Search Results (20)

Biosphere Reserves (BRs), designated by UNESCO, are uniquely positioned to serve as model territories for sustainable development, as they aim to harmonize biodiversity conservation with the socio-economic vitality and cultural identity of local communities. This work examines the commitment of the Spanish Network of Biosphere Reserves to the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using a survey-based research design, this study assesses the extent to which the reserves have integrated the SDGs into their strategic frameworks and operational practices. It also identifies and analyses successful initiatives and best practices implemented across Spain that exemplify this integration. The findings highlight the need for enhanced awareness and understanding of the 2030 Agenda among stakeholders, alongside stronger mechanisms for participation, cooperation, and governance. The conclusion emphasises the importance of equipping all reserves with strategic planning tools and robust systems for monitoring, evaluation, and accountability. Moreover, the analysis of exemplary cases reveals the transformative potential of sustainability-oriented projects—not only in advancing environmental goals but also in revitalizing local economies and reinforcing cultural heritage. These insights contribute to a broader understanding of how BRs can act as dynamic laboratories for sustainable development and heritage preservation. Full article

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

Environmental elements, such as insects, plants, algae and microbes, may provide important information when reconstructing and interpreting past events. In archaeological contexts, the study of the insects associated with dead bodies can contribute to describe funerary practices. Funerary archaeoentomology is increasingly being utilized; however, there is a lack of application in ancient contexts, thousands of years old. During archaeological excavations carried out at the Filigosa archaeological site (Sardinia, Italy), a prehistoric grave cut named Domus de Janas was found. This type of grave is typical of the island and dates to the Recent Neolithic period. The sepulchral chamber containing 77 individuals (49 adults and 28 subadults) was investigated revealing the presence of some entomological fragments. The mineralized specimens found belonged to the immature stages of flies (Diptera) in the genera Calliphora and Lucilia, as well as beetles (Coleoptera) in the genus Necrobia. These species are typically associated with body decomposition. The analysis and interpretation of these findings led to the following conclusions based on archaeological hypotheses: (1) the cadavers were exposed for a period of time, allowing the arrival of the blow flies during the initial wave of colonization; (2) subsequent primary depositions occurred within the chamber, and (3) a geological change likely occurred shortly after the cessation of the tomb utilization leading to the presence of mud and water. Full article

The cemetery of the Church of Santi Simone e Giuda in Borca di Cadore (Belluno province, Veneto region, Italy) was excavated between 2021 and 2023 as part of an archaeological intervention. The excavation area yielded a total of 21 graves dating back to the 18th–19th century; this was intriguing due to the presence of grave goods and taphonomic indicators that allowed these burials to be interpreted as clothed burials. This contribution examines 14 of the 21 graves, representing the available sample considering preservation conditions. Fieldwork was carried out through close synergy between archaeological and anthropological methodologies, involving careful excavation to verify funerary rituals through taphonomic data analysis. Anthropological methods were applied to determine the biological profile of the individuals, while aspects related to their health status were investigated through paleopathological analyses. Data obtained from field and laboratory observations were cross-referenced with historical and anthropological-cultural data from bibliographic and archival research. Reconstructing the social status of the deceased within the burial context is crucial for understanding the social and cultural dynamics of past populations, achievable only through a biocultural approach integrating information from archaeology, cultural anthropology, and bioarchaeology. Modern burial contexts offer privileged realities due to abundant historical and anthropological-cultural documentation, allowing for a more precise contextualization of bioarchaeological findings with significant support from documentary sources. Studies applied to these periods closer to the present enable the continuous refinement of an investigative method attentive to the synergy of different aspects of biocultural research, enhancing the importance of this approach in reconstructing the life histories of populations. Full article

Different regions around the world are experiencing climate risks, including increasing temperatures, rapid changes in rainfall patterns, loss of biodiversity and extreme weather events. Within the last decade, Nigeria has experienced a series of localised and regional drought and flooding events affecting not only arable farmlands but also cultural heritage, including heritage buildings and cultural landscapes. This study assesses climate-related risks affecting cultural heritage using the ABC risk assessment method to understand the impacts of key climate drivers. The assessment method was applied to five cultural heritage sites with different values and functions. The findings revealed that changes in precipitation and wind speed and direction induce most of the sudden-onset impacts, such as bushfires, flooding and physical collapse. A sense of community connection and attachment to the built heritage remain strong but there have been limited efforts to implement actions that address climate risks to the built heritage and its surrounding spaces. The output of the assessment contributes to risk prioritisation and informs decision making for developing the needed adaptive actions. The study demonstrates the need to leverage climate information collected by different national and international organisations not to only assess climate risks to heritage but also to improve the involvement of local communities and non-heritage professionals in developing adaptation actions for built heritage. Full article

