Preservation strategies at earthen archaeological sites are challenging to develop and maintain i... more Preservation strategies at earthen archaeological sites are challenging to develop and maintain in the long term. Environmental fluctuations, anthropogenic interference, and pedological composition are only a few factors that can impact deterioration pathways. Owing to these complexities, there will never be a one-size-fits-all strategy for preserving earthen sites. However, archaeological spoil-or backdirt-can be employed to mitigate many of these challenges. Utilizing illustrative case studies at the earthen sites of Çatalhöyük, Turkey, and Vésztő-Mágor, Hungary, the authors present the use of backdirt as a sustainable, structurally supportive, contextually sympathetic, and visually congruent material for earthen site conservation. Matters of authenticity, ethical mandates, and social benefits of its use are also considered, as are its limitations.
Archaeological burial contexts may include a variety of white substances, but few analyses have b... more Archaeological burial contexts may include a variety of white substances, but few analyses have been published. This study reports on the physico‐chemical characterization of such residues from seven archaeological sites. It is often assumed that white materials from burial contexts are lime. Our findings demonstrate that they can be gypsum, calcite (chalk), aragonite, brushite, degraded metal, natural (gum) resins or synthetic polymer–based products. These may be present as the result of diagenetic processes, funerary practices or modern contamination. This paper provides an analytical approach for the holistic investigation of white materials encountered in burial contexts.
From the Middle Paleolithic onwards, pigments have been used variably in different social and rit... more From the Middle Paleolithic onwards, pigments have been used variably in different social and ritual activities as well as in the expression of symbolism through material culture (e.g., Brooks et al. 2018; D’Errico 2008). In the Levant and Anatolia, symbolic practices with pigments became increasingly common in the epipaleolithic and pre-pottery Neolithic periods (e.g., Bocquentin and Garrard 2016; Goring-Morris, Hovers, and Belfer-Cohen 2009; Richter et al. 2019; Baird 2012; Baird et al. 2013)
systems. A useful general list of maintenance tasks is provided and specific guidance given on co... more systems. A useful general list of maintenance tasks is provided and specific guidance given on compliance with Building Regulations, use of vapour barriers, patent systems for drying wet walls, attic and cellar conversions, pigeon problems and ventilation of cavities. The final part of the book covers special topics, including buildings and human health, dealing with disasters, and improving energy and carbon performance. Does this volume offer sound and practical guidance for practitioners? The answer is a resounding yes, but only if they take the trouble to read what at times can appear as a collection of overly long or snappily short sections of text. The tinted text panels highlight key facts and cross-referencing is given to other volumes in the Practical Building Conservation series. An extensive glossary points to the breadth of the subject. Much of the content of this volume may at first glance appear unnecessarily complicated for what many practitioners have to face in their day-to-day work, but when working with historic buildings it is essential to consider the assembly as a whole rather than just its various parts. For those undertaking routine inspections of churches or other significant heritage assets, for instance, it is often necessary to consider issues of deteriorating building fabric, fluctuating environmental conditions, significant historic fixtures and fittings, fragile decorative finishes, archaic heating and lighting systems, and a range of user requirements that are fundamentally different from those for which the building was originally designed and constructed. In such instances it is simply not enough to view the building in isolation. The approach taken in this book to understanding and dealing with buildings and their environments is key to successful and sustainable use. This volume brings together a great deal of useful and practical information in a well-presented package. It provides context and meaning for other volumes in the series and, for this reason, lies at the heart of practical building conservation.
Preventive conservation at archaeological sites includes a broad range of measures, aimed at pass... more Preventive conservation at archaeological sites includes a broad range of measures, aimed at passively mitigating deterioration. All actions and strategies are defined by the heritage framework governing practice on protected sites, so the legislation and guidance within the UK is explored. Measures for preventive conservation such as defining significance, risk management, documentation, understanding the depositional environment and monitoring changes, the use of covers and shelters, emergency preparedness, and site management are discussed. Contemporary conservation practice in the UK shows a clear understanding of the benefits of the heritage to the communities that they serve, so locating the preventive conservation within public benefit is essential. Incorporating preventative measures in a collaborative multidisciplinary approach creates the foundation for extending the useable life of a site and its values
Preserving the archaeological archive of sites and collections includes a broad range of measures... more Preserving the archaeological archive of sites and collections includes a broad range of measures to safeguard tangible and intangible aspects of heritage. This is achieved by collaborative approaches in preventive conservation, understanding the role of the environment, defining significance, documentation,managing risks, and engagement.Interventions on and off site must be determined by a thorough understanding of site conditions, materials found, decay processes, and uses planned. Within the encyclopedia there is more specific guidance on practical responses for a range of contexts. This entry offers an overview of the guiding principles shaping the preservation of an archaeological archive.
