16 research outputs found
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Change is good: adapting strategies for archaeological prospection in a rapidly changing technological world
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Preparing for the future: A reappraisal of archaeo-geophysical surveying on Irish National Road Schemes 2001-2010
yesThis document reviews Legacy Data generated from 10 years’ worth of road scheme activity in
Ireland to determine how archaeological geophysical surveys could be carried out on national
roads in the future. The geophysical surveys were carried out by several different contractors
across a range of challenging field conditions, geologies, weather and seasons. The research is
based upon the results of linear schemes but also has validity for wider approaches. The
findings of this research are based upon the compilation of all terrestrial archaeological
geophysical surveys carried out on behalf of the National Roads Authority (NRA), a review of
the success or otherwise of those surveys in comparison with ground-observed excavations and
in combination with experimental surveys that tested previously held assumptions or
knowledge to determine best practice methods for the future.
The use and success of geophysical surveys in Ireland differ quite significantly from those in the
UK, from where many of the methods of assessment were derived or adapted. Many of these
differences can be attributed to geology. Ireland has a very high percentage of Carboniferous
limestone geology, overlain mostly by tills and frequent occurrences of peat. These soils can
reduce, to some extent, the effectiveness of magnetometer surveys; the most frequently used
geophysical technique in Ireland. However, magnetometer data can be maximised in these
cases by increasing the spatial resolution to produce effective results. An increase in spatial
resolution is also effective generally, for enhancing the chances of identifying archaeological
features by discriminating between archaeological and geological anomalies as well as
increasing anomaly definition and visualisation of small and subtle archaeological features.
Seasonal tests have determined that Irish soils are generally suitable for year round earth
resistance assessments although some counties in the southeast of the country may experience
very dry soils at the surface during some periods of the year.
A variety of sampling strategies were used in the past, however it is now apparent that detailed
assessments across the full length and width of a proposed road corridor are the most
appropriate form of geophysical investigation. Magnetometer surveys are generally suitable for
most Irish soils and geologies, although exceptions apply in areas of near-surface igneous
deposits, deep peat and alluvial soils; however magnetometer surveys are not capable of
identifying all types of archaeological features and other methods will be required for a full
evaluation.
Analysis of the Legacy Data has determined that in general the NRA archaeological geophysical surveys were historically used in a very positive way on road schemes. The range of features
assessed or identified account for most types of archaeological sites in Ireland. These have
provided a significant archive of case studies that will be of benefit to future archaeological
geophysical research and will help to protect the globally dwindling archaeological resource
that is threatened by development-led or commercially driven projects
Recommended from our members
A decade of ground-truthing: reappraising magnetometer prospection surveys on linear corridors in light of excavation evidence
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You know its summer in Ireland when the rain gets warmer: Analysing repetitive time-lapse earth resistance data to determine ‘optimal’ survey climate conditions
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Migraine association and linkage analyses of the human 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT2A) receptor gene
5-Hydroxytryptamine (5HT), commonly known as serotonin, which predominantly serves as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, has long been implicated in migraine pathophysiology. This study tested an Mspl polymorphism in the human 5HT2A receptor gene (HTR2A) and a closely linked microsatellite marker (D13S126), for linkage and association with common migraine. In the association analyses, no significant differences were found between the migraine and control populations for both the Mspl polymorphism and the D13S126 microsatellite marker. The linkage studies involving three families comprising 36 affected members were analysed using both parametric (FASTLINK) and non-parametric (MFLINK and APM) techniques. Significant close linkage was indicated between the Mspl polymorphism and the D13S126 microsatellite marker at a recombination fraction (θ) of zero (lod score=7.15). Linkage results for the Mspl polymorphism were not very informative in the three families, producing maximum and minimum lod scores of only 0.35 and 0.39 at recombination fractions (θ) of 0.2 and 0.00, respectively. However, linkage analysis between the D13S126 marker and migraine indicated significant non-linkage (lod2) up to a recombination fraction (θ) of 0.028. Results from this study exclude the HTR2A gene, which has been localized to chromosome 13q14-q21, for involvement with common migraine
Association of a low density lipoprotein receptor microsatellite variant with obesity
OBJECTIVE To determine whether a microsatellite polymorphism located towards the 3' end of the low density lipoprotein receptor gene (LDLR) is associated with obesity. DESIGN A cross-sectional case-control study. SUBJECTS One hundred and seven obese individuals, defined as a body mass index (BMI) ≤ 26 kg/m2, and 163 lean individuals, defined as a BMI < 26 kg/m2. MEASUREMENTS BMI, blood pressure, serum lipids, alleles of LDLR microsatellite (106 bp, 108 bp and 112 bp). RESULTS There was a significant association between variants of the LDLR microsatellite and obesity, in the overall tested population, due to a contributing effect in females (χ2 = 12.3, P = 0.002), but not in males (χ2 = 0.3, P = 0.87). In females, individuals with the 106 bp allele were more likely to be lean, while individuals with the 112 bp and/or 108 bp alleles tended to be obese. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that in females, LDLR may play a role in the development of obesity