The stitching together of photographs to create a 3D model, photogrammetry offers a valuable tool... more The stitching together of photographs to create a 3D model, photogrammetry offers a valuable tool for set design, while also creating a useful artifact.
In the Archaic period, Syracuse founded many settlements (most notably Akrai, Heloros, Kamarina, ... more In the Archaic period, Syracuse founded many settlements (most notably Akrai, Heloros, Kamarina, and Kasmenai) through expansion of its hegemony across the southeast corner of Sicily. This process is viewed as a planned venture for the benefit of Syracuse through land and trade wealth, ending in 552 BC with the destruction of Kamarina. The colonial relationship between a city and established settlements are difficult to define through historical and archaeological observation alone. Population estimates and demographic analyses can lead to innovative ways of approaching a system of settlements, lending insight to geopolitical relationships and plausibly explaining actions taken by Syracuse and Kamarina, leading to the rebellion and ruin of the settlement.
Architectural Energetics in Archaeology. Analytical Expansions and Global Explorations, 2019
In 733 BCE, a group of colonists from Corinth, located on the Peloponnese of modern Greece, lande... more In 733 BCE, a group of colonists from Corinth, located on the Peloponnese of modern Greece, landed in southeast Sicily at the island of Ortygia and formed the settlement of Syracuse. This would become the first step of a hegemonic expansion across the southeast corner of the island, lasting over a century and establishing four Syracusan colonies and other smaller sites. This process ended with the settlement of Kamarina on the southern coast in 599 BCE. Kamarina was established as an independent settlement, but was most likely intended to be dependent to a degree on Syracuse. Recent historiography of the region focuses broadly on the motivations (conquest, commerce, sociopolitics) behind the actions of Syracuse in the Archaic period (750–480 BCE), largely ignoring smaller aspects of colonial foundation and the interaction between Syracuse and its colonies. As an alternative or complement to this broad approach, examining certain features of the colonial process can lend insight into other macro-level factors present in the history of the area. Discussed here are two aspects of establishing a settlement: housing a population and constructing a defensive structure.
During the Archaic period Syracuse grew from a newly established colony to become a colonial powe... more During the Archaic period Syracuse grew from a newly established colony to become a colonial power itself and its hegemony spread across the south-east part of Sicily. The motivations behind the expansion process and the foundation of multiple new settlements is the central theme of this thesis. The most notable are Heloros (late eighth century BC), Akrai (664 BC), Kasmenai (644 BC) and Kamarina (599 BC). The traditional interpretation behind this expansion is based on ancient literary sources and it stresses military intentions of Syracuse. However, even though the foundations did have a strategic motivation behind them, more central was the desire for wealth accumulation through access to new agricultural land and creation of an inland trade route. The aim of the methodologies (architectural energetics, population estimates and degrees of primacy) used in the thesis is to build a clearer picture of the settlements at key stages of their development from foundation to the end of Archaic period. Architectural energetics is used to estimate the comparative labour costs of building each settlement. Assessment of the architectural development of each site also supports the non-military motivation behind their foundation.
The aim of this thesis is to examine archaeological and documentary evidence of South Wales durin... more The aim of this thesis is to examine archaeological and documentary evidence of South Wales during the Iron Age and Roman periods with the intention of better understanding the settlement, economic and socio-political structures of the Silures before and during the Roman occupation of the area. In the first part, a study of Iron Age defended enclosures with regard to shape, defences, settlement location and internal size indicates an overall settlement structure of multiple independent groupings situated throughout South Wales. Through the consideration of the roles of hillforts within economic, social and political interaction, these individual groupings most likely indicate a hierarchical system of decentralised clans acting independently of one another, but under a single, shared cultural identity. The second part of this thesis analyses the impact of the Roman conquest of South Wales and the extent to which the native population was transformed by the Roman military and civil establishments. The Roman military strategy of conquest and control over South Wales proves further the decentralised political structure of the Silures in the Iron Age. Roman and Romano-British settlement patterns indicate a changing lifestyle influenced by the Roman occupation with a native population choosing at what degree to embrace the new culture. Evidence suggests this change was immediate providing a new Roman way of life yet keeping much from the previous Iron Age existence.
Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, 2018
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Three-dimensional (3D) technologies are increasingly used to ... more Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Three-dimensional (3D) technologies are increasingly used to document and conserve buildings of historical and cultural heritage value, allowing a moment in time to remain preserved for posterity. This same technology can be used to feature destruction and bring that which is lost back to life. In 2016, a fire was set inside the Lichtenwalter schoolhouse, a single-roomed school built in 1885 in Green, OH, USA. This arson destroyed many priceless artifacts of the era, but perhaps worse is the history lost to future generations. Even then, this is a historical event in the history of the schoolhouse and the community. The goals of this project were to digitally document and preserve the historic structure prior to and after the fire. In doing so, this highlights the ability for technology to raise awareness on the dangers affecting local history. The remains of the schoolhouse were photographed and reconstructed digitally. Further, the schoolhouse prior to the arson was reproduced using an amalgamation of photos taken from various sources at different moments in the structure’s history. While not a systematic method recommended for these technologies, this latter approach provides the best opportunity to bring back a piece of lost history. These, then, empower the structural remains to provide not only a glimpse into the early history of a society, but a stark warning into the dangers facing even the smallest objects of cultural heritage, igniting a conversation and bringing attention to the need in protecting these important parts of our past.
An interpretation of indigenous populations asserts that ‘non-state societies typically have flui... more An interpretation of indigenous populations asserts that ‘non-state societies typically have fluid territorial and political boundaries, only weakly developed political hierarchies and a less formalized sense of identity as a group.’ This characterisation illustrates well a decentralised society in which groups live in part independently, yet are connected to other nearby populations through a shared culture, perpetuated by similar social, material and settlement structures. It is likely that the Silures occupying south Wales in the Iron Age lived in such a society. Focusing predominantly on defended enclosures, but also exploring other aspects of the material record, this paper suggests a decentralised socio-political structure indicating that the inhabitants of south Wales maintained independent, local groups, yet shared many common social, material and settlement practices that united these communities under a single culture. This shared culture then became unifying when the entire region came under threat by the Roman invasion.
Any building can be perceived as the summation of specific actions surrounding the gathering and ... more Any building can be perceived as the summation of specific actions surrounding the gathering and construction of a precise volume and variety of materials. By working backwards and quantifying its individual aspects, a structure can be estimated in terms of labour costs spent in construction. This methodology, traditionally called architectural energetics, is becoming more common in historical and archaeological analyses and can provide new avenues through which to interpret past societies via structures. Three-dimensional (3D) technologies are continually being applied to historical research in new and exciting ways. One such application comes in 3D reconstructions of past buildings. In this project, a residential structure at Kasmenai, Archaic period southeast Sicily, was reconstructed based on archaeological evidence and historical comparanda. From the volume calculations provided by Blender, volumetric analyses can be completed to aid in estimating labour costs for constructing the building. This project compares the traditional, mathematical format of architectural energetics to that aided by 3D design. The advantages of the latter demonstrate clearly the benefit of incorporating digital technologies into historical research.
The stitching together of photographs to create a 3D model, photogrammetry offers a valuable tool... more The stitching together of photographs to create a 3D model, photogrammetry offers a valuable tool for set design, while also creating a useful artifact.
In the Archaic period, Syracuse founded many settlements (most notably Akrai, Heloros, Kamarina, ... more In the Archaic period, Syracuse founded many settlements (most notably Akrai, Heloros, Kamarina, and Kasmenai) through expansion of its hegemony across the southeast corner of Sicily. This process is viewed as a planned venture for the benefit of Syracuse through land and trade wealth, ending in 552 BC with the destruction of Kamarina. The colonial relationship between a city and established settlements are difficult to define through historical and archaeological observation alone. Population estimates and demographic analyses can lead to innovative ways of approaching a system of settlements, lending insight to geopolitical relationships and plausibly explaining actions taken by Syracuse and Kamarina, leading to the rebellion and ruin of the settlement.
