Our Cups Are Full: Pottery and Society in the Aegean Bronze Age

Transcription

1 Our Cups Are Full: Pottery and Society in the Aegean Bronze Age Papers presented to Jeremy B. Rutter on the occasion of his 65th birthday Edited by Walter Gauß Michael Lindblom R. Angus K. Smith James C. Wright BAR International Series

2 Published by Archaeopress Publishers of British Archaeological Reports Gordon House 276 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7ED England BAR S2227 Our Cups Are Full: Pottery and Society in the Aegean Bronze Age: Papers presented to Jeremy B. Rutter on the occasion of his 65th birthday Archaeopress and the individual authors 20 ISBN Printed in England by edge, Hockley All BAR titles are available from: Hadrian Books Ltd 22 Banbury Road Oxford OX2 7BP England The current BAR catalogue with details of all titles in print, prices and means of payment is available free from Hadrian Books or may be downloaded from

3 The Late Helladic IIIA2 Pottery from Mitrou and its Implications for the Chronology of the Mycenaean Mainland Salvatore Vitale Abstract In 9, A. Furumark divided LH IIIA2 into two successive sub-phases. Until recently, however, no pure settlement contexts belonging to the earlier horizon had been published from the Greek mainland and a detailed definition of the period remained elusive. This lack of evidence has now been partially overcome by the discovery of some important LH IIIA2 deposits from Nichoria, Tsoungiza, and Ayios Stephanos. Nevertheless, no significant assemblages of this date have been published thus far from central Greece and, as a result, the validity of Furumark s subdivision for the entire Mycenaean world still awaits confirmation. An unusually rich LH IIIA2 sequence was recovered during the 200 to 2008 excavations at Mitrou, East Lokris. As in the case of Nichoria, Mitrou s pottery can be stylistically and stratigraphically assigned to three different horizons, here termed LH IIIA2 Early, Middle, and Late. The aim of this paper is to provide a preliminary report on Mitrou s materials and to establish their relationships with contemporary deposits elsewhere. A new tripartite subdivision of LH IIIA2 is suggested for the entire Mycenaean mainland, including a detailed definition of the relevant diagnostic features and their evolution throughout the analyzed period. In 9, A. Furumark separated LH IIIA2 into an early and a late stage. This division was mainly based on materials from tombs, the majority of which were situated in the southeast Aegean and the Levantine area (Furumark 9a, ; 9b, 56 6, 99 0). While assigning certain shapes exclusively to LH IIIA2 early or late, Furumark emphasized that the stylistic development throughout the period was uniform and that the differences between the two stages were, in many instances, rather subtle (Furumark 9b, 0). This contribution is dedicated to my teacher and friend Jerry Rutter, a scholar who has enormously enriched our knowledge of Aegean Bronze Age ceramics and chronology over the past 35 years and beyond. I would like to particularly thank the following for their unfailing support during my work at Mitrou and/or their useful comments on the manuscript of this paper: Mario Benzi, Giuliana Bianco, Giampaolo Graziadio, Teresa Hancock Vitale, Olga Kyriazi, Bartek Lis, Penelope Mountjoy, Stepan Rückl, Jeremy Rutter, Cynthia Shelmerdine, Kim Shelton, Patrick Thomas, Aleydis Van de Moortel, and Eleni Zahou. I am also grateful to the editors for their work on the manuscript. Until recently, no pure settlement contexts belonging to the earlier part of LH IIIA2 had been published from the Greek mainland and a detailed definition of this sub-phase remained elusive (French 965, 60 6; Mountjoy 986, 67; 999, 28 29). This lack of evidence has now been partially overcome by the discovery of some important deposits from Nichoria, Tsoungiza, and Ayios Stephanos (Shelmerdine 992; Dabney, Halstead, and Thomas 200; Mountjoy 2008). Nevertheless, no significant assemblages dating to the first half of LH IIIA2 have been published in detail from central Greece and, as a result, the validity of Furumark s subdivision for the entire Mycenaean mainland still awaits confirmation. An unusually rich LH IIIA2 sequence was recovered during the 200 to 2008 excavations at Mitrou, East Lokris, directed by A. Van de Moortel and E. Zahou (Fig..). 2 As in the case of Nichoria, Mitrou s pottery can be stratigraphically and stylistically assigned to three different horizons, termed LH IIIA2 Early, Middle, and Late. The aim of this paper is to provide a preliminary report on Mitrou s materials and to establish their relationships with the most significant contemporary deposits elsewhere. Furthermore, a tripartite subdivision of LH IIIA2 will be tentatively suggested for the entire Greek mainland, including a definition of the relevant diagnostic features throughout the analyzed period. 2 The Mitrou Archaeological Project ( is a joint undertaking of the University of Tennessee and the th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities at Lamia, under the auspices of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. For previous publications on the site of Mitrou, see Van de Moortel 2007; 2009; Van de Moortel and Zahou 2006; Rutter 2007; Vitale 2008; and Lis 2009.

