Limenaria, a Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Settlement at Thasos - S. Papadopoulos, D. Malamidou

ANKARA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CENTER FOR MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY (ANKÜSAM)

Publication No: 1

Proceedings of the International Symposium

The Aegean in the Neolithic, Chalcolithic and the Early Bronze Age October 13th – 19th 1997, Urla - İzmir (Turkey)

Edited by

Hayat Erkanal, Harald Hauptmann, Vasıf Şahoğlu, Rıza Tuncel

Ankara • 2008

Limenaria, a Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Settlement at Thasos Stratis PAPADOPOULOS & Dimitra MALAMIDOU Recent archaeological research at Thasos has been rapidly supplementing our knowledge on the prehistory of the island (Fig. 1). During the Late Palaeolithic period, when Thasos was maybe still part of the continent 1 , we have the first ascertained human activity at Tzines, where an important ochre mine has been excavated 2 . Before the excavation at Limenaria, Kastri 3 was the only settlement that has offered secure evidence for Neolithic occupation, while dim indications came from two other sites: the acropolis at Limenas 4 and a cave at Skala Maries 5 . The Early Bronze Age came to light in small scale trial digs at coastal sites, which seem to be the principal poles of attraction for the population in the 3rd mill. The available evidence comes from the cave of Drakotrypa 6 near Panagia and the promontory of Agios Antonios 7 . Until recently, the only prehistoric settlement that has been to some extent excavated was Skala Sotiros, where impressive architectural remains of the Early Bronze Age came to light inducing a great deal of discussion 8 .

The prehistoric site of Limenaria is located in Southwest Thasos, under the modern village, on the east bank of a torrent.

Unfortunately, the largest part of the prehistoric settlement is today covered by the houses and the streets of the village (Fig. 2). The 18th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities of Kavala has been digging the site 1 2

3

4 5 6 7 8

Perissoratis et al. 1987, 209; Περισοράτης & Μητρόπουλος 1987, σχ. 13; Kraft et al. 1982, 11.

Koukouli-Chrysanthaki et al. 1988, 241-244; Κουκούλη-Χρυσανθάκη & Weisgerber 1996, 82-89; Koukouli-Chrysanthaki & Weisgerber (in press). Κουκούλη-Χρυσανθάκη 1992; ΚουκούληΧρυσανθάκη (1970) 1971, 16-22; ΑDelt 27-25 (19721980).

BCH 26, 1922, 533. Κουκούλη-Χρυσανθάκη 1970, 215-222. ΑDelt 28, 1973, 447-450. ΑDelt 26, 1971, 416. Κουκούλη-Χρυσανθάκη 1987-1990; Παπαδόπουλος 1997.

since 1993. During the years 1993, 1994, 1997, excavation at the west part of the settlement has detected deposits dated to the end of the Middle Neolithic period 9 , while during 1995, 1996 research at the hilltop brought to light architectural remains of the Early Bronze Age 10 .

The settlement was founded on a low rocky hill at the feet of the mountains of Southwest Thasos. It seems that it was located ca. 150 m away from the past coastline 11 , considering the fact that sea-level in the area has risen 3 to 4 m since prehistoric times. A series of sample collecting drills to check stratigraphy and the origin of raw materials used in house construction, stone tools manufacture and pottery, undertook in collaboration with the Ephorate of Palaeoanthropology and Spelaeology at Athens, has been almost completed.

On the base of the evidence so far collected, it becomes obvious that we have not a tell but a settlement horizontally developing on the hill. Neolithic layers appear on the hillsides while the Early Bronze Age ones cover the hilltop where no prior habitation has existed.

Neolithic Period On the west slope, excavation developed horizontally, and an area of ca. 200 m² was dug down to the natural soil. The archaeological deposit of the Neolithic period is deeper (2,30 m) on the north part of the excavated area, significantly diminishing (1-1,20 m) to the south.

