Incised and impressed pottery during the Neolithic period in Western Macedonia

Magdalini Tsigka

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES A thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Arts (MA) in the Classical Archaeology and the Ancient History of Macedonia

December 2018 Thessaloniki – Greece

2

Student Name: Magdalini Tsigka

SID: 2204150030 Supervisor: Prof. S. M. Valamoti

I hereby declare that the work submitted is mine and that where I have made use of another’s work, I have attributed the source(s) according to the Regulations set in the Student’s Handbook.

December 2018 Thessaloniki - Greece

3 Preface

This study is the completion of the postgraduate course of MA in the Classical Archaeology and the Ancient History of Macedonia at the International University of Thessaloniki.

In order for this thesis to be completed, the contribution of some people was important.

First of all, I would like to thank Prof. S. M. Valamoti who accepted to supervise my thesis and encouraged me in all its stages. I would also like to thank Dr. A. Dimoula who helped me throughout all the steps for its completion, from finding the subject up to the end of my work. She was always present to direct me and to solve any questions or concerns about the subject.

Then I want to thank L. Gkelou, archaeologist of the Ephorate of Florina, for entrusting me material from the excavation of Anargyroi VIIc and made this study possible despite all the adversities. Also, I would like to thank the Director of the Ephorate of Florina, Dr C. Ziota, for the discussion and the information she gave me during my study of the material. Moreover, I want to thank all the staff of the museum of Florina, permanent and contract, who helped me in every way to complete my study. Furthermore, I want to thank my colleagues M. Lazaridou, M. Lazopoulou, I. Stefanou, A. Apostolidou and M. Tsichla.

Last but not least, I want to thank my family for the support and understanding because the long hours I had to dedicate to reading and writing my thesis deprived them from my presence.

Magdalini Tsigka

24/12/2018

4 Contents

Preface ...... 4 Contents ...... 5 1.Introduction ...... 8 2.The process of making and decorating impressed, incised and fluted vessels ...... 10 a.Raw materials ...... 10 b.Collection and preparation of raw materials ...... 11 c.Building techniques ...... 11 d. Surface treatment and firing ...... 12 e.The techniques of impression, incision and fluting ...... 13 3. Archaeological research in prehistoric Western Macedonia ...... 14 a. Ηistory of research ...... 14 b.Archaeological research in Western Macedonia ...... 15 i.Early Neolithic period ...... 15 1.Florina- Kastoria ...... 15 2.Kozani ...... 16 3.Grevena ...... 18 4.Pella ...... 18 5.Hmathia ...... 19 ii.Middle Neolithic period ...... 20 1.Kastoria ...... 20 2.Florina ...... 20 3.Grevena ...... 21 4.Kozani ...... 21 5.Pella ...... 22 6.Hmathia ...... 22 iii.Late Neolithic period ...... 22 1.Kastoria ...... 22 2.Florina ...... 22 3.Grevena ...... 23 4.Kozani ...... 23

5 5.Pella ...... 23 6.Hmathia ...... 24 iv.Final Neolithic period ...... 24 1.Kastoria ...... 24 2.Grevena ...... 24 3.Kozani ...... 24 4.Pella ...... 25 5.Hmathia ...... 25 v.Final comment ...... 25 2nd Part ...... 26 1.The Neolithic settlement of Anargyroi VIIc and its excavation ...... 26 a.Pottery...... 27 b.Other findings ...... 27 2.Sampling and development of the study ...... 27 a.Collecting the sample ...... 28 b.Development of the study ...... 29 3.Categories based on fabric ...... 30 4.Construction techniques ...... 32 5.Surface treatment ...... 33 6.Surface decoration process...... 36 7.Firing ...... 36 8.Types of vessels ...... 36 9.Location of the finds ...... 40 10.Decorative Motifs (impressed, incised, fluted) ...... 41 a.Categories of decoration: impressed, incised and fluted motifs ...... 41 i.Impressed Motifs ...... 41 ii.Incised motifs ...... 46 iii.Fluted motifs ...... 47 b.Frequency of decoration types ...... 49 c.Frequency of decorative motifs ...... 51 d.Motif layout on the vessel ...... 53 11.The pottery of Anargyroi VIIc and its parallels ...... 55

6 a.Impressed and fluted pottery ...... 55 b.Incised Pottery ...... 57 12.Conclusions ...... 59 BIBLIOGRAPHY ...... 62

7 1.Introduction

The aim of the current thesis is to document the characteristics of three Neolithic decorated pottery wares, the incised, impressed and fluted, in the area of Western Macedonia, with reference to a particular case study, the pottery from the LN site of Anargyroi VIIc. West Macedonia is an area where continuous research and excavations have taken place, due to many construction works and other kind of projects. As a result, the number of sites dated in the Neolithic period are increasing as research continues in the last two decades. In general, Western Macedonia has been considered by scholars as a crossroad between West and East, North and South.

These three categories of decoration wares (incised, impressed and fluted), although mentioned as findings in some excavated sites of Western Macedonia, were not analyzed extensively either on site or regional level. Also, it should be mentioned that although the above wares comprise only a small amount of the pottery assemblages, they present great variety (according to the relevant bibliography concerning excavated sites in Western Macedonia). This is the reason why this subject was selected for this particular thesis.

The thesis builds upon two axis. The first is the collection of all the available evidence concerning these decorative types from the published bibliography. The second is the study and analysis of original archaeological material, pottery from the site of Anargyroi VIIc. The analysis of a selected assemblage of impressed, incised and fluted pottery from this site follows all stages of their manufacture, from raw material collection and processing, to building, surface treatment and firing, along with their shape typology and distribution according to their finding context. Moreover, a detailed analysis of the decorative motifs is presented. Finally, the Anargyroi wares are compared to respective ones from other sites in Western Macedonia and southern Balkans, in the scope of tracing the cultural contacts between sites and regions.

The thesis is structured as follows:

The first part of the thesis will examine the ceramics with impressed, incised and fluted decoration during the Neolithic period in Western Macedonia and in the second part a case study will be presented from the LN settlement in Anargyroi VIIc in Florina. In the first chapter we will briefly present the stages of constructing pottery and then we will approach the methods by which these types of decoration are made.

In the next chapter, the history of research until the end of the 20th century in Western Macedonia will be presented, and then in separate chapters, reference will be made to the known sites from the EN to the FN period. A special reference to the sites where impressed, incised, fluted wares were found, will be made.

8 In the second part of the thesis we will study and analyze the data from a sample of decorated pottery selected from the site of Anargyroi VIIc of Florina dated to the LN period. Firstly, we will describe the archaeological site and then its excavation. Then, we will analyze the sampling and the development of the study.

The following chapters include the results of the analysis of the material with regard to raw material and construction issues, the shapes of vessels, as well as finding the context they derived from the excavation. In the main part we analyze the motifs according to their type, their raw materials and other constructional criteria, their development on the vessel, their position and their composition.

In the last chapters we will present findings from other contemporary settlements, in close proximity or afar, and we will try to find similarities, differentiations and in general to include the Anargyroi VIIc settlement in the LN cultural context. Finally, a summary of the study and the conclusions reached will be presented.

9 2.The process of making and decorating impressed, incised and fluted vessels

a.Raw materials

All ceramic items consist of three crucial components: clay, non-plastic materials and water. The above three components are vital in order for a potter to build ceramics.

Clay, a thin “crust” of the lithosphere, is the result of the weather conditions on the rocks and their decomposition (Rice 1987, 31-36). This main component is a rather complex material that can be defined and categorized in many ways. First of all, clays are divided into primary (residual clays) and secondary (transported/ sedimentary). Primary clays are those who were found at the same location where their parent rock is situated. Secondary clays are those which were found and collected in a distance from their parent rock. This transportation can be a result of water, wind, erosion, glaciations or other forces (Rice 1987, 37; Rye 1981, 29).

Moreover, clay minerals are also separated into groups according to their chemical composition. The main groups are kaolinites, halloysites, alophanes, illites, chlorites, smectites or mοntmorillonites (Rice 1987, 29-30).

The second component of ceramics is non- plastic materials, which can be either mineral (like quartz) or organic (like seeds, stems of plants or roots). Furthermore, other categories of non- plastics are bio- mineral, (like shells, etc.) and even man- made additives, like crashed pottery or ash (Rye 1981, 31; Nikakis 2004, 8).

Finally, this “naturally occurring, earthy, fine- grained material” (Rye 1981, 29) in order to become workable, must have plasticity. This fundamental characteristic can only be achieved by adding water. Water allows the potter to form clay in every desirable shape and to retain its form. The workability depends on the kind of clay used and the right amount of non- plastic components intergraded into the mixture.

10 b.Collection and preparation of raw materials

Potters collected clays from sources they perceived as adequate, located either close or in distance from the settlements. However, in order to successfully manufacture vessels they had to avoid hazards such as: a) excessive plasticity or lack of plasticity during the first stage of manufacturing the pots b) cracks on the pottery due to contractions during drying or firing, and c) the shrinkage of the utensil (Kotsakis 1983, 115; Nikakis 2004, 7-8).

All of the above side effects can be avoided by adding the right amount of non- plastics into the clay. As it has already been mentioned, the non- plastic inclusions, regardless of whether they were already in the clay or were added by a human hand proves the high technical level of potters. The right amount of those inclusions depends on the type of clay, the size and thickness of the vessel which was a very complex process and would require great expertise (Kotsakis 1983, 116).

c.Building techniques

The methods of manufacturing handmade Neolithic pottery are considered to be four: modeling, coiling, slab modeling and casting (Kotsakis 1983, 120). The method of modeling can be divided into two sub methods, pinching and drawing. Pinching was usually used for manufacturing small sized vessels and the bases of the bigger ones. By using the fingertips of the index and the thumb, the potter pinches a lump of clay and gives the right shape (Kotsakis 1983 120). Drawing is a similar technique to pinching. The potter uses the thumb and other fingers and draws the lump of clay in order to create thin walls. This technique is applied for creating larger vessels and, in occasions it is used simultaneously with other methods like coiling in order to create even larger vessels (Rice 1987, 125). Coiling was the most common technique and its use varied in three ways, “ring building”, “segmental coiling” or “spiral coiling”. The manufacturer probably used as a base either a rock or a clay flattened surface or even a surface made out of mat. Out of this base, the potter began constructing vessels by placing one coil over the other and then connected them in order to reach the desirable height for the vessel. As far as the slab modeling technique is concerned, the potter used one or more slabs in order to construct the vessel. Finally, the casting technique was ideal in creating a larger number of similar vessels at once (Rice 1987, 125; Nikakis 2004, 9-10).

11 d. Surface treatment and firing

In the next constructing phase, the potter scraped the surface of the vessel in order to remove the excess clay as the vessel was almost dry and no harm could occur by the applied pressure. Once this process was completed, the potter processed the surface of the vessels, probably for both utilitarian and aesthetic purposes: Smoothing of the surface of a vessel can be achieved by wet leather or by hands. This procedure was used for the uniform distribution of clay, for hiding all the scraps left by the scraping process and for achieving a smooth surface. Burnishing the vessel created a gloss on the surface which made it less porous and helped in achieving impermeability. Slip is the suspension of a clay fraction applied not only for decorative purposes, but also because it strengthens the waterproofing qualities of the vessel. Other decorative techniques include: painting, incising, impressing, grooving etc. 1

Last but not least, came the firing of the vessels, a most definitely crucial stage, as all the mistakes and bad constructions from previous stages would become obvious and would determine if the vessel could be used (Kotsakis 1983, 135). Firing was usually carried in open fires or inside pits, but because of these circumstances it was extremely difficult for the potter to control all the parameters such as temperature, continuity and atmosphere. It is important to know that a potter’s kiln was discovered at Olynthus dated in Late Neolithic period (Kotsakis 1983, 136-7). Another kiln was considered to have been found in Dimini. However there are some reservations about the dating for the first and the use for the second. Recently a group of ovens probably used for pottery making were discovered in Magoula Rizava (West Thessaly) dated in the Middle Neolithic period (Krahtopoulou et al. 2018)2. This find indicates that pottery ovens were already in use during the Neolithic period and specifically from the Middle Neolithic onwards.

1 Detailed information on more decorative techniques applied on the surface of vessels in Rice 1987, 144-7. 2 Some structures of similar morphological characteristics were also discovered at Magoula Ivrou Pigadi, 20 km. from Magoula Rizava and could also be interpreted as pottery ovens.

