Search Results (61)

The town of Guano, located in the province of Chimborazo, Ecuador, is a canton renowned for its concentration of cultural expressions related to traditional artisanal techniques, such as the production of garments and leather goods, tanning, textile weaving, products made from cabuya or totora reeds, and knotted rugs. These artisanal practices are embedded in a long-standing historical and symbolic framework, linked to processes of cultural transmission and identity reinterpretation. Furthermore, Guano has been a pivotal site in Ecuadorian archaeological history thanks to the studies of Jacinto Jijón y Caamaño (1927), who identified six cultural phases of the Puruhá culture through ceramic and stratigraphic analysis. The province has earned recognition as the “Cradle of Ecuadorian Nationality” due to its valuable archaeological heritage. However, much of the interpretation of this legacy has been constructed from colonial-era archaeological approaches, which have limited the understanding of the Puruhá worldview and generated interpretive shifts in the cultural attribution of its iconography. This research analyzes, from a semiotic and decolonial perspective, the semiotic codes present in the iconography of the Puruhá culture, observable in archaeological ceramic pieces and their reinterpretation in the Guano rugs, understood as living cultural artifacts. The analysis of the denotative and connotative levels of the graphic motifs integrates the iconographic study, Andean fractal design, and the examination of contemporary artisanal discourses. The results demonstrate the existence of a structured symbolic system, based on principles of duality, complementarity, cyclicality, and the tripartite division of the cosmos, as well as the persistence of patterns such as spirals and zoomorphic figures in current textile production. The study identifies that, despite this symbolic continuity, those who possess this knowledge often attribute these symbols to external cultural frameworks, primarily the Inca culture, which limits their potential as a resource for identity, culture, and tourism. In this sense, the research provides a situated and non-hegemonic interpretive framework that contributes to the cultural reinterpretation of the Guano knotted carpets, offering input for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, strengthening local identity, and designing sustainable cultural interpretation strategies. Full article

The conservation of tuff- and coral rock-built architectural heritage structures (AHS) is challenging because access to original tuff and coral rock has become difficult and severely limited due to urbanization, land reclamation, the depletion of stone quarries, anti-mining and anti-quarrying legislation. An emerging approach to address this issue is to create compatible “replacement” rocks via geopolymerization, a process that is more sustainable and greener than the use of conventional cement and concrete. To explore the potential of geopolymers for AHS conservation strategies, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were implemented; 103 eligible articles were identified and classified into geopolymers for AHS (34 articles), tuff-built AHS (60 articles), and coral rock-built AHS (9 articles). Tuff substrates in AHSs appear in a variety of colors (yellowish-brown, grayish-cream, reddish-brown, pale greenish-gray and pink hues), densities (1.0–2.5 g/m³), and compressive strengths (3–100 MPa). Meanwhile, coral rock substrates in AHSs appear in whitish-cream color and are coarse-pored (1–5 MPa), fine-grained (8–15 MPa), and calcarenite (50–60 MPa). In terms of geopolymer formulation, metakaolin was reported as the most popular main precursor or admixture, while NaOH and Na₂SiO₃ were used simultaneously as alkaline activators. Aggregates used in geopolymer formulations depended on local availability, including quartz sand, river sand, crushed stones, carbonate stones, volcanic rock, volcanic sand, tuff, brick, ceramic tiles, and waste materials. Aesthetics, chemical composition, physical attributes, and mechanical properties have been identified as key criteria to ensure geopolymer compatibility for AHS conservation application. To date, geopolymers have been applied for AHS conservation as repair mortars, consolidants (i.e., grout and adhesives), and masonry strengthening (i.e., fiber-reinforced mortar). Finally, geopolymers formulated for AHS conservation have similar durability as the original substrate based on accelerated aging tests (i.e., salt mist, wet-dry, and freeze–thaw) and long-term outdoor exposure experiments. Full article

Additive manufacturing (AM) is increasingly recognized as a critical enabler for sustainable space exploration, offering on-demand fabrication, reduced reliance on Earth-based resupply, and enhanced mission autonomy. Over the past decade, in-space AM has progressed from early polymer extrusion experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to the demonstration of multi-material capabilities involving polymers, metals, ceramics, recycling systems, and in situ resource utilization (ISRU) concepts. This review provides a comprehensive synthesis of AM technologies developed for space applications, with emphasis on demonstrated flight heritage, process behavior under microgravity and vacuum conditions, and materials validated in orbit. The paper surveys major AM process families relevant to space, including fused filament fabrication, directed energy deposition, ceramic stereolithography, bioprinting, and closed-loop recycling systems. Key ISS-based platforms—such as the Additive Manufacturing Facility, Ceramic Manufacturing Module, and Refabricator—are reviewed to assess technological maturity and system-level integration. Materials performance across polymers, metals, ceramics, and regolith-based feedstocks is discussed, highlighting the influence of microgravity, thermal transport, and environmental exposure. By comparing in-space results with terrestrial and reduced-gravity studies, this review identifies consistent trends, critical limitations, and remaining knowledge gaps, providing a structured perspective on the readiness of in-space additive manufacturing for future orbital and deep-space missions. Full article

