The castle of Psachna on Euboea has been surveyed for the first time by the team of the Hinterland of Medieval Chalkida project (HMC project). Large amounts of ceramic material have been collected...Show moreThe castle of Psachna on Euboea has been surveyed for the first time by the team of the Hinterland of Medieval Chalkida project (HMC project). Large amounts of ceramic material have been collected by means of an intensive survey. Most of the material is of Late Byzantine origin, likely originating from the city of Chalcis, in that time known as Negroponte. The region featured a feudal system with similar castles functioning as feudal strongholds for local lords, which could potentially provide a motive for habitation at the time. Three main categories which exist within this dataset are mapped in GIS: Tiles, non-diagnostic, and diagnostic ceramics. A number of sub-categories resulting from the processing of the diagnostic sherds, such as tableware and amphorae sherds among others, are similarly mapped. GIS mapping and analysis of the collected ceramics is used for the first time on the data, to gain an understanding of the distribution and to identify potential patterns in the pottery dispersal. The type of GIS maps constructed are thematic maps. Within said maps, values are translated into color codes which correspond to certain coded categories. These are designed to represent groupings of grid squares with similar weight values. Behind the implementation of the groupings lies the reasoning that reducing the number of total categories leads to reduced visual clutter on the maps, caused by less color values being displayed. Additionally, the analytical potential is expanded upon by making the maps more convenient. From the maps arises an image of the distribution of the ceramic material following a certain pattern. The southern/eastern band of the plateau features a high concentration of ceramic sherds, small in size. Here, certain areas feature a dense concentration of material which is true for every category of material. The northwestern part of the plateau features few sherds which are substantially larger. By calculating the average weight of ceramic sherds per area, a potential pattern of erosion can be seen. Smaller sherds are carried down the slope and accumulate in large numbers. Larger fragments are caught behind debris and remain there. Further research into the soil structure could help to further understand this pattern.Show less
The Early Bronze Age of the Southern Levant was a period of immense change and developing complexity. One of the greatest transformations of this period was the erection, maintenance and...Show moreThe Early Bronze Age of the Southern Levant was a period of immense change and developing complexity. One of the greatest transformations of this period was the erection, maintenance and modification of fortifications systems characterised by circum-settlement walls and additional elements such as towers, gates and bastions. While fortifications are almost always referred to in academic works on the period, a more focused investigation of them is needed. Also the recent focus on ascribing a non-military socio-symbolic function has resulted in confusion and varying views as to the actual function(s) of such fortification systems in the Early Bronze Age, which remains largely undefined and a matter ongoing debate. Why were they built? This paper serves to address this by investigating the primary function(s) of Early Bronze Age fortifications. This has been undertaken foremost via a contextual examination of a selected sample of Early Bronze Age fortification systems found at various sites across the Southern Levant – to ascertain whether they are indicative of (or at least consistent with), superfluous to or indeed compromising to a pattern of military architecture. This has been supplemented by other lines of evidence such as the presence of weapons, destructions, human remains and textual and artistic material. While alone these are often ambiguous correlates, their sum in combination with the specific analysis of the elements of the actual fortification systems at the selected sites supports the conclusion the primary function for Early Bronze Age fortifications in the Southern Levant was a military one. Other socio-economic functions of these fortifications have also been identified though these were secondary and did not compromise the defensive integrity of the whole system.Show less