Architectural Energetics in Archaeology. Analytical Expansions and Global Explorations, 2019
In 733 BCE, a group of colonists from Corinth, located on the Peloponnese of modern Greece, lande... more In 733 BCE, a group of colonists from Corinth, located on the Peloponnese of modern Greece, landed in southeast Sicily at the island of Ortygia and formed the settlement of Syracuse. This would become the first step of a hegemonic expansion across the southeast corner of the island, lasting over a century and establishing four Syracusan colonies and other smaller sites. This process ended with the settlement of Kamarina on the southern coast in 599 BCE. Kamarina was established as an independent settlement, but was most likely intended to be dependent to a degree on Syracuse. Recent historiography of the region focuses broadly on the motivations (conquest, commerce, sociopolitics) behind the actions of Syracuse in the Archaic period (750–480 BCE), largely ignoring smaller aspects of colonial foundation and the interaction between Syracuse and its colonies. As an alternative or complement to this broad approach, examining certain features of the colonial process can lend insight into other macro-level factors present in the history of the area. Discussed here are two aspects of establishing a settlement: housing a population and constructing a defensive structure.
During the Archaic period Syracuse grew from a newly established colony to become a colonial powe... more During the Archaic period Syracuse grew from a newly established colony to become a colonial power itself and its hegemony spread across the south-east part of Sicily. The motivations behind the expansion process and the foundation of multiple new settlements is the central theme of this thesis. The most notable are Heloros (late eighth century BC), Akrai (664 BC), Kasmenai (644 BC) and Kamarina (599 BC). The traditional interpretation behind this expansion is based on ancient literary sources and it stresses military intentions of Syracuse. However, even though the foundations did have a strategic motivation behind them, more central was the desire for wealth accumulation through access to new agricultural land and creation of an inland trade route. The aim of the methodologies (architectural energetics, population estimates and degrees of primacy) used in the thesis is to build a clearer picture of the settlements at key stages of their development from foundation to the end of Archaic period. Architectural energetics is used to estimate the comparative labour costs of building each settlement. Assessment of the architectural development of each site also supports the non-military motivation behind their foundation.
The aim of this thesis is to examine archaeological and documentary evidence of South Wales durin... more The aim of this thesis is to examine archaeological and documentary evidence of South Wales during the Iron Age and Roman periods with the intention of better understanding the settlement, economic and socio-political structures of the Silures before and during the Roman occupation of the area. In the first part, a study of Iron Age defended enclosures with regard to shape, defences, settlement location and internal size indicates an overall settlement structure of multiple independent groupings situated throughout South Wales. Through the consideration of the roles of hillforts within economic, social and political interaction, these individual groupings most likely indicate a hierarchical system of decentralised clans acting independently of one another, but under a single, shared cultural identity. The second part of this thesis analyses the impact of the Roman conquest of South Wales and the extent to which the native population was transformed by the Roman military and civil establishments. The Roman military strategy of conquest and control over South Wales proves further the decentralised political structure of the Silures in the Iron Age. Roman and Romano-British settlement patterns indicate a changing lifestyle influenced by the Roman occupation with a native population choosing at what degree to embrace the new culture. Evidence suggests this change was immediate providing a new Roman way of life yet keeping much from the previous Iron Age existence.
Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, 2018
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Three-dimensional (3D) technologies are increasingly used to ... more Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Three-dimensional (3D) technologies are increasingly used to document and conserve buildings of historical and cultural heritage value, allowing a moment in time to remain preserved for posterity. This same technology can be used to feature destruction and bring that which is lost back to life. In 2016, a fire was set inside the Lichtenwalter schoolhouse, a single-roomed school built in 1885 in Green, OH, USA. This arson destroyed many priceless artifacts of the era, but perhaps worse is the history lost to future generations. Even then, this is a historical event in the history of the schoolhouse and the community. The goals of this project were to digitally document and preserve the historic structure prior to and after the fire. In doing so, this highlights the ability for technology to raise awareness on the dangers affecting local history. The remains of the schoolhouse were photographed and reconstructed digitally. Further, the schoolhouse prior to the arson was reproduced using an amalgamation of photos taken from various sources at different moments in the structure’s history. While not a systematic method recommended for these technologies, this latter approach provides the best opportunity to bring back a piece of lost history. These, then, empower the structural remains to provide not only a glimpse into the early history of a society, but a stark warning into the dangers facing even the smallest objects of cultural heritage, igniting a conversation and bringing attention to the need in protecting these important parts of our past.
