Cutting-Edge Technology and Know-How of Minoans/Mycenaeans During Lba and Possible Implications for the Dating of the Trojan War
TAL 46-47 -pag 51-80 (-03 GIANNIKOS):inloop document Talanta 05-06-2016 14:31 Pagina 51 TALANTA XLVI-XLVII (2014-2015), 51 - 79 CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGY AND KNOW-HOW OF MINOANS/MYCENAEANS DURING LBA AND POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE DATING OF THE TROJAN WAR Konstantinos Giannakos In the present paper, the material evidence, in LBA, both for the technological level of Minoan/Mycenaean Greece, mainland-islands-Crete, and the image emerging from the archaeological finds of the wider area of Asia Minor, Land of Ḫatti, Cyprus, and Egypt, are combined in order to draw conclusions regard- ing international relations and exchanges. This period of on the one hand pros- perity with conspicuous consumption and military expansion, on the other hand as well of decline and degradation of power are considered in relation with the ability of performing overseas raids of Mycenaean Greeks. The finds of the destructions’ layers in Troy VI/VIIa are examined in order to verify whether one of these layers is compatible to the Trojan War, while an earlier dating is pro- posed. The results are compared with the narrative of ancient literature in order to trace compatibilities or inconsistencies to the archaeological finds. Introduction Technology and its ‘products’, when unearthed by archaeologists, are irrefutable witnesses to the technological level of each era and place. Especially the cut- ting-edge technology and, more in general, an advanced know-how are, in my opinion, of decisive importance, since “Great Powers” use them in order to increase wealth and military superiority. The evaluation of archaeological finds, cutting-edge technology, and advanced know-how of each era could result in conclusions regarding the nature of international trade and relation- ships, and can also be brought in connection with evidence from ancient litera- ture.
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