THE DARK AGE IN NORTHERN GREECE 2: 1200-1000 BC

MACEDONIA

CEMETERIES Almost unknown
Mycenaean style cist graves on slopes of Mt Olympos and near Kozani
Tumuli with local incised and paste filled pottery in E. Macedonia
Aiani - burials with matt-painted and Mycenaean
SETTLEMENTS Central Macedonia - toumba (tell) sites 70x120 m up to 20 m high by this date
continuity of settlement from at least beginning of LBA
from Veria basin to Strymon valley, esp. Axios valley, Langadas basin and Chalchidike
Kastanas, Assiros, Axiochori (Vardaroftsa), Toumba Thessalonikis
thriving well organised communities  on top of toumbas
Assiros  provided with perimeter wall at summit
Regular streets continuing in us from 13th century.
Storage pattern of scattered storage not centralised
Assiros Postframed houses, substantial mudbrick walls
Phases 7-5 Rooms' based on 2x4m module, some roofed, some open
pottery and cupboards in rooms,
 scattered storage
Kastanas
Schicht 13-12 Timber  structures
Kamenska Cuka  just inside Bulgaria in Strymon valley
mound containing 'fortress' with storage pithoi
Toumba Thessalonikis Settlement high on steep mound with casemated defensive/terrace walls already established early in the ?MBA
Postframed houses, substantial mudbrick walls
Large apsidal storeroom set with pithoi.
Pottery Local Bronze Age pottery unchanged
ware Brown burnished, hand made with grey core
shapes Wishbone handle bowl (1-h), 4-h jars, cutaway neck jugs
composite cooking stands
   decoration a little incised and paste filled, a little matt painted
some wheelmade Mycenaean pottery c 5-10%, but locally made rather than imported
SANCTUARY First levels at Poseidi with LH IIIC Mycenaean pottery may indicate sanctuary already exists, even before erection of enclosure and altar with ash deposits

EPIRUS

Cemeteries isolated graves only - cists
Settlements a few pottery scatters, minimal excavation
fortified circuit at Ephyra
pottery indicates settlement at Dodona
Metalwork Mycenaean style type F swords
'Northern' leaf shaped spearheads, several with facetted sockets
Some unusual ? non-Mycenaean spiral bronze ornaments
Pottery Rather crude hand made wares, typically decorated with finger impressed cordons and applied pellets
Some matt painted

ALBANIA 

Cemeteries Tumulus burials with cist graves
Settlements Not much known - cave at Tren, lake side settlement at Maliq
? First fortified circuits on coast at Badher for example
Pottery Local burnished wares, some matt painted
Mycenaean pottery known from graves at Barc, and in Tren cave
Metalwork Naue II swords, one example of type F
'Northern' leaf shaped spearheads, several with facetted sockets

Northern Greece 1: general

Northern Greece 3: 1000-900 BC

Northern Greece 4: 900-700 BC

Index to Assiros Pages