Heritage, Volume 8, Issue 5 (May 2025) – 37 articles

This article presents the first results of the zooarchaeological analysis of Chalcolithic levels of the Barrio del Castillo site (Torrejón de Ardoz), located within the Aldovea complex, which also contains evidence from other prehistoric periods. The Barrio del Castillo sector reveals an occupation pattern characterized by pit and silo fields, a common phenomenon in the Tagus Middle Valley’s Prehistory. This study focuses on the Chalcolithic phase, which exhibits two types of faunal accumulations: one linked to domestic activities (referred to as domestic assemblages), and another with a more symbolic character, involving the burial of articulated or semi-articulated animals, mainly dogs, designated as ritual deposits. The first type of accumulation is dominated by domestic species like caprines (sheep and goats) and cattle. Other domestic species, like pigs and dogs, alongside wild species, like horses and deer, appear in smaller quantities. On the other hand, ritual deposits are largely dominated by dogs in the Chalcolithic phase. This paper emphasizes the marked contrast between the two types of accumulations, domestic and ritual, and highlights the implications that these might have toward a better understanding of the world of the first metallurgical communities of the inner Iberian Peninsula. Full article

This study examines the Roman burgus and medieval lowland castle ‘Zullestein’ near Biblis (Bergstraße district/Hessen/Germany) and its surrounding fluvio-scape. The aim of the study is to reassess the appearance of the fortifications and the surrounding area at the confluence of the River Weschnitz and the River Rhine based on the excavation results from the 1970s and current geoarchaeological research on site. Our approach encompasses electrical resistivity tomography, direct push sensing, sediment coring and the use of a high-resolution digital elevation model in combination with historical depictions of the Zullestein site from the 17th century AD. The findings of this integrative approach indicate that the Roman fort was likely located at a secondary channel of the River Rhine. With the renewed occupation of the Zullestein site by Lorsch Abbey during Carolingian times and the expansion into a lowland castle in the 11th century, the site was now located at the Weschnitz mouth into the Rhine, likely as part of anthropogenic interventions related to the Weschnitz fluvioscape. Traces of the final phase of the castle at the time of the Thirty Years’ War can still be seen in the terrain today and their attribution to individual elements of the historical account can be confirmed by the geoarchaeological results. The combination of methods presented in this study is a suitable option if excavations are not possible. Full article

In their evolution from conservation places of isolated resources to social spaces in service of communities, museums are increasingly called to express their representative character towards their originating territories. Furthermore, the museum’s mission has been gradually enriched with new, more complex functions towards local communities, through a call to actively confront with their contexts, a trend the recent pandemic events have only accelerated. Cultural heritage, with museums at the forefront, as an acknowledged driver of socioeconomic development, has manifold impacts on territories, which have been identified and investigated in the literature, often from a potential perspective. Given the strong territorial component of the museum heritage connection with its reference context, this study aims to investigate the contribution that mapping and GIS technologies, traditionally employed at the scale of single museum buildings, can offer in assessing the actual “living” presence of museums in the local socioeconomic and productive fabric, through the relationships with other reference entities in the territories and their outreach. Taking a sample with a marked nature of spatially ‘distributed’ heritage (archaeologic museums of the Puglia region, South Italy) as a case study, the article presents a mapped representation of a questionnaire-based survey of museums’ recent territorial relationships. The twofold outcomes of the study show, on the one hand, that the investigated sample still experiences criticalities in fully expressing and communicating its potentialities and values in the current scenario and, on the other hand, that mapping technologies can concretely contribute to the museum sector’s innovation by examining its territorial relationships, in line with the current conceptual evolution, also with possible implications on museums’ quality assessment. Full article

The vertebral arteries supply blood to the upper spinal cord, brainstem, cerebellum, and posterior part of the brain. These arteries are susceptible to deformation from external factors such as muscular, ligamentous, or bony structures, and any interruption of blood flow may result in vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Among the osseous variants of the cervical spine with potential pathological significance, variations in the number, shape, and size of the foramen transversarium, as well as the presence of bony bridges in the first cervical vertebra, may suggest a predisposition to vertebrobasilar insufficiency. A skeletal sample from the post-Classical cemetery of Corfinio (12th–15th centuries CE; L’Aquila, Italy) was examined. Regarding the morphology of the foramen transversarium, shape variations were identified in 32 of the 108 vertebrae analysed (a prevalence of 29.6%). Particularly noteworthy are three findings in the atlas: (i) a high prevalence of foramen transversarium variants (35.7% for hypoplastic and double foramina), (ii) a coefficient of roundness consistent with a brachymorphic shape, and (iii) a high prevalence of bony bridges —especially ponticulus posticus (52.9%) and retrotransverse foramen (64.7%). All of these findings may indicate a predisposition to vertebrobasilar insufficiency in the individuals studied. It is hypothesised that external mechanical factors, such as carrying heavy loads on the head, neck, and shoulders due to work activities, along with possible genetic influences related to kinship, may have contributed to the high prevalence of these osseous variants. Full article

