Keros-Naxos Seaways Project excavations 2016-2018: Season 2017
Excavation: Research excavation
This project seeks to extend our understanding of the Early Bronze Age settlement hierarchy from Keros to the neighbouring zones of southeast Naxos and Kato Kouphonisi, to investigate the nature of Early Bronze Age settlement on Keros, and to investigate in detail the settlement on Dhaskalio. Excavation on Keros focused on Polygon 4, just north of Kavos, a location of potential metalworking, complementing that already noted on Kavos promontory. Background traces of lead and copper were much lower than on the promontory, or on Dhaskalio, leading to the expectation that any metalworking traces would be quite concentrated or isolated. Pottery is compatible with Early Bronze Age fabrics, with no clear traces of later material. Copper spills were found in several trenches, and in one trench (7) a tuyre was found, indicating some metalworking activity. None of the trenches yielded direct evidence for smelting or casting. On Dhaskalio excavation continued in five trenches opened last year and three new trenches. Trenches E and N were placed in areas that might reveal contexts of Dhaskalio Phase A close to the surface. Most successful is Trench N, from which no pottery indicative of either Phases B or C has yet been recovered, although further excavation is required to confirm this. Trench E nearby investigated the substantial entranceway. Excavation continued in Trench A, the largest on the island (25m x 9m), now divided into three zones. The Trench dates so far entirely to Phase B and offers a unique opportunity to understand differing patterns of occupation in a single phase over a large area. Abundant archaeobotanical remains include a variety of plant remains in carbonised form, predominantly pulses and fruits such as grape, olives, figs and almonds. Tuyres and crucibles were also found implying that metallurgical activities took place here. Other finds include 2 tiny schematic figurines, a marble bowl fragment of a type not found in the Cycladic cemeteries, and a one handled cup belonging to the Kastri assemblage with an elaborate impressed and incised decorative motif that, at present, does not find any regional parallels. Completion of the excavation in 2018 in the remaining trenches, along with the survey programme on Kato Kouphonisi, offer the prospect of real advances in understanding regional dynamics in the mid-third millennium BC Cyclades, and in understanding the founding and development of a regional centre of congregation and proto-urban settlement of fundamental importance for the understanding of the prehistory of the central Aegean.
Active in 2017.
Renfrew, Professor Andrew Colin