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.
Notebook recording the progress of the excavation and information about finds in both the 1921 and 1922 seasons. Lamb records areas she is excavating from May-June 1921 including the fresco area, the NW slope, various rooms in the Palace (Megaron), Terrace of the Pithoi, the Court and some of the Tholos Tombs. She writes in detail about the frescoes in the Palace. She also has written excerpts from publications relevant to her work in Mycenae. Her recordings in May-June of 1922 focus more on the tombs of the Kalkani cemetery.
This notebook is a continuation of notebook MYC 1/2 and is written in June of 1922. The first half mostly records the tombs of the Kalkani Cemetery and the second half documents excavations back at the Palace, both inside and the areas around it including details on the Hearth, Throne Room/Megaron, Terrace of Pithoi; as well as the Ramp House, the Granary, and some of the Tholos Tombs. She also has made sketches and written notes on several artefacts and the iconography of some frescoes.
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.
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 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 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 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 shaft graves and the houses to the south. None of the sites are labeled, but there is a scale for reference.
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 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.
Final reconstruction drawing depicting the north-west angle of the Court of the Palace as it appeared in L.H. III.
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 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.