The present study constitutes the latest in a series of investigations conducted between 2021 and 2023 as part of the ongoing, multidisciplinary research project at the UNESCO archaeological site of Umm ar-Rasas in Amman Governorate, Jordan, which began in 2013. Building on the foundations of previous studies, this latest research offers a comprehensive analysis of the region, with a special focus on pinpointing the boundaries of the Byzantine–Umayyad settlement. The delineation of these boundaries has hitherto been the subject of theoretical discourse only, thus rendering this study a significant addition to the field. An innovative multi-dimensional, multi-methodological, and multi-scalar approach has been adopted, incorporating the capabilities of remote sensing technologies, archaeological surveys, laser scans, and geophysical prospecting to facilitate a shared interpretation of the results. This approach has culminated in the establishment of a probable configuration of the northern limits, which is truly remarkable. Full article

This paper focuses on the study of the prehistoric art site at Penedo do Gato Rock Art Shelter (NW Spain) through an interdisciplinary collaboration. A key objective was to develop and implement a multi-analytical protocol for characterising prehistoric rock paintings with portable analytical techniques such as colour spectrophotometry and Raman spectroscopy. Additionally, three possible colouring materials collected during the archaeological survey of the site were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, stereomicroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (surface and cross-section modes) with the aim of determining their mineralogical composition and texture. The results indicate that hematite (α-Fe₂O₃) is the main component of the red motifs. Amorphous carbon has been found in several motifs. The presence of amorphous carbon on the rock suggests it may have been deposited onto the paintings by nearby bonfires; however, the potential use of charcoal as an additive in the red pigments to modify their colour should not be overlooked. Regarding the mineralogical composition of potential colouring materials, only one of the samples can be considered as a viable source. This was the only sample with a compact and homogeneous composition, rich in hematite, making it likely that, after grinding, it was used for painting. In contrast, the other collected samples either lacked hematite or contained only a thin layer of it. In these cases, it is unlikely that the hematite layer was extracted using tools to obtain the pigment. Full article

This study presents an integrated approach for assessing the risk of damage to cultural heritage due to climate change, applied to five selected European cultural sites. Future changes in climate parameters and indices associated with climate pressure on cultural heritage sites are analyzed using a set of EURO-CORDEX high-resolution Regional Climate Model (RCM) simulations under three different future emission scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5). Our results are reported for three different time periods, 1971–2000 (reference period), and two future periods, 2021–2050 and 2071–2100. The aim of this study is to apply the Heritage Outdoor Microclimate (HMR_out) and Predicted Risk of Damage (PRD) indices to quantify the risk of damage to inorganic materials resulting from future long-term changes in temperature and relative humidity (RH). Projections show a significant rise in temperature leading to increased HMR_out values and higher heat stress across CH sites. The projected temperature increase results in a rise in HMR_out index across all studied cultural heritage sites, with the rate of increase varying by period and scenario. Overall, as a result of the rising HMR_out index, the predicted risk of damage to monuments made from inorganic materials due to heat stress is expected to increase. The PRD index is projected to increase by up to 87% in certain CH sites by the end of the 21st century according to the RCP8.5 scenario. Conversely, as the climate becomes warmer, the RH and the associated risk are expected to decrease. This work highlights the necessity for continuous monitoring of future climate and the timely detection of the predicted risk of damage for monuments, to take immediate protective measures to preserve cultural heritage in the face of climate change. Full article

