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 photograph showing the hearth at Megaron from the west. 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 4/06/01. The photo was likely taken by either Dr. C. W. Blegen or A. J. B. Wace
B/W photograph on mount board showing the actual state of the Grave Circle and Royal Shaft Graves photographed from the north. On the ridge beyond can be seen the entrance to the "Treasury of Atreus". The plain and citadel of Argos lie in the distance. This item was used for the 1936 Exhibition and so is also cross-referenced as follows: 1936 Exhibition Collection: 1936 EXH - 103
Notebook, labelled 'Pots', recording pottery from the 1922 excavation season. Includes written notes, rough drawings, and detailed sketches for full pots and sherds.
It is a final drawing of the section the Great Ramp including the elevation of the later rubble wall with a timber frame. There is a scale for reference and the drawing contains minor annotations.
It is a final drawing of the section showing construction of ring slabs on the east side of the Grave Circle. The constituent parts of the section are labeled and the drawing contains minor annotations.
It is a final drawing of the section the Ramp House with the constituent parts labeled. There is a scale for reference, a legend which identifies the periods of construction, and minor annotations.
It is a final drawing of a diagrammatic section of the Pithos Area with the constituent parts labeled. There is also a scale for reference and minor annotations.
It is a final drawing of the plan and section of the threshold of the Treasury of Atreus along with illustrations of the conglomerate blocks from the inner chamber. There is also a scale for reference, a legend which identifies the materials used in construction, and minor annotations.
It is a final drawing of the plan and section of the Tomb of the Genii, also known as the “Perfect Tholos Tomb.” There is also a scale for reference and minor annotations.
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. There is a light sketch of a building plan on the back
Printed copy of 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. There is a light sketch and written measurements on the back. See MYC 2/1/07 which may be the original it is based on.
It is a final drawing of the plan of the palace. None of the constituent parts are labeled, but there is a scale for reference.
It is a final drawing of the plan of the palace showing different phases. Some of the constituent parts are labeled; there is a scale for reference and a legend which identifies the walls.
Printed copy of a final drawing of the plan of the palace. None of the constituent parts are labeled, but there is a scale for reference. See also MYC 2/1/10 which may be the original it is based on.
Printed copy of a final drawing of the plan of the palace. None of the constituent parts are labeled, but there is a scale for reference. See also MYC 2/1/10 which may be the original it is based and MYC 2/1/12 which is another printed copy of it.
It is a final ink drawing of the plan and section of the Treasury of Atreus. It has a legend identifying the materials used in construction and a scale for reference. A preliminary version of section C-D is represented in MYC 2/2/1 and a preliminary version of section E-F is represented in MYC 2/2/2.
It is a preliminary plan and section of various outdoor staircases drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. It gives views from both outside and inside the staircase, as well as views from multiple angles.
It is a preliminary plan and section of various outdoor staircases drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations. It gives views from both outside and inside the staircase, as well as views from multiple angles.
It is a preliminary plan and section of various outdoor staircases drawn on transparent drawing paper and includes annotations and some calculations. It gives views from both outside and inside the staircase, as well as views from multiple angles.
Preliminary plan of Grave Circle A and the surrounding buildings. Part of a printed version of the plan has been pasted on top of board and then added to in ink. The buildings are labeled with numbers and letters and the drawing includes some annotations.
Final ink drawing of a L.H. III Tell-el Amarna style vase found in Stratum II near the west wing of the Lion Gate. It is labeled part “a” since MYC 3/1/1 – MYC 3/1/7 were formerly parts of the same plate. It is lightly labeled “102” in blue pencil.
Watercolour drawing of a L.H. III bowl ornamented with black-brown glaze paint in the “close style,” but belonging to the granary class. It was found in the East Basement of the Granary. It is labeled part “b” since MYC 3/1/8 – MYC 3/1/9 were formerly parts of the same plate. It is labeled “4” on the front in pencil.
Notebook recording the progress of the excavations and information about finds throughout the 1922 season. In addition to the excavation notes, it also includes sketches and some watercolours of people, landscapes and other sites visited near Mycenae.
Final reconstruction drawing depicting the north-west angle of the Court of the Palace as it appeared in L.H. III.
Final ink drawing of a LH III deep bowl fragment found in Stratum II near the west wing of the Lion Gate. It is labelled “c” in ink on the front and “88” on the back in pencil.
Final ink drawing of a LH III deep bowl fragment found in Stratum II near the west wing of the Lion Gate. It is labelled “d” in ink on the front and “88” on the back in pencil.
Final ink drawing of a LH III deep bowl fragment found in Stratum II near the west wing of the Lion Gate. It is labelled “e” in ink on the front.
