Kavousi IIA: The Late Minoan IIIC Settlement at Vronda. The Buildings on the Summit (Prehistory Monographs) [Illustrated] 9781931534512, 1931534519

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KAVOUSI IIA The Late Minoan IIIC Settlement at Vronda The Buildings on the Summit

KAVOUSI The Results of the Excavations at Kavousi in Eastern Crete directed by Geraldine C. Gesell, Leslie Preston Day, and William D.E. Coulson

sponsored by The University of Tennessee under the auspices of The American School of Classical Studies at Athens

Terracotta window frame (B8 TC1) from Building B, Room B8. Drawing by Douglas Faulmann.

PREHISTORY MONOGRAPHS 26

KAVOUSI IIA The Late Minoan IIIC Settlement at Vronda The Buildings on the Summit

by Leslie Preston Day, Nancy L. Klein, and Lee Ann Turner

contributions by Heidi Dierckx, Kimberly Flint-Hamilton, Geraldine C. Gesell, Margaret S. Mook, David S. Reese, and Lynn M. Snyder

edited by Geraldine C. Gesell and Leslie Preston Day

Published by INSTAP Academic Press Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2009

Design and Production INSTAP Academic Press Printing CRWGraphics, Pennsauken, New Jersey Binding Hoster Bindery, Inc., Ivyland, Pennsylvania

FPO FSC

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Day, Leslie Preston. Kavousi IIA, the late Minoan IIIC settlement at Vronda : the buildings on the summit / by Leslie Preston Day, Nancy L. Klein, and Lee Ann Turner ; contributions by Heidi Dierckx .. [et al.] ; edited by Geraldine C. Gesell and Leslie Preston Day. p. cm. — (Prehistory monographs ; 26) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-931534-51-2 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Kavousi Region (Greece)—Antiquities. 2. Excavations (Archaeology)—Greece--Kavousi Region. 3. Historic buildings— Greece—Kavousi Region. 4. Mountain life—Greece--Kavousi Region—History 5. Kavousi Region (Greece)—Social life and customs. 6. Social change—Greece—Kavousi Region—History. 7. Iron age—Greece—Crete. 8. Crete (Greece)—Social life and customs. 9. Social change—Greece—Crete—History. I. Klein, Nancy Louise, 1962- II. Turner, Lee Ann, 1961- III. Dierckx, Heidi. IV. Gesell, Geraldine Cornelia. V. Title. DF261.K4D39 2009 939’.18—dc22 2009027743

Copyright © 2009 INSTAP Academic Press Philadelphia, Pennsylvania All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

List of Tables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii List of Charts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix List of Figures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiii List of Plates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xix Preface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxv Acknowledgments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxix Abbreviations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxxvii Glossary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xxxix 1. Introduction, Leslie Preston Day. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2. Building A-B, Leslie Preston Day with contributions by Heidi Dierckx, David S. Reese, and Lynn M. Snyder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Building A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

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Periphery of Building A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Building B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 History and Function of Building A-B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 3. Building P, Leslie Preston Day with contributions by Heidi Dierckx, David S. Reese, and Lynn M. Snyder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 4. Building Q, Leslie Preston Day with contributions by Heidi Dierckx, David S. Reese, and Lynn M. Snyder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 5. Building Complex C-D, Nancy L. Klein with contributions by Heidi Dierckx, Geraldine C. Gesell, David S. Reese, and Lynn M. Snyder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Building C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Building D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Periphery of Building C-D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 History and Function of Building C-D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 6. Building Complex J-K and Building R, Lee Ann Turner with contributions by Heidi Dierckx, Geraldine C. Gesell, David S. Reese, and Lynn M. Snyder. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Building J. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Building K. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145 Building R. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 History and Function of Building Complex J-K and Building R. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Appendix A: Kavousi Coarse Ware Fabrics, Margaret S. Mook and Leslie Preston Day. . . . . . . . . . . . 163 Bibliography. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 Tables Charts Figures Plates

List of Tables

Table 1.

Building A and periphery: summary of faunal remains.

Table 2.

Building A: summary of marine shells.

Table 3.

West and south of Building A: summary of marine shells.

Table 4.

East of Building A: summary of marine shells.

Table 5.

Building B, Room B3: summary of faunal remains.

Table 6.

Building B, Room B4: summary of faunal remains.

Table 7.

Building B, Rooms B4 and B7: summary of marine shells.

Table 8.

Building B, Rooms B5 and B6: summary of faunal remains.

Table 9.

Building B, Rooms B7 and B8: summary of faunal remains.

Table 10.

Building B, Room B8: summary of marine shells.

Table 11.

Building P: summary of faunal remains.

Table 12.

Building P: summary of marine shells.

Table 13.

Building Q: summary of faunal remains.

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Table 14.

Building Q, Room Q2: summary of marine shells.

Table 15.

Building C, Rooms C1–C3: summary of faunal remains.

Table 16.

Building C, Rooms C1–C3: summary of marine shells.

Table 17.

Building C, Room C4: summary of faunal remains.

Table 18.

Building C, Room C4: summary of marine shells.

Table 19.

Building C, Room C5: summary of faunal remains.

Table 20.

Building C, Room C5: summary of marine shells.

Table 21.

Building D, Room D1: summary of faunal remains.

Table 22.

Building D, Room D1: summary of marine shells.

Table 23.

Building D, Rooms D2 and D3: summary of faunal remains.

Table 24.

Building D, Rooms D4 and D5: summary of faunal remains.

Table 25.

Building D, Rooms D3, D4, and D5: summary of marine shells.

Table 26.

West and south of Building C-D: summary of faunal remains.

Table 27.

West and south of Building C-D: summary of marine shells.

Table 28.

East of Building C: summary of faunal remains.

Table 29.

North of Building D: summary of faunal remains.

Table 30.

Building J, Room J1: summary of faunal remains.

Table 31.

Building J, Room J1: summary of marine shells.

Table 32.

Building J, Room J2: summary of faunal remains.

Table 33.

Building J, Rooms J2, J4a, and J5: summary of marine shells.

Table 34.

Building J, Room J3: summary of faunal remains.

Table 35.

Building J, Room J4: summary of faunal remains.

Table 36.

Building J, Room J5: summary of faunal remains.

Table 37.

Building K: summary of faunal remains.

Table 38.

Building K: summary of marine shells.

Table 39.

Building R: summary of faunal remains.

Table 40.

Building R: summary of marine shells.

List of Charts

Chart 1.

Building A, Room A1: percentage of wares.

Chart 2.

Building A, Room A1, floor and packing to bedrock: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 3.

Building A, Room A1, topsoil: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 4.

West of Building A, pit: percentage of wares.

Chart 5.

West of Building A, pit: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 6.

East of Building A, terrace fill: percentage of wares.

Chart 7.

East of Building A, terrace fill: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 8.

East of Building A, terrace fill, lowest clay layer: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 9.

Building B, Room B1/2: percentage of wares.

Chart 10.

Building B, Room B1/2: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 11.

Building B, Room B3: percentage of wares.

Chart 12.

Building B, Room B4: percentage of wares.

Chart 13.

Building B, Room B4, roofing and floor: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

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KAVOUSI IIA

Chart 14.

Building B, Room B5: percentage of wares.

Chart 15.

Building B, Room B5: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 16.

Building B, Room B6: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 17.

Building B, Room B7: percentage of wares.

Chart 18.

Building B, Room B7, lower roofing without pithos B7 P26: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 19.

Building B, Room B7, upper roofing with pithos B7 P26: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 20.

Building B, Room B7, topsoil: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 21.

Building B, Room B8: percentage of wares.

Chart 22.

Building B, Room B8, roofing: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 23.

Building P: percentage of wares.

Chart 24.

Building P, red soil: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 25.

Building Q, Room Q2: percentage of wares.

Chart 26.

Building Q, Room Q2, packing on south: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 27.

Building Q, Room Q2, floor: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 28.

Building Q, Room Q2, roofing and tumble: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 29.

Building C, Room C2: percentage of wares.

Chart 30.

Building C, Room C2, floor deposit and roofing material: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 31.

Building C, Room C4: percentage of wares.

Chart 32.

Building C, Room C4, below floor: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 33.

Building C, Room C4, floor deposit and roofing material: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 34.

Building C, Room C5, below floor: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 35.

Building C, Room C5: percentage of wares.

Chart 36.

Building C, Room C5, floor deposit and roofing material: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 37.

Building D, Room D1: percentage of wares.

Chart 38.

Building D, Room D1, floor deposit and roofing material: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 39.

Building D, Room D2: percentage of wares.

Chart 40.

Building D, Room D3: percentage of wares.

Chart 41.

Building D, Room D3, floor deposit and roofing material: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 42.

Building D, Room D4: percentage of wares.

LIST OF CHARTS

xi

Chart 43.

Building D, Room D4, floor deposit and roofing material: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 44.

Building J, Room J1: percentage of wares.

Chart 45.

Building J, Room J1, floor deposit and roofing material: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 46.

Building J, Room J2: percentage of wares.

Chart 47.

Building J, Room J3: percentage of wares.

Chart 48.

Building J, Room J4a: percentage of wares.

Chart 49.

Building J, Room J4a, pit and western collapse: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 50.

Building J, Room J5: percentage of wares.

Chart 51.

Building J, Room J5, floor surface and rubble: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 52.

Building K, Room K1: percentage of wares.

Chart 53.

Building K, Room K1, roofing material: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 54.

Building K, Room K2: percentage of wares.

Chart 55.

Building K, Room K2, sounding: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 56.

Building K, Room K3: percentage of wares.

Chart 57.

Building K, Room K3, floor surface and pit: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 58.

Building K, Room K4: percentage of wares.

Chart 59.

Building K, Room K4, trash heap/buttress: percentage of recognizable coarse fabrics.

Chart 60.

Building R, Room R1a: percentage of wares.

List of Figures

Figure 1.

Plan of Kavousi area.

Figure 2.

Vronda, state plan.

Figure 3.

Vronda, plan of grid over site.

Figure 4.

Vronda, plan of LM IIIC settlement.

Figure 5.

Vronda east–west section across site.

Figure 6.

Building A-B, state plan.

Figure 7.

Building A-B, LM IIIC plan.

Figure 8.

Building A, pottery: fine (A1 P2, A1 P3), medium-coarse (A1 P4–A1 P6), coarse (A1 P1), and pithos (A1 P7) wares; north of Building A, pottery: coarse ware (AN P1).

Figure 9.

West of Building A: section d–d' of west balk of V 2600.

Figure 10. West of Building A, V 2600, pottery: fine (AW P1–AW P6) and medium-coarse (AW P7–AW P14) wares. Figure 11. West of Building A, V 2600, pottery: cooking wares (AW P15–AW P19).

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Figure 12. West of Building A, V 2600, pottery: cooking (AW P20–AW P27) and coarse (AW P28–AW P32) wares. Figure 13. West of Building A, V 2600, pottery: coarse (AW P33–AW P37) and pithos (AW P39) wares; terracotta (AW TC1). Figure 14. East of Building A: plan and east–west section a–a' of south balk of V 3900. Figure 15. East of Building A: east–west section b–b' of north balk of V 2900. Figure 16. East Terrace fill, lowest level, pottery: fine (AE P3, AE P4) and cooking (AE P1, AE P2, AE P5–AE P7) wares; rubble layer, pottery: fine wares (AE P8–AE P19). Figure 17. East Terrace fill, rubble layer, pottery: fine (AE P20–AE P28) and medium-coarse (AE P29–AE P37) wares. Figure 18. East Terrace fill, rubble layer, pottery: cooking (AE P38–AE P43) and coarse (AE P44–AE P57) wares; terracotta (AE TC1). Figure 19. East Terrace fill, surface, pottery: fine (AE P58–AE P70), coarse (AE P71, AE P72), and pithos (AE P73) wares. Figure 20. Building B: east–west section a–a' across Rooms B3, B1/2, B4, and B6. Figure 21. Building B: north–south section b–b' across Rooms B3 and B7. Figure 22. Building B, Room B3, pottery: fine wares (B3 P1–B3 P8). Figure 23. Building B, Room B3, pottery: fine (B3 P9–B3 P13) and coarse (B3 P14–B3 P19) wares. Figure 24. Building B, Room B3, pottery: pithos wares (B3 P20–B3 P23). Figure 25. Building B, Room B4, pottery: fine wares (B4 P1–B4 P11). Figure 26. Building B, Room B4, pottery: fine wares (B4 P12–B4 P24). Figure 27. Building B, Room B4, pottery: krater B4 P25. Figure 28. Building B, Room B4, pottery: kraters (B4 P26, B4 P27) and stirrup jars (B4 P28–B4 P30). Figure 29. Building B, Room B4, pottery: fine wares (B4 P31–B4 P36). Figure 30. Building B, Room B4, pottery: medium-coarse (B4 P37–B4 P40) and cooking (B4 P41–B4 P45) wares. Figure 31. Building B, Room B4, pottery: cooking (B4 P46–B4 P51) and coarse (B4 P52–B4 P56) wares. Figure 32. Building B, Room B5, pottery: fine (B5 P1), medium-coarse (B5 P2, B5 P3), cooking (B5 P4, B5 P5, B5 P9), coarse (B5 P6, B5 P10, B5 P11), and pithos (B5 P7, B5 P8) wares. Figure 33. Building B, Room B6, pottery: fine (B6 P1–B6 P6), medium-coarse (B6 P7–B6 P10, B6 P21), cooking (B6 P11), coarse (B6 P12–B6 P19), and pithos (B6 P20) wares. Figure 34. Building B, east–west section c–c' through Rooms B7 and B8. Figure 35. Building B, Room B7: architectural section showing north wall (Wall C). Figure 36. Building B, Room B7: ideal east–west stratigraphic section. Figure 37. Building B, Room B7, lower deposit, pottery: fine wares (B7 P1–B7 P11).

LIST OF FIGURES

xv

Figure 38. Building B, Room B7, lower deposit, pottery: fine (B7 P12, B7 P13), medium-coarse (B7 P14), cooking (B7 P15–B7 P17), and coarse (B7 P18–B7 P20) wares. Figure 39. Building B, Room B7, upper deposit and surface, pottery: fine (B7 P21–B7 P24) and cooking (B7 P25) wares. Figure 40. Building B, Room B7, lower deposit, pithos B7 P26. Figure 41. Building B, Room B7, upper deposit and surface, pottery: coarse wares (B7 P27–B7 P29); Room B8, pottery: fine (B8 P1–B8 P3), medium-coarse (B8 P4), cooking (B8 P5, B8 P6), and coarse (B8 P7) wares. Figure 42. Building B, Room B8, pottery: coarse wares (B8 P8–B8 P11). Figure 43. Building B, Room B8: terracotta window frame (B8 TC1). Figure 44. Building A-B, architectural phases. Figure 45. Building P, state plan. Figure 46. Building P, east–west section a–a' of north balk of V 2800. Figure 47. Building P, lowest level, pottery: fine (P P1–P P6), medium-coarse (P P7–P P9), and cooking (P P10–P P12) wares. Figure 48. Building P, red soil, pottery: fine wares (P P13–P P39). Figure 49. Building P, red soil, pottery: medium-coarse (P P40–P P45) and cooking (P P46–P P62) wares. Figure 50. Building P, red soil, pottery: cooking (P P63–P P66), coarse (P P67–P P84), and pithos (P P85, P P86) wares; terracotta nodulus P TC1. Figure 51. Building Q, plan. Figure 52. Building Q, north–south section a–a' of east balk. Figure 53. Building Q, Room Q2, lower deposit, pottery: fine (Q2 P1, Q2 P2), cooking (Q2 P3–Q2 P5), and coarse (Q2 P6) wares; floor deposit, pottery: fine ware (Q2 P7–Q2 P13). Figure 54. Building Q, Room Q2, floor, pottery: cooking (Q2 P14, Q2 P15) and coarse (Q2 P16–Q2 P20) wares; rock tumble and surface, pottery: pithos ware (Q2 P21). Figure 55. Building C-D, state plan. Figure 56. Building C-D, LM IIIC plan. Figure 57. Building C, Room C1: east–west section a–a'. Figure 58. Building C, Room C1, pottery: fine (C1 P1, C1 P2, C1 P4–C1 P6), coarse (C1 P7), and pithos (C1 P3, C1 P8) wares. Figure 59. Building C, Room C2: east–west section b–b'. Figure 60. Building C, Room C2, pottery: fine (C2 P1–C2 P3), medium-coarse (C2 P4), cooking (C2 P5, C2 P6), and pithos (C2 P7) wares. Figure 61. Building C, Rooms C3 and C4, pottery: fine (C3 P1, C3 P2, C4 P3–C4 P5), mediumcoarse (C4 P1, C4 P2, C4 P6–C4 P8), cooking (C3 P3), and coarse (C3 P4) wares; terracotta loomweight (C3 TC1). Figure 62. Building C, Room C4: east–west section c–c'.

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Figure 63. Building C, Rooms C4 and C5, objects: figurines (C4 F1, C5 F1, C5 F2), terracottas (C4 TC1, C4 TC2), and stone objects (C4 S1, C5 S1). Figure 64. Building C, Room C5: east–west section d–d'. Figure 65. Building C, Room C5, pottery: fine (C5 P1, C5 P2, C5 P10–C5 P13), cooking (C5 P3–C5 P5), and coarse (C5 P6–C5 P9, C5 P14) wares. Figure 66. Building D, Room D1: east–west section e–e'. Figure 67. Building D, Room D1, western half, pottery: fine (D1 P1, D1 P3), cooking (D1 P4, D1 P5), coarse (D1 P2, D1 P6, D1 P7), and pithos (D1 P8, D1 P9) wares. Figure 68. Building D, Room D1, eastern half, pottery: fine (D1 P10, D1 P11), medium-coarse (D1 P12), cooking (D1 P13), and coarse (D1 P14, D1 P15) wares. Figure 69. Building D, Room D1: animal figurines (D1 F1–D1 F3). Figure 70. Building D, Room D2: north–south section f–f '. Figure 71. Building D, Room D2, pottery: fine (D2 P4) and pithos (D2 P1–D2 P3) wares. Figure 72. Building D, Room D3, pottery: fine (D3 P6, D3 P7), cooking (D3 P1–D3 P3), and coarse (D3 P4, D3 P5, D3 P8) wares; stone object (D3 S1). Figure 73. Building D, Room D4: east–west section g–g'. Figure 74. Building D, Room D4, pottery: fine (D4 P1), cooking (D4 P2, D4 P3), and coarse (D4 P4, D4 P5) wares. Figure 75. Building D, Room D4, pottery: fine (D4 P9–D4 P13), coarse (D4 P6, D4 P14, D4 P15), and pithos (D4 P7, D4 P8) wares. Figure 76. Building D, Room D5: east–west section h–h'. Figure 77. Building D, Room D5, pottery: fine (D5 P1–D5 P3), cooking (D5 P4, D5 P5), and coarse (D5 P6, D5 P8, D5 P9), and Venetian glazed (D5 P7) wares; terracotta (D5 TC1). Figure 78. West and south of Building C-D, pottery: fine (CDW P2, CS P1, CS P6, CS P7), medium coarse (CDW P3, CS P8, CS P9), cooking (CDW P1, CS P2, CS P5), and coarse (CDW P4, CDW P5, CS P3, CS P4) wares; stone object (CS S1). Figure 79. East of Building C, pottery: fine (CE P1–CE P6), medium-coarse (CE P7–CE P10), and cooking (CE P11–CE P17) wares. Figure 80. East of Building C, pottery: cooking (CE P40, CE P41), coarse (CE P18–CE P39), and pithos (CE P42, CE P43) wares. Figure 81. Building C-D, phase plans. Figure 82. Building J-K, state plan. Figure 83. Building J-K, LM IIIC plan. Figure 84. Buildings J-K and R: north–south section b–b'. Figure 85. Building J: east–west section d–d' through J1 and J2. Figure 86. Building J: east–west section c–c' through J1 and J5. Figure 87. Building J, Room J1, gray roofing material in west, pottery: fine (J1 P1–J1 P16) and medium-coarse (J1 P17–J1 P21) wares.

LIST OF FIGURES

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Figure 88.

Building J, Room J1, gray roofing material in west, pottery: cooking wares (J1 P22–J1 P27).

Figure 89.

Building J, Room J1, gray roofing material in west, pottery: coarse (J1 P28) and pithos (J1 P29) wares.

Figure 90.

Building J, Room J1, red roofing material in east, pottery: fine (J1 P30), medium-coarse (J1 P31, J1 P32), and cooking (J1 P33–J1 P35) wares.

Figure 91.

Building J, Room J1, red roofing material in east, pottery: cooking (J1 P36–J1 P39) and coarse (J1 P40, J1 P41) wares.

Figure 92.

Building J, Room J2, pottery: fine (J2 P2), medium coarse (J2 P3), cooking (J2 P1), and coarse (J2 P4) wares; terracotta (J2 TC1).

Figure 93.

Building J: east–west section e–e' through J3 and J4.

Figure 94.

Building J: east–west section f–f ' through J3, J4b, J4c, J4d, and Graves 10, 12, and 20.

Figure 95.

Building J, Room J3, pottery: fine wares (J3 P1–J3 P9).

Figure 96.

Building J, Room J3, pottery: fine (J3 P14), medium-coarse (J3 P10–J3 P12), and cooking (J3 P13) wares; terracotta (J3 TC1).

Figure 97.

Building J, Room J4, area J4a, pottery: fine (J4 P1–J4 P13) and medium-coarse (J4 P14–J4 P23) wares.

Figure 98.

Building J, Room J4, area J4a, pottery: cooking (J4 P24–J4 P30) and coarse (J4 P31, J4 P32) wares.

Figure 99.

Building J, Room J4, areas J4a, J4b, and J4d, pottery: cooking (J4 P34) and coarse (J4 P33, J4 P35) wares; glass object (J4 G1).

Figure 100. Building J, Room J5, pottery: fine (J5 P1–J5 P6, J5 P12), medium-coarse (J5 P7), and cooking (J5 P8–J5 P11) wares. Figure 101. Building K: north–south section a–a' through K1. Figure 102. Building K, Room K1, pottery: fine (K1 P1–K1 P3, K1 P7), medium-coarse (K1 P4), cooking (K1 P5), and pithos (K1 P6) wares; terracotta (K1 TC1); figurine (K1 F1). Figure 103. Building K, Room K3, pottery: fine (K3 P1–K3 P11), medium-coarse (K3 P12, K3 P13), and cooking (K3 P14) wares. Figure 104. Building K, Room K3, pottery: cooking (K3 P15–K3 P18, K3 P21), coarse (K3 P19), and pithos (K3 P20) wares; terracottas (K3 TC1, K3 TC2). Figure 105. Building K, Room K4, pottery: fine (K4 P1–K4 P13), medium-coarse (K4 P14), cooking (K4 P15–K4 P18), and coarse (K4 P19) wares. Figure 106. Building R: east–west section g–g' through R1a and R2. Figure 107. Building R, Room R1a, pottery: Venetian fine glazed (R1 P4) and cooking (R1 P1–R1 P3) wares; iron “arrowhead” (R1 M1); possibly Venetian terracotta (R1 TC1). Figure 108. Buildings J, K, and R, phase plans.

List of Plates

Plate 1A. View of Vronda from west. Plate 1B. View of Kavousi from north. Plate 2A. Aerial view of Vronda. Plate 2B. Building B, Room B1/2 before excavation. Plate 3A. East Terrace Wall east of Building A. Plate 3B. Building A, Room A1 from south. Plate 3C. Building A, Room A1, aerial view, showing east wall (V 2805) with north at left. Plate 3D. Building A, Room A1, linear accumulation from north. Plate 3E. Pithos A1 P7. Plate 4A. Building A, Room A2, north and south walls from north. Plate 4B. Terracotta tile AW TC1. Plate 4C. West of Building A, pit with cooking pots. Plate 4D. West of Building A, pit with mudbrick.

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Plate 4E. West of Building A, mudbrick. Plate 5A. Tripod cooking pot AW P16. Plate 5B. Conical cup AW P28. Plate 5C. Jar AW P38. Plate 5D. East Terrace Wall from north. Plate 5E. Platform east of Building A, Room A1 from south. Plate 5F.

East Terrace fill from south.

Plate 6A. Barbotine ware (AE P61) and vessel with impressed spirals (AE P62). Plate 6B. Building B, Room B1/2 from north. Plate 6C. Building B, Room B1/2, showing abutment of Walls I and D from west. Plate 6D. Building B, Room B3, west wall from east. Plate 6E. Building B, Room B3, floor. Plate 6F.

Building B, Room B3, pithos 1 (B3 P20) from south.

Plate 7A. Building B, Room B3, pithos 2 (B3 P21) from north. Plate 7B. Building B, Room B3, pithos 3 (B3 P22) from north. Plate 7C. Kylikes B3 P3 and B3 P4. Plate 7D. Pithos B3 P20. Plate 7E. Pithos B3 P21. Plate 7F.

Pithos B3 P22.

Plate 8A. Building B, Room B3, stone tools (B3 ST1, B3 ST2) and door pivot V83.18. Plate 8B. Building B, Room B4, pottery deposits in north. Plate 8C. Building B, Room B4, bone and pottery deposits in south. Plate 8D. Building B, Room B4, pottery: cup (B4 P3), champagne cup (B4 P11), deep bowl (B4 P12), bowl (B4 P21), and stirrup jar (B4 P28). Plate 8E. Krater B4 P25. Plate 8F.

Lekane (B4 P37) and jug (B4 P38).

Plate 9A. Cooking dish B4 P41. Plate 9B. Building B, Room B5, cobble fill from east. Plate 9C. Building B, Room B6, aerial view (north at left). Plate 9D. Building B, Room B6, pot stand against Wall H with pithos/basin B6 P20 from west. Plate 9E. Building B, Room B6, cupule or kernos from west. Plate 9F.

Conical cup B6 P7.

Plate 10A. Building B, Room B6, stone tools: pebbles (B6 ST1, B6 ST4), hand tool (B6 ST2), and polisher (B6 ST3).

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Plate 10B. Building B, Room B7, north wall (Wall C) from south. Plate 10C. Building B, Room B7, aerial view (north to left). Plate 10D. Building B, Room B7, pithos B7 P26 during excavation, 1983. Plate 10E. Building B, Room B7, pithos B7 P26 during excavation, 1987. Plate 10F.

Deep bowl B7 P4.

Plate 11A. Krater B7 P9. Plate 11B. Pithos B7 P26. Plate 11C. Close-up of pithos B7 P26 decoration. Plate 11D. Building B, Room B8, west wall from east, showing bench. Plate 11E. Building B, Room B8, bin in corner as seen from south. Plate 11F.

Building B, Room B8, linear accumulation and window frame from west.

Plate 12A. Window frame B8 TC1. Plate 12B. Building P, aerial view, showing bin (north to left). Plate 12C. Nodulus P TC1, showing fingerprints. Plate 12D. Building Q from west. Plate 12E. Lead objects from Vonda settlement: lead run offs (E2 M1, Q2 M1), lead vessel (NW M1). Plate 12F.

Building C, Room C1 from west, showing east wall.

Plate 12G. Building C, Room C1, aerial view of southwestern corner (north at top). Plate 13A. Building C, Room C1, pithos on floor. Plate 13B. Building C, Room C2, hearth. Plate 13C. Building C, Room C2, aerial view, showing oven (north at top). Plate 13D. Building C, Room C2 from west, showing oven and flue. Plate 14A. Building C, Room C2 from west, showing fenestrated stand C2 P4 in oven. Plate 14B. Fenestrated stand C2 P4. Plate 14C. Building C, Room C2, stone tools: hand tools (C2 ST1, C2 ST3, C2 ST5), grinder (C2 ST2), and whetstone (C2 ST4). Plate 14D. Building C, Room C4 from south, showing cist (Grave 5) and pit. Plate 15A. Building C, Room C4 from north, showing bench. Plate 15B. Building C, Room C4 from southwest, showing oven. Plate 15C. Building C, Room C4, close-up of oven. Plate 15D. Building C, Room C5 from east, showing hearth or oven. Plate 15E. Building C, Room C5 from northwest, showing floor paving. Plate 16A. Building D, Room D1, Wall V 5103 from northwest.

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Plate 16B. Building D, Room D1, aerial view, showing platform in corner (north at top). Plate 16C. Building D, Room D1 from north, showing platform and pottery. Plate 16D. Building D, Room D1 from north, showing post bases. Plate 16E. Building D, Room D1, animal figurines (D1 F1, D1 F2) on platform. Plate 16F.

Animal figurines (D1 F1–D1 F3).

Plate 17A. Krater D1 P10. Plate 17B. Jug D1 P14. Plate 17C. Building D, Room D1, stone tools (D1 ST2, D1 ST3, D1 ST8–D1 ST14). Plate 18A. Building D, Room D2, aerial view (north to left). Plate 18B. Building D, Room D2, west wall from east. Plate 18C. Building D, Room D2, floor (V 12922) from south. Plate 18D. Building D, Room D2, second surface (V 12814, V 12917) from south with slab and pithoi. Plate 19A. Building D, Room D2, pithos in roofing from south. Plate 19B. Building D, Room D3, aerial view (north at top). Plate 19C. Building D, Room D3, tripod cooking pot (D3 P3) smashed on top of paving slab from southwest. Plate 19D. Building D, Room D4, south wall (V 12920) from north showing blocked door. Plate 19E. Building D, Room D4, aerial view, showing walls and Bench V 5006 (north at top). Plate 19F.

Lekane D4 P4.

Plate 20A. Building D, Room D4, stone tools: whetstones (D4 ST1, D4 ST2) and querns (D4 ST3, D4 ST4). Plate 20B. Building D, Room D5, aerial view (north at top). Plate 20C. Building D, Room D5, stone tools: hand tools (D5 ST2, D5 ST4), grinder (D5 ST3), and whetstone or pestle (D5 ST5). Plate 20D. West of Building C-D, terrace wall V 11803 from west. Plate 21A. West of Building C-D, terrace wall V 11803 from north. Plate 21B. South of Building C, surface with strainer CS P4. Plate 21C. Strainer CS P4. Plate 21D. Bowl CE P4. Plate 22A. Building J, Room J1 from west. Plate 22B. Building J, Room J1, cobbled surface on bedrock from south. Plate 22C. Building J, Room J1, stone tools: mortar (J1 ST1), hand tools (J1 ST2, J1 ST4), possible weight (J1 ST3), and saddle quern (J1 ST5). Plate 22D. Building J, Room J2, west wall and ledge from east. Plate 22E. Building J, Room J2, door from south.

LIST OF PLATES

Plate 22F.

xxiii

Lekane J2 P4.

Plate 23A. Building J, Room J3, west wall from east. Plate 23B. Pottery from Room J3: kylix (J3 P4), stirrup jar (J3 P8), and fenestrated stand (J3 P10). Plate 23C. Miscellaneous objects from Building Complex J-K and Building R: shell vase attachment (J3 P14), glass object (J4 G1), figurine (K1 F1), stone object (K2 S1), iron arrowhead (R1 M1), terracotta objects (J3 TC1, K1 TC1, K3 TC1, K3 TC2, R1 TC1). Plate 23D. Building J, Room J4, area J4a from west. Plate 23E. Building J, Room J4, area J4c from south, showing Graves 10, 12, 17; Room R2 is in the foreground. Plate 24A. Building J, Room J5, northeastern corner from west. Plate 24B. Building K, Rooms K1–K2 from southwest, showing door between. Plate 24C. Building K, Room K1 from southeast, showing Grave 16; Wall V 6202/6310 and Bench V 6209/6316 in foreground. Plate 24D. Building K, Rooms K1–K2, stone tools: hand tool (K1 ST1), polisher (K1 ST2), and pebble (K2 ST1). Plate 24E. Building K, Room K2 from west. Plate 24F.

Building K, Room K2, bin or pot stand (V 6403).

Plate 25A. Building K, Room K3, bench, aerial view. Plate 25B. Building K, Rooms K3–K4, pit and wall between. Plate 25C. Building J, Room K3, stone tools: hand tools (K3 ST1, K3 ST4–K3 ST6) and saddle querns (K3 ST2, K3 ST3). Plate 25D. Building R, wall between Rooms R1a and R2 from south. Plate 25E. Building R, Room R1a from west. Plate 25F.

Building R, Room R1a, hearth from south.

Preface

Kavousi IIA: The Late Minoan IIIC Settlement at Vronda. The Buildings on the Summit is the second in the series of final reports on the work of the Kavousi Project and the first volume on the cleaning (1982–1984) and excavations (1987–1992) at the sites located above the modern village of Kavousi in eastern Crete. The final report on the survey of the Kavousi area can be found in Kavousi I: The Archaeological Survey of the Kavousi Region (Haggis 2005), along with further information on the history of archaeological investigation in the Kavousi area, including a fuller description of the chronology of the Kavousi Project. The sites in the Kavousi area, first explored by Harriet Boyd (Hawes) in 1900, originally elicited the interest of the project directors because of their potential to shed light on the Early Iron Age, the transitional period in Cretan history known popularly as the Dark Ages. At the time the Project began, this period was not well understood, particularly on Crete, where archaeological activity had understandably focused on the palatial society and the periods leading up to it. What was known of the Early Iron Age came primarily from material excavated from graves by early 20th-century archaeologists, and a few single-period habitation sites like Karphi (Pendlebury, Pendlebury, and Money-Coutts 1937–1938). The last four decades of the century saw a renewed interest in the Dark Ages that included new syntheses of the era (Desborough 1964, 1972; Snodgrass 1971; Coldstream 1977) along with spectacular new archaeological finds, such as those at Lefkandi

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(Popham, Sackett and Themelis, eds., 1980; Popham, Calliagas, and Sackett, eds., 1993; Popham and Lemos 1996). On Crete, interest in the period was spurred by the publication of the Karphi pottery in 1960 (Seiradaki 1960) and new excavations at Kastri Palaikastro (Sackett, Popham, and Warren 1965), Prinias (Rizza, Palermo, and Tomasello 1992), Chania (Hallager and Hallager, eds., 2000), and the North Cemetery at Knossos (Coldstream and Catling, eds., 1996). Little work, however, had been done in East Crete at the time. The Kavousi Project was thus conceived as a multidisciplinary regional study of an important area of East Crete, with a focus on the Early Iron Age mountain sites above Kavousi. The Project was carried out in two phases, beginning in 1978. The first phase included the study of the surviving artifacts and architecture found by earlier investigators at Kavousi. This phase of study of the material from Kavousi indicated that renewed excavations at Vronda and the Kastro, with their settlements and cemeteries that lasted from LM IIIC through the Early Orientalizing period, could provide a unique opportunity to explore the entire Dark Ages and potentially answer questions about the history, chronology, and society of the era. Thus the next phase of the project, which began in 1987, was a five-year program of excavation at Vronda and the Kastro, together with a surface survey of the Kavousi area to place the sites within a broader historical and environmental context. That there were contemporary remains along with those of later periods on the third site of Azoria was not clear until after the surface survey showed the chronological range and geographical extent of that site, and lack of time and resources made investigation impossible there. The subsequent independent excavations at Azoria by Donald Haggis and Margaret Mook, however, have filled in that gap (Haggis et al. 2004; Haggis et al. 2007). This first phase of the project also included a geophysical survey at Vronda, core drilling for pollen samples at Ammoudara in the area of Hagios Nikolaos, and extensive study of the soils and agricultural potential of the Kavousi area and other areas of East Crete. The excavations at Vronda and the Kastro were designed to recover not only the traditional architectural and artifactual remains, but also to include the study of the human and animal bones and palaeobotanical remains recovered through water sieving. The investigators identified a number of questions which could be answered by the opening of excavations at Kavousi, and new questions naturally arose during the course of the survey, excavation, and analysis. The first goal was to determine the chronological and social relationships among the Early Iron Age settlements in the Kavousi area. It was originally thought that Vronda was the earlier of the two settlements, dating almost exclusively to the LM IIIC period, and that the Kastro began only after the abandonment of the Vronda settlement. The investigators hoped to be able to understand the reasons for the shifting pattern of settlement in the Kavousi area that might help to explain changes observable elsewhere in the island. As it became clear that the Kastro was the earlier inhabitation of the Early Iron Age and that the settlements overlapped in the 12th century, more attention was focused on determining the relationships between the two settlements by a comparison of architecture, pottery, and other objects. Of particular importance was the petrographic analysis of the coarse wares from the two sites to determine the differences and similarities in production and trade both synchronically and diachronically. A second important aim was to discover as much as possible about the lifeways of the people of Kavousi in the period and how these may have changed over time. Since it became clear that Vronda was predominantly a single-period site, the goal of excavation there was to uncover as much as possible of the settlement of the

PREFACE

LM IIIC period, to recover the buildings and objects used by or left behind by its inhabitants, and to reconstruct the social organization and lives of the people who lived there in the 12th century. At the onset of excavations, Karphi was the only extensively excavated LM IIIC settlement in Crete and only subsequently did other settlements, like nearby Chalasmenos, come to light. For complete recovery of the plan of the settlement at Vronda, trenches were excavated all over the ridge and around the periphery. Work focused on areas where less disturbance had occurred or which were of particular interest, such as the large house on the summit and the religious building on the southwest. At Kastro, the original goal was to recover what appeared to be a large settlement of the Geometric period, but it was soon apparent that the site was inhabited over a long period of time, from the earliest phase of the LM IIIC period down into the 7th century. The aims of the excavation on the Kastro shifted from the recovery of a single-period settlement to an investigation of the stratified remains that revealed the entire history of the town. This meant excavating more deeply in a smaller number of places, rather than more extensive recovery of the buildings of the last phase. The recovery of stratified floors of continuous habitation have established a ceramic sequence for Kavousi and helped to clarify the pottery chronology in East Crete. Another goal of the excavations was to explore the cemeteries around the sites at Kavousi to understand better the shifting location of graves and burial practices in the area, to learn something about the health and heredity of the population, and to discover more about the social and political structures and religious beliefs of the inhabitants of the area. Although great effort was expended in trying to locate more tholos tombs around both settlements, only one new tholos was found at Vronda, and that had been completely robbed. The unexpected Late Geometric cemetery of cremation burials at Vronda, however, provided a new type of primary cremation, known before only at nearby Vrokastro, but later paralleled by the cemetery at Eleutherna. Much of the resources of the project went into the careful recovery of these graves. The results of the excavations at Vronda and the Kastro are presented in six volumes. Kavousi II is devoted to the material from the settlement at Vronda. The remainder of the volumes of the Kavousi series include the following: The Shrine at Vronda; The Geometric Cemetery at Vronda; The Pottery from the Kastro; The Architecture and Stratigraphy of the Kastro; and The Early Excavations at Kavousi. The publication of the Vronda site appears in three volumes: one on the LM IIIC settlement, one on the LM IIIC shrine, and a third on the Late Geometric cremation cemetery. This first Vronda volume on the LM IIIC settlement is divided into three parts. The first part treats the material from the houses on the summit of the Vronda ridge (Buildings A-B, C-D, J-K, and Q), along with earlier (Building P) and later (Building R) structures around them. The second part, Kavousi IIB (Day and Glowacki, forthcoming), presents the material from the structures on the slopes of the Vronda ridge (Buildings E, I-O-N, L-M, the Kiln) and on the periphery. The final part, Kavousi IIC (Day et al., forthcoming), is devoted to specialist analyses of the architecture, pottery, finds, and floral and faunal remains. Briefly, the history of archaeological investigations at Kavousi is as follows. In 1900 Harriet Boyd uncovered some buildings on the summit of the Vronda ridge, which were not given thorough publication, and eight tholos tombs of Subminoan date, for which some photos and lists of contents were published. After Boyd’s brief exploration of the Kavousi area, interest in Vronda declined, but in 1951 a local landowner, Giorgos Sekadakis, discovered another tholos tomb (Vronda IX)

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in the area. Modern work began on Vronda with the clearing of Boyd’s tombs by William Coulson, Leslie Day, and Geraldine Gesell in 1981. The cleaning of the buildings of the Vronda settlement began in 1983 and continued in 1984. When excavations began in 1987, the Vronda settlement was a major focus, and work continued there in all seasons, from 1987 to 1990 and again in 1992. At that time it became clear that the settlement belonged to the Late Minoan IIIC period, and that the area of the settlement had been used in the Geometric period as a cemetery long after its abandonment. Remains of earlier periods (EM II–III, MM I–II, MM III–LM IA) also appeared. The work on the summit of Vronda was undertaken by many people during the years of excavation. In 1983, the cleaning of Building A-B was conducted by the three directors: Geraldine Gesell, Leslie Day, and William Coulson. In 1984, the investigation at Vronda was supervised by the three directors, with the addition of Margaret Mook, George Rochefort, James Rehard, and Joseph Day. On the summit, parts of Buildings A-B, C-D, and R were cleaned in that season. In 1987 excavations commenced with Leslie Day as field director. Work concentrated on the peripheral areas, and only parts of Buildings B and C-D were explored on top of the ridge by trench supervisors Marina Markantonatos and Susan Springer. In 1988 trench supervisors James Higginbotham, John Lenz, Julia Shear, and Lee Ann Turner excavated the area of Building J-K; Building C-D was investigated in that season by Kevin Baldwin. The 1989 season saw more work in Building C-D by Nancy Klein and Catherine Woolfit and in Building J-K by Lee Ann Turner. In 1990, Deanne Dicer and Nancy Klein continued the work in Building C-D, and Lee Ann Turner in Building J. Finally, in 1992 excavation was carried out in Buildings C-D and J-K by Nancy Klein, and in Buildings A-B and P by Leslie Day. Many student assistants and local workers from Kavousi village devoted much time and effort in the excavations in all years. This first volume on the Vronda settlement has been jointly authored, and the name of its particular author has been placed at the head of each chapter. Everything within a chapter, including the catalog entries, is the work of this author except for the following: the catalogs and discussions of terracotta figurines are by Geraldine C. Gesell; the discussions and catalogs of stone tools are by Heidi Dierckx; the discussion and tables of vertebrate faunal remains are by Lynn M. Snyder; tables and discussions of marine shells are based on the work of David S. Reese; identifications and discussions of paleobotanical remains are based on the research of Kimberly Flint-Hamilton. Geraldine C. Gesell Knoxville, TN, 2007 Leslie Preston Day Crawfordsville, IN, 2007

Acknowledgments

The Kavousi Excavations were sponsored by the University of Tennessee under the auspices of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens with the permission of the Greek Ministry of Culture. The major supporters of the excavation in addition to the University of Tennessee have been the Institute for Aegean Prehistory, National Endowment for the Humanities (an independent federal agency), the National Geographic Society, and Mr. Richard L. Sias and Mrs. Jeannette F. Sias. In particular, the University of Tennessee has supported the excavations through the Office of Research, Faculty Development Grants from the Graduate School, and funds from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Classics, the Department of Anthropology, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Special thanks must be given to Sheadrick A. Tillman (former Assistant Vice Provost for Research) and Kenneth R. Walker (former Assistant Vice President of Research), C.W. Minkel (former Dean of the Graduate School), Anne Mayhew (former Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Graduate School), William Stuart Riggsby (former Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences), and three Heads of the Department of Classics: Harry C. Rutledge, who gave the project his complete support from the beginning and whose enthusiasm for the project was instrumental in securing private funding, and Susan Martin and David Tandy, both of whom readily continued this support.

