This volume focuses on the pottery classes of the ‘Entangled Tradition’, recovered at the settlem... more This volume focuses on the pottery classes of the ‘Entangled Tradition’, recovered at the settlement of the ‘Serraglio’ on Kos during the early Late Bronze Age period. The results reveal new information on the chronology, typology, and decoration of Koan Painted Fine (PF) and Painted Medium-Coarse to Coarse (PMC-C) ceramics. Moreover, the analysis of manufacturing processes and consumption patterns contributes to a better comprehension of the socio-cultural and political context in which Koan entangled classes were produced.
The data presented in this volume indicate that PF and PMC-C ceramics represent a unique case of fully entangled classes in the Aegean, which merge features of the Koan ‘Local Tradition’ with characteristics of the Minoan potting tradition into a new technological and stylistic language. Contacts between these different cultures are explained based on the theoretical model provided by ‘human mobility’. The specific Koan cultural synthesis was endorsed and promoted by the local elites of the ‘Serraglio’, who aimed to participate in the ‘new environment’ determined by the economic and cultural expansion of Neopalatial Crete.
In this respect, the manufacture of Koan entangled classes served a dual role. On the one hand, using transport containers made in the PMC-C class, Koan products were exported and exchanged throughout the Aegean. In addition, the finer vessels of the Koan ‘Entangled Tradition’ were utilized for promoting Minoan-type social practices at the ‘Serraglio’. Through these practices, Koan elites reshaped their identity and portrayed an image of higher status within the local social arena.
The circumstances of the discovery, stratigraphy, and construction of the grave of the Griffin Wa... more The circumstances of the discovery, stratigraphy, and construction of the grave of the Griffin Warrior were described briefly in 2016 as an introduction to a detailed presentation of the four gold rings found inside it. Here the "life history" of the grave is considered fully. As a sealed context, the grave of the Griffin Warrior also provides a key dated context for many classes of artifact, the chronologies of which have not hitherto been well defined. Because of its importance in this regard, supporting evidence is presented that the Griffin Warrior was buried in Late Helladic IIA and that the burial deposit in the grave lay undisturbed after Late Helladic IIA.
in E. Karantzali (ed.), Proceedings of the 3rd International Interdisciplinary Colloquium "The Periphery of the Mycenaean World. Recent Discoveries and Research Results," 18-21 May, Lamia 2018, 2021
This paper analyses the socio-political trajectories of Kos in the wider eastern Mediterranean co... more This paper analyses the socio-political trajectories of Kos in the wider eastern Mediterranean context during the second part of the Palatial period and the early stages of the Post-palatial period of Mycenaean civilisation. To do so, elements of continuity and change from Late Helladic (LH) IIIB throughout LH IIIC Early are examined with reference to settlement distribution and architecture, burial landscape and tomb typology, and the quantity and quality of significant finds. The evidence indicates that LH IIIB was a phase of wealth and expansion on Kos, suggesting that during the 13th century BCE, the island may have played a prominent political role in the southeast Aegean. In addition, the analysis of the burial landscape implies a well-organised use of the space, possibly reflecting a solid and clearly defined social structure. The LH IIIB – LH IIIC Early transition on Kos was typified by signs of social uncertainty and upheaval, including an emphasis on the display of weapons at Langada and a fire destruction event at the settlement of the ‘Serraglio’. During LH IIIC Early, the number of sites attested on Kos decreased from LH IIIB, suggesting that the local population may have concentrated at the ‘Serraglio’. There is also evidence for a more fluid social structure, as suggested by the less organised spatial arrangement of the tombs at Langada. At least two elements, however, indicate the continuation of a certain degree of wealth and vivacity in the Koan community: an increase in the quantity and quality of the jewellery and an expansion in the diversity of imported ceramics, adornments, and bronze implements. Among these imports, a special case is represented by the concentration on Kos of Italian/European-type bronze objects, with a peak between late LH IIIB and LH IIIC Middle. The prompt reaction of the Koan community to the crisis following the collapse of Mycenaean Palatial society at the LH IIIB - LH IIIC Early transition may have been one of the key factors that led Kos to play a major role in the flourishing of the so-called East Aegean Koine during the successive LH IIIC Middle phase.
This paper presents the results of the preliminary study of a recently excavated LH IIB pottery a... more This paper presents the results of the preliminary study of a recently excavated LH IIB pottery assemblage from the Ano Englianos ridge at Pylos in western Messenia. The deposit comes from Trench 5Z and its six extensions, situated northeast of Carl Blegen’s Main Building, and was uncovered during the archaeological investigations associated with the construction of the new roof over the Palace of Nestor. The material fills a gap in the local sequence and reveals significant information on pottery consumption trends at Pylos during the crucial transition from the early to the late formative stage of Mycenaean palatial society. Specifically, our analysis suggests that the ceramics from the 5Z deposit may represent the remains from feasting activities, which occurred during a late stage of LH IIB, and highlights the importance of Messenian and Minoan cultural traditions in the gradual formation process of Mycenaean Pylos. If corroborated through future research, these conclusions raise the possibility that LH IIB may have been a key phase for the elaboration and performance of those feasting practices, which constitute a distinctive feature of the Pylian social space during the final Mycenaean Palatial period.
