scholarly journals Tackling erosion-accumulation events in a moat sequence from a unique Ottoman memorial place (Szigetvár, SW Hungary) using 14C and geoarcheological data

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sándor Gulyás ◽  
Andrea Torma ◽  
Norbert Pap ◽  
Pál Fodor ◽  
Máté Kitanics ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Historical Records ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Exact Location ◽  
Site Use ◽  
Age Model ◽  
Northern Side

AbstractOne of the most influential rulers of the sixteenth century, Sultan Suleyman I, passed away and was buried temporarily near the fortress of Szigetvár in SW Hungary in 1566. Later, a memorial place was erected on the site in the second half of the sixteenth century. The complex was surrounded by a palisade system and a moat on its northern side. The site was fully destroyed in 1692, and the exact location vanished with time. Recent investigations of historical sources complemented by geophysical, archeological, and geoarcheological investigations managed to identify the location of the site, and probe corings revealed the moat system. This study presents the results of complex chronological, sedimentological, and geochemical investigations done on the sediments accumulated in the moat. Based on geoarcheological data, two major changes could have been noted in the nature of the deposit marking erosion and transportation of soil from the banks of the moat. Elevated concentrations of Fe and K, and high MS values mark the effects of fire on the deposit and accumulation of flue ash. A rise in heavy metals in these horizons is attributable to anthropogenic sources related to the destruction of the site. Chronological data comes from dateable artifacts reposited and 14C dates of charred cereal seeds. A Bayesian age model built using 14C ages constrained by written historical data on site use helped us to determine the age of moat construction and the referred erosion-accumulation events. The older event was dated around 1670, which is in line with historical records of the first siege of Szigetvár. The second event postdates 1684 and thus must correspond to the time of the site’s final siege and later destruction.

scholarly journals Splash dams in the Krkonoše Mts: from the history to their possible use

Geografie ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 125 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-317
Author(s):  
Eva Šádková ◽  
Bohumír Janský
Keyword(s):  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Water Retention ◽  
Water Retention Capacity ◽  
Historical Records ◽  
Water Reservoirs ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Retention Capacity ◽  
Small Water ◽  
Old Maps ◽  
Runoff Variability

This paper summarizes findings from historical sources and literature dealing with the small water reservoirs (splash dams) in the Krkonoše (Giant) Mts. Based on old maps and historical records in archives and regional museums, this study describes the original causes and period of origin of the splash dams, and deals with their function and their location in the field. Additionally, this paper focuses on the mechanism of log driving in this area to fully understand the entire organized procedure. Up to twenty-four splash dams, built in the Krkonoše Mts mainly in the second half of the sixteenth century, were traced in historical records. At the end, there were given examples of some localities in relation to the possible idea of the restoration of some former small water reservoirs with an effort to gradually increase water retention capacity, and reduce runoff variability in headstream areas.

Commercial Linkages with Central Asia and Iran

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott C. Levi
Keyword(s):  
Seventeenth Century ◽  
Sixteenth Century ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Indian Region ◽  
Maritime Trade ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
The Caucasus ◽  
Commercial System ◽  
Northern India

While it may seem counterintuitive, the increase in Mughal India’s maritime trade contributed to a tightening of overland commercial connections with its Asian neighbors. The primary agents in this process were “Multanis,” members of any number of heavily capitalized, caste-based family firms centered in the northwest Indian region of Multan. The Multani firms had earlier developed an integrated commercial system that extended across the Punjab, Sind, and much of northern India. In the middle of the sixteenth century, Multanis first appear in historical sources as having established their own communities in Central Asia and Iran. By the middle of the seventeenth century, at any given point in time, a rotating population of some 35,000 Indian merchants orchestrated a network of communities that extended across dozens, if not hundreds, of cities and villages in Afghanistan, Central Asia, and Iran, stretching up the Caucasus and into Russia.

scholarly journals Environmental Risk Assessment of Petroleum Activities in Surface Sediments, Suez Gulf, Egypt

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 473
Author(s):  
Magda M. Abou El-Safa ◽  
Mohamed Gad ◽  
Ebrahem M. Eid ◽  
Ashwaq M. Alnemari ◽  
Mohammed H. Almarshadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Surface Sediment ◽  
Surface Sediments ◽  
Surf Zone ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Suez Gulf

