Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-j824f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T12:19:42.776Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

TECHNOLOGICAL AND PROVENANCE ANALYSIS OF AN EARLY AND MIDDLE CYCLADIC POTTERY ASSEMBLAGE FROM THERASIA, GREECE

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 June 2018

Georgia Kordatzaki*
Affiliation:
Fitch Laboratory, British School at Athens
Kostas Sbonias
Affiliation:
Ionian University
Emeri Farinetti
Affiliation:
Roma Tre University
Iris Tzachili
Affiliation:
University of Crete

Abstract

During the archaeological survey research project ‘Island Cultures in a Diachronic Perspective: the case of Therasia’, large amounts of pottery were recorded throughout the island of Therasia, ranging in date from the Bronze Age to modern times. Focusing on the prehistoric period, pottery of the Early Cycladic and late Middle Cycladic periods was recovered at Panaghia Koimisis, which is situated on the southern part of the island. This paper presents the petrographic data and results of the analysis carried out on pottery samples which are representative of variable surface treatments and different macro-fabrics of these two prehistoric periods. Tackling issues of provenance and technology, the current scientific analysis attests the coexistence of Theran and off-Theran pottery fabrics already at Panaghia Koimisis in the Early Cycladic period. The majority of the pottery fabrics at Panaghia Koimisis were identified as Theran and the analysis demonstrates intensive contacts between the southern parts of Thera and Therasia throughout the Early and late Middle Cycladic phases. Moreover, adding support to previous studies, this research indicates a wide Cycladic pottery network, in which the site participated as a consumer. During the late Middle Cycladic period major changes in the Theran production are documented, including the disappearance of the earlier pottery recipe, which had been prevalent at Panaghia Koimisis.

Μελέτη τεχνολογίας και προέλευσης ενός Πρωτοκυκλαδικού και Μεσοκυκλαδικού συνόλου κεραμικής από τη νήσο Θηρασία