12 e.The techniques of impression, incision and fluting

Decorating techniques can be grouped in two categories: a) displacement and penetration and b) additions on the surface. The first category is the one that includes incision, impression, fluting and dotted decoration, as all these decoration techniques were achieved by applying pressure on the surface using the appropriate instrument for displacing or removing clay in order to achieve the desirable motif. All the aforementioned decorative motifs could cover the entire surface of the vessel or a part of it. Moreover, another parameter equally important is in what state was the surface of the vessel when the potter worked it: if it was wet or dry or even if the process took place after the firing of the vessel. Finally a crucial parameter was the tool used (Rice 1987, 144; Rye 1981, 92).

Impressed decoration was most frequently practiced on wet surfaces by applying pressure. A variety of tools was used for leaving the impression on the surface like shells, sticks, reeds, bones etc. Pinching or nailing the surface of the vessel by using the fingertips or nails resulted to the displacement of a small amount of the clay (Rice 1987, 144-5).

The incised decoration can be described and defined by many parameters. First of all, by the state of the vessel’s surface when it was worked, if it was wet, leather- hard, dry or even fired. Each state results to a different kind of effect (Sheppard 1985, 198). Other parameters to take under consideration are: the kind of the instrument that was used, the angle that it was held and the pressure that was applied. It is difficult to discern what kind of tool was used in each incised motif because all of these tools can achieve similar results; nevertheless, there are some profound characteristics.

The pointed tool can be held as a pencil forming a symmetric line or used in the same way to create unsymmetrical lines. The gouge tool that was made of wood or bone, mostly removes clay, and the knife, usually made of chipped stone, could scrape or cut grooves on the surface (Sheppard 1985, 198-201).

Last but not least, the incision could be performed preslip, postslip or postfire. Preslip and postslip incisions are easier to distinguish as, in the first one, the incision took place before applying the slip and as a result the incision it is covered by the slip, while, in the second the incision penetrates the slip (Rice 1987, 146).

Fluting or grooving comprises broad lines placed vertically, horizontically or even diagonally on the surface of the vessel. Usually, horizontal fluting runs around the vessel.

13 3. Archaeological research in prehistoric Western Macedonia

a. Ηistory of research

Archaeological research in Macedonia and especially in Western Macedonia was really delayed for a variety of reasons and any kind of excavations or identification of historical or prehistoric sites were carried out after WWI. The first excavation in Western Macedonia was performed by the Archaeological Institute of Kiev in the prehistoric cemetery in Pateli, Florina. This excavation took place in the end of 19th century (Koukouli- Chrysanthaki 1982,99). First research attempts and first archaeological results were published in the beginning of the 20th c. Moreover, A. J. Wace wrote a supplementary article: “The mounds of Macedonia”, presenting the area of Western Macedonia, including the first information concerning the site of Servia in Kozani. Furthermore, S. Casson and W. Heurtley started excavations in central and Western Macedonia. In 1927, W. Heurtley carried out excavations in Boubousti, Kastoria. Later, in 1930 he excavated Servia, Kozani and in 1931 he begun a small excavation in Armenochori, Florina. Afterwards, W. Heurtley wrote and published his book “Prehistoric Macedonia”, which is considered to be an important manual for the prehistoric Western Macedonia scholars until today (Rhomiopoulou 2011, 34). In the 1930s, Keramopoulos carried out excavation research in West Macedonia where he came from. At the beginning of 1930 he traced the site of Dispilio in Kastoria and later on, in 1938 he excavated it. After WWII, Bakalakis excavated a prehistoric site in Kozani, Vasilara Rachi, while at the same time K. Rhomiopoulou saw interest in prehistoric Western Macedonia. In 1961, Researchers from Cambridge and Harvard University excavated Nea Nikomedeia (Andreou et al. 1996, 561). In 1971-4, the British School of Athens (C. Ridley- K. Wardle) with the collaboration of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Veroia (K. Rhomiopoulou) began a systematic excavation in Servia, Kozani. It was a research that W. Heurtley had started, but now the excavations were more systematic since flooding of Aliakmon River would cover the settlement (Koukouli- Chrysanthaki 1982, 99-101). The area of the Middle Aliakmon River began to be investigated systematically after the 1980s and prehistoric sites were located by the archaeologists of the Ephorate of Antiquities, while in the Grevena region Wilkie identified 15 sites dated in the EN (Wilkie 1993, 1747- 1755, Toufexis 1993). Last but not least, several new sites dated to all phases of the Neolithic period were identified in the area of Kitrini Limni. In 1991, D. Kokkinidou and K. Trandalidou made a list of all the known settlements dated in the Bronze and Neolithic Age in Western Macedonia (Kokkinidou, Trandalidou 1991, 103- 5),

14 while, in 1993, K. Trandalidou listed the Neolithic and the Bronze Age sites identified in the Florina region (Trandalidou 1993, 1593- 1622). In the prefecture of Pella, after the 1990s, at least 15 prehistoric sites were found (Chrysostomou & Chrysostomou 1990, 169– 177), while in 1994 N. Merousis and L. Stefani made a list of prehistoric sites for the prefecture of Hmathia (N. Merousis, L. Stefani 1994, 339-366).

b.Archaeological research in Western Macedonia i.Early Neolithic period

1.Florina- Kastoria

Florina is a prefecture located in the North- Western part of Macedonia and systematic excavations began over the last decade. At this point it is important to note that many sites dated in the Neolithic period were revealed during the last 10 years, due to construction activity by the lignite mines operating in the area, but not many of these sites were published. Therefore the sites mentioned in this thesis are only those that were published. Ampelia - Ornithonas of Filotas was excavated in 1996-97 and its findings were dated throughout the Neolithic period. The northern part of the site was dated in the Early Neolithic period and its pottery included impressed sherds (Ziota- Moschakis 1997, 44-5). Ag. Panteleimonas in Amyntaio is another site dated in the EN period and particularly in 6500- 5800 BC. A thermal construction was dated in this period and among the collected pottery were a few sherds with impressed decoration (AΔ 55 2000, 804).

The archaeological site of Dispilio belongs to the prefecture of Kastoria (Map 7). Dispilio is a site discovered in the 1930’s by Keramopoulos and the first excavation started in 1938. Then, a systematic excavation was carried out by the Aristotle University since the beginning of the 1990s. The first research results concerning the pottery of the site (particularly the assemblage coming from the so called “Nisi”), and a series of radiocarbon dates suggested that the first evidence of habitation belong to the end of the EN period. Decoration techniques of pottery dated to this period include incised and impressed motifs (nail- pattern, finger impressed motifs) (Nikakis 2004, 22; Sofronidou- Dimitriadis 2014, 537).

15 2.Kozani The archaeological sites of Kozani’s prefecture dated in the EN period were estimated up to 23 until today.

Kitrini Limni is located south of Ptolemaida, between Mt. Vermio and Mt. Askio. In this particular area, many Neolithic sites were located having either the form of a low mount (toumba) or a extended flat settlement.

The research conducted in the area, due to the extension of the Public Power Company’s (PPC) lignite mines and the construction of the Egnatia and Kozani- Ptolemaida roads, clarified the fact that Neolithic settlements existed not only inside the basin of Aliakmon River but also in the mountainous and semi- mountainous regions. Furthermore, after surface surveys in the areas of Mavropigi, Komanos and Pontokomi, the number of sites inhabited in prehistoric times increased. These results show that the density of habitation during the Neolithic period was particularly high and more specifically during the EN period (Karamitrou 2012, 233-244).

Megali Toumba of Ag. Dimitrios- Koilada (Map 1) is the only site in the valley of Kitrini Limni that was dated in the EN and also one of the few sites with the form of a large toumba. Among the ceramic sherds dated in the EN were a black- grey sherd with fingernail impressed pattern and a sherd with barbotin decoration (Fig. 1) (Karamitrou 2012, 244; Fotiadis- Chondrogianni 1993, 19-20; Karamitrou 1987, 405-7).

In Vrysi, Pontokomi (Map 2) (6210- 6030 BC) which is part of Kitrini Limni’s area, findings dated in the EN period were traced. Among the EN- MN pottery was a great deal of impressed and fingernail pattern (Karamitrou 2012, 244; Karamitrou 1999, 626-8; ΑΔ 55, 796; ΑΔ 56-9, 379-88; Karamitrou 2009, 119).

Souloukia, Pontokomi (Map 2) was excavated in 2010 as a rescue excavation and its findings were dated in the EN and MN. At this point it is important to note that amongst the ceramics, a great deal of incised and impressed pattern (barbotine, nail-pattern) sherds was found (Fig. 2)3 (Karamitrou 2012, 245; Karamitrou et al. 2010a, 44; Karamitrou et al. 2010b, 38-9). Moreover, another EN site was discovered in ΑΕΒΑL Ptolemaida (Karamitrou 2012, 245; ΑΔ 48, 380). Construction activity for opening the Egnatia road brought to light another EN site, Portes Xirolimni. The excavations took place in 1998-99 and a dozen of sherds with incised and impressed decoration were collected (Karamitrou 2012, 244; Karamitrou 2009, 111- 2; Karamitrou 1998, 470-4)4.

3 Similar pottery was found in Fylotsairi, Mavropigi, Vrysi, Pontokomi and Paliambela, Roditis (Karamitrou 2010a, 44, n. 10). 4 In the article of Karamitrou- Mentesidi, G. 1998, 470, pottery was wrongly dated in the LN.

16 Fyllotsairi, Mavropigi (6640- 6250 BC) is considered to be one of the earliest inhabited settlements in Macedonia and the Balkans. It is dated in the middle of the 7th c. and was inhabited for a short period of time in EN. Ceramic sherds with different types of incised and impressed motifs like nail-pattern and pinched- barbotine were collected (Karamitrou 2012, 244- 5; Karamitrou 2009, 122-4; Karamitrou 2005a, 524, 531).

In the area west of the city of Kozani, three more EN sites were discovered: Kalamia Xanthopirgos, Anthotopos Ag. Paraskevi and Kaloneri Pera Raches. The surface survey of these sites yielded pottery of the EN, particularly in Anthotopos Ag. Paraskevi and Kaloneri Pera Raches. The decoration of ceramics included impressed motifs like pinched, nail- pattern or impressed by some kind of tool (Karamitrou 2012, 245; ΑΔ53 1998, 687; ΑΔ 54 1999, 655; ΑΔ 55 2000, 817-8).

In the Μiddle Aliakmon River (Map 4), between Rimnio-Aiane and Velvento, 13 prehistoric sites were traced dating to the EN. Out of the 13 sites, only three were able to be excavated during the last decades, Kruovrisi Kranidiwn, Varemenoi Goulwn (Nisi) and Paliambela Roditis. The fourth and a very well known site is Servia V (Varitimides) which is a few meters away from Servia (Karamitrou 2012, 246; Chondrogianni 2009b, 449-451). Lava Kasiani is another EN mountainous site indicating that mountainous areas were preferred by EN settlers. Ceramics with impressed decoration were recovered (Karamitrou 2012, 246; Chondrogianni 2011, 84-5; Chondrogianni 2012, 339; Chondrogianni 1999, 241- 58).

Kriovrisi Kranidiwn was inhabited in prehistoric and historic times. The first settlement was dated in the EN and some sherds of pottery with incised and impressed motifs – nail-pattern (Fig. 3) reinforced this view (Chondrogianni 2009b, 453; Chondrogianni 1992, 38; Ziota- Chondrogianni 1993, 35-6). Varemenoi Goulwn (Nisi) had the form of a toumba and was situated in a most significant location near the passage to Thessaly. The site was inhabited throughout the Neolithic period and later during the Roman era. Among the EN pottery only a few sherds bear incised and impressed decoration with a variety of tools (Chondrogianni 2002, 562-3, 565; Chondrogianni 2012, 340). Paliambella Roditi (6220- 5900 BC) was settled in the early phase of the EN in the form of a low toumba. This site appears to be influenced from Thessaly rather than the northernmost locations of Macedonia and the Balkans. The decorated ceramics, although not many in quantity, include impressed with a nail- pattern, with a pinch- pattern and with a tool, either elongated or sharp (Chondrogianni 2002, 557, 560; Chondrogianni 2012, 339).

Last but not least, Servia V is situated 500m from the main site of Servia and it was dated in the Early Neolithic period. The quantity of ceramic sherds was enormous but the decorated ones were just a few. Even fewer were the sherds with impression motives). It is important to notice that there are similarities with the ceramics of Thessaly and Nea Nikomedeia rather than Northern Macedonia and the Balkans. C. Ridley and K. A. Wardle noted that the few sherds with a nail pattern may have been imported (Ridley- Wardle 1979, 185-93).