This article examines pottery consumption patterns at the site of Mitrou, East Lokris, in the 13t... more This article examines pottery consumption patterns at the site of Mitrou, East Lokris, in the 13th and the early 12th centuries B.C. and investigates their significance in the broader socio-political context of central Greece during the Palatial period of Mycenaean civilization. In so doing, this contribution integrates ceramic analysis with information provided by the Linear B texts from the Palace of Thebes and with evidence for changes in the socio-political landscapes of East Lokris and neighboring Boeotia. After a brief discussion of the history of research on the Late Helladic IIIB ceramic phase, an overview is presented of the formation processes and spatial distribution of Mitrou’s most significant Late Helladic IIIB pottery deposits, as well as of the typology, function, and production technology of their pottery. Then, ceramic synchronisms across the Greek mainland are analyzed and a refined relative chronology is introduced for the core areas of Mycenaean civilization during the Late Helladic IIIB phase. While confirming the existence of the previously identified Late Helladic IIIB2 Early and Late ceramic sub-phases, this article proposes to also sub-divide Late Helladic IIIB1 into an Early and a Late stage during the first half of the 13th century B.C. Finally, the results of pottery analysis are discussed in the framework of East Lokris and Boeotia’s Late Bronze Age historical trajectories. This part of the study indicates that in the course of the Mycenaean Palatial period Mitrou may have been under the sphere of influence of each of the two Boeotian palatial centers in succession. It is argued that, until Late Helladic IIIB2 Early, Mi-trou’s region most likely was controlled by nearby Orchomenos/Glas. This political scenario may have changed in the last decades of the 13th century B.C., as the destruction of the fortified site of Glas towards the end of Late Helladic IIIB2 Early likely indicates the demise of the palatial authority of Orchomenos/Glas. Following this major event, Mitrou’s Late Helladic IIIB2 Late ceramic deposits show Theban typological and functional connections, suggesting that Thebes may have taken possession of the E part of East Lokris and Mitrou may have become a key Theban harbor station along the North Euboean Gulf.
This article examines pottery consumption patterns at the site of Mitrou, East Lokris, in the 13t... more This article examines pottery consumption patterns at the site of Mitrou, East Lokris, in the 13th and the early 12th centuries B.C. and investigates their significance in the broader socio-political context of central Greece during the Palatial period of Mycenaean civilization. While confirming the existence of the previously identified Late Helladic IIIB2 Early and Late ceramic sub-phases, this study proposes to also sub-divide Late Helladic IIIB1 into an Early and a Late stage during the first half of the 13th century B.C. Our wider results indicate that in the course of the Mycenaean Palatial period Mitrou may have been under the sphere of influence of each of the two Boeotian palatial centers in succession. Until Late Helladic IIIB2 Early, Mitrou’s region most likely was controlled by nearby Orchomenos/Glas. This political scenario may have changed in the last decades of the 13th century B.C., as the destruction of the fortified site of Glas towards the end of Late Helladic IIIB2 Early likely indicates the demise of the palatial authority of Orchomenos/Glas. Following this major event, Mitrou’s Late Helladic IIIB2 Late ceramic deposits show Theban typological and functional connections, suggesting that Thebes may have taken possession of the E part of East Lokris and Mitrou may have become a key Theban harbor station along the North Euboean Gulf.
This article investigates society and culture on Kos during the Palatial and Postpalatial periods... more This article investigates society and culture on Kos during the Palatial and Postpalatial periods of Mycenaean civilization, circa 1390/1370 to 1050 B.C. Our analysis is focused on construction practices, tomb spatial distribution, and body treatment at the cemetery of Langada. Originally described as a chamber tomb cemetery, recent re-study of the excavation report and finds from the site by the “Serraglio, Eleona, and Langada Archaeological Project” (SELAP)1 has called into question this interpretation. SELAP’s research has both refined the chronology for the Langada tombs and provided fundamental basal data for understanding elements of change in the funerary landscape during the Late Bronze Age on Kos. We use these data to compare burial practices, characterize societal structure, and better understand the development of Mycenaean identity on the island.
This article presents and discusses some previously unpublished small finds from the Asklupis are... more This article presents and discusses some previously unpublished small finds from the Asklupis area on Kos. Despite the relatively small sample, these objects reveal new data on cultural identity, gender, and social stratification on the island during the Early and the Late Bronze Age periods.
This paper explores the interplay between material evidence and collective memory on Kos during t... more This paper explores the interplay between material evidence and collective memory on Kos during the Late Bronze Age. The interplay between these elements is symbiotic and mutualistic. It arises from the contribution of collective memory to the production and use of the material world and the role of the material world in eliciting memory and associations, while also binding society to the past and cultural identity. Two specific manifestations of this relationship are defined and examined here: “ideological” and “narrative”. These manifestations reflect differences in the temporal and formal scales at which the material world and collective memory are integrated within society. We suggest that the forms of collective memory used in this paper are broadly applicable as approaches to extract deeper meaning from the archaeological record. The specific examples presented illustrate how this type of perspective may provide greater insight into the connections of prehistoric populations to their own history and past.
Van de Moortel, A. et al., "Honoring the Dead or Hero Cult? The Long Afterlife of a Prepalatial Elite Tomb at Mitrou," in E. Borgna, I. Caloi et al. (eds.), MNHMH/MNEME. Past and Memory in the Aegean Bronze Age (Liège and Leuven: Peeters) 277-292. Aegaeum 43. ISBN 978-90-429-3903-5., 2019
The troubled century? Potting practices and socio-political changes at Mitrou, East Lokris, between the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 12th c. BC, 2018
The aim of this paper is to examine manufacturing practices in the pottery
assemblages of Mitrou,... more The aim of this paper is to examine manufacturing practices in the pottery assemblages of Mitrou, East Lokris, between the end of the 14th and the very beginning of the 12th c. BC and to investigate their potential meaning in the socio-political context of Central Greece. More specifically, significant choices made by the potters at different stages of the production process are discussed to determine whether and how they reflect the irreversible crisis of the Mycenaean Palatial system during the second half of Late Helladic (LH) IIIB. In order to achieve this goal, Mitrou’s LH IIIA2 Late, LH IIIB1, and LH IIIB2 Late ceramic assemblages (early, mature, and final Palatial period) are compared with the evidence from two other significant horizons dating to previous phases of Mycenaean civilisation, specifically LH IIA and LH IIIA2 Early (early and final Prepalatial period).