4 Salvatore Vitale The LH IIIA2 Deposits from Mitrou and their Stratigraphic Contexts The primary source of Mitrou s tripartite subdivision of the LH IIIA2 ceramic phase is found in a series of superimposed levels recovered from Road, a three-meter wide street situated between Buildings D and F in the northeast excavation sector of the site (Fig..). These levels correspond to seven successive reconstructions of Road (Fig..2). In addition to pebbles and other small debris, each surface make-up contained a significant amount of pottery sherds. Although fragmentary, this material provides us with secure information for two main reasons. First, it comes from stratified sealed deposits. Secondly, since LH IIIA2 may have lasted for a maximum of approximately sixty-five years (circa 390/370 to 360/325 B.C.; Manning 995, 27), the average time span of each level must have been rather short (around nine years). According to the terminology proposed in the present paper, the three lowermost street levels correspond to LH IIIA2 Early, the following two to LH IIIA2 Middle, and the uppermost two to LH IIIA2 Late (Fig..2). It is likely that at least some of the sherds from Road represent materials discarded after having been used in activities connected to nearby Buildings D and F. The ceramic sequence from Road allows for a precise dating of the other main LH IIIA2 pottery groups from Mitrou, all of which have been excavated in the northeast excavation sector (Fig..). Five assemblages include materials belonging exclusively to one of the three attested sub-phases (see Table ). Of these, two are assignable to LH IIIA2 Early. The first is a destruction deposit, composed of ten mendable vases, found on the floor associated with Wall 22 in Trench LP782, which was part of Building D complex. The second is a dump located in Trench LP785. A third group of materials, a small fill or dump found in Building F at the corner formed by Walls 3 and 35 (Trench LN785), can be assigned to LH IIIA2 Middle. The remaining two deposits date to LH IIIA2 Late. The first comes from one of the street levels of Road 2 in Trench LO785. The other was found in Building F, between Walls 3, 32, and 85 (Trenches LM-LN78), above a floor that was first built in LH IIIA2 Middle and then used throughout LH IIIA2 Late. It contained five mendable vessels. Two other deposits, which were brought to light in Trenches LL and LM-LN78 respectively, contained a large amount of LH IIIA2 Early and LH IIIA2 Middle ceramics, together with a smaller percentage of advanced LH IIIC and Protogeometric materials (Vitale 2008; forthcoming). In both cases, the study of the pottery and its stratigraphic contexts has provided evidence for the existence of three distinct depositional streams, thus allowing for a secure separation of the different stylistic groups. The specimens dating to LH IIIA2 Early correspond to mendable vessels showing a light degree of wear, while those assignable to LH IIIA2 Middle are represented by non-joining sherds with a light to medium degree of wear. The presence of LH IIIC and Protogeometric materials is due to the disturbance caused by the recurrent grave digging activity in the northeast excavation sector during the final decades of the Late Bronze Age and the beginning of the Early Iron Age, which is verified by the presence of cist Graves (Trench LL785), 32, 35, and 38 (Trench LM78). The pottery dating to these periods is very fragmentary and is characterized by a heavier degree of wear. The thirty-five LH IIIA2 Early mendable vessels from Trenches LL show intense burning traces and represent the remains of a destructive event affecting the room bounded by Walls 7 and 8, possibly part of Building F. The presence of the LH IIIA2 Middle sherds may imply that this context was not sealed at the time of the catastrophe, but in the next ceramic sub-phase. The LH IIIA2 Early and Middle ceramics from Trenches LM-LN78, including fourteen mendable vases, can be interpreted as a fill which was deliberately thrown between Walls 3, 32, and 85 in order to facilitate the construction of the LH IIIA2 Middle floor of Building F. The destruction deposit from Trenches LL78-785, combined with that found in Trench LP782, suggests the occurrence of a widespread catastrophe in Mitrou s northeast excavation sector during LH IIIA2 Early (Vitale 2008, ). The Main Characteristics of the LH IIIA2 Pottery from Mitrou The presentation of the evidence will be divided into two main parts: (a) a definition of the diagnostic characteristics of each of the three LH IIIA2 ceramic sub-phases identified at Mitrou; and (b) an outline description of the quantitative distribution of the pottery, classified according to six categories: painted open shapes, painted closed shapes, fine unpainted open shapes, fine unpainted closed shapes, unpainted medium-coarse shapes, and unpainted coarse shapes (for these definitions, see Thomas 2005, especially 57). The percentages provided below do not refer to all of the materials recovered, but only the so-called features, that is rims, handle bases, bases, stems, and spouts (see Tables 2 ). Due to the preliminary character of the present report, only some of the essential data will be illustrated here in terms of charts, drawings, and typology. A more comprehensive account of the evidence will be published elsewhere. LH IIIA2 Early At Mitrou, LH IIIA2 Early pottery is typified by the appearance of three new painted shapes: the deep semiglobular 332

5 The Late Helladic IIIA2 Pottery from Mitrou and its Implications for the Chronology of the Mycenaean Mainland Fig... Mitrou 2009 northeast sector site plan (G. Bianco); 2. Mitrou, Trenches LM78, LM783, LN783: section P-P east/west looking north (G. Bianco). 333

6 Salvatore Vitale TABLE. TYPOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE LH IIIA2 DEPOSITS FROM MITROU* DATE/FEATURES Context Location Deposit Typology LH IIIA2 Early LH IIIA2 Middle LH IIIA2 Late LH IIIA2 Early/ Middle Stratigraphically Closed Stylistically Pure Road, street levels 6-8 LM783 Street level fills YES YES Floor associated with Wall 22 LP782 2 Destruction deposit NO YES Area north of Building D LP785 3 Dump NO NO** Road, street levels -5 LM783 Street level fills YES YES Building F, corner formed by Walls 3 and 35 LN785 5 Dump or fill NO NO** Road, street levels 2-3 LM783 6 Street level fills YES YES Road 2 L Street level fills YES YES Building F, between Walls 3, 32, and 85 Building F (?), room formed by Walls 7 and 8 Building F, between Walls 3, 32, and 85 LM-LN78 8 Disturbed floor deposit NO NO** LL LH IIIA2 Early destruction deposit plus LH IIIA2 Middle fill NO NO** LM-LN78 0 Underfloor terracing fill NO NO** * The term stratigraphically closed signifies a deposit which was physically sealed by an overlying floor, surface, or collapsed building material. The term stylistically pure means that a given deposit does not include any pottery later than the main represented stylistic phase; a comparatively small percentage of earlier ceramics may be present. ** Although a few sherds later than the main represented stylistic phase are present, the homogeneity of the deposit is still high. SUs: LM to -3, -3 to SUs: LP782-05, SUs: LP , -062, -065 to -067, -07 to -073, -083, SUs: LM783-5, -7 to SUs: LN to SUs: LM to -072, -07, -076, -096, -098, -00, -02 to -. 7 SUs: LO , -080 to SUs: LM78-06, -067, -069, -07; LN to SUs: LL78-007; LL785-0, -06, -09 to -02, SUs: LM78-05 to -052, -060, -063, -066, -07, -077, -080 to -08; LN78-060, -062 to -06, cup FS 2 with linear exterior and monochrome interior (Fig. 2.), the monochrome deep rounded kylix FS 26 (Fig. 2.2), and the stemmed bowl FS 30 (Fig. 2.3), which may be monochrome or, less frequently, patterned or linear. Some of the monochrome or unpainted goblets may be assigned to the type recently termed kantharos by P.A. Mountjoy (Fig. 2. 5). Kantharoi, which are absent in Attica and Boeotia, constitute one of the main features of a Phocian regional style, extending to the Gulf of Corinth and the Ionian Islands (Mountjoy 999, 29, 7 75, 756). During LH IIIA2 Early, patterned kylikes FS 256 and/or FS 257 are not yet attested. Thin everted and everted triangular lips are predominant on fine open shapes (Fig. 2. 5) and closed vessels may have a relatively wide decorative zone, sometimes extending below the handles (Fig. 2.). Aeginetan pottery, which was common during LH II, is now present but scarce. The only attested painted class is the Aeginetan Painted and Burnished, which is represented by one jar and two krater rims (Fig. 2.6). Aeginetan cooking vessels (Fig. 2.7) make up 3.6% of the entire cooking pot assemblage. 3 3 On Aeginetan pottery from Mitrou, see Lis forthcoming. For other analyses of Aeginetan pottery, see Maran 992, 79-99; Zerner 993, 8-50; Lindblom 200, 23-38; and Rutter 200, 25-3, fig. 2. In terms of quantitative distribution, the kylix is by far the most widespread painted open shape (0.0%; see Table 2a). LH IIIA goblets FS 255 (2.6%) are still present, but are less than one-third in relation to the number of the decorated kylikes. Apart from stemmed bowls FS 30 (6.3%), another frequent painted open shape is the basin FS 29 (5.3%). Less widespread decorated open shapes are the krater FS 7/8 (3.2%; Fig. 2.8), the conical rhyton FS 99 (.0%; Fig. 2.9), the linear deep semiglobular cup FS 2 with monochrome interior (2.%), and the mug FS 225/226 (.2%). Finally, several other fragments may belong to basins FS 29 or ring-based kraters FS 28 (8.%). Painted closed shapes include the large piriform jar FS 3 (2.8%), the small piriform jar FS (8.6%; Fig. 2.0), the straight-sided alabastron FS 9 (.%; Fig. 2.), and the transport stirrup jar FS 6 (2.8%). Some sherds may belong to the amphora FS 69, the jug FS 05, or the hydria FS 28 (.%). A rim fragment could belong to the rounded alabastron FS 85 or the straight-sided alabastron FS 9 (2.8%), while a handle base comes from an unidentified type of stirrup jar (2.8%). Roughly half of the feature sherds could not be assigned to any specific form (5.%). 33