Final ink drawing of a LH III deep bowl fragment found in Stratum II near the west wing of the Lion Gate. It is labelled “f” in ink on the front and “108” on the back in pencil.
Final ink drawing of a LH III shallow spreading bowl fragment found in Stratum II near the west wing of the Lion Gate. It is labelled “g” on the front in ink and “88” on the back in pencil.
Watercolour drawing of a LH II pottery fragment from a Palace Style Amphorae. It was found in the dromos of the Tomb of Aegisthus. It is labelled in ink, “g” on the front and “59” and “750” on the back.
Watercolour drawing of LH III vase found in the chamber of tomb 520 in the Kalkani Cemetery. It is labelled “e” in ink and “3” in pencil on the front.
7 watercolour drawings of LH I & II pottery from Kalkani Cemetery, Tombs 516 & 518. The drawings are pasted onto an exhibition board as they were displayed in the BSA 1936 Exhibition at Burlington House, London. The individual drawings now numbered: MYC 3/1/25/1 - MYC 3/1/25/7. They were annotated in pen after the exhibition with bibliographic references.
Watercolour drawing of LH I vase from Kalkani Cemetery, Tomb 518, no. 4. This is 1 of 7 drawings included an exhibition board (MYC 3/1/25/1).
Watercolour drawing of LH I vase from Kalkani Cemetery, Tomb 516, no. 2. This is 1 of 7 drawings included an exhibition board (MYC 3/1/25/1).
Watercolour drawing of LH I vase from Kalkani Cemetery, Tomb 518, no. 31. This is 1 of 7 drawings included an exhibition board (MYC 3/1/25/1).
Watercolour drawing of LH I vase from Kalkani Cemetery, Tomb 516, no. 1. This is 1 of 7 drawings included an exhibition board (MYC 3/1/25/1).
Watercolour drawing of LH I vase from Kalkani Cemetery, Tomb 518, no. 17. This is 1 of 7 drawings included an exhibition board (MYC 3/1/25/1).
Watercolour drawing of LH I vase from Kalkani Cemetery, Tomb 518, no. 33. This is 1 of 7 drawings included an exhibition board (MYC 3/1/25/1).
Watercolour drawing of LH I vase from Kalkani Cemetery, Tomb 518, no. 30. This is 1 of 7 drawings included an exhibition board (MYC 3/1/25/1).
Three watercolour drawings pasted on mount board depicting vases from Tombs 517, 518, & 527 of the Kalkani Cemetery. The individual drawings are numbered MYC 3/1/31/1 - MYC 3/1/31/3 and are ordered from left to right and top to bottom.
Watercolour drawing of LHII Jug from the Kalkani Cemetery, Tomb 518. MYC 3/1/31/1 - MYC 3/1/31/3 are parts of MYC 3/1/31 and are pasted together on the same mount board which was previously framed.
Watercolour drawing of LHIII jug from the Kalkani Cemetery, Tomb 527. MYC 3/1/31/1 - MYC 3/1/31/3 are parts of MYC 3/1/31 and are pasted together on the same mount board which was previously framed.
Watercolour drawing of a fresco fragment found at the Ramp House probably from a fresco displaying men in athletic competition and bulls. This fragment is also included in MYC 3/2/14 & MYC 4/05.
Watercolour drawing of fragment #20 from the fresco displaying men in athletic competition and bulls from the Ramp House. This fragment is also included in MYC 3/2/14 & MYC 4/05.
Watercolour drawing of fragments #23-25 from the fresco displaying women from the Ramp House. These fragments are also included in MYC 3/2/04, MYC 3/2/15, MYC 4/01, and MYC 4/06.
Watercolour drawing of fragments #23 & 25 from the fresco displaying women from the Ramp House. These fragments are also included in MYC 3/2/03, MYC 3/2/15, MYC 4/01, and MYC 4/06.
Watercolour drawing of fragment #13, along with 4 other unpublished fragments, from the fresco displaying plants with blue leaves from the Ramp House. The individual fragments are numbered (14 & 14a-d). The fragment labeled “14” in this image is identical to fragment “13” in MYC, 3/2/16, MYC 4/02, & MYC 4/07
Watercolour drawing of fragment #27, along with four other unpublished fragments, from the fresco displaying abstract patterns of lines, spots, and other markings colored red, yellow, blue, black, and white from the Ramp House. The central fragment is identical to fragment #27 from MYC 4/03 & MYC 4/08.
Watercolour drawing of fragment #30 from the fresco displaying abstract patterns of lines, spots, and other markings colored red, yellow, blue, black, and white from the Ramp House.
Watercolour drawing of fragments a & b from the fresco displaying abstract patterns of lines, spots, and other markings colored red, yellow, blue, black, and white from the Ramp House.