The Final Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Pottery from the Site of the Asklupis in the Northeast Koan Region, 2018
This article provides a detailed presentation of the Final Neolithic (FN) and Early Bronze Age (E... more This article provides a detailed presentation of the Final Neolithic (FN) and Early Bronze Age (EBA) ceramics from the site of the Asklupis, located in the NE Koan region. The prominent feature of the Koan FN to EBA 2 pottery assemblage is the strong continuity in local traditional potting practices, especially in terms of fabric mixes, formation techniques, surface treatments, and decorative preferences. The defining characteristics of Koan FN to EA 2 ceramics have parallels in other sites from the SE Aegean- SW coastal Anatolian Region. This conclusion is in harmony with the evidence from other important aspects of the Koan material culture, such as burial practices and settlement strategies. The functional analysis of the FN to EBA 2 materials proposed in this article also indicates the occurrence of small, but long term forms of human occupation in the Asklupis area during these phases. The existence of these small communities was certainly encouraged by the morphology of the land and its diverse environmental resources, including numerous watercourses and a rich array of raw materials for the manufacture of pottery and the production of stone tools.
This article is focused on the Koan ceramic assemblage
during the Late Bronze Age (LBA), with par... more This article is focused on the Koan ceramic assemblage during the Late Bronze Age (LBA), with particular attention to those classes that, according to the macroscopic observation of the fabric, appear to have been produced locally. In particular, the main goals of this contribution are: (a) To propose for the first time a comprehensive and coherent classification system of these materials; (b) To provide a chronological and typological assessment of each pottery class; and (c) to explore the possible meaning of Koan potting practices with respect to societal changes on the island during the LBA.
This paper reassess the evidence for the relationships between Italy/Europe and Mycenaean Kos, ba... more This paper reassess the evidence for the relationships between Italy/Europe and Mycenaean Kos, based on metal and amber finds. The evidence demonstrates that Kos played a prominent role in forming contacts between the Dodecanese and Italy/Europe in the Mycenaean period. During the centuries from LBA IIIA1 to LH IIIC Middle, Kos received the largest amount of Italian/European type objects in the Dodecanese, followed by Rhodes. The greater circulation of Italian/European type objects on Kos from late LH IIIB may correspond to piracy, a phenomenon that likely increased during the troubled last decades of the 13th century BC with the collapse of the Mycenaean palaces. Indeed, contextual and material evidence from Miletus and Kos indicates that raiding activities may have occurred at this time in the southeast Aegean-southwest coastal Anatolian region. The data also imply a potential link with the so-called Sea Peoples, although the exact nature in the Aegean of this coalition of tribes, as described by Egyptian sources, remains uncertain. The leading role of Kos in forming contacts between the Dodecanese and Italy/Europe at the end of the 13th century BC reflects the political prominence of Kos over Rhodes in the southeast Aegean during LH IIIB. Once Kos established these Italian/European relationships, the pattern simply continued unchanged into the 12th century BC.
From the beginning of the local Late Bronze Age (LBA),
a significant number of Minoan and Mycenae... more From the beginning of the local Late Bronze Age (LBA), a significant number of Minoan and Mycenaean cultural features began to appear at the settlement of the ‘Serraglio’ and the cemeteries of Eleona and Langada on Kos. The aim of this contribution is to better define the adoption of these elements on the island and to discuss the meaning of the evidence in light of current interpretative frameworks.
This essay provides for the first time a systematic overview of the jewelry, ornaments, and other... more This essay provides for the first time a systematic overview of the jewelry, ornaments, and other small finds from the Mycenaean cemeteries of Eleona and Langada on Kos...
This volume focuses on the pottery classes of the ‘Entangled Tradition’, recovered at the settlem... more This volume focuses on the pottery classes of the ‘Entangled Tradition’, recovered at the settlement of the ‘Serraglio’ on Kos during the early Late Bronze Age period. The results reveal new information on the chronology, typology, and decoration of Koan Painted Fine (PF) and Painted Medium-Coarse to Coarse (PMC-C) ceramics. Moreover, the analysis of manufacturing processes and consumption patterns contributes to a better comprehension of the socio-cultural and political context in which Koan entangled classes were produced.
The data presented in this volume indicate that PF and PMC-C ceramics represent a unique case of fully entangled classes in the Aegean, which merge features of the Koan ‘Local Tradition’ with characteristics of the Minoan potting tradition into a new technological and stylistic language. Contacts between these different cultures are explained based on the theoretical model provided by ‘human mobility’. The specific Koan cultural synthesis was endorsed and promoted by the local elites of the ‘Serraglio’, who aimed to participate in the ‘new environment’ determined by the economic and cultural expansion of Neopalatial Crete.
In this respect, the manufacture of Koan entangled classes served a dual role. On the one hand, using transport containers made in the PMC-C class, Koan products were exported and exchanged throughout the Aegean. In addition, the finer vessels of the Koan ‘Entangled Tradition’ were utilized for promoting Minoan-type social practices at the ‘Serraglio’. Through these practices, Koan elites reshaped their identity and portrayed an image of higher status within the local social arena.
The circumstances of the discovery, stratigraphy, and construction of the grave of the Griffin Wa... more The circumstances of the discovery, stratigraphy, and construction of the grave of the Griffin Warrior were described briefly in 2016 as an introduction to a detailed presentation of the four gold rings found inside it. Here the "life history" of the grave is considered fully. As a sealed context, the grave of the Griffin Warrior also provides a key dated context for many classes of artifact, the chronologies of which have not hitherto been well defined. Because of its importance in this regard, supporting evidence is presented that the Griffin Warrior was buried in Late Helladic IIA and that the burial deposit in the grave lay undisturbed after Late Helladic IIA.
