The paper presents the results from the archaeological surveys conducted at Lugalo, focusing on the materiality of the 1891 Hehe tribe ambush on the German Imperial Protection Force (Schutztruppe) of the German colonial empire in Africa. This force was advancing to lay siege to the heavily fortified Hehe capital at Kalenga, commanded by Captain Emil von Zelewski, armed with superior weaponry. Despite all the odds, the Hehe warriors under the general command of Chief Mkwawa and primarily armed with stabbing spears and shields virtually annihilated the German punitive military expedition column. Artefacts linked to the ambush were recovered on the battlefield 130 years after the happening of the historical event. Metallic cartridge cases manufactured by former German government arsenals dominate the assemblage and were fired from Model M71 and M71/84 Mauser rifles. The recovery of unfired Maxim .45-calibre cartridge cases confirms that the German expedition had Maxim machine guns and implies that they were not deployed during the battle, which unfolded unexpectedly, hastily, and in a chaotic manner. From a military perspective, the Hehe chose an ideal location to carry out the ambush. The exact locations of the battle and positions of the Hehe and German troops on the battlefield were identified.
An assemblage deposited at Clare College, Cambridge, England, in 1879-1885 represents the largest archaeologically recovered assemblage from a nineteenth-century Cambridge college. It contains a wide range of material deriving from the corporate collegiate household, including ceramics, glassware, clay tobacco pipes and other materials. This material comprises a mixture of corporate and individual material, which can be interpreted in light of the predominantly young adult male college population, while also shedding light on marginalized groups, particularly women and servants. It also indicates distinctions between collegiate and domestic material culture in Cambridge.
Due to the legislative limits in place during the early nineteenth century women in Finland were unable to operate businesses or hold merchant status. Nonetheless, in certain instances widows assumed responsibility for their deceased husbands' workshops, retaining the autonomy to either remarry or remain widowed. Women, particularly widows, who oversaw town plots were relatively common, and they employed various strategies to earn their own living. This study aims to unravel the complexities of economic agency among middle-class women in the town of Turku, located in southwest Finland, through an examination of case studies involving four town plots and five women. The research employs an interdisciplinary approach, integrating historical written sources and material culture analysed through the methodologies of microarchaeology. The family backgrounds of the studied women varied, as did the strategies they employed to navigate early nineteenth century society.
The Peking-Hankow Railway (PHR), which began construction in 1897 combining Chinese and European resources and efforts, was the first trunk line connecting China from north (Beijing) to south (Hankow, current Wuhan). In this article, we focus on Beijing's territory and the Late Qing Dynasty (up to 1911) to shed light on a past international industrial landscape difficult to trace because of the profound transformations that have occurred in the last 130 years and the fragmentary condition of the material and documentary evidence. We adopt an archaeological approach that prioritizes the physical remains as a source of information and the spatialisation of data from different sources. To overcome data scarcity and fragmentation, we cross-read the available material, visual and written evidence, which is gathered through field recording and archival surveys. The information generated is input into a database built on QGIS, where it is analysed alongside geographical, topographical, geological and hydrological data. The study indicates that PHR in Beijing was modelled by a careful integration of European and Chinese ideas and interests, as well as by topography, natural resources, and both imported and local materials. All of which resulted in a built environment closely connected to its spatial and cultural contexts, and that combined international and regional characteristics.
In the seventeenth century, Antwerp was a major centre of artistic production, home to renowned painters such as Rubens, Van Dyck and Jordaens. However, little is known about the material environment of these artists, particularly from an archaeological perspective. Excavations in one of the city's elite historical residences uncovered a substantial assemblage of late seventeenth-century ceramics and glass, which historical sources link to the household of still-life painter Guilliam de Vries. By analysing this archaeological material alongside De Vries's probate inventory, this study provides insights into the artist's material affluence and the spatial organization of objects within his home. While only one painting by De Vries is known today, re-examining the inventory ultimately offers some new perspectives on his artistic practice.
The Second Carlist War (1872-1876) had important political, economic and social impacts on the Basque Country. It also generated a wide and varied archaeological heritage that has only recently begun to be studied. However, one particular impact has escaped deep study, namely the consequences that siege and bombardment operations had on the nascent urbanism of the Basque villages. Therefore, in this article we analyse this phenomenon through a study of both archaeological and architectural material sources. The empirical part of the article focuses on two case studies from the Basque Country, Portugalete (Biscay) and Laguardia (Araba). Through the use of written sources and archaeological method we synthesize and discuss both villages applying a comparative perspective, before concluding on the wider themes raised in this article.