Stratigraphy does not offer any indication on significant changes or “hiatus” in the 9 10 11

Μαλαμίδου & Παπαδόπουλος 1993, Malamidou 1996. Μαλαμίδου & Παπαδόπουλος 1997.

Kraft et al. 1982.

559-572;

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development of the Neolithic settlement, at least in the part excavated. Despite the fact that the natural soil slopes from east to west, the archaeological layers develop horizontally. Five stratigraphic compounds, representing several habitation phases of the end of the Middle Neolithic can be discerned. Construction features such as floors, pits and stone benches are associated with layers I and II. Layer IIa, 25-35 cm thick, is a terrace of reddish argile upon which these architectural elements were constructed. Layers III and IV contain clear traces of constructions and floors of beaten earth, small pebble and argile, while layer V is essentially part of the natural soil with few traces of human activity 12 .

cylindrical with varying diameters and flat bottoms. Their walls and bottoms are covered with insulating coating consisting of argiles, deposits of which have been located near the settlement. Often the same pits are reused after being furnished with a new coating. When put out of use, they are filled with food garbage and various debris 14 (Photo. 2). In the outer limit of the inhabited area a series of garbage pits were located, which simple holes were dug into the natural soil with no particular shape and no coating. They contained food remains, mostly shells, and ash. The fact that such pits are located exclusively out of the buildings provides an indication for intentional garbage disposal outside the settlement limits.

The main building material for the Neolithic is clay and wood. The houses are post-framed, but traces of mud brick buildings are not altogether absent. A series of postholes in semicircular arrangement were detected in trench C, possibly the apsidal end of a rather long house (Fig. 3, left). It is 3 m. wide, but it is not preserved to its entire length. The house floors are generally made of reddish or yellowish clay with small size pebbles, having been repaired several times.

It is worth mentioning that during the Middle Neolithic large scale levelling works took place. For this purpose, terraces made of solid red soil were created. A first terrace was constructed immediately on top of the natural soil, supported to the west by a stone wall (layer V on the stratigraphy) (Photo. 3). It aimed at creating a levelled space for the first installation, thus solving the problem of the sloping to the west. A second terrace was uncovered in the upper layers (layer IIa), also furnished with a supporting wall, built of large slabs. Such constructions were no doubt result of team work, which required the collaboration of a large part of the community 15 .

The floors of hearths and ovens are more or less well-preserved (Figs. 3: f/E-G & 4: f1/B). They have a substructure of clay and pebble-sometimes sherds as well- and an upper surface of pure clay hardened by fire 13 .

Assemblages of slabstones encased in earth bearing traces of burning, must be interpreted as a type of hearth (Fig. 4: f2/B). In one case, many fish bones were found on top and around the stones; it may be therefore possible that roasting on heated stones was applied. Several sizeable stone assemblages which most of the times are located near storage pits or hearths may be interpreted as benches serving food preparation or household craft activities (Photo.

1).

Storage pits, carefully made, were found in impressive numbers in the interior of houses (Fig. 4: s4/D, s4/E-G). They are mostly

The small finds from the Neolithic deposits of Limenaria offer valuable information concerning the economy and ideology of the population. The number of mortars and grinders is impressive, indicating that farming held a dominant position.

Archaeobotanical examination has so far detected the presence of barley, eincorn wheat, lentil, fig and wild pistache. Though farming must have been the basic economic strategy, it seems that the inhabitants complemented their nutrition with wild fruits. Seashells and fish 14

15 12 13

For the Neolithic Stratigraphy, see: Malamidou 1996, 58.

For relevant examples in Eastern Macedonia, see: Treuil 1992, 45.

For relevant examples in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, see: Treuil 1992, 41; Efstratiou 1993, 36-38 (Proskynites, Makri).

For relevant examples in Northern Greece, see: BCH 116, 1992, 715 (Dikili Tash); ΠαπαευθυμίουΠαπανθίμου & Πιλάλη-Παπαστερίου (1987) 1988, 176 (Mandalo); Ευστρατίου & Καλλιντζή 1994, 23 (Μάκρη).

