Elin Figueiredo

Findings of Iron Age metallurgical activities related to tin metal and mining are very rare. In the present work, we present a detailed study of the Outeiro de Baltar hillfort, dated to the Late Iron Age/Early Roman period, located in a place where 20th century tin mining work took place. Elemental and microstructural analysis by portable, micro and wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF, micro-XRF and WDXRF) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersion spectrometer (SEM-EDS) showed that metallurgical debris found at the archaeological site is related to tin smelting and binary and ternary bronze productions. Analysis of the artefacts of diverse typologies found at the site showed that a variety of metals and alloys were in circulation and use. Samples of tin ores (cassiterite) from the region were analyzed for comparison with an archaeological tin slag from the site. The analytical results point to the production of tin metal using local cassiterite and the production of bronze by directly adding cassiterite into a smelting process. Furthermore, data of remote sensing (airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and historical aerial imagery) and Geographical Information System (GIS) mapping were combined with archival mining documentation and maps to retrieve a landscape context for the site. The study showed that the place of the Outeiro de Baltar hillfort (NW Iberia) was mined periodically over time.

Co K-edge XANES was used to evaluate the firing atmosphere conditions in the production of blue-and-white porcelain.

Over the past year, the editorial team of Conservar Património has benefited from a significant increase in the number of associate editors, which was an essential step given the growing number of submissions and the consequent increase in the editorial workflow. In its current form, Conservar Património has 10 associate editors, with different fields of expertise and from various international institutions, besides the four editors-in-chief, who are also associated with different thematic areas. Conservar Património is a Diamond Open Access journal, which means it is free for both authors and readers. This option is only possible due to the generosity and voluntary work of the entire editorial team, including the production editors and editorial board, who believe that knowledge should be available to everyone.In order to simplify the page design process and thus decrease our publishing times, manuscripts will be paginated in a single column, starting with this volume (40), and not double columns as has been the regular practice to date. The image of the journal will also be reinforced with the addition of the logo at the top of the various pages.With these changes in the editorial team and the layout of the articles, we hope to improve the response of Conservar Património to our authors and readers. Neste último ano a equipa editorial da Conservar Património beneficiou de um aumento significativo no número de editores associados, fundamental dado o crescente número de submissões e consequente aumento do fluxo de trabalho editorial. Na configuração atual, o corpo editorial da Conservar Património é constituído por 10 editores associados, com diferentes perfis temáticos e afiliados a diferentes instituições internacionais, além dos quatro editores-chefes, também eles associados a diferentes áreas temáticas. A Conservar Património é uma revista Diamond Open Access, ou seja, de acesso gratuito para autores e para leitores. Esta opção é apenas possível devido à generosidade e trabalho voluntário da totalidade da equipa editorial, na qual se inclui também a comissão de redação e o conselho editorial, que acredita que o conhecimento deve estar ao alcance de todos.De forma a agilizar a paginação dos artigos e assim diminuir os tempos de espera para publicação, a partir do presente número (40), os artigos serão paginados usando apenas uma coluna, ao contrário do que tem vindo a acontecer até à data. A imagem da revista será também reforçada com a inclusão do logotipo no topo das várias páginas.Com estas alterações, quer na equipa editorial, quer na paginação dos artigos, contamos melhorar a resposta da Conservar Património perante os nossos autores e leitores.

In the present work, a fragment of a stone mould recently found in Galicia (NW Spain) was studied by multiple analytical techniques approach involving 3D optical imaging reconstruction to obtain data about the shape of the mould, typology of artefact produced, and distribution of a black residue at the surface of the mould and pXRF, SEM-EDS, micro-FTIR, and micro-Raman to investigate the nature of the black residue. The study shows that the mould was likely used for socketed axes with a side loop, was originally composed of two valves and one core, and that it might have been subjected to a repair during use. The black residue is distributed in the carved surface and spreads to nearby surfaces as a result of the use of the mould. The alloy cast in the mould was a ternary bronze (Cu + Sn + Pb). The analyses by SEM-EDS of black residue covering the surface did show the presence of scattered micro particles with P and Ca, and micro-Raman analysis detected the presence of a carbon black of animal source, while micro-FTIR analysis detected remains of proteins, oxalates, and hydroxyapatite. These results are amongst the very few studies made on black residues of ancient moulds and suggest that the mould was dressed with a carbon black of animal origin, such as burned bones, prior to metal casting, probably used as a coating agent to improve the casting and artefact recovery.

In this paper, we resume several actions in the field of prehistoric Archeometallurgy and Experimental Archaeology. These actions has been to promote both academic and didactic research, either in different educational contexts. Most actions, activities focused in the familiarization with the main aspects of the theoretical copper-based and iron production operative chains. These activities provided participants with basic theoretical and empirical tools for the understanding of metallurgical processes in prehistory. The learning through technological recreation provided an active participation in the processes, offering an experiential acquisition.

Northwest Iberia can be considered as one of the main areas where tin was exploited in antiquity. However, the location of ancient tin mining and metallurgy, their date and the intensity of tin production are still largely uncertain. The scale of mining activity and its socio-economical context have not been truly assessed, nor its evolution over time. With the present study, we intend to present an integrated, multiscale, multisensor and interdisciplinary methodology to tackle this problem. The integration of airborne LiDAR and historic aerial imagery has enabled us to identify and map ancient tin mining remains on the Tinto valley (Viana do Castelo, northern Portugal). The combination with historic mining documentation and literature review allowed us to confirm the impact of modern mining and define the best-preserved ancient mining areas for further archaeological research. After data processing and mapping, subsequent ground-truthing involved field survey and geological sampling that confirmed cassiterite exploitation as the key feature of the mining works. This non-invasive approach is of importance for informing future research and management of these landscapes.

Over the last two years, we have been announcing the numerous changes that have been implemented in the journal [1-3]. The adoption of a new website (https://conservarpatrimonio.pt) was the most recent change. For instance, the last issue number 36, was the first one to be published on this new website. Now, we are pleased to announce another set of modifications that take advantage of the functionalities of the editorial management software OJS/PKP, and with the journal’s historical alignment towards open science. These changes do also occur as part of the adaptation of the journal to the evolutionary context of international scientific publications and they will help, we believe, to consolidate Conservar Património’s position as a reference journal in the national and international panorama.

2020 was an untypically difficult year. The global COVID-19 pandemic has forced the closure of various sectors of activity, including universities, laboratories and businesses, impelling researchers and technicians to temporarily halt their research or, at their best, to develop it in a limited way. Less recognised but equally significant was the direct impact of COVID-19 on the preservation and protection of cultural heritage. Online: 2021-2-10 Publication: 2021-2-10