Search Results (30)

The eastern half of the Roman Empire between the end of the 5th c. and the end of the 11th c. CE (customarily referred to as the Byzantine Empire) experienced several significant fluctuations in its political and economic fortunes. Climate change, disease, hostile invasions, internal strife, and subtle longer-term shifts in social and economic structures, as well as cultural ideological identities, have all been invoked to explain this pattern, yet much remains unclear. This paper comments briefly on the palaeoclimatological, palaeoenvironmental, archaeological, and historical evidence for two periods in their broader context. It points out the limitations and challenges inhering in the different types of data; it reinforces the point that changes in climate, rather than having “negative” or “positive” impacts or directly causing societal change, indirectly facilitate or frame longer-term societal transformations. As the evidence for the two case studies indicates, even at the micro-level, it remains extremely difficult in the present state of our knowledge to draw firm conclusions about the role played by climate in stimulating societal change. 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

A submerged elevation located off the coast of Le Castella, a small village on the Ionian Coast of Calabria (Italy) populated for thousands of years that features notable archaeological remains from the Great Greece (Magna Graecia) and the Middle Ages, was investigated through in-depth, multidisciplinary, geoarchaeological research. This submarine elevation, once aligned with the marine terrace MIS 3 of Le Castella and still completely emerged between 10 and 8 ka years ago, slowly sank due to erosion and local tectonic-structural subsidence and was also favoured by a submerged normal fault that cuts the terrace in two. The dismantling and sinking of this part of the marine terrace has significantly changed the Late Holocene shorelines, with notable consequences on a topographic and archaeological level. In fact, one of the consequences of the sinking of this ancient promontory was the disappearance of two small islands that were reported to be right in front of Le Castella by numerous historical and cartographic sources. In the last decades, there has been a scientific debate over the existence of these islets, but no convincing evidence has been found about their actual presence up until now. This research, funded by the Marine Protected Area “Capo Rizzuto”, was conducted by means of underwater archaeological and geological surveys, geophysical seabed mapping systems, and both direct and instrumental optical surveys made with an Autonomous Surface Vehicle. The outcomes allow us to confirm the presence of these two partially emerged rock bodies up to half a millennium ago. In addition, the presence of anthropogenic extrabasinal materials in a marine area corresponding to one of the highest points of the submerged elevation allows us to define the exact position of one of the two islets. These archaeological findings have been subject, for the first time ever, to a thorough topographical and architectural analysis, then compared with other near and very similar submerged structures. On the basis of these comparisons, the findings should be attributed to the Byzantine Age or, at most, to the Middle Ages. In-depth archival research on portolan charts and navigation maps, in many cases unpublished and dating from the Middle Ages to the early 18th century, supports the results of our marine investigations from a historical point of view. Full article

Hierapolis of Phrygia, an archaeological site in southwestern Turkey, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988. During archaeological campaigns, 71 mortar samples from public buildings were collected, dating from the Julio-Claudian to the Middle Byzantine period. The samples were analyzed using a multi-analytical approach including polarized optical microscopy (POM), digital image analysis (DIA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and SEM–EDS to trace the raw materials and understand the evolution of mortar composition and technology over time. During the Roman period, travertine and marble were commonly used in binder production, while marble dominated in the Byzantine period. The aggregates come mainly from sands of the Lycian Nappe and Menderes Massif, with carbonate and silicate rock fragments. Variations in composition, average size and circularity suggest changes in raw material sources in both Roman and Byzantine periods. Cocciopesto mortar was used in water-related structures from the Flavian to the Severan period, but, in the Byzantine period, it also appeared in non-hydraulic contexts. Straw became a common organic additive in Byzantine renders, marking a shift from the exclusively inorganic aggregates of Roman renders. This study illustrates the evolving construction technologies and material sources used throughout the city’s history. Full article

