Our research at the site started in the summer of 2013 with the aim to explore issues concerning early urbanism in Bronze Age Crete and the development of the cultural and natural landscape in the area (c.3000-1200 BC). An integral part of the new excavations was the systematic bio-archaeological sampling and recovery of organic material (animal bones, shells, fish, ostracods, seeds, charcoal) in combination with extensive landscape survey. This is the first time that such an approach has been adopted in excavations in Crete and the results are expected to provide significant new insights into past resource management and socio-cultural identity, while contributing to debates on the sustainable (or not) use of the environment in the past.
The project is directed by Prof Carl Knappett (University of Toronto, Canada), Dr Alexandra Livarda (University of Nottingham, UK) and Dr Nicoletta Momigliano (University of Bristol, UK) and runs under the auspices of the British School at Athens. It has received funding from the British School at Athens, INSTAP and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC, Canada, Knappett PI, Livarda and Momigliano Co-I).
Cañellas-Boltà, N., Riera-Mora, S., Orengo, H.A., Livarda, A., Knappett, C. Human management and landscape changes at Palaikastro (Eastern Crete) from the Late Neolithic to the Early Minoan. Quaternary Science Reviews (submitted).
Orengo, H.A. and Knappett, C. Towards a definition of Minoan agro-pastoral landscapes: first results of the survey at Palaikastro (Crete). American Journal of Archaeology (accepted).
Knappett, C., Livarda, A. and Momigliano, N. 2015. Palaikastro (Siteia) 2013: preliminary report on the first excavation season, 549-558. In Karanastasi, P., Tzigounaki, A. and Tsigonaki, C. (eds.) Archaeological Work in Crete 3. Proceedings of the 3rd Meeting, Rethymnon, 5-8 December 2013, Volume B. Rethymnon, Faculty of Letters Publications, University of Crete.
Cañellas-Boltà, N., Riera-Mora, S., Orengo, H.A., Livarda, A., Knappett, C. Environmental changes during the Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age at Palaikastro (Eastern Crete). Poster presentation in the Mediterranean Palynology Symposium, Barcelona 4-6 September 2017.
Livarda, A., Veropoulidou, R., Tzevelekidi, V., Tsoraki, C., Picornell, Ll., Riera-Mora, S., Cañellas, N., Marlasca Martin, R., López García, J.M., Kulick, R., Kriti, A., Andonova, M., Trivizas, M. and Orengo, H. Minoan Foodways: a culinary map of Palaikastro Crete. Oral presentation in the 118th Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) Conference, 5-8 January 2017, Toronto, Canada.
Riera-Mora, S., Orengo, H.A., Cañellas-Boltà, N., Livarda, A., Veropoulidou, R., Krahtopouplou, A., Frederic, Ch.; Picornell, LL., Tzevelekidi, V. Life beyond the palace: managing the territory of Minoan Palaikastro, Crete. Oral presentation in the 118th Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) Conference, 5-8 January 2017, Toronto, Canada.
Knappett, C., Momigliano, N., Livarda, A., Cunningham, T., Letesson, Q. and Orengo, H. Η πόλη και το τοπίο στο Παλαίκαστρο: τα αποτελέσματα των νέων ερευνών, 2012-2016. Oral presentation in the 4th Meeting for the Archaeological Work in Crete, 24-27 November 2016, Rethymno, Crete, Greece.
Knappett, C., Momigliano, N., Livarda, A., Cunningham, T., Letesson, Q. and Orengo, H. ‘Town and landscape at Palaikastro: results from new investigations, 2012-16’, Poster presentation in the 12th International Congress of Cretan Studies, 21-25 September 2016, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
Knappett, C., Cunningham, T., Letesson, Q., Livarda, A., Momigliano, N. and Orengo, H.A. ‘2013 excavations at Palaikastro, East Crete’, Oral presentation in the 115th Archaeological Institute of America (AIA) Conference, 2-5 January 2014, Chicago, USA.
Knappett, C., Cunningham, T., Letesson, Q., Livarda, A., Momigliano, N. and Orengo, H. ‘2013 excavations at Palaikastro, East Crete’, Oral presentation in the 3rd Meeting for the Archaeological Work in Crete, 5-8 December 2013, Rethymno, Crete, Greece.