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Structured-light scanning is a fast and efficient technique for the acquisition of 3D point clouds. However, the extensive and daily application of this class of scanners can be challenging because of the technical know-how necessary to validate the low-cost instrumentation. This challenge is worth accepting because of the large amount of data that can be collected accurately with the aid of specific technical protocols. This work is a preliminary study of the development of an acquisition protocol for anthropological remains performing tests in two opposite and extreme contexts: one characterised by a dark environment and one located in an open area and characterised by a very bright environment. This second context showed the influence of sunlight in the acquisition process, resulting in a colourless point cloud. It is a first step towards the development of a technical protocol for the acquisition of anthropological remains, based on the research of limits and problems associated with an instrument.

This article intends to highlight and reconstruct the relationships between humans (harvesters, woodworkers and master artisans) and non-humans (raw materials, tools, places, products, etc.) in the Barniz de Pasto mopa-mopa tradition. These relationships were lost when the focus came to be primarily on the objects, as happens in most popular art forms worldwide. This text is organised in ethnographic overviews: the home workshops of masters of Barniz de Pasto; woodworker workshops; montañas-selvas (Andean rainforest highlands) and mopa-mopa harvesters; until we reach the objects. Unlike a conventional article, it does not end with firm and immutable conclusions. Our reflections from our eleven years (2013–2024) of accompanying men and women artisans and collectors, during the process of including the traditional knowledge and techniques associated with Barniz de Pasto mopa-mopa as Intangible Cultural Heritage (patrimonialización) and its safeguarding, are always open for discussion.

Vernacular architecture offers valuable technological and typological solutions rooted in knowledge systems that connect environmental, social, economic, and cultural contexts. This paper introduces the Heritage for People Platform, a collaborative digital tool developed under the VerSus+ project (Creative Europe Program), aimed at organising and disseminating vernacular architectural knowledge with a focus on sustainable practices that are both culturally and environmentally conscious. The platform builds upon lessons learned from similar projects, offering key improvements such as the adoption of a Case-Based Reasoning methodology, which organises examples by geographic location, materials, and intervention types. A structured classification system based on sustainability principles and strategies enables cross-disciplinary research and comparison. The design process was highly participatory, incorporating user feedback at every stage to ensure the platform is accessible to a wide range of users, including designers, scholars, craftspeople, and the general public. A cross-device, user-centered approach further broadens its accessibility. The platform provides a public, web-based geospatial repository where users can create, update, and explore a dynamic collection of artefacts, design models, people, and institutions from across the globe. This tool marks a significant advance in promoting and preserving both physical and intangible heritage, with strong educational and practical applications for sustainable architecture. The paper details the theoretical framework and real-world potential of the platform as a critical resource for promoting sustainability in the built environment.

A group of wall painting fragments discovered at Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa, an important Roman archeological site located in the former Roman province of Dacia (Romania), have been investigated with the aim of defining the material composition of their pictorial layers and exploring the pictorial technology used. In order to preserve the integrity of the murals and minimize sampling, an array of non- and micro-invasive techniques has been employed, including X-ray fluorescence, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and hyperspectral imaging. In accordance with previous studies, the identified color palette was mainly based on iron-rich earth pigments (red and yellow ochres, green earth) and carbon-based blacks (soot/charcoal, bone black). Egyptian blue, lazurite, some lead-based pigments, and potentially indigo were also identified (in complex mixtures) on the uppermost paint layers, typically applied a secco over the a fresco background. The presence of expensive pigments and the existence of a red preparatory drawing, documented for the first time in the region, indicate that the original wall paintings had elaborate schemes and, secondly, reflect the patron’s wealth and social status. Hyperspectral imaging was able to retrieve some faded paint layers in certain cases, helping to recover lost decorative details, an indicator of a more complex polychromy compared to what we see today. The obtained results add important contributions to the limited corpus of data regarding the technical know-how of decorative polychrome painting on plaster found in Roman archeological sites in Romania.

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.

The Sorrento Peninsula is characterized by a significant occurrence of examples of vernacular architecture, which exhibit distinctive morphological and constructive features. These have been the subject of numerous studies. However, some buildings have undergone a process of transformation over time, the details of which have yet to be investigated. Architectures that initially held a rural character were enlarged and ennobled, thereby becoming what could be termed as “villas of delights”. However, these clearly manifest their origin based on the permanence of some vernacular features. This paper focuses on the analysis of a case study, Villa Murat, which is exemplary in illustrating this process. This thorough interdisciplinary research combines historical investigation, based mainly on archival documents, with a direct examination of the Villa. This has enabled the retracing of the building’s evolution and of the events that occurred in it. An integrated survey, which employed photogrammetry and laser scanning, enabled the assessment of the current state of conservation. The ultimate objective of this research is to propose conservative interventions which, in conjunction with the suggested new intended use, could ensure the preservation of the Villa.

A country’s development is crucially determined by its cultural and natural heritage, and it is reflected in its industrial structure and its success in the global marketplace. The present paper looks at the global performance of tourism, comparing its performance measured by the Normalised Revealed Comparative Advantage (NRCA) index to the components of natural and cultural heritage, analysing 117 countries of the world. Natural and cultural heritage indicators were derived from the tourism competitiveness reports of the World Economic Forum for the years 2011–2013–2015–2017–2019–2022. Panel regression analysis was applied, with NRCA as the dependent variable and eight indicators of natural and cultural heritage as independent variables, comparing regions of the world. The main findings show considerably differing patterns between regions; Europe and Eurasia being similar to the Americas, with decreasing competitive advantage associated with more focus on endangered species and observance of environmental treaties, while the Middle East and North Africa show a strongly opposite pattern. Cultural heritage has a positive impact only in Sub-Saharan Africa, while Asia and the Pacific benefit mainly from the increase of protected areas and abundance of species. These differences shed light on differences in tourism competitiveness in the global market and may guide policymakers towards utilising heritage items for improving tourism performance.

This article discusses collaborative ethnography as a meaningful source for spatial research, in particular, for participatory methodologies in urban planning and placemaking processes. It investigates the experiences with co-creation and co-research in different research projects to gain insight into the performance of collaborative ethnography as a technique to explore and enrich local knowledge. To better understand the possible causal relationships between the experience gained in the projects and the learnt lessons, we also identify recommendations for improving research methodologies to be applied in placemaking. This article concludes that collaborative ethnography is an effective tool for adding value to spatial co-research and co-creation processes. It opens opportunities for the co-production of space, ideas and knowledge, contributing at the same time to better informed decision-making. It also helps improve ideas and gather insights into the spatial needs of focus groups.

We contacted Steven Vertovec in the fall of 2023 to invite him to participate in this Special Issue on systemic approaches when adopted by researchers, particularly anthropologists, in the context of their work on migration issues in the era of super-diversity [...]

