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76 High-resolution side-scan sonar mosaic showing Collagen formations (c) (small reefs) on the seafloor (Photo courtesy G. Papatheodorou, University of Patras)
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The interconnection between cultural heritage found in terrestrial and marine environments is beginning to garner international more scholarly attention as researchers investigate the linkages between human adaptation to changing coastal environments. In terms of world cultural heritage, land and sea should be considered as an integrated system. As...
Citations
... Richard Norris and fine-tuned during the 2016 Antikyra Bay Gulf of Corinth expedition led by Profs. Levy and Papatheodorou Levy et al. 2018). ...
... Due to previous work done by the University of Patras -UC San Diego at Antikyra (Levy et al. 2018), the majority of the large elements of the coring system was already in place in Patras. In fact, the University of Patras manufactured (cloned) a core hammer and clamp identical to the UC San Diego prototype making it unnecessary to transport this heavy equipment from California. ...
... The preliminary results point to a wealth of issues for cultural heritage and research: 1) the foundation for creating a Maritime Cultural Heritage Asset District to contribute to the economy of this part of Messenia has been outlined and proposed; 2) the marine and preliminary geophysical surveys will provide quantitative observations on the physical properties of the near shore, seafloor and sub-seafloor geology of the Holocene to understand deep-time human settlement in the embayment; 3) near shore and shallow marine sediment coring provide proxy data for reconstructing paleo-ecology and geomorphological history of this part of the southern Peloponnesus building on earlier research (cf. Kraft and Aschenbrenner 1977) and other related regions (Levy et al. 2018); 4) underwater photogrammetry of the submerged Middle Helladic site point to the potential of the site for archaeological excavations to understand the growth of Middle Helladic Aegean maritime networks (Tartaron 2014) and its relationship to the Bronze Age chronology (Rutter 2017), the Middle Helladic economy (Voutsaki et al. 2013), settlement history of the Aegean, the sediment record based on underwater coring and its relation to climate (Barnes et al. 2013), environmental and social change during the mid-Holocene. Finally, we have laid the groundwork for the MCHAD though discussions with the Methoni municipality and village community to address their contemporary cultural and economic goals (Gkionis et al. 2019 ) using the tools of cyber-archaeology (Levy 2013) and underwater cultural heritage in Greece and the eastern Mediterranean. ...
Submerged cultural heritage provides a unique opportunity to couple paleoenvironmental and culture-historical research with the contemporary cultural heritage needs of the public where field work takes place. Greece provides an ideal locale for developing what we refer to as maritime cultural heritage asset districts (MCHAD). Here we summarize two seasons (2019, 2021) of field survey work in the Methoni Bay region of Messenia off the southwestern Peloponnesus coast that provides an ideal locale for developing a MCHAD. A number of interdisciplinary survey tools were used to examine cultural and adaptive responses to environmental and cultural change in deep-time around the Methoni Bay with the aim of enhancing cultural heritage tourism in the area. Our project builds on earlier paleogeography and submerged heritage research by conducting: 1) non-invasive high definition shallow marine geophysics including Multibeam Echosounder, Side Scan Sonar, and Chirp sub-bottom profiler; 2) photogrammetry of several previously investigated shipwrecks and a unique submerged Middle Bronze Age/Middle Helladic (MH) settlement (2050/2000-1750/1680 BCE) using a three camera custom rig mounted on a scuba scooter for large area coverage; 3) shallow submerged sediment sampling using scuba and diver operated coring device to study the deep-time environmental history of the Methoni embayment and preliminary terrestrial coring using a Cobra percussion core drilling system ; and 4) a cyber-archaeology workflow using photogrammetry and 3D laser desktop scanning tools to collaborate with a local museum to curate and disseminate research for the public. This article provides an overview of the project methods and preliminary results for melding scientific research with cultural heritage objectives.
... The final aim is the achievement of a so called "simulation slice" of that very specific context/ object, which is the actual aspect of that context/object in a given period of time [4]. In the context of scientific visualisation, the main challenge is the achievement of a good balance between the accurate representation of scientific data (computed or stored in databases) and the visual quality of the virtual experience itself [5][6][7][8][9]. Traditional scientific software relies on custom tools meant to be used on conventional terminals or software developed with mouse and keyboard in mind. ...
