The Protogeometric Aegean: The Archaeology of the Late Eleventh and Tenth Centuries BC 0199253447, 9780199253449

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OXFORD MO

OGRAPHS ON CLASS I CAL ARCHAEOLOGY

THE PROTOGEOMETRIC AEGEAN

T he series includes self-contained interpretative studies of the art and archaeology of the ancient Mediterranean world . Authoritative volumes cover subjects from the Bronze Age to late antiquity, with concentration on the central periods, areas, and material categories of the classical Greek and Roman world.

The Archaeology of the Late Eleventh and Tenth Centuries BC Irene S. Lemos

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

./

OXFORD UNIVllRSITY PRESS

Great Clarendon Street, Oxford ox2 6DP Oxford Un iversity Press is a department of the U niversity of Oxford. It furthers the U niversity's objective of excellen ce in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in Oxford New York Auck land Bangkok Buenos Aires Cape Town Chennai Dares Salaam Delhi Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi Kolkata K uala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City M umbai airobi Sao Paulo Shanghai Taipei Tokyo Toronto Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford Un iversity Press in the UK and certain other countries Published in the United States by Oxford Un iversity Press Inc., ew York © Irene S. Lemos 2002 T he moral rights of the author have been asserted Database right Oxford University Press (maker) First published 2002 Un dertaken with the assistance of the Institute for Aegean Prehistory. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of O xford University Press, or as ex pressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organizations. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above You must not circulate this book in any other binding or cover and yo u must impose the same condition on any acquirer British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Data available Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Data applied for ISB I

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This book is partly based on my D.Phil. thesis written in Oxford under the supervision of the late Mervyn Popham. Since then I have done more field research and added much material. Mervyn read a number of chapters and his criticism always provided the stimulus and the challenge to make my methodology and argument convincing and intelligible. Sadly, I will never know his final verdict. My field research on the period never stopped over the years of writing the book and it is still in progress. At an early stage of my research, I benefited from a postdoctoral grant from the Institute of Aegean Prehistory, New York, and from a Katharine and Leonard Woolley Fellowship at Somerville College, Oxford. The writing of the book started in earnest at St Peter's College, Oxford, where I spent almost two years as a Research Fellow before my appointment to a lectureship at Edinburgh University. The final completion was made possible by an Alexander vo n Humboldt Fellowship which I held in Heidelberg. A number of colleagues have seen parts of the book and discussed, advised, or helped me avoid mistakes. I particularly thank Nicolas Coldstream for more than meticulous and constructive criticism over the years since he was my D.Phil. examiner. Sir John Boardman has always been supportive and encouraging. These two and Jim Coulton and Bert Smith all contributed a great deal to the final revisions of the text. Earlier drafts have been read and discussed by Christiana Sourvinou-Inwood, Jane Waldbaum, and Robert Parker. And, since our student years, Alkestis Papadimitriou has shared with me her knowledge of the period with great generosity. My colleagues in Edinburgh, particularly David and Francesca Ridgway, Robin Barber, John Richardson, and Keith Rutter, offered much encouragement. In difficult times my near family members and my extended oikos helped me financially and morally. I particularly thank Mrs Maro Hadjipateras-Lyras, and Melpo and Michalis C. Lemos. I would like to thank the Jowett Copyright Trustees for generous grants towards the costs of the production of the book. My parents, Stavros and Ioanna; and my brother, Theodore, supported me from the very beginning. My husband James Forder ensured that I finished it; without him this period might have remained darker. I dedicate the book to them. I would like to thank the following institutions and scholars, who have allowed me to reproduce material (see also List of Plates): the Greek Archaeological Service for permission to illustrate published material from Athens, Volos, Kos, Argos, Marmariani; the Archaeological Society of Athens for permission to illustrate material from Naxos; the Deutsches Archaologisches Institut, Athens for permission to illustrate the reconstructions of the tomb groups from the Kerameikos and published material from Attica and Tiryns; the American School of Classical Studies, Agora Excavations, for permission to illustrate vases from their excavations; P. Calligas and E. Zervoudaki for permission to

