Mycenae Excavation Records
The Mycenae Excavation Records consist primarily of original site plans, drawings and watercolours of artefacts, as well as a few notebooks and photographs, produced during the 1920-23 British School at Athens excavations at Mycenae led by then BSA Director, Alan Wace. Some of the areas explored in these early excavations include the Palace, Grave Circle, Lion Gate, Granary, and the Ramp House as well as numerous tombs including the Treasury of Atreus, Tomb of the Genii, Tomb of Aegisthus, and the Kalkani and Third Kilometre Cemeteries.
Most of these documents were deposited at the BSA by Alan Wace and Piet de Jong after the 1920-23 excavations while others were deposited in the 1930s either after they were published or after they returned to Athens from the 1936 exhibition, ‘British Archaeological Discoveries in Greece and Crete, 1886-1936’ hosted at Burlington House (Royal Academy of Arts) in London. Two notebooks by Winifred Lamb were added to the collection as part of the Lamb bequest in 1963 and two notebooks by Walter A. Heurtley were donated by Sylvia Benton in 1972. Additionally, some of the watercolour drawings, previously framed by Elizabeth B. French, were left to the British School at Athens in 1994 following her tenure as the BSA Director.
B/W ink drawing of two vase fragments. It is labeled “301 – 25 ▪ 2E” on the front.
B/W ink drawing of a vase fragment and handle. It is labeled “E 3 ▪ 5-3 Brown slip traces of white filling” on the front.
It is a preliminary sketch plan of the acropolis and includes various annotations, measurements, and calculations.
B/W ink drawing of two vase handles. It is labeled “6 – 5 ▪ 5 grey black Θ0-5III ▪ 21” on the front.
It is a preliminary grid map of the grave circle and does not include annotations. Additionally, there are no labels on any of the buildings.
A preliminary sketch of the Lion Gate and wall with in-depth notes, annotations, measurements, and calculations. There is also a lightly drawn section on the back.
It is a final drawing of the plan of the shaft graves and the houses to the south. None of the sites are labeled, but there is a scale for reference.
It is a preliminary drawing of the section showing construction of ring slabs on the east side of the Grave Circle. The drawing contains annotations, measurements and calculations written in pencil. It also has a scale for reference.
It is a final drawing of the section through the hearth in Megaron. The constituent parts are labeled; there is a scale for reference, and minor annotations.
It is a final drawing of the plan and section of the Lion Tomb. There is a legend identifying the materials used for construction, a scale for reference, and minor annotations.
It is a final drawing of the stratification between the west wing of the Lion Gate and the east wall of the Granary. The constituent parts are labeled, there is a scale for reference, and minor annotations.
It is a final drawing of the sections through the Grave Circle, Granary, and the Ramp House. The constituent parts are labeled, there is a legend indicating the materials and periods of construction, there is a scale for reference, and annotations.
It is a final drawing of the plans and section of the Palace at Mycenae’s Grand Staircase. There are basic labels indicating the direction of the stairs and identifying certain sections, as well as a scale for reference.
It is a final drawing of the section through the Palace at Mycenae’s Court along line A-B. The constituent parts are labeled and there are minor annotations. There is a scale for reference.
It is a final drawing of the hearth in Megaron. The constituent parts are labeled and there are numbers indicating the successive layers of painted Stucco. There are minor annotations surrounding the drawing.
It is a final sketch plan showing the relationship between the Bronze Age Acropolis, the Hellenistic Lower Town, and the nine Tholos tombs. The individual sites are labeled and there are topographical lines and a scale for reference.
It is a final drawing of a plan and section of the Cyclopean Tomb. There is a legend indicating the materials used for construction and a scale for reference.
It is a final drawing of a plan and section of the Pangia Tomb. There is a legend indicating the materials used for construction, a scale for reference, and minor annotations.
It is a final drawing of a plan and section of the Kato Phournos. There is a legend indicating the materials used for construction, a scale for reference, and minor annotations.
It is a final drawing of a plan and section of the Tholos Tomb at Heraion. There is a legend indicating the materials used for construction and a scale for reference. There is also a very light drawing of a similar plan and section on the back.
It is a final drawing of two sections below the floor between the big blocks of the Dromos in the Treasury of Atreus. The constituent parts are labeled and there are some annotations.
It is a final sketch plan of the Hagios Elias showing the walls on the north-east shoulder and the small fort on the summit. The later chapel is included and there are some basic labels and annotations.
It is a final drawing of the plan and section of tomb 529. The constituent parts are labeled, there are various annotations, and there is a scale for reference.
It is a preliminary section of the dome and small chamber of the Treasury of Atreus drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in ABSA 25, or in Wace, Mycenae no. 5. A final version of this image is included MYC 2/1/30
It is a preliminary section of the dome and small chamber of the Treasury of Atreus drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in ABSA 25, or in Wace, Mycenae. A final version of this image is included MYC 2/1/30.
It is a preliminary section of the threshold of the Treasury of Atreus. It is drawn on cartridge paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in ABSA 25 and Wace, Mycenae no. 10b.
It is a preliminary sketch plan of the third kilometer cemetery and plans and sections of tombs 502, 504 & 505. It is drawn on cartridge paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary sketch plan of the Kalkani Cemetery. It is drawn on cartridge paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary plan and section of tomb 521 drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations and labels of specific areas. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary plan and section of tomb 521 drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary plan and section of tomb 522 drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary plan and section of tomb 527 drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82. There is also a preliminary plan and section of tomb 523 drawn on the backside of the sheet. Similarly, this does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary plan and section of tomb 524 drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary plan and section of tomb 531 drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary plan and section of tomb 514 drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary plan and section of tomb 515 drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary plan and section of tomb 516 drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary plan and section of tomb 518 drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary plan and section of tomb 519 drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary plan and section of tomb 525 drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary plan and section of tomb 526 drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary plan and section of tomb 528 drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary plan and section of tomb 532 drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in Archaeologia V. 82.
It is a preliminary sketch plan of the tombs on the north slope of Kalkani Hill. The tombs are numbered (513-519) and they include brief annotations. It contains a detailed, but unidentified section on the back.
It is a preliminary sketch plan of the plan and inside of the Postern Gate and includes annotations. There are very light sketches of vases on the back.
It is a preliminary section of the Tomb of the Genii, also known as the “Perfect Tholos Tomb.” It is drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. Because it is a preliminary sketch, it does not match exactly what was published in ABSA 25 and Wace, Mycenae no. 15.
It contains a final ink drawing of a L.H. III hydria shard which displays a curious animal found in Stratum II near the west wing of the Lion Gate. It is labeled part “b” since MYC 3/1/1 – MYC 3/1/7 were formerly parts of the same plate. It is labeled “108” on the back in pencil.
Printer’s proof of engraved seal-stones and gold rings (1500-110 B.C.): note especially the Goddess with the double axe and guardian lions. MYC 3/3/10/1 - MYC 3/3/10/5 are all included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 116
Two photographs showing the hearth at Megaron from the east & west. The photographs display the many layers of painted stucco that make up the hearth. MYC 4/06/01 & MYC 4/06/02 are glued to the same poster board. The photographs were likely taken by either Dr. C. W. Blegen or A. J. B. Wace
B/W photograph showing the hearth at Megaron from the east. The photograph displays the many layers of painted stucco that make up the hearth. It is glued to the same piece of paper as MYC 4/06/02. The photo was likely taken by either Dr. C. W. Blegen or A. J. B. Wace