompassing drone surveys of the riverbed and the bridge, soil analyses, and the application of 1D and 2D models in HEC-RAS. The outcomes of this comprehensive analysis reveal the high vulnerability of the Grau Bridge. Finally, strategic interventions for its conservation are recommended. Full article