Search Results (374)

Archaeological sites located on the edge of growing cities often struggle to reconcile heritage protection with rapid development. To understand this tension, we examined a 50.83 km² zone around the Western Han Imperial Mausoleums in the Qin-Han New District. Using Landsat images from 1992, 2002, 2012, and 2022, this study applied supervised classification, land-use transfer matrices, and dynamic-degree analysis to trace three decades of land-use change. From 1992 to 2022, built-up land expanded by 29.85 percentage points, largely replacing farmland, which shrank by 35.64 percentage points and became fragmented. Forest cover gained a modest 5.78 percentage points and migrated eastward toward the mausoleums. Overall, urban growth followed a “spread–integrate–connect” pattern along major roads. This study interprets these trends through five interrelated drivers, including policy, planning, economy, population, and heritage protection, and proposes an integrated management model. The model links archaeological pre-assessment with land-use compatibility zoning and active community participation. Together, these measures offer a practical roadmap for balancing conservation and sustainable land management at imperial burial complexes and similar urban fringe heritage sites. Full article

This article addresses the epistemic and political problem of self-referentiality in theology within the context of post-secular societies as a demand for public relevance of faculties of theology within the 21st-century university. It focuses on the epistemological emergence of public theology as a distinct knowledge, such as human rights, and ecological thinking, contributing to the public mission of knowledge production and interdisciplinary engagement. This study applies Michel Foucault’s archaeological and genealogical methods in dialogue with Michel de Certeau’s insights into the archaeology of religious practices through a multi-layered analytical approach, including archaeology of knowledge, apparatuses of power, pastoral government, and spirituality as a genealogy of ethics. As a result of the analysis, it examines the historical conditions of possibility for the emergence of a public theology and how it needs to be thought synchronously with other formations of knowledge, allowing theology to move beyond its self-referential model of approaching dogma and the social practices derived from it. This article concludes programmatically that the development of public theology requires an epistemological reconfiguration to displace its self-referentiality through critical engagement with a public rationality framework as an essential task for the public relevance and contribution of theology within contemporary universities and plural societies. Full article

This article examines the seismic assessment and strengthening of a traditional load-bearing masonry structure subjected to strong motion data, with particular emphasis on the effects of soil–structure interaction (SSI). The case study is the Archaeological Museum of Lemnos (AML)—a three-storey building with a composite load-bearing system of timber-framed stone masonry. Over time, the structure has undergone irreversible modifications, primarily involving reinforced concrete (RC) interventions. The building’s seismic performance was evaluated using two finite element models developed in the SAP2000 software (v. 25.3.00). The first model simulates the original structure, strengthened by grout injections, while the second represents the current condition of the structural system following RC additions. Soil–structure interaction was also investigated, given that the local soil is classified as Category D according to Eurocode 8 (EC8). Each model was analyzed under two different support conditions: fixed-base and SSI-inclusive. A suite of appropriate accelerograms was applied to both models, in compliance with Eurocode 8 using the SeismoMatch software, and linear time-history analyses were conducted. The results underscore the significant impact of SSI on the increase of peak tensile stress and interstorey drift ratios (IDRs), and highlight the influence of different strengthening techniques on the seismic response of historic load-bearing masonry structures. Full article

Radiography, favoured for its ability to provide a non-invasive insight into the contents of wrapped or coffined artefacts, has revolutionised the study of mummified human and animal remains. Despite this potential, the technology is limited by its capacity to realistically visualise the surface attributes of these often-complex artefacts. In this paper, photogrammetry—a technique widely used in archaeology and heritage applications—is applied to build upon the radiographic investigation of six ancient Egyptian votive artefacts from Manchester Museum; a study which combines the two techniques for the first time on votive material from the collection. The paper showcases the results gained through clinical radiography techniques (digital X-ray and computed tomography) on the internal contents of the artefacts, highlighting the problems encountered when viewing the outer surface. With a simple on-site photogrammetry protocol, improved visualisation was possible, providing photo-realistic renderings with important potential for both research, conservation and engagement. Full article

The Laogulou Yashu Archaeological Site in Chongqing represented a significant discovery in the study of medieval Chinese urban heritage. Among its remains, the 13th century terraced building F1 stood out for its scale and function as a governmental qiaolou (gate tower). This study reconstructed the original architectural design of F1 using an archaeotectural approach that integrated archaeological evidence and Song Dynasty architectural treatises, especially Yingzao Fashi, and comparatively analysed the building with contemporaneous structures and visual references. By applying the statistical estimation of historical measurement units (chi), typological analysis based on modular standards (cai) and the interpretive modelling of structural elements, the research offered a historically grounded and dimensionally coherent reconstruction. The study not only enhanced the understanding of Southern Song governmental architecture but also contributed a replicable methodological framework for reconstructing complex historical buildings from fragmentary archaeological data. Full article

