The authors report on the multidisciplinary Risk and Resilience Durham University project (2017-21) which is informed by Resilience Theory and builds on the earlier project of 2014-16 ‘Archaeology of Medieval Earthquakes in Europe (1000-1550 AD)’. The approach identifies an ‘adaptive cycle’ in human reactions and responses to seismic events, comprising earthquake (trigger) – chain of responses (‘release phase’) – ‘exploitation period’ – ‘reorganisation phase’ – seismic ‘conservation period’ which ends when a new seismic event activates the cycle once more. The project’s systematic approach and comprehensive analysis of spatial and chronological patterning of responses to earthquakes led to the identification of under-researched regions and periods.
C. C.