This article presents the typological and chemical analysis of a small glass assemblage recovered from a, likely Dutch, early 17th-century shipwreck known as Barco de las Pipas, found off the coast of the Province of Montecristi, Dominican Republic. All fifteen glass fragments recovered during underwater excavation were typologically characterised, sampled, and analysed using Electron Micro-Probe Analysis (EMPA) for major and minor elements and Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) for trace elements to determine their provenance. The results of this analysis are compared with existing datasets of 16th- and 17th-century European glass, and their potential raw ingredients and technology are assessed. In addition, arguments are presented to challenge several long-held assumptions concerning glassmaking on the European continent during the seventeenth century, including the poorer quality of some Western European plant ashes, compared to Levantine ones. Finally, the paper highlights the potential of the approach for future studies investigating the nature of transatlantic trade in the Early Modern Period.
This study focuses on kinrande porcelain, primarily produced in Jingdezhen during the Jiajing and Wanli periods, first tracing its techniques and characteristics through Chinese and Japanese literature. It then examines the archaeological discoveries of kinrande in Portugal, the earliest European market for Chinese porcelain. Mostly based on archaeological data, this research provides a comprehensive analysis of 46 sherds of Chinese kinrande porcelain, from seven archaeological sites across Portugal. Spatial and contextual data show kinrande's presence in urban, suburban, and rural contexts, indicating wider circulation than previously assumed and association with affluent households. Material and use-wear evidence suggests these wares served both decorative and functional roles as tableware. These findings are not only crucial for understanding the dissemination of kinrande porcelain in Europe, but they also provide important material evidence of the overseas trade in high-quality Chinese porcelain during the late Ming period. This reflects Portugal's role as a global trading power during the late Ming reign. The everyday use of such rare Chinese porcelain underscores Portugal's economic prosperity and its prominence in maritime exploration and cross-cultural exchange during this era.
Archaeological works carried out by MOLA Headland Infrastructure (MHI), at Huntingdon Railway Station, Huntingdonshire, uncovered structural remains associated with Huntingdon East Station, the new Joint Station on the Huntingdon and Kettering Railway which opened in 1866 and closed in 1959. The remains consisted of part of the engine shed, the signal box, the rail track bed and the tool/goods shed and were consistent with cartographic evidence. The works were part of the wider A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme.
Rock-cut architecture likely originates from traditions that have been documented at least from 2000 to 1900 BCE until the twentieth century, especially in the Mediterranean region, with a construction variability that includes secular and religious spaces. The Pura y Limpia "cave" in Matanzas, Cuba, is presented considering similar places and their interpretations as dovecotes or columbaria. In the Cuban context, however, distinctive architectural traditions have characterized these structures. Here, a case study from Cuba that likely resulted from the Mediterranean influences that arrived in the Caribbean with the 19th-century migrations is reported for the first time.
A selection of summaries of post-medieval archaeological fieldwork carried out across Britain, Ireland, and Crown Dependencies in 2024 have been compiled for this annual round-up. These are indexed with thematic keywords. Formatting conventions and notes for future contributors are also outlined.
Excavation at Saw Close and Bridewell Lane, Bath within the former Roman town, revealed Roman, medieval and post-medieval remains. A possible precursor to Bridewell Lane may have been lined with cottages in the medieval period when the site lay in open ground. The area was gradually developed from the Tudor and Stuart period, gathering pace through the Georgian and Victorian periods. Evidence for the construction of dwellings and commercial premises was found, notably including a clay tobacco pipe factory, originally built in 1780 and which closed in 1851. A large quantity of pipes, demolished kiln material and kiln furniture was imported onto the site by the pipemaker Joseph Sants, the fourth and final maker to occupy the factory. The material, which originated from one of his other factories at Milk Street or Avon Street, was used to backfill the kilns and coal cellars. The inclusion of pipes made from moulds Sants' acquired from the pipemakers Abraham and Thomas Jones of Avon Street dates this backfilling to 1859, shortly before the factory's demolition.
This paper examines the complexity of Neo-Pagans' interest in Native American archaeological sites and identifies potential strategies for heritage managers regarding the issue. The methodology identifies the behaviour of Neo-Pagans at the English Heritage site Stonehenge in the UK, with the National Historical Park Chaco Canyon in the US, and compares the academic discourse regarding this issue from a post-colonial perspective. A particular emphasis on Native American voices in the discourse is empathized, but also engages with academics that identify as Neo-Pagan. The findings are that unlike in the UK, Neo-Pagans have been in direct conflict with indigenous stakeholders in the US, and few concrete solutions have been put in place by heritage mangers. Neo-Pagans may consider themselves stakeholders of Native American archaeological sites, but their history and demographics place them in a more privileged position than tribal members. In considering the differences of the results of Neo-Pagan engagement at Stonehenge versus Chaco Canyon, it is crucial that more education is conducted by site managers to ensure that Native American stakeholders are respected, and that they have precedent for access over their own sacred landscapes and archaeological sites.
