8/4/2019 Post-Medieval Landscape in Central-western Crete

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POST-MEDIEVAL LANDSCAPE IN CENTRAL-WESTERN CRETE. SETTLEMENTPATTERN, HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND OLD ROAD NETWORK IN A SCOPE OFNOWADAYS HERITAGE CONSERVATION.

Evangelos Charitopoulos

Department of Archaeology, University of Leiden, The Netherlands, echaritopoulos@gmail.com.

Introduction

At Rethymnon inland, in central - western Crete, [Map 1 & 2]

many historic buildings have survived, both religious and

secular. At the same time, several aspects of the medieval

and post-medieval landscape are still visible in this region.

Inside the surviving landscape, there are numerous villages

dated to the Venetian period, which keep the settlement

pattern and building characteristics of the previous centuries.

Between settlements, productive areas and the coastlines,

traces of the old road network still remain, consisting mainly

of pathways, earthworks and bridges (Charitopoulos 2009;

Charitopoulos and Sarris 2011).

Aims

The research for my Ph.D. aims to the record and analysis of these

interdisciplinary methodology. I will study two poorly surveyed chronolo

Venetian and Ottoman ones, respectively. To the contrary of the basic academ

island, that is the Minoan past, this thesis will look at unexplored issue

concerning the dynamic relation between natural and manmade environme

pattern, architectural forms, economic exploitation, and ways of life. Further

of conservation approaches from the past centennial will be conducted, pro

strategies for the protection and sustainable use of the natural and manmad

Rethymnon region.

.

Map 3

1

Map 2

ata analysis led to the proposal of two main road axes directing from the northern to the inland of Rethymnon and further to the southern seaside. These roads

benefit from two gorges respectively (Fig. 3). These main diachronic road

ctions were accompanied by three connecting ones in both north-south axis and

west one. The secondary roads led via Vrysinas mountain to the nearby

tainous areas and plateaus.

The private initiatives

always methodological

underlines the need for

an non profit organiz

guidance and collabora

authorities and local soc

.

Conclusion

The research approach focuses on the interaction between the natural and

man-made environment, aiming to the determination of architectural

history and social aspects of the case study area. Moreover, heritage

conservation policies are discussed as well as some proposals for

sustainable regional development. Research outcomes could also

contribute to the establishment of specified tourism forms such as religious

and trekking ones. This approach will form an ideal way of understanding

the historic archeology of the local landscape and at the same time

providing a management tool for Cretan cultural heritage.

Bibliography

Charitopoulos, E. (2009) Inland southern of Rethymnon during the Late Medieval Period. StData with Geographical Information System (GIS) Application [Department of History and Archaeology, University of Crete. Charitopoulos, E. and A. Sarris (2011). Documenting Venetian and Ottoman landscape network and productive areas in Rethymnon inland. 14th International Congress CulturVienna. Chryssochoou, St. (2001), The mechanic Francesco Basilicata in Gennadeios Library. Cartograpq volume of Gennadeios Library [ Francesco Basilicata . GT 229 q ], Athens: Association of friends of Gennad ]. EKBY (2010). Protected areas [ ]. Retriehttp://www.ekby.gr/ekby/el/PP_main_el.html#mpk. European Environment Agency (2009). Nationally designated areas (National - CDDAhttp://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/data/nationally-designated-areas-national-cd

Map 4 (Charitopoulos and Sarris 2011)

Fig. 4

thodology

archaeological data analysis, a methodological

roach will be suggested in order to document

h site in the region. Rethymnon

Natural Environment

Prassano gorge in the eastern part of the case study area is

nominated as NATURA 2000 site for wild birdlife (Map 3).

Almost the whole mountain Vrysinas as well as Prassano

Gorge are nominated as a protected area (site code

341459) under the Nationally Designated Areas (National -

CDDA) scheme. In the western foothills of Vrysinas, in a

spot named Paradeisos (site code 124185) has been

established an official shelter and kennel of wild species

(European Environment Agency 2009; EKBY 2010).

oad network was reconstructed in a GIS application as a part of a revious MA

tation research utilizing data from remaining parts of the old constructions (Fig. 1

he evaluation of the archaeological context and the least cost path analysis tools.

network reconstruction

Monuments conservation and reuse

In the area has been undertaken numerous projects f

historic buildings either from the Archaeological Se

(Fig. 4). These initiatives can be combined with prop

an integrated living network.

haeological data will be recorded in a relational database and

ualized in a geographical information system (GIS). Using the

abase as well as the geographic information system, statistical

spatial data analysis will take place.

Outcomes

In Crete there is still the opportunity to research for architectural forms and

their correlation with the physical environment in order to identify the

settlement pattern, the productive zones and the road network in the context of

the evolution and transition from the Venetian to the Ottoman, and on to the

Modern Greek state. The wealth of the variety of free-standing architectural

remains, as well as the survival of the majority of settlements dated from the

Venetian period provide the opportunity to examine the long-term evolution of

the rural landscape and society in central-west Crete. The assessment of values

that the recorded data expressed and the review of domestic and international

legislation and policies about heritage and conservation will help finding out

ways for the protection and sustainable development of the case study region.

Fig. 3

purpose of analysis will be the definition of settlement pattern, the correlation

he physical environment with architectural remains and the reasons for

lement selection. Also, the typology of religious and secular architectural

ains, the productive zones of the settlements and the regional road network

complete the study.

rchaeological data included settlements, productive areas like watermills and

anding churches in context with the old road network. The cross-correlation with

man written sources and two Venetian maps, of Fr. Basilicata and A. Oddi

ssochoou 2001), formed a useful tool (Map 4) for the analysis providing accurate

mation about the existing road network for each period (Charitopoulos 2009;

topoulos and Sarris 2011).

Fig. 1 (Charitopoulos and Sarris 2011)

Vrysinas mt

Fig. 3

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