An interpretation of indigenous populations asserts that ‘non-state societies typically have flui... more An interpretation of indigenous populations asserts that ‘non-state societies typically have fluid territorial and political boundaries, only weakly developed political hierarchies and a less formalized sense of identity as a group.’ This characterisation illustrates well a decentralised society in which groups live in part independently, yet are connected to other nearby populations through a shared culture, perpetuated by similar social, material and settlement structures. It is likely that the Silures occupying south Wales in the Iron Age lived in such a society. Focusing predominantly on defended enclosures, but also exploring other aspects of the material record, this paper suggests a decentralised socio-political structure indicating that the inhabitants of south Wales maintained independent, local groups, yet shared many common social, material and settlement practices that united these communities under a single culture. This shared culture then became unifying when the entire region came under threat by the Roman invasion.
Any building can be perceived as the summation of specific actions surrounding the gathering and ... more Any building can be perceived as the summation of specific actions surrounding the gathering and construction of a precise volume and variety of materials. By working backwards and quantifying its individual aspects, a structure can be estimated in terms of labour costs spent in construction. This methodology, traditionally called architectural energetics, is becoming more common in historical and archaeological analyses and can provide new avenues through which to interpret past societies via structures. Three-dimensional (3D) technologies are continually being applied to historical research in new and exciting ways. One such application comes in 3D reconstructions of past buildings. In this project, a residential structure at Kasmenai, Archaic period southeast Sicily, was reconstructed based on archaeological evidence and historical comparanda. From the volume calculations provided by Blender, volumetric analyses can be completed to aid in estimating labour costs for constructing the building. This project compares the traditional, mathematical format of architectural energetics to that aided by 3D design. The advantages of the latter demonstrate clearly the benefit of incorporating digital technologies into historical research.
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Recent historiography of the region focuses broadly on the motivations (conquest, commerce, sociopolitics) behind the actions of Syracuse in the Archaic period (750–480 BCE), largely ignoring smaller aspects of colonial foundation and the interaction between Syracuse and its colonies. As an alternative or complement to this broad approach, examining certain features of the colonial process can lend insight into other macro-level factors present in the history of the area. Discussed here are two aspects of establishing a settlement: housing a population and constructing a defensive structure.
The goals of this project were to digitally document and preserve the historic structure prior to and after the fire. In doing so, this highlights the ability for technology to raise awareness on the dangers affecting local history. The remains of the schoolhouse were photographed and reconstructed digitally. Further, the schoolhouse prior to the arson was reproduced using an amalgamation of photos taken from various sources at different moments in the structure’s history. While not a systematic method recommended for these technologies, this latter approach provides the best opportunity to bring back a piece of lost history. These, then, empower the structural remains to provide not only a glimpse into the early history of a society, but a stark warning into the dangers facing even the smallest objects of cultural heritage, igniting a conversation and bringing attention to the need in protecting these important parts of our past.
Recent historiography of the region focuses broadly on the motivations (conquest, commerce, sociopolitics) behind the actions of Syracuse in the Archaic period (750–480 BCE), largely ignoring smaller aspects of colonial foundation and the interaction between Syracuse and its colonies. As an alternative or complement to this broad approach, examining certain features of the colonial process can lend insight into other macro-level factors present in the history of the area. Discussed here are two aspects of establishing a settlement: housing a population and constructing a defensive structure.
The goals of this project were to digitally document and preserve the historic structure prior to and after the fire. In doing so, this highlights the ability for technology to raise awareness on the dangers affecting local history. The remains of the schoolhouse were photographed and reconstructed digitally. Further, the schoolhouse prior to the arson was reproduced using an amalgamation of photos taken from various sources at different moments in the structure’s history. While not a systematic method recommended for these technologies, this latter approach provides the best opportunity to bring back a piece of lost history. These, then, empower the structural remains to provide not only a glimpse into the early history of a society, but a stark warning into the dangers facing even the smallest objects of cultural heritage, igniting a conversation and bringing attention to the need in protecting these important parts of our past.