Earlier this year a Swedish archaeologist based at Gothenburg University’s Centre for Critical Heritage Studies published an unfounded ad hominem attack on me in the pages of the International Journal of Cultural Property. I am grateful to the editors for this right to reply to Staffan Lundén’s wholly spurious claims, and order to correct the record. Despite its provocative, “clickbait” title, not one substantive mistake or incorrect fact was identified in Lundén’s article in my book “The Brutish Museums”. The motivation for Lundén’s serial accusations against colleagues with whose scholarship on the history of the Benin Expedition he disagrees - from curators at the British Museum to members of the Royal Court of Benin - is discussed. In conclusion, the allegation that my book The Brutish Museums is “part of a trend away from pro-British perspectives” is contextualised and refuted. On the contrary, this reply argues, openness and transparency about the colonial past and present is a key element of the reclamation and reimagining of Britishness that is unfolding in the 2020s – this unfinished period that the book calls “the decade of returns”.

Travertine is widely distributed in northwestern (NW) Iran and Turkey and serves as a valuable sample for paleoenvironmental reconstructions in semi-arid areas. Previous studies have analyzed the chemical compositions, carbon and oxygen isotopes of the travertines in NW Iran for paleoenvironmental reconstructions, but little dating has been done because travertine 14C dating faces the problem of identifying the initial 14C concentration of each sample. The objective of this study is to determine the formation age of travertine in NW Iran using radiocarbon (14C) and δ13C from a travertine mound and its related spring water. Travertine samples were collected from the base to the top of a cone-shaped travertine mound, Zendan-e Soleyman, in the Takab region of NW Iran. The 14C concentrations of the travertine samples ranged from 0.67 to 3.72 pMC, with values fluctuating considerably and higher 14C being observed at higher elevations. The δ13C values were lower at higher elevations (+10.1 to +7.4‰) with fluctuations. The values suggest that the travertines were formed through the decarbonation of limestone and rapid degassing. The dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) of nearby spring water samples had 14C concentrations of about 10.4 pMC, about 89.6% dead carbon fraction (DCF), and δ13C value of +1.3‰. These values indicate that one of the of CO2 sources in the travertine-deposited spring water was of hydrothermal origin. Considering the DCF of the spring water DIC, the formation of the travertine mound began about 20 kyr BP, and the growth of the mound ended about 7 kyr BP.

We present new line drawings of the hieroglyphic inscriptions on Stela 4 (a.d. 796) at the ancient Maya royal capital of Ixkun, Guatemala. Lichen growth makes these texts almost illegible in person, but a photogrammetric model, rendered monochrome in Agisoft Metashape and imaged in Blender 3D, permits almost all the glyphs to be read or reconstructed. According to our interpretation, the main inscription records the journey of a prince of Ixkun to be fostered at Tikal, coordinated between the ruler of Ixkun and Yax Nuun Ahiin II, the king of Tikal. We think this arrangement cemented a new alliance between Tikal and Ixkun, in exchange for which the Ixkun king received a newly elevated royal and ritual status. Another text indicates that a prisoner from the neighboring Ho’kab’ kingdom, represented six years earlier on Stela 1, had survived in captivity for at least that long.

Salt is a commodity valued for nutrition; seasoning, drying, and storing food; tanning hides; and its social and economic role in exchange systems. This study reports on salt caches and manufactured disks from Middle Holocene (∼5500–4000 cal BP) archaeological sites on the north coast of Peru. During this period, salt extraction occurred at a time of rising sea levels and wetland development in the littoral of the Chicama Valley, where maritime foragers and farmers cohabited and probably exchanged salt and marine products with inland populations for exotic food crops, minerals, and other resources. The findings here add to a growing body of archaeological evidence on the environments, techniques, and uses of salt extraction by early precontact societies.

The case of Caelia Q.l. Chia – named on an inscribed block decorated with a balustrade and pilasters from the Venizeleion burial ground that formed part of the North Cemetery of Knossos – raises the question: how can we identify some of the colonial families at Roman Knossos? This freedwoman can be identified in multiple ways as a member of a colonial family. The text naming her adds a new inscription of early date, and one in Latin, to the corpus of the Roman colony. She was, moreover, one of a small number of individuals known to have been buried in Italian-style mausolea in the Venizeleion burial ground. Her family name is one that suggests migration to the colony in the imperial period, perhaps when Colonia Iulia Nobilis Cnosus was founded, or not long thereafter. Her full name also utilises a distinctly Roman onomastic formula to identify her as a freedwoman, one of those who formed a distinctive part of the colonial population. Caelia’s monumental funerary inscription and others from this burial ground join colonial coinage and a range of inscriptions on stone and ceramics as sources of evidence for identifying some of the colonial families at Roman Knossos.

