Ancient Mediterranean archaeology

Ancient Mediterranean archaeology studies past societies around the Mediterranean through objects, buildings, landscapes, and other material remains. It connects archaeological evidence across regions shaped by sea travel, exchange, and empire.

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Archaeological stratigraphy: The study of layered deposits and their sequence to establish the relative chronology of archaeological remains. Stratigraphic relationships establish the order in which Mediterranean sites were occupied and altered.
Mediterranean Sea: The inland sea connecting southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia through narrow straits and adjoining seas. Its coastlines and sea routes frame the archaeology's geographic scope.
Ancient trade: The exchange of goods among ancient communities through local, regional, and long-distance networks. Shipwrecks, imported goods, and production sites expose connected economies.
Pompeii: A Roman town near Naples buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE. Its preserved buildings and objects offer unusually detailed evidence of Roman urban life.
Radiocarbon dating: A method for estimating the age of once-living material by measuring its remaining carbon-14. It supplies absolute dates for organic finds that complement archaeological sequences.
Archaeological context: The spatial, stratigraphic, and depositional relationships that give archaeological objects their evidential meaning. A find's location and associations often matter more than the object alone.
Ancient Mediterranean cuisine: The foods, ingredients, and cooking practices of societies bordering the ancient Mediterranean. Food remains and vessels help reconstruct everyday diet and culinary practice.
Knossos: A major Bronze Age palace site on Crete associated with Minoan civilization. Its architecture and artifacts anchor archaeological study of Bronze Age Crete.
Archaeological survey: The systematic examination of landscapes to locate and record archaeological remains. Regional surveys reveal settlement patterns beyond excavated sites.
Typology (archaeology): The classification of artifacts by recurring forms and features, often used to study chronology and cultural practices. Comparing pottery and other artifact types helps date and connect sites.