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Supporting foundations include the American Philosophical Society, the David A. Packard Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Samuel H. Kress Foundation, and the Joullian Foundation. Support for faculty and students was provided by the Wabash College Faculty Development Fund and Student Intern Program and the University of Minnesota Graduate School and Office of International Programs. Other colleges providing support include the College of Wooster, Gustavus Adolphus College, College of St. Catherine, and Randolph-Macon College at Ashland, Virginia. Major contributors include Mr. James T. Bradbury and Mrs. Louise Bradbury, Mr. Donald S. Kennedy, Mrs. Katherine J. Nordsieck, Dr. Harry C. Rutledge, Mrs. Doreen C. Spitzer, and members of Harriet Boyd Hawes’s family: Mr. Alexander B. Hawes, Mr. Alexander B. Hawes, Jr. and Mrs. Jane G. Hawes, and Ms. Sue Hawes. Many faithful donors are or have been members of the East Tennessee Society of the Archaeological Institute of America, faculty members, or alumni of the Department of Classics at the University of Tennessee: John M. Armistead, Esq., and Mrs. Julia B. Armistead, Dr. Paul Barrette and Dr. Susan D. Martin, Mr. Richard S. Bagwell and Mrs. Laura J. Bagwell, Mr. Charles K. Bayne and Mrs. Pauline S. Bayne, Mr. Richard M. Berry, Mr. Bernard S. Borie, Mr. James D. Cape, Dr. Jefferson Chapman and Mrs. Vicki Chapman, Mr. Arnold G. Cohen and Mrs. Linda M. Cohen, Dr. Christopher P. Craig and Mrs. Ann E. Robinson-Craig, Dr. E. Charles Crume Jr., Dr. Kenneth Curry, Dr. John H. Fisher and Ms. Audrey A. Duncan, Dr. Scott E. Goins, Dr. John M. Googin and Mrs. Janet Googin, Mrs. Susan Neas Hankins, Mr. Charles P. Jones and Mrs. Janelle O. Jones, Mr. Richard B. Korsmeyer and Mrs. Lynn Korsmeyer, Mr. Steven D. Kramer and Mrs. Phyllis A. Kramer, Dr. Henri A. Levy and Dr. Bettie J. Levy, Dr. Herbert G. MacPherson and Mrs. Janet W. MacPherson, Mr. Raymond M. McMillan, Mr. Arthur G. Mitchell and Mrs. Marsha K. Mitchell, Esq., Mr. Don G. Mitchell and Mrs. Judy A. Mitchell, Mr. Peter G. Poulos and Dr. Paula Nassen Poulos, Mrs. Thelma Present, Dr. J. Reece Roth and Mrs. Helen M. Roth, and Mrs. Gail Smelcer. Other regular donors include Mrs. Mary H. Barnes, Mr. Lloyd E. Beebe, Ms. Barbara Bell, Mr. Donald A. Coulson and Mrs. Catherine T. Coulson, Dr. Panos G. Gregoriou and Mrs. Lilia P. Gregoriou, Mr. and Mrs. Edward C. Joullian III, Dr. George R. Martin and Mrs. Ruth G. Martin, Mrs. Betty E. Matthew, Mr. George Seminoff and Mrs. Sharon Seminoff, Dr. Morris M. Weiss and Dr. Terry Weiss, Mr. S. Linn Williams and Mrs. Noriko Williams. The directors wish to express their gratitude to all those who assisted with the project and the excavations, including the following: Yannis Tzedakis, Ios Zervoudaki, and Katerina Romiopoulou (Directors for Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, Ministry of Culture of Greece); Costis Davaras, the late Nikos Papadakis, Metaxia Tsipopoulou, and Stavroula Apostolakou (Directors of the East Crete Ephoreia). The directors are grateful to Stylianos Alexiou, Yannis Sakellarakis, Charalambos Kritsas, Alexandra Karetsou, Eva Grammatikaki, and Nota Dimopoulou-Rethemiotaki (Directors of the Herakleion Museum) for their assistance in the study of material from Boyd’s excavations at Kavousi and the study of comparanda from various other sites. The directors are also grateful to Athanasia Kanta, Vassilis Dougalis, and Evangelis Sachperaglou for special assistance. The American School of Classical Studies at Athens helped in all stages of the work of the Kavousi Project. Sincere thanks are extended to the directors Henry S. Immerwahr, Stephen G. Miller, William D.E. Coulson, James D. Muhly, Stephen

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

V. Tracy and to their administrative assistant Maria Pilali. Sincere thanks are also extended to Thomas M. Brogan (Director of the INSTAP Study Center for East Crete) for assistance during the study seasons. The directors wish to express their special appreciation to Philip P. Betancourt (Executive Director of the Institute for Aegean Prehistory) for his constant support. The directors would like to express their appreciation for all the assistance and goodwill of the people of Kavousi, Pacheia Ammos, and Ierapetra throughout the years that the team of the Kavousi Excavations worked in their area. Finally, the directors are particularly thankful to Malcolm H. Wiener, the founder of the Institute for Aegean Prehistory, who has funded the Wiener Lab at the American School of Classical Studies and the INSTAP Study Center for East Crete, providing ideal study conditions and technical services for the Kavousi Excavations as well as other projects both in East Crete and elsewhere in the Aegean area. The authors involved in Kavousi II would like to thank those who supported and helped them personally. Wabash College provided great support for Leslie Day’s work in all phases, from supplying equid transportation in 1984 to providing student assistants and financial assistance for the many seasons of excavation and study. Joseph Day was unstinting in his support over 30 years of excavation and research. Work on the Vronda material was carried out with the help of grants from the American Council of Learned Societies and the Archaeological Institute of America (Harriet Pomerance Fellowship). The Edward A. Schrader Endowed Fund for Classical Archaeology at Indiana University provided support for Nancy Klein and Kevin Glowacki. The University of Notre Dame, Stetson University, and Duke University supported Kimberly Flint-Hamilton, who would also like to thank personally John Younger and Steve Hamilton. Lynn M. Snyder also received support from a Fulbright Foundation Scholarship. Faunal identifications were completed using the comparative collections of the Anthropology Department of the University of Tennessee and the Wiener Laboratory of the American School of Classical Studies; comparative materials were collected and processed by Walter Klippel and Lynn M. Snyder for the INSTAP Study Center; Paul W. Parmalee graciously identified the Kavousi bird bones. Heidi Dierckx is grateful to Ch. Fassoulas, Y. Bassiakos, and V. Tsikouras for helping to understand the geology of the area and to identify the raw materials used for the stone tools. Financial assistance for study of the kiln was provided by the Canadian Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council. The staff and members of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens were invaluable in all matters dealing with permits and study, and gave much support over the years for the study of the material and provided the resources of the Blegen Library. We are also very grateful to the INSTAP Study Center for East Crete for making the study and recording possible. Thanks also go to the many scholars who looked at the Vronda material and gave of their expert help in the analysis: C.D. Annibale, Kellee Barnard, Victoria Batten, Harriet Blitzer, Thomas Brogan, Kostis Christakis, Damon Cassiano, Anna Lucia D’Agata, Peter Day, Doniert Evely, Cheryl Floyd, Carole Gillis, Donald Haggis, Barbara Hayden, Athanasia Kanta, Alexandra Karetsou, Carl Knappett, Floyd McCoy, John McEnroe, Holley Martlew, Margaret Mook, Polymnia Muhly, Natalia Poulou, Evi Sikla, R. Angus K. Smith, Thomas Strasser, Metaxia Tsipopoulou, Peter Warren, L. Vance Watrous, and David Wilson.

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Staff List The excavations at Kavousi have been conducted by a staff of archaeologists and scientific specialists supported by artists, architects, conservators, computer specialists, and photographers. A large number of student trainees, student assistants, and volunteers have also participated in various phases of the work. People from the town of Kavousi also helped us in many ways over the years. This publication would not have been possible without them. All these individuals are listed alphabetically below with their positions and dates. Anthony Abutrab: architect and surveyor (1992); Connie Alanreddoch: student assistant (1991); Jason Aldred: student assistant (1998); Jane Allison: conservator (1989); Philip Ammerman: volunteer (1987–1988); John T. Ammons: soil scientist (1988–1991); Amanda Anders: student assistant (2001); Kristina L. Anderson: trench assistant (1990); Anna M. Andrews: student assistant (1996); Alden Arndt: computer specialist (1984–1985, 1988); John Arndt (1986, 1987); Kevin Baldwin: trench assistant (1987) and trench supervisor (1988); Richard Barden: conservator (1990); Juliana V. Barnea: artist (1996); Robert Barnes: student assistant (1998); Rene Beauchamp: computer specialist (1993); Jacqueline Beebe: trench assistant (1987); Lloyd Beebe: trench assistant (1987); Lisa V. Benson: registrar (1994); Katherine Bentz: student assistant (1991); Andrew Bieberich: assistant paleobotanist (1990); Duane Bingham: photographer (1984, 1987); Ann Blasingham: registrar (1988); Kenneth J. Bohac: trench assistant (1990); Tina Bolotis: artist (1996); Travis Boothby: student assistant (2000); Blythe Bowman: student assistant (1997); Andrew Bradbury: computer specialist (1992); Douglas Bradford: student assistant (1995); Lyla Pinch Brock: artist (1991–1998); Thomas M. Brogan: trench assistant (1987) and trench supervisor (1988); Christopher W. Bryan: student assistant (1993); Donna Bryant: trench assistant (1990); Sarah Bryant: trench assistant (1990); Ann Brysbaert: conservator (1995–1997); Nancy Buschini: conservator (1990); Jane B. Carter: trench supervisor (1990); Melinda L. Carter: trench assistant (1989); Xenia Chiloudaki: conservator (1987–1989); Stefania Chlouveraki: conservator (1994–2002); Janet Colbert: registrar (1987); William D.E. Coulson: co-director (1978–1999) and field director of Kastro (1987–1999); Matthew Crawford: conservator (1993); David Cummins: trench assistant (1992); Jennifer Dan: computer specialist (2000); Megen Dance: student assistant (2001); Martha R. Daura: conservator’s assistant (1989); Barry Davis: student assistant (1998); Wesley Davis: student assistant (1991) and registrar (1993); Joseph Day: trench assistant (1984); Leslie P. Day: co-director (1978–2002) and field director of Vronda (1987–2002); Michael Decker: computer specialist (1998); Deanne Dicer (Toye): trench assistant (1989), trench supervisor (1990), and registrar (1992); Heidi Dierckx: lithics specialist (1992–2002); Roxana Docsan: artist (1994–2002); Quentin R. Dodd: student assistant (1993); Eve J. Dorman: student assistant (1993); Anne Ellenberger: trench assistant (1987); Bradley C. Engle: computer specialist (1996); Stuart Evans: trench assistant (1988) and trench supervisor (1989–1990); Teresa Faulkner: artist (1990); Gina Ferris: student assistant (1996); Elizabeth Fisher: trench supervisor (1987); Kimberley FlintHamilton: paleobotanist (1987–1989, 1992–2002); John Foss: soil scientist (1987–1988); Pedar Foss: trench assistant (1987) and trench supervisor (1988); Mark Gehl: student assistant (1997); Geraldine C. Gesell: co-director (1978–2002) and executive director (1987–2002); Kevin T. Glowacki: trench supervisor (1987–1992) and area specialist (1994–2002); Michael Goss: trench assistant (1989); Yvonne

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Greenleaf: camp manager (1987); Amy Hackney: trench assistant (1990); Donald C. Haggis: trench supervisor (1987–1992) and area specialist (1993–1995); Charles Hall: architect (1988); Steven Hamilton: photographer (1989); Barbara Hamman: conservator (1988–1989); Roswell Edmond Hamrick III: architect (1991); Kiri Hanson: student assistant (2002); Richard Hebda: paleobotanist (1984); Carol Hershenson: registrar (1989–1990); James Higginbotham: trench supervisor (1988); Louise Hitchcock: trench supervisor (1989); Michael Hoff: architect (1987–1988); Katherine Holbrow: conservator (1992); Lyle T. Hubbard Jr.: trench assistant (1989); Darrin E. Humbard: student assistant (1992, 1994) and registrar (1995); Michael Inman: assistant paleobotanist (1989); Gerald W. Johnson: surveyor (1978); Shay L. Johnson: student assistant (1996); Robert A. Johnston: trench assistant (1988); Irini Karousas: conservator (1995–1998); Tassos Karousas: conservator (1995–1998); Shae Kelly: student assistant (2000); Helen Kingsley: conservator (1987–1988); Nancy L. Klein: trench supervisor (1989–1992) and area specialist (1993–2002); John P. Kline: trench assistant (1989); Walter Klippel: zooarchaeologist (1988–2002); Elizabeth Knudsen: assistant registrar (1990); Ralph Krisher: computer specialist (1990); Ingrid Lacy: assistant paleobotanist (1992); Linda L. Landry: conservator (1994); Elizabeth Langridge: trench supervisor (1990); Mark L. Lawall: trench assistant (1988) and trench supervisor (1989); Roberta Lawson: trench assistant (1988); Patti Lee: computer specialist (1995); John R. Lenz: trench supervisor (1988); Maria A. Liston: physical anthropologist (1987–2002); Susan B. Lucas: trench assistant (1988); Andrew Luckey: student assistant (1991); John McCarron: trench assistant (1989–1990); Jeremy McInerney: trench supervisor (1989–1990); Louise McInerney: computer specialist (1989); LaDelle Mackeban: trench assistant (1988); K. Wendy McLaughlin: trench assistant (1989); Michael McMillin: computer specialist (1997–1998); Catherine Magee: conservator (1993); Lisa Mahoney: student assistant (1991); Adrienne Malcolm: student assistant (2002–2004); Marina Markantonatos: trench supervisor (1987); George Martin: trench assistant (1988–1990); Shannon S. Meyer: trench assistant (1988); Andrew Mikelson: assistant architect (1990); Julie P. Miller: trench assistant (1989); Michele Miller: artist (1989); Heidi C. Mittelstadt: trench assistant (1988); Margaret S. Mook: trench assistant (1984), trench supervisor (1987–1992), and area specialist (1992–2002); Stephen T. Mooney: artist (1987–1988); Drew Moore: student assistant (1995); Michael Morris: soil scientist (1991); Karen Moukheiber: photographer (1988); J.D. Myers: student assistant (2001–2002); Marilisa Nelson: trench assistant (1989); Son Nguyen: student assistant (1993); Katherine Nightingale: conservator (1991); Albert Nyboer: conservator (1986–1987); Paulette Oppegard: trench assistant (1987); Caroline Paddock: assistant conservator (1991); Stavros Papamarinopoulos: geophysicist (1986–1988); Virginia Parks: trench assistant (1989); Neil Patel: student assistant (1993); Christina Paterakis: photographer (1990–1991); Judith A. Patterson: computer specialist (1994); Douglas H. Pierce: assistant architect (1989); Michael Pierce: trench assistant (1989); Melissa Pinsley: architect (1987); Faye C. Polillo: architect (1989–1990); J. Patrick Polley: camp manager (1994–1995); Joanne Polley: photographer (1994–1995); D. Sydnor Pugh: trench assistant (1990); Amy Raymond: trench assistant (1989); James Rehard: architect (1984); Jonathan Reynolds: trench assistant (1987–1988, 1990) and camp manager (1989); George Rochefort: trench assistant (1984, 1986) and camp manager (1988); Elizabeth Rodenbeck: artist (1995); Vanessa Rousseau: assistant architect (1990); Eric Rowland: architect (1989); Sylvia Ruud: artist (1981); Elizabeth Safran: artist (1985); Timothy Schultz: student assistant (1991); Scott Seay: camp manager (1990); Julia Shear: trench supervisor (1988);

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Janusz Siewierski: trench assistant (1990); Noël Siver: conservator (1988–1995); David Skoog: trench supervisor (1990); Julie A. Smith: photographer (1996); Lynn Snyder: zooarchaeologist (1989–2002); Rajshree K. Solanki: student assistant (1996) and registrar (1997); Jeffrey S. Soles: trench supervisor (1987); Susan Springer: trench supervisor (1987); Katerina Stamoudi: trench supervisor (1990); Kirsten Svenson-Taylor: conservator (1992); Christine Thede: conservator (1994); Christopher Tillquist: trench assistant (1990); Michael E. Timpson: soil scientist (1987–1989); Jennifer Tobin: trench supervisor (1990) and area specialist (1991–2002); David L. Toye: trench supervisor (1989–1990) and camp manager (1992); Katerina Triantafylla: conservator (1991); Brian Tucker: student assistant (1998); Lee Ann Turner: trench supervisor (1988–1990) and area specialist (1991–2002); Markham Tyler: trench assistant (1988); Katherine Untch: conservator (1989); Anne Van Dyne: architect (1993); Benjamin Venable: trench assistant (1990); Sheilagh Wall: zooarchaeologist (1981–1984); Christina Watkins: student assistant (1993); Antoinette E. Way: trench assistant (1988); Vicki Weaver: trench assistant (1992); Charles Stanton Webster: student assistant (2002); Matt Weidenhammer: computer specialist (2002); Morris Weiss: trench supervisor (1987); Terry Weiss: trench assistant (1987); Gayle Wever: conservator (1984); Christopher White: student assistant (1995–1996) and assistant conservator (1997); Jerard White: student assistant (1998, 2001); Barry A. Williams: trench assistant (1990); Steven Williamson: trench assistant (1990); Christopher Wimberley: student assistant (1997) and registrar (1998); Nancy Wood: trench assistant (1987); Catherine Woolfit: trench supervisor (1989); Joshua Wright: trench assistant (1989); Claire Zimmerman: artist (1985); and John Zimmerman: photographer (1992–1993). During the years of excavation, representatives of the Greek Archaeological Service worked at Kavousi, including Stavroula Apostolakou (1981), Marilena Kanetaki (1987, 1989), Angeliki Kossyva (1992), Kalliope Kotzageorgi (1987–1988), Kalliope Michaelidou (1988), Elpida Sklerou (1989), Chrysoula Sophianou (1990), Katerina Stamoudi (1989), and Metaxia Tsipopoulou (1983, 1984). Many scholars and students participated in aspects of the work, sometimes repeatedly, for shorter periods of time. These included: David Day: surveyor; Peter Day: petrographer; Carole Gillis: ceramic specialist; Julie Hansen: paleobotanist; Effie Photos-Jones: metal analyst; James Raab-Rust: remote sensing; Oliver Rackham: paleobotanist; David Reese: shell specialist; Theodore Saupe: ceramicist; and Theodore Stamos: geophysical surveyor. Since the opening of the INSTAP Study Center for East Crete, the following staff members have also given of their time, energy, and expertise: Thomas Brogan, Stefania Chlouveraki, Douglas Faulmann, Kathy Hall, Eleanor Huffman, Chronis Papanikolopoulos, Katherine May, and Michel Roggenbucke. Finally, several volunteers worked with the Kavousi staff for shorter periods, including the following: Betsy Anderson (1989), Donald W. Jones (1993, 1994), Betty Matthew (1987), Anita Musser (1989), Jeanette Sias (1985–2002), Richard Sias (1985–2002), Douglas Smith (1990), Helen Smith (1990), and Cindy Wood (1990). The following people of Kavousi helped us over the years on site, in the apotheke, or in other capacities: Kalliope Athenaki, Kristalia Athanatou, Kalliope Chalkiadaki, Kostis Chalkiadakis, Irini Dandi, Athanasios Dandis, Manolis Dandis, Despina Daskalaki, Kalliope Daskaloyannaki, Manolis Daskaloyannakis, Maria Dermitzaki, Kostis Dermitzakis, Georgios Dermitzakis, Manolis Douloumis, Panayotis Douloumis, Kalliope Drakaki, Anna Geroyannaki, Georgios Giorgoulakis, Despoina

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Grammatikaki, Kostoula Grammatikaki, Georgios Grammatikakis, Kostas Grammatikakis, Michalis Grammatikakis, Ioannis Kapetanakis, Manolis Kapetanakis, Nikolaos Kapetanakis, Michalis Kapsoritakis, Katina Kasotaki, Niki Kasotaki, Manolis Kasotakis, Athina Katsotaki, Stephanos Katsotakis, Kalliope Kazani, Vana Kokkinaki, Maria Kophinaki, Stratoula Kophinaki, Demetrios Kophinakis, Maria Koudouma, Kostis Koudoumoyiannakis, Markella Koukouraki, Sophia Lapokostandaki, Ioannis Lapokostandakis, Manolis Lionoudakis, Danae Maniadaki, Ioannis Maniadakis, Manolis Maniadakis, Michalis Maniadakis, Georgios Moutsakis, Georgios Nikoloudakis, Maria Nikoloudaki, Olympia Nikoloudaki, Manolis Nikoloudakis, Andonios Petrakis, Anthi Pervolaraki, Maria Pervolaraki, Nikolaos Pervolarakis, Vangelis Phiorakis, Ioannis Phiorakis, Ioannis Plakantonakis, Kostis Plakantonakis, Manolis Plakantonakis, Maritsa Ploutinaki, Ioannis Ploutinakis, Lakis Ploutinakis, Nikolaos Poulis, Nikolaos Remediakis, Andonios Saridakis, Aris Saridakis, Ioannis Saridakis, Michalis Saridakis, Nikolaos Saridakis, Angeliki Sekadaki, Eleni Sekadaki, Georgios Sekadakis, Michalis Sekadakis, Georgios Siphakis, Phanis Siphakis, Manolis Siganos, Stylianos Siganos, Athanasios Siritoudis, Evagelia Spiliaroti, Nikolaos Spiliarotis, Georgios Trachanas, Nektarios Trachanas, Panayotis Tsiolakakis, Michalis Tsombanakis, Manolis Tsombanakis, Evangelia Tzari, and Rodanthi Tzari. We are grateful to them and to all the people of Kavousi for their assistance.

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List of Abbreviations

The following chronological abbreviations are used (Final Neolithic and Bronze Age dates are based on Warren and Hankey 1989 and Nowicki 2003): FN EM MM LM SM PG

Final Neolithic (ca. 4000–3200 B.C.) Early Minoan (ca. 3200–2100 B.C.) Middle Minoan (ca. 2100–1600 B.C.) Late Minoan (ca. 1600–1100 B.C.) Subminoan (ca. 1100–1000 B.C.) Protogeometric (ca. 1000–900 B.C.)

G LG EO V Ott. Mod.

Geometric (ca. 900–700 B.C.) Late Geometric (ca. 760–700 B.C.) Early Orientalizing (ca. 700–660 B.C.) Venetian (12th–17th century A.D.) Ottoman (17th century–1900 A.D.) Modern (1900 A.D.–present A.D.)

d. dim. E est.

diameter dimension east estimated

The following abbreviations are also used: AMSL cf. cm cont.

above mean sea level comparable to (in faunal analyses) centimeter continued

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F ext. FM FS g h. HM IM int. kg L. M m max. mm MNI

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figurine exterior Furumark motif (based on Furumark 1972) Furumark shape (based on Furumark 1972) gram height Herakleion Museum number Ierapetra Museum number interior kilogram length metal meter maximum millimeter minimum number of individuals

N NE NW NISP P pers. comm. PMD pres. S S SE ST SW TC th. W w. wt.

north northeast northwest number of identified specimens pottery personal communication Peter M. Day preserved south stone object southeast stone tool southwest terracotta thickness west width weight

Glossary

The text uses the following terms, which are specialized terminology or do not have exact English equivalents: aloni Aves sp. Bos sp. Canis familiaris Capra aegagrus Capra hircus dint Equus sp. lekane Lepus/Oryctolagus Meles meles metochi nodulus

threshing floor with stone-built border, usually round unspecified species of bird unspecified species of domestic cow or ox domestic dog agrimi, Cretan wild goat domestic goat thumb impression on pottery, generally at the attachment of handle or leg unspecified species of horse, donkey, or mule basin hare or rabbit badger rural hamlet or field house a small lump of clay with one or two seal impressions but without any means of attachment to another object

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Ovis aries pitharaki Sus scrofa tsakali umbo Vierpasse zembili

KAVOUSI IIA

domestic sheep small pithos or storage jar domestic pig soft marl bedrock that can easily be cut; also called kouskouras lateral prominence just above the hinge of a bivalve shell a design that includes four interlocking spirals a large rubber basket with two handles used for carrying dirt and stones; approximate capacity of 25 liters.

1

Introduction Leslie Preston Day

Vronda lies at 421–427 m AMSL at the top of the Xerambela Ridge, which is the prominent northwestern spur of Mount Papoura, south of the modern village of Kavousi (Pl. 1A) in eastern Crete. Near the ridge to the east is a spring, located at the top of an alluvial fan that runs down to

the modern village (Fig. 1; Pl. 1B). The entire area, including the ridge and the top of the fan around the spring, is known today as Xerambela (“Dry Vineyards”), although at the beginning of the last century it was called Vronda (“Thunder Hill”).

Topography The Vronda ridge is composed chiefly of brecciated limestone, with some deposits of soft marl, easy to cut and known locally as tsakali and elsewhere on Crete as kouskouras. Occasionally veins of onyx and other stones appear, especially on top of the ridge. Although the term “breccia,” which we have employed for the brecciating limestone,

suggests an elaborate and decorative stone, the local variety is of poor quality for building, with irregular chunks of limestone embedded in its matrix. Just above the bedrock is a layer of very hard red soil containing limestone chips, which is in the process of becoming breccia. This soil was referred to as “pre-bedrock” by the excavators, but

2

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in this report it will be called “brecciating soil.” Many of the floors of the buildings consisted of this material, and they will be referred to as “brecciating surfaces.” On the slopes above the Vronda ridge are large colluvial deposits of limestone, and the mountains around Vronda provided a source for limestone building blocks. The colluvial deposits, or scree, are kept from inundating the site because of extensive modern terracing. The terrace walls may be quite old, some dating at least to the Venetian period.

The summit of the ridge provided a relatively large and flat area for habitation (Buildings A-B, CD, and J-K), as can be seen in the plans (Figs. 2–4) and site section (Fig. 5). The steep drop on the east apparently discouraged the inhabitants from building in this area except along the southeast, in the area of Building E. The rather gentle western slope was extensively used (Building I-O-N), as apparently was the northern part of the ridge (Building L-M), where erosion and later use removed much of the remains. There was apparently little activity to the south.

History of Use The ridge has been in use for a long period of time, probably because people were drawn there by the nearby spring. The earliest remains on the site are of the Final Neolithic period. Extensive deposits of EM II and some EM III beneath the later buildings attest to a settlement of this period in the vicinity, although no architectural remains have been found. A large MM II building (Building P) on the summit and remains of pottery on the top and down the slope to the southwest indicate the importance of the area in the Protopalatial era. No architectural remains have been found from the Neopalatial period, but two deposits on the summit west and south of Building A and one beneath Building E show

activity in that period. The major period of occupation, however, was the LM IIIC period (Fig. 4), when some seven building complexes were in use, including a large house (Building A-B) and a temple or shrine (Building G). The settlement was abandoned at the end of the LM IIIC period, and the site was used for burials, first in tholos tombs during the Subminoan into the Geometric periods, then in cremation cists during the Late Geometric and Early Orientalizing periods. After the 7th century, there seems to have been little activity on the site until the Venetian period (12th–17th centuries), although a few fragments of what seem to be Roman or Byzantine ribbed ware have been found.

The Site Prior to Excavation The Vronda ridge was used in modern times, at least since the 19th century, both for living and for agriculture; it is possible that some of the structures still visible on the surface go back to the Venetian period (12th–17th centuries), but local memory only goes back to the 19th century. This recent activity has left its mark on the hill and has had an impact on the preservation of the ancient remains (Pl. 2A). The northeastern slopes of the ridge contain houses of a metochi called Xerambela, in use since the 19th century. At least five modern houses were still standing when exploration began in 1978, and several of them

are still in use today; there is in addition at least one abandoned building northwest of Building M. These buildings were constructed on terraces, and the preservation or destruction of terraces has had a pronounced effect on the modern topography. There is an abrupt drop in elevation along the east side of the Vronda ridge, and several modern terraces have been constructed to support the buildings along the east side. A large terrace wall, more or less parallel to the earlier massive eastern terrace wall from the ancient settlement, supported the major walking path along the eastern side of the site; since the advent of

INTRODUCTION

the modern road (partially built in 1984 and completed to Vronda in 1985), this pathway has largely been abandoned. To the east of the ridge is a small church of Hagia Paraskevi, probably of Venetian date, and ruins from the apse of an earlier Byzantine church still rise to the south of this chapel. Two more groups of field houses were still in use to the east of these churches, both placed close to vineyards. There is ample evidence for agriculture on and around the Vronda ridge. The ridge was extensively terraced, not only for habitation, but also for agriculture. There were at least two alonia (threshing floors), one east of Building L, the other west of Building K. Little vegetation covered the site at the time the modern investigations began. There were a few wild olive trees (one in Building J) and a good deal of maquis, but little else on top of the ridge. Some larger olive trees stood along the southwest,

3

just above and to the east and northeast of Building G, and there was a large olive tree just to the south of Building G, which was not removed but whose roots were uncovered. On some of the terraces along the western side of the ridge a few grapevines still grew, and the flat field to the southwest of the site appears to have been used at some time for wheat or barley. On top of the ridge, in the area of Building J, where there was very little soil deposition, markings on the bedrock may have been made by a plough. Little agriculture was still practiced during the time of excavation, although there were a few productive olive trees around the ridge and grape terraces to the south and east; the Vronda ridge itself was largely abandoned for agriculture, although there were beehives all around, placed to take advantage of the wild thyme that grows extensively on the site, and the olives in the vicinity were still collected.

History of Excavation The area was first explored in 1900 by Harriet Boyd (Hawes), who was given the name for the site of Vronda (“Thunder Hill”) by the local people. She spent a week on top of the ridge excavating an area of 15 x 20 m, uncovering a house with a forecourt, a storeroom, and a large stretch of wall along the east side (Boyd 1901, 131–136). The walls were too ruined to make a plan possible. The finds were scanty; Boyd found remains of at least three pithoi and a hoard of iron tools (Boyd 1901, 132, 137, fig. 4). While Boyd was working on top of the Vronda ridge, her workmen found eight small tholos tombs to the north and west of the ridge. These were dated to the transitional period between the Bronze and Iron Ages, which she called “Submycenaean” (Boyd 1901, 136), and which has subsequently been identified as the Subminoan period (Desborough 1952, 268). After another season at other sites in the Kavousi area, Boyd moved her work to the nearby site of Gournia, and Vronda lay largely abandoned until 1951, when a local landowner, George Sekadakis, discovered a ninth tomb in the course of planting an olive tree (Platon 1951, 445; 1954, 516). Investigation of Vronda was not resumed until 1974, when Gesell and Day visited the site as part of an informal archaeological survey of the Isthmus

of Ierapetra. In 1978 the Kavousi Project was formed by Geraldine Gesell, Leslie Day, and William Coulson, and it began with a topographic plan of Vronda (Gesell, Day, and Coulson 1983). In 1979 a study was made of the material from Boyd’s excavations in the Herakleion Museum and material from the tomb discovered by Sekadakis in the Ierapetra collection. Cleaning of the settlement on the Vronda ridge occurred in 1983 and more intensively in 1984 (Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986), and study of the finds took place in 1985 and 1986. It was clear from the preliminary investigation that the site was inhabited earlier than Boyd had supposed, in LM IIIC, and that the ridge continued in use for burials down to the Late Geometric era. In 1987 full-scale excavations under the auspices of the American School of Classical Studies began at Vronda and the Kastro, under the general direction of Geraldine Gesell, with Leslie Day as field director at Vronda and William Coulson on the Kastro. Excavations at Vronda were carried out from 1987 to 1990, with a fifth season in 1992. From 1993 to 1996 the site was conserved, the walls cemented, and the floors strewn with pebbles to prevent erosion. Study of the finds from the excavation began in 1990 and continued until 2002.

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The excavations at Kavousi have been possible because of the work of many individuals, both those with limited excavation experience and specialists in excavation, recording, conserving, surveying, and scientific analysis. A list of all those who worked for

at least a season for the Kavousi Project, both staff and volunteers, appears in the Acknowledgments, together with a list all the people of Kavousi who have helped us over the years.

Methodology The methodology employed for excavation changed over the years as we refined and adapted the system to changing needs. During the cleaning season in 1983, when the rooms of Building A-B were still visible on the surface, excavation was carried out by rooms or by areas. Within each room or area, every soil layer was given a designation as a “Level.” (In this volume, “Level” with a capital letter will be used as a technical term for the stratigraphic layers observed in the first two seasons of cleaning.) Thus, for example, within Room B7 of Building B, the surface soil was removed as Level 1, the upper level of roofing clay with pithos fragments as Level 2, and a lower level of clay without pithos fragments was labeled Level 3. Pottery was collected in bags in each level, but the bags were not assigned numbers. The walls of the building cleaned were given letter designations. During the 1984 expansion of the cleaning to areas along the slopes of the ridge, where walls and rooms were less clearly visible, a grid was imposed on the site to make it easier to plot the architecture and the finds (Fig. 3). The original grid was oriented due north and consisted of 5 x 5 m squares, arranged five across and numbered consecutively (V 000–V 7900) from west to east. This grid proved to be inadequate for the size of the ridge, and during the course of the 1984 cleaning the grid was expanded five more squares to the west, again numbered consecutively from the southwestern corner (V 8000–V 15900); thus contiguous trenches do not always have consecutive numbers (V 3000, for example, is adjacent to V 11900). One-meter-wide balks were initially left on the northern and the eastern sides of each trench, although many of these were subsequently removed. Within each trench, every wall, room, or space was defined as a “Locus” and given a locus number that would replace the final digit(s) of the

trench designation (e.g., Trench V 3000 Locus 1 = V 3001). Stratigraphic layers continued to be recognized as different levels, so Locus V 3001 Level 2. Pottery pails were labeled consecutively within each locus, so Locus V 3001 Level 2, pottery pail 1 (written V 3001.1 Level 2 in the catalogs); objects were given consecutive numbers within each locus. Joining fragments of pottery sometimes came from more than one pottery pail. When this occurred, the designation in the catalogs will include all the relevant pail numbers; hence, V 3001.1–3 Level 2 means that fragments came from pottery pails 1, 2, and 3 in Locus V 3001 Level 2. At the end of the 1984 season the pottery was studied and pottery pails that seemed to belong together were physically combined before recording; in the catalogs, these are designated with all the pottery pail numbers that were combined (e.g., V 2801.14 and 17 Level 3 means that fragments came from the combined pottery pails 14 and 17 of Locus V 2801 Level 3). This system caused some confusion, since it was never clear to the excavators whether the pottery pails were to be numbered consecutively in the level or in the locus; it was abandoned after 1984. In 1987 four new grids were established to cover the remainder of the settlement. A large grid on the west was called Vronda West (VW), another large one lay on the north (VN), and smaller grids were established on the south (VS) and east (VE). The abrupt drop on the east and the lack of surface remains there prevented much exploration in this area, while excavations carried out to the south suggested little activity. Both areas were used for the excavation dump. Beginning in 1987, excavation was carried out according to the locus system. Within each trench, every feature was given a locus designation, whether a horizontal division (wall, room, hearth, pit) or a

INTRODUCTION

vertical one (different soil layers). Within each locus, pottery pails were numbered consecutively, and object numbers were also consecutive. Although this system proved clear (if a trifle unwieldy), it was not always understood by new trench supervisors, and a variety of systems came into being for short periods of time. In particular, excavators often kept separate the pottery from different areas of a locus, giving letters to the pottery pails to distinguish them from one another rather than simply assigning a new pail number; hence in Locus V 4905, the pails were designated V 4905.1A, V4905.1B, and so forth. Other anomalies will be mentioned in individual contexts. The use of the trench system with balks helped to pinpoint the precise location of architectural, stratigraphic, and artifactual features in the excavation in an era before modern surveying technology (total station Electronic Distance Measuring [EDM] devices) and Global Positioning System (GPS). Nevertheless, the employment of such a system was not without negative aspects. Because rooms were not all dug together at the same time by a single person, often the material was not recovered in the same way, making it difficult during study to reassociate objects that had been together in their context. On the other hand, if subtle changes in stratigraphy were missed by one excavator, another was often able to recognize them in the balk or a section of the room in another trench. Excavating rooms by trenches also often meant that it took longer to recognize earlier material that had actually come from below the floors or was imbedded in them; often this resulted in preliminary publications that conflated earlier material with that of LM IIIC. Finally, because it took considerable time and effort to piece together the

5

disparate material, the process of study and interpretation was long, and publication was not quick. Because of the hardness of the soil, a variety of tools were employed in the excavation. Large picks were used on occasion, but small hand picks were more useful. Trowels and shave hooks, along with a variety of dental picks, were also employed. The soil was removed in wheelbarrows and dumped in a variety of locations, including the east side of the ridge (for most of the trenches on top of the ridge), to the southeast (for the trenches along the east side), to the south (for those along the south and southwest), and west of the terrace wall that held up the area of the later tombs. Some dry sieving was carried out in the Vronda West area and in the area of Building G, but not generally elsewhere. Soil samples were collected, but no systematic fraction of the soil was kept for water sieving. The soil from inside vessels was always kept for flotation, as were selected deposits from the floors, particularly from corners. Soil from other areas was selected for sieving as seemed significant to the excavator. It was difficult to distinguish the actual floor surface from the hard roofing clay above it, so many of the floor samples probably came chiefly from the roofing material. Nevertheless, since the site had apparently not suffered a fiery end and been abandoned for a long period of time, little organic material was still preserved. Whenever identifiable seeds were recovered, they are mentioned in this report; otherwise the majority of the paleobotanical information and the environmental analysis will be presented in a future volume with the material from the later Geometric cemetery of Vronda, where much organic material was preserved.

