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.
Watercolour drawing of L.H. II askos from Tomb 529. MYC 3/1/36/1 - MYC 3/1/36/8 are all included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 109.
Watercolour drawing of L.H. II three-handled amphorae from Tomb 515. MYC 3/1/36/1 - MYC 3/1/36/8 are all included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 109.
Watercolour drawing of L.H. II jug with horizontal lip from Tomb 518. MYC 3/1/36/1 - MYC 3/1/36/8 are all included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 109.
Watercolour drawing of L.H. II alabastron from Tomb 532. MYC 3/1/36/1 - MYC 3/1/36/8 are all included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 109.
Watercolour drawing of L.H. II vaphio style cup from Tomb 532. MYC 3/1/36/1 - MYC 3/1/36/8 are all included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 109.
Watercolour drawing of L.H. II alabastron with continuous wave design from Tomb 529. MYC 3/1/36/1 - MYC 3/1/36/8 are all included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 109.
Watercolour drawings of amphorae and alabastrons from the Tomb of Aegisthus and Tombs 518 & 529 of the Kalkani Cemetery. MYC 3/1/37/1 - MYC 3/1/37/7 are all included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 110.
Watercolour drawing showing detailed reproduction of the pattern on a palace style amphorae from the tomb of Aegisthus. MYC 3/1/37/1 - MYC 3/1/37/7 are all included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 110.
Watercolour drawing of alabastron No. 8 from Tomb 529 decorated with an ivy leaf with curved lobes. MYC 3/1/37/1 - MYC 3/1/37/7 are all included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 110.
Watercolour drawing of L.H. II Three Handled Amphorae No. 3 from Tomb 529 decorated with a network pattern. MYC 3/1/37/1 - MYC 3/1/37/7 are all included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 110.
Watercolour drawing of L.H. II Three Handled Amphorae No. 2 from Tomb 529 decorated with palm fronds. MYC 3/1/37/1 - MYC 3/1/37/7 are all included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 110.
Watercolour drawing of vertical sided alabastron from Tomb 518. MYC 3/1/37/1 - MYC 3/1/37/7 are all included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 110.
Watercolour drawing of alabastron No. 7 from Tomb 529 decorated with alternating ivy leaves and buds on curved stems. MYC 3/1/37/1 - MYC 3/1/37/7 are all included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 110.
Watercolour drawing of alabastron No. 28 from Tomb 518 decorated with solid ivy leaves and curved stems. MYC 3/1/37/1 - MYC 3/1/37/7 are all included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 110.
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.
Watercolour of three fragments, decorated with stripes of light and dark blue and dots of gold, from a fresco in the Ramp House.
Watercolour drawing of three fragments, decorated with stripes of light and dark blue and dots of white, from a fresco in the Ramp House.
Watercolour drawing showing squares 1a & 2b of the North side floor of the palace. The surviving fragments are identifiable by their much brighter colors. These squares are also represented in MYC 3/2/12, MYC 3/2/25, & MYC 3/2/26
Ink drawing showing columns 1-5 of the North side floor of the palace. Only the surviving fragments are included. Squares 1a & 2b are also represented in MYC 3/2/11. These columns are also represented in MYC 3/2/25 & 3/2/26.
Ink drawing showing columns 6-11 of the North side floor of the palace. Only the surviving fragments are included. Column 6 is also represented in MYC 3/2/26. Columns 7-10 are represented in MYC 3/2/28. All columns are also represented in MYC 3/2/27
Watercolour drawing of fresco fragments displaying men in athletic competition and bulls from the Ramp House. The individual fragments are numbered (1-7, 20). This is the final version from which MYC 4/05 was printed. Individual fragments are also included as MYC 3/2/01 & MYC 3/2/02
Watercolour drawing of fresco fragments displaying women, specifically their dresses, from the Ramp House. The individual fragments are numbered (8-10, 23-25). This is the final version from which MYC 4/01 & MYC 4/06 were printed. Individual fragments are also included as MYC 3/2/03 & MYC 3/2/04.
Watercolour drawing of fresco fragments displaying plants with blue leaves from the Ramp House. The individual fragments are numbered (11-19, 21-22). This is the final water-colour from which MYC 4/02 & MYC 4/07 were printed. Fragment #13 is included in MYC 3/2/05.
