585-596

The prehisoric settlement at Limenaria : the early bronze age

• Μαλαμίδου, Δήμητρα
• Παπαδόπουλος, Στρατής

In 1995 and 1996, architectural remains from the Bronze Age were investigatedon a plot of just 70 m2 at the top of the hill. The archaeological earthfill was 1-1.5 m deep on the bedrock. Two habitation phases were uncovered.The earlier phase (Fig. 2; PI. 1, 2) includes a floor of pebbles, sherds, and compactedearth, a refuse pit, a hearth, and a clay bench. The structures are bounded tothe north by a stone wall (PI. 1). This was probably an open courtyard, which hadto be filled in using earth brought from places with Neolithic fill. In fact, the potteryin the fill probably belongs to the very end of the Neolithic, as is attested by the limited use of graphite, pink or buff pigment on a dark ground, and the addition ofraw pigments (PI. 6).The later phase (Fig. 3) includes a wide, slightly curving wall (PI. 7), to the eastof which was found a number of oblong stones laid vertically on an extensive areaof stone paving (PI. 8). At least fifteen of these were uncovered, projecting 0.30-0.40 m from the surface of the paving. At the west end of the pavement, we uncoveredan egg-shaped stone (Fig. 3; PI. 9) with thirty depressions surrounding asingle one. Its shape is reminiscent of the south Aegean “offering tables”. It isdifficult to interpret this phase, owing to the form of the structures, which have noparallels in Greece. It may have been an open space, but it is impossible to saywhether it served a utilitarian or a symbolic purpose. One might argue that its purposewas symbolic, offering the parallels of the megalithic monuments of WesternEurope, and this is further supported by the presence of the “offering table”, thoughthe function of the latter is, likewise, problematic.As far as the movable finds are concerned, the technology of chipped toolsshows signs of decline. The technology of hunting was advancing here too with theadoption of arrowheads (PI. 10); and small quantities of obsidian (PI. 11) seem tohave reached the settlement throughout its existence, chiefly from Adamas onMelos. Weaving must have become a more common occupation in the BronzeAge, judging by the increased number of spindle whorls that were found. The excavationlocated several masses of unprocessed iron ore, which is abundant in thisarea. Traces of metal-working activity were also found, in the form of bronze slagand lead monoxide, but it is too early to discuss these in greater detail.We do not yet have any radio dating results for the Bronze Age strata atLimenaria. On the basis of the pottery, they may be dated to the later part of theEarly Bronze Age, i.e. the second half of the third millennium. However, since thematerial in the earthfill contains plenty of the typically decorated pottery of EBAII, an even later dating may be proposed, at least for the second phase. In fact, ifwe regard the presence of the “stone with the depressions” as an indication of southAegean influences, a dating after the start of the second millennium may not be atall unlikely.

• History and Archaeology

• Ανασκαφές (Αρχαιολογία)

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