The Aegean in Prehistory
Arcadia Centre
Spring 2006
Instructor: Demetra Papaconstantinou, Ph.D. University of Edinburgh
E-mail: dpapacon@yahoo.com
Class Time: Monday & Wednesday 6:00-8:00pm
COURSE DESCRIPTION/OBJECTIVES
The course forms a detailed introduction to the archaeology of Greece before
the historical period. It extends from earliest prehistory into the post-Mycenaean Dark
Age and presents the historical context within which Greek culture developed and
flourished. Furthermore, it attempts a critical review of the discipline of archaeology
and its relevance to modern times, as it makes clear that historical reconstructions do
not solely depend on the archaeological or documentary evidence but also on the type
of questions archaeologists and historians ask and the socio-political environment in
which these questions are formed.
Since the rediscovery of the Greek Bronze age late in the 19th century, the
stories that have been woven around this uniquely rich body of material have
penetrated the popular imagination to a far greater extent than any other
archaeologically attested culture. Find after find – Troy, Mycenae, and the Knossos
Labyrinth – seemed to confirm as historical reality the myths of the later Greeks,
themselves ancestral to so much of western culture. In that respect, therefore, Greek
Prehistory presents an ideal case for a study that wishes to approach archaeology, not
as an endless description of typological classifications but rather as a field where past
and present meet and influence each other in multiple ways.
The aim of the course is therefore twofold: on one hand it examines the
material culture and history of Prehistoric Greece and on the other it attempts a review
of the role archaeological practice in Greece plays in the construction of its cultural
identity. Apart from a positive attitude toward learning and acceptance of diversity,
the course encourages students to have a sense of responsibility to society and be open
to new experiences.
Classes are supplemented with field trips (Crete and Peloponnese) and visits to
Museums (National Archaeological Museum, Museum of Cycladic Art).
COURSE OUTLINE
Week 1
30 Jan
1 Feb
 Introduction to the course; archaeology as a discipline
 Questions of archaeological practice.
Week 2
6 Feb
8 Feb
 The ‘Neolithic revolution’ and the origins of agriculture.
 Palaeolithic and Neolithic period in Greece
Week 3
13 Feb
15 Feb
 Early Bronze Age in the Aegean [1st assignment]
 Early Cycladic culture
Week 4
20 Feb
22 Feb
 [Visit to the Museum of Cycladic Art]
 Early Bronze Age in Crete
Week 5
27 Feb
1 Mar
 Proto-palatial period in Crete
 Neo-palatial period in Crete [1st paper due]
Week 6
6 Mar
8 Mar
 NO CLASS
 Minoan art and religion [2nd assignment]
(FIELD TRIP TO CRETE: 11-13 March)
Week 7
13 Mar
15 Mar
 Minoan culture (review)
 Minoan “Thalassocracy” – Akrotiri
Week 8
20 Mar
22 Mar
 Early Bronze Age in Mainland Greece
 Middle Helladic and the early Mycenaean period
Week 9
27 Mar
29 Mar
 NO CLASS
 Mycenaean culture: citadels, palaces and houses
Week 10
3 April
5 April
 Material culture: organization, art and religion.
 [Visit to National Archaeological Museum]
(FIELD TRIP TO ARGOLID: 8-9 April)
Week 11
10 April
12 April
 Mycenaean palaces: writing and social organization
 Mycenaean koine / Cyclades under Mycenaean influence
Week 12
17 April
19 April
 Near East in the Bronze Age. (hand outs / Amarna letters)
 The end of the Bronze age
Week 13
24 April
26 April
 NO CLASS
 Homer and The Trojan War – Dark Ages in Greece
Week 14
1 May
3 May
 NO CLASS
 Review
Week 15
8 May
 Finals
Basic Reading and Resources:
Barber, R. 1987 The Cyclades in the Bronze Age. London: Duckworth. Ch. 5
Cadogan, G., E.Hatzaki, A. Vasilakis, 2004 Knossos: Palace, City, State. British
School at Athens. Studies 12.
Dickinson, O. 1994 The Aegean Bronze Age. Cambridge:
Hood , S. The Arts in prehistoric Greece. Harmondsworth: Penguin
Kuhrt, A. 1995 The Ancient Near East: c. 3000-330 B.C. 2 vols. London: Routledge
Morris, I. 1994 Archaeologies of Greece. In I. Morris (ed.) Classical Greece.
Cambridge University Press, pp. 8-47
Preziosi, D. and L. Hitchcock 1999 Aegean Art and Architecture. Oxford University
Press.
