Search Results (52)

Studies of prehistoric burials are fundamental for understanding cultural human evolution. Those found in the San Teodoro cave (northeastern Sicily) are significant for the discovery at the turn of the 1930s and 1940s of at least four individuals (ST1–ST4). About 15–16 kyr ago, the bodies of ST1–ST4 were intentionally buried, apparently in a manner original to the context of prehistoric burials, namely by covering them with a continuous layer of red ochre found to connect the graves. Since the earliest excavations, plagued by clandestine digging, there is no material memory of the stratigraphic transition from the burial layer to the subsequent anthropogenic deposit through the red ochre, and nothing certain is known about the orientation of ST3, the presence of grave goods and the ochre cover related to this burial. Moreover, there is no exhaustive knowledge of how much is actually left of the anthropogenic layers described in the old literature. Based on field observations and 3D reconstruction of ST3’s skull position and deposits at the San Teodoro site, we provide insights into anthropological issues, such as the rediscovery of the red ochre vestiges that reasonably covered the ST3 burial, and the burial context of this individual, and shed light on what actually remains of the stratigraphic units described in the 1940s. Full article

For decades, in historical research, archeological vestiges have been linked with geomancy and cults of the mythical ancestors of a group of the population. This is particularly true in Eastern Asia and especially in China, Korea, and Japan. A fundamental problem of Japanese archeology is that few of the remnants were realized in stone. One of the most important parts of archeological sciences is the study of Necropolises or ancient interments. From the 1970s onwards, in the relatively “new” and promising land of Hokkaido, cemeteries were built with the concept of landscape in mind; this is also due to the lavish vegetation features of this northernmost island of Japan. In the case of the Takino cemetery on the plains of Sapporo, Hokkaido, whose construction began in 1982, solemnity and religiousness were incorporated by producing exact stone replicas of famous funerary landmarks from antiquity as such materials were inexistent in the Nipponese Isles. This trend to grant eternity included traditional Buddhist funereal monuments like the Stupa, Seokguram grotto, and Kamakura sites, but at a certain and exuberant point, under the influence of Isamu Noguchi, it reached Stonehenge in England and the Moai from Easter Island in Polynesia (being after all located in a remote isle of the Pacific Ocean). In this article we will outline such process of generation and overall conception, analyzing the inclusion and architectural assembly of the different compounds and the recent and extraordinary additions projected and built by the celebrity architect Tadao Ando. We expect, in this manner, to facilitate the comprehension of the significance of venerable landscape sublimated through archeology for the Nipponese modern civilization. Full article

In the Betic-Rif Cordilleras, recent works have evidenced the existence of well-developed Eocene (Ypresian-Bartonian) carbonate platforms rich in Larger Benthic Foraminifera (LBF). Contrarily to other sectors of the western Tethys, like the Pyrenean domain in the North Iberian Margin, where these platforms started in the early Ypresian (Ilerdian), in the Betic-Rif chains, the recorded Eocene platforms started in the late Ypresian (Cuisian) after a widespread gap of sedimentation including the Ilerdian time span. In this work, the Aspe-Terreros Prebetic section (External Betic Zone) is studied. An Eocene succession with gravity flow deposits consisting of terrigenous and bioclastic turbidites, as well as olistostromes with olistoliths, was detected. In one of these turbidites, we dated (with the inherent limitations when dating bioclasts contained by gravity flow deposits) the middle Ilerdian, on the basis of LBF, representing a vestige of a missing Illerdian carbonate platform. The microfacies of these turbidites and olistoliths rich in LBF have been described and documented in detail. The gap in the sedimentary record and absence of Ilerdian platforms in the Betic-Rif Cordillera have been related to the so-called Eo-Alpine tectonics (Cretaceous to Paleogene) and sea-level variations contemporarily with the establishment of shallow marine realms in the margins of the western Tethys. Full article