Studying the evolution of seed morphology and, in turn, the evolution of cultivars across time and space is of fundamental importance to agriculture and archaeology. The identification of ancient and modern grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars is essential for understanding the historical evolution of grape cultivation. Grape seed morphology provides valuable information to explore the evolution of grape cultivars over time and space. The main aim of our study was to build a comprehensive regional database of grape seed morphological traits from modern and archaeological wine cultivars and wild grape species. We aimed to identify which seeds of modern grape cultivars exhibited morphological similarities to archaeological cultivars. This study focused on fifteen distinct modern types of seeds and two archaeological samples from the Byzantine-to-Early Medieval period. We acquired digital images of seeds using a flatbed scanner. For each sample, 100 seeds were randomly selected, and morphometric data on each seed were gathered using ImageJ. Differences among the seed cultivars were investigated using linear discriminant analysis. Archaeological seeds were found to be more similar to cultivated V. vinifera cultivars rather than V. sylvestris populations. Among the cultivated cultivars, Sangiovese and Tosta antica resulted to be cultivars most similar cultivars to the archaeological ones. The morphometric analysis of grape seeds proved to be a valuable resource for investigating the evolution of vine cultivars throughout history. Combining image analysis techniques with genetic data will open new perspectives for studying the origins of and variations in grape cultivars, contributing to the conservation and enhancement of viticultural heritage. Full article

The field of archaeological excavation has seen enormous developments as a result of the quick development of digital technologies. It is critical to acknowledge the long-term benefits of new approaches. In this regard, this study intends to suggest a system that provides archaeologists with digital tools that allow them to fully and effectively document their excavations in real time while in the field, which is specifically designed for classical and Byzantine archaeology. The system not only facilitates traditional documentation practices but also integrates advanced geospatial technologies and augmented reality, enhancing the accuracy and depth of archaeological research and preservation. This dual functionality enables both the efficient recording of excavation data as experienced by excavators on-site and the detailed documentation processed by researchers post-excavation. The objective of the application is to generate a sophisticated system that will enable the excavation data and experience that the excavator gains on the site of work to be recorded in real time, as well as the documentation that is subsequently processed and accomplished by the researcher or by other researchers. The system saves detailed images and 3D models of artifacts and excavation sites. This ensures that every detail is recorded while preserving the data for future analysis and reference. Lastly, the application was tested in realistic use case scenarios and real-world settings, which increased the system’s credibility and demonstrated its capability to enhance the procedures involved in archaeological excavation and documentation. Full article

This study aims to analyze the dynamics of change in settlement models from the Roman, late antique, and Byzantine periods, focusing on how these transformations influenced the formation of Islamic societies in the rural landscapes of western Sicily. The study is centered around the territory of Corleone in the Sicani Mountains (central-western Sicily). This region, strategically located between the significant cities of Palermo on the Tyrrhenian Sea and Agrigento on the Strait of Sicily, has been pivotal in the communication network spanning from the Roman era to the Middle Ages and beyond. The area has been subject to extensive surveys and excavations, revealing diverse dynamics of continuity, resilience, and innovation in settlement patterns from the Roman to the Islamic periods. Beyond presenting the results of archaeological fieldwork, this study employs GIS-based spatial and statistical analyses and utilizes a range of topographic (elevation, slope, aspect, topographic position index (TPI), and distance to water sources) and ecological factors (vegetation series). These analyses aim to assess the evolving relationships and site positioning within the territory over time. Combining archaeological data with topographic and ecological landscape analysis, this integrated approach elucidates the complex transition dynamics from the Roman settlement system to the Islamic age’s landscape formation in western Sicily’s rural areas. The study thereby contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between historical developments and environmental factors in shaping rural settlement patterns. Full article

Throughout the last decades, engaging with cultural landscapes has been a scientific, social, ethical, political, and economic imperative that calls for novel theoretical approaches, effective strategies and, above all, participatory action. Facing this multifarious challenge, academic disciplines have to redefine their traditional methods and aims, and demonstrate an openness towards new and risky paths of scientific pursuits. The present paper arose from interdisciplinary cooperation between the humanities and social sciences with the main objective to explore the potential of cultural landscapes as resources for social innovation in rural regions, addressing issues such as out-migration of original inhabitants, unemployment, and an overaging population. Based on an overview of landscape semantics and theoretical approaches, the paper first analyzes (cultural) landscape and social innovation as applied concepts. In a second step, both disciplinary angles mingle into a joint approach. Moving from methodologies to challenges, the authors discuss the Social Grid Model, which allows for an integrated analysis of social networks, institutions, and cognitive frames. They also delve into the Structured Democratic Dialogue as a tool for the revitalization of ‘active’ and ‘inactive’ cultural landscapes by reinforcing the role of local communities. Finally, the authors investigate how such novel ideas for the promotion of tangible and intangible heritage in rural habitats can be employed by example of two intervention regions in Greece (Koumasa) and the People’s Republic of China (Honghe Hani Rice Terraces), and as part of an orchestrated collective action. Full article

