Studia Quaternaria

The ground-penetrating radar (GPR) method has been used for many years in archaeological research. However, this method is still not widely used in studies of past architecture. The biggest problem with the implementation of the GPR method at such sites is usually connected with extensive debris layers, plant cover and standing relics of walls and other features that restrict the available measurement area. Despite of these, properly performed GPR surveys, even on a small area, can yield significant information concerning underground architectural relicts. Moreover, the results of GPR profiling integrated with historical and archeological data allow for three-dimensional reconstruction of the examined architectural monuments and in the next step, they track architectural transformations. Relics of the Romanesque St. Peter monastery, located in the northern part of the Island of Rab, is a good example of the successful GPR survey. Results of the performed geophysical reconnaissance in conjunction with the query of archival materials made it possible to visualize a spatial (3D) appearance of three main phases of the site architectural development, despite a very limited area available for geophysical survey. According to the authors, such a comprehensive approach should be a standard in contemporary geophysical research focused on relics of the past architecture.

The manuscript presents fossil records of Riccia spores in the Quaternary deposits. They are rarely reported and identified to the species level during routine pollen analysis. In the available sequences 5 species, including R. cavernosa, R. beyrichiana, R. sorocarpa, R. crinita and R. bifurca were noted. The occurrence of spores in fossil records proves the existence of temporary wet habitats characteristic both for natural environments (e.g. temporary dry lake shores or peat bogs) as well as habitats resulting from human activity, e.g. microhabitats in crops and pastures or trench walls. The spores recorded in sequences present an opportunity for discussion of their potential use as proxies in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions

The stream power is one of the important river variables which is used in morphological analysis. Therefore, the stream power determines both erosion and deposition. This research examines the stream power, instability and morphometric changes of the channel using the annual geomorphic energy (AGE) in Haji Arab River in Buin Zahra (Qazvin Province). The AGE is calculated by integrating the relationship between the excess specific stream power and discharge using a flow duration curve. The AGE values for each reach should be either positive or negative. Therefore, according to the differentials in AGE values, depositional and erosional reach are determined. In this paper, the results of the AGE method were compared with the rapid geomorphic assessments (RGA), including the channel stability indicators (CSI) model and OSEPI index. Also, the RHS method based on the field works was used to identify depositional and erosional geomorphic landforms. Comparing the results of the AGE with rapid RGA indices, shows that results of the OSEPI are more consistent with the erosional and depositional status of the reaches, based on the AGE. Spatial variations in lithology and structure, when combined with the course of the Haji Arab River indicate that channel morphometry locally reflects geological factors that have caused slope differences in different reaches. The calculated AGE values at different cross-sections have significant variability, reflecting characteristic local variation in bed slope, cross-section geometry and bed-sediment composition.