VI

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

study material at the National Museum, Athens; the Managing Committee of the British School at Athens for permission to illustrate published material from Lefkandi; the Swedish Institute at Athens for permission to illustrate published material from Asine; the Ecole Frarn;aise d'Athenes for permission to illustrate material from Delphi and Argos; Dr H. Pflug, Archiiologisches Institut, Heidelberg; Dr Dyfri Williams, the British Museum; Dr Jane Biers, Museum of Art and Archaeology, University of Missouri Columbia; Dr F W. Hamdorf; Staatliche Antikensammlungen und Glyptothek, Munich; D. Goulandris, Museum of Cycladic Art, Athens; R. Andreadis for permission to include in my study her collection of vases; Dr I. Kilian-Dirlmeier for permission to reproduce drawings from her books; E. Catling for drawings she made for Lejkandi ii; P. Arachoviti for the reproduction of the drawing of the Chloe tholos tomb; and Dr Gordon Thomas for drawing the maps and the figures. The following colleagues generously allowed me to study and discuss published or unpublished material from their excavations: the late Prof. E. Smithson (the Agora); C.-G. Styrenius (Athens); A. Mazarakis-Ainian (Oropos); Dr A. Andreiomenou (Chalcis and Thebes); Dr C. Morgan (Isthmia); Ch. Kritzas (Argos); A. Papadimitriou; K. Kilian (Tiryns); Dr B. Wells (Asine); S. Raftopoulou (Sparta); Dr B. Eder (Elis and Olympia); Prof. N. Kourou (Naxos); Dr D. Bosnakis (Kos); J. Papachristodoulou (Rhodes); Prof. E. Akurgal (Old Smyrna); Dr F Dakoronia (Atalanti, Lamia, and Elateia); Prof. S. Deger-Jalkotzy (Elateia); V. Adrimi and A. Batziou-Efstathiou (Volos); A. Tziafalias (Larissa); the late Prof. M. Andronikos (Vergina); the late Dr I. Vokotopoulou (Chalcidike); Prof. M. Tiverios (Chalcidike); Dr J. K. Papadopoulos (Torone); Drs K. and D. Wardle (Assiros); and Prof. V. Karageorghis (Cyprus). I.S.L.

CONTENTS List of Figures List of Maps List of Plates Abbreviations

Introduction I.

Relative and Absolute Chronology I. I

I.2

r.3 r.4 r.5 r.6 r.7 2.

Previous Studies The Sub-Mycenaean Phase Methods and Aims of the Present Study Early Protogeometric Middle Protogeometric Late Protogeometric Absolute Chronology

The Pottery 2.I

Introduction

A. Wheelmade Wares 2.2 The One-Handled Cup 2.3 The Skyphos 2.4 The Crater-Bowl 2.5 The Crater 2.6 The Shallow Bowl 2.7 The Kantharos 2.8 The Thessalian/Macedonian Kantharos 2.9 The Kalathas 2.IO The Amphora 2. I I The Amphoriskos 2.12 TheHydria 2.13 The Trefoil Oinochoe 2.14 The Lekythos 2.15 The Jug 2.16 The Tall Jug with a Flat Base 2.17 The Jug with a Cutaway Neck 2.18 The Globular Pyxis 2.19 The Pyxis with High Handles 2.20 The Flask

X Xl Xll XVlll

I

3 3 7 8 9 14 18 24 27 27 27 27 33 46 48 53 54 54 55 56 63 65 67 72 74 76 76 77 78 79

CO

Vlll

CO

TENTS

5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5. 10 5.11 5.12 5. 13 5.14 5. 1 5 5.16 5.17 5. 18

