Field Days
In this page:
Orientation days
Day One: Physical orientation
The first field day involves an introduction to Cretan and Sphakian environments, by focusing upon visiting a number of sites and relating existing forms to scales and nature of processes.
It visits a number of the environmental zones described in the Sphakia Project.
The day compares 'lowland' environments with a number of 'upland' contexts.
Transport will be by coach from site to site, along with a walk down the Imbros Gorge. Use the link below to explore some of the sites that will be visited.
The following article provides a useful introduction to the links between form and process in the context of the recent environmental history of gorges in the area.
Maas, G. and Macklin, M.G. (2002) The impact of recent climate change on flooding and sediment supply within a Mediterranean mountain catchment, Southwestern Crete, Greece, (PDF) Earth Surf. Process. Landforms 27, 1087–1105,
Day Two: Human orientation
Tradition and change in a Cretan Mountain Basin: Investigating Anopoli
Our second day in the field comprises an introduction to the cultural and historical landscapes of the Anopoli area. There is a changing relationship between people and their environment and this is reflected in contemporary landscapes and buildings. Evidence of the past survives in settlement patterns, building structures, vegetation, soils, topography and traditional ways of life and the old ways still survive in more isolated areas of Sphakia such as the Anopoli basin. But there is also evidence of change. This orientation day is a practical introduction to processes of change in the cultural landscape. In the morning we will introduce you to the nature of the mountain plain with a guided series of visits to key sites. The rest of the day you will be divided up into your groups. Each group will be allocated n area where you will investigate a series of issues outlined below. Walk around your area, collect information, photograph key evidence and be prepared to write up your experiences and discuss them in the evening.
Research problems
After the two orientation days field work in Sphakia is organised around a series of research problems that are investigated in student groups. You will have signed up to complete four of these problems.
They are located around the Sphakian region and may be accessed from the map on this page by clicking on the hotspots. Use this web site to help plan your field research strategy.
You will choose one research problem to write up in more detail as part of the assessed work on the course.
To find out more about these problems you may also click on the title of the projects below.
- 1. Families
- 2. Alluvial fans
- 3. Ilingas Gorge
- 4. Ilingas flood
- 5. Loutro coast
- 6. Military cemeteries
- 7. Sustainability
- 8. Tourist gaze
- 9. Celebrating the sacred
- 10. Place of food & drink
- 11. Gorge microclimates
- 12. Filming emotional geographies of memory
- 13 Renewable energy and wind-farms in the Cretan countryside
References
Nixon, L. Moody, J., Price, S. and Rackham, O. (1989) 'Archaeological Survey in Sphakia, Crete', EMC/CV, 33 n.s. (8): 201-15. Available online at sphakia.classics.ox.ac.uk/emccv1989.html.
Nixon, L., Price, S. and Moody, J. (1999) 'Settlement Patterns in Mediaeval & Post-Mediaeval Sphakia: Issues from the Environmental, Archaeological, & Historical Evidence'. Proceedings of the Mediaeval & Post-Mediaeval Greece conference, Corfu, May 1998. Available online at sphakia.classics.ox.ac.uk/bvtpaper.html.
Rackham, Oliver and Moody, Jennifer (1996) The making of the Cretan landscape. Manchester: MUP.
Sphakia Project (2000) Sphakia Project Internet Edition Sites Database. Oxford: Sphakia Project.