Cypriot archaeological sites in the landscape : an alluvial geo-archaeological approach
Only little geo-archaeological work has been undertaken on Cyprus since Vita-Finzi (1969) developed the two-tiered model for landscape evolution in the Mediterranean. However, a new more differentiated, better dated model is necessarily for Cyprus. Understanding the limitations geologic processes impose on the archaeological record is imperative for gaining insight in settlement patterns. Moreover, the alluvial archive on Cyprus also indirectly contains a hitherto unexplored variety of information on human impact on the landscape, climatic evolution, earthquakes and sea level changes. In a first part of the thesis, a hypothesis for landscape evolution is built, based on a study of literature on several variables that shaped the landscape on Cyprus: climate, sea-level, tectonic history and humans (subsistence economy, metallurgical activities and settlement history). It is concluded that the following periods are marked by a combination of factors favouring alluviation: the landnam of the Neolithic period, the Chalcolithic period, the Late Bronze Age, the Late Hellenistic and Roman period, the Frankish period and the Venetian period. In a second part, this hypothesis is tested through geo-archaeological fieldwork
Deckers, Katleen
Cypriot archaeological sites in the landscape : an alluvial geo-archaeological approach. Only little geo-archaeological work has been undertaken on Cyprus since Vita-Finzi (1969) developed the two-tiered model for landscape evolution in the Mediterranean. However, a new more differentiated, better dated model is necessarily for Cyprus. Understanding the limitations geologic processes impose on the archaeological record is imperative for gaining insight in settlement patterns. Moreover, the alluvial archive on Cyprus also indirectly contains a hitherto unexplored variety of information on human impact on the landscape, climatic evolution, earthquakes and sea level changes. In a first part of the thesis, a hypothesis for landscape evolution is built, based on a study of literature on several variables that shaped the landscape on Cyprus: climate, sea-level, tectonic history and humans (subsistence economy, metallurgical activities and settlement history). It is concluded that the following periods are marked by a combination of factors favouring alluviation: the landnam of the Neolithic period, the Chalcolithic period, the Late Bronze Age, the Late Hellenistic and Roman period, the Frankish period and the Venetian period. In a second part, this hypothesis is tested through geo-archaeological fieldwork
cypriot archaeological_site landscape alluvial geo archaeological approach little geo archaeological work_undertaken cyprus since vita develop tiered model landscape_evolution mediterranean however new differentiate well date model necessarily cyprus limitation process impose archaeological_record imperative gain_insight settlement_pattern moreover alluvial archive cyprus also indirectly contain hitherto unexplored variety information human_impact landscape climatic evolution sea_level change first_part hypothesis landscape_evolution build base study literature several variable shape landscape cyprus climate sea_level history human subsistence_economy metallurgical activity settlement_history conclude follow period_mark combination_factor favour neolithic_period chalcolithic period late_bronze_age late_hellenistic roman_period frankish period venetian period second_part hypothesis_test geo archaeological fieldwork