Στο πλαίσιο της αρχαιολογικής έρευνας επιφανείας που πραγματοποιήθηκε στη νήσο Θηρασία, στο νησιωτικό σύμπλεγμα της Σαντορίνης, κατά το χρονικό διάστημα 2007–11, συλλέχθηκαν σημαντικές ποσότητες κεραμικής που χρονολογείται από τους προϊστορικούς χρόνους έως και τον 20ο αιώνα. Η παρούσα μελέτη τεχνολογίας και προέλευσης αφορά στην εξέταση της Πρωτοκυκλαδικής και ύστερης Μεσοκυκλαδικής κεραμικής που εντοπίστηκε στο νοτιοανατολικό άκρο της Θηρασίας, στον οικισμό στην Παναγία Κοίμηση. Η ανάλυση επιβεβαιώνει ότι η πλειονότητα της προϊστορικής κεραμικής στον οικισμό αφορά σε κεραμικές ύλες οι οποίες, με βάση παλαιότερες μελέτες, συσχετίστηκαν με την κεραμική παραγωγή της ευρύτερης περιοχής του Ακρωτηρίου. Υπό το πρίσμα της εξέτασης της τεχνολογίας και της προέλευσης της κεραμικής που συλλέχθηκε κατά την έρευνα επιφανείας διερευνάται η σχέση των προϊστορικών κοινοτήτων της Παναγίας Κοίμησης και του Ακρωτηρίου στην προ-εκρηξιακή Θήρα. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, το παρόν κείμενο πιστοποιεί εντατική σχέση ανάμεσα στις δύο προϊστορικές κοινότητες αφήνοντας, ωστόσο, ανοιχτά ορισμένα θέματα, όπως αυτό της πιθανούς παραγωγής Θηραϊκής κεραμικής και στον οικισμό της Κοίμησης. Επιπλέον, τεκμηριώνεται ότι στην Παναγία Κοίμηση χρησιμοποιήθηκε εισηγμένη κεραμική που προέρχεται από διάφορα νησιά των Κυκλάδων και διερευνάται εάν και κατά πόσον οι εισαγωγές αυτές έφτασαν απευθείας στον οικισμό της Κοίμησης ή διοχετεύονταν εκεί μέσω του Ακρωτηρίου.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Aston, M.A. and Hardy, P.G. 1990. ‘The pre-Minoan landscape of Thera: a preliminary statement’, in Hardy, Keller, Galanopoulos, Flemming and Druitt (eds) 1990, 348–61.Google Scholar
Avdis, V. 2004. Geological Map of Greece. Mykonos Isl. – Rinia Isl. (scale: 1:50,000) (Athens).Google Scholar
Broodbank, C. 2007. ‘The pottery’, in Renfrew, Doumas, Marangou and Gavalas (eds) 2007, 115–263.Google Scholar
Davis, E.N. 1966. Geological Map of Greece. Siphnos (scale: 1:50,000) (Athens).Google Scholar
Davis, E.N. 1982. Geological Map of Greece. Kea Island (scale: 1:50,000) (Athens).Google Scholar
Davis, J.L. and Williams, D.F. 1981. ‘Petrological examination of Late Middle Bronze Age pottery from Ayia Irini, Keos’, Hesperia 50, 291300.Google Scholar
De Smeth, J.B. 1975. Geological Map of Greece. Kythnos Island (scale: 1:50,000) (Athens).Google Scholar
Doumas, C. (ed.) 1978. Thera and the Aegean World I. Papers Presented at the Second International Scientific Congress, Santorini, Greece, August 1978 (London).Google Scholar
Druitt, T.H. and Francaviglia, V. 1990. ‘An ancient caldera cliff line at Phira, and its significance for the topography and geology of pre-Minoan Santorini’, in Hardy, Keller, Galanopoulos, Flemming and Druitt (eds) 1990, 362–9.Google Scholar
Dürr, St.H. 1985. Geological Map of Greece. Amorgos–Donoussa (scale: 1:50,000) (Athens).Google Scholar
Einfalt, H.C. 1978. ‘Chemical and mineralogical investigations of sherds from the Akrotiri excavations’, in Doumas (ed.) 1978, 459–69.Google Scholar
Fouqué, F.A. (trans. McBirney, A.R.) 1998 [1879]. Santorini and Its Eruptions (Baltimore, London).Google Scholar
Friedrich, W.L., Seidenkrantz, M.S. and Nielsen, O.B. 2000. ‘Santorini (Greece) before the Minoan eruption: a reconstruction of the ring-island, natural resources and clay deposits from the Akrotiri excavation’, in McGuire, W.J., Griffiths, D.R., Hancock, P.L. and Stewart, I.S. (eds), The Archaeology of Geological Catastrophes (Geological Society Special Publication 171; London), 7180.Google Scholar
Fytikas, M.D. 1977. Geological Map of Greece. Milos Island (scale: 1:25,000) (Athens).Google Scholar
Hardy, D.A., Keller, J., Galanopoulos, V.P., Flemming, N.C. and Druitt, T.H. (eds) 1990. Thera and the Aegean World III Vol. Two: Earth Sciences. Proceedings of the Third International Congress, Santorini, Greece, 3–9 September 1989 (London).Google Scholar
Hecht, J. 1985. Geological Map of Greece. Syros Island (scale: 1:50,000) (Athens).Google Scholar
Heiken, G., McCoy, F. and Sheridan, M. 1990. ‘Palaeotopographic and palaeologic reconstruction of Minoan Thera’, in Hardy, Keller, Galanopoulos, Flemming and Druitt (eds) 1990, 370–6.Google Scholar