This article, based on an oral presentation by the author at the BSA’s annual general meeting in February 2025, summarizes the activities of the British School at Athens with a focus on the calendar year 2024. It gives us great pleasure to present the innovative and varied work of BSA-sponsored field and research projects, the Fitch Laboratory, Knossos Research Centre, Archive, and Library as well as the inspiring work of the School students, post docs, and fellows.

Over 100 archaeological survey projects – of various kinds – have taken place in Greece over the last quarter century, making it one of the most intensively studied countries in Europe from the perspective of landscape archaeology, defined by various types of interest in settlement patterns and human–environmental interaction at spatial scales beyond the individual site. This article examines the practice of survey archaeology in Greece over the last 25 years, with a particular focus on projects that have taken place in the last 10 years. More broadly, it presents large-scale trends in surveys since their coalescence as a systematic form of archaeological research in the late 1950s, based on a dataset of 204 individual projects, mapped and classified according to type, spatial scale, methods, and chronology. Surveys in the twenty-first century exhibit considerable variety in methods and goals, with many characterized by smaller spatial scales, the integration of various types of remote sensing, and a focus on archaeological sites; we see fewer of the large-scale, diachronic regional surveys that became widespread in the later twentieth century. This variety – along with the increasing production and availability of high-quality, multi-modal data – should be applauded, though regional analysis remains a critical strength and important goal for landscape archaeologists in Greece. Lingering problems include publication lag, digital data availability and interoperability, and (occasional) over-emphasis on methodology as an end in and of itself, sometimes at the expense of historical and anthropological research questions. Promising developments for the future concern: (1) the investigation of landscapes that have received little attention from systematic surveys (highlands, mountains, forests, uninhabited islands), especially via remote sensing; (2) the publication, reanalysis, and interpretation of ‘legacy’ datasets; and (3) the integration of survey datasets across multiple scales to address ‘big-picture’ questions in the history and archaeology of Greece, as well as themes of wider significance.

Over the past decade, archaeobotanical research in Greece has undergone significant transformation, expanding both in scope and methodological sophistication since the publication of ‘Archaeobotany in Greece’ in the 2014 volume of Archaeological Reports. While earlier studies largely focused on agricultural practices in prehistoric northern Greece and Crete, recent research has broadened its thematic, chronological, and geographical horizons. Chronologically, research now spans from the Mesolithic and Bronze Age to historical periods, while geographically it increasingly incorporates underrepresented regions.

Methodologically, the field has embraced advanced analytical techniques including isotope analysis, geometric morphometry, experimental archaeobotany, ethnographic approaches, and extensive use of Scanning Electron Microscopy. These innovations have enabled more nuanced interpretations of plant use, subsistence strategies, and human–environment interactions. A landmark achievement has been the award of an ERC Consolidator Grant to Professor Soultana Maria Valamoti (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki), which has elevated Greek archaeobotany onto the European and international stage.

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of archaeobotanical research in Greece over the last decade, focusing exclusively on plant macro remains (excluding charcoal). It surveys recent studies across prehistoric and historical periods, methodological advancements, regional investigations, and the contribution of ERC-funded projects. By highlighting both achievements and persistent challenges, the paper underscores the growing importance of archaeobotanical research for understanding past societies and for contributing to contemporary discussions on agriculture, sustainability, and resilience.

Over the past decade, archaeological research in Roman-period Macedonia has seen significant advances, driven by the emergence of Roman archaeology as a distinct discipline focused on spatial organization, identity, and provincial dynamics within the Mediterranean context. Large-scale infrastructure projects, such as Thessaloniki’s Metro and the Trans Adriatic Pipeline, have provided unprecedented opportunities to investigate both urban and rural landscapes, revealing dense settlement patterns, economic networks, and cultural continuity from the Hellenistic to the Late Antiquity periods.

