National Archaeological Museum of Spain

ABSTRACT Rain‐induced erosion processes can severely damage Earthen archaeological sites. Huaca Chornancap (HCH; eighth–14th century ad ) is a platform located in the Lambayeque region (Peru) exposed to seasonal rain due to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). We present data from a UAV‐based photogrammetric survey and produce a Digital Surface Model from which we compute selected morphometric parameters. Rills and gullyes affect the HCH steep flanks, whereas pits concentrates on the flat top. Slides induced by rain also affect the western flank. Results from a model evidence the HCH sectors where diffusive erosion processes are predicted to act over the next century. We determine a vertical erosion rates of 0.33 m/century by ENSO‐related rain, 0.13 m/century by splash erosion and < 0.25 m/century by diffusion processes. Our findings emphasize the deteroriation of the HCH structural integrity. The methodological approach we propose may be applied to other earthen archaeological sites worldwide.

Abstract Understanding formation processes is crucial for interpreting sites with complex sedimentary histories and exceptional archaeological records, such as Level 3 of Des-Cubierta Cave. This Middle Paleolithic unit contains an assemblage of anthropically modified ungulate horned crania, Mousterian lithics, and evidence of fire use, all preserved in a clast-supported gravel deposit shaped by successive rockfalls. This study integrates geostatistical analyses with traditional spatial and taphonomic methods to examine the cone-shaped sedimentary structure that dominates the level and its influence on the spatial distribution and preservation of archaeological materials. The results reveal distinct spatial patterns for geological and archaeological materials, indicating separate formation dynamics. Size-based spatial analyses of boulders characterize the morphology of the conical structure, highlighting size sorting and intensity variations that may indicate sedimentary hiatuses. Bone refitting analysis suggests limited post-depositional movement, with material distribution shaped by the conical sedimentary structure and karst gallery morphology. Variability in crania preservation correlates with proximity to the cone’s apex and elevation, with better-preserved specimens in central areas and more fragmented remains in zones affected by erosive and edaphic processes. These findings underscore the value of integrating geostatistical and traditional archaeological approaches to advance interpretations of spatial and temporal patterns in karst environments and provide a methodological approach for examining sites with similar sedimentary histories. Moreover, the results support the interpretation of a recurrent, culturally motivated Neanderthal behaviour centred on the deliberate accumulation of large ungulate crania, pointing to a symbolic dimension in these practices.

Silver tarnishing in museum environments depends on multiple, interacting factors that are not often studied in situ. With the aim of addressing the problem in real-world scenarios, this study presents a one-year assessment at the National Archaeological Museum of Spain, in Madrid, a museum that houses a significant collection of silver objects. Pure Ag coupons were placed in four display cases—two designs with different airtightness—and in an adjacent gallery. Tarnishing was quantified by colorimetry, gravimetry, and galvanostatic reduction, and analyzed in relation to environmental parameters (T/RH) and gaseous pollutants (H2S, SO2, HF, HCl, formic and acetic acids), measured with passive samplers. Coupons showed different degrees of tarnish, with annual corrosion rates ranging from IC1 (very low) to IC2 (low), without a straightforward relation to hydrogen sulfide concentrations. Electrochemical profiles and XPS on representative coupons identified Ag2S as the dominant product, with AgCl and minor Ag2SO4 in the coupons exposed outside the airtight cases, indicating different contributions inside and outside the cases. Findings highlight that sulfide concentration is not the sole driver; case airtightness, internal materials, cleaning products used on adjacent areas, and, possibly, other aspects influence silver tarnishing.