2.21 Miscellaneous Vase Shapes 2.22 Black Slip Ware B. Handmade Wares 2.23 The Cooking Pot/Jug 2.24 The Pot Stand 2.25 The Brazier 2.26 The Tray and the Basin 2.27 The Neck-Handled Amphora 2.28 The Belly-Handled Amphora and the Amphoriskos 2.29 The Hydria 2.30 TheJug 2.31 The Feeding Bottle 2.32 Bowls 2.33 The Legged Bowl 2.34 The Crater and the Skyphos 2.35 The Cup and the Mug 2.36 The Dipper 2.37 The Kantharos 2.38 The Pyxis with High Handles 2.39 The Pithos 2-40 Other Handmade Wares 2.41 Comment on Handmade Pottery 2.42 Clay Figurines

3. Metal and Other Finds 3. 1 3.2 3.3

The Introduction of Iron Technology and Related Problems Analysis of Metal Objects GoldJewellery

4. Settlements and Structures 4.1 Attica 4.2 The Argolid 4.3 Euboea 4.4 Phokis 4.5 Thessaly 4.6 The Cyclades 4.7 The Northern Aegean Islands 4.8 Asia Minor 4.9 Chalcidike 4.10 Comment 5. Burial Practices 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Attica

TENTS

The Argolid Corinthia Euboea Skyros Boeotia Phokis East Lokris Phthiotis Thessaly The Cyclades The East Aegean Islands The Dodecanese Western Asia Minor Northern Greece Chalcidike Summary and Discussion

lX

1 57 160 161 168 170 171 171 172 1 73 178 180 180 182 183 183 184

6. Conclusions 6. 1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8

IOI IOI

103 126 1 35 1 35

136 140 146 1 47 147 148

148 148 1 49

The End of the Mycenaean Palace System and the Dorian Invasion Western Greece Settlement Patterns and Material Culture in the Protogeometric Aegean Regions and their Sites The Euboean Koine Social and Political Structures in the Protogeometric Aegean Cult Practices and Sanctuaries The Protogeometric Aegean

Appendices: I. Near Eastern Imports in the Aegean II. Protogeometric Pottery Found in the Eastern Mediterranean III. Index of Sites

Index

1 95 1 97

212 217 221 224

226 228 230

LIST OF MAPS

LIST OF FIGURES All measurements are in centimetres.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Bronze and iron pins: 1-2: Corinth tomb: bronze pins (L: 25.7, 22); J: Athens: Kerameikos tomb PG 39: iron and bronze pin (L: 8.2); 4-5: Argos: tombs: iron and bronze pins (L: 32.6, 37.1); 6: tomb: iron and bronze (L: 32.2); T tomb: iron with ?ivory globe (L: c.60); 8: tomb: iron •pin (L: 36); 9-rn: Tiryns: grave 9/ 1972: iron with bone globe (L: c.50). 1-2, 4-9: after Kilian-Di rlmeier, Nadeln, nos. 215-6, 224-5, 285,277, 281-3, 286; 3: after M. Mi.iller-Karpe,Jd/ 77 (1962), 94, fig. 12.6 105 Bronze and iron fibulae: 1-2 : Athens: Kerameikos tomb PG 39: bronze (L: 6.7, 7.2); 3: Athens: Kerameikos tomb PG 48: iron (L: 5.3); 4: Kerameikos tomb PG 48: bronze (L: 16.3); 5: Athens: Agora tomb XIV (FQr): bronze (L: 5); 6: Athens: Agora tomb XX (Q13): iron (L: 7); T Almiros (Kilian no. 70): bronze (L: q.9); 8: Nea Ionia (Volos): tomb I (Kilian no. 3): bronze (L: 9.5); 9: Nea Ionia (Volos): tomb 12 (Kilian no. 4): bronze (L: c. 10.8); rn : Athens: Kerameikos tomb PG 39: iron (L: 8.7). 1-6, rn: after M. Mi.iller-Karpe,Jd/ 77 (1962), 94, fig. 12.1-2; 97, fig. 15 .1-2; 98, fig. 16.10; 108, fig. 26.3, 16.7-9: after Kilian, Abeln in Thessalien I rn Fibulae: Lefkandi: 1-5: bronze. r: Toumba tomb T.17 (L: 17.4); 2: Toumba tomb T.3 (L: 8); 3: Palia Perivolia tomb P.23 (L: I 5.1); 4: Toumba tomb T. 12A (L: 4); 5: T. Pyre 2 (L: 2.9); 6: Marmariani: tholos tomb (Kilian no. 1711): iron (L: 13.3). 1-5: courtesy BSA; 6: after Kilian, Fibeln in Thessahen Irr Iron swords: I: Lefkandi: Toumba: T. Pyre 8 (L: 65.5); 2: Athens: Agora tomb N (I6A) (L: 70.5); 3-4: Lefkandi: Toum ba tomb T. 14 (L: 74; L: 56.2); 5: Toumba tomb T.26 (L: 56.2); 6: Athens: Kerameikos tomb PG 43 (L: 48.2). All after Kilian-Dirlmeier, Schrverter in Griechenland, nos. 280,317,318,320,321,273 I 19 Spearheads, daggers, and axes: r: Athens: Kerameikos tomb A: spearhead: bronze (L: 26); 2: Kerameikos tomb PG IT spearhead : iron (L: 23.5); 3: Kerameikos tomb B: spearhead: bronze (L: 19 .5); 4: Kerameikos tomb A: spearhead: bronze (L: 1 r); 5: Lefkandi: Toumba: Pyre r: spearhead: iron (L: 28.2); 6: Palia Perivolia Pyre I 6: spearhead: iron (L: 33); Toumba: Pyre 8: spearhead: iron (L: 33-4); 8: Athens : Kerameikos tomb PG 40: axe: iron (L: 13-4); 9: Kerameikos tomb A: dagger: iron