Limenaria, a Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Settlement at Thasos

bones detected in large quantities testify the close relation of the settlement to the sea, while the quantities of animal bones, mostly goat, are also significant.

Polished stone tools are hammers and axes of various sizes. Chipped tools (Photo. 4) are represented by small blades and plenty of flakes and cores. This fact together with the conservation of remains of exterior surface (cortex) indicate that some tools were manufactured inside or near the settlement. As to the raw material used, the honey-coloured flint which is very diffused in Thasos 16 , is dominant, while quarz is also represented in impressive quantities.

Bone tools -awls, spatulae and needlesare well preserved (Photo. 5). They are manufactured almost exclusively from the long bones of small animals, the basic form of the tool being determined during segmentation.

Secondary work concerns the whole tool and is particularly careful 17 .

The occupation of the inhabitants with weaving is established through the discovery of a small number of biconical spindle whorls, pierced rounded sherds and loom weights made of unfired clay. The existence of basketry can be attested by the imprints of mat on vessel bottoms. Jewellery are in most cases pierced shells and Spondylus bracelets. Stone beads and pendants are scarcer. A pendant has the form of an animal head with long muzzle and poppedout eyes (Photo. 6). The marble vessels in shapes imitating clay (a bowl and a hemispherical tripoid vessel) can be considered as objects of special social significance, since they cannot be possessed by everyone.

The scarcity of figurines in the Neolithic layers of the settlement is a paradox if compared to the large numbers found in most sites of Macedonia and Thrace 18 . The upper part of a female figurine with marked breasts and navel was found (Fig. 5). It probably belongs to a type widely diffused in Western Thrace and Bulgaria towards the end of the

Middle Neolithic 19 . Its main characteristics are the long neck, cylindrical body, and the swollen lower body. The total number of figurine fragments found at Limenaria, both human- and animal-shaped, is no more than five. Figurines are altogether absent from the layers of the 3rd mill., but this is common in the settlements of East Macedonian and of Northeast Europe in general 20 .

A series of stone eight-shaped objects made of marble or gneusian stones (Photo. 7), known from other Aegean sites such as Saliagos, are generally interpreted as waistedweights or schematic figurines 21 . Most of them are of small size, but there are also larger, ca.

0,30 m. in height. An ovoid object with carefully rounded edges was also found. Any final conclusion as to the symbolic/ideological identity of these objects is maybe premature, but we cannot overlook the fact that there exists in Thasos a megalithic tradition expressed in the human-shaped stelae from Skala Sotiros and Potos.

The burial of a child 3 to 5 years old was found in a storage pit belonging to the lower building phases of the Neolithic 22 (Fig. 4: sl/B, Photo. 8). The skeleton was found lying on his back with plenty of slabs placed on top and around it. One of them was placed intentionally on the chest. The burial had no grave goods.

The skeleton is well preserved and macroscopic examination revealed the presence of small holes in both eyeholes suggesting some sort of bone dissolution process possibly due to anaemia, the pathology of which cannot be accurately determined. Also, the deformation of the teeth enamel may be related to some sort of malnutrition, something frequently found in prehistoric populations.

The pottery of the Neolithic layers (Figs.

6 & 7) 23 is examined as a homogenous whole, 19 20 21 22

16 17 18

Peristeri 1989 Christidou 1997, 154.

Marangou 1992, 12; Marangou 1997, 243; Efstratiou 1993, 39.

429

23

Ευστρατίου & Καλλιντζή 1994, 44; Todorova & Vasjov 1993, 198.

Treuil 1983, 248, 410; Marangou 1992, 337-338.

Barber 1991, 98; Evans & Renfrew 1968, 71; Heurtley 1939, 139, 200.

For Neolithic burials in Thrace, see: Agelarakis & Efstratiou 1996, 11-21.

Pictured Neolithic pottery see in: Μαλαμίδου & Παπαδόπουλος 1993, 559-572; BCH 120,3 (1995), 1996, 1282.

