Socioeconomic change and the meaning of settlement in the Early Iron Age of Crete, 12th-7th centuries BC
A settlement shift occurred in Crete during the 12<sup>th</sup> century BC (Late Minoan IIIC) from valleys and coasts to more elevated, usually defensible, sites in foothill and mountain zones. The studyâs aim is to place this phenomenon in the context of socio-economic change known to have occurred in the Aegean/east Mediterranean in the 12<sup>th</sup>-7<sup>th</sup> centuries BC (Early Iron Age: EIA). The implications of the settlement shift for subsistence (sometimes argued to have been its prime mover) are addressed through hinterland characterisation at six sites/site clusters in various regions of Crete. All have occupation starting in this period, but contrast greatly in their size, local topography and length of use. The approach makes use of long-term land-use and settlement history, ethnography and soil studies, alongside archaeological data for the period (which now includes some archaeobotanical/faunal studies). On their own, none of these data sources can define EIA subsistence regimes. Considered together in the six different cases, they do allow significant conclusions to be drawn about the most likely practices and about the general degree of change between Late Bronze Age and Early Iron
Wallace, S. A.
Socioeconomic change and the meaning of settlement in the Early Iron Age of Crete, 12th-7th centuries BC. A settlement shift occurred in Crete during the 12<sup>th</sup> century BC (Late Minoan IIIC) from valleys and coasts to more elevated, usually defensible, sites in foothill and mountain zones. The studyâs aim is to place this phenomenon in the context of socio-economic change known to have occurred in the Aegean/east Mediterranean in the 12<sup>th</sup>-7<sup>th</sup> centuries BC (Early Iron Age: EIA). The implications of the settlement shift for subsistence (sometimes argued to have been its prime mover) are addressed through hinterland characterisation at six sites/site clusters in various regions of Crete. All have occupation starting in this period, but contrast greatly in their size, local topography and length of use. The approach makes use of long-term land-use and settlement history, ethnography and soil studies, alongside archaeological data for the period (which now includes some archaeobotanical/faunal studies). On their own, none of these data sources can define EIA subsistence regimes. Considered together in the six different cases, they do allow significant conclusions to be drawn about the most likely practices and about the general degree of change between Late Bronze Age and Early Iron
socioeconomic change meaning settlement settlement shift_occur crete late_minoan iiic valley coast elevate usually defensible site mountain zone study aim place phenomenon context socio_economic change know occur aegean east_mediterranean early_iron_age eia implication settlement shift subsistence sometimes argue prime address hinterland characterisation sites site cluster various region crete occupation start period contrast greatly size local topography length use make_use long_term land_use settlement_history ethnography soil study alongside archaeological_data period include archaeobotanical faunal study none data_source define eia subsistence regime considered together six_different case allow significant conclusion_draw likely practice general degree change late_bronze age_early iron