ANKARA UNIVERSITY

RESEARCH CENTER FOR MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY (ANKSAM)

Publication No: 1

Proceedings of the International Symposium

The Aegean in the Neolithic,

Chalcolithic and the Early Bronze Age
October 13th 19th 1997, Urla - zmir (Turkey)

Edited by

Hayat Erkanal, Harald Hauptmann,

Vasf aholu, Rza Tuncel

Ankara 2008

Limenaria, a Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Settlement at

Thasos
Stratis PAPADOPOULOS & Dimitra MALAMIDOU
Recent archaeological research at Thasos
has been rapidly supplementing our knowledge
on the prehistory of the island (Fig. 1). During
the Late Palaeolithic period, when Thasos was
maybe still part of the continent 1 , we have the
first ascertained human activity at Tzines,
where an important ochre mine has been
excavated 2 . Before the excavation at Limenaria,
Kastri 3 was the only settlement that has offered
secure evidence for Neolithic occupation, while
dim indications came from two other sites: the
acropolis at Limenas 4 and a cave at Skala
Maries 5 . The Early Bronze Age came to light in
small scale trial digs at coastal sites, which
seem to be the principal poles of attraction for
the population in the 3rd mill. The available
evidence comes from the cave of Drakotrypa 6
near Panagia and the promontory of Agios
Antonios 7 . Until recently, the only prehistoric
settlement that has been to some extent
excavated was Skala Sotiros, where impressive
architectural remains of the Early Bronze Age
came to light inducing a great deal of
discussion 8 .
The prehistoric site of Limenaria is
located in Southwest Thasos, under the modern
village, on the east bank of a torrent.
Unfortunately, the largest part of the prehistoric
settlement is today covered by the houses and
the streets of the village (Fig. 2). The 18th
Ephorate of Prehistoric and Classical
Antiquities of Kavala has been digging the site
1
2

4
5
6
7
8

Perissoratis et al. 1987, 209; &

1987, . 13; Kraft et al. 1982, 11.
Koukouli-Chrysanthaki et al. 1988, 241-244;
- & Weisgerber 1996, 82-89;
Koukouli-Chrysanthaki & Weisgerber (in press).
-
1992;
(1970) 1971, 16-22; Delt 27-25 (19721980).
BCH 26, 1922, 533.
- 1970, 215-222.
Delt 28, 1973, 447-450.
Delt 26, 1971, 416.
- 1987-1990;
1997.

since 1993. During the years 1993, 1994, 1997,

excavation at the west part of the settlement has
detected deposits dated to the end of the Middle
Neolithic period 9 , while during 1995, 1996
research at the hilltop brought to light
architectural remains of the Early Bronze
Age 10 .
The settlement was founded on a low
rocky hill at the feet of the mountains of
Southwest Thasos. It seems that it was located
ca. 150 m away from the past coastline 11 ,
considering the fact that sea-level in the area
has risen 3 to 4 m since prehistoric times. A
series of sample collecting drills to check
stratigraphy and the origin of raw materials
used in house construction, stone tools
manufacture and pottery, undertook in
collaboration
with
the
Ephorate
of
Palaeoanthropology and Spelaeology at Athens,
has been almost completed.
On the base of the evidence so far
collected, it becomes obvious that we have not
a tell but a settlement horizontally developing
on the hill. Neolithic layers appear on the
hillsides while the Early Bronze Age ones cover
the hilltop where no prior habitation has
existed.
Neolithic Period
On the west slope, excavation developed
horizontally, and an area of ca. 200 m was dug
down to the natural soil. The archaeological
deposit of the Neolithic period is deeper (2,30
m) on the north part of the excavated area,
significantly diminishing (1-1,20 m) to the
south.
Stratigraphy does not offer any indication
on significant changes or hiatus in the
9
10
11

& 1993,
Malamidou 1996.
& 1997.
Kraft et al. 1982.