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since no important cultural differentiation is observed in the different habitation phases.

bowls with solid or hollow foot and small handless cups.

Two types of vessels served the storage of solid goods:

Incised tripods are found in relative large numbers (Photo. 11). The decorative motifs on one of them have been considered to offer proof of existing relations between the Balkans and Anatolia during the Early Neolithic 24 .

Nevertheless, there are no other indications for the existence of that period at Thasos.

a. Pithoi of medium size, no more than 70 cm in height with two vertical handles on the belly, low neck and wide rim. b. Handless biconical vessels with mastoid lugs sprouting at the point of carination, decorated in the black-topped technique. They are wide mouthed, have tall neck and ring shaped base. Traces of burned organic matter were located in their interior, resulting from carbonised seeds.

The need of transporting goods was covered by closed shapes with biconical or rounded profile, two pairs of facing handles on one side and a vertical one on the other side, on top of the shoulder (Photo. 9). The narrow neck, the position of the handles and the fact that some of them had no secure base testify to the fact that they were transport vessels tied on animals. It should not be however excluded that they served storage occasionally.

The commonest type of closed vessel among the medium sized vases- is the carinated jug with wide mouth and the emphasis placed on the upper part. There is a type with flat ring base and a tripod one. The vertical handle with knob or horn lug and rarely an animal or bird like finial is common to both types. In many examples, the clay is very thin without inclusions and forms very thin walls. They bear rippled or white paint decoration. There exist also larger jugs with rounded body and distinct neck decorated with horizontal grooves.

Open deep vessels are mostly represented by various types of bowls, biconical, with convex or protruding walls, without handles or one-handled; also by hemispherical vessels with one or two handles, with flat base or short legs.

The four-legged bowls (Photo. 10), mostly large in size, are found in impressive quantities.

Two types can be discerned: without walls with protruding decorated rim, and two-handled with vertical walls. There are also small kantharoid vases usually equipped with one handle reaching beyond the height of the rim, fruit

Incisions filled with white paste, impression, finger- or nail-imprints, deep or shallow grooving, relief decoration and random incision are preferred for the lesser quality vases. Rippled decoration is applied on better quality vessels, fine or medium. The blacktopped technique is common on a large percentage of medium and fine vessels; it is often combined with some other type of decoration. There are only a few examples of red-topped and grey-topped vessels. The presence of black-topped ware in the earliest layers at Limenaria offers supportive argument for the early appearance of this decorative technique in Eastern Macedonia, since it is considered as characteristic of the beginning of the Late Neolithic 25 .

The only painted ware that can be securely attributed to this period is the whitish on black, coming mostly from the upper layers.

It is used, almost exclusively, on the upper part of the black topped jugs and its repertory includes spirals, parallel lines and zig-zag. This pottery ware is known in Central Macedonia since the early phases of Late Neolithic (Vasilika II and III) 26 , in the “Larisa” culture at Thessaly 27 , and in Aegean sites such as Saliagos 28 , the Lower Cave at Agios Galas, Emporio (phases IX-VIII) 29 and Tigani 30 . It is also found in Chalcolithic sites of Anatolia 31 such as Aphrodisias, Beycesultan, Kusura, Can Hasan and Mersin. In fact, it is the first time

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Nikolov 1989, 193. Ασλάνης 1992, 102, 197. Γραμμένος 1991, 63.

Demoule et al. 1988, 35; Schneider et al. 1991, 29.

Evans & Renfrew 1968, 40.

Hood 1981, 225.

Tölle-Kastenbein 1974, 130, 133.

For detailed discussion, see: Hood 1981, 225-226.

Limenaria, a Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Settlement at Thasos

that it is found in a certain context in Eastern Macedonia 32 .