Stratigraphy The basic stratigraphy of the site was quite simple for the most part. The top of the ridge had little soil accumulation, whether due to erosion, human modification, or earlier excavation. Harriet Boyd commented on the poor preservation of remains on the top of the hill (Boyd 1901, 132), so it seems likely that there was little accumulation of soil at the time of her excavation, or indeed ever. Along the eastern

side of the ridge, where terrace walls, both ancient and modern, prevented erosion, the deposits were deeper, as they were also in the southeast (Building E), the southwest (Building G), and some of the western side of the ridge. Topsoil represents the surface over the site at the time modern excavations began; in some areas, it had accumulated only since the time of Harriet

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Boyd. Topsoil was typically a loose, dry, and crumbly loam, brown to pale brown in color (10YR 4/3–6/3), and mixed with pebbles and small stones. Below the topsoil there was often a layer of wash that ran over features and a layer of rock tumble. This was soft or compacted soil, yellowish brown to light yellowish brown (10YR 5/4–6/4) or very pale brown to brown (10YR 7/3–5/3) in color, sometimes with scattered cobbles and pebbles. Sherds from this level were often quite worn. Below this layer of wash or in some cases just below topsoil, excavators generally encountered a layer of rock tumble. Wall tumble levels are composed of cobble- and boulder-sized stones in a pale brown to light yellowish-brown (10YR 6/3–6/4) soil matrix with occasional chunks of roofing material mixed in. This stone tumble presumably represents the collapse of the walls of the LM IIIC houses. Wall tumble almost always lay above and was sometimes partially embedded in a thick layer of distinctive roofing material. Although not technically a clay, it was invariably recognized by the excavators as “clay,” “clayey,” or “claylike.” It was generally hard and compact, sticky when wet, and containing pebbles of schist, frequently flecks of carbon, and even some small pieces of pottery. The distinctive clay matrix ranged in color from a yellow to yellowish red, sometimes greenish, but frequently it had a variety of observable colors (yellows, greens, reds) within it. Excavators recognized the following Munsell colors of the clay: 2.5Y 6/2 to 10YR 5/2 (light brownish gray to grayish brown), 10YR 5/4 (yellowish brown), 10YR 6/3 (pale brown), 10YR 6/4 (light yellowish brown), 10YR 7/3 (very pale brown), 10YR 7/8 (yellow), and 2.5Y 7/8 (yellow) with patches of red and gray, and containing numerous flecks of organic material. This roofing clay is probably the same material used to construct hearths and ovens, which were distinguished by their red color and near-hardened texture caused by repeated exposure to fire. The material is local and similar to clay that can be found in modern road cuts to the northeast of the Vronda ridge. Flat stones were often mixed with these deposits of roofing clay, which, based on comparison with local field houses, may have been used as support wedges between wooden ceiling beams and the rushes below the clay roofing material or have fallen in from the tops of the walls as the buildings collapsed. In Buildings J and I-O-N, other types of roofing clay were also employed, in

particular a much redder, less claylike material that was dark reddish brown to reddish brown (5YR 3/4–5YR 4/4). Some of the roofing clay seems to have fallen in clumps from the roof, while the rest may have “poured” in while in a soft, almost liquid state, perhaps from the rain. Thus, it poured around and over the materials resting on the floor so that they became embedded in it. Removal of the roofing debris, then, usually included vessels that were standing or smashed on the floors, but whose upper parts were embedded in a matrix of roofing clay. For this reason, the material from the floor deposits and the roofing clay are generally considered together in the discussions of the buildings. Floors were usually difficult to distinguish in the buildings at Vronda. The buildings show no sign of sudden or violent destruction; there was no burning, except in Room D1, and no evidence of a sudden toppling of the walls (as from an earthquake). Observation of the field houses around Vronda shows that when the houses begin to collapse, the roof beams decay first, generally in the middle where weakest, and a thick layer of roofing clay falls into the rooms, followed by stones tumbled from the upper parts of the walls. The ancient remains show such similar features that we have reconstructed the collapse of the buildings in the same way. Although using modern buildings as analogy can be problematic, the laws of gravity will operate the same way no matter what the period; if the ancient roofs were flat (as seems to be indicated) and were covered with waterproof clay held up by beams, then their collapse should follow the same pattern. The roofing clay was very hard, and it fell directly onto the floors; some clay from the roof may have already filtered down onto the floors during the settlement’s use, as can be observed in the local field houses. It was thus often impossible to distinguish the roofing material that had settled on the floor from the roofing material that had fallen in from above after abandonment. Bedrock was generally incorporated into the floors with little modification, creating surfaces that to modern eyes seemed quite uneven. The original settlement seems to have been founded directly on the bedrock wherever possible. In some areas, modifications were necessary because of the steep slope, and fill was brought in to level many of the areas. Three types of fills were recognized. A packing of clay was used for small

INTRODUCTION

holes and crevices. For larger areas, the inhabitants brought in from elsewhere a fill of fist-sized stones (cobbles), or even larger blocks of stone (rubble). Hence on the eastern side of the ridge, and in Buildings E and G, the builders leveled the area with a fill of cobbles mixed with pottery fragments, and along the east, behind the massive terrace wall, there

7

was a deep fill of larger rubble stones. The LM IIIC walls were constructed directly on top of the bedrock or fills, and there is no evidence for foundation trenches. The bottoms of the walls rested directly on the floor levels. While this makes sense when the floors were bedrock, it also appears to have been the case for the rooms built on cobble or rubble fill.

Consolidation From the very beginning of the work at Vronda, an attempt was made to preserve the walls and floors, and site consolidation continued for four years after the end of excavation. The soil among the stones in walls was removed and replaced with a cement that incorporated a red coloring material called korosani that provided a color closer to the local soil color. The korosani could be composed of

ground terracotta bricks or even some of the local clay used for making the bricks. Some floors were consolidated also in this fashion, particularly the stone paving in Room B3. Many trenches were backfilled for safety reasons, particularly those in which excavation was carried out below the floors to bedrock.

History and Chronology of the Vronda Settlement Although visited as early as the Final Neolithic, the earliest substantial remains on Vronda belong to the EM II period. The Prepalatial remains are found chiefly on the southeastern slope, in cobble fill put in to level the area for later habitation in LM IIIC, but also on the west, under Building I-O-N. Such fill is unlikely to have been brought from any great distance, so there must have been an early settlement nearby of which no other traces have appeared. Habitation of Vronda seems to have begun in the Protopalatial era, with a large building of MM II (Building P) on the eastern side of the summit of the ridge. Traces of MM II pottery that appear also under Buildings B, C-D, and J-K suggest a widespread use of the area in this period. Remains of the Neopalatial period are more scanty, appearing to the west and south of Building A and beneath part of Building E on the southeast; these are generally early in the period and are mixed MM III–LM IA. No LM IIIA–B remains have been identified. The major period of use is LM IIIC (Fig. 4). There is nothing on the site to suggest that it was founded as early as the settlement on the Kastro, in

the transitional LM IIIB/IIIC phase (Mook and Coulson 1997, 344–351). Building B, however, produced deposits of early LM IIIC, contemporary with Kastro Phase II (Mook and Coulson 1997, 353–357), Kastri at Palaikastro (Sackett, Popham, and Warren 1965), and Chania (Hallager and Hallager, eds., 2000). Most of the remains, however, belong to the period of abandonment toward the end of LM IIIC, contemporary with Kastro Phase III (Mook and Coulson 1997, 358–363), with Chalasmenos (Tsipopoulou 2004), and perhaps slightly earlier than the abandonment of the settlement at Karphi (Day, forthcoming). The tholos tombs found by Boyd around the periphery of the Vronda settlement produced pottery considerably later than what was discovered in the abandonment levels of the settlement. At least one of the tholoi (Boyd’s Tomb VIII) had cut into a LM IIIC building (Building L), indicating that the settlement had gone out of use when the tombs were constructed. People continued to place burials in the tholos tombs into the Geometric period. During the later

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part of this period, however, a new type of cremation burial appeared on the abandoned site of the earlier settlement. Although most of the cremation cists belong to the Late Geometric period, some may have been constructed earlier in the period, and several

continued in use into the Early Orientalizing period (early 7th century). After this time Vronda was truly abandoned until the Venetian period, when it again became the site for houses (Buildings F and R).

Cataloging of the Finds Pottery was collected in “pails” (although plastic bags were actually used) numbered consecutively by locus or by locus/level. Recognizable objects were assigned object numbers that were sequential by locus (e.g., V 3105.1, object 1). Those that were deemed worthy were inventoried. The inventory number included the capital letter V, followed by the last two digits of the year of excavation and a sequential set of numbers (e.g., V89.4). These

inventoried objects were ultimately put into a database, using Dbase III. Many of the objects were also entered into the catalog of the Ierapetra Museum, and these were physically moved to the Ierapetra storerooms in 1998; the remainder of the material is stored at the INSTAP Study Center for East Crete. In the building catalogs, the Ierapetra Museum catalog number is entered when appropriate after the Kavousi inventory number (e.g., IM 1101).

Presentation of the Material Although the site was occupied earlier and later, the major period of inhabitation represented in the remains from Vronda is Late Minoan IIIC. Because the excavations uncovered a substantial portion of the settlement of that era, and because few contemporary sites have been so thoroughly excavated, it has seemed best to focus the report of the findings on that period. The settlement appears to have been organized in complexes of buildings, with a good deal of space between each: Buildings A-B, C-D, E, I-O-N, J-K, L-M, and Building G (the Shrine). These complexes are discussed in separate chapters, and the buildings and rooms within are treated individually. Building G will be presented in a separate volume. Individual buildings within each of the complexes have been identified in the following way: the rooms are contiguous, generally on the same level or terrace, often with doorways connecting the rooms. Many of the buildings were recognized and labeled with letters during excavation, but a few were so disturbed and complex that they have only been identified during subsequent study. Thus, Building E is actually at least two separate houses: Building E East House (E1, E4, E6)

and Building E West House (E2, E3, E5, E7, E Courtyard); Building L has at least two houses (L1–2, L3); and Building C has two or three houses (C1, C2, and C3–5). Some buildings that were identified in the field and assigned letters have turned out not to be houses belonging to the settlement: the constructions called Building H are entirely connected with a later grave (Grave 6), while Buildings F and R are much later constructions of the Venetian period. The discussion of each building includes roomby-room descriptions of the architecture and stratigraphy as well as a catalog and description of the pottery, objects, and faunal remains by deposit within each room. Specialist contributions are noted here and in the final analysis. This form of presentation is more useful in focusing on the context of the finds within the whole settlement. The architecture, pottery, and finds are analyzed at length by types in the third volume of the report, Kavousi IIC (Day et al., forthcoming), as are the bones, shells, and whatever seeds were recovered. Assemblages of faunal remains are here presented in tabular form; we have deliberately refrained from reporting the minimum

INTRODUCTION

number of individuals (MNI), because we have deemed these figures meaningless for such small groups of material. For shells, however, these figures are appropriate and are given in the tables whenever possible. The remains of earlier and later periods are included in this report. Most of the earlier material was deposited in connection with the construction or use of the LM IIIC settlement, so the presentation is part of the general discussion of the building or room in which the materials were found, as with the fill put in to level the area for the construction of Building E or the fill put in behind the East Terrace Wall as part of the program to increase the space on top of the hill for Building A-B. Occasionally the earlier material seems to have been deposited before the construction of the LM IIIC settlement and is largely undisturbed, as with MM II Building P, and this will be discussed as a separate chapter following the presentation of the LM IIIC building. Sometimes it is not clear whether the material was deposited at the time of construction of the LM IIIC building or represents an earlier undisturbed group; such is the case with the pit west of Building A in V 2600. This pit will be discussed with the other peripheral areas of Building A-B. The material from the Late Geometric–Early Orientalizing cemetery will be published in a separate volume. The Venetian material in Buildings F and R receives discussions in connection with the buildings with which they are most closely associated (Buildings E and J, respectively). This volume, Kavousi IIA, covers the buildings on the summit of the Vronda ridge (Buildings A-B, C-D, J-K, P, Q, and R); Kavousi IIB (Day and Glowacki, forthcoming) treats the buildings on the western and northern slopes of the ridge (Buildings E, F, I-O-N, L-M, the Kiln) and on the periphery; and Kavousi IIC (Day et al., forthcoming) provides specialist studies and a general overview of the site and its history. Only a small percentage of the pottery from the site has been cataloged, including diagnostic pieces (whole or nearly complete vessels, rims, bases, handles, and decorated body fragments). Recognizable shapes that are too small or too uncertain in size or form or otherwise do not fit into these categories are mentioned in the discussion of the pottery with each deposit. The remainder of the pottery has been quantified by weight and numbers according to ware groups and is mentioned or presented in charts

9

with each room deposit. The fabrics of coarse, cooking, and pithos wares are distinctive and recognizable, and the percentages of each fabric type are presented in pie charts. The statistics and the cataloged pottery are analyzed for the entire site in Kavousi IIC (Day et al., forthcoming). Objects are cataloged with the discussion of the buildings, and they are also analyzed separately by specialists in Kavousi IIC (Day et al., forthcoming). Stone tools represent the largest percentage of the nonceramic finds, but little is said here about their significance within individual contexts, for a variety of reasons. Unlike pottery, tool types do not undergo much change over time and can be used for long periods, so they are not close chronological indicators. Tools are also multifunctional and portable, so the appearance of a particular tool in a room does not provide clear evidence about the function of the room. A more detailed and extensive analysis of the stone tools as regards raw materials and sources, parallels, and distribution within the settlement will be discussed in the analysis (Dierckx in Day et al., forthcoming). The stone tools have been cataloged according to the following types, with equivalent tool types found at Kommos (Blitzer 1995); in the catalogs, the term “hand tools” is used as identification for Types 1–3, 5–6, 8, and 12: Type 1: Implements with pecked or battered ends/circumference, “pounders” or “hammer stones” (Blitzer Type 1) Type 2: Implements with pecked-ground marks and polished faces, “pounder-pestle/polishers” (Blitzer Type 9) Type 3: Implements with pecked ends/circumference and abraded faces, “pounder-abraders” (Blitzer Types 2 and 7) Type 4: Implements with flaked end, “choppers or hammers” (Blitzer Type 10) Type 5: Implements with pecked and abraded facets, “faceted” (Blitzer Type 6) Type 6: Implements with abraded faces, “grinders” (Blitzer Type 7) Type 7: Implements with one or two abraded faces, “whetstones” (Blitzer Type 5) Type 8: Implements from pumice stone, “abrader/polishers” (Blitzer 1995, 509–510) Type 9: Implements with polished faces, “polishers” (Blitzer Type 2)

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Type 10: Pestles Type 11: Balance weights (Blitzer Type 4) Type 12: Composite implements (Blitzer Types 2, 7, 9, 10) Type 13: Celts/axes Type 14: Weights (Blitzer Type 12) Type 15: Querns (Blitzer Type 17) Type 16: Mortars (Blitzer Type 18)

or traces of wear. These do not appear in this report, unless their context is significant. Likewise, other objects of terracotta, stone, and metal were reclassified or found to belong with other objects. Thus, there are a number of inventoried objects that will be discussed in the Shrine volume or the Vronda Cemetery volume, and a few that will not appear at all in the final report on the Vronda settlement (Day et al., forthcoming).

Many prospective stone tools that were inventoried were later found to have no human modification

Catalogs The catalogs of the material are placed with the buildings, rather than presented with the discussion of the individual types of objects. Within each room, the objects are cataloged by deposit in the following order: pottery, terracotta objects, metal objects, stone objects, and stone tools. The catalog entries are arranged as follows: Catalog number (inventory number; findspot [locus/pottery pail, object number]; Fig. and Pl. references). Identification of object. Preservation. Measurements. Description of material and details of manufacture (including fabric, color, wear, and surface appearance). Details of shape or decoration. Type if applicable. Date. Previous publications if applicable. Comparanda.

The catalog number consists of the Building and Room in which the object was found (e.g., B3) followed by letter(s) that designate the material, and sequential numbers for objects of that material in that room. The letters used for the materials are as follows: P for pottery, F for figurines, TC for terracotta, M for metals, S for stone objects, and ST for stone tools. For both pottery and objects, all the loci are given in which fragments were found; generally these are presented in numerical order, but occasionally the locus in which the majority of fragments appeared is placed first. The pottery is cataloged according to ware in this order: fine wares, medium-coarse wares, cooking wares, coarse wares, and pithos wares. Within each of these categories, pottery fragments are listed according to their surface treatment: painted (lighton-dark, dark-on-light, monochrome), incised, burnished, and plain.

Wares FINE LIGHT-ON-DARK This ware is characterized by the use of white paint on a black background, and it is usually Middle Minoan in date. Because of the poor preservation of the surface of the Kavousi pottery, added white paint is rarely preserved; some of the material may be cataloged as monochrome.

FINE DARK-ON-LIGHT The majority of the pottery was decorated, but the surfaces are generally much worn, and it is often difficult to determine if the piece was painted; often the paint adhered to the sediment, which was removed when the pieces were washed. Small fragments without visible paint and worn surfaces are generally included in this category, since it is most likely that they were originally painted.

FINE MONOCHROME Fine monochrome pottery is particularly difficult to read, especially when in small fragments. Monochrome fragments could come from a vase that was entirely painted or from one that had been partially dipped in paint. The latter form of decoration is regularly called “blob decoration” and can be distinguished only when the line marking the edge of the blob is preserved.

INTRODUCTION

FINE PLAIN There is very little plain ware, and what exists may actually represent the unpainted portion of a vessel with blob decoration.

MEDIUM-COARSE Pottery that has frequent small or infrequent large inclusions has been classified as mediumcoarse. Generally, such vessels are similar to coarse wares, but with less frequent or finer inclusions. Medium-coarse wares are particularly common in the MM II assemblages, where the fine ware is exceptionally thin and fine.

COOKING Cooking wares are those that can be identified as coming from vessels used in the cooking process. Generally of Types IV, XXV, or XVI in the LM IIIC settlement, or of Type II/VI or IV in earlier periods, they are characterized by a red to brown color and by the presence of burning. Some vessels made of fabrics that resemble cooking ware, like kalathoi, but which do not seem to have been used for cooking, are categorized as coarse wares.

COARSE Generally all of the coarse functional pottery, including small jars, jugs, kalathoi, lekanai, and assorted speciality shapes fall into this category.

PITHOS This category includes all of the large storage jars on the site.

Order Within the wares, open vessels will be discussed first, then closed; in all cases the description will move from smaller to larger vessels. Within each shape, complete examples will be described first, and then fragments of the rims, handles, and bases; the better preserved examples in each of these groups will be described first. Such descriptions will be minimal, providing only information that is not clear from the drawings; the vessels are described from the top down.

11

Terminology for Shapes For the most part we have adhered to the names established by Birgitta Hallager (Hallager 1997a; Hallager and Hallager 2000) for the shapes of LM IIIC pottery. There are several exceptions, however. In particular, there are four shapes for which we have preferred other terms for a variety of reasons. The first is the stemmed cup, called by her “footed onehandled cup.” We have accepted the traditional appellation of “champagne cup,” certainly a misnomer, but one which immediately calls to mind a particular shape. “Deep bowl” is used in place of the simple designation of “bowl”; “deep bowl” describes a particular LM IIIC shape (FS 284), while “bowl” is used for earlier shapes and for other forms of bowl; occasionally a shallow bowl is also found. The term lekane has been preferred to “basin” for the particular shape with flat rim and ridge below it, although the term “basin” is still applied to earlier large open shapes. Finally, small pithoi have been labeled pitharakia, a term also used in the most recent analysis of storage jars (Christakis 2005, 2). These probably functioned as their larger counterparts did, for storage, and they are similar in shape, with a collared neck. While too small to be pithoi, they also do not fit into the category of pithoid jar, which tends to be more cylindrical, with a large open mouth and no neck. The Greek name pitharaki (little pithos) seems appropriate.

Measurements All measurements for the pottery and objects are given in centimeters. Rim measurements are taken at the point the rim meets a horizontal line, unless otherwise indicated. All weights are given in grams. The measurements of shells are given in the tables in millimeters.

Fabrics Fabrics have been generally divided into three categories according to the frequency and size of the inclusions: fine, medium-coarse, and coarse. Fine wares generally have no inclusions, but may occasionally include a few larger stones (often

12

KAVOUSI IIA

phyllites), or many almost microscopic inclusions; one common type has tiny white chalky (calcareous?) grits and is particularly flaky. Most of these fabrics are probably local, and there are few clearly imported fragments. Medium-coarse wares tend to have more inclusions than fine wares and thinner walls than coarse wares, but the category is a fluid one. The Middle Minoan pottery seems to have produced more of the medium-coarse wares. Coarse wares have been identified on the basis of the types established for the Kavousi area by Haggis and Mook (1993) and published in the first volume of the Kavousi series (Haggis 2005); a brief description based on Mook (2005) is appended (App. A). Many of the coarse fabrics were taken for petrographic analysis, and these have been published elsewhere in more focused studies. The Early Minoan fabrics have been discussed with the material from the Kavousi survey (Haggis 2005). Many of the LM IIIC coarse wares are the same as those used for the cult objects from the Shrine, and these were presented in a discussion of that material (Day et al. 2006). Many of the others are discussed with the coarse wares from the Kastro in a future volume. No separate analysis of the Vronda samples will be presented; nevertheless, the samples are recorded in the catalog as sampled by PMD (for Peter M. Day), with the last two digits of the year followed by the sample number (e.g., sampled PMD 94/10). Not all of the types have been identified at Vronda, and some fabrics at Vronda were not included in the original typology; four new types were added: XXIV, XXV, XXVI, and XXVII (Mook 2005). Type X/XI, which was used for the majority of the coarse wares and pithoi, is a phyllite fabric belonging almost exclusively to LM IIIC, and it was probably manufactured at Vronda. Type IV, the most commonly used cooking fabric, is the most prevalent fabric in LM IIIC, but it also occurs as early as Early Minoan, appears in MM II, and is frequent in MM III–LM IA deposits. Types II/VI and III, both of them containing primarily granodiorites and referred to as Mirabello fabrics (Betancourt et al. 1979; Betancourt 1984; P. Day 1995, 1997; Whitelaw et al. 1997), were widely used in the Early Minoan II–Middle Minoan II assemblages at Vronda; a few appeared in LM IIIC (Types XXV, XXII). These Mirabello fabrics are

easily identifiable and distinguishable from the primarily phyllite fabrics of LM IIIC.

Slips and Paint Most of the fine ware had a slipped surface, whether a result of painting the surface with a fine suspension of the clay used for the vessel or from rubbing the surface. The surface was often slipped even when monochrome paint was added. Some of the medium-coarse and coarse wares also were slipped. Cooking vessels show little evidence of slipping, but the surfaces are often hard and polished, and frequently have a mottled black and red surface treatment. It is unclear what has caused this mottling; it is not the result of simple firing (like Vasiliki ware or other deliberate mottling), and it seems too widespread to have been caused by burning in the hearths and ovens. Decoration was in a darker color, and we have chosen to call this “paint,” although it is not a real paint, but is similar to the slip. Most of the decoration was probably intended to be black, although it fired red and brown as well.

Hardness Fine wares are generally soft, whether due to conditions during firing or the result of the local soil conditions. Standard descriptions of hardness (e.g., Mohs scale) are not helpful, since almost all Vronda fine ware falls within the soft range. There are, however, some differences within the category of soft: Very soft: like chalk, comes off on the fingers at a touch. Soft: easily scratched with a fingernail, comes off on the fingers if rubbed. Medium-soft: still can be scratched with a fingernail, but does not rub off on the fingers. Occasionally, there is a fragment of harder fabric (medium-hard) or even one that is impervious to the fingernail (hard). Such fabrics are probably not local. Medium-coarse and coarse wares are also soft or hard, but more of the cooking wares are hard, perhaps because of repeated heating in the fires.

INTRODUCTION

Color Color is a difficult problem with pottery. Munsell Soil Chart (Munsell 1998, 2000) designations were given to each piece of pottery in an attempt to achieve some sort of standardization. Whenever possible Munsell numbers were taken in sunlight, with the sun behind the viewer. At times, however, the readings were made indoors or in shade, and they were made at different times of day and by different people. Since people see colors differently even using the Munsell charts, there was a good deal of variation in the readings.

Preservation For nearly complete vessels, an attempt has been made to provide the approximate percentage of the original that is preserved. These percentages are estimates. Whenever possible, a record of the number of fragments is provided; we have always attempted to estimate the number of fragments that the vessel was broken into before excavation, so we have not counted the fresh breaks. Some vessels exist in a number of fragments, some of which, themselves, had been mended from broken pieces; these pieces that make up fragments will be referred to as sherds, and whenever possible the number of sherds making up the fragments are provided. The pottery has poorly preserved surfaces. The fabrics are soft, and were always found coated with soil that was not easy to remove. The soil adhering to the surfaces was often harder than the clay of the pot, and the paint flaked off with the soil or was scrubbed off during the washing process. Faint traces of the painted decoration could often, but not always, be discerned, often by observing in raking light where there was still slip and where it was missing. Hence the drawings of the pottery are more informative than photographs. Most of the pottery was scrubbed manually using toothbrushes. In 1983 and 1984 the pottery was soaked in a weak solution of hydrochloric acid in an attempt to remove the soil without losing the decorated surfaces. Many of the vessels from Building B, Rooms B3 and B4, were treated in this way, and the fine ware shows more decoration than was generally found in other deposits. Later, in the course of cleaning the pottery and objects, it became clear that manual cleaning with a scalpel was the best way of removing the sediment from the pottery,

13

and vessels so treated revealed more of their original surfaces and decoration. Thus, in the catalog, when a fragment is described as having worn surfaces, this generally indicates that the original surfaces were largely removed during the cleaning process.

Quantification All of the pottery was weighed and counted, and information was kept on the numbers of rims, bases, and handles that were found. Whenever possible, coarse wares that were not cataloged were typed, so there is some information on the recognizable types in any given deposit. Sometimes fragments were removed from their pottery contexts before the study began, often because they were seen to join with other fragments of vessels that were pulled out and inventoried. This happened frequently in the areas of the graves. Whenever possible the count and weight with these pieces is given. The pottery from the 1984 cleaning was studied at the end of the season at a time when no further excavation was intended. At that time, groups of pottery were physically put together according to their stratigraphic level within a room; hence, some contexts will include more than one pottery pail (e.g., V 2605.1, V 2605.4, and V 2605.15 Level 2). At the end of the 1984 season, the pottery was taken to Siteia, where storage facilities were limited, and it was necessary to discard much of the nondiagnostic material. Although the weights of the discarded fragments were recorded, the fabric typology had not yet been determined, and no record was made of the different fabrics. The roofing deposit in Building E, Room E1 may well have included more nearly complete vessels than is currently recorded, since some of the material that might have joined to the discarded body fragments was excavated in later seasons. When quantities of pottery fragments are given for individual rooms in which some of the material had been discarded, the phrase “over . . . fragments, weighing . . . kg.” indicates that the numbers of discarded fragments were not recorded, but they were weighed.

Dating Whenever possible, a date has been assigned to every cataloged fragment of pottery or object. For most of the LM IIIC pottery, the dates are secure

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KAVOUSI IIA

and based on parallels with other contemporary deposits on Crete, although an individual motif or shape could remain from an earlier period. More difficult has been dating the material from the earlier periods of use at Vronda. No deposits of Early Minoan unmixed with Middle Minoan have been found, and it is often difficult to determine the date of individual fragments. For MM II, the material from Building P seems to provide a closed group; although individual fragments may be intrusions from earlier periods, it is assumed that the majority of the pottery comes from MM II; MM II deposits also produced a high percentage of Mirabello fabrics, particularly Type III. The two deposits of MM III–LM IA (V 2600 and Building E, Room E1)

contain far fewer Mirabello fabrics, and almost no Type III fabrics at all. Similarly, dating of the later material proved difficult. Geometric pottery was recognized easily and is assumed to have been deposited during the use of Vronda as a cemetery; most of the pottery and objects that can be assigned to a grave have been included with the cemetery volume. The later Buildings F and R date to the period of Venetian occupation on Crete, and the pottery from these eras has not been widely studied or published. Whenever possible, we have assigned pieces to the Venetian period, but some pottery of uncertain date we have categorized as Medieval–Modern; these pieces may date anywhere from the Byzantine to the Modern era.

2

Building A-B Leslie Preston Day with contributions by Heidi Dierckx, David S. Reese, and Lynn M. Snyder

Building A-B is the designation given to the large LM IIIC building that lies along the southeastern side of the summit of the Vronda ridge (Fig. 2). It consists of two structures that are linked by a common orientation: Building A on top of the ridge and Building B along the southeastern side (Fig. 6). Where they come together at the southeastern corner of Building A and the northwestern corner of Building B, the walls of the two buildings do not bond, a fact which suggests that, although they were part of the same building complex, they were not built at precisely the same time. Building A consists of two rooms, a large rectangular room that is the largest on the site (A1) and a

smaller room at the north end (A2). The four smaller rooms comprising Building B (B1/2, B3, B4, and B7) were basement rooms used for storage. Both buildings seem to have faced onto an open space or courtyard along the south. The large wall that runs along the southeastern side, oriented with the building and bonded into the east wall of B3, seems to have been erected to increase the amount of available space for this large and commanding building on top of the ridge. Remains of earlier habitation, particularly walls of a MM II structure (Building P) and a pit to the west with MM III–LM IA material, were covered over by this building complex.

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KAVOUSI IIA

History and Details of Excavation The 15 x 20 m space excavated in 1900 by Harriet Boyd on the summit of the Vronda ridge uncovered much of Building A-B (Boyd 1901, 131). Below the crest of the hill on the southeast side stood what Boyd termed “an excellent stretch of wall, 1.2 m. high, 13 m. long” (Boyd 1901, 132). Above this wall, she found what appeared to be a storeroom, containing parts of three large pithoi with “moulded designs of the common serpentine patterns” (Boyd 1901, 132). Boyd identified the principal building on the summit as a large house with a forecourt, but she was unable to make out the plan because of the ruined condition of the walls. She reported that one room contained a considerable amount of iron: one pick, one ax head, a sword complete in seven pieces, and numerous fragments (Boyd 1901, 132). Although Boyd did not provide a plan of her excavated remains, there can be little doubt that she uncovered what later was to be called Building A and part of Building B (Room B1/2). None of the pottery found by Boyd in the Vronda settlement survives, nor is there any record of it aside from what appears in her 1901 publication; the iron sword (HM 12) and pick are still in the Herakleion Museum. Several features were visible at the beginning of the work of the Kavousi Project: the long east wall of the large house on the summit, a large rectangular pit where Boyd excavated the storeroom (Pl. 2B), and the massive wall along the southeastern side of the summit (Pl. 3A), which later proved to be a terrace wall (Hayden 1981, 84, fig. 52; Gesell, Day, and Coulson 1983, 395, fig. 3). During the 1983 cleaning season this area was labeled Plot A, and included the large room of Building A (A1), along with the storerooms of Building B (B1–7), and a small enclosed area to the east labeled B8. A corner of A1 that was marked off with a line of stones was called B9 (Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 356, 360, fig. 1). This area was originally thought to be a closet and part of Building B, but subsequently it was identified as a later structure in the corner of Room A1, possibly a Geometric cist grave like those found elsewhere at Vronda. Walls were identified by letters (Fig. 7). Without a plan or detailed description, it was difficult to know precisely where Boyd had dug, and in many cases it

only became apparent that an area had been untouched by Boyd when massive deposits of pottery were encountered just below the surface, and then the vessels had to be completely cleared and removed (Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 366–375). The 1984 cleaning season cleared the areas beneath the surfaces left by Boyd, usually to bedrock. Several soundings were made in Building A, Room A1: in the center (V 3200), in the southwest corner (V 2603, V 3100), and along the east (V 3302). More soundings were made in the northern part of A1 and in A2 (V 3700, V 3800). The area east of Building A between its east wall and the great terrace wall was explored in Trenches V 2800, V 2900, and V 3900. The area north of Building A (Trench V 4200) and west of it (V 2600) were also investigated (Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 360–366). In 1987 only one trench was opened in Building A-B. The remainder of the deposit in B7 was excavated in Trench V 1800 to remove the large pithos partly recovered in 1983 (Gesell, Day, and Coulson 1988, 282). During the final excavation season in 1992, more exploration was done of the earlier remains encountered, but not initially recognized, under the area to the east of Building A in Trenches V 2400 and V 3400. The Middle Minoan structure labeled Building P was identified at that time, and the remainder was excavated in Trench V 3400. The small amount of apparently undisturbed soil still remaining in this area was removed by a single individual with a trowel, and the soil was sieved to recover all remains. The remainder of B7 was also cleaned, including the east and south walls (Trenches V 1200, V 1300). Finally, more of the space called Room B8 of Building B was excavated, and much material was found in this space, including many fragments of the large terracotta window frame, perhaps fallen down from Room B7 above. Subsequent study and conservation seasons (1993–1996) saw the consolidation of all of the walls of Building A-B. The floor in B3 had been consolidated in 1984, but in 1996 pebbles were strewn over the floors in B3, B1/2, B4, and B7 to protect the eroding bedrock. Room B5 was filled in to the level that existed prior to excavation.

BUILDING A-B

17

Building A Building A (Figs. 6, 7) consists of a large rectangular room (A1) and a smaller room to the north (A2). When investigated by Boyd, the entire building had already been denuded by natural erosion on top of the hill or by human activity. Boyd mentioned that walls appeared on the surface, and excavations elsewhere on the summit showed little accumulation of soil, so it is likely that the deposition had never been great. Thus the stratigraphy was not deep or complex. Bedrock lay almost immediately below the modern surface. In its uneven and pitted surface were pockets of soil that often contained earlier material of MM II or MM III–LM IA. The surface

at the beginning of excavation was what had been left by Boyd, probably the floor levels of the building that she reached in 1901. Some soil may have built up over the subsequent 80 years, and there may have been patches, particularly along the walls, that she had not removed, but basically all the information about what was in the building when Boyd excavated is now gone. Approximately 540 bone fragments were recovered from the rooms designated Building A (Table 1). Although bone preservation was relatively good in this area, nearly 80% of these specimens were unidentifiable bone fragments.

ROOM A1 Architecture and Features With internal measurements of 10.15 m N–S x 7.0–7.2 m E–W (71 m2), Room A1 is the largest room on the site (Figs. 6, 7; Pl. 3B). Only the east wall (V 2805) is well preserved (Pl. 3C). It shows an unusually tidy construction, using limestone blocks in apparently regular courses, to judge from the flat surface currently preserved. The wall measures 0.70–0.75 m in width and is preserved one to two courses or 0.40–0.70 m high. The south wall (G) is not preserved, except in the southeastern corner, where four large breccia boulders have survived. This southern wall has no good outer face, so its width is uncertain. Cuttings in the bedrock suggest the possible location of the southwestern corner. Only a small section of the west wall (V 2601) was preserved in Trenches V 2600 and V 3100, where it is 0.80–0.90 m wide and only a single course high, composed chiefly of breccia, with a few small limestone blocks. The northeastern corner is entirely missing, and the bedrock rises very high where it should have been; doubtless this bedrock ridge was incorporated into the construction of the walls. Small portions of the north wall (V 3801) were preserved. It is presumed that this wall had been uncovered by Boyd, as it was visible on the surface when excavation began. The wall is 0.70–0.75 m wide and preserved one to two courses (0.20–0.55 m high).

The southeastern corner of the room is the best preserved, but there has been considerable disturbance here. A linear accumulation that may have come from a wall was once thought to be part of the original structure (Pl. 3D), and this corner was identified as a closet and labeled Room B9 (Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 360, fig. 1). Further study indicates that this linear accumulation was a later addition made after the building had passed out of use, since it is founded well above the floor of the room and is much flimsier than the other walls. It is possible that this linear accumulation formed part of a cremation cist on the summit, as the construction is not dissimilar to other Geometric cist graves on Vronda. The hoard of iron tools and weapons found by Boyd in a room on the summit almost certainly came from a grave in this area, and possibly from this corner. Such a hoard would have been out of place in the settlement. Although not unknown, iron is rare in LM IIIC contexts, and the hoard of iron weapons and tools resembles the material from the Geometric graves rather than anything found elsewhere in the settlement. The cremation burials were difficult to recognize at first, and Boyd’s workmen may have unknowingly excavated one, removing the iron objects and discarding the almost unrecognizable fragments of bone and burned pottery. Some of the limestone blocks in the wall in the southeast

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KAVOUSI IIA

corner were also fractured like those found in the later cremation graves. Whether a grave or not, this structure belongs to the later history of the area, and was not part of the LM IIIC building. The floor surface left by Boyd included small stones, and in the center of the room were patches of fired red material originally identified as mudbrick, but probably the remains of a hearth like those in the other buildings. It was badly damaged, as if exposed to the elements for some time, so it may have been uncovered by Boyd, although it is not mentioned in her report. The floor surfaces in all of these areas were at approximately the same level. Reconstructing the doorways into the building and between the rooms is made difficult by the poor preservation of the walls on the north, west, and south. There may have been a doorway between Rooms A1 and A2 in the center of the north wall. The two preserved sections of this wall are not completely aligned with each other, suggesting that a doorway existed between them; where doorways are preserved in other Vronda buildings, the walls on either side are not always aligned, as in Building D and Building I. No door ends are extant, however, to confirm this hypothesis. There is less evidence for the exterior entrances. The only wall that could not have had an entrance is the east wall. Room A1 may have been entered from an open area on the south or from a street on the west, where the walls are no longer preserved. Entrance into Building A may also have been from the north through A2, but if so, the entrance could not have been on the axis of the building.

Stratigraphy Because there was little deposition left in any of the trenches within the big room of Building A, the stratigraphy was simple. Bedrock or clay packing in depressions in the bedrock lay below a hard floor surface, with a small accumulation of topsoil above it. In the southwestern corner of the room, in Locus V 2603 and immediately to the north in V 3100, bedrock lay just below the modern surface, and there was little deposition. Just above bedrock was a layer of light gray-brown soil, with some harder yellow-brown soil in the southeast (Level 2) containing no pottery. In the neighboring Trench V 3100 there was a distinct floor surface with bedrock

projecting through it along the east. The conical cup (A1 P1) was found lying in this floor surface or below it right up against the east face of the wall. A thin layer of topsoil (Level 1) lay above this surface in both trenches. The same hard floor surface with a thin layer of topsoil over it was encountered in the southeastern corner of the room (the area erroneously labeled Room B9). No attempt was made to excavate below it. In the center of the room (Trench V 3200) three stratigraphic layers were recognized. The lowest level (Level 3) contained stones along with dark brown soil filling a pit in the bedrock. It lay below the floor surface of the LM IIIC house and probably represents packing for the floor. Little material was contained within this pit. Level 2 comprised the soil removed during cleaning of the bedrock, which rose high in the western half of the trench, and during the removal of the hard floor surface in the center. Where the bedrock rose high, it was incorporated into the floor, with spurs rising above the floor level. Level 1 consisted of the topsoil that lay above the floor, much of it having accumulated since Boyd’s day. In the northeastern part of the room (V 3302) the same three layers were defined: Level 3 was the packing of the bedrock, Level 2 was the floor, and Level 1 was topsoil. In addition, however, the bedrock was cut along the line of Wall V 2805 (the east wall of A1), and was interpreted as a foundation trench for the construction of the wall. The material from this trench was kept separate, but contained no diagnostic pottery. Finally, the northern end of A1 was explored in two trenches (V 3700 and V 3800). The bedrock in this area was especially uneven, with deep pits in V 3700 and V 3800 and veins of onyx in V 3700. The soil in the pits (Level 2) was brownish yellow and contained an unusually small amount of pottery in comparison to other areas of the building; it may have filled in naturally before the ridge was used. Above the bedrock was a hard, brown soil, probably packing for the floor. In Locus V 3804, a similar hard-packed surface lay over bedrock, but it did not produce much pottery; more of this surface was exposed in Locus V 3702. Above the hard surface, probably the floor of the room, was topsoil (Level 1), with a soft, silty, gray soil, particularly along the eastern wall, that had accumulated since Boyd’s time. A few large stones north of the big

BUILDING A-B

outcrop of bedrock may have tumbled from the walls of A1.

Pottery The trenches excavated within A1 produced a total of 1,506 fragments of pottery weighing a total of 43.75 kg. The percentages of wares and recognizable coarse fabrics are illustrated in Charts 1–3. Given the size of the area, there is comparatively little pottery, and a higher percentage than usual is fine ware. That the lower levels excavated represent largely earlier material can be seen by the paucity of LM IIIC fabrics (X/XI, XIII). The pottery cataloged from this deposit is rather small and scrappy (Fig. 8), but it is all that remains from this important room. The two nearly complete vessels are earlier, probably from below the floors. The conical cup (A1 P1) and the tall, monochrome tumbler (or straight-sided cup; A1 P2) are of MM III–LM IA date, as is also the basin (A1 P6). Of LM IIIC date are the deep bowl base (A1 P3) and the pithos handle (A1 P7), with its unique incised symbol of a possible horns of consecration (Pl. 3E). The rather linear geometric design on the krater (A1 P5) suggests a date late in LM IIIC. Uncataloged pottery includes MM II carinated and straight-sided cups and more conical cups that came from the soil below the floor, while only the pithos fragments belong to the LM IIIC occupation of A1. Room function is impossible to determine from the preserved pottery, but the presence of a hearth suggests that the room was used for cooking; the hearth may have also provided heat and light in the winter and during the night. It seems likely that the room was a larger version of the hearth rooms replicated in all of the Vronda houses.

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Faunal Remains Some 477 bones and bone fragments were recovered from Room A1 (Table 1). These included 31 domestic dog (Canis familiaris) elements representing vertebrae and front limb and back limb elements, none of which showed any evidence of human modification. These elements were recovered from just below the modern ground surface, and it is likely that they represent an animal carcass that was discarded in the area after the building had been abandoned. One domestic pig (Sus scrofa) element, a proximal tibia fragment from surface deposits, bore a cut or chop mark on its proximal margin indicative of butchering, or separation of the lower back leg below the meaty upper thigh. Scattered elements of sheep and/or goat (Ovis aries or Capra hircus) recovered from all levels of Room A1 are a mixture of apparent butchering debris (head and lower limb elements) plus a few upper limb bone fragments, indicating that food bone debris was also discarded in this area. Forty-one bone fragments were recovered from the surface deposits in the southeast corner of the room; these were kept separate because of the possible association with later grave activity. Identifiable sheep or goat elements in this area included two cranial elements and three lower leg elements, probably representative of discarded butchering debris. A limpet (Patella) and a topshell (Monodonta) were also found in the room (Table 2).

Floor Packing STONE TOOL A1 ST1 (V84.76; V 3804.5 Level 2). Hand tool. Cobble, oblong and flat, incomplete. L. 8.3; w. 4.8; th. 2.0 cm; wt. 140 g. Gabbro, dark bluish gray, with white inclusions. Pecked-ground one end and one edge. Type 2.

