The Paleomorpholigic Conditions of the Formation of the Settlement of Shitkino (Northwest Russia)

Для многих раннесредневековых памятников Северо-Запада Европейской России палеогеографические условия реконструированы недостаточно. При этом географический контекст развития поселений играет важную роль в исторической и экономической жизни людей Средневековья на локальном уровне. Археологический памятник поселение Шниткино расположен в бассейне Западной Двины на западном макросклоне Валдайской возвышенности. Изучаемое поселение находится на берегу озера Шнидкино, через которое насквозь протекает река Торопа. Используя геолого-геоморфологические методы, авторы статьи описали строение озерной террасы и озерно-речной поймы, в которых был найден культурный слой IX–X веков и отдельные археологические артефакты. Седиментационные архивы торфа, озерных, аллювиальных и склоновых отложений, продатированные радиоуглеродным методом, позволили оценить, насколько рельеф раннего Средневековья отличался от современного, и определить возможную функциональность территории во время существования поселения. Выявленные стабильность берега и аккумулятивная динамика озерно-речной системы свидетельствуют о том, что за последние несколько тысяч лет форма берега почти не изменилась. Речные и озерные террасы с похожей динамикой, обнаруживаемые в бассейне реки Торопы, считаются наиболее привлекательными позициями для поселенцев раннего Средневековья. The palaeomorphology of many early medieval monuments in Northwest Russia has not been reconstructed yet. In historical and economic perspective, the geographical location has a great impact on settlement formation and affects people’s lives significantly. The settlement of Shitkino is an archaeological monument situated in the basin of the Western Dvina at the western slope of the Valdai Hills. The settlement of Shitkino is located at the shore of Shnidkino lake, which is traversed by the Toropa River. The authors of the article employ geological and geomorphological analyses to explore the floodplain and its fluvial terraces, to make archaeological finds and to gain evidence of the events of the 9th–10th centuries. The method of radiocarbon dating enabled the scientists to estimate the age of peat sediments, fluvial and slope deposits, to estimate the degree of relief transformation and to tentatively assess the extent of the functionality of the land in medieval times. The accumulated data, such as the structural stability of the shore and the dynamics of the river-lake system show that during the recent thousands of years the shores of the lake have been only insignificantly transformed. It is believed that in the early middle ages people preferred to settle in the basin of the Toropa River.

Mingtepa Monument In Archaeological Research

The article presents the historical issues of the Mingtepa archaeological monument, which is famous in the Fergana Valley. The archaeological study of Mingtepa as well as the scientific analysis of the various archaeological and historian's works on the solution of the archaeological problems of the Fergana Valley will be carried out. Also, in the article, opinions are expressed about the studies that have a special place in the historiography of this archaeological research. In the process of analyzing the historiography of Mingtepa archeology, an attempt was also made to cover the issue of the ancient capital of David . In addition, the data from the research archaeologists who studied this monument are comparative-analyzed, as well as the conclusions of the historiography. The results and prospects of the joint archaeological research carried out by Chinese-Uzbek archaeologists in the territory of Mingtepa today are summarized, and the scientific achievements of these expeditions are observed.

Phenotypic identification of soil bacterial and fungal communities inhabiting an archaeological monument at Augustine University, Ilara Epe, southwest Nigeria