559-572;

428

Stratis PAPADOPOULOS & Dimitra MALAMIDOU

development of the Neolithic settlement, at

least in the part excavated. Despite the fact that
the natural soil slopes from east to west, the
archaeological layers develop horizontally. Five
stratigraphic compounds, representing several
habitation phases of the end of the Middle
Neolithic can be discerned. Construction
features such as floors, pits and stone benches
are associated with layers I and II. Layer IIa,
25-35 cm thick, is a terrace of reddish argile
upon which these architectural elements were
constructed. Layers III and IV contain clear
traces of constructions and floors of beaten
earth, small pebble and argile, while layer V is
essentially part of the natural soil with few
traces of human activity 12 .

cylindrical with varying diameters and flat

bottoms. Their walls and bottoms are covered
with insulating coating consisting of argiles,
deposits of which have been located near the
settlement. Often the same pits are reused after
being furnished with a new coating. When put
out of use, they are filled with food garbage and
various debris 14 (Photo. 2). In the outer limit of
the inhabited area a series of garbage pits were
located, which simple holes were dug into the
natural soil with no particular shape and no
coating. They contained food remains, mostly
shells, and ash. The fact that such pits are
located exclusively out of the buildings
provides an indication for intentional garbage
disposal outside the settlement limits.

The main building material for the

Neolithic is clay and wood. The houses are
post-framed, but traces of mud brick buildings
are not altogether absent. A series of postholes
in semicircular arrangement were detected in
trench C, possibly the apsidal end of a rather
long house (Fig. 3, left). It is 3 m. wide, but it is
not preserved to its entire length. The house
floors are generally made of reddish or
yellowish clay with small size pebbles, having
been repaired several times.

It is worth mentioning that during the

Middle Neolithic large scale levelling works
took place. For this purpose, terraces made of
solid red soil were created. A first terrace was
constructed immediately on top of the natural
soil, supported to the west by a stone wall
(layer V on the stratigraphy) (Photo. 3). It
aimed at creating a levelled space for the first
installation, thus solving the problem of the
sloping to the west. A second terrace was
uncovered in the upper layers (layer IIa), also
furnished with a supporting wall, built of large
slabs. Such constructions were no doubt result
of team work, which required the collaboration
of a large part of the community 15 .

The floors of hearths and ovens are more

or less well-preserved (Figs. 3: f/E-G & 4:
f1/B). They have a substructure of clay and
pebble-sometimes sherds as well- and an upper
surface of pure clay hardened by fire 13 .
Assemblages of slabstones encased in earth
bearing traces of burning, must be interpreted as
a type of hearth (Fig. 4: f2/B). In one case,
many fish bones were found on top and around
the stones; it may be therefore possible that
roasting on heated stones was applied. Several
sizeable stone assemblages which most of the
times are located near storage pits or hearths
may be interpreted as benches serving food
preparation or household craft activities (Photo.
1).
Storage pits, carefully made, were found
in impressive numbers in the interior of houses
(Fig. 4: s4/D, s4/E-G). They are mostly

The small finds from the Neolithic

deposits of Limenaria offer valuable
information concerning the economy and
ideology of the population. The number of
mortars and grinders is impressive, indicating
that farming held a dominant position.
Archaeobotanical examination has so far
detected the presence of barley, eincorn wheat,
lentil, fig and wild pistache. Though farming
must have been the basic economic strategy, it
seems that the inhabitants complemented their
nutrition with wild fruits. Seashells and fish
14

15
12
13

For the Neolithic Stratigraphy, see: Malamidou 1996,

58.
For relevant examples in Eastern Macedonia, see:
Treuil 1992, 45.

For relevant examples in Eastern Macedonia and

Thrace, see: Treuil 1992, 41; Efstratiou 1993, 36-38
(Proskynites, Makri).
For relevant examples in Northern Greece, see: BCH
116, 1992, 715 (Dikili Tash); & - (1987) 1988, 176
(Mandalo); & 1994, 23
().