Detecting surface potsherds using low-altitude remote sensing is challenging due to severe class imbalance and limited training data. This study develops and validates a semi-automatic detection methodology that adapts threshold-optimized boosting classifiers (AdaBoost, XGBoost) to maximize ceramic detection recall under extreme class imbalance in the Western Megaris archeological landscape, Greece. Models were trained on only 15% of the available data to simulate realistic field conditions. Evaluation emphasized recall-oriented metrics (precision, recall, F1-score, AUC) for the minority class, addressing the accuracy paradox where high overall accuracy masks poor rare-class performance. Threshold optimization enabled AdaBoost and XGBoost to achieve substantially improved recall compared to baseline methods, with detection-to-ground-truth ratios of 2.5 and 3.2, respectively, reflecting deliberate prioritization of recall over precision for exploratory survey purposes. The results demonstrate that this methodological framework provides archeologically interpretable screening tools for identifying high-probability ceramic locations, supporting more efficient field survey design and heritage documentation workflows in Mediterranean landscapes. Full article

The Church of San Juan del Hospital in Valencia (Spain) is a Gothic church whose main architectural feature—the western façade—remained unresolved, posing structural and compositional challenges. The intervention addressed this issue while preserving the historical integrity of the building and its heritage context. A systematic methodology was applied, following principles of reversibility, sustainability, and compatibility with medieval ribbed-vault construction. The project resolved five key aspects: completion of the nave’s façade, coverage of the former atrium remains, access from the north courtyard, compositional coherence of the west courtyard front, and integration of the church and museum entrances. Contemporary materials and techniques, including aluminum, recycled wood, and handmade ceramic brick, were selected to harmonize with historic stonework, ensure durability, and minimize environmental impact. Design strategies guided visual perception, emphasizing the lower façade and resolving dispersive compositional elements, while creating functional spaces for ventilation, climate control, and circulation. This intervention demonstrates how a methodical, heritage-sensitive approach can solve complex architectural problems, combining innovation with historical authenticity, and enhancing both the functionality and aesthetic experience of the Church of San Juan del Hospital. Full article

The tilework of Talavera de la Reina (Toledo, Spain) was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2019, with one of its landmarks being the tilework preserved in the Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Prado, known as the ‘Sistine Chapel of Talavera tilework’. In the entrance portico to the Basilica, we find the ceramic panel of Virgins and Tercios in front of Christ, which should be reinterpreted as two different compositions: virgins in front of Mary and tercios in front of Christ (milites Christi), on which we will focus our research. The analysis of the location and state of conservation of the pieces that currently make up this panel, as well as the existence of pieces in various areas of the Basilica, which most likely belong to each of the compositions, allow us to propose a recomposition and reintegration of elements that would enable a better view and interpretation of these panels. To this end, a scientific methodology and appropriate intervention criteria are proposed to completely recompose this panel through the restoration of all the necessary pieces. This example can be extrapolated to the rest of the altarpieces and interior panels of the Basilica, which would facilitate their proper conservation, interpretation and dissemination. Full article

Aerinite is a rare blue aluminosilicate mineral whose identification as a pigment in Pyrenean medieval artworks typically requires invasive microsampling. This study evaluates portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (pXRF) as a noninvasive screening tool for aerinite in Alto Aragón (Spain) cultural heritage. Elemental compositions of aerinite and lapis lazuli references, ceramics, polychromed capitals, and thirteenth- to fifteenth-century painted panels were measured with a Niton XL3t GOLDD+ spectrometer. Data were analyzed using log-ratio linear discriminant analysis (LDA), with silicon as an internal normalizer. Aerinite references showed Cu and Co levels below instrumental detection limits, along with Fe (6.99 ± 1.04 wt%), Al (4.91 ± 1.38 wt%), and Si (15.95 ± 1.60 wt%). High-confidence aerinite classifications were obtained for Cu-free and Co-free blue pigments in the Barbastro Chrismon, the Buira altar frontal, and other panels. Extension of the protocol to green pigments revealed that two samples—from the Saint Anthony Abbot panel and Portaspana retable—were also classified as aerinite, providing the analytical evidence for “verde de Juseu” as a naturally occurring greenish aerinite variety. Despite known pXRF limitations, this technique effectively screens candidate aerinite-containing passages for subsequent microanalytical confirmation. Full article

