DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7476#0086
7°
MINOAN USE OF BRONZE SAWS
conquest. The recently discovered Mavro Spelio cemetery at Knossos,1 on
the steep opposite the Palace, beyond the stream, consists of rock-tombs, the
fundamental form of which is essentially of the same type as that so widely
diffused in the Late Minoan Age. But the original contents of some of the
Mavro Spelio vaults go back to the second phase, b, of M. M. II,2 and to
a date—at least c. 1800 B.C.—-considerably anterior to the earliest known
examples on the Mainland side. A tomb of this class, however, has been
recently excavated by Mr. Blegen at the Argive Heraeon, containing, as he
kindly informs me, pottery of the Middle Helladic class resembling specimens
found in the Shaft Graves and showing that this type of tomb was known
on the Mainland side before the close of M. M. III.
The history, then, of these Chamber Tombs at Mycenae runs parallel
with that of the great tholoi. On the other hand, from the early appearance
of them in Crete, we are able with great probability to derive the sepulchral
type itself from the more elaborate form of rock tomb in vogue at Beni
Hasan and elsewhere in Twelfth-Dynasty Egypt, and naturally familiar to
the Minoan Cretans at that period of intensive contact.3 The sepulchral
pits excavated within some of these chambers in the Knossian cemetery
answer, in fact, to the mummy pits of the Egyptian series. At the same
time the lamakes on the floors—some of which were also of Middle Minoan
date—illustrate the alternative arrangement, which there is reason to believe
was also followed in the contemporary bee-hive vaults of Mycenae.
Early Use of Bronze Saw by Minoan Lapidaries.
On the technical side the most conspicuous instance of reading the
evidence backwards is Mr. Wace's contention that the use of the saw was
carried to the greatest proficiency in the latest structures.4 The earlier
cutting on hard materials at Knossos was executed by means of bronze
saws, with an almost straight edge, such as those found in deposits at
Knossos 5 and Hagia Triada, belonging to the latest phase of M.M. Ill or
the very beginning of L.M. I. Saw-marks of this fine kind are found on
1 See P. ofM., ii, Pt. II, pp. 555-8, and the
publication of the explorer, Mr. E. J. Forsdyke,
to appear in B. S. A., xxviii. His preliminary
account was communicated to the Society of
Antiquaries, Oct. 20, 1927.
; P. of M., ii, Pt. II, p. 558, Fig. 353 (from
a photograph by Mr. Forsdyke).
3 Cf. A. E., op. at., p. 557.
* B. S. A., xxv, p. 392 : ' Later, as technical
skill progressed, the Mycenaeans learnt to saw
and dress the hard conglomerate for ashlar
masonry'. Cf., too, op. cit., passim.
5 e. g. P. of M., ii, Pt. II, p. 630, Fig. 393,
d, i, and Fig. 394, 5. The specimen from the
South House, Fig. 393,/, shows a more pro-
nounced anterior curve and may be regarded
as a transitional type.
MINOAN USE OF BRONZE SAWS
conquest. The recently discovered Mavro Spelio cemetery at Knossos,1 on
the steep opposite the Palace, beyond the stream, consists of rock-tombs, the
fundamental form of which is essentially of the same type as that so widely
diffused in the Late Minoan Age. But the original contents of some of the
Mavro Spelio vaults go back to the second phase, b, of M. M. II,2 and to
a date—at least c. 1800 B.C.—-considerably anterior to the earliest known
examples on the Mainland side. A tomb of this class, however, has been
recently excavated by Mr. Blegen at the Argive Heraeon, containing, as he
kindly informs me, pottery of the Middle Helladic class resembling specimens
found in the Shaft Graves and showing that this type of tomb was known
on the Mainland side before the close of M. M. III.
The history, then, of these Chamber Tombs at Mycenae runs parallel
with that of the great tholoi. On the other hand, from the early appearance
of them in Crete, we are able with great probability to derive the sepulchral
type itself from the more elaborate form of rock tomb in vogue at Beni
Hasan and elsewhere in Twelfth-Dynasty Egypt, and naturally familiar to
the Minoan Cretans at that period of intensive contact.3 The sepulchral
pits excavated within some of these chambers in the Knossian cemetery
answer, in fact, to the mummy pits of the Egyptian series. At the same
time the lamakes on the floors—some of which were also of Middle Minoan
date—illustrate the alternative arrangement, which there is reason to believe
was also followed in the contemporary bee-hive vaults of Mycenae.
Early Use of Bronze Saw by Minoan Lapidaries.
On the technical side the most conspicuous instance of reading the
evidence backwards is Mr. Wace's contention that the use of the saw was
carried to the greatest proficiency in the latest structures.4 The earlier
cutting on hard materials at Knossos was executed by means of bronze
saws, with an almost straight edge, such as those found in deposits at
Knossos 5 and Hagia Triada, belonging to the latest phase of M.M. Ill or
the very beginning of L.M. I. Saw-marks of this fine kind are found on
1 See P. ofM., ii, Pt. II, pp. 555-8, and the
publication of the explorer, Mr. E. J. Forsdyke,
to appear in B. S. A., xxviii. His preliminary
account was communicated to the Society of
Antiquaries, Oct. 20, 1927.
; P. of M., ii, Pt. II, p. 558, Fig. 353 (from
a photograph by Mr. Forsdyke).
3 Cf. A. E., op. at., p. 557.
* B. S. A., xxv, p. 392 : ' Later, as technical
skill progressed, the Mycenaeans learnt to saw
and dress the hard conglomerate for ashlar
masonry'. Cf., too, op. cit., passim.
5 e. g. P. of M., ii, Pt. II, p. 630, Fig. 393,
d, i, and Fig. 394, 5. The specimen from the
South House, Fig. 393,/, shows a more pro-
nounced anterior curve and may be regarded
as a transitional type.