As to the absolute dating of the Neolithic layers five samples of carbonised material were examined with the C14 method in “Democritos” 33 (Fig. 8). Four of them gave calibrated values ranging from 5569 to 5255 (in years BP 6553 ±64 to 6459 ±63), that is an average value a little after the middle of the 6th mill. (5521-5385, in years BP 6536 ±41). One of the samples gave values reaching the beginning of the 6th mill. (calibrated 5981 to 5678) which are considered too high. The samples come from the same trench (A), represent a deposit 70 cm thick (1,65-2,36) and are compatible with the radiocarbon dates that we have from the Southeast Balkans.

Only to point out some of the examples that are close to the settlement at Limenaria, the beginning of Karanovo III is placed by absolute values to the middle of the 6th mill. (5450). The great thickness of the deposits of this phase at Ezero (2,50 m), alludes that it must certainly last for about 300-350 years, ending around 5150 to 5100. These dates coincide with the radiocarbon dates of Vinca A and of Eastern Macedonian sites. Sitagroi -phase I is dated between 5500 and 5200, Dikili Tash also offers calibrated values after the middle of the 6th mill.

(5450-5350, 6800-6700 BP) for the middle phases of the period, but these should be taken to be rather high 34 .

The shapes, the decorative practices and mostly the absolute dating prove that the settlement at Limenaria was founded towards the end of the Middle Neolithic period 35 .

Almost all the layers excavated at the west part of the settlement can be attributed to 32

33

34 35

„White-on-dark“ ware, mentioned as black-topped variety in Sitagroi and Dikili Tash, has no reference to that of MN Limenaria.

N.C.S.R. Demokritos, Laboratory of Archaeometry (Y. Maniatis, G. Fakorellis), Datasets (and intervals), according to: Stuiver & Pearson 1993, 1-23.

Calibration, according to the Radiocarbon Calibration Program Rev. 3.0.3c of Quarternary Isotope Laboratory of Washington University: Stuiver & Reimer 1993, 215-230.

Boyadziev 1995, 165; Renfrew et al. 1986, 173; Treuil 1992, 34; Γραμμένος 1997, 266. Ασλάνης 1992, 107.

431

this period which is represented in the wider area of the Southeast Balkans by Sitagroi I-II, Dimitra I II, Paradimi I-III, Makri I-II, Dikili Tash I and Karanovo III 36 . Though cultural affinities with Thessaly and the Aegean are not altogether absent, the dominant characteristics of the settlement connect it closely with the area of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

The presence of later phases of the Neolithic must be considered certain at Limenaria. Among the surface finds, sherds of the Late Neolithic I painted wares, Akropotamos style for example, which were widely diffused in Eastern Macedonia, are indeed found. The same is true for the Late Neolithic II wares, such as the graphite-painted and the black on red 37 . However, the presence of these ceramic traditions is not attested in the layers excavated.

Early Bronze Age The Early Bronze Age is represented at Limenaria by an excavated area of only 70 square meters. At least three building phases of the period were located on the hilltop. The first habitation layer (Fig. 9) consists of a floor made of pebble, sherds and solid soil, maybe part of a road or a yard, associated with an hearth and a large garbage pit (Photo. 12), all being limited by a wall to the north. This phase is founded on the natural ground in the south part of the excavated area, and on a fill of loose soil, stones and abundant Neolithic pottery in the north part. It seems, therefore, that it was necessary to arrange the natural ground by creating artificial fills and by levelling in order to prepare a solid base for construction. For this purpose, soil was transferred from areas of the settlement with Neolithic deposits.

A layer, 0,30 to 0,50 m thick, consisting of brown argile with pebbles, covers this phase as well. This lead us to believe that filling and levelling in order to re-use the same area took place after the destruction of the first habitation phase. Pottery characteristic of the EB II period in Eastern Macedonia (Photo. 13), with incised and impressed decoration with white infill, was 36 37

Keighley 1986, 363. Ασλάνης 1992, 189.

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Stratis PAPADOPOULOS & Dimitra MALAMIDOU

traced in the fill 38 . It is interesting to note that the Neolithic ceramic material of this layer must belong to the latest phases of the Late Neolithic.

