Discovering the Greek Countryside at Metaponto

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Though often viewed as primarily urban dwellers, the ancient Greeks also inhabited a significant agricultural territory that supported both the urban population and trade. This exploration delves into one of the earliest and most comprehensive archaeological studies of these "other Greeks." Originating from a Thomas Spencer Jerome Lecture at the University of Michigan in 2000, the work synthesizes findings from a 25-year investigation of the chora of Metapontum, conducted by the University of Texas in collaboration with Italian authorities. The fieldwork aimed to answer essential questions about the citizens of the polis, including the ethnic makeup of colonists, land use, economic evolution, population dynamics, worship practices, funeral customs, and the relationship between rural and urban life. Data collection involved a diverse array of specialists, including those in classical archaeology, geomorphology, soil science, paleobotany, physical anthropology, and more. This multidisciplinary approach merges survey results with excavation findings, presenting a nuanced view of Greek life over time, grounded in human development within a specific region. Joseph Coleman Carter, Director of the Institute of Classical Archaeology and Centennial Professor of Archaeology at the University of Texas at Austin, contributes his expertise to this significant work.