| title: | Coastal Settlements on Prehistoric and Medieval Saaremaa |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF5432 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
6. Humanities |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | Institute of History |
| head of project: | Marika Mägi |
| duration: | 01.01.2003 - 31.12.2006 |
| description: | The present Research Project is a continuation of previous archaeological investigations in the coastal areas of the island of Saaremaa (Ösel). The research will concentrate on settlement units bordered on the coast of Saaremaa, analysing their establishment and development throughout the prehistoric and early medieval times, and their connection with maritime activities. The time range to be investigated will cover the period from the Bronze Age up to the first centuries of the Middle Ages, i. e. 1500 BC - 1500 AD. It is estimated to be a pilot project that is, for the first time in Estonia, focussed on the symbiosis of the terrestrial/agricultural and maritime (cultural) landscapes, treating both in their mutual relations and interaction. The main questions concern the connection between agrarian and maritime (cultural) landscapes on prehistoric and medieval Saaremaa, the origin and development of harbour sites, the links with settlement centres. Attention will be also paid to the settlement pattern on coastal areas, and to the social-political system reflected in this. The research will be carried out at two different levels. At the first level the settlement structure in the coastal areas of Saaremaa will be studied as a whole and in a long term perspective. The second-level study will be focussed on certain selected reference areas. The Research Project is expected to complement the existing knowledge about settlement history of Saaremaa and thereby that of both the whole Estonia and the Baltic Sea region. Hopefully, new comprehensive information about relations between maritime and agrarian cultural landscapes will be obtained and perspectives for further research will be outlined. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Marika Mägi | Institute of History | senior researcher | |