Some Observations on the Cyclades in the Later Third and Early Second Millennia

Tracing the Absolute Time-Frame of the Early Bronze Age in the Aegean

“…The same authors discuss also the climatic event at 2400–2000 BC in the central Mediterranean and the Aegean, with “perhaps” the strongest climatic perturbation at around 2160 BC (the so called 4.2 ka cal BP event), and its possible impact on the Aegean settlements. They come to the conclusion that it has not affected the transition EBA IIB to EBA III when the existence of an occupation gap had been suggested in earlier publications, based on archaeological evidence (Rutter 1979, 1983, 1984), and which is bridged anyway with more evidence recently (Kouka 2013; Pullen 2013), but if anything this could have affected the end of EBA III. The 14 C evidence we have accumulated here shows that there is no time-gap in the transition from EBA II to EBA III.…”

Peggy Sotirakopoulou . The pottery from Dhaskalio (The sanctuary on Keros and the origins of Aegean ritual: the excavations of 2006–2008, volume IV). 2016. xvii+477 pages, numerous b&w illustrations, tables, CD. Cambridge: McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research; 978-1-902937-76-2 hardback £64.

“…Finally, the transition into the last phase of the settlement, Phase C, is characterised by the preponderance of Kastri types that continue from the previous phase and are enriched with new morphological and typological characteristics. One of the strengths of the book is the detailed discussion of Phase C, which is directly relevant to the decadeslong discussion on the validity of the so-called Early Cycladic III gap, pioneered by Jeremy Rutter (1983Rutter ( , 1984. Sotirakopoulou posits that Phase C at Dhaskalio is "shown by its contextual associations to be equivalent to the whole span of the Early Cycladic III period, as evidenced at Phylakopi phases I-ii and I-iii on Melos and in 'closed' contexts with similar material on Thera and on Amorgos" (p. 357), suggesting that the pottery of Dhaskalio essentially 'closes' the gap.…”

Perspectives on an Early Bronze Age Island Centre: An Analysis of Pottery from Daskaleio‐Kavos (Keros) in the Cyclades

“…Concerning the cessation of activity at the site, EB III in the Cyclades remains a chronically poorly documented period, one indeed currently characterised as a 'gap' that is perhaps eventually to be filled with antecedents of the earliest of the Middle Bronze Age types (Broodbank 2000, Chapters 10-11;Manning 1995: 66-72;Rutter 1979Rutter , 1983Rutter , 1984. With the exception of Renfrew's report of a few possible EB III-MBA duck vase spouts, observed in 1963 (Renfrew 1972: 532), but not paralleled in the 1987 material, and a very few sherds found in 1987 that might be of immediately post-EB II date and indicate some residual activity until the end of the EBA, the site lacks later ancient material.…”