Constructing urbanism : relating the construction of architecture to the process of urbanization in the Middle Bronze Age southern Levant
In this thesis, I seek a framework for understanding urbanization during the early Middle Bronze Age in the southern Levant by identifying and investigating patterns in the archaeological record during the transition from non-urban society and culture to a system of urbanism. The broad focus of my research is how urbanization occurred during this period, by specifically addressing three questions: (1) how were urban settlements built, in terms of materials and building practices? (2) what was the energetic cost of building cities, and how was this construction organized, in terms of resources and labour? and (3) how does this process of construction relate to the overall organizational processes of urbanization? I investigate patterns in the process of construction during this period by detailing architectural innovations throughout the region within their chronological and stratigraphic contexts. My methods include compiling databases of the dimensions of different aspects of architecture at a number of sites, as well as a detailed sampling and geoarchaeological analysis of mud-bricks at three case-study sites (Dan, Megiddo and Pella). By analysing bricks and reconstructing the process of their manufacture
Homsher, R. S.
Constructing urbanism : relating the construction of architecture to the process of urbanization in the Middle Bronze Age southern Levant. In this thesis, I seek a framework for understanding urbanization during the early Middle Bronze Age in the southern Levant by identifying and investigating patterns in the archaeological record during the transition from non-urban society and culture to a system of urbanism. The broad focus of my research is how urbanization occurred during this period, by specifically addressing three questions: (1) how were urban settlements built, in terms of materials and building practices? (2) what was the energetic cost of building cities, and how was this construction organized, in terms of resources and labour? and (3) how does this process of construction relate to the overall organizational processes of urbanization? I investigate patterns in the process of construction during this period by detailing architectural innovations throughout the region within their chronological and stratigraphic contexts. My methods include compiling databases of the dimensions of different aspects of architecture at a number of sites, as well as a detailed sampling and geoarchaeological analysis of mud-bricks at three case-study sites (Dan, Megiddo and Pella). By analysing bricks and reconstructing the process of their manufacture
constructing urbanism relating construction architecture process urbanization middle_bronze_age southern_levant seek framework urbanization early middle_bronze_age southern_levant identify investigate pattern archaeological_record transition non urban_society culture system urbanism broad focus urbanization occur period specifically_address question urban_settlement build term material build practice cost building city construction organize term resource labour process construction relate overall organizational process urbanization investigate pattern process construction period detail architectural innovation throughout_region within_chronological stratigraphic context method_include compile database dimension different_aspect architecture number site well detailed sample geoarchaeological analysis three_case_study site analyse brick reconstruct process manufacture