17 3.Grevena

In Grevena, 18 sites were discovered dated in the Early Neolithic period and were located in the flat terraces next to the river banks (Map 5). Some of the decorative motifs on the sherds include triangular impressions made out of a tip of a stick, fingernail and pinched impressions (Fig. 5). Wilkie notes similarities between the impressed sherds of Grevena with those of the EN sites of Albania (Wilkie 1999, 1347-8; Toufexis 1994, 17- 23). Kremastos Knidi is an EN site which was excavated for a short period of time in 1993. Incised and impressed sherds were found amongst the decorated pottery. The most common motifs were the barbotine- pinched and the nail- pattern. Also, there were found barbotine- grooved and incised decoration of straight lines (Fig. 6). In the area of Knidi, more sites dated in the EN were traced: Palaioxora, Palaioknidi, Tsoukalianos, Matsouka Rachi (Karamitrou 2005b, 541-9). Moreover, rescue excavations took place in the area of Ilarionas and more prehistoric and historic sites were revealed. Dimitra Vrasterwn is one of them, dated in the EN period, thus raising the number of the EN sites up to 21 (Karamitrou 2009b, 77). Agia Kyriaki, Paliouria was also dated in the EN period because as the pottery presented characteristic of incised and impressed motifs. Another two sites that can be dated to the EN due to similar findings with Agia Kyriaki was Ktio and Panagia Diporou (Karamitrou 2009b, 33-5; Karamitrou 2012, 247-8).

4.Pella

In the basin of Giannitsa (Map 6), prefecture of Pella, surface survey took place in the 1980’s and several sites in the area dated to the EN were found. The sites dated in the EN are Giannitsa B, Axos, Archontiko, Asvestareio A, Rizari and perhaps Drosero (Chrysostomou 1996, 159).

Giannitsa B (6450- 6250 BC) was discovered in 1989 and covered the area of a ridge. The excavations took place in the end of 1980’s and the beginning of 1990’s and according to the findings its habitation begun in the EN period. P. Chrysostomou divided the EN period of the settlement into two phases I and II. The incised and impressed pottery of Giannitsa B comprises a small percentage of the total ceramics but presents remarkable diversity. The kinds of impressed motifs encountered are: nail- pattern decorations, fingertip impressions, pinched impressions, thin impressed curves made either by fingernail or shell (shell impressions) and small, shallow and triangular impressions made by a similar shaped tool (stabbing impressed). Incised decoration was made with a sharp object and shaped straight lines horizontally, vertically or diagonally, placed in a particular area of the vessel but sometimes their layout was messy (Fig. 7) (Chrysostomou 1989, 119-29; Chrysostomou 1990, 169- 75; Chrysostomou 1991, 111-5; Chrysostomou 1993, 135- 40; Chrysostomou 1996, 161-2).

18 Axos A was traced in 1996 and according to the findings was dated in the EN and specifically in the beginning of the 2nd half of the 7th millennium. The settlement was in the form of a toumba (ΑΔ 51 1996, 516-7; Chrysostomou 1996, 162).

The EN settlement of Apsalos- Aridaia was discovered in 2001 and occupied a relatively flat area. Characteristic pottery dated in the EN period was collected. Ceramics with incised and impressed motifs (nail- pattern) led to the early dating of this settlement (Chrysostomou - Georgiadou 2001, 531; Chrysostomou et al. 2000, 501).

In 1992, excavation works took place in Drosia, Edessa and a flat Neolithic settlement was discovered in a low-lying plateau. The dating of the settlement was based on the pottery and specifically on the sherds of the barbotine type. The settlement was dated in the EN to early MN based on a significant number of barbotine-type vessels with horizontal and vertical grooves ending to arches on the shoulder (Kotsos 1992, 195- 202).

Last but not least, in 2007 a household dated to the EN period was discovered in Sossandra, Aridaia. The excavation took place in 2008 and must be part of an EN settlement dated in 6066- 5840 BC, 5860- 5688 BC according to absolute dating (Georgiadou 2009, 94).

5.Hmathia

A research survey for locating prehistoric sites in the prefecture of Hmathia was conducted by D. French and then another survey took place by F. Petsas in the 1960s. In the 1990s, L. Stefani and N. Merousis tried to identify the already known sites and to locate new ones. Their research took place north of the city of Veroia, in the west area which is known as Giannitsa basin. The sites dated in the EN were: Toumba Ag. Georgiou, Toumba Sarantovrisi, Trilofos, N. Nikomideia I and N. Nikomedeia II (Merousis- Stefani 1994, 340-55). Toumba Ag. Georgiou is situated in the location of Sukies and nowadays it does not present the form of a toumba due to human intervention (French 1967, 9; Aslanis 1992, 69, 269; Kokkinidou- Trantalidou 1991, 105). Trilofos is located on a natural hill. The dating of this particular site has not been achieved by safe chronological evidence. The only reason this site was dated in the EN period is because D. French collected nineteen (19) sherds of pottery which he considered to be dated at that period (French 1967, 37; Aslanis 1992, 69, 269; Kokkinidou- Trantalidou 1991, 105). Toumba Sarantovruses is located next to Veroia and its pottery can be dated in the EN. Lefkopetra, Imathia was also dated in the EN period and particularly in 6800- 6100 BC. Last but not least, is Nea Nikomideia I and II, which initial habitation is estimated in the EN period. The category of impressed and incised decoration is a small amount of ceramic assemblage. Different types of impressed decoration are encountered and are categorized as follows: i. fingertips impression, ii) fingernails impression, iii) pinching impression and iv) impression motifs made with different instruments (Yiouni 1996, 89- 91).

19 ii.Middle Neolithic period

1.Kastoria The lower layers of the excavation of Dispilio were dated in the MN period. The houses of this period were post-framed with platforms made of wood. Among the pottery of this period were sherds of incised and impressed decoration in small amounts but in a wide variety (Sofronidou- Dimitriadis 2014, 540- 2; Nikakis 2004, 59-62).

Avgi in Kastoria is another Neolithic settlement that was discovered during the 1990s. Avgi I is dated in the MN period. Rectangular buildings and thermal constructions were discovered, while among the ceramics of this period, a small amount of sherds with impressed and incised decoration were found (Stratouli et al. 2012, 350-1; Katsikaridis 2012, http://www.neolithicavgi.gr/). Furthermore, another site that was settled in the same period was Kolokynthou. Located in the basin of Kastoria, Kolokynthou was discovered in 2001 during the construction works for the Egnatia road. It is mentioned that among the pottery different categories of impressed decorative motifs were found in a small amounts (Tsouggaris et al. 2002, 632).

2.Florina W. Heurtley located the Neolithic site of Armenochori in 1931 and carried out a small excavation. Armenochori lies in the Florina basin and initially W. Heurtley thought that this site was settled during the LN period (Heurtley 1939, 57- 9). Other scholars changed his conclusions that were based on the pottery and placed its initial habitation in the MN period. Other Neolithic sites located in the prefecture of Florina and dated in the MN period are Mavrodendri, Drepano, Anargiroi III (Kokkinidou- Trandalidou 1991, 104)

Filotas, which as it has already been mentioned, was a site initially inhabited during the EN period, continued to be inhabited in the MN period as well. Last but not least, Anargyroi VIIc a Neolithic site that was excavated in the recent years (2014-5) and its first habitation was estimated in the MN period5 (Gkelou et al. 2016, in press).

5 Anargyroi VIIc will be presented detailed in the second part of the thesis.

20 3.Grevena

At the end of the EN period most settlements in Grevena were abandoned and few remained inhabited. Matsouka Rachi is one site that was not abandoned in the MN period, while “interesting pottery, tools and figurines” were collected in Vrastera, Dimitra.

4.Kozani

During the MN period, sites in the prefecture of Kozani multiplied and more particularly in the area of Kitrini Limni. These sites are: Toumba Mavrodendriou (Karamitrou 1987, 394), Toumba Drepanou (Karamitrou 1987, 397), Mikro Nisi Akrini (Karamitrou 1987, 401), Xamboula Toumba Akrini (ΑΔ38 1983, 311), Keramidia Akrini (ΑΔ42 1983, 427-8), Megalo Nisi Galanis (Karamitrou 1987, 404), Toumba Ag. Dimitriou- Koilada (Karamitrou 1987, 406, 409), Toumba Tetralofou (ΑΔ38 1983, 311; Karamitrou 1987, 413), Lignite Mines in Palia Charavgi (ΑΔ55 2000, 585), Gortsia Koilada (ΑΔ56- 9 2001-2004, 398-9), Isiwma Mavropigi (Karamitrou 2005a, 33-42; Karamitrou et al. 2010b, 33- 42, 53-4), Vrisi Pontokwmi (Karamitrou 2000, 616) and Souloukia Pontokwmi (Karamitrou 2010b, 53-4).

Furthermore, 15 sites were discovered in the Middle Aliakmon River dated in the MN period, 6 of which were founded in the EN period and the rest were new settlements. Some of the well- known MN sites situated in the Middle Aliakmon River are Kruovrisi Kranidiwn, Palla Rachi Aiani, Marla Aiani, Varemenoi Goulwn and Servia (Chondrogianni 2009b, 453; Karamitrou 1999, 30; Chondrogianni 2002, 564). In Varemenoi Goulwn, impressed and incised sherds made of different shaped tools were collected. These kind of decorative motifs were accustomed in the beginning of the MN period in Thessaly and in the Northern Balkans (Chondrogianni 2002, 565).

The habitation of Servia goes on during the MN period (Ridley- Rhomiopoulou 1972, 27- 34; Ridley et al. 2000) and the pottery according to C. Ridley- K. A. Wardle “was even more markedly Thessalian than its predecessor”. Fluted decoration using fingers was encountered among the decorative motifs on the vessels on the coarse vessels of Servia. Vessels with incised or nail- impressed motifs were also collected but in small amounts (C. Ridley- K. A. Wardle 1979, 204- 7).

21 5.Pella

Most of the aforementioned Neolithic sites dated in the EN period were abandoned during the MN period. Giannitsa B continued to be inhabited during this period, while sherds of pottery dated also in the MN were discovered in Rizari of Edessa, Drosia of Edessa and in Archontiko (Kokkinidou- Trantalidou 1991, 101; Chrysostomou 1996, 164; Kotsos 1996, 199; Urem et al. 2012, 510, f. 30). Furthermore, Apsalos- Grammi, continued also to be inhabited during the MN period (Saridaki et al. 2010, 81-6).

6.Hmathia In the prefecture of Hmathia a site dated in the MN period is Keramaria, Sfikia (ΑΔ54 1999, 616-7).

iii.Late Neolithic period6

1.Kastoria During the LN period, the sites in prefecture of the Kastoria are Kolokunthou, Dispilio and Avgi. The settlement of Kolokunthou, as it is already mentioned, began to be inhabited in the MN period, but continued in the LN up to the FN period (Tsouggaris et al. 2002, 632). Also, Dispilio was inhabited throughout the LN period, while sherds of incised, fluted and impressed decoration were collected (Nikakis 2004, 62- 65). Finally, Avgi was inhabited in both sub periods (LN I, LNII) (Stratouli et al. 2014, 350-1; Katsikaridis 2012, http://www.neolithicavgi.gr/).

2.Florina

In the prefecture of Florina, many LN sites were detected but the majority was not excavated. Several excavations have taken place during the last two decades due to the extraction of lignite in the area, although many publications have not yet been made. The sites of this particular period are Armenochori, Filotas, Anargyroi II, III, VIIc, Meliti, Agios Panteleimon I, Vegora III- IV, Fanos II, Rhodon, Limnochori I- II, Variko I and Variko II (Kokkinidou- Trandalidou 1991, 103- 5).

6. Greater analysis of the settlements during this period will be made in Chapter 11, in comparison to the analysis of the material in Anargyroi.

22 3.Grevena

In Kremastos Knidis of Grevena, pottery dated in the beginning of the LN period was collected (Wilkie 1999, 1347; Toufexis 1996, 20-1). Another site with pottery of this period is Matsouka Rachi (Karamitrou 2005b, 547-8). Finally, other sites also dated in the LN period were Ktio Diporou from where a significant quantity of impressed and incised pottery was collected and Panagia Diporou, from which sherds with impressed motifs were also collected (Karamitrou 2009b, 80-106).

4.Kozani

In the prefecture of Kozani, many sites are dated in the LN period. In the area of Kitrini Limni sites are: Megali Toumba Ag. Dimitriou, Toumba Akrini, Mikro Nisi Akrini, Chamboula Toumba Akrini, Keramidia Akrini, Mourtzouvades Asvestopetra, Megalo Nisi Galanis, Ag. Eleutherios Drepano, Toumba Drepano, Kleitos, Toumba Kremastis Koiladas, Toumba Xeropigadou Koiladas, Pigadia Koiladas, Gefura Komanou, Louki Komanou, Stasi Mavrodendri, Toumba Mavrodendri, Ag. Minas Mavrodendri, Isiwma Mavropigi, Rachi Mavropigi, Louloudia Mavropigi, Livadi Mavropigi, Vrisi tou Arapi Mavropigi, Lignitoruxeia Kardias, Nerofagia Polumilos, Vrusi Pontokomi, Toumba Pontokomi, Toumba Tetralofou, Kouia Tetralofou and Kambos Tetralofou. As it is obvious the area of Kitrini Limni was densely inhabited during the LN period (Karamitrou 2012, 236; Chondrogianni 2009; Ziota 2012).

