A Crusader, Ottoman, and Early Modern Aegean Archaeology: Built Environment and Domestic Material Culture in the Medieval and Post-Medieval Cyclades, Greece (13th-20th Centuries AD)(22 Archaeological Studies Leiden University)

This ASLU volume examines the built environment and aspects of domestic material culture of the Late Byzantine/Frankish, Ottoman and Early Modern Cyclades in the Aegean (13th - 20th centuries). On the basis of primary archaeological data gathered by the Cyclades Research Project, this monograph's aims are the reconstruction of everyday domestic life in towns and villages, the identification of socio-cultural identities that shaped or were reflected on pre-Modern material remains, and the history of island landscapes through the study of certain aspects of material culture. Aspects of 'material culture' analysed in this study include settlement layout (fortified settlements and undefended nucleated villages), domestic buildings (housing of urban character, peasant housing and farmsteads), ceramics (locally produced and imported glazed tableware), internal fittings (built structures and mobile fittings) and island-costumes (male and female dress codes). Archaeological Studies Leiden University (ASLU) is a series of the Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University since 1998. The series' aim is to publish Research and PhD theses of Archaeology and covers the international research fields of European Prehistory, Classical-, Near Eastern-, Indian American- and Science-based Archaeology.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements 11 1. Introduction 13 1.1 The Cycladic Case Study 13 1.2 Cyclades Research Project 16 1.3 Structure of the Book 17 2. Built Space and Domestic Material Culture 19 2.1 Introduction 19 2.2 The Study Periods 19 2.2.1 The Medieval Period 19 2.2.2 The Post-Medieval Period 20 2.2.3 The Early Modern Period 21 2.3 Built Space 22 2.3.1 Settlement Patterns and Layout 22 2.3.2 Vernacular Architecture 23 2.4 Domestic Material Culture 23 2.4.1 Ceramics, Diet and Dining 23 2.4.2 Furniture and Domestic Comfort 24 2.4.3 Costumes and Fashion 25 2.5 Conclusion 26 3. The Social and Economic History of the Cyclades 27 3.1 Introduction 27 3.2 Geography and Geomorphology 27 3.3 Foreign Travellers' Accounts 29 3.4 The Byzantine Past 31 3.4.1 Late Antiquity 31 3.4.2 Early Byzantine Period 32 3.4.3 Middle Byzantine Period 33 3.5 The Frankish/Venetian Era 35 3.5.1 Studies of the Frankish Aegean 35 3.5.2 Colonising the Cyclades 35 3.5.3 Population Decline and Growth 37 3.5.4 Cycladic 'Feudalism' 39 3.5.5 Social Groups 39 3.5.6 Ethnic and Religious Groups 41 3.5.7 Production and Economy 42 3.6 The Ottoman Era 45 3.6.1 An Historical Outline 45 3.6.2 Administrative Districts 46 3.6.3 The Formation of 'Koinotites' 47 3.6.4 Ethnic and Religious Groups 48 3.6.5 Population Decline and Growth 49 3.6.6 Production and Economy 52 3.7 The Early Modern Period 56 3.8 Summary and Conclusions 58 4. Settlements and Housing: Evaluation of Published Literature 61 4.1 Introduction 61 4.2 Typological Studies 63 4.2.1 The Cyclades 63 4.2.2 South Aegean Islands 65 4.2.3 East and North Aegean Islands 65 4.2.4 Ionian Islands 67 4.2.5 Aegean Mainland Greece and Euboea 67 4.3 Socio-Economic Studies 68 4.3.1 The Cyclades 68 4.3.2 South Aegean Islands and Crete 70 4.3.3 East and North Aegean Islands 72 4.3.4 Ionian Islands 72 4.3.5 Aegean Mainland Greece and Euboea 73 4.4 Social Theory Studies 73 4.5 Studies in Europe and the United States 74 4.6 Summary and Conclusions 76 5. Cycladic Settlements and Housing: Typology and Chronology 77 5.1 Introduction 77 5.2 Fortified Settlements - Kastra 77 5.2.1 Fortified Settlements of the Orthogonal Plan 78 5.2.2 Fortified Settlements of the Irregular Plan 85 5.3 Unfortified Settlements 95 5.3.1 Settlements of the Evolved Fortified Form 95 5.3.2 Settlements of the Linear or Traditional Form 100 5.3.3 Dispersed Farmsteads 105 5.4 Housing in Kastra 106 5.4.1 Two-Storey Narrow-Fronted Houses 106 5.4.2 Two-Storey Broad-Fronted Houses 109 5.4.3 Archontika 110 5.5 Housing in Unfortified Settlements 113 5.5.1 Narrow-Fronted with or without Dividing Wall 114 5.5.2 Rectangular and Broad-Fronted Arched Housing 114 5.5.3 Housing with Sala and Twin Rooms 116 5.5.4 Tower-Houses 117 5.5.5 Gentry Housing with Neoclassical Influences 120 5.5.6 Farmsteads 121 5.6 Summary and Conclusions 122 5.6.1 Settlements and Settlement Layout 122 5.6.2 Housing 123 6. Cyclades Research Project - Survey Data: Settlements and Housing 125 6.1 Introduction 125 6.2 Medieval Kastra 125 6.2.1 Viokastro, Paros 125 6.2.2 Apano Kastro, Naxos 132 6.2.3 Kastro of Kephalos, Paros 142 6.2.4 Kastro, Melos 152 6.2.5 Zephyria/Millo, Melos 158 6.3 Post-Medieval and Early Modern Towns 161 6.3.1 Plaka, Melos 161 6.3.2 Chora, Ios 166 6.4 Post-Medieval Hamlets 172 6.4.1 Mavro Chorio, Siphnos 172 6.4.2 Ismaili, Timos 176 6.4.3 Aidonia, Andros 183 6.5 Survey in a Late Medieval Countryside 187 6.5.1 Choria Kephalou, Paros 187 6.6 Summary and Conclusions 195 6.6.1 The Settlements 195 6.6.2 The Houses 196 7. Cycladic Settlements and Housing in a Social Context 199 7.1 Introduction 199 7.2 The Byzantine Background 199 7.2.1 Settlements and Church-Building 199 7.2.2 Housing and Domestic Continuity 201 7.3 The Late-Medieval and Early Post-Medieval Transformation 204 7.3.1 Defining the Meani

About the Author :
Athanasios Vionis is Lecturer in Byzantine Art and Archaeology at the University of Cyprus. He has been involved with survey and excavation projects in Greece, Cyprus and Turkey

Review :
'Vionis' new work ... brings together an entirely new way of observing and understanding the archaeology and history of the Greek islands. For the first time it is now possible to achieve a genuine perspective from the recent past to antiquity and to recognise the diversive cultural richness of the Byzantine, Frankish and Ottoman eras.' - Jim Crow, Professor of Classical Archaeology, University of Edinburgh