Maier, F. G.

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NOTICES OF BOOKS 237final publications of Aegean excavations are so few,that is indeed something.O. T. P. K. DICKINSONPenarth, S. GlamorganALASIA. Mission archeologique d'Alasia.Tome TV. Alasia. Premiere serie. Publieea l'occasion de la XXe campagne de fouilles aEnkomi-Alasia (1969) sous la direction de C.F.-A. Schaeffer. Paris: Mission archeologiqued'Alasia. 1971. Pp. xii + 578. 37 plates. 4folding plans. No price stated.Enkomi, at the eastern end of the Mesaoria, wasthe first major settlement of the Late Bronze Age tobe excavated in Cyprus. Claude Schaeffer dis-covered in 1934 that the Late Cypriot necropolisinvestigated by the B.M. (1896) and by the SwedishCyprus Expedition (1930) was covered by a largetown. Since then a French Expedition has excavatedon that site, for a time side by side with the Depart-ment of Antiquities of Cyprus (1948-55). Notablediscoveries at Kition and at other sites in the islandhave greatly increased our knowledge of the LateBronze Age of Cyprus during the last two decades.But the art, architecture and history of Enkomi arestill of special interest to every student of the EasternMediterranean during that formative period.Archaeologists all over the world are waiting eagerlyfor the publication of the rich finds unearthed duringforty years.Alasia. Premihe Serie (or Alasia I, see p. x) is atthe same time the fourth volume of a series entitled'Mission archeologique d'Alasia'. Apart from thebibliographical intricacies of such a title, there seemsto be no cogent reason to change the name of thesite from Enkomi-Alasia (as in former volumes)defiantly to Alasia. Most scholars seem to agreenow that Alasia designated the island of Cyprus, andProfessor Schaeffer does not give us any proof forhis matter-of-fact statement that Alasia was at thesame time the name of the 'Late Bronze Age capital'of the island, situated at Enkomi.We are told by the editor in the 'Preface' that thevolumes of the Alasia series are meant for thepublication of the results of the French excavationsat Enkomi. Alas, those who expect an accountcomplementary to the late P. Dikaios' masterlysurvey of the Cypriot excavations at the same sitewill have to wait at least for Alasia II. The presentvolume is something in between a 'Festschrift' anda collection of excavation reports. The Festschriftpart (pp. 7-150) comprises nine studies by scholarswell known in the field of Cypriot archaeology,treating mainly aspects of the Late Bronze Age Artof Cyprus. The reports (pp. 1-6, 151-573) containuseful short articles by M. J. Aitken, P. Ducos,H.-J. Hundt and J. Bouzek on various aspects offieldwork and finds, and the publication of newCypro-Minoan texts by E. and O. Masson.The hard core of the volume is formed of twoexcavation reports: 'Le sanctuaire du dieu aulingot d'Enkomi- Alasia' by J.-C. Courtois (pp. 151 —362) and 'La cachette de fondeur aux epees (1967)et l'atelier voisin' by J. Lagarce (pp. 381-432).Both cover very important find complexes and areobviously intended to be definitive publications.But the reader is left with some uneasiness. Arewe really given 'un inventaire exhaustif (p. 381), ifonly 'les fragments les plus caracteristiques' of thepottery are described (p. 401)? Or, is the list ofthe ceramic finds pp. 167 ff. complete? Thestratigraphy is by no means documented adequately.The record consists mainly of 'coupes stratigraphi-ques' of i -o-i -5 m length—too short sections, which(as we all know) can be so very deceptive. I do notwish to detract in any way from the merits of thesetwo reports. They contain a wealth of most interest-ing and valuable information, and every scholarinterested in the Late Bronze Age metallurgy or inthe Late Mycenaean pottery of Cyprus will profitgreatly from their study. But we would like to betold some time by what principles future Enkomipublications will be guided with regard to strati-graphical documentation and find inventories.The illustrations are sumptuous. Consideringhowever how many interesting objects in the store-rooms of Enkomi have so far never been illustrated,the choice of subjects is somewhat puzzling. Thereis no doubt about the importance of the 'dieu aulingot'; but are not 21 plates for the object and itsdiscovery slightly excessive? It is certainly good tobe reminded how not to dig a wall: but less thanfive plates (xxviii-xxxi) would serve that purpose.FRANZ GEORG MAIERZurichBENSON (J. L.) The necropolis of Kaloriziki.(Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology, xxxvi.)Goteborg: Paul Astroms Forlag. 1973. Pp.138. 63 Plates. Sw.kr. 150.From 1933—1954 the Pennsylvania UniversityMuseum carried out important work in the town andregion of ancient Curium on the south-west coast ofCyprus. The definitive publication of the resultswas, however, severely hampered by the untimelydeath of G. McFadden and J. F. Daniel. Allstudents of Cypriot archaeology will be greatlyindebted to J. L. Benson who took over the verydifficult task of publishing the material recoveredfrom the cemeteries in the plain of the river Kouris.'Bamboula at Kourion. The Necropolis and the Finds'(1972) gives an account of the necropolis belongingto the LCI-III settlement on the Bamboula hillnortheast of the village of Episkopi. Kaloriziki is akind of companion volume, describing 27 tombs fromthe Kaloriziki necropolis situated southwest ofEpiskopi, roughly in between the village and theacropolis of Curium. The burials range fromLC IIIB to Early Classical, but the bulk of the findsdate from the very end of the Late Bronze Age andfrom the early Geometric period.Some readers may not be entirely satisfied withthe structure of the book. Two short chapters sumup the 'Characteristics of the Necropolis' (topo-graphy, tomb types, burial customs and historicalconclusions, p. 17-25) and the general problernspresented by the 'Proto White-Painted and White-Painted I Pottery' from that site (p. 54-63). Thepublication of the tombs is divided into two sections.https:/www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.2307/631318Downloaded from https:/www.cambridge.org/core. University of Basel Library, on 11 Jul 2017 at 10:39:12, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at238 NOTICES OF BOOKS'Description of the Tombs' (pp. 26-53) gives aconcise account of location, size, shape, stratification,burials and chronology, together with a bare findregister for each tomb. 'Catalogue of Finds'(pp. 64-128) then describes all finds in systematicorder, grouped into 'Cypriote Pottery', 'ForeignPottery' and 'Miscellaneous Finds'. Organising apublication in this way may present a serious handi-cap to the archaeologist interested in the contents ofeach individual tomb. On the other hand, thesystematic Catalogue of Finds provides the studentof pottery with a valuable corpus of comparativematerial, especially for the Proto White-Painted andCG I-wares.In general the finds are well documented by56 plates of photographs and drawings. There isalso a very useful conspectus of shapes and potterydesigns (pi. 57-63). Yet the illustrations raise somequestions. Not all finds are illustrated. As we allknow, there are compelling financial reasons forrestricting the number of plates in such a publica-tion. But it seems puzzling that, e.g., T.40, one ofthe most important tombs, is not documented morefully. Despite their publication elsewhere, thecloisonnee sceptre and the two bronze tripods wouldhave merited a photograph (and more than a passingmention in the text). Then, the illustrations areobviously not all to the same scale—but there is nohint as to which scales are actually used. This is aserious drawback. Finally, the plan of the necro-polis (pi. 1) gives not the slightest idea of its locationto a reader not already familiar with the site (thesame is unfortunately true for the Bamboula volume).The main interest of the Kaloriziki tombs pre-sented here lies in their contribution to a betterunderstanding of the development of Proto White-Painted and Early Geometric pottery in WesternCyprus. It is evident that this material shows closeconnections not only with sites like Lapithos, butalso with contemporary (though mostly still un-published) tomb groups of Old Paphos. Con-clusions about the history of Curium have to bedrawn with a certain circumspection, as the presentvolume covers only part of a larger necropolis ofwhich more tombs were excavated by the BritishMuseum (in 1895) and by P. Dikaios. Yet oneimportant fact is certain. Chronologically Kalori-ziki represents a burial ground intermediate betweenthe Bamboula necropolis and the later (Classical toRoman) Ayios Ermogenis cemetery, immediatelybelow the bluff of the acropolis. Like the Skalaesand Lakkos tou Skarnou cemeteries at Old Paphos,Kaloriziki furnishes clear proof for a continuity ofinhabitation from the Late Bronze into the IronAge at Curium, and for the intrusion of Greek settlersinto the traditional Late Cypriot environment.Whether the Rhodian element was as strong amongstthese newcomers as Dr Benson seems to believe(pp. 23-4) is still open to discussion. Only acomparative study of the relevant material fromCurium, Old Paphos, New Paphos and Maa canprovide us with a more detailed framework ofAchaean immigration into Western Cyprus.F. G. MAIERZurichSALAMIS 5. Excavations in the necropolis ofSalamis iii. By V. Karageorghis. 