Looking for 'texts' in the Neolithic Aegean: Space, Place and the Study of Domestic Architecture

The aim of the present poster is to reconsider the study of domestic architecture and suggest a more holistic approach that would go beyond merely descriptive accounts of the architectural remains and deal with issues of behaviour. Such a study would approach structures from a contextual perspective and would examine space as place of human action.

The word 'text' here is used as a metaphor, giving emphasis to the structure of the archaeological record, which is the starting point for all our interpretations.

Reference will be given to the evidence from Neolithic Greece, and Eastern Mediterranean in general, in an attempt to indicate differences in the way built environment was used in Neolithic period and to provide suggestions for further analysis.

The discussion stresses the potential of the archaeological record to deal with holistic questions and indicates that archaeologists themselves create part of the 'text' they are invited to 'read'.