The Neolithic pottery from the DAI collection: Attica. 2010. Athenische Mitteilungen 125, 1-44

1Neolithic pottery from the DAI collection. Attica

Neolithic pottery from the DAI Collection Attica

Merkourios Georgiadis

abstract The Neolithic period at Attica has attracted limited attention in the past in comparison to other parts of Greece. The presentation of the finds from the DAI collection allows a new assessment of the pottery types that were produced in Neolithic Attica as well as a diachronic analysis of the settlements in this region. A number of new sites are presented and others from which limited or no finds have been published. This article has allowed a general, but regional presentation of pottery trends through the Neolithic phases from Attica. Thus, comparisons with other neighbouring regions such as Boiotia, Euboia, the Cyclades and the Peloponnese can be made, underlining the common as well as the regional peculiarities. Furthermore, the diachronic analysis of the settlement patterns from the EN to the FN phase reveals different preferences and choices according to the changing socio-economic conditions of each period. Similar patterns and divergences can be seen in other regions, like in the Peloponnese, Central Greece, Thessaly and the Aegean islands, where analogous studies or systematic surveys have been conducted. Finally, an overall picture of Neolithic Attica is provided in an attempt to understand how this region developed through time.Keywords Attica; Neolithic; Mesogaia; Thriasio; Megarid.

Η Νεολιθική Κεραμική από την Συλλογή του DAI: η Αττική Η Νεολιθική περίοδος στην Αττική έχει προκαλέσει περιορισμένο ερευνητικό ενδιαφέρον σε

σχέση με άλλες περιοχές της Ελλάδος. Η παρουσίαση των ευρημάτων από την συλλογή του DAI επιτρέπει μία νέα αξιολόγηση των τύπων κεραμικής που παρήχθησαν στην Νεολιθική Αττική και μία διαχρονική ανάλυση των οικισμών σε αυτήν την περιοχή. Ένας σημαντικός αριθμός νέων θέσεων παρουσιάζονται καθώς και άλλοι από τους οποίους καθόλου ή πολύ λίγα ευρήματα είχαν δημοσιευθεί. Αυτό το άρθρο επι-τρέπει μία γενική, αλλά συνολική παρουσίαση των τάσεων της κεραμικής από αυτήν την περιοχή κατά την διάρκεια των Νεολιθικών φάσεων στην Αττική. Με αυτόν τον τρόπο, συγκρίσεις με άλλες γειτονικές περιοχές μπορούν να πραγματοποιηθούν, όπως η Βοιωτία, η Εύβοια, οι Κυκλάδες και η Πελοπόννησος, υπογραμμίζοντας τα κοινά στοιχεία καθώς και τις τοπικές ιδιομορφίες. Επιπρόσθετα, η διαχρονική ανά-λυση του οικιστικού δικτύου από την ΠΝ έως την ΤΝ φάση αποκαλύπτει διαφορετικές προτιμήσεις και επιλογές βασισμένες στις μεταβαλλόμενες κοινωνικο-οικονομικές συνθήκες κάθε περιόδου. Παρόμοια δίκτυα και διαφοροποιήσεις μπορούν να γίνουν αντιληπτές σε άλλες περιοχές, όπως η Πελοπόννησος, η Στερεά Ελλάδα, η Θεσσαλία και τα νησιά του Αιγαίου, όπου ανάλογες μελέτες ή συστηματικές επιφανει-ακές έρευνες έχουν πραγματοποιηθεί. Τέλος, παρατίθεται μία συνολική εικόνα της Νεολιθικής Αττικής σε μία προσπάθεια κατανόησης του τρόπου ανάπτυξης αυτής της περιοχής μέσα στον χρόνο.Λέξεις-κλειδιά Αττική, Νεολιθική, Μεσογαία, Θριάσιο, Μεγαρίδα

2 Merkourios Georgiadis

INTroDuCTIoN

The collection of finds stored at the DAI comes from many sites and many periods across Greece. Thanks to the initiative of its director, Prof. Dr. W.-D. Niemeier, I was trusted to study and present the Neolithic pottery from various sites. F. Brommer, using the maps produced by J. A. Kaupert, has provided a general presentation of sites from all periods in Attica from the finds stored in the DAI 1. Here, a more detailed analysis of the Neolithic sites and finds will be offered. These settlements can be divided into three categories: firstly, those which have been thoroughly excavated and published; second, those that are known, but have very few things published, especially Neolithic material; and thirdly, those that are previously unknown. The sherds have been collected at random from the surface of these sites, with all the limitations that this method entails. Nonetheless, they provide us with useful information, especially in regard to the settlements of the second and third category. In the analysis of all the Neolithic material emphasis will be placed on three aspects: the pottery itself, i. e. ware type, fabric, shape and consistency, the sites themselves, including landscape setting, settlement patterns during the Neolithic period and their dating. The cur-rent analysis will consider the finds from Attica.

Attica is relatively privileged in regard to the study of the Neolithic period, with some well published pottery assemblages from Athens, Nea Makri, Kitsos cave, Thorikos and Aigina 2. Ο. Κακαβογιάννη 3 and E. Alram-Stern 4 have collected some of the Neolithic sites from Attica, and more recently M. Pantelidou-Gofa 5 has presented a large number of them across Attica in a concise and thorough book. However, the recent construction works in the plain of Athens and Mesogaia for the 2004 Athens olympics have revealed new sites and considerably altered the landscape of Attica. Previously, D. r. Theocharis 6 mentioned Gly-fada and Kasa-Panakton, whilst K. Syriopoulos 7 noted two more sites, Christos and Profitis Ilias, in the Koropi area, and D. French 8 refers to a site at oinoe, which is most probably Eleutherai. J. ober 9 and S. E. J. Gerstel et alii 10 located a few possible Neolithic sherds in their research on historical fortresses in Northern and Western Attica, at Kotroni hill-Aphid-nai and Eleutherai. More recent reports on Neolithic sherds have come from Punta and Hydroussa islet near Voula 11, Kalmi at Kalyvia Thorikos 12, Merenta near Markopoulo 13, Leontari cave in north-eastern Hymettos 14, Schisto cave at Keratsini, Artemis Mounichia at Peiraeus, Zaimis cave at Megara, Strefi hill and Zoungla at rafina 15, Euripidis cave at Salamis 16, Korakovouni on Mt Hymettos 17, Choumeza and Boura at Spata, Myrteza at Pa-

I would like to express my gratitude to Prof. W.-D. Nie-meier for entrusting me with the study of this material from the DAI. Many thanks are owed to Dr D. Grigo-ropoulos and the DAI staff for all their help during my research in the facilities of the School. I would also like to thank Dr P. Vlachos and Mr M. Vlachos for their help and patience during our visiting of the sites across Atti-ca. This project would not have been completed without the generous funding of the J. F Costopoulos Founda-tion. Thanks are also owed to Dr F. Mavridis and Prof. C. B. Mee for reading and commenting on this article. I would also like to thank Mr. T. Papadogonas for pro-ducing the illustrations and Dr K. Kopanias for all his help and support. 1 Brommer 1972; Kaupert 1878. 2 Immerwahr 1971; Lambert 1981; Levi 1930 – 1; Παντε-

λίδου 1975; Παντελίδου-Γκόφα 1995; Spitaels 1982; Θεοχάρης 1954b; Walter – Felten 1981.

3 Κακαβογιάννη 1985, 47 – 48. 50 4 Alram-Stern 1996, 209 – 221. 5 Pantelidou-Gofa 2000. 6 Theocharis 1956, 29. 7 Συριόπουλος 1968, 60; Σάμψων 1976, 178. 8 French 1972, fig. 6; Phelps 2004, 62. 9 ober 1987, 202. 209. 215. 10 Gerstel et al. 2003, 158 n. 39. 11 Ανδρέου 1991a, 60; Ανδρέου 1991b, 60 – 61. 12 Τσαραβόπουλος 1997, 84. 13 Κακαβογιάννη et al. 2009; Whitley 2003, 11; Whitley

2004, 8. 14 Karali et al. 2005. 15 Μαυρίδης – Κορμαζοπούλου forthcoming; Papatha-

nassopoulos 1996, 205 fig. 60, 524. 529. 532. 16 Μάρη 2001, 50 – 52. 181 – 186; Palaiokrassa 1991, 11. 17 Λιάρος 2003.


18 Apostolopoulou-Kakavoyanni 2001, 18 – 19; Κακα-βογιάννη – Ντούνη 2009, 383 – 384. 387; Steinhauer 2001, 29; Steinhauer 2009a; Steinhauer 2009b.

19 All pottery measurements and calculations are based on my analysis and observations. The dating abbre-viations are: Early Neolithic (EN), Middle Neolithic (MN), Late Neolithic (LN), Final Neolithic (FN). – Pottery abbreviations:BW Black Ware GW Gray Ware rW red Ware BB Black Burnished

Br Brown B BlackG Grayr red

o orangeYr Yellowish redrY reddish YelloW WhiteS SlippedI IncisedBoBuff Black-on-BuffBuffoB Buff-on-BlackroBuff red-on-Buffror red-on-redroW red on WhiteLoD Light-on-DarkMP Matt Painted Ware

Pl Plastic C Cordon C-I Cordon-ImpressedSC Slashed Cordonh Heightw Widthth Thicknesss Silverg GoldenExt External sideInt Internal Sideasl above sea level

20 All measurements of sherds are in cms.

iania, Lamptrai, Etosi, Zagani hill and Pallini 18. Thus the Neolithic settlement pattern in this region needs to be revised. Additionally, a large number of sites with Neolithic sherds are represented in the DAI collection, most of which were previously unknown or analysed only in a limited way. Exceptions are the finds from Thorikos, the Acropolis Slopes and Nea Makri-sites that have already been well studied.

As discussed earlier, some of the sites where the material originated were already known and thus no attempt was made to re-locate and record them. The available information for the rest of the sites allowed some to be more accurately located, while others remained more general and their exact position unknown. For the latter, the expression »in the area of« is used in the location description to signify this. During my fieldwalking, I managed to iden-tify several of them.

I have divided Attica into four main sub-regions: the Mesogaia, from Sounion to rham-nous; the plain of Athens, from Kavouri up to the north mountainous Attica; the Thriasio plain; and the Megarid, including Aigina. The sites will be presented from south to north within the order of the sub-regions presented above 19.

MESoGAIA

1. Thorikos, Velatouri hill. Context nos. 76.1 (5), 76.2 (7). Sherds: 12; rims: 2; Handles: 2; Base: 1; Bod-ies: 2; Decorated: 1 MP-BoBuff, 1 MP-BuffoB, 1 MP-roBuff, 1 Polychrome, 1 I. Wares: 3 Yr, 2 BW, 2 rW. Colours: Yr, Ext, Int: 5Yr 5/6 yellowish red; BW, Ext, Int: Gley 2 2.5/1 bluish black; rW, Ext, Int: 10r 4/4 weak red. Inclusions: some white, a few white quartz on some, few small stones W, few schists on few sherds, s mica with larger flakes. Condition: hard clay; smoothed and occasionally burnished; few have straw marks and others striation marks.Types: rims: bowls: 1 with s-shaped body and flaring rim, 1 with curving body and rim; Handles: 1 verti-cal strap, 1 horizontal with carinated profile; Bases: 1 tall; Decorated: 1 Polychrome with three vertical lines (1 red in the middle flanked by two black), 1 MP-BoBuff with an oblique line, 1 MP-BuffoB with two broad black zones and a reserved thinner non-painted in the middle, 1 MP-roBuff with several vertical lines that continue obliquely further down forming angles, 1 with antithetic broad shallow in-cised lines forming angles.

Comments: the Polychrome as well as the MP sherds suggest a date in the LN, but the rW argue for conti-nuity into the FN, as shown by the published sherds from Thorikos.Location: Velatouri is a low, broad, coastal hill on the north part of the Thorikos bay, where prehis-toric finds have been found on its summit. Refer-ences: Alram-Stern 1996, 218-219; Brommer 1972, 272 : 302 – 303; Pantelidou-Gofa 2000, 130; Servais 1967, 24 – 27; Spitaels 1982. Date: LN – FN.

2. Vigla, Anavyssos. Context no. 78.2. Sherds: 4; rims: 2; Bodies: 2. Wares: 2 Br. Colours: Br, Ext, Int: 5Yr 4/3 – 4/4 reddish brown. Inclusions: few white, limited white quartz on one sherd, a few small stones (mainly W, few G, B), limited schist on one sherd, s mica. Condition: hard clay; most were bur-nished; straw marks on some sherds.Types: rims: bowls: 1 with straight body and rim, 1 with curving body, straight on the upper part with round rim, and has an unperforated strap-like lug starting from the rim (h. 3 20, w. 4.4, th. 0.5 – 1.6)


21 Παντελίδου-Γκόφα 1995, fig. 46, 9 – 158; 60, 12 – 105. 22 Lambert 1981, pl. 25, 1734. 23 Levi 1930 – 1, fig. 30,o. p. q; 31 c. 24 Phelps 2004, fig. 23, 39.

