Spiritual Stronghold and Settlement Surveys: Uncovering Medieval Byzantium

We think of monks as living peaceful lives, separated from the chaos of daily life, but throughout modern Turkey stand the remains of medieval fortress monasteries, used as both houses of worship and refuge in time of war. Listen in to a conversation with Dr. Tyler Wolford, 2024-2025 Postdoctoral Byzantine Fellow at the Medieval Institute, to learn about his work on these spiritual strongholds. Hear about the value of global archaeology, analysis of medieval settlement patterns, the definition of “Byzantine,” and how digging in Ohio led him to excavations in Turkey’s Maeander Valley.

Meeting in the Middle Ages is hosted by Will Beattie and Ben Pykare, both Ph.D. candidates at Notre Dame’s Medieval Institute. The podcast is sponsored by the Medieval Institute of the University of Notre Dame and supported by the Medieval Academy of America’s Graduate Student Committee through their Community Building Award.