In recent years, interest in the usage of computer-based methods in archaeology, especially regarding field documentation, has grown significantly. In 2021, Göttlich et al. presented a new large-scale three-dimensional (3D) capture method for the documentation of pottery using structure from motion. This method, however, was only tested on a very small sample set and never truly conducted in a large-scale documentation surrounding. Consequently, we decided to test this workflow on a large-scale basis during three field campaigns (March 2022, November 2022, and March 2023) in Lebanon, documenting more than 4,000 sherds in total. In this article, I will present the results and observations of these campaigns, critically discuss the workflow involved (documentation and processing), and propose a refined workflow for this methodology. This article focuses solely on the relevant documentation and 3D processing.

The paper reports on the materials of the settlement of Tal I located on the Endyr River, left tributary of the Ob River. Remains of two medieval dwellings, which appeared at different times, have been discovered at the settlement, and also data have been obtained on episodical visits to this place in the Early Iron Age. The burnedout dwellings overlapped each other but they had common features: they were lit and heated by open hearths, whilst the bases of the walls were strengthened with split blocks, of which the grooves have preserved along the perimeter of the pits. The main collection of finds is associated with the early dwelling, which dates to the Kintus stage of the Middle Ages (late 11th — 12th c.). To this time belongs the pottery of the Kintus period (Rachyevo type), cult ceramic piece of plastic arts, crucibles and smelting ladles for working with non-ferrous metals, some items made of iron and non-ferrous metals, animal bones, and other artefacts. To the Medieval period also belong iron slags and clay coating of bloomery furnaces, indicating work of loop-blacksmiths. Therefore, there is no basis for classifying the studied settlement as one of seasonal hunting-fishing sites. The settlement of Tal I was incorporated in a medieval principality (chiefdom) with the centre in the town of Emder (Western Siberia, Lower Ob River basin). From the written sources, it is known that it lost its independence by the end of the 16th century, before the territory was annexed by the Muscovite state, becoming part of the Koda principality as the tributary Emdyrskaya Volost.

The article summarizes the results of the study of the macrotoponyms ‘Zhetysu’ and ‘Semirechye’ (South-Eastern Kazakhstan) widely used in archaeological science and oriental studies since the second half of the 19th century up until the present time. The aim of the study is to advance the research on the clarification of the toponyms ‘Zhetysu’ and ‘Semirechye’ and to propose their proper use in the archaeological science. In this paper, we expand the range of the sources in order to verify the main provisions of the previous study on the materials of Kazakh folklore and literature of the 19th — early 20th c. The results of the focused study are the following: the term ‘Zhetysu’ originated in the end of the 18th — beginning of the 19th century, before its Russian translation as ‘Semirechye’. Initially, ‘Zhetysu’ denoted difficult sections of caravan roads in the north and south-east of Kazakhstan, along which Russia’s international trade with Middle Asia and China was carried out. The toponym ‘Semirechye’ appeared around 1825 and was first used as a geographical name of the Southern Balkhash region, and after the creation of the Semirechenskaya Oblast (1867) it designated its administrative-territorial boundaries. In the latter meaning, the toponym was used until the 1930s. Since the 1930s, A.N. Bernshtam, breaking with the historiographic tradition, introduced into scientific discourse an erroneously extended meaning of ‘Semirechye’, which includes the Chu-Talas interfluve. In the Kazakh folklore, the toponym ‘Zhetysu’ appeared not earlier than the last third of the 19th century, as the Kazakh translation of ‘Semirechye’ after creation of the Semirechenskaya Oblast. The lack of understanding by Kazakh authors of the concrete territorial boundaries of ‘Zhetysu’ makes the synonymous replacement of the toponym ‘Semirechye’ incorrect. The current administrative region of Zhetysu occupies a part of Semirechye, i.e., South-Eastern Kazakhstan, that includes only the territory north of the Ili River.

Based on paleogenetic analysis of anthropological remains from Denisova Cave in Altai Mountains, a previously unknown population of fossil people, the Denisovans, was discovered, and a complex picture of their interaction with Neanderthals was established. Currently, 17 skeletal remains of Paleolithic hominins discovered in the cave have been identified, and fragments of ancient human DNA have been isolated from its Pleistocene deposits. This work is devoted to the characteristics of the Denisova Cave inhabitants based on a comprehensive analysis of currently known paleoanthropological and paleogenetic data. We show that the oldest human remains in Altai were found in the basal deposits of the Denisova Cave. They belong to the Denisovans, hominins that share a common ancestor with Neanderthals but a different population history. The lower culture-bearing layers with finds from the initial stage of the Middle Paleolithic contain fragments of genomes that differ from the Denisovan genomes from the overlying sediments, indicating the existence of two different populations of Denisovans. The earliest evidence of the appearance of Neanderthals in Altai was also found in Denisova Cave. A complete genome sequence was isolated from the phalanx of the foot, which received the conditional name Altai Neanderthal. Between the populations of Neanderthals and Denisovans in Altai, there was a regular exchange of genetic material.

The problem of estimating age-at-death structures using different methods is examined through the medieval skeletal sample from Staraya Ladoga. A comparative analysis of age estimates obtained using traditional age determination methods and a new method proposed by a group of British and American researchers, Transition Analysis 3 (TA3), was carried out. The skeletal distributions were compared with those based on data from preindustrial societies. The age-at-death distributions under TA3 showed significant similarity to data from Russia in the second half of the 19th century. The average age of death estimated within the traditional approach was 24,6 years, and among those who died older than 15 years, it was 41,1 years. The adjusted estimates from TA3 were 27,7 and 48,4 years, respectively. Employing the regression model proposed by J.P. Bocquet-Appel, a rough estimate of the life expectancy (e0) of medieval inhabitants of Staraya Ladoga was derived, considering the juvenility index and the estimated rate of natural increase. The most likely value of the e0 is in the range of 22–30 years.

A previously unpublished document is presented, containing information about the subsistence activities of the inhabitants of the Middle Ob River basin, which was prepared in 1805 by a Surgut private commissar. The document was intended for the completion of a gubernatorial report to the Minister of Internal Affairs. It is interesting as one of the early experiences of characterising economic activities of the Russian and indigenous populations of North-West Siberia by local officials, as well as due to the lack of documents comparable with this one in terms of the content for the period from 1740 to 1881 for the respective region. Active involvement of administrators of the district and provincial levels in the collation of systematic information about the territorial and ethnic diversity is considered as a process of the formation of a new model of self-cognition by the Empire and collection of information by the centre for making managemental decisions. It replaced the practice of retrieving the information from foreign travellers and members of academic expeditions. The source being published is subjected to critical historical-ethnographic analysis from the point of view of completeness, relevance, and uniqueness of the data contained, and it is annotated. The discovered document contains little-known information about the consumption by the indigenous inhabitants of the Middle Ob of Calla palustris root, which they called ‘kas’ (‘khas’), as an alternative staple food when there was a shortage of fish and bread.