6.

7. 8. 9.

10.

l I.

I2 .

13. 14. 15.

16. 17.

18.

(L: 13 .5); 10: Kerameikos tomb B: dagger: iron (L: 21). 1-4, 9-10: after M. Mi.iller-Karpe,Jd/ 77 (1962), 89, fig. 7.2-4; 90, fig. 8. 1, 6--7; 93, fig. II. r. 5- 7: courtesy BSA Jewellery from Lefkandi: 1-3: from the female burial at Toumba building; 4-5: Toumba T.63: gold discs (D: 6, 5.5). Courtesy BSA The Athenian Agora: PG wells and burial plots. After Agora viii, pl. 45 Asine: PG settlement and cemeteries. Based on Hagg, Graber der Argolis, 48, fig. 7 Asine: PG apsidal buildings at the Karmaniola settlement. Based on B. Wells inAsine ii-4.2-3, 27, fig. 8 Argos: PG settlement deposits and burial plots. Based on Hagg, Graber der Argo/is; Pariente and Touchais, Argos Tiryns: PG burials around the Mycenaean Citadel. Based on Hagg, Graber der Argo/is, 77, fig. 12; A. Papadimitriou in Pariente and Touchais, Argos, I I 9 Lefkandi: the settlement on Xeropolis and the cemeteries at Lefkandi Lefkandi: the PG building at Toumba Lefkandi: 1-2: cist tombs; 3: the human burials under the building at Toumba PG burial plots in Athens: I: the Kerameikos; 2: the Agora; J: Vas. Sophias; 4: Erechtheion Street; 5: ymphaion; 6: Odeion; T R. Galli Street; 8: Olympeion; 9: Kriezi Street; rn : Lykourgou Street; I I : Syntagma Square; 12: Aiolou Street; 13: Metropolis Square; 14: Kotzia Square; 15: Dimitrakopoulou Street; 16: Syngrou Street; 17: Theophilopoulou Street; 18: Makrigianni and Porinou Street; 19: Amphiktionos Street; 20: Poulopoulou Street; 21: Erisychthonos and eleos Street; 22: Neleos Street; 2J: Agiou Markou Street; 24: Karaiskaki Street; 25 : Kranaou and Sarri Street Lefkandi: cemeteries Skyros: PG/SPG burial plots. Based on P. Calligas in Dialexeis, 76, map 3, and information from A D Chloe near Velestino: LPG/SPG tholos tomb. Based on Arachoviti in Thessa,/ie, 129

I.

