LEFKANDI - 2012

Lefkandi, Xeropolis. I.S. Lemos (BSA/Oxford) reports on continuing study of stratigraphy and portable finds.

In Area M, the latest phases in the area of the LH IIIC Megara were restored, with analysis of Late Geometric and Sub-Geometric walls and structures. In the East Sector the latest activity dates to the Late Geometric period, when two pits were cut in the eastern part of the area investigated. Both produced good quality ceramics. Two almost complete SM/EPG vases discovered in the western part of the sector are of types commonly associated with burials (perhaps of a child or infant). This sector was also occupied in Late Helladic IIIC, probably during the later stages. Two houses/structures are assigned to this period: walls 6 and 11 belong to one, and wall 4 to another in the eastern part of the excavated sector. A street (marked by wall 3) may have run east-west to the north of these buildings. White Ware pottery (discovered outside wall 3) again characterises the late phases of LH IIIC at Xeropolis.

In Area N, a Late Geometric house partially excavated in the 1960s was further excavated in 2004 in an unsuccessful attempt to locate its north end. Joins between sherds from the two campaigns have now been established, noting especially Deposit A assigned to the desertion of the building. Near-complete vases include an Attic Middle Geometric II triple skyphos, a rare form not otherwise known in domestic contexts (Fig. 4).

In the South West Area of Region I (which is badly eroded and damaged by ploughing), study confirmed the presence of Iron Age structures, noting Early/Middle Protogeometric deposits associated with an apsidal wall and a pit. The quantity of ceramics dated to this period strongly suggests Protogeometric activity in this area, which is significant as the period is poorly represented at Xeropolis.

Pottery studies focused on well-dated deposits containing large quantities of coarse pottery, especially Iron Age utilitarian pottery, cooking ware and pithoi. Several groups were identified on the basis of fabric, surface finish and vessel form. Particular attention was given to parallels in form, fabric and manufacturing techniques from Zagora and sites in neighbouring regions.

Study of small finds from Region I focused on stone and metals, with an admix of faience, glass, bone and shell. The most ubiquitous stone items are tools: 140 ground-stone tools were identified, plus 21 querns/working surfaces and 10 working surfaces/supports (the work carried out on these will have involved grinding, pounding and crushing tools). Specialized tools are less common: 12 examples for polishing/burnishing were recorded, plus six whetstones, two pestles, a heavy hammer, and two possible chopping tools. In addition, there were two fragmentary mortars, 10 pierced weights, and three pierced disc spindle whorls. Thirty-five other stone items include five likely architectural members (perhaps thresholds or sills) and five disc-lids perhaps for vases. Apart from stone burnishers that could have been used in pottery manufacture, the only other stone tools of obvious purpose are moulds for bronze casting. Fragments of an open mould for a dagger and an unknown decorated item, and another perhaps for a spearhead, are noted. Metal working is further indicated by six terracotta crucible fragments, a piece of a large, stemmed crucible, and a hemispherical vessel sherd with a pulled lip for pouring. In some cases small quantities of copper or bronze remain. Six pieces of slag/corroded metal and perhaps ores confirm metal-working in the settlement: further slag refuse was collected via wet-flotation during the excavation. A small piece of a copper (oxhide?) ingot was found in the Megaron area. Pumice may have been used to sharpen and adjust metal items, but none of the three preserved pieces show evidence of use. Fifty metal (bronze, iron and lead) items include anonymous bronze and iron shanks, bronze sheet (one piece possibly with cast decoration), bronze jewellery (pins, rings, and a fibula), and tools (a needle, punch, chisel top and three blades). Lead items comprise four weights and four clamps for repairing pots. Personal ornaments include beads (one terracotta, one faience and three glass) and a reused shell pendant. Bone and antler tools consist only of points.

The human burials found on Xeropolis in the recent excavations were all of babies (five cases) or young children (two cases). Zoo-archaeological study has now covered 12,000 of an estimated 30,000 specimens from Region I. The patterns observed support the initial impressions in the 2011 report. An important exception is the identification of two lion bones (a claw/3rd phalanx and a central tarsal), one of which shows cut marks consistent with disarticulation. The Early Iron Age contexts of these bones are, as yet, difficult to interpret as they come from a large pit and a backfilled robber-trench.