13th Scientific Conference Methodology and Archaeometry

Organic residue analysis (ORA) and stable isotope analyses are among the most powerful tools for reconstructing ancient diets, yet they often tell divergent stories. Lipid residues absorbed in ceramics typically indicate the processing of land animal products, whereas isotopic data from human remains frequently reveal diets rich in cereals, pulses, other plant proteins, and some fish intake. This persistent mismatch challenges our understanding of how different analytical proxies record past subsistence and culinary behaviour. The bias toward animal signatures in ceramic lipids arises from both biochemical and cultural factors. Land animal fats are lipid-rich, thermally stable, and readily absorbed into porous pottery walls, while most plant foods contain limited, unsaturated lipids that degrade rapidly. As a result, even societies with plant-based diets may leave predominantly animal-derived lipid traces in their ceramic assemblages. Stable isotope values in bone collagen, by contrast, integrate long-term protein intake and often record the contribution of plant, legume and fish proteins. Bridging these seemingly discordant signals requires new biomolecular approaches. Proteomics, applied to ceramic residues, offers a promising path forward. The detection of specific plant proteins, such as seed-storage, legume, and fish proteins, could help identify foods invisible to lipid analysis, expanding the molecular record of ancient cuisine. Combined with lipid biomarkers and isotopic baselines anchored in local ecology, such integrated analyses may finally align the “meat in pots” and “plants in bones” narratives. The presentation will review fundamental principles, methodological advances, and selected case studies from the Mediterranean basin, highlighting both the interpretive potential and the limitations of each proxy. Particular attention will be given to the pitfalls of over-interpreting ORA data in the absence of contextual and multi-proxy validation, as well as to the importance of developing coherent frameworks that combine molecular, isotopic, and archaeological perspectives in the reconstruction of past foodways.

Large-scale linear stone alignments, commonly referred to as ‘desert kites’, are well-documented across the arid landscapes of North Africa, the Near East, and Central Asia, where they were used for communal hunting of ungulates. Until now, no comparable structures have been identified in Europe. Here, we report the discovery of four extensive prehistoric structures in the Karst Plateau of the Adriatic hinterland, revealed through airborne laser scanning (ALS). These features consist of low dry-stone walls that converge into deep enclosures strategically positioned beneath natural drops. Their placement on natural movement corridors suggests they functioned as large-scale traps designed to capture herds of wild animals, representing the first evidence of such hunting megastructures in Europe.
Excavations and radiocarbon dating indicate that the structures were abandoned before the Late Bronze Age, suggesting an origin potentially in the Mesolithic or earlier. The architectural complexity and estimated construction effort, requiring significant coordination and labour, underscore their importance within past subsistence strategies. GIS-based analyses further demonstrate that these structures were deliberately positioned within the topography to maximize their effectiveness in channelling animal movement. Given the regional distribution of Mesolithic sites, these megastructures may have been used for mass hunting of deer, a key prey species in the area. Our findings challenge existing paradigms of prehistoric hunting strategies in Europe and highlight the previously unrecognized role of large-scale communal hunting in the prehistoric Adriatic landscape.

The publication of the complete national LiDAR dataset marks a critical milestone in contemporary landscape archaeology in Croatia. This advancement has provided the means to transcend the limitations of previous research initiatives, most often restricted to geographically confined microregional studies. Although not without its limitations, the new spatial data enables systematic detection, documentation, and interpretation of archaeological features on a much more extensive scale.
This development has facilitated the advancement of multiscalar research into the post-Roman transformations of settlement patterns and landscape organization across the Quarnero Islands and the Istrian Peninsula, conducted within the long-term research framework of the IRCLAMA Center. While macro-scale, landscape-oriented analyses remain ongoing, this paper presents preliminary results from three micro-scale case studies in which the spatial configuration and long-term functional dynamics of selected sites are examined through the integration of LiDAR-derived data with existing archaeological evidence, complemented by analyses of historical cartographic sources. Each of the three sites (the remains of the church of St Lawrence in Lovreški Dol on the island of Cres, the church near Gožinka Cove on the island of Rab, and the well-known remains of the monastery of St Mary the Great near Bale in southern Istria) illustrates a specific historical development within its respective microregional context. However, a common characteristic can be recognized: the continuity of activity around prominent geographical points within the Adriatic landscape, spanning from Antiquity through Late Antiquity and into the Middle Ages. During these transitions, both the architectural forms and the sociocultural roles of the sites underwent significant transformations. The most recent insights into the previously unknown (or, at the very least, long-neglected) surroundings of these sites will undoubtedly contribute to a better understanding of these transformations, as well as the patterns of adaptation to changing socio-economic and political circumstances.