The Xixia Imperial Tombs (XITs) represent a crucial, yet still largely mysterious, component of the Tangut civilization’s legacy. Located in northwestern China, this extensive necropolis offers invaluable insights into the Tangut state, culture, and burial practices. This study employs an integrated approach utilizing multi-resolution and multi-temporal satellite remote sensing data, including Gaofen-2 (GF-2), Landsat-8 OLI, declassified GAMBIT imagery, and Google Earth, combined with deep learning techniques, to conduct a comprehensive archaeological investigation of the XITs’ burial landscape. We performed geomorphological analysis of the surrounding environment and automated identification and mapping of burial mounds and mausoleum features using YOLOv5, complemented by manual interpretation of very-high-resolution (VHR) satellite imagery. Spectral indices and image fusion techniques were applied to enhance the detection of archaeological features. Our findings demonstrated the efficacy of this combined methodology for archaeology prospect, providing valuable insights into the spatial layout, geomantic considerations, and preservation status of the XITs. Notably, the analysis of declassified GAMBIT imagery facilitated the identification of a suspected true location for the ninth imperial tomb (M9), a significant contribution to understanding Xixia history through remote sensing archaeology. This research provides a replicable framework for the detection and preservation of archaeological sites using readily available satellite data, underscoring the power of advanced remote sensing and machine learning in heritage studies. Full article

Peatland research has expanded rapidly in the last two decades encompassing a diverse, multi-disciplinary evidence base, as countries seek to manage this resource sustainably along with meeting climate and biodiversity targets. There is growing global interest in the role of peatlands in carbon and water cycles, leading to more interdisciplinary research that applies ecosystem services and other integrative frameworks to generate knowledge and provide guidance for action. These trends have been replicated in Ireland with increasing research in peatland science, applied work on these degraded ecosystems, and a growing interest from civil society, landowners, and communities in the stewardship of this resource. This paper presents evidence-based insights from over two decades of Irish peatland research, with practical lessons for peatland policy and management in other national contexts. Analyses of the evidence from the literature, specialist expertise, and stakeholder knowledge were carried out under ten themes: biodiversity, soil, climate change, water, archaeology and palaeoenvironment, technology and mapping, society and culture, management, growing media and policy and law. The research identified four foundational pillars (accountability, longevity, equity and holistic knowledge) as critical to achieving sustainable peatland management in Ireland, with broader application to other regions. Peatland restoration is widely recognised across research disciplines as a key tool to meet regulatory targets related to climate, biodiversity, and water quality, while also delivering societal benefits. The findings of this research provide accessible, reliable and up-to-date evidence for sustainable peatland management. This study addresses a critical global knowledge gap by developing a novel, interdisciplinary evidence synthesis framework—applied here to Ireland but replicable worldwide—that systematically integrates 20 years of multi-disciplinary peatland research, expert insights, and stakeholder perspectives across ten thematic pillars. Full article

Geoarchaeological work and excavations of the Helike Project over the last 30 years in the Helike coastal plain, Gulf of Corinth, have yielded abundant evidence on ancient settlements, as well as the surrounding landscape and environmental changes that resulted from geological phenomena and catastrophic events. The research methods applied by the Helike Project followed a multidisciplinary approach, including combined archaeological excavations and palaeoseismological trenching, geophysical prospection, archaeometric, environmental, and soil micromorphology analyses, and computer-based landscape modelling. A wealth of settlement remains that were unearthed across the plain, ranging in date from the Early Helladic period (3rd millennium BC) to the Late Antiquity (5th century AD), indicates that the ancient inhabitants of the area chose to always resettle in the area by adjusting their ways of living to the geomorphology and natural hazards, prevailing each time. Our results show that disasters in the area increased between the Geometric and Roman times due to severe earthquakes that occurred approximately every 300 years. In particular, archaeological and geological finds recovered from the Late Classical–Hellenistic Helike settlement, which was revived in the western part of the plain shortly after the disastrous 373 BC earthquake, have enriched our knowledge regarding the historical seismicity of the region and past human–environment relationships. Full article