In the paper, the food of the Tomsk group of the Siberian Tatars of the 17th–18th centuries, settled in the Tomsk Ob River basin (Western Siberia), is analysed. The aim of the research is to determine and characterise ethno-cultural processes in the food of the Siberian Tatars of the 17th–18th centuries and to identify the role of these processes in the increase of the proportion of common phenomena in the material culture of the Tomsk Tatars as a result of their interaction, first of all, with the Russians. The research sources are represented by the materials and information about food complexes and composition of food dishes of the Tomsk Tatars from the works of travellers and scientists of the 17th–18th centuries, as well as by the results of archaeological and ethnographic studies on the economy and material culture of the Siberian Tatars, and materials on ethnography of the Russians of Siberia in the 17th–18th centuries. The method of socio-historical analysis, historical-comparative method, and, in some cases, the method of quantitative analysis have been employed in the paper. The work contains descriptions of the food products consumed by the Tomsk Tatars in the 17th–18th centuries: fish, meat, vegetables, and imported products (salt, spices, cereals and others), as well as the methods of stockpiling and processing of foodstuff, preparing food dishes and consuming them, and also a description of household utensils intended for the food preparation and consumption. In addition to the results of the comprehensive characterisation of the food culture of the Tomsk group of the Siberian Tatars, conclusions have been drawn on the changes in this area of the material culture and on the ethno-cultural processes in the food of the Tomsk Tatars.

The paper concerns the analysis of the patterns and peculiarities of the settlement of ethnic groups in the territory of the Altai Republic and identification of cultural landscapes formed by these groups. The main source of information was represented by the results of the 2021 Russian Census. The use of interviewing and literature analysis allowed the verification of some data of the Census related to the ethnic identity of the residents in the region. In particular, some inaccuracies and discrepancies in the assignment of the population to specific subethnic groups of the Altaians were identified and, accordingly, improved indicators of the population count for these groups have been proposed. From the results of the study, a map of ethno-cultural differentiation of the territory of the Altai Republic has been compiled, which shows areas of settlement of main ethnic groups, as well as ethno-contacting zones. The area of settlement of the Russian population spans the low- and mid-mountain regions in the north of the Republic. Also, in Central Altai, old-believers resettling there in the 18th–19th cc. formed yet another isolated areal of Russian population. The Northern Altaians (Chelkans, Tubalars, Kumandins) live in taiga low-mountain regions of North-Eastern Altai (Turochaksky, Choysky and Mayminsky Districts). In doing so, they have mixed to a large extent with the Russian population. The Southern Altaians (Altai-Kizhi and Telengits) have the largest territory of population, living mainly in Ust’-Kansky, Ongudaysky, Ust’-Koksinsky, Shebalinsky, Chemalsky (Altai-Kizhi), Ulagansky, and Kosh-Agachsky (Telengits) Districts. Kazakhs live compactly in the territory of Kosh-Agachsky District, as well as have a smaller enclave in Ust’-Kansky District (the village of Turata).

The landscape-climatic confinement of villages that were founded in the late 19th — early 20th century by peasant-migrants in the territory of the modern Odessa district of the Omsk oblast has been examined. Trend analysis, which were identified during the integration of remote sensing data, meteorological measurements and ethnographic materials indicate the initial landscape-climatic confinement of settlements and subsequent transformations of the steppe landscapes surrounding them were influenced by a complex of natural and anthropogenic factors. The main factor which influenced the emergence of settlements was the presence of water bodies and, to a lesser extent, forests. In the first decades of the 21th century, an increase in air temperature with a decrease in precipitation increased the dryness of the territory, thereby reducing the duration of the existence of temporary reservoirs until they completely dry out. Anthropogenic factors that influenced the reduction in the number and duration of the existence of temporary lakes include the widespread plowing of steppe landscapes, as a result of which they lost the ability to retain melt and rainwater for a long time. Currently, in connection with the water supply, the importance of confined settlements to temporary lakes began to decline, but aridization leads to the loss of resource, aesthetic and recreational functions of landscapes.

The paper presents the study of the educational level of Udmurt women in the 1920s–1980s. The methodology of the study is based on the theory of modernisation. The transition from the traditional society to modern is considered through the prism of the cultural changes that took place in the Soviet society, the most important component of which was the increase of the level of education within the population. The authors used general scientific methods (analysis, generalisation, description, systematisation), special-historical methods (historicalchronological, historical-genetic and historical-systematic), as well as statistical methods used in demography. As the main sources, the study employed population census materials, including those unpublished (Russian Census of 1920 and Soviet Censuses of 1926, 1939, 1959, 1970, 1979, and 1989). Some of the documents containing information about the population are introduced into scientific discourse for the first time. The authors distinguish and characterise 3 stages. In the 1920s, the most important objective was to combat illiteracy and create national schools. It is concluded that the level of education of the Udmurt population, especially Udmurt village women, was significantly lower than that in the region and in the Russian Republic in general. This tendency would manifest itself throughout the entire study period. In the 1930s–1950s, there was a gradual change of the objectives of educating people of particular nationalities, among other, under the influence of the wartime factors. In the 1950s–1980s, there was a gradual increase in the level of education of Udmurt women, including professional education, and dilution of ethnic and gender differences, whilst the age differences in the level of education remained.

The main stages in the evolution of the image of a notable Russian entrepreneur, explorer of the European and Siberian North of Russia, and an enthusiast for establishing the sea route to Siberia, Mikhail Konstantinovich Sidorov (1823–1887) in historiography, memoirs, popular science and general fiction, and in the media, are reconstructed. The role of M.K. Sidorov himself in the formation of his biographical canon is shown. The motifs underlying the campaigns carried out at different times to popularise the figure of M.K. Sidorov are clarified. There have been identified and analysed main topoi for evaluation of the personality, life and work of M.K. Sidorov: “unheard prophet”, “zealot of the North”, “unmercenary entrepreneur”, “progressive capitalist”, “outstanding dilettante”, among others. The need for a critical turn in the study of the life and works of M.K. Sidorov is argued. In particular, there have been proposed the options for a broader contextualisation and a more focused problematisation of research on the northern entrepreneurship in the later Russian Empire. It deems very productive resorting to research programmes of global history, new imperial history, and historical anthropology. It should not be forgotten that M.K. Sidorov was active in an epoch of extensive transformation of the Russian Empire; his activities, in our opinion, are interesting precisely because of that they were an important part of the trans-imperial and global processes.

In the paper, an analysis is carried out on the commemorative practices of the formation of historical consciousness on the basis of studying and constructing memory about the Russian Civil War in Altai Krai (south of Western Siberia). The separation of the periods of the 1960s and 1970s–1980s is determined by the succession of generations. The sources of the research comprised the materials from the central (the Russian State Archive of Socio-Political History, the State Archive of the Russian Federation) and regional state archives of Novosibirsk Oblast and Altai Krai, and holdings of the museum of the Barnaul Civil Engineering College and author's field materials. As theoretic-conceptual approaches, the biographical method was used, which allowed it to reveal the traits of the Soviet man as a construct of the Soviet era, and the principle of regionalism for the analysis of anthropological aspects in particular socio-cultural conditions. In the research, the conceptual framework of the scientific field of ‘anthropology of memory’ was employed: social, historic and cultural memory, communications, and commemorations. The comparison of the social practices shows that at the first stage, owing to the veteran cause, military-revolutionary events were selected for the formation of historical consciousness. Another aspect of work was popularisation of the partisan movement through communicative channels: meetings, gala evenings, interviews, public rallies, and other collective forms of communication with rural community, youth and government. A comparison of the work of ‘fathers’ and ‘sons’ showed that the succession manifested in the strive to eternalise and popularise memory of the heroes of the Russian Civil War; translation of military-revolutionary events from social memory into cultural memory in the form of monuments and memorial places became a new tendency in the work on perpetuating the memory.