In the field of digital humanities, it is increasingly necessary to develop and validate virtual reality tools that are capable of combining various scientific data in a virtualized context providing also access and user friendly consultation of online repositories. This paper reports the main aspects of the implementation of a virtual reality tool integrated with an online repository for storing 3D models, metadata and chemical analyses related to different sectors of digital humanities. The virtual reality software, developed for the Oculus Quest 2 hardware, is called PROTEUS and allows for seamless transition from the macroscopic world of digital humanities to the microscopic world of molecular sciences. The paper illustrates, by means of some case studies, the performances of this innovative tool that permits the researcher to understand and manipulate objects, to test hypotheses and to seek meaningful results, visualising the metadata while changing the parameters of the simulation in a dynamic and interactive way. This represents also a significant step forward in the democratisation of science, thanks to an user-friendly and immersive access to advanced scientific algorithms, which allow the natural perception of structural and topological features of the underlying molecular and supra-molecular systems.
Graphical Abstract
... The results and finds of the excavation will not be a focus here. For an in-depth discussion, seeLevy et al. 2017a;Sideris et al. 2017;Liritzis et al. 2018;and Koh et al. 2020. ...
This chapter describes the digital workflow from archaeological data collection in the field to permanent storage in the UCSD Library and dissemination via VR environments that UCSD, as the lead campus for the Catalyst project, designed and field-tested at sites in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean. This contribution has a particular emphasis on at-risk cultural heritage and its preservation in those areas of interest and presents results of applying the digital methods at the Late Bronze Age site of Kastrouli, Greece.
... The current case study at Kastrouli was part of the 2016 excavation campaign at Kastrouli, which excavated Tomb A at the site and conducted two small wall sample probes in other parts of the site. The campaign also featured a 3D and spatial recording program designed to comprehensively and intensively document the site and the progress of the excavation through spatial and 3D recording [58][59][60]68]. ...
This paper tests the suitability of automated point cloud classification tools provided by the popular image-based modeling (IBM) software package Agisoft Metashape for the generation of digital terrain models (DTMs) at moderately-vegetated archaeological sites. DTMs are often required for various forms of archaeological mapping and analysis. The suite of tools provided by Agisoft are relatively user-friendly as compared to many point cloud classification algorithms and do not require the use of additional software. Based on a case study from the Mycenaean site of Kastrouli, Greece, the mostly-automated, geometric classification tool “Classify Ground Points” provides the best results and produces a quality DTM that is sufficient for mapping and analysis. Each of the methods tested in this paper can likely be improved through manual editing of point cloud classification.
... Cyber-Archaeology integrates the latest advances in computer science, engineering and the hard sciences to address anthropological, archaeological and historical questions. It supplies methods for the measurement, recording of field data with proper acquisition, analysis, curation and dissemination of these input data related to world cultural heritage (Levy et al., 2012(Levy et al., , 2018. Significant progress is made on the interdisciplinarity between new technologies and cultural heritage projects, extended to STEM, STEMAC, cyber-archaeometry, 3D Reconstruction of Cultural Heritage Sites for research and application, all related to new teaching directions in archaeological science research and higher education models ( McCoy and Ladefoged 2009;Liritzis 2018;Liritzis and Volonakis 2021;Liritzis et al., , 2017Liritzis et al., , 2021aGeorgopoulou et al., 2021;Psycharis 2018;Hatzopoulos et al., 2017). ...
... Geophysical non-intrusive underground surveying methods leave the ground intact. Magnetic Gradiometry (MG) is often used in the targeted preparation of rescue or research excavations (Levy et. al., 2018; Von der Osten-Woldenburg, 2020). MG devices are widely used when documenting archaeological sites, that can be preserved under the ground anticipating the appropriate time plan and related actions for their excavation. In addition, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is another geophysical surveying method that SCIENTIFIC CULTURE, Vol. 8, No ...
... al, 2014a;Vincent et. al, 2014b;Levy et al., 2018). ...
