Mortuary differentiation and social structure in the Middle Helladic Argolid, 2000-1500 B.C.

Contents

Preface ;

Introduction ;

Chapter 1: Lerna-Myloi ;
Lerna: Introduction ;
Lerna: The cemetery ;
Lerna: Grave analysis ;
Lerna: The finds ;
Myloi: Introduction ;
Myloi: The cemetery ;
Myloi: Grave analysis ;
Myloi: The finds ;
Lerna and Myloi: Concluding discussion ;

Chapter 2: Asine ;
Asine: Introduction ;
Kastraki: The cemetery ;
Kastraki: Grave analysis ;
Kastraki: The finds ;
Kastraki: Concluding discussion ;
East cemetery (Tumulus IQ): The cemetery ;
East cemetery: Grave analysis ;
East cemetery: Concluding discussion ;
Barbouna: The cemetery ;
Barbouna: Grave analysis ;
Barboyna: The finds ;
Barbouna: Concluding discussion ;
Change through time 259 ;
Asine: Inter-cemetery analysis ;

Chapter 3: The Aspis in Argos ;
The Aspis: Introduction ;
The Aspis: The cemetery ;
The Aspis: Grave analysis ;
The Aspis: The finds ;
The Aspis: Concluding discussion ;

Chapter 4: Summary and conclusions ;
Lerna and Myloi: Summary ;
Asine: Summary ;
The Aspis in Argos: Summary ;
Conclusions ;

Appendix I: Lerna V: Stray human bones found among the animal bone samples ;

Appendix II: Lerna: Arm position of contracted skeletons ;

Appendix III: Lerna: Body orientation ;

Appendix IV: Lerna: Composition of the grave finds assemblage ;

Appendix V: Lerna: Non-pottery finds correlations ;

Appendix VI: List of graves ;

References

About the Author

Eleni Milka obtained her PhD on mortuary differentiation in the Argolid as part of the project ‘Shifting Identities. Social Change and Cultural Interaction in the Middle Helladic Argolid, 2000-1500 BC’ (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research and the University of Groningen). Her M.Phil. Dissertation was on ‘Burial Practices in Neolithic Greece’ (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Archaeology), and she has also trained in human osteology and paleopathology (Democritus University of Thrace, Department of History and Ethnology). She has participated in many excavation projects, including the Barnavos-Nemea Valley Archaeological Project and the Ayia Sotira-Nemea Mycenaean Chamber Tomb Cemetery Project (Bryn Mawr College) and the Paliambela, Pieria Excavations Project (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and University of Sheffield). For many years she has worked in rescue excavations in the Southern Argolid (EFAAR). Her research interests include Aegean Prehistory, Mortuary Archaeology and Bioarchaeology.

Reviews

'Regarding mortuary differentiation in the [Middle Helladic] Argolid, [the author succeeds] in highlighting some subtle differences between kin groups in MH I–II. As regards the social structure linked to the burial pattern, she also points to «a rather fluid situation» and a «continuous negotiation between social groups, most probably kin-related» in MH II (p. 293), followed by a gradual increase in grave size and complexity of construction, an increase in the number of ceramic vases and non-ceramic objects, and the predominance of adults in extramural cemeteries in MH III–LH I (p. 294). There is no doubt that the present book provides the necessary elements to reflect further on MH funerary customs and social structures in the East Peloponnese and beyond.' – Laetitia Phialon (2025): Gnomon Bd. 97