Charalambidou, Xenia (Polyxeni)

Kiriatzi, Evangelia

Müller Celka, Sylvie

Müller, Noemi S.

Central Euboea is a key area in archaeological discussions addressing issues of connectivity and cultural transmission between the Aegean and Anatolia in the third millennium BC, mainly during the Early Helladic (EH) II. Excavations at Eretria have recovered significant amounts of EH II–III pottery from levels underlying Classical-Hellenistic buildings. In spite of its fragmentary condition this material deserves special attention as it provides an interesting data set to complement the Lefkandi I–III pottery and it offers a rare insight into the EH III period in Euboea. The majority of the EH II pottery belongs to the second part of the period (EH IIB) and displays both continental (mainly sauceboats, saucers and askoi) and Anatolianising shapes (plates, bell-shaped cups, tankards, beaked jugs). EH III is marked by the appearance of grey ware and a new shape repertoire with the predominance of Bass Bowls, tankards and wide-mouthed jars. This paper aims at presenting an overview of the pottery groups based on a detailed macroscopic study combined with petrographic and chemical analyses using wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF). The main objective is to characterise, both compositionally and technologically, local products at Eretria and to follow transformations in local supply and production through time, shedding light on Eretria’s role in local and regional networks during the third millennium BC. The results show that both fine and coarse EH II and EH III local wares are made with the same fabrics, despite evident changes through time in terms of shaping, surface treatment and firing, leading to the conclusion that both continuity and innovation characterise different aspects of their production. Interestingly, the Anatolianising fine ware of late EH II is made of local clay, while some typical central Aegean vessels such as sauceboats appear to be non-local. Furthermore, a significant part of the EH II coarse ware is imported from the western Cyclades or South Euboea, unlike the EH III coarse ware which is almost exclusively local

VU Research Portal

Müller Celka, S., Kiriatzi, E., Charalambidou, X., Müller, N.S. 2018. “Early Helladic II-III Pottery Groups from Eretria (Euboea): an interdisciplinary approach”, in B. Horejs &amp; E. Alram-Stern (eds.), Pottery Technologies and Sociocultural Connections between the Aegean and Anatolia during the 3rd Millennium BC, Vienna, 197-213.

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

VU Research Portal