The transition from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age (EBA) in Crete (Greece), with special reference to pottery
The transition from the Neolithic to the EBA in Crete is best illustrated through the pottery sequence of the island. Crete is a large self-sufficient island of the Mediterranean and for the best part of the Neolithic era kept aloof from the rest of the Aegean. The EN I to LN pottery is very homogeneous and is characterised by a rather conservative typology. In the LN II and the FN periods a combination of internal factors, such as improvements in pot firing techniques and a taste for innovation from within the system, led to the invention of new types of decoration and a strong tendency for mass production. These developments took place at Knossos and Phaistos, the two main settlements of the island with a fully developed mixed agricultural economy. The other LN/FN sites -mainly caves- do not demonstrate the same creativity and variety in pottery styles. Their pottery assemblages are rather monotonous in typology and of lower quality. This difference may well derive from the different types of economic exploitation practised in the various environments. Nevertheless, there are sufficient typological links between Knossos and Phaistos and the other sites to substantiate the typological and cultural homogeneity
Manteli, Aikaterini
Archaeology
The transition from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age (EBA) in Crete (Greece), with special reference to pottery. The transition from the Neolithic to the EBA in Crete is best illustrated through the pottery sequence of the island. Crete is a large self-sufficient island of the Mediterranean and for the best part of the Neolithic era kept aloof from the rest of the Aegean. The EN I to LN pottery is very homogeneous and is characterised by a rather conservative typology. In the LN II and the FN periods a combination of internal factors, such as improvements in pot firing techniques and a taste for innovation from within the system, led to the invention of new types of decoration and a strong tendency for mass production. These developments took place at Knossos and Phaistos, the two main settlements of the island with a fully developed mixed agricultural economy. The other LN/FN sites -mainly caves- do not demonstrate the same creativity and variety in pottery styles. Their pottery assemblages are rather monotonous in typology and of lower quality. This difference may well derive from the different types of economic exploitation practised in the various environments. Nevertheless, there are sufficient typological links between Knossos and Phaistos and the other sites to substantiate the typological and cultural homogeneity
transition neolithic_early_bronze_age eba crete greece special_reference pottery transition neolithic eba crete best illustrate pottery_sequence island crete large self_sufficient island mediterranean best part keep rest aegean pottery homogeneous characterise rather conservative typology period combination internal factor improvement pot fire technique taste innovation within system lead invention new_type decoration strong tendency mass_production development take_place knossos two_main settlement island fully_develop mixed agricultural_economy sit mainly creativity variety pottery_style pottery_assemblages rather typology low quality difference may well derive different_type economic_exploitation practise various environment nevertheless sufficient typological link knossos sit substantiate typological cultural homogeneity