In the Middle Aliakmon River, twenty two sites are dated in the LN period (Chondrogianni 2009b, 450-1). Vasilara Rachi yielded sherds of black burnished pottery with fluted decoration. In Kolitsaki Gephira sherds of incised ware were collected. In the site Zigra/ Nisaki one incised and dotted sherd filled with red paste was collected. Other sites are Gefura, Kriovrisi Kranidiwn, Varemenoi Goulwn, Servia (Fig. 4), Katw Bravas Velvendos, Paliambela and Faraggi Messianis, Palaiokastana Serviwn and Koila (Chondrogianni 1990, 110- 5).

5.Pella

It is remarkable that the settlements in the area of Giannitsa, prefecture of Pella, increased, while at the same time all 21 settlements inhabited in the EN period, were reoccupied during the LN period. These sites are: Axos A & B, Aravissos, Mandalo A & B, Kariotissa, Drosero, Plagiari, Kuros, Giannitsa A & B, Ampelies, Asvestario, Damiano, Archontiko, Paralimni, Leptokaria, Dutiko, Agrosukia A & B, Koufalia A & B, Valtochori, Europos (Chrysostomou- Chrysostomou 1990, 171- 3; Chrysostomou 1996, 165- 7).

23 6.Hmathia

In the prefecture of Hmathia sites that are dated in the LN period are: Nea Nikomedeia II, Ano Zervochori, Toumba Ag. Georgiou, Toumba Giannisas 5 (Paliambela), Toumba Poluplatanou, Toumba Palias Lakkogiannis, Toumba Srantovruses and Trilofos (Merousis- Stefani 1994, 339- 663; Merousis- Stefani 2000, 555- 561; Merousis 2002, 519- 30).

iv.Final Neolithic period

1.Kastoria

In the prefecture of Kastoria, Kolokunthou is one site that was inhabited from the MN up to the FN period. Amongst the collected pottery sherds of impressed and incised decoration were collected (Tsouggaris et al. 2002, 630- 3).

2.Grevena

In the prefecture of Grevena, Ktio Diporou is a known site that archaeological remains dated in the FN period were traced, such as a pit filled with pottery (Karamitrou 2009b, 83).

3.Kozani

In the area of Kitrini Limni the sites dating back to the FN period identified are: Koila Isiwmata, Portes Xirolimni, Xeropigado Koilada, Nisi Pontokomi, Xanthopyrgos Kalamia (Karamitrou 2012, 236).

In the Middle Aliakmon River, 21 sites are dated in the FN period (Chondrogianni 2009b, 450- 1). Some of these are: Kruovrisi Kranidiwn, Varemenoi Goulwn, Toumba Kremasti Koilada, Faragi Mesiani, Palaiokastania Servia, Vasilara Rachi, Megalo Nisi Galanis, Asvestopetra Mourtzouvades, Leivadia Aiani, Cave of Neraida (Chondrogianni 2009, 64- 65; Chondrogianni 2009b, 455-6; ΑΔ 54 1999, 639; ΑΔ 55 2000, 791; ΑΔ 27 1972, 519).

24 4.Pella

During the FN most of the settlements were situated in the semi- mountainous zone which indicates a move to the hinterland (Chrysostomou 1996, 167). Archaeological sites dated in the FN period are: Giannitsa B, Agrosukia A, Aravissos Mandalo (Papaeuthimiou- Pilali 1996, 143; Chrysostomou 1996, 165; Chrysostomou 2001, 489- 90).

5.Hmathia

Few archaeological sites like Polyplatanos were identified in the prefecture of Hmathia dated in the FN period (Merousis- Stefani 2000, 555- 561).

v.Final comment

As it is clear from the above presentation, it is impossible to built a typological sequence of the impressed, incised or fluted pottery through the Neolithic of western Macedonia, at least based on published data. Unfortunately, comprehensive publications of ceramic assemblages are very scant, and only fragmentary information can be collected mainly from excavation reports, which commonly include preliminary studies of pottery. Moreover, such decorative wares are primarily used as chronological indicators, especially for the early phases of the Neolithic, and are not further analyzed. Accordingly, the only certain pattern is that during the EN period there is a preference in pinching and nailing motifs throughout Western Macedonia, which is also observed in Central Macedonia, Thessaly, and the Balkans.

25 2nd Part

1.The Neolithic settlement of Anargyroi VIIc and its excavation

A first reference of the Prehistoric settlement of Anargyroi VIIc was in a directory of prehistoric sites by K. Trantalidou, in her article “Προϊστορικοι οικισμοί στις λεκάνες της Φλώρινας και του Αμυνταίου”. This site was presented as “Ta xorafia tou Gianni/ Valtos” (Trantalidou 1994, 1613; Gkelou et al. 2016, in press). Surface and stratigraphic research was carried out in the area and the excavations were initiated in 2014 and completed in 2015, as the area was of interest for future lignite mining projects in Amyntaio. The study of the material had already begun since the summer of 2016.

The settlement of Anargyroi VIIc belongs to the extended flat settlements and occupies 5800 sq.m. Nine (9) houses were investigated, which were built at close proximity to one another. At this point it is important to note that a part of the settlement was revealed underneath a natural deposited layer of very compact and highly calcareous soil (“epipagos”), whereas other parts of the site suffered disasters of continuous plowing (Gkelou et al, 2016: in press).

The houses were quadrilateral, built above ground and post-framed with the frame made of wood and covered with clay. The walls were grounded in posts of different depth and the floor of the houses was mainly based on the natural terrain, which consisted of burnt and dissolved clay. Moreover, the upper floor, wherever existed one,7 was made of raw clay, whereas small sized woods were used for constructing the roof and the upper part of the houses. A house occupied an average of 50 sq. m. (Gkelou et al. 2016, in press). This organized settlement didn’t lack of thermal structures, built-in cases and storage pits. A well was also discovered which contained whole and parts of vessels. Last but not least, two clusters of pits were revealed in a short distance from the houses, which first use was probably clay extraction but later on they were used as waste pits.

7 It was detected in three houses.

26 a.Pottery

Most of the mobile finds of the settlement were pottery; the majority was sherds of vessels, but certainly whole vessels were recovered as well. Sherds of vessels dated in the MN period were found at the western part of the settlement. The aforementioned findings indicate that the earliest occupation took place in the MN period.

The pottery that signifies the transition to the LN period is the type of black burnished, while the black topped pottery predominates the decorated vessels of the LN, which includes bowls of many types, closed and open vessels. Moreover, black topped vessels co-exist with other types of decoration like impressed motifs, fluted decoration, rippled, plastic motifs, and different kinds of lugs, handles, pseudo- handles and knobs. Other types of vessels identified are pots with three or four legs (closed or open vessels) and small vessels with a lid. These vessels signify uses of everyday life. Other categories of pottery were storage jars (open or with wide-mouthed rim), perforated vessels and miniature vessels (Gkelou et al. 2016, in press).

b.Other findings

Other findings of the excavation in the settlement of Anargyroi VIIc include parts of anthropomorphic figurines and also a zoomorphic one. Nine hundred thirteen (913) stone tools and some tools made of bone were also collected. At this point, it is interesting to mention that a flute made of bone was discovered (Gkelou et al. 2016, in press).

2.Sampling and development of the study

At the beginning, it will be presented the reasons of choosing the specific assemblage. Then, parameters will be set in order to complete the analysis in a most fulfilling way with only purpose to obtain all the elements we can get by this study and hence of the people and their habits as well as their interpersonal relationships.

The parameters we set in order to draw quantitative conclusions are: the fabric, the shapes of the vessels, the surface treatment, the decorative motifs and the context where this assemblage derived.

27 a.Collecting the sample

In this paper, a multifaceted research approach has been attempted. The material studied concerns a part of the settlement, two excavation square sections, in which two houses were discovered, that had a single phase in the LN period (LN II). The aim of this comparative study is to examine the current pottery through specific decorated sherds of vessels and also draw information regarding the inhabitants of this settlement, suggesting the relations and influences with neighboring settlements or perhaps even remote ones; we can also check within the settlement itself the relations of the houses, similarities, differences or even preferences.

The research material of the current thesis consists of sherds of vessels and only one miniature vessel8, which were collected from two squares of the excavation, sq. 312 and sq. 338 that were located almost in the center of the site. The aforementioned squares were adjacent, as square 338 was located south of square 312. The squares of this excavation were 10 X 10m. and were divided into four sections: A, B, C and D (5 X 5m) and were defined to the north and west by bulks 1X 4 m.(Fig. 8) ( Gkelou et al. 2016, in press).

In square 312, House 4 was revealed and occupied sections A, B and D as well as a small part of section C. In section B, the boundaries between Houses 4 and 5 were indiscernible, and as a result it wasn’t clear whether they were actually two different houses or one (Gkelou et al. 2016, in press). House 4 enters north into sq. 286 and in particular in sections C and D, while in the SE it enters section C of square 313. The orientation of the building is NW -SE.

House 6 occupies almost the whole square 338, the sections A, B, C and a small part of section C. Also, House 6 extends to the northern square 312 and specifically in the sections C and D. Finally, it appears to penetrate slightly in the western square 337, section B. The orientation of the house is slightly NW to SE.

The main criterion for selecting these squares was the completion of their excavation and their location at the site, as they were situated almost in the center of the settlement. Their excavation gave clear evidence as there was no disturbance of the aforementioned squares and as a result a complete picture of the houses during that time can be drawn. The research begun by checking the ceramics of the above squares and the separation of the sherds which would be the subject of the study, meaning those who were decorated with impressed, incised or fluted decoration.

Altogether, in both squares, 3807 sherds of vessels were counted, of which 3641 (95,6%) were undecorated or bore different kinds of decoration, 146 (3,8%) were decorated with impressed

8 Unfortu nately, there were no complete vessels with the under study decoration in this thesis.

28 motifs, 6 (0,15%) with incised decoration, 3 (0,08%) with incised and impressed decoration, 5 (0,13%) with fluted decoration and 6 sherds (0,15%) with both impressed and fluted decoration.

More specifically, in square 312, 2166 sherds of pottery were examined, of which 2063 (95,2%) of which were undecorated or bore different kinds of decoration, 91 (4,2%) were decorated with impressed motifs, 2 (0,09%) with incised decoration, 1 (0,05%) with incised and impressed decoration, 5 (0,23%) with fluted decoration and 4 sherds (0,18%) with both impressed and fluted decoration.

In square 338, 1641 sherds of pottery were examined, of which 1578 (95,2%) were undecorated or bore different kinds of decoration, 57 (3,5%) were decorated with impressed motifs, 4 (0,24 %) were with incised decoration, 2 (0,12%) were with incised and impressed decoration, 0 (0%) with fluted decoration and 2 sherds (0,12%) with both impressed and fluted decoration.

b.Development of the study

After checking the entire quantity of pottery from the aforementioned squares, their separation was carried out and the sherds of direct interest for the study were collected. Thereafter, the ceramics’ recording with specific parameters begun. Firstly, we checked the quantity of the sherds, if they were discovered in the interior or the exterior of the houses and in which house in particular and also if it was part of another context (pit). Then, we examined the technology of the ceramics, meaning its raw material. The characterization, of course, was not based on petrographic analysis because it has not been conducted yet, but just on mere observation through a microscope. Therefore, the recordings were based on the observation of the clay inclusions and its texture and whether we can draw conclusions about their construction methods as they are small sherds and not complete pots. Furthermore, we got information by the color of the sherds, both the surface and the core, in order to understand the firing conditions of the ceramic vessels. Moreover, we obtained information from the surface treatment.

Another important parameter is to obtain information on the type of vessel, wherever that was possible due to their small size (it is often impossible to understand what kind of vessel sherd was part of), the thickness of their walls and the diameter of the base and the rim.

Last but not least, we examined the decorative motifs, meaning sherds with incised, impressed and fluted decoration. An effort was made to compile the different motifs of each category, their arrangement both individually and in combination. We will also try to see if any decoration motif is associated with any type of vessel or even any other types of decoration that the potters used to apply. Furthermore, we will examine if there is a specific part on the vessel where they used to decorate with a certain technique, if we can understand what type of tools they used and at what stage of the vessels’ manufacture the decoration took place.

29 All the aforementioned parameters were used individually or in a combined manner so that we can collect all the data from our material and thus, all the information possible for the society of the Anargyroi settlement VIIc.