Limenaria, a Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Settlement at Thasos

bones detected in large quantities testify the

close relation of the settlement to the sea, while
the quantities of animal bones, mostly goat, are
also significant.
Polished stone tools are hammers and
axes of various sizes. Chipped tools (Photo. 4)
are represented by small blades and plenty of
flakes and cores. This fact together with the
conservation of remains of exterior surface
(cortex) indicate that some tools were
manufactured inside or near the settlement. As
to the raw material used, the honey-coloured
flint which is very diffused in Thasos 16 , is
dominant, while quarz is also represented in
impressive quantities.
Bone tools -awls, spatulae and needlesare well preserved (Photo. 5). They are
manufactured almost exclusively from the long
bones of small animals, the basic form of the
tool being determined during segmentation.
Secondary work concerns the whole tool and is
particularly careful 17 .
The occupation of the inhabitants with
weaving is established through the discovery of
a small number of biconical spindle whorls,
pierced rounded sherds and loom weights made
of unfired clay. The existence of basketry can
be attested by the imprints of mat on vessel
bottoms. Jewellery are in most cases pierced
shells and Spondylus bracelets. Stone beads and
pendants are scarcer. A pendant has the form of
an animal head with long muzzle and poppedout eyes (Photo. 6). The marble vessels in
shapes imitating clay (a bowl and a
hemispherical tripoid vessel) can be considered
as objects of special social significance, since
they cannot be possessed by everyone.
The scarcity of figurines in the Neolithic
layers of the settlement is a paradox if
compared to the large numbers found in most
sites of Macedonia and Thrace 18 . The upper
part of a female figurine with marked breasts
and navel was found (Fig. 5). It probably
belongs to a type widely diffused in Western
Thrace and Bulgaria towards the end of the

Middle Neolithic 19 . Its main characteristics are

the long neck, cylindrical body, and the swollen
lower body. The total number of figurine
fragments found at Limenaria, both human- and
animal-shaped, is no more than five. Figurines
are altogether absent from the layers of the 3rd
mill., but this is common in the settlements of
East Macedonian and of Northeast Europe in
general 20 .
A series of stone eight-shaped objects
made of marble or gneusian stones (Photo. 7),
known from other Aegean sites such as
Saliagos, are generally interpreted as waistedweights or schematic figurines 21 . Most of them
are of small size, but there are also larger, ca.
0,30 m. in height. An ovoid object with
carefully rounded edges was also found. Any
final conclusion as to the symbolic/ideological
identity of these objects is maybe premature,
but we cannot overlook the fact that there exists
in Thasos a megalithic tradition expressed in
the human-shaped stelae from Skala Sotiros and
Potos.
The burial of a child 3 to 5 years old was
found in a storage pit belonging to the lower
building phases of the Neolithic 22 (Fig. 4: sl/B,
Photo. 8). The skeleton was found lying on his
back with plenty of slabs placed on top and
around it. One of them was placed intentionally
on the chest. The burial had no grave goods.
The skeleton is well preserved and macroscopic
examination revealed the presence of small
holes in both eyeholes suggesting some sort of
bone dissolution process possibly due to
anaemia, the pathology of which cannot be
accurately determined. Also, the deformation of
the teeth enamel may be related to some sort of
malnutrition, something frequently found in
prehistoric populations.
The pottery of the Neolithic layers (Figs.
6 & 7) 23 is examined as a homogenous whole,
19
20
21
22

16
17
18

Peristeri 1989
Christidou 1997, 154.
Marangou 1992, 12; Marangou 1997, 243; Efstratiou
1993, 39.

429

23

& 1994, 44; Todorova &

Vasjov 1993, 198.
Treuil 1983, 248, 410; Marangou 1992, 337-338.
Barber 1991, 98; Evans & Renfrew 1968, 71; Heurtley
1939, 139, 200.
For Neolithic burials in Thrace, see: Agelarakis &
Efstratiou 1996, 11-21.
Pictured Neolithic pottery see in: &
1993, 559-572; BCH 120,3 (1995),
1996, 1282.

430

Stratis PAPADOPOULOS & Dimitra MALAMIDOU

since no important cultural differentiation is

observed in the different habitation phases.

bowls with solid or hollow foot and small

handless cups.

