Volume 12, Issue 1

The architecture of houses in al-Andalus has long been the subject of various typological classifications and interpretations regarding its evolution. This article presents an in-depth analysis of the domestic structures excavated at 59 published archaeological sites, encompassing urban and rural settlements between the 8th and 14th centuries. Based on the internal layout of these dwellings, a classification of the main house types is proposed. The distribution of these types across urban and rural settlement contexts and their chronological framework is also examined. The study argues that the courtyard house should not be defined by the number of built wings around the patio or by its construction process, but by its essential and defining feature: the courtyard. This type of dwelling is attested from the earliest phases of al-Andalus. Documented modifications to the floor plans – primarily subdivisions or extensions – are interpreted as responses to changes in the composition of the household and often span more than one generation. Differences in architectural complexity, room functionality, and building techniques are mainly attributed to the degree of specialisation reached in the construction processes. This approach offers a renewed perspective on the Andalusi house, in which the courtyard is reaffirmed as the central organisational element.

Chacha XR is an interactive project developed between 2021 and 2023 that explores contemporary forms of documentation and digital dissemination of cultural heritage in the context of Chachapoya archaeology. Through a web portal and a multiplatform app, users can explore seven pre-Columbian archaeological sites located in the northeastern Andes of Peru. Most of these are necropolises perched on inaccessible vertical cliffs in remote locations. The project leverages extended reality (XR) technologies to generate an immersive experience by integrating photogrammetric models, 360° panoramas, gigapixel imagery, 360° video, and spatial audio. This digital reconstruction enhances accessibility to fragile and geographically remote heritage sites, fostering both public engagement and academic research. Chacha XR builds upon over a decade of speleological and archaeological research, incorporating non-invasive documentation methods to preserve site integrity. The resulting hypermedia system provides an educational tool for researchers, students, and the general public, promoting cultural heritage awareness while addressing accessibility challenges. By bridging archaeological documentation and immersive media, Chacha XR contributes to heritage conservation, digital museology, and public archaeology, offering a replicable model for similar projects worldwide.

This paper presents the results of a study using Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) spectrometry on a metallic artifact recovered from an open-air habitation site dated to 730 years BP at Lago Meliquina archaeological locality in Neuquén, Argentina. The artifact is an ornamental piece made from a hammered rectangular copper plate, similar to other Patagonian findings, with shared characteristics among complex hunter-gatherer groups from the lower Paraná basin. Additionally, the U-shaped or spiral fastening of needles and wires is a distinctive feature of the south-central Chilean region, persisting into historical times. The study reveals increased complexity and circulation of technical knowledge, decorative styles, and raw materials – evident in the early use of high-purity copper, the occasional inclusion of copper sulphide minerals or sulphates, and the presence of minor elements such as arsenic. These findings suggest the selective use of arsenical copper with low arsenic content and, from the Late Pottery phase onward, the introduction of arsenical bronze alloys. Finally, the metal record in general is enriched and diversified by interactions with northern native groups and Europeans. These interactions contributed to define the attributes of the metallurgical traditions in northwestern Argentine Patagonia and south-central Chile during the last millennium.

Fire beacons were an ancient long-distance communication technology employed by many different societies worldwide, often in military contexts. During the High Middle Ages of Norway (c. AD 1050–1350), beacons formed an integral part of the leiðangr , the kingdom’s naval defense force. Despite this, they are almost absent from the archaeological literature, and their effectiveness or strategic purpose have never been thoroughly assessed. This study leverages archaeological, documentary and place-name evidence to reconstruct a medieval military defense system in Namdalen, central Norway. Visibility and cost-distance analysis is utilized to calculate and compare the time the beacon warning system could buy the population, with the time the leiðangr would need to reach a hypothetical invasion force. The resulting analysis suggests that the military response would have been too slow to stop invasion forces from reaching their target or prevent raids along the outer coast. However, the mobilization system appears swift enough to trap hostile fleets entering the fjords. Key decision principles within game theory suggests that the threat of encirclement may have functioned as a deterrence against major attacks on main population centers, compelling aggressors to adopt less risky strategies, with less capacity to do damage.

