Forest environments have great archaeological potential due to the good state of preservation of the remains found there. However, research is limited by a number of constraints. In order to date and characterise the Rothenstauden archaeological site at V oe llerdingen (Bas-Rhin), which is currently largely covered by forest, and to understand its relationship with its surroundings, three acquisition methods were used and adapted to overcome these constraints: surveys and archaeological excavations, geophysical surveys and LiDAR. The cross-referencing and complementarity of these three data sources has enabled us to make significant progress in our knowledge of this site and its environment. They have shown that the site contained a villa, occupied at least between the 2nd and 3rd centuries, which was part of an area organised by a rationalised plot system.
A mace is a butt weapon that is composed of a metal head that is mounted on a wooden haft. The paper deals with the origins of medieval mace heads that were discovered in Polish lands; these have been a subject of debate since they were first discovered there. In previous research, only form and decoration were used to determine the provenance of these artefacts. A technological analysis (ED-XRF, SEM) and provenance analysis of the raw material using lead isotope ratio analysis (MC-ICP-MS) of 5 artefacts from Poland allowed us to draw a preliminary correlation between the type of raw material that was used to make the objects and its availability. A mace head that was discovered along the well-known trade route from the British Isles along the Oder line in the early Middle Ages was made from raw material whose lead isotope signature is consistent with ores from the British Isles, while another example that was discovered to the east of this route were copper alloys with added lead with isotope ratios compatible with ores from Upper Silesia-Krakow Upland region. In juxtaposition with the stylistic forms, the obtained results showed that a formal analysis alone was not sufficient to determine the place of manufacture (and could even be misleading at times).
Les milieux forestiers présentent un fort potentiel archéologique en raison du bon état de conservation des vestiges qui s’y trouvent. La recherche y est toutefois limitée par une série de contraintes. Afin de dater et caractériser le site archéologique des Rothenstauden à Vœllerdingen (Bas-Rhin), actuellement recouvert en large partie par la forêt, et comprendre ses relations avec son espace environnant, trois méthodes d’exploration ont été utilisées et adaptées afin de contourner ces contraintes : sondages et fouille archéologique, prospections géomagnétiques et LiDAR. Le croisement et la complémentarité de ces trois sources de données ont permis une importante avancée dans la connaissance de ce site et de son environnement. Elles ont en effet permis de voir qu’il renferme une villa, occupée au moins entre le iie et le iiie s., qui s’intègre dans un espace organisé par un système parcellaire rationalisé.
Four charred, bread-like objects were discovered in both domestic and funerary contexts at several sites: Saint-Vulbas (Ain, 01), L'Hospitalet-du-Larzac-La Vayssi & egrave;re (Aveyron, 12), Les Martres d'Arti & egrave;re-Les Quaires (Puy-de-D & ocirc;me, 63), and Onnaing-Toyota (Nord, 59), all dating back to the Gallo-Roman era. These objects were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to characterize and identify their components, such as pericarp, awn remains, glumes, and fibers. Additionally, micro-CT techniques were employed to examine the threedimensional structure of the bread, allowing for a detailed investigation of local porosity. This study aims to improve our understanding and classification of these fermented substances and to propose a standardized data acquisition form.
In this study, we experimentally reconstructed a medieval synthesis of red lead based on recipes from Theophilus's 12th-century treatise. Controlled transformation rate thermal analysis (CRTA) combined with high temperature diffraction provided insights into the phase transitions occurring during this preparation. Our results indicate that the pigment referred to as "minium" in historical sources does not always correspond to pure Pb3O4, but may involve mixtures of PbCO3, PbCO3 & centerdot;2PbO, alpha-PbO, and beta-PbO, depending on the thermal and atmospheric conditions. This variability reflects both the metastability of Pb3O4 and the technological diversity of historical lead-based pigments. By bridging experimental archaeology, historical reconstruction, and advanced materials characterization, this work contributes to a better understanding of medieval pigment production and its underlying chemical mechanisms. It highlights how archaeometry approaches can illuminate the interplay between craft knowledge and material science in the Middle Ages.