Archaeological mollusk shells, such as those of Littorina obtusata/fabalis, hold valuable information about past human behavior and cultural practices. However, the original coloration of these shells, crucial for understanding their symbolic significance, is often lost due to taphonomic processes. Raman spectroscopy is a powerful technique for non-destructive analysis of archaeological samples, enabling the identification of pigments and mineralogical components. In this study, we present a methodology to predict, using Raman spectroscopy and k-means clustering, the original coloration of archaeological L. obtusata/fabalis shells which have lost their original coloration. Raman spectra were acquired from both modern shells, exhibiting a range of natural colors, and archaeological shell samples from La Chora cave (Cantabria, northern Spain). Spectral data were preprocessed to remove noise and baseline effects, and k-means clustering was applied to group the spectra based on their inherent spectral similarities. By comparing the spectral signatures of the archaeological samples with those of the modern shells within the generated clusters, we inferred the likely original coloration of the archaeological specimens. This approach provides a quantitative framework for predicting archaeological shell colors. Full article

A relatively new GelSight Max measurement instrument was applied to the microtopographies of experimental hardened clay surfaces, both with and without fingerprint (dermatoglyph) impressions, and the surface of an archaeological pottery handle fragment with a preserved fingerprint (paleodermatoglyph). The experimental clay surfaces were documented in order to determine the instrument’s ability to capture these surfaces in three-dimensions by imprinting them onto an elastomeric tactile membrane. Fingerprints on the experimental hardened clay and the archaeological pottery fragment were mathematically documented to test this instrument’s ability to capture these impressions. The surface texture measurements of the hardened clay and the pottery fragment were mathematically compared using conventional topographic characterization parameters (height and hybrid), fractal dimensions (Das) with associated coefficients of determination (R²), and multiscalar geometric characterization parameters, particularly relative area (Srel), area-scale complexity (Asfc), relative length (RL), and length-scale complexity (Lsfc). The surfaces of the experimental hardened clay with and without fingerprints and the archaeological pottery handle fragment with a fingerprint can be discriminated using some conventional height parameters, as well as some multiscale geometric topographic characterization parameters. Specifically, relative area (Srel), area-scale complexity (Asfc), relative length (RL), and length-scale complexity (Lsfc) could all discriminate between the hardened clay block with and without fingerprints and the fingerprint on the archaeological pottery handle fragment at different scales of measurement. Mean square ratios (MSRs) above 90% and 95% confidence levels indicated that the discrimination of these multiscale geometric characterizations was significant. In sum, the GelSight Max has the potential to be a valuable instrument for archaeologists studying pottery and fingerprints. Full article

In this study, a chemometrics-assisted calibration method was developed for the Z-903 SciAps handheld Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (h-LIBS) device. For this purpose, seventeen silica-based standard samples with known chemical composition were collected, pelleted, and analyzed using h-LIBS. Spectral data were pre-processed using a Whittaker filter and normalized via Standard Normal Variate (SNV). The dataset was divided into calibration and validation sets using the Kennard–Stone algorithm. Partial Least Square (PLS) regression was employed for multivariate regression analysis, and a variable selection method (i.e., Variable Importance in Projection, VIP) was applied to reduce the number of predictors. Results from the PLS-VIP approach demonstrated that this device is suitable for the quantitative measurement of nineteen chemical elements, including major and minor elements, achieving significant R² values for major elements including Na (R² = 0.91), Mg (R² = 0.95), and Si (R² = 0.89). The limits of detection reached are satisfying, being, for example, 0.24%, 0.41%, 0.43%, 1.5%, and 1.7% for Na, Al, Ca, Si, and Fe, respectively, among major elements, and 189 ppm, 165 ppm, 203 ppm, and 1 ppm for Ba, Cu, Mn, and Rb, respectively, among minor elements. Uncertainties in prediction of the element concentrations were compared with data from the literature, and the effect of another baseline pretreatment algorithm, airPLS (adaptive iteratively reweighted PLS), was also tested. The method was then applied to nine silica-based artifacts of different typologies sampled from the Archaeological Park of Tindari (Italy), including bricks from the theatre, archaeological glasses, and volcanic rocks. Full article

