The second phase focused on incorporating timber elements into the 'protopalatial Minoan' small building with mud brick walls, supervised by Maia Pomadère (Paris I, ArScAn) and Marta Lorenzon (University of Helsinki). For more details, visit the EFA field report: https://www.efa.gr/mission-de-terrain-de-lefa-construction-dun-batiment-experimental-a-malia/

Construction Process

Mud bricks were prepared by various teams including students, members of Piliko, and volunteers. Construction began with the laying of the foundation rubble wall, followed by placement of the timber elements.

Building of the rubble base of the building (©Apostolou).

One aim was to test various layouts and sections of the horizontal timber reinforcement system used in mud brick masonry — identified in Quartier Mu at Malia and other Minoan buildings from Vasiliki, Phaistos, and Akrotiri.

Longitudinal and transversal logs put on the East, South and North walls (©Tsakanika and Rougier-Blanc).

Due to practical difficulties (shortage of time, labor, and bricks), the supervisors decided to construct a smaller structure of 4 × 2.30 m (approx. 9 m²).

The drawings of the experimental building, designed during planning (left) and after adjustments (©Apostolou).

Axonometric drawings of the experimental building (© Bacoup).

On site drawings for the position of the timber elements (©Tsakanika).

Timber Reinforcement System

Layout choices were based on archaeological evidence. In one wall, two longitudinal timbers were placed; in two others, three were used. Transverse timbers in the north and south walls were positioned above the longitudinal ones (consistent with historic structures), while in the west wall they were placed underneath, following evidence from Malia — to investigate whether standardized brick dimensions or corner arrangements influenced layout variations.

The first horizontal reinforcement system was installed between the stone base and the mud brick wall; the second at approximately 1 m above the stone base, beneath the roof beams. The north wall was left without upper horizontal reinforcement to compare performance with and without timber under roof beam load.

The horizontal roof elements (beams and dorosis) could not be completed this year. A temporary cover was erected to protect the building until completion the following year.

Door & Window Structure

The door and window structure was designed primarily from archaeological data from the protopalatial Hypostyle Crypt at Malia, supplemented by findings from Akrotiri. Construction occurred during Phase 1 (May 2023, 11 days). Timber-to-timber joints were designed considering archaeological evidence, structural function, absence of metal fasteners in the Aegean Bronze Age, and historical carpentry techniques.

Preparation of the timbers of the door and the window frame. Connection with the lintels (©Tsakanika).

Preparing and adjusting loose tenons for the connection of the upper transversal timbers of the door to the lintels (©Tsakanika and Rougier-Blanc).

Preparation and testing of the window sill in connection with the mud brick walls and their timber horizontal reinforcement system (© Tsakanika and Rougier-Blanc).

Finishing & Documentation

The wooden door was constructed from cypress logs using Minoan-type bronze tools. Planks were sawn and shaped with axes and adzes, assembled using tenon and mortise joints following a method observed on the Ulu Burun Bronze Age shipwreck.

The flat roof was completed with Greek and French students. Various systems were tested (branches and reeds, layers of Posidonia and local spiny burnet, green clay from Sissi, etc.). Lime plaster was applied based on analyses of archaeological plasters. A terracotta rainwater drainage pipe, made by a local potter based on a model from the Mu Quarter of Malia, was installed on the roof.

The entire process was documented through photographs, videos, and scans of all timber elements before assembly and at each construction stage.

More information at: https://www.efa.gr/mission-de-terrain-de-lefa-programme-anr-timma-2024/