Koutroulou Magoula in Fthiotida, Central Greece: A Middle Neolithic tell site in context

Friday, May 29, 2015, 4:20pm – 4:40pm
Presented by Yannis Hamilakis, Nina Kyparissi-Apostolika, Tom Loughlin, Tristan Carter, Stella Katsarou, Angeliki Kaznesi, and Areti Pentedeka
In track I. SOCIAL SPACES, COMMUNITIES, AND LIFEWAYS

The site of Koutroulou Magoula near Vardali and Neo Monastiri in Fthiotida was first excavated in 2001 under the direction of N. Kyparissi, but, informally since 2009, and formally since 2010, is being investigated by the Koutroulou Magoula Archaeology and Archaeological Ethnography project, co-directed by Kyparissi and Hamilakis. As part of this project, in addition to systematic excavation, a wide range of analytical methods are employed, as well as a diverse array of ethnographic, public and community archaeology practices. In this paper, we will start by presenting the main preliminary results of this project (from 2010 to the present), and continue by placing the MN settlement of Koutroulou Magoula in its wider social context, relying in particular on two categories of data: chipped stone, and pottery (examined both macroscopically, and through petrographic study).

The analysis of chipped stone to date has shown that the site participated in a wide network of exchange and circulation of materials, information and ideas. Somewhat surprisingly for such an inland site, more than half of the assemblage (58%) is made of obsidian, most (if not all) of which has all the visual characteristics of coming from the Cycladic island of Melos. These links with Cyclades were almost certainly mediated by other sites, as we lack the whole knapping sequence, with cores arriving at the site largely preformed/part worked. A small quantity (1%) of the tools is made from a very distinctive and high quality ‘honey flint’. These were exceptional and much looked after and curated pieces that would have been very much appreciated, and capable of transferring social information through their rarity and distinction. The exact location of this material remains a mystery but has long believed to come from regions to the north, either Epirus/Albania, or perhaps Bulgaria.

The analysis of pottery, on the other hand, attests to a more localized pattern of circulation and exchange. Painted pottery in particular gives the impression of a local production with affinities to Achilleion, but also to pottery from Tzani Magoula, Pazaraki, and areas belonging to the so-called West Thessalian group. In pottery terms, Koutroulou Magoula seemed to have interacted more with the Thessalian tradition, and not with that of Central Greece. An exception here are few drinking vessels which show decoration patterns pointing to other ‘cultural’ traditions (e.g. geometric patterns from southern central Greece). This macroscopic picture seem to be confirmed by petrographic analysis on both, pottery vessels and figurines. Only one figurine sample is characterised by compositional attributes that are incompatible with local geology, and could possibly have come from the area of Microthebes.