Project description
Greek Mycenaean monumental architecture has been well-studied. However, the extent to which large-scale building programmes contributed to the socioeconomic and political changes and crises that took place in Late Bronze Age Greece (c.1600-1100 BC) has not been studied. The project aims to investigate human and natural resources which interacted in the core regions of Mycenaean Greece. There, elites mobilized these resources to implement their monumental building programmes. It seeks to reveal how and why these constructions were accomplished, and what impact such large-scale prolonged building programmes had on the population over time. Methodologically, practical building processes and inherent social practices are captured via an interdisciplinary methodology consisting of econometric, statistic, anthropological and theoretical approaches. This combination of approaches is novel in its scope because it brings together in a unique way the wide range of scattered data available on many aspects of human ecology and past economies of the region. As such, multi-layered data sets will illuminate the many interconnected networks of human and resource interactions that impacted on people’s day-to-day activities, first, but also on the economic, cultural and socio-political situations over time in these regions. The local Mycenaean phenomena governing this period will be embedded into the much wider ongoing debate of the societal ‘collapse’ indicative of the final phases of the Late Bronze Age in the East Mediterranean more generally in order to understand which role it played on this much larger scale. As such, this project contributes in demonstrating the long-term insights archaeological research achieves in studying and understanding very human issues, and it illustrates the contemporary relevance of archaeological studies today and for the future.
As a member of a larger team each PhD position is embedded within the SETinSTONE programme, funded by an ERC Consolidator Grant, and supervised by Dr. Ann Brysbaert.
Key responsibilities
• To write a PhD;
• To present papers at national and international conferences and workshops as required by the project (individual and/or co-authored);
• To submit research results for publication in peer-reviewed journals (individual and/or co-authored);
• To submit research results for their incorporation in a synthetic publication and the proceedings of the International Conference, both edited by the PI;
• To take part in PhD training offered by the Faculty and through field schools where appropriate and needed;
• To undertake/participate in limited teaching in year 2 and 3 of the appointment;
• To participate in the Faculty’s workshops, reading and discussion groups;
• To participate in yearly meetings-workshops organised by the ERC project and in regular supervision sessions with the supervisor(s);
• To contribute and participate in the International Conference held at Leiden in year 5 of the project (year after the PhD is finished).
Selection criteria
The project seeks to employ a highly motivated and proactive candidate who will need to work both independently and as part of a larger team. S/he is willing to travel between the Netherlands and Greece, and is willing to stay for periods in Greece to carry out research in libraries and archives, and when required, fieldwork, for which training and equipment will be provided. The candidate will be part of a larger team consisting of 3 PhD candidates, two postdocs and the PI, will work together with the group on a day-to-day basis at the Faculty of Archaeology, and will regularly present her/his findings in this group and beyond.
Crucial
• Degrees (BA/BSc. and MA/MSc.) in archaeology with a specific focus on East Mediterranean and/or Aegean Bronze/Iron Age Archaeology;
• An explicit interest in prehistoric (monumental) architecture, material culture and landscape studies;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• The MA/MSc. Thesis shows well-developed research skills (both analytical and descriptive). The ability to work with statistical packages and databases is a great advantage and the thesis should have received a grade of minimally 8.0 on a ten-point scale, or its international equivalent;
• The PhD research needs to result in a doctor’s degree and should to be undertaken, finished and ready for publication within 4 years;
• An excellent command of English (reading, understanding, speaking, writing) and a strong command of German (reading, understanding), and modern Greek (reading, speaking, understanding) or willing to commit taking intensive classes in modern Greek in year one of the PhD and as long as it takes to converse and read it well;
• Valid European driving license.
Desirable
• Relevant working experience in the field, well-developed GIS skills;
• Other modern language skills (French) are useful;
• Relevant publications.
Specific project tasks:
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The architectural energetics of monumental Cyclopean architecture in Mycenaean Greece
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The architectural energetics of earthwork architecture in Mycenaean Greece
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A holistic human and other resources assessment for late MBA-LBA Mycenaean Greece
The gross monthly salary is set on € 2.125,- in the first year, increasing to € 2.717,- gross per month in the final year.
Application deadline: August 31, 2015
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