in E. Karantzali (ed.), Proceedings of the 3rd International Interdisciplinary Colloquium "The Periphery of the Mycenaean World. Recent Discoveries and Research Results," 18-21 May, Lamia 2018, 2021
This paper analyses the socio-political trajectories of Kos in the wider eastern Mediterranean co... more This paper analyses the socio-political trajectories of Kos in the wider eastern Mediterranean context during the second part of the Palatial period and the early stages of the Post-palatial period of Mycenaean civilisation. To do so, elements of continuity and change from Late Helladic (LH) IIIB throughout LH IIIC Early are examined with reference to settlement distribution and architecture, burial landscape and tomb typology, and the quantity and quality of significant finds. The evidence indicates that LH IIIB was a phase of wealth and expansion on Kos, suggesting that during the 13th century BCE, the island may have played a prominent political role in the southeast Aegean. In addition, the analysis of the burial landscape implies a well-organised use of the space, possibly reflecting a solid and clearly defined social structure. The LH IIIB – LH IIIC Early transition on Kos was typified by signs of social uncertainty and upheaval, including an emphasis on the display of weapons at Langada and a fire destruction event at the settlement of the ‘Serraglio’. During LH IIIC Early, the number of sites attested on Kos decreased from LH IIIB, suggesting that the local population may have concentrated at the ‘Serraglio’. There is also evidence for a more fluid social structure, as suggested by the less organised spatial arrangement of the tombs at Langada. At least two elements, however, indicate the continuation of a certain degree of wealth and vivacity in the Koan community: an increase in the quantity and quality of the jewellery and an expansion in the diversity of imported ceramics, adornments, and bronze implements. Among these imports, a special case is represented by the concentration on Kos of Italian/European-type bronze objects, with a peak between late LH IIIB and LH IIIC Middle. The prompt reaction of the Koan community to the crisis following the collapse of Mycenaean Palatial society at the LH IIIB - LH IIIC Early transition may have been one of the key factors that led Kos to play a major role in the flourishing of the so-called East Aegean Koine during the successive LH IIIC Middle phase.
This paper presents the results of the preliminary study of a recently excavated LH IIB pottery a... more This paper presents the results of the preliminary study of a recently excavated LH IIB pottery assemblage from the Ano Englianos ridge at Pylos in western Messenia. The deposit comes from Trench 5Z and its six extensions, situated northeast of Carl Blegen’s Main Building, and was uncovered during the archaeological investigations associated with the construction of the new roof over the Palace of Nestor. The material fills a gap in the local sequence and reveals significant information on pottery consumption trends at Pylos during the crucial transition from the early to the late formative stage of Mycenaean palatial society. Specifically, our analysis suggests that the ceramics from the 5Z deposit may represent the remains from feasting activities, which occurred during a late stage of LH IIB, and highlights the importance of Messenian and Minoan cultural traditions in the gradual formation process of Mycenaean Pylos. If corroborated through future research, these conclusions raise the possibility that LH IIB may have been a key phase for the elaboration and performance of those feasting practices, which constitute a distinctive feature of the Pylian social space during the final Mycenaean Palatial period.
This article examines pottery consumption patterns at the site of Mitrou, East Lokris, in the 13t... more This article examines pottery consumption patterns at the site of Mitrou, East Lokris, in the 13th and the early 12th centuries B.C. and investigates their significance in the broader socio-political context of central Greece during the Palatial period of Mycenaean civilization. In so doing, this contribution integrates ceramic analysis with information provided by the Linear B texts from the Palace of Thebes and with evidence for changes in the socio-political landscapes of East Lokris and neighboring Boeotia. After a brief discussion of the history of research on the Late Helladic IIIB ceramic phase, an overview is presented of the formation processes and spatial distribution of Mitrou’s most significant Late Helladic IIIB pottery deposits, as well as of the typology, function, and production technology of their pottery. Then, ceramic synchronisms across the Greek mainland are analyzed and a refined relative chronology is introduced for the core areas of Mycenaean civilization during the Late Helladic IIIB phase. While confirming the existence of the previously identified Late Helladic IIIB2 Early and Late ceramic sub-phases, this article proposes to also sub-divide Late Helladic IIIB1 into an Early and a Late stage during the first half of the 13th century B.C. Finally, the results of pottery analysis are discussed in the framework of East Lokris and Boeotia’s Late Bronze Age historical trajectories. This part of the study indicates that in the course of the Mycenaean Palatial period Mitrou may have been under the sphere of influence of each of the two Boeotian palatial centers in succession. It is argued that, until Late Helladic IIIB2 Early, Mi-trou’s region most likely was controlled by nearby Orchomenos/Glas. This political scenario may have changed in the last decades of the 13th century B.C., as the destruction of the fortified site of Glas towards the end of Late Helladic IIIB2 Early likely indicates the demise of the palatial authority of Orchomenos/Glas. Following this major event, Mitrou’s Late Helladic IIIB2 Late ceramic deposits show Theban typological and functional connections, suggesting that Thebes may have taken possession of the E part of East Lokris and Mitrou may have become a key Theban harbor station along the North Euboean Gulf.
This article examines pottery consumption patterns at the site of Mitrou, East Lokris, in the 13t... more This article examines pottery consumption patterns at the site of Mitrou, East Lokris, in the 13th and the early 12th centuries B.C. and investigates their significance in the broader socio-political context of central Greece during the Palatial period of Mycenaean civilization. While confirming the existence of the previously identified Late Helladic IIIB2 Early and Late ceramic sub-phases, this study proposes to also sub-divide Late Helladic IIIB1 into an Early and a Late stage during the first half of the 13th century B.C. Our wider results indicate that in the course of the Mycenaean Palatial period Mitrou may have been under the sphere of influence of each of the two Boeotian palatial centers in succession. Until Late Helladic IIIB2 Early, Mitrou’s region most likely was controlled by nearby Orchomenos/Glas. This political scenario may have changed in the last decades of the 13th century B.C., as the destruction of the fortified site of Glas towards the end of Late Helladic IIIB2 Early likely indicates the demise of the palatial authority of Orchomenos/Glas. Following this major event, Mitrou’s Late Helladic IIIB2 Late ceramic deposits show Theban typological and functional connections, suggesting that Thebes may have taken possession of the E part of East Lokris and Mitrou may have become a key Theban harbor station along the North Euboean Gulf.