Confucian values are widely recognized as integral to traditional Korean culture. However, some aspects of this culture were significantly altered during Japanese colonial rule. This study explored how Japanese colonial policies reshaped Korean Confucianism and their lasting impacts on contemporary practices. It employed a historical analysis of colonial regulations, newspaper articles, and primary historical documents. This approach helped to trace the changes in Confucian practices and ideologies during and after the colonial period. The study found that Japanese authorities utilized Confucian values, such as loyalty and filial piety, to promote assimilation into the imperial state, redirecting these concepts toward the Japanese emperor and government. Efforts to democratize Confucianism included repurposing traditional sites for non-traditional uses, which were parts of a broader strategy to embed imperial ideology in Korean society. Despite Korea’s liberation, some aspects of this altered Confucianism continued to influence Korean politics and society. Understanding the transformation of Korean Confucianism during the colonial era is crucial for grasping the evolution of contemporary Confucian practices in Korea. This study provides insight into the origins and motivations behind cultural practices that are often misinterpreted as “traditional”. Full article

For past societies on the Iberian Peninsula, one of the most prolific architectures was earthen construction, with a wealth of typologies and solutions derived from the legacy of local construction and materials. However, its study within the field of archaeology has been limited. The challenges posed by conservation, archaeological identification and social recognition have traditionally limited the dissemination of this type of architecture. Its low profile is perceived as fragile once the original protections collapse. The ethnological information preserved and linked to past ways of life and societies is crucial to the interpretation of the cultural development handed down over generations by different communities and now transmitted to the general public through archaeological sites. This research aims to provide an overview of the main earthen vestiges from domestic, productive and funerary architecture dating from the prehistoric, protohistoric, Roman and medieval periods. For this, a bibliographical review and data collection through fieldwork were conducted for numerous case studies. These included the classification of materials, compositions and construction techniques, creating an integrated comprehensive database with information on geography, measurements and the general state of conservation. Full article

The research area of the interaction between religion, politics, and medieval Hispanic art has been pioneering and at the cutting edge of contemporary historiography in recent years. The deployment of iconographic and calligraphic motifs in medieval religious spaces has been identified as a key means of propagating legitimating messages of power and disseminating Christian doctrines. This interdisciplinary study proposes an analysis of the artistic vestiges present in the refectory of the Monastery of San Salvador de Oña (Burgos), with a view to establishing their decorative evolution during the 14th century and their symbolic significance. In order to establish a chronological proposal for the remains, the historical, artistic, and architectural contexts of the monastery are analyzed. This is complemented by a study of materials and techniques and a symbolic and iconographic analysis of the signs of power and evangelical concepts from the time of Pedro I until the transition to the Trastámara dynasty. In this way, a cross-disciplinary investigation is proposed, with the aim of elucidating how a sacred artistic work situated within a secular context can serve multiple purposes of political and religious legitimation through the adaptation of its iconography over time. Full article

Genesis 3:16b has traditionally been interpreted as proof of woman’s inferiority, her nefarious powers of seduction, and as a license for men to rule and master her. Such an interpretation seems to have a much greater affinity with the Hellenistic context from which it arose than with its immediate Hebraic and Ancient Near Eastern context. If we are to remain faithful to this context—where woman was held in high esteem—we need more than ever to approach Genesis 3:16b with a lens that does not do violence to the woman. This article seeks to offer a new exegetical lens on Genesis 3:16b, as a redemptive rather than a punitive moment. This will entail that the two key concepts “rule” (mashal) and “loving intention” (teshuqah) be re-interpreted, in the light of its Ancient Near Eastern context, as containing vestiges of the sacred marriage trope figuring in Sumerian cultic texts, notably the Courtship of Inanna and Dumuzi. The parallels between our story and the Courtship will reveal some stunning parallels, enabling us to illuminate a radically new understanding of Genesis 3:16b as a sacred marriage scene, with the woman enabling the uplifting of man, inaugurating his reign as the king of the land, rather than finding herself dominated by him and a victim of his power over her. Full article