25 Παντελίδου-Γκόφα 1995, fig. 56, 11 – 26. 11 – 31; 12 – 112.

26 Παντελίδου-Γκόφα 1995, fig. 45, 9 – 88. 27 Lambert 1981, fig. 160.

(fig. 1), which can be paralleled with examples from LN Nea Makri 21 and FN Kitsos cave 22, but the shape suggests the later date.Comments: limited and not diagnostic Neolithic pot-tery, with the bowl rim arguing for a FN date.Location: in the area of a low (44 m asl), broad inland hill, about 200 m north of Anavyssos town. Refer-ences: Brommer 1972, 270 : 259. Date: FN.

3. Ayios Nikolaos, Lagonisi. Context no. 78.1. Sherds: 2; Bodies: 2. Wares: 1 r, 1 BW. Colours: r, Ext, Int: 5Yr 5/6 yellowish red; BW, Ext, Int: Gley 2 3/1 very dark bluish gray – 2.5/1 bluish black. Inclusions: few small stones (W, B), s mica. Condition: hard clay; burnished; small straw marks on BW; the BW has small round and oblong internal hollows. Com-ments: limited and not diagnostic Neolithic pottery.Location: the site is situated at the Ayios Nikoalos church on a low hill by the sea, close to a stream, north of Lagonisi and south of Ayios Dimitrios. Ref-erences: Brommer 1972, 269 : 256. Date: LN – FN.

4. Keratea. Context nos. 77.2 (20). Sherds: 20; rims: 2; Handle: 1; Bases: 2; Bodies: 14; Decorated: 1 DoL urfirnis. Wares: 6 Buff, 3 rW, 3 Yr, 2 BB. Colours: Buff, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 5/4 brown – 6/4 light brown – 6/6 reddish yellow; rW, Ext, Int: 10r 5/6 – 4/6 red, Yr, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 6/6 reddish yellow, 10Yr 6/1 gray – 6/3 pale brown; BB, Ext, Int: Gley 2 2.5/1 bluish black. Inclusions: few white, s mica. Condition: hard; buff, yellowish, red and black are the main colours; the clay has few impurities, it is well baked; straw marks are found on few surfaces; horizontal and oblique striation marks are visible on some sherds.Types: rims: bowl: 1 with straight body and flaring round rim; jar: 1 with spreading neck and flaring rim; Handle: 1 cylindrical lug with vertical perfora-tion from a bowl; Base: 1 flat; Decorated: 1 urfirnis body and part of base from a pedestal bowl with diamond shaped designs bordered by flame pat-terns (h. 7.3, w. 4.1, th. 0.7 – 1.1), similar examples are found at Acropolis South Slope 23 and Franch-thi 24 (fig. 41).Comments: the urfirnis pedestal bowl provides a solid MN date, the BB may indicate continuity into the LN and the rW into the FN phase.Location: in the area of a low inland hill c. 220 m asl, about 200 m east north-east of Ayia Triada church, currently at the western end of the Keratea town, just west of the football field; prehistoric sherds were also found just north of Ayia Triada church. References: Brommer 1972, 271 : 293. Date: MN – FN.

5. Cave of Keratea. Context nos. 77.1. Sherds: 16; rim: 1; Bases: 2; Bodies: 13; Decorated: 2 MP-BoBuff, 1 I. Wares: 5 Buff, 3 rW, 2 Br, 1 GW. Colours: Buff, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 5/4 brown – 6/4 light brown – 6/6 reddish yellow; rW, Ext, Int: 10r 5/6 – 4/6 red; Br, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 4/3 – 4/4 reddish brown gray; GW, Ext, Int: Gley 2 4/1 dark bluish. Inclusions: few white, few black, limited white quartz in a few sherds, few small and medium stones mainly W, few G and Bl, 0.1 – 0.4 diam, s mica, but few have g mica with large flakes. Condition: hard, buff, yellowish, red, brown and gray; the clay has few impurities, it is well baked; straw marks are found on few surfaces; horizontal and oblique striation marks are visible on some sherds.Types: rim: jar: 1 with cylindrical neck and everted round rim (h. 3.8, w. 5.4, th. 1 – 1.2) (fig. 2) with paral-lels from LN Nea Makri 25; Bases: 1 ring; Decorated: 1 body with MP black vertical lines the thicker is at the edge and two thinner parallel are preserved, 1 body with MP black with a broad, probably verti-cal, band from which two parallel oblique lines break off, from right to left, 1 matt impressed flat base, 1 with impressed and incised designs on the external part of a cylindrical base (h. 4.1, w. 4.4, th. 0.9 – 1.5) (fig. 3) with parallels from LN Nea Makri 26 and for its design from Kitsos cave 27.Comments: the MP, GW and the jar rim strongly sug-gest the use of this site during the LN period and the rW reveal the continued occupation of this site during the FN phase.Location: Keratea cave on Mt Paneion or Keratovouni at Keratea. References: Brommer 1972, 271 : 294. Date: LN – FN.

6. Zeus Anchesmios, Vari. Context no. 75.1. Sherds: 5; Handle: 1; Bodies: 4. Wares: 5 rW. Colours: rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 4/6 red. Inclusions: some white, few black, s mica. Condition: all had straw marks; one has cracks on its surface.Types: Handle: 1 vertical thicker on top thinner lower.Comments: the rW argue for a FN date.Location: possibly in the area of a slope south-west of Vari beach. References: Brommer 1972, 269 : 254. Date: FN.

7. Pyrgos, Vravron. Context no. 58.3. Sherds: 4; Handle: 1; Bases: 2; Body: 1. Wares: 2 rW, 1 GW, 1 W. Colours: rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/6 red – 10r 4/6


28 Phelps 2004, 87 – 88. 29 Lambert 1981, pl. 33, 66 – 43. 921 + 9/228. 2/483. 30 Phelps 2004, 119 fig. 56, 10. 1. 31 Levi 1930 – 1, fig. 54 b. e.

32 Servais 1967, fig. 24; Spitaels 1982, fig. 1.7, 13 – 14; 1.8, 21 – 22.

33 Levi 1930 – 1, fig. 23 r.

red; GW, Ext, Int: Gley 2 4/1 dark bluish gray – 3/1 very dark bluish gray; BW, Ext, Int: Gley 3/1 very dark bluish gray. Inclusions: few white, few small stones (mainly W, few G), s mica with few larger flakes. Condition: hard clay, well baked; most are burnished, lightly or more.Types: Handle: 1 vertical strap; Bases: 2 raised; other: 1 with post-firing hole 0.3 diam. Comments: the GW provides a more solid LN date, but the rW could suggest continuity of occupation into the FN phases.Location: a low and broad inland hill with a stream to the west and north surrounded by plains, it is situated in a strategic location at the centre of inland Mesogaia, c. 100 m north-east of the tower prehis-toric sherds, flint flakes and a Melian obsidian blade were found. Date: LN – FN.

8. Vravrona, Mycenaean citadel. Context no. 58.6. Sherds: 6; Handle: 1; Bodies: 2; Decorated: 1 MP-BoBuff. Wares: 3 Br, 1 G. Colours: Br, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 4/4 brown – 6/4 light brown; G, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 3/2 dark brown – 3/1 very dark gray. Inclusions: some white, few black, some white quartz, few small stones (mainly W, some G, B), few schists, s mica. Condition: hard clay, well baked; the MP is bur-nished; on one sherd horizontal and oblique stria-tion lines are preserved internally.Types: Handle: 1 vertical strap; Decorated: 1 MP-BoBuff from jar with a slightly curving body (h. 6.2, w. 5.3, th. 0.4 – 0.5) (fig. 4), there is a thick central ver-tical line (w 1.4 – 0.9) that becomes thinner, flanked on both sides by sets of two thinner parallel lines (w. 0.2). Comments: the MP provides a solid LN date for this site 28, which fits with the previously published MN – LN finds, most probably from the same site.Location: low hill close to the sea over the classi-cal temple of Vravron. References: Αντωνίου 1990, 62; Brommer 1972, 271 : 284 – 285; Pantelidou-Gofa 2000, 126. Date: LN.

9. Pousi Kaloyeri, Vravron. Context no. 58.2. Sherds: 26; rims: 9; Bases: 2; Bodies: 14; Decorated: 1 Pl. Wares: 10 GW, 3 rW, 1 Br. Colours: GW, Ext, Int: Gley 2 4/1 dark bluish gray – 3/1 very dark bluish gray; rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/6 red; Br, Ext, Int: 5Yr 5/4 reddish brown – 5/2 reddish gray. Inclusions: some white, few black, few quartz, few small stones (mainly W, few G, B), s mica with few larger flakes. Condition: well baked and hard; the GW is always burnished lightly or better; one sherd with rim and handle preserved has a red slip; straw marks are

found in few cases on both surfaces; striation marks are visible on a couple of sherds.Types: rims: bowls: 4 with slightly curving body and round rim, one with flat rim, 1 with straight body and pointed rim, 1 with slightly curving body and thickened incurving round rim (h. 8.4, w. 4.6, th. 0.4 – 0.9) (fig. 5), which finds parallels at FN Kit-sos cave 29, 1 curving body with a straight round rim and a horizontal tubular lug with slightly raised edges just below the rim (h. 5.7, w. 7.2, th. 1 – 1.3) (fig. 6) with FN II parallels from Alepotrypa 30; jars: 2 spreading necks with flaring round rim; Bases: 1 flat, 1 ring; Decorated: 1 curving body from a bowl with a T-rim and a vertical plastic decora-tion with a horn at its end, below the rim (h. 6.1, w. 6.6, th. 0.5 – 1.2) (fig. 7), which finds parallels at the Acropolis South Slope caves 31. Comments: the GW sherds argue for a LN date, while the rW, the di-agnostic bowl rim and the bowl with a tubular lug could argue for continuity until the FN II phase. However the two sites excavated in this area pro-vide a continuity of use from the EN to the LN pe-riod.Location: 2.5 km south-west of the Artemis temple at Vravrona, inland relatively close to the sea. Refer-ences: Alram-Stern 1996, 210; Diamant – Traill 1986, 120 – 121; Pantelidou-Gofa 2000, 129; Θεοχάρης 1954b, 122; Theocharis 1956, 1. Date: (EN – )LN – FN II.

10. Spata. Context no. 60.3. Sherds: 13; rims: 4; Handle: 1; Bodies: 8. Wares: 3 o – r, 3 rW, 2 G. Colours: o – r, Ext, Int: 5Yr 5/6 yellowish red; rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/6 red – 10r 4/6 red; G, Ext, Int: Gley 2 5/1 bluish gray – 4/1 dark bluish gray. Inclu-sions: few white, few black, some white quartz, few small stones (mainly W, few B 0.1 – 0.3 diam), some schists, much s mica with some larger flakes, lim-ited use of g mica with large flakes. Condition: hard clay; most are well smoothed; more striation lines on both sides, horizontal or oblique; on one sherd a long straw mark is observed internally.Types: rims: bowls: 1 with flaring body and rim, 1 with asymmetrical curving body and thickened round rim, possibly from a jug, 1 with curving body that becomes straighter at the upper part, but the rim is upstraight round (h. 3.4, w. 0.6 – 0.7, th. 0.7 – 1.1) (fig. 8) with parallels from FN Thorikos 32, 1 with slightly curving body and a T-rim (h. 4.1, w. 4.1, th. 0.6 – 0.7) (fig. 9) which has a parallel, albeit thick-er, from Athens South Slope 33; Handle: 1 horizontal triangle in profile perforated.


34 Lambert 1981, pl. 25, 1492. 35 Παντελίδου-Γκόφα 1995, fig. 60, 12 – 39.

36 Lambert 1981, pl. 26, CP1; pl. 39, 2065. 37 Keller 1982, fig. 2.9, P116.

Comments: the rW pieces could argue for an FN date. The same date is proposed for the Tsoumba Sideri and this material may be from the same site.Location: possibly from Tsoumba Sideri. References: Alram-Stern 1996, 210; Brommer 1972, 268 : 234; Hope Simpson – Dickinson 1979, 215 – 216; Pante-lidou-Gofa 2000, 130. Date: FN.

11. Lapari hill, Spata. Context no. 60.4; Sherd: 1; Body: 1. Wares: 1 rW. Colours: rW, Ext, Int: 10r 4/6 red. Inclusions: few black, some schists, much s mica with few g mica, both with some larger flakes. Con-dition: red slipped and burnished.Comments: the rW would suggest an FN occupation for this site.Location: in the area of a low flat inland hill just north of the airport and east of Spata. References: Brommer 1972, 268 : 235. Date: FN.