Two types of vessels served the storage

of solid goods:

Incised tripods are found in relative large

numbers (Photo. 11). The decorative motifs on
one of them have been considered to offer proof
of existing relations between the Balkans and
Anatolia during the Early Neolithic 24 .
Nevertheless, there are no other indications for
the existence of that period at Thasos.

a. Pithoi of medium size, no more than

70 cm in height with two vertical handles on the
belly, low neck and wide rim.
b. Handless biconical vessels with
mastoid lugs sprouting at the point of
carination, decorated in the black-topped
technique. They are wide mouthed, have tall
neck and ring shaped base. Traces of burned
organic matter were located in their interior,
resulting from carbonised seeds.
The need of transporting goods was
covered by closed shapes with biconical or
rounded profile, two pairs of facing handles on
one side and a vertical one on the other side, on
top of the shoulder (Photo. 9). The narrow neck,
the position of the handles and the fact that
some of them had no secure base testify to the
fact that they were transport vessels tied on
animals. It should not be however excluded that
they served storage occasionally.
The commonest type of closed vessel among the medium sized vases- is the carinated
jug with wide mouth and the emphasis placed
on the upper part. There is a type with flat ring
base and a tripod one. The vertical handle with
knob or horn lug and rarely an animal or bird
like finial is common to both types. In many
examples, the clay is very thin without
inclusions and forms very thin walls. They bear
rippled or white paint decoration. There exist
also larger jugs with rounded body and distinct
neck decorated with horizontal grooves.
Open deep vessels are mostly represented
by various types of bowls, biconical, with
convex or protruding walls, without handles or
one-handled; also by hemispherical vessels with
one or two handles, with flat base or short legs.
The four-legged bowls (Photo. 10), mostly
large in size, are found in impressive quantities.
Two types can be discerned: without walls with
protruding decorated rim, and two-handled with
vertical walls. There are also small kantharoid
vases usually equipped with one handle
reaching beyond the height of the rim, fruit

Incisions filled with white paste,

impression, finger- or nail-imprints, deep or
shallow grooving, relief decoration and random
incision are preferred for the lesser quality
vases. Rippled decoration is applied on better
quality vessels, fine or medium. The blacktopped technique is common on a large
percentage of medium and fine vessels; it is
often combined with some other type of
decoration. There are only a few examples of
red-topped and grey-topped vessels. The
presence of black-topped ware in the earliest
layers at Limenaria offers supportive argument
for the early appearance of this decorative
technique in Eastern Macedonia, since it is
considered as characteristic of the beginning of
the Late Neolithic 25 .
The only painted ware that can be
securely attributed to this period is the whitish
on black, coming mostly from the upper layers.
It is used, almost exclusively, on the upper part
of the black topped jugs and its repertory
includes spirals, parallel lines and zig-zag. This
pottery ware is known in Central Macedonia
since the early phases of Late Neolithic
(Vasilika II and III) 26 , in the Larisa culture at
Thessaly 27 , and in Aegean sites such as
Saliagos 28 , the Lower Cave at Agios Galas,
Emporio (phases IX-VIII) 29 and Tigani 30 . It is
also found in Chalcolithic sites of Anatolia 31
such as Aphrodisias, Beycesultan, Kusura, Can
Hasan and Mersin. In fact, it is the first time

24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

Nikolov 1989, 193.

1992, 102, 197.
1991, 63.
Demoule et al. 1988, 35; Schneider et al. 1991, 29.
Evans & Renfrew 1968, 40.
Hood 1981, 225.
Tlle-Kastenbein 1974, 130, 133.
For detailed discussion, see: Hood 1981, 225-226.

