Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DAEDALOS (Conceptualising Processes of Monumental Architectural Creation in the Eastern Mediterranean Bronze Age)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2022-11-01 al 2025-04-30
The DAEDALOS project seeks to challenge the dominant narrative that monumental architecture in the Bronze Age Eastern Mediterranean is inherently tied to centralised, hierarchical political systems and top-down power structures. This prevailing view has deeply shaped our understanding of societal organisation during this period. In the 2nd millennium BCE, regions such as Mainland Greece, Western Anatolia, Crete, Cyprus, and the Cyclades saw the rise of increasingly elaborate architectural projects, including impressive "palatial" buildings. These structures are often interpreted as the seats of rulers exercising centralised control over their societies, and the considerable labour and material resources invested in these monuments are typically viewed as evidence of a rigid, hierarchical social order dominated by powerful elites. DAEDALOS challenges this assumption by considering the capacity of human groups without centralised leadership to effectively organise and manage resources. The project reexamines the assumed link between monumental architecture and centralised power by analysing patterns of integration and segmentation in 2nd millennium BCE building projects across the Aegean and Cyprus. Through an in-depth architectural study of monuments at 30 sites, the project introduces an innovative analytical framework to explore alternative models of labour organisation. Specifically, it investigates whether grassroots, community-driven building processes could have significantly contributed to monumental architectural creation. By examining the dynamics underlying these architectural achievements, DAEDALOS seeks to foster a paradigm shift in our understanding of monumental construction. The project aspires to offer more nuanced interpretations of Eastern Mediterranean Bronze Age societies, moving beyond traditional models of hierarchical control to consider the diverse ways communities may have collaboratively mobilised resources and expertise. The methodology and analytical framework developed and tested through the project are expected to significantly enhance our understanding of the socio-political contexts that shaped monumental architectural creation across different regions and time periods.
During the first reporting period of DAEDALOS, the research focused on a detailed architectural study of 40 Bronze Age monumental buildings across 30 sites in the Aegean and Cyprus. The research team compiled comprehensive architectural data through an extensive literature review, complemented by targeted site visits and fieldwork. This investigation documented building materials and techniques, as well as the construction sequences of the selected monumental structures, including notable examples such as several Minoan palaces. A specially designed methodological framework guided the research, prioritising the most relevant architectural evidence for analysing the organisation of ancient building projects. This systematic approach also addressed challenges related to geographic and chronological variations, as well as differing states of preservation. As a result, the meticulous analysis has produced a standardised and reliable dataset that provides a robust foundation for further architectural analysis and interpretation in subsequent stages of the research project.
Current research on Bronze Age Aegean and Cypriot monumental architecture often emphasises the content, configuration, and visual characteristics of buildings, frequently neglecting the materials and construction techniques that underpinned their creation. Architectural remains are commonly regarded as a static backdrop to the activities they accommodated, a perspective further constrained by the inconsistent quality of documentation across sites and the limited detail available on building materials and practices. To address these challenges, DAEDALOS has developed a comprehensive terminology for identifying and characterising building components and masonry types. This approach considers how specific production methods, shaping techniques, and assembly practices reflect the properties of materials, the expertise of builders, and the intended outcomes of construction. The project has also established a methodological framework for processing primary data, focusing on architectural elements most likely to reveal the degree of integration or segmentation in monumental building projects. These achievements are essential for achieving the project’s objectives. Moreover, the methodology and terminology devised by DAEDALOS can be adapted to other case studies, highlighting the versatility and broader applicability of the project’s approach beyond its original chronological and geographic framework.