Urban excavations in key Macedonian sites such as Thessaloniki, Dion, Philippi, Edessa, and Amphipolis have refined our understanding of urban development, architectural sophistication, and resilience amid political and natural challenges. The Thessaloniki Metro project stands out for uncovering well-preserved urban grids, monumental public architecture, and diverse burial grounds, highlighting the city’s evolution and enduring cultural vitality. Similarly, discoveries of elite residences, public buildings, and monumental statues across Macedonia reveal the complexity and transformation of provincial urban centres. In parallel, public work-facilitated archaeological investigations have exposed a vibrant countryside marked by small cemeteries, artisanal workshops, agricultural estates, and infrastructure such as roads and bridges. These findings challenge traditional villa-centric models, emphasizing continuous rural habitation, intensified agricultural activity, and sophisticated land management strategies. Interdisciplinary approaches, including geoarchaeology and bioarchaeology, further illuminate the socio-economic networks and daily lives of rural communities. Despite challenges such as economic constraints and publication delays, recent archaeological efforts have fostered a holistic understanding of Macedonian antiquity, integrating technological innovation and collaborative methodologies. The cumulative research underscores the resilience and adaptability of both urban and rural populations, revealing a complex, interconnected landscape that reshaped our perceptions of ancient life in this key Roman province.

This introduction presents the structure and contents of the current issue of Archaeological Reports. It also offers an overview (not meant to be exhaustive) of archaeological activity in Greece over the past 12 months, focusing on major exhibitions and other cultural events as well as important recent publications.

Newsround offers a platform for new discoveries that do not appear within the specialist contributions of this year’s Archaeological Reports, but which nevertheless warrant emphasis, either as a result of their particular characteristics or for the contribution they make to broader archaeological narratives. This section is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather an overview of archaeological research in Greece. It comprises largely preliminary reports (results of excavations that took place up to and including June 2025, where possible) that complement the digital content made available through Archaeology in Greece Online (https://chronique.efa.gr). Due to the diachronic nature of a number of the sites, and for ease of reference, the material is organized geographically in the first instance and then chronologically (earliest to latest) within each section as far as possible.

The study of Byzantine sculpture in Greece made significant progress during the first quarter of the twenty-first century. The beginning of this period was marked by the first international conference on this subject, held in Athens in 2000, as well as by several monographs published by Greek scholars, which sparked renewed interest in the field. Greece is quite rich in sculptural material, much of which is still waiting to be studied and published.

This renewed research interest is mainly expressed in a series of publications of new material. Monographs, doctoral dissertations, and articles by Greek and foreign scholars have provided a large amount of new data covering various chronological periods and geographical areas of the country. The general trend in this activity is to offer well-documented groups and catalogues of sculptures, while there are fewer integrative works. What is missing from this production is interdisciplinary approaches and, in particular, laboratory analysis of the origin of marble and other stones used in sculpture.

Meanwhile, during the last quarter of the century, the Greek Ministry of Culture changed its attitude towards Byzantine sculpture. Two new museum collections dedicated to this art were inaugurated in Arta and Chalkida, while many works of sculpture were incorporated into new thematic Byzantine museums and archaeological museums throughout the country. In line with this policy, Byzantine sculptures are no longer neglected and overlooked in the gardens and storerooms of museums and archaeological sites, but play an important role in the narrative of permanent exhibitions.

Future challenges include documenting the hundreds of spolia scattered throughout the country, further studying unpublished material, interdisciplinary approaches, and further measures to protect sculptures that are still exposed outdoors and suffer from erosion and other dangers.

Caves have long been valued in archaeology for their exceptional preservation of stratified deposits and other finds (e.g. palaeontological), making them vital sites for chronological sequencing and interpretive analysis. While some cave sites exemplify the value of stratigraphic integrity, many cave contexts present methodological and epistemological challenges due to palimpsest layers, complex usage histories, and symbolic dimensions. This paper critically examines the multifaceted nature of caves with particular focus on southern Greece. It is based on some of the most recently available data, exploring their archaeological, cultural, and environmental significance from the Palaeolithic to medieval periods. Given the extensive number of cave sites in Greece, this paper argues that caves are case-specific sites characterized by the implementation of specific archaeological research and conservation strategies, and that they are critical loci for interpreting human–environment interaction and cultural expression across millennia.