Archaeological museums play a vital role in regions with ancient roots, holding a millennial image as the cradle of civilization. In the South of Italy (former “Magna Graecia”) and particularly in Puglia—a melting pot of cultures where ancient Messapian, Byzantine, Roman, and Greek civilizations followed one another in ages, bequeathing a wealth of testimonies—institutions are disseminated across the region, and almost every small municipality has its own archaeological museum hosting a wealth of valuable objects and remains. The gradual structural changes in the role of museums over the last decades and the recent COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, with the sudden closing and subsequent re-opening of facilities, forced institutions to re-think and re-develop their communication practices everywhere. Museums across the world have since been conceiving original and effective strategies based on social media and ICTs. After framing the problem background, the article introduces an overview of good practice and virtuous examples in the museum field and a questionnaire-based focus survey on a sample of archaeological museums in Puglia in order to assess the status of local communication strategies’ implementation against the potential of modern technologies. The survey results allowed identifying a peculiar mix of “emergency” and evolutional approaches in the sample analyzed, main concerns and barriers to the adoption of digital strategies, but also specific strategic drivers for innovation in the very nature of local small institutions. The study’s outcomes offer a potential contribution to the alignment of institutions to current standards through informed policies that can be usefully shared in other similar contexts across Europe. Full article

The paper illustrates the results of a non-invasive characterisation of pigments and their mixtures in the pictorial surfaces of the wall paintings (10th century) found in the Byzantine church of Palazzo Simi in Bari (Italy). The investigation techniques included portable digital polarised microscopy, fibre optic reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). Data comparison supported the recognition of red and yellow ochres, green earth, vine black, minium and Egyptian blue. The presence of some pigment mixtures demonstrated the recurrence of specific technical expedient used by local medieval artists in order to simulate more expensive pigments, which enabled contribution to the understanding of the valuable artistic tradition of the Apulian Middle Age. Both for purposes of conservation and fruition of the site, which is not always accessible, and due to the complexity in taking suitable photographs for the representation of results, the latter was performed on orthophotos extracted from a digital photogrammetric 3D model of the whole archaeological site. By means of chromatic overlapped layers, an interactive compositional map of the pictorial surfaces was produced. Full article

This study looks at the influence of place attachment on heritage discourse in contemporary places, specifically, Byzantine mosaics in Jordan, where the Byzantine Empire left behind a rich mosaic heritage. Today, these mosaics are replicated in contemporary architectural environments. The purpose of this article is to explore the heritage discourse surrounding Byzantine mosaics in Jordanian contemporary places with a particular focus on the replication and interpretation of the mosaics in contemporary places. To do that, the relationship between the attachments to the Byzantine mosaic places, the community’s level of awareness, and the replicated heritage discourse was examined. The research was conducted using several different methods, where structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to examine the relationship between these factors. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to assess the measurement models of the latent components and examine their construct validity and reliability. In addition, the study was conducted in Madaba Archaeological Park in the Jordanian city of Madaba, known as the “city of mosaics”, which is rich in tourism and culture, as a subject of study. The results show that the phenomena of heritage replications in contemporary places rely on the expanding interest in history, which is manifested through realizing the historical value and unique features of heritage. This attachment, knowledge, and understanding of heritage sites based on socio-cultural norms help shape the discourse of heritage replication in the contemporary built environment. These findings provide an understanding of the reasons behind the replication behavior of heritage designs in contemporary places, which can be supported in future research and used to create an appropriate contemporary sense of place. In addition to the possibility of using it as a strategy for the sustainability of heritage designs in local culture and contemporary places, not only in Jordan but also in other heritage environments, finally, some useful suggestions emerge on which future research can be based. Full article