In the end of the 1st millennium BCE, in the lower Ishim River basin, the events were taking place that turned out to be groundbreaking in the history of Western Siberia. As in the bordering southern-taiga and forest-steppe territories of the Tobol and Irtysh river basins, under the changing environmental conditions and increasing migration flow from the taiga regions, there begins the development of cultures precursive to the establishment of the cultural formations of the Early Iron Age. The representatives of the tradition of crossed ornamentation of ware, penetrating into the forest-steppe, commingled with the indigenous Late Bronze Age pastoralist population. The developed, as a result, complexes and cultures of Ust’-Utyak, Krasnoozerka, Late Irmen, and Zavyalovo, according to the materials, represent the stages within the timeframe of the Transitional Period, which, in our opinion, continued until the formation of established Sargatka and Bolsherechenskaya Cultures. In the lover Ishim basin, transition from the Bronze to Iron Age, as it would seem, spans the period from the formation of the Krasnoozersk Culture (the Ishim basin variant), including the stages of its development — Efimovo, Borki, Marai, and Likhachevo,— until the emergence of Sargatka complexes. In the population of the Lower Lower Ishim basin and bordering territories, taiga traditions retain — building of fortified settlements with above-ground dwellings was in common practice, burials were performed in earthen graves or there was another type of interment. There appears to be a rapid change of the material culture. It would seem that from the 4th c. BCE a reorientation towards the tradition of the forest-steppe and steppe cultures was taking place. There appear ground-deepened dwellings and a ceremony of burial under kurgan mounds. Similar processes with various nuances can be observed virtually across the entire forest-steppe and southern-steppe belt of Western Siberia.

The paper concerns the main aspects of social interpretation of a series of burials excavated as part of the pre-Turkic period necropolis at the site of Choburak-I. This complex, investigated by the expedition of the Altai State University, is located in Chemalsky District of the Altai Republic. The burial ground of the Bulan-Koba Culture comprises 12 burial mounds arranged in a compact group. Each of these contained an undisturbed human burial with or without a horse. The analysis of the retrieved accompanying inventory, involving the results of radiocarbon dating, allowed it to determine the chronology of the necropolis within the middle — second half of the 4th century CE. The excavation materials turned out to be highly informative for the study of various aspects of the social history of the population of Northern Altai in the pre-Turkic period. It has been established that the accompanying grave goods was the main marker of the social stratification of the ‘Bulan-Kobins’. A ‘special’ social status of a 13- to 15-year-old adolescent from mound No. 29a was revealed, which was indicated by the completed formal transition of this individual to an adulthood with retention of certain restrictions due to the lag in physical development. Based on the sets of jewellery and horse equipment, all women had an above-average social status. Meanwhile, the deceased female buried in barrow No. 34 occupied a highest possible position and, probably, was a member of a local nomadic elite. The social stratification of men was reflected in the qualitative and quantitative composition of weapons and personal and horse equipment. The analysis of mutual occurrence of various categories of goods allowed the identification of three social groups: (i) warrior leaders or highly-distinguished professional warriors (mounds Nos. 30, 30a and 38); (ii) a professional warrior with a high material wealth (mound No. 32); and (iii) members of the prosperous stratum of the civil population (mounds Nos. 31, 31a and 34a). The data obtained support a conclusion that the necropolis of the Bulan-Koba Culture at the site of Choburak-I was left behind by members of local nomadic elite of Northern Altai of the pre-Turkic period. The performed study refines the conventional views on the nature of social processes that were taking place in the territory of Altai at the turn of the late antiquity and Early Middle Ages, as well as demonstrates further prospects for complex reconstructions involving a wide range of specialists.

The paper reports on the results of reinterpretation of the Neolithic complexes of Hissar I–IV of the Ak-Tangi site, a field study of which was carried out in the middle of the 20th century. At the time of its discovery, only the Hissar Neolithic Culture had been studied in the mountainous part of Central Asia, which the Ak-Tangi materials were attributed to. At the new stage of the research, a comprehensive analysis of the archival materials and surviving collection, which comprises palaeofaunal materia and lithic and bone artefacts, was performed, and radiocarbon dating and ZooMS-analysis were employed on some of the bone artefacts.

Hairstyles of the Early Medieval Sogdiana (by the materials of carved wood from Kafirkala) One of the unique archaeological finds is represented by a charred tree with carved images, found at the settlement of Kafirkala in the Samarkand Oblast. It consists of a panel itself and several parts. The panel of a rectangular shape (measuring 124×141 cm) is composed of two boards fastened together with iron brackets. On the front of the panel, a composition of 46 human figures arranged in four tiers is carved, whilst more than 20 other characters have been identified on the other parts of the surviving fragmentary wooden elements of the decorative design. In the centre of the two upper tiers of the panel, a large figure of a goddess seated on a throne in the form of a lion couchant was placed, which all the other characters are pivoted to. According to researchers, the panel depicts worship of the goddess Nana-Anahita or a gathering of Sogdians to conduct ceremonies. This paper is aimed at the study of hairstyles of the characters of the wooden décor of Kafir-kala as indicators of the culture and living of the Sogdian population. The craftsman depicted about ten types of hairstyles which were known in Sogdiana in the Early Middle Ages. Previously, finds related to hair care (scissors, hairpins, comb) were recorded in the territory of Central Asia, but evidence of the development of this practice from sites and art objects was a rare exception. The analysis of the characters in the composition of the carved wood from Kafirkala showed a variety of hairstyles that existed amongst the population of Sogdiana. The ten types of hairstyles identified originate from ancient cultures of the Hellenistic world of Middle East, Ancient Egypt and Rome. This signifies the peculiar assimilation of different cultures in Sogdiana. At the same time, differences in the haircut styles of the characters of the Kafarkala panel from the hairstyles of the people of the Afrasiab and Penjikent murals of the 7th–8th centuries suggest that they were created relatively earlier. The fact that no long hairstyles, characteristic of the Turkic groups of the 7th–8th centuries, are shown in the Kafirkala panel provides the reason to attribute it to examples of pre-Turkic Sogdian art.

The paper presents the analysis of the weaponry items (108 arrowheads, 2 spearheads, and 2 glaive heads) recovered from the 17th–19th cc. burial ground of Kikki-Akki (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Taz River) of the Upper Taz Selkups, aiming at the reconstruction of the technology of their production. With the aid of the methods of metallographic analysis, it has been established that the production of ferrous metal weapons was carried out by professional craftsmen. As raw materials, blacksmiths used malleable blooms, without special additional processing, consisting of unevenly carbonized steel and, less often, of iron or a mixture of both. Operations of smith forging of hot metal constituted the basis of the technology for the production of weapons. While doing so, the main attention was paid to finishing the external forms of the products, without using complex technological schemes. The production process, as a rule, was taking place at an optimal heating temperature. In general, weapons, although being not of a high quality, complied with technical specifications for their use.