In July 2024, the “Investigating the Archaeology of Death in Pompeii Research Project” carried out a scientific and methodical excavation of the areas outside two of the gates to the city of Pompeii. One of them is the funerary area of Porta Nola (next to the tomb of Obellio Firmo) and the other is outside Porta Sarno area (east of the tomb of Marcus Venerius Secundius). The investigated funerary area to the east of Porta Sarno corresponds with the area excavated in 1998 for the construction of the double Circumvesuviana rails. The 1998 excavations recorded the presence of more than 50 cremation burial sites, marked by stelae (columelle) and a monument with an arch, which are delineated by a boundary wall. The tombs were initially dated to the Late Republican period. In order to carry out comprehensive studies of the funerary area uncovered in 1998, a four metre by four metre trench was stratigraphically excavated. This investigation allowed mapping of the area and the carrying out of archaeological analysis and bioarchaeological studies in order to answer the questions that guided our archaeological research, such as whether the funerary area was abandoned and, if so, when? What was the chronological succession, monumentality, and prestige of this funerary space? Was it a single family and private funerary enclosure, or was it an open public space? How were this funerary area and the spaces destined to preserve the memory of the deceased managed? How were the funerary and mortuary rituals and gestures articulated and what did they consist of? Our methodical excavation discovered a monumental tomb which allows us to answer many of the questions raised by our research. This extraordinary monument consists of a wide wall with several niches containing the cremated remains of the deceased built into its structure and which is crowned by a relief of a young couple. The symbolism of the carved accessories of the wife may identify her as a priestess of Ceres. Additionally, the quality of the carving in the sculptures and their archaic characteristics suggest a Republic period dating, which is uncommon in southern Italy. Full article

The Po Nagar Towers (Thap Ba) complex, an iconic heritage site of Cham culture and a nationally recognized special relic, has stood in Nhatrang, Vietnam, for over a thousand years. We report here a preliminary analysis of original ancient Cham bricks from the Po Nagar Towers using a combination of appropriate characterization techniques, including X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman micro-spectroscopy, thermal dilatometry, compressive strength testing, and water sorption. Mechanical properties and firing temperatures of the ancient bricks have been determined to support the discussion on the likely technology used to make them. Specifically, they were made from clay, sand, plagioclases/feldspar, and grog mixed with intentionally added carbon precursor (charcoal powder), then fired at temperatures between 800 °C and 1000 °C to form lightweight bricks with a mass density of 1.3–1.6 kg/dm³ and an open porosity of 18–25%. The ancient Cham bricks have their texture and porosity to meet the requirements of the thin rubbing joint technique in tower construction and to contribute to the carvability and durability of Cham towers. A comparison is made with the bricks for tower restoration during the 2000s. Full article

The Boronia Ridge palusmont, Walpole, in southern Western Australia, is situated in the most humid part of the State. It was a unique hilltop wetland complex and the only one of its type in the State. On its margins, the area also supports the ancient sedge Reedia spathacea, a Gondwanan relict endemic to humid southern Western Australia and the Walpole region and a plant that was ultimately recognised as being of national significance and protected under Australia’s strongest conservation law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act (1999). However, prior to the geoheritage and biodiversity values of the area being known, in the late 1980s, a pristine scenic area west of Walpole, adjacent to the Walpole River and Walpole Inlet, classified as a Class A national park, was earmarked for urban development, in spite of there being “very little demonstrated requirement for land in Walpole”. This appeared to be as a result of poor land-use planning, since the urbanisation proposed was to be located on the Walpole River delta and wetlands. Urban infrastructures would also impact on adjoining wetlands and the Walpole Inlet System. With new information available in relation to the soils, wetlands, and environmental values of the area, in 1993, community groups and scientists combined, at a public Local Government meeting, to demonstrate that the proposed urban development, referred to as Lot 650, and later Boronia Ridge, with its above-land surface wastewater treatment, was inappropriate, both from an engineering perspective and due to the high conservation values of the area. With the support of the local government of the day and expert scientists who confirmed local concerns, the community engaged in a 7-year conflict with the development proponent, government agencies involved in decision making, and politicians of the day. Ultimately, the use of state-of-the-art science and traditional geomorphic, stratigraphic, hydrological, and geoheritage principles failed to prevent the urbanisation of the area in favour of preserving the whole area as a wetland complex. The following three reasons for this failure are identified: 1. political, rather than science-based decision making, 2. government agencies staffed without the necessary training in biological or earth sciences to make informed decisions, and 3. little attention to environmental concerns due to a bias towards development. Walpole, with its population of 400, moved from a low priority on the wastewater treatment priority list in Western Australia to a high priority on the deep sewerage priority list to accommodate a proposed residential development. Full article

