MIDDLE HELLADIC MATTPAINTED POTTERY PLATES 39-44 INTRODUCTION Jv/AI ATTPAINTED pottery was first identifiedas a particularvariety in-1879 and was dated to the Middle Helladic period in 1916. A considerable amount of the ware has now been excavated, enough to warrant a close investigation; for it has been the subject of much controversy. Some scholars suggest that it represents a continuation of Early Helladic ceramic tradition, others that it has a Neolithic deri- vation, still others that it is an offshoot from the Cyclades, or even that a wave of migration brought it from Asia Minor. Equally varying opinions are held about the course of its development,the external influences thereon, and its relationship to Late Helladic pottery. It is hoped that this work will shed some light on these problems. First, the distribution w'ill be surveyed province by province and the pottery shapes and decorative motifs classified and catalogued; sites and references will be given for all shapes and motifs. Then, it will be shown on stratigraphic grounds which shapes and motifs are early and which are late, and, by comparing early Mattpainted pottery with earlier Aegean wares,- conclusions will be drawn about its origins. Finally, by comparing later Mattpainted pottery with other ceramics of the Middle Bronze Age, its course of development may be indicated.' In addition to the customary abbreviations I have employed the following: Aberg Xberg, N. F. Brontzezeitliche und Friiheisenzeitliche Chronologie, Teil IV, Griechenland, Stockholm, 1933. A.H. Waldstein, C., ed., The Argive Heraeum, Boston and New York, 1902-1905. Aigina Welter, G., Aigina, Berlin, 1938. Aigina2 Welter, G., Atytva, SeeXW rewpyts KovXtcwo'pSq,'AOivat, 1962. A.K. Mylonas, G., Agios Kosmas, Princeton, 1959. Anc. Myc. Mylonas, G., Ancient Mycentae, Princeton, 1957. 'ApX.E/,8. MEX. 'Ape'ov Ebj80oiKWvMEXET4v. A.S.C.S. Coll. Collection of Sherds at the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. 1 This work is based on a dissertation submitted to. the Graduate ,School of .the University of Cincinnati in 1956, which in turn grew out of research carried on at the American School while I was a Fellow in, 1953-54.. I am grateful to the University of Alberta Research Committee and the Canada Council for their aid in enabling me to carry on further researches in Greece in 1963. I should like to express my thanks to Professor C. W. Blegen and the other members of the Depart- ment of Classics of the University of Cincinnati for their counsel and guidance;-,to Professor J. L. Caskey, especially, for his advice and for the opportunity.of exatining the unpublished material from Lerna; to Dr.. Henry S. Robinson for his assistance; to Mr. Makaronas, Mr. Kallipolitis, Mr. Verdelis, Miss_ Konstantinou and Mrs.. 