12. Epano Kondra, Spata. Context no. 60.2. Sherds: 23; rims: 8; Handles: 3; Bases: 3; Bodies: 9. Wares: 4 G, 4 rW, 2 Br, 1 o – r, 1 Buff / S. Colours: G, Ext, Int: Gley 2 5/1 bluish gray – 4/1 dark bluish gray; rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/6 red – 10r 4/6 red; Br, Ext, Int: 5Yr 5/3 – 5/4 reddish brown – 7.5Yr 5/4 – 4/3 brown; o – r, Ext, Int: 5Yr 5/6 yellowish red; Buff, Ext, Int: 10Yr 7/4 very pale brown. Inclusions: some white, few black, few quartz, white and transparent, some small stones (mainly W, some B, 0.1 – 0.2 diam), some schists, s mica, limited use of g mica with larg-er flakes. Condition: hard clay; roughly smoothed, on some red slip was applied; some had horizontal and oblique striation lines; few had straw marks; on one sherd cracks are seen on its surface.Types: rims: bowls: 2 with curving body and straight round rim, 3 with curving lower part and straight upper with round rim, one of them forms an angle (h. 3.7, w. 8.1, th. 0.5 – 0.7) (fig. 10) and has a parallels from LN Kitsos cave 34; jars: 2 with spreading neck and an everted, slightly pointed rim, 1 spreading neck with flaring rim has a round button on its neck (h. 6.4, w. 10.7, th. 0.9 – 1.3) (fig. 11), 1 with incurving body and simple flat rim (h. 3.7, w. 8.1, th. 1.1 – 1.3) (fig. 12) that finds a parallel at LN Nea Makri 35, 1 cheese pot rim with straight body; Handles: 1 ver-tical strap, 1 vertical cylindrical, 1 horizontal unper-forated lug; Bases: 1 flat, 2 raised.Comments: some of the diagnostic sherds argue for a LN date, whilst the character of the rW sherds and the cheese pot suggests continuity into the FN pe-riod.Location: in the area of an inland low hill north-west of Spata. References: Brommer 1972, 268 : 232. Date: LN – FN.

13. Stavros, west of Spata road. Context no. 60.1. Sherds: 14; rims: 3; Handles: 2; Base: 1; Bodies: 8. Wares: 7 o – r, 2 Br, 1 rW. Colours: o – r, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 6/6 – 6/8 light red – 5/6 red; Br, Ext, Int: 5Yr 5/3 – 5/4 reddish brown – 7.5Yr 5/4 – 4/3 brown; rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/6 red – 10r 4/6 red. Inclusions: few white, few black, few white quartz, some small stones (mainly W, few G, r), some schists, s mica with larger flakes and in few g mica with larger flakes. Condition: hard clay; the surface is smoothed and in some cases burnished; one sherd has cracks on its external surface; striation marks are occasion-ally seen; one straw mark is found on the interior of a bowl.Types: rims: bowls: 1 with curving body and straight round rim, 1 with curving body and thickened in-curving rim, 1 curving with thickened flat rim and an external everted lip; Handles: 1 vertical strap, 1 part of handle; Base: 1 cylindrical solid.Comments: the diagnostic sherds, their fabric and the rW suggest a FN date.Location: low inland hill, c. 800 m north-east of Mt Hymettos in the Stavros area, c. 50 m east of Klesithenes avenue. References: Brommer 1972, 266 : 183. Date: FN.

14. Yerakas. Context no. 61.1. Sherds: 1; Body: 1. Wares: 1 r. Colours: r 2.5Yr 4/6 red. Inclusions: few white, few black, few small stones (W, G), few schists, s mica. Condition: hard clay.Comments: possibly FN.Location: unknown. Date: FN.

15. Pikermi. Context no. 61.3. Sherds: 9; rims: 5; Base: 1; Bodies: 3. Wares: 3 rW, 1 Br. Colours: rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/6 red – 5Yr 5/6 yellowish red; Br, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 5/4 – 4/3 brown. Inclusions: few white, some black, few small stones (W), s mica and in most g flakes as well. Condition: hard clay; most are burnished; few had straw marks and a few had hori-zontal striation marks; generally good quality clay with few impurities.Types: rims: bowls: 2 with curving body which be-comes straight on the upper part with a straight round rim, 2 with straight body and rim, one had a thickened round rim, 1 with a curving body end-ing on a straight round simple rim with a strap han-dle under the rim (h. 3.8, w. 4.3, th. 0.8 – 0.9) (fig. 13) which finds parallels at FN Kitsos cave 36 and FN Plakari 37; Base: fragment of a base preserved with part of a hole (diam 0.6).Comments: the diagnostic pottery and the rW would suggest a FN date.Location: unknown, close to Pikermi. References: Bro-mmer 1972, 268 : 224. Date: FN.


38 Spitaels 1982, fig. 1.4, 7; fig. 1.8, 21. 39 Lambert 1981, fig. 159. 216. 40 Spitaels 1982, fig. 1.4, 7; fig. 1.8, 21. 41 Παντελίδου-Γκόφα 1995, 177 – 178, fig. Δ, 5 – 53; 23,

5 – 53; 76, 5 – 53.

42 Servais 1967, fig. 24; Spitaels 1982, fig. 1.7, 13 – 14; 1.8, 21 – 22.

43 Keller 1982, fig. 2.8, P54. 44 Phelps 2004, fig. 58, 3. 5; 101, 2. 45 Immerwahr 1971, 23 – 24 pl. 1, 8. 46 Coleman 1977, pl. 33, 134. 97; pl. 78.

16. Hill north of Pikermi. Context no. 61.2. Sherds: 4; rim: 1; Handle: 1; Body: 1; Decorated: 1 I. Wares: 2 Br, 2 rY. Colours: Br, Ext, Int: 5Yr 5/3 – 5/4 reddish brown – 7.5Yr 5/4 – 4/3 brown; rY, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 6/6 reddish yellow. Inclusions: few white, few black, few white quartz, few small stones, s mica, in one g mica with larger flakes. Condition: hard clay; all of them smoothed.Types: rims: bowls: 1 with curving body and a straight upper part with a straight round rim (h. 4.8, w. 5, th. 0.8 – 0.9) (fig. 14), which finds parallels at FN Thorikos 38; Handles: 1 horizontal unperforated lug triangle in profile; Decorated: 1 straight body from a bowl or scoop with vertical and horizontal internal incisions (h. 3.6, w. 1.7, th. 0.7 – 0.8) (fig. 15) that can be paralleled with similar decoration found at FN Kitsos cave 39.Comments: the fabric of the sherds, the bowl rim and the Incised decorated example argue for a FN date.Location: in the area of a flat, broad, inland plateau north of the Pikermi up to Dioni settlement,. Refer-ences: Brommer 1972, 268 : 223. Date: FN.

17. Hill South-West of Rafina. Context no. 58.5. Sherds: 11; rim: 1; Handles: 2; Bases: 8. Wares: 8 rW. Colours: rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/6 red – 10r 4/6 red. In-clusions: few white, some black, some quartz, some small stones (few W, some G, B), s mica with few larger flakes and few with g and large flakes. Con-dition: hard clay well baked; almost all slipped and burnished.Types: rims: bowls: 1 with straight body with an angle upwards just below the rim and a straight flat rim, which finds parallels at FN Thorikos 40; Handles: 1 part, 1 vertical thin strap from a jar with raised edges forming a lunate profile; Bases: 8 flat.Comments: the rW and the bowl diagnostic bowl rim strongly suggest a FN date.Location: in the area of the Velanideza cape, south-east of rafina, today north-east of Loutsa (Artemis). References: Brommer 1972, 271 : 280. Date: FN.

18. Askitario. Context no. 58.1. Sherds: 3; Handle: 1; Body: 1; Decorated: 1 roW urfirnis. Wares: 2 rW. Colours: rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/6 red – 10r 4/6 red. Inclusions: few white, few black, on one limited quartz, few small stones (W), s mica with few larger flakes. Condition: hard clay, well baked; smoothed and well burnished; generally good quality clay with few impurities.

Types: Handle: 1 part; Decorated: curving body from a bowl with external roW decoration, a solid trian-gle or diamond on the lower part with 4 or 5 concen-tric thin lined triangles or diamond motifs above it (h. 3.2, w. 3.8, th. 0.6) (fig. 16), which finds a parallel at MN Nea Makri 41.Comments: the roW sherd argues for a MN date, while the rW belong to the FN period.Location: site on a peninsula. References: Θεοχάρης 1954a, 104, but there is no reference for pre-EH finds. Date: MN, FN.

19. Rafina. Context no. 58.4. Sherds: 3; rims: 3. Wares: 3 rW. Colours: rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/6 red – 10r 4/6 red. Inclusions: some white, few black, few small stones (mainly W, some G, few B r), few white quartz, few schists, s mica with few larger flakes and limited g. Condition: hard clay, well baked; red ware slipped and burnished; on one sherd internal horizontal and oblique striation marks can be seen.Types: rims: bowls: 1 with straight body and straight thickened round rim, 1 with curving body and a straight round rim underlined by an external horizontal incision below the lip (h. 4.6, w. 10.3, th. 0.5 – 0.8) (fig. 17), with parallels for its shape from FN Thorikos 42 and FN Plakari 43; jar: 1 with straight body and flat rim from a jar or jug.Comments: the rW and the diagnostic bowl argue for a FN date.Location: in the area just north of rafina’s harbour 20 m asl, possibly in the area south of Ayios Niko-laos church. References: Brommer 1972, 271 : 277. Date: FN.

20. Kavos, Ayios Andreas. Context no. 57.2. Sherds: 3; rim: 1; Handle: 1; Body: 1. Wares: 2 Br, 1 rW. Col-ours: Br, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 6/4 light brown, rW, Ext: 10r 4/8 red, Int: 5Yr 4/3 reddish brown. Inclusions: some white, few black, few small stones (mainly W), few white quartz, few schists, s mica with some larger flakes. Condition: friable clay, but well baked; good smoothing in most sherds; the jar sherd has a straw mark on its neck.Types: rim: jar: 1 with spreading neck with a flar-ing round rim (h. 6.4, w. 6.5, th. 0.8 – 1) (fig. 18); Han-dle: 1 vertical strap from a collared jar with slightly raised edges (h. 8, w. 8.5, th. 0.7 – 0.9) (fig. 19), which can be paralleled with finds from FN II Alepot-rypa 44, Athens Agora 45 and Kefala 46.


47 Παντελίδου-Γκόφα 1995, fig. 74, 4 – 79. 5 – 82.

Comments: the rW sherd argues for a FN date, while the handle with the raised edges suggests FN II.Location: in the area of cape Kavos north of Ayios Andreas, in the area of the summer camp. Referen-ces: Brommer 1972, 270 : 376. Date: FN (I – )II.

21. Nea Makri. Context nos. 59.1 (10), 59.2 (26). Sherds: 36; rims: 10; Handles: 13; Bases: 4; Bodies: 2; Decorated: 4 I, 3 Pl. Wares: 17 Br, 16 G, 3 B. Colours: Br, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 5/6 strong brown – 6/6 reddish yellow; G, Ext, Int: Gley 2 4/1 dark bluish gray – 3/1 very dark bluish gray; B, Ext, Int: Gley 2 3/1 very dark bluish gray – 2.5/1 bluish black. Inclusions: few white quartz, few small stones small and medium (mainly W, few G, some B), some schist 0.1 – 0.2 diam, s mica with larger flakes. Condition: hard clay; the surface is well smoothed and shiny due to the schist and mica; there is no burnishing but there are smoothing marks.Types: rims: bowls: 2 with curving body and slight flaring round rim, one with a button below the rim (h. 7.4, w. 3.8, th. 0.5 – 0.8) (fig. 20), 1 with curving body and straight upper part and rim, 1 with curv-ing body and bead rim with incised decoration (h. 7.1, w. 8.9, th. 0.6 – 0.7) (fig. 21), 2 with straight body and flaring around rim, 2 with flaring body and everted rim; jars: 1 cylindrical neck with straight round rim; Handles: 1 vertical rectangular from a jar, 6 triangular horizontal perforated lugs, 1 horizontal unperforated lug, 1 round with vertical perforated lug, 1 round unperforated lug, 2 trian-gular horizontal perforated lugs, 1 cylindrical lug vertically perforated; Bases: 3 ring (one made from

two pieces); Decorated: 3 with plastic (simple low horizontal ovoid blobs), 3 with linear horizontal and oblique motifs on body (h. 5.4, w. 8.7, th. 0.6 – 0.8) (fig. 22) with parallels from MN Nea Makri 47. Com-ments: the plastic decorated and the B sherds belong to the EN tradition, the incised to the MN and / or LN phase and the bead rim bowl to the LN period.Location: flat coastal site. References: Alram-Stern 1996, 211-214; Παντελίδου-Γκόφα 1991; Παντελί-δου-Γκόφα 1995; Pantelidou-Gofa 2000, 128; Θεο-χάρης 1954b; Theocharis 1956. Date: EN – FN.

22. Sotiria, Acropolis, Marathon. Context no. 57.1. Sherds: 9; rims: 3; Bodies: 6. Wares: 4 G, 4 rW, 1 Br. Colours: G, Ext, Int: Gley 2 5/1 bluish gray – 3/1 very dark bluish gray; rW, Ext, Int: 10r 4/6 red; Br, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 5/6 strong brown. Inclusions: some white, few black, few small stones (mainly W, few Br, G), few white quartz, few schists, much s mica with some larger flakes. Condition: hard clay, well baked; good smoothing is frequent; all rW are burnished and good quality; one sherd has a straw mark on one side; generally good quality clay with few im-purities.Types: rims: bowl: 1 with curving body and straight upper part with pointed rim; jars: 1 cylindrical neck with flaring round rim, 1 spreading neck with a flar-ing round rim (h. 4, w. 7, th. 0.5 – 0.6) (fig. 23).Comments: the diagnostic sherds and the rW would argue for a FN date.Location: possibly in the area of the lower summits of Mt Agrieliki, just south of Vrana. References: Brom-mer 1972, 270 : 267. Date: FN.