This study explores the transformative potential of the metaverse in redefining cultural heritage engagement, with a specific focus on the digital metamorphosis of the Museum of L’Avesnois in Fourmies. By leveraging advanced 3D scanning technologies and immersive virtual environments, select artifacts have been meticulously digitized, creating an unprecedented interactive platform that bridges accessibility gaps and invites global audiences to engage with cultural heritage. Variability in user experience, reflecting the diverse interactions, emotions, and cognitive responses of participants, serves as a critical analytical axis in this research. While diversity can yield invaluable insights into user preferences, excessive discrepancies risk fragmenting the coherence of engagement. This study demonstrates how strategic design interventions can mitigate such variability, fostering uniform yet personalized experiences. Through the integration of real-time social dynamics, enabled by customizable avatars and communication tools, the metaverse is established as a pioneering medium for collaborative cultural exploration. Employing a robust mixed-methods approach, this research synthesizes quantitative metrics with qualitative insights from in-depth interviews to critically evaluate the metaverse’s capacity to deliver authentic, emotionally resonant, and pedagogically impactful engagements. While challenges persist in replicating the emotive depth of physical exhibits and sustaining user attention, findings underscore the metaverse’s unparalleled efficacy in democratizing access to cultural artifacts and enabling transboundary social interactions. Furthermore, the seamless incorporation of previously inaccessible artifacts into these virtual domains significantly enhances both user engagement and educational outcomes. This work advances the discourse on digital heritage by presenting actionable insights into the design of virtual environments that uphold cultural authenticity, foster socially immersive interactions, and align with the broader paradigm of digital transformation. Full article

Unguentaria are ancient vessels for oils, perfumes, ointments, or balms. Glass unguentaria are typically small in size and have long narrow necks to limit the loss of precious contents through spills and evaporation. The vessels may have single or double barrels. This study includes both double and single unguentaria from unprovenanced archaeological contexts. Residues found inside the vessels may reveal the original contents. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and direct analysis in real time-mass spectrometry (DART-MS) were used to identify organic components of the residues, while headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) gas chromatography mass spectrometry provided a method to target specifically the volatile aroma compounds. Inorganic compounds in the unguentaria residues were identified by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The results are consistent with a plant oil base, but few volatile perfume components could be characterized. While the collection of unguentaria may have contained perfumes, these results do not rule out the possibility of other unguents such as cosmetics. Full article

Below the central nave of the Gothic Cathedral of Palencia (14th to 16th centuries) lies the Crypt of San Antolín, which represents the remains of a Visigothic building from the mid-7th century. The crypt itself has suffered recurrent episodes of flooding over the centuries. However, the latest flooding, which began in mid-2021 and ended in mid-2023, is one of the most long-lasting episodes on the historical record. To establish the origin of these flooding episodes, the geological and hydrological properties of the subsoil have been determined by direct prospecting techniques (drilling) and indirect geophysical techniques (Electrical Resistivity Tomography). The prospecting has determined that the aquifer in the area has a basin-like geometry, which favors the accumulation of water below the crypt. This work has shown that the recurrent floods suffered by the crypt prior to 2021 are related to episodes of intense rainfall. However, after 2021, there is a direct relationship between the persistent flooding and the onset of landscaping at the Plaza de San Antolín, one of the squares near the cathedral. In addition, previous archaeological excavations carried out in 1965 in that same square had disrupted the stratigraphic column, easing the percolation of water. We conclude that the increase in landscaped areas in archaeological environments may modify the hydrogeological dynamics of the subsoil and affect the surrounding buildings. Full article

Current modern attention and concern about (human-driven) climate change has prompted much focus on the historical/archaeological relevance and role of (natural) climate change in the past. The topic is both relevant and important—and especially those short(er)-term events that perhaps helped trigger historically substantive change episodes. But, at the same time, initial, somewhat naïve enthusiasm has now run headlong into the limitations of the available data sources before the early modern era, and the many complications of establishing actual causal associations. These need to be, first, closely defined in terms of timing and effects, and then also, second, established as relevant to the specific human societies/civilizations and contexts in question. This paper seeks to highlight the need for appropriate care and rigorous method when seeking to associate climate and environmental events with the available ancient historical and archaeological evidence, and investigates three illustrative, problematic, cases from the Classical Mediterranean world. Full article