7 The Late Helladic IIIA2 Pottery from Mitrou and its Implications for the Chronology of the Mycenaean Mainland Fig. 2. Mitrou, LH IIIA2 Early:. linear semiglobular cup FS 2 (B. Konnemann, T. Ross); 2. monochrome deep rounded kylix FS 26 (T. Ross, A. Caputo); 3. monochrome stemmed bowl FS 30 (B. Konnemann, T. Ross);. monochrome goblet or kantharos (T. Ross); 5. unpainted goblet or kantharos (B. Konnemann, T. Ross); 6. Aeginetan Painted and Burnished krater rim (T. Ross); 7. Aeginetan cooking pot base (T. Ross); 8. patterned krater FS 7 (T. Ross); 9. patterned conical rhyton FS 99 (T. Ross); 0. patterned piriform jar FS (B. Konnemann, A. Caputo);. patterned straight-sided alabastron FS 9 (T. Ross). 335

8 Salvatore Vitale TABLE 2a. LH IIIA2 EARLY DEPOSITS. FREQUENCY OF PAINTED OPEN SHAPE FEATURES FEATURES/ SHAPES Krater FS 7/8 Conical Rhyton FS 99 Semiglobular Cup FS 2 Mug FS 225/226 Goblet FS 255 Kylix FS 26 Basin FS 29 Basin FS 29 or Ringbased Krater FS 28 Stemmed Bowl FS 30 Rims Handle Bases Bases * Stems/ Spouts * 2 reused as lids (3.2%) (.0%) 2 (2.%) (.2%) 2 (2.6%) 38 (0.0%) 5 (5.3%) 8 (8.%) 6 (6.3%) Unidentified 6 (6.9%) 95 TABLE 2b. LH IIIA2 EARLY DEPOSITS. FREQUENCY OF FINE UNPAINTED OPEN SHAPE FEATURES Krater FS 7/8 Conical Cup FS 20 Dipper FS 236 Goblet FS 255 Kylix FS 26 Kylix FS 266 Kylix FS 267 Kylix FS 26/266 FEATURES/ SHAPES Rims ** *** 5 99 Handle Bases Bases * Stems/ Spouts %.9% 5 2.3% 8 3.8% 7 3.3% 0.5% 3.% * Reused as lids. ** three-handled kylix and small kylix with high-swung handles (cf. FS 272). *** Miniature conical open shape % Kylix FS 26/266/ % Other Kylikes 2.0% Basin FS % Basin FS 29 or Ring-based Krater FS % Shallow Angular Bowl FS % Stemmed Bowl FS 30 3.% Lid FS % Miscellaneous Open Shapes 0.5% Unidentified % 2 The kylix is also the most widespread open shape among fine unpainted pottery (69.2%; see Table 2b), including the deep rounded type FS 26, the shallow rounded type FS 266 (Fig. 3.), the one-handled type FS 267, and the type with high-swung handles (cf. FS 272; Fig. 3.2). Fine unpainted closed shapes include fragments from the rounded alabastron FS 85 (.6%), a miniature stirrup jug FS 5 (0.8%; Fig. 3.3), a stirrup jar sherd (0.8%), and various types of pouring vessels, some of which could be recognized as jugs FS 05 or 0 (2.% and 9.8% respectively), while others may have belonged to the amphora FS 69, the jug FS 05, or the hydria FS 28 (9.0%). Around threequarters of the feature sherds could not be identified precisely (75.6%). Among unpainted medium-coarse pottery, open shapes include the dipper FS 236 (.9%), the kylix (0.9%), the basin FS 29 (0.9%), the brazier FS 32 (0.9%), and the lid 336

9 The Late Helladic IIIA2 Pottery from Mitrou and its Implications for the Chronology of the Mycenaean Mainland Fig. 3. Mitrou: LH IIIA2 Early:. unpainted shallow rounded kylix FS 266 (T. Ross); 2. unpainted small kylix with high-swung handles, cf. FS 272 (T. Ross); 3. unpainted miniature stirrup jug FS 5 (T. Ross);. cooking amphora FS 66/67 (T. Ross, A. Caputo). LH IIIA2 Middle: 5. patterned kylix FS 256 (T. Ross); 6. patterned kylix FS 256 (T. Ross); 7. patterned one-handled bowl FS 283 (T. Ross); 8. patterned stemmed bowl FS 30 (T. Ross); 9. patterned goblet FS 255 (T. Ross); 0. linear semiglobular cup FS 2 (T. Ross);. patterned mug FS 225 (T. Ross); 2. unpainted shallow angular bowl FS 295 (T. Ross). LH IIIA2 Late: 3. linear dipper FS 236 (T. Ross);. patterned kylix FS 257 (T. Ross); 5. patterned kylix FS 257 (B. Konnemann, T. Ross); 6. linear (as preserved) globular stirrup jar FS 7 (T. Ross); 7. Aeginetan cooking pot with short-everted rim (N. Wright, T. Ross); 8. monochrome deep rounded kylix FS 26 (T. Ross); 9. patterned one-handled bowl FS 283 (J. Pfaff, T. Ross); 20. patterned stemmed bowl FS 30 (T. Ross); 2. unpainted shallow angular bowl FS 295 (T. Ross). 337