The article presents the results of a comprehensive analysis of an ulu-knife (uluchik) from the ethnographic collection of I.G. Voznesensky of the Alutiiq Eskimos from the island of Kodiak (MAE No. 593-44). The interest to this artefact was driven by application of the ethnotraceological approach to the study of ancient stone knives of Eskimos. The history of the implement, the technology of its production and use can be reconstructed on the basis of synthesis of different types of sources, including ethnography. However, the use of ethnographic data often raises skepsis amongst researchers, since the methods of economy management are determined not only by climate and landscape, but also by many other factors that are not possible to be reconstructed. Ethnographic data can also be inconsistent and therefore require verification. In the case of work tools, verification is carried out using the experimental-traceological method and by drawing analogies from independent sources. Through the use of this approach, it has become possible to determine its real functional use as a knife, refuting the information that it was used for hide processing. It is interesting to note that knives of a similar morphology were attributed as knives for fish filleting and cutting frozen meat. The search for analogies also allowed it to expand the already known distribution area of this knife type. It was in demand by the Alutiiq Eskimos, Tanaina Indians, and the Tlingits, amongst whom close trade ties were noted. As a result of the conducted experiments, it was possible to clarify the description of the manufacture of a blade from hardened and non-hardened steel. Following the ethnographic data, a preference was given to saw blades made of hardened steel, since they retained their sharpness longer, whereas a blade made of non-hardened metal could bend under pressure when working on hard material. However, cutting hardened steel manually using a gad picker or a chisel is very labour-intensive without pre-treatment, and, as a rule, in such cases metal tempering is employed. Experiments on cutting frozen fish and meat demonstrated greater efficiency and ergonomics of the knife type under study.

In recent decades, there has been a significant increase at the number of studies aimed at the research into archaeological sites dating back to the period of active development of Siberian territories by Russian explorers. The indication of this process is the commenced Christianization of local indigenous population. The study of the burial objects of the Late Medieval and Modern Times allowed assembling representative collections of staurographic materials. The items retrieved during the study of the Num-hibya-siheri VIa burial ground reflect specific features of the use of Christian symbols in the funeral rite. Therefore, this site is considered to be an early Christian monument left behind by indigenous population of the Taz Subarctic, formed under the influence of Christian ideas that spread in the region in the 18th — early 20th century. The Num-hibya-siheri VIa burial ground is located on the right bank of the Num-hibya-siheri creek on the territory of the Mameyev Cape stow, which is 12.5 km south-east of the village of Tazovsky and 2.4 km north-west of the village of Gaz-Sale of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, the Tyumen Oblast. In 2017–2018, Tazovsky Archaeological Expedition of the Institute of the Problems of Northern Development of the Tyumen Scientific Research Center (Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences) uncovered 286 m2 of the site. Within the studied area, nine underground pits were investigated, containing the burial of an adult (?) and children (8) aged from newborn infants up to 5- to 7-year-olds. The main components of the funeral rite and inventory testify to the familiarity of the people, who left this burial ground behind, with Christian customs and Christian ritualism. The deceased children are buried in wooden coffins placed inside composite wooden structures, on their backs, with their heads oriented to the western side of the horizon. The interred children are accompanied by an icon pendant with an image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and crosses dedicated to the Great Martyr Barbara and crucified Jesus. The features of the funeral rite and the placement of the articles indicate an initial stage of the Christianization of autochthonous population, combining both Christian and pagan components in the process of burying children. A good preservation of the wooden funerary structures allowed selection of wood samples for dendrochronological (tree-ring) analysis, as a result of which the time interval of the functioning of the Num-hibya-siheri VIa burial ground was determined within the second quarter of the 19th — early 20th century.

Ballıcaoluk, one of the excavation areas of the Mount Nif (Olympos) Excavation, is a fortified settlement within the borders of Vişneli village in Kemalpaşa (Nymphaion), on the east side of Mt. Nif. The settlement, excavated from 2008 on, has yielded finds from the end from the 8th century BCE to the Byzantine Period. Settlements and necropoleis at Mt. Nif, which are not mentioned in ancient sources, are located in the Ionia-Lydia border. This paper deals with the possible production site and cultural context of a terracotta figurine fragment (inventory number: Nif.PT.22-1) recovered from a house within the settlement. Alongside the examination of the fragment, the other finds (pottery, metal finds and coins) from the residential area in Ballıcaoluk settlement, and other figurine fragments from the necropolis in Dağkızılca nearby, are taken into consideration. With reference to the building phases of the house and on stylistic grounds, the figurine fragment has been dated to the 3rd to mid-2nd century BCE. Although local clay pottery fragments are known, there is no evidence of figurine or figurine mould production in the vicinity of Mt. Nif. The results of the XRD analysis were compared with the results of other figurine producing centres and with samples taken from the neighbouring clay deposits (Bozköy), and from these a proposal is presented for the possible production site. The interactions between influential workshops in the region in terms of style and subject, and the previously published figurine fragments from Dağkızılca and Ballıcaoluk, indicate the influence of the Smyrna-Ephesus-Pergamon workshops. Although the grotesque/ethnic type figurine fragment from Ballıcaoluk is similar to the figurine “attributed to Smyrnaean”, it is similar to the Ephesus type 2 and type 4 in terms of clay structure. When both the style and clay structure of Ballıcaoluk figurine fragment are evaluated, as well as the small terracotta finds and figurine fragments from Dağkızılca are taken into consideration, it has been observed that there was cultural and commercial interaction with Smyrna and Ephesus during the Hellenistic Period.

The Hellenistic Period mould-made bowls were a popular type of ceramic during that era. Typically hemispherical and decorated with relief on the exterior, these drinking bowls were widely used in the Mediterranean basin and the Black Sea region from the 3rd century to the mid-1st century BCE. Created as imitations of metal vessels, the bowls featured relief decorations of floral, geometric, and figurative motifs on the exterior surfaces. These bowls are divided into two main classes: Attic and Delian. Local workshops in Anatolia began producing these bowls by the late 3rd century BCE, and notable production centers included Pergamon, Sardis, Ephesus, and other cities in the region. The mould-made bowl preserved in the Kahramanmaraş Archaeology Museum was acquired through purchase. This particular bowl stands out due to its figurative scene on the wall section. It is believed to depict hoplites, Amazons (?), and the duo of Athena-Hera. These figures are organised into twelve groups, comprising a total of sixteen figures. While this bowl's figures do not have an exact parallel, it bears resemblance to Homeric bowls among the Ionian ceramics in terms of form, mythological themes, and figures. It is believed to have been produced in Ionia and likely dates between the late 3rd century and the 2nd century BCE based on its form and decoration. The detailed examination of this bowl, which is part of the Kahramanmaraş Archaeology Museum collection, is significant as it adds a new example to the corpus of Hellenistic relief bowls.