Limenaria, a Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Settlement at Thasos

that it is found in a certain context in Eastern

Macedonia 32 .
As to the absolute dating of the Neolithic
layers five samples of carbonised material were
examined with the C14 method in
Democritos 33 (Fig. 8). Four of them gave
calibrated values ranging from 5569 to 5255 (in
years BP 6553 64 to 6459 63), that is an
average value a little after the middle of the 6th
mill. (5521-5385, in years BP 6536 41). One
of the samples gave values reaching the
beginning of the 6th mill. (calibrated 5981 to
5678) which are considered too high. The
samples come from the same trench (A),
represent a deposit 70 cm thick (1,65-2,36) and
are compatible with the radiocarbon dates that
we have from the Southeast Balkans.
Only to point out some of the examples
that are close to the settlement at Limenaria, the
beginning of Karanovo III is placed by absolute
values to the middle of the 6th mill. (5450). The
great thickness of the deposits of this phase at
Ezero (2,50 m), alludes that it must certainly
last for about 300-350 years, ending around
5150 to 5100. These dates coincide with the
radiocarbon dates of Vinca A and of Eastern
Macedonian sites. Sitagroi -phase I is dated
between 5500 and 5200, Dikili Tash also offers
calibrated values after the middle of the 6th mill.
(5450-5350, 6800-6700 BP) for the middle
phases of the period, but these should be taken
to be rather high 34 .
The shapes, the decorative practices and
mostly the absolute dating prove that the
settlement at Limenaria was founded towards
the end of the Middle Neolithic period 35 .
Almost all the layers excavated at the
west part of the settlement can be attributed to
32

33

34
35

White-on-dark ware, mentioned as black-topped

variety in Sitagroi and Dikili Tash, has no reference to
that of MN Limenaria.
N.C.S.R. Demokritos, Laboratory of Archaeometry (Y.
Maniatis, G. Fakorellis), Datasets (and intervals),
according to: Stuiver & Pearson 1993, 1-23.
Calibration, according to the Radiocarbon Calibration
Program Rev. 3.0.3c of Quarternary Isotope
Laboratory of Washington University: Stuiver &
Reimer 1993, 215-230.
Boyadziev 1995, 165; Renfrew et al. 1986, 173; Treuil
1992, 34; 1997, 266.
1992, 107.

431

this period which is represented in the wider

area of the Southeast Balkans by Sitagroi I-II,
Dimitra I II, Paradimi I-III, Makri I-II, Dikili
Tash I and Karanovo III 36 . Though cultural
affinities with Thessaly and the Aegean are not
altogether absent, the dominant characteristics
of the settlement connect it closely with the area
of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.
The presence of later phases of the
Neolithic must be considered certain at
Limenaria. Among the surface finds, sherds of
the Late Neolithic I painted wares,
Akropotamos style for example, which were
widely diffused in Eastern Macedonia, are
indeed found. The same is true for the Late
Neolithic II wares, such as the graphite-painted
and the black on red 37 . However, the presence
of these ceramic traditions is not attested in the
layers excavated.
Early Bronze Age
The Early Bronze Age is represented at
Limenaria by an excavated area of only 70
square meters. At least three building phases of
the period were located on the hilltop. The first
habitation layer (Fig. 9) consists of a floor made
of pebble, sherds and solid soil, maybe part of a
road or a yard, associated with an hearth and a
large garbage pit (Photo. 12), all being limited
by a wall to the north. This phase is founded on
the natural ground in the south part of the
excavated area, and on a fill of loose soil,
stones and abundant Neolithic pottery in the
north part. It seems, therefore, that it was
necessary to arrange the natural ground by
creating artificial fills and by levelling in order
to prepare a solid base for construction. For this
purpose, soil was transferred from areas of the
settlement with Neolithic deposits.
A layer, 0,30 to 0,50 m thick, consisting
of brown argile with pebbles, covers this phase
as well. This lead us to believe that filling and
levelling in order to re-use the same area took
place after the destruction of the first habitation
phase. Pottery characteristic of the EB II period
in Eastern Macedonia (Photo. 13), with incised
and impressed decoration with white infill, was
36
37

Keighley 1986, 363.

1992, 189.