This study uses the Jue ceramic drinking vessel from Erlitou culture (c. 1750–1520 BCE) as a case study to investigate the role of prestige goods in political integration and regional dynamics within China’s early states. Despite prior emphasis on the symbolic significance of Jue vessels in elite identity and authority, quantitative examinations of their spatiotemporal morphological variations are rare. Geometric morphometric analysis and multivariate analysis of variance of 51 Jue vessels from the Erlitou center and its surrounding areas – Yiluo Basin, Zhengzhou Plain, Jinnan, region, and Southern Henan – reveal a clear trend in morphological standardization from Phases II to IV of Erlitou culture that correspond to political power centralization, especially during Phase III. However, vessels from Yiluo Basin closely align with central morphological standards, whereas those from the Jinnan region exhibit notable deviations, indicating higher local autonomy. Those from Zhengzhou Plain present an intermediate pattern. Evidently, the Erlitou elites employed flexible, regionally specific strategies of integration, ranging from direct control to symbolic compliance. Morphological consistency in prestige goods reflects centralized authority and negotiated regional relationships. Combining quantitative morphometrics with archaeological theory offers a refined framework for understanding the interplay between political power and material culture in early complex societies.

Malaria has long ranked among the most serious health threats in human history, a reality that was also reflected in certain regions of the Roman Empire. This article investigates the cultural impact of malaria on Roman society, particularly in terms of the distribution of ancient healing cults dedicated to Asclepius and Apollo, which functioned as one of the key medical institutions of the time. Our approach combines traditional historiographical methods with a spatial analysis using a Geographic Information System (GIS) to assess whether a meaningful spatial correlation existed between malaria and Roman healing cults. The Roman territories of Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia are of particular interest, as the distribution of malaria in these areas can be reconstructed using a digitized version of the Torelli map, a 19th-century pre-eradication source that is spatially in agreement with literary and archaeological evidence of malaria in Roman times. Within a GIS environment, epigraphic evidence of ancient healing cults was used to evaluate their spatial relationship with malaria-prone zones as represented in the Torelli map, alongside a comparative analysis involving inscriptions of other selected Roman deities. In our research, we considered both the proportional intensity of the worship of healing cults and their spatial proximity in relation to malaria-prone zones. The results provide significant support for the hypothesis that malaria risk was a contributory factor in the spread of the healing cults of Asclepius and Apollo.

This study applies a computational approach to clustering grayscale images of rock reliefs from the Caria, Pisidia and Kibyratis region to detect the number of potential master carvers and/or schools responsible for these ancient artifacts. The model uses a dataset consisting of only 100 images and employs a feature extraction approach combining edge detection, texture analysis, shape analysis, and feature descriptors. We evaluate clustering performance using multiple metrics including silhouette score, Davies-Bouldin index, and Calinski-Harabasz index. The optimal clustering solution identified probably two distinct stylistic groups among the reliefs, corresponding to the presence of two different master carvers, schools or workshops as previously considered by human experts. This computational approach complements traditional archaeological methods and provides a more objective and analytical basis for stylistic classification of ancient rock reliefs as a preliminary proof of concept.

Recent advances in the natural sciences, bioarchaeology and spatial analytical techniques have significantly improved our ability to reconstruct prehistoric human connectivity. However, traditional mapping approaches can often fail to integrate isotopic evidence with landscape modeling and artifact distribution comprehensively. This study addresses this gap by combining Least-Cost Path (LCP) analysis, spatial distribution of key archaeological artifacts (jade axes and hilted swords), and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr isotopic data from previous research to investigate movement corridors in the Late Neolithic (ca. 3,800–2,800 BCE) and Bronze Age (ca. 2,300/2,200–800 BCE) landscapes of central and southern Germany. Our objective is to model how prehistoric populations navigated and exploited natural landscape features for mobility and trade, assessing how these corridors influenced the spatial distribution of important trade commodities. By integrating isotopic data with modeled movement corridors, our study confirms through independent isotopic and spatial evidence, that mobility networks intensified and stabilized during the Bronze Age. This approach highlights a methodological advance rather than reiterating a well-known trend, as the broader variability of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios directly corresponds with the establishment of sustained long-distance connections.

The bed under study originates from the New Kingdom’s 18th Dynasty, attributed to King Tutankhamun’s reign (1336–1327 B.C.). Among the artifacts discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb, six daily beds were unearthed, with two located in the antechamber and the remainder in the annex. This study presents the first analytical investigation of one of these beds since the discovery of the tomb in 1922, which was found in poor condition at the north end of the chamber. The foot panel had detached from the bedstead, and damage to the cord webbing was evident in several areas. Upon examination, it became apparent that significant previous conservation interventions had obscured the original surface. Additionally, sections of the cord webbing had been torn, and remnants of previous adhesive materials and insect remain were present. The flaking of the white-painted layer revealed a red layer beneath it in multiple places. In this study, we aim to illuminate the bed’s components and previous conservation interventions through a combination of visual assessment and various analytical techniques, including Keynece VHX digital microscopy, UV-induced luminescence (UVL), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and FTIR-Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR). Analysis revealed that the white-painted layer is composed of huntite CaMg 3 (CO 3 ) 4 . Furthermore, the missing part of the bedstead was rediscovered and reassembled in its original location for the first time since the tomb’s discovery.

