Climate change, urban expansion, and agricultural intensification are increasingly threatening the Netherlands’ in situ archaeological heritage, necessitating the use of advanced methodologies for effective detection, mapping, characterizing, and monitoring of archaeological sites. Over the past decade, significant advancements in sensor technologies for remote sensing and geophysics have emerged that offer more effective, noninvasive solutions in both terrestrial and maritime contexts. Despite their potential, the application and integration of these techniques in Dutch archaeological heritage management remain limited. The ARCfieldLAB project, launched in September 2022 as part of the European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science, aims to bridge this gap. Its aims are to create a digital platform to disseminate knowledge on innovative sensor technologies, establish a network of archaeological practitioners and sensor specialists, and support multisensor case studies. It has generated strong enthusiasm for this initiative and for cross-disciplinary collaborations on national and international scales. Key challenges include the need for integration into the official Dutch archaeology quality standard protocols and the requirement of metadata standards and data archiving guidelines. Addressing these issues will require continuous investment and a long-term commitment but will have a significant positive impact on the effectiveness and quality of Dutch archaeological fieldwork.

This paper examines Cyrenaica’s capacity for cereal production, focusing on Cyrene’s wheat output supporting the Greek cities. It also explores the region’s favourable agricultural conditions and presents local Hellenistic inscriptions that document cereal cultivation over three centuries. The paper argues that the wheat sent from Cyrene to the Greeks during the Hellenistic period was offered as a donation rather than exported for profit. This argument is supported by three main points: first, the quantities mentioned represent only a quarter, or possibly less, of Cyrene’s annual wheat production; second, a Greek poetic inscription from Cyrene (second or early third century AD) praises the city for donating one hundred ships of grain to aid the Greeks; and, third, literary references describe Cyrenaica and Cyrene as renowned for cereal production, particularly wheat. Literary references, together with epigraphic evidence, also reflect the ongoing demand for wheat among both Greeks and Romans. It concludes that Cyrene was one of the important sources of wheat for these nations, and that it was widely known as a provider of free wheat shipments during times of hardship. It also suggests that Cyrene commemorated the Hellenistic wheat consignment because it was given as a gift.

Computational archaeology and theoretical archaeology often appear as separate domains within the field, each driven by distinct methodologies and objectives. Through the lens of discussions held at the 2021 Central European Theoretical Archaeology Group (CE-TAG) conference and analysis of a follow-up questionnaire, this study explores the current trends and intersections between these areas to identify opportunities for meaningful integration. We highlight key challenges, such as the theoretical underpinnings of computer-assisted methods, the epistemological implications of data-driven approaches, and the need for open-science practices. Our findings emphasize the importance of mutual understanding and collaboration, particularly in research and education, in bridging divides and enhancing the synergy between these domains. By addressing shared concerns such as bias, scalability, and methodological transparency, we propose a framework for fostering innovation in both computational and theoretical archaeology while maintaining their shared goal of interpreting the human past.

Sheath-ends are poorly represented in works regarding weaponry of the Cimmerian period (10th–7th century BC), despite forming an important component, particularly among the melee weapons of the time. There are several reasons for this neglect: until recently, the number of known sheath-ends was quite small, thus making it impossible to speak of types, variants or cultural affiliations; also, most of the previously published sheath-ends are spread over a large territory and were published many decades ago. Therefore, some of them may be unknown to researchers due to the age of publications, as well as linguistic and cultural barriers. Over the past few years, a larger number of new sheath-ends has emerged. Some of them belong to previously known types, others are completely new. Their analysis is here conducted using the comparative method. The total number of sheath-ends now known makes it possible to begin a discussion about their types, chronology and origins, which will undoubtedly develop as new finds appear.

This small project was initiated to create a broader understanding of the working properties of sarsen and its challenges. This notoriously durable coarse-grained sandstone is most familiarly associated with the Phase 3 monument at Stonehenge, Wiltshire, although its exploitation persisted into the twentieth century. Discussion has focused on the probable methods employed in prehistory to work the stone: splitting, flaking and pecking. These techniques have rarely been applied in practice, but have been considered broadly in this project. The preliminary results, obtained from a single block of saccharoidal sarsen, have reawakened understanding and appreciation of the potential provided by shock waves to split and shape this intractable silicate successfully and repeatedly using direct percussion, techniques that were familiar to Neolithic communities to work flint. The flaking properties of the stone are considered together with attributes of hammer mode in comparison with data from prehistoric stone assemblages at Stonehenge. The discussion questions to what extent flaking could be controlled repeatedly to form a major part of monolith production. Results derived from the laborious nature of pecking supplement previous attempts to recreate dressed surfaces at Stonehenge. Efficiency was not improved by applying heat to the surface of the stone; indeed, it confirmed that uncontrolled, excessive heat shatters the structure of sarsen, rendering it unworkable.

In 2022, a Tunisian citizen was arrested in Oslo when he tried to sell 30 Carthaginian bronze coins to a local antiques dealer. The dealer had previously alerted the police after receiving an email inquiry asking him whether he was interested in buying a ‘large number’ of Punic coins from an alleged underwater find, presumably a hoard, off the coast of Tunisia. The University of Oslo’s Museum of Cultural History, which cooperates with law-enforcement agencies and the authorities in cases involving illicit cultural artefacts, assisted with the identification of the coins. Eventually, the latter were returned to Tunisia, and Norwegian prosecutors dropped the charges against the Tunisian national. This article discusses the relevant legal framework of the case and the process that unfolded from the time when an attempt was made to sell the coins until they were returned to their country of origin. The broader numismatic implications of this find are also examined.