Ph.D. Research Project

An archaeological landscape in a colonial situation: pottery assemblages from surface survey in the territory of the Greek colony Taras in the context of urbanization (southern Italy, VIII-II century BC)
The Greek colonization and the subsequent urbanization of southern Italy (VIII-II century BC) constitute the historical framework of this Ph.D. research project. In particular it approaches the problems of the urbanization and the urban - rural relations in the landscape of the Murge in Puglia in the colonial context of Taras (present Taranto), the Greek colony located there. Close attention is drawn to the interaction and integration between the Greek and the indigenous communities of the Murge and the transition of the cultural and urban influences.
The main focus of theresearchis on the spatial,chronological andfunctional analysis and interpretation of archaeological assemblages (mainly pottery), collected during intensieve field surface surveys in the surrounding area of Taranto. The analysis of the pottery assemblages is complemented by the systematic inventory of archaeological data in the broader landscape of the Murge . The objective of this study is to acquire insight into the formation and the organization of the territory and hinterland of the Greek colony. Thereby the social, economic, political and symbolic aspects of the territorial arrangement are considered. Both, the internal organization of the rural territory and its relationship to Taras and the broader landscape of the Murge are taken into examination.
The results of this Ph.D. project are intended to contribute to the current discussion concerning the background and the character of the Greek colonization and the urbanization of southern Italy and in particular regarding the expansion and organization of the Greek colony Taras .

Fieldwork experience

I have participated in the following archaeological projects:

• 1996-2002: Muro Tenente Project: excavation of the Free University of Amsterdam at the site of Muro Tenente (Mesagne) in the province of Brindisi (Puglia, southern Italy)
• 1998: Lago Fogliano Survey: survey of the University of Groningen in the Pontine Region (Agro Pontino, south of Rome) as part of the RPC Project ( Regional Pathways to Complexity )
  
• 1999-2000: Murge Upland Survey: survey of the Free University of Amsterdam and the University of Groningen in thesurroundings ofthe present town ofOstuni in the province ofBrindisi (Puglia, southern Italy) as part of the RPC Project ( Regional Pathways to Complexity )
• 2001: San Pancrazio Project: excavation of the Free University of Amsterdam at the site of Li Castelli di San Pancrazio (San Pancrazio Salentino) in the province of Brindisi (Puglia, southern Italy)
  
• 2003-2007: Tarantino and Murge Survey: survey of the Free University of Amsterdam in the province of Taranto (Puglia, southern Italy) as part of the Murge Project of the Free University of Amsterdam, the University La Sapienza of Rome and the University degli Studi of Lecce
  

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