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A detailed microfloristic study was conducted in the Faraghan Formation in nine boreholes drilled by the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) and in four outcrops in the Zagros Basin. The Faraghan Formation, widely distributed in the Zagros area, generally consists of shale intercalated with sandstone and pebble conglomerate, with thin carbonate intercalations near the top. Due to the lack of significant fossils, the age of this rock unit has been strongly debated in the Iranian literature and uncertainly attributed to the Pennsylvanian or Cisuralian. In this study, the age of the Faraghan Formation was reviewed in light of new biostratigraphic advances in the Arabian Peninsula. The assemblage is characterized by an abundance of monosaccate pollen such as Florinites? balmei, Caheniasaccites spp., Plicatipollenites spp., Potonieisporites spp. and Striomonosaccites spp., and bisaccate pollen such as Alisporites spp., Corisaccites alutas, Distriatites insolitus, Hamiapollenites spp. and Striatopodocarpites spp.. The assemblage also contains polyplicate pollen such as Vittatina spp.. Spores such as Indotriradites mundus and Thymospora opaqua are also present. The stratigraphic ranges of the taxa allow reference to the biozone schemes for Oman and assignment of the Faraghan Formation to the Guadalupian. Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia (Research In Paleontology and Stratigraphy), V. 124, N. 3 (2018)

ʔeləw̓k̓ʷ – Belongings is an interactive tabletop using a tangible user interface to explore intangible cultural heritage. The table was designed for the c̓əsnaʔəm, the city before the city exhibition. This exhibition is a partnership of three major institutions in Vancouver, BC, examining the significant ancient village site on which part of Vancouver was built, as well as Musqueam culture and community today. The tabletop uses replicas of Musqueam belongings excavated from c̓əsnaʔəm, as well as contemporary objects that are a part of everyday Musqueam life to access information about the long history of salmon fishing and the continuity of related knowledge at c̓əsnaʔəm. The design of ʔeləw̓k̓ʷ – Belongings highlights the tensions between fragmentation and continuity that are central to discussions of access and preservation of intangible cultural heritage in the digital age. In this paper we discuss the tangible tabletop interface as a response to the desire to reconnect fragmented collections and physical belongings from c̓əsnaʔəm with Musqueam intangible cultural knowledge. Journal of Science and Technology of the Arts, v. 7 n. 2 (2015)

The aim of this paper is to provide the general overview of the development of the cult of Saint Jerome in the Eastern Adriatic Coast in the Late Middle Ages. While discussing the cult as the reflection of the growing cult in the Apennine peninsula, I will focus on the local characteristics of the cult - local origin, alleged attribution of Glagolitic letters, humanists’ identification with the saint’s virtues, personal and official veneration – which contributed to Jerome’s denomination as the national saint. Furthermore, the paper reflects upon the political context in which the denomination happened, as well as it introduces new ideas in the interpretation of certain visual representations of the saint. Particularly, the paper discusses the perception of Jerome being the inventor of Glagolitic letters in the 15th century, proposing the idea that the Glagolitic production was perceived as a saintly relic. Lo scopo del presente articolo è quello di fornire un quadro generale sullo sviluppo del culto di San Girolamo, sviluppatosi durante il tardo Medioevo lungo la costa orientale dell’Adriatico. Oltre a trattare l’ipotesi che questo culto non sia altro che un riflesso di quello crescente sulla penisola apenninica, mi concentrerò sui caratteristiche locali, ossia: l’origine locale, la presunta attribuzione di lettere glagolitiche, l’identificazione degli umanisti con le virtù del santo in questione e infine la sua venerazione sia personale che ufficiale, la quale ha reso San Girolamo santo nazionale. L’articolo descrive, inoltre, il contesto politico in cui avviene tale proclamazione, introducendo allo stesso tempo nuove idee sull’interpretazione di alcune rappresentazioni visuali del santo. Si discute in particolare l’ipotesi che Girolamo sia l’inventore dell’alfabeto glagolitico nel XV secolo, proponendo l’idea che la scrittura glagolitica era percepita come una reliquia sacra. Il Capitale culturale. Studies on the value of cultural heritage, Supplementi (7/2018): Visualizing Past in a Foreign Country: Schiavoni/Illyrian Confraternities and Colleges in Early Modern Italy in comparative perspective

This paper focuses on three issues concerning historic urban landscape conservation under the background of new urbanization: the first one is attaching great importance to cultural heritage conservation in rapid urbanization; the second one is laying great emphasis on historic urban landscape conservation which is part of cultural heritage conservation; the third is Hangzhou’s practice in cultural heritage conservation. Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage, Vol 14, No 2 (2014): Special Issue for International Conference on "Critical Heritage in Cross-Cultural Perspectives"