As part of the preparation of the nomination dossier for the inscription of the Danube Limes on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia has, over the past five years, invested substantial resources in the research of the Croatian section of the Limes. From the very beginning, a strategic decision was made to direct most of the funding toward non-invasive research methods – primarily because they allow for the broadest possible insight within a relatively short timeframe, without disturbing the integrity of archaeological sites.
In this presentation, I will discuss the results and the development of the research approach applied in the Osijek–Baranja County area, i.e. on the segment of the Limes under my responsibility. Considering that previous investigations were often fragmented and insufficiently precise, it became clear that real progress could only be achieved through systematic collection of concrete, quantifiable data – those necessary to meet the requirements of the nomination dossier: the delineation of core and buffer zones, spatial extent and density of finds, and the nature of subsurface remains.
Accordingly, most of the available resources were directed toward LiDAR surveys and large-scale geophysical prospection – primarily magnetometry, followed by GPR – which proved to be the most efficient way to obtain reliable results over extensive areas within a relatively short period.
The paper presents an overview of the “evolution of approach” in the application of non-invasive methods, as well as a personal insight into how practice (and the occasional mistakes) helped shape the most effective research procedures. Through examples from Batina, Kneževi Vinogradi, Bilje, Osijek, and Dalj, I will show how modern technologies have quite literally transformed our understanding of the Roman frontier system in this region – and how the newly obtained data have enabled the Croatian segment of the Danube Limes to finally be represented in dimensions that meet the international standards set by ICOMOS.

This presentation will showcase the results of research aimed at investigating the Roman centuriation in ager Polensis, bordered by the Lim channel in the north and Raša bay with the Liburni to the east. Although remains of the centuriation in the modern landscape were detected previously using the Croatian basic map (HOK), we have documented more of the Roman division using visualizations of data obtained from airborne laser scanning (ALS). Quantum GIS software was used to draw and analyze the detected lines of the centuriation. Examples of centuriation, like the ones from Italy and northern Africa, have become a paradigm of Roman technology and economy. It has become and was often used as an example of one of the signa imperii, the symbol of Roman domination and imperialism over the conquered territories. We will present the state of research into the Roman division of land in the southern part of the Istrian peninsula – ager Polensis.

During the summer season, forest fires are a daily occurrence in Mediterranean countries, and due to their size and frequency, in addition to representing a general threat to human safety and property, they also pose a significant risk to archaeological heritage. As an inseparable part of the landscape, the archaeological record is irreplaceable and non-renewable and, in addition to its general and scientific value for the heritage of mankind, it can also have significant historical, visual, and economic value for the social community. Numerous studies have already shown that fire can have a significant impact on archaeological features and artefacts and that it can potentially lead to the loss of information and of the mentioned general, scientific and social values of the archaeological record. There is also a growing body of literature dealing with the issues of fire and archaeology, from the impact of fire on various archaeological features, above and below ground, to studies on the specific impact of fire on certain materials.
Although the current situation of increasing open-air fires could potentially result in damage, destruction and loss of value of the archaeological record at numerous sites, in the Republic of Croatia, there is still no cooperation between communities dealing with fire protection and institutions for the protection of archaeological heritage. From the point of view of firefighting tactics, in conditions of fire intervention, the duty of fire commanders is to save human lives and property. Knowing the exact locations of archaeological sites in the field is the first prerequisite for preserving such sites during forest fires. Using the example of the Trogir Operational Area, our goal is to implement the available data on archaeological sites in the area of the City of Trogir and neighbouring municipalities into the Croatian Fire Assosiation's tracking system used in managing wildfire interventions. With this data, fire commanders in the field will be able to more effectively coordinate available capacities with the aim of preserving archaeological heritage.

The development of digital technologies offers archaeological fieldwork multiple techniques for data collection and analysis. This paper presents a workflow consisting of complementary digital approaches: (a) digital recording of surface finds by fieldwalkers using GPS-enabled mobile devices, (b) automatic finds detection using machine learning and drone imagery, and (c) geophysical prospection for subsurface mapping.
The digital recording technique was developed and tested during the MapFarm archaeological project and allows the rapid, real-time recording of the location of each surface find during systematic fieldwalking, leading to the creation of high-spatial-resolution density maps. These maps serve to evaluate the reliability of the automatic detection method of surface pottery finds, which is performed by neural networks trained to identify pottery fragments in aerial images. The combination of manual and automatic recording methods allows for quantitative assessment of automated classification accuracy and surface visibility factors. Furthermore, the integration of geophysical data obtained with magnetometers into the archaeological field survey enables multi-level digital mapping of the site. The spatial analysis of surface and subsurface data allows us to explore potential spatial correlations between the density of surface finds and the structures located below the surface.

