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In response to the environmental impacts of conventional polyurethane adhesives derived from fossil fuels, this study introduces a sustainable alternative utilizing lignin-based polyols extracted from rice straw through a process developed at INESCOP. This research explores the partial substitution of traditional polyols with lignin-based equivalents in the synthesis of reactive hot melt polyurethane adhesives (HMPUR) for the footwear industry. The performance of these eco-friendly adhesives was rigorously assessed through Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), rheological analysis, and T-peel tests to ensure their compliance with relevant industry standards. Preliminary results demonstrate that lignin-based polyols can effectively replace a significant portion of fossil-derived polyols, maintaining essential adhesive properties and marking a significant step towards more sustainable adhesive solutions. This study not only highlights the potential of lignin in the realm of sustainable adhesive production but also emphasises the valorisation of agricultural by-products, thus aligning with the principles of green chemistry and sustainability objectives in the polymer industry.

The relationship between numismatic research and archaeological stratigraphy is one of the most significant resources for defining the economic and social mechanisms of the Middle Ages. A numismatic assemblage comprising 146 coins – mostly unpublished – recovered from the late sixth-century Visigothic settlement of Reccopolis in Guadalajara, Spain, is the focus of this study. Through characterisation of the deposits and monetary finds it has been possible to establish a contextual interpretation in which indicators of durability, continuity and rituality in the use of currency can be observed. In connection with this, a substantial number of coins have been found concentrated in specific sectors of the site, especially in the neighbourhood of the church, where the foundational value of some hoards has been reinterpreted. This study establishes a constant connection between chronological dating and stratigraphic contextualisation, exploring the complex periods of continuity in use of certain specimens, while also stressing the importance of interpreting coinage within wider material assemblages.

Historical cartography continues to be an essential resource in developing strategies for the analysis of anthropised landscapes. In recent years, the digitisation and conversion of a large number of pre-20th-century maps to modern geographic coordinate systems and data hierarchisation in GIS-integrated databases have opened up huge possibilities. In this paper, we highlight some of the advantages and issues that we observed in using historical cartography in the Iberian Peninsula heartlands by comparing archaeological data, textual sources and maps and various levels of information obtained for our area of study: the southeast of the present-day province of Guadalajara, Spain. Using the longue durée approach conceptualised by Fernand Braudel (1976), historical cartography enabled us to delve deeper into two essential aspects, land use and the road network, while providing elements of diachrony that suggest changes in the landscape in specific and disruptive periods.

[EN] The expansion of the Visigothic Kingdom in the second half of the 6th century was largely supported by the erection or reconstruction of several urban complexes and their fortifications, of which in recent decades we are beginning to have extensive information (namely Valencia la Vella in Ribarroja; Tolmo de Minateda in Hellín; Punt del Cid in Almenara; Begastri in Cehegín). Among all of them, the urban nucleus of Reccopolis stands out, with a walled enclosure of almost 2 km perimeter, being one of the most extensive known defensive circuits in the Iberian Peninsula. The analysis of its constructive characteristics from an extensive photogrammetric study, with the support of LIDAR images, as well as the review of the archaeological interventions has allowed us to establish a comparative framework with other peninsular enclosures and with Byzantine Africa, which indicates the existence of a common context of defensive uses and exaltation of power through the use of military architecture, [ES] La expansión del reino visigodo en la segunda mitad del siglo VI se apoyó en buena medida en el levantamiento o reconstrucción de varios conjuntos urbanos y de sus fortificaciones, de los que en las últimas décadas comenzamos a tener una información amplia (Valencia la Vella, Ribarroja; Tolmo de Minateda, Hellín; Punt del Cid, Almenara; Begastri, Cehegín). Entre todos ellos, destaca el núcleo urbano de Reccopolis dotado de un recinto amurallado de casi 2 km de perímetro, siendo uno de los más extensos hasta ahora conocidos en la península ibérica. El análisis de sus características constructivas a partir de un amplio estudio fotogramétrico, con apoyo de imágenes LIDAR, así como la revisión de las intervenciones arqueológicas ha permitido establecer un marco comparativo con otros recintos peninsulares y con la África bizantina, que señala la existencia de un contexto común de usos defensivos y de exaltación del poder a través del empleo de la arquitectura militar.

There is a lack of individual and overarching studies of defensive systems after the Roman collapse in the West, as well as of urban defences in Hispania during the Visigothic period. A key site for questioning the latter is the walled royal Visigothic foundation of Reccopolis. The first excavations on Reccopolis’ circuit wall began in the 1980s, and later investigations were carried out in some areas of the defensive system. However, until now no comprehensive analysis has brought together the evidence from all of these excavations, LiDAR scans, a 3 D survey of the extant structure, and a set of new radiocarbon dates. All of these data allow us to interpret what is so far the only Visigothic defensive curtain wall whose entire layout is known, as well as to explore parallels with Byzantine military forms. This paper highlights the urban and architectural value, but also the apparent uniqueness, of the Reccopolis enceinte within the Iberian Peninsula.