The dialogue between Christianity and Buddhism began during the Tang dynasty (618–907) when East Syrian Christian missionaries from Persia arrived in China in 635. At this time, Buddhism was prospering under the Tang Empire, and the “Church of the East” was established, known as the “Brilliant (or Radiant) Teaching” (Jingjiao 景教). Historical records and archaeological evidence indicate that the Jingjiao church employed the method of “matching concepts” (geyi 格義). This methodology, initially utilized in the early stages of Buddhism’s dissemination from India and Central Asia to China for the translation of Buddhist texts, was similarly applied to the translation of Christian texts and concepts. These translation efforts and dissemination activities represent the earliest documented encounters between Christianity and Buddhism in premodern times. Furthermore, recent archaeological discoveries reveal that the dialogue between the two religions in China transpired through textual and visual representations (iconography) in the form of “borrowing pictures”. This study investigates these interactions across disciplines, exploring the evidence of early cultural exchange between Buddhism and Christianity while reviewing the motivations behind the missionaries’ translation and dissemination activities. It addresses pivotal questions regarding these early dialogues by examining the proselytization strategies employed and analyzing the reasons why imperial authorities sanctioned Christian activities and facilitated their propagation during the Tang dynasty. Full article

Archaeological sites may be damaged by natural phenomena related to climatic phenomena, such as wind, rain, and solar radiation. These phenomena are particularly intense in tropical areas subjected to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. In these areas, the evaluation of the climatic vulnerability of archaeological sites represents a priority. El Mirador de Lambayeque Archaeological Complex (8th to 11th century CE) is located on the northern coast of Peru, an area exposed to intense rain and wind due to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation and solar radiation. A 16 cm resolution digital surface model (DSM) of the site was obtained from photogrammetric data. Selected morphometric parameters were extracted from this DSM with the aim of identifying the areas exposed to water flow or stagnation during rain, wind, and solar radiation. These parameters were elaborated with object-based image analyses and fuzzy logic methods to determine the climatic vulnerability of the archaeological site to these different phenomena. An estimate of the total vulnerability is also presented, along with an evaluation of the areas exposed to erosion and deposition due to long-term diffusive processes. The analytical approach applied to El Mirador de Lambayeque Archaeological Complex may be extended to other archaeological sites. Full article

Ground-based ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has been applied successfully for decades in archaeological geophysics. However, there are sometimes severe problems arising in cases of rough terrain, permission to enter a site, or due to vegetation. Other issues may also make it impossible to use conventional ground-based GPR. Therefore, mounting the GPR antenna below a drone could be a potential alternative. Successful applications of drone-based GPR have already been reported, e.g., in the fields of geological mapping, glaciology, and UXO-detection. However, it is not clear whether faint archaeological remains can also be mapped using this approach. In the survey discussed below, we tested such a drone-based GPR setup at an archaeological site in Bavaria, where well-preserved Roman foundations at a shallow depth are known from previous geophysical surveys with magnetics and ground-based GPR. The aim was to evaluate the possibilities and problems arising with this new approach through a comparison with the afore-mentioned data, obtained in previous ground-based surveys of this site. The results show that under certain circumstances, the archaeological remains can be resolved while using a drone. However, the remains are much harder to detect with a lower degree of resolution and survey setup and acquisition time play a crucial role for a successful survey. Especially relevant are two factors: First, the correct choice of profile orientation, as there are strong reflections caused by near-surface features (like field boundaries) due to decoupling the antenna from the ground. Second, a very dry soil is mandatory, as otherwise too much signal is lost at the air-ground-interface. Considering these factors, drone-based GPR represents a valuable tool for modern archaeological geophysics. Full article

The conservation and monitoring of archaeological sites submerged in water reservoirs have become increasingly necessary in a climatic context where water management policies are possibly accelerating erosion and sedimentation processes. This study assesses the potential of using multitemporal LiDAR data and Machine Learning (ML)—specifically the XGBoost algorithm—to predict erosional and sedimentary processes affecting archaeological sites in the Valdecañas Reservoir (Spain). Using data from 2010 to 2023, topographic variations were calculated through a robust workflow that included the co-registration of LiDAR point clouds and the generation of high-resolution DEMs. Hydrological variables, topographic descriptors, and water dynamics-related factors were extracted and used to train models based on the detected measurement errors and the temporal ranges of the DEMs. The model trained with 2018–2023 data exhibited the highest predictive performance (R² = 0.685), suggesting that sedimentary and erosional patterns are partially predictable. Finally, a multicriteria approach was applied using a DEM generated from 1957 aerial photographs to estimate past variations based on historical terrain conditions. The results indicate that areas exposed to fluctuating water levels and different topographic orientations suffer greater damage. This study highlights the value of LiDAR and ML in assessing the vulnerability of archaeological sites in highly dynamic environments. Full article