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Heritage
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Unveiling the Past: Multidisciplinary Investigations in Archaeology
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Unveiling the Past: Multidisciplinary Investigations in Archaeology

A special issue of Heritage (ISSN 2571-9408).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 2542

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Carla Bottari

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Istituto Nazionale Di Geofisica E Vulcanologia, Rome, Italy
Interests: archaeoseismology; applied geophysics to archeology; archaeology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue explores the synergistic collaboration of various scientific disciplines in unraveling the mysteries of the past. By integrating expertise from archaeology, geology, applied geophysics, remote sensing, and archaeoseismology, researchers deepen our understanding of ancient civilizations and their material remains. The collection of articles showcases the power of multidisciplinary approaches in shedding new light on archaeological discoveries.

This Special Issue also highlights the significance of geology, applied geophysics, and seismic engineering in archaeological investigations. The integration of these disciplines provides insights into the geological context of archaeological sites, the detection of buried structures, the assessment of seismic risks, and the reconstruction of ancient seismic events. Furthermore, this Special Issue explores the use of geochemistry as a tool for studying ancient thermal sites and to identify buried active faults.

By bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise, this volume demonstrates the value of multidisciplinary investigations in archaeology. The collaborative efforts between various disciplines expand our knowledge, enrich our cultural heritage, and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of ancient civilizations. The articles presented in this Special Issue provide a glimpse into the innovative methodologies, cutting-edge technologies, and interdisciplinary approaches that drive modern archaeological research.

In conclusion, multidisciplinary investigations are indispensable tools in archaeology, helping us uncover the past and reconstruct the history of the territory, including past natural catastrophes such as earthquakes and eruptions. By combining scientific rigor, technological advancements, and community engagement, archaeologists can piece together the puzzle of our heritage, unraveling stories buried in the sands of time. This holistic approach ensures that our collective legacy is understood, appreciated, and preserved for future generations.

Dr. Carla Bottari
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Heritage is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • archaeoseismology
  • geophysics applied to archaeology
  • geoarchaeology
  • historical earthquake damage
  • site effects
  • seismic vulnerability
  • earthquake resilience
  • cultural heritage conservation

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

40 pages, 31280 KiB  
Article
Integrated Shallow Geophysical Surveys at Two Caddo Period Archaeological Sites within the Limits of a Water Reservoir in Northeastern Texas, USA
by Hector R. Hinojosa-Prieto, Allen M. Rutherford and Jesse D. Brown
Heritage 2024, 7(8), 4045-4084; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7080191 (registering DOI) - 31 Jul 2024
Viewed by 243
Abstract
The newly constructed Bois d’Arc Lake Reservoir in Fannin County, Texas, USA, inevitably flooded a large ground surface area (67.34 km2) when the reservoir began impounding water in April 2021. Inside this (now) flooded area, land-based archaeological data recovery investigations discovered [...] Read more.
The newly constructed Bois d’Arc Lake Reservoir in Fannin County, Texas, USA, inevitably flooded a large ground surface area (67.34 km2) when the reservoir began impounding water in April 2021. Inside this (now) flooded area, land-based archaeological data recovery investigations discovered and documented several archaeological sites, now registered in the state of Texas; though, only two neighboring sites, namely, 41FN178 and 41FN244, are examined here. The first phase of archaeological testing at these sites included shovel testing, test unit excavations, and geoarchaeological trenching that yielded archaeological artifacts suggesting that Middle Caddo Indian peoples (AD 1200–1400) might have occupied this landscape. As the sites were recognized before the reservoir’s impoundment phase, this merited a non-invasive, non-destructive, high-resolution near-surface geophysical study to map strategic areas within sites 41FN178 and 41FN244 that might yield potential shallow targets of archaeological context. The adopted geophysical survey comprised 3D direct current electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) and land horizontal magnetic gradiometry (HMG), each mapping a total surface area of 2133 and 15,640 m2, respectively. The combination of 3D ERI and land HMG surveys was instrumental in rapidly mapping the horizontal and vertical extent of shallowly buried anomalies within a large area prior to the completion of the dam and the beginning of water impoundment. Based on the geophysical insights, the outline of several Caddo houses with functional internal and external features (e.g., burnt cooking surfaces, storage pits, refuse pits, fired soil, ditches, a dump site, and a compound fence) are thought to exist within the uppermost 2 m of the Quaternary stratigraphy at both sites. At site 41FN244, 3D ERI found numerous resistive anomalies surrounding a conductive anomaly, collectively interpreted as a group of post-holes surrounding the remains of a Caddo house’s inner clay floor. It also found a cluster of several resistive anomalies interpreted as midden or middens. The HMG survey carried across areas from which archaeological test units also yielded positive findings, at sites 41FN178 and 41FN244, identified numerous scattered monopolar and dipolar anomalies interpreted as post-molds of Caddo houses, compound enclosures or fences, and adjacent middens. Archaeological excavations guided by the geophysical results yielded significant cultural material and post-mold features at site 244, which validate the geophysical interpretation in a preliminary context. Additionally, several dispersed magnetic anomalies are thought to be shallowly buried hearths, burn cooking surfaces, storage pits, and ditches. The mapped magnetic anomalies agree with the location and distribution of previously found archaeological artifacts and the extent of resistive and conductive resistivity anomalies. Follow-up archaeological excavations of these geophysical anomalies have preliminarily confirmed interpretations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Unveiling the Past: Multidisciplinary Investigations in Archaeology)
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21 pages, 4650 KiB  
Article
Unraveling the Seismic Source in Archaeoseismology: A Combined Approach on Local Site Effects and Geochemical Data Integration
by Carla Bottari, Patrizia Capizzi and Francesco Sortino
Heritage 2024, 7(1), 427-447; https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7010021 - 18 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1613
Abstract
Archaeoseismological research often deals with two unresolved questions: the magnitude and level of damage caused by past earthquakes, and the precise location of the seismic source. We propose a comprehensive review of an integrated approach that combines site effects with the analysis of [...] Read more.
Archaeoseismological research often deals with two unresolved questions: the magnitude and level of damage caused by past earthquakes, and the precise location of the seismic source. We propose a comprehensive review of an integrated approach that combines site effects with the analysis of geochemical data in the field of archaeoseismology. This approach aims to identify active buried faults potentially related to the causative seismic source and provide insights into earthquake parameters. For each integrated method, we report the foundational principles, delineation of theoretical field procedures, and exemplification through two case studies. Site effects analysis in archaeoseismology assumes a pivotal role in unraveling historical seismic occurrences. It enables estimating the earthquake magnitude, assessing the seismotectonic patterns, and determining the resulting damage level. Valuable data related to earthquake parameters can be extracted by analyzing vibration frequencies and acceleration measurements from structures within archaeological sites. This information is instrumental in characterizing seismic events, evaluating their impact on ancient structures, and enhancing our understanding of earthquake hazards within the archaeological context. Geochemical investigations supply indispensable tools for identifying buried active faults. The analysis of fluids and gases vented in proximity to faults yields valuable insights into their nature, activity, and underlying mechanisms. Faults often manifest distinctive geochemical imprints, enabling the differentiation between tectonically active and volcanically related fault systems. The presence of specific gases can further serve as indicators of the environmental conditions surrounding these fault networks. Integrating site effects analysis and geochemical investigations within archaeoseismological research is crucial to improving our understanding of unknown past earthquakes. Moreover, it enhances the seismic hazard assessment of the region under study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Unveiling the Past: Multidisciplinary Investigations in Archaeology)
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