Objects Few other objects were found in Room A1. A stone pounder (A1 ST1) came from the packing beneath the floor. Ten pebbles were found in the center of the room on the surface (V84.41); although these showed no signs of human modification, they do not occur naturally on the site and are likely to have been brought there for a reason.

Floor POTTERY Coarse Ware A1 P1 (V84.72; V 3100.2 Level 2, object 3; Fig. 8). Conical cup. Restored from 8 fragments. 80% preserved, including entire base and full profile. H. 4.4; d. rim

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KAVOUSI IIA

7.5–8.0; d. base 3.6 cm. Coarse, yellowish red (5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. MM III–LM IA. Day, Gesell, Coulson 1986, 361, fig. 4:1, pl. 81:b. Comparanda: Betancourt 1990, 185, fig. 66:1897 (Kommos); Knappett and Cunningham 2003, 150, fig. 31:250 (Palaikastro).

Medium-Coarse Painted Wares

Topsoil

A1 P5 (Room B9 Level 1; Fig. 8). Krater. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 5.7 cm. Mediumcoarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) clay, with phyllites. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Dark reddish-brown (2.5YR 3/4) paint. Worn surfaces. Pendant triangle with multiple outlines. LM IIIC, late.

POTTERY Fine Dark-on-Light Wares

A1 P4 (V 3100 Level 1; Fig. 8). Cup. Seven fragments preserving entire base and lower handle attachment; missing rim. Max. pres. h. 3; d. base 4 cm. Mediumcoarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 6/6) clay, with gray core. Traces of paint on the interior. Worn surfaces. MM.

A1 P2 (V 3100 Level 1; Fig. 8). Tumbler or straightsided cup. Profile restored from two large fragments: base (3 sherds) and rim (12 sherds). H. est. 8; d. rim est. 10.2; d. base est. 5 cm. Fine, very soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 8/6) clay, with reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/8) core. Red paint. Very worn and flaky surfaces. MM III–LM IA. Comparanda: Betancourt 1990, 187, fig. 67:1977 (Kommos); Momigliano 2000, 95–96, fig. 18.79 (Knossos); Bernini 1995, 72, fig. 12:48 (Palaikastro); Knappett and Cunningham 2003, 163, fig. 44:413 (Palaikastro).

Pithos Ware

A1 P3 (V 3100 Level 1; Fig. 8). Cup or deep bowl. Single fragment from base. D. est. 4.8 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) clay. Thick black paint. Worn surfaces. Raised, concave base, painted on bottom. LM IIIC?

A1 P7 (Room B9 Level 1; Fig. 8; Pl. 3E). Pithos. Single fragment from handle. Max. pres. h. 9.5 cm. Coarse, light red (2.5YR 6/8), Type X/XI fabric. Buff slip. Incised at base of handle with possible horns of consecration. LM IIIC.

A1 P6 (V 2603, V 2500.2 Level 1 [1 sherd]; Fig. 8). Basin. Single fragment preserving nearly complete profile. Missing base. H. 6.4; d. rim est. 30 cm. Coarse, reddishyellow (5YR 6/6) fabric, with phyllites, granodiorites, and a bit of gold mica. Black(?) paint. Very worn surfaces. MM III–LM IA. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 361, fig. 4:6, pl. 81:f. Comparanda: Barnard and Brogan 2003, 55, fig. 12:IB.267 (Mochlos).

ROOM A2 Architecture and Features

Stratigraphy

Only two walls remain of this room (Figs. 6, 7). The southern wall was described in Room A1. Of the northern wall (V 3803) only a small portion survives (Pl. 4A). It is 0.6–0.7 m wide and 3.25 m long, and stands only one course high. The floor was as in Room A1. There were no additional features. The approximate measurement of the room (based on projecting the existing walls of A1 to the north) is 2.7–2.8 m N–S x 6 m E–W (16.2 m2). If a doorway existed in the north wall leading into the building from the north, then it could not have been on axis, as the north wall stretches across the area where such a door might have been. Either Room A2 is a vestibule (as Boyd thought), like Room I4 in Building I, or a small back room, like Room D3 in Building D.

The northern room was explored in two trenches (V 3700, V 3800). As with Room A1, the bedrock below the room was uneven, with a deep channel leading into a large depression in V 3800. The channel and depression were filled with yellowishbrown earth and stones (Level 2). There was little pottery associated with this fill, and it was different from the fills below the floors in areas to the east of A1 and those underlying Building E. On top of the leveling fill a floor of hard-packed earth had been laid, and some paving stones were associated with it. In Locus V 3701, the soil just above this floor contained many pithos fragments, so it is possible that it had been left by Boyd. The pottery from this locus was, unfortunately, combined with that from Room A1, so no separate analysis was possible.

BUILDING A-B

Several different deposits and areas were also recognized in Trench V 3800 (V 3805, V 3806, and V 3807), but the pottery from these different loci was not kept separate or was later combined. The Late Geometric fragments found in Trench V 3800 that match fragments from northeast of Building R, indicate the degree of later disturbance in this area; since these are likely to have come from Grave 17 or Grave 12, they will be discussed in a future volume with the other material from the cemetery.

Pottery and Objects No pottery was cataloged. All of the pottery from Trenches V 3700 and V 3800 was combined by level in 1984, and there is no record of what came from Room A2 and what was from A1. Since much of the material came from below the floor of A2, not much information about the building was lost. A total of 578 fragments weighing 14.4 kg came from the two trenches. The upper levels in this room (V 3800) contained some pottery of the Late Geometric period, including fragments with concentric circles published in an early report (Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 360–362, fig. 5:2a, b), and probably from one of the cremation burials

21

nearby. Lower levels had primarily MM pottery and fabrics. One stone tool was found above the floor level (A2 ST1), but since it was lying on the surface, its context is uncertain. Nothing was found to suggest a function for the room. It may have been a vestibule in front of the room, or a back room, but one cannot be certain since no doorways or any objects are preserved.

Faunal Remains A total of 21 bone fragments were found in the excavation of Room A2 (Table 1). A single domestic dog cranial fragment is probably from the same animal carcass represented in Room A1. In the tumble within this room, two probable sheep front limb elements bore cut marks, indicating butchering and separation of the front limb between the lower limb and the meaty upper thigh.

Surface STONE TOOL A2 ST1 (V84.50; V 3701.5 Level 2). Possible tool. Cobble, oblong, incomplete. L. 7.2; w. 3.0; th. 2.2 cm; wt. 75 g. Calcareous schist, light gray. Broken 2 ends.

Periphery of Building A AREA WEST OF ROOM A1 During the 1984 cleaning along the western side of Building A, three trenches (V 2500, V 2600, V 3100) were excavated outside the walls of the building (Fig. 6). A deep pit cut into the bedrock was cleared in Trench V 2600 (V 2605). This pit was thought to belong with the inhabitation of Building A and was published as part of the LM IIIC settlement in a preliminary report (Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 360–364). Subsequent study has shown that the material belongs to MM III–LM IA, and that it was deposited either in that period or when the top of the ridge was remodeled for the construction of Building A. Since there was no discernable LM IIIC material contained in the pit, it seems possible that the pit was filled in, whether

accidentally or deliberately, during the Neopalatial period, and that it represents (along with a small disturbed deposit in Building E, Room E1, and possibly Building B, Room B6) the only remains of occupation of that period at Vronda.

Architecture and Features There were no architectural remains to the west of A1 except for a roughly square stone platform 1 m long and 0.75 m wide running parallel to the wall (V 3105) of A1 in Trench V 3100 (V 3103); this may have belonged to an earlier structure, and its function is uncertain. Trench V 2500 also produced no architectural remains.

22

KAVOUSI IIA

The pit in V 2600 (V 2605) was roughly rectangular at the top, but it rounded out on the bottom. Either it was natural, or it had been deliberately cut into the bedrock. The bottom and sides were smooth and white, coated with calcium carbonate, which may have been a natural lime deposit or a deliberate lining. From the surface (at 426.74 m AMSL) to the lowest point in the pit (426.08 m AMSL) it was 0.65 m deep. The cuttings in the bedrock in V 2604 seem to head directly into the pit, and the pit with the drains may have functioned as a cistern in an earlier period. It would seem that the earlier inhabitants either modified the bedrock or used natural bedrock channels for drainage. The large fragment of terracotta drain tile found in the pit (AW TC1; Pl. 4B) may have belonged with this system; it is difficult to date. When and why the pit was filled in is unknown. It probably belonged with structures that were in use on the Vronda ridge in MM II and MM III–LM IA, and was either filled in during MM III–LMIA or as part of the remodeling on top of the ridge when Building A was constructed.

Stratigraphy There was little deposition on the west except in the pit in Trench V 2600. Outside the pit and over bedrock was a hard, claylike soil (V 2604 Level 2, V 2607, V 2608 Level 1, V 3100 Level 2) that may represent an ancient surface outside the building, utilizing bedrock and a clay packing that filled in anomalies in the bedrock. In Trench V 3100, a small space (V 3105) between the west wall of Building A and a small platform (V 3103) contained two depressions in the bedrock filled with softer crumbly soil (Level 2) that contained early material. This early material suggests that the surface from the LM IIIC period was gone before excavation began. The floor surface lay immediately below a thin layer of topsoil (V 2604 Level 1, V 3100 Level 1). Trench V 2500 showed evidence of disturbance, some of it quite recent. The bedrock sloped steeply to the west, and there was some packing of clay and small stones filling in some crevices. Originally, this was interpreted as a road or street. To the southwest was a fine soft soil with large boulders that looked like a modern fill, possibly even from Boyd’s excavation. Fragments of pottery from Grave 5 in Building C, Room C4, however, suggested that the area had been disturbed even before Boyd’s work began.

The material in the pit in V 2600 may have been deposited long before the construction of the LM IIIC settlement, or it may have been placed there during the modifications to the site at the time of the construction of Building A; there is no clear evidence for how the material came to be where it was found. At the bottom of the pit was a small patch of the brecciating soil that lies above bedrock, and above this was a deep layer of hard, brown clay (V 2605 Level 3) that resembles the roofing clay found in so many of the LM IIIC houses (Fig. 9). This layer had many flat stones and was rich in pottery, bones, and charcoal (Pl. 4C). Several chunks of fired mudbrick appeared (Pl. 4D), including a nearly complete example (Pl. 4E), all associated with burning. These fragments of mudbrick do not belong with the LM IIIC architecture, as previously thought (Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 364, pl. 80:b), but are earlier, either from the walls of a prior structure or from some other type of installation. Another similar layer of clay (V 2605 Level 2) lay above, but it lacked the flat stones. A thin layer of topsoil overlay the pit (V 2605 Level 1).

Pottery The material from the pit is uniform, and since there seems to be no difference between Levels 2 and 3, it all has been cataloged together (Charts 4, 5). The deposit is very different from others on the site, although there are some similarities with the deposit in B6 and the intermediate deposit in E1. The pit contained 475 fragments of pottery weighing 6.7 kg; there was a greater amount of cooking ware and fine ware and fewer pithoi than usual, and the deposit is marked by the amount of unusual fabrics, including Types I, II/VI, III, and IV. All of the vessels can be dated to MM III–LM IA. There are few LM IIIC fragments or fabrics, and comparatively less of the granodiorite fabrics and shapes of MM II found farther east on the top of the ridge. Fine wares (Fig. 10) include decorated globular (AW P1) and flaring (AW P2) cups with spirals of LM IA date, as well as monochrome straight-sided (AW P4), conical (AW P5), and flaring (AW P6) cups like examples of MM III–LM IA date. One fine cup base of very soft fabric and made up of 53 tiny fragments, laminating and in cubes, was not

BUILDING A-B

23

cataloged. Many shapes similar to fine wares occur in medium-coarse fabrics (Fig. 10), such as conical cups (AW P9) and flaring cups (AW P8, AW P11, AW P12). A medium-coarse one-handled cup (AW P13) and a probable tall goblet fragment (AW P7) are also of MM III–LM IA date. Cooking ware (Figs. 11, 12) was plentiful, generally in Types I and IV fabrics rather than the granodiorite fabrics (Type II/VI) found in earlier deposits. Shapes are similar to those found in MM III–LM I deposits elsewhere on Crete. A large fragment of a tripod cooking pot (AW P16; Pl. 5A) and three other cooking pots (AW P18–AW P20) have slightly incurved rims. Cooking pot AW P17 has an outward thickening on the rim and interior ribbing similar to deep cooking pots from MM III Palaikastro (Knappett and Cunningham 2003, 157, fig. 37:287, 294, 296). Coarse pottery (Figs. 12, 13) included a large number of drinking vessels of various sorts, including many conical cups. These find parallels in MM III–LM IA, including the complete example (AW P28; Pl. 5B), which is irregular in shape. The two small tripod cups (AW P34, AW P35) also are of MM III–LM IA date, and the shallow bowl or saucer (AW P36) is also a good MM III–LM IA shape. There are almost no storage vessels, except for a rim of a pithos or lipped jar (AW P39; Fig. 13) with a flattened outward thickening, like those of MM III–LM I date.

Vronda, of which the example from Building N, Room N1 is the best preserved. The size and shape of the brick, however, makes it more likely to been a building material from the walls. The drain tile (AW TC1; Fig. 13; Pl. 4B) may have been part of the drainage system that existed before the LM IIIC buildings were constructed; it is similar to other examples found at Vronda, most of which come from the earlier occupation of the area. One cataloged stone tool came from the pit, an abrader (AW ST1); other stones recognized as tools were without evidence of working (V84.5) or were simply pebbles (V84.3, V84.21).

Objects

AW P1 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 10). Rounded cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 10 cm. Fine, yellow (10YR 8/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. Brownish-black paint. Spiral? LM IA. Comparanda: Bernini 1995, 75, fig. 14:68 (Palaikastro, MM IIIB).

Also found in this deposit were fragments of fired bricks or mudbricks (Pl. 4E) that may have come from the superstructure of an earlier building on the Vronda summit. It was originally thought that several bricks were represented, of which one complete example was preserved (Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 364); but subsequent study and conservation has shown that most of the fragments belong to a larger single brick that measures at least 24.33 x 20.45 x 10 cm. Oblong-shaped mudbricks were used in earlier palatial buildings on Crete; while dimensions vary, their thickness was generally around 10 cm, like the Vronda example (Shaw 1971, 231–234). This mudbrick is highly unusual, however, because it contains no trace of straw temper, making it resemble in material the clay curbings from the hearths in other rooms at

Faunal Remains A total of 70 animal bones came from this deposit, three of which were burned (Table 1). Identifiable pig and sheep or goat element fragments are exclusively those of the head and lower legs, indicating discarded butchering debris. A small cowrie shell (Erosaria) was found also in this deposit (Table 3).

Pit in Locus V 2600, combined Levels 2 and 3 POTTERY Fine Dark-on-Light Wares

AW P2 (V 2605 Level 2; Fig. 10). Cup. Two fragments from rim (4 sherds). D. rim est. 16 cm. Fine, soft, light red (2.5YR 6/6) fabric. Reddish-yellow (7.5YR 8/6) slip. Red (10R 5/8) paint. Well-preserved surfaces. Running spiral. LM I. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, pl. 81:e. AW P3 (V 2605 Level 2; Fig. 10). Cup or bowl, possibly spouted. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 22 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 8/6) clay. Reddishyellow (7.5YR 8/6) slip. Red (2.5YR 4/8) paint. Worn surfaces. Spiral? LM I? AW P4 (V 2605 Level 2; Fig. 10). Straight-sided cup. Large fragment preserving 40% of base. D. base est. 6.5 cm. Fine, rather harder, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 8/6) fabric. Traces of red paint. Beveled base. Painted on bottom. LM IA.

24

KAVOUSI IIA

Fine Monochrome Wares AW P5 (V 2605 Level 2; Fig. 10). Conical cup. Large fragment (7 sherds) preserving 40% of rim. D. rim est. 9 cm. Fine, soft, porous, very pale brown (10YR 8/4) fabric. Black paint. Worn surfaces. Monochrome? MM III–LM IA? Comparanda: Barnard and Brogan 2003, 38, fig. 1:IB.37, 48 (Mochlos, MM III–LM IA). AW P6 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 10). Cup. Seven fragments from rim. D. rim est. 12 cm. Fine, soft, reddishyellow (5YR 6/8) fabric. Creamy slip. Black paint over slip. Worn surfaces. MM III–LM I.

Medium-Coarse Painted Wares AW P7 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 10). Goblet. Single fragment (9 sherds) from rim and body; missing base. D. rim est. 9 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/8) fabric, gray at core, with white inclusions. Brown paint. Very worn surfaces. MM III–LM I. Comparanda: Knappett and Cunningham 2003, 152, fig. 33:274 (Palaikastro, MM III–LM IA). AW P8 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 10). Cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 11 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 6/6) fabric. Brownish-black paint. Worn surfaces. Interior painted. MM III–LM I? AW P9 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 10). Conical cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 12 cm. Mediumcoarse, hard, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6), Type IV fabric. Reddish-brown (5YR 4/4) paint. Worn surfaces. Painted on interior. MM III–LM I. AW P10 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 10). Jug or jar. Large fragment preserving 33% of base. D. base est. 11 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 8/6) fabric, with some small phyllite inclusions and a few granodiorites. Yellow (10YR 8/6) slip. Red (2.5YR 5/6) paint. Burned on one side, after breaking. Bands on bottom. Wheel ridging on interior. MM III–LM I. AW P11 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 10). Cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 15 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 8/6) fabric, with small phyllite inclusions. Black paint inside. MM III–LM I? AW P12 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 10). Cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 13 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/8) fabric. Black paint. Worn surfaces. Interior painted. MM III–LM I.

Medium-Coarse Plain Wares AW P13 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 10). Cup. Single fragment (10 sherds) from rim, including handle. D. rim est. 11 cm. Medium-coarse, very soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6) fabric. Very worn surfaces. MM III–LM I. Comparanda: Barnard and Brogan 2003, 41, fig. 3:IB.146 (Mochlos, MM III–LM IA).

AW P14 (V 2605 Level 2; Fig. 10). Basin. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 36 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/8), Type III fabric. MM II?

Cooking Wares AW P15 (V 2605 Level 2; Fig. 11). Cooking bowl. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 16 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6), Type IV fabric. Burned inside and out. MM III–LM I. AW P16 (V84.75; V 2605.16 Level 3, object 6; Fig. 11; Pl. 5A). Tripod cooking pot. Large fragment preserving entire profile, including handle, except for end of tripod leg. Missing 65% of rim and body, one handle, and 2 legs. Max. pres. h. 15.5; d. rim est. 20; d. base est. 11 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6), Type IV fabric. Burned on lower body of exterior. MM III–LM I. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, fig. 4:7, pl. 81:g. Comparanda: Catling, Catling, and Smyth 1979, 41, fig. 28:182 (Knossos, MM III–LM I). AW P17 (V 2605.16 Level 3, object 5; Fig. 11). Cooking pot. Large fragment preserving 30% of rim and upper body. Missing base and handles. D. rim est. 22 cm (uneven). Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/8), Type IV fabric. Burned patches on exterior. Ribbing on interior. MM III–LM I. Comparanda: Catling, Catling, and Smyth 1979, 38, fig. 26:165 (Knossos, MM III); Betancourt 1990, fig. 27:593 (Kommos). AW P18 (V 2605 Level 2; Fig. 11). Cooking pot. Large fragment (2 sherds) from rim, including handle attachment. D. rim est. 20 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6), Type IV (or I?) fabric. Smoothed and mottled black and red surface. Burned on exterior. MM III–LM I. AW P19 (V 2605 Level 2; Fig. 11). Cooking pot. Single fragment (3 sherds) from rim. D. rim est. 20 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/8), Type IV (or Type I?) fabric. Wiped surface. MM III–LM I. AW P20 (V 2605 Level 2; Fig. 12). Cooking pot. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 20 cm. Coarse, yellowish-red (5YR 5/8), Type IV fabric. MM III–LM I. AW P21 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 12). Cooking pot. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 54 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6) to reddish-brown (5YR 5/4), Type I fabric. MM III–LM I? Comparanda: Shaw and Shaw, eds., 2006, pl. 3.35 no. 22b/3 (Kommos, LM IA). AW P22 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 12). Cooking pot. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 4.5 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6), Type IV fabric. Burned on exterior. MM III–LM I? AW P23 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 12). Cooking pot. Single fragment (3 sherds) from rim. D. rim est. 40 cm. Coarse, friable, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. Burned on interior. MM III–LM I?

BUILDING A-B

AW P24 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 12). Cooking pot. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 4.7 cm. Coarse, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6), Type I fabric. Irregular rim. Possibly spouted. MM III–LM I? AW P25 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 12). Cooking pot. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 34 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/8), Type IV fabric. MM III–LM I? AW P26 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 12). Cooking pot. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 15 cm. Coarse, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6), Type I fabric. MM III–LM I? AW P27 (V 2605 Level 2; Fig. 12). Jar or jug. Single fragment preserving 30% of base. D. base est. 10 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6), Type I fabric. Burned on exterior. Wheel ridges on interior. MM III–LM I.

Coarse Plain Wares AW P28 (V84.74; V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 12; Pl. 5B). Conical cup. Intact except for one chip in rim. H. 5.0–5.3; d. rim 10.7–11.3; d. base 4.8 cm. Coarse, yellowish red (5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. Smoothed and mottled surface. Burning inside and out. Very irregular in shape. Wheel ridges on interior. MM III–LM I. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 361, fig. 4:5, pl. 81:c (misidentified). Comparanda: Catling, Catling, and Smyth 1979, 24, 33, 35; figs. 17, 21, 23 (Knossos, MM III–LM IA); Barnard and Brogan 2003, fig. 2 (Mochlos, MM III–LM IA). AW P29 (V 2605 Level 2; Fig. 12). Conical cup. Single fragment preserving 60% of base. D. base 4.5 cm. Coarse, hard, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. Smoothed and mottled surface. MM III–LM I. AW P30 (V 2605 Level 2; Fig. 12). Conical cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 9 cm. Coarse, hard, yellowish-red (5YR 5/8), Type IV fabric. Smoothed and mottled surface. MM III–LM I. AW P31 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 12). Conical cup. Single fragment (5 sherds) preserving 33% of base. D. base est. 5 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6), Type IV fabric. Surface smoothed and mottled. MM III–LM I? AW P32 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 12). Conical cup. Single fragment preserving entire base. D. base 5.2 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/8), Type IV fabric. MM III–LM I? AW P33 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 13). Straight-sided cup. Single fragment preserving entire base, except for hole in center. D. base 4.2 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6), Type II/VI fabric. MM II. AW P34 (V84.73; V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 13). Miniature tripod. Restored from 11 sherds. 75% preserved; missing 25% of rim and handle; only nubbins preserved where feet were. H. 5.2; d. rim 8.5; d. base 4.6 cm. Coarse, light red (2.5YR 6/6), Type IV fabric. Burning on interior of

25

rim. Used as lamp? MM III–LM I. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 361, fig. 4:4, pl. 81:d (misidentified). Comparanda: Knappett and Cunningham 2003, 151, fig. 32:266 (Palaikastro, MM III–LM IA); Barnard and Brogan 2003, fig. 11:IB.250–254 (Mochlos, MM III–LM IA). AW P35 (V 2605 Level 2; Fig. 13). Miniature tripod. Single fragment preserving full profile. 25% preserved, including one leg and one handle. Max. pres. h. 3.3 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6), Type IV fabric. MM III–LM I. Comparanda: Knappett and Cunningham 2003, 151, fig. 32:266 (Palaikastro, MM III–LM IA); Barnard and Brogan 2003, 53–54, fig. 11:IB.250–254 (Mochlos, MM III–LM IA). AW P36 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 13). Bowl. Large fragment preserving entire base and full profile; missing 80% of rim and upper body. H. 7.5; d. rim est. 26; d. base 10 cm. Coarse, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. Smoothed and mottled black and red surface. Burned patch on interior and exterior. String marks on base. MM III–LM I. Comparanda: Coldstream and Huxley 1972, figs. 38:46, 40:143 (Kythera, MM III–LM IA); Betancourt 1990, fig. 26:567 (Kommos, MM III–LM IA); Knappett and Cunningham 2003, 122, fig. 11:110 (Palaikastro, MM III–LM IA). AW P37 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 13). Closed vessel. Large fragment (11 sherds) from base and lower body (2 sherds). Second fragment from base. Missing upper body and rim. Max. pres. h. 19.9; d. base est. 14.5 cm. Coarse, light red (2.5YR 7/8) to reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6) fabric, similar to Type IV. MM III–LM I. AW P38 (V 2605 Level 2; Pl. 5C). Jar. Single large body fragment (3 sherds). Max. pres. h. 7.6 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 6/6–6/8) fabric, like a Type XXIV, but with buff slip. Rope-slashed horizontal band. MM III–LM I?

Pithos Ware AW P39 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 13). Pithos. Single large fragment from rim. D. rim est. 54 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6–6/8), Type III fabric. MM III. Comparanda: Betancourt 1990, fig. 56:1493–1495 (Kommos, MM III); Knappett and Cunningham 2003, 159, fig. 39:309 (Palaikastro, MM III); Catling, Catling, and Smyth 1979, 44, 46, figs. 30:212, 32:228 (Knossos, MM III–LM I).

TERRACOTTA OBJECT AW TC1 (V 2605 Level 3; Fig. 13; Pl. 4B). Drain tile. Single huge fragment from rim of one side and base; missing other side and most of base. H. 11; max. pres. L. 21.7 cm. Coarse, reddish yellow (5YR 6/6) fabric, with phyllites and quartzites. Possibly one finished edge where it is smoothed. MM III–LM IA? Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, pl. 80:a.

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KAVOUSI IIA

STONE TOOL AW ST 1 (V84.2; V 2605.11 Level 2, object 1). Hand tool. Cobble, oblong and flat, complete. L. 11.5;

w. 7.5; th. 2.8 cm; wt. 300 g. Quartzite (grainy), weak red. Pecked circumference; abraded one face, slightly concave. Type 3.

AREA SOUTH OF BUILDING A Architecture and Features

Pottery and Objects

There were no architectural remains to the south of A1, where Trench V 2600 was excavated. The channels that ran into the pit to the west also went along the southern side of the building. These channels appear to have been made earlier than the construction of Building A, as they were filled with early material (MM II or MM III–LM IA). The remainder of the area to the south of Building A was not investigated because the bedrock was visible over much of the surface. The area southwest of Building B was explored in 1983 as Building B, Room B5, but it was without architecture. There may have been a large courtyard south of Building A that extended to Building B.

The pottery from these areas was very scrappy and included chiefly early pottery of MM II or MM III–LM I date. Two stone tools (AS ST1, AS ST2) were found on the surface in this area, one in surface cleaning, the other in excavation.

Faunal Remains Only three animal bones were recovered (Table 1). A murex shell (Hexaplex trunculus) and a limpet were also found (Table 3).

Topsoil STONE TOOLS

Stratigraphy There was little deposition, and the area was cleared down to bedrock, including the channels. Over bedrock was the same hard, claylike soil (V 2604 Level 2, V 2607 Level 1, and V 2608 Level 1) found along the western side, and it may represent the ancient surface outside the building. It appeared just below the thin layer of topsoil (V 2604 Level 1).

AS ST1 (V84.24; surface south of Building A). Hand tool or weight? Pebble, sphere, incomplete. L. 6.2; w. 5.9; th. 2.9 cm; wt. 130 g. Quartzite, pale red. Peckedground surface. Type 11. AS ST2 (V84.14; V 2608.21 Level 1, object 9). Hand tool. Cobble, oval and flat, complete. L. 8.7; w. 6.7; th. 2.6 cm; wt. 230 g. Quartzite, weak red. Pecked part of the circumference; abraded smooth one face. Type 3.

AREA EAST OF BUILDING A Either Boyd dug the area between the eastern wall of Room A1 and the East Terrace Wall, or erosion and later use had removed most of the LM IIIC remains before excavation began. This space measures 8.2–8.8 m east to west (measuring to the outside face of the East Terrace Wall) and at least 7.8 m north to south, for a total of at least 66.3 m2. There was no visible architecture on the modern surface, and no trace of foundations for walls,

suggesting that if the area was roofed, there was a single large room in the space. It is equally possible that the area was an open courtyard, like those associated with other houses (Building E East House, Building I, Building K). The remains of earlier Building P, belonging to MM II, lay immediately below the modern surface; this building will be discussed separately.

BUILDING A-B

27

Architecture and Features

Stratigraphy

The space was defined by the eastern wall of Room A1, the northern wall of Building B, and Rooms B1/2, B3, and B4; there was no boundary remaining on the north (Figs. 6, 7; see also Ch. 3). The East Terrace Wall ran from the southern end of B3 to just south of Building R. It was a terrace wall with only an eastern face, except in Room B3, and it was constructed of large breccia boulders with some huge roughly dressed boulders of limestone, large enough to be termed megalithic; smaller stones were used in the interstices (Fig. 14; Pl. 3A). There are many indications that this area was part of Building A-B. The East Terrace Wall (V 2903) and the eastern wall of Building A (V 2805) are aligned, and the eastern wall of B3 (Wall A) was constructed as part of the East Terrace Wall. Clearly the southern portion of the East Terrace Wall and Rooms B3 and B1/2 were part of the same construction. The fact that the terrace wall is aligned with Building A and that it ends just north of the building further suggests that its builders took Building A into account in its orientation. The wall served as a support for Building A-B, and it seems most logical that it was constructed before the building. It is, however, possible that it came after Building A was constructed on top of the summit; at that time, the builders may have decided to enlarge the available space for the construction of Building B and the wall was put in. The wall certainly supported a terrace and was not defensive. A sounding in the east extension of Trench V 3900 showed how the terrace wall had an excellent eastern face, but no inner face at all (Pl. 5D). Building Q was constructed on a lower terrace to the east utilizing Wall V 2903 as its western boundary, and this would not have happened if the wall had been defensive. There is a small platform in the southwestern corner of this space, two courses (0.50 m) high and roughly rectangular (0.8 x 0.6 m), with its best face on the east (Pl. 5E). This platform was founded on a layer of clay, like a similar example in Building D, Room D1, rather than on bedrock. It resembles the platforms or stands in other buildings (e.g., D1, I3, N5), which are inside rooms, a fact that may indicate that the space was originally roofed.

Six trenches were dug in this area: V 2400, V 2800, V 2900, V 3300, V 3400, and V 3900, all contiguous. Between the eastern wall of Building A (V 2805) and the East Terrace Wall (V 2903) were two distinct areas below the modern surface. Just below the topsoil on the west lay the walls of Building P, forming a corner that enclosed a nearly undisturbed layer of MM II date and that ran nearly to the wall of Building A. This will be discussed in a separate chapter on Building P (see Ch. 3). To the east of this MM structure the area behind the East Terrace Wall had been leveled for the construction of Building A. Between the east wall of Middle Minoan Building P (V 2902) and the East Terrace Wall (V 2903) excavation uncovered a deep (0.80–0.85 m) deposit of rubble fill (Fig. 15). At the bottom, just over bedrock, lay a layer of hard, yellow clay (V 2901.8–9 Level 5) that produced 7 zembilia (rubber baskets with the capacity of approximately 25 liters) of stones (Pl. 5F). This layer, apparently undisturbed by the LM IIIC constructions, contained Early Minoan and some Middle Minoan pottery, and it probably predates the East Terrace Wall. A similar layer was found over bedrock in the southwest corner of Trench V 3900 (V 3900.11), but there the area was more disturbed (Fig. 14). Above this layer of yellow clay lay the deep rubble fill, consisting of densely packed boulders mixed with soil (Figs. 14, 15). This fill was excavated as V 2901 Levels 2–4 and V 3900 Levels 2–4. It seems to have been deliberate fill put behind the East Terrace Wall after its construction early in LM IIIC, to judge from the pottery found within it. The majority of pottery from the rubble fill belonged to MM II, probably thrown in from the dismantling of Building P, but LM IIIC fragments were found almost to the bottom, suggesting that the filling occurred at that date. The rubble fill was most thoroughly investigated in Trench V 2900 (Fig. 15). Three layers were distinguished, although probably all from the same filling episode. Toward the bottom, there was a greater amount of earth among the stones (Level 4); 65 zembilia of stones were removed from this

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KAVOUSI IIA

layer. Level 3 contained larger stones and produced 68 zembilia of stones. In Level 2, the upper layer of fill just below the topsoil, the stones were more densely packed, almost cemented together, and 48 large zembilia of stones were removed. In Trenches V 2400, V 2800, V 3300, and V 3400, only the top of the fill was uncovered, and in none of these trenches was excavation carried out to the bottom of the fill. In Trench V 3900, however, because of the slope of the bedrock, some of the undisturbed hard clay deposit on the bedrock may have been encountered at a high level (V 3901.11 Level 1). The pattern of rubble fill in this area is consistent with traditional practices of land fill. When local workmen filled some of the deeper trenches at Vronda for the sake of safety and aesthetics, they invariably followed the same practice. They threw in large boulders and soil to fill the space most quickly, then they used smaller stones to fill in the spaces, making certain to level the top of the fill and make it tightly packed. Finally they filled in the area with soil that sifted down to the bottom and covered over all of the stones. The surface collection over the East Terrace fill was very scrappy, including much pottery that was LM IIIC in date, with a few MM fragments. The topsoil in this area over the fill was hard and brown (V 2800 Level 1, V 2850, V 2900 Level 1, V 2950, V 3300 Level 1, V 3400, V 3900 Levels 1 and 2, V 3900 east extension Level 1), and it is not certain if this was a surface left after Boyd’s cleaning or was simply hard packed after 80 years of modern use.

Pottery Although pottery from the rubble fill was abundant, the fragments were generally small (Figs. 16–18). Over 1,745 sherds were recovered, weighing 26.9 kg. Pithos and cooking wares were less plentiful (Chart 6), nor were there many Middle Minoan granodiorite fabrics. LM IIIC pottery was found throughout the fill, almost to the bottom (Chart 7). Only the lowest clay layer above bedrock has earlier material that is devoid of LM IIIC intrusions (Chart 8). This material from the lowest layer included fragments of Vasiliki ware, MM II cup fragments with spatulate ribbon handles, and cooking wares in granodiorite fabrics (Type II/VI) with small flat (AE P1) and elliptical

(AE P2) legs. Cooking wares included at least six cooking plates. Another clay soil over bedrock in the southwestern corner of Trench V 3900 also produced much early pottery, including conical cups, a cooking pot with incurved rim, and several other rims in cooking fabrics; these could be either MM II or MM III–LM IA. The rubble layer of the East Terrace fill contained a mixture of MM II and LM IIIC pottery, and it is likely that much of the material came from Building P and was thrown in to level the area for the construction of Building A. Clearly of MM II date are the fine jars (AE P20, AE P34), straight-sided cup (AE P8), and fruitstand or brazier (AE P31). The tripod pyxis (AE P22) and the two-handled bowl (AE P40) are probably MM II. The small tripod vessel (AE P21) may belong to EM II, but could also date into the MM II period. The fabrics and shapes of the coarse hammerhead jar (AE P37), basin (AE P45), and cooking dish (AE P38) also indicate a Middle Minoan date, while the fabrics alone show many other vessels to be Middle Minoan (AE P42, AE P45). The fill also contained ribbed, carinated, and straight-sided MM II cups, conical cups (19), a spouted jar, and cooking ware of Middle Minoan date, none of it well enough preserved to catalog. LM IIIC pottery can be distinguished on the basis of shapes and decoration as well as fabrics. The deep bowls (AE P9, AE P10, AE P13, AE P14, AE P15), kraters (AE P18, AE P19), kylix fragment (AE P17), tripod (AE P43), basin (AE P44), lid (AE P55), and kalathos (AE P53) all come from this period. The krater (AE P18) is particularly diagnostic of early LM IIIC, with its dotted scalloped rim band, filled loops, and U-pattern. Also of early date are the stems of two champagne cups. Similarly, the round tripod leg (AE P43) with dint at the top is typical of LM IIIC cooking pots, and the lid (AE P55) is a typical LM IIIC shape. Uncataloged LM IIIC fragments included at least 10 deep bowls, a kylix, two champagne cups, and coarse fabrics of LM IIIC type (particularly Types X/XI, XXIV, and XV) with rope design, chevrons, zigzag, and stamped circles. At the top of the fill, but well below the surface soil, there were glazed and other Medieval–Modern fragments. The surface pottery over this fill (including Building P) was also mixed MM II and LM IIIC (Fig. 19). The Middle Minoan fine wares included ribbed (3), carinated (7), and straight-sided cups, as well as conical cups (2), and bridge-spouted jars (2).

BUILDING A-B

The most diagnostic MM II pieces include a rim from a cup in Barbotine ware (AE P61; Pl. 6A), two fragments of a cup with stamped or impressed spirals (AE P62; Pl. 6A), and two similar jars (AE P69, AE P70). LM IIIC pottery included the deep bowl (AE P59) with hatched lozenge and a reserved band on the interior lip, along with four other deep bowls and a possible kylix. A straight-sided cup (AE P58) perhaps can be dated to LM I. The coarse and cooking wares were of both Middle Minoan granodiorite fabrics and the phyllite fabrics of LM IIIC date, while the pithoi were almost entirely of LM IIIC fabrics. The pottery, then, confirms that the area was filled early in LM IIIC, but not at the beginning of that period; the krater fragment and others are of a more developed LM IIIC style. The wall was put in to create a larger space for the construction or expansion of Building A. The builders filled in the space east of the wall of Building P, leaving it and the soil it contained to level the area.

Objects Few objects were found in this fill, with the exception of four unworked pebbles that were found in the lowest fill just above bedrock (V84.18, V84.32), ten from under wall V 2805 (V84.43), and one from over the bin (V84.63). These had not apparently been modified, although their presence may have occurred through human action for unknown reasons. The East Terrace fill also included a terracotta tile fragment (AE TC1).

Faunal Remains Among the rubble of the East Terrace fill were sheep or goat bones and pig bones (Table 1); these come from the head and lower limbs, indicating discarded butchering debris. In addition, there was a small reptile, and a mouse or vole. Three limpet shells were found in the rubble fill, while a dog cockle (Glycymeris) came from the topsoil; a topshell found in a setback in Wall V 2805 may belong with Building P (Table 4).

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East Terrace Fill, Lowest Layer, on Bedrock POTTERY Cooking Wares AE P1 (V 2901.8 Level 5; Fig. 16). Tripod. Single fragment from leg. Max. pres. h. 4.2 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6), Type II/VI fabric, with finesorted inclusions. MM. AE P2 (V 2901.8 Level 5; Fig. 16). Tripod. Single fragment from leg. Max. pres. h. 4.3 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 4/6), Type II/VI fabric with heavy slip. Burned on one side of bottom. MM.

East Terrace Fill, Southwest Corner POTTERY Fine Plain Wares AE P3 (V 3901.11 Level 1; Fig. 16). Conical cup. Single fragment preserving 25% of base. D. base est. 4 cm. Fine, soft, yellow (10YR 7/6) fabric. MM? AE P4 (V 3901.11 Level 1; Fig. 16). Closed vessel. Single fragment preserving 20% of base. D. base est. 3.5 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. MM?

Cooking Wares AE P5 (V 3900.11 Level 5; Fig. 16). Cooking pot. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 12 cm. Coarse, light brown (7.5YR 6/4), Type IV fabric, burned and roughened on exterior. MM? AE P6 (V 3902.11 Level 1; Fig. 16). Cooking pot. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 3.8 cm. Coarse, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. MM? AE P7 (V 3901.11 Level 1; Fig. 16). Bowl. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 11 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 4/6), Type II/VI fabric. MM.

East Terrace Fill, Rubble Layer POTTERY Fine Dark-on-Light Wares AE P8 (V 3900.6, V 3900.8, V 3900.9 Level 4; Fig. 16). Straight-sided cup. Single fragment from base. D.

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base est. 6 cm. Fine, soft, very pale brown (10YR 7/4) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Black paint. Worn surfaces. MM. AE P9 (V 2803.9; Fig. 16). Deep bowl or cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 12 cm. Fine, very soft, very pale brown (10YR 8/3) clay. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. Dark reddish-brown (5YR 3/3) paint. Worn surfaces. Vertical strokes below rim. LM IIIC? AE P10 (V 2803.5 Level 1; Fig. 16). Deep bowl or cup. Single small fragment from rim. D. rim est. 14 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) clay. Buff slip. Red (10R 4/6) paint. Worn surfaces. Spiral? LM IIIC. AE P11 (V 2901.6 Level 3, V 2901.7 Level 4; Fig. 16). Deep bowl or cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 16 cm. Fine, very soft reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) slip. Red (10R 5/6) paint. LM IIIC? AE P12 (V 2803.9; Fig. 16). Deep bowl or cup. Single fragment (4 sherds) preserving 85% of base and 15% of lower body. D. base 4.2 cm. Fine, very soft, very pale brown (10YR 8/3) clay. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. Dark reddish-brown (5YR 3/3) paint. Worn surfaces. Probably same vessel as AE P9. LM IIIC? AE P13 (V 3900.6, V 3900.8, V 3900.9 Level 4; Fig. 16). Deep bowl or cup. Single fragment preserving entire base. D. base. 4.5 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. Light red (2.5YR 6/6) paint. Worn surfaces. LM IIIC. AE P14 (V 3900.6, V 3900.8, V 3900.9 Level 4; Fig. 16). Deep bowl or cup. Single fragment preserving 85% of base. D. base 4 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) clay. Worn surfaces. LM IIIC. AE P15 (V 3900.6, V 3900.8, V 3900.9 Level 4; Fig. 16). Deep bowl or cup. Single fragment preserving 30% of base. D. base est. 5 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Red (2.5YR 4/6) paint. Entire fragment burned. LM IIIC. AE P16 (V 3900.4, V 3900.5 Level 3; Fig. 16). Deep bowl or cup. Single fragment from base. D. base est. 5 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 6/6) fabric. Brown (7.5YR 4/2) paint. Date? AE P17 (V 3900.6, V 3900.8, V 3900.9 Level 4; Fig. 16). Kylix. Single body fragment. Max. pres. h. 6.4 cm. Fine, soft, very pale brown (10YR 8/4) fabric, with phyllite inclusions. Buff slip. Yellowish-red (5YR 5/6) paint. Worn surfaces. Vertical bands with filler strokes between. LM IIIC. AE P18 (V 3900.4, V 3900.5 Level 3; Fig. 16). Krater. Single fragment (2 sherds) from rim. D. rim est. 38 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Black paint. Worn surfaces.