Higgins, M.D. and Higgins, R.A. 1996. A Geological Companion to Greece and the Aegean (Ithaka, New York).Google Scholar
Hilditch, J.R. 2004. ‘Petrographic report on Early Bronze II Ceramics from Ayia Irini, Kea’ (unpublished internal report, Fitch Laboratory, British School at Athens).Google Scholar
Hilditch, J.R. 2007. ‘Appendix D. Petrographic analysis of the ceramics from Kavos, Keros’, in Renfrew, Doumas, Marangou and Gavalas (eds) 2007, 238–63.Google Scholar
Hilditch, J.R. 2008. ‘Reconstruction of technological choice, social practice and networks of exchange from a ceramic perspective in the Middle Bronze Age Cyclades’ (unpublished PhD thesis, University of Exeter).Google Scholar
Hilditch, J.R. and Kiriatzi, E. 2005. ‘Petrographic investigation of EB II Ceramics from Skarkos, Ios’ (unpublished internal report, Fitch Laboratory, British School at Athens).Google Scholar
Jansen, J.B.H. 1973. Geological Map of Greece. Island Naxos (scale: 1:50,000) (Athens).Google Scholar
Jones, R.E. 1986. Greek and Cypriot Pottery: A Review of Scientific Studies (British School at Athens, Fitch Laboratory Occasional Paper 1; Athens).Google Scholar
Knappett, C. and Nikolakopoulou, I. 2005. ‘Exchange and affiliation networks in the MBA southern Aegean: Crete, Akrotiri and Miletus’, in Laffineur, R. and Greco, E. (eds), Emporia: Aegeans in the Central and Eastern Mediterranean (Aegaeum 25, 175–84).Google Scholar
Knappett, C., Pirrie, D., Power, M.R., Nikolakopoulou, I., Hilditch, J. and Rollinson, G.K. 2011. ‘Mineralogical analysis and provenancing of ancient ceramics using automated SEM-EDS analysis (QEMSCAN®): a pilot study on LB I pottery from Akrotiri, Thera’, JAS 38, 219–32.Google Scholar
Kordatzaki, G. 2015. “Θηραϊκή και εισηγμένη κεραμική στην προϊστορική Θέση 3 της Θηρασίας: προκαταρκτικά αποτελέσματα”, in Palyvou and Tzachili (eds) 2015, 59–71.Google Scholar
Kordatzaki, G. forthcoming. “Προϊστορική κεραμική από τη θέση Παναγία Κοίμηση: μακροσκοπική και πετρογραφική ανάλυση”, in Tzachili and Sbonias (eds) forthcoming.Google Scholar
Maar, P.A. van der and Vink, B.W. 1981. Geological Map of Greece. Ios Island (scale: 1:50,000) (Athens).Google Scholar
Marthari, M. 2001. “Η Θήρα από την Πρώιμη στη Μέση Εποχή του Χαλκού. Τα αποτελέσματα των ανασκαφών στον Φτέλλο και τον Άγιο Ιωάννη τον Ελεήμονα”, in Danezis, M. (ed.), Σαντορίνη. Θήρα, Θηρασία, Ασπρονήσι, Ηφαίστεια (Athens), 105–20.Google Scholar
Marthari, M. forthcoming. “Επιφανειακή προϊστορική κεραμική από τη θέση Παναγία Κοίμηση. Η αναγνώριση μιας θέσης με περισσότερες της μιας περιόδους κατοίκησης”, in Tzachili and Sbonias (eds) forthcoming.Google Scholar
Müller, N.S. 2009. ‘Technology of Bronze Age cooking vessels from Akrotiri, Thera’ (unpublished PhD thesis, University of Sheffield).Google Scholar
Müller, N.S., Kilikoglou, V. and Day, P.M. 2015. ‘Home-made recipes: tradition and innovation in Bronze Age cooking pots from Akrotiri, Thera’, in Spataro, M. and Villing, A. (eds), Ceramics, Cuisine and Culture: The Archaeology and Science of Kitchen Pottery in the Ancient Mediterranean World (Oxford), 3748.Google Scholar
Nikolakopoulou, I., Georma, F., Moschou, A. and Sofianou, F. 2008. ‘Trapped in the Middle: new stratigraphic and ceramic evidence from Middle Cycladic Akrotiri, Thera’, in Brodie, N., Doole, J., Gavalas, G. and Renfrew, A.C. (eds), Horizon: A Colloquium on the Prehistory of the Cyclades, Cambridge, 25–28 March 2004 (Cambridge), 311–24.Google Scholar
Nodarou, E. and Moody, J. 2014. ‘“Mirabello” fabric(s) forever: an analytical study of the granodiorite pottery of the Vrokastro area from the Final Neolithic period to modern times’, in Molloy, B.P.C. and Duckworth, C.N. (eds), A Cretan Landscape through Time: Priniatikos Pyrgos and Environs, BAR-IS 2634, 91–8.Google Scholar
Palyvou, C. and Tzachili, I. (eds) 2015. ΘΗΡΑΣΙΑ Ι: Μια Διαχρονική Διαδρομή (Athens).Google Scholar
Papanikolaou, D. 1996. Geological Map of Greece. Paros Island (scale: 1:50,000) (Athens).Google Scholar
Papastamatiou, J. 1959. Geological Map of Greece. Sitia (scale: 1:50,000) (Athens).Google Scholar