AUTOMATA (AUTOmated enriched digitisation of Archaeological liThics and cerAmics), a Horizon Europe-funded project, is developing an integrated system that combines 3D digitisation with non-destructive archaeometric analyses such as hyperspectral imaging, pXRF, and Raman spectroscopy. Traditionally, data from the different tools have been acquired and processed separately, which makes integration and cross-comparison difficult. AUTOMATA addresses this challenge by embedding acquisition, positioning, and analysis within a unified and robotic workflow that enables automated and repeatable data collection.
Ongoing work focuses on complementary strands. An automated robotic 3D digitisation system is being developed to manage object manipulation and scanning, while tailored workflows for archaeometric data processing are being designed to ensure transparency, comparability, and reproducibility. Both strands will converge in RIS3D, a shared infrastructure created to host, manage, and enrich 3D datasets with archaeometric and contextual information.
To validate this approach, a reference dataset is being assembled that integrates geometry, surface appearance, and analytical measurements. This dataset will be progressively enriched through robotic acquisitions and manual annotations, combining automated and human inputs. The resulting collection will serve as a first comprehensive test case for multi-proxy integration and data quality assessment through comparison with traditionally acquired data.
This contribution will discuss the methodological challenges of combining heterogeneous analytical proxies in a single computational environment and will highlight how robotic automation and integrated workflows can advance archaeological practice.

The classification of ceramic vessels into types has always been one of the central concerns of archaeological research. Historically, this practice has been associated with culture-historical archaeology, but contemporary approaches likewise require the classification of pottery as a preliminary analytical step for tracing cultural patterns across space and time. Traditional methods relied on visual inspection and manual sorting, whereas modern archaeology demands more objective techniques capable of handling large datasets and automating the process. Geometric morphometrics combined with numerical taxonomy has emerged as a standard approach in contemporary pottery analysis. However, numerous methods exist for quantifying vessel shape and for classifying pottery. In this paper, I present preliminary results from a new approach to quantifying vessel shapes based on profile drawings. These results tentatively indicate that this method may outperform more conventional quantitative techniques when the goal is to group vessels with similar profile syntax.

As part of the final stage of the research project “Technological Features and Cultural Practices in Prehistoric Pottery Traditions in Croatia” (UIP-2020-02-3637), the first integrated archaeological-geological database in the Republic of Croatia has been developed. The database encompasses a physical and digital study collection of archaeological and geological samples — including ceramics, raw materials, and experimental reference materials — and serves as a foundation for future interdisciplinary research on the technology and provenance of archaeological artefacts.
To ensure the structured and sustainable development of this research infrastructure, the Laboratory for the Analysis of Archaeological Ceramics and Raw Materials (LaKeS) was established at the Institute of Archaeology. The laboratory focuses on the integration of macroscopic and analytical methods, the application of contemporary methodological approaches, and the establishment of collaborations with national and international institutions.
This presentation will outline the conceptual framework, structure, and methodology of data collection and classification within the study collection and its associated database. Particular attention will be given to how the database supports analytical and interpretive research on pottery technology and on the conceptual framework of chaînes opératoires, as well as its potential to facilitate open-access scientific data sharing. The initiative also underscores the role of LaKeS in ensuring data quality and encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration across the natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences — contributing to the broader development of archaeometric research in Croatia.

