Overview

The Argive Plain in the northeastern Peloponnese, Greece, was central to the Mycenaean culture during the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1600–1200 BCE). While known for its settlements and treasures, little is understood about its agricultural sustainability. This study examines Mycenaean farming in the Argive Plain and its societal implications, investigating if resource depletion contributed to the Bronze Age collapse. Using agricultural potential modelling, it reconstructs farming practices within the region’s political hierarchy, assessing sustainability through food consumption, energy needs, and land usage. Results indicate sustainable agriculture despite challenges like drought. However, ruling elites’ additional production needs may have strained resources. The thesis also addresses estimations of Neolithic and Bronze Age Aegean subsistence space, highlighting the overlooked impact of livestock on agricultural potential. By incorporating dairy and meat production, future models can better represent food production and environmental sustainability. This research enhances understanding of Mycenaean agricultural practices before the Bronze Age collapse, illustrating how elite formation likely influenced local communities and broader society.

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9781803278551

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Riia Timonen is a PhD Candidate in Bronze Age Aegean archaeology at Leiden University, the Netherlands. She specializes in prehistoric and Bronze Age subsistence strategies, and early agriculture in the Eastern Mediterranean. Ms. Timonen has more than 10 years of field experience in Greece. Her previous publications include Timonen, R. & A. Brysbaert 2021. ‘Saving up for a rainy day? Climate events, human-induced processes, and their potential effects on people’s coping strategies in the Mycenaean Argive Plain, Greece’. In: Erdkamp, P., J. G. Manning and K. Verboven (eds.), Climate and Society in Ancient Worlds. Diversity in Collapse and Resilience. Springer.

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