It is characterised by the limited use of graphite, in rectilinear patterns only, by the pink or whitish paint on dark ground in motifs imitating those of the graphite, and by the addition of crusted paints, purple and pink (Photo. 14). The dating of these wares to the first half of the 4th mill. in Thasos 39 , is under discussion and we cite it here reluctantly.

The later habitation phase (Fig. l0) which lies above the second fill has features which are difficult to interpret and find no parallels in the Aegean world and the Balkans. To this phase belongs a wide slightly curving wall, built with large pebbles, uncovered in 5 m length. A group of oblong stones, fixed vertically in rows, on a pebble floor was discovered to the area east of the wall (Photo. 15). Fifteen stones of this type were found in situ while 3 or 4 were moved due to the extended disturbance. They protrude 0,30 to 0,40 m from the pebble floor level (Photo. 16).

The larger stones reach 0,70 m in height, 0,35 m in width, and are 0,20 m thick. Traces of a rough workmanship of the surface can be observed on some of them. A row of flag stones to the north of the excavated area probably belongs to a later arrangement of the area. An egg-shaped flat stone, measuring 0,50 to 0,63 m and 0,16 m width, bearing 30 small cavities along its perimeter around a central one on the top surface (Photo. 17), was discovered to the west side of this pebble floor close to the wall.

Its shape recalls the so-called “offering tables” well-known in the Southern Aegean.

The understanding of this later habitation phase at Limenaria is difficult mainly for two reasons: The first one is the absence of sufficient stratigraphic context which is due to the fact that this phase lies immediately under the surface layer which was very disturbed. The second reason, mentioned above, is the form of the structures which have no parallels in the surrounding area. It seems that what we have is an open-air area -hypothesis strengthened by

the lack of finds- the identity of which, utilitarian or symbolic, can not be, for the time being, ascertained.

One can insists on the ideological / symbolic character of the find, offering the megalithic monuments of the Western Mediterranean as the closest parallel. There, stones, the so-called menhir, vertically fixed on the ground in rows, circles or other formations are usually associated with funerary or cult structures. Rows of vertical stones, often incorporating large numbers of menhirs, usually of large dimensions, in some cases however smaller than 0,50 m. are found in Corse 40 , where “Mediterranean megalithic tradition” is the rule. Such structures are usually located close to passages, springs or serve as boundary marks of agricultural, husbandry-oriented, or even ceremonial grounds. In Sardinia 41 , towards the end of the Chalcolithic period, shortly before the middle of the 3rd mill., slab covered areas surrounded with menhirs, built on top of terraces, can be found near the external limits of settlements or, in rare cases, among the houses of an inhabited area. Those structures are usually connected with ceremonial activities, as well.

Also, we cannot overlook the megalithic tradition of Thasos itself, as this is expressed in the human-shaped stelae from Skala Sotiros and Potos 42 . These were not found in their original position; the ones at Skala Sotiros were built in the settlement wall, a use that certainly annulled their initial purpose, while the stele from Potos is a chance find. As related artefacts from the wider Aegean area we may cite the stelae of Troy I 43 and Argissa 44 . The baitylos in the area 513 of Poliochni Red 45 has been considered a ceremonial object.

On the other hand, we may not exclude the possibility that the find may have had a utilitarian purpose that may coexist with the

40 41 42 43

38 39

Παπαδόπουλος 1997, 199.

Demoule 1993, 383.

44 45

Camps 1994, 68.

Webster 1999, 53. Κουκούλη-Χρυσανθάκη (1987) 1988, 396; ΚουκούληΧρυσανθάκη (1989) 1992, 512.

Korfmann & Mannsperger 1997, 53.

Biesantz 1959, Fig. 1-2.

Poliochni 1997, 105.

Limenaria, a Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Settlement at Thasos

symbolic one. To this corroborate the following observations: a. The vertical stones of Limenaria bear no trace of special treatment on their surfaces.

Therefore, they do not belong to the type of the anthropomorphic stelae. b. The stones that were preserved intact are of the same height. Even if this indicate an intentional levelling, it remains difficult to accept that it supported some sort of construction, because of the pointed tops of the stones.

