Investigating urban sustainability at ancient Eleon in central Greece (1200-338 BCE)
The Researchers
The Eastern Boeotia Archaeological Project is an interdisciplinary research collaboration between the Ephorate of Antiquities of Boeotia, the Universities of Victoria and 海角社区, and Wellesley College. Currently co-directed by Prof. Brendan Burke (University of Victoria), Prof. Bryan Burns (Wellesley College), Dr. Alexandra Charami (Greek Ministry of Culture), and Dr. Trevor Van DammeLink opens in a new window (University of 海角社区), the international research team includes undergraduate, postgraduate, and postdoctoral researchers from Canada, Greece, Poland, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The Challenge
Recent generations of historians and archaeologists have worked to broaden our understanding of life in ancient societies, moving beyond the written record and monumental structures that have traditionally shaped historical narratives. While there have been significant advances in landscape studies, much of Greek archaeology continues to focus primarily on a small number of major centers, such as Athens, Corinth, and Sparta. Our project in Boeotia repositions an area long considered peripheral as central to major historical developments. In particular, we focus on the long-term development of Eleon, a small settlement 75 km NW of Athens, from the Bronze Age (ca. 1600 BCE) to the end of the Classical period (338 BCE). In doing so our research examines human-environmental interactions, agricultural practices, and building programmes to document what makes a resilient community.
Our Approach
We carry out systematic, georeferenced excavations on a 5 x 5 m. grid using a customised version the archaeological app, iDig, loaded on handheld tablets. All finds, features, and loci (unique stratigraphic deposits) are plotted using an EDM/Total station (Leica TopCon 1400) and mapped by AutoCAD software. We complement this recording system with daily drone photography and photogrammetric models produced using dSLR photographs processed through imaging software (e.g., Blender). All materials (e.g., pottery, bones, artefacts) are collected in the field and then assessed and treated by a team of experienced conservators working on-site and in the finds laboratory.
Our Impact
The Eastern Boeotia Archaeological Project has excavated at Eleon since 2011. The project has provided research and training opportunities for over 150 undergraduate and 30 postgraduate students resulting in 1 postdoctoral research project, 3 Ph.D. dissertations, 8 M.A. theses, and 4 undergraduate research projects. Collectively, our research has appeared in Antiquity, the American Journal of Archaeology, Archaeometry, Geoarchaeology, Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Mouseion, and the Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology. Public facing scholarship published in The Conversation: Canada and The Conversation: UK have been viewed over 40,000 times. Through the Digital Eleon initiative, we have produced hundreds of 3-D models of artifacts, trenches, and landscapes (a sample of which are available here: Digital Eleon - A 3D model collection by Wellesley College (@WellesleyCollege) - Sketchfab). We are currently developing a virtual site tour and interactive collection of digital artifacts that will allow for an immersive user experience from anywhere in the world. We collaborate with local community partners to communicate the results of our research and facilitate access to the archaeological remains. Each summer we hold an open day during the excavations, which features tours by our excavation staff and the opportunity to see and handle a selection of finds from the site up close. Members of the local community of Arma have also volunteered on our excavations and thereby contributed greatly to our understanding of the site. Last summer, as part of the full moon festival, a musical performance was held on the acropolis of ancient Eleon.