Pichler, H., Günther, D. and Kussmaul, S. 1980. Geological Map of Greece. Thira Island (scale: 1:50,000) (Athens).Google Scholar
Renfrew, C., Doumas, C., Marangou, L. and Gavalas, G. (eds) 2007. Keros, Dhaskalio Kavos: The Investigations of 1987–1988 (Keros vol.1; Cambridge).Google Scholar
Sbonias, K., Farinetti, E. and Kordatzaki, G. 2015. “Εξερευνώντας ένα ηφαιστειογενές τοπίο: η αρχαιολογική έρευνα επιφανείας στη Θηρασία (2007–2011) και τα πρώτα αποτελέσματα”, in Palyvou and Tzachili (eds) 2015, 3357.Google Scholar
Sbonias, K., Tzachili, I. and Efstathiou, M. forthcoming. “Αρχαιολογική έρευνα στη νήσο Θηρασία: προκαταρκτική έκθεση των εργασιών κατά το 2014 και 2015”, ArchDelt 2015.Google Scholar
Sbonias, K., Tzachili, I. and Moulou, D. 2015. “Ανιχνεύοντας το προϊστορικό τοπίο της Θηρασίας: προκαταρκτικά στοιχεία από την αρχαιολογική έρευνα”, Ιόνιος Λόγος 5, 5376.Google Scholar
Skarpelis, N. and Liati, A. 1990. ‘The prevolcanic basement of Thera at Athenios: metamorphism, plutonism and mineralization’, in Hardy, Keller, Galanopoulos, Flemming and Druitt (eds) 1990, 172–82.Google Scholar
Sotirakopoulou, P. 1999. Ακρωτήρι Θήρας. Η Νεολιθική και η Πρώιμη Εποχή του Χαλκού επί τη Βάσει της Κεραμεικής (Athens).Google Scholar
Tzachili, I. 2005. ‘Excavations on Thera and Therasia in the 19th Century: a chronicle’, JMA 18.2, 231–57.Google Scholar
Tzachili, I. 2006. Οι Αρχές της Αιγαιακής Προϊστορίας. Οι Ανασκαφές στη Θήρα και τη Θηρασία τον 19οαιώνα (Athens).Google Scholar
Tzachili, I. and Sbonias, K. (eds) forthcoming. Πρακτικά Συνεδρίου ΘΗΡΑΣΙΑ. Διαχρονικοί Νησιωτικοί Πολιτισμοί: Η Περίπτωση της Θηρασίας, 19–20 Ιουνίου 2015, Θεσσαλονίκη. Τομ. Αʹ. Η Αρχαιολογική Έρευνα Επιφανείας (Athens).Google Scholar
Vaughan, S.J. 1989. ‘Appendix 2. Petrographic analysis of Mikre Vigla wares’, in Barber, R.L.N. and Hadjianastasiou, O., ‘Mikre Vigla: a Bronze Age settlement on Naxos’, BSA 84, 150–62.Google Scholar
Vaughan, S.J. 1990. ‘Petrographic analysis of the Early Cycladic wares from Akrotiri, Thera’, in Hardy, D.A., Doumas, C.G., Sakellarakis, J.A. and Warren, P.M. (eds) 1990, Thera and the Aegean World III, Vol. 1: Archaeology. Proceedings of the Third International Congress, Santorini, Greece, 3–9 September 1989 (London), 470–87.Google Scholar
Vaughan, S.J. 2006. ‘Macroscopic and petrographic studies of pottery from Markiani on Amorgos’, in Marangou, L., Renfrew, C., Doumas, C. and Gavalas, G. (eds), Markiani, Amorgos: An Early Bronze Age Fortified Settlement. Overview of the 1985–1991 Investigations (BSA Supp. Vol. 40; London), 99101.Google Scholar
Vaughan, S.J., Kilikoglou, V. and Papagiannopoulou, A. 1995. ‘An interdisciplinary study of Middle Cycladic white wares from Akrotiri on Thera’, in Vandiver, P.B., Druzik, J.R., Madrid, J.L.G., Freestone, I.C. and Wheeler, G.S. (eds), Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology IV. Proceedings from the 4th Symposium on Material Issues in Art and Archaeology, May 16–21, 1994, Cancun, Mexico (Materials Research Society, Symposium Proceedings Vol. 352; Pittsburgh), 445–52.Google Scholar
Vaughan, S.J. and Williams, D. 2007. ‘The pottery fabrics’, in Renfrew, C., Brodie, N., Morris, C. and Scarre, C. (eds), Excavations at Phylakopi in Melos 1974–1977 (BSA Supp. Vol. 42; London), 91128.Google Scholar
Vaughan, S.J. and Wilson, D.E. 1993. ‘Interregional contacts in the Aegean in Early Bronze II: the talc ware connection’, in Zerner, C., Zerner, P. and Winder, J. (eds), Wace and Blegen. Proceedings of the International Conference Pottery as Evidence for Trade in the Aegean Bronze Age, 1939–1989, held at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, December 2–3 1989 (Amsterdam), 169–86.Google Scholar
Vougioukalakis, G. 2015. “Η δημιουργία της Θηρασίας και η μορφολογία της την Ύστερη Εποχή του Χαλκού”, in Palyvou and Tzachili (eds) 2015, 21–31.Google Scholar
Williams, D.F. 1978. ‘A petrological examination of pottery from Thera’, in Doumas (ed) 1978, 507–14.Google Scholar
Wilson, D.E. 1999. Ayia Irini: Periods I–III. The Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Settlements. Part 1: The Pottery and Small Finds (Keos Vol. IX; Mainz).Google Scholar