The origin of life is associated with the existing environmental factors of the Precambrian Era of the Earth. The minerals rich in sodium silicates, in aluminum and in other chemical elements, such as kaolinite, were among the factors present at that time. Kaolinite is an abundant mineral on our planet, which indicates that it possibly had an essential role in the origin of the first blocks that constructed life on Earth. Evidence of this is the cherts, which are rocks with a high concentration of silica that retain the vestiges of the most ancient life on our planet. There are also inorganic structures called biomorphs that are like the cherts of the Precambrian, which take on a morphology and crystalline structure depending on the chemical molecules that make up the reaction mixture. To evaluate the interaction of kaolinite with DNA, the objective of this work is to synthesize biomorphs in the presence of kaolinite and genomic DNA that comes from a prokaryote and a eukaryote microorganism. Our results show that the difference between the prokaryote DNA and the eukaryote DNA favors the morphology and the crystalline phase of the calcium silica–carbonate biomorphs, while in the case of the barium silica–carbonate biomorphs, the environmental factors participate directly in the morphology but not in the crystalline phase. Results show that when a mineral such as kaolinite is present in genomic DNA, it is precisely the DNA that controls both the morphology and the crystalline phase as well as the chemical composition of the structure. This fact is relevant as it shows that, independently of the morphology or the of size of the organism, it is the genomic DNA that controls all the chemical elements toward the most stable structure, therefore allowing the perpetuation, conservation and maintenance of life on our planet (since the origin of the genomic DNA in the Precambrian Era to the present day). Full article

Biological matrices are typically used in forensic toxicological or pharmacological analysis: mainly blood, vitreous humor or urine. However, there are many cases in which crimes are a consequence of drug intoxication or drug abuse and they are not closed because over the months or years the samples become altered or decomposed. A dried blood stains test (DBS-MS) has recently been proposed to be used in drug toxicology when blood is found at a crime scene. This test could help an investigator to reveal what a person had consumed before the perpetration of the crime. In order to check the possibilities of this test, we analyzed several dried blood stains located on a cotton fabric. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine if the analysis of a dried blood spot located on a cotton fabric could be an alternate source of obtaining toxicological results, particularly regarding benzodiazepines. We splashed blood stains on cotton fabric with different concentrations of the following benzodiazepines: alprazolam, bromazepam, clonazepam, diazepam and lorazepam, which were dried for 96 h and subsequently quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Our results show that it is possible to identify several benzodiazepines contained in a cotton fabric blood stain; consequently, this method may add another sample option to the toxicological analysis of biological vestiges found at a crime scene. Full article

The Sansalvador villa, the first project exclusively designed by Josep Maria Jujol in Barcelona, is a unique architectural complex that piques curiosity about its origins and conception. Its incomplete state, limited documentation, and blend of modernist and organic elements contribute to its exceptional nature. This article delves into its history and conceptualization by examining original documents and conducting a detailed photogrammetric survey of the built architectural complex as it is today. By overlaying new planimetry derived from fieldwork onto the original plans, certain peculiarities, discrepancies, and unforeseen changes emerge, shedding light on Jujol’s creative process. The Sansalvador villa reveals the profound connection between the project and its surroundings, showcasing Jujol’s keen awareness of the site’s pre-existing conditions. His architecture is defined by a critical approach to these conditions, integrating them as essential elements in defining the project’s character. Full article

Agricultural heritage includes both material and immaterial vestiges of past agricultural practices that are directly tied to human agriculture. It holds great ecological, cultural, commercial, and tourism value. There are not many historical sites available for developing agricultural heritage tourism right now, and no experience is ideal. This study used sophisticated PLS-SEM techniques and SmartPLS 3.3.9 software to carefully examine data, examine measurement and structural models, rigorously test hypotheses, determine the validity and reliability of the findings, and investigate potential moderating effects. To address the critical issue of brand loyalty in agricultural heritage tourism, this study developed and tested a comprehensive impact route, which was supported by an examination of 427 visitors’ cultural memories and brand experiences, demonstrating their critical role in influencing brand loyalty. The findings show the importance of cultural memory in shaping travelers’ brand experiences and loyalty. Furthermore, due to their unique characteristics, various groups react differently to each phase of the brand loyalty effect route. Full article

