Brick by brick: illuminating the cognitive landscape of the past through sensory archaeology

This contribution explores the use of sensory archaeology and neuroarchitecture in the study of the earthen built environment. First, the paper discusses multi-sensory experiences focusing on earth as a building material. Second, I look at the archaeological remains of building materials to consider the sensory perception of earthen architecture manufacturers in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Bronze Age. In this latter endeavour I draw on Material Engagement Theory (MET), archaeological earthen remains, and ethnoarchaeological data to investigate the sensory aspects of working with earthen building materials. The main goal is to understand interactions between brain, mind, and culture by studying how people contributed to the manufacturing and construction of earthen architecture. While archaeology is quite visual, I argue that material culture, specifically the production of earthen architecture, shaped a multi-layered sensory experience that included all senses, rather than just visual stimulation.