Understanding the anomaly: reinterpreting Porolissum Roman town with emerging GPR and ER data

The Roman Porolissum (Romania) was first surveyed with magnetics in 2010. Local geology is propitious for magnetic prospection. In 2021 the Polish-Romanian team carried out a complementary ER and GPR survey. Emerging geophysical data allowed reinterpretation of the previous survey results. Complementary survey data and geological setting analysis yet enhanced the archaeological interpretation

The Tibiscum project ̶ non-destructive research in Romania

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The Castle Hill in Biecz and fortified stronghold in Kobylanka. The results of interdisciplinary research from 2019

In 2019, new research was initiated at two archaeological sites located on the Ropa River, in Gorlice County, in the southeastern part of Małopolska Province. The first site was the Castle Hill in Biecz, and the second one was the fortified stronghold in Kobylanka. The research consisted of three stages. Firstly, extensive archival and library queries were conducted in order to gather basic information about both sites. Secondly, surface research was performed in order to collect any movable monuments. During the third stage, a reconnaissance by means of GPR, electrical resistivity imaging and geo-magnetic survey was carried out. These provided plenty of new valuable information on the spatial layout of both sites. In the case of the Castle Hill, the analysis of the discovered anomalies allowed for the interpretation of some of the finds as remnants of the brick elements of the castle, e.g. the tower, which corresponds with the plan from 1877. The results of the analyses of the anomalies from the fortified stronghold in Kobylanka, with its ramparts made of stone and earth as well as inner circular housing, were far more ambiguous. Its chronology may date back to the early Middle Age

Roman auxiliary fort in Pojejena (Caraș-Severin County, Romania). The results of non-invasive and archival research (2017–2019)

A non-destructive survey conducted in 2017–2019 in the proximity of the auxiliary fort brought forth new data regarding the military base on the bank of the Danube, in the frontier zone between the Roman provinces of Moesia Superior and Dacia Inferior. It became clear that the previously acknowledged large stone fort was preceded by an unknown small earth-and-timber fort likely dated to the late 1st – early 2nd century. Analysis of the internal planning of the large fort, as well as the results of test trenching near the East Gate not only allowed to verify some geophysical results but also gave insight into the chronology of the large fort and contributed to the discussion of the changes to the fort’s garrison. The evidence shows that the base functioned until the 260s CE, and while the Roman military was probably present in the area at some point in the 4th century, it was a relatively short episode during an attempt to reconquer the Dacian riverbank

Using Geophysics to Characterize a Prehistoric Burial Mound in Romania

A geophysical investigation was carried across the M3 burial mound from Silvașu de Jos —Dealu Țapului, a tumuli necropolis in western Romania, where the presence of the Yamnaya people was certified archaeologically. For characterizing the inner structure of the mound, two conventional geophysical methods have been used: a geomagnetic survey and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT). The results allowed the mapping of the central features of the mound and the establishment of the relative stratigraphy of the mantle, which indicated at least two chronological phases. Archaeological excavations performed in the central part of the mound accurately validated the non-invasive geophysical survey and offered a valuable chronological record of the long-forgotten archaeological monument. Geophysical approaches proved to be an invaluable instrument for the exploration of the monument and suggest a fast constructive tool for the investigation of the entire necropolis which currently has a number of distinct mounds

Geophysical Investigations within the Latus Dextrum of Porolissum Fort, Northwestern Romania—The Layout of a Roman Edifice

This paper summarizes the results of a recent geophysical investigation carried out at Porolissum, which is considered to be one of the most significant Roman sites in Romania. The geophysical survey was carried out within the latus dextrum of the fort, which is the same location that had been the subject of earlier geophysical surveys as well as older archaeological excavations (1970s) that had uncovered a multiroom building. A cesium vapor total field magnetometer and a multi-electrode resistivity meter for a dense Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) survey were used. Eighty parallel ERT profiles in combination with the emerging total field magnetic data and an antecedent magnetic survey allowed us to complete a more precise interpretation regarding the building that once existed on the left side of Porolissum’s Principia (the commander’s house). In contrast to the magnetic survey, which only reveals a part of the building’s architecture, the ERT survey provides a comprehensive view of the structure’s layout. More than 20 rooms could be positively identified, and the existence of further rooms might be deduced from the data. The ERT scan revealed the existence of the building’s northern external wall as well, which is not reflected on the magnetic map. Because some parts of the building are not visible on the magnetic map, we can assume that the building was constructed with at least two types of rocks (magmatic and sedimentary). In addition to the archaeological interpretation of the geophysical anomalies, a number of discussions concerning the connection between our survey and the geology of the area were held. The complementarity of the magnetic and resistivity results prompted us to conceive a preliminary 3D reconstruction of the building. Even if the building function is unknown in the absence of reliable archaeological data, it could have been a storage building, a second praetorium, a valetudinarium (hospital), or an armamentarium (weapons storage building). The illustrative reconstruction was completed taking into consideration that the building was a Roman military hospital, which, based on the available data, may be considered a credible assumption