The age we live in is the age of the technological revolution: the social networks, virtual communities, 3D worlds, digital applications, immersive and collaborative games, are able to change our perception of the world as well as the way information is shared and transmitted. The shift of our society towards new technologies has greatly facilitated the integration of these technologies (Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Photogrammetry, etc.) in places such as archaeology, which in the past seemed like a very difficult idea. In recent years, archaeologists have begun to incorporate new technologies that can assist them in archaeological excavations. Such technologies include 3D Imaging Surveying methods (LiDAR, Mobile and Terrestrial 3D Scanners), Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Photogrammetry as well as 3D Visualization Methods (Virtual and Augmented Reality) for the three-dimensional or two-dimensional display of sites where archaeological excavations are carried out. A big advantage of new technologies is the highly increasing capabilities and user friendliness over cost ratio, which encourages archaeologists to enter the emerging realm of Digital Archaeology. This paper summarises cutting-edge technologies that may assist archaeologists during the excavations process and reports related projects. At the same time, it overviews the literature for applications, tools and software implemented to operate directly to the excavation field (in situ) for the documentation, management, integration of the archaeological information and to facilitate the exchange, direct access and interoperability of the scientific data. We strongly believe that the present review would be very helpful to young researchers in the of field Digital Archaeology, since it assembles valuable knowledge from the scientific literature.
... The archaeological-archaeometrical investigations conducted in the Kastrouli Project included archaeological excavation (www.kastrouli.org; Levy et al., 2018;Sideris and Liritzis 2018;Koh et al., 2020), established and newly developed archaeometrical techniques, such as bone diagenesis, palaeogenetic and a palaeoproteomic study (Kontopoulos et al., 2019;, archaeo-geophysical prospection (Levy et al., 2018;Savvaidis et al., 1999), luminescence dating of stone and ceramics using single aliquot techniques (Liritzis et al., 2016(Liritzis et al., , 2020a(Liritzis et al., , 1997(Liritzis et al., , 1996, digital applications (Levy et al., 2018;Hatzopoulos et al., 2017), characterization and provenance of ceramics (Xanthopoulou et al., 2021;Liritzis et al., 2020b;Xanthopoulou et al., 2020;Bratitsi et al., 2018). These studies provided new data for the monumental, fortified walls and large buildings that may have belonged to a little Mycenaean palace; including clay figurines, stirrup jars, pottery and metal finds. ...
... The archaeological-archaeometrical investigations conducted in the Kastrouli Project included archaeological excavation (www.kastrouli.org; Levy et al., 2018;Sideris and Liritzis 2018;Koh et al., 2020), established and newly developed archaeometrical techniques, such as bone diagenesis, palaeogenetic and a palaeoproteomic study (Kontopoulos et al., 2019;, archaeo-geophysical prospection (Levy et al., 2018;Savvaidis et al., 1999), luminescence dating of stone and ceramics using single aliquot techniques (Liritzis et al., 2016(Liritzis et al., , 2020a(Liritzis et al., , 1997(Liritzis et al., , 1996, digital applications (Levy et al., 2018;Hatzopoulos et al., 2017), characterization and provenance of ceramics (Xanthopoulou et al., 2021;Liritzis et al., 2020b;Xanthopoulou et al., 2020;Bratitsi et al., 2018). These studies provided new data for the monumental, fortified walls and large buildings that may have belonged to a little Mycenaean palace; including clay figurines, stirrup jars, pottery and metal finds. ...
... The archaeological-archaeometrical investigations conducted in the Kastrouli Project included archaeological excavation (www.kastrouli.org; Levy et al., 2018;Sideris and Liritzis 2018;Koh et al., 2020), established and newly developed archaeometrical techniques, such as bone diagenesis, palaeogenetic and a palaeoproteomic study (Kontopoulos et al., 2019;, archaeo-geophysical prospection (Levy et al., 2018;Savvaidis et al., 1999), luminescence dating of stone and ceramics using single aliquot techniques (Liritzis et al., 2016(Liritzis et al., , 2020a(Liritzis et al., , 1997(Liritzis et al., , 1996, digital applications (Levy et al., 2018;Hatzopoulos et al., 2017), characterization and provenance of ceramics (Xanthopoulou et al., 2021;Liritzis et al., 2020b;Xanthopoulou et al., 2020;Bratitsi et al., 2018). These studies provided new data for the monumental, fortified walls and large buildings that may have belonged to a little Mycenaean palace; including clay figurines, stirrup jars, pottery and metal finds. ...