PLAIN oF ATHENS

23. North-west Glyfada. Context no. 75.2. Sherds: 21; rims: 6; Handles: 3; Bases: 3; Bodies: 9. Wares: 10 Br, 8 r, 3 G, 2 rW. Colours: Br, Ext, Int: 5Yr 5/4 reddish brown – 7.5Yr 6/4 light brown – 5/4 brown; r, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 6/8 light red – 5/6 red; G, Ext, Int: Gley 2 4/1 dark bluish gray; rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/6 red. Inclusions: some white, some small stones (mainly W, some G), some schists on some sherds, s mica and few with g and larger flakes. Condition: hard clay; roughly smoothed and few burnished; few had straw mark.Types: rims: bowls: 2 with slightly curving body and flaring pointed rim, 1 with curving body and upturned round rim; jars: 1 with incurving body, flaring neck with an everted rim, 1 with spreading neck with flaring round rim; Handles: 1 vertical

oval, 1 vertical lunate, 1 vertical strap; Bases: 1 flat, 1 raised, 1 ring.Comments: the diagnostic and the rW would argue for a FN date.Location: unknown. References: Theocharis 1956, 29. Date: FN.

24. Big Pani, Trachones. Context no. 74.1. Sherds: 10; rims: 2; Handle: 1; Bodies: 7. Wares: 3 rW, 2 Br, 2 G. Colours: rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 4/6 red; Br, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/4 – 4/4 reddish brown; G, Ext, Int: Gley 2 4/1 dark bluish gray. Inclusions: some white, few black, few transparent quartz and a few white on some sherds, a few small stones (mainly W, few G, o, Br), one with limited schist, limited s mica. Condition:


48 Phelps 2004, 118 fig. 56, 8. 16. 49 Levi 1930 – 1, fig. 50 q – v.

50 Phelps 2004, 70 – 71 fig. 25, 2. 51 Λιάρος 2003, 237 – 238.

hard clay; not very well smoothed apart from the rW; striation lines on one sherd.Types: rims: bowls: 1 curving body with straight pointed rim, 1 with curving body from a thick open vessel with a rolled rim (h. 3.5, w. 4.8, th. 1.2 – 1.5) (fig. 24) with parallels from Alepotrypa 48 and Athens South Slope caves 49; Handle: 1 vertical oval.Comments: the rW would argue for a FN date for this assemblage.Location: south-west slope of Pani hill. References: Brommer 1972, 263 : 139; Καζά-Παπαγεωργίου 2006, 25. Date: FN (I – )II.

25. Between Kara (Ilioupolis) and Trachones, Kontopigado hill. Context no. 69.2. Sherds: 9; rims: 5; Bodies: 4. Wares: 3 Br, 3 G, 2 r, 1 rW. Colours: Br, Ext, Int: 5Yr 5/4 brown; G, Ext, Int: Gley 2 3/1 very dark bluish gray; r, Ext, Int: 5Yr 5/6 yellowish red; rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 4/6 red. Inclusions: some black, on one example a few shiny black, numerous schists on many sherds, much s mica. Condition: hard clay; most well smoothed or slipped and burnished; some have straw marks; a few have horizontal stria-tion lines.Types: rims: bowls: 2 with slightly curving body and an upraised round rim, one of them has a swollen rim belonging to a pedestal bowl (h. 5.8, w. 3.8, th. 0.7 – 0.9) (fig. 25) with parallels from LN Korinth 50, 1 with slightly curving body and a Γ-like rim, 1 with curving body and an everted round rim; jars: 1 spreading neck with an everted round rim.Comments: this material may come from the same site as the Trachones-Kontopigado example, but the diagnostic pedestal bowl rim belongs to the LN and the rW to the FN phase.Location: inland low hill (Gerasinos), at Leoforos Vouliagmenis and Dimitri Gounari, where the Kontopigado hill once existed. References: Brommer 1972, 263 : 136; Καζά-Παπαγεωργίου 2006, 31; Pan-telidou-Gofa 2000, 130 – 131. Date: LN – FN.

26. Zoodochos Piyi, Hymettos. Context no. 69.1. Sherds: 5; rim: 1; Bodies: 3; Decorated: 1 I. Wares: 5 Br. Colours: Br, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/4 reddish brown – 5Yr 5/4 brown. Inclusions: few white, few white quartz, few small stones (W), few schists, s mica. Condition: hard clay; smoothed and few burnished; the incised is slipped as well.Types: rim: bowl: 1 with curving body and a round rim with a thin horizontal incision underlining the rim; Decorated: curving body from a bowl with oblique incised external decoration (h. 3.5, w. 2.3, th. 0.5) (fig. 26).

Comments: the diagnostic are not very clear, but their character and the incised decoration suggests a FN date.Location: near a lowland area in Vyronas town, at the Zoodochos Piyi area. References: Brommer 1972, 263 : 135. Date: FN.

27. Guri Korakas (Korakovouni). Context no. 67.3. Sherds: 24; rims: 5; Handles: 4; Bases: 5; Bodies: 10. Wares: 14 rW, 6 Br, 4 Yr. Colours: rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 6/6 light red – 4/6 red; Br, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 5/4 brown; Yr, Ext, Int: 5Yr 6/6 reddish yellow. Inclusions: some white, few black, some of the sherds have quartz (mainly transparent) and a few white, a few small stones (W), some sherds have few schists, limited s mica, one has g with larger flakes. Condition: hard clay; the rW are slipped but not necessarily bur-nished; the sherds from closed vessels have a lot of straw marks, especially the bases and the handles; one base has a crack on its surface; one sherd from a bowl has horizontal and oblique thick striation lines on both sides; one base has many hollows, but it is not sponge-like 51.Types: rims: bowls: 1 with straight body and point-ed rim, 1 with straight body and Γ-shaped rim, 1 with curving body and thickened rim pointed rim; jars: 1 spreading neck with a round flaring rim, 1 spreading neck with a triangle rim; Handles: 4 ver-tical strap; Bases: 5 flat. Comments: the rW sherds argue in favour of a FN date.Location: inland hill today known as Korakovouni on the north-west side of Hymettos. References: Brom mer 1972, 262 : 120; Λιάρος 2003. Date: FN.

28. South and South-west Slopes of Acropolis, Athens. Context no. 55.2 (1), 55.4 (6). Sherds: 7; rim: 1; Handle: 1; Bodies: 5. Wares: 4 Yr, 2 r, 1 Br. Colours: Yr, Ext, Int: 5Yr 6/6 reddish yellow – 5/6 yellow-ish red; r, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/6 red; Br, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/4 reddish brown. Inclusions: few white quartz, few small and medium stones (0.1 – 0.4 diam), some sherds with some schists, half with s mica and half with g mica with large flakes. Condition: hard clay; all smoothed; some had straw marks; on one some pieces of wood were used as temper in the clay.Types: rim: jar: 1 spreading neck with a pointed rim; Handle: 1 part.Comments: not very diagnostic sherds, they could belong to the FN period, as the ones recovered by earlier scholars.Location: south and south-west slope of the Athens Acropolis, above the theatre of Dionysos and north-east of the odeion of Herodis Attikos. References:


52 Παντελίδου-Γκόφα 1995, fig. 46, 9 – 8; 50, 10. 16; 53, 11 – 21; 59, 12 – 39.

53 Phelps 2004, fig. 57, 3. 54 Coleman 1977, pl. 34, 74.

Alram-Stern 1996, 209-210; Hansen 1937, 540 – 542; Levi 1930 – 1, 411 – 418; Παντελίδου 1975, 28 – 38. 47. 155 – 158; Πλάτων 1964, 27. 32; Πλάτων 1965 28 – 29; Πλάτων 1966, 42 – 43. Date: FN.

29a. The small Museum, Athens Acropolis. Con-text no. 55.1. Sherds: 13; rim: 1; Bodies: 12. Wares: 7 BW, 6 GW. Colours: BW, Ext, Int: Gley 2 4/1 dark bluish gray – 2.5/1 bluish black; GW, Ext, Int: Gley 2 5/1 bluish gray-greenish gray – 4/1 dark bluish gray. Inclusions: few white, limited quartz in few sherds, s mica. Condition: hard clay and thin; all burnished or very well smoothed, some have burnishing marks on both sides; a few have straw marks; very good quality clay with rather limited impurities.Types: rim: bowl: 1 with carinated body with almost straight upper part and a straight round rim.Comments: the carinated shape of the bowl and the GW argue in favour of a LN date of occupation for this part of the Acropolis.Location: the small Museum on the Acropolis. Date: LN.

29b. The North-west Building, Athens Acropolis. Context no. 55.3. Sherds: 6; rims: 3; Bodies: 3. Wares: 3 Br, 2 rW, 1 G. Colours: Br, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 6/4 light brown; rW, Ext, Int: 10r 5/6 red; G, Ext, Int: Gley 2 5/1 bluish gray. Inclusions: some white, few black, few quartz white and transparent, few small stones (mainly W), s mica. Condition: hard clay; burnished or well smoothed with burnishing marks visible on most sherds; one of the rW is slipped.Types: rims: bowls: 1 with curving body and straight round rim; jar: 1 cylindrical neck with a flaring round rim, 1 curving body with a thickened incurv-ing round rim (h. 6.4, w. 9.8, th. 0.7 – 1.6) (fig. 27) that finds parallels at LN Nea Makri 52, FN Alepotrypa 53 and Kephala 54. Comments: the diagnostic jar rim and the rW argue in favour of a FN date for this part of the Acropolis.Location: Acropolis, the north-west building. Date: FN.

29c. Athens Acropolis. Context nos. 55.5 (2), 55.6 (5). Sherds: 7; rim: 1; Bodies: 6. Wares: 3 BW, 3 G, 1 B. Colours: BW, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 4/1 dark gray – Gley 2 3/1 very dark bluish gray – 2.5/1 bluish black; G, Ext, Int: Gley 2 5/1 bluish gray – 4/1 dark bluish gray; B, Ext, Int: Gley 2 3/1 very dark bluish gray – 2.5/1 bluish black. Inclusions: some white, few small stones (W, B, r), few schists on one, s mica. Condi-tion: hard clay; limited use of burnishing with some burnishing lines visible; most are smoothed and have striation marks; an external straw mark on one

sherd; very good quality clay with few impurities.Types: rim: bowl: straight body from a bowl with a round flaring rim.Comments: the diagnostic and the BW cannot pro-vide a definite date.Location: unspecified part of the Acropolis. Refer-ences: Παντελίδου 1975, 24. Date: LN – FN.

30. Site north-west of Kynigos, Hymettos. Con-text no. 67.4. Sherds: 5; rims: 2; Handle: 1; Bodies: 2. Wares: 5 r. Colours: r 2.5Yr 5/6 red. Inclusions: few white, some small stones (mainly W, some B, G), some schists, much s mica. Condition: hard clay; they are smoothed, but not slipped or burnished; there is frequent use of straw as temper.Types: rims: bowl: 1 with curving body and a point-ed rim; jar: 1 spreading neck with a slightly flaring thickened round rim; Handle: 1 vertical strap.Comments: the diagnostic pottery and the wares are not conclusive, but a FN date is the most possible for this assemblage.Location: in the area of inland hill slope most prob-ably within Ayia Paraskevi settlement north-west of Kynigos, on north Hymettos. References: Brommer 1972, 262 : 123. Date: FN.

31. Zeus Anchesmios, Tourkovounia. Context no. 63.3; Sherd: 1; Body: 1; Ware: 1 rW. Colours: rW 2.5Yr 4/6 red. Inclusions: few white, few white quartz, limited s mica. Condition: hard clay; slipped externally, burnished internally.Comments: possibly FN due to the rW found at this site.Location: possibly in the area of the Tourkovounia hill at the classical sanctuary. References: Brommer 1972, 261 : 101. Date: FN.

32. Koukouvaounes (Metamorfossi). Context no. 63.1. Sherds: 2; Bodies: 2. Wares: 1 Br, 1 G. Col-ours: Br, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 4/4 reddish brown; G, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 5/1 gray. Inclusions: few white, some black with few shiny black, few white quartz, few small stones (W, Br, o, B), s mica. Condition: very hard, almost rough; on one circular holes exist on the sur-face and a straw mark.Comments: the sherds are undiagnostic, but they could belong to the FN period.Location: unknown, possibly in the area north-east of Metamorfossi. References: Brommer 1972, 260 : 93. Date: FN.