This article investigates society and culture on Kos during the Palatial and Postpalatial periods... more This article investigates society and culture on Kos during the Palatial and Postpalatial periods of Mycenaean civilization, circa 1390/1370 to 1050 B.C. Our analysis is focused on construction practices, tomb spatial distribution, and body treatment at the cemetery of Langada. Originally described as a chamber tomb cemetery, recent re-study of the excavation report and finds from the site by the “Serraglio, Eleona, and Langada Archaeological Project” (SELAP)1 has called into question this interpretation. SELAP’s research has both refined the chronology for the Langada tombs and provided fundamental basal data for understanding elements of change in the funerary landscape during the Late Bronze Age on Kos. We use these data to compare burial practices, characterize societal structure, and better understand the development of Mycenaean identity on the island.
This article presents and discusses some previously unpublished small finds from the Asklupis are... more This article presents and discusses some previously unpublished small finds from the Asklupis area on Kos. Despite the relatively small sample, these objects reveal new data on cultural identity, gender, and social stratification on the island during the Early and the Late Bronze Age periods.
This paper explores the interplay between material evidence and collective memory on Kos during t... more This paper explores the interplay between material evidence and collective memory on Kos during the Late Bronze Age. The interplay between these elements is symbiotic and mutualistic. It arises from the contribution of collective memory to the production and use of the material world and the role of the material world in eliciting memory and associations, while also binding society to the past and cultural identity. Two specific manifestations of this relationship are defined and examined here: “ideological” and “narrative”. These manifestations reflect differences in the temporal and formal scales at which the material world and collective memory are integrated within society. We suggest that the forms of collective memory used in this paper are broadly applicable as approaches to extract deeper meaning from the archaeological record. The specific examples presented illustrate how this type of perspective may provide greater insight into the connections of prehistoric populations to their own history and past.
Van de Moortel, A. et al., "Honoring the Dead or Hero Cult? The Long Afterlife of a Prepalatial Elite Tomb at Mitrou," in E. Borgna, I. Caloi et al. (eds.), MNHMH/MNEME. Past and Memory in the Aegean Bronze Age (Liège and Leuven: Peeters) 277-292. Aegaeum 43. ISBN 978-90-429-3903-5., 2019
The troubled century? Potting practices and socio-political changes at Mitrou, East Lokris, between the end of the 14th and the beginning of the 12th c. BC, 2018
The aim of this paper is to examine manufacturing practices in the pottery
assemblages of Mitrou,... more The aim of this paper is to examine manufacturing practices in the pottery assemblages of Mitrou, East Lokris, between the end of the 14th and the very beginning of the 12th c. BC and to investigate their potential meaning in the socio-political context of Central Greece. More specifically, significant choices made by the potters at different stages of the production process are discussed to determine whether and how they reflect the irreversible crisis of the Mycenaean Palatial system during the second half of Late Helladic (LH) IIIB. In order to achieve this goal, Mitrou’s LH IIIA2 Late, LH IIIB1, and LH IIIB2 Late ceramic assemblages (early, mature, and final Palatial period) are compared with the evidence from two other significant horizons dating to previous phases of Mycenaean civilisation, specifically LH IIA and LH IIIA2 Early (early and final Prepalatial period).
The Final Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Pottery from the Site of the Asklupis in the Northeast Koan Region, 2018
This article provides a detailed presentation of the Final Neolithic (FN) and Early Bronze Age (E... more This article provides a detailed presentation of the Final Neolithic (FN) and Early Bronze Age (EBA) ceramics from the site of the Asklupis, located in the NE Koan region. The prominent feature of the Koan FN to EBA 2 pottery assemblage is the strong continuity in local traditional potting practices, especially in terms of fabric mixes, formation techniques, surface treatments, and decorative preferences. The defining characteristics of Koan FN to EA 2 ceramics have parallels in other sites from the SE Aegean- SW coastal Anatolian Region. This conclusion is in harmony with the evidence from other important aspects of the Koan material culture, such as burial practices and settlement strategies. The functional analysis of the FN to EBA 2 materials proposed in this article also indicates the occurrence of small, but long term forms of human occupation in the Asklupis area during these phases. The existence of these small communities was certainly encouraged by the morphology of the land and its diverse environmental resources, including numerous watercourses and a rich array of raw materials for the manufacture of pottery and the production of stone tools.
This article is focused on the Koan ceramic assemblage
during the Late Bronze Age (LBA), with par... more This article is focused on the Koan ceramic assemblage during the Late Bronze Age (LBA), with particular attention to those classes that, according to the macroscopic observation of the fabric, appear to have been produced locally. In particular, the main goals of this contribution are: (a) To propose for the first time a comprehensive and coherent classification system of these materials; (b) To provide a chronological and typological assessment of each pottery class; and (c) to explore the possible meaning of Koan potting practices with respect to societal changes on the island during the LBA.
This paper reassess the evidence for the relationships between Italy/Europe and Mycenaean Kos, ba... more This paper reassess the evidence for the relationships between Italy/Europe and Mycenaean Kos, based on metal and amber finds. The evidence demonstrates that Kos played a prominent role in forming contacts between the Dodecanese and Italy/Europe in the Mycenaean period. During the centuries from LBA IIIA1 to LH IIIC Middle, Kos received the largest amount of Italian/European type objects in the Dodecanese, followed by Rhodes. The greater circulation of Italian/European type objects on Kos from late LH IIIB may correspond to piracy, a phenomenon that likely increased during the troubled last decades of the 13th century BC with the collapse of the Mycenaean palaces. Indeed, contextual and material evidence from Miletus and Kos indicates that raiding activities may have occurred at this time in the southeast Aegean-southwest coastal Anatolian region. The data also imply a potential link with the so-called Sea Peoples, although the exact nature in the Aegean of this coalition of tribes, as described by Egyptian sources, remains uncertain. The leading role of Kos in forming contacts between the Dodecanese and Italy/Europe at the end of the 13th century BC reflects the political prominence of Kos over Rhodes in the southeast Aegean during LH IIIB. Once Kos established these Italian/European relationships, the pattern simply continued unchanged into the 12th century BC.
