PYLOS, Palace of Nestor - 2012

Pylos, Palace of Nestor. S. Stocker (ASCSA) reports that excavation in the current parking area in 2011 revealed a quantity of Early Iron Age pottery and other finds. Additional excavation in 2012 in preparation for setting the supports for a new roof over the Palace revealed LH IIIA and LHIIIB (final palatial) remains, plus a significant amount of Late Geometric material.

Study of the Ship Fresco from the Southwest Building produced a significant number of new joins: it is now clear that at least one human was represented in the ships, and new joins (including a fish and an additional oar) were added to the Argonaut ship. An IR Luminescence Study was undertaken on select wall-paintings.

In the Throne Room, the channel in the floor was cleaned in order to clarify its operation. Cleaning of the ‘throne space’ and the easternmost corner of the decorated floor (square L10) revealed further details of their physical appearance, construction sequences, and possible uses. Cleaning in the east corner of Room 6 revealed the painted floor decoration including the grid string-lines made to guide the artist. An area of in situ plaster was removed from Court 88 in preparation for excavation for the new roof supports.

Study of the pottery from Room 60, a storage pantry outside the Palace proper, indicated that items stored here were used for the production of perfumed oil and for funerary rituals.

Study of human remains from tombs in the Pylos area focused on comparative study of material from the Ellinika tombs in the Kalamata area. Ten new individuals were identified, bringing the total of those buried to 85 people, with significant differences in the demography of the Ellinika and Pylos chamber tomb occupants.