Introduction to Pre-Hellenistic Greece - Part 3

Archeologists, beginning with Heinrich Schliemann in the nineteenth century, made many discoveries during their excavations. Not only did they find objects made from precious metals like gold and silver but they also found ceramics - either whole or broken. Both have value when it comes to determining where a civilization was, its standard of lifestyle and the extent of trade it carried out with other lands. The study of pottery has become a specialized field in archeology.

Arne Furumark wrote two cutting-edge books analyzing Mycenaean pottery in 1941. The first was THE MYCENAEAN POTTERY and the second was THE CHRONOLOGY OF MYCENAEAN POTTERY, both published in Stockholm, Sweden. He took the three Helladic periods (Early, Middle and Late) and subdivided them further into twenty-five year periods. However, instead of beginning his classification with the Early Helladic period, he started with the beginning of the Late Helladic. These are the classifications he made:

I 1550-1500 BC II A 1500-1450 II B: 1450-1425 III A: 1 1425-1400 III A: 2 (early) 1400-1375 III A: 2 (late) 1375-1300 III B 1300-1230 III C: 1 (early) 1230-1200 III C: 1 (late) 1200-1125 III C: 2 1125-1100

Many scholars disagree with Furumark's twenty-five year divisions, stating the divisions are too minute and argue for a revision of dates. Even though the dates may appear to be disputed, Furumark's analysis of basic methods are not in question. It is worthy of note because his analysis has given a believable chronology of Mycenaean civilization.

A student of archeology understands that the early pottery found at a specific site gives the date for the construction of the building and that the pottery of a later date gives the time frame it was destroyed or fell into disuse.

The pottery of Late Helladic II were only decorated in "zones" but were eventually replaced by "palace-style" painting, covering most of the ceramic. These vases are some of the technically most magnificent vases made in any era with creatures from the sea, plants and colorful birds on one and two foot high vases. By the end of the Late Helladic III, vases were painted mostly with flowers and in a smaller decorative zone. The "granary-style" (this style is named after the Mycenaean granary in which many vases of this particular style were found) of painting came into vogue where the vases were painted along the upper parts. Late on, they were painted with heavy bands running around the vase. There is also a style called "close-style" paintings, a pleasing parallel to the "palace-style" paintings. In the "close-style" vases, the surface is wholly covered with painting.

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