Topic Review
Documented Skeletal Collections in the United States
In the US, documented skeletal collections are a collective of human skeletons that originated (mostly) from body donations, human taphonomy facilities (e.g., the William M. Bass Donated Skeletal Collection), and anatomical dissections (e.g., Robert J. Terry Anatomical Collection). These collections are a major asset in the testing and development of methods used to infer the biological profile of human remains.
  • 959
  • 19 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Soundscape archaeology
Through an approach that aims to recognise and investigate the religious and public spaces of the past as “embodied spaces” and “sensory artefacts”, we can raise hypotheses on the sound experience in the ancient world and on the complex relationship between spaces and social interactions, making use of the potential provided by the application of 3D technology to virtual acoustics.  
  • 827
  • 27 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Tectonic Archaeology
Tectonic Archaeology is conceived as an umbrella term for efforts to deal with evidence of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunami in the archaeological record and the consequences for society. It also can serve as a foundation for Geoarchaeology in general.
  • 819
  • 28 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Historical Ecology in Brazil
The term “Historical Ecology” has been defined by two different research scholarships: (1) as a field that draws upon diverse evidence to trace complex, long-term relationships between humanity and Earth; and (2) as a field related to evolutionary ecology and the use of phylogenetic systematics, which may or may not involve anthropogenic agency. Here we embrace and refer to the first definition. Hence, Historical Ecology is a multidisciplinary field (or research program) that investigates human-environment relationships resulting in continuous spatial, environmental, historical, and cultural interactions. Its primary focus is the physical evidence etched in the landscape. The use of landscape as an analytical framework and spatial unit is valuable and widely used in Historical Ecology.  
  • 772
  • 07 May 2022
Topic Review
Paleoparasitology
Paleoparasitology aims to study the natural history of parasitic organisms through the recovery of their preserved remains in archaeological, paleontological, paleoecological, and medical contexts. 
  • 760
  • 29 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Dendrochronology
A significant part of our cultural heritage consists of wood. Research on historical wooden structures and artefacts thereby provides knowledge of people’s daily lives and the society in which they lived. Dendrochronology is a well-established dating method of wood that can also provide valuable knowledge about climate dynamics, environmental changes, silviculture, and cultural transformations. But dendrochronological surveys in the context of cultural heritage studies are rarely ultimately performed. In this study, we discuss how continuous communication between end users and dendrochronologists can significantly improve the quality of heritage studies based on dendrochronological results.
  • 737
  • 23 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Wall Mosaics: on-site non-invasive diagnostics
This entry concerns the challenges and perspectives of on-site non-invasive measurements applied to valuable wall mosaics. The choice of the appropriate technique or combination of different techniques depends on a variety of factors: the depth of investigation, the resolution, the possibility to have direct contact with the surfaces or, on the contrary, limited accessibility of the wall mosaics due to their location (e.g., vaults), as well as deterioration problems, (e.g., voids, detachments, or humidity effects). This entry illustrates briefly the current state of the art in the field of non-invasive diagnostic methodsavailable for the study of wall mosaics (IRT, GPR, DHSPI, DHSPI-SIRT, SLDV, HSR), considering their potentials, limitations and future development frontiers. 
  • 718
  • 10 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Direct Rock Art Dating in China
This paper summarizes the scientific study of rock art in China, focusing on the direct dating of rock art. It pays particular attention to the recent work of the International Centre for Rock Art Dating (ICRAD) at Hebei Normal University and explains the problems of the uranium-thorium analysis of reprecipitated calcium-carbonate skins related to rock art.
  • 646
  • 01 Dec 2021
Topic Review
NDT Methodology for Copper-Based Artifacts
The great archaeological and artistic value of historic copper-based artifacts from various archaeological sites of Greece results in the restriction or even the prohibition of sampling, settling the need for the employment of non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques. X-ray fluorescence (XRF), fiber optics diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (FORS) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray detector (ESEM-EDX).
  • 618
  • 06 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Assessing Colonial-period Disease Control: Flat Island, Mauritius
Long-distance labor migrations had dire health consequences to both immigrants and host populations. Focusing on the quarantine station on Flat Island, Mauritius, this study analyzes a historical social setting and natural environment that were radically altered due to the implementation of health management.
  • 581
  • 23 May 2022
  • Page
  • of
  • 5