The Birth of the Greek Polis

SOUTHERN GREEK SETTLEMENTS IN THE PROTOGEOMETRIC AND GEOMETRIC PERIODS
11-10th Centuries - Protogeometric
Most settlements only to be recognised through the presence of cemeteries -
with the exception of Central Macedonia - see separate sheet
centres of population recognised Athens, Lefkandi, Argos, Tiryns
Knossos, Elateia
Nichoria DA I and II apsidal buildings, mud brick on stone footings
Argos stratified sequence but no buildings, litharge from silver working
Iolkos four phases, rectangular stone built houses
Grotta (Naxos) buildings including megaron
Karphi,  Vrokastro still occupied for a short time
Vrondas, Kavousi already occupied ?
Lefkandi Heroon - house or tomb ?
Kommos (Crete) Small rectangular shrine building
9th Century - Early and early Middle Geometric
Many more settlements on basis of tombs from most areas of S. Greece
Specific settlement evidence from:-
Old Smyrna Small oval houses
Massive walls enclosing area of 350 x 250 m by 850 BC
Thorikos Extraction of silver by cupellation
Lefkandi traces of buildings, pits with tripod moulds, 'granary' bases
Kommos Shrine rebuilt
Vrokastro Rooms of rubble masonry, haphazard plan, some column bases
Kavousi Neater arrangement based on rectangular rooms
Zagora Traces of settlement
8th Century - late Middle Geometric, Late Geometric
First period since 12th to provide widespread evidence.
Knossos Paved street above Royal Road, wells in many areas
Phaestos Paved street, traces of houses either side, use of benches
Deros First trace of agora - open area with steps along one side 23 x 40 m
Smyrna Walls rebuilt, rectangular and apsidal houses
Emborio (Chios) Straggle of buildings over steep hill top
Stone built detached houses, each on separate terrace
Usually single roomed, sometimes bench against wall
long hall with two columned porch - sanctuary ?
Zagora (Andros) On high promontory with defensive wall across isthmus
Neat stone built houses clustering together, some courtyard spaces
Schist slabs for thresholds and door jambs, benches common
Isolated two room shrine (?)
Agios Andreas (Siphnos) defended by circuit wall
stone built detached houses clustering
Antissa (Lesbos) Apsidal buildings, up to four rooms long, 17.25 x 5.50m
Oropos (Attica) 'Industrial' complex of apsidal and oval structures
Traces of iron working
Pithecoussai (Italy) Traces of iron working
Bibliography
Coldstream chap 12.
K. Fagerstrom - Greek Iron Age Architecture SIMA 61 1988

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