It is worth discussing the presence of the “offering table”, an object the function of which in the area of the wider Aegean is also under discussion. It would be preferable to term such objects “stones with cavities” (“pierre à cupules”) rather than “offering tables” or “kernoi”, a terminology which was established in analogy to the Eleusinian kernoi of the historical periods during the early discussions on the subject 46 . These objects are usually made of limestone and bear a large number, 30 to 40 of cavities. Despite the fact that each one of the known examples has its own morphological features, it seems that all follow a common prototype, maybe connected with a Middle Neolithic seal type of Thessaly 47 .

They have been interpreted as ceremonial objects, serving the acts of offering and libation, and they have been connected with the female deity of the Minoan religion or the Rhea-Kybele 48 . It has been however proposed by some, like Evans and Effenterre 49 , that they were simple games. Most examples come from the palace at Malia 50 . They were discovered not only in the central court and the west wing of the palace, but also in the Chryssolakkos cemetery. They are very rare in North Aegean: a large flagstone with cavities in assymetrical arrangement was used in one of the bastions of gate B at Skala Sotiros 51 . A related find, interpreted as a game-table, was found in the

paved street 12l during the old excavations at Poliochni 52 . Objects of such type seem to continue to be used in the area of the North Aegean during the historical period 53 .

During the EB II period, the settlement at Skala Sotiros 54 , gives the impression of a small fortified settlement, not larger than 1,500 m², enclosed in a wall built by flagstones, among which were embedded human-shaped stelae.

Here, the presence of semicircular bastions and antae, which reinforce the wall from the inside, as well as the fishbone wall construction permit comparisons with Aegean settlements such as Kastri in Syros, Panormos, Kynthos, Aegina, Lerna, Liman Tepe and Troy 55 , even with West-Mediterrannean sites at Spain, Sicily and Corse 56 . The use of large flagstones as orthostates mostly in the area of the gates is also reminiscent of Troy.

If we add to this, the picture emerging from Limenaria, no matter how fragmentary, we reach the conclusion that during this period Thasos is closer to the Aegean architectural tradition than to that of Macedonia and Thrace, where Neolithic architectural practices continue to be in use, with clay and wood as dominant building material 57 . This idea is congruent with the renewed interest to settle coastal sites located mostly to the south part of the island.

The finds from the excavated area of the Bronze Age settlement are limited, and their date under discussion due to the extended fills mentioned above. But, we can briefly point that: The technology of chipped tools offers indications of a decline in the layers of the 3rd mill. a fact observed in other contemporary North Greek sites 58 . Advance in hunting technology is marked by the adoption of arrowheads, a widely diffused innovation during the 3rd mill. 59 . Obsidian in small quantities reaches 52 53

46 47 48 49 50 51

Chapouthier 1928, 309.

Papathanassopoulos 1996, 333, 334; ΠιλάληΠαπαστερίου 1992, 85.

Pelon 1988, 31.

Evans 1930, 390-395; Van Effenterre 1955, 541-548.

Pelon 1992, 62. Κουκούλη-Χρυσανθάκη, 1988, 402, Fig. 7.

433

54 55 56 57 58 59

Poliochni 1997, 94, Fig. 1. Σουέρεφ (1989) 1992, 220. Κουκούλη-Χρυσανθάκη 1987-1990.

Barber 1987, 53; Κόνσολα 1984, 77, 85; Erkanal 1997; Korfmann & Mannsperger 1997.

Chapman 1990, 78; Malone et al. 1994, 173.

Malamidou 1997, 332.

Treuil 1992, n. 33, 81, 96; Fotiadis 1985, 87.

Treuil 1992, n. 20, 148.

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the settlement during its whole life-span. The study of samples from Limenaria and Skala Sotiros under the microscope, as part of the “Democritus Obsidian Analysis Program” 60 proved that these tools came from Melos and, more precisely, the vast majority came from Adamas.