Filled curvilinear motif, with arc filler and U-pattern. Dotted scallops from rim. LM IIIC, early. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 376, fig. 5:25, pl. 83:b (erroneously labeled V 3500). AE P19 (V 3900.2 Level 2; Fig. 16). Krater. Single fragment from rim. Scar from handle attachment. D. rim est. 40 cm. Fine, soft, chalky, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Creamy, very pale brown (10YR 8/4) slip. Reddish-brown to red (2.5YR 4/4–4/6) paint (over slip). Two holes pierced through fragment, one above the other; signs of ancient repair? LM IIIC. AE P20 (V 2901.6 Level 3, V 2901.7 Level 4; Fig. 17). Jar. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 14 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Black to red (2.5YR 4/6) paint. MM. AE P21 (V 2803.9, V 2803.12, V 2803.14; Fig. 17). Small tripod vessel? Single fragment from base, preserving 3 feet. Max. pres. h. 3.2 cm. Fine, soft, reddishyellow (5YR 7/6) fabric, with small red phyllite inclusions. Shadow paint. Worn surfaces. Cross-hatching on side? Irregular in shape, possibly an animal or bird vessel. EM or MM. Comparanda: Wilson and Day 1994, 31–32, fig. 3:72 (Knossos, EM IIA jug with pellet feet); Warren and Tzedakis 1974, figs. 19:P7, P9, P10; 20:P11–P13 (Debla, EM IIA); Popham 1974, 188, fig. 7.1 (Knossos, MM IIB). AE P22 (V 2807.16; Fig. 17). Tripod. Single fragment from base, preserving one leg. D. base (int.) 11 cm. Fine, rather hard, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) clay. Pink (7.5YR 8/4) slip. Red (10R 4/6) paint. MM. Comparanda: Levi and Carinci 1988, pl. 68:g (Phaistos, MM II).

Fine Monochrome or Light-on-Dark Wares AE P23 (V 2803.9, cups 1–2; Fig. 17). Cup. Single fragment (9 sherds) from rim and upper body, preserving 10% of vessel. D. rim est. 9 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Red (10R 4/8) paint. Monochrome. MM. AE P24 (V 2803.5 Level 1; Fig. 17). Deep bowl or cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 17 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) clay. Black paint worn to brown. Monochrome. LM IIIC. AE P25 (V 3900.6, V 3900.8, V 3900.9 Level 4; Fig. 17). Deep bowl or cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 12 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6) fabric. Pink (7.5YR 7/4) slip. Yellowish-red (5YR 5/6–4/6) paint. Very worn surfaces. Monochrome inside and out. LM IIIC. AE P26 (V 3900.6, V 3900.8, V 3900.9 Level 4; Fig. 17). Cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 12 cm. Fine, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 7/4) slip. Red (2.5YR 5/6) paint. Monochrome exterior, band on interior. MM.

BUILDING A-B

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Fine Plain Wares

Cooking Wares

AE P27 (V 3301.8 Level 4; Fig. 17). Cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 12 cm. Fine, soft, very pale brown (10YR 8/4) clay, with small red phyllites. LM?

AE P38 (V 2901.4–5 Level 2; Fig. 18). Cooking dish. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 2.5 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 4/6), Type II/VI fabric. MM?

AE P28 (V 3301.8 Level 4; Fig. 17). Cup? Single large fragment preserving 20% of base. D. base est. 9 cm. Fine, soft, very pale brown (10YR 8/4) clay, with small red phyllites. LM?

AE P39 (V 3301.6 Level 4; Fig. 18). Cooking tray. Single fragment from rim and base. D. rim est. 17–18 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. No burning. LM IIIC?

Medium-Coarse Painted Wares AE P29 (V 2807.16; Fig. 17). Cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 14.5 cm. Medium-coarse, very soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6–7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Red paint. Very worn surfaces. MM. AE P30 (V 3900.6, V 3900.8, V 3900.9 Level 4; Fig. 17). Bowl? Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 18 cm. Medium-coarse, very pale brown (10YR 7/4) fabric, with phyllite inclusions. Dusky red (2.5YR 3/2) paint. MM? AE P31 (V 3900.6, V 3900.8, V 3900.9 Level 4; Fig. 17). Fruitstand or brazier. Single fragment (2 sherds) from rim. Max. pres. h. 4 cm. Medium-coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. Weak red (10R 4/4) paint. Very worn surfaces. Painted inside and out. MM. Comparanda: Poursat and Knappett 2005, pl. 53:1168 (Malia, MM II).

AE P40 (V 2803.5 Level 1; Fig. 18). Cooking bowl. Single fragment (6 sherds) from rim, preserving one handle. D. rim est. 19 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. Mottled red and black on interior. Burned on exterior. MM. Comparanda: Betancourt 1990, fig. 50:1218 (Kommos, MM II). AE P41 (V 2803.9, V 2803.12, V 2803.14; Fig. 18). Cooking pot? Single fragment from rim. D. rim (int.) 17 cm. Coarse, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6) to reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6), Type IV fabric, with fewer inclusions than usual. Burned on exterior. Knobs on rim. MM? AE P42 (V 3900.6, V 3900.8, V 3900.9 Level 4; Fig. 18). Cooking pot. Single fragment (2 sherds) from rim. D. rim est. 23 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6), Type II/VI fabric. MM? AE P43 (V 3900, east extension; Fig. 18). Tripod. Single fragment preserving one entire leg. Max. pres. h. 14.2 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/8), Type IV fabric. Dint at top of foot. LM IIIC.

AE P32 (V 3900.6, V 3900.8, V 3900.9 Level 4; Fig. 17). Lekane or basin. Single fragment (2 sherds) from rim. D. rim est. 12 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric, with phyllite inclusions. Black paint. Rim diameter very small for a basin; possibly some sort of stand. LM IIIC?

Coarse Painted Wares

AE P33 (V 3301.10 Level 4; Fig. 17). Small jug. Single fragment from rim and handle, preserving upper half of handle. Max. pres. h. 1.5 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6) fabric. Red (10R 4/8) paint on interior. Exterior surfaces worn. MM?

AE P44 (V 2901.6 Level 3, V 2901.7 Level 4, V 2901.8 Level 5; Fig. 18). Lekane. Two large fragments from rim. D. rim est. 34 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6), Type XV fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Black paint. LM IIIC.

AE P34 (V 3900.7 Levels 3–4; Fig. 17). Jar. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 21 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 6/6), Type III fabric. Red (2.5YR 4/6) paint. MM.

AE P45 (V 3900.6, V 3900.8, V 3900.9 Level 4; Fig. 18). Basin. Single large fragment from rim. D. rim est. 33 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) to yellow (10YR 7/6), Type III fabric. Possible traces of red paint inside, but very worn. MM?

Medium-Coarse Plain Wares

AE P46 (V 2854.1; Fig. 18). Basin? Single body fragment. Max. pres. h. 6.2 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6), Type III fabric, but with few inclusions. Reddish-yellow (7.5YR 8/6) slip. Reddish-brown to yellowish-red (5YR 4/4–4/6) paint. Cross or crosshatching on interior. MM.

AE P35 (V 3900.6, V 3900.8, V 3900.9 Level 4; Fig. 17). Cup? Single fragment preserving 30% of base. D. base 10 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric, with quartzite and some phyllite inclusions. MM–LM. AE P36 (V 3301.10 Level 4; Fig. 17). Jar. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 12–13 cm. Mediumcoarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6), Type III fabric. MM. AE P37 (V 2901.4–5 Level 2; Fig. 17). Jar. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. (int.) 24 cm. Mediumcoarse, pink (7.5YR 7/4), Type III fabric. MM?

AE P47 (V 3900.6, V 3900.8, V 3900.9 Level 4; Fig. 18). Jug. Single fragment from rim, preserving half of handle. Max. pres. h. 5.9 cm. Coarse, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6), Type XVI fabric, gray at core. Very pale brown (10YR 8/4) slip. Red (10R 5/6) paint. LM IIIC?

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KAVOUSI IIA

Burnished Coarse Ware

East Terrace Fill, Surface

AE P48 (V 2857.1; Fig. 18). Jar. Two body fragments. Max. pres. h. 4.3 cm. Coarse, reddish-brown (5YR 4/3), Type II/VI fabric. Interior burnished. Applied ridges with rope slashing. MM.

POTTERY Fine Dark-on-Light Wares

Plain Coarse Wares AE P49 (V 2854.1; Fig. 18). Conical cup. Single fragment from rim and upper body. D. rim est. 8 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. Mottled black and red surfaces. MM? AE P50 (V 2803.5 Level 1; Fig. 18). Cup? Large fragment preserving 65% of base. D. base est. 4.5 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric, with few inclusions. Mottled black and red surface. MM. AE P51 (V 2852.2; Fig. 18). Conical cup? Single fragment (4 sherds) preserving 20% of base and lower body. D. base est. 5 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/8), Type IV fabric. MM? AE P52 (V 2852.2; Fig. 18). Carinated cup. Single fragment from base to carination. D. base est. 6.5 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6–6/8), Type II/VI fabric. MM. AE P53 (V 3900.6, V 3900.8, V 3900.9 Level 4; Fig. 18). Kalathos. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 18 cm. Coarse, light red (2.5YR 6/6), Type IV fabric. Burning on interior of rim. LM IIIC. AE P54 (V 3301.6 Level 4; Fig. 18). Fruitstand or brazier. Single fragment from bottom. Max. pres. h. 2 cm. Coarse, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6), Type II/VI fabric. Burned on interior. Holes made in bottom with a reed. MM. AE P55 (V 2901.6 Level 3, V 2901.7 Level 4; Fig. 18). Lid. Single fragment from base. H. 1.6; d. base est. 18–20 cm. Coarse, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. Burning around outside edge. Band of finger impressions on rim. LM IIIC. Comparanda: Day, forthcoming (Karphi, rooms K 29, K 44, K 47, and K 80). AE P56 (V 2803.5 Level 1; Fig. 18). Jar. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 3.2 cm. Coarse, reddishyellow (5YR 6/8), Type IV fabric. MM. AE P57 (V 3301.8 Level 4; Fig. 18). Jar. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 42 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 6/6), Type II/VI fabric. Prepalatial.

AE P58 (V 2800.1–3 Level 1; Fig. 19). Cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 8 cm. Fine, soft, reddishyellow (5YR 7/6) clay. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. Red (10R 4/6) paint. Worn surfaces. Spiral. LM IA. AE P59 (V 2800.1–3 Level 1; Fig. 19). Deep bowl or cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 13 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. Red (2.5YR 4/8) to black paint. Hatched lozenge with multiple outline. Reserved band on interior of rim. LM IIIC, early. AE P60 (V 2801.4 Level 1; Fig. 19). Bridge-spouted jar? Single fragment preserving profile from rim to carinated shoulder. D. rim est. 13.3 cm. Fine, soft, reddishyellow (7.5YR 7/6) clay. Black to red (2.5YR 4/6) streaky paint. Possibly the same vessel as P P34. MM II.

Fine Light-on-Dark or Monochrome Wares AE P61 (V 2801.4 Level 1; Fig. 19; Pl. 6A). Cup. Single fragment (5 sherds) from rim. D. rim est. 20 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric, black paint. Barbotine ware with crescent knobs on rim. MM II. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, pl. 80:c (1 fragment). Comparanda: Betancourt 1990, fig. 48:1179–1181 (Kommos, MM II). AE P62 (V 2801.4 Level 1; Fig. 19; Pl. 6A). Cup. Two fragments from body, just below rim. Max. pres. h. 1.7; d. at base of rim 16 cm. Fine, soft, pink (7.5YR 8/4) fabric. Black paint. Impressed spiral design on shoulder. MM IIA. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, pl. 80:c. Comparanda: Betancourt 1990, 155, fig. 49:1191; Walberg 1987, motif 27.2. AE P63 (V 2800.1–3 Level 1; Fig. 19). Cup. Single small fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 2.5 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Black paint. Ribbed, probably carinated, cup. MM II. AE P64 (V 2801.4 Level 1; Fig. 19). Carinated cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 8 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Black paint. Monochrome. MM II.

TERRACOTTA OBJECT

AE P65 (V 2801.4 Level 1; Fig. 19). Cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 10 cm. Fine, soft, reddishyellow (7.5YR 7/6) clay. Black paint, worn to mottled surface. Monochrome? MM II.

AE TC1 (V 3900.6, V 3900.8, V 3900.9 Level 4; Fig. 18). Tile. Single fragment from base. Max. pres. h. 2.5 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 6/6) fabric, rather like Type IV, but lighter in color.

AE P66 (V 2801.4 Level 1; Fig. 19). Cylindrical cup or tumbler. Single fragment from base. D. base est. 3.5 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric, with tiny black and white inclusions. Black paint. MM II.

BUILDING A-B

AE P67 (V 2801.4 Level 1; Fig. 19). Rounded cup. Single fragment from base. D. base est. 5.5 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Worn paint. Monochrome? MM II. AE P68 (V 2800.1–3 Level 1; Fig. 19). Jar. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 16 cm. Fine, soft, reddishyellow (5YR 7/6) fabric, black paint. Well-preserved exterior surfaces. MM. AE P69 (V 2800.1–3 Level 1; Fig. 19). Jar. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 21 cm. Fine, soft, reddishyellow (5YR 7/6) clay. Black paint worn to brown shadow. MM II. Comparanda: Levi and Carinci 1988, pl. 61:e (Phaistos, MM II); Shaw and Shaw, eds., 2006, pl. 3.1 no. X/12 (Kommos, MM II). AE P70 (V 2801.4 Level 1; Fig. 19). Jar. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. (int.) 14 cm. Fine, soft, reddishyellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Crackled black paint worn to brown shadow. MM II. Comparanda: Levi and Carinci 1988, pl. 61:e (Phaistos, MM II); Shaw and Shaw, eds., 2006, pl. 3.1 no. X/12 (Kommos, MM II).

33

Burnished Coarse Ware AE P71 (V 3900 balk cleaning; Fig. 19). Buff burnished bowl. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 24 cm. Coarse, light reddish-brown (2.5YR 6/4), Type III fabric. Dark, very pale brown (10YR 7/3) surface. Burnished inside. MM II.

Plain Coarse Ware AE P72 (V 2801.4 Level 1; Fig. 19). Basin or jar. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 4.7 cm. Coarse, light red (2.5YR 6/6), Type III fabric. Sampled PMD 98/6. MM.

Pithos Ware AE P73 (V 2900.1; Fig. 19). Pithos. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 51 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6), Type XV fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. LM IIIC.

AREA NORTH OF BUILDING A The area to the north of Building A was probably part of Boyd’s excavations. One trench was cleared in this area (Trench V 4200), and although the northwestern corner of A2 was expected, no architecture was uncovered. Immediately below the modern surface lay bedrock, and there was little pottery. One unusual krater rim (AN P1) was cataloged.

Topsoil POTTERY Coarse Ware AN P1 (V 4200.1–3; Fig. 8). Krater. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 36 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric, with phyllite inclusions, perhaps variation of Type X/XI. Black paint. Worn surfaces. Outwardly thickened rim. Knob or breast on exterior below rim. Monochrome outside and possibly inside. LM IIIC?

Building B Initially this entire building was thought to have been excavated by Boyd, but it later became apparent that she had only completely excavated Room B1/2, which was visible as a depression on the surface when investigation began in 1983 (Pl. 2B). Massive deposits of pottery that appeared immediately below the surface in Rooms B3, B4, and B7 indicated that these areas had not been completely cleared by Boyd. While Building B is connected with Building A, the relationship between the two structures is unclear

because of the strange configuration of the walls where the two buildings come together (Figs. 6, 7; Pl. 5E), possibly a result of the use of previously existing walls from one of the earlier structures on the summit. Although this area is confusing architecturally, it is clear that the two parts of the building (A and B) were not constructed at precisely the same time, as the walls were not bonded. Some of the peculiarities may have stemmed from the incorporation of earlier walls into the LM IIIC structure; such reuse might explain the oddities in the corner where

34

KAVOUSI IIA

the two buildings meet, as well as the irregularities in the plan of Room B1/2. Walls E and I, which are bonded together to form the southwestern boundary of B1/2 and the southern boundary of B4 (Fig. 7), seem to have existed first, and may have belonged with the linear accumulations to the west in B6. Walls G and H, which form the southern edge of Building A and the western boundary of Building B respectively, were apparently added onto Wall E/I. Walls G and H may be bonded together, or they may have been built separately; neither has a good outer face, showing that the exterior floor surfaces were gone at the time of our excavation. Wall K (the north wall of B4) was clearly fitted in around the corner of Walls G and H (not on top of it, as it may appear from the plan). The eastern wall of A1 seems to abut Wall K, but since the stones had been robbed at this point, one cannot tell which wall was built first.

Originally, B1/2 and B3 may have been a single room, as the dividing wall (Wall B) is not bonded with either Wall F or Wall C. Room B7 was also a later addition, as its eastern wall abuts the southern wall of Rooms B1/2 and B3. The rooms of Building B share certain features. None of them was provided with doorways, a feature that is clear because nearly all of the walls are preserved to a considerable height (Fig. 20). Rooms without doorways are generally used for storage and would have been accessible through ladders from above. That Rooms B1/2, B3, and B7 did serve as storerooms is demonstrated by the storage jars found within them and by the long rectangular configuration of B3 and B1/2. Building B is the only structure on Vronda that shows clear evidence of more than one story. There may have been a single room over B1/2 and B3, with another room over B7.

ROOM B1/2 Architecture and Features

Stratigraphy

Room B1/2 is a single room, but because the western wall is irregular, it was initially thought to have been two rooms. B1/2 is long and narrow, measuring 1.65–1.90 m E–W x 3.3–5.4 m N–S, and it is without doorways (Pl. 6B). It shares east, north, and south walls with Room B3. The west wall (Wall D) has unusual features that may result from the use of earlier walls. The southern third of the wall is made up of large breccia boulders that project out into the room. The northern part is of the sort found elsewhere in Building B, and it abuts the southern section of Wall I (Pl. 6C). Wall D is 0.5 m wide in the south and 0.65 m wide in the north. Apparently, the southern section of this wall was already present when the building was constructed and existed as the corner of a room, the north wall of which was used as the south wall of B4 (Wall I). In the northwestern corner of Room B1/2, Walls D and F are bonded together. The floor of B1/2 is very uneven, with bedrock rising high along the west (Pl. 6B); there is as much as 0.5 m difference in elevations between the western side of the room and the floor on the east.

The soil from Room B1/2 had been completely removed by Boyd, and almost nothing was found in the room except surface material that washed in over the last 80 years and small deposits of roofing clay around the bottom and edges. Most of the clay was on the eastern side of the room and was never more than 0.20 m deep. Boyd reported finding three pithoi in the room, indicating that it was a storeroom like B3.

Pottery and Objects Of the 68 fragments weighing 9.2 kg recovered from this room, a large percentage came from pithos wares (Chart 9), possibly remains of the three pithoi recorded by Boyd; there was a much larger percentage of Type XXII than customary (Chart 10), suggesting that at least one of these pithoi had been made of this fabric. No pottery was cataloged from this room, since nothing was with certainty in its original context. One fragment from a kylix joined with a fragment in B3, but this could have washed in from the surface after Boyd’s

BUILDING A-B

excavation. No objects were found. A pounder (B1 ST1) found in the area on the surface may have come from this room or another in Building B.

Faunal Remains

35

STONE TOOL B1 ST1 (V83.20; V-surface, northwest corner of 1983 excavation). Hand tool. Cobble, oblong, intact. L. 14.3; w. 5.8; th. 5.3 cm; wt. 650 g. Quartzite (grainy), brown. Pecked 2 ends, worn surface, broken one end. Type 1.

No bones are recorded as coming from excavations in this room, which had been completely uncovered by Boyd, who apparently retained no bone material.

ROOM B3 Architecture and Features

Stratigraphy

B3 is a long narrow room measuring 1.52–1.70 m E–W x 5.60 m N–S without doorways (Figs. 6, 7). The walls are very well preserved (Figs. 20, 21). The east wall (Wall A) is bonded into the East Terrace Wall, and for a distance of 0.8 m from the southeastern corner of Room B3, it has a good outside (eastern) face. Wall A is 0.6–0.7 m wide where it has an outside face, and 1.5 m wide where it is part of the East Terrace Wall. For the most part, it was constructed in tidy fashion using limestone blocks, not in regular courses, but roughly in layers or courses. It is only one course high except in the southeastern corner, where three courses are preserved. The north wall (Wall F) has two courses, the lower of breccia boulders, the upper mostly limestone. It has no outer face on the north. The west wall (Wall B) has four to five courses of stones in roughly shaped blocks with smaller stones used as chinking (Pl. 6D); it is constructed almost entirely of limestone, although there are a few breccia boulders in the foundation course. The wall abuts both Wall F and Wall C and so was a later addition. The south wall (Wall C), 0.5–0.7 m wide, is also made up of limestone blocks of regular size and shape, with small chinking stones among them. The floor of the room is uneven, sloping down nearly 0.5 m from northwest to southeast. The northern twothirds of the room is paved with small flat stones (roughly 0.2–0.3 m square or rectangular; Pl. 6E). The floor in the rest of the room is bedrock, with earth used to even up the irregularities in the rock.

Room B3 had only two stratigraphic layers. A thick layer of yellowish-brown roofing clay was mixed with small, often flat, stones (Level 2) and contained the remains of at least three pithoi. This layer was situated over the paving stones or beaten earth floor. In the northeastern corner were lenses of hard red soil filling in uneven places in the bedrock. Three nearly complete pithoi were found in the room. Pithos 1 (B3 P20) was found in the north, lying on its side, with its base resting on floor, the rim to south (Pl. 6F). Pithos 2 (B3 P21) lay in the southwest (Pl. 7A), and pithos 3 (B3 P22) in the southeast (Pl. 7B). The paving stones rested on “fill” of cobble-sized stones, and where the paving had been disturbed, some earlier material was picked up. Above the layer of roofing clay was a thin layer of topsoil (Level 1).

Pottery Room B3 produced a total of 1,302 fragments weighing 286.7 kg. Most of the pottery was nearly complete, suggesting that it represents whole vessels in place at the time the building was abandoned. The majority of fragments came from the three large pithoi (Chart 11). The fine ware (Figs. 22, 23) was unusual in that it consisted largely of kylikes and lacked the usual deep bowls found in the other rooms. There were approximately 10 kylikes in the room, although it is possible that some of the fragments might have come from the

36

KAVOUSI IIA

same vessel. There were fragments of at least two more kylix bases in the deposit. At least four of these nearly complete kylikes have very large bowls, and two of them (B3 P3, B3 P4) have small feet that could not easily have supported them (Pl. 7C). They would have stood with difficulty on their stems, and they may have been designed to be turned upside down to stand on their rims, possibly as part of competitive drinking rituals (Day and Snyder 2004). They may have been stored in B3 for such use, or they may have been thrown or tumbled into the room from elsewhere. B3 P3 is of a common LM IIIC shape and decoration, with many parallels. The deep conical bowl of B3 P4 resembles an example from Chania (Hallager and Hallager, eds., 2000, pl. 37:70-P 0257/0508). B3 P6 has a decoration with pomegranates that may be part of a local style; a similar decoration can be found on a basket kalathos from Chalasmenos (Coulson and Tsipopoulou 1994, 84–86, fig. 18, pl. 13:2). The kylikes differ from one another, but most of them are carinated near the rim and have rather deep conical bodies; this type belongs to later LM IIIC. Kylix B3 P5, however, is of a different type; although carinated, it is smaller and shallower than the others and has a real lip. Its shape resembles earlier kylikes of LM IIIB (Popham 1969, 302, figs. 9–10), but its decoration appears to be later. While the pattern of pendant, filled triangles in loops with cross-hatched lozenge below appears in LM IIIB at Armenoi (Tzedakis 1971, pl. 526:d), it becomes even more popular in LM IIIC (Seiradaki 1960, 34–36, figs. 24:b, e; 26:c; Popham 1967, pl. 89:c). This kylix is probably best dated to the earliest phase of LM IIIC; nonetheless, it may still have been in use at the time abandonment, along with the later vessels. The only other fine wares in the room (Figs. 22, 23) include a possible deep bowl rim (B3 P2), a MM II carinated cup (B3 P1), and a rhyton (B3 P13). The rhyton is an unusual shape with no exact parallels. Its form is closest to the piriform rhyton so popular in LM I (Koehl 2006), but it has a less globular body and an unusual rim. Rhyta are not common in LM IIIC, but both the funnel and the piriform rhyton do occur at Karphi (Pendlebury, Pendlebury, and Money-Coutts 1937–1938, pl. 35:2–3; Seiradaki 1960, 27, fig. 20) and Kastelli (Rethemiotakis 1997, 315, fig. 23:a); in these cases the vessels may date from earlier periods, but they

still seem to have been in use in LM IIIC. The rhyton is a libation vessel used in rituals, a fact that suggests some religious association for Building B. The carinated cup probably was left in a lens of soil over bedrock; there were fragments of at least five other MM cups in the room, along with a hole-mouthed jar rim. The deposit is also unusual because of the paucity of cooking wares. Those that were found are body fragments, and although many of them are of Type IV, there are also a number of MM Mirabello fabrics, predating the construction of Building B. At least five kalathoi are represented in the deposit (Fig. 23), two of them nearly complete. Two have horned projections on the rim (B3 P14, B3 P16), like examples from Building G and from Karphi (Day, forthcoming). Kalathoi have been found in nearly every context in the LM IIIC settlement at Vronda, but the largest concentration of them is from Building G. The presence of so many here, along with the rhyton, suggests that ritual activities may have occurred in the building, although of a different sort from those that took place in the Shrine. The major function of the room, however, is clearly storage, as is shown by the three large pithoi found smashed on the floor of B3 (B3 P20–B3 P22). These pithoi (Fig. 24; Pl. 7D–F) are larger than the normal Vronda storage jars, although not as large as the pithos found in B7, which is the largest from the site. They are all three of similar shape and fabric, and all belong to LM IIIC. Another pithos rim of Type III (B3 P23) may have come from the earlier deposits on the bedrock.

Objects The only objects found in the room were two stone pounders (B3 ST1, B3 ST2). A third stone with a circular depression (V83.18) was also found; inventoried as a tool, it is most likely to have been a door pivot. This door pivot has not been cataloged here, although it does appear on Plate 8A along with the stone tools.

Faunal Remains Fifty-six bone fragments were recovered from Room B3 (Table 5). Identifiable elements from

BUILDING A-B

this room included one domestic pig element, four sheep or goat cranial fragments, including horn core and tooth fragments, and fragments of a single sheep or goat scapula. The scapula may represent food debris, while the cranial fragments, are most likely butchering debris.

Roofing Material POTTERY Fine Light-on-Dark Ware B3 P1 (Room B3 south, Level 2; Fig. 22). Carinated cup. Mended from 5 fragments, preserving nearly complete profile. Large fragment from rim to lower body; missing base and handle. Max. pres. h. 4.5; d. rim 8.4 cm. Soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Faint shadow of black paint. Worn surfaces. Possible added white paint. MM II.

Fine Dark-on-Light Wares B3 P2 (Room B3 south, Level 2; Fig. 22). Deep bowl, cup, or kylix. Single small fragment from rim. D. rim est. 16 cm. Fine, soft, very pale brown (10YR 8/4) fabric and slip. Worn brown paint. Vertical strokes on rim. Monochrome interior. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 399, fig. 5:8. B3 P3 (V83.1; Room B3 south, Level 2, kylix 1; Fig. 22; Pl. 7C). Kylix. Restored from 12 fragments; 16 other fragments not joining. 60% preserved, including full profile, 25% of rim and body, both handles, entire stem, 75% of base. H. 19.5; d. rim 18.6; d. base 6.2 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Reddish-brown (5YR 4/4) paint. Rather worn and flaky surfaces. Exterior has fringed floral motif or debased octopus and tricurved streamers. Interior monochrome. Bands on stem. LM IIIC. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 368, fig. 7:10, pl. 81:h; L. Day 1997, 399, fig. 5:2. Comparanda: Hall 1914, 150, fig. 89:a, c (Vrokastro); Popham 1967, pl. 89:b (Kritsa); Andreadaki-Vlasaki and Papadopoulou 2005, 382, fig. 46 (Chamalevri). For decoration, cf. Sackett, Popham, and Warren 1965, 289, fig. 10:a (Kastri). B3 P4 (V83.7; Room B3 south, Level 2, kylix 2; Fig. 22; Pl. 7C). Kylix. Restored from 23 fragments, several nonjoining fragments. 45% preserved, including 5% of rim and upper body, both handles, entire lower body, stem, and foot. Max. pres. h. 19 (h. est. 24); d. rim est. 19.6; d. base 7.4 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) clay. Very pale brown (10YR 8/4) slip. Black crackled paint. Very worn surfaces. Solid bands at rim. Vertical cross-hatched lozenges, 3 to 4 on each side. Bands on stem. Monochrome interior. Pierced stem. LM IIIC. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 368–371, fig. 7:11; L. Day 1997, 399, fig. 5:3.

37

B3 P5 (Room B3 south, Level 2, kylix 3; Fig. 22). Kylix. Partially mended from 28 fragments. 75% of rim and upper body preserved, one full handle and attachments of other; missing stem and base. Max. pres. h. 8.2; d. rim 14.4 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Dark reddishbrown (2.5YR 3/4) paint. Well-preserved surfaces, but fragment discolored from acid. Pendant triangles with filling arcs between pendant loops; lower body: curved cross-hatched lozenges, one on each side. Handle has horizontal slashes on top, vertical lines on either side on bottom. LM IIIC, early. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 368, fig. 7:12 (drawing emended); L. Day 1997, 399, fig. 5:1 (drawing emended). B3 P6 (Room B3 south, Level 2, kylix 4; Fig. 22). Kylix. Partially mended from 15 joining fragments; 2 nonjoining rim fragments, 13 body fragments. 20% of upper body and rim preserved, including lower handle attachment; missing stem, foot, handles. Max. pres. h. 7.4; d. rim 20 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Pink (7.5YR 8/4) slip. Dark reddish-brown (5YR 3/3) paint. Slightly worn surfaces. Fringed streamers with pomegranate or poppy above, cross-hatched curved lozenge below. Interior monochrome, except for reserved band at rim. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 399, fig. 5:9 (drawing emended). B3 P7 (Room B3 south, Level 2, kylix 5; Fig. 22). Kylix. Partially mended from 8 rim and 7 body fragments. 5% of rim and upper body preserved. Lower body, handles, stem and base missing. Max. pres. h. 4; d. rim 26 cm. Fine, soft, light red (2.5YR 6/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. Yellowish-red to dark reddish-brown (5YR 5/6–3/2) paint. Slightly worn surfaces. Pendant strokes from rim, alternating with filled, outlined triangles or lozenges. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 399, fig. 5:4 (drawing emended). B3 P8 (Room B3 Level 2, kylix 6; Fig. 22). Kylix. Rim fragment. Partially mended from 5 fragments; one nonjoining fragment. Max. pres. h. 1.9; d. rim 14 cm. Fine, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 6/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/4) slip. Well-preserved dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) paint. Vertical strokes below rim; fringed curvilinear motif below. Interior monochrome, except for reserved band at rim. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 399, fig. 5:7. B3 P9 (Room B3 Level 2, kylix 7; Fig. 23). Kylix. Eight joining fragments from lower body near stem attachment. May be from same pot as B3 P10. Max. pres. h. 5.5; th. 0.5–1.5 cm. Fine, medium-soft, reddishyellow (5YR 6/6) fabric. Pink (7.5YR 8/4) slip. Dark reddish-brown (5YR 3/2) paint. Cross-hatched curved lozenge, oblique strokes with filler arcs, curvilinear motif. Monochrome interior. Grooves at attachment of stem. Heavy wheel-ridging on interior. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 399, fig. 5:10.

38

KAVOUSI IIA

B3 P10 (Room B3 Level 2; Room B1 Level 1; Fig. 23). Kylix. Two joining fragments from lower body near stem attachment. May be from same pot as B3 P9. Max. pres. h. 4 cm. Fine, medium-soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Pink (7.5YR 8/4) slip. Dark reddish-brown (5YR 3/3) paint. Grooves at attachment of stem. Heavy wheel-ridging on interior. LM IIIC. B3 P11 (Room B3 Level 2, kylix 8; Room B7 Level 2; Fig. 23). Kylix. Four joining sherds and one nonjoining sherd from stem, preserving 95% of stem and small portion of base. Max. pres. h. 9.6; d. base 5.4 cm. Fine, medium-soft, very pale brown (10YR 8/3) fabric and slip. Black paint. Very worn surfaces. Bands on stem. Grooves at top of stem, hollowed inside. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 399, fig. 5:13. B3 P12 (Room B3 south, Level 2, kylix 9; Fig. 23). Kylix. Four joining and 2 nonjoining fragments, preserving 75% of base and part of stem. Max. pres. h. 5; d. base 7 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric, yellowed from acid. Worn surfaces. Monochrome brownish-black paint. Stem has bulge. Hollowed on interior. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 399, fig. 5:12. B3 P13 (V98.135; Room B3 Level 2; one fragment from Room B2, surface; Fig. 23). Rhyton. Three fragments (9 sherds) preserving 50% of rim, 8 joining fragments and 3 nonjoining preserving entire spout and 25% of lower body; 4 nonjoining fragments from upper body. Handles missing, but beginning of handle attachment on rim. Max pres. h. (base fragment) 19.5, (rim fragment) 2.5; d. rim 10.6; d. base 1.9 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric, with some tiny black inclusions. Very pale brown (10YR 8/4) slip. Crackled black paint. Very worn surfaces. Spiral with fringes? Quirk and interlocking loops below. Flared, out-turned rim, possibly with added ridge or handle below where outer surface has broken off. Piriform body? Conical base. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 399, fig. 5:11.

Coarse Plain Wares B3 P14 (Room B3 Level 2, with pithos 1, B3 south, Level 2; Fig. 23). Kalathos. Fifteen joining and 4 nonjoining fragments, preserving full profile, 75% of base and 20% of rim and upper body. H. 12.9; d. rim 18; d. base 8 cm. Hard, red (10R 4/6), Type IV fabric. Mottled surface. Burned black over most of interior, except bottom; no burning on exterior. Horned projection on rim. LM IIIC. B3 P15 (Room B3 Level 2, inside pithos 1, coarse pot 1. Seven similar fragments from Level 2; Fig. 23). Kalathos. Partially mended from 4 joining fragments, one nonjoining rim fragment. 25% preserved, including entire base, 5% of rim. H. est. 9.4; d. rim est. 22; d. base 5 cm. Type IV fabric, very crumbly and red (2.5YR 5/6). No traces of secondary burning. Smoothed, mottled surface. LM IIIC.

B3 P16 (Room B3 Level 2, with pithos 1; Fig. 23). Kalathos. Three joining fragments from rim, preserving one horned projection. Max. pres. h. 5.2; d. rim est. 24 cm. Reddish-yellow to strong brown (7.5YR 6/6–4/6) fabric, like Type IV but with chaff voids. Smoothed mottled surface with some burning inside. LM IIIC. B3 P17 (Room B3 Level 2, with pithos 2; Fig. 23). Kalathos. Ten joining fragments and one nonjoining fragment, preserving entire base. Max. pres. h. 6.5; d. base 6.5 cm. Red (10R 5/8), Type XXV fabric. Burning on one side of interior. LM IIIC. B3 P18 (Room B3 Level 2; Fig. 23). Kalathos. Single fragment (2 sherds) from rim. D. rim est. 18 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/8), Type XXVII fabric. Mottled surface, no burning. LM IIIC. B3 P19 (Room B3 Level 2, below pithos 2; Fig. 23). Kalathos. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 16 cm. Very hard, yellowish red (5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. Burning on exterior. LM IIIC.

Pithos Wares B3 P20 (Room B3 Level 2, pithos 1; Fig. 24; Pls. 6F, 7D). Pithos. 75% preserved in 478 fragments (13 rim, 7 handle, 3 base, 455 body). Entire rim and neck preserved, profile down to top of second decorated band. Three upper handles (maybe originally 4) and 2 lower ones. Entire base preserved and profile of lower body up to third decorated band. H. est. 158; max. pres. h. (rim fragment) 46, (base fragment) 90; d. rim 64; d. base 36 cm. Coarse, friable, Type X/XI fabric, with consistently dark gray phyllites. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) fabric and slip, light reddish-brown (2.5YR 6/4) core. Worn surfaces. Base shows signs of burning on interior. Sampled PMD 98/44. At base of neck, applied ridge with oblique slashes. Divided into zones by raised bands with incised chevrons, all pointing to the left. Third band from the bottom has an additional decoration of 2 incised diamonds. Between bands are applied serpentine rope patterns. Zone at bottom, below lower handles, plain. Pithos was coil-made, and coils are visible on inside of base. Probably made in sections, and chevron band added where sections put together for added strength. Breaks occurred at top and bottom of chevron bands and in middle of rope patterns. One large body fragment cracked, and there are numerous cracked fragments from lower body and base, possibly due to problems with firing. Would not have been watertight. LM IIIC. B3 P21 (Room B3 Level 2, pithos 2; Fig. 24; Pl. 7A, E). Pithos. 85% preserved in 279 fragments (5 rim, 6 handle, 3 base, 265 body), preserving full profile. 75% of rim and neck preserved, 3 upper and one of 2 lower handles, entire base and 75% of lower body. H. 126; d. rim 50; d. base 35 cm. Coarse, light red to reddish-yellow (2.5YR 6/6–5YR 7/6), Type X/XI fabric, with red phyllites and

BUILDING A-B

39

light red (2.5YR 6/6) to gray (5Y 5/1) core. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Surfaces vary from worn to totally eroded. The two sides are different in color and texture. One side is hard and pink throughout, with well-preserved slip and surface; the other is soft, with gray core and badly eroded surfaces. Sampled PMD 98/20. Below rim at top of upper handle attachment is raised ridge with oblique slashing. Below this are 5 raised bands with incised chevrons, pointing left, alternating with serpentine rope patterns. No decoration below the lower handle zone. LM IIIC.

have vertical ridges with slashes. Below are alternating broad bands with incised chevrons (pointing left) and narrow bands with oblique slashes. LM IIIC.

B3 P22 (V98.134; Room B3 Level 2, pithos 3; Fig. 24; Pl. 7B, F). Pithos. 50% preserved and partially restored from 187 fragments (6 rim, 4 handle, 177 body sherds), including entire rim and upper body, all 3 handles. Base and lower body missing. Max. pres. h. 58.7; d. rim 36 cm. Coarse, light red (2.5YR 6/6), Type XI fabric, with heavy, well-preserved, very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Frequent inclusions, but small, almost entirely red phyllites; more paste than B3 P20 or B3 P21. Sampled PMD 98/21. At the upper handle attachment is a raised ridge with oblique slashes, with a second one at the lower attachment of handle. Handles

STONE TOOLS

B3 P23 (Room B3 Level 2, found with pithos 2; Fig. 24). Pithos. Large fragment (3 sherds) from rim. Max. pres. h. 9; d. rim est. 43.6 cm. Reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6), Type III fabric. Pink (5YR 7/4) slip. Traces of red (2.5YR 4/6) paint inside. Sampled PMD 98/41. At base of neck, raised ridge with vertical incised slashes.

B3 ST1 (V83.14; Room B3 south, Level 2; Pl. 8A). Hand tool. Cobble, oblong, complete. L. 12; w. 7.0; th. 5.3 cm; wt. 780 g. Limestone, gray. Pecked 2 ends; worn surface. Type 1. B3 ST2 (V83.15; Room B3 Level 2; Pl. 8A). Hand tool. Cobble, sphere, complete. L. 7.3; w. 6.8; th. 6.6 cm; wt. 500 g. Crystalline limestone, gray. Pecked-battered surface. Type 11.

