Construction Processes in Historical Western Societies (5th c. BC - 10th c. AD): Case Studies on Techniques, Models, and Costs

Construction Process in Historical Western Societies (6th C. BC – 10th C. AD) brings together studies devoted to the management of material resources in the architecture of Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages, exploring how past societies obtained, transformed, and reused materials intended for construction. Through an interdisciplinary approach, the book connects archaeology, geology, economic history, and architectural analysis in order to understand the processes that made possible the building of cities and monuments.

The contributions examine the supply chains of stone, marble, and other resources; the techniques of extraction and carving; the organization of construction workshops; and the long-distance circulation of materials. A cross-cutting theme is the reuse of ancient architectural elements, a phenomenon that reveals both economic strategies and cultural and symbolic changes in the use of urban space.

The volume is characterized by the application of innovative methodologies that combine archaeometric analyses, quarry surveys, the study of tool marks, and digital documentation tools. This diversity of approaches makes it possible to reconstruct more precisely the construction processes and production systems associated with historical architecture.

Beyond providing new data, the book proposes future lines of research focused on the comparative study of supply networks, the experimental reconstruction of ancient techniques, and the use of digital technologies to model construction processes. Taken together, it offers a broad and up-to-date view of past architecture as the result of interrelated technical, economic, and social decisions.