Beyond the archaeological imagination : Observations about Kodjadermen-Gumelnitsa-Karanovo VI architecture based on a study of experimental archaeology

Part of : Mediterranean archaeology & archaeometry : international journal ; Vol.12, No.2, 2012, pages 55-79

Issue:
Pages:
55-79
Section Title:
Articles
Author:
Abstract:
The experimental archaeology project presented here aimed at the reconstruction of a dwelling, at the 1:1 scale, belonging to the Kodjadermen-Gumelnitsa-Karanovo VI culture (5th millennium BC), based on archaeological data accumulated from research carried out mainly at the site of Sultana-Malu Roşu (South-East Romania). This reconstruction was followed by the estimation of the volume of materials used for raising the construction in conjunction with the human factor and the time needed for building it. Further, a reconstruction and verification of different techniques for the construction of surface area houses was made. The sources for this project were based on archaeological remains discovered in the field, such as, fragments of walls with impressions of building materials, charred fragments of posts, the size and arrangement of the post holes, and on the indirect information provided by miniature house models of Kodjadermen-Gumelnitsa-Karanovo VI dwellings, which are mostly reflected by ethnographic data. These data were used to verify some of our hypotheses.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
Experimental archaeology, architecture, Eneolithic, Kodjadermen- Gumelnitsa-Karanovo VI
Notes:
Corresponding author: Cătălin Lazăr (lazarc@arheologie.ro), This work was supported by grants of the Romanian National Authority for Scientific Research, CNCS – UEFISCDI, project number PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0982 and project number PN II-RU code 16/2010. We thank Mr. Ciprian Astaloş (University College London, UK) for the translation of the text into English, and Mr. Aurel Mocanu (Manăstirea Village Hall, Călăraşi County, Romania), without whose help this project would not have been possible. We also thank Dr. Radian Andreescu, Dr. Adrian Bălăşescu, Dr. Constantin Haită and Dr. Valentin Radu (National History Museum of Romania) for advice and recommendations, but also for supporting the project. Last, but not least, our gratitude goes to the team who worked in this project (2010- 2011): Vincent Babeş, Alina Filipoiu, Octavian Cazacu, Alexandru Năstase, Cătălin Ivanov, Irina Ionițoiu, Ion Avram, Adela Iacoban, Ciprian Paleacu, Alexandru Buzatu, Mina Barbu ("Ion Mincu" University of Architecture and Urbanism, Bucharest, Romania), Marcian Enache-Poti (The Swedish Trade Council in Romania), Adelina Darie, Mădălina Bolt, Mădălina Voicu, Luisa Fulga, Mihaela Golea, Laura Şendrea, Gabriela Stroe, Vasile Opriş, Diana Mocanu, Alexandru Damian (Faculty of History, University of Bucharest, Romania), Mădălin Chițonu (Department for Culture and National Heritage Mehedinți, Romania), and to the village community who helped with people, ideas and materials.
References (1):
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