Portuguese ceramic tile (azulejo) production has evolved significantly since its beginnings in the 16th century. While historic tiles reflect well-established traditional techniques and styles, modern and contemporary works began to explore new aesthetic and material possibilities, introducing textures, surface effects, and experimental approaches that challenge conventional conservation methods. This study examines a contemporary Portuguese tile panel dated from 1987, featuring decorative effect glazes with crater and crazing textures, which were characterized and reproduced. Analytical techniques, including optical microscopy, micro-X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and Raman spectroscopy in microscopic mode, were employed to characterize material composition and formation mechanisms. Results showed that the crater-effect glazes were achieved with a silica-rich glaze recipe with MnO₂ and ZrO₂. The crazing effect developed in regions where unmelted crystalline silica induced internal stresses within a lead-silicate glaze, contributing to localized degradation. Experimental reproductions of the glazes, guided by analytical data, were conducted to better understand their formation and inform conservation strategies. The results provide essential insights for the technical assessment, documentation, and preservation of contemporary ceramic artworks featuring decorative effect glazes and contribute to the broader field of cultural heritage conservation. Full article

In the context of a study on selected fragments of ancient architecture belonging to a collection of the archaeological museum “Luigi Bernabò Brea” in Lipari (Aeolian Islands, Messina, Italy), we analysed, using the non-destructive X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) method, dozens of artefacts dating back to the sixth century BCE. The aim was to identify the origin of the raw materials used by craftsmen in the production of ceramic artefacts. The quantitative analyses, based on the composition and trace elements, suggest that the composition material used is consistent with local natural resources, given the presence of kaolinite–clay deposits in the northern part of Lipari. By comparing the ancient fragments with local raw kaolin powders still available today, this study aims to confirm the use of these materials in past ceramic production and decoration. These results support the hypothesis that the investigated fragments were locally manufactured, providing deeper insights into the production techniques of the time and the raw materials of the region. Full article

Street art increasingly reshapes aesthetic hierarchies by introducing previously marginalised media into the public sphere. A compelling example is the artistic practice of the Polish artist NeSpoon (Elżbieta Dymna), whose work merges the visual language of traditional lace with the communicative strategies of contemporary urban art. Active since the late 2000s, NeSpoon combines stencils, ceramic lace imprints, and large-scale murals to translate the intimacy of handcraft into the visibility of public space. Her works function as both aesthetic interventions and acts of civic pedagogy. This study employs a qualitative visual research design combining multi-site digital inquiry, iconological and semiotic analysis, and mini focus group (N = 22). Three purposefully selected cases: Łódź, Belorado, and Fundão, were examined to capture the site-specific and cultural variability of lace murals across Europe. The analysis demonstrates that lace functions as an agent of cultural negotiation and a medium of heritage literacy, understood here as embodied and place-based learning. In Łódź, it monumentalises textile memory and women’s labour embedded in the city’s industrial palimpsest. In Belorado, micro-scale responsiveness operates, strengthening the local semiosphere. In Fundão, lace enters an intermedial dialogue with azulejos, negotiating the boundary between craft and art while expanding local visual grammars. The study introduces the conceptualisation of the monumentalisation of intimacy in public art and frames heritage literacy as an embodied, dialogic, and community-oriented educational practice. Its implications extend to feminist art history, place-based pedagogy, urban cultural policy, and the preventive conservation of murals. The research elucidates how domestic craft once confined to the private interior operates in public space as a medium of memory, care, and inclusive aesthetics. Full article

The permanent historical-pharmaceutical collection at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville (Spain), offers visitors a vivid impression of what an apothecary’s shop looked like around the turn of the 19th to the 20th century. In that era, pharmacists manually prepared medicines and stored raw materials in various ceramic containers, including jars, oil cruets, burnias, and albarelos. Each year, the museum receives new donations, such as a recent set of pharmacy jars from a private collection. Most of these are albarelos, with one dating back to the 18th century and others originating from more recent ceramic workshops. During transport from Murcia to Seville, the 18th-century albarelo was accidentally broken. To preserve its historical and artistic value, we commissioned a master potter to restore the piece. Thanks to this intervention, the albarelo is now part of the museum’s exhibition and can be appreciated by students and visitors interested in cultural heritage beyond the pharmaceutical field. Full article

