Deutsches Archäologisches Institut

The lack of well-dated, high-resolution records from the Uzbekistan piedmont limits our understanding of Holocene climate dynamics, land surface processes, and human-environment interactions in drylands. Although simulations suggest future increased precipitation, models also show considerable discrepancies. In this context, Holocene climate and vegetation reconstructions become crucial to improve model reliability and access climate change consequences on human societies. This study presents the first Holocene-scale, multi-proxy palaeoenvironmental reconstructions from Lake Fazilman, located in the Uzbekistan piedmont area, at the ecotone between steppe and forest. By combining sediment (X-ray fluorescence, magnetic susceptibility, spectrocolorimetry), pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, functional trait reconstructions and lipid biomarker analyses, we track hydro-climatic variability, vegetation dynamics, and land-use patterns over the past 10,000 years. Based on quantitative reconstructions locally calibrated, climate ensemble model captures both long-term aridification trends and centennial-scale climate events, including two tipping points at 8.2 ka and 4.2 ka BP driving steppe/juniper woodland alternations under moisture control. These climatic fluctuations are assessed in the context of the Bronze Age socio-environmental transition and the spatial overlap of the proto-urban Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex and pastoral Andronovo cultural zones. Evidence of early human impact appears after 4000 cal yr BP, marked by disturbance-adapted taxa and geochemical shifts, followed by an increase in pastoral indicators around 650 cal yr BP. Despite a precipitation decline during the Bronze Age, climate alone cannot fully explain the decline of the Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex. By combining climate-sensitive proxies and land-use indicators, our findings offer new insights into drylands ecosystem resilience and the vulnerability of past societies, informing future responses to environmental change.

TPS4207 Background: An unmet medical need remains in patients (pts) with HER2+ gastric or GEJ cancer. HER2 is a validated target in up to 20% of pts with gastric or GEJ cancer. The KEYNOTE-811 trial demonstrated that adding pembro to trastuzumab and chemo improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) versus placebo for first-line treatment of pts with HER2+ gastric or GEJ cancer with a PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥1 (Janjigian Y et al. N Engl J Med. 391;1360:2024). In the DESTINY-Gastric03 trial, first-line combinations involving T-DXd, a HER2-directed antibody-drug conjugate, and fluoropyrimidine (5-FU or capecitabine [CAPE]) ± pembro showed acceptable safety and encouraging efficacy in pts with HER2+ gastric or GEJ cancer, including pts with CPS < 1 (Janjigian Y et al. Ann Oncol . 35;S878:2024). Building on this evidence, the phase 3 DESTINY-Gastric05 trial aims to bring a potentially improved platinum-free treatment approach for all pts with HER2+ gastric or GEJ cancer. Methods: DESTINY-Gastric05 (NCT06731478) is an open-label, randomized, multicenter, phase 3 global trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of T-DXd in combination with 5-FU (or CAPE) + pembro versus standard-of-care chemo with trastuzumab + pembro as first-line treatment in pts with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic centrally confirmed HER2+ (immunohistochemistry [IHC] 3+ or IHC 2+/in situ hybridization+) gastric or GEJ cancer with a CPS ≥1. Pts must have ≥1 RECIST v1.1 measurable lesion, a left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50%, and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1. Approximately 576 pts will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive: T-DXd 5.4 mg/kg + either 5-FU or CAPE + pembro (arm M1); or trastuzumab + platinum-based chemo (either cisplatin + 5-FU or oxaliplatin + CAPE) + pembro (arm M2). The primary efficacy endpoint is PFS based on blinded independent central review (BICR), and the key secondary endpoint is OS. Other secondary endpoints include overall response rate, duration of response, and time to response per RECIST v1.1 assessed by BICR and investigator. Safety and tolerability will also be assessed. An exploratory cohort (approximately 150 pts) will evaluate the efficacy and safety of T-DXd in combination with 5-FU or CAPE versus trastuzumab plus standard-of-care chemo in pts with PD-L1 CPS < 1. Clinical trial information: NCT06731478 .

In the context of the current fire intensification associated to climate aridification, this study explores Holocene fire regimes in the foothills of the Pamir-Alai Range (Uzbekistan) through macro-charcoal analysis of sediment cores from Lake Fazilman and the Ogshagil wetland, spanning the past 11000 years. In addition to their novelty, the results reveal distinct fire phases driven by both climatic fluctuations and human activities. During the early Holocene (12000-5000 cal. yr BP), fire activity was primarily climate-driven, with higher frequencies during arid phases. A significant shift occurred around 4000-3000 cal. yr BP, with synchronous fire trends at both sites suggesting increased anthropogenic influence linked to agro-pastoral practices of the Oxus Civilization, the Andronovo Cultures and the Handmade Painted Ware Cultures. Fire frequency declined during periods of intensified agricultural practices but increased again in later centuries, likely influenced by shifts in land use and socio-economic dynamics. Over the past 500 years, a rise in fire activity and woody plant combustion, likely influenced by post-medieval pastoral land use and firewood transportation, suggests intensified human impact. This study provides new insights into the interplay between climate, vegetation, human activity and fire in shaping Central Asia's steppe landscapes.

Nach der Fertigstellung der fachlichen Skripte auf Basis der ausgewählten Lernziele habe ich mit der Erstellung des eigentlichen Online-Kurses begonnen, also mit der narrativen Präsentation der Inhalte in Moodle.

Wood-reinforced rubble walls (so called timber-laced masonry), which were widespread in South Arabia and East Africa in the architecture of the first millennium BC, can be easily reconstructed in terms of their wall structure. They were mostly used for the construction of multi-story buildings, as evidenced by ancient sources. However, what has been lacking until now are static analyses of the load-bearing systems, which could provide information about how the wall systems and their individual components functioned. In Yeha, in the Ethiopian highlands, the Grat Be’al Gibri palace, which was equipped with such a wall system, is being investigated as part of an Ethiopian–German archaeological research project. This is the largest known palace-like structure from the early first millennium BC in South Arabia and East Africa. The special feature of the construction of its walls is that the beams integrated into the masonry were installed exclusively horizontally. There are many indications that this must have been a multi-story building, even though only parts of the ground floor have survived. Based on its virtual three-dimensional reconstruction, investigations of two representative wall elements in the supporting structure will be carried out using the finite element method under consideration of material uncertainties and by applying various failure mechanisms of the present structural components. The load resulting from multiple factors is applied purely vertically, and the masonry is defined as a homogeneous material, taking into account uncertain material parameters. The numerical simulations show that the variation in wood parameters has very little influence on the result and that a multi-story building was feasible with the present wall constructions. It can be concluded from the carrying reserves that an exceptional load must have caused the system failure. This is consistent with the fact, that the building was completely destroyed by a devastating fire in ancient times. By this interdisciplinary collaboration and by using modern simulation techniques, key questions in archaeology and building history can be answered and assumptions can be confirmed or refuted. Even if it is not certain that the ancient builders fully exploited the structural potential of the wall construction presented here to its limits, it is certain that they were able to develop highly efficient building structures and create impressive architecture through experience and the transmission of knowledge. Further research can now follow based on these findings.