Catalogue of Miscellaneous Finds from the Southern Area Joseph W
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CHAPTER 4 Catalogue of Miscellaneous Finds from the Southern Area Joseph W. Shaw, Maria C. Shaw, and Deborah Ruscillo 1. Metals and Metalworking (J. W. Shaw) 2. Loomweights and Miscellaneous Clay Objects (J. W. Shaw) 3. Items of Adornment, Seals (J. W. Shaw) 4. Artifacts of Stone (J. W. Shaw) 5. Plaster Offering Tables (M. C. Shaw) 6. Figurines and Figural Applique´s (M. C. Shaw) 7. Faunal Remains and Murex Dye Production (D. Ruscillo) The descriptions and catalogues in Chap. 4.1–4.7 include a variety of materials recovered through 1997 in important stratigraphic contexts within the area of the Minoan civic build- ings. The chapter contents do not include wall or construction plasters (see Chap. 2) or pot- tery (see Chap. 3). They may not include all minor objects found in fills. Since the studies in both parts of Kommos I focused on the finds from all areas through 1985, many of the objects from the civic buildings are discussed therein and are sometimes only mentioned in the present chapter. Also, some of the main studies of find categories (e.g., loomweights, metal- working, and stone tools) are in the two parts of Kommos I, where the objects are well illus- trated. Illustrations here, therefore, have been kept to a minimum. Effort has been made to reference each object to the archaeological context within which it was found, often in the form of citation of the stratigraphy as revealed through stylistic ceramic horizons. Those from post-Minoan contexts (where some may still be Minoan) are usually to be found in Kommos IV, which discusses the Greek Sanctuary. 716 Metals and Metalworking 717 1. Metals and Metalworking (Pls. 4.1–4.13, Table 4.1) Joseph W. Shaw One can easily imagine the large tools used in the construction of the civic buildings, al- though none was actually discovered in the Southern Area. An array from other sites that suffered destruction by burning and collapse and as a result have a richer artifactual comple- ment must replace them for us: the picks used in the quarrying of the blocks, the hammers and chisels for the finishing of ashlars; huge-toothed saws, adzes, and double axes that, along with the large chisels, cut and often squared the timbers used for framing, wall stabilization, and ceiling support.1 Instead, we have represented in the following catalogue smaller tools used for artisan activities: blades, small chisels, nails, squared rods, a few fishhooks, a pleth- ora of copper strips, a pair of “tweezers.” As far as significant distribution is concerned, the larger proportion of objects came from between the plaster floor of T’s Room F in the East Wing and the first floor of Building P in Gallery 3. Unfortunately, we do not know if this is characteristic of the eastern area in general, for only one of the long galleries of P could be cleared in its entirety. It suggests, however, that a number of implements were from limited excavation in other rooms, such as those that appeared at the eastern end of Gallery P2,2 which makes one suspect that more would have been found if excavation had continued. Blades Of the four following examples, the tip of a knife and fragments of three serrated blades, the latter are of particular interest, since they are unusual by themselves and unique at Kommos to the Southern Area. Two (1, 2) are from between the floors of Buildings T and P (Gallery 3) and probably reflect sawing of a fibrous material, most likely wood, above the plaster floor there. From the same locus as 1 (B 359a). 1 (B 359a). Blade fragment. Pl. 4.1. Max pres length 1.7, max pres w 1.2, max pres th 0.2. Wt 3 (B 400b). Tip of single-bladed knife. Max pres 1 g. A central piece of a double-edged blade. Ser- length 1.5, max pres w 1.0, max pres th (?; trian- rated(?) 