Among Slovenian prehistoric sites of the 3rd millennium BC, Dežman’s pile dwellings near Ig in the Ljubljansko barje area are particularly distinctive. Discovered and archaeologically excavated 150 years ago, they represent an important site from the Late Copper and Early Bronze Ages. A unique feature of these settlements is the exceptionally well-preserved ceramic vessels, attributed to the Vučedol and Ljubljana cultures. Most vessels are richly decorated with incised and impressed motifs, originally filled with a white incrustation. Although this inlay has not survived uniformly, in some cases it remains clearly visible even today.
To investigate the composition, technology, and application of these white pastes, a series of archaeometric analyses was carried out at the Department of Natural Sciences (IPCHS). The study focused on ceramic samples from Dežman’s pile dwellings near Ig, with additional comparative material from the contemporaneous pile-dwelling site of Špica in Ljubljana, excavated in 2009 and 2010. Both Vučedol and Ljubljana cultural contexts were included in the investigation.
Analytical methods, including optical microscopy (OM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman microspectroscopy (RS), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), and X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM EDS), microtomografphy (µ-CT), were employed to identify the raw materials used for the incrustations and clarify the technological processes of their preparation. In addition to the fillers in the ornaments, the study also sought to determine the composition of the fired clay and the temperatures to which it was exposed.
The results suggest that the pile-dwellers used several different components in their white pastes: bone white (hydroxyapatite), lime (calcite), or kaolinitic clay. These findings provide the first archaeometric insight into the technological choices behind the distinctive decorative practices of the Ljubljansko barje pile-dwellers and open new perspectives for understanding cultural traditions in the broader 3rd millennium BC Central European context.

The Early Neolithic settlement near the village of Chavdar is located in the Zlatitsa–Pirdop Basin, a fertile valley of the Topolnitsa River, about 80 km east of Sofia, Western Bulgaria. Excavated in full during rescue investigations between the late 1960s and 1980, the site dates to the first half of the 6th millennium BC.
The ceramic assemblage is distinguished by its polychrome decoration, produced through the combination of white and dark pigments on a red background. While in most Balkan regions at the time vessels were typically decorated with white paint, and more rarely with dark, at Chavdar, polychrome designs occur with far greater frequency. Comparable finds from other Eastern Balkan sites point to direct cultural connections between this region and areas to the west and southeast. The diversity and complexity of the motifs suggest that this decorative tradition was particularly developed here, making Chavdar a key center of ceramic innovation in the Neolithic.
The presentation introduces new results from the study of painted and unpainted pottery sherds from this assemblage. These analyses, carried out within a broader project revisiting the legacy materials from the settlement and supporting the renovation of the local exhibition dedicated to the site, address the full chaîne opératoire of pottery production, from raw material selection to firing technology. Particular attention is devoted to the pigments used in decoration. By integrating technological and stylistic perspectives, the research provides new insights into both the production practices and the cultural significance of Chavdar’s ceramics within the wider Neolithic networks of Southeast Europe.

The archaeological site of Săveni-La Movile is located on the high terrace of the Ialomița River in the southern Bărăgan Plain, near the Săveni commune (Ialomița County, SE Romania). Excavations revealed a Cernavodă I settlement (4th millennium BC), a phase technologically distinguished by the deliberate addition of crushed shells into pottery paste, a feature different from those previously observed within other Chalcolithic communities in the Muntenia region.
By implementing an archaeometric approach that integrated macroscopic investigation, thin-section petrography coupled with optical microscopy (OM), and X-ray computed tomography (CT), two representative shell-tempered pottery fragments were characterized both externally and internally, based on inclusions, texture, porosity, and firing criteria.
Preliminary results provide information on the nature of the shells (fossil vs non-fossil), their presence (natural vs deliberate), morphology, dimensions, frequency, distribution, orientation (preferential vs non-preferential), and firing parameters. In addition, they offer some methodological insights regarding the possibilities of identifying shell species based of the crushed valve fragments present in pottery bodies. The acquired data indicate that the two analysed samples are well-fired and exhibit semi-fine fabrics with a consistent presence of deliberately added crushed shell valve temper, while the distribution and orientation of both pores and inclusions suggest laminar forming techniques.
This research emphasizes the importance of archaeometry and its interpretative value in reconstructing prehistoric technological, social, environmental, and economic behaviours. By integrating the obtained results into broader chronological and geographical frameworks, this work contributes to the overall understanding of shell-tempered ceramics through space and time.
This work was supported by a grant of the Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digitization, CNCS/CCCDI – UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P4-ID- PCE-2020-2369 within PNCDI III.