432

Stratis PAPADOPOULOS & Dimitra MALAMIDOU

traced in the fill 38 . It is interesting to note that

the Neolithic ceramic material of this layer must
belong to the latest phases of the Late Neolithic.
It is characterised by the limited use of graphite,
in rectilinear patterns only, by the pink or
whitish paint on dark ground in motifs imitating
those of the graphite, and by the addition of
crusted paints, purple and pink (Photo. 14). The
dating of these wares to the first half of the 4th
mill. in Thasos 39 , is under discussion and we
cite it here reluctantly.
The later habitation phase (Fig. l0) which
lies above the second fill has features which are
difficult to interpret and find no parallels in the
Aegean world and the Balkans. To this phase
belongs a wide slightly curving wall, built with
large pebbles, uncovered in 5 m length. A
group of oblong stones, fixed vertically in rows,
on a pebble floor was discovered to the area
east of the wall (Photo. 15). Fifteen stones of
this type were found in situ while 3 or 4 were
moved due to the extended disturbance. They
protrude 0,30 to 0,40 m from the pebble floor
level (Photo. 16).
The larger stones reach 0,70 m in height,
0,35 m in width, and are 0,20 m thick. Traces of
a rough workmanship of the surface can be
observed on some of them. A row of flag stones
to the north of the excavated area probably
belongs to a later arrangement of the area. An
egg-shaped flat stone, measuring 0,50 to 0,63 m
and 0,16 m width, bearing 30 small cavities
along its perimeter around a central one on the
top surface (Photo. 17), was discovered to the
west side of this pebble floor close to the wall.
Its shape recalls the so-called offering tables
well-known in the Southern Aegean.
The understanding of this later habitation
phase at Limenaria is difficult mainly for two
reasons: The first one is the absence of
sufficient stratigraphic context which is due to
the fact that this phase lies immediately under
the surface layer which was very disturbed. The
second reason, mentioned above, is the form of
the structures which have no parallels in the
surrounding area. It seems that what we have is
an open-air area -hypothesis strengthened by

the lack of finds- the identity of which,

utilitarian or symbolic, can not be, for the time
being, ascertained.
One can insists on the ideological /
symbolic character of the find, offering the
megalithic monuments of the Western
Mediterranean as the closest parallel. There,
stones, the so-called menhir, vertically fixed on
the ground in rows, circles or other formations
are usually associated with funerary or cult
structures. Rows of vertical stones, often
incorporating large numbers of menhirs, usually
of large dimensions, in some cases however
smaller than 0,50 m. are found in Corse 40 ,
where Mediterranean megalithic tradition is
the rule. Such structures are usually located
close to passages, springs or serve as boundary
marks of agricultural, husbandry-oriented, or
even ceremonial grounds. In Sardinia 41 ,
towards the end of the Chalcolithic period,
shortly before the middle of the 3rd mill., slab
covered areas surrounded with menhirs, built on
top of terraces, can be found near the external
limits of settlements or, in rare cases, among the
houses of an inhabited area. Those structures
are usually connected with ceremonial
activities, as well.
Also, we cannot overlook the megalithic
tradition of Thasos itself, as this is expressed in
the human-shaped stelae from Skala Sotiros and
Potos 42 . These were not found in their original
position; the ones at Skala Sotiros were built in
the settlement wall, a use that certainly annulled
their initial purpose, while the stele from Potos
is a chance find. As related artefacts from the
wider Aegean area we may cite the stelae of
Troy I 43 and Argissa 44 . The baitylos in the area
513 of Poliochni Red 45 has been considered a
ceremonial object.
On the other hand, we may not exclude
the possibility that the find may have had a
utilitarian purpose that may coexist with the

40
41
42
43

38
39

1997, 199.
Demoule 1993, 383.

44
45

Camps 1994, 68.

Webster 1999, 53.
- (1987) 1988, 396; (1989) 1992, 512.
Korfmann & Mannsperger 1997, 53.
Biesantz 1959, Fig. 1-2.
Poliochni 1997, 105.