The evolution of the translation system is a fundamental issue in the quest for the origin of life. A feasible evolutionary scenario necessitates the autonomous emergence of a protoribosome capable of catalyzing the synthesis of the initial peptides. The peptidyl transferase center (PTC) region in the modern ribosomal large subunit is believed to retain a vestige of such a prebiotic non-coded protoribosome, which would have self-assembled from random RNA chains, catalyzed peptide bond formation between arbitrary amino acids, and produced short peptides. Recently, three research groups experimentally demonstrated that several distinct dimeric constructs of protoribosome analogues, derived predicated on the approximate 2-fold rotational symmetry inherent in the PTC region, possess the ability to spontaneously fold, dimerize, and catalyze the formation of peptide bonds and of short peptides. These dimers are examined, aiming at retrieving information concerned with the characteristics of a prebiotic protoribosome. The analysis suggests preconditions for the laboratory re-creation of credible protoribosome analogues, including the preference of a heterodimer protoribosome, contradicting the common belief in the precedence of homodimers. Additionally, it derives a dynamic process which possibly played a role in the spontaneous production of the first bio-catalyzed peptides in the prebiotic world. Full article

Forensic soil analysis is crucial in criminal investigations, necessitating robust analytical methodologies for an accurate discrimination of soil types and origins. This study explored the discrimination efficiency of thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetric analyses of Inceptisol, reddish Oxisol, and yellowish Oxisol soils from Brazil’s Cerrado region. Ninety air-dried soil samples collected at various locations underwent thermal analysis, focusing on mass loss of gibbsite, goethite, and kaolinite at specific temperatures. The log-transformed data were submitted to principal component analysis, nonmetric multidimensional scaling, and cluster analysis. The thermogravimetry emerged as a highly discriminatory tool, effectively delineating between soil types, and even detecting spatial variations. In contrast, the differential scanning calorimetry exhibited limited discriminatory power. The findings underscore the thermogravimetric potential as a valuable technique in soil forensics, providing critical insights into composition and spatial variations essential for criminal investigations. This study highlights the need for further research to explore synergies with complementary techniques, aiming to enhance forensic discrimination across diverse soil types and geographic contexts. The objective representation of results in this abstract emphasizes the significance of thermogravimetry in advancing forensic analysis of soil vestiges. Full article

The interplay of various enzymes and compounds gives rise to the intricate secondary metabolic networks observed today. However, the current understanding of their formation and expansion remains limited. BAHD acyltransferases play important roles in the biosynthesis of numerous significant secondary metabolites. In plants, they are widely distributed and exhibit a diverse range of activities. Among them, rosmarinic acid synthase (RAS) and hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:shikimate/quinate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT) have gained significant recognition and have been extensively investigated as prominent members of the BAHD acyltransferase family. Here, we conducted a comprehensive study on a unique group of RAS homologous enzymes in Mentha longifolia that display both catalytic activities and molecular features similar to HCT and Lamiaceae RAS. Subsequent phylogenetic and comparative genome analyses revealed their derivation from expansion events within the HCT gene family, indicating their potential as collateral branches along the evolutionary trajectory, leading to Lamiaceae RAS while still retaining certain ancestral vestiges. This discovery provides more detailed insights into the evolution from HCT to RAS. Our collective findings indicate that gene duplication is the driving force behind the observed evolutionary pattern in plant-specialized enzymes, which probably originated from ancestral enzyme promiscuity and were subsequently shaped by principles of biological adaptation. Full article

The Berber and Arab conquest of the Iberian Peninsula in 711 C.E. led to a profound transformation of the agricultural landscape. The layout of the irrigated areas, both rural and urban, is recognisable because it is the result of social and technological choices. But irrigated agriculture was not the only option in Al-Andalus. Rainfed agriculture is supposed to have been the main form of agriculture in large areas of the centre and west of the peninsula, although the field systems have been scarcely identified. In regions where irrigation was the preferred option, rainfed crops were complementary. In regions where dry farming was the only possible agriculture, there were settlement networks linked to livestock breeding and to droveways and pasture areas. The original selections made by the Berber and Arab farmers can still be recognized despite the expansion that has mainly taken place since modern times. However, the more recent and destructive capitalist agriculture is erasing the last vestiges of the Andalusi agricultural landscape. Full article