History and archaeology in discourse on the Dernberg : reconstructing the historical landscape of a medieval motte-and-bailey castle and deserted village

Investigating deserted medieval castles and villages in remote rural areas paired with a scarcity of meaningful written sources is a challenging task that can be significantly enhanced by the use of non-invasive archaeological prospection methods. Furthermore, the interpolation of stratigraphic relationships among maps by analysing paths and field boundaries, as performed by Klaus Schwarz in the 1980s, can also contribute significantly. Thus, in order to resolve numerous unanswered questions, a multidisciplinary approach is required. In this paper we present preliminary archaeological prospection data using magnetics and airborne laser scanning (ALS) as well as methodological considerations on the systematic analysis of historical maps on the site of Dernberg, a medieval motte-and-bailey castle with an adjoining deserted village. The magnetic data and corresponding aerial images, although not providing decisive information on internal structures, show several historical roads that allow for the localisation of the village at the foot of the castle hill, as well as other pathways and defensive structures. Data derived from laser scanning surveys carried out by uncrewed aerial vehicles, respectively, drone flights allow for a significant gain in information compared to publicly available ALS data. In a methodological discussion on the systematic analysis of historical maps, the site of Dernberg is used to illustrate not only how such an analysis can determine chronological sequences with respect to the pattern of former agricultural field systems and road networks, but that these assumptions can be confirmed in part by geophysical surveys

Deserted Medieval Village Reconstruction Using Applied Geosciences

This study presents a new way to reconstruct the extent of medieval archaeological sites by using approaches from the field of geoinformatics. Hence, we propose a combined use of non-invasive methodologies which are used for the first time to study a medieval village in Romania. The focus here will be on ground-based and satellite remote-sensing techniques. The method relies on computing vegetation indices (proxies), which have been utilized for archaeological site detection in order to detect the layout of a deserted medieval town located in southwestern Romania. The data were produced by a group of small satellites (3U CubeSats) dispatched by Planet Labs which delivered high-resolution images of the Earth’s surface. The globe is encompassed by more than 150 satellites (dimensions: 10 × 10 × 30 cm) which catch different images for the same area at moderately short intervals at a spatial resolution of 3–4 m. The four-band Planet Scope satellite images were employed to calculate a number of vegetation indices such as NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index), DVI (Difference Vegetation Index), SR (Simple Vegetation Ratio) and others. For better precision, structure from motion (SfM) techniques were applied to generate a high-resolution orthomosaic and a digital surface model in which the boundaries of the medieval village of “Șanțul Turcilor” in Mașloc, Romania, can be plainly observed. Additionally, this study contrasts the outcomes with a geophysical survey that was attempted inside the central part of the medieval settlement. The technical results of this study also provide strong evidence from an historical point of view: the first documented case of village systematization during the medieval period within Eastern Europe (particularly Romania) found through geoscientific methods

Konstytucja rzeczywista a konstytucja pisana w Polsce, 281 s.

Monografia naukowa "Konstytucja rzeczywista a konstytucja pisana w Polsce", stanowi efekt wymiany doświadczeń w czasie Ogólnopolskiej Konferencji Naukowej "Konstytucja rzeczywista a konstytucja pisana w Polsce w latach 1918–1921 oraz 1989–1997", odbywającej się na Wydziale Prawa i Administracji Uniwersytetu Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu 7 kwietnia 2022 r. Monografia "Konstytucja rzeczywista a konstytucja pisana w Polsce" wraz z Konferencją zostały zorganizowane w ramach projektu badawczego Rola procesów polityczno-społecznych w kształtowaniu ustroju konstytucyjnego Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (program Diamentowy Grant – numer projektu DI2018 009248)