With the “Talents Internship program” established by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG, Österreichische Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft), 14- to 17-year-old students from various school types visited the Natural History Museum and the Kuratorium Pfahlbauten in summer 2022 to gain practical experience in research. The internship focused on a sustainability approach, discussing recycling methods, the sustainable use of resources and the circular economy in prehistory. The UNESCO World Heritage “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps” was used as a research area for the project. The project also aimed to make the content developed by the students available to the public as a digital media tool. The pupils brought an illustration of a prehistoric lake shore settlement to life and created an interactive image available at the website of Kuratorium Pfahlbauten. Various scenes of the illustration have been augmented with animations created by the students of HTL Spengergasse in Vienna. Students from federal secondary schools from Vienna (Stubenbastei) and Upper Austria (Traun) researched the information about the objects and wrote texts that, as a description of the animated videos, introduce the users to the prehistoric artifact and explain the recycling process behind it. The students worked independently using the scientific literature, 140-year-old inventory books and 6000-year-old objects from the collection of the Natural History Museum Vienna. The activities and the supporting program within the internship were recorded by the students in blog posts, available at the Pfahlbauten-Blog. The co-creative approach of the FFG Talent Internship made it possible to introduce a group of school students to the process of scientific work and the communication of results. It was honored with the Creative App Award at CHNT 2023.

This study investigates the materials and techniques used in three Mexican platters, or bateas, from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection. Our analytical approach included the use of non-invasive techniques, such as infrared reflectography, scanning X-ray fluorescence, and digital microscopy, which informed limited but targeted sampling. Traditional pigments were identified, including indigo, carbon black, red lead, lead white, and orpiment, and materials such as dolomite, gypsum, ochres, and clay were also found. A red organic dye was seen but could not be identified. The stratigraphy of the objects was also investigated. The condition of the objects was also evaluated, and the results will be used to inform future conservation decisions. The findings add to the published knowledge of the materials and techniques of early colonial Mexican objects and can be of use in future investigations, facilitating exchanges and collaborations focused on this type of objects, which are rare in UK collections.

Photographic artifacts carry important historical and cultural information. Materials used in photography at the turn of the XIXth and XXth centuries tend to degrade both over time and if the temperature and humidity conditions of storage are violated. In this connection, the question arises of determining the safety degree and monitoring the condition of photographic materials. Close attention should be paid to photographic materials that become flammable as a result of decomposition. This class of objects includes photographic films based on cellulose nitrate. This study was aimed at examining 100 negatives and stereonegatives from the collection of Karl Kosse dating from 1902 to 1917 as typical examples of these hazard class objects. The degradation of individual negatives was accompanied by a significant change in color—yellowing. The base of photographic negatives (cellulose nitrate and camphor) was determined by Raman spectroscopy, and the presence of a gelatin layer was determined by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Using chemometric analysis methods based on the RGB components of digital photos of negatives, an approach has been proposed for determining the state of degradation. The use of the support vector machine approach allows for obtaining a decision boundary, which can be later used to analyze a large data array.

To preserve handwritten historical documents, libraries are choosing to digitize them, ensuring their longevity and accessibility. However, the true value of these digitized images lies in their transcription into a textual format. In recent years, various tools have been developed utilizing both traditional and AI-based models to address the challenges of deciphering handwritten texts. Despite their importance, there are still several obstacles to overcome, such as the need for scalable and modular solutions, as well as the ability to cater to a continuously growing user community autonomously. This study focuses on introducing a new information fusion architecture, specifically highlighting the Gateway API. Developed as part of the μDoc.tS research program, this architecture aims to convert digital images of manuscripts into electronic text, ensuring secure and efficient routing of requests from front-end applications to the back end of the information system. The validation of this architecture demonstrates its efficiency in handling a large volume of requests and effectively distributing the workload. One significant advantage of this proposed method is its compatibility with everyday devices, eliminating the need for extensive computational infrastructures. It is believed that the scalability and modularity of this architecture can pave the way for a unified multi-platform solution, connecting diverse user environments and databases.

The present study, which is part of a wider inter-disciplinary research project on Medieval Rome funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, focuses on the archaeometric characterisation of glass tesserae from the apse mosaic of the church of S. Agnese fuori le mura, dated to the 7th century AD and never analysed until now. The main aims of the study are the identification of chemical compositions of glassy matrices and colouring/opacifying techniques by means of the combination of micro-textural, chemical, and mineralogical data. In S. Agnese tesserae, the results show the presence of glassy matrices and opacifiers/pigments, typical of both Roman and Late Antique/Early Medieval periods. The technological features identified (in particular, glassy matrices and opacifiers/pigments) allow us to discriminate not only new-production tesserae, i.e., those probably produced in the 7th century for the realisation of the S. Agnese mosaic, but also those obtained from recycling or re-using previous glass. This testifies to a quite complex “puzzle”, unusual in other glass mosaics from the same city and coeval with S. Agnese, supporting further the potentiality of archaeometric studies on glass to uncover the technical and socio-cultural knowledge that underpins its manufacturing, use, re-use, and recycling in the Early Medieval Rome.

This paper summarises the research carried out so far on barniz de Pasto objects from the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) and outlines future areas of development for our collection of Indigenous lacquer from Latin America. The V&A was the first UK public institution to identify objects decorated with barniz de Pasto within its collection. Two of these were acquired in 2015 and 2018; others had entered the collection between 1855 and 1902 but were recognised as barniz de Pasto only after 2018. The acquisition in 2015 of a cabinet marked the start of a research campaign to understand the materiality and context of all the museum’s barniz de Pasto objects. The analytical techniques used included X-radiography, polarised light microscopy and digital microscopy, Raman microscopy, X-ray fluorescence (point and scanning), chromatography (py-GC–MS and LC–DAD–MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray micro-computed tomography. Unexpected discoveries were made along the way, including the characterisation and documentation of mercury white (mercury(I) chloride, or calomel) used as a white pigment, a world first. Gel-based cleaning methods were used to remove a non-original, discoloured, natural varnish covering nearly the entire surface of one of the objects, and the recent overpaint on its lid, revealing original surfaces which had been repaired and drastically repainted in the second half of the twentieth century.

The Ethnographic Museum in Dubrovnik holds an extensive textile collection which includes a number of dresses and costumes from Croatia and neighbouring countries. Until recently, the costumes were displayed on mannequins created by the academic artist Zvonimir Lončarić (1927–2004). His sculptures are expressive forms made of terracotta, fibreglass, wood, metal, acrylic paint and other materials chosen for their visual appeal. Due to their importance, the museum considered the mannequins to be protected works of art in the permanent exhibition; however, they had a harmful effect on the costumes displayed. In 2018, after completing a series of conservation–restoration projects within the collection, it was decided to replace the existing mounts with new, museum-quality mannequins. Two project-based learning workshops were organised, led by a team of textile conservators from the University of Dubrovnik and the Croatian Conservation Institute, in collaboration with the curator of the Ethnographic Museum. This case study highlights the challenges of exhibiting ethnographic costumes by discussing past presentation methods and how new solutions have been implemented in line with the modern conservation–restoration profession. The new solutions take into consideration ethics, decision-making processes, and an understanding of contemporary materials and methodology.