From the beginning of the local Late Bronze Age (LBA),
a significant number of Minoan and Mycenae... more From the beginning of the local Late Bronze Age (LBA), a significant number of Minoan and Mycenaean cultural features began to appear at the settlement of the ‘Serraglio’ and the cemeteries of Eleona and Langada on Kos. The aim of this contribution is to better define the adoption of these elements on the island and to discuss the meaning of the evidence in light of current interpretative frameworks.
This essay provides for the first time a systematic overview of the jewelry, ornaments, and other... more This essay provides for the first time a systematic overview of the jewelry, ornaments, and other small finds from the Mycenaean cemeteries of Eleona and Langada on Kos...
This conference is the first in a series of three events focused on material evidence and cultura... more This conference is the first in a series of three events focused on material evidence and cultural identity in the Southeast Aegean/Southwest Coastal Anatolian Region (SASCAR) during the Bronze Age. The SASCAR may be defined as the area between Kasos, Karpathos, and Rhodes to the south, Astypalaia to the west, Samos to the north, and Miletus and Tavşan Adası to the east. As a major passageway between Asia Minor, Cyprus, and the Near East on one side and the western Aegean on the other, the SASCAR developed from the Early Bronze Age (EBA) a dynamic and distinct cultural assemblage, which included important sites such as the Samian Heraion, Miletus, the “Serraglio”, and Ialysos.
The aim of this first conference is to achieve a comprehensive definition of the SASCAR as a separate set of cultural traditions, with specific attention to the phases between the end of the Final Neolithic and the end of the Middle Bronze Age (MBA), here synchronized with Middle Minoan IIIA in Cretan terms. In order to achieve these goals, the conference is focused on three main subjects: (a) Chronology and synchronisms; (b) Significant aspects of material evidence and cultural identity; and (c) Relationships with neighboring areas, including: The northeast Aegean; Northwest coastal and western inland Anatolia; Cyprus; The Cyclades; Crete; and The Greek Mainland.
Contacts will be explored in both directions, not only from the six areas above to the SASCAR, but also vice versa. This holistic approach is necessary to fully understand the meaning of cultural interactions in the eastern Mediterranean during the EBA and MBA, assuming that ideas and notions do not necessarily move unidirectionally from active centers to more or less passive peripheries. In this respect, the conference aims to look at the evidence through various, and potentially alternative, interpretative lenses, such as “colonization”, “acculturation”, “transculturalism”, “multivocality”, “hybridization”, and “cultural entanglement”.
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The data presented in this volume indicate that PF and PMC-C ceramics represent a unique case of fully entangled classes in the Aegean, which merge features of the Koan ‘Local Tradition’ with characteristics of the Minoan potting tradition into a new technological and stylistic language. Contacts between these different cultures are explained based on the theoretical model provided by ‘human mobility’. The specific Koan cultural synthesis was endorsed and promoted by the local elites of the ‘Serraglio’, who aimed to participate in the ‘new environment’ determined by the economic and cultural expansion of Neopalatial Crete.
In this respect, the manufacture of Koan entangled classes served a dual role. On the one hand, using transport containers made in the PMC-C class, Koan products were exported and exchanged throughout the Aegean. In addition, the finer vessels of the Koan ‘Entangled Tradition’ were utilized for promoting Minoan-type social practices at the ‘Serraglio’. Through these practices, Koan elites reshaped their identity and portrayed an image of higher status within the local social arena.
the second part of the Palatial period and the early stages of the Post-palatial period of Mycenaean civilisation. To
do so, elements of continuity and change from Late Helladic (LH) IIIB throughout LH IIIC Early are examined with
reference to settlement distribution and architecture, burial landscape and tomb typology, and the quantity and quality
of significant finds. The evidence indicates that LH IIIB was a phase of wealth and expansion on Kos, suggesting that
during the 13th century BCE, the island may have played a prominent political role in the southeast Aegean. In addition,
the analysis of the burial landscape implies a well-organised use of the space, possibly reflecting a solid and clearly
defined social structure. The LH IIIB – LH IIIC Early transition on Kos was typified by signs of social uncertainty and
upheaval, including an emphasis on the display of weapons at Langada and a fire destruction event at the settlement of
the ‘Serraglio’. During LH IIIC Early, the number of sites attested on Kos decreased from LH IIIB, suggesting that the
local population may have concentrated at the ‘Serraglio’. There is also evidence for a more fluid social structure, as
suggested by the less organised spatial arrangement of the tombs at Langada. At least two elements, however, indicate
the continuation of a certain degree of wealth and vivacity in the Koan community: an increase in the quantity and
quality of the jewellery and an expansion in the diversity of imported ceramics, adornments, and bronze implements.
Among these imports, a special case is represented by the concentration on Kos of Italian/European-type bronze objects,
with a peak between late LH IIIB and LH IIIC Middle. The prompt reaction of the Koan community to the crisis
following the collapse of Mycenaean Palatial society at the LH IIIB - LH IIIC Early transition may have been one of the
key factors that led Kos to play a major role in the flourishing of the so-called East Aegean Koine during the successive
LH IIIC Middle phase.
from the Ano Englianos ridge at Pylos in western Messenia. The deposit comes from Trench 5Z and its six extensions,
situated northeast of Carl Blegen’s Main Building, and was uncovered during the archaeological investigations associated
with the construction of the new roof over the Palace of Nestor. The material fills a gap in the local sequence and
reveals significant information on pottery consumption trends at Pylos during the crucial transition from the early to
the late formative stage of Mycenaean palatial society. Specifically, our analysis suggests that the ceramics from the 5Z
deposit may represent the remains from feasting activities, which occurred during a late stage of LH IIB, and highlights
the importance of Messenian and Minoan cultural traditions in the gradual formation process of Mycenaean Pylos. If
corroborated through future research, these conclusions raise the possibility that LH IIB may have been a key phase for
the elaboration and performance of those feasting practices, which constitute a distinctive feature of the Pylian social
space during the final Mycenaean Palatial period.
centuries B.C. and investigates their significance in the broader socio-political context of central Greece during the Palatial period
of Mycenaean civilization.