'Stasinopoulou-Touloupa for the opportunity of examining Mattpainted pottery in the museums. The plates of the profiles and motifs are by: the Draughting Department of the University of Alberta from square-grid drawings by the author. HespericaXXXIII, 3 American School of Classical Studies at Athens is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve, and extend access to Hesperia ® www.jstor.org 232 ROBERT J. BUCK Asea Holmberg, E. J., The Swedish Excavations at Asea in Arcadia, Lund, 1944. Asine Fr6din, D., and A. W. Persson, Asine, Stockholm, 1938. BG Buff-Green Ware. B.S.A. Coll. Collection of Sherds at the British School at Athens. D.S. Tsountas, C., At' IlpoaToptKat 'AKPo7ro'XetsALyMVVOV Ka'i :EaKXov, 'AOiIvat,1908. Eutresis Goldman, H., Excavations at Eutresis in Boeotia, Cambridge, Mass., 1932. Fimmen Fimmen, D., Die Kretisch-Mykenische Kultur, 2nd ed., Berlin, 1924. Furumark Furumark, A., The Mycenaean Pottery, Stockholm, 1941. GY Green-Yellow Ware. Heurtley Heurtley, W. A., Prehistoric Macedonia, Cambridge, 1939. Kirrha Dor, L. et al., Kirrha, Paris, 1960. Korakou Blegen, C. W., Korakou, Boston, 1921. LD Light-on-Dark Mattpainted. Malthi Valmin, N., The Swedish Messe ia Expedition, Lund, 1938. M.T. Furtwangler, A., Mykenische Thongefaesse, Berlin, 1870. M.V. Furtw-angler, A. and G. Loeschcke,, Mykenische Vasen, Berlin, 1886. Orchomeenos Bulle, H., Orchomenos, Teil I, Munchen, 1908. PC Polychrome Ware P.M. Evans, Sir Arthur, The Palace of Minos, London, 1921-1935. Pendlebury Pendlebury, J. D. S., The Archaeology of Crete, London, 1939. Phylakopi Atkinson, T. D. et al., Excavations at Phylakopi in Melos, London, 1904. Pr. Aiqina Harland, J. P., Prehistoric Aigina, Paris, 1925. Pr. Eleusis Mylonas, G., npolroTopL' 'EAXvct's, 'AO6vat, 1932. Prosymnxa Blegen, C. W., Prosymnna,Cambridge, 1937. Red Red Ware Schachtgriber Karo, G., Die Schachtgriber von Mykenai, Munich, 1930. Tiryns Archaeologisches Institut des deutschen Reichs, Tiryns, Athens, 1912-(in progress). Vasen Akr. Graef B. and E. Langlotz, Die Antiken Vasen von der Akropolis zu Athen, Vol. I, Berlin, 1909. WS White-Slipped Ware. W.T. Wace, A. J. B. and M. S. Thompson, Prehistoric Thessaly, Cambridge, 1912. YM Yellow Minyan Zygouries Blegen, C. W., Zygouries, Cambridge, Mass., 1932. THE DISTRIBUTION OF MATTPAINTED -POTTERY MESSENIA 1. Kyparissia. Surface finds: Mattpainted pottery. Valmin, ?itudes Topographiques sur la Messenie ancienne, p. 131; A.J.A., LXV, 1961, p. 232, no. 22. 2. Peristeria (Myron). M.H. and L.H. settlement. Mattpainted pottery in dromos of tholos tomb, B.C.H., LXXXV, 1961, pp. 708-710; LXXXVI, 1962, pp. 728-730; *Epyov,1960, pp. 152- 158; 1961, pp. 164-169; 1962, pp. 110-118. 3. Malthi. Bronze Age settlement, ash layer separating E.H. and M.H. strata. Minyan wi'thout Mattpainted in earliest M.H. levels. Malthi, esp. pp. 400-408. 4. Koutsouveri (Margeli). Surface finds: M.H. pottery. A.J.A., LXV, 1961, p. 235, no. 34. 5. Ordhines (Langouvardhos). Surface finds: sherds tentatively identified as M.H. AJ.A.J LXV, 1961, p. 236, no. 37. MIDDLE HELLADIC MATTPAINTED POTTERY 233 6. Kanalos (Gargaliani). Surface finds: M.H. pottery. A.J.A. LXV, 1961, pp. 236-237, no. 38. 7. Tsouka (Pyrgaki). Surface finds: Mattpainted and imitation Minyan. A.J.A., LXV, 1961, p. 237, no. 39. 