89A/11. Probable latest date LM IIIA2. gular in section). Wt 2.7 g. 97E/30. Probable lat- From just above the plastered floor of Build- est date LM IIIB. ing T, Room F, and below the first floor of Build- Found in the eastern end of Gallery 2 of Build- ing P, Gallery 3, for which see Chap. 1.3, Pottery ing P, for which see Chap. l.3, Pottery Group Group 57f. 67A. 2 (B 358a). Blade. Pl. 4.1. Serrated blade frag- 4 (B 276). Serrated blade, probably part of a ment. Max pres length 2.0, max pres w 2.3, max saw, since of uniform thickness. Pl. 4.1. Max pres pres th 0.1. Wt 2.7 g. Part of a saw blade that, as length 1.1, max pres w 0.8, max pres th 0.1. Wt contrasted with the blade of many bronze knives, 0.7 g. 57A/15. Probable latest date LM IIIA2. is uniform in thickness rather than being thicker Found in the “terrace” heaped up in LM IIIA2 at the center or upper edge. 89A/12. Probable north of Building P, for which see Chap. 1.3, Pot- latest date LM IIIA2. tery Group 52d. 718 Catalogue of Miscellaneous Finds from the Southern Area Table 4.1. Slowpoke analysis of folded copper strip, Kommos Trench 89A/7 from LM IIIA2 context above plaster floor of Building T, Room F, below earthen floor of Building P, Gallery 3 (J. E. Rehder). Element Count Concentration Ag 4 ≤ 2.3 ppm Al* 1 580 ± 40 ppm As 3 1,040 ± 40 ppm Au 3 3,900 ± 100 ppb Br* 3 ≤ 1.9 ppm Cd 3 ≤ 22 ppm Co 3 63 ± 2 ppm Cr* 4 160 ± 4 ppm Cu 2 61 ± 2% Fe 4 1,700 ± 200 ppm In 2 ≤ 0.7 ppm La* 3 ≤ 1.1 ppm Mn 2 22 ± 3 ppm Na* 3 230 ± 20 ppm Ni 4 ≤ 33 ppm Sb 4 45 ± 1 ppm Sc* 4 91 ± 9 ppb Sm* 3 ≤ 0.33 ppm Sn 4 7,900 ± 300 ppm Th* 4 ≤ 0.32 ppm U* 3 37 ± 1 ppm V* 1 58 ± 4 ppm Zn 4 29 ± 5 ppm There were three irradiations and four counts of the sample. The numbers in the second column indicate which count was used for that element. Notes 1. The low copper content indicates the obvious corrosion. If all the copper was present as CuCO3, then Cu = 51.4%. If all the copper was present as CuO, then Cu = 79.9%. 2. Au and Sc are in ppb. 3. Elements marked with * probably came from the storage environment and contaminated the oxide/ carbonate matrix (based on sixteenth- to nineteenth-century smelted copper—so not at all certain). 4. Errors are at the 67% confidence level. 5. Eliminating elements with *, maintaining two-significant-figure accuracy, and assuming complete oxida- tion of the sample, the analysis shows the sample to be composed of 61.0% Cu, 1.1% of other elements, and by difference 37.9% of oxygen. The original alloy then was 62.1% of the sample. Considering the alloy alone, its composition was Cu 98.2%, As 0.17%, Fe 0.27%, and Sn 1.3%; total: 99.94%. The level of Fe suggests that bellows were used to smelt the Cu. The level of Sn could be a result of the intentional addition of Sn or from the remelting of scrap bronze. Metals and Metalworking 719 Chisels All the chisels from the Southern Area were fashioned by flattening and shaping the ends of squared bronze rods that had been prepared beforehand. These likely belong to Evely Type 1 (1993: fig. 3). They might also have functioned as drills, which are similar in shape (Evely 1993: 77, Type 1a (i) and fig. 35). None of them was cast in a mold such as those found in the town to the north (Blitzer 1995: M61[15.5 cm long] and M 147 [12.3 cm long]). The most likely use for those from the Southern Area was woodworking. 5 (B 114). Chisel fragment. Pls. 4.2–4.3. Max Wt 6 g. Made from squared-section rod, one end pres length 2.3. Width of chisel point 0.55, max flattened into blade, the other tapering (tip of pres th 0.5. Wt 2.2 g. Made from a squared rod tang, for possible insertion into wooden haft, flattened at one end, with a rounded end. 36A/ may be missing). Perhaps a tiny rivet in tang 21. Probable latest date LM I. end. 93A/7. Probable latest date MM III/LM IA. From the sottoscala area of Building T, Room From the western end of Room I of Building 5A, for which see Chap. 1.2. Blitzer 1995: M 112. T (below Gallery 5 of Building P), for which see 6 (B 64). Chisel. Pls. 4.2–4.3. Max pres length 8.9, Chap. 1.2, Pottery Group 9b. max pres w 0.65. Wt 12 g. Made from squared- 8 (B 400a). Chisel(?). Pls. 4.2–4.3. Max pres section rod, butt end (tapering to rounded end length 3.2, max pres w 0.7, max pres th 0.4. Wt for possible insertion into wooden haft) fairly 3 g. Bronze and oxidized bronze with core of flat, bit end broken. 27B/35. Probable latest date another metal (lead?). Chisel-pointed instrument LM II. with slight waist, then socket-like tang that From the LM II reuse level in Space 7 of Build- seems to be wrapped around another metal ing T, then the northwestern corner of the Cen- core.3 Probably was completely covered with tral Court, for which see Chap.