Abstract Heritage is not always visible, particularly in archaeology, where much of it lies hidden underground. Often, archaeological remains are discovered accidentally and destructively, with governments sometimes overseeing their documentation. However, land surveying is crucial for proper documentation and interpretation. Using non-invasive or non-destructive techniques, as recommended by UNESCO, archaeologists can document hidden heritage. Geophysical surveys like ground-penetrating radar (GPR), alongside remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), allow us to reveal entire buried cities, pipelines, defensive systems, and burial sites. Specialists and educators must document and share this historical heritage to ensure society values and preserve it. Teachers play a vital role in Heritage Education. Natural heritage, such as mines, and cultural heritage, like archaeological sites, can be used as educational resources in classrooms to teach History, Art History, and Geography. Incorporating archaeology encourages students to develop critical and reflective thinking. Current educational legislation and curriculum in Spain promote ICT tools, making GIS an ideal way to present hidden heritage through surveys and spatial analysis. By engaging students in archaeological research processes, they can explore new sites, solve historical questions, and develop teamwork and respect for heritage conservation.

Earthen archaeological sites are particularly vulnerable to rain and winds, whose effects may compromise their integrity. The Huaca Chotuna (HC; 8th–16th Century AD) is an adobe platform in Peru’s semi-arid Lambayeque region, and it is in an area with exposure to rain and winds associated with the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. Here we present the results from an orthophotogrammetric and morphometric study aimed at quantifying the effects of erosion and deposition at the HC. The novelty of our approach consists of merging topographic, hydrological, and wind parameters to recognize the sector of the HC with exposure to potentially damaging natural climatic phenomena. We identify zones affected by erosion and deposition processes. Results of a diffusion model aimed to estimate the HC sectors where these processes will act in the next century are also presented. Gully erosion from rainfall indicates a vertical erosion rate of approximately 0.2 m/century, demonstrating the low preservation potential of the HC. Rainwater also deteriorates adobe bricks and triggers water/mud flows. Conversely, sediment-laden winds contribute to the partial burial of the HC. The findings highlight significant hazards to the HC’s structural integrity, including gravity instability. The interdisciplinary methodology we adopt offers a key framework for assessing and protecting other earthen sites globally against the escalating impacts of climate change.

Este artículo analiza la importancia de la producción textil en la sociedad argárica, mostrando cómo algunos de los principales procesos laborales implicados –el hilado, la tejeduría o la confección– fueron realizados fundamentalmente por mujeres en el ámbito doméstico. Esta vinculación se plantea a partir de una serie de indicadores arqueológicos. Por un lado, los desgastes dentales extramasticatorios, documentados cada vez en más casos de mujeres argáricas inhumadas, permiten relacionar el uso de la dentición en actividades como el hilado. Por otro, la vinculación de punzones y/o cuchillos a las mujeres argáricas, reconocible en las prácticas funerarias. Estos indicadores son puestos en relación con la información de los instrumentos de trabajo textil en contextos de hábitat, así como con los restos textiles hallados en contextos funerarios. La información recabada permite proponer la actividad textil como un rol de género, probablemente asignado a muchas mujeres desde su infancia, revelando su significativo papel no solo en labores de mantenimiento en la esfera doméstica, sino en especial en la producción de bienes textiles con un destacado valor social y económico. Además de satisfacer las necesidades del propio grupo doméstico o linaje, dicha producción podría haber constituido también una forma de incrementar su riqueza.

Miriam Astruc es una de las figuras menos conocidas y estudiadas de la Arqueología Púnica de la primera mitad del siglo xx, especialmente en lo que se refiere a sus aspectos personales. Se trata de una investigadora que puede considerarse una figura clave en la renovación metodológica de la disciplina, que se desarrolló principalmente entre las décadas de 1930 y 1950 en yacimientos como Villaricos e Ibiza. Este estudio analiza aspectos inéditos o poco conocidos de su biografía y, sobre todo, de su trayectoria científica (dividida en dos etapas) en España, desde sus primeros pasos en Cádiz y Villaricos hasta sus últimas actividades en Ibiza. A partir de cartas inéditas y documentos de archivo, se aportan nuevos datos sobre sus relaciones con académicos y notables de la época, así como detalles de su estrecha colaboración con Pelayo Quintero Atauri en Cádiz y con José María Mañá de Ángulo en la isla de Ibiza.