Institute of Archaeology
and Antiquity
University of
Birmingham
Mediterranean Archaeology
Autumn Term 2011
The Dorian Invasion: A Non-Event?
- C
1220 BC – protected access to water supply cut below walls at Mycenae,
Tiryns, Athens – fear of siege ?
- Pylos
Linear B archives indicate defensive provisions on coast. References to
‘watchers on the coast’.
- C
1200 BC- Mycenaean palaces at Mycenae, Pylos, Tiryns destroyed, other sites
abandoned
- Only
at Tiryns is there sign of later palace construction – but associated with
large C12th settlement (transfer of power from Mycenae to Tiryns?)
- many
of the palatial characteristics lost: writing,
administration, major architecture, wall paintings, ivory carving, stone
vessel manufacture, trade with eastern Mediterranean
- apparent
general reduction in level of population and number of sites
- many
basic elements of continuity: many of same settlements remained occupied,
pottery style unchanged (but simpler) fashions in weapons, jewellery
continue.
- innovations
include new sword type (with European ancestry), violin bow fibulae (also
used in Italy), handmade pottery in small quantity – but all appear first
before destructions.
Causes
Dorians – traditional explanation based on
Herodotus, Thucydides etc (but not Homer).
for:-
- tradition
- linguistic
evidence - distribution of Doric (West Greek dialect) in NW Greece,
Peloponnese, S. Cyclades, Crete, Attic/Ionic in E. Greece, N. Cyclades etc.
Apparently geographically separated developments requiring movement to
achieve this result.
N.B. Arcadian (also Cypriot dialect) closest descendant of
Linear B Greek, both Attic and Doric more distant.
against
- even
tradition does not report single large scale event, but rather small groups
gradually moving into (returning to – Heraclidae) the south from central +
NW Greece.
- total
lack of Archaeological evidence for newcomers – but might have shared
Mycenaean culture already and been indistinguishable from other Mycenaeans.
Sea Peoples
- Groups
of invaders attacking northern Egypt in reign of Rameses III.
- Include
Peleset (=Philistines/Phoenicians) and Shardana (??=Sardinia).
- Defeated
with difficulty, some settled in Syria/Palestine/Israel.
- Sea
peoples depicted with women, wagons, animals not ships.
Simultaneously
- upheaval/destruction
in Syria/Palestine and in Anatolia (Hittite Empire).
- changes
in Cyprus.
- slump
in E. Mediterranean trade.
Who were they ? – alternative theories
- local
troublesome tribes (same names turn up in Egyptian records during previous
500 years.
- Mycenaean
Greeks driven out of Greece
- Outsiders
from as far as Central Mediterranean
- but none of these explains all the phenomenon
Economic meltdown
- Mycenaean
civilisation in 13th century product of long period of expansion.
- Population
increase and over use of marginal land (cropping for two three years, then
failing), leading to critical situation and vulnerability to drought and bad
harvests.
- Hence
crop failure resulting in famine and unrest.
- ??
Attacks on palatial centres where stored agricultural reserves held.
- Consequential
destruction of palaces and administrative systems.
Was there a climatic episode which might have caused crop
failures ??
- Dendrochronological
record (annual growth rings in trees preserved as charred building timbers,
etc etc) shows major upheavals in the early 12th century. (Cold
and or dry winters reduce growth rings).
- Did
an object from space impact with earth/earth’s atmosphere at this period
?? Similar impacts recorded recently (Siberia 1908) which caused widespread
devastation in area of impact + dust veil in upper atmosphere. Result
reduced solar radiation, cooling of atmosphere and climatic instability.
No certain answers
The problem remains unresolved but gradually the
archaeological picture is filling out in all parts of the E. Mediterranean. Much
clearer picture emerging of the whole area so that significant changes can be
understood better and many apparent gaps/changes disappear.
KAW 27 09 11
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