List of published volumes

1. From the Geometric to the Modern Greek Period
2. The Late Minoan IIIC settlement
3. The Late Minoan IIIB:2 settlement
4. The Late Minoan IIIB:1 and IIIA:2 Settlements
5. The Late Minoan IIIA:1 and II Settlements

Vol. 1, fasc. 1: The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987. From the Geometric to the Modern Greek Period. Text

Edited by Erik Hallager & Birgitta P. Hallager. Published by the Swedish Institute at Athens. Distributed by Astrom Editions.

This volume is the first in a series of seven, presenting the results of the Greek-Swedish Excavations in the Agia Aikaterini Square close to the harbour in the modern town of Khania, western Crete. The excavations, directed by Dr. Yannis Tzedakis and Dr. Carl-Gustaf Styrenius, were conducted during the years 1970-1987.

With the exception of approximately 400 years during the Iron Age, the site at the Agia Aikaterini Square presents a continuous history of the town of Khania over a period of c. 5,000 years from the Final Neolithic period until modern times. The present volume deals with the most recent 3,000 years, i.e., the entire period after the Bronze Age. The layers, architecture and finds are presented as they were excavated: from Surface downwards. Apart from the regular surface and other unstratified material the following main periods are presented: the Modern Greek period, the Turkish period, the Venetian period, two early Roman deposits, an Archaic/Classical Well and finally the Late Geometric deposits. The major find groups are analysed in separate chapters and appendices cover statistics and chemical analysis of pottery.

Bibliographical information

Erik Hallager & Birgitta P. Hallager, eds., The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987 vol. 1. From the Geometric to the Modern Greek Period fasc. 1 (Skrifter utgivna av Svenska Institutet i Athen, 4°, 47:1:1), Stockholm 1997. ISSN 0586-0539. ISBN 10: 91-7916-035-2. ISBN 13: 978-91-7916-035-7. Hardcover: 305 pages.

Vol. 1, fasc. 2: The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987. From the Geometric to the modern Greek period. Plates

Edited by Erik Hallager & Birgitta P. Hallager. Published by the Swedish Institute at Athens. Distributed by Astrom Editions.

For abstract, se vol. 1:1.

Bibliographical information

Erik Hallager & Birgitta P. Hallager, eds., The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987 vol. 1. From the Geometric to the Modern Greek Period fasc. 2. Plates (Skrifter utgivna av Svenska Institutet i Athen, 4°, 47:1:2), Stockholm 1997. ISSN 0586-0539. ISBN 10: 91-7916-035-2. ISBN 13: 978-91-7916-035-7. Hardcover: 141 plates.

Vol. 2: The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987. The Late Minoan IIIC settlement. Text and plates

Edited by Birgitta P. Hallager & Erik Hallager. Published by the Swedish Institute at Athens. Distributed by Astrom Editions.

This volume is the second in a series of seven presenting the results of the Greek-Swedish Excavations in the Agia Aikaterini Square, close to the harbour of the modern town of Khania, western Crete. The excavations were under the direction of Dr. Yannis Tzedakis and Professor Carl-Gustaf Styrenius and were conducted during the years 1970-1987.

At the very end of the LM IIIB period, the site of Kastelli, Khania, was destroyed by a minor conflagration, after which the site was rebuilt for the last time during the Bronze Age. Parts of the LM IIIB:2 buildings were cleared of their destruction debris and re-used in the LM IIIC period, while also some new constructions were erected. Parts of two large building complexes have been excavated, including 11 rooms, three open courtyards/areas and two extensive rubbish areas. All excavated units within the LM IIIC settlement are dealt with in some details, according to their stratigraphic positions, after which follow the analyses of the architecture, the pottery and the different kinds of small finds. The volume ends with two appendices concerning statistics and lead isotope analyses of metals from the excavation in the entire Bronze Age.

The analyses show that the LM IIIC settlement at Khania lasted for only a relatively short period and that the inhabitants gave up the site peacefully, since no signs of destruction were detected and since people of the Late Geometric period four hundred years later were able to move into some of the ruins of the LM IIIC houses.

Bibliographical information

Birgitta P. Hallager & Erik Hallager, eds., The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987 vol. 2. The Late Minoan IIIC settlement (Skrifter utgivna av Svenska Institutet i Athen, 4°, 47:2), Stockholm 2000. ISSN 0586-0539. ISBN 10: 91-7916-041-7. ISBN 13: 978-91-7916-041-8. Hardcover: 229 pp. and 123 pp. with 117 plates.

