Description of field project:

The project is a collaborative initiative (synergasia) between the Ephorate of Antiquities of West Attica and the Italian Archaeological School at Athens, in collaboration with the Department of Humanities at the University of Roma Tre.

The Western Megaris Archaeological Landscape Project (WeMALP) aims to reconstruct the long-term landscape history of Western Megaris, Greece. The research examines the rural land use over time, investigates the relationships between Megara and the countryside, and sheds light on the historical significance of the natural bridge connecting Attica and Corinthia.

To achieve these goals, intensive systematic artifact surface surveys are carried out, along with architectural surveys, low-altitude drone photogrammetry, and remote sensing, all integrated into a digitally oriented workflow. Field data are critically interlaced with existing legacy data within a dynamic GIS environment. Along with settlement history, by studying the responses that the terrain offers to the research on landscape evolution over time, mobility systems are also analysed, that served as the physical link corresponding to cultural relationships between the ancient city, their harbours, and surrounding communities, traversing cultivated fields and mountainous landscapes.

Students will be enrolled in the field and lab activities, including an archaeometry lab on archaeological materials (mainly pottery), as well as in the ethnoarchaeological activities focussed on the material traces of recent human activities, including rural vernacular architecture associated with long-lasting wine production in the area. By using these small rural structures as vehicle of communication, deeply rooted in local culture and intertwined with familial and historical significance, students will also be engaged in community activities aimed at exploring the awareness of local communities of their rural heritage, understanding their perceptions of the landscape, as well as their cultural connections with neighbouring communities.