10 Salvatore Vitale TABLE 3a. LH IIIA2 MIDDLE DEPOSITS. FREQUENCY OF PAINTED OPEN SHAPE FEATURES FEATURES/ SHAPES Krater FS 7/8 Semiglobular Cup FS 2 Mug FS 225/226 Goblet FS 255 Kylix FS 256 Kylix FS 26 One-handled Bowl FS 283 Basin FS 29 or Ring-based Krater FS 28 Stemmed Bowl FS 30 Rims Handle Bases Bases Stems/ Spouts (6.%) (3.5%) 3 (2.6%) 5 (.%) 22 (9.3%) 38 (33.3%) (3.5%) 8 (7.0%) (9.7%) Unidentified 2 (0.6%) TABLE 3b. LH IIIA2 MIDDLE DEPOSITS. FREQUENCY OF FINE UNPAINTED OPEN SHAPE FEATURES FEATURES/ SHAPES Krater FS 7/8 Conical Cup FS 20 Dipper FS 236 Goblet FS 255 Kylix FS 267 Kylix FS 26/266 Rims Handle Bases Bases Stems/ Spouts Kylix FS 26/266/267 Basin FS 29 Basin FS 29 or Ringbased Krater FS 28 Shallow Angular Bowl FS 295 Stemmed Bowl FS (.%) 7 (3.2%) (.8%) 0 (.6%) (0.5%) 0 (.6%) (66.3%) 8 (3.7%) 3 (.%) 6 (2.8%) 2 (.0%) Unidentified 9 (8.7%) 27 FS 33 (.9%). Unpainted medium-coarse closed shapes comprise the pithos (2.8%), cooking jugs FS 65 or amphoras FS 66/67 (67.9%; Fig. 3.), cooking tripods FS 320 (9.5%), a handleless cooking jar (0.9%), and several miscellaneous storage vases (2.%). Unpainted coarse pottery includes the pithos (26.3%), various types of cooking pots (2.%), and storage vessels (3.6%). LH IIIA2 Middle Mitrou s LH IIIA2 Middle pottery is characterized by the appearance of three new shapes, the globular stirrup jar FS 7, the patterned kylix, and the one-handled bowl FS 283. Although they are often fragmentary, patterned kylikes may be assigned to the type FS 256 because of their deep bowl and/or the presence of a narrow decorative zone ending at the handle bases (Furumark 9a, 628; Mountjoy 986, 88, fig. 06). They are decorated with running spiral FM 6, chevrons FM 58, or tricurved arch pattern FM 62 (Fig ). The one-handled bowl FS 283 can be decorated with U-pattern FM 5 or triangles FM 6A (Fig. 3.7). Contrary to LH IIIA2 Early, patterned and linear stemmed bowl sherds FS 30 (Fig. 3.8), when taken together, are more frequent than monochrome ones. Mountjoy s kantharoi are no longer current in this sub-phase and patterned kylikes FS 257 are not yet attested. Fine open shape rims now usually have a gentler profile than in LH IIIA2 Early, which may be defined as rounded triangular (Fig ). The presence of Aeginetan cooking vessels throughout this sub-phase is similar to that of LH IIIA2 Early, forming 3.8% of the entire assemblage. However, a noteworthy increase in this class may have occurred towards the end of LH IIIA2 Middle, as is testified by the fact that it forms 7.0% of the cooking pot fraction for the latest street level from Road. 338

11 The Late Helladic IIIA2 Pottery from Mitrou and its Implications for the Chronology of the Mycenaean Mainland The most common painted open shape at Mitrou in LH IIIA2 Middle is again the monochrome deep rounded kylix FS 26 (33.3%), followed by the patterned kylix FS 256 (9.3%), and the stemmed bowl FS 30 (9.7%; see Table 3a). Decorated goblets FS 255 are much less widespread than in LH IIIA2 Early (.%; Fig. 3.9), accounting for less than one-tenth of the decorated kylikes. Other painted open shapes include the krater FS 7/8 (6.%), the deep semiglobular cup FS 2 with monochrome interior (3.5%; Fig. 3.0), the mug FS 225/226 (2.6%; Fig. 3.), the one-handled bowl FS 283 (3.5%), and other fragments which may belong to basins FS 29 or ringbased kraters FS 28 (7.0%). Painted closed shapes from LH IIIA2 Middle include the piriform jar FS (3.7%), the straight-sided alabastron FS 9 (8.2%), the transport stirrup jar FS 6 (.5%), and the globular stirrup jar FS 7 (.5%). Some of the feature sherds may belong to the amphora FS 69, the jug FS 05, or the hydria FS 28 (3.7%), while others could not be identified (0.9%). A base fragment can be assigned to the rounded alabastron FS 85 or the straight-sided alabastron FS 9 (.5%). The kylix is still the most widespread open shape among fine unpainted pottery (7.%). The shallow angular bowl FS 295 (Fig. 3.2) is relatively more common than in the preceding sub-phase (see Table 3b). Fine unpainted closed shapes include fragments from a straight-sided alabastron FS 9 (.9%), jugs FS 05 or 0 (7.5% and 3.8% respectively), and one sherd that may belong to the amphora FS 69, the jug FS 05, or the hydria FS 28 (.9%). The vast majority of the sherds could not be identified (8.9%). Among unpainted medium-coarse pottery, attested open shapes include exclusively the kylix (0.9%) while closed shapes comprise a fragment from a pithos (2.8%) and others from cooking jugs FS 65 or amphoras FS 66/67 (7.6%), cooking tripods FS 320 (3.8%), and miscellaneous storage vases (7.9%). Unpainted coarse pottery features are scantily attested, including only one pithos and two unidentified cooking pot rims. LH IIIA2 Late At Mitrou, the LH IIIA2 Late repertoire is typified by four new painted shapes: (a) the linear dipper FS 236 (Fig. 3.3); (b) the spouted cup FS 29; (c) the patterned kylix FS 257 (Fig. 3. 5), which may be recognized by the presence of a comparatively shallow bowl and a deep decorative zone extending below the handles (Furumark 9a, 628; Mountjoy 986, 88 90, fig. 07); and (d) the deep bowl FS 28. The final type seems to occur only very late in this sub-phase, that is in the uppermost levels of Road. Patterned kylikes are now almost as popular as monochrome ones. The most widespread decorative motif employed on the type corresponding to FS 257 is the diagonal whorl shell FM 23. The flower FM 8, the tricurved arch pattern FM 62, and a series of pictorial designs (perhaps reflecting a local preference; for Boeotian and Phocian parallels, see Mountjoy 999, 669, 759, fig. 29, no. 63) are also attested. Painted goblets FS 255 die out, while globular stirrup jars FS 7 are now relatively more frequent (Fig. 3.6). Fine open shapes usually have a rounded bead rim profile (Fig. 3., 8 9). Aeginetan cooking vessels increase dramatically, forming 28.% of the entire assemblage (Fig. 3.7). The standard type attested during LH IIIA2 Late has a short everted rim and may have made its initial appearance on a small scale toward the end of LH IIIA2 Middle. Of all of the painted open shape features, 27.3% may be assigned to the monochrome kylix FS 26 (Fig. 3.8),.6% and.% to patterned kylikes FS 256 and 257 respectively. Many sherds, 6.3%, could belong either to FS 256 or FS 257, but the vast majority is likely to come from the latter of these two types. One-handled bowls FS 283 account for.5% (Fig. 3.9), stemmed bowls FS 30 for 7.2% (Fig. 3.20). The representation of the remaining open vessels is shown in Table a. Apart from spouted cup FS 29 (0.%) and deep bowl FS 28 (.6%) sherds, the occurrence of a linear rim from a shallow angular bowl FS 295 (0.%) is worth noting. This shape is rarely decorated before early LH IIIC, but some LH IIIA2 examples are known from the Argolid (Mountjoy 999, 30, fig. 29, nos. 2 25). Painted closed shapes include the piriform jar FS 5 (7.%), the globular stirrup jar FS 7 (7.%), and some fragments that may belong to the amphora FS 69, the jug FS 05, or the hydria FS 28 (55.5%). Other sherds could not be identified (29.7%). The range of the attested fine unpainted open shapes is documented in Table b. Kylikes account for 79.8%. The shallow angular bowl FS 295, which is the next most popular type, represents 6.7% (Fig. 3.2). Of fine unpainted closed shapes, 77.8% could not be assigned to any specific form. Other identified feature sherds include jugs FS 05 and 0 (.8% and.% respectively) and specimens that may belong to the amphora FS 69, the jug FS 05, or the hydria FS 28 (6.3%). Unpainted medium-coarse features comprise a basin sherd FS 29 (.%), cooking jugs FS 65 or amphoras FS 66/67 (67.8%), cooking tripods FS 320 (20.0%), some fragments from miscellaneous storage vases (8.9%), and others that could come from amphoras FS 69, jugs FS 05, or hydrias FS 28 (2.2%). Unpainted coarse features include two pithos handles, one cooking pot rim, and one unidentified storage vase base. Contemporary Deposits and Wider Relations In addition to Mitrou, LH IIIA2 stratified ceramic sequences have been recovered at Nichoria in Messenia and 339

