Research
The overall aim of the project is to understand the history of human habitation (from prehistory to early historical periods) in the NE of Mallorca. Our intent is to trace how the nature and organization of activities changed through time within the Son Servera landscape. We are particularly interested in understanding how people established their presence through the social and material conditions of their day and how these conditions may have later guided and informed future human practices.
Within this theoretical orientation, we identify the following specific aims:
Within this theoretical orientation, we identify the following specific aims:
- To obtain a paleoenvironmental record for the region (NE Mallorca)
- To establish a detailed chronological sequence based on chronometric and typological information
- To conduct intensive fieldwalking survey of the study area (Son Servera municipality)
- To explore new ways of recording and integrating surface scatter data with excavation data
- To recover any traces of pre- and proto-historic built environment in the study area
History of Field Research
Preliminary excavations at the site of Mestre Ramon began in 2012 and continued in 2013, led by Dr. Antoni Puig and Dr. Jordi Hernandez, by teams of local and international volunteers. Excavation of this site continued in 2014 with archaeologists from the University of Washington and a field school of 10 students joining the crew.
2014 also saw the beginning of the survey portion of the LEIA Project. The survey targets known archaeological sites (almost exclusively sites with megalithic architecture) as well as areas away from these sites which have never been investigated. Ceramics from the survey are being studied to better understand the distribution and range of different activities on the landscape.
In 2015, the team continued the twin strategies of targeted excavations and regional survey. The excavation team explored the upper, oldest parts of the stepped tumulus at Mestre Ramon. The survey team covered a large area and examined over 6,000 points on the landscape for evidence of past human activity. In the lab, the team put in a huge effort to wash, label, classify, and measure over 9,600 artifacts. That amounts to more than 167 kg of material processed.
The project continued apace in 2016. The survey teams were able to record 8,773 survey points, almost the same number as the 2014 and 2015 field seasons combined. During excavations at Mestre Ramon, the team further explored a corridor leading to the top of the stepped platform that was revealed in 2015.
2014 also saw the beginning of the survey portion of the LEIA Project. The survey targets known archaeological sites (almost exclusively sites with megalithic architecture) as well as areas away from these sites which have never been investigated. Ceramics from the survey are being studied to better understand the distribution and range of different activities on the landscape.
In 2015, the team continued the twin strategies of targeted excavations and regional survey. The excavation team explored the upper, oldest parts of the stepped tumulus at Mestre Ramon. The survey team covered a large area and examined over 6,000 points on the landscape for evidence of past human activity. In the lab, the team put in a huge effort to wash, label, classify, and measure over 9,600 artifacts. That amounts to more than 167 kg of material processed.
The project continued apace in 2016. The survey teams were able to record 8,773 survey points, almost the same number as the 2014 and 2015 field seasons combined. During excavations at Mestre Ramon, the team further explored a corridor leading to the top of the stepped platform that was revealed in 2015.
Field Blog
More information on the ongoing excavation at Mestre Ramon can be found at jacimentdemestreramon.blogspot.com.es/
|
|
|
