Curation of the John and Phil Palmquist Archaeological Collection

The 2018 SAA statement encouraging collaboration between archaeologists and “responsible and responsive stewards” included recommendations epitomizing decades of established practice at the University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA), a research center housing the State Archaeological Repository of Iowa. At the time the SAA statement was published, OSA staff were actively implementing a grant supporting transfer to the State Repository of the John and Phil Palmquist Archaeological Collection. This grant was designed to provide hands-on research experience for undergraduate students interested in archaeology and collections management while recording improved site locational data and artifact specific documentation, including on relatively rare (for the area) red pipestone artifacts. Although modest by some standards, the Palmquist Collection includes 860 artifacts from 26 locations recorded through 40 years of surface survey by the family in a portion of Iowa that is rarely the focus of professional archaeologists. This article provides a case study of responsible archaeological practice implementing SAA recommendations, including treating collector-collaborators with respect, encouraging collector assistance in the recording of finds, capturing research data from a private collection, and facilitating curation of privately owned materials. We include brief consideration of the impact of the Palmquist Collection on the understanding of southwestern Iowa archaeology.

Detection of Archaeological Surface Ceramics Using Deep Learning Image-Based Methods and Very High-Resolution UAV Imageries

Mapping surface ceramics through systematic pedestrian archaeological survey is considered a consistent method to recover the cultural biography of sites within a micro-region. Archaeologists nowadays conduct surface survey equipped with navigation devices counting, documenting, and collecting surface archaeological potsherds within a set of plotted grids. Recent advancements in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and image processing analysis can be utilised to support such surface archaeological investigations. In this study, we have implemented two different artificial intelligence image processing methods over two areas of interest near the present-day village of Kophinou in Cyprus, in the Xeros River valley. We have applied a random forest classifier through the Google Earth Engine big data cloud platform and a Single Shot Detector neural network in the ArcGIS Pro environment. For the first case study, the detection was based on red–green–blue (RGB) high-resolution orthophotos. In contrast, a multispectral camera covering both the visible and the near-infrared parts of the spectrum was used in the second area of investigation. The overall results indicate that such an approach can be used in the future as part of ongoing archaeological pedestrian surveys to detect scattered potsherds in areas of archaeological interest, even if pottery shares a very high spectral similarity with the surface.

Uncovering the Islamic Governmental Citadel of Shahdezh in Isfahan, Iran

The magnificent architectural complex known as Shahdezh Citadel is a defensive compound with an area of over 15 ha, sitting atop Soffeh Mountain, close to the city of Isfahan, Iran. It is a unique historical complex due to its majesty, impregnability, and strategic significance, however, studies on the Citadel are limited to a few historical documents and reports on its visible relics. It is for this reason that the present authors began archaeological investigations at this site in the summer of 2004. The main aim of the research was to determine the distribution and function of the architectural remains, as well as the construction and usage periods of the huge complex. To this end, topographic maps were prepared, followed by systematic surface survey and excavation of parts of the castle that were deemed most important. The findings of this research strongly suggest that the Shahdezh Castle was originally constructed in the Sassanid era (224–651 AD) and was later restored and reused by Saljuq rulers (1037–1194 AD) in the Islamic period. Its existence as a governmental citadel located near the Saljuq capital of Isfahan strengthens the authors’ proposition that Saljuq kings settled the royal family at the Shahdezh Citadel and ruled over the country from there.

IMPACT OF GOLD MINING ON FLORA: THE CASE OF THE SISSENGUE GOLD MINE (NORTHERN COTE DIVOIRE)

This study was initiated to contribute to the sustainable management of biodiversity in mining sites in Cote dIvoire. Its objective is to determine the impacts of gold mining activities on the flora of the Sissengue gold mine located in the department of Tengrela in northern Cote dIvoire. The flora inventory was conducted along a 500 m transect combined with the surface survey and roving inventory methods. The surface survey method consisted of delimiting a 25 m x 25 m (400 m2) plot at the end of each transect. In total, nine (09) types of land use were identified in the site, namely annual crops, perennial crops, open forests, forest galleries, tree savannahs, shrub savannahs, burned areas, lakes or water reservoirs, and locality. The floristic inventories carried out in seven (07) types of land occupations allowed the identification of 207 plant species distributed among 155 genera and 61 families. In addition, thirteen (13) species with special ecological status and seven (07) species included in the IUCN red list, four of which are vulnerable. However, the floristic diversity is low in all plant formations with an average of 1.91. The shrubby savannahs record the highest densities with 1705 stems/ha while the forest galleries and open forests record the highest values of basal area, with respectively 37.2 m2/ha and 28.1 m2/ha. These vegetation formations are disturbed by the mines gold mining activities. Efforts to conserve areas dedicated to biodiversity conservation must be a priority for mining sites in Cote dIvoire.

