UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones 5-1-2015 Watercraft, People, and Animals: Setting the Stage for the Neolithic Colonization of the Mediterranean Islands of Cyprus and Crete Katelyn Dibenedetto University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons Repository Citation Dibenedetto, Katelyn, "Watercraft, People, and Animals: Setting the Stage for the Neolithic Colonization of the Mediterranean Islands of Cyprus and Crete" (2015). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 2346. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/7645879 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. 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WATERCRAFT, PEOPLE, AND ANIMALS: SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE NEOLITHIC COLONIZATION OF THE MEDITERRANEAN ISLANDS OF CYPRUS AND CRETE By Katelyn DiBenedetto Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology University at Albany 2012 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts—Anthropology Department of Anthropology College of Liberal Arts The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas May 2015 We recommend the thesis prepared under our supervision by Katelyn DiBenedetto entitled Watercraft, People, and Animals: Setting the Stage for the Neolithic Colonization of the Mediterranean Islands of Cyprus and Crete is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts - Anthropology Department of Anthropology Alan Simmons, Ph.D., Committee Chair Barbara Roth, Ph.D., Committee Member Levent Atici, Ph.D., Committee Member Stephen M. Rowland, Ph.D., Graduate College Representative Kathryn Hausbeck Korgan, Ph.D., Interim Dean of the Graduate College May 2015 ii ABSTRACT One of the most significant developments in human history was the “Neolithic Revolution,” which first began around 11,000 years ago in mainland Southwest Asia. It resulted in not only the economic reorientation from hunting and foraging to herding and farming based on domesticate resources, but also significant changes in human technology, demography, society, political organization, ideology and human relationships to the environment. In order to understand this momentous process, however, it is important to understand the events that set it in motion. This is particularly the case when dealing with oceanic Mediterranean islands, specifically Cyprus and Crete, where there is a known Pre- Neolithic presence. The purpose of this literature-based thesis research will be to address both the Pre-Neolithic and Early Neolithic on these two islands. Four main questions will be examined: 1) What were the climatic conditions faced by the earliest seafarers/ explorers?; 2) What were the earliest types of watercraft used?; 3) What is the evidence for an early human presence?; 4) Is there ethnographic evidence cross-culturally that documents how wild and domesticated plants and animals, but animals in particular, were transported between landmasses using watercraft technology? The purpose of this thesis is to provide the necessary framework for my subsequent dissertation, which will examine more specifically the zooarchaeological remains at the site of Ais Giorkis. Furthermore, it will also allow these two islands (but particularly Cyprus) to be placed within the broader Neolithic context of both mainland Southwest Asia and the Mediterranean Basin. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would first like to extend a huge thanks to my committee members, specifically Dr. Alan Simmons (committee chair), Dr. Barbara Roth, Dr. Levent Atici, and Dr. Stephen Rowland. You have all been incredibly helpful and supportive throughout this process. Dr. Simmons, you have, in particular, given up countless office hours, lunches, and field time to discuss my ideas as well as calm me down when I became too anxious or ambitious (which happened more often than not). You also provided me with the opportunity to work on several chapters in you book (Simmons 2014). In spite of being a new graduate student, you had enough faith and trust in me to make me first author on three chapters (DiBenedetto and Simmons 2014a, 2014b, 2014c). Some of the material from my thesis is extracted from these chapters; noted in the introduction and wherever the material occurs. While it was a nerve-wracking experience, it was also fun and I am truly grateful for the chance you took on me. It has truly been a pleasure working with you and I look forward to continuing under your supervision for the dissertation. I would next like to express gratitude to my undergraduate advisor, Dr. Stuart Swiny, and his incredible wife, Helena Wylde-Swiny. I will never forget the very first class I took with Stuart—I was hooked on studying the island of Cyprus and becoming more involved in Anthropology/ Archaeology. You served as my mentor for three years as an undergraduate, helping me to grow professionally and personally. Furthermore, you continue to mentor me today and I truly consider you to be part of my family. I am proud to say I am a ‘Swinyite.’ As for Laina, the first time I met you, you helped me navigate Boston and find my way around Harvard. You continue to serve as an inspiration, being an incredibly strong and intelligent woman. iv I owe much to my fellow cohort member and friend, Levi Keach. You have not only listened ad nauseum to my ideas (sometimes far-fetched), but also allowed me to rant to you when I was having a terrible day. Finally, my maps would not look half as great without your help. I would also like to thank Russell Watters for drafting several of the illustrations in this thesis. They all look great and I appreciate the time and effort you put into finishing them, especially since it was over winter break. I would also like to give a shout out to several friends: Matthew Martinez, Laura Gryder, Celeste Giordano, Tim Ferguson, and Mike Moncrieff. Without this eclectic group, graduate school would have been a much more miserable and painful place. You guys all made me laugh when I needed it the most. I look forward to seeing what we all do with our futures. Finally, and most importantly, the biggest thanks goes to my parents and my two sisters. Without all of your constant support and encouragement, I would have not made it this far in graduate school. Mom, you are by far the strongest person I know and I greatly admire and look up to you. Dad, you have always been there for me through thick and thin. Megan and Emily, what would I do without the two of you! You are not only my sisters, but also my two best friends. I am incredibly proud of both of you and look forward to the many adventures we share together in the coming years. v DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this thesis to my mom and dad. Your constant support and encouragement, helped me to continue to pursue my dreams. Who knew a dining room table covered in books and papers for months would lead to this! Thank you both. You mean the world to me! vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………...iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………………………iv DEDICATION……………………………………………………………………………vi LIST OF TABLES..……………………………………………………………………….x LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………………….xi CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………….1 Theoretical Perspective………………………………………………………………….2 Research Questions and Methodology………………………………………………….5 A Note on Chronology and Use of the Terms ‘Pre-’ and ‘Early’ Neolithic…………11 Significance of the Thesis………………………………………………………………12 CHAPTER 2 METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES AND THEORETICAL CONTEXT AND PERSPECTIVE………………………………………………………………………….14 The Possible Predecessor to Seafaring and Methodological Considerations……….14 Island Colonization……………………………………………………………………..22 Diffusion of the Neolithic……………………………………………………………….34 CHAPTER 3 THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN…………………………………………………………………………………...44 The Birth of the Mediterranean Basin………………………………………………...45 Physical Features of the Mediterranean Basin……………………………………….49 Reconstructing Paleoenvironmental Contexts………………………………………..55 Putting the Pieces Together: Why Physical Conditions of the Mediterranean Basin Matter for a Discussion on Early Seafaring?................................................................99 vii CHAPTER 4 MISSING WATERCRAFT AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES: THE CHALLENGES OF DOCUMENTING EARLY SEAFARING IN THE MEDITERRANEAN BASIN............................................……………………………..102 Determining Types of Watercraft…………………………………………………….103 What Were the Earliest Types of Watercraft in the Mediterranean?.......................105 Indirect Archaeological Evidence for Early Seafaring……………………………...116 Experimental Studies in the Mediterranean………………………………………....127 Missing (Invisible?) Archaeological Sites: The Problems of Documenting Early Seafaring in the Mediterranean………………………………………………………135 CHAPTER 5 EVIDENCE FOR AN