DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.3044#0032
CERAMIC CHRONOLOGY 17
Phaistos, vano 25 and surrounding rooms (D. Levi: architectural phase 1)
Approximately 5000 sealed fragments bearing over 326 recognizable motifs were excavated
by D. Levi from a thin layer which contained not only these impressions but also numerous ves-
sels and a few seals. This deposit lay directly above a neolithic layer and was sealed by an over-
laying layer of astraki. Thus, the deposit is closed. The ceramic which accompanied the seal im-
2 5
pressions has been equated by some authors with Evans's MM IB, MM HA and MM IIB "styles".
At Phaistos ceramic identified as MM IB was consistently found by Levi and Banti stratified to-
gether on the same floors with MM II ceramic. Confusion as to the dating of vano 25 and the
Old Palace itself is due to differences of opinion with regard to the stratigraphy. Levi divides the
construction of the Old Palace into three building phases, of which vano 25 belongs to the first.
Zois believes that the two subsequent rebuilds constitute, in fact, one MM HA phase; the upper-
most strata are for him debris from collapsed upper stories. Levi and Walberg, however, have ar-
gued convincingly that the upper strata represent not the debris of fallen-in upper stories, but
27
rather that of subsequent building activity. Walberg accepts that Fiandra's first two building
phases contain stylistically homogeneous Early Kamares ware (MM IB-HA). Vano 25, located in
2 ft
the west wing, contains Classical Kamares pottery. This conclusion on the dating neatly supports
Fiandra's interpretation that vano 25 is part of a third MM IIB building phase in Phaistos. Pela-
gatti arrived at the same conclusion as Walberg and Fiandra by means of a different method.
Sherds bearing motifs of Pelagatti's Gruppo A o del Polipo accompanied the Phaistos seal impres-
sions. Pelagatti dates this group to MM IIB in Evans's chronological system.
vano 11, CMS 115 241, 304 (impressions)
under a doorway in vano XXVII, CMS III 424
vano LI, CMS 115 43, 146, 167, 180, 210, 220, 273, 305 (impressions)
space between vani LIH-LV, CMS III 426; 115 306
vano LV, CMS 115 320
without exact provenance: CMS 115 123, 158, 185, 187, 271, 291-294, 298 (impressions)
The remaining 304 sealing types were excavated from beneath vano 25 and are published
in CMS 115.31 GMS 112 23 and 24 also came to light in this room.
Middle to Late MB
Kea, Grave 31
context: CMS V pp. 354-355
CMS V 483, 484
MM IIIA
Knossos, Magazine of the Medallion Pithoi
context: PM I 562: "...a series of clay and plaster floors representing the earlier MM HI
phases..."
PM I 564 fig. 410 (lost)
Phaistos, vano 25 and surrounding rooms (D. Levi: architectural phase 1)
Approximately 5000 sealed fragments bearing over 326 recognizable motifs were excavated
by D. Levi from a thin layer which contained not only these impressions but also numerous ves-
sels and a few seals. This deposit lay directly above a neolithic layer and was sealed by an over-
laying layer of astraki. Thus, the deposit is closed. The ceramic which accompanied the seal im-
2 5
pressions has been equated by some authors with Evans's MM IB, MM HA and MM IIB "styles".
At Phaistos ceramic identified as MM IB was consistently found by Levi and Banti stratified to-
gether on the same floors with MM II ceramic. Confusion as to the dating of vano 25 and the
Old Palace itself is due to differences of opinion with regard to the stratigraphy. Levi divides the
construction of the Old Palace into three building phases, of which vano 25 belongs to the first.
Zois believes that the two subsequent rebuilds constitute, in fact, one MM HA phase; the upper-
most strata are for him debris from collapsed upper stories. Levi and Walberg, however, have ar-
gued convincingly that the upper strata represent not the debris of fallen-in upper stories, but
27
rather that of subsequent building activity. Walberg accepts that Fiandra's first two building
phases contain stylistically homogeneous Early Kamares ware (MM IB-HA). Vano 25, located in
2 ft
the west wing, contains Classical Kamares pottery. This conclusion on the dating neatly supports
Fiandra's interpretation that vano 25 is part of a third MM IIB building phase in Phaistos. Pela-
gatti arrived at the same conclusion as Walberg and Fiandra by means of a different method.
Sherds bearing motifs of Pelagatti's Gruppo A o del Polipo accompanied the Phaistos seal impres-
sions. Pelagatti dates this group to MM IIB in Evans's chronological system.
vano 11, CMS 115 241, 304 (impressions)
under a doorway in vano XXVII, CMS III 424
vano LI, CMS 115 43, 146, 167, 180, 210, 220, 273, 305 (impressions)
space between vani LIH-LV, CMS III 426; 115 306
vano LV, CMS 115 320
without exact provenance: CMS 115 123, 158, 185, 187, 271, 291-294, 298 (impressions)
The remaining 304 sealing types were excavated from beneath vano 25 and are published
in CMS 115.31 GMS 112 23 and 24 also came to light in this room.
Middle to Late MB
Kea, Grave 31
context: CMS V pp. 354-355
CMS V 483, 484
MM IIIA
Knossos, Magazine of the Medallion Pithoi
context: PM I 562: "...a series of clay and plaster floors representing the earlier MM HI
phases..."
PM I 564 fig. 410 (lost)