Limenaria, a Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Settlement at Thasos

symbolic one. To this corroborate the following

observations:
a. The vertical stones of Limenaria bear
no trace of special treatment on their surfaces.
Therefore, they do not belong to the type of the
anthropomorphic stelae.
b. The stones that were preserved intact
are of the same height. Even if this indicate an
intentional levelling, it remains difficult to
accept that it supported some sort of
construction, because of the pointed tops of the
stones.
It is worth discussing the presence of the
offering table, an object the function of which
in the area of the wider Aegean is also under
discussion. It would be preferable to term such
objects stones with cavities (pierre
cupules) rather than offering tables or
kernoi, a terminology which was established
in analogy to the Eleusinian kernoi of the
historical periods during the early discussions
on the subject 46 . These objects are usually made
of limestone and bear a large number, 30 to 40
of cavities. Despite the fact that each one of the
known examples has its own morphological
features, it seems that all follow a common
prototype, maybe connected with a Middle
Neolithic seal type of Thessaly 47 .
They have been interpreted as ceremonial
objects, serving the acts of offering and
libation, and they have been connected with the
female deity of the Minoan religion or the
Rhea-Kybele 48 . It has been however proposed
by some, like Evans and Effenterre 49 , that they
were simple games. Most examples come from
the palace at Malia 50 . They were discovered not
only in the central court and the west wing of
the palace, but also in the Chryssolakkos
cemetery. They are very rare in North Aegean:
a large flagstone with cavities in assymetrical
arrangement was used in one of the bastions of
gate B at Skala Sotiros 51 . A related find,
interpreted as a game-table, was found in the

paved street 12l during the old excavations at

Poliochni 52 . Objects of such type seem to
continue to be used in the area of the North
Aegean during the historical period 53 .
During the EB II period, the settlement at
Skala Sotiros 54 , gives the impression of a small
fortified settlement, not larger than 1,500 m,
enclosed in a wall built by flagstones, among
which were embedded human-shaped stelae.
Here, the presence of semicircular bastions and
antae, which reinforce the wall from the inside,
as well as the fishbone wall construction permit
comparisons with Aegean settlements such as
Kastri in Syros, Panormos, Kynthos, Aegina,
Lerna, Liman Tepe and Troy 55 , even with
West-Mediterrannean sites at Spain, Sicily and
Corse 56 . The use of large flagstones as
orthostates mostly in the area of the gates is
also reminiscent of Troy.
If we add to this, the picture emerging
from Limenaria, no matter how fragmentary,
we reach the conclusion that during this period
Thasos is closer to the Aegean architectural
tradition than to that of Macedonia and Thrace,
where Neolithic architectural practices continue
to be in use, with clay and wood as dominant
building material 57 . This idea is congruent with
the renewed interest to settle coastal sites
located mostly to the south part of the island.
The finds from the excavated area of the
Bronze Age settlement are limited, and their
date under discussion due to the extended fills
mentioned above. But, we can briefly point
that:
The technology of chipped tools offers
indications of a decline in the layers of the 3rd
mill. a fact observed in other contemporary
North Greek sites 58 . Advance in hunting
technology is marked by the adoption of arrowheads, a widely diffused innovation during the
3rd mill. 59 . Obsidian in small quantities reaches
52
53

46
47
48
49
50
51

Chapouthier 1928, 309.

Papathanassopoulos 1996, 333, 334; 1992, 85.
Pelon 1988, 31.
Evans 1930, 390-395; Van Effenterre 1955, 541-548.
Pelon 1992, 62.
-, 1988, 402, Fig. 7.

433

54
55
56
57
58
59

Poliochni 1997, 94, Fig. 1.

(1989) 1992, 220.
- 1987-1990.
Barber 1987, 53; 1984, 77, 85; Erkanal 1997;
Korfmann & Mannsperger 1997.
Chapman 1990, 78; Malone et al. 1994, 173.
Malamidou 1997, 332.
Treuil 1992, n. 33, 81, 96; Fotiadis 1985, 87.
Treuil 1992, n. 20, 148.