2.

121

3. 4.

5. 6. 129 136 137 7. 8. 138

139

140 141 142 144

153 162 169 176

Attica, Euboea, and central Greece 198 T he Peloponnese 201 Thessaly 206 Chalcidike and Pieria 208 The Cyclades 209 The Dodecanese, northern Aegean islands, and Asia Minor: I: Mytilene; 2: Methymna; J: Antissa; 4: Eresos; 5: Pyrrha; 6: Emporio; T Mordogan; 8: Kyme; 9: Erythrai; rn: Klazomenai; II: Phocaea; 12: Sardis; IJ: Teos; 14: Kolophon; 15: Klaros; 16: Ephesos; 17: ?Pygela; 18: Heraion; 19: Pythagorion; 20 : Priene; 21: M iletus; 22: Didyma; 2J: Teichiussa; 24: Pidasa; 25 : lasos; 26: Mylasa; 2T Stratonikeia; 28: M iisgebi; 29: Asarlik ; 30: D irmil; 3 I: T heangela; 32: lalysos; 33: Kamiros; 34: Lindos 210 The Euboean koine within the Aegean 213 Distribution of PG vases found in the eastern Mediterranean 229

LIST OF PLATES

LIST OF PLATES All measurements are in centimetres.

EPG. Athens: Kerameikos PG B: 1: amphora 529 (H: 33 .7); 2: iron dagger (L: 21); J: bronze spearhead (L: 19 .5). Courtesy DAI, Athens 2. EPG. Athens: Kerameikos PG 1: 1: pyxis 533 (H: 19.3); 2: amphoriskos 531 (H: 9); 3: stirrup-jar · 534 (H: ro .8); 4: flask 536 (H: 17.5); 5: stirrup-jar 537 (H: 13); 6: lekythos 538 (H: 26.3); T lekythos (H: 10.5). Courtesy DAI, Athens 3. EPG. Athens: Kerameikos PG 22: 1: amphora 925 (H: 19.8); 2: box 924 (H: 1 r.50); J: stirrup-jar 922 (H: 21.5); 4: lekythos 921 (H: 26.3); 5: gold spirals M117 (D: r.3-1-4); Kerameikos PG 1: 6: skyphos 532 (H: 16.6); T askos 535 (H: 11). Courtesy DAI, Athens 4. EPG. Athens: Kerameikos PG lJ: 1: amphora 563 (H: 29.5); 2: fragmentar y skyphos 770 (H: 8.2); T box 771 (H: 4.5); 4: lekythos 564 (H: 21). Courtesy DAI, Athens 5. EPG. Athens: Heidelberg grave B: 1: bottle (H: 16); 2: lekythos (H: 15.1); 3: lekythos (H: 15.3); 4: cup (H: 6.4); 5: lekythos (H: 8.5); 6: cup (H: 5.5); Kerameikos PG 12: T amphora 569 (H: 52); 8: lekythos 570 (H: 16). 1-6: Heidelberg M useum G82a; 82g; G82f; G82c; 7-8: Courtesy DAI, Athens 6. EPG. Athens: Kerameikos PG A: 1: amphora 522 (H: 35.5); 2: amphora 523 (H: 38.5); 3: skyphos 525 (H: 12.5); 4: lekythos 526 (H: 12); 5: lekythos 527 (H: 13); 6: iron dagger (L: 13.5); T bronze spearhead (L: 9); 8: bronze spearhead (L: 26). Courtesy DAI, Athens 7. EPG. Athens: Kerameikos PG 4: 1: amphora 549 (H: 66); 2: amphora 550 (H: 22); J: lekythos 551 (H: 13); 4: skyphos 553 (H: 12.5); 5: tripod 554 (H: 14.9); 6: oinochoe 552 (H: 17); T tripod 555 (H: 18). Courtesy DAI, Athens 8. Athens: 1: amphora P30196 (H: 66.5); 2: crater sherd P8141; J: skyphos Kerameikos 518 (H: 15); 4: Kerameikos PG 5: skyphos 525 (H: 12.5). 1-2: Agora neg. no. 87-408; neg. no. 84-374; 3-4: Courtesy DAI, Athens 9. EPG. Lefkandi: Skoubris tomb S. 16: 1: bowl (H: 7 ); 2: amphoriskos (H: 1 r.6); 3: cup (H: 5); 4: hydria (H: 12); 5: amphoriskos (H: 9.7); 6: amphoriskos (H: 1 r.8); T oinochoe (H: 6.9); 8: bird-vase (H: ro. 1); 9: bird-vase (H: 12.2 ); 10: multiple vase (H: 8. 5); 11: amphoriskos (H: 10.2); 12-15; bronze fibulae (L: 3.9-5.6); 16--1T bronze finger-rings (D: r.5-2.3); 18: faience bead (D: 0.2); 19: iron pins (L: 9.5-1 r.3). Courtesy BSA 1.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

