Pubblicazioni

Autori:

Fadelli, Giacomo

Titolo:

Afratì-Arkades (Crete) in the First Millennium Bc. Settlement Patterns, Funerary Practices and Interconnections within the Eastern Mediterranean

Anno:

2024

Tipologia prodotto:

Doctoral Thesis

Lingua:

Inglese

Parole chiave:

Creta; Età del Ferro

Abstract (italiano):

This study offers a comprehensive reassessment of the Italian archaeological missions at Afratì, a site on the hill of Profìtis Ilìas in south-central Crete. Traditionally known as Arkades, this site served as a palimpsest of complex human activities and was a settlement of particular importance during the Early Iron Age and Archaic periods. In 1924, Doro Levi conducted extensive excavations at Afratì on behalf of the Italian Archaeological School at Athens, uncovering a settlement and a vast necropolis dating to the Geometric-Archaic period. The necropolis, marked by its complex funerary landscape, yielded numerous grave goods, including some of the most significant examples of Cretan ceramic production from the Orientalizing period. The excavation’s results are published by Levi with the title «Arkades. Una città cretese all’alba della civiltà ellenica» in the Annuario of the Italian Archaeological School at Athens in 1931. Despite being monumental and, for the time, innovative, the volume leaves several scientific gaps open concerning the excavation contexts, the development of the settlement, the chronology, and the presentation of the finds, as well as in terms of graphics and photographs documentation. Except for a few emergency excavations conducted by the Greek Archaeological Service between the 60s and 70s, the Profìtis Ilìas has no longer been the subject of archaeological investigations. One hundred years after Levi's excavations, the main goal of the present study is to produce a new update and a comprehensive archaeological synthesis of the settlement of Afratì, clarifying its development, chronology, and position in the Cretan and Eastern Mediterranean cultural context. This goal is achieved through the following specific objects: firstly, define the settlement organization and patterns; secondly, reconstruct the burial costume, therefore, the social diversity reflected in the mortuary variability; finally, outline the local material culture and its interconnections with the outside world. The following work packages and research actions have been carried out to achieve the main goal and specific objectives: 1) Archival analysis and reconstruction of excavation contexts: The reassessment of the Italian archaeological research at Afratì drew on an analysis of published data and historical documents from the archives of the Italian Archaeological School at Athens. These documents were digitized and critically transcribed, allowing for the reconstruction of stratigraphies and the repositioning of artifacts. 2) Study of the archaeological materials and Comparative Analysis: Levi's excavations unearthed 522 artifacts, including ceramics, metal objects, and other items, now housed in the Heraklion Archaeological Museum. An autoptic analysis of these artifacts provided new insights and was supported by comprehensive graphic and photographic documentation. The chrono-typological study of these materials helped define the characteristics and developments of the local material culture and Afratì’s connections within the broader Cretan and Mediterranean contexts. 3) Integration and reinterpretation of data: A new photogrammetric survey campaign at Afratì was essential to support the reinterpretation process and enhance the archaeological understanding of the site. Conducted by the University of Verona in November 2021, the survey utilized close-range aerial photogrammetry with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This drone survey produced high-resolution orthophotos, digital elevation models (DEMs), and 3D models of the site. The necessity of managing and integrating various data types led to the development of an auxiliary GIS project. The Afratì Information System facilitated the integration of topographic and archaeological data, enabled dynamic querying, supported the creation of thematic maps, and allowed for the production of the first accurate archaeological map of the

Id prodotto:

141526

Handle IRIS:

11562/1140826

ultima modifica:

8 ottobre 2024

Citazione bibliografica:

Fadelli, Giacomo, Afratì-Arkades (Crete) in the First Millennium Bc. Settlement Patterns, Funerary Practices and Interconnections within the Eastern Mediterranean

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