The study comprises an investigation of the history and culture of the Cyclades in the second millennium B. C., based on a comprehensive analysis of the sites and finds. Particular attention is paid to the question of the cultural unity of the islands and their relationships with other areas of the Aegean. In the introduction in Volume I (Chapter 1), previous work in the field is surveyed, problems are outlined and possible areas of progress suggested. In Chapter 2, the stratigraphical basis for the definition of the Middle and Late Cycladic periods is set out. There follow detailed descriptions and discussions of the sites (Chapter 3), the local pottery (Chapter 4), the non-ceramic finds (Chapter 5 A-J), the architecture (Chapter 6) and the burials (Chapter 7). Imports and exports, mainly of pottery, are considered in Chapter 8 and their significance is assessed, both for the establishment of a relative chronology and for the elucidation of the external relations of the Cyclades in the period under review. The concluding Chapter (9) summarises the evidence already presented in terms of the history of the Cyclades and the way of life of their inhabitants. Solutions are offered to some of the questions posed in the introduction and suitable avenues for future research indicated. The companion volume contains appendices, listing published finds of the Middle and Late Cycladic periods, in format to that used for their discussion in Volume I. Appendix I (corresponding to Chapter 4) lists the pottery, excluding imports, and Appendix II A - J the non-ceramic finds. Appendix III (Chapter 7) records known burials and notes the associated finds. Appendix IV (Chapter 8) lists imported pottery found in the Cyclades, Cycladic exports found abroad and objects exchanged between one island and another. Volume II also contains the illustrations, which consist of fifty two figures and thirty three plates.

This thesis investigates similarities and differences in the chemistry of the Linear B clay tablets and sealings found at the Palace of Nestor in Pylos, located in the western Peloponnese, Greece. Their chemistry provides clues regarding the flow of material goods in and out of the palace and therefore to the degree of centralization of the political-economy. Over a thousand 3,000 year-old clay tablets and sealings currently housed at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens were analyzed using a pXRF over the course of the summers of 2015 and 2016. The chemical compositions were analyzed statistically. Results of the study and the conclusions are presented here.

Ceramic production and exchange in Early Bronze Age Greece have been studied through provenance determination by neutron activation analysis. The concentrations of Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Al, Sc, La, Ce, Eu, Yb, Th, Ti, Hf, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, and Co were determined, with respect to Perlman-Asaro standard pottery, in 255 objects of the Early Helladic (or EH) II and III periods found at Keramidhaki, Korakou, Phlious, Zygouries, Tiryns, and Asine in Korinthia and Argolis. Multivariate treatment of these data, merged with 162 analyses from the author's earlier work with samples from Lerna (Argolis) and Lake Vouliagmeni (Korinthia), yielded 11 compositional reference groups. Many of these could be attributed to centres of production on distributional or other grounds, thereby allowing the sources of more than half the sampled objects to be determined. / The following conclusions were reached: All 8 sites (except possibly Phlious) were sources of common EH II ware (sauceboats and small bowls), which had limited distributions. Many unusual EH II fine wares had other sources and broader distributions. The attribution of coarse wares was complicated by the presence of tempering material. The changes in pottery acquisition patterns which accompanied the beginning of EH III were probably more drastic at Tiryns than at Lerna or Korakou.

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No description available.

This study aims to identify human interference and tendencies in the Bronze Age settlement of Malthi, Greece. It has employed a spatial analysis, a Kernel Density Estimate, to locate areas of anthropic interference and evaluate if the initial excavation report, despite its flaws, can be used in newer research. The study was able to identify intense Middle Helladic human presence on some of the areas of the settlement, mainly the ‘central terrace’, prove that Natan Valmin’s excavation report can still be used to gain new knowledge regarding the Bronze Age, and that a thorough investigation of the standing architecture needs to be done. / Syftet med den här studien är att identifiera mänsklig närvaro och tendenser på bronsåldersboplatsen i Malthi, Grekland. En rumslig analys, en Kernel Density Estimation, har använts för att lokalisera områden av mänsklig närvaro och har utvärderat om original utgrävningsrapporten, trots sina brister, kan användas i ny forskning. Studien kunde identifiera intensiv Mellanhelladisk närvaro i några delar av boplatsen, mestadels på ’central terrassen’, och kunde visa att Natan Valmins utgrävningsrapport kan användas för att få ny kunskap om bronsåldern, och att en ingående studie av de stående arkitektoniska elementen måste göras.

More than sixty years after Michael Ventris’ decipherment of the Linear B script, 14 of its 87 syllabic signs still have no sound-values assigned to them. This group of ‘undeciphered’ signs represent a significant gap in our ability not only to read the Linear B script, but also to understand its development and use. Chapter 1 of this thesis analyses the origins and usage of signs with known sound-values to establish what types of values are in principle most likely to be found amongst the undeciphered signs: this investigation also enables an exploration of the development of Linear B, its relationship with its parent script Linear A, and the motivating factors underlying the creation of new Linear B signs. Chapter 2 consists of studies of each individual undeciphered sign, including a palaeographic analysis of their forms, discussion of their corpus of attestations, and an examination of their prospects of decipherment and possible sound-values in the light of the results of Chapter 1. Finally, Chapter 3 employs this group of signs in a case-study to explore the potential of palaeographic analysis to contribute to our understanding of wider issues concerning the Linear B script and its context of use within the Mycenaean palaces. This case-study focuses in particular on two main uses of palaeography: as a means of assigning a relative chronology to Linear B texts, and as evidence for the reconstruction of the Mycenaean scribes’ administrative work and training.

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No description available.

No description available.