17 janvier – 18 février 2022
Un nouveau programme de recherche placé sous l’égide de l’École française d’Athènes et soutenu par l’Institution et par une bourse de publication de la Fondation White-Levy a pour objectif depuis 2021 d’établir la séquence stratigraphique, architecturale et céramique du Palais de Malia au Néopalatial (ca. 1700-1430 av. J.-C.).
Une campagne d’étude menée du 17 janvier au 18 février 2022 a permis de traiter les données issues des sondages menés par Olivier Pelon (1964-1992) relatives à cette séquence. Une centaine de contextes associés aux différentes phases de l’état néopalatial de l’édifice ont ainsi été identifiés (104) et encodés dans une base de données. Celle-ci permet de relier le matériel céramique provenant de chaque contexte aux données stratigraphiques collectées par le fouilleur, et d’identifier la présence de dépôts susceptibles de fournir un terminus a quo à des sols, murs et installations ou de dater des destructions intermédiaires au sein de l’édifice à la fin de l’âge du Bronze Moyen et aux débuts de l’âge du Bronze Récent. Parallèlement au traitement des données consignées dans les carnets de fouilles d’Olivier Pelon, cette campagne a permis de sélectionner, cataloguer, dater et dessiner le matériel céramique néopalatial provenant des anciennes fouilles et sondages au Palais et conservé dans les apothèques de l’EFA et de l’Éphorie des antiquités de Crète centrale à Malia (1276 spécimens catalogués). Toutes les données concernant ce matériel ont été encodées dans une base de données spécialement conçue pour le projet. Cette céramique témoigne de l’importance de l’occupation au Palais dès le début de la période néopalatiale, à la fin de l’âge du Bronze Moyen, et de la qualité des vases en terre-cuite qui y étaient utilisés. Elle permet également de clarifier des problématiques liées à la typologie et à la périodisation de la poterie à Malia. Une forte influence de la culture matérielle knossienne est également perceptible, en nette démarcation avec les traditions de poterie locales sur le site au Protopalatial (ca. 1900-1700 av. J.-C.). Elle fait écho aux traits architecturaux du Palais néopalatial, qui témoignent notamment de la participation à la construction de l’édifice d’artisans venus de Crète centrale Nord. Il nous reste cependant, et c’est l’un des objectifs du projet, à saisir les traits exacts et la nature de l’influence knossienne à Malia, et à l’insérer plus précisément dans la chronologie et l’histoire minoenne.
Ce projet est mené en collaboration par Maud Devolder (Chercheuse associée de l’EFA, directrice du projet du Palais de Malia), en charge de la stratigraphie et de l’architecture, et par Iro Mathioudaki (Chercheuse associée AEGIS-UCLouvain), en charge de l’étude et de la classification du matériel céramique. Giannis Nakas (Chercheur associé de l’Université de Nottingham) a réalisé les dessins.
(in English)
A new research programme under the aegis of the French School of Athens and supported by the Institution and by a publication grant from the White-Levy Foundation aims since 2021 to establish the stratigraphic, architectural and ceramic sequence of the Neopalatial Palace of Malia (ca. 1700-1430 BC).
A study campaign carried out from the 17th of January to the 18th of February 2022 made it possible to process the data from the soundings carried out by Olivier Pelon (1964-1992) and related to this Neopalatial sequence. About a hundred contexts associated with the different phases of the Neopalatial state of the building were identified (104) and encoded in a database. This database allows the ceramic material from each context to be linked to the stratigraphic data collected by the excavator, and to identify the presence of deposits likely to provide a terminus a quo for floors, walls and features or to date intermediate destructions within the building in the late Middle Bronze Age and the early Late Bronze Age. In parallel with the processing of the data recorded in Olivier Pelon's excavation notebooks, this campaign allowed the selection, cataloguing, dating and drawing of Neopalatial ceramic material from the early 20th-century excavations and from the Pelon’s soundings in the Palace, preserved in the storage rooms of the EFA and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Central Crete in Malia (1276 catalogued specimens). All information was entered into a pottery database created for the project. These ceramics testify to the importance of the occupation at the Palace from the beginning of the Neopalatial period, at the end of the Middle Bronze Age, and to the quality of the terracotta vessels used there. It also makes it possible to clarify issues of typology and periodisation at Malia. A strong influence of Knossian material culture is also discernible, in clear contrast to the local pottery traditions at the Protopalatial site (ca. 1900-1700 BC). This influence is echoed in the architectural features of the Neopalatial Palace, which testify in particular to the participation of craftsmen from north-central Crete in the construction of the building. However, one of the objectives of the project is to understand the exact features and nature of this ascendancy of Knossian material manifestations in Malia, and to insert it more precisely into the Minoan chronology and history.
This project is carried out by Maud Devolder (EFA Associate Researcher, Malia Palace Project Director), in charge of the stratigraphy and architecture, and by Iro Mathioudaki (AEGIS-UCLouvain Associate Researcher), in charge of the pottery study and classification. Giannis Nakas (Associate Researcher at the University of Nottingham) made the drawings.
A study campaign carried out from the 17th of January to the 18th of February 2022 made it possible to process the data from the soundings carried out by Olivier Pelon (1964-1992) and related to this Neopalatial sequence. About a hundred contexts associated with the different phases of the Neopalatial state of the building were identified (104) and encoded in a database. This database allows the ceramic material from each context to be linked to the stratigraphic data collected by the excavator, and to identify the presence of deposits likely to provide a terminus a quo for floors, walls and features or to date intermediate destructions within the building in the late Middle Bronze Age and the early Late Bronze Age. In parallel with the processing of the data recorded in Olivier Pelon's excavation notebooks, this campaign allowed the selection, cataloguing, dating and drawing of Neopalatial ceramic material from the early 20th-century excavations and from the Pelon’s soundings in the Palace, preserved in the storage rooms of the EFA and the Ephorate of Antiquities of Central Crete in Malia (1276 catalogued specimens). All information was entered into a pottery database created for the project. These ceramics testify to the importance of the occupation at the Palace from the beginning of the Neopalatial period, at the end of the Middle Bronze Age, and to the quality of the terracotta vessels used there. It also makes it possible to clarify issues of typology and periodisation at Malia. A strong influence of Knossian material culture is also discernible, in clear contrast to the local pottery traditions at the Protopalatial site (ca. 1900-1700 BC). This influence is echoed in the architectural features of the Neopalatial Palace, which testify in particular to the participation of craftsmen from north-central Crete in the construction of the building. However, one of the objectives of the project is to understand the exact features and nature of this ascendancy of Knossian material manifestations in Malia, and to insert it more precisely into the Minoan chronology and history.
This project is carried out by Maud Devolder (EFA Associate Researcher, Malia Palace Project Director), in charge of the stratigraphy and architecture, and by Iro Mathioudaki (AEGIS-UCLouvain Associate Researcher), in charge of the pottery study and classification. Giannis Nakas (Associate Researcher at the University of Nottingham) made the drawings.