Renfrew, C. & Bahn, P. 1991 Archaeology: Theories, methods and practice. London:
Thames and Hudson. ch. 1, 14
Taylour, W. 1983 The Myceneans. Thames and Hudson.
Classical Greek World (and earlier periods)
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu
http://www.culture.gr
http://eawc.evansville.edu/chronology.nepage.htm
http://devlab.dartmouth.edu/history/bronze_age
Mesopotamia and Ancient Near East:
http://www-oi.uchicago.edu/OI/DEPT/RA/ABZU/ABZU_REGINDX_MESO.HTML
http://www.mnemotrix.com/arch/
Egypt
http://www.newton.cam.ac.uk/egypt
Course Requirements and Grades
The final grade for the class will be calculated from the following pieces of work:
 1st assignment, Early Cycladic culture and art (4-5 pages) 20%
 2nd assignment, Minoan and Mycenaean culture and art: trade and its impact (4-5
pages) 20%
 3rd assignment, Archaeological research and cultural management in Greece (4-5
pages) 20%
 Final exam, Two-hour exam (questions from a large range, covering the whole
course) 20%
 Course participation, presentations, set readings 20%
Grade breakdown:
100-90%=A
89-85%=A84-80%=B+
79-75%=B
74-70%=B69-65%=C+
64-60%=C
SYLLABUS
January 30, Monday
 Introduction to the course; Archaeology as a discipline
February 1, Wednesday
 Questions of archaeological practice: stratigraphy, chronology, typology;
concepts of culture and time.
Required Reading:
Renfrew, C. & Bahn, P. 1991 Archaeology: Theories, methods and practice. London: Thames
and Hudson. Chapters, 12, 4.
February 6, Monday
 The ‘Neolithic revolution’ and the origins of agriculture.
Required reading:
Pomeroy, et al. 1999 Ancient Greece. Oxford University Press (pp. 1-8)
Bender, Towards an Understanding of the Transition to Food-Production (pp. 1-16).
Childe, V. G. 1981 Man makes himself. Moonraker Press. [chapter on Neolithic Revolution]
Hodder, the Domestication of Europe (pp. 282-293)
Wilson, The Domestication of the Human Species (pp. 57-66)
February 8, Wednesday
 Palaeolithic and Neolithic period in Greece
Required reading:
Kotsakis, K. 1991 The powerful past: theoretical trends in Greek archaeology. In I. Hodder
(ed.) Archaeological theory in Europe. Routledge. London. (pp. 65-90)
Perles, The early Neolithic in Greece (chapter 2: The Mesolithic Background, chapter 3: The
Introduction of Faming)
Rodden, An early Neolithic Village (pp. 83-92)
Runnels, C. and T. van Andel, 1988 Trade and the origins of agriculture in the Eastern
Mediterranean. Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology 1/1: 83-109
Vitelli, K. 1989 Were Pots First Made for Foods? Doubts from Franchthi. World Archaeology,
vol. 21(1): 17-29.
Optional Reading:
Bender, B. 1975 Farming in Prehistory: From hunter-gatherer to food-producer. London:
John Baker. [BSA F20]
Broodbank, C. 1992 ‘The Neolithic Labyrinth: social change at Knossos before the bronze
age’, Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology 5, 39-75
Maisels, Ch. K. 1993 The Near East: Archaeology in the ‘cradle of civilization’. Routledge:
56-62
McNairn, B. 1980 The method and theory of V. Gordon Childe. Edinburgh: University Press.
[BSA R3].
Morris, I. 2000 Archaeology as Cultural History: words and Things in Iron Age Greece.
Blackwell. (pp. 37-76)
Papathanassopoulos, Neolithic and Cycladic Civilization (Arcadia Library)
Reed, Ch. A. (ed)., 1977 The Origins of Agriculture. Chicago: Alpine. [BSA F20.1]
Runnels, C. 1995 The stone age of Greece from the Palaeolithic to the advent of the Neolithic.
American Journal of Archaeology 99, 699-728.
Thomas, J. 1993 Discourse, Totalization and ‘The Neolithic’, in Ch. Tilley (ed.) Interpretative
Archaeology, pp. 357-394.