EPG. Lefkandi: Skoubris tomb S.2: 1: feeding bottle (H: 10.6); 2: bowl (H: 6.5); T bowl (H with handles: 6); S. Pyre ra: 4: cup (H: 5.8); 5: flask (D: 12); 6: pyxis (H with lid: 14.5); T multiple vase (H: 7.8); tomb S+ 8: tripod (H: 8.3); 9: jug (H: 10.8). Courtesy BSA EPG. Lefkandi: Skoubris tomb S.8: 1: cup (H: 8.8); 2: lekythos (H: 1 r.5); 3: oinochoe (H: 16.5); 4: cup (H: 4.8); 5: bronze fibulae (L: 4. 1-5. 1); tomb S. 10: 6: multiple vase (H: 9.5); 7: lekythos (H: 1 r.9); 8: amphoriskos (H: 1r.2); 9: cup (H: 6.7); ro: cup (H: 5-4); 11-12: gold earrings (D: 0.7- 1.o); 13: bronze fibula (L: 3.5); 14: bronze fibula (L: 7.2); 15-16: iron pins (preserved L: ro.0-10.5). Courtesy BSA EPG. Lefkandi: Skoubris tomb S.32: 1: skyphos (H: 7.7); 2: amphoriskos (H: 13.1); J: oinochoe (H: 12.6); 4: amphoriskos (H: 11 .8); 5: jug (H: 11 .2); 6: bronze ring (D: 2.3); T bronze fibula (estimated H: 2.2); tomb S.12: 8: oinochoe (H: 16.5); 9: cup (H: 6.2); tomb S.24: 10: cup (H: 6.5). Courtesy BSA EPG. Lefkandi: Skoubris tomb S.46: 1: lekythos (H: 10.6); 2: 1ear Eastern flask (H: 11 .3); J: cup (H: 6.6); 4: iron dagger (L: 22.7); 5: bronze fibula (L: 7.1); bronze fibula (L: 6.5); tomb S.29: T cup (H: 5.2); 8: cup (H: 6.6); 9: jug (H: 9.5); tomb S.31: rn: hydria (H: 12); 11: amphoriskos (H: 10-4); 12: lekythos (H: 13.1); lJ: bronzering(D: 2.3). Courtesy BSA EPG. Skoubris tomb S.20: 1: lekythos (H: 12); 2: bottle (H: 11 .6); J: cup (H: 6.5); + cup (H: 6.5); 5: jug (H: 8.4); 6: skyphos (H: 9.1); T amphoriskos (H: ro-4); 8: bronze ring (D: 2.1); 9: bronze fibula (L: 5.7). Courtesy BSA EPG. Chalcis tomb: 1: oinochoe (H: 14. 1); 2: lekythos (H: 9.4); 3: amphoriskos (H: 6); 4: amphoriskos (H: 5); 5-6, 8-