DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12762#0047
20
THE VAULTED TOMBS OF MESARA
tholos b widening to the top (the narrowest specimen is not unlike a dice-box), two of
stone objects steatite and three of limestone. Height from -03 m. to -05 m.
Miscellaneous 715. A small vessel of purple and white breccia without a handle. The
TT 1 1.1.
rim is bent downwards slightly. Height -045 m., diameter -055 m.
724. A jug of dark bluish steatite, so small as to be almost a toy, with
a trough spout and upright curved handle. Height -03 m.
718 (also Plate III). A small vessel of greenish steatite, with two curved
upstanding horizontal handles and a trough spout bridged over. It is orna-
mented Avith grooves slanting alternate ways and meeting at rim and base.
This shape is common in clay in the Middle Minoan age.
752. A small oblong pyxis of greenish steatite. In each of the two long
sides is a pair of small holes, so that it probably once had a lid. Dimensions
•065 m. x -04 m. x -02 m.
848, 849. Two narrow miniature vases of a shape rather like a finger-
stall, of black and grey steatite, possibly perfume jars. 849 has incised bands
round rim and base. Heights -04 m. and -03 respectively.1
(e) Pommels (ko>/3oi). (Plate XXIII.)
Pommels 850-853. Four dagger pommels of the familiar shape, curved on one side,
but flat on the other like a mushroom top. They are pierced from edge to
edge to take the fixing pin, and the flat surface has a large cavity to take the
tang of the hilt. 850 and 851 are of metamorphic limestone. 852 is of green
steatite, and 853 is a fine piece of chalcedony. Their respective diameters
measure -06 m., -045 m., -045 m., and -03 m. If proof is wanted that this
kind of pommel decorated the end of the Minoan dagger-hilt, it may be found
in the daggers worn by some of the figures from Petsofa.2
(f) Whetstones (a/coW)
Whetstones Five whetstones of a fine-grained polished grey sandstone were found in
the covering earth. Two, 787, 788, are shown in Plate XXIII. Both are pierced
at each end. The first is -20 m. long, is flat, and shows traces of rubbing on
one side ; the other is -12 m. long and is thicker in section, with only one side
flattened. The other three are small irregular stumps without holes.
I hold it certain that these stones were used for the grinding of knives
and daggers and other bronze tools,3 and that they were not wrist protectors
for archers such as have been observed at many prehistoric sites in Europe
and the Mediterranean area.4
1 Similar vases were found, one in the necro- 3 For similar stones see De"chelette, op. cit., I,
polis at Mochlos and three in the tholos of Hagi'a fig. 189 (aiguisoirs).
Triada (656, 657). * Dechelette, op. cit., II, p. 227, fig. 72. Peet,
The Stone and Bronze Ages in Italy and Sicily,
2 B.S.A., IX, Plates IX and X. pp. 263, 307, fig. 161. B.S.A., III, pp. 68-69.
THE VAULTED TOMBS OF MESARA
tholos b widening to the top (the narrowest specimen is not unlike a dice-box), two of
stone objects steatite and three of limestone. Height from -03 m. to -05 m.
Miscellaneous 715. A small vessel of purple and white breccia without a handle. The
TT 1 1.1.
rim is bent downwards slightly. Height -045 m., diameter -055 m.
724. A jug of dark bluish steatite, so small as to be almost a toy, with
a trough spout and upright curved handle. Height -03 m.
718 (also Plate III). A small vessel of greenish steatite, with two curved
upstanding horizontal handles and a trough spout bridged over. It is orna-
mented Avith grooves slanting alternate ways and meeting at rim and base.
This shape is common in clay in the Middle Minoan age.
752. A small oblong pyxis of greenish steatite. In each of the two long
sides is a pair of small holes, so that it probably once had a lid. Dimensions
•065 m. x -04 m. x -02 m.
848, 849. Two narrow miniature vases of a shape rather like a finger-
stall, of black and grey steatite, possibly perfume jars. 849 has incised bands
round rim and base. Heights -04 m. and -03 respectively.1
(e) Pommels (ko>/3oi). (Plate XXIII.)
Pommels 850-853. Four dagger pommels of the familiar shape, curved on one side,
but flat on the other like a mushroom top. They are pierced from edge to
edge to take the fixing pin, and the flat surface has a large cavity to take the
tang of the hilt. 850 and 851 are of metamorphic limestone. 852 is of green
steatite, and 853 is a fine piece of chalcedony. Their respective diameters
measure -06 m., -045 m., -045 m., and -03 m. If proof is wanted that this
kind of pommel decorated the end of the Minoan dagger-hilt, it may be found
in the daggers worn by some of the figures from Petsofa.2
(f) Whetstones (a/coW)
Whetstones Five whetstones of a fine-grained polished grey sandstone were found in
the covering earth. Two, 787, 788, are shown in Plate XXIII. Both are pierced
at each end. The first is -20 m. long, is flat, and shows traces of rubbing on
one side ; the other is -12 m. long and is thicker in section, with only one side
flattened. The other three are small irregular stumps without holes.
I hold it certain that these stones were used for the grinding of knives
and daggers and other bronze tools,3 and that they were not wrist protectors
for archers such as have been observed at many prehistoric sites in Europe
and the Mediterranean area.4
1 Similar vases were found, one in the necro- 3 For similar stones see De"chelette, op. cit., I,
polis at Mochlos and three in the tholos of Hagi'a fig. 189 (aiguisoirs).
Triada (656, 657). * Dechelette, op. cit., II, p. 227, fig. 72. Peet,
The Stone and Bronze Ages in Italy and Sicily,
2 B.S.A., IX, Plates IX and X. pp. 263, 307, fig. 161. B.S.A., III, pp. 68-69.