The non-destructive analysis of painted plasters represents a major challenge in archaeometry, requiring integrated protocols capable of combining macroscopic and microscopic observation with chemical investigation. How can these materials be examined in a non-invasive way? What combination of techniques allows us to fully understand and characterise pigments? What are the strengths and limitations of the most used spectroscopic methods? And is it possible to achieve a satisfactory screening through portable, non-destructive instruments?
This contribution presents a multi-analytical methodology combining portable, non-invasive and micro-invasive techniques for the characterisation of pigments, from raw materials to their processing and application strategies. The investigated materials come from the coastal and insular areas of Roman Etruria.
The proposed protocol involves an initial phase of macro- and microscopic observation, using a DinoLite digital microscope, followed by elemental (Bruker Elio XRF) and molecular analyses (Bruker Bravo Raman, Bruker Alpha ATR-FTIR, B&WTek Inc. BPS101 FORS, and Specim IQ HSI). The integration of these methods enables a comprehensive screening of painted surfaces, distinguishing pigment compositions, painting techniques, and traces linked to application processes.
The proposal critically discusses the potential and limitations of each technique in the study of ancient pigment palettes, with particular attention to the constraints associated with portable, non-destructive tools that require no sample preparation. The aim is to propose a replicable analytical protocol useful both for preliminary diagnostics and for the selection of representative samples to be subjected to further micro-invasive archaeometric analyses. Preliminary results from the doctoral research and parallel projects demonstrate how a multi-proxy approach can significantly enhance our understanding of Roman painting materials and their technological processes.

This paper presents the preliminary results of zooarchaeological analyses carried out as part of the project Culinary practices, husbandry, and land-use strategies during the Copper Age in Eastern Slavonia (CULPLUS). The faunal assemblages originate from three sites: Viškovci-Gradina and Verušed near Đakovo, and Prisunjača near Vinkovci. Species identification was conducted to determine the relative frequencies of domestic and wild taxa, providing a foundation for reconstructing animal husbandry and hunting strategies. In addition, detailed analyses offer insights into meat consumption and refuse disposal practices among these Copper Age communities. The results are presented for each site individually, followed by a discussion of the similarities and differences in animal exploitation, based on regional and diachronic comparisons and taking into account their geographical and chronological affinity. The taphonomic characteristics of the faunal assemblages and excavation methods are also considered in relation to their formation and sample composition. Finally, contextual analyses were applied to identify broader patterns in human–animal relationships.

Since the discovery of one of the earliest megaliths in the Historical Province of Gipuzkoa (northern Basque Country, Spain) —specifically the dolmen of Jentillari (Giant Stone)— research has predominantly focused on prehistoric periods (Altuna et al., 2002). In recent decades, interest in the reuse of megaliths during later historical phases has increased, yet systematic documentation and analysis remain limited. Contemporary materials, frequently recovered both on the surface and during excavations, are often recorded only partially, which hinders their interpretation.
This work highlights the importance of developing a clear methodological framework for contemporary archaeology in megalithic contexts. Recognising megaliths as landscapes with long and complex biographies —extending beyond prehistory into the present— allows for a more complete understanding of their role in cultural identity. Establishing such a methodology is essential to ensure the consistent recording, classification, and analysis of both historic and modern traces. The research, based on the author’s doctoral study, analyses the evolution and reuse of the megalithic landscape of Gipuzkoa using Bergson’s concept of multitemporality (Hamillakis 2015, 150-155; Olivier 2013, 121-122; Olsen 2013 ). It proposes a transdisciplinary approach integrating archaeological, ethnographic, cartographic, and social data, with the aim of creating an open and accessible database for research and public engagement.
The methodology is organised into three phases:
1. Identification of diverse sources, from archaeological maps and intervention reports to ethnographic materials, ensuring both prehistoric and contemporary data are considered.
2. Systematisation of information through tools such as Google Sheets, PostGIS, QGIS, AutoCAD, Photoshop, and Blender, enabling integrated documentation.
3. Citizen participation as a complementary source, using collaborative mapping and public archaeology to expand the dataset.
By applying this structured methodology, the project seeks to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the megalithic landscape, integrating its prehistoric origins with its ongoing cultural significance in the 21st century.

In the past years, means of acquisition of 3D information became all present - the requirements to successfully create an accurately reconstructed copy of an object in 3D dramatically plummeted and made the process broadly available to a wider community, both scientists and enthusiasts alike. One of the most used techniques to access the internal structure of bones and teeth in archaeological samples is micro computed tomography (mCT). The MOVE project, which explores the lifetime movements and residential mobility patterns of the first farmers who settled in the Southern Carpathian Basin during the Neolithic (~6250-4500 cal BC), implements this technique. Within MOVE we use sequential analysis of tooth dentine to reveal individual early life histories at a high resolution and explore the dietary and mobility patterns of Neolithic humans. To explore the internal tooth structure of Neolithic first agropastoralists and their successors and find adequate samples for stable isotope analyses of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and strontium, we are examining and scanning all human and animal teeth thoroughly via SkyScan 1275XL – a fast, automated X-Ray micro-CT system. Since stable isotope analyses can be destructive, we will also create permanent digital models by scanning the teeth. In this way, all teeth will be available for future studies.
This research was supported by the Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia, GRANT No. 7498, Moving across the plain: reconstructing the lifetime movements of farming pioneers and their successors during the Neolithic in the Southern Carpathian Basin-MOVE.