Background: The Sungbo Eredo Monument is an ancient public work with a system of defensive walls and ditches located in Eredo Local Council Development Area of Epe, Lagos State, southwest Nigeria. A huge section of the monument cuts through the Augustine University campus, forming two-sided vertical walls with a deep ridge in-between. The objective of this investigative study is to determine the microbial profile of soil samples from the monument in the University campus. Methodology: Soil samples were collected from the topsoil at a depth of 7.5cm from four randomly selected points along the edge of the monument. The samples were transported to the microbiology laboratory of the Department of Biological Sciences of Augustine University for analysis. Samples were cultured on Nutrient agar (NA) and incubated aerobically for 24-48 hours for bacteria isolation and on Sabouraud’s Dextrose agar (SDA) for 72 hours for fungi isolation. Bacterial colonies on NA were preliminarily identified to genus level by Gram reaction and conventional biochemical test scheme for Gram-positive (catalase, coagulase, starch hydrolysis) and Gram-negative isolates (oxidase, urease test, indole, methyl red, Voges Proskauer and sugar fermentation tests). Fungi colonies on SDA were identified using conventional macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. Antibiotic susceptibility test of the bacterial isolates to selected antibiotics was done using the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: A total of twenty-three bacterial isolates in four genera; Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Cellobiococcus and Micrococcus and nine fungal isolates in three genera; Saccharomyces, Aspergillus and Botrytis were identified from the cultures. The bacterial isolates were sensitive (>50% sensitivity) to only gentamicin and ofloxacin, with 65.2% and 78.3% sensitivity rates respectively, while they were largely resistant to all other antibiotics such as ceftriaxone, erythromycin, cefuroxime, cloxacillin, ceftazidime and augmentin, with resistance rates of 65.2%, 65.2%, 73.9%, 82.6%, 86.9%, 91.3% respectively. Conclusion: The results of this investigative study revealed the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (mainly Gram-positive) and fungi on the archaeological monument of Augustine University, adding to the existing data on microbial spectrum of archaeological monuments that could be useful for unraveling human cultural habits and microbe-related human diseases. However, further studies on molecular identification of these microbial spectrum will be required to ascertain their genetic relatedness and ancestral phylogeny, which will be useful for archaeologists in their study of the Sungbo-Eredo ancestral monument. French title: Identification phénotypique des communautés bactériennes et fongiques du sol habitant un monument archéologique à l'Université Augustine, Ilara Epe, sud-ouest du Nigeria Contexte: Le monument Sungbo Eredo est un ancien ouvrage public doté d'un système de murs défensifs et de fossés situé dans la zone de développement du conseil local d'Eredo à Epe, dans l'État de Lagos, au sud-ouest du Nigéria. Une énorme section du monument traverse le campus de l'Université Augustine, formant des murs verticaux à deux côtés avec une crête profonde entre les deux. L'objectif de cette étude d'investigation est de déterminer le profil microbien d'échantillons de sol provenant du monument du campus universitaire. Méthodologie: Des échantillons de sol ont été prélevés dans la couche arable à une profondeur de 7,5 cm à partir de quatre points choisis au hasard le long du bord du monument. Les échantillons ont été transportés au laboratoire de microbiologie du Département des sciences biologiques de l'Université Augustine pour analyse. Les échantillons ont été cultivés sur gélose nutritive (NA) et incubés en aérobie pendant 24 à 48 heures pour l'isolement des bactéries et sur gélose au dextrose de Sabouraud's(SDA) pendant 72 heures pour l'isolement des champignons. Les colonies bactériennes sur NA ont été préalablement identifiées au niveau du genre par réaction de Gram et schéma de test biochimique conventionnel pour les isolats Gram-positif (catalase, coagulase, hydrolyse de l'amidon) et Gram-négatif (oxydase, test à l'uréase, indole, rouge de méthyle, Voges Proskauer et sucre essais de fermentation). Les colonies de champignons sur SDA ont été identifiées en utilisant des caractéristiques macroscopiques et microscopiques conventionnelles. Le test de sensibilité aux antibiotiques des isolats bactériens à des antibiotiques sélectionnés a été effectué en utilisant la méthode de diffusion sur disque de Kirby Bauer. Résultats: Un total de vingt-trois isolats bactériens dans quatre genres; Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Cellobiococcus et Micrococcus et neuf isolats fongiques de trois genres; Saccharomyces, Aspergillus et Botrytis ont été identifiés à partir des cultures. Les isolats bactériens étaient sensibles (sensibilité >50%) uniquement à la gentamicine et à l'ofloxacine, avec des taux de sensibilité de 65,2 % et 78,3 % respectivement, alors qu'ils étaient largement résistants à tous les autres antibiotiques comme la ceftriaxone, l'érythromycine, la céfuroxime, la cloxacilline, la ceftazidime et l'augmentine avec des taux de résistance de 65,2%, 65,2%, 73,9%, 82,6%, 86,9%, 91,3% respectivement. Conclusion: Les résultats de cette étude d'investigation ont révélé la présence de bactéries résistantes aux antibiotiques (principalement à Gram positif) et de champignons sur le monument archéologique de l'Université Augustine, ajoutant aux données existantes sur le spectre microbien des monuments archéologiques qui pourraient être utiles pour démêler l'homme. les habitudes culturelles et les maladies humaines liées aux microbes. Cependant, d'autres études sur l'identification moléculaire de ces spectres microbiens seront nécessaires pour déterminer leur parenté génétique et leur phylogénie ancestrale, ce qui sera utile aux archéologues dans leur étude du monument ancestral Sungbo-Eredo.

Burials with Weapons and Horse Bridle of Yuldashevsky Burial Ground in the South Ural Region

The study of the peculiarities of the armament of the Pianobor tribes is an urgent direction of modern archaeological science. The purpose of this article is to isolate and then analyze the sets of weapons for the male burials of the Yuldashevsky burial ground of the Pyanobor archaeological culture of the Early Iron Age. The problem of the study is to reconstruct the nature of the military culture of one local group in the Pianobor society. The novelty of the work is the fact that the totality of weapons in the burial, the weapon set, is considered within the framework of one specific archaeological monument, and not as a whole in terms of culture.The Yuldashevsky burial ground belongs to one of the necropolises of the Pianobor culture, where an increased content of weapons is noted. The occurrence as well as the combination of a certain type of weapon in the burial inventory makes it possible to distinguish weapon sets, as well as to designate popular types of weapons among a specific group of the drunken population. Applying the comparative-historical method, including the method of statistics and chronology, it was possible to focus on the number of weapon sets, their filling with weapons, the time frame of some weapons, and its similarity with the Kara-Abyz set of weapons. As well as the Kara-Abyz, the Pianobor culture inherited a set of weapons characteristics of the Ananyin time. Its indispensable attributes are: a) polearms in the form of spears with small points; b) arrowheads made of different materials ‒ bronze, iron and bone, with the domination of the latter in quiver sets; c) long single-edged blades ‒ combat knives. Despite the relative proximity of the habitat of the Pianobor tribes to the Sarmatian world, the latter did not have a significant impact on the armament complex of the Pyanobor tribes. Moreover, in the drunken environment, its own standardized weapon set was formed, represented by various variations in the mutual occurrence of a bow, spear and a combat knife. Keywords: Pianobor archaeological culture, weapons, burial ground, military burials, early Iron Age, Yuldashevsky burial ground, southern Urals