33. Kephisos. Context no. 51.1. Sherds: 24; rims: 8; Handles: 3; Bases: 3; Bodies: 8; Decorated: 1 C, 1 C-I. Wares: 15 rW, 6 Br, 3 GW. Colours: rW, Ext,


55 Karali 1981, pl. 42 c. 56 Phelps 2004, fig. 47, 3. 57 Karali 1981, pl. 41 a; Lambert 1981, fig. 163.

58 Coleman 1977, pl. 31 r. 59 Phelps 2004, 116 fig. 61, 5; 100, 1. 7. 60 Παντελίδου-Γκόφα 1995, fig. 52, 11 – 46.

Int: 2.5Yr 5/6 red – 10r 4/6 red; Br, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 5/4 brown; GW, Ext, Int: Gley 2 4/1 dark bluish gray – 3/1 very dark bluish gray. Inclusions: few white, one with limited quartz, few small stones (mainly W), one with few schists, s mica with larger flakes. Condition: hard clay; half are burnished and the rest are well smoothed; most have burnishing marks; a few have straw marks; most have a good quality clay with few impurities.Types: rims: bowls: 2 with straight body and flar-ing pointed rim, 2 with slightly s-shaped body and round flaring rim, 1 with curving body and straight upper part and rim with a vertical strap handle with raised edges (h. 7.5, w. 7.3, th. 0.7 – 0.9), which is thinner at the lower end (fig. 28) and finds paral-lels at FN Kitsos cave 55 and Klenia 56, 1 with curving body and straight upper part with a round rim and an elephant-type handle from the rim with raised edges (h. 7.5, w. 7.8, th. 0.7 – 0.8) (fig. 29), with par-allels from FN Kitsos cave 57 and Kephalos 58; jars: 1 with straight body from an open jar which flares out at the upper part with a flaring pointed lip, 1 with spreading neck and a thickened flaring rim; Han-dles: 1 vertical strap with raised edges, 2 vertical strap; Bases: 3 raised; Decorated: 1 with a curving body from a pithos with a cordon decoration, 1 with straight body and part of the neck from a jar with cordon impressed (finger impressed) decoration on the upper part (h. 5.9, w. 6.9, th. 0.7 – 1) (fig. 30), and which finds FN parallels from Klenia 59.Comments: the GW sherds would argue for a LN date, and the rW as well as the jar and pithos sherds with cordon decoration suggest continuity into the FN phases.Location: in the area of Angolphi stream, a tributary of Kephisos, north of Metamorfossi and east of Ke-phisia; Brommer 1972, 259 : 64 – 65. Date: LN – FN.

34. Menidi hill (Acharnai). Context no. 63.2. Sherds: 2; Bodies: 2. Wares: 1 Br, 1 rW. Colours: Br, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 5/4 brown; rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 4/6 red. Inclu-sions: few white, some black, some white quartz (0.1 – 0.4 diam), few small stones (W), limited s mica. Condition: hard clay; the rW has straw marks.Comments: the rW sherd argues in favour of a FN date.Location: in the area of a low and broad, inland hill, west of Menidi (Acharnai). References: Brommer 1972, 261 : 95. Date: FN.

35. Akropolis plateau, Aphidnai. Context no. 64.1. Sherds: 7; rim: 1; Handle: 1; Base: 1; Bodies: 3; Deco-rated: 1 SC. Wares: 4 Br, 2 GW, 1 rW. Colours: Br, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/4 reddish brown; G, Ext, Int: Gley

2 5/1 bluish gray – 4/1 dark bluish gray; rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 4/6 red. Inclusions: some white, few black, few white quartz, few small stones (W), few schists, limited s mica. Condition: hard clay; the GW have good burnishing.Types: rims: bowls: 1 with curving body and an everted pointed rim; Handles: 1 horizontal perfo-rated handle with triangular profile; Bases: 1 flat; Decorated: 1 straight body from pithos decorated with a slashed cordon forming a herringbone motif.Comments: the GW sherds argue for a LN date, whilst the rW and the pithos with the SC decoration suggest a continuity of occupation in the FN phases.Location: the Acropolis plateau was possibly in the area of a low broad hill north-east of Aphidnai. Date: LN – FN.

36. Hill near Aphidnai. Context no. 64.3. Sherds: 45; rims: 6; Handle: 1; Base: 1; Bodies: 34; Decorated: 1 C, 1 I, 1 MP-roBuff. Wares: 19 r, 10 BW, 3 Br, 2 GW. Colours: r, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/6 red – 5Yr 5/6 yellowish red; BW, Ext, Int: Gley 2 3/1 very dark bluish gray – 2.5/1 bluish black; Br, Ext, Int: 5Yr 6/4 light reddish brown – 5/4 reddish brown; GW, Ext, Int: Gley 2 4/1 dark bluish gray. Inclusions: few white, some small stones (mainly W, some G, 0.1 – 0.2 diam), some schists, frequent s mica and a few with limited g with large flakes. Condition: hard clay; many r have G or B on their other; BW are well smoothed if not burnished; striation lines are com-mon; some of the sherds are very micaceous, almost silver (mica ware).Types: rims: bowls: 4 slightly curving with round rim, 1 with curving body and straight round rim; jars: 1 spreading neck from a jar with a round flar-ing rim; Handles: 1 vertical strap from a jar; Bases: 1 concave; Decorated: 1 sherd with a horizontal cor-don decoration, 1 with curving body from a GW bowl with a straight flat rim, which has sets of hori-zontal and oblique incised linear decoration (h. 4.6, w. 4.6, th. 0.5 – 0.9) (fig. 31), which can be paralleled at LN Nea Makri 60, 1 body with roBuff decoration, a red horizontal band on a reddish yellow surface, belonging to the MP tradition.Comments: The GW examples, the MP-roBuff deco-ration and the incised bowl rim suggest an occupa-tion for this site during the LN, while the Cordon decoration argues for continuity into the FN period.Location: a hill near Aphidnai, unknown location, possibly in the area west of Aphidnai. Date: LN – FN.

37. Smaller Kotroni hill, Aphidnai. Context no. 64.2. Sherds: 15; rims: 5; Handles: 4; Base: 1; Bod-ies: 5. Wares: 5 r, 4 Br, 4 rW, 1 G, 1 GW. Colours: r,


61 Keller 1982, fig. 2.10, P116. 62 Spitaels 1982, fig. 1.4, 7; 1.8, 21. 63 Phelps 2004, 70 – 71 fig. 25, 2. 64 Παντελίδου-Γκόφα 1995, fig. 60, 12 – 13. 65 Spitaels 1982, fig. 1.10, 35.

66 Lambert 1981, pl. 39, 2/356. 67 Phelps 2004, fig. 51, 17; 52, 3 – 4. 68 Servais 1965, fig. 25; Spitaels 1982, fig. 1.10, 36. 69 Phelps 2004, 119, fig. 51, 14. 19. 22.

Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/4 reddish brown – 5/6 red; Br, Ext, Int: 10Yr 6/4 light brown – 5/3 brown; GW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/6 red; G, Ext, Int: Gley 2 5/1 bluish gray – 4/1 dark bluish gray; GW, Ext, Int: Gley 2 3/1 very dark bluish gray. Inclusions: some white, few white quartz, some small and medium stones (mainly W, some G, few B, 0.1 – 0.3 diam), few schists on one sherd, limited s mica, on one example there are also few g. Condition: hard clay; the rW are slipped; some sherds have striation lines; a few others are burnished.Types: rims: bowls: 1 with straight body and point-ed rim, 2 with curving body and straight upper part, one has a pointed rim and the other has a small and round vertical handle (h. 3.3, w. 3.8, th. 0.9) (fig. 32)

that finds parallels at FN Plakari 61, 1 with straight body and thickened, slightly everted rim, 1 with curving body from a bowl and a slightly round flar-ing rim; Handles: 4 vertical thin strap handles from jars; Base: 1 ring.Comments: J. ober has suggested an occupation of this site during the Neolithic period, but here there is more solid evidence of use during the LN period, as the GW sherd argues that occupation continued into the FN phase as the rW sherds and the diag-nostic bowl rim also suggest.Location: inland oblong hill 4 km east of Avlona and 8 km north-west of Aphidnai. References: ober 1987, 202. Date: LN – FN.

THrIASIo PLAIN

38. Between Rheitoi (Koumoundourou lake) and Thriasio plain. Context no. 67.2. Sherds: 4; rims: 2; Bodies: 2. Wares: 2 Br, 2 rW. Colours: Br, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 4/3 – 4/4 reddish brown; rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 4/6 red. Inclusions: some white, few black, some quartz in 2 sherds, few small stones (W, G), some schists on one sherd, limited s mica, but one exam-ple has a considerable amount. Condition: hard clay; all sherds smoothed, most slipped and burnished; one with internal straw marks.Types: rim: bowl: 1 with curving body and a straight pointed rim; jar: 1 spreading neck with an everted round rim.Comments: the rW sherds would suggest a FN date for the occupation of this site.Location: possibly the hill over rheitoi, i. e. Kou-moundourou lake, and south-east of the Metamor-phosis tou Sotiros church. References: Brommer 1972, 257 : 29. Date: FN.

39. Zuma Kaziki, Magoula. Context no. 67.1. Sherds: 45; rims: 12; Handles: 2; Bases: 6; Bodies: 22; Decorated: 1 Pl, 1 Pl-C, 1 with hole. Wares: 33 rW, 11 Br, 1 GW. Colours: rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/6 – 4/6 red – 10r 5/6 – 4/6 red; Br, Ext, Int: 5Yr 5/4 – 4/3 brown; GW, Ext, Int: Gley 2 3/1 very dark bluish gray. In-clusions: some white, few black, a few sherds have some transparent and / or white quartz, a few small stones (mainly W, some G, few B, Br), equally com-mon limited s mica or g with slightly larger flakes.

Condition: hard clay; all sherds are well smoothed, especially the red, and were slipped and slightly burnished; on a couple of sherds there are cracks on the surface and on these and few more examples small spherical holes are found on the surfaces; few have straw marks; one has horizontal and oblique striation marks.Types: rims: bowls: 4 with curving body and straight round rim, one of them (h. 3.1, w. 3.8, th. 0.7 – 0.8) (fig. 33) can be paralleled at FN Thorikos 62 and an-other has a swollen rim belonging to a pedestal bowl (h. 4.2, w. 4.8, th. 0.7 – 0.9) (fig. 34) with parallels from LN Korinth 63, 2 with straight body and flaring rim, one pointed and one round, 2 with straight body and straight rim, one pointed and the other round, 1 with curving body and internally thickened flar-ing rim, 1 with curving body and a round flaring rim (h. 3.3, w. 4.5, th. 0.9 – 1) (fig. 35) finds parallels at LN Nea Makri 64, 1 with a s-shaped body and round flaring rim (h. 3.6, w. 5.1, th. 0.5 – 0.6) (fig. 36) finds a parallel shape at FN Thorikos 65, Kitsos cave 66 as well as Akrata, Phlius and Klenia 67, 1 with curv-ing body and straight upper part with a round rim and a strap handle with upraised edges beginning from the rim (h. 5.2, w. 5.3, th. 0.8 – 0.9) (fig. 37) also finds a parallel at FN Thorikos 68; Handles: 1 verti-cal strap, 1 vertical tubular lug from a closed vessel (h. 4.7, w. 5.6, th. 0.6 – 0.7) (fig. 38) with FN I parallels from Klenia 69; Bases: 3 flat, 1 flat projecting, 2 ring; Decorated: 1 with a tricarinated-like button, 1 with


70 Pantelidou-Gofa 2000, 71. 71 Phelps 2004, 88.

72 Phelps 2004, fig. 51, 23. 27.

circular and round button with an oblique cordon starting from the button and going upwards, 1 body sherd with a post-firing hole (diam 0.6).Comments: the sherds with porous surface can be paralleled with the spongy pottery from other sites in Attica 70, and along with the GW sherd and the diagnostic bowl rim they suggest a LN date; at the

same time the rW, the diagnostic bowl rims and the jar sherd with a cordon decoration argue for conti-nuity into the FN phase.Location: in the area of a low inland hill, 3 km north of Eleusis and 1.5 km south-east of Magoula, just south-east of the Thriasio hospital. References: Brom-mer 1972, 256 : 14. Date: LN – FN.

AIGINA AND THE MEGArID

40. Aigina. Context no. 81.1. Sherds: 3; rims: 2; Body: 1. Wares: 2 Br, 1 rW. Colours: Br, Ext, Int: 7.5Yr 4/3 brown; rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 4/6 red. Inclu-sions: few white, on one few black, some quartz, g mica and in one case s mica. Condition: hard clay; they have internal straw marks and horizontal and oblique striation lines.Types: rims: bowls: 1 with curving body with up-raised round rim; jars: 1 spreading neck with a straight round rim.Comments: the rW would argue for a FN date, which fits well with the finds from Kolonna.Location: possibly from Kolonna. References: Alram-Stern 1996, 219-221; Walter – Felten 1981. Date: FN.