While confirming the existence of the previously identified Late Helladic IIIB2 Early and Late ceramic sub-phases,
this study proposes to also sub-divide Late Helladic IIIB1 into an Early and a Late stage during the first half of the 13th century
B.C. Our wider results indicate that in the course of the Mycenaean Palatial period Mitrou may have been under the
sphere of influence of each of the two Boeotian palatial centers in succession. Until Late Helladic IIIB2 Early, Mitrou’s
region most likely was controlled by nearby Orchomenos/Glas. This political scenario may have changed in the last decades
of the 13th century B.C., as the destruction of the fortified site of Glas towards the end of Late Helladic IIIB2 Early likely indicates
the demise of the palatial authority of Orchomenos/Glas. Following this major event, Mitrou’s Late Helladic IIIB2 Late ceramic
deposits show Theban typological and functional connections, suggesting that Thebes may have taken possession of the E part of
East Lokris and Mitrou may have become a key Theban harbor station along the North Euboean Gulf.
assemblages of Mitrou, East Lokris, between the end of the 14th and the very beginning of the 12th c. BC and to
investigate their potential meaning in the socio-political context of Central Greece. More specifically,
significant choices made by the potters at different stages of the production process are discussed to determine
whether and how they reflect the irreversible crisis of the Mycenaean Palatial system during the second half of Late
Helladic (LH) IIIB. In order to achieve this goal, Mitrou’s LH IIIA2 Late, LH IIIB1, and LH IIIB2 Late ceramic
assemblages (early, mature, and final Palatial period) are compared with the evidence from two other significant
horizons dating to previous phases of Mycenaean civilisation, specifically LH IIA and LH IIIA2 Early (early and
final Prepalatial period).
the site of the Asklupis, located in the NE Koan region. The prominent feature of the Koan FN to EBA 2 pottery assemblage is the
strong continuity in local traditional potting practices, especially in terms of fabric mixes, formation techniques, surface treatments,
and decorative preferences. The defining characteristics of Koan FN to EA 2 ceramics have parallels in other sites from the SE Aegean-
SW coastal Anatolian Region. This conclusion is in harmony with the evidence from other important aspects of the Koan material
culture, such as burial practices and settlement strategies. The functional analysis of the FN to EBA 2 materials proposed in this
article also indicates the occurrence of small, but long term forms of human occupation in the Asklupis area during these phases. The
existence of these small communities was certainly encouraged by the morphology of the land and its diverse environmental resources,
including numerous watercourses and a rich array of raw materials for the manufacture of pottery and the production of stone tools.
during the Late Bronze Age (LBA), with particular
attention to those classes that, according to the macroscopic
observation of the fabric, appear to have been produced
locally. In particular, the main goals of this
contribution are: (a) To propose for the first time a comprehensive
and coherent classification system of these
materials; (b) To provide a chronological and typological
assessment of each pottery class; and (c) to explore the
possible meaning of Koan potting practices with respect
to societal changes on the island during the LBA.
a significant number of Minoan and Mycenaean cultural
features began to appear at the settlement of the ‘Serraglio’
and the cemeteries of Eleona and Langada on Kos. The
aim of this contribution is to better define the adoption of
these elements on the island and to discuss the meaning of
the evidence in light of current interpretative frameworks.
The data presented in this volume indicate that PF and PMC-C ceramics represent a unique case of fully entangled classes in the Aegean, which merge features of the Koan ‘Local Tradition’ with characteristics of the Minoan potting tradition into a new technological and stylistic language. Contacts between these different cultures are explained based on the theoretical model provided by ‘human mobility’. The specific Koan cultural synthesis was endorsed and promoted by the local elites of the ‘Serraglio’, who aimed to participate in the ‘new environment’ determined by the economic and cultural expansion of Neopalatial Crete.
In this respect, the manufacture of Koan entangled classes served a dual role. On the one hand, using transport containers made in the PMC-C class, Koan products were exported and exchanged throughout the Aegean. In addition, the finer vessels of the Koan ‘Entangled Tradition’ were utilized for promoting Minoan-type social practices at the ‘Serraglio’. Through these practices, Koan elites reshaped their identity and portrayed an image of higher status within the local social arena.
the second part of the Palatial period and the early stages of the Post-palatial period of Mycenaean civilisation. To
do so, elements of continuity and change from Late Helladic (LH) IIIB throughout LH IIIC Early are examined with
reference to settlement distribution and architecture, burial landscape and tomb typology, and the quantity and quality
of significant finds. The evidence indicates that LH IIIB was a phase of wealth and expansion on Kos, suggesting that
during the 13th century BCE, the island may have played a prominent political role in the southeast Aegean. In addition,
the analysis of the burial landscape implies a well-organised use of the space, possibly reflecting a solid and clearly
defined social structure. The LH IIIB – LH IIIC Early transition on Kos was typified by signs of social uncertainty and
upheaval, including an emphasis on the display of weapons at Langada and a fire destruction event at the settlement of
the ‘Serraglio’. During LH IIIC Early, the number of sites attested on Kos decreased from LH IIIB, suggesting that the
local population may have concentrated at the ‘Serraglio’. There is also evidence for a more fluid social structure, as
suggested by the less organised spatial arrangement of the tombs at Langada. At least two elements, however, indicate
the continuation of a certain degree of wealth and vivacity in the Koan community: an increase in the quantity and
quality of the jewellery and an expansion in the diversity of imported ceramics, adornments, and bronze implements.
