From Enfilades to Medieval Caves: An In-Progress Report from the Medieval Roman Archaeological Survey of Kalymnos

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The Aegean island of Kalymnos was unsurprisingly transformed by conflict between Roman and Arab Caliphate forces through the early Middle Ages; atypically among its neighbors, the end of antiquity seems to have produced a more durable and connected Kalymnian community, compared to that which came before. This paper expands on earlier GIS analyses of the island’s Roman remains through the recording of undocumented sites and external features of previously known locations. Substantial attention is paid to distinctive emerging tactical trends in fortification architecture, as well as the issue of transport through such a rugged coastal environment. Of special note is the network of previously unrecorded high ground lookout posts which facilitated contacts both among the communities of the island, and from Kalymnos to the broader empire. Operating in the restrictive Greek system, the Medieval Roman Archaeological Survey of Kalymnos project is also a case study in "agile archaeology," utilizing many vectors of analysis to build a picture of the past without excavation or remote sensing. Through the use of lay informants, consultation with museum personnel, and participation of Greek university students, the project aims to maximize involvement of the local community, while minimizing its impact on the archaeological record.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 38699.0