Preserving Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age: Sending Out an S.O.S., 2022
This chapter reports on data collection methods and 3D technologies employed at Çatalhöyük (Turke... more This chapter reports on data collection methods and 3D technologies employed at Çatalhöyük (Turkey). It explains how the data can be used in combination with GIS to assess the condition of archaeological earthen architecture visually and to strategize conservation interventions to help preserve it. The authors illustrate how an extensive and diverse corpus of at-risk earthen architecture information collected at Çatalhöyük was analyzed and finally integrated into a GIS platform to spatially visualize, comprehend and assess the state of preservation of the site and its threats. The authors then explain why a comprehensive approach to analyzing at-risk mudbrick architecture is important for conservators: (1) it aids in identifying which buildings require immediate intervention, and (2) establishes a foundation for future evaluation of the conservation actions undertaken. The detailed spatial understanding of the conservation issues that affect mudbrick walls in large earthen sites all...
The cultural use of pigments in human societies is associated with ritual activities and the crea... more The cultural use of pigments in human societies is associated with ritual activities and the creation of social memory. Neolithic Çatalhöyük (Turkey, 7100–5950 cal BC) provides a unique case study for the exploration of links between pigments in burials, demographic data and colourants in contemporary architectural contexts. This study presents the first combined analysis of funerary and architectural evidence of pigment use in Neolithic Anatolia and discusses the possible social processes underlying the observed statistical patterns. Results reveal that pigments were either applied directly to the deceased or included in the grave as a burial association. The most commonly used pigment was red ochre. Cinnabar was mainly applied to males and blue/green pigment was associated with females. A correlation was found between the number of buried individuals and the number of painted layers in the buildings. Mortuary practices seem to have followed specific selection processes independent...
This collection includes a mixed remote sensing dataset made of terrestrial laser scanning point ... more This collection includes a mixed remote sensing dataset made of terrestrial laser scanning point clouds, point cloud comparison data, structure from motion-generated polygonal meshes, and related textures and metadata. It was recorded at the Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük, Turkey under the Çatalhöyük Digital Preservation Project carried out in 2012-2017 by scholars and students from the University of California Merced and Cardiff University. The historic series of North Area and South Area point clouds were documented by means of a Faro Focus S120 time of flight laser scanning during six consecutive field seasons (2012-2017), while the East Mound and West Mound landscape 3-D models were generated from low-altitude photos captured by an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) in 2015. The goal of the Çatalhöyük Digital Preservation Project was to capture the current state of the site to comply with UNESCO site management guidelines for conservation and to understand and quantitatively assess t...
Preservation strategies at earthen archaeological sites are challenging to develop and maintain i... more Preservation strategies at earthen archaeological sites are challenging to develop and maintain in the long term. Environmental fluctuations, anthropogenic interference, and pedological composition are only a few factors that can impact deterioration pathways. Owing to these complexities, there will never be a one-size-fits-all strategy for preserving earthen sites. However, archaeological spoil-or backdirt-can be employed to mitigate many of these challenges. Utilizing illustrative case studies at the earthen sites of Çatalhöyük, Turkey, and Vésztő-Mágor, Hungary, the authors present the use of backdirt as a sustainable, structurally supportive, contextually sympathetic, and visually congruent material for earthen site conservation. Matters of authenticity, ethical mandates, and social benefits of its use are also considered, as are its limitations.
Archaeological burial contexts may include a variety of white substances, but few analyses have b... more Archaeological burial contexts may include a variety of white substances, but few analyses have been published. This study reports on the physico‐chemical characterization of such residues from seven archaeological sites. It is often assumed that white materials from burial contexts are lime. Our findings demonstrate that they can be gypsum, calcite (chalk), aragonite, brushite, degraded metal, natural (gum) resins or synthetic polymer–based products. These may be present as the result of diagenetic processes, funerary practices or modern contamination. This paper provides an analytical approach for the holistic investigation of white materials encountered in burial contexts.