Pottery is one of the most common and abundant types of human remains found in archaeological contexts. The analysis of archaeological pottery involves the reconstruction of pottery vessels from their sherds, which represents a laborious and repetitive task. In this work, we investigate a deep learning-based approach to make that process more efficient, accurate, and fast. In that regard, given a sherd’s digital point cloud in a standard, so-called canonical position, the proposed method predicts the geometric transformation, which moves the sherd to its expected normalized position relative to the vessel’s coordinate system. Among the main components of the proposed method, a pair of deep 1D convolutional neural networks trained to predict the 3D Euclidean transformation parameters stands out. Herein, rotation and translation components are treated as independent problems, so while the first network is dedicated to predicting translation moments, the other infers the rotation parameters. In practical applications, once a vessel’s shape is identified, the networks can be trained to predict the target transformation parameter values. Thus, given a 3D model of a complete vessel, it may be virtually broken down countless times for the production of sufficient data to meet deep neural network training demands. In addition to overcoming the scarcity of real sherd data, given a virtual sherd in its original position, that procedure provides paired canonical and normalized point clouds, as well as the target Euclidean transformation. The herein proposed 1D convolutional neural network architecture, the so-called PotNet, was inspired by the PointNet architecture. While PointNet was motivated by 3D point cloud classification and segmentation applications, PotNet was designed to perform non-linear regressions. The method is able to provide an initial estimate for the correct position of a sherd, reducing the complexity of the problem of fitting candidate pairs of sherds, which could be then carried out by a classical adjustment method like ICP, for instance. Experiments using three distinct real vessels were carried out, and the reported results suggest that the proposed method can be successfully used for aiding pottery reconstruction. Full article

Objective: This study aims to analyze and evaluate the diagnostic methods used to detect multiple myeloma in paleopathological research. As a malignancy characterized by bone lesions, multiple myeloma presents unique opportunities for study through the paleopathological analysis of human skeletal remains. Methods: A literature review was conducted across PubMed, ScienceDirect, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, focusing on macroscopic, radiological, and microscopic methods. A total of 43 original peer-reviewed studies published over six decades were selected. Results: The most commonly used diagnostic technique was macroscopic analysis of bone material, focusing on the characteristics of the lesions. Radiological methods, including X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography (CT), and micro-CT, provided complementary insights. Various microscopic techniques, chemical analyses, and fluoroscopy provided additional diagnostic detail. The diagnostic process is shaped by factors such as preservation, context, and access to technology; despite these variables, characteristic features of lesions were consistently recognized. Conclusion: This review highlights how macroscopic analysis remains central to diagnosis in paleopathology, with radiological and microscopic methods increasingly enhancing accuracy and interpretive depth. A multidisciplinary approach, combining macroscopic, radiological, microscopic, and chemical analyses where feasible, continues to strengthen paleopathological research and offers new insights into the historical presence of multiple myeloma. Full article

The authors examine the transformative impact of technological advancements on the customary traditions associated with camels in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We conducted 21 semi-structured interviews with Emirati camel owners/breeders, focusing on the effects of innovations in breeding, racing, beauty contests, and heritage preservation. The findings reveal that genetic technologies have reshaped camel husbandry by enhancing desirable traits, while introducing commercialization. In camel racing, robotic jockeys, biometric monitoring, and GPS tracking have revolutionized training and competition, making the sport a highly regulated, technology-driven industry. Similarly, camel beauty contests have been influenced by genetic selection, aesthetic standards, and controversial cosmetic enhancements. While these advancements have increased the economic value of camels, they have also altered traditional perceptions, raising concerns about the commodification of Emirati heritage. Additionally, online platforms and digital tools have facilitated the global promotion of camels, fostering connections between owners/breeders and enthusiasts, while introducing new modes of engagement. The study demonstrates how technological progress both preserves and challenges the customary traditions associated with camels, offering insights into the intersection of modernization and cultural heritage in the UAE. Full article

Understanding tonal structures in Renaissance music has been a long-standing musicological problem. Computational analysis on a large scale could shed new light on this. Encoded scores provide easy access to pitch content, but the availability of such data is low. This paper addresses this shortage of data by exploring the potential of audio recordings. Analysing audio, however, is challenging due to the presence of harmonics, reverb and noise, which may obscure the pitch content. We test several multiple pitch estimation models on audio recordings, using encoded scores from the Josquin Research Project (JRP) as a benchmark for evaluation. We present a dataset of multiple pitch estimations from 611 compositions in the JRP. We use the pitch estimations to create pitch profiles and pitch class profiles, and to estimate the lowest final pitch of each recording. Our findings indicate that the Multif0 model yields pitch profiles, pitch class profiles and finals most closely aligned with symbolic encodings. Furthermore, we found no effect of year of recording, number of voices and ensemble composition on the accuracy of pitch estimations. Finally, we demonstrate how these models can be applied to gain insight into tonal structures in early polyphony. Full article