ROOM B4 Architecture and Features

Stratigraphy

Room B4 is much smaller (1.3–1.5 m E–W x 2.85–3.3 m N–S) than the two rooms to the east, although like them it also lacks doorways (Figs. 6, 7). Wall I (0.5–0.8 m wide) on the south was perhaps already in existence, and Wall D on the east was constructed first along with the walls of Rooms B1/2 and B3. The west wall, Wall H (0.5–0.7 m wide), may be a continuation of an earlier structure, or it may have been built separately. It has no good western face in Room B6, except in the north, suggesting that B6 is below the foundation level, and whatever was there in LM IIIC must have disappeared before excavation began. Wall K on the north, which is 0.65–0.9 m wide, seems to have been built up against Wall H and Wall G, which indicates that the latter two walls may have been constructed as a unit, then the northern wall put in later to connect with Room B1/2. The floor of B4 was very uneven, with bedrock rising high on the west and sloping down to the east. Apparently there never was an even floor, as pieces of the same pots were found smashed high on the bedrock along the west and near the bedrock some 0.20 m lower farther east.

Above the uneven bedrock lay a thick layer of roofing clay (Level 2) with some stones and a great amount of pottery and animal bones (Pl. 8B). There were lenses of very red earth in and below the clay. The material from the southern part of the room included a substantial amount of MM II pottery, from which it can be deduced that there was a pocket of earlier material in this area, but it was not distinguishable during excavation. There was also some softer soil below the roofing—probably the remains of the floor surface. The southern third of the room, which was excavated separately from the northern section, contained a number of animal skulls and horn cores along with fragments of a tripod cooking pot, associated with ash (Day and Snyder 2004). Joins of pottery between Room B4 and the lower levels of Room B7 suggest that the deposits in these two rooms belong to the same time. It is possible that the animal skulls were placed in the south at the same time as the rest of the material, or they may represent a different depositional event; the skulls were arranged almost in a circle, and they may have been deliberately

40

KAVOUSI IIA

placed or buried (Pl. 8C). There are almost no joins between pottery recovered in the southern third of the room and that found in the northern two-thirds; the northern portion contained all the fine pottery, the southern had large cooking pots, a pocket of MM sherds, and the animal skulls. Above the rich layer of roofing debris, there was a thin layer of topsoil (Level 1). It seems most likely that Room B4, along with Room B7 was filled in some time before the abandonment of the settlement; the pottery suggests that this deposition took place in early LM IIIC, during Kastro Phase II (Mook and Coulson 1997, 353– 358). The pottery and animal bones were deposited at the time the room was filled in with roofing clay, and the basement here was abandoned. It is not certain whether the filling of the room was accidental or deliberate. Three possibilities suggest themselves. The area of B4 may have passed out of use and been used as a dump for getting rid of unwanted pottery and objects. Having a dump associated with such a high-status building, however, seems unlikely, and the nearly complete pottery together with a lack of stratigraphy suggests a single event rather than gradual accumulation of garbage. A disaster may have caused the roof to collapse, sealing over the room and its pottery with roofing clay. Finally, the room may have been filled deliberately, perhaps prior to the construction of a ramp or staircase leading to the second story over B1/2, B3, and B7. It is possible that the drinking and eating vessels were given special burial here because of their use in ritual drinking that may have taken place in the building, much like the material buried in sacrificial pits at Thronos/ Sybrita (D’Agata 2002). At any rate, the deposit represents a phase earlier than the period of abandonment of the rest of the settlement.

Pottery Room B4 was rich in pottery (Figs. 25–31), producing 659 fragments weighing 15.4 kg. Most of the vessels were nearly complete, rather than the kind of small fragments expected in a dump. There was a high percentage of fine wares (Chart 12). A few pieces of Middle Minoan pottery appeared that must have been in the packing of the cracks and depressions on the bedrock. These fragments include the MM II carinated cup (B4 P1) and tumbler (B4 P2), as well as other MM cups. The coarse kalathos or

bowl (B4 P54) is also early. Some conical cup bases are probably also earlier than LM IIIC. The majority of the pottery, however, was consistent in date and was early, but it was not the earliest phase of LM IIIC. There are many parallels with Kastro Phase II (Mook and Coulson 1997, 353–358), Kastri Palaikastro (Sackett, Popham, and Warren 1965), Chania (Hallager 2000), Knossos (Warren 2007), Chamalevri (Andreadaki-Vlasaki and Papadopoulou 2007), and with early phases at Sybrita/Thronos (D’Agata 1999a, 2003). Much of the pottery was fine; cups, deep bowls, and stirrup jars are the most common shapes. There are at least four cups with blob decoration, and a possible fifth (B4 P3, B4 P4, B4 P5, B4 P7, B4 P8), as well as a nearly complete champagne cup with blob decoration (B4 P11) and fragments of another example (Pl. 8D). Blob cups occur in Kastro Phases I and II (Mook and Coulson 1997, 344–358), and at Kavousi they seem to enjoy greatest popularity in the earlier phases of the period. Although the shape begins in LM IIIB (Hallager 1997b, 35–37), this champagne cup (B4 P11) has the carinated profile similar to LM IIIC deep bowls and cups. The shape elsewhere seems to disappear before the end of LM IIIC (Hallager 1997b, 40), a fact that reinforces an earlier date for this deposit than the rest of the material left in the settlement at the time of its abandonment. Similarly, the shapes and motifs of the deep bowls find parallels at Kastri (Sackett, Popham, and Warren 1965, 287–288, figs. 8–9) and Chamalevri Phase I (Andreadaki-Vlasaki and Papadopoulos 2005, 370–371, figs. 28–31), indicating that they date before the middle of LM IIIC; zigzag lines are popular, along with the lozenge-and-loop chain and several fringed or dotted motifs. The krater (B4 P25; Pl. 8E) was found in fragments scattered all over the room; its elaborate multiple decoration caused it to be inventoried first as four different kraters, and some of the fragments were thought to be Geometric, based on parallels with East Cretan Geometric pottery (Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 373); when the fragments were all joined together, however, the motifs and syntax were clearly seen to be LM IIIC. This error demonstrates the persistence of many motifs throughout the period from the 12th to the 8th centuries. The base restored on the drawing was actually found in the Room B7 deposit, and while it does not join, there are other joins between the two deposits and

BUILDING A-B

its fabric and paint suggest it was part of the same vessel. The bowl (B4 P21; Pl. 8D) and the basket kalathos (B4 P23) have close parallels at Chalasmenos (Coulson and Tsipopoulou 1994, 84, 85, figs. 18 no. 92.18, 19:3 no. 92.16); the kalathos is so close to those that they may have been products of the same workshop. The only kylix (B4 P20) is carinated but is not as large or elaborately decorated as those from B3. There are also at least three fine stirrup jars with elaborate fringed decoration, possibly all of them with elaborate octopus decoration, like examples from Mouliana (Kanta 1980, figs. 82:5, 6; 121:3) and Karphi (Seiradaki 1960, pl. 6:b; Day, forthcoming). The very globular shape of B4 P28 would place it in the early to middle phases of LM IIIC (Pl. 8D). The jugs (B4 P31–B4 P34) also look similar in date. The spouted lekane (B4 P37) and jug (B4 P38) in medium-coarse wares look like a matched set, since they are of similar fabrics and both have banded decoration (Pl. 8F). Both find parallels in Kastri (Sackett, Popham, and Warren 1965, 296, fig. 16:P11, P16) and Karphi (Seiradaki 1960, 8, fig. 5:3; Day, forthcoming). There was a relatively low incidence of coarse wares and no pithoi; nearly all of the coarse and medium-coarse wares were of Type X/XI fabric, while most of the cooking and other coarse wares were of Type IV (Chart 13). The coarse ware included two kalathoi, similar to those found in B3. Much cooking ware appeared, most of it found in the southern part of the room. The cooking dish, trays, and tripod trays attest to food preparation in the area; at least 12 more fragments of cooking dishes appeared in the deposit that were not cataloged. There were no pithoi, except for a few fragments. Several vessels from the deposit in B4 (B4 P1, B4 P23) found joining fragments in the lowest deposit in B7, the deposit below the pithos (see below). The krater base (B7 P9) from the lower deposit in Room B7 does not join to the large decorated krater in Room B4 (B4 P25; Pl. 8E) but almost certainly belongs with it, and there are other fragments found in both rooms that may have come from the same vessels. The nature of the deposit in Room B4 (and also the lower deposit in Room B7) is uncertain. It represents a group of earlier LM IIIC material that was deposited whole or nearly complete and apparently not disturbed. The material in B7 was

41

further sealed by the later deposition of the roofing clay that fell on the pithos stored in the room. Many of the vessels were smashed on the irregular bedrock floor of Room B4, and there may have been two separate depositional events in the two parts of the room. The majority of the vessels in the north part represent fine pottery for eating and especially drinking (cups, a champagne cup, deep bowls, kraters, as well as the jugs and possibly the stirrup jars). The deposit is unlike that found in B3, which is later in date and includes a large number of kylikes, the rhyton, several kalathoi, and the three large pithoi. The quality of the pottery, suitable for elite eating and drinking, attests to the high status of the inhabitants of the building. The presence of much cooking pottery, especially cooking dishes (B4 P41; Pl. 9A) and tripod trays (B4 P42–B4 P44) suggests that food preparation and presentation also occurred. The deposit with the animal skulls in the southern part of the room is very different and may represent a separate deposition. The skulls had been modified perhaps to hang on the walls of the room, and they may have been deliberately buried in a circle, as they were found. A similar bovine skull has been found in the deposit in Megaron D at Smari (Tsoukala and Chatzi-Vallianou 2000, 399, pl. 4). While it is likely that the pottery was all deposited together, it is less certain that the material was used together or whether it was used in Room B4. When buildings are deliberately filled in, however, it is generally with material that is near at hand, a fact that suggests that the pottery and animal bones were used in Building A-B. It is also uncertain how the area was used after the filling in occurred, for whatever traces may once have existed of structures over the area were long gone before our excavation even began. What is certain is that Building B underwent modifications long before the settlement was abandoned, and only Rooms B1/2, B3, and B7 continued in use.

Objects There were at least five stone tools found in this deposit: a whetstone (B4 ST2), a pounder or abrader (B4 ST3), a pounder (B4 ST5), a pestle (B4 ST4), and an obsidian blade (B4 ST1). No other objects were found.

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Faunal Remains Room B4 produced one of the most extensive and significant deposits of bone debris from the Vronda settlement. The bone assemblage from this room totaled nearly 2,000 fragments (Table 6). Because the bone deposit in this room was recognized as unique in concentration and composition, it was excavated with care, the bones from various portions of the room being exposed in situ during excavation and sketched in place before being collected by room segment. Thus it is possible to recognize what appear to be at least two distinct depositional environments or episodes within the room. In the northern two-thirds of the room, bones appear to be scattered randomly, and the majority of the 173 bone fragments recovered appear to consist of the usual range of butchering and food debris. Identified elements include two domestic pig teeth (probable butchering debris), plus one scapula and one ulna fragment, which most probably represent castoff food debris. Sheep and goat bones include one left mandible segment and one isolated tooth, plus vertebrae and postcranial elements from both front and hind limbs. Limb elements consist of both meaty upper limb elements and elements from the lower legs and feet. One element, a proximal portion of a right scapula, shows cut marks just below the articular surface, indicating separation of the front limb at the shoulder joint. An articulating sheep or goat innominate segment (hip bone) and the proximal femur found in this portion of the room represent a meaty loin cut, similar to what might be found today in arnavki sto fouvrno (arnaki sto phourno, or “lamb from the oven”). The deposit from the southern portion of the room is very different, and appears to represent a quite different depositional event or events. In contrast to the general food and butchering debris scatter found elsewhere in the room, virtually no such debris was found in the southern portion of the room. Instead the bone assemblage from this area is dominated by a number of animal skulls and at least one pair of articulated horn cores belonging to the Cretan wild goat, the agrimi or kri kri (Capra aegagrus). Virtually no food bones were recovered from this portion of the room, and cut or chop marks in this assemblage were limited to heavy marks inflicted while separating paired horn cores from goat or agrimi skulls. The large amount of unidentifiable bone

material from this portion of the room also appears to consist of additional highly fragmented cranial debris. In this area, several cattle (Bos sp.) skulls plus one pair of agrimi horn cores, which had been cut from the skull as a unit with a portion of the frontal and thus retained their natural V-shaped orientation, were found in a rough circular or semicircular formation. While paired sets of agrimi horn cores have been found elsewhere at Vronda and Kastro, this arrangement of paired horn cores with cattle skulls is unique to this deposit. One or possibly more cattle skulls were more randomly scattered in this same deposit. In addition, right and portions of two left pig mandibles, one of which appears to be from a male or boar, were also recovered in this portion of the room. The cattle skulls in Room B4 had also been deliberately modified or shaped. Although badly eroded and fragmented by postdepositional processes, two of the skulls from the apparent semicircular arrangement were at least partially reconstructible. When refitted, these specimens were found to consist of frontals and attached horn cores only, essentially the top portion of the skull. Completely missing from the Room B4 cattle skull deposit were any lower jaw or mandible elements, any teeth either mandibular or maxillary, or any lower portions of the skull itself. Since the mandibular body or ramus, maxillary teeth, and the heavy and dense occipital condyles of the crania are the most dense and resilient portions of any skull, they are the portions most likely to survive the harshest postdepositional soil environments and are often the only identifiable portions to survive at a site such as Vronda with very poor bone preservation. Yet, in this deposit, not a single tooth, mandibular element, or occipital condyle was found, despite careful excavation and recovery. It appears, therefore, that the cattle skulls in Room B4 were deliberately cut or carved to remove the mandible and all lower portions of the crania, thus producing a flattened plaque-like slab of the upper portions of the crania with horn cores attached. Mazarakis Ainian has suggested that the animal bones from Room B4 may represent the remains of ritual sacrifice or feasting (Mazarakis Ainian 1997, 295–296), but the small amount of bone recovered, and the lack of redundancy on meaty limb bone elements in the light scatter of butchering and food debris from the northern portion of the room (cf. Reese 1987; Frame, Russell, and Martin 1999; Russell and

BUILDING A-B

Martin 1998) do not support this suggestion. Rather, the scatter of mixed butchering and food debris in the northern half of the room likely represent debris dumped into the room after it had gone out of use or been abandoned. The modified cattle skulls, paired agrimi horn cores, and boar mandibles from the southern third of the room appear likely to represent a bone assemblage more directly related to the special function and status of Building A-B as a whole. The plaque-like modifications to the cattle skulls suggest that they might have had special meaning, and they were possibly shaped to serve as wall decorations or hangings. In this Early LM IIIC context, where horns of consecration and bull imagery are so prevalent and have ritual significance, it seems likely that the cattle skulls and agrimi horn cores were deliberately altered to form objects of ritual or decorative significance. The boar mandibles, which would have initially borne large and prominent canine teeth or tusks, may also have been deliberately placed in this room, as part of this very special deposit. While cranial debris and horn cores have been reported from a number of contexts elsewhere in Crete (e.g., Reese 1995, 178, 189) and Cyprus, where some had been modified (Karageorghis 1976), the nature of the deliberate shaping of the cattle skulls from Room B4 suggests that they may be more analogous to much later carved stone “bucrania,” or the cattle skulls and horn cores found at Çatal Höyük, many of which were found still partially encased in plaster and which are thought to have served as wall ornamentation (Mellaart 1967; Russell, Martin, and LeBlanc 1996; Martin and Russell 1997). One interesting shell came from the B4 deposit (Table 7), a complete unmodified cowrie shell with slight color and gloss. Cowries are not considered edible, and their shape (suggestive to some of female genitalia) may be related to fertility.

Roofing Material POTTERY Fine Light-on-Dark Wares B4 P1 (Room B4 south, Level 2; Room B7 Level 3; Fig. 25). Cup. Mended from 11 fragments. 30% preserved, including full profile and lower handle attachment; missing handle. H. 5.6; d. rim 9.3; d. base 4.7 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Brown

43

(7.5YR 4/4) paint inside and out. Carinated cup with spatulate handle. Monochrome or decorated in added white. MM II. Comparanda: Betancourt 1990, fig. 19:228 (Kommos, MM IIA); MacGillivray 1998, pl. 1:32 (Knossos); Poursat and Knappett 2005, pl. 50:737 (Malia, MM IIB); Levi and Carinci 1988, pl. 87 (Phaistos). B4 P2 (Room B4 south, Level 2; Fig. 25). Tumbler. Large fragment of base, preserving 60% of base and lower body; missing rim. Max. pres. h. 4.3; d. base 4 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Traces of black paint inside and out. Mat impression on base. MM II. Comparanda: Betancourt 1983, 73, fig. 19:253–255; Poursat and Knappett 2005, pl. 52:1048 (Malia).

Fine Dark-on-Light Wares B4 P3 (V83.29; Room B4 north, Level 2; Fig. 25; Pl. 8D). Cup. Restored from 18 fragments; nonjoining handle (6 sherds). 50% preserved, including full profile, and nearly all of base. H. 8; d. rim 13; d. base 4.4 cm. Fine, medium-soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Red (2.5YR 4/6) paint. Rather well-preserved surfaces. Blob decoration inside and out. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 400, fig. 6:5, 6 (drawing emended). Comparanda: Andreadaki-Vlasaki and Papadopoulou 2007, 32, fig. 10:5 (Chamalevri, Phase I). B4 P4 (Room B4 Level 2; Fig. 25). Cup. Partially mended into 2 fragments: 2 joining sherds from base, 8 sherds from rim and handle; 2 nonjoining body sherds. Entire base and 25% of rim preserved, plus handle. H. est. 9.4; d. rim est. 14.2; d. base 3.7 cm. Fine, mediumsoft, light red (2.5YR 6/8) fabric. Yellow (10YR 8/6) slip. Yellowish-red (5YR 4/6) paint. Blob decoration inside and out; paint on bottom of base. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 400, fig. 6:4 (drawing emended). B4 P5 (Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 19; Fig. 25). Cup. Partially mended from 10 fragments, preserving 50% of base and 75% of lower body. Fragment (3 sherds) from rim, 3 fragments preserving handle, and 9 body fragments probably of the same vessel, but possibly some from B4 P8. H. est. 10.5; d. rim est. 15.2; d. base 4 cm. Very soft, chalky, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6) fabric, with red phyllite inclusions. Red (10R 4/6) paint. Very eroded surfaces. Blob decoration. LM IIIC. B4 P6 (Room B4 Level 2; Fig. 25). Cup. Four joining fragments from base, preserving 75% of base and lower body. Nonjoining fragment of handle (3 sherds). D. base 4.5 cm. Very soft, chalky, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric, with red phyllite inclusions. Surfaces entirely eroded. LM IIIC. B4 P7 (Room B4 Level 2; Fig. 25). Cup or deep bowl. Partially mended from 6 rim and 5 body fragments; missing base and handle(s). D. rim est. 14.2 cm.

44

KAVOUSI IIA

Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) clay. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Red (2.5YR 4/6) paint. Blob decoration inside and out. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 400, fig. 6:3 (drawing emended). B4 P8 (Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 19; Fig. 25). Cup or deep bowl. Two joining fragments preserving 99% of base, one rim fragment. Body fragments assigned to B4 P5 may come from this vessel, which is indistinguishable in fabric. D. base 4; d. rim est. 12 cm. Very soft, chalky, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6) fabric, with red phyllite inclusions. Red (10R 4/6) paint. Very eroded surfaces. Blob decoration. Bottom of base entirely painted. LM IIIC. B4 P9 (Room B4 Level 2; Fig. 25). Cup or deep bowl. Single fragment preserving entire base; rim and body fragments may belong. D. base 4.5; d. rim est. 16 cm. Very soft, chalky, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. Surfaces very eroded. LM IIIC. B4 P10 (Room B4 Level 2; Fig. 25). Cup or deep bowl. Single fragment preserving 20% of base. D. base est. 3.5 cm. Very soft, chalky, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. Red (10R 4/6) paint. Very eroded surfaces. Painted on interior; may be blob decoration. LM IIIC. B4 P11 (V83.8; Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 2; Fig. 25; Pl. 8D). Champagne cup. Restored from 18 fragments. 90% preserved; missing 75% of rim, piece of base. H. 9.2; d. rim 12; d. base 6 cm. Very soft, reddishyellow (5YR 7/8) fabric, with small phyllite inclusions. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. Light red (2.5YR 6/8) to black paint. Blob decoration on interior. Exterior surfaces eroded, but probably also blob. Carinated bowl. LM IIIC. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 369, fig. 8:15, pl. 82:a. Comparanda: Sackett, Popham, and Warren 1965, 295, fig. 15:P22 (Kastri, early LM IIIC). B4 P12 (V83.10; Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 3 [fragments collected with pots 4, 17, 19]; Fig. 26; Pl. 8D). Deep bowl. Restored from 20 fragments. 90% preserved; missing small pieces of rim and body, top of one handle. H. 8; d. rim 11.8–12.6; d. base 3.3–3.5 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/4) slip. Red (2.5YR 5/8) paint. Worn surfaces. Spalling. Zigzag between bands. LM IIIC. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 369, fig. 8:14 (drawing emended); L. Day 1997, 396, fig. 3:2 (drawing emended). B4 P13 (V98.55; Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 9; Fig. 26). Deep bowl. Mended from 20 fragments. 75% preserved, including whole base and both handles. H. 9.3; d. rim 12.6; d. base 4.3 cm. Fine, soft, chalky, reddishyellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Red (2.5YR 4/6) paint. Very worn surfaces. Zigzag or wavy line; pair of thin lines between bands. Reserved band on interior. Edge of underside of base painted. LM IIIC. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 369, fig. 8:13; L. Day 1997, 396, fig. 3:1 (drawing emended).

B4 P14 (Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 10; Fig. 26). Deep bowl. Partially mended from 30 fragments. 25% preserved, including one handle; base and other handle missing. Max. pres. h. 7.9; d. rim est. 14.2 cm. Fine, soft, chalky, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/8) fabric. Yellow (10YR 8/6) slip. Red paint, worn to shadow. One handle shows burning. Surfaces almost totally eroded. Zigzag. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 396, fig. 3:6 (drawing emended). B4 P15 (Room B4 north, Level 2; Fig. 26). Deep bowl. Two joining fragments and 3 nonjoining from rim and handle. May belong to same vessel as B7 P5. D. rim est. 13 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric, gray at core. Pink (7.5YR 8/4) slip. Red (2.5YR 5/6) paint. Very worn surfaces. Reserved band on interior. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 396, fig. 3:8 (as monochrome deep bowl). B4 P16 (Room B4 north, Level 2; Fig. 26). Deep bowl or cup. Twelve joining fragments from rim. 10% preserved; missing base and handle(s). Max. pres. h. 5.7; d. rim est. 14 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) clay, with tiny red phyllite inclusions. Yellow (10YR 8/6) slip. Light red (2.5YR 6/6) paint. Worn surfaces. Hatched lozenge chain with loops. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 396, fig. 3:5 (drawing emended). B4 P17 (Room B4 north, Level 2; Fig. 26). Deep bowl or cup. Three joining and 2 nonjoining fragments from rim. D. rim est. 14 cm. Fine, porous, soft, very pale brown (10YR 8/4) fabric, with tiny black inclusions. Very pale brown (10YR 8/4) slip. Reddish-brown (5YR 4/3) paint worn to faint shadow. Zigzag. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 396, fig. 3:4. B4 P18 (Room B4 north, Level 2; Fig. 26). Deep bowl or cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 14 cm. Fine, soft, reddish yellow (5YR 6/6) fabric. Creamy, very pale brown (10YR 7/4) slip. Very dark gray to yellowish-red (5YR 3/1–5/6) paint. Metopal panel bordered by 3 vertical strokes, outer one with loops; fringed loops from rim. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 396, fig. 3:7. B4 P19 (Room B4 north, Level 2; Fig. 26). Deep bowl or cup. Single fragment from base. D. base est. 5 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Weak red (10R 4/4) paint. Very worn surfaces. LM IIIC. B4 P20 (Room B4 north, Level 2; Fig. 26). Kylix. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 14 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. May be plain ware or may have had a now missing decoration. LM IIIC. B4 P21 (V83.9; Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 16; Fig. 26; Pl. 8D). Two-handled bowl. Restored from many fragments. 90% preserved; missing part of one handle, bits of body, 30% of base. H. 7; d. rim 17.3; d. base 5.8 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. Dark reddish-brown (5YR 3/3) paint. Blob decoration, painted, not dipped. LM

BUILDING A-B

IIIC. Comparanda: Coulson and Tsipopoulou 1994, 85, fig. 19:3 no. 92.16. B4 P22 (Room B4 north, Level 2; Fig. 26). Fenestrated bowl. Large fragment (6 sherds) from rim. D. rim est. 19 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 6/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 7/4) slip. Reddish-brown (5YR 4/3) paint. At least 2 openings just below rim. LM IIIC. B4 P23 (V98.48; Room B4 north, Level 2; Room B7 Level 2; Fig. 26). Basket kalathos. Mended from 18 fragments, preserving 25% of base and lower body; nonjoining rim fragment; missing handles. H. 13.5; d. rim 26.2; d. base 15.8 cm. Fine, soft, pink (7.5YR 8/4) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Dusky red to red (10R 3/4–4/6) paint worn to a shadow. Multiple motifs in metopal panels. Chevron, interlocking vertical loops, outlined(?) pattern, filled triangles, zigzag, and possible double-ax pattern. Alternating arcs on rim. Two bands on interior. LM IIIC. Comparanda: Coulson and Tsipopoulou 1994, 84, fig. 18 no. 92.18 (Chalasmenos). B4 P24 (Room B4 north, Level 2; Fig. 26). Bowl. Three fragments from rim. D. rim est. 16 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric, with small red phyllites. Surfaces worn; only faint shadow of paint remains. Bands on exterior. LM IIIC? B4 P25 (V83.2, V83.3, V83.4, V83.26; Room B4 north, Level 2, pots 1, 4, 13, 21; base from Room B7 [B7 P9] may belong; Fig. 27; Pl. 8E). Krater. Large body fragment of 50 joining sherds. Two nonjoining rim fragments from near handles; 7 nonjoining body fragments. 30% of vessel preserved. Max. pres. h. 32; d. rim est. 52 cm. Fine, rather hard, pink (7.5YR 7/4) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/4) slip. Red to dark reddish-brown (2.5YR 5/8–5YR 3/3) paint. Well-preserved surfaces and paint. Multiple patterns. Side A: horns of consecration above multiple pendant and upright loops in cross-hatched field, panel of interlocking quatrefoil leaves. Under handles: multiple pendant loop outlined with U-pattern. Side B: two rows of running spirals with arc fillers. LM IIIC. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 370, fig. 9:19–20 (drawing emended); pl. 82:d, e. Comparanda: for the spiral pattern and shape, cf. Sackett, Popham, and Warren 1965, 292, fig. 13 (Kastri); Day, forthcoming (Karphi, room K26). For the horns of consecration with multiple outlines, cf. Seiradaki 1960, 33, fig. 23:b (Karphi). For the quatrefoil leaf pattern, cf. J3 B4; Day, forthcoming (Karphi room K97). For the decoration under the handle, cf. Eliopoulos 2004, 83, fig. 6:3 (Kephala Vasiliki). B4 P26 (Room B4 north, Level 2; Fig. 28). Small krater. Two joining and 4 nonjoining fragments from rim; large fragment (5 sherds) and one nonjoining fragment from body. D. rim est. 22 cm. Fine, soft, very pale brown (10YR 7/4) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/4) slip. Dark brown to very dark gray (7.5YR 3/4–5YR 3/1) paint. Horns of consecration with dotted outline. Loops on rim. May be reserved band on interior. LM IIIC. L. Day 1997, 396, fig. 3:6 (rim).

45

B4 P27 (Room B4 north, Level 2; Fig. 28). Krater. Four fragments preserving entire base. D. base 7.5 cm. Fine, soft, pink (5YR 7/4) fabric. Buff (10YR 8/4) slip. Traces of black paint inside and dark reddish brown (2.5YR 3/4) outside. Ring base. LM IIIC. B4 P28 (V83.6; Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 15, with fragments recovered with pots 3, 4, 17; Fig. 28; Pl. 8D). Stirrup jar. Restored from 22 sherds into 2 large nonjoining fragments, one from top, including spout, the other from base. 50% preserved; missing false spout, both handles, much of shoulder and middle of body. H. est. 18.4; max. d. est. 21.3; d. base 7 cm. Fine, very soft, red (2.5YR 5/6) fabric, with red phyllite inclusions. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. Black to dark reddish-brown (2.5YR 3/4) paint. Very worn surfaces. Spout tilted back to meet false spout. Spirals or octopus eyes, with arc fillers and fringes. LM IIIC. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 370, fig. 9:17; L. Day 1997, 397, fig. 4:1. B4 P29 (V83.5; Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 5; base with pot 13; Fig. 28). Stirrup jar. Large body fragment (6 sherds); 2 nonjoining fragments from top, including handle attachment. Ten body fragments probably from same vessel, including base. Max. pres. h. 10; d. base 7 cm. Fine, soft, chalky, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Pink (10R 8/3) paint. Very worn surfaces. Interlocking curvilinear motifs (octopus?) with arcs and U-pattern as fillers. Spiral design below handle. LM IIIC. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 370, fig. 9:18; L. Day 1997, 397, fig. 4:3, pl. 82:c. B4 P30 (Room B4 north, Level 2; Fig. 28). Stirrup jar? Body fragment (8 sherds); 26 nonjoining body fragments. Max. pres. h. 6.5 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Pink (7.5YR 8/4) slip. Reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6) paint. Worn surfaces. Spirals (eyes of octopus?) with U-pattern. LM IIIC. Comparanda: for decoration, Mook and Coulson 1997, 359, fig. 31:120 (Kastro). B4 P31 (V98.47; Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 18; Fig. 29). Jug. Large fragment preserving 90% of neck, small part of shoulder, and one handle. Mended from 16 joining and 17 nonjoining fragments; missing body and base. May be from same vessel as B4 P32. Max. pres. h. 13; d. rim 12.2 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Dark red (2.5YR 3/6) paint, mostly only preserved as shadow. Very worn surfaces. Beveled rim. Ridge at base of neck. Running quirk on neck. Spiral on shoulder, possibly in paneled pattern. LM IIIC. B4 P32 (Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 18; Fig. 29). Jug or stirrup jar. Small fragment from shoulder. May be from same vessel as B4 P31. Max. pres. h. 3.6 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Dark red (2.5YR 3/6) paint, mostly only preserved as shadow. Very worn surfaces. Spiraliform pattern in panel with vertical lines, U-pattern, and curvilinear motif with fringe. LM IIIC.

46

KAVOUSI IIA

B4 P33 (Room B4 north, Level 2; Fig. 29). Jug. Four fragments from shoulder and near neck. Max. pres. h. 5.2 cm. Fine, rather harder fabric, discolored to yellow (10YR 8/6) by acid. Black paint. Surfaces laminating. Spiraliform design on shoulder. LM IIIC. B4 P34 (Room B4 north, Level 2, and Plot A, southwest corner, surface; Fig. 29). Jug. Large fragment (20 sherds) from body and shoulder; 3 fragments from neck, 9 nonjoining fragments from body. 15% of body preserved; no rim, no base, no handles. Max. pres. h. 13 cm. Fine, very soft, chalky, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Pink (7.5YR 8/4) slip. Red (2.5YR 5/6) paint. Worn surfaces. Foliate bands on either side of horizontal zone of cross-hatching. LM I? B4 P35 (Room B4 north, Level 2; Fig. 29). Rhyton. Single body fragment. Max pres. h. 5.6 cm. Fine, soft, pink (7.5YR 7/4) fabric. Pink (7.5YR 8/4) slip. Red (2.5YR 4/8) to dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) paint. Wellpreserved surfaces. Fragment from transition from conical bottom to more flaring top, with added band of clay inside. Bands. Curvilinear dotted motif, U-pattern. LM IIIC? B4 P36 (Room B4 north, Level 2; Fig. 29). Closed vessel. Large body fragment (8 sherds). Max. pres. h. 12 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) slip. Red (2.5YR 5/6) paint. Worn surfaces. Multiple oblique strokes, multiple pendant loops. LM IIIC?

Medium-Coarse Painted Wares B4 P37 (V83.28; Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 4; Fig. 30; Pl. 8F). Spouted lekane. Restored from 21 fragments. 75% preserved, including full profile and handle. Missing 25% of rim to base, one handle. H. 10.7; d. rim (int.) 22.6; d. base 10.3 cm. Medium-coarse, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6), Type X/XI fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Red (2.5YR 5/6) paint. Worn surfaces. Rim pulled out to form spout. Bands. LM IIIC. Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 369, fig. 8:16, pl. 82:b. B4 P38 (V83.27; Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 17; Fig. 30; Pl. 8F). Jug. Restored from 18 fragments. 60% preserved, including full profile, entire base, handle, 25% of rim. H. 24; d. rim 9; d. base 10.4 cm. Mediumcoarse, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6), Type X/XI fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Red (2.5YR 5/6) paint. Bands. LM IIIC?

Medium-Coarse Plain Wares B4 P39 (Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 6; Fig. 30). Jug? Single fragment from base and body. Missing upper body and rim. Max. pres. h. 10; d. base est. 5.5 cm. Medium-coarse, rather hard, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6), Type III fabric with granodiorites and gold mica. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. String marks on base. MM?

B4 P40 (Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 6; Fig. 30). Closed vessel. Single fragment from base. D. base est. 19 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6), Type X/XI fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) surface. Red (2.5YR 4/6) paint. Band at base. LM IIIC.

Cooking Wares B4 P41 (V98.50; Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 14; Fig. 30; Pl. 9A). Cooking dish. Partially mended from 21 rim fragments and 13 base fragments. 35% preserved; missing bottom of base. Max. pres. h. 5.2; d. rim 43 cm, but irregular. Coarse, friable, red (2.5YR 4/8), Type IV fabric with black and red mottled surface. Surface smoothed, but not burnished. Sampled PMD 98/13. Incisions around base. Lip pulled out in 2 places. One fragment has hole pierced through it (before firing) 2.5 cm below rim. LM IIIC. B4 P42 (V98.49; Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 7; Fig. 30). Tripod cooking tray. Seven joining fragments preserving 25% of base and small parts of rim. May be the same as B4 P44. H. 3.8; d. rim 48; d. base 46 cm. Coarse, crumbly, red (10R 4/6), Type IV fabric. Surface almost burnished and mottled red and black; bottom rough. Burning on bottom of exterior, except near rim, and on sides. No apparent burning on interior. Rim has finger impressions, for spits? At least 3 preserved, but not enough to know if regularly spaced. Probably tripod, since there is a possible beginning of a foot. LM IIIC. B4 P43 (V98.51; Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 21; Fig. 30). Tripod cooking tray. Fifteen joining fragments preserving 40% of tray with one lug handle; 2 legs preserved. H. est. 9.7; d. rim est. 22; d. base 21.4 cm. Coarse variant of Type IV fabric, with large dark gray phyllites, red (2.5YR 5/8) with reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6) surface. No apparent burning on inside or outside. Sampled PMD 98/14. LM IIIC? B4 P44 (Room B4 north, Level 2, with pot 8; Fig. 30). Tripod cooking tray. Two joining fragments from rim and 3 nonjoining base fragments; missing legs and handle, although attachment preserved. May be the same as B4 P42. Max. pres. h. 4; d. rim est. 48; d. base est. 46 cm. Coarse, crumbly, red (10R 4/6), Type IV fabric. Interior smoothed, bottom rough. Small amount of burning on rim. Rim has pair of finger depressions. Scar for foot attachment on bottom. Scar on side may be from the foot, or it may be from a handle. LM IIIC. B4 P45 (Room B4 south, Level 2; Fig. 30). Cooking tray. Large fragment (4 sherds) of base, small sherd from rim. H. 1.5; d. rim est. 50 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric, but with more frequent phyllites than usual. Burning all over bottom, which has turned brown. LM IIIC. B4 P46 (Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 8; Fig. 31). Tripod cooking pot. Three large fragments of base and feet, and 3 nonjoining body fragments. 50% of base

BUILDING A-B

preserved and all 3 feet; missing tips of feet, all of upper body and rim. Max. pres. h. 19 cm. Coarse, reddishyellow (5YR 6/8), Type IV or Type XXVI fabric. Burning on exterior. Legs have dints at attachment to wall of cooking pot. LM IIIC. B4 P47 (Room B4, Level 2; Fig. 31). Cooking pot. Two joining rim fragments and 18 body fragments. D. rim est. (int.) 32 cm. Coarse, friable, red (2.5YR 5/8), Type XXV fabric. LM IIIC. B4 P48 (Room B4 south, Level 2; Fig. 31). Tripod. Single leg in 2 fragments. Max. pres. h. 4.5 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. No burning. Very small and elegant leg. LM IIIC. B4 P49 (Room B4 south, Level 2; Fig. 31). Tripod. Single leg. Max. pres. h. 15 cm. Coarse, light reddishbrown (5YR 6/4), Type IV fabric. Mottled black and red surface. No burning. Two oblique incised slashes at top of leg. LM IIIC. B4 P50 (Room B4 Level 2; Fig. 31). Tripod. Two legs. Max. pres. h. 13.1 cm. Coarse, soft, reddish-yellow to reddish-brown (5YR 6/8–5/4), Type IV fabric. Burning on both legs. Some irregular incised squiggly lines, possibly intentional decoration. LM IIIC. B4 P51 (Room B4 Level 2; Fig. 31). Tripod. Single leg. Max. pres. h. 12 cm. Coarse, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6), Type XXVI fabric. No burning. LM IIIC.

Coarse Wares B4 P52 (V98.53; Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 12; Fig. 31). Kalathos. Partially mended from 9 fragments with 9 more nonjoining fragments. 45% preserved, including full profile, entire base; missing 75% of rim. H. 11.2; d. rim 16; d. base 5.2 cm. Coarse, very friable, red (2.5YR 4/6), Type IV fabric. Burning on interior halfway up, on opposite sides. LM IIIC. B4 P53 (V98.54; Room B4 north, Level 2, pot 20; Fig. 31). Kalathos. Mended from 7 fragments. 45% preserved, including entire base and lower body; missing rim. Rim from Room B7 (B7 P28) may belong. Max. pres. h. 11.5; d. base 9.2 cm. Coarse, Type IV fabric, red (2.5YR 4/6) with black core. Surface mottled and smoothed (wiped), except on bottom. Burning on interior, except on bottom; no burning on exterior. Beveled

47

bottom, like example from Karphi, K26 (Day, forthcoming). LM IIIC. B4 P54 (Room B4 south, Level 2; Fig. 31). Kalathos or bowl. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 20 cm. Coarse, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric, with gray phyllite inclusions. Burning on interior. Incised lines below rim; knob or lug at rim. MM II? Comparanda: Nowicki 2008, 107, fig. 68:KP467 (Katalimata, MM II); Shaw and Shaw, eds., 2006, 278, pl. 3.43 no. 37e/15 (Kommos, LM IA–B). B4 P55 (Room B4 north, Level 2; Fig. 31). Conical cup or lid. Single fragment from base. D. base 2.4 cm. Coarse, light red to red (2.5YR 6/6–5/6), Type IV fabric, with gray core. Base very uneven and difficult to support vessel, so it may have been a lid. LM IIIC? B4 P56 (Room B4 south, Level 2; Fig. 31). Pithoid jar. Large fragment (10 sherds) from rim and upper body. Max. pres. h. 18.5; d. rim est. 50 cm. Coarse, red (10R 5/6), Type XXV fabric, with little mica and black core. Mottled red and black surface, smoothed. Possible burning on exterior. LM IIIC.

STONE TOOLS B4 ST1 (V83.12, IM 1134; Room B4 Level 2). Blade, proximal end, 2 ridges. L. 2.9; w. 1.2; th. 0.4 cm. Obsidian, black. Chipped on edges. B4 ST2 (V83.13; Room B4 north, Level 2). Whetstone. Cobble, rectangular, complete. L. 8.4; w. 2.7; th. 2.6 cm; wt. 100 g. Quartzite (grainy), dark grayish brown. Abraded smooth 4 faces and ends; 5 tiny grooves on one face; shaped. Type 7. B4 ST3 (V83.17; Room B4 north, Level 2, object 2). Hand tool. Cobble, oval, complete. L. 7.1; w. 5.7; th. 3.4 cm; wt. 200 g. Crystalline limestone, gray. Abraded smooth one face flat; pecked circumference; worn surface. Type 3. B4 ST4 (V83.19; Room B4 north, Level 2). Pestle. Cobble, humped, complete. L. 13.7; w. 13.0; th. 7.9 cm; wt. 1500 g. Quartzite, gray. Pecked small end; peckedabraded large end. Natural shape for a pestle. Type 10. B4 ST5 (V83.21; Room B4 north, Level 2). Hand tool. Pebble, oval, complete. L. 5.0; w. 3.1; th. 1.5 cm; wt. 100 g. Crystalline limestone, gray. Pecked 2 ends. Type 1.

ROOM B5 Architecture and Features This area is apparently not a room (Figs. 6, 7), but rather the corner enclosed by the west wall of

B1/2 and B7 (Wall E) and the south wall of B4 (Wall I). No good floor was found, just a cobble layer below topsoil (Pl. 9B). This cobble layer

48

KAVOUSI IIA

seems to represent deliberate fill to level the area for a structure or use in LM IIIC, but there may have been remains of earlier structures here. Boyd mentioned a courtyard on the summit, and the space south of Building A-B may have lain open; certainly no structures were encountered. Because of erosion and Boyd’s activities, however, it is impossible to determine whether there ever were structures here or if they have simply disappeared. There was a small stone-lined box or pot stand, constructed of upright small slabs and containing several broken cups near Wall E (Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 356).