Geophysical search for fragments of the Sterlitamak meteorite

Relevance is determined by the fact that meteorites are of great importance for the direct study of the substance of the Universe, therefore, when new meteorites fall, maximum efforts are made to detect them and study the conditions of the fall. The purpose of the work is to further study the meteorite crater and search for large fragments of the Sterlitamak meteorite not found at the first stage of study using geophysical methods. The story of the fall and searches for the main fragment of the Sterlitamak meteorite, which fell on August 17, 1990 at 23 h 25 min, on the field of the Sterlitamak state farm is described. When it fell, a crater with a diameter of 10 m and a depth of 4 m was formed. The fall was accompanied by a bright glow and thunderous rumbles. A glow was observed over the crater in the dark. A high-speed searching for the meteorite was organized by collecting meteorite debris around the crater. At the same time, a mine detector was used. The crater was excavated with an excavator to a depth of 18–20 m. Fragments weighing 6.6; 3.06; 0.875; 0.363 kg were found. A year later, the main body weighing 315 kg was accidentally found in the dumps. Chemical analysis of the substance showed that it is an iron-nickel meteorite, 98% of the thickness are the minerals kamacite, tenite and schreibersite. Results. In 2014–2015, the authors carried out magnetic surveying around the crater and on the ice of the lake, which was formed at the excavation site, in order to search for fragments of the meteorite, which were probably missed at the initial stage. Maps of the magnetic field and terrain of the crater are given. Magnetic anomalies are identified, which are presumably associated with new fragments of the meteorite. The probable depths of the meteorite fragments are 2–4 m. In-depth sections of the magnetization for these anomalies obtained by the method of magnetic tomography, are given, as well as the results of a surface survey of the dump area using a metal detector. Weakly magnetic samples were found containing sprayed metal and metal balls with a diameter of 0.5–1.0 mm. These samples originally formed a zone of impact metamorphism, which was destroyed by excavation operations. It is shown that the territory is promising for searching for new large fragments of the meteorite and studying the processes of impact metamorphism. It is planned to further study the crater by means of electrical exploration and GPR sounding.

Systematic and plant geography analysis of Badénou forest (Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire)

This study was initiated to contribute to the sustainable management of the Badénou classified forest. Its objective was to contribute to a better knowledge of the flora of this classified forest and, beyond that, to provide details on the distribution of species on the scale of Côte d'Ivoire. Surface survey methods and itinerant inventories were adopted during this work in 30 plots, 25 of which were set aside for post-cultural fallow. A total of 241 species were recorded throughout the massif, divided into 184 genera and 53 families. The botany inventories in all parts of the forest helped identify 241 species have been recorded in Badénou forest during field investigations, distributed among 183 genera and 53 families. Among those species, 162 (67.22%), 12 (4.98%), 10 (4.15%) and 10 (4.15%) are phanerophytes, therophytes, geophytes and hemicryptophytes, respectively. 34 species (14.11%) are lianas. Most species are dispersed by endozoochory (108 species 44.40%), either bear small, fleshy fruits that are dispersed by animals, either by endozoochory (106 species = 43.98%). Phytochory analysis shows relevant proportion of widespread species (96 species = 39.83%) compared to endemic guineo-congolian species (44 species = 18.26%). 5 species (2.07%) are guineo-congolian species that are endemic from West Africa, among which only one was endemic from Côte d’Ivoire. Those proportions indicate that the forest under study is included in dry rainforest sensu Guillaumet & Adjanohoun, and match with the widespread guineo-congolian–soudano-zambezian zone defined by White & Edwards. Unfortunately, this forest is still under enormous human pressure. Conservation efforts for endemic, rare and endangered species and the classified forest itself must be a priority. La présente étude a été initiée pour contribuer à la gestion durable de la forêt classée de Badénou. Elle avait pour objectif de contribuer à une meilleure connaissance de la flore de cette forêt classée et, au-delà, à apporter des précisions sur la répartition des espèces à l’échelle de la Côte d’Ivoire. Les méthodes de relevé de surface et des inventaires itinérants ont été adoptées lors de ces travaux dans 30 parcelles dont 25 dans les jachères postculturales. Au total 241 espèces ont été recensées dans l’ensemble du massif, réparties en 184 genres et 53 familles. Parmi ces espèces, 162 (67,22%) sont des phanérophytes, 12 (4,98%) espèces sont des thérophytes, 10 (4,15%) espèces sont des géophytes et 10 (4,15%) autres sont des hémicryptophytes. 34 espèces (14,11%) sont des lianes. La plupart des espèces sont soit pourvues d’appendices permettant leur dissémination par le vent (108 espèces = 44,40%), soit possedent de petites diaspores charnues dont la dissémination est assurée par les animaux, soit par endozoochorie (106 espèces = 43,98%). L’analyse des phytochories montre une contribution importante des espèces à large répartition (39,83% soit 96 espèces) par rapport aux espèces guinéo-congolaises (18,26%). 5 espèces (2,07%) sont des guinéo-congolaises endémiques de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, dont une est endémiques de Côte d’Ivoire. Ces différentes proportions confirment l’appartenance de la forêt étudiée à la zone de forêt dense sèche de Guillaumet & Adjanohoun, qui correspond à la zone de transitio guinéo congolais-soudano-zambézienne de White & Edwards. Malheureusement, la forêt classée de Badenou subit encore d’énormes pressions anthropiques. Les efforts de conservation des espèces endémiques, rares et menacées d’extinction et de la forêt classée elle-même doivent être une priorité.

Interdisciplinary Research into Iron Metallurgy along the Drava River in Croatia

This volume presents the results of the scientific project ‘Production of Iron Along the Drava River During Antiquity and Middle Ages: Creation and Transfer of Knowledge, Technology and Commodities - TransFER project (IP – 2016 - 06 - 5047)’ funded by the Croatian Science Foundation. The research presented explores the evidence for and nature of iron production in the lowland area of the central Drava River basin in Croatia during late Antiquity and the early Middle Ages, from the turn of the 4th to the early 9th centuries. The wide-ranging methodology of the project features non-destructive archaeological site identification (surface survey and geophysics), archaeological excavation of sites with attested bloomery iron production and processing along with their associated dwelling and settlement structures, as well as experimental archaeology. The record of bloomery iron production and processing is explored via an interdisciplinary approach which examines the technology used as well as the natural resources (bog iron ores, wood and plant remains) exploited in the production process. The results of the research testify to the importance and longevity of iron production in the area of the Drava river valley.