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Assessment of the impact of climate change on archaeological sites: state of play

2024-02-03T17:01:40+00:00

Currently, any cultural heritage management program or plan would be weak if it did not include strategies for assessing the impact of climate change on properties, adapting its projects to these impacts, and improving the sustainability of its interventions. Since the beginning of this century, efforts to systematise assessments that integrate both exposure to climate impacts and vulnerability of cultural heritage have accelerated. The aim of this work is to review the progress of European projects that have carried out risk and vulnerability assessments of climate change impacts on cultural heritage, using case studies of archaeological sites. Their critical assessment will determine the current state of the art and allow us to identify lines of action for effective adaptation to the challenge posed by climate change.

Integrating conservation strategies into archaeological research: insights from the Early Pleistocene site of Barranc de la Boella (Tarragona, Spain)

2025-03-04T08:51:36+00:00

Stone tools and faunal remains are abundant in the archaeological record, serving as key focal points for research and important features of museum exhibitions. Nevertheless, they are under-represented in the conservation literature. This article reports on the conservation of over 2,000 finds from the Early Pleistocene site of Barranc de la Boella (Spain) recovered during field seasons 2007-2023. It focuses on osteological remains, lithic artefacts and coprolites (fossil faeces), detailing the workflow from the fieldwork to the laboratory, specifying the criteria and techniques employed for each group of materials. In the absence of clear guidelines, the archaeological study approaches adopted for each group of finds helped define the conservation strategies. Therefore, conservation treatments are naturally aligned with the research aims, making conservation an integral part of the research project. We conclude by emphasising the importance of sharing conservation practices to inspire innovation in conservation techniques.

Technical examination, material characterization, and restoration of the landscape painting by Mıgırdiç Givanian (1848-1906)

2024-10-11T14:37:48+01:00

This study presents the documentation, technical examinations, material characterization, and restoration work of an oil painting on a metal plate signed by Mıgırdiç Givanian. The painting was analyzed with visible, ultraviolet and oblique light, optical microscopy, X-ray, Raman and micro-X-Ray fluorescence spectrometry. Optical microscopy provided insights into the painting technique and deteriorations. It was determined that the artist used an iron-based metal plate and pigments including lead white, calcite, vermilion, Prussian blue, hematite, carbon black, and gypsum, which were identified through Raman analysis. The XRF analysis suggested the possibility of a copper-based green pigment, lead-tin yellow, and chrome yellow. During the restoration phase, the yellowed varnish layer on the surface was cleaned, and the localized retouches on the painting surface, were removed. As a finishing application, the surface was re-varnished and retouched. This study is significant as it represents the first comprehensive work conducted on a painting signed by Givanian.

Preliminary results of the first archaeometric study of three medieval glass assemblages from Almada, Portugal

2024-08-22T16:33:11+01:00

In the late 1990s and early 2010, archaeological excavations were conducted in three neighbouring streets of the old part of the city of Almada (Lisbon South bay), where medieval residential complexes were brought to light. Among the materials found in the Pátio Prior do Crato and Rua Latino Coelho, a group of glass fragments is dated between the 14th and 16th centuries. In addition, the glass assemblage of Rua da Judiaria counts more than 1,200 fragments covering a time span from the 12th to the 19th century, including some objects that have been identified as luxurious due to their decorations. This work integrates archaeological and archaeometric research and focuses on glass dating between the 14th and 16th centuries from these excavations in Almada. The combination of results intends to provide a first glimpse of glass usage and circulation in the southern area of Lisbon during the late medieval period.

Polychromy and the ornamental program of wooden sculpture: a method for its study

2024-12-18T12:13:57+00:00

This article delineates a proposed methodological framework for the systematic investigation and documentation of sculptural polychromy, distinguishing it from antecedent studies that predominantly concentrated on isolated and specific elements of the technique or sculpture. The methodology is meticulously developed to thoroughly address the examination of polychrome coatings, thereby facilitating an understanding of their evolution and ornamental programme. The method is structured into two phases: fieldwork and workshop analysis, and is augmented with specialized tools, data acquisition, and registration forms, wherein pedagogical elements and usability have been prioritized through the integration of suggestions serving as guidance for compilers. The outcomes derived from the study of six sculptures within the master's programme in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Assets at the University of Seville substantiate the efficacy of the applied method and instruments.