8. Palace of Nestor (Ano Englianos). Mattpainted and Minyan on palace site and around tholos tomb. A.J.A., LVIII, 1954, pp. 30-31; LXIII, 1959, pp. 125-126; LXV, 1961, p. 238, no. 42. 9. Voroulia (Tragana). Mattpainted pottery in M.H. settlement. 'Epyov, 1956, p. 90; B.C.H., LXXXI, 1959, pp. 558-559; A.J.A., LXV, 1961, pp. 239-240, no. 45. 10. Agios foannes (Papoulia). Tumulus with several pithos burials credited to E.H. and early M.H. 'Epyov,1954, pp. 42-43; B.C.H., LXXIX, 1955, pp. 248-249; LXXX, 1956, p. 286; A.J.A., LXV, 1961, pp. 240-241, no. 50. 11. Traganes (Iklaina). Trial excavations: M.H. pottery. A.J.A., LXV, 1961, p. 241, no. 52. 12. Koryphasion (Charatsari). Small tholos tomb with Mattpainted pottery as well as L.H. material. lpaKTlKaJ, 1925-1926, pp. 140-141; Hesperia, XXIII, 1954, pp. 158-162; A.J.A., LXV, 1961, p. 242, no. 57. 13. Voidokoilia. Surface finds: sherds tentatively identified as M.H. A.J.A4., LXV, 1961, pp. 242-243, no. 59. 14. Cave of Nestor. Traces of M.H. occupation. A.J.A., LVIII, 1954, p. 32; LXV, 1961, p. 243, no. 62. 15. Koukounara (Gouvalari). M.H. and L.H. tombs and traces of M.H. settlement, 'Epyov, 1958, pp. 150-152; 1959, pp. 117-125; 1960, pp. 145-146; A.J.A., LXV, 1961, p. 244, no.65; B.C.H., LXXXV, 1961, pp. 703-705. 16. Agia Analipsis (Phoinikounta). Surface finds: M.H. pottery. A.J.A., LXV, 1961, p. 248, no. 73. 17. Kaphiro (Longa). Trial excavations: M.H. material. A.J.A., LXV, 1961, pp. 248, no. 75. 18. Nichoria. Trial excavations: M.H. material. A.J.A., LXV, 1961, pp. 248-249, no. 76. LAKONIA 19. Astros. M.H. graves and pottery. Arch. Anz., 1927, p. 365; B.S.A., LV, 1960, p. 131. 20. Antyklaiont. Gray and Argive Minyan and Mattpainted in traces of M.H. occupation. 'E4. 'Apx., 1892, p. 12; Jahrb., XXXIII, 1918, pp. 109-110; Ath. Mitt., LII, 1927, pp. 4-23; B.S.A., LV, 1960, pp. 74-76. 21. Vaphio and 22. Palaiopyrgi. Surface finds: imitation Minyan. B.S.A., LV, 1960, pp. 76-78. 23. Geraki. Trial excavations: Gray and Argive Minyan and Mattpainted. B.S.A., XVI, 1909-10, pp. 72-75; LV, 1960, pp. 85-86. 24. Apidia. Surface finds: Gray and Argive Minyan and Mattpainted. B.S.A., LI, 1954, pp. 168-171; LV, 1960, pp. 86-87. 25. Agios Vasilios. Surface finds: Gray and Argive Minyan. B.S.A., LI, 1954, p. 170; LV, 1960, pp. 80-81. 26. Goritsa. Surface finds: Gray and Yellow Minyan. B.S.A., LV, 1960, pp. 82-83. 27. Agios Strategos. Surface finds: Minyan and Mattpainted. B.S.A., LV, 1960, pp. 87-89. 28. Asteri. Trial excavations: M.H. material. B.S.A., LV, 1960, pp. 89-92; J.H.S., LXXX, 1960, Supp. p. 9. 29. Skala. Surface finds: Gray and Argive Minyan, polychrome light-on-dark. B.S.A., LI, 1954, pp. 168-170; LV, 1960, pp. 94-95. 30. Xeronisi. Surface finds: Gray Minyan. B.S.A., LV, 1960, p. 95. 31. Panagiotis (Lekas). Surface finds: Gray Minyan and Mattpainted. B.S.A., LV, 1960, pp. 95-97. 32. Agios Stephattos. Bronze Age settlement, M.H. occupation. Excavations continuing. B.S.A., LV, 1960, pp. 97-100; J.H.S., LXXX, 1960, Supp. pp. 9-10; LXXXI, 1961, Supp. pp. 32-34; B.C.H., LXXXV, 1961, pp. 691-692. 234 ROBERT J. BUCK 33. Paizoulia. Surface finds: Gray Minyan. B.S.A., LV, 1960, p. 105.