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The pottery from the “A' Kouveleiki cave” at Alepochori in Lakonia

Σύμμεικτα

• Κουμουζέλη, Μαργαρίτα

The pottery from the 1990 and 1992 excavations in the “A' Kouveleiki Cave” at Alepochori in Lakonia shows that the cave was in use throughout the Late and Final Neolithic periods. In the case of the Late Neolithic, apart from the Urfirnis and Black on Red categories, which were represented by only a few sherds, the high quality of the Black, Matt Painted and Fine Grey wares, which were found in considerable quantities and thus exhibit a relatively complete range of types and shapes, indicates contacts with important centres of production and distribution of goods. Thus at a local level the pottery from the “A' Kouveleiki Cave” fills the gap that existed in Lakonia between Kouphovouno and Alepotrypa Dirou, and on a wider level it makes possible correlations between Lakonia and the NE Peloponnese, the Mainland Greece and Thessaly.The Final Neolithic here too is characterized by the preponderance of domestic, variegated, coarse ware and a very small number of pots with pattern-burnished and the singular crusted decoration. At the same time, the infant burial containing two pots — one inside the other —, the figurines with the schematic rendering of the human body and finds like the quern, perforated strainer vessels, spindle whorls and bases with mat impressions provide evidence for their cultural life, diet and weaving occupation. In this phase of the Neolithic it is significant that at Alepochori, which is in the hinterland, close relations are apparent with coastal cave-sites like Franchthi in the Argolid and Klenia in Co- rinthia; this implies that in Lakonia, also, there must have existed close to the sea one or more important settlement stations that had control over the region.

• History and Archaeology

• Ανασκαφές (Αρχαιολογία)

σπήλαια, αρχαία κεραμική, Νεολιθική εποχή, Λακωνία

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