Crossing the lines of tradition: the innovative building techniques of Early Iron Age and Orientalizing period Etruria

In the 7th century BCE, capanne of perishable materials appear to have been replaced by stone and terracotta-tiled buildings that many Etruscologists claim marks a changing society. Over the last century, subtler discussions of Etruscan participation in pan-Mediterranean elite culture have replaced explanations for architectural change that tout cultural colonization by ‘the Orient’. Despite focus on Etruscan agency, Etruscan adoption/adaptation of foreign building styles using ashlar masonry and, especially, terracotta tiling, are given as part of a trajectory of structural improvement. Yet, although certainly influenced by them, Etruscan architecture did not necessarily change because foreign styles were inherently superior. In many ways, traditional buildings were sufficient, if not better suited to their environment than foreign styles. Tradition tends to form a boundary against new styles–if a technique ain’t broke, then don’t fix it. So why did Etruscan builders decide to cross lines laid down by forebears and adopt new building styles? This paper examines the role of behaviour in creating the built environment, as well as what spurs builders to forsake tradition and innovate.