Vol. 3, fasc. 1: The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987 and 2001. The Late Minoan IIIB:2 settlement. Text

Edited by Erik Hallager & Birgitta P. Hallager. Published by the Swedish Institute at Athens. Distributed by Astrom Editions.

This volume is the third in a series of seven presenting the results of the Greek-Swedish Excavations in the Agia Aikaterini Square close to the harbour of the modern town of Khania, western Crete. The excavations were under the direction of Dr. Yannis Tzedakis and Professor Carl-Gustaf Styrenius and were conducted during the years 1970-1987 and 2001.

At the end of the LM IIIB:1 period the site of Kastelli, Khania, was destroyed by a conflagration and immediately rebuilt. In connection with the rebuilding, a well-known pattern was noted: parts of the destroyed buildings were cleared of their destruction debris and re-used, while new constructions were also erected, especially in the northern part of the excavated area. Some parts of the settlement, however, were as far as we can judge, allowed to lie in ruins during the LM IIIB:2 period. The period displayed remains of two building complexes with at least 11 rooms/spaces and open courtyards and two extensive rubbish areas. Furthermore, a few but major architectural changes appear to have taken place during this period. All excavated units within the LM IIIB:2 settlement are dealt with in some detail, according to their stratigraphic positions, after which follow the analyses of the architecture, the pottery and the different kinds of small finds. The volume ends with four appendices concerning statistics, intra mural burials, clay analyses of Grey Ware and finally analyses of some painted, plaster fragments from the excavation in the entire Bronze Age.

The analyses show that, although faint signs of decline in architecture and administration compared with the previous period may perhaps be noted, the importance of the settlement in relation to the surrounding world was still at its height. This is shown, among other things, by the many imports from abroad and the exports of the products of the Local Kydonian Workshop to other parts of the Mediterranean region, and the continued production of inscribed stirrup jars.

Bibliographical information

Erik Hallager & Birgitta P. Hallager, eds., The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987 and 2001 vol. 3. The Late Minoan IIIB:2 settlement fasc. 1. Text (Skrifter utgivna av Svenska Institutet i Athen, 4°, 47:3:1), Stockholm 2003. ISSN 0586-0539. ISBN 10: 91-7916-045-X. ISBN 13: 978-91-7916-045-6. Hardcover: 347 pp.

Vol. 3, fasc. 2: The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987 and 2001. The Late Minoan IIIB:2 settlement. Plates

Edited by Erik Hallager & Birgitta P. Hallager. Published by the Swedish Institute at Athens. Distributed by Astrom Editions.

For abstract, se vol. 3:1.

Bibliographical information

Erik Hallager & Birgitta P. Hallager, eds., The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987 and 2001 vol. 3. The Late Minoan IIIB:2 settlement fasc. 2. Plates (Skrifter utgivna av Svenska Institutet i Athen, 4°, 47:3:2), Stockholm 2003. ISSN 0586-0539. ISBN 10: 91-7916-045-X. ISBN 13: 978-91-7916-045-6. Hardcover: 182 pp. with 172 plates.

Vol. 4, fasc. 1: The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987 and 2001. The Late Minoan IIIB:1 and IIIA:2 Settlements. Text

Edited by Erik Hallager & Birgitta P. Hallager. Published by the Swedish Institute at Athens. Distributed by Eddy.se AB.

This volume is the fourth in a series of seven presenting the results of the Greek-Swedish Excavations during the years 1970–1987 and 2001 in the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli Khania. The excavations which are situated close to the harbour of the modern town of Khania, western Crete were under the direction of Dr Yannis Tzedakis and Professor Carl-Gustaf Styrenius.

During the years of excavation the LM IIIA:2 and LM IIIB:1 period was always considered a unit, called “Level 4”. The following detailed studies of stratigraphy, pottery and architecture, however, made it clear that the two chronological phases at the GSE also represented two different stratigraphic units. By the end of the reoccupation phase in LM II and LM IIIA:1, one large important building, Building 2, was constructed in the LM IIIA:2 period. This building, of which only a small amount was unearthed within the Agia Aikaterini Square, continued in use until the end of the LM IIIB:1 period, where finds of Linear B tablets and a complete inscribed stirrup jar, the inscription of which included the abbreviation for wa-na-ka-te-ro, royal, were revealed.

