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Early medieval Pyrotechnologies. Mechanisms and factors of innovations in northwestern Europe

Project description

A look at the Middle Ages through pyrotechnology

Europe in the Early Middle Ages underwent deep changes, experiencing political and social mobility, transitions in settlement strategy and technical innovations in crafts. In this context, the EU-funded EMPyr project will focus on production and manufacturing of glass, ceramic and iron to gain a better understanding of the roles of the craftspeople and the elites. Specifically, archaeological and archaeometrical analyses will identify the materials and techniques used to evaluate cross-craft interaction. The project’s findings will be widely disseminated and should be of great interest to history and today’s craftspeople.

Objective

The present innovation is boosted by the sharing of knowledge and tools. As in the past, these novelties are causing economic and social changes. During the early Middle Ages, between the end of the 7th and the 9th century, northwestern Europe experienced political and social mobility, modifications in the settlement strategy and technical innovations in crafts. By focusing on the glass, ceramic and iron, this project aims to reach the changes in their processes that are still poorly understood as well as the roles of the craftsmen and those of elites. In secondary productions, the “chaînes opératoires” of these pyrotechnologies will be studied. Archaeological and archaeometrical analyses will identify their materials and techniques in order to evaluate where modifications occured. Then, they will be compared in order to grasp the cross-craft interactions and see if these were a trigger for innovation. Aiming to appraise the role of their actors, the four sites chosen concern different social strata (aristocratic villa, pre-urban agglomeration, rural settlement and monastery). All the results of these material studies will be integrated in their socio-economic environment.
At ARSCAN and during a secondment at CEB-IRAMAT, the needed competences will be gathered. A training in iron studies will fulfill a domain of expertise currently lacking in the Benelux and it will be an asset to apply to permanent academic positions. The project also includes experimental archaeology on a site allowing the development of future research projects. A scientific meeting will gather teams working on craft productions in other regions in order to picture the transfers of material and knowledge. All these results will be communicated to mainstream audience, in particular to current craftsmen. In this way, the project intends to bring light to the mechanisms and factors of innovation at the roots of a novel society and it will encourage current creators to do the same.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2020

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Coordinator

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 196 707,84
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 196 707,84
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