This study investigated the historical consumption of pork in Croatia through a comprehensive analysis of pig bones from six medieval archaeological sites, comprising three castles and three monasteries dating from the 13th to the 16th century A.D. Employing a detailed morphological analysis of pig bones and teeth, the study quantified the number of identified specimens (NISP) per site. On bones and teeth, identification of sex and age was performed, and butchery patterns were documented. The results revealed a significant presence of pork in the diet of castle and monastery inhabitants, with pig bones being the most abundant animal remains. Age analysis suggested a prevalence of juvenile pigs, predominantly males. The findings implied that from the 13th to the 16th century A.D., pork was a staple in the diet of castles and monasteries in continental Croatia, sourced from pig breeding outside these sites. Typically, male pigs aged under two years were delivered for consumption to these establishments. Full article

In the continental Mediterranean mountains of the Iberian Peninsula is located a landscape characterized by the presence of enclosed land parcels delimited by dry stone walls or vegetation, or by both these elements. This landscape has been included, since 2018, in UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity under the name of Art of dry stone walling, knowledge and techniques. However, today’s territorial dynamics jeopardize the maintenance of this landscape heritage. This work set out to understand their origins, dynamics, and evolution from the 11th century (Middle Ages) to the present using historical documentation from different sources and diachronic cartography from aerial photographs. The fieldwork was designed to identify natural, cultural features and recent dynamics, in particular those related to urbanization changes of the last 70 years. Finally, we delved into the new dynamics of exploitation that were based on extensification and a loss of productive diversity. The results obtained lead us to consider that the loss of this agro-landscape must be prevented, with a reasonable livestock grazing criteria and a rational management of its heritage features. This requires regional, national, and European policies that recognize the enclosed landscape as a heritage ecosystem in which biodiversity and agriculture are closely linked. Full article

Sustaining karst landscape areas in World Heritage Sites under increasing human pressures and climate change is an emerging challenge. Growing evidence has highlighted the transition from traditional government-oriented regulation to the collaborative governance of different stakeholders in governing karst landscape resources. However, the complexity and dynamics of karst landscape policy and stakeholder networks are poorly understood. This study combined a legislative analysis, network analysis, and public survey to explore effective methods of karst landscape conservation in the Guilin World Heritage Site, China. The policy analysis showed that various national laws and local regulations have been enacted in China, but these regulations often focused on individual aspects of karst–human interactions. The network analysis indicated the complexity and relationship of networks in karst World Heritage Site governance at the national, provincial, and municipal scales. The majority of questionnaire respondents (65–89%) reported a medium and high level of karst landscape governance effectiveness. The insights in the present study may be valuable for other karst World Heritage Sites facing complex challenges, especially in developing countries. Full article

This paper illustrates and discusses a novel method for the digital documentation of human remains in narrow spaces. A 360° borescope prototype made up of a panoramic camera and a lighting LED system was designed and assembled to acquire data in confined spaces for photogrammetric processing. A series of laboratory experiments were planned to assess the method’s validity. A modern concrete tunnel and a mock grave were surveyed using surveying instruments and a laser scanner, comparing the results with the borescope prototype. Then, data acquisition was moved to the field, i.e., in a real case study. Two burial vaults in a church containing human remains were selected and surveyed. The remains were accessible only from small breaches. The results show that using the 360° borescope is suitable for documenting narrow/confined spaces with minimum alteration of the scene. This result can be of interest for archaeological and forensic purposes, especially when the context is hardly accessible, with minimal intervention on the scene. Full article

The Ndutu cranium is a partial, fragmented, and distorted hominin specimen from the Lake Ndutu site in Tanzania. It was first reconstructed by R. J. Clarke in 1976 and later revisited using now-outdated techniques. Consequently, features such as facial projection, cranial height/length, and cranial flexion are contestable. Here, we present a new virtual reconstruction following a transparent and replicable approach that employs virtual anthropology techniques to reassemble, mirror, digitally align, complete the cranium, and remove the effect of plastic deformation. Before deciding on an approach to align the unarticulated fragments, we tested the effects of symmetrization and the use of surface semilandmarks on the performance of our tool of choice: the digital alignment tool (DTA), developed by A. Profico and colleagues in 2019. Upon completion, we compare our reconstruction to a sample of Pleistocene hominin crania via geometric morphometrics. Test results reveal that DTA performance varies by fragment and that the use of surface semilandmarks bears no statistically significant advantage. We found our reconstruction to boast a more prognate and narrower face with a less flexed cranium overall than previous reconstruction efforts. The shape of the reconstructed cranial vault of Ndutu resulted closest to Sima de los Huesos (SH) 5, while its sagittal profile was most similar to Kabwe’s, lending support to J. L. Arsuaga and colleagues’ 1997 work and to P. Rightmire’s, respectively. We warn that further work is necessary before settling the debate surrounding Ndutu’s phylogeny. However, if our reconstruction hypothesis is held, its inclusion in future morphological studies is granted. Full article