Blue is one of the most challenging colors for humans to produce and one of the most important colors in art history. Literature from the Tikuna/Magüta culture, from the Amazon Forest, suggests the use of chemical reactions between the juice of the naīcü fruit and iron to produce a blue colorant still unknown among technical art historians and conservation scientists. Additionally, the coloring materials from the Tikuna/Magüta people were never chemically investigated. Therefore, this manuscript presents the investigation of blue colorants from twenty-two Tikuna/Magüta masks and one stamp used to decorate similar items. Collections from four museums, from the USA and Brazil, were examined, and Raman spectra indicated the presence of Prussian blue, phthalocyanine blue, indigo, ultramarine, crystal violet, amorphous carbon, anatase, and barium sulfate (or lithopone). Although the unknown blue colorant was not detected in this campaign, the authors hypothesize the chemical composition and reactions involved in its production by considering the chemistry of naīcü and anthocyanins. The continuation of this work with community-based participatory research (CBPR) approaches is also discussed, justifying why reproduction was not considered in this work and supporting a more socially responsible and inclusive practice in technical art history and conservation science.

This paper delves into the investigation and inventory of cob buildings within the Guérande Peninsula, employing an interdisciplinary framework merging academic inquiry, fieldwork, and digital cartographic methodologies. Against the backdrop of escalating environmental concerns within the construction sector, raw earth construction emerges as a compelling avenue for sustainable building practices due to its low embodied energy and reversible characteristics. Despite historical prevalence in regions such as northwest France, traditional earth-building techniques have experienced waning prominence with the advent of industrial materials. However, the resurgence of interest in raw earth’s minimal carbon footprint has catalyzed renewed attention towards earth-building methods. Through a meticulous investigation methodology, this study identifies and analyzes 802 potentially old cob buildings, with 46 structures confirmed as cob constructions. Employing statistical analyses of building characteristics, including wall and lift heights, preservation states, and geographical distributions, this research sheds light on the significance of preserving cob heritage amidst rapid urbanization. The findings underscore the imperative for ongoing research and awareness efforts to safeguard these vernacular architectural traditions. By illuminating centuries-old building practices, this research contributes to the scholarly discourse on sustainable construction methodologies and local cultural preservation. Moreover, it underscores the necessity of integrating traditional knowledge systems with contemporary sustainability initiatives to foster resilience and longevity within the built environment.

The theme of adaptive reuse, of great topicality for those who deal with built heritage, has its roots in the recent past, dating back to the end of the last century, when the problem of reuse proved to be competitive, for economic and cultural reasons, with respect to total demolition and reconstruction. Since then, various disciplinary and methodological approaches have been confronted with theories and methods of intervention, on an ever-expanding cultural heritage. This article offers a research perspective, with application of a case study of particular relevance to the city of Genoa, Italy. Adaptive reuse, in the text, is specifically dedicated to religious and sacred heritage that has lost its original function but has retained material traces and intangible values. The methodological approach, shared by several European architectural schools, is multi-disciplinary in nature and stems from the need to preserve material traces but, at the same time, preserve the spirit of the place, according to what is defined by the international community. The methodology and results are applied to the enhancement and reuse work for the former Genoa University Library, formerly the church of the Genoese Jesuit College (17th century).

This paper presents preliminary findings from the ongoing Erasmus+ European project CoVHer, which focuses on the hypothetical virtual reconstructions of lost or unbuilt architecture. This contribution provides a critical assessment of the terminology specific to this field. A significant challenge lies in the absence of standardised terminology for many foundational aspects, which can lead to misconceptions and misunderstandings. The research begins with a comprehensive review of the relevant literature in the field, aiming to identify which terms are most widely accepted and appropriate to use and which are ambiguous or should be avoided. For concepts that lack a clear definition, new terminology is proposed. This paper analyses six key terms: reconstruction, uncertainty, raw model, informative model, digital representation methods, and 3D modelling techniques.

In 2015, hazard mitigation became a top priority on the international agenda, according to the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. When it comes to architectural heritage, it is crucial to develop tools and site-specific response plans that can help the prompt and effective management of seismic events. The paper presents part of a research study carried out at the University of Parma, aimed at improving emergency strategies for the protection of cultural heritage damaged by earthquakes. Specifically, it analyses first aid and recovery reinforcements, with a specific focus on masonry churches affected by the 2012 quake in the Emilia Romagna region (Italy). The study highlights criticalities and good practices of a site-specific response. It shows that recovery with a sharp separation between emergency and reconstruction activities leads to wasted resources in terms of cost, material, and time. On the other hand, the most effective strategies for the conservation of architectural heritage in earthquake-prone areas have proved to be based on an integrated and shared approach, aimed at balancing safety, conservation, and economic issues. This leads to a broadening of the concept of emergency interventions and, more generally, of structural reinforcement in the field of architectural conservation.

Girsu, the modern site of Tello (southern Iraq), represents one of the earliest known urban centres of the ancient world, along with Uruk, Eridu, and Ur. During the 3rd millennium BCE (3000–2000 BCE), Girsu was revered as the sanctuary of the Sumerian heroic deity Ningirsu, who fought with supernatural beasts and made possible the introduction of irrigation and agriculture in Sumer. While much is known about the gods, their roles, and rituals inside the temples, there is little textual or archaeological evidence concerning the rituals that took place in the large open-air plazas adjacent to the temples. These areas within the sacred precinct were where the general population would gather to participate in festivals and ceremonies to honour the gods. To better understand the ancient cultic realm in southern Mesopotamia, an in-depth investigation of a favissa (ritual pit) discovered within the sacred precinct at Girsu was undertaken. The excavations recovered a large quantity of ceramics and animal remains that had been used for ritual purposes. Through the study of archaeological remains of cultic spaces at Girsu, information on ritual behaviour such as sacrificial animal slaughtering and consumption for the purpose of feasting, the types of libations provided to quench the thirst of the gods, and the distance travelled to take part in the annual festivals to pay homage to the patron god of their sacred city were explored. Analysis of the associated ceramics, cuneiform texts, and zooarchaeological remains (including stable isotope data), allowed a multi-faceted and integrative approach to better understand ceremonial behaviour and ritual feasting in this sacred city. New insights into communal and performative participation in ceremonies, especially by non-elite individuals, are generated. These data increase our knowledge not only of how Girsu’s citizens organised their sacred spaces and religious festivals, but also of how they behaved in order to satisfy the ever-demanding needs of their gods.

Contemporary biopolitical discourse around fundamental rights and societal representations has increasingly weaponized moral-based attitudes and personal feelings, eschewing informed, factual opinions grounded in observation, data analysis, and scientific research. This trend is evident in the treatment of the queer community—used here as an umbrella term for non-cisgender, non-heterosexual individuals. Over recent years, the group has become the primary target of negationist critiques aimed at undermining the very existence of the community and challenging its rights. This article argues that the rise of depersonalized interactions and individualism, particularly through social media (where superficial and sensationalist content thrives, often at the expense of nuanced, data-driven discourse), the cult of the self and power (which prioritizes individual success, sidelining the collective struggles and rights of marginalized groups), and misinformation, is strategically employed by those in power and reverberated through the general public. These elements serve as a translucent veil, enabling the conscious choice to avoid engaging in structured, complex, and informed discussions about queer people’s rights and their existence. Consequently, the strategic deployment of these tactics, with the aim of shaping public opinion based on falsehoods and emotional appeals, undermines the capacity for informed dialog and perpetuates the marginalization of the queer community.