The large number of spindle whorls in the Bronze Age layers indicates that weaving must have been an activity that has taken off during this period. That intensification, however, may have already manifested in the 4th mill., if we take a number of these spindle whorls to belong to the earlier material of the intentional fill.

A large number of crude iron lumps was found in the excavated area. Such material is abundant in the area around the settlement and appears in the same abundant quantities in layers of the Middle Neolithic. Traces of a metallurgical activity, copper slags and lumps, were also discovered but we consider their discussion here premature 61 .

We do not have any radiocarbon dates yet from deposits of the Bronze Age, and the relevant ceramic material is limited. Incised, relief and impressed decoration, including “stab and drag”, usually with added white paste in the grooves, which is widespread in Eastern Macedonia 62 , has been located in surface and excavation contexts at Limenaria, but it is not clear if it was included in the habitation layers excavated. The presence of dark pottery represented by bowls and open vessels with convex walls (Photo. 18), handless or onehandled, can be safely attributed to these building phases. These phases must be contemporary to the earliest phase at Skala Sotiros, Sitagroi Va, Dikili Tash IIIB, Pentapolis II and Troy I and are dated to the first half of the 3rd mill., according to the radiocarbon dates known so far from Eastern Macedonia 63 .

60 61 62 63

N.C.S.R. Demokritos, Laboratory of Archaeometry (V. Kilikoglou, A. Moundrea-Agrafioti, A. Kyritsi).

N.C.S.R. Demokritos, Laboratory of Archaeometry (I. Bassiakos). Παπαδόπουλος 1997, 199. Κουκούλη-Χρυσανθάκη (1990) 1993, 535.

Calibrated dates between 3100 and 2700 are considered valid for Sitargoi Va, between 2700 and 2200 for Sitagroi Vb, between 2550 and 2350 for Pentapolis II, and between 2590 and 1750 for Skala Sotiros. The date of the second phase of the Bronze Age sector -that is the stone-paved area wit menhirs- can be even later, if we consider as a certain chronological kriterion the presence of typical EB II pottery in the levelling fill just under the terrace. Also, if the presence of the “stone of cavities” is taken as a testimony of cultural relations connecting Limenaria with the South Aegean, then a date after the beginning of the 2nd mill. must not be out of the question. This idea is dictated by the lowest of the calibrated dates of Sitagroi and Skala Sotiros.

STRATIS PAPADOPOULOS & DIMITRA MALAMIDOU 18th Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities, Kavala, GREECE

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List of Illustrations: Figures: Fig. 1: Thasos: The prehistoric sites Fig. 2: Limenaria: The Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Sectors.

Fig. 3: NL Sector: Habitation layer of 1,35-1,45 m.

Fig. 4: NL Sector: Habitation layer of 2,05 m.

Fig. 5: Middle Neolithic figurine Fig. 6: Middle Neolithic pottery Fig. 7: Middle Neolithic bowls Fig. 8: Calibrated Radiocarbon Dates of Middle Neolithic layers Fig. 9: EB Sector:1st haditation layer Fig. 10: EB Sector: 2nd habitation layer

Photos: Photo. 1: NL Sector: Storage pit and stone assemblage Photo. 2: NL Sector: Storage pit filled with shattered vases Photo. 3: NL Sector: Stone wall supporting a terrace Photo. 4: Chipped tools Photo. 5: Bone tools Photo. 6: Stone pendant Photo. 7: Stone eight-shaped artifacts Photo. 8: NL sector: The burial of a child Photo. 9: Transport vase Photo. 10: Four-legged bowl Photo. 11: Incised Tripods Photo. 12: EB Sector,1st habitation layer: hearth and garbage pit Photo. 13: EB pottery Photo. 14: LN pottery Photo. I5: EB Sector, 2nd habitation layer: The pebble floor Photo. 16: EB Sector, 2nd habitation layer: The menhirs Photo. 17: “Stone with cavities” Photo. 18: Vessel belonging to the 1st habitation layer of EB

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