3 vols.Nicosia: Department of Antiquities, Cyprus.•973-4- PP- i x + 294, 321 pi. (16 in colour),numerous text figs. 34 folding plans and sections.Q£25-00.This publication makes fully available the two mostimportant of the very remarkable finds made by theauthor in 1964-6 in the royal tombs in the cemeteryat Salamis. It is principally devoted to Tomb 79,which contained the richest tomb so far discovered,enclosing four chariot burials of the late eighthcentury B.C., and Tomb 77, the cenotaph of Nico-creon, of the third century B.C.Tomb 79, though robbed, was still the richest tombever found in Cyprus. Its existence was alreadyknown to Ohnefalsch-Richter and S. Reinach, butit was passed over, as it had already received theattentions of the tomb robbers: but they had missedthe treasures in the drotnos, concerning themselvesonly with the chamber. There were traces of a pyrewhere carbonised human bones were found, theashes having been probably placed in the chamberbelow. The dromos was built of ashlar blocks laiddry in three courses, leading to the stomion, in front ofthe chamber, by four steps. Various remodellings ofthe subterranean propylaeum and chambers took placewith reusage in the Roman period, but the originalmarvellous collection of Beigaben, described by theauthor, remained unknown and intact. Above thetomb a small tumulus of earth had been erected.The theory advanced by Dr David Ussishkin that amonumental building, not a tumulus, stood above thechamber is discussed and rejected by the excavator.It is clear that the Graeco-Oriental Kings of Salamis,themselves an extremely archaic survival from theMycenaean age, still practised its old form of tholosburial.The dromos contained material from two burials:the second, which took place not long after the first,involved the partial clearance and re-use of thepropylaeum and the driving of a second narrowerdromos through the older to the stomion of the chamber,causing disturbance and rearrangement of much of thematerial of the older burial.The sumptuous contents of this tomb were trulyamazing. The details are all excellently publishedin these splendid volumes. Remains of the firstburial included the following principal objects.Two bronze cauldrons with griffins' heads stoodagainst the north wall of the propylaeum. There werea pair of iron fire-dogs, and a bundle of twelve ironskewers—material no doubt for feasts beyond thegrave. Furniture was represented by the silverchair (A) and stool (B), chair (F), decorated withsplendid ivory scrollwork, by ivory plaques andinlays from Bed (^ 4); chair (^ 1), also decorated withivories, was less well preserved, but its stool (E) wasalmost complete. Two more stools (Z & H) wererepresented only by impressions. Bronze vehicles,Cart {A), Chariot (B)—a quadriga—and hearse (F)were also found. Of the skill and care with whichthese objects of first-class importance were salvagedit is impossible to speak too highly. Apart from theadditions to our knowledge of chariotry, these findshttps:/www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.2307/631318Downloaded from https:/www.cambridge.org/core. University of Basel Library, on 11 Jul 2017 at 10:39:12, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at

Book Review: The necropolis of Kaloriziki: Benson (J. L.) The necropolis of Kaloriziki. (Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology, xxxvi.) Göteborg: Paul Aströms Förlag. 1973. Pp. 138. 63 Plates. Sw.kr. 150

Book Review: The necropolis of Kaloriziki: Benson (J. L.) The necropolis of Kaloriziki. (Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology, xxxvi.) Göteborg: Paul Aströms Förlag. 1973. Pp. 138. 63 Plates. Sw.kr. 150

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