The geographic position, isolation, and the long and dynamic history of colonization created a human context in Sicily that allows for a particular anthropological study; information about “migratory flow” and “population influx” could be investigated in the cranial morphology of a localized geographical region. The research goals are the identification of temporal trends in facial morphology in order to assess the adaptations and the microevolutionary trends and to verify if the cranial morphology of humans was modified by the various genetic contributions and more or less related to the intense and significant migratory flows. This work includes a diachronic morphometrics study of 3D models of 95 Sicilian skulls coming from 19 populations (from the Paleolithic to the Contemporary Age), providing an overview of human biodiversity and variability in Sicily. To achieve this, a geometric morphometrics analysis of the facial features of adult human skulls was performed. The approach used allows for the identification of the main micro-anatomical and micro-evolutionary features. Considering sample size/composition, it has been possible to discriminate between prehistorical and historical populations. The results highlight a series of morphological changes related to different migratory flows that have followed one another with different intensities and effectiveness starting from the Prehistory up to the Contemporary Age. The human peopling of Sicily is a subject of continuous debate; however, this study points to the coexistence of microevolutionary patterns and population dynamics, with the latter being one of the main causes of the morphological variations. Full article

Differentiating cremated non-human bones from human ones in archaeological contexts is a challenging task. This analysis aims at proposing a rather solid criterion based on an osteoarchaeological sample. In this work, the main issues of taxonomic identification of cremated remains are analysed and a research methodology tested on an Italian protohistoric sample is proposed. The 314 subjects composing the sample come from 298 tombs of the Golasecca Civilization (1st millennium BC in north-eastern Italy). On a morphological basis, 246 bone fragments were selected from which as many thin sections were obtained for a histomorphological evaluation. From the analyses, we identified the presence of animals in burials, whereas a mere morphometric analysis was not able to recognize them. Furthermore, the taxonomic identification has allowed us to propose new hypotheses on the funerary rite of Golasecca linked to the zooarchaeological remains. Full article

Archaeoentomology is the study of insects and other arthropods recovered from an archaeological site; they can be found in association with ancient human and animal remains, food, artefacts or they can be related to the environment and its changes throughout the time. Within archaeoentomology, the branch of “funerary archeoentomology” considers insects and other arthropods especially in association with human remains in funerary and burial contexts. The presence and the location of certain insect species closely associated with or nearby the remains, can be valuable in gathering information about the ecological situation at the time of burial and the changes that occurred in the environment up until the discovery of the body. Funerary archaeoentomology investigations have been carried out globally, primarily in countries like Italy, Peru, the United Kingdom and France. Similarly to forensic entomology contexts, the abundance and diversity of insects are affected by the type of burial, the macro and micro-environment of and surrounding the burial, the items associated with the cadaver, the post-mortem practices, and the time that has elapsed from the body deposition to the discovery and the excavation. While funerary archaeoentomology and forensic entomology remain two well-distinguished disciplines, the sampling practice, the insect identification process, and the analyses of the burial ecology in funerary archaeoentomology studies follow the best practices and the general guidelines of forensic entomology. In both disciplines, the correct identification of the insects is key to providing correct information. Various methods have proven effective for insect identification, i.e., morphological, molecular and chemical analysis. This review aims to collect the current knowledge in funerary archaeoentomology, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of insect identification methods in an archaeological context, and describe the groups of the most relevant insects and other arthropods found in association with ancient human remains worldwide. Furthermore, recommendations will be provided to advance the practices of archaeoentomology examinations. Full article

The economic model of the Lithuanian Late Bronze Age (1100–500 cal BC) has long been based on zooarchaeological collections from unstratified, multi-period settlements, which have provided an unreliable understanding of animal husbandry and the role of fishing and hunting. The opportunity to re-evaluate the previously proposed dietary and subsistence patterns arose after zooarcheological assemblages of Garniai 1 and Mineikiškės fortified settlements, dating only to the Late Bronze Age, were collected in 2016–2017 and 2020–2021. The new analysis revealed that the communities in these sites were mainly engaged in animal husbandry of small ungulates such as pigs, sheep/goats, which differed from western Lithuania and the rest of the Eastern Baltic. Moreover, it has been observed that hunting and fishing significantly declined after the Early Bronze Age (1700–1100 cal BC). Lastly, unusual traits for the Baltic region were identified including exceptionally highly fragmented bones and the consumption of molluscs, which could be attributed to the exploration of additional food sources in times of deprivation. Full article

Archaeological research at Ojców castle has yielded important information about life in that medieval castle. The results of zooarchaeological analyses presented in this paper complement the archaeological research, adding to our knowledge of the diet of the castle inhabitants from the time of establishment of the castle until the final residents. Zooarchaeological research is also complemented by data from older settlement phases on the castle hill, directly related to the Lusatian culture in the early Iron Age. The great variability of remains from mammals, birds, and fish and the taphonomic features of bones found in the different chronological strata of the castle’s courtyard reflect the diverse economic activities that took place in particular times and spaces. Full article