The present study focuses on the risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in aquatic ecosystems by evaluating the current situation of heavy metals in seven locations (North Amer El Bahry, Amer, Bakr, Ras Gharib, July Water Floud, Ras Shokeir, and El Marageen) along the Suez Gulf coast that are well-known representative sites for petroleum activities in Egypt. One hundred and forty-six samples of surface sediments were carefully collected from twenty-seven profiles in the intertidal and surf zone. The hydrochemical parameters, such as pH and salinity (S‰), were measured during sample collection. The mineralogy study was carried out by an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and the concentrations of Al, Mn, Fe, Cr, Cu, Co, Zn, Cd, and Pb were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectra (ICP-MS). The ecological risks of heavy metals were assessed by applying the contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (RI). The mineralogical composition mainly comprised quartz, dolomites, calcite, and feldspars. The average concentrations of the detected heavy metals, in descending order, were Al > Fe > Mn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Zn > Ni > Co > Cd. A non-significant or negative relationship between the heavy metal concentration in the samples and their textural grain size characteristics was observed. The coastal surface sediment samples of the Suez Gulf contained lower concentrations of heavy metals than those published for other regions in the world with petroleum activities, except for Al, Mn, and Cr. The results for the CF, EF, and Igeo showed that Cd and Pb have severe enrichment in surface sediment and are derived from anthropogenic sources, while Al, Mn, Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn originate from natural sources. By comparison, the PLI and RI results indicate that the North Amer El Bahry and July Water Floud are considered polluted areas due to their petroleum activities. The continuous monitoring and assessment of pollutants in the Suez Gulf will aid in the protection of the environment and the sustainability of resources.

scholarly journals Little Akaki River sediment enrichment with heavy metals, pollution load and potential ecological risks in downstream, Central Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deshu Mamo Mekuria ◽  
Alemnew Berhanu Kassegne ◽  
Seyoum Leta Asfaw
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
River Sediment ◽  
Addis Ababa ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Sediment Quality ◽  
Contamination Factor ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Ecological Risks ◽  
Pollution Load ◽  
Akaki River

Abstract Addis Ababa City’s river ecosystem is under extreme pressure as a result of inappropriate practices of dumping domestic and industrial wastes; thus, threatening its ability to maintain basic ecological, social and economic functions. Little Akaki River which drains through Addis Ababa City receives inorganic and organic pollutants from various anthropogenic sources. Most of inorganic pollutants such as toxic heavy metals released into the river are eventually adsorbed and settle in the sediment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the enrichment levels, pollution load and ecological risks of selected heavy metals (Zn, Cr, Cd and Pb) using various indices. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in Little Akaki River sediment were: Zn (78.96 ± 0.021–235.2 ± 0.001 mg/kg); Cr (2.19 ± 0.014–440.8 ± 0.003 mg/kg); Cd (2.09 ± 0.001–4.16 ± 0.0001 mg/kg) and Pb (30.92 ± 0.018–596.4 ± 0.066 mg/kg). Enrichment factor values indicated that sediments were moderate to significantly enriched with Zn and Cr; moderate to very highly enriched with Pb, and very highly enriched in all sampled sites with Cd. Geo-accumulation index and contamination factor values indicated that the sediments were moderate to very highly contaminated with toxic Cd and Pb. The decreasing order of pollution load index (PLI) in downstream was: (S9) > (S4) > (S8) > (S3) > (S6) > (S10) > (S5) > (S2) > (S7) > (S1). PLI and hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that the highest pollution load occurred in the lower course of the river (S9) which may be due to metals inputs from anthropogenic sources. The ecological risk (RI = 350.62) suggested that the contaminated Little Akaki River sediment can pose considerable ecological risks of pollution. The concentrations of Zn, Cr, Cd and Pb in Little Akaki River sediment surpassed eco-toxicological guideline limits of USEPA (threshold effect concentration) and CCME (Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines). Thus, the contaminated sediments can pose adverse biological effects on sediment dwelling organisms.

scholarly journals Environmental impact of the Midia Port - Black Sea (Romania), on the coastal sediment quality

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 174-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irina Catianis ◽  
Constantin Ungureanu ◽  
Luca Magagnini ◽  
Elisa Ulazzi ◽  
Tiziana Campisi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Sediment Quality ◽  
Industrial Wastes ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Water Runoff ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of potential pollution sources, mainly from the upstream anthropogenic sources and port-related activities. The in-vestigated area covered a wide range of anthropogenic im-pacts (e.g., industrial wastes, storm water runoff, acciden-tal oil spills, intentional discharges and shipping activities). The quality of water and Sediments was assessed us-ing Standard methods, as physical-chemical parameters, chemistry and biology (microbiology, ecotoxicology) aim-ing to figure the level of pollution and the effect of port-related activities. Seawater quality results agreed generally with environmental Standards. Though, in some samples the concentrations of sulphates (mg/1) and heavy metals (μg/1), as B, As and Se exceeded the recommended lim-its, without posing a serious environmental concern. Most of the surface sediment samples contain critical levels of hydrocarbons (C>12), (mg/kg), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (ng/g) and polychlorobiphenyls (ng/g). For some heavy metals (mg/kg), exchangeable concentrations were found to be very close or above the regulations. The signifi-cance of this study is incontestable taking into account the lack of previous relevant historical data of this area. In this sense, it was possible to indicate, in general, good environmental conditions, despite the industrial and concentrated local port-related activities in the investigated area.