A notable lacuna exists in the extant research regarding the application of data analytics (DA) to augment public programming and cultivate robust connections between archives, museums, and their constituent communities. This scoping review aimed to address this gap by mapping the available literature at the intersection of data analytics, archives, and museums. Adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, a two-stage selection process was employed, utilising a comprehensive search strategy across four databases and seven specialised journals. This search identified 37 publications that met the pre-defined inclusion criteria. Findings revealed a growing interest in data-driven approaches, with nearly half of the reviewed studies explicitly linking data analytics to public programming. The review identified diverse data analytics techniques employed, ranging from traditional methods to cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) applications, and highlighted the various data sources utilised. Furthermore, this study examined the transformative potential of data analytics across several key dimensions of public programming, including access, archival management, user experience, public engagement, and research methodologies. The review noted ethical considerations, data quality issues, preservation challenges, and accessibility concerns associated with leveraging data analytics in archives and museums. Full article

Most museum collections are not displayed since they are held in storage, out of visitors’ reach. However, little is known about the size of stored collections, how they are used, and to what extent museums enhance their accessibility in New Zealand museums. This study aims to provide an overview of the size of stored collections, the strategies adopted by museums, and how these solutions impact the accessibility of stored collections in museums in New Zealand. Data were gathered through a survey sent to the New Zealand office of ICOM and direct invitations to museums between December 2020 and January 2021. Respondents represented different museums’ legal statuses, sizes, and collections. The results show that 84% of collections are held in storage. Strategies such as the rotation of items enabled museums to use 28% of stored collections. In comparison, 18% of stored items were used through loans and 17% through exchanges, making them accessible to everyone. Specifically, it was found that the most effective strategies in terms of accessibility are visible storage, with 55% usability of stored collections, and the digitisation of collections, with 41%. These findings indicate that factors such as different legal statuses of museums, sizes, and types of collections, might impact the use of stored collections. Full article

This study investigates the subsurface remains of Jaundole Castle, a 14th-century medieval fortress located on Dole Island near Riga, Latvia. The castle, which has left no visible surface ruins, is known only from historical documents and maps. To assess whether its buried remains could be detected, a non-invasive ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey was carried out across five targeted grids. The results revealed multiple linear and circular anomalies consistent with historical records of the castle’s layout, including possible foundations of walls and towers. These findings demonstrate that GPR, when combined with historical map and image analysis, can effectively locate, and delineate lost architectural features. The integration of historical sources and geophysical data provides a replicable model for the investigation of other completely buried archaeological sites. This work contributes to the development of non-destructive prospection strategies and supports the planning of future archaeological excavations and conservation actions. Full article

In recent scholarship, the impact of palaeoclimate change is often understood as a main factor contributing to the fragmentation and “fall” of Rome’s empire. The various attempts at postulating disastrous effects of temperature shifts in the fifth to sixth centuries—cooling caused harvest failures, famine, political and social unrest, and disruptions in food supply—have been criticized for a good reason: compelling causal links between cooler weather conditions and decreasing agricultural productivity are missing. The socio-economic and political impact of a prolonged climate-related Late Roman drought (ca. 360–440 CE), however, has been widely overlooked. This paper aims to compare palaeoecological data from cave speleothems and lake sediments that indicate palaeoclimate and environmental change through precipitation shifts in the southern Black Sea region with the archaeological data of the urban granary in Pompeiopolis. Combining these data offers fresh insights into Roman environmental imperialism, command ecologies and economies, and the impact of climate change on Rome’s tax system that kept the network of redistributive food supply running. This archaeo-environmental approach sheds light on the ecological vulnerability of integrated economies, failures of the dysfunctional metabolic regimes of ›polis command economies‹, and the chain of cause-and-effect provoking the “fall” of Rome. Full article