3.Categories based on fabric

The analysis of the material will initiate based on the raw material, the clay. All observations on the composition of the clay will be based on observation by a microscope and the naked eye because it was not possible to perform a petrographic analysis. The term fabric will include the color of the core of the sherd, the kinds and size of inclusions, if any organic inclusions or incrustations on the surface or the core of sherds were traced.

Categories Amount Of Sherds/ SQ. 3129 SQ.338 Based On The (Percentage) Fabric Category A 10 SHERDS (6%) 7 SHERDS (70%) 3 SHERDS (30%)

Category B 93 SHERDS (56%) 61 SHERDS (66%) 32 SHERDS (34%)

Category C 54 SHERDS (33 %) 31 SHERDS 23 SHERDS (57,4%) (42,6%) Category D 8 SHERDS (5%) 4 SHERDS (50%) 4 SHERDS (50%)

Table 1

The pottery to be studied was divided into four categories: Category A, Category B, Category C and Category D. Their name was conventionally chosen and the first three categories correspond to a set of ceramic sherds that share common characteristics in terms of their grain size, core color and their inclusions, while the last category consists of sherds that remain unique in their characteristics and do not belong to the three above categories. Of course, this note is made with all reservations unless a petrographic analysis will be carried out. At this point, we must exclude 2 sherds belonging to category D, which are likely to be imported products (Fig. 10, 11).

9 Amount of sherds/ percentage in the same category.

30

Chart 1: Chart showing the categories of pottery based on fabric

Category A consists of sherds of pottery that are medium grained (Fig. 9) and the majority has medium thickened walls (0,60- 1,00cm.). Their composition is micaceous with small, medium and large grains of silicate, and fine organic inclusions. They often have incrustations on the surface of the sherds. In the first category 10 sherds from both squares were traced (Table 1), i.e. 6% of the whole pottery we study (Chart 1). In square 312, there were collected 7 sherds, meaning 70 % of this category, which comes down to 7% of the amount of pottery that was collected from the particular square. In square 338, 3 sherds were collected, meaning 30 % of this category but 5% of the amount of pottery that was gathered from this particular square10.

Category B, which is the largest category, is composed of sherds of pottery that are fine grained and with one- colored core, grey or gradations of grey. Their composition is micaceous with small and medium grains of silicate and fine organic inclusions. The majority is with incrustations on the surface. In the second category, 93 sherds were traced from both squares (Table 1), i.e. 56% of the whole pottery we study (Chart 1). In square 312, 61 sherds were collected, meaning 66 % of this category and 59% of the amount of pottery that was collected from the particular square. In square 338, 32 sherds were collected, meaning 34 % of this category and 52% of the amount of pottery that was collected from the particular square.

Category C, which is the second largest category, is composed of sherds of pottery that are fine grained and two- colored core, grey or gradations of grey with brown. Their composition is micaceous with small and medium grains of silicate and fine organic inclusions. The majority is

10 When we use the phrase “the amount of pottery that was collected from the particular square” we mean only those sherds which are under study for the purposes of this thesis.

31 with incrustations on the surface. In the third category, 54 sherds from both squares were traced (Table 1), i.e. 33% of the whole pottery we study (Chart 1). In square 312, 31 sherds were collected, meaning 57,4 % of this category and 30% of the amount of pottery that was collected from the particular square. In square 338, 23 sherds were collected, meaning 42,6 % of this category and 37% of the amount of pottery that was collected from the particular square.

Category D, which is the smallest category, is consisted of sherds that do not belong to the previous three categories. They are fine grained, with different kind of core- color, like one- colored: light brown, two- colored: orange- brown or three colored: grey- light brown-brown or even with two colored: grey- brown but almost clear from inclusions. Their composition is micaceous with small and medium grains of silicate and fine organic inclusions. In this fourth category 8 sherds from both squares were traced (Table 1), i.e. 5% of the whole pottery we study (Chart 1). In square 312, 4 sherds were collected, meaning 50% of this category and 4% of the amount of pottery that was collected from the particular square. In square 338, 4 sherds were collected, meaning 50% of this category and 6,4% of the amount of pottery that was collected from the particular square.

From the above analysis and description of table 1 and chart 1, we can make some conclusions about the under study pottery. The majority of the sherds (above the 50%) belong to Category B, with fine grained and one- colored core (grey). Moreover, if we examine both squares separately we come to the same conclusion that the majority of sherds coming from Squares 312 and 338 belong to category B. While, the following category with these kind of decoration is C, fine grained and two- colored core (grey- brown). A small amount of pottery belongs to Category A, which are medium grained vessels and an even smaller amount belongs to category D that is consisted of different kind of sherds that don’t belong to the aforementioned categories.

4.Construction techniques

Most probably the vessels were made using the coiling technique without certainty because the small size of the sherds does not allow us to draw definitive conclusions. The miniature vessels were made by the pinching technique from a mass of clay. At this point, we have to point out that the large percentage of carinated bowls gives the impression that the casting technique could also be used for mass production.

32 5.Surface treatment

Another parameter that we need to analyze is the processing of the outer surface of the sherd. If it is coarse, smoothed, slipped or burnished. As we have already mentioned, apart from structural reasons, mainly impermeability, they also formed the exterior and interior surface for decorative purposes.

Through the study of the material, there are 3 types of surface treatments: smoothed, slipped and slipped and burnished. By smoothing the ceramic surface, they simply smoothed the outer surface so that there were no lumps or uneven amounts of clay at various points. Some sherds were slipped on their outer surface and more often they were slipped on the inside surface as well. The majority of the open vessels were slipped on the inside surface. The slip was in the color of clay or a light brown, while the slip on the inside surface was usually of grey color. Last but not least, is the last category of first being slipped and then being burnished, which contains the majority of the open vessels and particularly the carinated bowls, but includes other types of open and closed vessels as well. The slipped and burnished decoration is essentially the black topped decoration with the black burnish until the carination of the vessel and until the height of the rim in the interior of the vessel. Some sherds, that are large enough, saw that in the height of the belly they were slipped and burnished as well in a red- orange color.

In the table below there is the amount and the percentage of these different treatment that were applied on the surface of our examined pottery.

Vessel surface Sum of Percentage Sum of Percentage Sum of Percentage treatment –ware both Square (Sq. 312) Square (Sq. 338) squares 312 338 Smoothed 14 8% 8 8% 6 10%

Slipped 19 12% 10 10% 9 14% Slipped and 132 80% 85 82% 47 76% burnished Table 2: Surface treatment of examined vessels

According to the above table, the majority of our pottery was first slipped and then burnished, meaning 132 sherds from total 165 sherds that were studied. This amount corresponds to 80% of the total amount.

33

Chart 2: Surface treatment- percentage

The slipped decoration is applied to 19 sherds, 12% of the total amount and the smoothed is applied to 14 sherds, 8%. The results that derive from the above chart are that those vessels with incised, impressed or fluted decoration mostly were slipped and then burnished and only a small amount was either just smoothed or just slipped.

We can also come to the above conclusions by looking through the data separately, per square. Square 312, has the majority of its sherds slipped and burnished, meaning eighty five (85) sherds from an amount of 103 sherds, 82 %, while square 338 has 47 sherds from an amount of 62 sherds (76%).Both squares have analogically almost the same amount of surface treatment as the total measurement, that is, both squares individually vary in the same percentages for each category with minimal differences.

Furthermore, we will try to see the surface treatment of the vessels by the categories we have divided (Table 3).

Sum Smoothed Slipped Slipped and Burnished Category A 0 0 10 Category B 5 8 80 Category C 7 8 39 Category D 2 3 3 Table 3: Categories / Surface treatment

Category A, which is the second smallest in the total of all the categories has 100 % slipped and burnished decoration. Category B has, also, the majority of its sherds in the slipped and burnished decoration, 80 sherds, 8 sherds were slipped, while 5 sherds were just smoothed. The third category, C, has 39 sherds with slipped and burnished decoration, 8 with slipped and 7 with

34 smoothed decoration. Last, Category D has 3 sherds with slipped and burnished decoration 3 sherds with slipped and 2 sherds with smoothed decoration.

Square 312 Smoothed Slipped Slipped and Burnished Category A 0 0 7 Category B 2 5 54 Category C 5 3 23 Category D 1 2 1 Table 4: Surface treatment/ Categories in Square 312

The table above shows the applied surface treatment of the pottery which was collected from square 312. The results of the study are the same as those of the overall study of both squares. From all categories, the majority of sherds was slipped and burnished, 54 from Category B, 23 from Category C, 7 from Category A and 1 from Category D. The small amount of remaining sherds of all categories were slipped or smoothed with only Category C to differentiate by having 5 sherds with smoothed surface and 3 with a slipping surface. Of course, there is not a big difference between numbers of these surface treatment in order to make clear conclusions.

Square 338 Smoothed Slipped Slipped and Burnished Category A 0 0 3 Category B 3 3 26 Category C 2 5 16 Category D 1 1 2 Table 5: Surface treatment/ Categories in Square 338

Table 5, demonstrates the applied surface treatment of the pottery that was collected from square 338. The results analogically do not differentiate from the total amount or square’s 312 results. The majority of all categories’ sherds were slipped and burnished and the remaining sherds from all the rest categories vary to the same numbers concerning the rest surface treatment.

35 6.Surface decoration process

Regarding the decoration process of incising, impressing and fluting, it was observed that it was made after construction and before firing. The reason why the above procedure was done is because there is no discontinuity in the decoration or other evidence that indicates treatment after firing, such as sharp edges on the surface of the sherds. The decoration is smooth and the surface is without edges. Last but not least, there is no discoloration in the area where the decoration is located.

For succeeding the decoration of impression, incision and fluting there is a clear differentiation on the types of tools used in order to achieve each decorative motif. Certainly, it is not plausible to distinguish the types of all the tools used. This subject will be thoroughly analyzed in the chapter on decorative motifs.

7.Firing

The firing of the vessels must have taken place in open fires, where the temperature was not steady. The atmosphere was rich in oxygen, that is why most of the sherds have a light color. Someone could also notice uneven color in their core, both on their external and internal surface. Certainly, there must have been also reduction conditions because there are sherds with a dark surface11.

8.Types of vessels

During the recording, an attempt was made to categorize the sherds into the types of vessels on which the examined decoration took place. Because the sherds that are preserved are of small size, it is not always possible to make this identification. In the first instance, of course, we were able to separate the vessels into open and closed ones. Some sherds, a large part of them survives and the vessel is identified.

Therefore, the categories encountered in this material are the open vessels, from which are distinguished and categorized the carinated bowls. Other categories are the closed vessels, the

11 At this point we should be cautious since the study is not done in whole vases but in small pieces of vessels, so we do not have a complete picture if these sherds were homogenously fired.

36 miniature vessels and finally the undiagnosed ones, sherds which are so small that their preserved part makes it impossible to categorize them into open or closed vessels.

Chart 3: Types of vessels

According to the above chart (chart 3) and the below table (Table 6), it is obvious that the majority of the vessels are open in relation to the closed ones. The 67% is estimated to be open vessels, more analytically 27% are the carinated bowls and the 40 % the open vessels in general. A 1% is the miniature vessels, a 19% the closed vessels and 13% the undiagnosed ones.

Amount Percentage Carinated bowls 45 27% Open vessels 66 40% Closed vessels 31 19% Undiagnosed vessels 22 13% Miniature vessels 2 1% Table 6: Types of vessels

It is obvious that this kind of decoration was mostly preferable for the open- kind of vessels and least for the closed ones. Examining them separately, both squares, square 312 and square 338, we can come to the same conclusions. In square 312, 68% of the whole amount of pottery

37 belongs to open vessels, 22 sherds are of carinated bowls and 46 of open vessels, while in square 338, 69% of the whole amount of pottery belongs to open vessels, 23 sherds are of carinated bowls and 20 of open vessels.

Square 312 Square 338 Carinated bowls 22 23 Open vessels 46 20 Closed vessels 17 13 Undiagnosed vessels 17 5 Miniature vessels 1 1 Table 7: Types of vessels/ Square

The closed vessels are in the third place with the under study decoration, 31 as total amount, 19% of the sum of decorated sherds, 17 was found in square 312 and 13 in square 338. The undiagnosed sherds were 22, 17 derived from square 312 and 5 from square 338. Last, 2 miniature vessels with this kind of decoration were discovered.

The wall thickness range of the vessels is of a few centimeters to 1.60 centimeters. Moreover, thin walls are the majority. 141 sherds are of thin walls, 86%, which range from few centimeters to 0,60 cm. 22 sherds were of medium walls (0,60- 1,00cm), 13% and just 2 sherds, 1% were of thick walls.