Among these imports, a special case is represented by the concentration on Kos of Italian/European-type bronze objects,
with a peak between late LH IIIB and LH IIIC Middle. The prompt reaction of the Koan community to the crisis
following the collapse of Mycenaean Palatial society at the LH IIIB - LH IIIC Early transition may have been one of the
key factors that led Kos to play a major role in the flourishing of the so-called East Aegean Koine during the successive
LH IIIC Middle phase.
from the Ano Englianos ridge at Pylos in western Messenia. The deposit comes from Trench 5Z and its six extensions,
situated northeast of Carl Blegen’s Main Building, and was uncovered during the archaeological investigations associated
with the construction of the new roof over the Palace of Nestor. The material fills a gap in the local sequence and
reveals significant information on pottery consumption trends at Pylos during the crucial transition from the early to
the late formative stage of Mycenaean palatial society. Specifically, our analysis suggests that the ceramics from the 5Z
deposit may represent the remains from feasting activities, which occurred during a late stage of LH IIB, and highlights
the importance of Messenian and Minoan cultural traditions in the gradual formation process of Mycenaean Pylos. If
corroborated through future research, these conclusions raise the possibility that LH IIB may have been a key phase for
the elaboration and performance of those feasting practices, which constitute a distinctive feature of the Pylian social
space during the final Mycenaean Palatial period.
centuries B.C. and investigates their significance in the broader socio-political context of central Greece during the Palatial period
of Mycenaean civilization.
While confirming the existence of the previously identified Late Helladic IIIB2 Early and Late ceramic sub-phases,
this study proposes to also sub-divide Late Helladic IIIB1 into an Early and a Late stage during the first half of the 13th century
B.C. Our wider results indicate that in the course of the Mycenaean Palatial period Mitrou may have been under the
sphere of influence of each of the two Boeotian palatial centers in succession. Until Late Helladic IIIB2 Early, Mitrou’s
region most likely was controlled by nearby Orchomenos/Glas. This political scenario may have changed in the last decades
of the 13th century B.C., as the destruction of the fortified site of Glas towards the end of Late Helladic IIIB2 Early likely indicates
the demise of the palatial authority of Orchomenos/Glas. Following this major event, Mitrou’s Late Helladic IIIB2 Late ceramic
deposits show Theban typological and functional connections, suggesting that Thebes may have taken possession of the E part of
East Lokris and Mitrou may have become a key Theban harbor station along the North Euboean Gulf.
assemblages of Mitrou, East Lokris, between the end of the 14th and the very beginning of the 12th c. BC and to
investigate their potential meaning in the socio-political context of Central Greece. More specifically,
significant choices made by the potters at different stages of the production process are discussed to determine
whether and how they reflect the irreversible crisis of the Mycenaean Palatial system during the second half of Late
Helladic (LH) IIIB. In order to achieve this goal, Mitrou’s LH IIIA2 Late, LH IIIB1, and LH IIIB2 Late ceramic
assemblages (early, mature, and final Palatial period) are compared with the evidence from two other significant
horizons dating to previous phases of Mycenaean civilisation, specifically LH IIA and LH IIIA2 Early (early and
final Prepalatial period).
the site of the Asklupis, located in the NE Koan region. The prominent feature of the Koan FN to EBA 2 pottery assemblage is the
strong continuity in local traditional potting practices, especially in terms of fabric mixes, formation techniques, surface treatments,
and decorative preferences. The defining characteristics of Koan FN to EA 2 ceramics have parallels in other sites from the SE Aegean-
SW coastal Anatolian Region. This conclusion is in harmony with the evidence from other important aspects of the Koan material
culture, such as burial practices and settlement strategies. The functional analysis of the FN to EBA 2 materials proposed in this
article also indicates the occurrence of small, but long term forms of human occupation in the Asklupis area during these phases. The
existence of these small communities was certainly encouraged by the morphology of the land and its diverse environmental resources,
including numerous watercourses and a rich array of raw materials for the manufacture of pottery and the production of stone tools.
during the Late Bronze Age (LBA), with particular
attention to those classes that, according to the macroscopic
observation of the fabric, appear to have been produced
locally. In particular, the main goals of this
contribution are: (a) To propose for the first time a comprehensive
and coherent classification system of these
materials; (b) To provide a chronological and typological
assessment of each pottery class; and (c) to explore the
possible meaning of Koan potting practices with respect
to societal changes on the island during the LBA.
a significant number of Minoan and Mycenaean cultural
features began to appear at the settlement of the ‘Serraglio’
and the cemeteries of Eleona and Langada on Kos. The
aim of this contribution is to better define the adoption of
these elements on the island and to discuss the meaning of
the evidence in light of current interpretative frameworks.
The aim of this first conference is to achieve a comprehensive definition of the SASCAR as a separate set of cultural traditions, with specific attention to the phases between the end of the Final Neolithic and the end of the Middle Bronze Age (MBA), here synchronized with Middle Minoan IIIA in Cretan terms. In order to achieve these goals, the conference is focused on three main subjects: (a) Chronology and synchronisms; (b) Significant aspects of material evidence and cultural identity; and (c) Relationships with neighboring areas, including: The northeast Aegean; Northwest coastal and western inland Anatolia; Cyprus; The Cyclades; Crete; and The Greek Mainland.
Contacts will be explored in both directions, not only from the six areas above to the SASCAR, but also vice versa. This holistic approach is necessary to fully understand the meaning of cultural interactions in the eastern Mediterranean during the EBA and MBA, assuming that ideas and notions do not necessarily move unidirectionally from active centers to more or less passive peripheries. In this respect, the conference aims to look at the evidence through various, and potentially alternative, interpretative lenses, such as “colonization”, “acculturation”, “transculturalism”, “multivocality”, “hybridization”, and “cultural entanglement”.