434

Stratis PAPADOPOULOS & Dimitra MALAMIDOU

the settlement during its whole life-span. The

study of samples from Limenaria and Skala
Sotiros under the microscope, as part of the
Democritus Obsidian Analysis Program 60
proved that these tools came from Melos and,
more precisely, the vast majority came from
Adamas.
The large number of spindle whorls in
the Bronze Age layers indicates that weaving
must have been an activity that has taken off
during this period. That intensification,
however, may have already manifested in the
4th mill., if we take a number of these spindle
whorls to belong to the earlier material of the
intentional fill.
A large number of crude iron lumps was
found in the excavated area. Such material is
abundant in the area around the settlement and
appears in the same abundant quantities in
layers of the Middle Neolithic. Traces of a
metallurgical activity, copper slags and lumps,
were also discovered but we consider their
discussion here premature 61 .
We do not have any radiocarbon dates
yet from deposits of the Bronze Age, and the
relevant ceramic material is limited. Incised,
relief and impressed decoration, including stab
and drag, usually with added white paste in the
grooves, which is widespread in Eastern
Macedonia 62 , has been located in surface and
excavation contexts at Limenaria, but it is not
clear if it was included in the habitation layers
excavated. The presence of dark pottery
represented by bowls and open vessels with
convex walls (Photo. 18), handless or onehandled, can be safely attributed to these
building phases. These phases must be
contemporary to the earliest phase at Skala
Sotiros, Sitagroi Va, Dikili Tash IIIB,
Pentapolis II and Troy I and are dated to the
first half of the 3rd mill., according to the
radiocarbon dates known so far from Eastern
Macedonia 63 .

60
61
62
63

N.C.S.R. Demokritos, Laboratory of Archaeometry (V.

Kilikoglou, A. Moundrea-Agrafioti, A. Kyritsi).
N.C.S.R. Demokritos, Laboratory of Archaeometry (I.
Bassiakos).
1997, 199.
- (1990) 1993, 535.

Calibrated dates between 3100 and 2700

are considered valid for Sitargoi Va, between
2700 and 2200 for Sitagroi Vb, between 2550
and 2350 for Pentapolis II, and between 2590
and 1750 for Skala Sotiros. The date of the
second phase of the Bronze Age sector -that is
the stone-paved area wit menhirs- can be even
later, if we consider as a certain chronological
kriterion the presence of typical EB II pottery in
the levelling fill just under the terrace. Also, if
the presence of the stone of cavities is taken
as a testimony of cultural relations connecting
Limenaria with the South Aegean, then a date
after the beginning of the 2nd mill. must not be
out of the question. This idea is dictated by the
lowest of the calibrated dates of Sitagroi and
Skala Sotiros.

STRATIS PAPADOPOULOS &

DIMITRA MALAMIDOU
18th Ephorate of Prehistoric and
Classical Antiquities,
Kavala, GREECE

Limenaria, a Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Settlement at Thasos

435

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List of Illustrations:
Figures:
Fig. 1: Thasos: The prehistoric sites
Fig. 2: Limenaria: The Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Sectors.
Fig. 3: NL Sector: Habitation layer of 1,35-1,45 m.
Fig. 4: NL Sector: Habitation layer of 2,05 m.
Fig. 5: Middle Neolithic figurine
Fig. 6: Middle Neolithic pottery
Fig. 7: Middle Neolithic bowls
Fig. 8: Calibrated Radiocarbon Dates of Middle Neolithic layers
Fig. 9: EB Sector:1st haditation layer
Fig. 10: EB Sector: 2nd habitation layer

Photos:
Photo. 1: NL Sector: Storage pit and stone assemblage
Photo. 2: NL Sector: Storage pit filled with shattered vases
Photo. 3: NL Sector: Stone wall supporting a terrace
Photo. 4: Chipped tools
Photo. 5: Bone tools
Photo. 6: Stone pendant
Photo. 7: Stone eight-shaped artifacts
Photo. 8: NL sector: The burial of a child
Photo. 9: Transport vase
Photo. 10: Four-legged bowl
Photo. 11: Incised Tripods
Photo. 12: EB Sector,1st habitation layer: hearth and garbage pit
Photo. 13: EB pottery
Photo. 14: LN pottery
Photo. I5: EB Sector, 2nd habitation layer: The pebble floor
Photo. 16: EB Sector, 2nd habitation layer: The menhirs
Photo. 17: Stone with cavities
Photo. 18: Vessel belonging to the 1st habitation layer of EB

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