In the next stage of the study, the frequency of the vessels will be examined according to the raw material as shown in Table 8, specifically the categories (clay composition), their morphology and their texture, as well as their surface treatment. All the above data will derive based on different types of vessels.

Carinated vessels are the only type of vessel that is recognizable and was collected in large numbers. In both squares, the majority of carinated bowls are included to Category B, meaning they are fine grained, grey or gradations of grey color in the core of the sherd and with fine organic inclusions, micaceous and silicate inclusions. Few sherds (only 11) were of Category C, meaning with two- colored core, grey and brown, 3 sherds were of Category A, medium grained and finally 2 were of category D. The majority of the open vessels belong to category B, followed by category C and A, while category D is represented by 1 sherd.

38 Carinated Miniature Open Vessels Closed Undiagnosed Bowls Vessels Vessels vessels Category A 3 0 7 0 0 Category B 29 1 40 11 12 Category C 11 1 18 17 7 Category D 2 0 1 2 3 Table 8: Categories/ Types of Vessels

In closed vessels, the majority of sherds belongs to Category C, 17 in number (with two-colored core and fine grained), while it is followed by 11 sherds of category B and 2 of category D. Last, the majority of the undiagnosed sherds were also in Category B.

In conclusion, the majority of the open vessels are fine grained with one colored core, while most of the closed vessels belong to the category of fine grained with two-colored core.

Then, an attempt was made to approach the vessel types based on the treatment of their outer surface.

Smoothed Slipped Slipped and burnished Carinated Bowls 0 4 41 Miniature Vessels 0 2 0 Open Vessels 2 4 60 Closed Vessels 8 6 17 Undiagnosed vessels 4 3 14 Table 9: Types of Vessels/ Surface treatment

As we have already seen (Chapter 5) the majority of the assemblage are slipped and burnished. At this point, as we can see in Table 9, the majority of all categories of vessels are also slipped and burnished. Only a few sherds were just smoothed or slipped. Therefore, the surface of the vessels is particularly well cared with black burnish usually up to the point of carination, while in some sherds there was traced red- orange burnish in the area of the belly as well. Last but not least, over the 50% of the assemblage have a light brown/ buff surface color on their surface.

39 9.Location of the finds

Another important parameter is the exact location they were found, whether they were discovered in the interior or exterior of House 4 or House 6 and then to compare them. According to the previous chapter, the greater proportion of the vessels corresponds to the open ones, i.e. drinking / consumption/ offer/ short term storage, therefore with this study we will observe whether their use was customary to take place in the interior or exterior of the houses.

Amount of sherds Inside House 4 54 Inside House 6 53 Outside House 4 30 Outside House 6 9 Unknown 19 Table 10: Location of the findings/ Amount of sherds

According to Table 10, it is obvious that the majority of sherds were found in the interior of the houses. In the interior of House 4, 54 sherds with the under study decoration were traced, meaning 33% of the whole material and 52% of square’s 312 ceramics. In the exterior of House 4 were collected 30 sherds of pottery, meaning 18% of the whole material and 29% of square’s 312 material. Out of this comparison, it becomes clear that the amount of sherds found in the exterior of the House was not negligible. 30 sherds were collected outside House 4, meaning 18% of the total amount and 29% of square’s 312 pottery. Furthermore, 3 sherds were collected from a pit outside of the house, probably a wasting pit.

In the interior of House 6, 53 sherds with the under study decoration were found, meaning 32% of the whole material and 85,5% of square’s 338 ceramics. In the exterior of House 6, 9 sherds of pottery were collected, meaning 5% of the whole material and 14,5% of square’s 338 material. The amount of sherds belonging to the exterior of the House 6 was not large enough. Last, 19 sherds have an unknown extraction but most of them derived from square 338. These 19 sherds were 11% of the total amount of pottery.

40 10.Decorative Motifs (impressed, incised, fluted)

In this chapter a detailed approach will be made regarding the decorative motifs we encountered during the study. An analysis will take place of these motifs individually and their development and their combination on the surface of the vessel as well. Then, an analysis of the construction parameters of ceramics with incised, impressed and fluted decoration will be presented, the typology of the vessels they decorate and even the context they derived from the excavation.

Initially, the three categories of decoration will be distinguished and their morphological development based on the corresponding tables will be presented. Then, observations will be made about their place on the vessels, their variants, their layout and the combinations we find among these three decoration techniques. At this point, it should be mentioned that the lack of complete vessels gives us no clear picture for their complete composition. This fact limits this thesis but it will not become an obstacle for reaching some first conclusions.

a.Categories of decoration: impressed, incised and fluted motifs

During the decoration analysis, a grouping and classification of the motifs took place. Initially, they were separated as: the impressed, incised and fluted motifs. Then, they were divided according to the unit of the motif, which on the vessel had a certain arrangement and often formed a composition with other motifs of the same type or a combination was made from different groups of motifs to form a new composition. For example, incised motifs can be along with dotted (impressed) motifs as well or impressed together with fluted ones. In order to make the analysis as complete as possible, the decorative motifs should be divided into categories according to their morphology, then with the motif unit, their layout and finally their composition and development on the surface of the vessel.

i.Impressed Motifs

Impressed patterns are achieved by using a tool or a nail or a finger and simply by applying pressure, the clay was shifted. These motifs will be initially separated according to the shape of the impression on the vessel which is achieved by the medium used, the tool.

By studying Table 11, it is clear that the impressed motifs are: with a circular shape (11.1) of varying depth and diameter, rhombic (11.2), elongated (11.3), concentric (11.4) and small lines (11.5) probably made by a nail or a tool.

41

1. Circular shaped

2. Rhombic shaped

3. Enlogated shaped

4. Concentric shaped

5. Small straight lines

Table 11: Morphology of impressed units

Furthermore, according to morphological criteria, these impressed motifs are divided into three categories of composition: curvilinear, straight lines and nail- prints; which are also distinguished into other subcategories.

In Table 12, the aforementioned categories and subcategories are presented in detail, as well as how they would be drawn and developed on the surface of the vessel. In the first category there are 7 subcategories: 1. Straight lined composition, 2. Triangular shaped composition, 3. Pyramidal shaped composition, 4. Square composition, 5. Zig- zag composition and 6. without a clear shape

In the second category, there is a single case that forms a curvilinear shape, certainly not complete to know the exact form.

In the third category there is a “Y” and “I” shaped motif by using the fingernail or maybe another tool.

42 Syntax of patterns 1. a. b. Straight lines c. e. d. 2. b. Triangular – a. c. d. shaped e. composition 3. b. Pyramidal- d. shaped a. e. composition

c. 4. Square composition a. 5. Zigzag a. composition

6. b. Without a clear shape

a. 7. a. curvilinear composition

8. “Y” & “Ι” shape using nail a. or tool(?) Table 12: Impressed motifs shaping different compositions

43 1.1 Straight lined composition a. Straight lines

The impressed motifs forming a straight line may be horizontal, vertical or even diagonal, with single or double rows (Table 12.1). The straight line patterns were developed mainly over the carination (whenever the vessel is carinated12) and below the rim. Certainly, there are straight- lined patterns that are developed in the upper or lower part of a high rim or more rarely in the body of the vessel, which probably was running around the vessel (Cat. No. 118, 123).

The impressed motifs that were placed over the carination are usually a composition of three or four motifs forming a straight horizontal line and they are very often over or next to a handle or a pseudo- handle or a lug or both a lug and a handle (Table 15.1.d, Cat. No. 55).

Only one sherd was found to grow a line on a vertical axis. Cat. No. 122 is a sherd, probably from a big closed vessel, a pithoid, that is decorated with circular impressed motifs in a straight line with a vertical direction. Sherds with impressed motifs in diagonal or just oblique direction were also found (Table 12.1 d and 12.1 e). These diagonal motifs occur mainly in high rims or in the main body of the vessel (Cat. No. 55, 66, 74, 75, 125). Because of the fragmented nature of the sherds, we do not know whether they were part of a larger pattern that was developing around the vessel.

b. Triangular shaped composition

The impressed motifs that form regular or upside-down triangular compositions are also regularly found among the material under study. They are usually above the carination and under a straight flute that is running around under the vessel’s rim. In addition to the above features, we usually find them above or next or even around the handles, the pseudo- handles and the lugs (Table 15.2; Cat. Nο. 43, 44, 52, 53).

Sometimes we trace this pattern to be repeated on the surface of the vessel. Last, it is also observed that the motifs of this composition are created by a different tool. Therefore, they have a different form.

12 The majority of the under study vessels are carinated.

44 c. Pyramidal composition

Another frequent composition which is detected in the under study sherds, is those that form an upside down pyramid. The pyramidal composition was being shaped by a different number of impressed motifs and these motifs were of different shape, since it is sometimes spherical and sometimes elongated. This composition is located on the body of the vessel and often at the point above the carination and under the rim (Table 15.3.a-e, Cat. No. 27, 31, 50, 51).

d. Square composition

Two sherds among the assemblage had an interesting composition. It seems they were part of a square motif (Cat. No. 18, 116). The motif of the first sherd was placed on the body of a closed vessel, while in the second sherd (Cat. No. 116) it was located under the rim. Unfortunately, both squares were found in a fragmented condition so we cannot get more information about their exact shape and the extent they occupy on the vessel, or even if it was a repeated motif.

e. Zig zag composition

Another interesting composition, that is usually made by an incised motif is the zig zag decoration. In this particular sherd, Cat. No. 56, is formatted a zig zag pattern in a part of the body of a closed type vessel. This pattern probably occupied a large part of the vessel (if it didn’t grow all around the surface). A double line forming a zig zag composition was also found decorating the body of a vessel (Cat. No. 67).

f. Without a clear shape

Finally, some of the sherds collected, have impressed motifs that have no clear composition (Cat. No.109, 64), because of their partially preservation.

1.2 Curvilinear motifs- Other types of impressed decoration

A sherd of curved pattern is also preserved as a unique example in the category of impressed decoration. This particular pattern develops on the high rim of the vessel (Table 12. 7, Cat. No. 86). Last but not least, another unique sherd was traced with an impressed motif (nail impressions), forming a pattern of “Y” (Table 12.8, Cat. No. 140).

45 ii.Incised motifs

As far as incised motifs are concerned they are also divided into two categories: 1. Straight- lined motifs and 2. Curvilinear motifs Sherds with an incised decoration are the minority of the decorated under study material. The tools they used should have varied and it is not easy to distinguish.

Composition of incised patterns 1. Straight lines

a. b. c. 2. Zigzag composition

a. b. 3. Triangles or Rhombus

a. b. 4. Curvilinear composition a. Table 13: Composition of incised patterns

A. Straight lined Motifs

1.1 Straight lines

The straight lines made with incisions could be horizontal, vertical, and diagonal or even a composition without clear direction (Table 13.1. a-c). Most of the incised patterns were decorating the body or the part under the rim of the vessel. Although they are fragmented, they seem to adorn the larger part of the surface or even the perimeter of the vessel.

In the category of straight lines no sherds with horizontal straight lines were traced. The only pattern that was detected were vertical and diagonal lines (Cat. No. 2, 105). A sherd with a

46 vertical straight line was found to decorate the body of a vessel but, due to its fragmented state, it wasn’t clear if it was part of a larger composition. Another sherd with a diagonal straight line decorated a part of an open vessel and specifically the area under the rim (Cat. No. 105).

1.2 Zig zag composition

The incised zig zag lines are mainly found in groups of 2 or 3, placed in a parallel way and they decorate the body of the vessel or the section just below the rim. Two examples of this kind of decoration were traced among the studied material, a part of a miniature vessel (Cat. No. 99), where the zig zag lines decorate the area under the rim and a sherd (Cat. No. 113) with the same motif that decorates the body of the vessel.

1.3 Triangles or Rhombus

Triangle shaped or possibly a rhombus (Cat. No. 1) is an interesting decorative composition. It was usually placed on the body of the vessel or under the rim. Two examples of this kind of decoration were found, Cat. No. 1 & 111. In the first case it is not clear what the shape of the incision is (but it is filled with dotted decoration) and in the second sherd lined up triangles filled with dotted decoration can be discerned. This decoration is placed under the rim of an open vessel.

1.4 Curvilinear motif

Last but not least, there are the curvilinear incised motifs. There is just only one case where a semicircular decorative motif is traced, which develops around a knob of the vessel (Cat. No. 94).

iii.Fluted motifs

Before developing the types of fluted decoration, a distinction will be made between the incised, fluted and rippled decoration, because the distinction among them could easily become incomprehensible. The fluted decoration is more shallow or equal to that of the incision but is usually wider. Its design was accomplished by using the finger or a tool with a wide end. As far as the rippled decoration is concerned, the difference between this kind of decoration with the fluted one, is that the first is so shallow that it is perceivable only by a play of light (shed from a specific angle), while the second is completely visible to the naked eye.

