Dissertation committee:
Αναπλ. Καθηγητής Ελευθέριος Πλάτων, ΕΚΠΑ, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας
Αναπλ. Καθηγητής Γεώργιος Βαβουρανάκης, ΕΚΠΑ, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας
Αναπλ. Καθηγητής Ιωάννης Παπαδάτος, ΕΚΠΑ, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας
Αναπλ. Καθηγητής Κωνσταντίνος Κοπανιάς, ΕΚΠΑ, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας
Αναπλ. Καθηγητής Βασίλης Πετράκης, ΕΚΠΑ, Τμήμα Ιστορίας και Αρχαιολογίας
Καθηγήτρια Ιφιγένεια Τουρναβίτου, Πανεπιστήμιο Θεσσαλίας, Τμήμα Ιστορίας, Αρχαιολογίας και Κοινωνικής Ανθρωπολογίας
Καθηγητής Διαμαντής Παναγιωτόπουλος, Πανεπιστήμιο Χαϊδελβέργης, Institut für Klassische Archäologie und Byzantinische Archäologie
Summary:
The LMI building complex of Vathypetro at Archanes in the area of mount Juktas is one of the most important regional centres that were built during the Neopalatial period on Crete, which are referred to with the conventional terms “villa”, “megaron”, “manor house” or “farmhouse”. This dissertation examines the function and role of this important building complex, the dating of its functional phase, as well as aspects of its organisation, in the context of the socio-economic conditions of neopalatial north-central Crete. To achieve the aforementioned goal, a detailed ceramic technological typology was established, with the systematic investigation, through macroscopic and petrographic examination, and recording of the main technological traits of selected small and medium-sized vessels (mainly jugs, jars and cups), that originated from the layers of final use of the North and the South Wing of the complex. Based on the proposed methodological approach, the main ceramic technological traditions in the complex were recorded, which were dated to the end of the YMIb period, while, at the same time, the existence of ceramic workshops of the same period, permanent or temporary (i.e. mobile), in the area of Juktas was indicated, which produced non-culinary pottery of various sizes. The above data, combined with the examination of the use and importance of the vessels, showed that Vathypetro, in its initial and main functional phase, at the end of the YMIb period, in addition to being an industrial, craft, storage, administrative and residential centre, was a meeting point and a centre of transactions, which organized - or allowed to be organized - on its premises special social occasions and gatherings that included secular ceremonial feastings with a significant number of participants. The administration of Vathypetro had the economic ability to manage the goods consumed at these feastings, products, which, in addition, may have been offered as help to the residents during this difficult period of natural disasters. The aforementioned proposed function of the building complex combined with the fact that, in all prehistoric societies, economic power, apart from a religious role, had integrally a political role, would give religious and politico-economic power to the administration of Vathypetro, or to those who controlled the building complex. Based on the archaeological data, it is suggested that after the possible destruction by an earthquake or earthquakes at the end of the initial phase, just before the end of the YMIb period, the complex was briefly reused under emergency conditions that included basic food preparation and perhaps ritual activities, which, however, were not characterized by the splendour and secular character of the earlier ceremonial feastings.
Keywords:
Crete, Vathypetro, Neopalatial period, neopalatial regional centres, ceramic technology, ceramic petrography, ceramic workshops, secular ceremonial feastings, LMIb destructions, social and economic organization
