Towards a Multi-Scalar, Multidisciplinary Approach to the Classical Greek City: The Olynthos Project

Abstract

Research on the cities of the Classical Greek world has traditionally focused on mapping the organisation of urban space and studying major civic or religious buildings. More recently, newer techniques such as field survey and geophysical survey have facilitated exploration of the extent and character of larger areas within urban settlements, raising questions about economic processes. At the same time, detailed analysis of residential buildings has also supported a change of emphasis towards understanding some of the functional and social aspects of the built environment as well as purely formal ones. This article argues for the advantages of analysing Greek cities using a multidisciplinary, multi-scalar framework which encompasses all of these various approaches and adds to them other analytical techniques (particularly micro-archaeology). We suggest that this strategy can lead towards a more holistic view of a city, not only as a physical place, but also as a dynamic community, revealing its origins, development and patterns of social and economic activity. Our argument is made with reference to the research design, methodology and results of the first three seasons of fieldwork at the city of Olynthos, carried out by the Olynthos Project.

Constructing the ‘Urban Profile’ of an Ancient Greek City: Evidence From the Olynthos Project

“…The Olynthos Project's research on the South Hill concentrated on the history of habitation and the nature of the settlement: these topics were studied through geophysical survey, surface collection and the excavation of six trenches. Work started in 2016 with surface collection, geophysical survey and the excavation of trenches that verified their results (Nevett et al 2017, 187–99). The geophysical survey (electrical resistance and electromagnetic induction) revealed the layout of the settlement on the South Hill: it consisted of two north–south avenues (parts of them had been brought to light by Robinson's research) and at least sixteen east–west streets which intersect with the two avenues at regular intervals without forming an orthogonal grid.…”

“…The faunal material from the South Hill represents a stark contrast to the North Hill, where only a small number of bones were present, occurring in only a few deposits (see Stallibrass in Nevett et al 2017, 197–9). On the South Hill the remains are relatively plentiful and are quite well preserved.…”

“…The Project is a synergasia between the Greek Archaeological Service and the British School at Athens, with permission from the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sport. Fuller discussion of its goals and methods can be found in Nevett et al 2017.…”

Deep learning based automated analysis of archaeo‐geophysical images

“…Broad (5–7 m) intersecting streets, habitational quarters, public buildings including a putative council house (bouleuterion), are among the finds of the past excavations (Cahill, ). The GPR covered different sections of the site (total area of about 3.30 ha), and the depth section used for the particular work indicated a system of long (~23 m) streets, together with a dense distribution of buildings aligned and attached to the edges of the streets (Nevett et al, ).…”

The work of the British School at Athens, 2017–2018

“…2017 saw the fourth season of the collaborative project at the site of Olynthos (ID6508), co-directed by Bettina Tsigarida (Ephorate of Antiquities of Pella), Zosia Archibald (Liverpool) and Lisa Nevett (Michigan), with the aim of recovering a uniquely detailed picture of Greek households as social and economic units, within their broader neighbourhood, urban and regional settings. A first multi-authored publication of the project's research appeared in BSA 2017 (Nevett et al 2017).…”