AEGINA - Kolonna - 2006
Informations Générales
Numéro de la notice
2099
Année de l'opération
2006
Chronologie
Mots-clés
Nature de l'opération
Institution(s)
Localisation
Toponyme
Égine, Aigina, Aegina
Égine, Aigina, Aegina
Notices et opérations liées
Description
Aegina, Kolonna. A series of studies reviews aspects of the material culture and subsistence practices of Middle Helladic Kolonna (Fig. 1).
Ceramic typology: the final stages of Early Helladic III are characterised by short-lived decoration and shapes such as the narrow-necked jug. Cycladic influences and imports appear after the end of the EH II/Phylakopi I culture. (Figs 2,3). Apsidal structures are built in this final stage of EH III/transitional MBA. The transition to MBA is characterised e.g. by the first appearance of unpainted bowls with incurving rim and the beginning of pot-marking locally produced vessels.
Minoan imports and technology appear at the beginning of the Middle Bronze Age, with changes in pottery production exemplified by the appearance of Aeginetan matt-painted pottery. The nucleus of the Large Building Complex, the town’s administrative centre and mansion, was established in the centre of the innermost city, with massive walls of large stone blocks (Fig. 4). Its plan remains unclear, but it covered an area between 230 and 680m2 (the latter following its extension in the time of the Aeginetan shaft grave, when the Kolonna settlement extended towards the east). High quality pottery found inside the building reflects its status. Aeginetan local production of Minoan type pottery, represented mostly by drinking and cooking vessels, differs from more traditionally local products in that it is wheelmade with no potter’s marks so far identified (Figs 5-7).
The Large Building Complex remained in use until the beginning of the Late Bronze Age. A pit inside it yielded two cylindrical objects in local clay, a seal and an object with relief decoration, depicting humans, animals and spirals (Figs 8-10). Both are unique at Kolonna and on the Greek mainland. They may indicate administration and bureaucracy.
Insights into living conditions at Kolonna are gained from a study of subadults buried in the EH I-LH settlement, examining diet, health status, and episodes of stress in pregnancy and the neonatal phase. Basic anthropological and palaeopathological data were recorded on 48 individuals (12 EH I, 9 EH III/MH, 18 MH and 9 LH): 41 died before the age of 3 months (10 were stillbirths, 24 perinatal deaths, and 7 babies). (Fig. 11). Macroscopic examination revealed no evidence of fractures or cranial lesions. X-rays of the long bones of new-borns (for Harris Lines) and histology of cross-sections of their teeth showed that they suffered no stress responses around birth (Fig. 12). A pilot DNA test for sex identification produced a signal in only one case (a girl in her eighth month). Demographic trends are evaluated over the study period and comparison made with infant mortality at MH Asine and Lerna. While perinatal mortality remained highest, it declined over the period, although there is a converse trend for increased premature stillbirth. However, this may also reflect burial practices in a prosperous community.
Turning to subsistence, MH II fills associated with the Large Building Complex contained large quantities of faunal remains, mostly of domesticated mammals. Sheep and goat rearing was favoured. Rare remains of wild mammals come exclusively from prestigious hunted species as stags, fallow and roe deer and probably also wild boar, aurochs and even a lion (Fig. 13). Pigeons form the great majority of identifiable bird bones (Fig. 14), although part of a cormorant skeleton is also noted (Fig. 15). Part of the dorsal carapace of a tortoise reveals cut marks perhaps linked to non-subsistence use, e.g. for the sound-box of a musical instrument (Fig. 16). Similarities with subsistence patterns on Minoan Crete are observed. For all that the botanical remains consist of slight quantities of carbonised grain, a large range of cereals and legumes is present. Arboriculture is attested by fig and grape pips, as well as olive stones. These remains represent the consumption preferences of the inhabitants of the Large Building Complex: it is not yet permissable to generalise about the entire settlement.