Using Geophysics to Characterize a Prehistoric Burial Mound in Romania

A geophysical investigation was carried across the M3 burial mound from Silvașu de Jos —Dealu Țapului, a tumuli necropolis in western Romania, where the presence of the Yamnaya people was certified archaeologically. For characterizing the inner structure of the mound, two conventional geophysical methods have been used: a geomagnetic survey and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). The results allowed the mapping of the central features of the mound and the establishment of the relative stratigraphy of the mantle, which indicated at least two chronological phases. Archaeological excavations performed in the central part of the mound accurately validated the non-invasive geophysical survey and offered a valuable chronological record of the long-forgotten archaeological monument. Geophysical approaches proved to be an invaluable instrument for the exploration of the monument and suggest a fast constructive tool for the investigation of the entire necropolis which currently has a number of distinct mounds.

Własność znalezisk – wybrane zagadnienia związane z cywilnoprawną sytuacją poszukiwacza zabytków

Ownership of finds – selected issues related to the civil law situation of a monument finder The subject of this paper is the analysis of the civil law situation applying to those who acquire a find in Poland (i.e. finders). Legislators have differentiated the civil and legal situation of a finder depending on whether the find is, in particular, a historical monument or an archaeological monument. The regulations governing the ownership of finds have a direct impact on the level of their legal protection. This applies especially to archaeological monuments owned by the State Treasury. The elimination of risks associated with the illegal export and transfer of ownership of archaeological artefacts acquired as a result of an illegal search should result not only from regulations of an administrative and legal nature, which are discussed in the article, but also to ensure the security of the trade in cultural goods by regulating the functioning of the art market in Poland.

Building of the XVII century from the Volyntsevo settlement in the middle Sejm riverside

The article is devoted to the results of archaeological excavations of the Volyntsevo hillfort in 1981. The beginning of the study of this archaeological monument began at the beginning of the 20th century by the local landowner A. Shechkov. Part of the archaeological collection was transferred to the Kursk Museum. In 1948, research on the site was carried out under the leadership of V. Dovzhenko. In the northwestern part of the rampart, a rampart was cut. In 1981, O. Sukhobokov continued excavations of the hillfort. Their goal was to clarify the design features of the floor shaft. For this, two excavations were laid – the first in the center, the second in the northeastern part of the rampart. As a result of the research, part of the rock outgrowth was discovered, consisting of untreated cobblestones of local quartzite. It was located near the shaft, but it was not structurally connected with it. The stratigraphy of the rampart in excavation II indicates that the stone pavement is later than the remains of the rampart’s wooden structure. This construction is an independent archaeological site and, most likely, dates back to the period after the middle of the 13th century. Near the pavement, at a depth of 1.2 – 1.5 m, ground burials were found, made according to the Christian burial rite. This object may be the remains of the stone foundation of a significant structure that perished in a large fire. This is evidenced by a significant amount of ash, ash and burnt clay. It is known from documents that at the beginning of the 17th century, there was a noble estate near the hillfort, which belonged to Andrei Trifonov from the city of Putivl. The main type of planning of the noble small-manor estate was the manor’s yard with outbuildings and peasant houses. A wooden church was located nearby on a hill. The documents of the middle of the 17th century contain information that the church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was located on the territory of the Volyntsevo village, built before 1639 and burned down in 1663. Thus, it can be assumed that the remains of the stone foundation of a wooden church from the early 17th century. It burned down during the fire and was no longer recovered.

Bolshepanyushevo-1 — a new settlement of the Late Bronze Age in the Aleiskaya steppe (lifting collections of ceramics in 2020)

The article publishes materials of the settlement, opened in the vicinity of the village of Bolshepanyushevo in 2020. The archaeological monument is located on the floodplain of the river. Alei, overlapping with a thick layer of river sediments. The most representative collection of finds from collections of fragments of vessels, which were divided into several groups: ceramics of the Irmen and Sargarin-Alekseevsk culture (including the hybrid Irmen-Sargarin), as well as ceramics of the Early Iron Age and uncertain cultural affiliation. The bulk of the material is dated to the final period of the Bronze Age (end of the 2nd millennium BC). Currently, it is an immune organism to the Alei River.