This research paper focuses on implementing new methodologies for sharing research data in Palaeolithic rock art. This approach uses advanced 3D technologies and adopts the Open Science paradigm, aligned with FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). It combines high-resolution photogrammetry, laser scanning, and 3D modelling techniques to create accurate reproductions of decorated panels. These tools not only facilitate the preservation and study of graphic expressions but also serve as a foundation for interpretation and dissemination in virtual environments. The study aims to systematise processes that ensure traceability and transparency in graphic restitution workflows, reducing subjectivity and opacity in the published information. Furthermore, it establishes a protocol for data management and archiving using standardised metadata, ensuring accessibility and future reuse. This interdisciplinary approach promotes scientific collaboration and the reproducibility of results, thus representing a significant step advancement in the study of prehistoric art. The results presented herein include an integrated model of the decorated space that can be used as a tool for spatial analysis, or in a scientific virtual reality. This methodology marks a crucial step towards more accessible, objective, and enduring knowledge of rock art, the viability of which has been tested in the case of Chufin Cave (Cantabria, Spain).

In this paper we illustrate the potential of interstitial areas, as distinct from both cores and peripheries, for understanding migration and environmental learning among maize farming populations. We analyze settlement data derived from pedestrian survey of a portion of the Rio Puerco (of the East) watershed in north-central New Mexico. Our exploratory analyses are suggestive of interesting patterns that speak to larger debates in the region, including the extent of the Gallina culture and migration pathways from the San Juan to Rio Grande drainage. Ceramic seriation with updated ceramic data indicates that residents of the survey area had shifting affiliations, with waves of migration from the Chaco, Mesa Verde, and Cibola regions, starting in Early Pueblo II and continuing through Late Pueblo III. Our analyses further refine the chronology and population dynamics of the region. We also provide evidence of settlement scaling, dynamic farming adaptations, and a history of burning at archaeological sites.

At the beginning of 2025, the cleaning of the subterranean structures of Hagia Sophia, initiated by the Directorate General of Foundations under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, resulted in highly significant discoveries. In its initial phase, the work commenced in the vaulted cellars forming the basement level of the now-nonexistent atrium of Hagia Sophia, as these spaces were relatively more accessible. As the cleaning process advanced, previously unknown subterranean structures were revelaed. Conducted under the supervision of archaeologists, this process has yielded remarkably valuable data concerning the multilayered and complex underground system beneath the atrium of Hagia Sophia. By evaluating and discussing the initial findings, this study is expected to contribute to the rich architectural history of Hagia Sophia. As the cleaning of its subterranean structures, carried out by the Directorate General of Foundations, progresses further, the infrastructural system of this unique world heritage monument will be revealed in its entirety.

In the summer of 2022, a large-scale geophysical survey was conducted in the Roman city of Conimbriga (Condeixa-a-Nova, District of Coimbra, Portugal). An area of 7.32 ha was covered with magnetic measurements using the CMP 7-probe fluxgate gradiometer array, combined with a GNSS-RTK positioning system. At the same time, an area of 0.9 ha was investigated using the IRIS HI–MOD (IDS) system, equipped with five 600 MHz antennas and also combined with a GNSS-RTK system. In addition, several soil samples were taken to determine their magnetic susceptibility and electrical conductivity. The most important conclusion of this survey campaign is that the geological and archaeological conditions in Conimbriga present significant challenges for both magnetic and GPR prospection. Despite these limitations, this large-scale dataset allowed for the identification of monumental building complexes across the entire intramural area, as well as the distinction between city quarters and ancient infrastructure. Following this identification, an exercise in archaeological interpretation was applied to the geophysical evidence, combining it with existing knowledge of the excavated area of the town. The results of this endeavour led to the interpretation of the identified structures as part of a palimpsest of four main periods of urban development. The reliability of this interpretation can be confirmed by verifying the proposed results through targeted archaeological analyses, which will be a future project of major importance.