Whitelaw, T. 1992 ‘Lost in the Labyrinth? comments on Broodbank’s ‘Social change at
Knossos before the Bronze Age’, Journal of Mediterranean Archaeology 5/2, 225238
February 13, Monday
 Early Bronze Age in the Aegean
Required Reading:
Marthari, M. The Cycladic World in the Early Bronze Age (pp.75-80)
Doumas, Ch. The northeast Aegean islands and their contribution to civilization (pp. 81-87)
February 15, Wednesday
 Early Cycladic Culture
Required Reading:
Doumas, Ch. The Cyclades and their early culture (pp. 21-42)
February 20, Monday
Visit to the Museum of Cycladic Art
Required Reading:
Broodbank, The Cyclades as islands in Aegean and Near Eastern macro-history (pp. 43-67)
Broodbank, Paint, paddles and the politics of value (pp. 247-275)
Coleman, J. “Frying Pans” of the Early Bronze Age Aegean AJA 89 (1985)
Broodbank, C. The Longboat and Society in The Cyclades in the Keros-Syros Culture AJA 93
(1989)
Hoffman, G. Painted Ladies: Early Cycladic II Mourning Figures? AJA 106 (2002)
Optional Reading:
Barber, R. 1987 The Cyclades in the Bronze Age. London: Duckworth. Ch. 1-4
Broodbank, C. 2000 An Island Archaeology of the Early Cyclades. Cambridge University
Press. (chs. 2, 8-10)
Doumas, Ch. Early Bronze Age burial habits in the Cyclades, ch. 4 (burial customs) [Arcadia
Library Xeroxes, henceforth ALX]
Gill, D.W.J. & Chippindale 1993 Material and Intellectual Consequences of Esteem for
Cycladic Figures. American Journal of Archaeology 97, pp. 601-659 [ALX]
Renfrew, C. 1991 The Cycladic Spirit. New York: Abrams.
Doumas, Ch. The NP Goulandris Collection of early Cycladic art
Elia, R. 1996 A seductive and troubling work. In K. Vitelli (ed.) Archaeological Ethics.
Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press, pp. 54-61
February 22, Wednesday
 Early Bronze Age in Crete
Required Reading:
Pomeroy et al., Ancient Greece (pp. 8-18)
Renfrew, C. Crete in the Third Millennium B.C. (pp. 81-98)
Warren, P. Myrtos. [Economy and Society, pp. 255-268]
Whitelaw, T. The Settlement at Fournou Korifi Myrtos and aspects of early Minoan Socail
Organization. [pp. 323-340]
February 27, Monday
 Proto-palatial period in Crete.
Required Reading:
Branigan, K. some Observations on state formation in Crete (pp. 63-68)
Whitelaw, T. From Sites to Communities: Defining the Human Dimensions of Minoan
Urbanism (pp. 15-37)
Branigan, K. Aspects of Minoan Urbanism (pp. 38-50)
Manning, S. Knossos and the Limits of Settlement Growth (pp. 469-480)
March 1, Wednesday
 Neo-palatial period in Crete.
Required Reading:
Knappett, C. Technological innovation and social diversity at Middle Knossos (pp. 257-265)
Driessen, J. 2004 The Central Court of the Palace at Knossos. In G. (pp. 75-82)
Michailidou, A. 2004 On the Minoan economy: a tribute to “Minoan weights and mediums of
currency” by Arthur Evans. Pp 311-321.
Schoep, I. 2004 The socio-economic context of seal use and administration at Knossos. P.
283-294.
Palyvou, C. 2004 Outdoor space in Minoan architecture: “community and privacy”, pp. 207218. In G. Cadogan et al
Hamilakis, Y. Too many chiefs? Fanctional competition in Neopalatial Crete (p. 179-199)
Optional reading:
Branigan, K. 1970 The tombs of the Mesara a study of funerary architecture and ritual in
southern Crete, 2800-1700BC. London: Duckworth. [BSA N378]
Branigan, K. 1988 The Foundations of Palatial Crete. A Survey of Crete in the Early Bronze
Age. 2nd Edition. Amsterdam: Hakkert. [BSA N360.81]
Brown, A. 1983 Arthur Evans and the Palace of Minos. Oxford: Ashmolean Museum. [BSA
N368.775]
Cadogan, G. 1976 Palaces of Minoan Crete ch. 2, 3 [ALX]
Catogan, G. 1976 Palaces of Minoan Crete. London.
Cherry, J. F. 1984 The emergence of the state in the prehistoric Aegean. Preceedings of the
Cambridge Philological Society 30, 18-48.
Evans, A. 1921-1935 The Palace of Minos at Knossos. Four volumes. London.
Graham, J. W. 1986 The Palaces of Crete. 2nd edition. Princeton.
Hägg, R. & Marinatos, N. (eds.) 1987 The function of the Minoan Palaces. Stockholm.