New technologies of DNA sequencing can provide valuable insights into the identity of archaeobotanical remains, early human-environment interactions and an understanding of social and religious activities. In the Late Bronze archaeological site of Kastrouli, Phokis (Greece), plant biomass remains in a ceramic vessel of the Mycenaean period are analysed. To determine the identity of the biomass, a high throughput sequencing technology was used to obtain whole genome sequencing (WGS) of plant, bacterial and fungal genomes. Whole genome analysis (WGS) of ancient DNA (aDNA) showed that despite the small DNA fragments recovered from the plant remains several reads were assigned to reference plant genomes The molecular analyses in the archaeobotanical and medicinal plant remains identified 10 agronomically important plant species (oak, Eucalyptus, tobacco, grape, cotton, cowpea, conyza) and characterized a diverse microbial community associated with the plant biomass. Surprising is the detection of wild tobacco, tomato and cotton. The taxa represented by plant parts, provide socio-cultural insight on plant use by the inhabitants of the settlement. A complementary microscopic analysis of the plant biomass revealed floral parts and leaves of different morphologies belonging to different taxa. In particular, the microbial community within the vessel environment had distinct associations with plant, rhizosphere, soil, marine and water ecosystems; which are evident in Kastrouli environs. The sequencing information recovered from the approaximately 3000-year-old biological samples revealed unexpected findings on biocultural diversity, early agriculture and species domestication in this corner of the Mediterranean basin.
... Coring can be performed via using a gravity, hammer, or piston corer to vertically sample a sedimentary sequence. Depending on the sediment texture and permeability, researchers can retrieve up to a maximum of 16 m of undisturbed sediment [104]. In this way, multiple sedimentary analyses can be performed to study the sedimentation rate of the area, paleo-climatology (via various proxies), sea-level change, and environmental biota changes. ...
The rising human activities and resource exploitation have increased pressure in the coastal zone and the marine environment, risking the very existence of Marine Priority Habitats (MPH) and Underwater Cultural Heritage (UCH). The delimitation of these two priority areas in a time-and cost-effective way is essential for the sustainable management and exploitation of sea resources and natural-cultural heritage preservation. We propose an Integrated Methodological Approach for the Detection and Mapping of MPH and UCH. To achieve this, we used a downscale methodological approach of increasing spatial resolution based on three main methodological axes: (i) desk-based research, (ii) marine geophysics/seafloor classification, and (iii) in-depth visual inspection/3D mapping. This methodological scheme was implemented at the Saronic Gulf and focused on Aegina island. The methodology proposed, which combines existing and new techniques, proved successful in detecting and mapping the MPH and UCH in detail, while it compiled the information necessary for the establishment of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) maps. Finally, the MSP map constructed for the Saronic Gulf demonstrated the lack of holistic coastal zone management plans due to impacts on UCH linked to anthropogenic intervention and the sparsity of marine habitats owing to marine pollution.
... The current state of the art in cultural heritage and new technologies learning in university syllabuses is undermined and new learning management approaches that combine blended programs (in a classroom and from distance) benefits the self-efficacy of students [1]. The various tools used to study material culture and interpret the data and the results derive from the disciplines of information technology, geodesy, GIS, 3D, and virtual reality [2][3][4][5]. ...
... However, the development and applications to design cyber-archaeology's field of research coupled with archaeometry is being reconfirmed and really is proved valuable (in scholarly resources), and indeed, this post-modern revolution is more cyber than virtual, more sustainable than serving only academic interest [5,7,24,25]. Thus, in the field of archaeology and laboratories, the swiftly and progressive use of 3D digital technologies can design diverse and unexplored workflows in the spawning, portrayal, and communication of data [9,26]. ...
... In the US, California, San Diego, a web portal is the primary Internet vehicle for communicating with the public and researchers worldwide about At-Risk World Heritage and the Digital Humanities, a cyber-archaeology project awarded a $1.06 million, two-year UC President's Research Catalyst Award from the University of California (UC) Office of the President to a consortium of archaeologists and information technologists on four UC campuses: UC San Diego, UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UC Merced. Cyber-archaeology integrated projects have been made on a regional and local scale [5,55]. The next US mission rests on the Qualcomm Institute (QI) at UC San Diego, which develops technological and institutional innovations including ancient cultures and cyber infrastructure applications from Mayas to Near and Middle East [56]. ...