Historical Records and Collections

2019 ◽  
pp. 18-33
Author(s):  
Emily W. B. Russell Southgate
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Historical Documents ◽  
Historical Records ◽  
The Past ◽  
Natural History Collections ◽  
Government Documents ◽  
Historical Photographs ◽  
General Explanation

This chapter introduces the use of historical documents and other forms of information that depend on written explanation, such as natural history collections and historical photographs. After a general explanation of the unique values of these data for establishing historical baselines and trajectories, it gives a brief introduction to the methods used to assess the validity of the sources, including consideration of various biases that are integral to written documents. These include a consideration of scale. The chapter then describes a variety of sources, including historical data, maps, photographs, government documents, and plant and animal collections, with examples of how each has been used to establish some condition or process in the past.

scholarly journals GEOCHEMISTRY AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METALS IN SURFACE SOIL IN AL-HAWIJA, SOUTHWEST KIRKUK

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (2E) ◽  
pp. 36-61
Author(s):  
Ahmed Al-Obeidi
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Soil Pollution ◽  
Ecological Risk ◽  
Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽  
Surface Soil ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Size Fraction ◽  
Contamination Factor ◽  
Pollution Load Index ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources

Soil pollution adversely affects the safety and health of the human being. The main objective of the study is to determine the concentrations of heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn) in surface soil in Al-Hawija, southwestern Kirkuk. Twenty-one samples were collected and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to measure the content of heavy metals and assess the soil pollution by using the contamination factor, degree of contamination, geoaccumulation index, pollution load index and ecological risk index (RI). The results indicate that there is high pollution by lead, chromium and copper (78.8, 87.4 and 53.8 mg/kg) respectively, in industrial areas due to anthropogenic sources with the presence of significant ecological risk (Er) of the lead (116) in site S7, due to its high concentrations, while size fraction analysis indicated that all heavy metals are concentrated in the fine parts as a result of adsorption processes by clay minerals.

Extending Metadata Standards for Historical GIS Research

2016 ◽  
pp. 1243-1265
Author(s):  
Shelley Burleson ◽  
Alberto Giordano
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Information Systems ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Historical Gis ◽  
First Case ◽  
Metadata Standards ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Holocaust ◽  
Definitive Solution

This chapter proposes a structure for handling commonly observed uncertainties in geo-historical data, using as case studies two historical geographical information systems (HGIS) projects that interweave historical research with the geography of genocide. The first case involves the ghettoization of Budapest's Jews during the Holocaust in the second half of 1944. The more recent work, and the second case, covers the Armenian genocide spanning most of WWI and several years afterwards. The authors suggest using existing metadata standards as one way of handling the inherent uncertainties of geo-historical sources. While not a definitive solution, they argue that such an approach provides a starting point and a platform to conceptually frame the use of geo-historical data in HGIS.

scholarly journals Has the Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata) Declined in Western Ottawa, Ontario?

2011 ◽  
Vol 125 (3) ◽  
pp. 220
Author(s):  
David C. Seburn ◽  
Kari Gunson
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Historical Records ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Median Distance ◽  
Chorus Frogs ◽  
Historical Sites ◽  
Chorus Frog

To determine whether the Western Chorus Frog has declined in western Ottawa, we conducted auditory surveys at historical locations as well as at various other wetlands. Western Chorus Frogs were detected at 12 of 18 historical locations. Wetland habitat remained at all historical locations where the species was not detected. There was no difference in the year of historical records for sites where Western Chorus Frogs were (median 1987.5) and were not (median 1987.5) detected. In the present study, Western Chorus Frogs were also detected at 30 locations where they had not been previously reported. Historical sites where Western Chorus Frogs were not detected were not significantly farther away from known Western Chorus Frog sites (median distance: 2.2 km) than historical sites where Western Chorus Frogs were detected (median distance: 1.4 km). Land use variables for historical sites where Western Chorus Frogs were and were not detected did not vary significantly at any spatial scale from 0.5 to 2.0 km. Western Chorus Frogs were detected in areas with up to 50% forest cover and up to 86% agricultural cover at the 1.0-km radius. The lack of historical data makes it difficult to assess the current status of the Western Chorus Frog in western Ottawa. The species may have declined, remained approximately the same (by shifting to different breeding sites), or even increased its distribution (by colonizing additional sites).

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