Contents
Preface, by K. A. Wardle xxvii
Chapter 1 The Excavation, by C. A. Mould, Cressida Ridley and K. A. Wardle 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 The Prehistoric Site 5
1.3 Initial Observations by A. J. B. Wace and M. S. Thompson 5
1.4 A Research Campaign led by W. A. Heurtley 7
1.5 The Rescue Excavation of 1971–73 10
1.6 Excavation and Recording Methods 14
1.7 Comparative and Absolute Chronology 14
Chapter 2 The Stratigraphy and Phases, by C. A. Mould and K. A. Wardle 17
2.1 Introduction 17
2.2 The Middle Neolithic 22
2.2.1 Phase One 23
2.2.2 Phase Two 25
2.2.3 Phase Three 30
2.2.4 Heurtley’s Stratum I — ‘en’ 1–4 33
2.2.5 Phase Four 34
2.2.6 Heurtley’s Stratum II — ‘en’ 5 42
2.2.7 Phase Five 42
2.3 The Late Neolithic 44
2.3.1 Phase Six 44
2.3.2 Phase Seven 47
2.3.3 Heurtley’s Stratum II — ‘ln’ 1 54
2.4 The Early Bronze Age 54
2.4.1 Phase Eight 55
2.4.2 Heurtley’s Stratum III — ‘ln’ 2, eba 58
2.4.3 Phase Nine 58
2.4.4 Phase Ten 61
2.5 Phase Eleven 62
2.5.1 The Human Skeleton from the Phase Eleven Pit, F20/B–F20/D, by J. Musgrave 64
2.6 Post-Roman Occupation 69
Chapter 3 The Architectural Remains, by C. A. Mould and K. A. Wardle 71
3.1 Introduction 71
3.2 Middle Neolithic Structures 71
3.2.1 The size of buildings 72
3.2.2 The orientation of buildings 72
3.2.3 Location of buildings 75
3.3 Late Neolithic Structures 75
3.3.1 The architecture and size of buildings 75
3.3.2 The orientation of buildings 76
3.3.3 Location of buildings 77
3.4 Early Bronze Age Structures 77
3.5 Building Techniques 79
3.5.1 Walls 79
3.5.2 Buttresses 86
3.5.3 Roofs 86
3.5.4 Floors 86
3.6 Ancillary Features 91
3.6.1 Yards 91
3.6.2 Storage Areas 91
3.6.3 Hearths and Ovens 92
3.6.4 Pits 95
3.6.5 Ditches 97
3.7 Summary 97
3.8 Parallels and Comparisons 98
3.8.1 Early Neolithic 98
3.8.2 Middle Neolithic 99
3.8.3 Late Neolithic 102
3.8.4 Early Bronze Age 103
3.8.5 Defensive Features 104
Chapter 4 The Small Finds 107
4.1 Introduction, by K. A. Wardle 107
4.2 The Stone Small Finds, by C. A. Mould, Cressida Ridley and K. A. Wardle 112
4.2.1 Polished cutting tools — chisels, axes and adzes 112
4.2.2 Polished stone objects with shafthole 137
4.2.3 Ground stone tools — pestles and cutting tools 139
4.2.4 Querns 146
4.2.5 Other grindstones/whetstones 151
4.2.6 Palettes 155
4.2.7 Pounders 157
4.2.8 Polishers and burnishers 159
4.2.9 Waisted weights 162
4.2.10 Fragments of stone vases 171
4.2.11 Ornaments 173
4.2.12 Pivots/Sockets 182
4.2.13 Miscellaneous 182
4.3 The Clay Small Finds 191
4.3.1 The Figurines, by W. W. Phelps 192
The Spinning and Weaving Implements, by J. Carington Smith 207
4.3.2 Sherd disks 207
4.3.3 Spindle whorls 214
4.3.4 Pierced disks 222
4.3.5 Ring weights 223
4.3.6 Spools 227
4.3.7 Loomweights 233
4.3.8 Mat impressions 240
4.3.9 Needles and a button 248
4.3.10 Anchors 248
Additional Clay Small Finds, by C. A. Mould, Cressida Ridley and K. A. Wardle 264
4.3.11 Ornaments 264
4.3.12 Slingbolts 266
4.3.13 Spoons 266
4.3.14 Stamp/burnisher 267
4.3.15 Disks 267
4.3.16 Plaques 271
4.3.17 The ‘pillar-like’ objects 271
4.3.18 Miscellaneous small finds 272
4.3.19 Worked small finds 274
4.3.20 Impressions in daub 275
4.4 The Shell Small Finds, by C. A. Mould, Cressida Ridley and K. A. Wardle 276
4.4.1 Beads 277
4.4.2 Bracelets 278
4.4.3 Pendants 281
4.4.4 Polisher 284
4.4.5 Unworked shell 285
4.5 Ornaments of stone, clay and shell, by C. A. Mould, Cressida Ridley and K. A. Wardle 285
4.6 The Metal Small Finds, by C. A. Mould, Cressida Ridley and K. A. Wardle 288
4.7 The Glass Small Finds, by C. A. Mould, Cressida Ridley and K. A. Wardle 290
Chapter 5 The Environment and Agriculture 293
5.1 The Environmental Setting of the Prehistoric Settlement, by Richard Hubbard 293
5.1.1 Introduction 293
5.1.2 Basic considerations underlying palaeoecological reconstruction 294
5.1.3 The palaeoecological evidence 294
5.1.4 Clearances 295
5.1.5 Human Use of the Natural Resources 296
5.2 The Carbonised Plant Remains, by Rupert Housley 301
5.2.1 Introduction 301
5.2.2 The botanical remains 302
5.2.3 Discussion 307
5.2.4 Botanical discussion of the species of plants recovered 316
5.3 The Agriculture of Prehistoric Servia, by Richard Hubbard and Rupert Housley 330
5.3.1 Introduction 330
5.3.2 Analytical Considerations 330
5.3.3 Neolithic agricultures of the southern Balkans 331
5.3.4 Comparison of en and mn agricultures 335
5.3.5 Local adaptations and indigenous origins 335
5.3.6 Early agriculturalists: primitive or sophisticated? 336
5.4 Malacological investigations at Servia: a fool’s errand? by Richard Hubbard 337
5.5 A Middle Neolithic Dendrochronological
Snippet, by Richard Hubbard 339
5.6 The Archaeobotany of Early Neolithic
Servia, by Richard Hubbard 340
5.6.1 Some general considerations 340
5.6.2 Archaeobotanical investigations 342
5.6.3 Analytical results
343
5.6.4 Notes on certain taxa 349
5.6.5 Early Neolithic agriculture in Greece
352
5.7 Insect Remains, by
Richard Hubbard 355