Summary Art, as a set of signs and techniques, has always been one of the most important modes of transfiguration in the world. It therefore has a political function: it is not a reproduction, but a questioning of reality. The new rhetorics of heritage and events, subject to speculative interests, risk minimizing, if not compromising the essential critical status of art and of scientific and humanistic research. The old conception of beauty as an ethical and political duty aimed at promoting the decus and ornamentum of the city, offers a third way to avoid the risks as much of the aesthetic sublimation of cultural heritage as of its commercial debasement. Riassunto L’arte, come insieme di segni e di tecniche, costituisce da sempre una delle più importanti modalità di trasfigurazione del mondo. Essa riveste pertanto una funzione politica: non è una riproduzione del reale ma una sua messa in discussione. Le nuove retoriche del patrimonio e dell’evento, subordinate a interessi speculativi, rischiano di banalizzare se non di compromettere lo statuto critico essenziale dell’arte e della ricerca scientifica e umanistica. L’antica concezione del bello come dovere etico-politico orientato a promuovere il decus e l’ornamentum della città offre una terza via per evitare i rischi tanto della sublimazione estetica quanto dello svilimento commerciale dei beni culturali. Résumé L’art, en tant qu’ensemble de signes et techniques, est depuis toujours l’une des principales modalités de transfiguration du monde. Sa fonction est donc politique: il ne s’agit pas d’une reproduction du réel, mais plutôt d’une mise en discussion de celui-ci. Les nouvelles rhétoriques du patrimoine et de l’événement, subordonnées à des intérêts spéculatifs, risquent de banaliser, voire de compromettre, le rôle critique essentiel de l’art et de la recherche scientifique et humaniste. L’ancienne conception du beau en tant que devoir éthique et politique de promotion du « decus » et de l’«ornamentum» de la ville configure une troisième voie permettant d’éviter à la fois les risques de la sublimation esthétique et ceux de l’avilissement mercantile des biens culturels. Zusammenfassung Kunst, als Gesamtheit von Zeichen und Techniken, stellt von jeher eine der bedeutendsten Verwandlungsformen der Welt dar. Aus diesem Grund hat sie eine politische Aufgabe: Sie ist keine Nachbildung der Wirklichkeit, sondern sie stellt diese in Frage. Die neue, spekulativen Interessen unterliegende Rhetorik über Bestand und Veranstaltungen läuft Gefahr, das kritische Wesen der Kunst und der wissenschaftlichen und humanistischen Forschung zu banalisieren oder gar zu beeinträchtigen. Das antike Verständnis von Schönheit als ethisch-politische Pflicht im Sinne der Förderung des Decus und des Ornamentum der Stadt stellt einen dritten Weg dar, um die Risiken sowohl der ästhetischen Sublimation als auch der entwürdigenden kommerziellen Nutzung von Kulturgütern zu vermeiden. Resumen El arte, considerado como conjunto de signos y técnicas, siempre ha constituido una de las formas más importantes de transfiguración del mundo. Reviste, por consiguiente, una función política: no es una reproducción de la realidad, sino un modo de ponerla en tela de juicio. Las nuevas retóricas del patrimonio y de los eventos, subordinadas a intereses especulativos, corren el riesgo de banalizar, o incluso menoscabar, la función crítica esencial del arte y de la investigación científica y humanística. La antigua noción de lo bello como deber ético-político orientada a impulsar el decus y el ornamentum de la ciudad ofrece una alternativa para obviar tanto el riesgo de la sublimación estética como el del desprecio comercial del patrimonio cultural. 简介 艺术，如同符号与技术的融合，它至始至终都是改变世界面貌的一个重要手段。因 此它同时具有政治功效:艺术不是现实的复制品，而是对现实的质疑。关于文化遗产与 事件的，从属于投机利益的新说辞，大事化小甚至危及艺术、科学与人类研究本身准 则。在古代，将以传播城市的美德与尊严作为伦理-政治上的义务视为美，它为避免在 审美升华和文化产品商业化贬值二者选择中的危险，提供了第三种选择。 Резюме Искусство как совокупность образов и приемов испокон веков являлось одним из основных методов превращения мира. Поэтому, оно выполняет политическую функцию и не воспроизводит действительность, а подвергает ее обсуждению. Существует опасность того, что новая риторика о ценности и сопутствующих со-бытиях, будучи подчиненной спекулятивным интересам, банализирует и даже искажает основные критические принципы искусства и научно-гуманистических исследований. Античное понятие прекрасного в смысле этико-политической обя-занности, направленной на развитие красоты и украшения города, предлагает третий путь для предотвращения опасности как эстетического восхваления, так и коммерческого обесценивания объектов культурного наследия. Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage, Vol 14 (2014)

