Archaeologists have uncovered that the Minoan civilization, which flourished on Crete around 4,000 years ago, constructed durable mudbricks for their buildings by combining seagrasses with mud. The innovative building techniques of the Minoan Bronze Age civilization were discovered through the presence of tiny marine shells embedded in mudbrick remains. They improved the strength, insulation, and fire resistance of their structures.
The study, led by Rena Veropoulidou and Maud Devolder, provides new insights into how the Minoans harnessed local resources to construct their homes and public buildings, highlighting their practical and sustainable approach to architecture.
Mudbricks and marine shells mixed with seagrasses
Minoan buildings were often made of sundried mudbricks placed on stone foundations. These mudbricks, though essential, have been hard to study because they decompose quickly when exposed to the elements.
Researchers faced the challenge of finding direct evidence of how these bricks were made and used.
The breakthrough came from an unexpected source: tiny marine shells. These shells were found embedded in mudbricks from the ancient settlement of Malia in Bronze Age Aegean Crete.
The shells were likely mixed in with seagrasses used during the brick-making process. Since seagrasses naturally host small mollusks, their presence in mudbricks provided a new way to study these ancient materials.
How seagrasses made their way into Minoan civilization?
Seagrasses, such as Posidonia oceanica and Zostera marina, are common in Mediterranean coastal waters. These plants were often harvested and used as part of the building materials.
When the Minoans mixed seagrasses into their mudbricks, they unintentionally incorporated tiny shells living among the plants.
Seagrasses helped improve the quality of the bricks. The plants’ fibrous texture added strength, made the bricks more resistant to cracking, and helped them withstand fire.
The salt content in seagrasses also reduced moisture absorption, making the bricks more durable during the drying process, according to the research.
Evidence from excavations in Malia, Crete
The researchers focused on mudbrick fragments and soil samples taken from the Dessenne Building in Malia, Crete. This site dates back to around 1900 to 1700 BCE.
During excavation, archaeologists carefully sifted the soil and found over 700 tiny shells. Many of these shells belonged to species commonly found in seagrass meadows.
The shells’ small size and condition indicated they were not used for food. Instead, their presence suggested that the Minoans transported seagrasses, shells and all, to their building sites. These findings provided indirect but clear evidence of seagrass use in construction.
Seagrasses in roofing and insulation
Minoan sites across Crete, such as Palaikastro, Gournia, and Knossos, also show signs of seagrass use in construction. These building techniques of the Minoan civilization were not limited to elite or palatial buildings. Even simple homes used mudbricks mixed with seagrasses, according to the study.
Ethnographic studies of modern Mediterranean buildings support the idea that seagrasses were used beyond mudbricks. In some cases, they served as a base layer for roofs, laid over wooden beams before covering with soil.
This method provided effective insulation and weatherproofing. Similar techniques may have been used in Minoan buildings.
At the Bronze Age site of Akrotiri on the island of Thera (modern-day Santorini), researchers found seagrasses in preserved roof fragments. These discoveries, along with the findings from Malia, suggest that the use of marine plants was a widespread and practical building technique.