ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the archaeological evidence for the reactions of medieval people to seismic disasters tackling, in particular, the role of interpretation, belief and ideology in post-event counter-measures which can be glimpsed through the archaeological record. Three specific aspects are considered in detail: the rescue of earthquake victims in the ‘golden hours’ after a seismic disaster, the interpretation of the seismic event in the adoption of mitigative responses, and the use of symbols in pre-disaster protective technology. In particular, because of their survival rate, medieval churches affected by earthquakes commonly preserve evidence of seismic damage associated with later restorations and reconstructions. In Italy, standing structures affected by earthquakes have been studied stratigraphically in order to understand phases of damage and repair caused by earthquakes. Strategies adopted in response to earthquakes were particularly tailored to pre-disaster protection and post-disaster recovery.