41. Minoa, Megara. Context no. 98.1. Sherds: 1; Dec-orated: 1 MP-ror; Ware: 1 MP. Colours: r, Ext, Int: 2.4Yr 6/6 light red – 4/6 red. Inclusions: s mica. Con-dition: slipped and well burnished externally with matt red paint; well smoothed internally.Types: Decorations: curving body from a closed vessel with MP decoration, the motif is a thicker oblique, slightly curvilinear, band with a thinner band running parallel to it (h. 2.7, w. 3.5, th. 0.6) (fig. 39);Comments: this is an unusual combination of MP col-ours, which is paralleled mainly at the neighbouring sites of Corinthia, i. e. Corinth, Forum West, Gonia and primarily Klenia, while it is occasionally known from Argos and as far south as Alepotrypa 71.Location: possibly a gentle slope just south of the sea

and west of Ayia Triada church. References: Μυλω-νάς 1928, 77; he comments on undetermined hand-made prehistoric sherds. Date: LN.

42. Nisea, Megara. Context no. 80.2. Sherds: 9; rims: 3; Base: 1; Bodies: 5. Wares: 4 rW, 2 r, 2 G, 1 GW. Col-ours: rW, Ext, Int: 2.5Yr 5/6 red – 2.5/3 dark reddish brown; r, Ext, Int: 5Yr 5/6 yellowish red; G, Ext, Int: Gley 2 5/1 bluish gray; GW, Ext, Int: Gley 2 4/1 dark bluish gray. Inclusions: few white, few black, few quartz, some small stones (mainly W, some G, few B), s mica and in some sherds g mica with large flakes. Condition: hard clay; most are burnished, the rest are well smoothed; some of rW are slipped; few have straw marks; striation lines are more common; on one sherd the surface has few round hollows; very good quality clay, with very limited impurities.Types: rims: bowls: 1 with curved body and flar-ing rim with a triangle-shaped lip, 1 with an in-curving body and a round flaring rim (h. 2.8, w. 4, th. 0.5 – 0.6) (fig. 40) with parallels from FN I Lerna and Alepotrypa 72; jar: 1 with incurving neck and a round flaring rim; Base: 1 flat. Comments: the GW sherd and the example with the pores argue for a LN date, while the rW suggest continuity into the FN period.Location: coastal, but specific location unknown. References: Μυλωνάς 1928, 77; he comments on undetermined handmade prehistoric sherds. Date: LN – FN.


73 Phelps 2004, 76. 74 Holmberg 1964, 346; Phelps 2004, 70 – 76. 75 Phelps 2004, 84 – 85. 76 Phelps 2004, 83. 77 Phelps 2004, 82 – 83. 78 Immerwahr 1971, 4 – 9; Pantelidou-Gofa 2000, 89. 79 Lavezzi 1978, 418.

80 Παντελίδου-Γκόφα 1995, 176. 179. 81 Παντελίδου-Γκόφα 1995, 178. 82 Pantelidou-Gofa 2000, 59; Phelps 2004, 62 – 63. 83 Papathanassopoulos 1996, 278 fig. 127. 84 Παντελίδου-Γκόφα 2000, 71 – 76; Phelps 2004, 87. 95. 85 Phelps 2004, 95. 86 Phelps 2004, 100 – 102.

DISCuSSIoN

Pottery

From the available material from the sites across Attica, several conclusions can be drawn. Although these finds come from the surface and do not necessarily represent all the pot-tery varieties within a settlement, some discussion can be made regarding the distribution of specific diagnostic wares. The BW is underrepresented in the sites presented above, re-covered from only six sites, mainly in the Mesogaia region, at the Athens Acropolis and Aphidnai further north (table 1). In fact, these results confirm the limited distribution of BW in Attica, known in the past, which was limited to the Athens Acropolis Slopes and Palaia Kokkinia. This picture is closer to the BW distribution at Boiotia rather than Korinthia 73. At any rate, the BW do not provide a solid chronology since they are found in both LN and FN contexts 74. Interestingly enough, the GW diverts from the BW both in matters of chronology and distribution. Chronologically it can be more securely dated to the LN phases rather than later 75. The GW known in Attica came from Euripidis’ cave on Salamis, the Athens Acropolis South Slope and Nea Makri 76. The new finds suggest a wider distribution at sites in all four sub-regions of Attica, strongly suggesting a preference for this ware in Attica during the LN period (table 1). This is similar to the popularity of GW in the Argolid and Korinthia, but not to neighbouring Boiotia 77. The same wide distribution applies for the rW, which appears to be even more popular (table 1) and characterises the FN period across Attica 78. The presence of Buff ware is limited in Attica to Keratea and Epano Kondra, both sites located in inland Mesogaia. Parallels to this ware are found at LN West Forum in Korinth 79 and Nea Makri from the MN period onwards 80.

The painted sherds are far more limited in quantity, but they turn up among the surface finds. The MN urfirnis pedestal bowl from Keratea finds good parallels in southern Greek examples. Moreover, the roW recovered at Askitario belongs to the same urfirnis MN pot-tery tradition 81. These finds are unsurprising since urfirnis decoration in Attica has been found at Kitsos cave, Vravrona, Pousi Kaloyeri and Nea Makri, all at Mesogaia 82. The MP decoration is a LN characteristic, well represented in Attica with examples from Kitsos cave, Leontari cave, Nea Makri, Pan cave, rizoupolis cave 83, Euripidis’ cave, Athens Agora and Athens Acropolis South Slope 84. To these sites five more can be added, with Minoa reveal-ing an interesting pottery link with Korinthia (table 2). The MP style appears to be more common in the Peloponnese, especially in Korinthia and the Argolid, as well as in Central Greece 85, with more stylistic ties to the first rather than the latter. The Polychrome ware also belongs to the same chronological horizon, found at more or less the same sites as the MP, i. e. Kitsos cave, Nea Makri, Pan cave, Euripidis’ cave and Athens Acropolis South Slope 86. From the DAI material, only one Polychrome sherd has been found (from Thorikos), which corresponds well with the examples from the neighbouring site of Kitsos cave. Similarities in style are known from both Korinthia and Boiotia, whilst the distribution of Polychrome ware in southern Greece is rather low in general. There is also an occurrence of a rare painted


87 Phelps 2004, 99 – 100. 88 Phelps 2004, 112. 89 Παντελίδου-Γκόφα 1995; Theocharis 1956,

fig. 24 – 26. 41 – 42.

90 Coleman 1977, 12. 91 Coleman 1977, 12 – 13. 92 Phelps 2004, 116 – 117.

FN type in Attica at Aphidnai hill. This ware has been recovered mainly in Korinth and Go-nia as well as in Central Greece 87, but several have been recovered in the past at Pan cave and the Athens Acropolis South Slope 88. Interestingly enough, no Pattern Burnished pottery or Crusted ware have been identified among the collected sherds.

other types of decorations include Incised ware, which has a long tradition in Attica as the Nea Makri finds suggest 89. This is found at a number of sites mainly in Mesogaia, but also on Hymettos and Aphidnai (table 2), as well as Kefala 90, suggesting that it was an im-portant regional element of the Attica-Kefala FN pottery tradition. C decoration is another type that appears on large containers during the FN phases. It is found in different varieties mainly in central inland Attica (table 2), but is also common at Kefala 91, Kitsos cave, Palaia Kokkinia, Athens Agora and in several sites across the Peloponnese 92. Plastic decoration in

BW GW RW Buff

Thorikos-2 Keratea cave-1 Thorikos-2 Keratea -6Ayios Nikolaos-1 Pyrgos Vravrona-1 Keratea-3 Keratea cave-5

Keratea-2 Pousi Kaloyeri-10 Keratea cave-3 Epano Kondra-1Pyrgos Vravrona-1 Acropolis-6 Zeus- Vari- 5

Acropolis-10 Kephisos-3 Pyrgos Vravrona-2Aphidnai h-10 Aphidnai-2 Pousi Kaloyeri-3

Aphidnai h-2 Spata-3Kotroni-1 Lapari hill-1

Zuma Kaziki-1 Epano Kondra-4Nisea-1 Stavros-1

Pikermi-3SW of Rafina-8

Askitario-2Rafina-3Kavos-1Sotiria-4

NW Glyfada-2Big Pani-3

Kara and Trachones-1Guri Korakas-14

Acropolis-3Tourkovounia-1

Kephisos-15Menidi-1

Aphidnai-1Kotroni-4

Rheitoi hill-2Zuma Kaziki-33

Aigina-1 Nisea-4

Table 1 Distribution of Neolithic wares to sites and number of sherds


93 Georgiadis forthcoming. 94 Broodbank 2000, 123 fig. 34.

95 Keller 1982.

the form of buttons are also attested at a few sites in Attica (table 2), but they are of different types and cannot provide solid datings since they occur from EN to EH times.

Some pottery shapes appear to be found at more than one site, suggesting that they shared a common pottery tradition. Bowls with straight or curved bodies and upright or straight rims, and bowls with lugs and horizontal perforations that start from the rim are widespread in Attica. They are both characteristic shapes of the Attica-Kefala culture of the FN period, well known at Kitsos cave, Thorikos, Kefala on Kea and Plakari on Karystos. The current evidence suggests that the Attica-Kefala material culture was spread widely within Attica, reaching at least as west as the Thriasio plain.

The fabric of the sherds share several common characteristics which have been recov-ered from a number of sites across Attica. Quartz is a common element used to strengthen the clay of the pot and it is found in several sherds at 30 sites. The same applies for the use of schist / phylite stones, which is recovered from 25 sites, but at five of them they are attested in just one or two sherds. The use of straw as a temper is similar to the previous two char-acteristics, except that it can occur on sherds containing quartz or schists / phylites. They are found at 25 sites, but in five of them they are attested in just one or two sherds. A less common practice is attested in few sherds from Epano Kondra, South Slope and Kephisos, on which small pieces of wood were added to strengthen the clay. The presence of mica is found at almost all sites, while in a number of them silver and gold coexist in the local as-semblages.

The LN and FN pottery in Attica follows the trends found in neighbouring areas such as Central Greece and the Peloponnese. Influences and elements from both these areas are found in this region, whilst at the same time local preferences can be seen, such as the popu-larity of the GW and the MP. The use of straw temper is not known in EN and MN contexts, but from the LN, and mainly during the FN period, it becomes a commonly attested tech-nique, possibly coming from the Aegean islands 93. During the FN period a common pottery tradition is shared with Kefala, which also affected other Cycladic islands 94 and southern Euboia 95.

Urfirnis MP Poly. I C Pl

Keratea-1 Thorikos-3 Thorikos-1 Thorikos-1 Kephisos-1 Pousi-1

Askitario-1 Keratea cave-2 Keratea cave-1 Aphidnai-1 Nea Makri-3

Vravrona-1 Pikermi h-1 Aphidnai h-1 Zuma-1

Aphidnai h-1 Nea Makri-4

Minoa-1 Zoodochos-1

Aphidnai h-1

Table 2 Distribution of Neolithic decorated pottery to sites and number of sherds


Settlement Patterns

The Neolithic sites which Ο. Κακαβογιάννη 96, E. Alram-Stern 97 and M. Pantelidou-Gofa 98 compiled, as well as the additional ones identified by D. r. Theocharis 99, K. Syriopoulos 100, D. French 101, J. ober 102, L. Palaiokrassa 103, o. Apostolopoulou-Kakavoyanni 104, A. Mari 105, S. E. J. Gerstel et alii 106, Liaros 107, L. Karali et alii 108, K. Kaza-Papageorgiou 109, the ones recog-nised since the 1990s 110 and the ones presented above, provide 86 sites across Attica (map 1). Although they represent different periods of occupation, there are enough, quantitatively speaking, for us to draw some useful conclusions regarding their landscape settings. The earliest occupation of Attica comes from the late upper Palaeolithic and / or Mesolithic use of the Schisto cave in the south-western part of the plain of Athens 111. All Neolithic phases are represented in Attica and thus a chronological presentation will be attempted.