MacGillivray, J. A. 1994 The early history of the palace at Knossos (MMI-II). In Evely, D.,
Hughes-Brock, H. & Momigliano, N. Knossos A Labyrinth of History Papers in
honour of Sinclair Hood. Oxford: Managing Committee of the British School at
Athens. [BSA A666.701]
Niemeier, W. D. 1994 Knossos in the new palace period (MMIII-LMIB). In Evely, D.,
Hughes-Brock, H. & Momigliano, N. Knossos A Labyrinth of History Papers in
honour of Sinclair Hood. Oxford: Managing Committee of the British School at
Athens. [BSA A666.701]
Preziosi, D. and L. Hitchcock 1999 Aegean Art and Architecture, chs. 2-4 (sections on Crete)
Sakellarakis, J. & Sakellarakis, E. 1991 Archanes. Athens.
Sakellarakis, J. & Sakellarakis, E. 1997 Archanes. Minoan Crete in a new light. Athens.
Watrous, L. V. 1994 Crete from earliest prehistory through the protopalatial period. American
Journal of Archaeology 98, 695-753.
Wilson, D. 1994 Knossos before the palaces: an overview of the early bronze age (EMI-III).
In Evely, D. Hughes-Brock, H. & Momigliano, N.(eds.) Knossos A Labyrinth of
History. Papers presented in honour of Sincair Hood. Oxford: Managing Committee
of the British School at Athens. [BSA A666.701]
March 6, Monday
NO CLASS
March 8, Wednesday
 Minoan art and religion [2nd assignment]
Required Reading:
Shaw, J. Evidence for the Minoan Tripartite Shrine (pp. 429-418)
Carter, T. Transformative processes in liminal spaces: craft as ritual action in the Throne
Room area (pp. 274-217)
Zeimbeki, M. 2004 The organization of votive production and distribution in the peak
sanctuaries of state society Crete: A perspective offered by the Juktas clay animal
figures. Pp. 351-261.
Prent, M. Cult activities at the Palace of Knossos from the end of the Bronze Age: continuity
and change (pp. 411-419)
Goodison, L. From tholos tomb to Throne Room (339-350)
Optional Reading:
Gesell, G. C. 1985 Town, Palace and House Cult in Minoan Crete. Götenborg.
Goodison, L. 1989 Death, Women and the Sun: Symbolism of regeneration in Aegean
Religion. London.
Marinatos, N. 1993 Minoan Religion: Ritual, Image and Symbol. Columbia
Peatfield, A. D. 1987 Palace and Peak: The political and religious relationship between
palaces and peak sanctuaries. Pp. 89-93, in Hägg, R. & Marinatos, N. (eds.) 1987
The function of the Minoan Palaces. Stockholm.
March 13, Monday
 Minoan culture (review)
March 15, Wednesday
 Minoan “Thalassocracy” – Trade
Required Reading:
Doumas, Ch. 1982 The Minoan thalassocracy and the Cyclades (pp. 5-14))
Shaw, J. Consideration of the site of Akrotiri as a Minoan settlement (pp. 429-436)
March 20, Monday
 Early Bronze Age in Mainland Greece
Required Reading:
Dickinson, O. 1994 The Aegean Bronze Age. Cambridge University Press
Preziosi, D. and L. Hitchcock 1999 Aegean Art and Architecture,
March 22, Wednesday
 Middle Helladic and the early Mycenaean period.
Required Reading:
Pomeroy et al. Ancient Greece (pp. 18-22)
Optional Reading:
Dickinson, O.T. 1977 The origins of Mycenaean civilization. Goteborg.
Mylonas, G. E. 1973 O tafikos kiklos vita ton Mikinon [English summary]. Athens
Mylonas, Mycenae rich in gold (The Bronze Age) [ALX]
Vermeule, E. 1975 The Art of the Shaft Graves of Mycenae.
March 27, Monday
NO CLASS
March 29, Wednesday
 Mycenaean culture: citadels, palaces and houses.
Required Reading:
Bendall, L. A Re-consideration of the Northeastern Building at Pylos. (pp. 181-231)
Taylour, W. 1983 The Myceneans. Thames and Hudson. (chapter 5)
April 3, Monday
 Mycenaean culture: organization, art and religion.
Required Reading:
Hood, Tholos Tombs of the Aegean
Wright, J. Death and Power at Mycenae (pp. 171-184)
Mee, C. B. and Cavanagh, W. G. 1984 Mycenaean Tombs as evidence for Social and Political
Organization. Oxford Journal of Archaeology 3: 45-64.
April 5, Wednesday
National Archaeological Museum
April 10, Monday
 Mycenaean palaces: writing and social organization
Required Reading:
Taylour, W. 1983 The Myceneans. Thames and Hudson.