The cyber archaeometry concerns a new virtual ontology in the environment of cultural heritage and archaeology. The present study concerns a first pivot endeavor of a virtual polarized light microscopy (VPLM) for archaeometric learning, made from digital tools, tackling the theory of mineral identification in archaeological materials, an important aspect in characterization, provenance, and ancient technology. This endeavor introduces the range of IT computational methods and instrumentation techniques available to the study of cultural heritage and archaeology of apprentices, educators, and specialists. Use is made of virtual and immersive reality, 3D, virtual environment, massively multiplayer online processes, and gamification. The VPLM simulation is made with the use of Avatar in the time-space frame of the laboratory with navigation, exploration, control the learning outcomes in connection to the archaeometric multisystem work. The students evidently learned to operate the VPLM following operations made via visual and home-made scripting, gaining experience in synergy, teamwork, and understanding. The resulting meaningful effects of the cyber-archaeometry with virtual operations and virtual hands, texts, and video equip students especially for e-learning with the required basic knowledge of mineralogical examination, which help to understand and evaluate mineral identification from material culture and provides readiness and capacity, which may be refined in a real polarized light microscopy (PLM) environment.
... The LBA world of the Eastern Mediterranean, a rich linkage of Aegean, Egyptian, Syro-Palestinian, and Hittite civilizations, famously collapsed 3200 years ago and has remained one of the mysteries of the ancient world since the event's retrieval began in the late AD 19th century. A potential cause for the collapse of the LBA civilization in Greece through integrated land and sea studies can be found in Levy et al. (2018). Agricultural activity strongly declined around 1200 cal-y BC. ...
Liritzis, I.; Westra, A., and Miao, C., 2019. Disaster geoarchaeology and natural cataclysms in world cultural evolution: An overview. Journal of Coastal Research, 35(6), 1307–1330. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208.
Human records of short-term, catastrophic, geological processes, mainly in coastal or fluvial environments, and related phenomena in historic and prehistoric times have to be considered as functions of event intensities and impacts (and damages) caused on ancient human settlements and lives. Catastrophic events, such as, floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and the collapse of ancient cultures, in particular, those allied to the birth of myths and legends, are the subject of long-lasting, vivid debate. Longer-term, more-or-less consecutive, geological processes and climatic fluctuations have a more pronounced effect on human history. Historical accounts provide many descriptions about cultural evolution in a recurrent manner. The geoarchives (geology, sedimentology, and geomorphology) and the human record (archaeology and history) are considered documentary evidence of these past events. Astronomical causes have introduced severe phenomena (warming, heavy precipitation, monsoons, droughts) imposed on ancient societies, including catastrophic meteor impact. Terrestrial upheavals and astronomical impacts have introduced a nonlinear character of a quasiperiodic nature in transforming human cultural evolution and reshaping the earth's surface. The transient nature of geological, geophysical, and proxy climatic indices, as well as, astronomical phenomena within the solar system, exhibit a wide spectrum of quasiperiodic frequencies as variable and effective environmental factors, which, in addition to anthropogenic factors, reshape the human context. Several conspicuous examples have been reported on mythological deluges and their relation to natural catastrophes. The Anthropocene sea level rise and climatic episodes have had a decisive and prominent role on coastlines and human settlements. Alluvial sediments, sedimentary deposits, and land modifications have drastic effects on settlements. These effects were memorized as floods, deluges, and fallen sky. World examples of disasters derived from the coastal Mediterranean, the Great Flood of Gun-Yu in China, and those from South America, Mesopotamia, and the Middle East and others, were critically assessed with scientific methods.
Alerted by a trio of papers that appear in the journal SCIENCE today (26th August 2022) I present briefly the essential findings with some extension on the hot subject of ancient DNA studies over all the World but mainly the SE Mediterranean and Euro-Asian neighborhood. These three papers summarize the results of a remarkable Ancient DNA project and involving 202 co-authors. These studies draw on published archaeogenetic records and new DNA analysis of 727 individuals who lived during the Copper and Bronze Ages. These people populated the “Southern Arc,” a swath of land connecting Europe to West Asia through Anatolia including coastal Levant. The findings are critically discussed in the wider frame of aDNA results, the migration and mobilities for the past about 8000 years ago and linked with the non-linear evolution processes of ancient cultures. Particular emphasis here is given to the 2016 expedition at the Late Helladic site of Kastrouli near Delphi in Greece, that contribute to these studies.