47 Usually the fluted decoration is seen as straight lined in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal direction but the semicircular flutes are also used as decorative motifs.

Composition of fluted patterns 1. Straight lines a. b. c. 2. Curvilinear composition

a. b. 3. Spiral pattern

a. Table 13. Composition of fluted patterns

1.1 Straight lined

The straight lined flutes are very common among the fluted decoration. It is a fact that the most frequent pattern is a fluted horizontal straight line in the transition of the rim to the body of the vessel, under which there are usually also several impressed motifs. Few sherds with straight flutes were found amongst the material. These flutes were vertical and diagonal (Cat. No. 22, 71, 93, 102) and decorates the body of the vessels.

1.2 Curvilinear composition

Two sherds with curved fluted decoration were collected (Cat. No. 87, 97). From both sherds the decoration is under the rim and occupies the body of the vessel. The flutes are parallel and must ran around the entire vessel, despite the fragmented picture that the sherd gives. Last but not least, a sherd was found with a spiral fluted motif (Cat. No. 103) that decorates the body of the vessel. This motif probably decorated the perimeter of the vessel.

48 b.Frequency of decoration types

In this chapter a percentage analysis of the decoration types will take place and then a percentage analysis of each category will be analyzed separately as regards to the frequency of each pattern.

Therefore, the percentage of each category of decoration will be presented. This analysis can demonstrate the preference of the Neolithic people showed among these categories of decoration. Αt this point, two subcategories will be added in this analysis, the impressed and incised decoration and the impressed and fluted decoration. The two additional subcategories were created because in some sherds we come across applying both of the above decorations.

Amount Percentage Impressed 144 87% Incised 5 3% Impressed and Incised 5 3% Fluted 5 3% Fluted and Impressed 6 4% Table 14: Frequency of decoration types

According the above Table and the below Chart, it is clear that the majority of sherds have the impressed decoration, meaning 144 sherds, 87% of the total studied material. While 5 more sherds, 3%, were decorated with both incised and impressed motifs and 6 sherds, 4%, with both impressed and fluted decoration. Sherds with just incised decoration were counted around 5, 3%, and last, 5 sherds were decorated with fluted motifs.

Chart 4: Types of decoration

49

Furthermore, other types of decoration were applied simultaneously with the already mentioned ones. Therefore, it would be wise to find out which other types of decoration were accompanied by the decorative motifs under study and if some sort of preference to combine these decorations together existed.

Impressed decoration Amount Black topped 105 Rippled 27 Pattern burnished 2 Plastic decoration 3 None 33 Table 15: Amount of impressed pottery with other types of decoration

Table 15, delivers information of what kind of decoration usually accompanies the impressed decorative motifs and which ones were more commonly applied. The decorations that were encountered during the study were: black topped, rippled, pattern burnished and plastic. The majority of impressed sherds were also black topped; 105 sherds were found with black topped decoration of the total amount that had impressed decoration. 33 of the total amount did not have any other decoration, 27 were also rippled, while 3 had also plastic decoration and 2 were also pattern burnished. At this point, it is important to mention that 22 sherds with impressed decoration had over two different types of decoration on the same vessel.

Incised decoration Amount Black topped 2 Rippled 0 Pattern burnished 0 Plastic decoration 0 None 8 Table 16: Amount of incised pottery with other types of decoration

As far as the sherds with incised decoration are concerned, the majority had no other decoration and only two of them had also black topped decoration, while sherds with fluted decoration

50 which had also black topped decoration,13 were four. Only one had plastic decoration and the rest seven had no other decoration apart from the flutes.

c.Frequency of decorative motifs

The three categories of decoration that we examined: impressed, incised and fluted, as we already have seen, show a wide variety of motifs, although their percentage of the total pottery of squares is quite small. Certainly some motifs were used a lot more frequently than others. In the Table below, shows how often the motifs of each category were used.

Impressed patterns Straight lined (horizontal) 32 Pyramid- shaped composition 10 Triangle- shaped composition 83 Quadruple- shaped composition 2 Probable pyramid composition 3 Incomplete motif 18 Patterns by nails or sharp tool 2 Semicircular composition 1 Diagonal line 6 Zig zag composition 2 One/ two rows of horizontal line around vessel 2 Table 17: Impressed patterns

The circle shaped impressed motifs that forms a triangle, is the most frequent composition of all. 83 sherds were collected from both squares with the particular composition; this fact shows that this composition was of great importance for the potters. This particular composition was usually placed over the carination of the vessel and under a fluted horizontal straight line that crossed around the vessel. This horizontal line, as it is aforementioned was shaped by connecting the rim with the vessel’s body; sometimes it was more noticeable and deeper and in other vessels it became subtle and quite shallow. Another important note is that this particular motif along with the straight lined composition (of three or four circle shaped impressions) were placed by the potter over/ next or to enclose a handle or a lug or even both of them.

13 We should note that three out of four sherds had also impressed decoration.

51 The second most frequent pattern was a straight horizontal line made of the same circle shaped impressed motifs. 22 sherds were found to be decorated with this composition. At this point we should mention that in some sherds like the whole miniature vessel (Cat. No. 164) coexists different kinds of impressed compositions. Last, this straight line composition was also found to be placed over the carination or/ and under a fluted horizontal line and sometimes next to/ over/ under a handle/ pseudo-handle/ lug.

Eighteen sherds were found to have an incomplete composition, while 10 have a pyramid shaped composition and 3 probably had a pyramid- like shape. Six sherds were also a straight line composition but with a diagonal direction and 3 sherds of one or two rows of impressed motifs that composed a horizontal straight line that must have been developed around the vessel. Finally, 2 sherds had a square composition, two had a zig zag composition and one had a semicircular composition.

Incised patterns Straight line 3 Zig zag line 2 Semicircular 1 Incised and spotted 2 Table 18: Incised patterns

The quantity of incised decoration is extremely small in order to make reliable conclusions about the most common pattern. 3 sherds had an incised straight line with diagonal, vertical direction. 2 sherds were incised and dotted, the one had triangles, which were placed in line next to each other and were filled with dots and in the second sherd it isn’t clear if it is a triangle or a rhombus (Cat. No. 1, 111). Last, two sherds with a zig zag incised line were placed parallel and one sherd with a semicircular incised line goes around a knob.

Fluted patterns Straight line 3 Spiral line 1 Semicircular 2 Table 19: Fluted patterns

As far as the fluted pattern is concerned, the straight fluted line was the most common. Three sherds had this kind of decoration with a vertical or diagonal direction, apart from many sherds

52 that had a horizontal straight line in the transition of the rim with the body of the vessel14. Two sherds had semicircular parallel flutes and only one sherd a spiral motif. All the above motifs were found on the body of the vessels.

d.Motif layout on the vessel

After analyzing the types of decorative techniques and their motifs individually, we will see the vessels that all these techniques decorate in order to trace a pattern. The following table shows the set of sherds having the above decorations at a specific point on the vessel.

Under the rim 17 10% Over the carination 102 62% Body 40 24% Next to/ over/ under a handle/ 16 10% a pseudo- handle/ a lug Under an horizontal flute 74 45% Table 20: Placement of motifs on the vessel

These decorative techniques adorned only the exterior surface of the vessel. They are most commonly found on the body of the vessel and, more specifically, above the carination and under the horizontal straight flute that runs around the vessel.

The sherds that have their decoration over a carination are calculated around 102 of the total amount of sherds, meaning 62%. 74 from the 165 sherds, 45%, had the decorative motifs under a horizontal flute. Decorative motifs which were under a high rim were calculated around 17, 10% and finally, 40 sherds belonged to the body of vessels without a distinct mark15.

At this point it is important to mention that the decorative motifs that were placed under the rim were incised motifs (zig zag and vertical straight lines), incised and dotted (triangles filled with dotted decoration), fluted motifs (semi-circular flutes) and impressed motifs (diagonal straight lined composition and horizontal straight lined composition which run around the vessel).

Another interesting fact is that particular impressed compositions, like triangle- shaped, lines and pyramid- shaped compositions were placed above the carination and usually under the horizontal

14 This pattern will not be included in the measurements nor in the analysis because it was a result of vessel construction. 15 Simple sherds of vessel’s body are preserved fragmented and it’s not clear if they had a carination or not.

53 flute that connected the rim with the vessel’s body and if a handle or a pseudo- handle or a lug was preserved on the sherd it was always placed over, under or next to them.

Forty four sherds out of 83 had a triangle- shaped composition placed over the carination and under the horizontal flute, 17 sherds had the same decoration over the carination; 18 sherds had this particular composition next to/ over/ under a handle/ pseudo handle or a lug and 18 were just parts of the vessel’s body.

Another frequent composition placed on the same parts of the vessel is this of the horizontal straight lines made of three or more circles. Eighteen sherds had the aforementioned motif over the carination and under the horizontal fluted line, five sherds had this particular composition next to/ over/ under a handle/ pseudo handle or a lug, two sherds were part of bodies with the composition over the carination and eight were just part of the vessel’s body.

Last but not least, 6 sherds were traced with the pyramid- shaped composition placed over the carination and under the horizontal fluted line, while 4 sherds have no other characteristic.

The above analysis of the particular motifs pointed out which was the most popular one. Also, a pattern in their exact placement on the vessel was noticed, which raises thoughts if they had another role besides the decorative one. Also, an effort was made to approach the reasons of the use of these particular motifs on the vessels and if these patterns could also be addressed to future owners.

Based on theories that have already been argued regarding the vessel’s manufacturing process, these motifs could have been placed by the potters themselves not only for decorative purposes, but perhaps to distinguish their own pots from other potters that share the same thermal structures for firing, open fires or pits (Lis et al., 2012: 67). As stated before, it is impressive that the vessels with this kind of decorative compositions are in majority carinated vessels/ bowls. Due to this standardization of this particular type of vessel that appeared to be manufactured in various sizes, it really needed a mark from the potter to separate it from similar products of other colleagues. Therefore, these different impressed compositions might correspond to different potters.

Furthermore, beyond the practical role they may marked their vases to satisfy the tastes of buyers and to serve some kind of mark of the product of a particular manufacturer.

54 11.The pottery of Anargyroi VIIc and its parallels

After the study and analysis of the incised, impressed and fluted ceramics of Anargyroi VIIc has been completed, an attempt will be made to compare the ceramics we studied with the rest of Western Macedonia and the neighboring Balkan region. The purpose of this approach is to identify similarities and differentiations in relation to the pattern, in an attempt to integrate Anargyroi VIIc into the wider cultural context.

At this point it should be mentioned that the published corresponding material is quite limited. This is due to the fact that the material collected from most of the excavated areas has not yet been studied and published, while several first publications of the excavations were limited to a summary of the studied ceramics of each thesis and were centered on types of vessels that help in the dating of each settlement. An effort, therefore, will be made to concentrate all the material identified and noted from Western Macedonia and the Balkans in order to carry out a comparative study with several other areas. a.Impressed and fluted pottery

In the prefecture of Kastoria and specifically in the site of Kolokynthou, a wide variety of impressed vessels was found and collected. The ceramics dated in the LN period with nail pattern were very few like in Anargyroi VIIc and were decorating big bowls. Sherds of vessels with an impressed decoration made of a triangular or circular ended tool that left the corresponding print were also collected. These impressed motifs were shaping triangular or other linear motifs (Fig. 12). This kind of decoration was usually placed over the carination of the vessel and rather rarely was accompanied with a fluted straight line. In contrast, in Anargyroi VIIc similar compositions were traced but they were usually accompanied with a fluted straight line that run around the vessel. The types of vessels that were decorated with this kind of motifs were spherical and carinated bowls and basins (Tsouggaris et al. 2002, 632). In the site of Kolokynthou, sherds with impressed motifs made of a seal were collected and few sherds with patterns made with the fingertips and the pinched method, unlike the under study squares of Anargyroi that such decoration was not detected.

In Avgi, Kastoria sherds with impressed dots shaping a spiral composition (Fig. 13) or circles made by a tool were collected. Also, a mention has been made of impressed decorative compositions on the black burnished vessels, as well as fluted ones (wavy or concentric circles) (Katsikaridis 2012, http://www.neolithicavgi.gr/).

From Dispilio Kastoria, unfortunately, we do not have much information about the category of impressed and fluted ceramics beyond the confirmation of their existence. Especially the fluted decoration was associated with black topped vessels (Sofronidou- Dimitriadis 2014, 542).