From the Middle Paleolithic onwards, pigments have been used variably in different social and rit... more From the Middle Paleolithic onwards, pigments have been used variably in different social and ritual activities as well as in the expression of symbolism through material culture (e.g., Brooks et al. 2018; D’Errico 2008). In the Levant and Anatolia, symbolic practices with pigments became increasingly common in the epipaleolithic and pre-pottery Neolithic periods (e.g., Bocquentin and Garrard 2016; Goring-Morris, Hovers, and Belfer-Cohen 2009; Richter et al. 2019; Baird 2012; Baird et al. 2013)
systems. A useful general list of maintenance tasks is provided and specific guidance given on co... more systems. A useful general list of maintenance tasks is provided and specific guidance given on compliance with Building Regulations, use of vapour barriers, patent systems for drying wet walls, attic and cellar conversions, pigeon problems and ventilation of cavities. The final part of the book covers special topics, including buildings and human health, dealing with disasters, and improving energy and carbon performance. Does this volume offer sound and practical guidance for practitioners? The answer is a resounding yes, but only if they take the trouble to read what at times can appear as a collection of overly long or snappily short sections of text. The tinted text panels highlight key facts and cross-referencing is given to other volumes in the Practical Building Conservation series. An extensive glossary points to the breadth of the subject. Much of the content of this volume may at first glance appear unnecessarily complicated for what many practitioners have to face in their day-to-day work, but when working with historic buildings it is essential to consider the assembly as a whole rather than just its various parts. For those undertaking routine inspections of churches or other significant heritage assets, for instance, it is often necessary to consider issues of deteriorating building fabric, fluctuating environmental conditions, significant historic fixtures and fittings, fragile decorative finishes, archaic heating and lighting systems, and a range of user requirements that are fundamentally different from those for which the building was originally designed and constructed. In such instances it is simply not enough to view the building in isolation. The approach taken in this book to understanding and dealing with buildings and their environments is key to successful and sustainable use. This volume brings together a great deal of useful and practical information in a well-presented package. It provides context and meaning for other volumes in the series and, for this reason, lies at the heart of practical building conservation.
Preventive conservation at archaeological sites includes a broad range of measures, aimed at pass... more Preventive conservation at archaeological sites includes a broad range of measures, aimed at passively mitigating deterioration. All actions and strategies are defined by the heritage framework governing practice on protected sites, so the legislation and guidance within the UK is explored. Measures for preventive conservation such as defining significance, risk management, documentation, understanding the depositional environment and monitoring changes, the use of covers and shelters, emergency preparedness, and site management are discussed. Contemporary conservation practice in the UK shows a clear understanding of the benefits of the heritage to the communities that they serve, so locating the preventive conservation within public benefit is essential. Incorporating preventative measures in a collaborative multidisciplinary approach creates the foundation for extending the useable life of a site and its values
Preserving the archaeological archive of sites and collections includes a broad range of measures... more Preserving the archaeological archive of sites and collections includes a broad range of measures to safeguard tangible and intangible aspects of heritage. This is achieved by collaborative approaches in preventive conservation, understanding the role of the environment, defining significance, documentation,managing risks, and engagement.Interventions on and off site must be determined by a thorough understanding of site conditions, materials found, decay processes, and uses planned. Within the encyclopedia there is more specific guidance on practical responses for a range of contexts. This entry offers an overview of the guiding principles shaping the preservation of an archaeological archive.
Preserving Cultural Heritage in the Digital Age: Sending Out an S.O.S., 2022
This chapter reports on data collection methods and 3D technologies employed at Çatalhöyük (Turke... more This chapter reports on data collection methods and 3D technologies employed at Çatalhöyük (Turkey). It explains how the data can be used in combination with GIS to assess the condition of archaeological earthen architecture visually and to strategize conservation interventions to help preserve it. The authors illustrate how an extensive and diverse corpus of at-risk earthen architecture information collected at Çatalhöyük was analyzed and finally integrated into a GIS platform to spatially visualize, comprehend and assess the state of preservation of the site and its threats. The authors then explain why a comprehensive approach to analyzing at-risk mudbrick architecture is important for conservators: (1) it aids in identifying which buildings require immediate intervention, and (2) establishes a foundation for future evaluation of the conservation actions undertaken. The detailed spatial understanding of the conservation issues that affect mudbrick walls in large earthen sites all...
The cultural use of pigments in human societies is associated with ritual activities and the crea... more The cultural use of pigments in human societies is associated with ritual activities and the creation of social memory. Neolithic Çatalhöyük (Turkey, 7100–5950 cal BC) provides a unique case study for the exploration of links between pigments in burials, demographic data and colourants in contemporary architectural contexts. This study presents the first combined analysis of funerary and architectural evidence of pigment use in Neolithic Anatolia and discusses the possible social processes underlying the observed statistical patterns. Results reveal that pigments were either applied directly to the deceased or included in the grave as a burial association. The most commonly used pigment was red ochre. Cinnabar was mainly applied to males and blue/green pigment was associated with females. A correlation was found between the number of buried individuals and the number of painted layers in the buildings. Mortuary practices seem to have followed specific selection processes independent...