There are four EN sites: Pousi Kaloyeri, Nea Makri, rhamnous 112 and south-west of Levidis hill at Pallini 113 (map 2). Most of the sites are located in the coastal zone of east-ern Attica, with Nea Makri located on the coast, rhamnous very near the coast and Pousi Kaloyeri located inland, but relatively close to the coast. This is uncommon in EN main-land Greece, but examples are known from the Peloponnese, such as Lerna, Franchthi and Kokora Troupa 114. on these grounds it has been proposed that a population origin from the East was the primary motive for choosing these locations in Attica, as advocated by M. Pantelidou-Gofa 115 and supported as a general hypothesis for population movement by J.-P. Demoule and C. Perlès 116. Although a basic problem of this theory is the western Ana-tolian origin of the newcomers and the hypothesised population pressure 117, the recovery of the site at Pallini and the character of Pousi Kaloyeri cast serious doubts on the proposed cri-teria for the selection of settlement locations and the migration theory proposed for Attica. Furthermore, a closer scrutiny of the landscape settings of these sites would suggest that there are other concerns. The EN sites in Attica are placed on flat ground or have very low elevation with immediate access to a lot of good arable land. In this respect they divert from the more diverse preferences seen in the contemporary settlement patterns in Thessaly, and appear closer to the southern Greek settlement pattern 118, which would argue against a similar notion for choosing settlement locations and therefore a common place of origin. Furthermore, all three sites are very close to water supplies from streams; at Pousi Kaloyeri the stream is c. 400 m to the south, at Nea Makri c. 100 m to the south and at rhamnous c. 200 m to the west. The same concern for close proximity to water has been already noted in other southern Greece EN to FN sites 119. At the same time, those sites that were near or

96 Κακαβογιάννη 1985, 47-48, 50 97 Alram-Stern 1996, 209-221. 98 Pantelidou-Gofa 2000, 125 – 131 fig. 1. 99 Θεοχάρης 1956, 29. 100 Συριόπουλος 1968, 60; Σάμψων 1976, 178. 101 French 1972, fig. 6; Phelps 2004, 62. 102 ober 1987. 103 Palaiokrassa 1991. 104 Apostolopoulou-Kakavoyanni 2001, 18 – 19. 105 Μάρη 2001. 106 Gerstel et al. 2003, 158 n.39. 107 Λιάρος 2003. 108 Karali et al. 2005. 109 Κάζα-Παπαγεωργίου 2006. 110 Ανδρέου 1991a; Ανδρέου 1991b; Κακαβογιάννη –

Ντούνη 2009; Κακαβογιάννη et al. 2009; Μαυρίδης

– Κορμαζοπούλου forthcoming; Papthanassopou-los 1996, 205 fig. 60, 524. 529. 532; Steinhauer 2009a; Steinhauer 2009b; Τσαραβόπουλος 1997; Whitley 2003; Whitley 2004 .

111 Μαυρίδης – Κορμαζοπούλου forthcoming. 112 Παντελίδου-Γκόφα 1995; Pantelidou-Gofa 2000,

18 – 21. 128 – 129. 113 Steinhauer 2001, 29 – 31. 114 Perlès 2001, 118; Phelps 2004, 30 map 1. 115 Pantelidou-Gofa 2000, 18. 116 Demoule – Perlès 1993, 365; Perlès 2001, 60. 117 Erdoğu 2003, 13, fig. 1; Matthews 2007, 27 – 28. 118 Γαλλής 1992, 231, chart 8; Perlès 2001, 119. 119 Johnson 1996, 282 – 283; van Andel – runnels 1987,

70 – 73.


1. Anavyssos, Mavro Lithari (N) – 2. Kitsos cave (MN, LN, FN) – 3. Thorikos (LN, FN) – 4. Vigla (FN) – 5. Kalpi (LN, FN) – 6. Lagonisi (FN) – 7. Keratea cave (LN, FN) – 8. Ayios Nikolaos (LN, FN) – 9. Keratea (MN, LN, FN) – 10. Varkiza (Ayia Marina) (N) – 11. Zeus Anchesmios (Vari) (FN) – 12. Kiafa Thiti-Lamptrai (FN) – 13. Merenta (MN, LN, FN) – 14. Merenta cave (Choni Liagi) (N) – 15. Pusi Kaloyeri (EN, MN, LN, FN) – 16. Pyrgos Vravrona (LN, FN) – 17. Vravrona (MN, LN) – 18. Christos (LN) – 19. Profitis Ilias (N) – 20. Lout-sa (FN) – 21. Zagani hill (FN) – 22. Lapari hill (FN) – 23. Spata (Tsoumba Sideri) (FN) – 24. Myrteza (FN) – 25. Choumeza (FN) – 26. Epano Kondra (LN, FN) – 27. Boura (FN) – 28. Leondari cave (LN, FN) – 29. Stavros (FN) – 30. Yerakas (FN) – 31. Pallini (EN, MN) – 32. Pikermi (FN) – 33. Etosi (FN) – 34. Hill north of Pikermi (FN) – 35. SW rafina (FN) – 36. Askitario (MN, FN) – 37. rafina (FN) – 38. Zoungla (rafina) (N) – 39. Kazarma (MN) – 40. Kavos (FN) – 41. Nea Makri (EN, MN, LN, FN) – 42. Sotiria (Marathon acropolis) (FN) – 43. Vrexiza (N) – 44. Vranas (LN, FN) – 45. Plasi (LN) – 46. Tsepi (FN) – 47. Kato Souli (LN, FN) – 48. Pan cave (LN, FN) – 49. rhamnous (EN, MN, FN) – 50. Kavouri (FN) – 51. Hydroussa (N) – 52. Punta (N) – 53. NW Glyfada (FN) – 54. Big Pani (FN) – 55. Trachones (LN, FN) – 56. Mounichia (LN, FN) – 57. Zoodochos Piyi (FN) – 58. Guri Korakas (FN) – 59. olympieion (FN) – 60. Athens (MN, LN, FN) – 61. Plato’s Academy (FN) – 62. Palaia Kokkinia (FN) – 63. Schisto cave (MN, LN, FN) – 64. Strefi hill (N) – 65. Patissia (MN) – 66. Site north-west of Kynigos (FN) – 67. rizoupolis cave (LN, FN) – 68. Zeus Anchesmios (FN) – 69. Filothei (LN) – 70. Metamorphosi (FN) – 71. Kephisos (LN, FN) – 72. Menidi hill (FN) – 73. Aphidnai Akropolis (LN, FN) – 74. Hill near Aphidnai (LN, FN) – 75. Smaller Kotroni hill (LN, FN) – 76. oropos (N) – 77. rheitoi (Thriasio plain) (FN) – 78. Eleusis (MN) – 79. Zuma Kaziki (LN, FN) – 80. Eleutherai (MN, LN) – 81. Panakton (LN) – 82. Aigina (FN) – 83. Euripidis cave (LN, FN) – 84. Minoa (LN) – 85. Nisea (LN, FN) – 86. Zaimis cave (N)

2. Kitsos cave (MN, LN, FN). – 9. Keratea (MN, LN, FN). – 13. Merenta (MN, LN, FN). – 15. Pusi Kaloyeri (EN, MN, LN, FN). – 17. Vravrona (MN, LN). – 31. Pallini (EN, MN). – 36. Askitario (MN, FN). – 39. Kazarma (MN). – 41. Nea Makri (EN, MN, LN, FN). – 49. rhamnous (EN, MN, FN). – 60. Athens (MN, LN, FN). – 63. Schisto cave (MN, LN, FN). – 65. Patissia (MN). – 78. Eleusis (MN). – 80. Eleutherai (MN, LN).

Map 1 The Neolithic sites in Attica

x


120 Perlès 2001, 28 – 30. 121 Pantelidou-Gofa 2000, 125 – 127. 129. 122 ober 1987, 215; Whitley 2003, 11; Whitley 2004, 8. 123 Pantelidou-Gofa 2000, 126 – 127.

124 Phelps 2004, 63. 125 Μαυρίδης – Κορμαζοπούλου forthcoming . 126 Pantelidou-Gofa 2000, 32.

Map 2 The EN and MN sites in Attica

x

adjacent to the sea could also exploit the marine resources as part of a mixed agricultural, animal keeping and fishing economy, in the development of a socio-economic model that incorporated both Mesolithic 120 and Neolithic elements. It seems that in Attica the transi-tion from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic period was more of a continuum rather an abrupt introduction of new ideas and practices. The close proximity to the sea in eastern Attica also meant easier access to the islands of the eastern Cyclades, in order to procure and / or ex-change Melian obsidian. Hence, the choice for the settlement location had more to do with the socio-economic conditions and concerns for a new way of life, such as the domestication of plants and animals, rather than the first landing site from or a closer proximity to their place of origin.

All four EN sites continued to be occupied during the MN period, while 11 more sites appeared across Attica (map 2). In four of them, the dating is based on the recovery of figu-rines attributed to the MN phase, i. e. at Athens Acropolis South Slope, Athens Agora, Eleu-sis and Patissia 121. In two more the early dating is uncertain, i. e. Eleutherai and Merenta 122, while at Vravrona, Kazarma 123, Kitsos cave 124, Askitario, Schisto cave 125 and Keratea, the dating is more certain. Small sites close to each other have been noted in the Vravrona area and rhamnous 126. Still, there is an important increase of settlements in coastal and mainly


127 Phelps 2004, 45 map 2. 128 Demoule – Perlès 1993, 368; Γαλλής 1992, chart 5. 129 Halstead 1994, 210 – 211. 130 Mee 1999, 67. 131 Alcock 1991, 458; Wright et al. 1990, 608 – 609. 132 Cavanagh 2004, 169 – 176. 133 Andreou et al. 1996, 572 – 573; Broodbank 2000,

117 – 123, fig. 34; Cavanagh 1999, 31. 50; Demoule – Perlès 1993, 388 – 389; Γαλλής 1992, 223; Γραμμένος 1997, 276 – 279; Σάμψων 1997, chart 54.

134 Pantelidou-Gofa 2000, 125 – 131. 135 Cavanagh 1999, 34 – 45; Cherry et al. 1991, 225. 136 Broodbank 2000, 123. 137 Phelps 2004, 104 – 105 map 4.

inland locations, located mainly on hills or slopes rather than relatively flat areas, whilst the earliest cave use has been reported at two sites during this period. Southern Mesogaia, the sites in the Athens plain and Eleutherai, strongly suggest MN occupations on inland hilly sites. Eastern Mesogaia and the area around Athens appear to be the main regions where settlements were concentrated. The more varied choice of settlement locations during MN originated in the previous period, but becomes more evident during this phase. The same increase of sites can be seen in the Peloponnese during the MN, especially in Korinthia and the Argolid 127 – areas very close to Attica. In Thessaly the number of sites remains more or less the same with continuity in occupation from the previous period 128. Still, there are con-siderable differences between southern and northern Greece, as argued by P. Halstead 129 and confirmed by the surveys conducted 130, with the exception of the Nemea and the Phlius areas 131. The well distanced settlements of the MN Attica comes in accordance to the con-temporary settlement patterns in Central Greece and the Peloponnese, and not as dense as in MN Thessaly 132.

of the 15 MN sites, 10 continued into the LN period, but at the same time 26 new sites appeared (map 3). In this period there was an important increase in settlement numbers in Attica, a phenomenon seen in most regions of both southern and northern Greece, as well as the Aegean islands, which continued into the FN phase as well 133. This was not evident from the settlements M. Pantelidou-Gofa 134 cited since the MN and LN sites are roughly equal, but the new sites presented above considerably alter this picture. There is occupation of eight caves during this phase, namely Kitsos cave, Keratea cave, Leontari cave, Pan cave, Acropolis South Slope caves, Schisto cave, rizoupolis cave and Euripidis’ cave on Salamis. Cave use is amplified during the LN period, including a significant preference for site lo-cation in Attica, most of which are situated in marginal areas. At the same time only nine sites, out of the 36, are coastal or near the coast, suggesting a more inland orientation and preference. In fact, the sites south of Kithairon, those in the Aphidnai area and some of the cave sites reveal that even mountainous environments were favoured in LN. our present knowledge suggests that there was a clustering of settlements in the area of the Marathon valley, at southern Mesogaia, along the route of the Kephisos river and its tributaries in the plain of Athens, the aforementioned mountainous regions and coastal Megarid. In the wider Mesogaia zone, there is a clear preference for the eastern part, which could be explained by interaction with the Cycladic LN settlements, but most of the sites were inland rather than coastal or near the coast. The close clustering of sites around Athens is particularly interest-ing from the LN period onwards with occupation on the Acropolis, the South Slope, as well as few kilometres north-west at Plato’s Academy. The shift towards locations with more strategic positions on hills and slopes, with good views over the lowland areas and immedi-ate access to good agricultural land, follows the MN pattern.