An enhanced radiocarbon-dated pollen-stratigraphical record from Rovegno (Liguria, 812m asl), northern Apennines (Italy), has provided a history of vegetation succession from before 17,056-16,621 cal yrs BP to the present day. The record indicates the transition from open Pinus woodland to Artemisia dominated grassland, and fi nally Juniperus shrubland during the late Würm. This is succeeded by Betula and Pinus woodland, and the expansion of thermophilous taxa, namely Abies, Corylus and Quercus during the Late Würm Lateglacial Interstadial. The ‘Younger Dryas’ is possibly represented by an increase in Betula and Artemisia. During the early Holocene, mixed coniferous-deciduous woodland is dominant with Quercus, as well as Abies, Fagus and Corylus. Fagus woodland becomes established sometime before 6488-6318 cal yrs BP, but never becomes a major component of the woodland cover. Throughout the middle Holocene, Abies woodland fl uctuates, with marked declines between 6488-6318 cal yrs BP and 5287-4835 cal yrs BP, although the cause remains uncertain. Finally, the paper evaluates the application of non-pollen palynomorphs, especially coprophilous fungal spores, at Prato Spilla ‘A’ (Emilia Romagna) and concludes that greater caution must be used when interpreting middle Holocene human activity based upon pollen data alone. Una migliore risoluzione cronologica basata su date radiocarboniche per una sequenza pollinica da Rovegno (812 m asl, Appennino settentrionale ligure, Italia), ha permesso di ricostruire i cambiamenti vegetazionali per un periodo compreso da prima di 17,056-16,621 anni cal BP ad oggi. La sequenza mostra il passaggio da un bosco a Pinus con struttura aperta ad una prateria dominata da Artemisia, ed infine un arbusteto a Juniperus nel tardo Würm. Successivamente si sviluppa un bosco a Pinus e Betula, e verso la fine dell’ultimo interstadiale würmiano ha luogo l’espansione di taxa termofili quali Abies, Corylus e Quercus. Il ‘Dryas recente’ è forse rappresentato da un aumento in Betula e Artemisia. Durante l’Olocene antico prevale il bosco misto a conifere e latifoglie decidue con presenza di Quercus, oltre che Abies, Fagus e Corylus. La faggeta appare stabilirsi poco prima di 6488-6318 anni cal BP, senza tuttavia mai divenire una componente principale della copertura forestale. Nel corso dell’intero Olocene medio si verificano oscillazioni nelle percentuali del bosco ad Abies, con cali decisi tra 6488-6318 anni cal BP e 5287-4835 anni cal BP, sebbene per cause ancora da chiarire. Infine, l’articolo si sofferma sull’applicazione dei palinomorfi non pollinici, in particolare spore di funghi coprofili, al sito di Prato Spilla ‘A’ (Emilia Romagna), sottolineando come sia necessario adoperare grande cautela nella interpretazione di attività antropiche medio oloceniche, quando ci si basi unicamente su dati pollinici. Il Capitale culturale. Studies on the value of cultural heritage, N° 12 (2015): Archeologia delle aree montane europee: metodi, problemi e casi di studio

This paper presents the method adopted in the study of Ibo, a small island of the Quirimbas Archipelago in northern Mozambique. Ibo is part of a larger study, begun in 2004 which is still ongoing. In the first phase, the author's attention was focused on the restoration of the historic architecture built with coral limestone. But very soon it became evident that it was necessary to study the context in which these coral architectures were built. After a few years of careful observation, it was apparent that coral stone architecture is strongly conditioned by the knowledge and conservation of the natural environment in which it is built. And in the case of Ibo, the beauty of its heritage and its conservation lies in the delicate balance between architecture and nature. Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage, Vol 19 (2019)

Examination of the salt men and their accompanying objects in Chehr Abad Salt Mine, Zanjan, has opened up an interesting research area for archaeologists and conservators. In addition to the historical and cultural values of these works, indicating the rich civilization of that period, investigation into the preservation and type of remaining ingredients, often putrescible organic materials, provides a rich field of research. In this case study, research was conducted on the discovered objects in Chehr Abad salt mine, with identification of the objects and hand-woven artifacts found in the mine and, more importantly, the effect of salt on the hand-woven artifacts. Since discovered artifacts are often sensitive to changes in environmental conditions, salt absorption and the role of salt as a disinfectant, are obvious factors to be considered. The discovered hand-woven artifacts are of paramount importance due to their history. They were discovered as a result of cooperation between archaeological teams working in Iran and Germany (from the Bochum museum and University). As these weavings were soaked in minerals and other wastes, the cleansing procedure was done by water washing. In order to protect the weavings, unearthed and removed from their original site of discovery, research on issues such as the removal and retention of salt, its impact on the life-span of organic materials, the probability of the hand-woven fibers being destroyed by salt crystals and the reaction of water and salt, all needed to be considered. In this paper an introduction is given to the discovered objects and artifacts from Chehr Abad salt mine, with a study of the wool fibers, examined by visual (macroscopic) inspection, optical micrographs, electron SEM micrographs, including an EDX analysis of the hand-woven artifacts. The results of the investigations have shown the conservative effect of the salt on the fibers. Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage, Vol 16 (2016)

The article and its argument are based on a hitherto unexplored Ethiopian chronicle, which offers a uniquely detailed description of a series of enthronement rites. The article explores and deciphers symbolism displayed in these acts, which was drawn from the past and remodelled to form ideological underpinning for the monarchy of Yoḥannǝs IV (1872–89) and to legitimise his imperial project. The article argues that despite the fact that the record of these events is likely to have been ‘adjusted’ by Ethiopian chroniclers, their writings still points to what they thought should happen during a ritual in order for it to be effective. Consequently, the authors of the chronicle revealed to us the role of ritual in the legitimising project of late 19th-century Ethiopia. Aethiopica, Vol 16 (2013)