The site of Kouphovouno, just south of Sparta, is one of the main Neolithic sites in Laconia. It was first settled in the Middle Neolithic period and developed into a large village with remains occupying some 4–5 hectares, flourishing particularly over the period c. 5800-5000 BC. The investigation of the environmental remains from the site has brought together the results from a number of researchers on faunal and plant remains, incorporating stable isotope analysis. The aim is to investigate methods crop management and animal husbandry in the context of small-scale, closely integrated farming, but also investigating the seasonal management patterns of livestock and test the hypothesis of whether the farmers practised any form of transhumance. The paper will present an overview of research thus far and the latest results. These findings have implications for our understanding of the process of transformation that southern Greece underwent in the course of the later sixth millennium BC.
Communities, Landscapes, and Interaction in Neolithic Greece
International conference 29-30 May 2015
