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The cycladic elements of Archanes

Σύμμεικτα

• Σακελλαράκης, Γιάννης

Connexions between the Cyclades and Crete have been known and studied since the past century. Many researchers, like Frankfort, Marinatos, Âberg, Hutchinson, Platon and Branigan, have spoken of cycladic settlements on Crete and especially on the northern part of the island. New cycladic elements that have come to light at the excavation of the unique cemetery at Fourni in Archanes offer an insight into many interesting matters relating to contacts between the two civilizations. In this particular case, the cycladic elements of Archanes are not examined separately, as has been done recently, but in relation to the remaining finds of the Fourni cemetery, also in -relation to the other finds of Northern Crete and the entire island, and further still also in connexion with the generally accepted cycladic trade activity in more distant seas.First found in Archanes were thirteen cycladic marble figurines, most of them in tholos tomb Γ and in the area to the West of burial buildings 18 and 19. These figurines may be easily classified under the known types : Spedos ( 9 specimens ), Koumassa ( 2 specimens ), Do- kathismata ( 1 specimen ) and Agios Onoufrios ( 1 specimen ) — although some doubt exists as to the accuracy of this classification. Along with the figurines, these two areas also yielded numerous obsidian blades, until now an unparalleled discovery on Crete. Fifty five such blades were found in tholos tomb Γ, and a total of 939 were found in the area to the West of burial buildins 18and 19. Also found together with the figurines were three stone vases imported from the Cyclades and a host of other objects, figurines, daggers, amulets, beads, pins and seals directly connected with the Cyclades.Naturally, the most interesting items are the figurines, which are certainly not “ . . . products of organized forgery, intended to be placed on the Cretan market as genuinely cycladic”, as has been argued lately. A more probable explanation is that the figurines were made on Crete by Cycladeans — a view supported by the finding of a unique cycladic ivory figurine in tholos tomb Γ. This figurine seems to have been made by an inhabitant of the Cyclades who knew all the elements of a cycladic work and who employed a material easily available on Crete. Along with all the other cycladic elements of Archanes, this figurine indicates an installation of Cycladeans in this area. It is interesting to note that these cycladic elements of the cemetery of Archanes stand out in strong contrast to the overall Minoan environment of the area. In fact, they are the most significant such elements that have been found on Crete so far, thus implying the presence of Cycladeans in Archanes.I has been assumed lately that a cycladic settlement on Crete had to be set up after a certain model to which all the known elements of the proto-cycla- dic civilization were attributed in the belief that a colony is “ . . . the most conservative part of the civilization from which it was cut off. ” This, however, is not certain. On the contrary, as seen in the later Greek colonies in Ionia, colonists are not always distinguished for their conservatism. What is even more significant, neither were the so-called cycladic colonies in Alanika on Euboea, at Marathon and Aghios Cosmas in Attica and at lassos on Karia founded on the basis of some established cycladic models, as has been demonstrated mainly by excavations at those sites. At all these places there seems to be a normal fusion of inherent cycladic and local elements — a feature observed also in Archanes.We cannot rule out the possibility that another cycladic settlement may have been founded also at Agia Fotia in Sitia, although we must wait for the publication of some cycladic material from the excavations which have been carried out at the local cemetery. However, Agia Fotia is far away from central Crete where the cycladic elements are concentrated until now, whereas Archanes is in the centre of the island — indeed, near Tekes — from where we already know other cycladic finds. Some of the cycladicfinds of Archanes are dated as Ear- ly-Minoan III, a period of close relations between the Cyclades and Crete, and furthermore a period of intense trading activity by the Cycladeans. However, the cycladic finds of Archanes cover in times sequence the Early-Minoan II, Early-Minoan III and Middle-Minoan la periods, i.e. they show continuous contacts.A cycladic installation in Archanes is probable, because during the pre-palace period this site is one of the most significant ones in northern Crete; it would import products from more distant areas, and this seems to have attracted the Cycladeans. Therefore, the numerous cycladic elements of Archanes are important, because — as has been noted — they demonstrate the various elements which have influenced pre-palatial Crete, although they need time to be assimilated. However, for final conclusions we must wait for the excavation of the settlement. As taught by the late Wace and Biegen, “ There lives more faith in honest doubt. ”

• History and Archaeology

• Αρχαιολογία
• Ανασκαφές (Αρχαιολογία)

εποχή του Χαλκού , Κυκλάδες, Κρήτη

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