[Fieldtrip to Argolid 11-13 November]
April 12, Wednesday

Mycenaean koine; Cyclades and Crete under Mycenaean influence.
Required Reading:
Bass, G. F. 1986 A Bronze Age Shipwreck at Ulu Burun (Kas): 1984 Campaign. American
Journal of Archaeology 90: 269-296.
Bass, G. F. 1986 A Bronze Age Shipwreck at Ulu Burun (Kas): 1986 Campaign. American
Journal of Archaeology 93: 1-29.
Sherratt, A. and S. Sherratt, From Luxuries to commodities: the nature of Mediterranean
Bronze Age Trading Systems (pp. 351-376)
April 17, Monday
 Near East in the Bronze Age: (hand outs)
Optional Reading:
Kemp. B. 1989 Ancient Egypt: the anatomy of a civilization. Routledge.
Kuhrt, A. 1995 the Ancient Near East c. 3000-330 B.C. vol. I
Maisels, Ch. 1993 The Near East: Archaeology in the ‘cradle of civilization’. Routledge.
Peltenburg, E. 1989 Early society in Cyprus. Edinburgh University Press.
Postgate, Mesopotamia
April 19, Wednesday
 The end of the Bronze Age
Required Reading
Preziosi, D. and L. Hitchcock 1999 Aegean Art and Architecture (chapter 6: Disruptions,
(Dis)Continuities and the Bronze Age) (pp. 193-218)
Osborne, The Problem of the Beginnings (pp. 19-51), In Osborne, R. 1996 Greece in the making
1200-479B.C.
April 24, Monday
NO CLASS
April 26, Wednesday
 Homer and the Trojan War – Dark Ages in Greece.
Required Reading:
Homer (chapters from Odyssey and Iliad)
Morris, I. Homer and the Iron Age (pp. 535-559) In Morris, I. and B. Powell 1997 A new
companion to Homer.
Pomeroy, et al. Ancient Greece (pp. 41-81)
May 1, Monday
NO CLASS
May 3, Wednesday
REVIEW
May 8, Monday
 Finals
1st Assignment
EARLY CYCLADIC CULTURE
Take this questionnaire with you and visit the Early Cycladic collections both in the National
Archaeological Museum and in the Museum of Cycladic Art.
Then, based on your notes and the relevant bibliography (see syllabus), write a paper of about 4 to 5
pages (8000 words).
1)
2)
3)
4)
Indicate the main types of artefacts which characterize Early Cycladic art
Describe the main characteristics of each type: material, shape, function:
Attempt a reconstruction of Early Cycladic culture based on the archaeological evidence?
Compare the two collections (Museum of Cycladic Art vs. Naational Archaeological
Museum):
2nd Assignment
Mycenaean Art and Culture
Visit the Mycenaean collection in the National Archaeological Museum and
examine on one of the following types of artifacts:





Jewelry
Pottery, stone and metal vases,
Seals and gems, clay tablets,
Arms (daggers and swords),
Wood, shell, bone and ivory, faience
Then based on your notes (raw material, style, craftsmanship, region, function) and the relevant
bibliography (starting with Hood, S. The arts in prehistoric Greece), write a paper of about 4 to 5 pages
(8000 words).
3rd Assignment
ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND CULTURAL MANAGEMENT
IN GREECE
Bibliographical source: KATHIMERINI (Greek newspaper)
Keep a note of all events and articles related to Greek antiquities from the day that your course starts.
Based on your notes and relevant bibliography (see syllabus) write a paper of 4 to 5 pages (8 words) on
the role of antiquities in modern Greece and how that has/can affect current archaeological research.
NAME: __________________________
MAJOR: _________________________
Have you visited Europe before?
Have you ever taken a course on:









Prehistoric archaeology in Greece
Classical archaeology
European prehistory
Classical art
Near Eastern art or archaeology
Classical studies
Ancient history of the Near East
Ancient history of Greece
Cultural anthropology
How would you define the discipline of archaeology?
Are you going to use this course to get a credit?
If yes, specify the topic/course:_________________
NAME: __________________________
MAJOR: _________________________
Have you visited Europe before?
Have you ever taken a course on:









Prehistoric archaeology in Greece
Classical archaeology
European prehistory
Classical art
Near Eastern art or archaeology
Classical studies
Ancient history of the Near East
Ancient history of Greece
Cultural anthropology
How would you define the discipline of archaeology?
Are you going to use this course to get a credit?
If yes, specify the topic/course:_________________