Building the Bronze Age : Architectural and Social Change on the Greek Mainland during Early Helladic III, Middle Helladic and Late Helladic I / by Corien Wiersma.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [538]-561)

Chapter I. History of Research -- 1) Definitions of domestic architecture, houses and the household -- 2) Researh on EH III, MH and LH I Domestic architecture -- 3) Aspects of social organization -- 4) Research on Social Change -- 5. Research questions -- Chapter 2. Theory and Methodology -- 1) Approaches to Dometic Architecture, houses and the household -- 2) Domestic Architecture : The (supra)regional Perspective -- 3. Domestic Architecture : Communities and their Neighbours -- 4) Domestic Architecture : The Community and the Household -- 5) Domestic Architecture : The Household Perspective -- 6) Methodology -- Chapter 3. EH III-LH I Domestic Architecture on the Greek Mainland -- 1) Thessaly -- 2) Phocis and Phthiotis -- 3) Boeotia -- 4) Euboea -- 5) Attica -- 6) The Corinthia -- 7) Argolid -- 8) Laconia -- 9) Messenia -- 10) Elis -- 11) Arcadia -- 12) Achaia -- Chapter 4. Architectural Patterns and Developments during EH III, MH and LH I -- 1) EH III Domestic Architecture -- 2) MH I-II Domestic Architecture -- 3) MHIII-LH I Domestic Architecture -- 4) Summary : EH III-LH I Architectural change -- Chapter 5. Discussion -- Chapter 6. Conclusions EH III - LH I Architectural and Social Change.

The Early Helladic 3 (EH3) and Middle Helladic (MH) period of Mainland Greece have been perceived as periods during which little happened : few or no signs of differentiation are seen, no large communal buildings are constructed, and the material record is relatively poor. This is in contrast with EH2, during which large architectural structures were built, and many valuable items were imported. The material poverty of the MH period is also in contrast to the beginning of the Late Helladic (LH) period. During the transition to the LH1 period, mortuary customs change, some very rich graves are constructed, and the material record is enriched with imports from Crete, the Cyclades, and the Eastern Aegean. Furthermore, population numbers as well as the number and extent of settlements slowly increase. Until recently, the MH period was little investigated as scholars had a greater interest in the seemingly more complex EH2 and LH period. The low level of complexity of the MH period was seen as caused by disruptions taking place between EH2 and EH3 and the end of EH3 on Mainland Greece and in the Cyclades. The MH period was therefore perceived as a Dark Age of little interest. Previous research: For my MPhil thesis, carried out at the University of Sheffield, I have researched the house architecture and floor assemblages of the EH3 Mainland, in order to reconstruct the social organization. This lead to the conclusion that the EH2 social complexity is not wiped out by disruptions that took place at the beginning of EH3. Although EH3 settlements do not have a rich material culture or notable architecture, the society is socially stratified. My research concluded that social inequalities and relations are developed and communicated through the construction of large houses, the placement and rebuilding of houses, changes in tableware and dining, and ceremonial consumption by small group(s) of people. PhD research questions: The PhD research has several aims, which build upon the framework and the results of the analysis of the EH3 society. The main research question is threefold: Which changes take place with regard to settlement and house lay out during EH3 to LH1 at Mainland Greece? How does the composition of house assemblages change? What do these results tell use with regard to social organization and complexity? Research on the MH period has mainly concentrated on burials, synchronizing pottery, and in the last years much research is being carried out in the area of provenance analysis of ceramics and metal objects. However, MH architecture has not undergone a thorough analysis. In addition, no contextual analysis of MH (domestic) finds has ever been carried out. Therefore a systematic analysis of MH architecture in combination with a contextual analysis of domestic assemblages can generate new insights in the MH social organization. This research will also enable me to fine tune the transitional periods of EH3-MH1, and MH3-LH1. These transitional periods are more or less perceived as sudden breaks, but recent research calls for a renewed interpretation of these periods (e.g. more as gradual transitions instead of sharp discontinuities). Method and approach: I will develop a multivariate research model to study the social organization of the EH3-LH1 society. This model incorporates and intertwines information on domestic architecture and floor assemblages. Previous research on the MH period has led me to conclude that such a model should be based on a reconstruction of social practices, systems of activities and systems of settings.