KOUPHOVOUNO - 2010
Informations Générales
Numéro de la notice
1890
Année de l'opération
2010
Chronologie
Mots-clés
Nature de l'opération
Institution(s)
Localisation
Toponyme
Sykarakion
Sykarakion
Notices et opérations liées
Description
Kouphovouno. W. Cavanagh (BSA/Nottingham), C. Mee (BSA/Liverpool) and J. Rénard (EfA/Montpellier) report on the 2010 study season.
Revised plans (Fig. 1) and Harris matrices (Fig. 2) were produced. Pottery studies focused on the Middle and Late Neolithic periods, examining evidence for production techniques and traces of use wear. Pottery from key contexts covering the Middle-Late Neolithic transition was re-examined to define the main characteristics of this phase (Fig. 3). Petrographic analysis of 140 Middle Neolithic, Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age samples (I. Whitbread) identifies fabric groups which indicate that most pottery was locally produced. In the Middle and Late Neolithic periods a number of potters were active at Kouphovouno, whereas there is evidence of greater specialisation in the Early Bronze Age.
A sample of the polished stone tools and other implements was examined for traces of use wear (N. Thomas). At a magnification of x30 and x50, evidence of manufacture and use – polish and striations – was identified on a number of the objects (Figs 4-7).
Ninety-seven bone samples were selected for isotope and DNA analysis (A. Gardeisen), the former to identify the diet of particular species and address questions of animal husbandry, and the latter to distinguish the wild and domestic status of species like Bos/Aurochs and Pig/Boar. Microwear traces on the teeth of domestic and wild ungulates yielded insights into livestock management and the environments exploited by the wild fauna (F. Rivals, A. Gardeisen and J. Cantuel).
Study of the botanical samples (A. Bogaard and A. Walker) has shown that barley grain occurs in most contexts, as does free-threshing wheat. Other forms of wheat identified include one-seeded einkorn and emmer, both represented as grains and chaff. There are also pulses – lentil, common pea, grass pea and probably bitter vetch. An oil-seed and/or fibre crop, flax, is attested in a few contexts. The data suggest that at least hulled barley and free-threshing wheat were deliberately cultivated crops. Other plant categories represented include the fruits and nuts of woody perennials probably collected as food and/or fodder: fig, grape, fruit stone and nutshell fragments. Finally, seeds of herbaceous wild plants could have arrived with harvested crops as arable weeds or by some other route, such as animal dung. An important aspect of the Kouphovouno assemblage is the abundance of free-threshing wheat grain, particularly in high-density contexts in the burnt Middle Neolithic deposit in Area C, where it is clearly dominant over hulled barley grain. Recent analysis of plant remains in northern Greece suggests a regional tradition that emphasised glume wheat, particularly einkorn cultivation. The picture at Kouphovouno is of a more varied suite of crops with a distinctive emphasis on free-threshing wheat.
Ancient human DNA has been successfully extracted and characterised from a number of Middle Bronze Age skeletons (T. Brown). The best results are for the skeletons from contexts B0186, B0173/174, B0213, and A0009A and B.
Auteur de la notice
Catherine MORGAN
Références bibliographiques
Unpublished field report, British School at Athens
Légende graphique :
localisation de la fouille/de l'opération
localisation du toponyme
polygone du toponyme Chronique
Fonctionnalités de la carte :
sélectionner un autre fond de plan
se rapprocher ou s'éloigner de la zone
afficher la carte en plein écran
Date de création
2011-02-28 00:00:00
Dernière modification
2023-10-06 13:57:04
Figure(s)
Fig. 1/ Kouphovouno: rectangular Middle Neolithic structure in Area G with later features
Fig. 2/ Kouphovouno: stratigraphic matrix for Area G.
Fig. 3/ Kouphovouno: transitional Middle-Late Neolithic sherd from context 1201.
Fig. 4/ Kouphovouno: adze 288.21 – striations on the cutting edge (x30).
Fig. 5/ Kouphovouno: axe 288.12 – striations parallel and perpendicular to the cutting edge.
Fig. 6/ Kouphovouno: adze 138.03 – cutting edge (x30).
Fig. 7/ Kouphovouno: adze 138.03 – polished and striated area on the side of the cutting edge (x30).