12 Salvatore Vitale TABLE a. LH IIIA2 LATE DEPOSITS. FREQUENCY OF PAINTED OPEN SHAPE FEATURES FEATURES/ SHAPES Krater FS 8 Semiglobular Cup FS 2 Mug FS 225/226 Dipper FS 236 Spouted Cup FS 29 Kylix FS 256 Kylix FS 256/257 Kylix FS 257 Kylix FS 26 One-handled Bowl FS 283 Deep Bowl FS 28 Basin FS 29 Shallow Angular Bowl FS 295 Basin FS 29 or Ring-based Krater FS 28 Rims Handle Bases Bases Stems/ Spouts % 2 0.8% 0.% 0.% 0.%.6% 0 6.3% 0.% %.5%.6% 2 8.6% 0.% 9 7.8% Stemmed Bowl FS % Unidentified 3 5.3% 25 TABLE b. LH IIIA2 LATE DEPOSITS. FREQUENCY OF FINE UNPAINTED OPEN SHAPE FEATURES FEATURES/ SHAPES Krater FS 8 Conical Cup FS 20 Dipper FS 236 Kylix FS 26 Kylix FS 267 Kylix FS 26/266 Kylix FS 26/266/267 Basin FS 29 Basin FS 29 or Ring-based Krater FS 28 Rims Handle Bases Bases Stems/ Spouts (0.%) 7 (2.9%) (0.%) 7 (2.9%) 6 (2.5%) 9 (7.9%) 59 (66.5%) 2 (0.9%) 2 (0.9%) Shallow Angular Bowl FS (6.7%) Stemmed Bowl FS 30 (0.%) Unidentified 8 (7.6%) 239 Tsoungiza in the Corinthia (Shelmerdine 992; Dabney, Halstead, and Thomas 200; Thomas forthcoming). Significant LH IIIA2 pottery deposits from settlement contexts on the Greek mainland have been brought to light also at Mycenae and Tiryns in the Argolid (French 965; Schönfeld 988, 57 67, figs. 2, tables ), Thebes in Boeotia (Symeonoglou 973, 23 3, pls ), and Ayios Stephanos in Laconia (Mountjoy 2008, 302 3, , figs. 6:3 9, 38). Smaller closed ceramic assemblages were recovered from tombs, for example at Mycenae (Wace 932), Prosymna (Blegen 937), and Schoinochori in the Argolid (Renaudin 923), the Athenian Agora in Attica (Immerwahr 97), and Thebes (Keramopoulos 97). They include vessels associated with single burials or assignable with certainty to a given interment, which was not disturbed during the successive re-use of the grave. Mitrou s tripartite subdivision of the LH IIIA2 ceramic phase has a very close parallel at Nichoria, where three distinct horizons termed early, middle, and late have been identified by C.W. Shelmerdine (992, 95). At Tsoungiza, two successive stages, called respectively LH IIIA2 early and late, have been isolated by P.M. Thomas in the EU 9 deposit (Dabney, Halstead, and Thomas 200, 205; Thomas forthcoming). 30