Marine faunal remains found in MH levels at Kolonna consist of gastropods, bivalves, several cuttlefish, and numerous fish bones. Gastropods are mostly limpets, turbo and purple snails, with occasional instances of other species such as tuns. The most common bivalves are Spondylus gaederopus (Fig. 17) and Noah’s Ark shell, as well as cockles, scallops, mussels and pen shell. In addition to their culinary uses, shells were also raw material for the manufacture of attachments or personal ornament, in which case they were perforated (Fig. 18). Fish remains also encompass a large variety of species, large and small confirming the complexity of their exploitation and their important role in the subsistence of the MH population (Fig. 19).
Auteur de la notice
Catherine MORGAN
Références bibliographiques
W. Gauss and R. Smetana, ‘Aegina Kolonna in the Middle Bronze Age’, in A. Philippa-Touchais, G. Touchais, S. Voutsaki and J. Wright (eds), Mesohelladika (BCH supp. 52), Paris/Athens 2010, 165-174; W. Gauss, ‘Aegina Kolonna. Pottery classification and research database’, op.cit. 635-640; F. Kanz, K. Großschmidt and J. Kiesslich, ‘Subsistence and more in Middle Bronze Age Aegina Kolonna: an anthropology of newborn children’, op.cit. 479-487; G. Forstenpointner, A. Galik, G. E. Weissengruber, S. Zohmann, U. Thanheiser, and W. Gauss, ‘Subsistence and more in Middle Bronze Age Aegina Kolonna: patterns of husbandry, hunting and agriculture’, op.cit. 733-742; A. Galik, S. Zohmann, G. Forstenpointner, G. E. Weissengruber, and W. Gauss, ‘Subsistence and more in Middle Bronze Age Aegina Kolonna: exploitation of marine resources’, op.cit., 743-751.
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Date de création
2011-06-19 00:00:00
Dernière modification
2023-10-09 10:40:15
Figure(s)
Fig. 1/ Aegina Kolonna: schematic plan.
Fig. 2/ Late EH III pottery from Kolonna.
Fig. 3/ Late EH III pottery from Kolonna.
Fig. 4/ Schematic reconstruction of the Large Building Complex.
Fig. 5/ Minoan-type vessel from the new excavation area.
Fig. 6/ Aeginetan vessel from the new excavation area: side view.
Fig. 7/ Aeginetan vessel from the new excavation area: front view.
Fig. 8/ Cylindrical clay object with relief decoration.
Fig. 9/ Cylindrical clay object with relief decoration.
Fig. 10/ Clay object with relief decoration.
Fig. 11/ Photo- and radiographs of tibias and femurs from various subadults (1m = lunar month, y = year) from different time periods (EH I, EH III/MH, MH, LH). Detected Harris Lines are marked with red arrows.
Fig. 12/ A: cross-sections of the incisor of 0.4-0.6 year old and 10 lunar month old child, showing the enamel (e), dentin (d), enamel-dentin junction (ED) and for the 0.4-0.6 year old, the neonatal line (NL). B: age distribution of perinatals, neonates, and post-neonates from Aegina Kolonna from EH I to LH. C: age distribution of the MH perinatals, neonates, and post-neonates from Aegina, Asine and Lerna. Bottom: age distribution of the 48 subadults from Aegina Kolonna (1m = lunar month, d = day, m = month, y = year).
Fig. 13/ Left humerus of a lion from MH layers
Fig. 14/ Pigeon bones from MH layers.
Fig. 15/ Bones of two cormorants from MH layers: cut marks are indicated by arrows.
Fig. 16/ Fragment of the dorsal carapace of a marginated tortoise. Cutting edge is indicated by arrows.
Fig. 17/ Weight distribution of complete and fragmented spondylus valves.
Fig. 18/ Size composition of glycimeris valves: the centre specimen is polished and has an artificially enlarged hole at the umbo.
Fig. 19/ Estimated size distribution of fish.