From fabrics to island connections: Macroscopic and microscopic approaches to the prehistoric pottery of Antikythera

An intensive archaeological survey covering the entire extent of the island of Antikythera has recently revealed a sequence of prehistoric activity spanning the later Neolithic to Late Bronze Age, with cultural affiliations that variously link its prehistoric communities with their neighbours to the north, south and east. Here we present and discuss the results of a programme of both macroscopic and petrographie study of the prehistoric ceramics from Antikythera that defines a considerably varied group of fabrics and explores their implications with regard to regional potting traditions, on-island production versus imports, and changing patterns of human activity on the island through time. / Abstract in Greek: Μια εντατική επιφανειακή έρευνα που κάλυψε το σύνολο της έκτασης των Aντικυθήρων αποκάλυψε πρόσφατα μια ακολουθία προïστορικής δραστηριότητας που χρονολογείται από την προχωρημένη Nεολιθική μέχρι την ´Yστερη Eποχή του Xαλκού, και αντανακλά ποικίλες πολιτιστικές σχέσεις των προïστορικών κοινοτήτων του νησιού με γειτονικές περιοχές στα βόρεια, νότια καν ανατολικά. Eσώ παρουσιάςουμε και (τυςητάμε τα αποτελέσματα ενός προγράμματος μακροσκοπικής και πετρογραφικής μελέτης της προïστορικής κεραμικής από τα Aντικύθηρα, που προσδιορίςει μια σημαντική ποικνλία κεραμικών υλών και διερευνά τη σημασία τους σε σχέση με τις τοπικές παραδόσενς κεραμικής στην ευρύτερη περιοχή του Aιγαίου, την αντιδιαςτολή εγχώρνας παραγωγής καν ενσαγωγών, και τις δναχρονικές μεταβολές στο χαρακτήρα και την ένταση της ανθρώπινης δραστηριότητας στο νησί

Development and calibration of a WDXRF routine applied to provenance studies on archaeological ceramics

Elemental analysis of ancient ceramics is primarily used in provenance research, where defined compositional groups are attributed to particular raw materials sources or production locations. Requirements in data quality and analytical performance are high, as is the need for clear and reproducible methodologies, and the availability of information on the above to ensure interlaboratory comparability and long-term data validity. This paper outlines the measurement parameters of a dedicated calibration set-up for the analysis of ancient ceramics using wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (WDXRF). The specimens are prepared as concentrated glass beads, allowing the measurement of 26 elements from a single sample, thus minimising sample size requirements. Certified and non-commercial standards are used to evaluate the performance of the method in terms of detection limits, precision, repeatability, and accuracy. The materials used cover a range of compositions in line with the matrix variability encountered in archaeological ceramics. The data confirm the high standard of the method and highlight specific limitations. An initial assessment of comparability with other set-ups used in ceramic analyses, primarily Neutron Activation Analysis, is given through a discussion of performance on commonly analysed materials. The advantages of the proposed method include excellent analytical performance, analysis of a large suite of elements including all major, minor and a good range of traces, relatively small sample sizes, and preparation of samples that can be stored and re-analysed

Excavation of Neopalatial deposits at Tholos (Kastri), Kythera

Several rock-cut features, exposed on the surface of a trackway in the Tholos area of Kastri, Kythera, were excavated in July-August 2000 as a synergasia between Kythera Island Project and 2nd Ephoria of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities. Although the surviving deposits were extremely shallow, they produced large quantities of conical cups and other pottery of Late Minoan I date. Further comparative analysis of the features themselves and their finds suggests that these are the remains of tomb chambers similar to those excavated in the area in the 1960s. These tombs and their assemblages show extremely strong cultural connections with Crete, but also idiosyncrasies that probably reflect the particular mortuary customs of the island. / Abstract in Greek: Τον Ιούιο-Αύγουστο 2000 εράϕορα διάϕορα λαξύματα στον βράχο, ορατά στην επιϕάνεια μονοπτιού στην περιοχἠ Θόλου Καστρίου στα κύθηρα, στο πλαίσιο συνεργασίας μεταξύ του Κρογράμματος για τη νήσο των Κυθήρων και της Βʹ Εϕορείας Προϊστρικών και Κλασικών Αρχαιοτήτων. Αν και οι διασωθείσες επιχώσεις ήταν εξαιρετικἀ, ρηχές, απέδωσαν μεγάλες ποσότες κωνικών κυπέλλων και άλλης κεραμεικής, χρονολογουμένων στην Υστερομινωική Ι. Περαιτέρω ανάλυση των λαξευμάτων καθʹ εαυτών και των ευρημάτων, δείχνει ότι, πρόκειται για υπολείμματα θαλαμωτών τάϕων, παρόμοιων με εκείνους που ανασκάϕηκαν στην περιοχή την δεκαετα του 1960. Οι τάϕοι αυτοι και το περιεχόμενό τους παρουσιάζουν εξαιρετικά άντονες πολιτισικές διασυνδέσεις με την Κρήτη, αλλά επι σης και ιδιομορϕίες οι οποίες πιθανώς αντανακλούνιδιαίτερα ταϕικά άθιμα του νησιού

Eretrian ceramic products through time: Investigating the early history of a Greek metropolis

Eretria, an important ancient Greek polis with a rich Bronze Age past, was among the first colonial and commercial powers in the ancient world that founded already in the 8th c. BC a number of colonies and trading posts across the Aegean and the Mediterranean. In the context of a diachronic investigation of Eretrian pottery production and supply from the Early Bronze Age to the Roman period, a large number of pottery samples and geological materials have been analysed. The current article summarises the results of the analyses of the Bronze Age pottery from the site, comprising 151 pottery samples carefully selected from stratified deposits, which have been examined through petrographic and chemical (WD-XRF) analyses and compared to geological materials and experimental ceramic briquettes. Overall, the current evidence for local pottery production indicates that during the third and the early second millennia BC no dramatic change occurred in the exploitation of raw materials in Eretria for pottery production, in spite of conspicuous stylistic and technological transformations. The first possible change in raw material sources, which occurs in the Middle Helladic period and affects coarse wares only, corresponds with a major break in the site occupation. Unlike local products, most imported fabrics do not show continuity through time, indicating changes in the direction of external relationships in Eretria

A diachronic investigation of 'local' pottery production and supply at the sanctuary of Zeus, Mount Lykaion, Arcadia, Peloponnese

The present paper reports results of an integrated study of a selection of pottery recovered from the altar of Zeus, Mount Lykaion, Arcadia, in the Peloponnese, Greece, dating from the Neolithic to the Early Iron Age. A multi-analytical approach based on petrographic and chemical analysis, supported by refiring tests and geological sampling, has been employed to tackle issues of technology and provenance. Results shed light on patterns of raw material sources exploitation and pottery production and supply at the site over time

Eretrian ceramic production through time: Geometric to Hellenistic periods

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