Watercolour drawing of fresco fragments with various plant designs (rosettes, petals, leaves, and stems) from the Palace. The individual fragments are numbered (1-8). The fragments were found in the following locations: 1, 2, from east lobby; 3-5, pithos area; 6, guardroom; 7, porch; 8, megaron. Fragment #1 is also included as MYC 3/2/18.
Watercolour of fresco fragment #1 displaying leaves and stems from the Palace. This fragment was found in the east lobby. This fragment is also included in MYC 3/2/17
Ink drawing of a fresco fragment, showing part a helmet, found in the Megaron of the Palace.
Watercolour drawing of fresco fragments (numbered a-p), found by Tsountas in 1886, showing various body parts, jewellry, and clothes. The fragments were probably from a fresco of women in procession.
Watercolour drawing of a painted stucco floor displaying blue and white rosettes with red centers. It was found in Palace, Room of the Throne. There is a scale for reference and minor annotations.
Watercolour drawing of a painted stucco floor, found in the Vestibule of the Palace, with red, white, and blue zig-zag lines with white dots. The same stucco is represented in MYC 3/2/23.
Watercolour drawing of a painted stucco floor, from the Vestibule of the Palace, with red, white, and blue zig-zag lines with white dots. The same stucco is represented in MYC 3/2/22. It is labelled “202” on the front with the annotations, 'Miss Gomme drawing', 'incorrect','useless'.
Watercolour drawing of a painted stucco floor, from the dado of the Palace's Porch, with multiple half rosette patterns. It is labelled “90(a)” on the front and “164” on the back.
Watercolour drawing showing columns 1-5 of the North side floor of the palace. Only the surviving fragments are included. Squares 1a & 2b are also represented in MYC 3/2/11. These columns are also represented in MYC 3/2/12 & MYC 3/2/26.
Watercolour drawing showing columns 1-6 of the North side floor of the palace. Only the surviving fragments are included. Squares 1a & 2b are also represented in MYC 3/2/11. These columns are also represented in MYC 3/2/12 & 3/2/25. Colum 6 is also represented in MYC 3/2/13 & MYC 3/2/27.
Watercolour drawing showing columns 6-11 of the North side floor of the palace. Only the surviving fragments are included. Column 6 is also represented in MYC 3/2/26. Columns 7-10 are represented in MYC 3/2/28. All columns are also represented in MYC 3/2/13
Watercolour drawing showing columns 7-10 of the North side floor of the palace. Only the surviving fragments are included. All columns are also represented in MYC 3/2/13 & MYC 3/2/27.
Watercolour drawing showing wave patterns painted on successive layers of stucco from the Palace Hearth.
Watercolour drawing showing wave, stripe, and spiral patterns painted on successive layers of stucco from the Palace Hearth.
Watercolour drawing of a fresco showing a building of several stories with women either standing in the windows or outside. The fresco was badly damaged by fire and found on the floor of the Megaron in the Palace. This piece displays segments A-F, while sections G & H are displayed in MYC 3/2/32. All sections are also represented in MYC 3/2/33.
Watercolour drawing of a fresco showing a building of several stories with women either standing in the windows or outside. The fresco was badly damaged by fire and found on the floor of the Megaron in the Palace. This piece displays segments G & H, while sections A-F are displayed in MYC 3/2/31. All sections are also represented in MYC 3/2/33.
Ink drawing of a fresco representing a building of several stories with women either standing in the windows or outside. The fresco has been badly damaged by fire and was found on the floor of the Megaron in the Palace. This piece displays all segments, of which A-F are represented in MYC 3/2/31 and G & H are represented in MYC 3/2/32.
Watercolour drawing of proposed reconstruction of a fresco frieze of warriors and horses made during the BSA excavations in Mycenae, 1920-1923. The actual pieces of the frieze were found by Christos Tsountas in the Megaron during his excavations there in 1886. This drawing is also included in 1936 Exhibition collection as: 1936 EXH - 112.
Watercolour drawing with an proposed reconstruction of a fresco with a spiral and lotus design, found by Tsountas near the Western portal. MYC 3/2/36 is included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 113.
Watercolour drawings showing painted stucco from or near the Palace Megaron: a. wave patterns: hearth, first, second, fifth, sixth layers. b. step of painted stucco found near the Western Portal. c. chariot, reconstructed from fragments of stucco, probably found in the Megaron. MYC 3/2/37/1 – MYC 3/2/37/5 are all included in 1936 Exhibition collection: 1936 EXH - 115.