At some time in the LM IIIA:2 period a new building was constructed to the southwest of Building 2 partly reusing walls of the ruined LM I settlement. This building was demolished during the earliest phase of LM IIIB:1 when a substantial new building was constructed. This building (Building 1) covered an area of more than 154 m2 and contained at least 10 rooms and spaces, some of which contained good, undisturbed floor deposits. In both the LM IIIA:2 and LM IIIB:1 settlements large rubbish pits in the southeastern part of the excavated area were noted. The area north of the buildings was probably an open space partly used for waste in LM IIIA:2, while there are faint indications that it might have been occupied by a building (“Building 4”) in the LM IIIB:1 period. All excavated units within the LM IIIB:1 and LM IIIA:2 settlements are dealt with in some detail, according to their stratigraphic positions, after which follows the analyses of the architecture, the pottery and the different kinds of small finds. The volume ends with an appendix on statistics.

The analyses show that in the LM IIIA:2 and especially the LM IIIB:1 period Khania was an important commercial centre in the Aegean with lively contacts all over the island and to the surrounding Aegean and wider Mediterranean world. This is partly shown by the distribution of the pottery from the Kydonian Workshop, and the production and distribution of transport stirrup jars several of which were inscribed with Linear B. The importance of the settlement as an administrative centre in the Aegean is clearly demonstrated by the finds of Linear B tablets.

Contents

Contents (pp. 5-7) | download pdf
Preface (pp. 8-9) | download pdf
List of illustrations (pp. 10-14) | download pdf
Introduction (pp. 15-17) | download pdf
Abbreviations (pp. 18-19) | download pdf
Bibliography (pp. 20-28) | download pdf
Introduction to the LM IIIB:1 and LM IIIA:2 settlements (pp. 29-31) | download pdf
LM IIIB:1. Building 1. Stratigraphy and catalogues (pp. 32-114) | download pdf
LM IIIB:1. Building 3. Stratigraphy and catalogues (pp. 115-116) | download pdf
LM IIIB:1. Street. Stratigraphy and catalogues (pp. 117-122) | download pdf
LM IIIB:1. Rubbish Area Southeast. Stratigraphy and catalogues (pp. 123-128) | download pdf
LM IIIB:1. Building 2. Stratigraphy and catalogues (pp. 129-135) | download pdf
LM IIIB:1. Courtyard. Stratigraphy and catalogues (pp. 136-169) | download pdf
LM IIIB:1. Between Buildings 1 and 2. Stratigraphy and catalogues (pp. 170-181) | download pdf
LM IIIB:1. North of Buildings 1 and 2. Stratigraphy and catalogues (pp. 182-198) | download pdf
LM IIIA:2. Building 1. Stratigraphy and catalogues (pp. 199-215) | download pdf
LM IIIA:2. South of Building 1. Stratigraphy and catalogues (pp. 216-220) | download pdf
LM IIIA:2. Rubbish Area Southeast. Stratigraphy and catalogues (pp. 221-234) | download pdf
LM IIIA:2. Building 2. Stratigraphy and catalogues (pp. 235-237) | download pdf
LM IIIA:2. Courtyard. Stratigraphy and catalogues (pp. 238-241) | download pdf
LM IIIA:2. Rubbish Area North. Stratigraphy and catalogues (pp. 242-251) | download pdf
Unstratified material (pp. 252-257) | download pdf
The architecture (pp. 258-269) | download pdf
The wall plaster in the LM IIIB:1 and LM IIIA:2 levels (pp. 270-272) | download pdf
The pottery (pp. 273-380) | download pdf
Industrial activities, personal adornments and belongings (pp. 381-393) | download pdf
The terracotta figurines and the stone vases (pp. 394-398) | download pdf
The obsidian (pp. 399-413) | download pdf
The Linear B inscriptions and potter’s marks (pp. 414-426) | download pdf
Index for Linear B (pp. 427-428) | download pdf
General conclusions (pp. 429-432) | download pdf
Appendix: pottery statistics (pp. 433-453) | download pdf
Concordance list (pp. 454-472) | download pdf
Index (pp. 473-486) | download pdf

Bibliographical information

Erik Hallager & Birgitta P. Hallager, eds., The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987 and 2001 vol. 4. The Late Minoan IIIB:1 and IIIA:2 Settlements fasc. 1. Text (Skrifter utgivna av Svenska Institutet i Athen, 4°, 47:4: 1), Stockholm 2008. ISSN 0586-0539. ISBN 10: 91-7916-060-3. ISBN 13: 978-91-7916-060-9. Hardcover: 486 pp.

