KYTHERA ISLAND PROJECT - 2007

Kythera Island Project. C. Broodbank (BSA/London) and E. Kiriatzi (BSA) report on a further study season.

Preliminary study of the Rom pottery (K. Slane) from the survey and the 1960s excavations at Kastri, indicates a low-level presence of ERom and high density of LRom. Notable also is the substantial presence of MRom (3rd−4th Ct AD), the possibility of some continuation after ca. 650 AD into the EByz and wide-ranging trade connections within the E Mediterranean in terms of amphorae, table and cooking wares. Study of almost all 47 sites in Paliopolis was completed, one of the most intensively investigated coastal landscapes in the Mediterranean.

Study of ca. 100 thin sections of geological samples from Kythera and S Laconia (E. Kiriatzi and R. Siddall) confirmed that the source of the red micaceous pottery, abundant on Kythera and present in a number of Peloponnesian sites during the LBA, must be on Kythera. S Laconia cannot be a source of the Lustrous Decorated Minoanising pottery present in coastal sites in the S and E Peloponnese: Kastri remains a strong candidate for at least some of this pottery while the possibility of production in the Argolid needs to be further explored.
Progress was made with other specialist studies. Preparation and analysis at the Fitch Laboratory of 10% of the 299 samples of largely iron-related metallurgical material from the project’s surface collections was begun (M. Georgakopoulou). GIS research (V. Delrieu) focused on analysis of all tract densities to explore for potential site-level densities in areas not yet designated: 4 candidates were so isolated. Archival research (J. Bennet, S. Davies and D. Harlan) on the 18th Ct landholding patterns of Strapodi was conducted in conjunction with micro-toponym location by E. Kiriatzi through interviews with local informants.