The veneration of saints and their relics has been part of Dalmatia’s religious, cultural, and social landscapes from Late Antiquity to the present. Despite their significance, information about the location, authenticity, and historical context of these relics remains scattered across manuscripts, church inventories, archaeological records, and oral traditions.
This poster presents the first phase of a project to build a digital database of saints’ relics and archaeological remains in Dalmatia. The database integrates archaeological, historical, and contextual information about the saints, while exploring advanced digital imaging to enhance documentation. Collaboration with ecclesiastical and cultural institutions is emphasized to ensure accuracy, ethical management, and to create a sustainable resource for research and cultural engagement.
The project explores approaches to documentation and data organization while addressing challenges in digitization. It considers the use of advanced imaging techniques—including 3D scanning, computed tomography (CT), and photogrammetry—to produce high-resolution records while minimizing handling of fragile objects. Archival, historical, and oral sources will be collected and integrated with archaeological data to provide context about the relics and saints. These methods support precise study, long-term accessibility, and the development of virtual exhibitions and educational tools. Collaboration with the Church provides access to archives, inventories, and custodial knowledge, ensuring ethical management of cultural information.
Although the database is still in development, it is designed for broader societal benefit. Once implemented, it will support knowledge transfer to heritage managers, local communities, and religious tourism initiatives, offering a foundation for pilgrimage routes, exhibitions, and educational programs. This poster outlines the conceptual framework, planning stages, and intended methodology of the project, demonstrating how archaeological research on saints’ relics can be transformed into a digital tool for cultural preservation, education, and community

Late Antique Coarse Ware from northern Italy remains a relatively understudied research area, despite being one of the most frequently recovered pottery classes. Its analysis provides crucial insights into production technologies, usage practices, and the circulation of artefacts.
The present study focuses on Late Antique Coarse Ware from Villa dei Mosaici di Negrar di Valpolicella (Verona, Italy). The villa, likely constructed in the second half of the 4th century CE, was situated in a strategically significant area: within a territory characterized by viticulture, suggesting a possible functional link to wine-related production, and in proximity to the urban center of Verona, with connections to surrounding regions, particularly the Trentino region. The existence of such contacts is further substantiated by the discovery at Negrar of archaeological materials that can be attributed to typologies characteristic of the Trentino region. The villa has been the subject of systematic excavations since 2020, directed by the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio for the provinces of Verona, Rovigo, and Vicenza, in collaboration with the Department of Culture and Civilization at the University of Verona.
A total of 1,337 Coarse Ware fragments, corresponding to 340 minimum number of individuals (NMI), were analyzed through typo-chronological classification and macroscopic observation, identifying seven fabric groups. Subsequently, 17 samples were selected for thin-section preparation and analyzed using petrography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS), allowing the characterization of clay fabrics, raw materials, and production techniques. The integration of typo-chronological and archaeometric data suggests the possible existence of a local production characterized by homogeneous clay fabrics produced using different techniques. It simultaneously indicates potential exchanges with neighboring areas such as the region of Trentino. This study significantly advances the understanding of the production and circulation of Late Antique Coarse Ware in Northern Italy and stimulates further research on this under-studied pottery class.

The archaeological site Stari Perkovci – Debala šuma is located in Slavonia, specifically in Brod-Posavina County, 25 km northeast of the county capital, Slavonski Brod. Slavonia, now in eastern Croatia, was a vast woodland and marshland in the early Middle Ages. The early medieval settlement at the site Stari Perkovci – Debela šuma was organized on a small hill, but only part of it was discovered during the protective archaeological excavation in 2006, prior to the construction of the highway to Osijek. Two semisubterranean structures were found and dated from the 7th to the 9th century. Archaeological features and fragments of daub indicate that one structure was a tent-like dwelling, while the other was built with wattle covered in mud. Pottery forms the largest group of finds from these two structures, and the pottery assemblages mainly consist of small and large pots. Unfortunately, the pots are not well preserved, and many are represented by a single sherd. As the assemblages were not large, it was possible to use four different methods to determine the minimum vessel number in both structures with precision. During the research, methods such as refitting, counting diagnostic sherds, rim-to-base correspondence with cross-matching of other sherds, and fabric and decoration analyses were found to be the most effective for determining the minimum vessel number. From the total of 86 sherds in one structure and 52 sherds in the other, it was possible to determine a minimum number of 23 and 25 vessels, respectively. In turn, these numbers contribute to the interpretation of the structures as dwellings rather than workshops, despite the large amounts of ash and soot, which indicate that the area could have been used for the production of iron.