The majority of the bone debris recovered from Room B5 is heavily eroded and fragmented and thus unidentifiable (Table 8). Exceptions to this are five sheep or goat elements that appear to represent butchering and food debris (one isolated tooth, one femur segment, one tarsal, and two possibly articulating phalanges or toe bones). In addition, 73 domestic dog elements (26 of which were isolated teeth) appear to be from a single, partial skeleton, and as with dog bones found elsewhere at Vronda, probably represent a later, Venetian–Modern intrusive carcass disposal.

Stratigraphy

Cobble Layer

Two levels (Level 2 and 3) were recognized in B5, both representing a cobble fill of fist-sized stones containing mostly MM II pottery, deep in some areas and going down to bedrock. This was probably a loose fill put in to level the area for use in LM IIIC, as there are some LM IIIC fragments even in the lower deposit; the material from the cobble fill has been cataloged together. The surface (Level 1) over this area was thin and contained mostly Middle Minoan fragments and the bones of a dog.

Pottery and Objects The pottery from all levels of B5 (Fig. 32), some 163 fragments weighing 6.3 kg, is mixed and difficult to date, and it says very little about the nature of this space in LM IIIC (Chart 14). The cobble layer produced much material of Early and Middle Minoan date, including cups and bridge-spouted jars probably dated to MM II. While granodiorite fabrics predominate in coarse wares, there are some LM IIIC pithos fabrics all the way down to bedrock (Chart 15). The cooking pot from the surface (B5 P9) looks MM III–LM I in fabric, but it may be even earlier. The burnished pedestaled bowl or chalice (B5 P11) is EM I–II. There is little LM IIIC material in this area, and it is clear that whatever stood to the south of Building A-B was gone before excavation began, whether from erosion or human activity. A possible pivot stone for a door found upside down in the cobble fill in this area probably did not have anything to do with the LM IIIC building.

Faunal Remains

POTTERY Fine Plain Ware B5 P1 (Room B5 Level 5; Fig. 32). Basin. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 38 cm. Fine, soft, reddishyellow (7.5YR 8/6) fabric with small granodiorite inclusions. MM?

Medium-Coarse Painted Ware B5 P2 (Room B5 Level 3; Fig. 32). Jug. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 10–11 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric, with phyllites (like Type X/XI). Black paint. LM IIIC?

Medium-Coarse Plain Ware B5 P3 (Room B5 Level 3; Fig. 32). Bowl? Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 13 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 6/6) fabric, with phyllites and silver mica inclusions. MM?

Cooking Wares B5 P4 (Room B5 Level 2; Fig. 32). Cooking dish. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 34–36 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6), Type VI fabric. MM. B5 P5 (Room B5 Level 3; Fig. 32). Cooking tray. Single fragment from rim, preserving nearly full profile; missing base. Max. pres. h. 3 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. Mottled red and black interior. LM IIIC?

Coarse Decorated Ware B5 P6 (Room B5 Level 2; Fig. 32). Jar. Two fragments, one from the rim and the other from the body. D. rim est. 28–30 cm. Rather coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR

BUILDING A-B

6/8), Type III fabric. Traces of black paint. Decorated with 2 rows of rope-slashed bands below rim; another band on the body. MM.

Pithos Wares B5 P7 (Room B5 Level 3; Fig. 32). Pithos. Two joining fragments from rim. D. rim est. 34–36 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6), Type III fabric. Possible brown paint. Very worn surfaces. MM. B5 P8 (Room B5 Level 3; Fig. 32). Pithos. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 7.3 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6), Type III fabric, with very pale brown (10YR 8/4) surface. Possible red paint. MM.

Topsoil POTTERY Cooking Ware B5 P9 (V 1700, surface cleaning; Fig. 32). Cooking pot. Large fragments from base (2 sherds) and rim with

49

handle. 40% of base, fragment of rim, one handle preserved. Max. pres h. (base) 13.2, (rim) 8; d. base 24; d. rim 38 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric, with black mottled surface. No traces of burning. EM–MM. Comparanda: Warren 1972, 172, fig. 56:273 (Myrtos, EM IIB).

Coarse Plain Wares B5 P10 (Plot A surface. Sherds from stone box; Fig. 32). Cup. Two large fragments from rim and upper body. 25% preserved; missing base and handle(s). D. rim est. 10 cm. Coarse, soft, yellowish-red to strong brown (5YR 5/6–7.5YR 5/6) fabric, with phyllites and large chunks of white. Worn surfaces. Burning on one side. MM? B5 P11 (Plot A, southeast, surface; Fig. 32). Chalice or pedestaled bowl. Single fragment from bottom and stem; missing most of base and all of upper body. Max. pres. h. 4 cm. Coarse, black clay, with granodiorite inclusions. Interior burnished. EM I–II. Comparanda: Wilson 1985, 302, fig. 11:31 (EM I–II); Pendlebury, Pendlebury, and Money-Coutts 1935–1936, 85, fig. 19:807 (Trapeza, EM II).

ROOM B6 Architecture and Features The area labeled Room B6 may or may not have originally been a room, but what was found here does not belong with the LM IIIC building (Figs. 6, 7). Room B6 lies immediately to the west of B4 and is formed by the corner of Wall G and Wall H. Neither wall has a face within the room, suggesting that what was preserved at the time of excavation was below the floors of Building A-B and did not belong with, but predated it. Linear accumulations on the southwest may represent the remains of earlier structures (Pl. 9C). Along Wall H were three pot stands, one measuring 0.3 x 0.4, and containing the base of a MM II pot (B6 P20; Pl. 9D). Several flat paving stones were uncovered just below the surface, one of which was a cupule or kernos stone (Pl. 9E). This flat paving stone measured 0.4 x 0.55 m and had a ring of 28 small circular depressions in a rough oval, pointed on one end. There was a larger circular depression within the point of the oval. Although it was originally thought to be part of Building B (Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 365–366), it is more likely that

this cupule stone belonged with earlier structures on the site, probably those of the MM II or MM III–LM IA periods.

Stratigraphy Like B5, this “room” as preserved was not part of the LM IIIC Building B. The area had been cleaned down to the LM IIIC floor level by Boyd, so it is difficult to tell if anything had been there prior to her excavations. A layer of soil lay over bedrock (Level 3), with the harder packing forthe floor above it (Level 2); this in turn lay just below the topsoil (Level 1). Large deposits of pottery were encountered immediately below the topsoil along the north wall (Wall G), including many conical cups and much coarse cooking ware. The conical cups were thought at the time of excavation to belong with the LM IIIC building and were originally published as part of the Building B deposits (Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 373). It is now clear that the material from this room is earlier, probably MM or LM I, deposited before

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KAVOUSI IIA

Building A-B was built; the material from along Wall G probably belongs with that from the floor packing. The pot stand with the base of a pithos or basin (B6 P20) found just below the surface in Levels 2 and 3 along the east wall of the building (Wall H) probably was resting on a lower surface than the one used in LM IIIC. The cupule stone was covered with the hard soil that probably represents the packing for the floor of the LM IIIC structures rather than the generally softer silty soil that had washed into the area in the years following Boyd’s excavation.

Pottery Although a surprising amount of pottery was found in Room B6 (300 fragments weighing 9.1 kg), little of the pottery dates to the period of occupation of Building A-B, except for a few pithos fragments (Fig. 33). The pottery is mixed in date, however. The carinated cup (B6 P1) is of MM II date, and two other similar cups were also found. The many conical cups, however, are like those in the pit in V 2600 and probably belong to the MM III–LM I period (e.g., B6 P7, Pl. 9F). One of the conical cups may have been used as a lamp, to judge from the burning on the interior (B6 P13). An uncataloged fragment of a miniature tripod also looks similar to material from the pit in Trench 2600 and is probably MM III–LM IA in date. The coarse wares include fewer pithos fragments than in most deposits of any date at Vronda. While some granodiorite fabrics of MM II date or earlier occur (Chart 16), the majority of fragments are of Type IV fabric. The deposit looks different from that in B5 or in the area to the east of Building A, and chronologically it fits better with the material from the pit west of Building A. One of the cooking dishes (B6 P11) finds parallels in MM II or MM III at Mochlos (Barnard and Brogan 2003, fig. 49:IB.512). The vessel still preserved in its stand (B6 P20), however, and which was originally thought to be a pithos base, finds a close parallel in a basin excavated in a MM II context at Petras (M. Tsipopoulou, pers. comm.). It may have been put in place in MM II, but was continued to be used in MM III–LM IA. This deposit included a high percentage of conical cups.

Objects There were four stone tools found in this room (Pl. 10A), including a pounder (B6 ST1), a pounderpestle or polisher (B6 ST2), a polisher (B6 ST3), and a facetted tool (B6 ST4). These tools clearly indicate that the same tool types were used throughout the Bronze Age and suggest that many of the Type 5 facetted tools, common during the pre–LM IIIC period, were reused by the inhabitants of Vronda because of the quality and hardness of the stone. The cupule stone does not belong with the LM IIIC phase of the settlement’s use, since it was below the level of the LM IIIC floor and was part of a pavement associated with earlier structures. The pavement may have been of Neopalatial date, to judge from the amount of MM III–LM IA pottery found in the area, particularly along Wall G, and if so, it may itself have been reused from the earlier MM II period. The presence of a MM II vessel in situ along Wall H suggests that the area was associated with Building P, and the original use of the cupule may belong with this Protopalatial phase. Most of the cupule stones that are in their original places seem to date to MM I–II (Whittaker 2002, 82) or MM I– LM I (Hillbom 2003, 24–25; 2005, 77–80), and the Vronda cupule would fit into this context. Although there is still debate about the meaning of these stones, Whittaker and Hillbom have made strong arguments for their use as gaming boards, since they are often associated with floors and thresholds, rather than funerary objects or tables of offerings, as implied by the name kernos. The Vronda example seems to be one of those that are set in a pavement, without any funerary associations.

Faunal Remains Bone materials from Room B6 are limited to seven isolated sheep or goat elements (Table 8). These specimens come from both the cranial and postcranial portions of the skeleton, and appear to represent a mix of butchering and food debris.

Floor Packing to Bedrock POTTERY Fine Monochrome or Light-on-Dark Wares B6 P1 (Room B6 Level 2; Fig. 33). Carinated cup. Two fragments from rim and body. Max. pres. h. 2.4 cm.

BUILDING A-B

Fine, very pale brown (10YR 8/3) fabric. Brown to black paint. MM II. B6 P2 (Room B6 Level 2; Fig. 33). Cup. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 3.5 cm. Fine, soft, pink (7.5YR 8/4) fabric, with sandy white inclusions. Red (10R 4/6) paint inside, black outside. MM? B6 P3 (Room B6 Level 2; Fig. 33). Cup or bowl. Nonjoining fragments of base, handle, and body. D. base 4 cm. Fine, very soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric, with tiny phyllite inclusions. Thick, glossy red (10R 4/6) paint, mottled black. LM IIIC?

Fine Plain Wares

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Cooking Ware B6 P11 (Room B6 along Wall G; Fig. 33). Cooking dish. Single fragment from rim. D. est. 28–30 cm. Coarse, hard, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. MM?

Coarse Wares B6 P12 (Room B6 Level 2; Fig. 33). Conical cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 8 cm. Coarse, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6), micaceous fabric. MM? B6 P13 (Room B6 Level 2; Fig. 33). Conical cup. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 5.2 cm. Coarse, light red (2.5YR 6/6), Type IV fabric. Interior blackened. MM?

B6 P4 (Room B6 Level 2; Fig. 33). Cup or deep bowl. Large fragment from rim; 4 nonjoining sherds. D. rim est. 20 cm. Fine, very soft, light reddish-brown (2.5YR 6/4) fabric, with tiny chalky white inclusions. Pocked and laminated surfaces. LM IIIC?

B6 P14 (Room B6 Level 2; Fig. 33). Conical cup. Single fragment preserving entire base. D. base 4 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6), Type IV fabric. MM?

B6 P5 (Room B6 Level 2; Fig. 33). Cup. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 3.6 cm. Fine, very soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Very worn surfaces. MM?

B6 P15 (Room B6 Level 2; Fig. 33). Conical cup. Single fragment preserving 50% of base. D. base 4 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. Possible brown paint. MM?

B6 P6 (Room B6 Level 2; Fig. 33). Bowl. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 21 cm. Fine, soft, reddishyellow (7.5YR 8/6) fabric, with tiny black inclusions, gray on interior. MM?

Medium-Coarse Wares

B6 P16 (Room B6 Level 2; Fig. 33). Conical cup. Single fragment preserving 50% of base. D. base 4.3 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. Mottled surface. MM? B6 P17 (Room B6 Level 3; Fig. 33). Tray. Single fragment preserving entire profile. H. 3.2; d. rim 19; d. base 18 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6–5/8), Type IV fabric, with some gold mica. Weak red (2.5YR 4/2) paint on exterior. MM?

B6 P7 (V83.11; Room B6 along Wall G; Fig. 33; Pl. 9F). Conical cup. Restored from 15 fragments. 90% preserved; missing center of base, one fragment of rim. H. 4; d. rim 8; d. base 4 cm. Medium-coarse, red (10R 5/8) fabric, like Type IV, but with silver mica. MM III–LM IA? Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 361, fig. 4:21. Comparanda: Watrous 1992, 2, fig. 12:1 (Kommos, LM IA).

B6 P18 (Room B6 Level 2; Fig. 33). Cup or jug. Single fragment preserving 45% of base. D. base 3 cm. Coarse, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric, with gold mica. MM?

B6 P8 (Room B6 Level 2; Fig. 33). Cup. Three fragments from rim; 9 body fragments of same vessel. D. rim est. 10 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/8) fabric with silver mica. Possible traces of brown paint. Very worn surfaces. Burning on rim. MM?

B6 P19 (Along Wall G; Fig. 33). Open vessel. Single body fragment. Max. pres. h. 6 cm. Coarse, hard, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. Incised decoration of double ax? MM? Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, pl. 81:a.

B6 P9 (Room B6 Level 2; Fig. 33). One-handled cup. Large fragment (3 sherds) preserving entire base and lower handle attachment. D. base 4.5 cm. Mediumcoarse, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/8) fabric, with silver mica. Reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) surface. Some burning outside (slight discoloration). MM?

Pithos Ware

B6 P10 (Room B6 Level 2; Fig. 33). Conical cup. Single fragment from base. D. base. est. 6 cm. Mediumcoarse, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6) fabric. Mottled surface. MM?

B6 P20 (Room B6 Level 2, from within pot stand; Fig. 33). Pithos or basin. Three joining fragments and one nonjoining fragment preserving entire base. Max. pres. h. 13.7; d. base 14 cm. Coarse, light red (2.5YR 6/6), Type III fabric. Ridges on bottom. MM II. Comparanda: Poursat and Knappett 2005, pl. 45:211 (Malia, MM II jar/krater).

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STONE TOOLS B6 ST1 (V83.22; Room B6 Level 2; Pl. 10A). Pebble, oval, complete. L. 5.0; w. 3.1; th. cm; wt. 75 g. Crystalline limestone, gray. Pecked ends. Type 1. B6 ST 2 (V83.23; Room B6 Level 2; Pl. 10A). Hand tool. Cobble, triangular-rounded, incomplete. L. 9.4; w. 7.0; th. 4.4 cm; wt. 370 g. Diabase (dolerite), dark bluish gray. Polished one face; pecked-ground ends; pecked-ground partly on one face. Type 2. B6 ST3 (V83.24; Room B6 Level 2; Pl. 10A). Polisher. Cobble, rounded and flat, complete. L. 6.5; w. 5.9; th. 2.7 cm; wt. 150 g. Basalt/dolerite, dark bluish gray. Polished one face, striations visible; slightly pecked irregularly around circumference. Type 9.

160 g. Limestone, gray. Pecked surface; one V-groove or drag from use with a drill. MM II. Type 5.

West of Room B6, Surface POTTERY Medium-Coarse Ware B6 P21 (west of B6 in small stones; Fig. 33). Conical cup. Mended from 4 fragments. 75% preserved, including full profile, entire base and lower body, and 33% of rim. H. 4; d. rim 8; d. base 2.5 cm. Medium-coarse, light red (2.5YR 6/6), micaceous fabric, with hard, angular white bits. Burned gray over half of body. MM III–LM IA?

B6 ST4 (V83.25; Room B6 Level 2; Pl. 10A). Pebble, irregular, intact. L. 4.9; w. 5.1; th. 3.9 cm; wt.

ROOM B7 Architecture and Features Room B7 is another storeroom without doorways (Figs. 6, 7). It is a large, rectangular room, measuring 2.4–2.6 m E–W x 3.6–3.7 m N–S (9.125 m2). The large east wall (V 1352), which is 0.7–0.95 m wide, abuts against Wall C, the south wall of B1/2 and B3. The inner face of V 1352 shows some oddities (Fig. 34). There is a jog in the wall toward the south, which may be due to rebuilding or may reflect some structure above that is now gone. More breccia boulders were used in the construction of this wall than in others of Building B, and it stands three courses high. The southeastern corner incorporates a spur of bedrock, so it is impossible to tell if the south and east walls are bonded. The same spur of bedrock also was incorporated into the wall of E1 on the next terrace down. The wide (1.25 m) south wall (V 1353), standing three to four courses high, is constructed of breccia boulders at the bottom with more limestone blocks in the upper courses. The west wall (Wall N) is the continuation of the earlier Wall E used as part of the west wall of B1/2. It is only one course high, 0.6 m wide, and composed of breccia boulders with a few smaller limestone blocks. The wall breaks off midway across the room, and the southwestern corner is entirely gone. Wall C on the north is of tidy construction, using small limestone blocks in careful arrangement with three to four

almost regular courses and chinking stones (Fig. 35; Pl. 10B). It is preserved 0.80 m high. The bedrock in this room drops down abruptly more than a meter from west to northeast. Some attempt was made to level the bedrock on the west with a few flat stones, but elsewhere in the room there is no indication of any flat surface on which the pithos found in the room stood. The floor is too uneven to have been used for anything other than storage, and the actual living surface may have been a wooden floor above, from which B7 could be accessed through a trap door and ladder.

Stratigraphy The northern part of Room B7 was excavated in 1983 (Pl. 10C), the southern part in 1987. The southern and eastern walls and some deposits of soil in the southeastern corner were uncovered in 1992. Three layers were recognized, although the material from them was not always kept separate (Fig. 36). The two lowest layers (Levels 3 and 2) consisted of similar roofing material, but Level 3 was without the fragments of the pithos found in Level 2. The lowest layer included much fine ware, and there were several joins with pottery from B4. Above Level 3 was a thick deposit of roofing clay (Level 2; V 1801, V 1351, V 1354) that contained a single large, nearly complete pithos (B7 P26; Pl. 10D, E),

BUILDING A-B

along with fragments of a terracotta window frame (B8 TC1). This roofing clay with pithos fragments lay just below a layer of topsoil (Level 1; V 1800). According to the excavator’s notes and the section of the southern balk of V 1800 (Fig. 36), it looks as though there were two distinct deposits of roofing clay in this room, although the material was not kept separate in 1987. The lower deposit (V 1801) included most of the fine pottery, while the pithos fragments were above this layer, also embedded in the roofing clay. Some roofing material also covered the pithos. It would seem that the lower part of Room B7 was filled in at the same time that Room B4 went out of use, to judge from the joins of pottery between the deposits in the two rooms. The basement of Room B7 remained in use, however, to house the pithos, which was contemporary with the pithoi in Room B3. Since Room B7 had the most uneven surface of any room on Vronda, the partial filling may have been intended to even the floor somewhat to support the pithos. When the whole building gradually collapsed after abandonment, the pithos was broken by the falling roof and walls, and the window frame on the wall also broke and fell, some fragments into B7, some down the hill into B8 and V 1400, and a few south into E1.

Pottery Room B7 produced 1,072 fragments of pottery weighing 216.8 kg. The lowest deposit of roofing clay without pithos fragments had an extraordinarily large amount of fine pottery, similar in date and percentages to the B4 deposit (Chart 17; Figs. 37, 38; Pls. 10F, 11A). There were several cross joins between vessels in the two rooms, chiefly the basket kalathos (B4 P23) and possibly the krater (B4 P25); fragments of MM cup B4 P1 were also found in this deposit. The majority of the vessels find close parallels in the early part of LM IIIC. The cup (B7 P1) finds parallels as early as the LM IIIB/C transitional phase at Chamalevri (Andreadaki-Vlasaki and Papadopoulou 2005, 368, fig. 24). The champagne cups (B7 P2, B7 P3) are similar in shape to the example in B4 (B4 P11) and also have blob decoration; close parallels can be found at Phaistos (Borgna 2003, pl. 23.1). The deep bowls have fairly low concave raised bases, which may indicate an early date in LM IIIC. They are decorated with spirals and

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zigzags like examples from Kastri (Sackett, Popham, and Warren 1965, 287, fig. 8:a–h), Chania (Hallager and Hallager, eds., 2000, pl. 35:71-P 0728, 71-P 0739, 71-P 0740) and Phase 1 Chamalevri (Andreadaki-Vlasaki and Papadopoulou 2005, 370–371, figs. 28–30). The krater base (B7 P9) is probably from the same krater as the one in B4 (B4 P25); the holes pierced through the base before firing are similar to those found on a krater from N3/5 and from the kiln (KI P9). There are at least two octopus stirrup jars, one of which (B7 P10) is very close to the stirrup jar from Mouliana (Kanta 1980, figs. 82:5, 6; 121:3). Conical cups that can be securely attributed to LM IIIC are rare, but B7 P12 is in fine ware and is unlike the coarser Type IV conical cups found in the deposits below the floors of Buildings A and E. The medium-coarse bowl (B7 P14) finds a close parallel at Kastri dating to the early part of LM IIIC (Sackett, Popham, and Warren 1965, 294, fig. 14:P3). The scuttles or braziers (B7 P18, B7 P19) are comparatively common at Vronda, and many examples have been found in the Shrine. The other pottery consists of fragments of cooking wares, rather than whole vessels. Of note is a comparatively large amount of Type XXV than is normal in the cooking wares at Vronda, although as usual Type IV was the most frequent (Chart 18). As with B4, this deposit from an earlier phase of LM IIIC consists largely of drinking and pouring vessels. The upper deposit of roofing clay that accompanied the pithos contained at least eight fragments of the window frame that was also found in Room B8 (see below). There was a fragment of a kylix base (B7 P22), a monochrome (or blob) deep bowl (B7 P24), and a deep bowl with spiral motif, all quite fragmentary (Fig. 39). The deep bowl is an unusual type with a small outturned rim, rather than the common lipless variety found in LM IIIC. The pithos (B7 P26; Fig. 40; Pl. 11B, C) itself has unusual features. It is the largest pithos found on the site of Vronda, bigger even than those in B3, which themselves are substantially larger than those found in the other buildings. The serpentine rope pattern between chevron bands is similar to the other Building B pithoi, but the presence of small “columns” between the rope loops is highly unusual. The vessel has a hole in the center of the bottom, suggesting that liquids were stored in it, and the hole was perhaps used to drain off the dregs of whatever was in the pithos (wine or oil). Other pottery found in this deposit but

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not cataloged included more deep bowl fragments, some cooking ware (two tripod legs, two cooking pot fragments, three painted cooking pots), and a medium-coarse body fragment with painted bands, probably of MM date; very few fragments from earlier granodiorite fabrics were found (Chart 19). The topsoil deposit had fewer pithoi and more fine wares (Fig. 41) than the upper roofing (see Chart 17), and there was a preponderance of Type IV fabrics (Chart 20). The kalathoi (B7 P27, B7 P28, B7 P29) found on the surface may be rims from some of the vessels found in B3 or B4, but they may also indicate that kalathoi were used in the deposited material in B7. Topsoil material also included two fragments of champagne cups with blob decoration, a deep bowl with a spiral, a MM II cup handle with a clay “rivet,” two to three cooking pots, a jug, and two possible conical cup bases. The function of Room B7 in the latest phase of the settlement was clearly storage. What it was used for before this is uncertain; the fact that there are joins between the earlier pottery and that in Room B4 suggests that either the material fell into both rooms from an upper story, or that they were filled in at the same time using the same material.

Objects Aside from the fragments of the window frame, cataloged with Room B8, there were very few objects in Room B7. Stone tools included a mortar (B7 ST1) from the lower roofing clay and a hand tool or weight (B7 ST2) from the topsoil.

Faunal Remains As in Room B6, the bone debris from Room B7 represents a mix of butchering and food debris from sheep or goats, plus one cattle tarsal, and a scattering of unidentifiable bone fragments (Table 9). Shells from the lower layer included a fragment of a triton shell (Charonia), while a complete murex shell (Hexaplex trunculus) was found with the pithos (Table 7).

Lower Deposit, below Pithos POTTERY Fine Dark-on-Light Wares B7 P1 (Room B7 Level 3, V 1354.1, V 1354.4; Fig. 37). Cup. Large fragment from rim and handle (12 sherds), fragment from rim (2 sherds). 20% preserved, including handle; missing base. Max. pres. h. 6.1; d. rim est. 11.1 cm. Fine, very soft and porous, light red (2.5YR 6/8) fabric, extremely light. Traces of black paint. Surfaces entirely gone. LM IIIC, early. Comparanda: Seiradaki 1960, 21, fig. 14: cup 1 (Karphi); Tsipopoulou 2004, fig. 8:13 no. 92-2 (Chalasmenos); AndreadakiVlasaki and Papadopoulou 2005, 368, fig. 24 (Chamalevri, transitional LM IIIB/IIIC). B7 P2 (Room B7 Level 3, V1354.2, V 1354.3, V 1354.5, champagne cup 1; Fig. 37). Champagne cup. Mended from 18 fragments; 17 nonjoining fragments. 25% preserved, including full profile, 75% of base, all of stem, handle, and bit of rim; missing large parts of rim and body. H. 8; d. base 7; d. rim 11.5 cm. Fine, very soft, chalky, light red (2.5YR 6/8) fabric. Dark reddishbrown (5YR 3/3) paint. Very worn surfaces, but paint preserved on interior. Blob decoration. LM IIIC, early. B7 P3 (Room B7 Level 3, V 1354.2, V 1354.4, V 1354.5, V 1801.3–8, champagne cup 2; Fig. 37). Champagne cup. Partially mended from many small fragments (at least 32). Stem and lower body preserved, one handle, and some of rim. Missing much of base and upper body and rim. H. est. 9.2; d. base est. 6; d. rim est. 12–13 cm. Fine, very soft, chalky, light red (2.5YR 6/8) fabric. Black paint. Surfaces almost entirely gone. Blob decoration. LM IIIC, early. B7 P4 (V87.129, IM 970; Room B7 Level 3, V 1354.3, V 1354.5, V 1801.3–8; Fig. 37; Pl. 10F). Deep bowl. Mended from 11 fragments. 60% preserved, including entire base, 45% of rim, and one handle. H. 9.6; d. rim 13.7; d. base 4.4 cm. Fine, fairly hard, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 6/6) clay, with tiny white inclusions. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip? Red (2.5YR 5/6) paint. Worn and flaky surfaces. Cross-hatched lozenge, with multiple loops filled with strokes. LM IIIC, early. Gesell, Day, and Coulson 1988, 282, pl. 74:a. Comparanda: Hallager and Hallager, eds., 2000, 85, pl. 48:77-P 0522 (Chania, LM IIIB:2) for the cross-hatched lozenge between hatched multiple arcs; Andreadaki-Vlasaki and Papadopoulou 2007, 50, fig. 7:21 (Chamalevri, Phase II).

BUILDING A-B

B7 P5 (Room B7 Level 3, V 1354.3, V 1354.5, deep bowl 1; Fig. 37). Deep bowl. Mended from 26 fragments; 5 nonjoining. 50% preserved, including entire base, one handle, half of rim and body. H. est. 8.6; d. rim 12; d. base 4.2 cm. Fine, soft, sandy, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) clay. Very pale brown (10YR 7/3–8/3) slip. Surfaces very worn; only shadow of paint preserved. Running spirals, 2 on one side, 3 or 4 on other side. LM IIIC, early. Comparanda: Day, forthcoming (Karphi, rooms K 115, K 68). B7 P6 (Room B7 Level 3, V 1354.3, V 1801.2–9, deep bowl 2; Fig. 37). Deep bowl. Partially mended from 11 fragments. 10% preserved, including bits of rim and one handle; missing base and lower body. Max. pres. h. 6.9; d. rim 19.1 cm. Fine, fairly hard, light red (2.5YR 6/6) fabric. Pink to reddish-yellow (7.5YR 8/4–8/6) slip. Reddish-brown (5YR 5/3) paint. Quite well preserved surfaces. Large spiral below double rim band. Possible reserved band on interior. LM IIIC, early. B7 P7 (Room B7 Level 3, V 1354.5; Fig. 37). Deep bowl or cup. Large fragment of rim (4 sherds) and one from body; 4 nonjoining fragments. Max. pres. h. 7; d. rim 13 cm. Fine, soft, sandy, yellow (10YR 8/6) fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/4) slip. Shadow of brown paint. Very worn surfaces. Zigzag. LM IIIC, early. B7 P8 (Room B7 Level 3; Fig. 37). Deep bowl or kylix. Single body fragment. Max. pres. h. 4.8 cm. Fine, soft, very pale brown (10YR 7/3) fabric and slip. Black crackled paint worn to brown. Vertical lines and fringes. LM IIIC. B7 P9 (V87.130, IM 971; Room B7 Level 3, V 1801.3–8, object 5, V 1801.6, V 1801.10; possibly same krater as found in B4 [B4 P25]; Fig. 37; Pl. 11A). Krater. Large fragment of pedestal base, mended from 13 sherds. 75% of base preserved. Max. pres. h. 7.4; d. base 16 cm. Fine, rather hard, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Pink (7.5YR 8/4) slip. Red (10R 5/8) paint. Well-preserved surfaces. Base painted on exterior. Eight perforations on base at place where it attaches to body, made before firing and not kept open during firing (they have closed up). Possibly assisted the drying phase or made firing more even. LM IIIC, early. B7 P10 (V87.132; Room B7 Level 3, V 1801.3–8, object 4; Fig. 37). Stirrup jar. Partially mended from 18 fragments; 12 nonjoining fragments. 30% preserved, including top of jar, false spout, both handles, and base of spout; missing top of spout, base, and lower body. Max. pres. h. 10 cm. Fine, soft, sandy, very pale brown (10YR 8/3) fabric, with fine dark inclusions. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. Black paint, now worn to a shadow. Very worn surfaces. Spirals outlined with U-pattern, streamers with scalloped edges, possibly an octopus. Concentric circles on top of false spout. Horizontal stripes on handles. Top of stirrup jar, including false spout and handles, added as a disk; clay added on where the 2 pieces join. LM IIIC, early. L. Day 1997, 397, fig. 4:2.

55

B7 P11 (V 1354.1, V 1354.3, V 1801.1; Fig. 37). Stirrup jar. Large fragment of body (5 sherds). Max. pres. h. 4.5 cm. Fine, soft, pink (7.5YR 7/4) fabric. Pink (7.5YR 8/4) slip. Very worn surfaces. Paint only a fugitive shadow. Curved streamers with arc filler and U-pattern: octopus? LM IIIC, early. Comparanda: Room B4, B4 P29 (also similar fabric). For the use of U-pattern, cf. Kanta 1980, fig. 136:1 (Kritsa); Andreadaki-Vlasaki and Papadopoulos 2005, 385, fig. 49 (Chamalevri).

Fine Plain Wares B7 P12 (Room B7 Level 3, V 1801.9; Fig. 38). Conical cup. Two joining fragments from base and rim. 30% preserved, including full profile. H. 4; d. rim 7.9; d. base 4 cm. Fine, very soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Worn surfaces. LM IIIC? B7 P13 (V92.46; Room B7 Level 3, V 1354.1, object 1; Fig. 38). Lid. Nearly complete; mended from 3 fragments, missing chips from rim. H. 3.2; d. top 2; d. base (rim) 6.1 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric, with some very small phyllite inclusions. Possible very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Surfaces almost totally gone. Top is a knob without a good bottom surface. LM IIIC?

Medium-Coarse Ware B7 P14 (Room B7 Level 3, V 1354.5; Fig. 38). Shallow bowl. Mended from 4 fragments. 25% preserved, including full profile, one handle, 30% of base. H. 7; d. rim 15; d. base 6 cm. Medium-coarse, rather hard, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/8) fabric, with small black inclusions, some possible granodiorites, and some carbonates, pink (5YR 7/4) on surface. Traces of brown paint. Worn surfaces. Monochrome inside and outside. Parallel striations on base; mat impressions. LM IIIC. Comparanda: Andreadaki-Vlasaki and Papadopoulou 2007, 32, 45, fig. 2:20 (Chamalevri, Phase I).

Burnished Cooking Ware B7 P15 (Room B7 Level 3; Fig. 38). Cooking tray. Large fragment of 3 sherds from rim. Max. pres. h. 2.8; d. rim 40 cm. Coarse, reddish-brown (5YR 5/3), Type II/VI fabric. Interior slipped and heavily burnished. EM.

Plain Cooking Wares B7 P16 (Room B7 Level 3; Fig. 38). Cooking tray. Three fragments from rim and base. Full profile preserved, including lug handle. Max. pres. h. 3.7; d. rim est. 44 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 4/6), Type IV fabric, with large gray phyllites. Mottled surface. No burning. LM IIIC? B7 P17 (Room B7 Level 3; Fig. 38). Cooking pot. Large fragment (3 sherds) from rim; 10 body fragments. D. rim est. 34 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/8), Type XXV fabric. Burning on exterior. LM IIIC.

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Coarse Wares B7 P18 (V87.85; V 1801.3–8, object 6; V 1354.5; Fig. 38). Scuttle or brazier. Large fragment (9 sherds) from base, rim, and handle; 5 nonjoining fragments. 65% preserved, including entire base and handle, and part of rim; missing much of rim and upper body. H. 7.0–7.4; d. base 5.2 cm. Coarse, red to light red (2.5YR 5/6–6/8), Type IV fabric. Burning on sides of interior, exterior in patches near top. LM IIIC. B7 P19 (Room B7 Level 3; Fig. 38). Scuttle or brazier. Single fragment of handle. Two rim fragments with irregular shape and similar fabric may belong. Max. pres. L. 7.6 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. LM IIIC. B7 P20 (V 1354.5; Fig. 38). Bowl. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 12 cm. Coarse, hard, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. LM IIIC?

STONE TOOL B7 ST1 (V83.30; Room B7 Level 3). Mortar (small). Cobble, rectangular, fragment. L. 4.9; w. 5.3; th. 3.4 cm; wt. 100 g. Quartzite (grainy), pale brown. Pecked and abraded depression (depth 1.5 cm) on upper surface. Type 16.

body. 15% preserved; missing base and handle(s). Max. pres. h. 4.5; d. rim 12 cm. Fine, soft, very pale brown (10YR 8/3) fabric. Black-to-brown paint. Worn surfaces. Monochrome inside and out. LM IIIC.

Cooking Ware B7 P25 (V 1801.3–8, V 1801.9; Fig. 39). Cooking pot. Large body fragment (17 sherds); second fragment of rim (2 sherds); 2 nonjoining fragments. 15% preserved; missing base, handles, feet (if tripod). Max. pres. h. 15 (with rim est. 18); d. rim 20.4 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 4/6), Type IV fabric. Exterior badly burned, interior burned in patches, including rim. LM IIIC.

Pithos Ware B7 P26 (Room B7 Level 2, V 1801.3–9; Fig. 40; Pls. 10D, E; 11B, C). Pithos. 416 fragments, comprising 95% of pithos. H. est. 165; d. rim 71 (ext. 76); d. base 41 cm. Coarse, light red (2.5YR 6/6), Type X/XI fabric, with mostly red phyllites and occasional chunks of carbonates. Chaff voids, especially on interior. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Hole in center of base. Sampled PMD 98/19. Decorated with chevron bands, alternately pointing right and left, and 5 zones of serpentine rope pattern. Second and third row down have small columns in approximately every third loop. LM IIIC.

Upper Deposit with Pithos POTTERY Fine Dark-on-Light Wares B7 P21 (Room B7 Level 2, V 1354.1, V 1801.1–2, surface, deep bowl 3; Fig. 39). Deep bowl. Partially mended from 8 fragments. Profile of upper body preserved, including one and one-half handles; missing base, lower body, and one-half handle. Max. pres. H. 6.3; d. rim est. 18.6 cm. Fine, soft, porous, light red (2.5YR 6/6) fabric. Reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) slip. Black paint. Very worn surfaces; only paint shadow remains. Spiral. LM IIIC, early. B7 P22 (Room B7 Levels 2, 3; Fig. 39). Kylix. Fragment of base and stem (2 sherds). 60% of base and lower stem preserved. Max. pres. h. 2; d. base 7 cm. Fine, soft, light red (2.5YR 6/6) fabric. Reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) surface. Dark reddish-brown (5YR 3/3) paint. Pierced stem. LM IIIC. B7 P23 (Room B7 Level 2; Fig. 39). Closed vessel. Single body fragment. Max. pres. h. 3.2 cm. Fine, soft, pink (7.5YR 8/4) fabric and slip. Worn, brown-to-black paint. Fringed decoration in panels. LM IIIC.

Fine Monochrome Ware B7 P24 (Room B7 Level 2, V 1801.2, V 1801.9; Fig. 39). Bowl or cup. Five joining fragments from rim and

Surface POTTERY Coarse Plain Wares B7 P27 (Room B7 surface and southwest balk; Fig. 41). Kalathos. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 4 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 4/6), Type IV fabric. Mottled black and red surface. Burning on interior. LM IIIC. B7 P28 (Room B7 surface and southwest balk; Fig. 41). Kalathos. Single fragment from rim. May be the rim of B4 P53 in Room B4. D. rim est. 25 cm. Coarse, red (10R 5/6), Type IV fabric. Mottled red and black surface. Burning on interior. LM IIIC. Comparanda: Hallager and Hallager, eds., 2000, pl. 45:80-P 1500 (Chania, early LM IIIC). B7 P29 (Room B7 surface and southwest balk; Fig. 41). Kalathos. Single small fragment from rim. D. rim est. 18 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6), Type IV fabric. Burning inside and out. LM IIIC.

STONE TOOL B7 ST2 (V83.16; Room B7 Level 1). Hand tool or weight? Pebble, cube-rounded, complete. L. 5.4; w. 5.3; th. 5.3 cm; wt. 287 g. Gabbro, greenish gray, with white inclusions. Pecked-abraded surface to shape. Type 11.

BUILDING A-B

57

ROOM B8 Architecture and Features The space labeled B8 lies east of B7 and may not be a room, but an exterior space (Figs. 6, 7). It is not bounded by walls on all four sides; the western boundary is the east wall of B7, on the north lies the southern end of the East Terrace Wall, the north wall of Room E1 provides a boundary on the south, and there is no trace of any structure or wall bounding the area on the east. It may have little to do with Building B, since although the ancient ground level is slightly lower than the lowest level in B7, the actual floor level above B7 would have been much higher. Architecturally, the space may have more to do with Building E, which is on the same level, but most of the finds from the area seem to have fallen down into the area from B7. Along the west wall (V 1352), which stands 0.85 m high, there is a small bench (Pl. 11D). Higher up along the wall was a pot stand, composed of three limestone blocks set in a circle. The East Terrace Wall comes to a ragged end in this area, and there is no good corner or outside southern face. It stands four to five courses high. A short spur wall that runs off the East Terrace Wall created a small enclosed space that extended approximately 1 m from the east wall of B7 (Pl. 11E). There was a square hole as if for drainage under the wall.

Stratigraphy Although the area may well have been associated with Building E during its occupation, the depositional history of this space belongs with Building B, since much of the material in it fell in from B7, including the window frame. Some of the material also joins with that found in the rock tumble of E1, further evidence that the material fell in from Building B above into both areas. All this material fell in roofing debris onto a surface of hard clay with frequent small stones (V 1368). The fragments of the window frame and other large fragments of pottery were found in an area with a linear accumulation of stones (V 1360, V 1361, V 1362; Pl. 11F) embedded in the roofing clay (V 1357, V 1365, V 1366). This 15-cm-thick deposit of roofing covered the entire area and lay immediately below the topsoil (V 1350, V 1355, V 1850). It seems likely that the

roofing debris fell from Building B into the area, onto a surface similar to that found in the area to the south and east (V 1400). Only the fenestrated stand (B8 P7) in the bin (V 1367) may have been in its original position, although its fragmentary state and the fact that pieces were also found in Room E1 show that it is more likely to have fallen in from Building B above. The area where the East Terrace Wall meets the eastern wall of B7 (Pl. 11E) formed a sort of “bin” containing fragments from the top of a large storage amphora (V 1852), but it is not clear if this pottery fell into the area from Building B above or was stored in this space at the time the settlement was abandoned. Above the amphora was a layer of stone tumble (V 1851).