13 The Late Helladic IIIA2 Pottery from Mitrou and its Implications for the Chronology of the Mycenaean Mainland Despite the geographical distance, the comparison of significant elements shows that similar ceramic developments occurred at Mitrou and Nichoria during their earliest LH IIIA2 horizon (for Nichoria s LH IIIA2 early pottery, see Shelmerdine 992, , , figs. 9:39 0). Common diagnostic features include the appearance of the monochrome kylix FS 26 and the painted stemmed bowl FS 30. Additional defining characteristics are the continuation of the painted goblet FS 255 from LH IIIA, the prevalence of thin everted or everted triangular lips on open shapes, and the absence of patterned kylikes FS 256 and 257 and of the diagonal whorl shell FM 23. The linear semiglobular cup FS 2 with monochrome interior is present at Mitrou, but absent at Nichoria. Closed shapes from the former site may have a wide decorative zone sometimes extending below the handles. The middle stage of LH IIIA2 at Mitrou and Nichoria is characterized by the simultaneous appearance of the globular stirrup jar FS 7 and the patterned kylix FS 256 (for Nichoria s LH IIIA2 middle pottery, see Shelmerdine 992, , , figs. 9:0 50). Rounded triangular lips are now prevalent on open shapes. Monochrome kylikes FS 26 and painted stemmed bowls FS 30 continue to be common, while patterned kylikes FS 257 and the diagonal whorl shell FM 23 have not yet appeared. Since all of these characteristics are represented at Tsoungiza within the local LH IIIA2 early sub-phase (Dabney, Halstead, and Thomas 200, 208 2, figs. 2 6; Thomas forthcoming), the latter should be synchronized with the middle stages from Mitrou and Nichoria. Minor differences between the ceramic repertoire of the three sites include the following two: the linear dipper FS 236 is attested at Tsoungiza, but is still absent at Mitrou and Nichoria, while the painted one-handled bowl FS 283 is documented at Mitrou and Tsoungiza, but is not securely present at Nichoria, where the illustrated examples come from uncertain contexts. At Tsoungiza, the decorative zone of closed shapes may be still comparatively wide, extending below the handles. It is possible that this was the case also at Mitrou and Nichoria, but the fragmentary state of preservation of the materials from these two sites does not allow for any secure conclusion. Common pottery elements of the final stage of LH IIIA2 at Mitrou, Nichoria, and Tsoungiza comprise the appearance of the patterned kylix FS 257 (for Nichoria s and Tsoungiza s LH IIIA2 late horizons, see Shelmerdine 992, , , figs. 9:0 50; Thomas forthcoming). Open shapes are now usually typified by rounded bead lips. Monochrome kylikes FS 26 and painted stemmed bowls FS 30 are still popular. Patterned kylikes FS 256 continue The decorative motif on a kylix fragment from Nichoria`s LH IIIA2 middle sub-phase is assigned by Shelmerdine to the diagonal whorl shell FM 23 (see Shelmerdine 992, 97, 538, no. P3656, fig. 9:0), but this attribution seems uncertain. to be attested. Painted goblets FS 255 have disappeared at Mitrou and Tsoungiza, but a single specimen is present at Nichoria. The diagonal whorl shell FM 23 is common on kylikes from Mitrou and Nichoria. At Nichoria and Tsoungiza, closed shapes have a narrower decorative zone. At Mitrou, a few early examples of the deep bowl FS 28 appear for the first time during this sub-phase. Following in the footsteps of Shelmerdine, I would term the ceramic horizons described in the last three paragraphs LH IIIA2 Early, LH IIIA2 Middle, and LH IIIA2 Late. The remaining significant deposits from the Greek mainland can now be placed in the sequence established according to the evidence from Mitrou, Nichoria, and Tsoungiza. A detailed list of the pottery groups assignable to LH IIIA2 Early is shown Table 5. They include some of the materials from Mycenae Chamber Tombs 520 (Wace 932, 2 28, nos. 5, 7, 25 27, 30 3, figs. 9 0, pls. XVI XVII) and 52 (Wace 932, 28 3, no., figs. 9, 5); Prosymna Tomb XLII (Blegen 937, 7 52, fig. 368); Athenian Agora Tombs XVIII, XXVIII, XXXII, and XXXIX (Immerwahr 97, 209 2, , 23, 2 22, nos. XVIII: 7, XXVIII:, XXXII: 3, XXXIX: 3, pls. 8, 5, 56, 58); and Kolonaki Tomb 2 at Thebes (Keramopoulos 97, 8 83, fig. 30). All of these assemblages contain at least some of the typical characteristics of LH IIIA2 Early, which are summarized in the rightmost column in Table 5. On the other hand, they do not show any of the features defining the two succeeding sub-phases. Deposits dating to LH IIIA2 Middle come from Mycenae Chamber Tombs 527 (Wace 932, 9 98, nos. 2,, figs. 9, 39, pls. XLVII XLVIII) and 530 (Wace 932, 06 0, nos. 0, 3, 5, figs. 9, 5, pl. LII); Schoinochori Tombs A and E (Renaudin 923, , 26 29, figs. 8 0, 29 3); and from the settlement of Ayios Stephanos (Mountjoy 2008, 302 3, , figs. 6:3 9). The diagnostic characteristics of this sub-phase are outlined in Table 5. The assemblages assigned here to LH IIIA2 Middle do not include any of the defining features of LH IIIA2 Late, with the exception of the pottery from Ayios Stephanos, where some patterned kylikes of the FS 257 type are attested. The material from this site was recovered in a wash level found in Area Epsilon and presents a number of interesting idiosyncrasies, including a peculiar group of kylikes heavily influenced by Minoan models (Mountjoy 2008, , , fig. 6:5). The vast majority of the fragments, however, can be closely compared to the LH IIIA2 Middle deposits from Mitrou, Nichoria, and Tsoungiza. The problematic occurrence of kylikes of the FS 257 type (Mountjoy 2008, , 37, fig. 6:), which are otherwise attested only during LH IIIA2 Late, may be explained in two possible ways: either the deposit included a few later intrusions or it represents a very late stage of LH IIIA2 Middle, 3

