The session comprises two papers – by Dr. Melis Uzdurum and Dr. Tia Sager – followed by a shared question round and discussion on November’s seminar specific theme: ‘Approaches to Architecture’. The topics and the presenters are:
‘How can we combine micro- and macro studies to understand earthen architecture in the past?’ (Dr. Melis Uzdurum)
Aşıklı Höyük (8400–7300 cal BCE), located on the Central Anatolian Plateau in Turkey, represents an early Neolithic settlement occupied continuously for a millennium, providing some of the earliest examples of mudbrick architecture. This study employs an integrated macro- and micro-analytical framework to examine the chaîne opératoire of mudbrick and mortar production within Aşıklı Höyük. Through micromorphological analysis, the research investigates the compositional recipes and production sequences of these materials, aiming to discern sediment sources derived from both the “natural” and “built” environments. By analyzing key micro and macro markers of the earthen materials, this study aims to shed light on early technological practices and the socio-environmental adaptations of Neolithic communities.
‘The Poetics and Politics of Space: A regional analysis of the Cretan post-palatial built environment’ (Dr. Tia Sager)
Several centuries before the widespread destruction of palaces and palatial sites in the Eastern Mediterranean at the end of the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1200 BCE), the island of Crete went through a period of palatial destruction and unrest at a smaller scale, foreshadowing what was to come. At the end of the Neopalatial Period (ca. 1450 BCE), catastrophic destructions befell towns and villages all across the island. The subsequent Final Palatial (1425–1340 BCE) and Post-Palatial periods (ca, 1340–1200 BCE) have traditionally been considered periods of strife and general decline after the destruction and abandonment of earlier palatial centres on the island (with the exception of Knossos and Chania). Yet recent evidence in the form of burial assemblages, ceramics, and architecture indicates that these were also moments of cultural innovation. New beginnings are seen in the architectural evidence, including: different architectural forms, innovative reuse of earlier buildings, and the mixing of earlier architectural traditions with external influences in this period. Because of the fragmentary nature of the archaeological record for this transitional period, the architecture of the Final Palatial and Post-Palatial periods on Crete has been the subject of few systematic studies. By integrating different methodologies to explore the fragmentary architecture of this transitional period, my doctoral dissertation project traced architectural change and innovation in Final and Post-Palatial Crete by employing architectural life histories, spatial analysis, and phenomenological approaches. This talk will summarize the findings of my doctoral research, based on a study of over 40 built environment, and will show how through spatial analysis and digital methodologies, such as 3D scanning and 3D modelling, it becomes possible to shine new light on this complexity to interpret architectural change during periods of instability and transformation.
Everyone is most welcome to participate, so grab a colleague and join us!
Time: Thursday 21 November at 16:15–18:00 EET (UTC+2h).
Live venue (note! changed since last): The Faculty Hall of Theology (Fabianinkatu 33, room 4038). To find the room, take the elevator to the fourth floor and enter the glass door to your left
Virtual venue: Zoom (Meeting ID: 678 8979 2118 / https://helsinki.zoom.us/j/67889792118).
For a recap of previous spring’s programme, see: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/ancient-near-eastern-empires/news/amme-program-announcement-spring-2024.