Five samples from Marlera and Vižula, respectively, on the Istrian peninsula (Croatia) were analyzed by means of XRD and FTIR. The aim was to see if there is a measurable difference between these two locations in their chemical signatures, in order to use them in provenance of chert artefacts, from prehistory and antiquity. XRD results showed that all the samples have sharp peaks around 2θ = 26.6, representing (101) reflection of α-quartz (SiO2). Smaller peaks around diffractograms also represent other quartz reflections. Based on the XRD results, the samples are pure quartz, with only the crystalline phase detected.
Since XRD method was unable to provide measurable differences between samples, we decided to try with FTIR. The results showed subtle but clear differences between samples from different locations. In the area of main Si-O band presence (1000–1200 cm⁻¹ region), Marlera shows peaks at 1127 cm⁻¹ and 1080 cm⁻¹, while Vižula has peaks on 1164 cm⁻¹ and 1067 cm⁻¹. The slight shift suggests the possibility of the presence of other SiO varieties (opal, chalcedony). Doublet in the 780–800 cm⁻¹ region has slightly stronger separation for the Marlera samples, while in Vižula they are closer in their values. In the region of 600–700 cm⁻¹, Marlera samples shift towards higher wavenumbers (553, in contrast to 540 for Vižula). Also, in the low wavenumber region (~450–500 cm⁻¹), there is a shift towards higher values for Marlera samples. Additionally, Vižula samples show higher intensity values, suggesting the possibility of impurities or different porosity. Based on the FTIR results, Marlera samples appear to be slightly more crystalline (quartz-rich), while the Vižula samples show shifts consistent with more disorder or different silica polymorphs.
The general conclusion is that FTIR method is a more promising approach for differentiation between chert samples from these two locations.

Archaeological investigations conducted at the sites of Gračec, Kosovac near Bregana, and Planina Donja-Gradec have provided new insights into the construction techniques of fortifications during the Late Bronze Age in northwestern Croatia.
At the site of Gračec, the rampart was formed by heaping earth excavated from a ditch located along its northern side, resulting in a horseshoe-shaped defensive structure whose ends rest on the natural slopes of the settlement’s eastern and western sides. Inside the rampart, a wooden feature composed of beams and posts was documented, serving as internal support for the earthen embankment, while fragments of carbonized wood indicate the presence of a palisade on its upper section. Geophysical surveys further confirmed the presumed construction method and the existence of a ditch at the base of the rampart. At the site of Kosovac near Bregana, although no defensive structures were previously recorded, a field survey identified the remains of an earthen rampart extending along the western side of the site. The rampart, also horseshoe-shaped like the one at Gračec, protected the most accessible approach to the settlement. It was partially damaged by the construction of a modern road leading to houses on the hilltop, exposing a cross-section that contained several fragments of Late Bronze Age pottery, thus confirming its chronological association with Gračec. At Planina Donja-Gradec, a rampart encircling the entire settlement was investigated. Although differing in form, the wooden construction elements discovered within its structure are similar to those documented at Gračec and Kosovac, indicating a shared building tradition.
The examined sites collectively illustrate a developed and standardized model of fortification construction characteristic of the Late Bronze Age hilltop settlements. All collected data provide a small but highly significant insight into the appearance of fortification systems in northwestern Croatia.

Salt - an element so fundamental to life - has profoundly shaped both the Earth’s systems and human civilizations. The COST Action SaltAges (CA23141) brings together an international, multidisciplinary network of researchers to investigate salt in all its dimensions: from its geological origins and biological significance to its historical, technological, and socio-economic roles. Giant salt deposits, formed in restricted evaporitic basins over millions of years, represent not only archives of Earth’s environmental history but also vast resources with the potential to address critical global challenges related to energy, climate, and sustainability.
The SaltAges network integrates approaches from geosciences, archaeology, history, biology, engineering, and social sciences to develop a holistic understanding of “salt giants” and their multifaceted impacts on planetary and human processes. By combining methodological innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and cross-sector knowledge exchange, the Action aims to advance research infrastructures and foster new frameworks for sustainable exploration and heritage preservation. This poster presents the aims, structure, and methodological framework of the SaltAges COST Action, highlighting its potential to bridge the deep-time study of salt with contemporary scientific and societal needs.

