CL 17A - Introduction to Greek Archaeology

REVIEW SHEET FOR EXAM 1

You will need to bring a "blue/green book" exam booklet!

The test will consist of three parts:

1. Slide Identifications: images shown alone or in pairs with specific questions on identifying characteristics and/or how they relate to the culture or chronological period.

2. Short answers including term or word list identifications (1-2 sentences at most - who/what/where/when and especially WHY) and recognition of specific names, sites and styles - both fill in the blank and matching.

3. Essay. You will be given a selection of  three questions/topics from which you will choose one to answer. The topics will require you to discuss a range of periods, materials and especially cultures, often in comparison or contrast. You will be asked about the evidence for archaeological reconstruction and will be expected to describe developments over time and across cultures. 3-5 "blue book" pages is the suggested length. Be certain to draw from your readings and class notes.

Example: Describe what is known about the development of large-scale architecture on Crete from the Early Minoan to New Palace Periods, citing specific examples wherever possible.

You should be able to give a date range or period for important events, sites, developments, and arifacts (especially pottery styles) for which the dates are provided on the word lists or in your textbook.

• Plakias and evidence for new dating of tool-making and human occupation on Crete
• Franchthi cave and evidence of Paleolithic - Neolithic lifestyle on the Mainland; economy and innovation
  
• Neolithic settlements - type sites and their characteristics in Thessaly (Sesklo and Dhimeni)
• pottery styles (Mainland)
  

• figurines and other stone artifacts - know period of various types and their characteristic features
  
• few settlements; mostly graves - cist type
• ceramics: frying pan, pyxis, kernos
• Thera/Akrotiri - wall paintings; nature of the destructions; important and unique features and artifacts; know what is found and what is NOT found; evidence for social and religious practices
• relation of the eruption to archaeological dating and other cultural histories in the Aegean
  

• Minoan ceramic styles (EMI - Pyrgos, Aghios Onoufrios; EMII - Vasilike; OPP - Kamares ware; NPP - floral, pattern, marine and Palace styles)
• burials: chamber tombs (ossuary); tholos burial; pithos; larnax
• settlements: Myrtos and House-on-th-Hill at Vasilike
• OPP and important innovations: palace architecture, potter's wheel; development of writing
• wall painting - how it is used and what evidence it provides; other minor arts in metal, stone, ceramic, etc.
  
• main site Knossos--know the plan and basic elements of the palace; especially the functions of the various areas.
• key themes--bulls and bull-leaping, religious themes and rituals, mother goddess, snake goddess contact with Egypt (bull-leaping painting at Tell el Daba)
• religion based on worship of mother-earth/fertility goddess/es - figurines of deities and/or worshippers; rituals and symbols - some culturally/geographically unique and some Aegean-wide
• major destructions at 1700, 1450 and 1380 BC
  

• Early Helladic: Lerna and the House of Tiles; fortifications; evidence for economy
• EHII pottery - Urfurnis and sauceboats vs. EH III pottery - dark on light with tankards
  
• Middle Helladic: arrival of the Greeks, apsidal houses and there evolution into the LH megaron

• Late Helladic (LH) I: Mycenae shaft graves: sudden wealth, but not influx of new people
  foreign contact, esp. with Minoans
  art shows Minoan influence, esp. in religious scenes
• LH II: developing states
  tholos tombs--beehive shape, corbelled dome roof, relieving triangle
• Chamber tombs and burial practices
• LH III: palaces: key sites Pylos, Tiryns, Mycenae; megaron unit the central part; fortifications and organization and function of citadels
  
• kingdom administration--Linear B tablets, excavation, survey all reveal something
• pottery styles and their importance for chronology
• wall painting and minor arts--location, themes, technology