Reviews

L’Antiquité classique 86, 2017, 566-567 (Raphaël Orgeolet)
Antiquity 86:334, 2012, 1240-1241 (Yannis Hamilakis)
The Classical Review 63:1, 2013, 228-230 (P.J.P. McGeorge)
Gnomon 86:2, 161-165 (Sebastian Traunmüller)

Vol. 4, fasc. 2: The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987 and 2001. The Late Minoan IIIB:1 and IIIA:2 Settlements. Plates

Edited by Erik Hallager & Birgitta P. Hallager. Published by the Swedish Institute at Athens. Distributed by Eddy.se AB.

For abstract, se vol. 4:1.

Bibliographical information

Erik Hallager & Birgitta P. Hallager, eds., The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987 and 2001 vol. 4. The Late Minoan IIIB:1 and IIIA:2 Settlements fasc. 2. Plates (Skrifter utgivna av Svenska Institutet i Athen, 4°, 47:4: 2), Stockholm 2008. ISSN 0586-0539. ISBN 10: 91-7916-060-3. ISBN 13: 978-91-7916-060-9. Hardcover: 279 pp.

Vol. 5, fasc. 1: The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987, 2001, 2005 and 2008. The Late Minoan IIIA:1 and II Settlements. Text

Edited by Erik Hallager & Birgitta P. Hallager. Published by the Swedish Institute at Athens. Distributed by Eddy.se AB.

During the years of excavation the LM II and LM IIIA:1 period was always considered a unit, called Level 5. The following detailed studies of stratigraphy and pottery, however, made it clear that the two chronological phases at the GSE also represented two different stratigraphic units. After the LM IB destruction at the site a few rooms of the destroyed houses were cleaned of the destruction debris and repaired to offer very modest living conditions. While the part of the settlement excavated by the GSE can only be described as a squatter habitation during LM II and LM IIIA:1 there can be little doubt that an important part of the settlement existed nearby. This can be deduced from two observations at the GSE. One observation is the fact that the old streets were cleaned of destruction debris and maintained throughout the period showing that communication within the town was still needed. The second observation is the finds from the many pits of the periods. The locally produced pottery is of a very high quality especially in LM IIIA:1, and imports from Knossos, Palaikastro, Kythera, the mainland and the Levant also bear witness to the importance of the site. While rooms with floor deposits are virtually non-existent, pits and dumps dominated the material from the two periods. In the LM IIIA:1 period as much as 86% of the pottery came from such deposits. The detailed study of the pottery supplemented by minor observations concerning building technique showed that the LM II period to a large extent was a continuation of the LM I period, while LM IIIA:1 became much more innovative.

The volume includes seven analytical chapters where groups of material is presented diachronically throughout the entire excavation. This has been possible since the basic stratigraphical analyses for the forthcoming vols. VI and VII have been completed. The material thus analysed are the pithoi, the seal devices, the sealings and sealed documents, the invertebrates, the wild cattle, the archaeobotanical remains and the microfauna.

Bibliographical information

Erik Hallager & Birgitta P. Hallager, eds., The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987, 2001, 2005 and 2008 vol. 5. The Late Minoan IIIA:1 and II Settlements fasc. 1. Text (Skrifter utgivna av Svenska Institutet i Athen, 4°, 47:51), Stockholm 2016. ISSN 0586-0539. ISBN 10: 91-7916-064-6. ISBN 978-91-7916-064-7. Hardcover: 496 pp.

Reviews

L’Antiquité Classique 88, 2019, 377-380 (C. Langohr)
The Classical Review 68:2, 2018, 535-537 (Anna Lucia d’Agata)
Revue des Études Anciennes 120:1, 2018, 216-220 (Bastien Rueff)
Revue Archéologique 2018:2, 394-397 (Daniela Lefèvre-Novaro)

Vol. 5, fasc. 2: The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987, 2001, 2005 and 2008. The Late Minoan IIIA:1 and II Settlements. Plates

Edited by Erik Hallager & Birgitta P. Hallager. Published by the Swedish Institute at Athens. Distributed by Eddy.se AB.

For abstract, se vol. 5:1.

Bibliographical information

Erik Hallager & Birgitta P. Hallager, eds., The Greek-Swedish Excavations at the Agia Aikaterini Square, Kastelli, Khania 1970–1987, 2001, 2005 and 2008 vol. 5. The Late Minoan IIIA:1 and II Settlements fasc. 1. Text (Skrifter utgivna av Svenska Institutet i Athen, 4°, 47:51), Stockholm 2016. ISSN 0586-0539. ISBN 10: 91-7916-064-6. ISBN 978-91-7916-064-7. Hardcover: 218 plates.