This collection includes a mixed remote sensing dataset made of terrestrial laser scanning point ... more This collection includes a mixed remote sensing dataset made of terrestrial laser scanning point clouds, point cloud comparison data, structure from motion-generated polygonal meshes, and related textures and metadata. It was recorded at the Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük, Turkey under the Çatalhöyük Digital Preservation Project carried out in 2012-2017 by scholars and students from the University of California Merced and Cardiff University. The historic series of North Area and South Area point clouds were documented by means of a Faro Focus S120 time of flight laser scanning during six consecutive field seasons (2012-2017), while the East Mound and West Mound landscape 3-D models were generated from low-altitude photos captured by an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) in 2015. The goal of the Çatalhöyük Digital Preservation Project was to capture the current state of the site to comply with UNESCO site management guidelines for conservation and to understand and quantitatively assess t...
Introduction Çatalhöyük, like many earthen sites, is a complex exercise in preservation. Since it... more Introduction Çatalhöyük, like many earthen sites, is a complex exercise in preservation. Since it was first excavated in the 1960's there have been efforts to preserve the material culture. Over the years evolving contexts of the site coupled with the legacy and perpetuation of specific treatment strategies have presented a number of challenges to the long-term preservation of the site. Conservators are left trying to create sustainable treatment practices amidst evolving scientific understanding and challenges in team continuity. Through a reflexive look at the treatment of the built heritage, and use of existing data to identify changes in patterns of deterioration, outstanding issues of preservation of the site are being addressed. One specific example of revising perpetuated conservation strategy was the use of aqueous polymer emulsions across the site.
Society for American Archaeology (SAA) 83th Annual Meeting, 2018
(MAX 200 words): In the period 2011-2017, scholars from the University of California Merced and C... more (MAX 200 words): In the period 2011-2017, scholars from the University of California Merced and Cardiff University recorded the fragile earthen architecture of Çatalhöyük, Turkey employing cutting-edge conservation technologies to monitor the site and gather new data. Our goal was to model and analyze the site decay and plan conservation interventions. Tools and methods for this initiative include blending site monitoring data and digital documentation data from environmental data loggers, terrestrial laser scanning, micro unmanned aerial vehicles, ground photography, structure from motion, and thermal infrared imaging. Our workflow produced a comprehensive set of information that quantitatively describes the rate of decay of Çatalhöyük's buildings overtime and underpins potential causes. This paper discusses our recent effort to integrate our extensive corpus of digital information into a GIS for analyzing the state of preservation of the site. In particular, this paper proposes new methods in predictive modeling for conservation enabled by spatial analysis in 3D GIS. Our predictive models offer an opportunity of building a comprehensive view of the site in its current state and serve as the basis of a new best practice methodology that can be employed in the conservation of other heritage sites.
Preventive conservation is the act of preventing future loss and most definitions exclude actions... more Preventive conservation is the act of preventing future loss and most definitions exclude actions that interfere with the structure and materials of the item. For archaeological sites, this definition is tested. Preventive conservation measures on finds and samples may primarily involve providing protective enclosures or preserving data, whereas preventive conservation for sites may involve installing temporary or permanent structuresormakingadaptationstocontext.
The cultural use of pigments in human societies is associated with ritual activities and the crea... more The cultural use of pigments in human societies is associated with ritual activities and the creation of social memory. Neolithic Çatalhöyük (Turkey, 7100-5950 cal BC) provides a unique case study for the exploration of links between pigments in burials, demographic data and colourants in contemporary architectural contexts. This study presents the first combined analysis of funerary and architectural evidence of pigment use in Neolithic Anatolia and discusses the possible social processes underlying the observed statistical patterns. Results reveal that pigments were either applied directly to the deceased or included in the grave as a burial association. The most commonly used pigment was red ochre. Cinnabar was mainly applied to males and blue/green pigment was associated with females. A correlation was found between the number of buried individuals and the number of painted layers in the buildings. Mortuary practices seem to have followed specific selection processes independent of sex and age-at-death of the deceased. This study offers new insights about the social factors involved in pigment use in this community, and contributes to the interpretation of funerary practices in Neolithic Anatolia. Specifically, it suggests that visual expression, ritual performance and symbolic associations were elements of shared long-term socio-cultural practices.
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Papers by Ashley Lingle