14 Salvatore Vitale CHRONOLOGY/ DEPOSITS LH IIIA2 Early LH IIIA2 Middle LH IIIA2 Late Furumark s LH IIIA2 early Furumark s LH IIIA2 late TABLE 5. SIGNIFICANT LH IIIA2 DEPOSITS FROM THE MYCENAEAN MAINLAND Site Settlement Contexts Funerary Contexts Defining Ceramic Features Mycenae Prosymna Athens Nichoria Thebes Mitrou Mycenae Schoinochori Tsoungiza Nichoria Ayios Stephanos Mitrou Mycenae Tiryns LH IIIA2 early horizon LH IIIA2 Early horizon EU 9 deposit, lower levels LH IIIA2 middle horizon Wash level, Area Epsilon (with some LH IIIA2 Late) LH IIIA2 Middle horizon Terrace on the Atreus Ridge and Terrace below the House of Shields (both with later intrusions); Petsas House, Apothiki A; Ch. Tomb 505, dromos domestic rubbish Unterburg, SH IIIA2 Spät Chamber (Ch.) Tomb 520, vessels associated with burials III-IV; Ch. Tomb. 52, western pit, fragments associated with skull no. Tomb XLII, last burial Agora, Tomb XVIII, last interment; Tomb XX- VIII, single burial; Tomb XXXII, west skeleton; Tomb XXXIX, single burial Kolonaki, Tomb 2 (possibly a single burial) Ch. Tomb 527, vessels associated with burial VI; Ch. Tomb 530, vessels associated with burials III-IV Tomb A; Tomb E, vessels associated with burial Ch. Tomb 529, vessels associated with burials XI-XII Prosymna Tomb XLI, vessels associated with burial 6 Tsoungiza Nichoria Mitrou Thebes EU 9 deposit, upper levels LH IIIA2 late horizon LH IIIA2 Late horizon Oidipodos Street, Group A (Ivory Pottery Hoard burnt deposit); Group B * Shapes appearing for the first time in significant quantities in a given period. CHARACTERISTIC SHAPES: Linear semiglobular cup, FS 2 (new but uncommon); Monochrome kylix, FS 26*; Painted stemmed bowl, FS 30*. OTHER FEATURES: Prevalence of thin everted or everted triangular lips on open shapes; Decoration extending below handles on closed shapes. ABSENT FEATURES: Globular stirrup jars FS 7; Linear dipper FS 236; Spouted cup FS 29; Patterned kylikes FS 256, 257; Painted one-handled bowl FS 283; Deep bowl FS 28; Diagonal whorl shell FM 23 on open shapes. CHARACTERISTIC SHAPES: Painted globular stirrup jar FS 7 (new but uncommon); Painted dipper FS 236 (new but uncommon); Patterned kylix, FS 256*; Painted one-handled bowl FS 283 (new but uncommon). OTHER FEATURES: Linear FS 2, monochrome FS 26, and painted FS 30 continue; Prevalence of rounded triangular lips on open shapes; Decoration extending below handles on closed shapes. ABSENT FEATURES: Spouted cup FS 29; Patterned kylikes FS 257; Deep bowl FS 28; Diagonal whorl shell FM 23 on open shapes. CHARACTERISTIC SHAPES: Patterned kylix, FS 257*; Spouted cup FS 29 (new, but uncommon); Deep bowl FS 28 (new, but uncommon). OTHER FEATURES: FS 7, linear FS 2, linear FS 236, patterned FS 256, monochrome FS 26, painted FS 283, and painted FS 30 continue; Prevalence of rounded bead lips on open shapes; Decoration prevalently above handles on closed shapes; Presence of the diagonal whorl shell FM 23 on FS 257; Vertical whorl shell FM 23 is rare or absent. ABSENT FEATURES: Painted goblets FS 255 die out. where some innovative characteristics were beginning to be present on a low scale. Deposits assignable to LH IIIA2 Late and their defining pottery characteristics are listed in Table 5. The assemblages dating to this sub-phase comprise five settlement groups from Mycenae (French 965), the vases assignable to burials XI and XII from Mycenae Chamber Tomb 529 (Wace 932, 98 06, nos. 3, 5 7, 20, figs. 9,, pl. LI), the SH IIIA2 Spät materials from Tiryns Unterburg (Schönfeld 988, 57 67, figs. 2, tables ), the vessels associated with burial 6 from Tomb XLI at Prosymna (Blegen 937, 2 7, fig. 353), and Group A and B deposits from Oidipodos Street at Thebes (Symeonoglou 973, 23 3, pls ). Some of the deposits from Nichoria, Mycenae, and Thebes include a late feature 32

15 The Late Helladic IIIA2 Pottery from Mitrou and its Implications for the Chronology of the Mycenaean Mainland which is not attested at Mitrou and Tsoungiza: the presence of the vertical whorl shell FM 23 on kylikes FS 257 (Shelmerdine 992, 500, 539, no. P3669, pl. 9 60; French 965, 68, 76, 78 79, 86, 88, no. 50, fig. 2:8, fig. 6, fig. 7:6 7, 9 0, pl. 5:a. 3, pl. 52:e., pl. 53:c.2; Symeonoglou 973, 0, nos. K69 72, pls. 35, 57 58). This characteristic, together with the occurrence of the first examples of the deep bowl FS 28 at Mitrou and Mycenae (French 965, 77 78, 86, 88 89, figs. 7:8, 9:7, pl. 53:d.2), must be considered as a marker of the very end of LH IIIA2 Late on the Mycenaean mainland. Conclusions The LH IIIA2 materials from Mitrou are crucial for a more thorough comprehension of the overall developments of Mycenaean pottery during the th century B.C. The occurrence of multiple horizons at the site within this period suggests that in central Greece, LH IIIA2 was not a unitary ceramic phase. This conclusion confirms the data from the northeast and southwest Peloponnese, where stratified LH IIIA2 sequences have been brought to light at Nichoria and Tsoungiza. The wide distribution of the evidence at our disposal implies that a consistent division of this pottery phase can be applied throughout the entire Mycenaean mainland, thus bringing to a close a long-term debate among specialists. New excavations and a complete reassessment of the relevant assemblages that have been already brought to light in the past are needed in order to convincingly establish the number of possible sub-phases recognizable within LH IIIA2. This question may remain open until more data are available and consensus is reached between scholars. In this respect, attention should also be paid to the possible role played by regional variations. However, the brief overview of the deposits presented above tentatively suggests that the tripartite subdivision proposed for Nichoria and Mitrou may be extended to the rest of continental Greece. At the current stage of research, this appears to be the most likely possibility since closed find groups from the Early, Middle, and Late ceramic horizons seem to be represented at the important site of Mycenae (see Table 5). The viability of this system is also supported by the geographical range of the three sub-phases that may occur from central Greece down to the southwest Peloponnese, passing through the heartland of the Mycenaean world in the Argolid. How does the tripartite scheme proposed here relate to Furumark s bipartite subdivision of LH IIIA2? According to the chronology put forward in this paper, some of the deposits originally assigned by the Swedish scholar to his LH IIIA2 early sub-phase correspond to our LH IIIA2 Early, while others can be attributed to our LH IIIA2 Middle (see Table 5). If this is correct, the conclusion proposed by Shelmerdine in 992, according to which Furumark s early sub-phase should be equated to Nichoria s middle horizon, appears only partially tenable (Shelmerdine 992, 96). The proposed tripartite subdivision of LH IIIA2 does not intend to reject Furumark s 9 interpretation, but rather confirms the validity of his original intuition about the separability of this phase. Furthermore, despite the various changes that took place, the data at our disposal also confirm that, as originally thought by the Swedish scholar, the stylistic development within the whole phase was uniform (Furumark 9b, 0). This is suggested by the survival throughout LH IIIA2 of certain prominent features, such as monochrome deep rounded kylikes FS 26 and painted stemmed bowls FS 30, or the continuation of some of the diagnostic shapes of LH IIIA2 Middle, such as linear dippers FS 236 and patterned kylikes FS 256, within LH III2 Late. References Blegen, C.W Prosymna. The Helladic Settlement Preceding the Argive Heraeum, Cambridge, MA. Cullen, T., ed Aegean Prehistory. A Review (AJA Supplement ), Boston. Dabney, M.K., P. Halstead, and P.M. Thomas Mycenaean Feasting on Tsoungiza at Ancient Nemea, in Wright, ed., 200, pp Deger-Jalkotzy, S., and A.E. Bächle, eds LH IIIC Chronology and Synchronisms III. LH IIIC Late and the Transition to the Early Iron Age. Proceedings of the International Workshop Held at the Austrian Academy of Sciences at Vienna, February 23rd and 2th, 2007 (Veröffentlichungen der Mykenischen Kommission 30), Vienna. Deger-Jalkotzy, S., and M. Zavadil, eds LH III C Chronology and Synchronisms II. LH III C Middle. Proceedings of the International Workshop Held at the Austrian Academy of Sciences at Vienna, October 29th and 30th, 200 (Veröffentlichungen der Mykenischen Kommission 28), Vienna. French, E.B Late Helladic IIIA 2 Pottery from Mycenae, BSA 60, pp Furumark, A. 9a. The Mycenaean Pottery: Analysis and Classification, Stockholm.. 9b. The Chronology of Mycenaean Pottery, Stockholm. Immerwahr, S.A. 97. The Neolithic and Bronze Ages (Agora XIII), Princeton, NJ. Keramopoulos, A.D. 97. Θηβαϊκά, ArchDelt 3, pp Laffineur, R., L. Hitchcock, and J.L. Crowley, eds DAIS. The Aegean Feast. Proceedings of the 2th International Aegean Conference, held in Melbourne March 2008 (Aegaeum 29), Liège. 33

