Sissi and its cultural sediments : material culture, built environment and cultural dynamics of a Cretan Bronze Age site approached through archaeological soil micromorphology
(2023)
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- Abstract
- In this thesis anthropogenic sediments from the Minoan site of Sissi are regarded as material culture and studied with the technique of soil micromorphology combined with archaeological practices and theories commonly applied to canonical forms of material culture. The study of built surfaces and floors shows the existence of different recipes and building techniques resulting in the identification of consistent behaviours and repetitive practices. As for activities and use of space, this study not only provides information about human behaviours associated with the performance of these activities, but also shows how the application of micromorphology increases the temporal resolution of the archaeological deposit. This also applies to the study of microfacies related to episodes of collapse, destruction, and abandonment where the study of cultural sediments provides temporal nuances to these events. The discussion of the microfacies groups related to processes of accumulation and site stability shows how cultural sediments can be regarded as evidence of events otherwise invisible in the archaeological record. Through the discussion of the four microfacies groups, this thesis demonstrates that similar to other forms of material culture, sediments become markers of cultural behaviour, actions, knowhow, beliefs, and social identity once they are incorporated into a built environment, while possibly acquiring their own system of signification.
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Citations
Magno, L. M. (2023). Sissi and its cultural sediments : material culture, built environment and cultural dynamics of a Cretan Bronze Age site approached through archaeological soil micromorphology. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/25200