Shipwrecks and Navigation as Components of the MCL: the case of the Western Pagasetic Gulf during the Late Roman and Byzantine periods
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Date
2023-12-05Author
Agapitou, ElpidaPublisher
Πανεπιστήμιο Κύπρου, Φιλοσοφική Σχολή / University of Cyprus, Faculty of LettersPlace of publication
CyprusGoogle Scholar check
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The present thesis focuses on the shipwrecks and navigation as componentes of the Maritime Cultural Landscape in the case of the Pagasetic gulf, in central Greece, during the Late Roman and Byzantine periods. The aim of the thesis was to examine the Pagasetic gulf through the lens of the MCL and see how the concentration of shipwrecks located on its south-western coastline fit as material remains and furthermore to try and establish whether the model of a "maritime small world" could be fitted to the Pagasetic of these periods. A variety of methods were used in this effort, most prominent of which was the analysis of the meteorological data of the gulf, in an effort to better understand the wind conditions that govern the area. Also, GIS software was used in order to help with the analysis and visualization of the landscape and the models that were applied and finally, a small-scale ethnographic research took place in the area, focused on sailors and fishermen mostly, to help garner the point of view of the human factor.
The results of this combination of methods, point to an area where the maritime movement is continuous throughout the year, thus allowing ships to both enter the gulf, with the help of the winds, and establishing trade with ports outside the gulf, but also allowing for shorter journeys to be performed between ports and anchorages, thus furthering the local trade and cabotage. The model of the "maritime small world" can also be applied to the area, since the connectivity between major ports and anchorages of the period is further established.