16 Salvatore Vitale Lindblom, M Marks and Makers. Appearance, Distribution and Function of Middle and Late Helladic Manufacturers Marks on Aeginetan Pottery (SIMA 28), Jonsered. Lis, B The Sequence of Late Bronze/Early Iron Age Pottery from East-Central Greek Settlements - A Fresh Look at Old and New Evidence, in Deger-Jalkotzy and Bächle, eds., 2009, pp Forthcoming. Aeginetan Cooking Pottery in Central Greece and its Wider Perspective, in Mazarakis Ainian and Doulgeri-Intzesioglou, eds., forthcoming. Manning, S.W The Absolute Chronology of the Aegean Early Bronze Age. Archaeology, Radiocarbon and History (Monographs in Mediterranean Archaeology ), Sheffield. Maran, J Kiapha Thiti. Ergebnisse der Ausgrabungen Jt. v.chr. Keramik und Kleinfunde (Marburger Winkelmann Programm 990), Marburg/Lahn. Mazarakis Ainian, A., and A. Doulgeri-Intzesioglou, eds. Forthcoming. Proceedings of the 3rd Archaeological Meeting of Thessaly and Central Greece From Prehistory to the Contemporary Period, Volos 2 5 March 2009, Volos. McDonald, W.A., and N.C. Wilkie, eds Excavations at Nichoria in Southwest Greece II. The Bronze Age Occupation, Minneapolis. Morris, S.P., and R. Laffineur, eds EPOS. Reconsidering Greek Epic and Aegean Bronze Age Archaeology. Proceedings of the th International Aegean Conference Los Angeles, UCLA - The J. Paul Getty Villa, April 2006 (Aegaeum 28), Liège; Austin, TX. Mountjoy, P.A Mycenaean Decorated Pottery. A Guide to Identification (SIMA 73), Göteborg Regional Mycenaean Decorated Pottery, Rahden, Westfalen The Late Helladic Pottery, in Taylour and Janko, eds., 2008, pp Forthcoming. A Deposit of LH IIIA2 Pottery from Tsoungiza, Hesperia. Van de Moortel, A The Site of Mitrou and East Lokris in Homeric Times, in Morris and Laffineur, eds., 2007, pp The Late Helladic IIIC Late-Protogeometric Transition at Mitrou, East Lokris, in Deger-Jalkotzy and Bächle, eds., 2009, pp Van de Moortel, A., and E. Zahou Excavations at Mitrou, East Lokris, Aegean Archaeology 7, pp Vitale, S Ritual Drinking and Eating at LH IIIA2 Early Mitrou, East Lokris. Evidence for Mycenaean Feasting Activities?, in Laffineur, Hitchcock, and Crowley, eds., 2008, pp Forthcoming. Local Traditions and Mycenaeanization in North-Central Greece. A Preliminary Report on the Late Helladic II to Late Helladic IIIB Pottery from Mitrou, East Lokris, and its Significance, in Mazarakis Ainian and Doulgeri-Intzesioglou, eds., forthcoming. Wace, A.J.B The Chamber Tombs at Mycenae (Archaeologia 32), Oxford. Wright, J.C., ed The Mycenaean Feast. Papers of a Colloquium at the General Meeting of the Archaeological Institute of America, Philadelphia, January 200 (Hesperia 73, 2), Princeton, NJ. Zerner, C.W New Perspectives on Trade in the Middle and Late Early Helladic Periods on the Mainland, in Zerner, Zerner, and Winder, eds., 993, pp Zerner, C.W., P. Zerner, and J. Winder, eds Wace and Blegen. Pottery as Evidence for Trade in the Aegean Bronze Age Proceedings of the International Conference Held at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, December 2 3, 989, Amsterdam. Renaudin, L La nécropole «Mycénienne» de Skhinokhori- Lyrkeia, BCH 7, pp Rutter, J.B The Prepalatial Bronze Age of the Southern and Central Greek Mainland, in Cullen, ed., 200, pp How Different is LH III C Middle at Mitrou? An Initial Comparison with Kalapodi, Kynos, and Lefkandi, in Deger-Jalkotzy and Zavadil, eds., 2007, pp Schönfeld, G Bericht zur bemalten mykenischen Keramik: Ausgrabungen in Tiryns 982/83, AA, pp Shelmerdine, C.W Late Helladic IIIA2 IIIB2 Pottery, in McDonald and Wilkie, eds., 992, pp , Symeonoglou, S.M Kadmeia I. Mycenaean Finds from Thebes, Greece. Excavation at Oedipus St. (SIMA 35), Göteborg. Taylour, W.D., and R. Janko, eds Ayios Stephanos: Excavations at a Bronze Age and Medieval Settlement in Southern Laconia (BSA Supplement ), London. Thomas, P.M A Deposit of Late Helladic IIIB Pottery from Tsoungiza, Hesperia 7, pp