This picture did not change during the FN period, apart from the fact there was a further increase in settlements from 36 to 64, forming a dense pattern (map 4). The same trend is seen in many surveys 135 as well as in wider regions, such as the Cyclades 136 and the Pelopon-nese 137 as discussed earlier. At least 27 LN sites continued to be used in this period, but most of the FN were new. Eight of them were caves, suggesting a limited preference for marginal


1. Anavyssos, Mavro Lithari (N) – 2. Kitsos cave (MN, LN, FN) – 3. Thorikos (LN, FN) – 4. Vigla (FN) – 5. Kalpi (LN, FN) – 6. Lagonisi (FN) – 7. Keratea cave (LN, FN) – 8. Ayios Nikolaos (LN, FN) – 9. Keratea (MN, LN, FN) – 10. Varkiza (Ayia Marina) (N) – 11. Zeus Anchesmios (Vari) (FN) – 12. Kiafa Thiti-Lamptrai (FN) – 13. Merenta (MN, LN, FN) – 14. Merenta cave (Choni Liagi) (N) – 15. Pusi Kaloyeri (EN, MN, LN, FN) – 16. Pyrgos Vravrona (LN, FN) – 17. Vravrona (MN, LN) – 18. Christos (LN) – 19. Profitis Ilias (N) – 20. Loutsa (FN) – 21. Zagani hill (FN) – 22. Lapari hill (FN) – 23. Spata (Tsoumba Sideri) (FN) – 24. Myrteza (FN) – 25. Choumeza (FN) – 26. Epano Kondra (LN, FN) – 27. Boura (FN) – 28. Leondari cave (LN, FN) – 29. Stavros (FN) – 30. Yerakas (FN) – 31. Pallini (EN, MN) – 32. Pikermi (FN) – 33. Etosi (FN) – 34. Hill north of Pikermi (FN) – 35. SW rafina (FN) – 36. Askitario (MN, FN) – 37. rafina (FN) – 38. Zoungla (rafina) (N) – 39. Kazarma (MN) – 40. Kavos (FN) – 41. Nea Makri (EN, MN, LN, FN) – 42. Sotiria (Marathon acropolis) (FN) – 43. Vrexiza (N) – 44. Vranas (LN, FN) – 45. Plasi (LN) – 46. Tsepi (FN) – 47. Kato Souli (LN, FN) – 48. Pan cave (LN, FN) – 49. rhamnous (EN, MN, FN) – 50. Kavouri (FN) – 51. Hydroussa (N) – 52. Punta (N) – 53. NW Glyfada (FN) – 54. Big Pani (FN) – 55. Trachones (LN, FN) – 56. Mounichia (LN, FN) – 57. Zoodochos Piyi (FN) – 58. Guri Korakas (FN) – 59. olym-pieion (FN) – 60. Athens (MN, LN, FN) – 61. Plato’s Academy (FN) – 62. Palaia Kokkinia (FN) – 63. Schisto cave (MN, LN, FN) – 64. Strefi hill (N) – 65. Patissia (MN) – 66. Site north-west of Kynigos (FN) – 67. rizoupolis cave (LN, FN) – 68. Zeus Anchesmios (FN) – 69. Filothei (LN) – 70. Metamorphosi (FN) – 71. Kephisos (LN, FN) – 72. Menidi hill (FN) – 73. Aphidnai Akropolis (LN, FN) – 74. Hill near Aphidnai (LN, FN) – 75. Smaller Kotroni hill (LN, FN) – 76. oropos (N) – 77. rheitoi (Thriasio plain) (FN) – 78. Eleusis (MN) – 79. Zuma Kaziki (LN, FN) – 80. Eleutherai (MN, LN) – 81. Panakton (LN) – 82. Aigina (FN) – 83. Euripidis cave (LN, FN) – 84. Minoa (LN) – 85. Nisea (LN, FN) – 86. Zaimis cave (N)

Map 3 The LN sites in Attica


1. Anavyssos, Mavro Lithari (N) – 2. Kitsos cave (MN, LN, FN) – 3. Thorikos (LN, FN) – 4. Vigla (FN) – 5. Kalpi (LN, FN) – 6. Lagonisi (FN) – 7. Keratea cave (LN, FN) – 8. Ayios Nikolaos (LN, FN) – 9. Keratea (MN, LN, FN) – 10. Varkiza (Ayia Marina) (N) – 11. Zeus Anchesmios (Vari) (FN) – 12. Kiafa Thiti-Lamptrai (FN) – 13. Merenta (MN, LN, FN) – 14. Merenta cave (Choni Liagi) (N) – 15. Pusi Kaloyeri (EN, MN, LN, FN) – 16. Pyrgos Vrav-rona (LN, FN) – 17. Vravrona (MN, LN) – 18. Christos (LN) – 19. Profitis Ilias (N) – 20. Loutsa (FN) – 21. Zagani hill (FN) – 22. Lapari hill (FN) – 23. Spata (Tsoumba Sideri) (FN) – 24. Myrteza (FN) – 25. Choumeza (FN) – 26. Epano Kondra (LN, FN) – 27. Boura (FN) – 28. Leondari cave (LN, FN) – 29. Stavros (FN) – 30. Yerakas (FN) – 31. Pallini (EN, MN) – 32. Pikermi (FN) – 33. Etosi (FN) – 34. Hill north of Pikermi (FN) – 35. SW rafina (FN) – 36. Askitario (MN, FN) – 37. rafina (FN) – 38. Zoungla (rafina) (N) – 39. Kazarma (MN) – 40. Kavos (FN) – 41. Nea Makri (EN, MN, LN, FN) – 42. Sotiria (Marathon acropolis) (FN) – 43. Vrexiza (N) – 44. Vranas (LN, FN) – 45. Plasi (LN) – 46. Tsepi (FN) – 47. Kato Souli (LN, FN) – 48. Pan cave (LN, FN) – 49. rhamnous (EN, MN, FN) – 50. Kavouri (FN) – 51. Hydroussa (N) – 52. Punta (N) – 53. NW Glyfada (FN) – 54. Big Pani (FN) – 55. Trachones (LN, FN) – 56. Mounichia (LN, FN) – 57. Zoodochos Piyi (FN) – 58. Guri Korakas (FN) – 59. olym-pieion (FN) – 60. Athens (MN, LN, FN) – 61. Plato’s Academy (FN) – 62. Palaia Kokkinia (FN) – 63. Schisto cave (MN, LN, FN) – 64. Strefi hill (N) – 65. Patissia (MN) – 66. Site north-west of Kynigos (FN) – 67. rizoupolis cave (LN, FN) – 68. Zeus Anchesmios (FN) – 69. Filothei (LN) – 70. Metamorphosi (FN) – 71. Kephisos (LN, FN) – 72. Menidi hill (FN) – 73. Aphidnai Akropolis (LN, FN) – 74. Hill near Aphidnai (LN, FN) – 75. Smaller Kotroni hill (LN, FN) – 76. oropos (N) – 77. rheitoi (Thriasio plain) (FN) – 78. Eleusis (MN) – 79. Zuma Kaziki (LN, FN) – 80. Eleutherai (MN, LN) – 81. Panakton (LN) – 82. Aigina (FN) – 83. Euripidis cave (LN, FN) – 84. Minoa (LN) – 85. Nisea (LN, FN) – 86. Zaimis cave (N)

Map 4 The FN sites in Attica


138 Camp 1994, 25; Immerwahr 1971, 2; Immerwahr 1982.

139 Hansen 1937, 540 – 542; Immerwahr 1971, 1 – 2; Levi 1930 – 1; Παντελίδου 1975, 210 – 213.

140 Schachermeyer 1955, 70. 141 Pantelidou-Gofa 2000, 126. 129 – 130.

142 Bintliff et al. 2007, 171. 143 Apostolopoulou-Kakavoyanni 2001, 19; Pantelidou-

Gofa 2000, 87; Ροζάκη 1982, 61. 144 Pantelidou-Gofa 2000, 64 – 65. 118. 145 Γαλλής 1992, 223. 238.

locations, while 16 sites were coastal or near the coast. In this period the entire eastern sea-board side of Mesogaia was densely occupied, with important clustering in the Marathon valley, in the northern part of the Mesogaia plain along the Megalo revma extending up to Stavros, and in the eastern part of Athens’ plain. In the latter Plato’s Academy was used, as well as olympieion just c. 400 m south-east of the South Slope occupations and the Agora c. 200 m north-west, from the North Slope sites 138. At the Acropolis, the South, West and North Slopes were used in this phase 139, as well as the citadel itself, confirming F. Schacher-meyer’s hypothesis 140. All these finds raise the issue of the size of Athens during FN times and the degree of occupation density. It is possible that there were settlement clusters, but it remains unclear how many there were, what their size was, and their contemporaneity. Similar examples come from MN rhamnous, while at Eleusis and Pousi Kaloyeri the dat-ing is uncertain 141. other examples of clustered settlements have been recovered at south-eastern Boiotia from the EN onwards 142. This observation may propose the existence of an alternative settlement development. A number of sites also appeared around Mt Hymettos, arguing in favour of the exploitation of more marginal regions, possibly related to animal husbandry. In the area between Loutsa and Nea Makri there are six coastal settlements, suggesting close ties between Attica and southern Euboia and the north-western Cyclades. The overall number of sites in Attica, and Athens in particular, argue for an unprecedented density of settlements during the FN period. Concerns for security are seen not only in the preference for hill locations, which continued from the LN period, but also by the erection of fortification walls possibly during the FN period at Kiafa Thiti, Etosi and Zagani 143.

I think that the evidence presented above does not confirm to the gradual occupation of At-tica’s hinterland from the EN to the LN period 144. on the contrary, Attica’s hinterland was already occupied from the EN period. M. Pantelidou-Gofa’s hypothesis argues for a rather slow wave of advancement, more than a millennium, to move from the coastal locations to the more inland mountainous ones, which now cannot be supported.

The landscape setting of the Neolithic sites, including 11 that cannot be attributed to a specific phase (amongst which are two cave sites) argues for some common trends and preferences in Attica. It remains open how representative the sites we have are for the EN period. Nonetheless, certainly by the MN period the main criteria for settlement location had been set – hills or slopes with close proximity to water and good arable land, and oc-casionally near to the sea and caves. Close interaction between the communities is proposed on the basis of the common pottery tradition as well as the circulation of obsidian. Sites situ-ated in areas higher than 200 m above sea level are known from the MN period, while dur-ing the LN and FN phases they increase to 30 – 33% of all settlements in Attica. This contrasts with the lower percentage from Thessaly (11.3%) 145, where during the LN and FN phases the sites tend to be found in more lowland regions than in the previous period. Although in Thessaly these sites are considered to be marginal agricultural areas, in some cases in Attica they are situated in fertile agricultural regions. During the LN and FN periods there was a significant increase of sites across Attica, following MN characteristics, located in the main fertile plains or close to good agricultural lands with very few exceptions. In neighbouring


146 Sampson 1996, 73. 147 Halstead 1994, 210 – 211. 148 Pantelidou-Gofa 1996, 72.

149 Cavanagh 1999, 34 – 45; Georgiadis forthcoming; Halstead 1996, 26 – 27.

Euboia, the present evidence suggests a somewhat different picture with a significant settle-ment increase only during the FN phase 146. Thus, it seems that in diverse areas there were different developments according to the regional socio-economic conditions. The number of settlements in Attica is comparable to Thessaly in the LN period and exceeds them dur-ing the FN phase. This image conforms with the North-South divide hypothesis during the EN and MN phases proposed by P. Halstead 147. In LN and FN periods, security would have been an additional concern for choosing the settlement location. The use of caves also appears from MN onwards, rather than the LN phase 148, and caves were increasingly pre-ferred in LN and FN times, but their use is more limited in Attica than in other regions, such as the Peloponnese and Crete. In this respect Attica diverts from the LN / FN preference for sites in marginal areas, as seen at the Laconia Project, the Asea Survey, the Southern Argolid Survey and the North-west Kea, and is closer to the trends of the Berbati-Limnes Survey and the Halasarna Survey 149. The appearance of several new sites during the FN period can be associated with the development of the Attica-Kefala culture. The common cultural elements extend at least from eastern Attica to the western Cyclades and southern Euboia.

The settlement pattern picture presented here is the result of different types of research during the 20th and early 21st centuries. There is density of sites in some areas and lack of settlements in others without obvious reasons other than limited or no research. The lack of sites in the centre of the Mesogaia plain and the limited number of sites in the western part of the Athens plain are the most characteristic of this picture. Although there are draw-backs and uneven data, this should not deter the study of Neolithic settlement patterns on a regional scale. overall, Attica offers much potential for research regarding the Neolithic period, providing rich evidence in its pottery tradition and its settlement pattern.

Nottingham Mercourios Georgiadis

ADDrESS

Dr. Merkourios GeorgiadisDepartment of Archaeology,university of Nottingham,university Park,Nottingham NG7 2rD,united [email protected]


3 4

7 8

11 12

2

6

10

14 15 16

1

5

9

13

17 18 19 20

Fig. 1 From site no. 2. – Fig. 2 From site no. 5. – Fig. 3 From site no. 5. – Fig. 4 From site no. 8. – Fig. 5 From site no. 9. – Fig. 6 From site no. 9. – Fig. 7 From site no. 9. – Fig. 8 From site no. 10. – Fig. 9 From site no. 10. – Fig. 10 From site no. 12. – Fig. 11 From site no. 12. – Fig. 12 From site no. 12. – Fig. 13 From site no. 15. – Fig. 14 From site no. 16. – Fig. 15 From site no. 16. – Fig. 16 From site no. 18. – Fig. 17 From site no. 19. – Fig. 18 From site no. 20. –

Fig. 19 From site no. 20. – Fig. 20 From site no. 21. (Scale 1 : 2)


21 22

23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30

31

32 33 34

35 36 37

38 39 40 41


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Fig. 2 From site no. 21. – Fig. 22 From site no. 21. – Fig. 23 From site no. 22. – Fig. 24 From site no. 24. – Fig. 25 From site no. 25. – Fig. 26 From site no. 26. – Fig. 27 From site no. 29b. – Fig. 28 From site no. 33. – Fig. 29 From site no. 33. – Fig. 30 From site no. 33. – Fig. 31 From site no. 37. – Fig. 32 From site no. 39. – Fig. 33 From site no. 39. – Fig. 34 From site no. 39. – Fig. 35 From site no. 39. – Fig. 36 From site no. 39. – Fig. 37 From site no. 39. – Fig. 38

From site no. 39. – Fig. 39 From site no. 41. – Fig. 40 From site no. 42. (Scale 1 : 2)

v


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