Pottery A total of 916 fragments weighing 12.5 kg was recovered from this area (Chart 21; Figs. 41, 42). Few nearly complete fine vessels were found, and the small fragments of fine deep bowls or cups in the roofing debris probably represent material that had been broken and was in the clay or simply lying around. Similarly, the five cooking dish fragments in this same deposit are small enough to have been on or in the surfaces. The nearly complete coarse vessels, however, probably fell in from Building B above, possibly from the upper deposit in B7, since they accompanied the fragments of the terracotta window frame. The fenestrated stand (B8 P7) came from this area. Nearly every building on Vronda produced one of these stands, and their precise function is unclear; they were probably meant to hold a bowl or kalathos, whether for practical domestic or for religious reasons. The amphora (B8 P8) is a shape that is common on Vronda and other LM IIIC sites. Coarse wares found in the roofing debris were largely of LM IIIC fabrics, particularly Types IV and X/XI (Chart 22). The two coarse jars (B8 P10, B8 P11) may have been used for small-scale or temporary storage. The pottery included a large, burned body fragment of a cooking pot of Type IV fabric, with dark gray core and mottled surface. The material found embedded in the floor surface consisted of tiny fragments, half of granodiorite

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fabrics, the other of Type IV. These percentages suggest that the surface was in use for a long time or that it had in it earlier material that had been brought to level the area for the LM IIIC settlement.

Objects The window frame (B8 TC1; Fig. 43; Pl. 12A) has been cataloged with this deposit, since the largest number of fragments was found here. Most of the other fragments were found with the pithos in B7, but at least two were picked up in the rock tumble of E1 and one farther to the east in Trench V 1400. The find spots indicate that the object fell from above and suggest that it may have stood on one of the walls of B7, whether hung within the room or set on the outside of the wall. The window is heavy (18 kg, with the missing parts restored in plaster) and not practical as a functional window frame. It is pierced in all four corners with two holes set side by side. There is no indication of any wear in these holes, and it is clear that they were not used to hang the frame, but rather held a pair of dowels that fixed the object to a wooden frame. Although there are many representations from earlier periods of wooden windows with six narrow panes like this (Day 1999, 187), none has ever been found in terracotta. The decoration is in keeping with that found on the larger decorated vessels of LM IIIC at Vronda and elsewhere. This heavy, decorated, impractical object probably made a symbolic statement about the building on or in which it hung; it may have stood on the exterior wall of Room B7 as a symbol of authority of the inhabitants of the building, or it may have hung on the interior and made a similar symbolic statement for those who were visiting within. Whether the symbolism related to political authority, religious significance, or social position cannot be known. The only other objects found in the deposit with the window frame were two stone tools. One (B8 ST2) was a pounder, the other (B8 ST1) a slab of unknown function.

bone fragments (Table 9). Identifiable specimens from this room included three rabbit or hare (Lepus/ Oryctolagus) foot bones, a single domestic dog femur fragment, and 23 sheep or goat bones representing both butchering and food debris. Two of these elements, a proximal metatarsal and distal humerus, bore cut marks indicative of butchering and carcass reduction. There were some shells (Table 10).

Roofing Material down to Floor POTTERY Fine Dark-on-Light Wares B8 P1 (V 1851.2; Fig. 41). Cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 6 cm. Fine, soft, very pale brown (10YR 8/4) fabric, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) core. Red (10R 4/6) paint inside and out. MM? B8 P2 (V 1362.1; Fig. 41). Deep bowl or cup. Single fragment preserving entire base; missing rim, handle(s). D. base 4.2 cm. Fine, rather porous, light red (2.5YR 6/6) fabric, with carbonate inclusions. Pink (7.5YR 8/4) slip. Very worn surfaces; no surviving paint. LM IIIC. B8 P3 (V 1852.3; Fig. 41). Deep bowl or cup. Single fragment (3 sherds) preserving 25% of base and lower body. D. base est. 4 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 8/6) fabric. Very worn surfaces, possibly originally painted. Burning on one side. LM IIIC.

Medium-Coarse Ware B8 P4 (V 1357.1, V 1367.1; Fig. 41). Krater. Large fragment from rim and handle. 20% of rim and one handle preserved. D. rim est. 43 cm. Medium-coarse, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric, with gray core, phyllite and carbonate inclusions. Red (2.5YR 5/6) paint. Very worn surfaces. Interior monochrome. Exterior probably painted, but too worn to make out decoration. LM IIIC.

Cooking Wares B8 P5 (V 1366.2; Fig. 41). Cooking dish. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 49 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 5/6) fabric, with granodiorites, gold mica, and chaff voids. Burned black on exterior. LM IIIC? B8 P6 (V 1852.2; Fig. 41). Cooking dish. Single fragment (10 sherds) preserving full profile. H. 4; d. base est. 30 cm. Coarse, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6) fabric, with frequent granodiorite and gold mica inclusions. LM IIIC?

Faunal Remains

Coarse Decorated Wares

The majority of bone debris from Room B8 (173 of 201 specimens) consists of small, unidentifiable

B8 P7 (V92.45; V 1357.1, object 1; V 1300.1 Level 1, V 1300.3 Level 2, V 1300.4–7 Level 1, V 1300.8 Level

BUILDING A-B

3, V 1303.11 Level 4; Fig. 41). Fenestrated stand. Large fragment (13 sherds) preserving full profile; 3 nonjoining base fragments, 8 nonjoining rim fragments, and 9 body fragments. 60% of base preserved, with 5 lower fenestrations, 50% of rim preserved with 4 upper fenestrations. H. 35; d. rim (int.) 26.4; d. base 23 cm. Coarse, light red (2.5YR 6/6), Type X/XI fabric. Very pale brown (10YR 8/3) slip. Black to dark red (2.5YR 3/6) paint. Added clay on interior of rim. Incised lines around middle. Ridge below rim. Two levels of fenestrations, with alternating openings. Bottom row: pendant triangle filled with horizontal strokes, multiple outline; spiral design. Upper row: tree or plant motif. LM IIIC, late. B8 P8 (V92.53; V 1852.2, object 1; Fig. 42). Amphora. Large fragment from rim and neck. 95% of rim, neck and both handles preserved; missing lower body and base. Max. pres. h. 15.5; d. rim 12.6 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6), Type X/XI fabric, with both gray and red phyllites. Very pale brown (10YR 8/4) slip. Worn surfaces; no trace of paint. LM IIIC. Comparanda: Sackett, Popham, and Warren 1965, 296, fig. 16:P25 (Kastri); Tsipopoulou 2004, fig. 8:4 no. 96-358 (Chalasmenos). B8 P9 (V 1362.1; Fig. 42). Jar. Single fragment from body. Max. pres. h. 3 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow to yellowish-red (5YR 6/6–4/6), Type IV fabric. Burned on interior. Raised band with incised chevron. Groove on top where attached to rim or another section of pot. LM IIIC?

59

nonjoining fragments. Max. pres. h. 25; d. base est. 20 cm. Coarse, very pale brown (10YR 7/4–8/4) fabric, with large red and gray phyllite inclusions. Pale yellow (2.5Y 8/2) slip. Very worn surfaces; possible traces of black band at bottom. LM IIIC.

TERRACOTTA OBJECT B8 TC1 (V92.54, V84.49a, b, V87.11; Room B7 Level 2; V 1300.8 Level 3; V 1361.1, objects 3, 4, 5, 7; V 1361.3, object 8; V 1361.4, object 9; V 1361.5, objects 10, 11; V 1357.2; V 1365.1; V 1402.2; V 1800; V 1852.1; Fig. 43; Pl. 12A). Window frame. Mended from 36 fragments; 5 nonjoining chips. 65% preserved. H. 72–73; w. 78–79; th. 2.3–3.0 cm; wt. (with plaster) 18 kg. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6), Type X/XI fabric with light gray (5Y 7/1) core, well-sorted inclusions. Top and sides covered with pink to very pale brown (7.5YR 8/4–10YR 8/3) slip, including inside holes. Paint color varies from red (2.5YR 4/6) to reddish brown (5YR 4/4) to reddish black. Very worn surfaces. Bottom surface rough, as if formed on ground. Six fenestrations with central mullion. Window openings measure 8.4–9.0 cm in height, 17–18 cm in length. Two pairs of holes in each of the 2 preserved corners; half of a hole from near one of corners shows that it was originally pierced in all 4 corners. Running spirals with filled triangles around edges. The central mullion has a panel of cross hatching. Horizontal mullions have filled curvilinear motifs, but the exact pattern is unclear. LM IIIC, late. Day 1999.

Coarse Plain Wares B8 P10 (V 1361.2, V 1361.1, V 1362.2; Fig. 42). Jar. Large fragment from rim (6 sherds); 4 nonjoining fragments. Max. pres. h. 14.2; d. rim est. 38 cm. Coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6), Type X/XI fabric, with red phyllites. Very pale brown (10YR 8/2) slip. Worn surfaces. Some burning on fragments. LM IIIC. B8 P11 (V 1361.1, object 2; V 1361.1, V 1361.3, V 1361.4, V 1361.5, V 1362.1, V 1365.2; Fig. 42). Closed vessel: jug, jar, or amphora. Large fragment (22 sherds) preserving 50% of base and 35% of lower body; 30

STONE TOOLS B8 ST1 (V92.23; V 1361.1, object 1). Slab, triangularrounded, intact. L. 23.0; w. 18.0; th. 6.0 cm; wt. 3,600 g. Crystalline limestone, gray. One pecked depression on surface; pecked upper surface. Unknown object, function? B8 ST 2 (V92.39; V 1800.1, object 1). Hand tool. Cobble, oval, complete. L. 9.8; w. 7.3; th. 4.4 cm; wt. 475 g. Crystalline limestone, gray. Pecked 2 ends. Type 1.

History and Function of Building A-B Architectural History The eastern side of the summit of the Vronda ridge was in use at least from the MM II period onward, first with the construction of Building P, then with Neopalatial constructions of which only the pit west of Building A and material from Building B, Room B6 survive; there may have been

some use of these earlier walls in the later LM IIIC buildings. The combination of natural erosion with human adaptations on the ridge have contributed to the poor preservation of this building, and the excavations of Boyd make it difficult now to determine the architectural phases of Building A-B. There can be little doubt, however, that the two buildings are

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part of the same complex. First of all, they share the same orientation, one that is different from the other buildings on the summit; while Building C-D is close in orientation, it is not quite the same, and Building J-K is completely different. Furthermore, the East Terrace Wall connects the two buildings: it is aligned with them, seems to run only to the limits of the two buildings, and while clearly meant to increase the available space for the area east of A1, it also incorporates into itself the eastern wall of B3. Unfortunately, the association of the two buildings cannot be proved from the remaining walls. Only one corner of Building A is preserved, where it links with Building B, and it has been much disturbed. Building P existed on the eastern side of the summit in the MM II period (Phase 1; Fig. 44); Wall E/I may have been built at the same time, but the slightly different orientation suggests a later date (Phase 2), possibly in the MM III–LM IA period. Of the LM IIIC constructions, the original unit may only have been Building A. There are two possible scenarios for the phasing of construction of the two buildings and the East Terrace Wall. Building A may have used the existing eastern wall of Building P as a terrace wall to support it until the desire for more space necessitated the construction of the East Terrace Wall and Building B (Phase 3A). On the other hand, the East Terrace Wall may have been built at the same time as Buildings A and B (Phase 3B). On balance, the latter seems the more likely, as the amount of MM II material in the rubble fill behind the East Terrace Wall suggests that the construction of this wall involved the dismantlement of the earlier Building P; some of the datable pottery from the East Terrace fill is of early LM IIIC date (e.g., AE P18). Building B is also complicated in terms of architectural phasing. Rooms B1/2 and B3 were apparently constructed together, at the same time as the building of the East Terrace Wall (Phase 3B). The northern wall (Wall F) of Rooms B1/2 and B3 has no good outside face, so it must have been constructed against the fill that had been put into the area between A1 and the East Terrace Wall. Walls I and E also were built together, and they may already have been in place from an earlier structure when the B1/2–B3 walls were constructed, since the walls of B4 abut against them. Walls G and H may also have been reused from earlier structures to judge from the earlier deposits associated with them in the area

labeled Room B6. The pot stands along the western side of Wall H belong to the MM II period, based on the base of a pot that was still in one of them (B6 P20), but the pot in its stand may have been reused in the Neopalatial phase when all the conical cups were deposited along Wall G. Thus we may have walls that were part of constructions in MM II, MM III–LM IA, and LM IIIC. B4 may have been part of the original LM IIIC building program; Wall K was actually put in after the construction of Walls H and G, but if these belonged to a previous structure on the site from the Neopalatial era, Room B4 could have been built at the same time as B1/2–B3. The division into Rooms B1/2 and B3 occurred later, as the cross wall between Rooms B1/2 and B3 (Wall D) is not bonded into the north and south walls of these rooms, and it may have been a later addition (Phase 4). Similarly, the south and east walls of B7 (Walls V 1353 and V 1352, which are bonded together) abut against Wall C and suggest that Room B7 was a later addition (Phase 4). The platform in the corner of the east terrace area postdates the building both of Wall V 2805 and Wall K. In other building complexes on the site, any additional construction seems to be domestic, each structure apparently a new house for members of an expanding family. With Building A-B, however, there is no indication of this pattern; the additions are not new buildings that replicate the domestic features of the house before them, but rather seem to involve new functions or increased storage space. Buildings A and B seem to be two wings of the same structure, rather than independent buildings in a larger building complex. The observations about the phases of Building A-B give us the following sequence (Fig. 44): 1. The construction of Building P. 2. The construction of Walls I and E and possibly Walls H and G. This building could have occurred in an earlier period, either MM II or LM I. Walls H and G may have been used in both the previous periods. 3A. The construction of Building A, Rooms A1 and A2. If this event predates the building of the East Terrace Wall, then one must suppose that the eastern wall of Building P was still standing and served as a terrace wall for Building A.

BUILDING A-B

3B. The construction of the East Terrace Wall and B1/2–B3, which at first formed a single room. This may have occurred at the same time as the construction of Building A, or it may have been later, perhaps only slightly so. B4 may also have been built at the same time, or it may have been added later. At the time of the construction of the East Terrace Wall and the filling in of the area between it and Building A, fragments of early LM IIIC pottery were dropped in among the rubble and pottery of MM II date. 4. Room B7 was added on, and B1/2 and B3 was divided into two rooms. These may have been two separate events or occurred in a single phase. The result of these two additions or modifications was to create additional storage rooms. 5. Room B4 was filled in along with the lower part of B7, either deliberately or resulting from an accident that caused the roof to collapse. If it represents a deliberate fill, this deposit may in some way be related to the behavior seen at LM IIIC Chamalevri (Andreadaki-Vlasaki and Papadopoulou 2007) and Sybrita/Thronos (D’Agata 2002) of burying material in ritual pits on the site. This filling occurred some time early in the LM IIIC period, although not in its earliest phases. The material can be connected with the latest phases at Chania, Chamalevri I–II, Kastri, and Phase II on the Kastro, which are usually dated early LM IIIC (D’Agata 2007, 101, table 3). B7 continued in use as a storage room, while B4 did not, although there may have continued to be a room at a higher level above the area. It might have served as a ramp for access to the upper floors of B1/2, B3, and B7.

Function Despite its poor condition, Building A-B stands out on the Vronda site as an extraordinary structure with unusual contents throughout the history of the LM IIIC settlement. No other structure in the settlement is of the same size or importance. First of all, it is the largest single building (as opposed to a complex) on the site (122.25 m2 of roofed space), and A1 is the largest single room in the settlement. The walls of Building A are of higher quality construction than those in any of the other buildings, employing more roughly dressed and larger limestone blocks in its construction, using a technique

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that resembles later header and stretcher construction. The walls of Building B, where they are well preserved are not as elegantly built, but they are much better than the walls in most of the other buildings on the site. The East Terrace Wall, which is part of the building program for A-B is of monumental construction, employing almost Cyclopean blocks in its building. More time and energy have been expended on the construction of Building A-B than on any other structure on the site. The architectural refinements, then, make the building stand out from the rest of the houses at Vronda. The building is unusual in having some rooms that were used for a specialized function: storage. Most of the rooms of Building B cannot have been used for anything else. First of all, in their final form, B1/2 and B3 have the long, narrow architectural form that on Crete in earlier periods is associated with storage, as in the magazines of the palaces. Second, Rooms B1/2, B3, and B7 were found with their pithoi still in situ, and these pithoi are substantially larger than any others found at Vronda, with a greater capacity for storage. Since they were made from one of the phyllite fabrics (Type X/XI) that are typical of Vronda in the LM IIIC period and may have been locally produced in the kiln on the site, one cannot easily argue that these larger pithoi were reused from earlier periods. Finally, none of the rooms has any doorways. In other buildings on the site, where only the foundations still stand, the absence of doorways can be accounted for by suggesting that they were at a higher level and are now gone; the walls of Building B, however, are so well preserved that if there had been doorways, some trace of them must still be visible. The logical conclusion is that these rooms did not have doorways, and that access to them was by ladders through trap doors from above. The upper floor level must have been at least as high above the basement floor as the pithoi were tall, which in B3 means over 1.6 m, and in B7 at least 1.8 m. The capacity for storage, both in specialized storerooms and in large pithoi, indicates control over a surplus of goods, so it is possible to interpret the building as either a community storage or redistribution center or the dwelling of an elite individual or group. Building A-B is also apparently unique on the site for having two stories, at least over part of the structure. While the two rooms of Building A and

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the open court to the south are at approximately the same level, Building B is not. Room B4 in its final phase may have been at approximately the same level, but Rooms B1/2, B3, and B7 must have had floors higher than those of Building A, since they contained large pithoi. Even if these storage vessels were accessible directly through the floor above, with their mouths at floor level, the floors of these rooms must have been at least a meter higher than those elsewhere in the building. Although no traces remain, a staircase or ramp must have existed to allow entrance to the upper floor of these rooms; possibly in the latest phases over the fill in Room B4. Standing on top of the ridge, rising two stories high, Building A-B must have dominated the village visually. The fact that the building shares common features with other houses on the site (especially the large room with a hearth that seems to be the defining feature of the local domestic architecture) but is much larger and more refined suggests that it may have been the dwelling of an elite individual, family, or other group. On the other hand, one cannot dismiss the idea that it was a community center for a more egalitarian group. It is possible that we can see at Vronda the beginnings of the later andreion, where male members of the settlement came together for dining and drinking. Such an interpretation is suggested for the megarons at nearby and contemporary Chalasmenos (Tsipopoulou 2005), and for a major building in the later settlement at Azoria Kavousi (Haggis et al. 2004, 379–382; Haggis et al. 2007, 253–265). At Vronda, however, there appear to be no separate and removed establishments for cooking, as there were at Chalasmenos and Azoria. The pottery also suggests that the function of Building A-B was not the same as that of the other structures at Vronda. The pottery shows continuity of function throughout the building’s use: drinking (cups, champagne cups, kylikes), eating (deep bowls), cooking (cooking dishes, cooking pots), serving (kraters, cooking trays), and, in the later phases at least, also storage. In the early deposits of B4 and B7, drinking is in cups and champagne cups, while kraters are used perhaps for mixing the drink or for serving food, while in the later LM IIIC period, drinking seems to involve large decorated kylikes. Eating and/or drinking is represented by the deep bowls in all phases. Cooking and serving seem to predominate in the earlier phases, while storage

becomes more important in the last phases of the settlement’s history. Apparently in both early and late phases of LM IIIC kalathoi were in use in Building B, and perhaps also the rhyton, if indeed the fragment from B4 does come from a rhyton similar to the well-preserved one in B3. The rhyton is a vessel used for pouring libations and is primarily ritual in function; no other certain examples are known on Vronda outside Building A-B. The kalathos can function both in domestic contexts and religious ones. At Vronda, kalathoi are found in most of the houses, as is also the case at Karphi (see Day, forthcoming), but there are large numbers of them in the Shrine (Building G), as in some of the ritual rooms at Karphi (especially in room K 58, which also produced snake tubes; see Day, forthcoming). The multiple examples of kalathoi in the rooms of Building B are unusual for the site and suggest that they served a different function from those occurring singularly in domestic establishments; perhaps some ritual, whether entirely religious or more civic, went on in Building A-B. It is not fair to imply, however, that the activities that went on in Building A-B were in any way connected with those that occurred in the religious Building G. The two buildings did not face one another across an open courtyard as Mazarakis Ainian (1997, 296) suggests; rather, Building A-B stood on top of the ridge along the east, visible from afar from all directions and with a commanding view of the entire area, while the Shrine was on the southwestern side of the hill, not visible from the summit because of the steep slope, and with a view toward the west and south to a gorge in the Thriphti Mountains. There may have been a connection between the two buildings, but there is no archaeological evidence to support this idea, and there is much to suggest that the ritual activities that occurred in Building A-B were very different from those that occurred in Building G. The cattle skull plaques and paired agrimi horn cores from the southern portion of Room B4 in early LM IIIC are not remains of a meal, ritual or otherwise, as suggested by Mazarakis Ainian (1997, 295–296), but they may have been involved in ritual activity. With the lower jaws removed, the skulls would have made excellent wall decoration, and representations of bull horns (for example, the horns of consecration) have a long-standing connection with ritual in the Aegean and especially on Crete. The skulls may have originated from sacrificed animals,

BUILDING A-B

but their presence in B4 seems to have been connected with ritual and/or decoration, rather than implying that such sacrifices took place within or in the environs of Building A-B. They may rather have made a symbolic statement about the house or its inhabitants and their position in the social, political, and religious fabric of the community. In the later part of LM IIIC, the window frame possibly served a similar kind of function. Certainly the window carried a symbolic rather than a practical function because of its size, decoration, and material. We have argued elsewhere that the presence of so many large vessels for drinking suggests that the

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consumption of drink, probably wine, was an important activity in the building (Day and Snyder 2004). The kylikes from B3, with their very large bowls and small feet, would seem to suggest competitive drinking contests, which may have been used to reinforce the power of an elite individual or group in the community. Building A-B, then, was an unusual structure that served an important community function as the locus for ritual drinking and possibly feasting and for large-scale storage. The evidence points to the interpretation that it was the dwelling of the leader of the settlement.

3

Building P Leslie Preston Day with contributions by Heidi Dierckx, David S. Reese, and Lynn M. Snyder

Building P (Fig. 45) was investigated in the cleaning of 1984 and during the excavations of 1992 in four trenches (V 2800, V 2900, V 3300, V 3400). Lying beneath the LM IIIC remains, this Middle Minoan structure occupied the area between the later eastern wall of A1 (Wall V 2805/V 3305) and the East Terrace Wall (V 2903). Only two walls of the building were preserved: a long east wall (V 2902) and a shorter south wall (V 2802) with a bin (V 2807) lying against it to the south. The area between Wall V 2902 and the east wall of A1 (V 2805) and bounded by Wall V 2802 on the south contained apparently undisturbed material from a MM II structure that has been labeled Building P; along Wall V 2805 there was some disturbance from the LM IIIC constructions.

Architecture Not much still remains of the architecture of Building P (Fig. 45). The east wall (V 2902) extended at least 6 m in length, but was irregular in construction and width (0.8–1.15 m). The faces are irregular, built of a few large bedrock boulders and many small stones. More than two courses are never preserved. Possibly these stones were only the foundation for a better wall, either of mudbrick or rubble masonry; in fact, many of the stones from the East Terrace fill may have come from this wall. The south wall (V 2802) is preserved to a length of only 1.8 m and although bonded into the east wall, it is not quite at right angles to it (Pl. 12B). Wall V 2802 is wide (1.1–1.35 m), perhaps to support a more massive south wall above. The single preserved

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course consists of breccia boulders that are larger than any of those found in the east wall, and this may be only the foundation for a smaller wall above. The small semicircular bin (V 2807; interior dimensions: 0.75 m N–S x 0.8 m E–W) was built up against this wall to the south, constructed of a single course of stones in a rough half circle (Pl. 12B). It is similar to those found in LM IIIC buildings at Vronda.

Stratigraphy Building P was constructed on the bedrock on the eastern edge of the Vronda ridge in the Middle Minoan period. Apparently the building collapsed or was destroyed in MM II, and all that remained was the stone foundations for the east wall and a small portion of the south wall, with its associated bin. Immediately on bedrock was a layer of hard red soil (V 2801 Level 3), and above this was softer red soil (V 2801 Level 2, V 2851, V 2856, V 3301 Levels 3 and 4, V 3401) between Wall V 2902 and the eastern wall (V 2805) of Building A (Fig. 46). This softer red soil may have served as the packing for the floor of Building P or may have come from decomposed mudbrick from the walls. The area around (V 2803 Level 2) and over (V2803 Level 1) the bin consisted of mixed rubble and red soil. Above the red soil and over the walls in some areas was rubble (V 2852, V 2853, V 2854, V 2855), associated with the construction of the East Terrace Wall and the filling of the area for Building A-B; this rubble contained a mixture of MM II and LM IIIC pottery. A thin layer of surface soil lay on top of the rubble or the red soil. When work began in 1983, it is likely that the surface was that which was left after Boyd’s excavations, although there may never have been much deposition or preservation. Since the rubble layer and the surface soil are directly related to the history of Building A-B, the material from them has been included in the discussion of that building.

Pottery A total of 1,985 fragments weighing 17.5 kg were removed from the red soil and the mixed red soil and rubble from Building P (Chart 23). Since the excavations of the balk (V 2850–V 2857) and of V 3401 were done by a single individual sieving all of

the soil, a greater percentage of the pottery was recovered, often in very tiny pieces. The pottery found within the red soil of the undisturbed corner of Building P (Chart 24) was nearly all MM II and earlier, and contained little LM IIIC pottery except for a few intrusions along the east wall of Building A (V 2805), where the builders cut into the red layer; a pithos and a tripod cooking pot leg (P P56) of LM IIIC date were found in the uppermost pass over this soil. The pottery consisted of plentiful but very small fragments, with a high proportion of fine ware and little pithos ware; the size and nature of the deposit suggests that it does not represent habitation or destruction debris, but is consistent with the idea that the red soil was decomposed mudbrick or roofing or that the pottery was in the soil brought in to fill up the area. The pottery is consistently MM II, although there is not a great deal of closely diagnostic material (Figs. 47–50). The fragments from the lowest level on bedrock included some monochrome or light-on-dark cups (P P1, P P3, P P4), at least one of them carinated (P P2). Similar cups occur in the softer red soil (P P15, P P16, P P17, P P26, P P31, P P32, P P33), including ribbed (P P27, P P28) and carinated (P P29, P P30) varieties and straight-sided cups (P P21, P P22), all of which are common in MM II deposits at Phaistos (Levi and Carinci 1988, pls. 86–90), Malia (Poursat and Knappett 2005, pl. 50), and Knossos (MacGillivray 1998, pls. 3–4). The deposit also includes a spout from a bridge-spouted jar (P P34), possibly the same vessel found in the East Terrace fill (AE P60). Coarse wares include the base of a buffburnished, baggy bowl (P P70), many conical (P P72, P P73, P P75, P P81) or straight-sided cups, a shallow bowl or saucer (P P77), a jar (P P69), and a brazier or fruitstand (P P79). Another brazier or fruitstand with reed impressions (AE P54) was found alongside Wall 2805. Both of these are similar to examples from Quartier Mu at Malia (Poursat and Knappett 2005, pl. 53:1155). Cooking ware included a large number of plates (P P48, P P49), dishes (P P50, P P51), and tripod legs of flat or elliptical shape (P P56–P P66), usually in Type II/VI fabric. One leg (P P57) had a vertical pinched band on it similar to examples from Kommos of MM IA–IIB (Betancourt 1990, figs. 16:165; 20:303).

BUILDING P

Objects The sealing (P TC1; Fig 50; Pl. 12C), a pyramidal nodulus, probably came from the red soil layer, but under Wall V 2805; its exact find spot is uncertain. It also appears to be MM II in date, as most of the parallels for the motif are dated to that period (Day, Coulson, and Gesell 1986, 364 n. 19). The sides still show the fingerprints of the manufacturer (Pl. 12C). The nodulus suggests some official position for Vronda in MM II. The siting of Vronda, overlooking the mountain passes from the Ierapetra Isthmus toward the east, suggests that it may also have been part of a network of rural farmsteads, villas, or forts, like other mountain sites in the area (e.g., Chamaizi; see Tzedakis et al. 1990; MacGillivray 1997, 22–23). Other objects found in the red soil included a number of pebbles (V84.54, V84.55).

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and carcass dismemberment consistent with food preparation rather than simple pelt removal. Whether these two bones represent food debris, the remains of animals hunted for their pelts, or merely random debris not associated with the village occupation is not clear. A single domestic dog (Canis familiaris) element, a first phalange (toe bone) found near the modern surface is also of uncertain origin but may be modern or associated with other canid materials found elsewhere at Vronda and apparently associated with the 17th-century building and activities at the site. The red soil also produced several shells (Table 12), including three murex shells (Hexaplex trunculus) and a triton shell (Charonia), in addition to a limpet (Patella) and dog cockle (Glycymeris) from in and around the bin. The rubble above produced another murex and a cockle (Cerastoderma) shell (V84.45).

Faunal Remains One hundred and fifty-eight bone fragments were recovered from the area of Building P (Table 11). Although bone surfaces were generally well preserved in this area, the majority of the assemblage (nearly 80%) from this building was small fragments that could not be attributed to a particular animal species, or skeletal element. A range of the most common domestic animals, similar to that in other areas of Vronda, is represented by somewhat larger and more complete specimens that could be identified. These include domestic dog, pig, sheep, and goat. The majority of identifiable specimens were recovered from the mixed level of rubble fill and red soil. These included one domestic pig (Sus scrofa) tooth fragment, one domestic cow (Bos sp.) femur diaphyis fragment, and a number of sheep (Ovis aries) or goat (Capra hircus) isolated teeth and fragments of limb bones (15 specimens), indicating a mix of butchering and food debris. Two mustelid elements, a right proximal ulna segment that appears to be from a badger (Meles meles), and a left distal tibia fragment that appears to have come from a smaller mustelid, perhaps a marten (Martes), were recovered from this deposit. These element fragments did not display cut marks or burning, and their origins are uncertain. A number of badger elements have been found at the nearby Kastro site, many of which bear cut marks indicating butchering

Hard Red Soil over Bedrock POTTERY Fine Light-on-Dark or Monochrome Wares P P1 (V 2801.14 and 17 Level 3; Fig. 47). Cup. Single small fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 2.6 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Black paint. Ribbed, possibly carinated cup. MM II. P P2 (V 2801.14 and 17 Level 3; Fig. 47). Carinated cup. Single fragment (2 sherds) from base, preserving profile from base to carination. D. base est. 4 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Black to red (10R 4/6) paint. Worn surfaces. MM II. P P3 (V 2801.14 and 17 Level 3; Fig. 47). Cup. Single small fragment from base. D. base est. 6 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Black paint worn to brown shadow. Reserved disk on underside of base. MM.

Fine Plain Wares P P4 (V 2801.14 and 17 Level 3; Fig. 47). Cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 10 cm. Fine, soft, very pale brown (10YR 8/3) fabric. Worn surfaces. MM. P P5 (V 2801.14 and 17 Level 3; Fig. 47). Straightsided cup. Single fragment (3 sherds) from base. D. base 5 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric, with tiny red phyllite inclusions. MM. P P6 (V 2801.14 and 17 Level 3; Fig. 47). Straightsided cup? Single tiny fragment from base. D. base est. 7 cm. Fine, soft, pink (7.5YR 8/3) fabric. MM?

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Medium-Coarse Painted Ware P P7 (V 2801.14 and 17 Level 3; Fig. 47). Jar or jug. Single small fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 3.2 cm. Medium-coarse, pink (10YR 8/3) fabric, with biotite inclusions. Red paint. MM.

P P17 (V 2856.4; Fig. 48). Cup. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 2.1 cm. Fine, rather hard, reddishyellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Black paint. Possibly carinated cup. MM II.

Medium-Coarse Plain Wares

P P18 (V 2856.2; Fig. 48). Globular cup. Single fragment (3 sherds) from rim. D. rim est. 17 cm. Fine, soft, very pale brown (10YR 8/3) fabric. Black paint. Very worn surfaces. MM?

P P8 (V 2801.14 and 17 Level 3; Fig. 47). Small jug. Single fragment preserving entire base. D. base 2.8 cm. Medium-coarse, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6), Type IV fabric, gray at core. MM.

P P19 (V 2801.13 Level 2; Fig. 48). Conical cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 10 cm. Fine, soft reddish-yellow (7.5YR 8/6) fabric. Very worn surfaces. MM?

P P9 (V 2801.14 and 17 Level 3; Fig. 47). Jar. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 13 cm. Fine to mediumcoarse, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric, with some small dark inclusions. MM or EM.

P P20 (V 2801.13 Level 2; Fig. 48). Conical cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 8 cm. Fine, reddishyellow (7.5YR 8/6) fabric. Black paint on interior. Exterior surfaces worn. MM?

Cooking Wares

P P21 (V 2851.1; Fig. 48). Cup. Single fragment (2 sherds) preserving entire base. D. base 6 cm. Fine, soft, light red (2.5YR 6/6) fabric. Black paint. MM.

P P10 (V 2801.14 and 17 Level 3; Fig. 47). Cooking pot. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 14–15 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 4/6), Type II/VI fabric. MM. P P11 (V 2801.14 and 17 Level 3; Fig. 47). Cooking pot. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 20 cm. Coarse, Type II/VI fabric, burned totally black. MM.

P P22 (V 2801.6, V 2801.10, V 2801.11 Level 2; Fig. 48). Cylindrical cup. Single small fragment from base. D. base est. 7.5 cm. Fine, soft, pink (7.5YR 8/4) clay. Black paint. Surfaces worn. Possibly beveled base. MM II.

P P12 (V 2801.14 and 17 Level 3; Fig. 47). Cooking pot. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 21 cm. Coarse, yellowish-red (5YR 5/6), Type II/VI fabric. MM.

P P23 (V 2856.4; Fig. 48). Bowl. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 2 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Black paint worn to brown shadow. MM?

Red Soil

P P24 (V 2801.6, V 2801.10, V 2801.11 Level 2; Fig. 48). Jug? Single fragment preserving 25% of base. D. base 6 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Worn surfaces. Possibly painted on exterior. MM?

POTTERY Fine Dark-on-Light Ware P P13 (V 2801.13 Level 2; Fig. 48). Bowl? Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 14–15 cm. Fine, reddishyellow (5YR 7/6), Type III fabric. Red (2.5YR 3/2) paint. Wiped on interior. MM.

P P25 (V 2801.6, V 2801.10, V 2801.11 Level 2; Fig. 48). Bridge-spouted jug? Single fragment from rim of spout. Max. pres. h. 3.6 cm. Fine, soft, light gray (10YR 7/2) fabric. Crackled black paint. Very worn surfaces. Either spout rim or from rim of oinochoe with trefoil mouth. MM.

Fine Painted Wares

Fine Monochrome or Light-on-Dark Wares

P P14 (V 2856.4; Fig. 48). Cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 9 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Red (2.5YR 5/8) paint. Worn surfaces. MM.

P P26 (V 2856.1; Fig. 48). Cup. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 2.3 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Black paint. Carinated cup? MM II.

P P15 (V 2856.1; Fig. 48). Cup. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 2.8 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Red paint. Worn surfaces. Carinated cup? MM II.

P P27 (V 2801.6, V 2801.10, V 2801.11 Level 2; Fig. 48). Cup. Single body fragment. Max pres. h. 2.4 cm. Fine, slightly harder, light red (2.5YR 6/6) fabric. Black paint. Ribbed, monochrome carinated cup. MM II.

P P16 (V 2856.4; Fig. 48). Cup. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 1.5 cm. Fine, soft, very pale brown (10YR 8/4) fabric. Black paint. Worn surfaces. MM II.

P P28 (V 2856.2; Fig. 48). Carinated cup. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 2.6 cm. Fine, soft, reddishyellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric. Black paint. Surfaces worn. Ribbed, monochrome carinated cup. MM II.

BUILDING P

P P29 (V 2856.4; Fig. 48). Carinated cup. Single fragment from near rim to carination. Max. pres. h. 2.2 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Black to red (2.5YR 4/8) paint. MM II. P P30 (V 2856.1; Fig. 48). Carinated cup. Single fragment from body. Max. pres. h. 2.7 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Black paint. Very worn surfaces. MM II. P P31 (V 2856.1; Fig. 48). Carinated cup. Single fragment preserving 75% of base. D. base 3.5 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Dark reddishbrown (5YR 3/2) paint. MM II. P P32 (V 2801.13 Level 2; Fig. 48). Carinated cup. Single fragment from base, preserving 50% of base and profile up to carination. D. base 4 cm. Fine, soft, reddishyellow (7.5YR 8/6) clay. Black to dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) paint. MM II. P P33 (V 2856.1; Fig. 48). Cup. Single fragment from base. Max. pres. h. 2.2 cm. Fine, soft, pink (7.5YR 8/4) clay. Dark reddish-brown to yellowish-red (5YR 3/2–4/6) paint. Worn surfaces. MM II? P P34 (V 2856.2; Fig. 48). Bridge-spouted jug. Single fragment preserving 50% of spout. Possibly the same vessel as AE P60. Max. pres. h. 4.6 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/6) fabric. Crackled black paint. Worn surfaces. MM II.

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Medium-Coarse Dark-on-Light Ware P P40 (V 2856.4; Fig. 49). Conical cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 11 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6), Type III fabric. Red paint. Worn surfaces. MM.

Medium-Coarse Painted Wares P P41 (V 2801.6, V 2801.10, V 2801.11 Level 2; Fig. 49). Cup. Single fragment from rim. Max. pres. h. 3.2 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 7/8) fabric. Black paint. MM? P P42 (V 2801.6, V 2801.10, V 2801.11 Level 2; Fig. 49). Cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 8–9 cm. Medium-coarse, yellowish-red (5YR 5/8), Type IV fabric. Black paint on exterior. Very worn surfaces. MM?

Medium-Coarse Plain Wares P P43 (V 2801.6, V 2801.10, V 2801.11 Level 2; Fig. 49). Conical cup. Single fragment preserving 25% of base and lower body. D. base 4 cm. Medium-coarse, reddish-yellow (5YR 6/6) fabric, with tiny hard white inclusions. MM. P P44 (V 2801.6, V 2810.10, V 2801.11 Level 2; Fig. 49). Straight-sided cup. Single fragment preserving 20% of base. D. base 7 cm. Medium-coarse, red (2.5YR 4/8), Type IV fabric. Sampled PMD 93/43. MM.

P P35 (V2801.13 Level 2; Fig. 48). Jug. Single fragment preserving 25% of base. D. base est. 5.5 cm. Fine, soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 8/6) fabric. Black paint. Very worn surfaces. MM.

P P45 (V 2856.1; Fig. 49). Bowl. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 15 cm. Medium-coarse, reddishyellow (5YR 6/6) fabric. Pink (7.5YR 8/4) slip. MM?

Fine Plain Wares

Cooking Wares

P P36 (V 3401.3; Fig. 48). Cup. Single fragment (two sherds) from rim. Max. pres. h. 3 cm. Fine, light red (10R 6/6) fabric (like Type IV but without inclusions). Mottled red and black surfaces. MM.

P P46 (V 2856.1; Fig. 49). Cooking dish. Single fragment from rim. Max pres. h. 2.1 cm. Coarse, reddishbrown (5YR 5/4), Type II/VI fabric, totally burned inside. MM.

P P37 (V 2856.4; Fig. 48). Cup. Single fragment from rim. D. rim est. 9–10 cm. Fine, soft, very pale brown (10YR 8/3) fabric. Worn surfaces. Possibly carinated cup. MM II.

P P47 (V 2851.1; Fig. 49). Cooking plate or brazier. Single fragment (2 sherds) from rim and base. H. 1.4; d. rim est. 30 cm. Coarse, yellowish-red (5YR 4/6), Type II/VI fabric. MM.

P P38 (V 2856.4; Fig. 48). Straight-sided cup. Single fragment from base. D. base est. 4.4 cm. Fine, very soft, reddish-yellow (7.5YR 7/6) fabric, with some red phyllites. MM.

P P48 (V 2801.6, V 2801.10, V 2801.11 Level 2; Fig. 49). Cooking plate. Single fragment from rim. H. 1.1 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 4/8), Type II/VI fabric. Sampled PMD 98/1. MM.

P P39 (V 2856.2; Fig. 48). Jug. Single fragment preserving 25% of base. D. base est. 4 cm. Fine, soft, pink (5YR 8/4) fabric, with some small phyllites and one granodiorite inclusion. MM II.

P P49 (V 2801.6, V 2801.10, V 2801.11 Level 2; Fig. 49). Cooking plate. Single fragment from rim and base. H. 0.7 cm. Coarse, red (2.5YR 4/6), Type II/VI fabric. MM?

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KAVOUSI IIA

P P50 (V 2801.6, V 2801.10, V 2801.11 Level 2; Fig. 49). Cooking dish. Single tiny fragment from rim to near base. Max. pres. h. 3.5 cm. Coarse, dark red (2.5YR 3/6), Type II/VI fabric. MM?

P P63 (V 2801.6, V 2801.10, V 2801.11 Level 2; Fig. 50). Tripod. Single fragment from tip of leg. Max. pres. h. 3.6 cm. Coarse, light red (2.5YR 6/6), Type IV fabric. MM.

P P51 (V 2851.1; Fig. 49). Cooking dish. Single fragment (6 sherds) from rim to near base. D. rim est.