Culinary heritage is central to preserving cultural identity. The present study analyses the content of culinary notebooks from 1946 and 1947 using large language models (LLMs) and a dedicated AI plugin, Linguistic Insight (LI-AI). The general goal was to analyse content in Granny Josie’s Notebooks (the BaJa corpus) with AI tools. The specific objective was to create and test a dedicated analytical tool, an LI-AI ChatGPT plugin for the in-depth analysis of the BaJa corpus, focusing on ingredients, techniques, and recipes. LI-AI identified keywords and main themes in the large textual dataset. It then visualised them as word clouds. Compared to manual tools, LI-AI’s semantic analysis was more precise and comprehensive. This study contributes to the analysis of historical culinary practices in post-war Poland, revealing that cooking had not only a pragmatic role but also a symbolic one as it supported social and family bonds. This finding was not evident in the word clouds. Instead, it emerged from an in-depth semantic analysis. This study has confirmed the practical value of LLMs in historical text interpretation. It also established that the parallel use of AI and manual tools is advisable for a fuller analysis of textual data. Full article

The Oddy test is an accelerated metal corrosion test used extensively by cultural institutions to determine the suitability of a material for use in museums. Alternatively, the use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to directly identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from construction materials is growing in popularity because of its comprehensiveness and speed. Interpreting the reactivity of these potential pollutants, however, relies on ‘chemical intuition’ based on observed functional groups since the reactivity of only a handful of common VOCs has been studied intensively with regard to artworks. While short chain organic acids are known to be deleterious to some metals, polymers, and other culturally relevant materials, the common observation of lower volatility acids as well as their complementary aldehydes and esters in these offgassing experiments do not have clear indicators of their potential for artwork damage. In this work, the lead coupon, known to be a sensitive indicator of damaging organic acids, was exposed to known concentrations of a homologous series of organic acids, aldehydes, and esters from C2 to C18. Analysis of the coupon surface by infrared and Raman spectroscopies, and of the headspace within an Oddy jar by GC-MS, provides insights into the corrosion processes of these potential pollutants. Humidity was identified as a necessary component for corrosion to occur, and very volatile and semi-volatile compounds up to C9 created the corresponding lead carboxylate on the coupon surface in addition to lead carbonate. For higher order acids, and to a far lesser extent the esters and aldehydes, a high concentration of the VOC was necessary to induce small amounts of corrosion. In some instances, the gas phase chemistry of the reactor was particularly complex, suggesting mixtures of pollutants may prove more problematic to artist materials than single offgassed species. Full article

The article investigates a learning setting contextualising the use of artificial intelligence in heritage education, with a particular focus on AI systems utilising text-to-image processes. The setting is the one of a university interdisciplinary seminar in communication in South Tyrol, a border region in the north of Italy shaped by a strong cultural identity. The paper illustrates a didactic experience introducing a highly technical and, for most of the students in the chosen context, challenging topic, such as AI. The teaching addresses a critical approach to AI, such as dataset constraints, sustainability, and authorship, and focuses on text-to-image algorithms and artistic co-creation, namely, the shifting role of the artist from sole creator to initiator/collaborator shaping the AI system’s output. The aim of the paper is to contribute to the debate in heritage education on teaching and learning using AI-based systems. The latter are seen as a potential tool for the engagement of students in understanding heritage and its safeguarding and in the relationship between community, territory, and active participation, as emphasised by both the “UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage” and the “Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society”. However, the current boundaries of AI, particularly in terms of bias and limitations of datasets, must be addressed and reflected on. Full article

The 2012 Emilia earthquake highlighted the vulnerability of fortified architecture. Based on the observed seismic behaviors, this research proposes a GIS geodatabase, designed with a proactive approach, for the prediction and prevention—at a territorial scale—of the most frequent damage mechanisms of the investigated typology. The designed geo-database allows for the identification of possible correlations between constructive features and the occurrence of damage, through statistical and geo-referenced analysis. Moreover, the designed geodatabase, by enabling the comparison of the damage level data with the seismic action of the site, through INGV (National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology) shakemaps, allowed the definition of experimental fragility curves, for three of the most common damage mechanisms. By applying these functions to castles in the province of Parma, it was possible to define future seismic risk scenarios for the mechanisms considered, thanks to the use of the seismic hazard map. Therefore, the described methodology could be functional to identify the most urgent and high-priority interventions in order to optimize the management of economic resources. The final aim is to promote the application of the concept of minimum intervention, and more in general to preserve the architectural heritage, avoiding emergency interventions and aiming instead to apply planned conservation strategies. Full article