Many traditional ceramic techniques are inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage lists; yet, expert scarcity, long training cycles, and stylistic homogenization impede intergenerational transmission and innovation. Although large language models offer new opportunities, research tailored to ceramics remains limited. To address this gap, we first construct EvalCera, the first open-source domain large language model evaluation dataset for ceramic knowledge, image analysis, and generation, and conduct large-scale assessments of existing general large language models on ceramic tasks, revealing their limitations. We then release the first ceramics-focused training corpus for large language models and, using it, develop CeramicGPT, the first domain-specific large language model for ceramics. Finally, we built ChatCAS, a workflow multi-agent system built on CeramicGPT and GPT-4o. Experiments show that our model and agents achieve the best performance on EvalCera (A) and (B) text tasks as well as (C) image generation. The code is publicly available. Full article

To address the challenges of extensive domain expertise and deficient semantic comprehension in the digital preservation of ancient ceramics, this paper proposes a knowledge question answering (QA) system integrating Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) fine-tuning and Graph Retrieval-Augmented Generation (GraphRAG). First, textual information of ceramic images is generated using the GLM-4V-9B model. These texts are then enriched with domain literature to produce ancient ceramic QA pairs via ERNIE 4.0 Turbo, culminating in a high-quality dataset of 2143 curated question–answer groups after manual refinement. Second, LoRA fine-tuning was employed on the Qwen2.5-7B-Instruct foundation model, significantly enhancing its question-answering proficiency specifically for the ancient ceramics domain. Finally, the GraphRAG framework is integrated, combining the fine-tuned large language model with knowledge graph path analysis to augment multi-hop reasoning capabilities for complex queries. Experimental results demonstrate performance improvements of 24.08% in ROUGE-1, 34.75% in ROUGE-2, 29.78% in ROUGE-L, and 4.52% in BERTScore_F1 over the baseline model. This evidence shows that the synergistic implementation of LoRA fine-tuning and GraphRAG delivers significant performance enhancements for ceramic knowledge systems, establishing a replicable technical framework for intelligent cultural heritage knowledge services. Full article

This study prepared alkali-activated cementitious composites using high-whiteness kaolin, sodium water glass, and NaOH as the main raw materials. Multiple methods, including FE-SEM, XRD, whiteness/light transmittance tests, shrinkage rate measurements, DSC-TG, flexural strength testing, and hydrolysis resistance testing, were used to investigate the effects of curing temperature and time on material properties. The optimal parameters were determined as kaolin calcined at 1100 °C, activator modulus 1.25, calcined kaolin-to-activator ratio 1:1, and 2.5% deionized water added for molding. The optimal sample achieved a flexural strength of 23.81 MPa, with the bonding strength to porcelain 60.17 times that of gypsum and 1.90 times that of kaolin-bonded materials. Curing below 100 °C slowed polymerization, while temperatures exceeding 100 °C accelerated it, with violent reaction at 120 °C. Curing beyond 10 h reduced flexural strength. A large number of cage-like, ‘zeolite-like’ structures formed, closely relating to material properties. This study provides references for ceramic restoration materials. Full article

Immersive technologies are increasingly acknowledged as powerful tools in sustainability education, capable of fostering deeper engagement and emotional resonance. This study investigates the potential of 360° VR storytelling to enhance learning through embodied knowledge, attitudinal change, and emotional awareness. Conducted within the EMOTIONAL project, the research explores a first-person narrative told from the perspective of a ceramic object rooted in Italian cultural heritage, designed to facilitate meaningful, affective learning. The present study addresses the following research questions: RQ1 Can 360° VR story-living narrations effectively promote embodied learning and semantic and attitudinal shifts in the context of sustainability education? RQ2 What added insights can be gained from integrating subjective assessments with physiological measures? To this end, a hybrid assessment framework was developed and validated, combining subjective self-report tools (including attitudinal scales, semantic differential analysis, and engagement metrics) with objective physiological measures, specifically Electrodermal Activity (EDA). Sixty participants, including students and entrepreneurs, experienced the immersive narrative, and a subset underwent physiological tracking to evaluate the effectiveness of the experience. The findings show that immersive storytelling can enhance emotional and cognitive engagement, producing shifts in semantic interpretation, self-perceived knowledge, and attitudes toward material culture. A convergence of high emotional engagement, embodied learning, and technology acceptance was observed, although individual differences emerged based on prior experience and disciplinary background. EDA data offered complementary insights, identifying specific moments of heightened arousal during the narrative. The study demonstrates that emotionally driven immersive narratives (supported by integrated assessment methods) can make abstract sustainability values more tangible and personally resonant, thereby fostering more reflective and relational approaches to sustainable consumption and production. Full article