Reconsidering Technological Transmission: The Introduction of the Potter’s Wheel at Ayia Irini, Kea, Greece

Minoanisation in the Middle Bronze Age: Evaluating the Role of Cycladic Producers and Consumers

“…Nearly all sherds of Period V are presented by Davis (1986, 4), which ensures that analysis of his volume is not biased substantially by selection of particular kinds of ceramics for publication. On the other hand, some pottery was discarded prior to publication as part of the typical post-excavation processing procedure at Ayia Irini (Gorogianni 2008, 102–5; Gorogianni 2013). In Period V, nearly 60% of the assemblage (roughly, by volume) seems to have been discarded (Gorogianni and Abell forthcoming, table 2; for specific deposits, see also Gorogianni 2008).…”

“…On the other hand, some pottery was discarded prior to publication as part of the typical post-excavation processing procedure at Ayia Irini (Gorogianni 2008, 102–5; Gorogianni 2013). In Period V, nearly 60% of the assemblage (roughly, by volume) seems to have been discarded (Gorogianni and Abell forthcoming, table 2; for specific deposits, see also Gorogianni 2008). Analysis of excavation records and the remaining ceramic lots in the Northern Sector and in Area B have demonstrated that coarse, plain wares made up the majority of discarded pottery, regardless of chronological period (Gorogianni 2008, 351; Abell 2014b, 10–12).…”

“…In Period V, nearly 60% of the assemblage (roughly, by volume) seems to have been discarded (Gorogianni and Abell forthcoming, table 2; for specific deposits, see also Gorogianni 2008). Analysis of excavation records and the remaining ceramic lots in the Northern Sector and in Area B have demonstrated that coarse, plain wares made up the majority of discarded pottery, regardless of chronological period (Gorogianni 2008, 351; Abell 2014b, 10–12). Given the relatively coarse nature of local Keian fabrics, this pattern of discard probably affected primarily local plain wares, especially larger – and, correspondingly – coarser vessels, particularly when chronologically or typologically diagnostic features like rims or bases were not preserved (Gorogianni 2008, 351; Abell 2014b, 10–12).…”

“…Analysis of excavation records and the remaining ceramic lots in the Northern Sector and in Area B have demonstrated that coarse, plain wares made up the majority of discarded pottery, regardless of chronological period (Gorogianni 2008, 351; Abell 2014b, 10–12). Given the relatively coarse nature of local Keian fabrics, this pattern of discard probably affected primarily local plain wares, especially larger – and, correspondingly – coarser vessels, particularly when chronologically or typologically diagnostic features like rims or bases were not preserved (Gorogianni 2008, 351; Abell 2014b, 10–12). The preserved dataset, which is made up primarily of feature and/or decorated sherds in imported and local ceramic wares, should, nevertheless, be reasonably well suited to a discussion of Minoanisation in the ceramic assemblage, since the major category of missing evidence – plain and coarse local sherds with few distinctive shape or decorative characteristics – is a ceramic category that is unlikely to be especially sensitive to changes in ceramic fashions.…”

“…Debate over the primary causes underlying the changes in material culture associated with the Minoanisation phenomenon has been ongoing for over 30 years, since the publication of Hägg and Marinatos's edited volume, The Minoan Thalassocracy , in 1984 (recently, see Broodbank 2004; Davis and Gorogianni 2008; Macdonald, Hallager and Niemeier 2009; Wiener 2013). Yet few studies focus specifically on the later MBA phase of the phenomenon, with some notable exceptions (Papagiannopoulou 1991; Davis 1984; 1986; Whitelaw 2005; Knappett and Nikolakopoulou 2005; 2008; Hilditch 2008; Gorogianni 2008; Abell and Hilditch 2016; Gorogianni, Abell and Hilditch 2016). The later MBA is, nevertheless, a crucial period for evaluating the degree to which different Cycladic communities participated in the earliest stages of the phenomenon, as well as for elucidating the initial processes that spurred the massive changes evident in LBA Cycladic material culture and society.…”