The boom of rural tourism in Extremadura (Spain) has been promoted by different administrations, both national and European, through multiple initiatives carried out for several decades. However, it has been developed in a generic way, ignoring the potential of agricultural landscapes for the development of agritourism as a specific variety. Therefore, this research aims to know the opinion of rural lodging owners in order to understand how the activity can be reoriented towards a more specific one, taking advantage of the potential of this type of tourist attraction. For this purpose, information has been collected through surveys to these owners. By carrying out a statistical analysis and a territorial analysis, it is possible to know their socio-demographic structure, as well as the characteristics of the accommodations and other aspects related to the activities they offer to tourists. Following the analyses, characteristics such as age, level of education and sources of income were identified, revealing a lack of knowledge of agritourism. It was also discovered that many lodgings could offer agritourism activities due to the presence of farms and attractive landscapes for tourists. However, there was a lack of activities related to agriculture and livestock, which represents a missed opportunity for the development of agritourism. The territorial analysis showed patterns of activity supply in certain areas, suggesting the possibility of promoting the sustainable development of rural areas through the diversification of tourism activities. Perhaps the main conclusion that can be drawn is the need to take advantage of the attractive landscape and the presence of activity companies to promote the economic and social development of rural areas, contributing to the conservation of traditions and the fight against depopulation.

There has recently been discussion regarding how heritage rural areas are culturally affected by recent urban-to-rural migration. However, little research has been conducted on the form this process takes in post-communist contexts. Taking a geography approach to some Romanian heritage sites, this study foregrounds narratives based on interviews with local people in two villages in southern Transylvania that were formerly inhabited by different ethnicities. The results point to quite different perceptions of the cultural landscape changes in the two villages. Although both communities consciously seek to preserve and maintain a sense of place that is rooted in history, those who migrate from urban areas to these rural heritage places represent a catalyst for community resilience and development in areas such as acquisition of buildings, development of facilities, modern social services, and seeking new funding for landscape transformation. As NGOs function as a link between government, local people, newcomers to the community, and investors, we contend that more attention could be paid to channelling their funds towards investment in rural heritage. The greatest challenges to heritage are those posed by tourism, while NGOs and small investors are the driving force that helps to preserve and save cultural heritage.

This paper describes an innovative method developed by the authors to support basic decisions concerning the structural restoration of a large historical panel painting which had been damaged by inappropriate attachment to a wall and ongoing exposure to severe changes in environmental humidity. The Lapidazione di Santo Stefano is a large panel (2.78 × 3.92 m2) painted by Giorgio Vasari in 1571 and has been housed since then in the Church of Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri in Pisa (Italy). Its wooden support is made of large horizontal planks glued together along their edges and stiffened by vertical, dovetailed crossbeams. The panel was tightly fastened to a church wall with several rigid bolts; due to the moisture cycling produced by rainwater leakage and a subsequent “compression set”, it had developed severe tension stresses perpendicular to the grain, resulting in cracks affecting both the wood and the paint layers. To decide how to carry out the structural restoration of the panel, it was necessary to know whether slippage could occur between the panel and crossbeams during seasonal variations in environmental humidity. Without slippage, tensile stresses would be generated in the wood and could produce further cracks and damage the paint layers. An in situ monitoring method for assessing the possibility of slippage was developed and implemented. An analysis of data collected over a period of 6 months before the structural restoration confirmed that adequate slippage was possible; hence, the decision to fully repair the cracks was taken. Monitoring continued for a year after restoration and confirmed the previous findings. This paper describes the monitoring method, the equipment used, the results of its implementation and its value as a preventive conservation tool.

The paleopathological literature notably lacks the description and analysis of distal humeral fractures and their associated complications. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate a distal humerus fracture associated with cubitus valgus observed in the articulated right elbow of an adult male buried in the Santa Caterina Friary site in Barcelona, dating back to the modern period (15th to early 16th century), and (2) to contribute to the valorization of bioarcheological heritage. Employing macroscopic and radiographic studies, the injury was assessed. The results indicated a healed antemortem fracture, probably associated with a fall. In the AO/OTA classification, it corresponds to type 13C1.1 (complete articular fracture, articular simple, metaphyseal simple, above the transcondylar axis), accompanied by a coronoid process fracture due to anterior trochlear dislocation impact (O’Driscoll type 1 classification: transverse fracture of the distal apophysis with involvement of the sublime tubercle). This fracture, resulting in a 28° cubitus valgus and significant elbow changes, infers community support in healing and highlights the socio-economic dynamics of guilds and adaptive strategies to physical adversities. This study is one of the first to describe cubitus valgus in a historical Spanish population, offering a comprehensive view of the complexities, physical adversities, and adaptive strategies employed by individuals following an elbow fracture.

In the present case study, the manufacturing technology for glazed pottery was investigated, with particular focus on the great variety of colours and glaze recipes used in Western Anatolia and East Asia and observed in finds from rescue excavation sites in Greece. An assemblage of 40 ceramic fragments dating from the Late Byzantine and Islamic to the Ottoman/Venetian periods was examined for their decoration, surface treatment, and production technology. The peculiarities of the colour recipes applied on the glazed pottery of different assumed origins of production were investigated, focusing on glaze technology and employing colourants. This was achieved by the use of an analytical workflow that considered the compositional details of pigments, slip coatings, and glazes. The chemical evaluation was carried out utilising X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (pXRF) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Raman Spectroscopy provided information about the compositional variation, and the microscopic examination via Optical Microscopy (OM) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM-EDS) yielded information about the sample stratigraphy of the examined ceramic sections. Through a wide range of colour and glaze recipes, this study of glazed ceramics was able to define and express the essential elements of each pottery workshop’s perception of colour.

During the third millennium cal BC, the Indus communities exploited great quantities of chert from the Rohri Hills mines in Upper Sindh for making different types of artifacts. This paper discusses the way chert was transported to the Indus Civilization centers and the problems related to the type, quantity, and quality of raw material and artifacts that were transported, including when, why, and where. This paper raises the question of land and water transport. Both these methods were probably used according to the landscape location of the Indus sites. Another problem concerns the landscape characteristics of the Indus Valley during the Bronze Age before the climate changes that took place around the end of the third millennium cal BC and the disappearance of the Hakra River, which was an important watercourse during the Indus phase. What do we know of the way the Indus communities exploited, transported, and circulated knappable chert? Why have the Indus settlements excavated around the Rohri Hills, the largest chert mines of the Indian Subcontinent, yielded little evidence of chert artifacts and nodules? What do we know of this important problem, which is strictly related to the everyday life of the Indus communities and their economy? Why this problem has been systematically neglected by most archaeologists despite its importance?