This paper focuses on the potential of an integrated approach using aerial LiDAR, aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry, terrestrial laser scanning, and archaeological survey to detect the presence and configuration of lost medieval settlements under canopy. This approach was applied to the site of Altanum (Calabria, Italy), on the hill of Sant’Eusebio, completely covered by vegetation. Altanum was a large fortified settlement characterised by a long occupation, especially during the Byzantine and Norman-Swabian periods. The activity began by carrying out a LiDAR survey of the whole hill. The acquired LiDAR data were processed and filtered in order to obtain a DFM (Digital Feature Model) useful for the identification of features of archaeological interest. Several enhancement techniques were performed on DFM to increase the visibility of archaeological features. The features thus identified were subsequently surveyed through the use of terrestrial and aerial photogrammetry integrated with laser scanning to document the visible buildings. The most significant result of the study was to create a single GIS platform with the integration of all data in order to delineate the whole settlement layout, as well as to produce 2D and 3D datasets useful for the for knowledge and protection of the identified remains. Full article

In Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, both coastal and sub-mountainous parts of Colchis underwent rapid urbanization. In the 12th century, the processes of decline began: Large settlements were replaced by small farmsteads with light wooden buildings, and the economy transformed from commodity-based to subsistence-based. What caused this decline? Was it the social and political events linked to the decline of the Byzantine Empire and changes to world trade routes, or were there other reasons? This article provides the answer. The synergy of archaeological, folkloristic, historical cartographic, climatological, seismological, and hydrological data depicts a strong link between these processes and climate change, which occurred at the turn of the 12th–13th centuries. The beginning of cooling led to a crisis in agriculture. A decline in both farming and cattle breeding could not fail to affect demography. Seismic activity, noted in the same period, led to the destruction of many buildings, including temples, and fortresses, and changes in hydrological networks, which were directly linked to climate change and caused water logging, led to a loss of the functions of coastal areas and their disappearance. Full article

This paper discusses a novel technological approach using virtual heritage technology to reflect Umm Qais heritage’s intertwining and interdependent nature that shapes its identity and value today. It developed the first model of a “virtual living museum” that brings both the tangible and intangible heritage of the site and community together into an integrated virtual environment that gives equal importance to local community narratives, traditions and history. We argue that integrating both human and digital records enriches the virtual twin of cultural heritage sites as a living and more humane experience that best represents the multi-layered and overlapping history of ancient Gadara’s archaeology and the cultural practices within Hara Fouqa and its Ottoman houses. As heritage is neither one dimensional nor frozen in time, virtual experiences must be fluid, dynamic, inclusive, integrative and open to change, reflecting living historical narratives. Full article

This paper aims to reconstruct the alluvial activity for the Lilas river, the second-largest catchment of Euboea Island (Central Western Aegean Sea), for approximately the last three and a half millennia. The middle reaches (Gides basin) exhibit several historical alluvial terraces that were first recognised in the 1980s but have remained poorly studied, resulting in uncertain chronological control of palaeofluvial activity. In order to reconstruct the past fluvial dynamics of the Lilas river, a ca. 2.5 m thick stratigraphic profile has been investigated for granulometry and magnetic parameters. Absolute dating of the sediments was possible by applying Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL). The results reveal: (i) two coarse-grained aggradational episodes dated from the Mycenaean/Early Iron Age and the Roman periods, respectively, (ii) a phase of rapid fine-grained vertical accretion corresponding to the Late Byzantine to early Venetian periods, (iii) potential evidence for final alluvial deposition from the Little Ice Age/Ottoman period, and (iv) two major incision episodes inferred from Ancient Greek times and most of the Byzantine period. Based on the published core material, the paper also evaluates the direct impacts of the Late Holocene alluviation recorded mid-stream on the fluvial system situated downstream in the deltaic area. Sediment sourcing is attempted based on the magnetic properties of the catchment lithology and of alluvium collected upstream along the main stream bed. Finally, the present paper discusses the possible links between Late Holocene hydroclimatic oscillations and the aggradational/incision phases revealed in the Gides basin. Correlations are attempted with regional palaeoclimate records obtained for the Aegean. In addition to climatic variability, anthropogenic factors are considered: specific land use for agricultural purposes, in particular during the Mycenaean period, the Roman and the Late Byzantine/Early Venetian periods, might have enhanced sediment deposition. Archaeological information and pollen records were also evaluated to reconstruct regional land-use patterns and possible impacts on soil accumulation over the last 3.5 millennia. Full article