Brimeda is a village in the municipality of Villaobispo de Otero, located about 3.5 km north of Astorga (León). A document from the year 878 describes Brimeda as a repopulation town, with a founding act in the year 854. The document precisely details the tasks of constitution of the new population, which included not only the construction of an urban nucleus, but also the design of an agricultural parcel for the rural population. A systematic survey, which aims the recovery of off-site material in the cultivation spaces of the town, confirms the data provided by the document, indicating that the village arises as a result of an organized colonization process, apparently with no history of previous human occupation. Likewise, the study of the ceramic material dispersion pattern dated in the medieval period suggests that its incorporation into the fields has occurred through the practice of fertilizing farmland with domestic garbage.

Covalent adaptable networks (CANs) represent a pioneering advance in polymer science, offering unprecedented versatility in materials design. Unlike conventional adhesives with irreversible bonds, CAN-based polyurethane adhesives have the unique ability to undergo chemical restructuring through reversible bonds. One of the strategies for incorporating these types of reactions in polyurethanes is by functionalisation with Diels–Alder (DA) adducts. By taking advantage of the reversible nature of the DA chemistry, the adhesive undergoes controlled crosslinking and decrosslinking processes, allowing for precise modulation of bond strength. This adaptability is critical in applications requiring reworkability or recyclability, as it allows for easy disassembly and reassembly of bonded components without compromising the integrity of the material. This study focuses on the sustainable synthesis and characterisation of a solvent-based polyurethane adhesive, obtained by functionalising a polyurethane prepolymer with DA diene and dienophiles. The characterisation of the adhesives was carried out using different experimental techniques: nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), Brookfield viscosity, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and T-peel strength testing of leather/adhesive/rubber joints to determine the adhesive properties, both before and after the application of external stimuli. The conversion of both the DA and retro-Diels–Alder (r-DA) reactions was confirmed by 1H-NMR. The adhesive properties were not altered by the functionalisation of the adhesive prepolymer, showing similar thermal resistance and good rheological and adhesive properties, even exceeding the most demanding technical requirements for upper-to-sole joints in footwear. After the application of an external thermal stimuli, the bonded materials separated without difficulty and without damage, thus facilitating their separation, recovery and recycling.

Historical cartography continues to be an essential resource in developing strategies for the analysis of anthropised landscapes. In recent years, the digitisation and conversion of a large number of pre-20th-century maps to modern geographic coordinate systems and data hierarchisation in GIS-integrated databases have opened up huge possibilities. In this paper, we highlight some of the advantages and issues that we observed in using historical cartography in the Iberian Peninsula heartlands by comparing archaeological data, textual sources and maps and various levels of information obtained for our area of study: the southeast of the present-day province of Guadalajara, Spain. Using the longue durée approach conceptualised by Fernand Braudel (1976), historical cartography enabled us to delve deeper into two essential aspects, land use and the road network, while providing elements of diachrony that suggest changes in the landscape in specific and disruptive periods.

[EN] From the fourth century until the sixth, coinciding with the last centuries of the Roman Empire and the consolidation of the Suevic and Visigothic Kingdoms in the Iberian Peninsula, important transformations in both the urban and rural contexts took place. In some cases, the phenomena could probably have their origin in dates before the formation of the Suevi and Visigoth kingdoms, but other changes seem to derive from processes set in motion by the creation of new states in the Iberian Peninsula. Archaeological research reveals important transformations in both urban and rural areas in this period. However, the urban and rural spaces have often been analyzed independently, without addressing the differences they experience in their evolution. In this study we seek to assess changes in both contexts, through close analysis of two cities with different urban evolutions, namely Asturica and Albocela. For each we will evaluate the varied impacts on their respective territories, especially in terms of the types of rural habitat and exploitation., [ES] Entre el siglo IV y el VI, se observan importantes transformaciones tanto en el espacio urbano como en el rural en la península ibérica. En algunos aspectos, los fenómenos que se detectan tienen su origen en fechas anteriores a la formación de los reinos suevo y visigodo. Otros cambios parecen derivar de procesos puestos en marcha por la creación de nuevos estados en el espacio peninsular. La investigación arqueológica revela importantes transformaciones tanto en el ámbito urbano como en el rural en este periodo. Sin embargo, el espacio urbano y el rural se analizan con frecuencia de forma independiente, sin abordar las diferencias que a veces experimentan en su evolución. En este estudio se aborda el análisis de los cambios en dos ciudades que viven evoluciones urbanas diferentes, Asturica y Albocela, prestando especial atención a la evolución de los espacios de hábitat rural respectivos y confrontándolos con la evolución de los centros urbanos de los que dependen