The 2018 Lombok (Indonesia) earthquake caused widespread destruction, significantly affecting both infrastructure and the socio-cultural fabric of local communities. While rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts primarily focus on restoring physical assets, the social and cultural dimensions critical to fostering community resilience are often overlooked. This research explores the concept of Cultural Resilience in promoting post-disaster recovery, with a particular focus on the Sasak Tribe in Lombok. By examining how cultural values, practices, and social networks contribute to adaptive capacity, the study seeks to integrate cultural resilience into disaster recovery strategies. The research employs a mixed-method approach, involving the identification of key characteristics of cultural resilience, mapping the levels of resilience within the community, and analyzing the social networks of cultural actors involved in post-disaster recovery. Through this, a “Build-Back Better” scenario is developed, which aligns rehabilitation plans with local cultural values. The findings are expected to enhance culture-based resilience and offer policy implications for more holistic disaster recovery interventions that strengthen both physical and cultural aspects of community resilience.) Full article

Folk art includes objects that are items for everyday use and, at the same time, gracefully reflect the Greek artistic point of view, drawing its inspiration from life itself, the environment and its beauties, and local tradition. An 18th c. wood-carved and painted chest coming from the famous wood-carved centers of Epirus in Greece is presented in this study. As the number of studies and the general bibliographical references are limited for these kinds of items, prior to interventive conservation, a protocol of analysis was followed to identify the damages, the construction materials, and previous alterations. The main goal of this study is to identify the component materials using non-destructive techniques. The methodology followed for the documentation of the artifact includes the following: a. digital microscopy to identify damage from insects, different cracks and losses on the gesso and paint surface, corrosion products, etc.; b. 3D imaging using a polycam, with special attention given to the inside decoration of the cap; c. IR and UV photography to identify any previous alterations or signs of alterations in the varnish layers; d. and XRF analysis to identify the three (3) main colors of the chest, such as the blue used extensively as a background, red, and white. Nevertheless, the Greek folklore painting palette is limited, and for this reason, this study can be a foundation for research on similar artifacts. Full article

The conservation of historic tapestries is crucial due to the fragility of their materials and their cultural relevance. This paper reports on an investigation into the development of HeriTex, a non-invasive, innovative system for evaluating the structural integrity of historic tapestries, with a particular focus on measuring material loss. The research analyzed the relationship between transmitted infrared radiation and the weight loss per unit area (expressed in g/cm²) in the weakened areas of the tapestry. As a necessary first step, the system was calibrated using a limited range of wool thread weights before conducting experimental measurements on a historic tapestry fragment provided by the Royal Tapestry Factory in Madrid. The investigation demonstrated a strong correlation between the transmittance values and the loss of material weight per unit area. The results showed that the transmittance decreases exponentially as the weight per unit area increases. By applying a non-linear least squares (NLLS) fitting model, additional weight per unit area values in the tapestry were estimated based on their corresponding transmittance values. The HeriTex system enables the identification, quantification, and mapping of damage regions, demonstrating its potential as a valuable tool for more accurate assessment of the condition of historic tapestries by providing quantitative data on their structural integrity. Full article

The conservation of experimental building materials that were introduced during the 20th-century currently represents one of the main challenges in building restoration. Fair-faced concrete is especially affected by durability problems and requires careful assessment to implement effective conservation methods, even more so when the building has artistic and expressive value. In addition, the literature in this field is still limited and case studies are very rare. In this paper, the Partisan Ossuary Monument, a brutalist monument at the Certosa of Bologna, was studied and analysed in order to find the most effective restoration techniques, especially for its concretes, which have a particularly expressive texture. The aim was to combine both the preservation of the aesthetics and functional quality of the building with the use of existing technologies in this field. Firstly, archive research was carried out to discover the original building techniques and the materials used. The literature on the Monument was studied to unveil the expressive role given to the concretes’ surface finishing. Then, after an on-site investigation, all the materials used in the Monument and the degradation processes were analysed and mapped out. Significant samples of the Monument were manually collected whilst limiting invasiveness. Then, diagnostic tests were carried out to identify the causes of degradation and to comprehend the nature of certain superficial finishes. Several techniques were used, i.e., X-ray diffraction, optical microscopy, and FT-IR spectrometry. Finally, guidelines were drafted for possible future restoration, merging all the results from the previous phases of this study with compliance with heritage structures’ restoration requirements. Many technologies commonly used for the repair of concrete structures could not be applied to this Monument due to its features. Hence, new solutions were studied and proposed. The results obtained may contribute to an increased awareness of the need to restore 20th-century heritage buildings in order to limit degradation and partial reconstruction. Many concrete heritage buildings of this period suffer from the same problems, and this paper could offer an important starting point for future research. Full article