55 In the Balkan region, in today's Albania, Serbia and FYROM, portions of vessels, as well as entire vessels were spotted with impressed and fluted decoration that this particular thesis studies. It is well known that the impressed motifs were influences of the Northern Balkan area and by searching the published material of these sites we come across similar interesting finds. From the culture of Vinca, an interesting vessel with a linear incised decoration was found that was accompanied by impressed circular impressed motifs that shape triangle compositions and other motifs. These particular compositions are very close to the ones we came across in Anargyroi VIIc (Fig. 17).

In the area of Albania, ceramic material from many archaeological sites was collected with impressed decorative motifs also similar to these of Anargyroi VIIc. We can ascertain that there is a variety of the motifs like triangular impressions, circular and rhomboid ones that formed a variety of compositions. From Borc II, we can trace straight lined and semicircular compositions that were dated in the LN period (Fig. 18). The impressed motifs are of circular and triangular form, while similar finds with diagonal straight lined and semicircular compositions from Dersnik (Pic. 19.a), Maliq (Pic. 19.b) and Velca were collected (Fig. 19.c).

In the prefecture of Florina, there have been detected quite a few LN sites which most of them have been excavated but have not yet been published. From the LN sites it has been confirmed that similar sherds with impressed decoration have been collected by excavations during the opening works of the natural TAP pipeline in the area of Filotas and Antigono16.

In the excavated LN site of Kleitos Kozanis17, sherds of pottery with impressed compositions similar to what was studied in Anargyroi were also collected 18. Furthermore, in Toumba Kremasti Koilada in the area of Kitrini Limni, small carinated bowls that were decorated with three impressed circular motifs that shaped triangles were collected and also according to A. Chondrogianni- Metoki, they were similar with sherds found in Servia (Chondrogianni, 2009, 336). In Servia, sherds of pottery decorated with a Cakran type were collected (Fig.4) (Ridley- Wardle, 1979, 216), while in Mikro Nisi Akrinis fluted sherds of vessels were collected.

16 Information that was confirmed after a discussion with Dr. I. Tsokanou, archaeologist in charge of the TAP project. 17 The excavation works continue until today. 18 After a fruitful conversation with Dr. C. Ziota, she confirmed that in the particular site this kind of decoration was encountered on the vessels.

56 b.Incised Pottery

In Kolokynthou Kastoria, a significant amount of incised pottery shaping triangles, rhombus squares and other shapes and motifs was also collected. Incised motifs were also found in the internal of a vessel, in contrast to the ceramics of Anargyroi VIIc that the sherds with the incised decoration were rather few and no decoration in the interior surface of the vessel was found in our sample (Tsouggaris et al. 2002, 632).

In Avgi Kastorias, a large variety of decorative types and motifs was found and amongst them, incised zig zag patterns (single or double) running around the vessel that were filled with a white paste were traced. A sherd of Anargyroi VIIc, Cat. No. 113, which was decorated with an incised zig zag pattern, was also filled with a white paste but it is the only sherd. Moreover, it is mentioned that sherds with incised triangles and circles filled with dotted decoration were collected. The collected sherds and vessels of black topped pottery were decorated with a zig zag pattern in their upper part and also, the black burnished vessels were simultaneously decorated with a variety of incised motifs (Katsikaridis 2012, http://www.neolithicavgi.gr/).

In Dispilio, sherds and vessels decorated with incised patterns19 were found and they have similar decorative motifs with those of Anargyroi VIIc. As it becomes clear from Table I of D. Nikaki's thesis (Nikakis 2004, 56), sherds with zig zag incised composition have been identified in all three phases of habitation of the lakeside settlement. The use of the motif is quite dear either as a zigzag or as a fish-bone (Fig. 14). The morphology of the pattern is quite similar among the sherds of these two sites. Another incised motif which is found in both sites is that of the incised triangle/ rhombus filled with dotted decoration. These two types of motif were, also, traced in all three phases of Dispilio (Fig. 15). Although they are similar motifs, the preserved fragments of Anargyroi VIIc show a higher decorative craftsmanship. Last but not least, are the incised decorative motifs that were developed around functional parts of the vessel (handles, legs, lugs), which are often placed as a decorative motif in Dispilio but in Anargyroi there is a unique example (Fig. 16).

In the Southern Balkans, were also traced sherds of pottery with the incised technique, and, apart from the straight lines with different directions, sherds or whole vessels with triangles and rhombus filled with dotted decoration and parallel zig zag lines were collected. From FYROM, from the culture Anza IV a and b (Early Vinca) fine ware with channeling, grooving and incised lines filled with dotted decoration (Anza IVa) and black topped pottery with ribbons filled with dots and triangles were found (Anza IVb) (Gimbutas 1976).

19 A part of the material from some excavation areas have already been studied.

57 Furthermore, from the area of Albania interesting material was collected with sherds adorned with zig zag lines and triangles filled with dotted decoration dated in the MN, LN and LNII period (Fig. 20). As it is visible in Fig. 20 a, b and c, the motif of zig zag was already in the decorative patterns in Dunavec I, Borc II and Burimas II dated in the MN and in the LN and LNII- FN respectively. The pattern of dotted triangles, ribbons and other geometric shapes were used to decorate the surface of the vessels. Similar patterns to those of Anargyroi VIIc were traced from different Neolithic sites and also from different periods. This pattern was already practiced in the MN period (Fig. 21 a, b). During the LN II and FN, sherds with similar composition in Burimas II were collected. These compositions are very close to those of Anargyroi VIIc and the dating of these sherds is in both settlements the LN II (Fig. 22 a- d).

In the LN period of Servia, sherds of big vessels with thick walls and rather than well- crafted ceramics were collected, that were decorated with horizontal and wavy incised patterns and also with incised triangles filled with dotted decoration (Heurtley 1939, 74- 79; Ridley- Wardle 1979, 216). In the area of Kitrini Limni, sherds of bowls with a shallow horizontal incised straight line or a fluted line that runs around the vessel in the part of the rim were collected. Moreover, it has been noticed that in some carinated closed vessels this similar decoration was placed over the carination. Other sherds of LN period were black burnished with incised, fluted and dotted decoration (Karamitrou 1987, 404; Kalogirou 1974, 77-8). In Koilada- Ag. Dimitriou sherds with incised and fluted straight lines filled with a white paste were found (Karamitrou 1987, 408). Also, a zoomorphic vessel with incised decoration was retrieved from Mikro Nisi Akrinis (Karamitrou 1987, 400-1).

In Toumba Kremasti Koilada, different types of decoration in a small amount were also found and amongst them incised and dotted sherds were collected (Chondrogianni 2009, 53). Vasilara Rachi was another site of Kozani’s prefecture that incised sherds have been traced (Chondrogianni 1999, 244). Finally, even a small amount of incised ceramics was found in most of the sites dated in the LN period, , while in Mavrodendri incised triangles and rhombus filled with dotted decoration were collected as well (Karamitrou 1999, 346).

In the Northern part of the Giannitsa basin, LN sites were located in which red sherds of fluted or dotted decoration were collected, as well as vessels with a decoration of Cakran- type (Chrysostomou 1996, 165).

At this point, it should be mentioned some areas far from Western Macedonia like Makrygiallos that vessels have a similar decoration. A vessel with incised triangles decorated with dots was found there that resembles a simple variant of the same pattern found in Anargyroi (Fig. 23) (Urem- Kotsou 2006, Table 4.11).

Last but not least, it is extremely interesting that sherds of vessels were found in Cave Skoteini of Central Greece with similar types of decoration, meaning incised triangles filled with dotted motifs (Fig. 24). This similar decorative composition between an area of central Greece and

58 Anargyroi VIIc of Florina must not be a coincidence. There must have been some kind of connection between those two places.

12.Conclusions

Summarizing the above presentation of the data and their analysis as well as their comparative study, between both houses and comparing with other LN settlements, we came up with some conclusions regarding the percentage analysis of the specific decorative techniques used by the Neolithic people and whether they had particular importance and deliver messages about their culture and interpersonal relationships.

The studied material concerns part of the settlement, two excavation square sections, 312 and 338, in which two houses dated in the LN II were found and were located almost in the center of the settlement. Altogether, 3807 sherds of vessels were examined from both squares of which only the 4,4 % had the decorative motifs that were under study.

The analysis of the material started by examining the raw material of the pottery by dividing it into four categories, Category A, B, C and D. Category B had the largest amount of pottery in both houses altogether as well as separately (56%).

As far as the construction techniques are concerned, they probably used the coiling and the pinching20 technique. There is of course a suggestion, without an absolute certainty, that they might have used also the casting technique in order to generate a mass production due to the large amount of carinated bowls.

Furthermore, the surface treatment is important as well apart from construction techniques both for structural purposes and for decorative ones. The surface treatment that came across during this study was smoothing, slipping and slipping before burnishing. The majority of the sherds were first slipped and then burnished, 80%, (black topped) while in their interior were just slipped (with a grey color). Also, if we examine each square separately, they have analogically the same amount of surface treatment as the total measurement. Moreover, the majority of sherds were slipped and burnished.

The decoration of the vessels must have been applied before the firing process and that is why there are no edges on the decorative motifs or any discoloration on their area. As far as the firing process is concerned, it took place in open fires with no control of the temperature, that is why most of the vessels have uneven color in their core and both in their inner and outer surface.

20 The pinching technique was used for constructing the miniature vessels.

59 Then, an attempt was made to categorize the sherds into the types of vessels they belonged to. Although this separation was extremely difficult, because of their fragmented nature, they were categorized into open and closed vessels, carinated bowls, miniature and undiagnosed vessels. The majority of vessels were the open ones, 67% (the open vessels and the bowls estimated together), which proves that these decoration techniques mainly adorned these types of vessels without excluding any other type. Therefore, the open vessels in general were found to belong in their majority to Category B. Last but not least, the types of vessels were examined also according to their surface treatment and it was found that the majority of the open vessels as well as the bowls were first slipped and then burnished.

Then, another important parameter was examined, the exact location of the findings, meaning the interior or the exterior of Houses 4 and 6. From this particular analysis derives that the majority of this kind of sherds were found inside the houses, without disregarding the fact that the number of sherds found outside was negligible.

Subsequently, the material was separated into three categories based on its decorative motifs, incised, impressed and fluted and then each category was sub- categorized according to the motif or the composition. After all, the motifs of each category and their compositions were spotted, a percentage analysis of the patterns of the decorative motives was conducted in order to come to a conclusion regarding the preferences among those decorations of the LN man/ woman. The absolute majority of vessels had the impressed decorative motifs with 87%. Also, it has been checked if it was frequent to apply other types of decoration simultaneously with the already mentioned. The results showed that the impressed vessels were also black topped, which was a very common decorative technique in LN period.

As far as the frequency of decorative motives or composition are concerned, their main preference was the impressed triangle composition or the horizontal straight lined (formed by three or four impressed motifs). At this point it should be mentioned that despite of the small percentage of these types of decoration, it had quite a large variety of compositions. Another important parameter in this analysis is in which part of the vessel the decoration took place and if it meant something. These decorative techniques adorned only the outer surface of the vessel and they were mostly found to decorate the body of the vessel and more frequently over the carination (62%). We can notice that particular compositions were placed in the area of the high rim, like impressed horizontal or diagonal lines, probably running around the rim, incised zig zag lines or triangles filled with dotted decoration or curvilinear fluted lines.

Also, it is important to note that the impressed composition of triangles, pryramid- shaped or straight lined were usually placed over the carination and under a horizontal- fluted line that connected the rim with the vessel’s body and sometimes were placed next to/ over/ under a handle/ a pseudo- handle/ a lug.

60 Maybe this decoration apart from decorating reasons was also placed for practical manufacturing purposes. These impressed composition of triangles- shaped, pryramid- shaped or straight lined next to/ over/ under a handle/ a pseudo- handle/ a lug could have been made for distinguishing similar types of vessels- bowls that were made from different potters and were placed in the same open fire or pit. Another interpretation could be that potters were branding their products in order to be recognizable by the potential buyers. Therefore, these motifs could work as the signature of the potter. Also, apart from pleasing the eye of the buyer, someone could believe that those marks had to do with the content of the vessel or even to indicate the capacity. By collecting all the important features of the studied material and after having all these data being compared with both nearby settlements and with far farther ones, differences and general influences and differentiations were identified. Similarities were observed with the decorative motifs that existed in the settlements of Kastoria area and other LN sites of Florina, while we observe that sherds with similar motifs were found in some of the Kitrini Limni settlements but differ with those of the middle Aliakmon River. Furthermore, the influence from the Balkans and the interrelationships they should have had are obvious. Moreover, similarities with some motifs were also found with some sherds of pottery from Makrygialos Pieria. Last but not least, an interesting finding was that some decorative motifs had similarities to those found at the same period in Central Greece, such as incised triangles with dotted decoration that testify to a relationship between the two regions.

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