Critiquing films for being “inaccurate” representations of prehistory is straightforward, but what does it actually mean to produce an accurate prehistoric film? This paper explores the epistemological challenges involved in translating archaeological and anthropological knowledge into fictional narrative cinema, and proposes guidelines for conceptualizing scientific accuracy in this medium.
Fictional films aligned with current scientific consensus have significant public value: they can inform broad audiences, stimulate critical engagement, and open debate about the human past. Filmmakers then encounter problems parallel to those of archaeologists and anthropologists, especially when “filling in the gaps” with ethnoarchaeological analogies whose limitations are well established. At the same time, filmmaking resembles the practices of museum exhibition design and reconstructive art, where abstract theories and fragmentary data must be given a concrete and persuasive form. Additional challenges arise from cinema’s narrative constraints, which typically focus on a single group in a specific place and time rather than broad-scale patterns.
I argue that filmmakers should not be tasked with adjudicating between competing interpretations of archaeological evidence. Instead, they may freely choose among scientifically valid theories, provided their depictions remain plausible within the range of current scholarship. This freedom enables filmmakers to pursue narratives that are both engaging and intellectually grounded. In this sense, a prehistoric film functions as a focal point where multiple scientific theories converge into a tangible representation. Moreover, by staging reconstructions of past behaviours and material practices, filmmaking may itself be seen as a form of experimental archaeology.
The “accuracy” of prehistoric films is thus best understood not as a matter of definitive truth, but as inhabiting a realm of plausible possibilities. Films created within this space can legitimately be said to show “what it was like,” in a manner that resonates with both scholarly expertise and public imagination.

There have not been many COST actions dedicated to the history of playing board games and how such games can obtain their digital form. In this respect, the COST action GameTable (CA 22145) can be considered as a pioneer undertaking. The action started in 2023 and it will last until 2027.
It seems that the approach to board games has always been twofold. While within mathematics and computer sciences, games have been used as testbeds for the development of the state-of-the-art methods in economics, engineering and AI, within humanities, board games have been studied as motivations that stand behind human play and social implications on individual and societal levels. In connection to this, board games are increasingly becoming accepted as parts of global intangible cultural heritage.
The GameTable action therefore tends to bring together archaeologists, heritage experts, mathematicians and computer scientists, with the aim of developing strategies on how to use game AI to study, reconstruct and preserve the intangible heritage of games. At the same time, the action is focused on introducing games in different stages of education, potentially including them in formal education.
All of the participants of the GameTable action are divided into five groups, according to their respective skills, fields of research and interests. The first group deals with search, planning, learning and explainability. Members of the second group deal with the cultural heritage of games, while the third group works on automated game and puzzle design. The fourth group will be working on mathematics in games. Finally, the fifth group will take care of implementation, dissemination and education.

For more than a decade, several COST actions took place that dealt with digitization of cultural heritage, aiming to make the data obtained through archaeological research accessible to both fellow-archeologists and the broad public. After the COST actions Arkwork (CA 15201) and SEADDA (CA 18128), the action MAIA was approved. It started in 2024 and will last until 2028.
The project focuses on the usage of artificial intelligence in the service of archaeology. As an extension of digitization, the usage of artificial intelligence (AI) applications has brought incredible opportunities in this scientific field. Different AI tools can be applied in detecting archaeological sites, recognition and reassembling different archaeological finds, text mining from historical documents and epigraphs, studying human remains etc. On the other hand, aspects like understanding which archaeological research questions could be addressed, the availability and creation of the data bases used as starting points for such research, ethical and other similar issues still need more in-depth discussion and exploration.
This is why the MAIA COST Action focuses on creating a community of archaeologists, digital archaeologists and computer scientists with the common aim of developing a shared understanding of AI applications in archaeology. This goal will be achieved through meetings and workshops that will bring together researchers who wish to create or use digital collections and training data.
All of the participants of the MAIA action are divided into four groups, according to their respective skills, fields of research and interests. The first group deals with the state of the art in the relationship between AI and archaeology. Members of the second group tend to build digital comparative collections and AI training data for archaeology, while the third group examines the connection between AI and archaeological research. The fourth group will be working on dissemination and communication.