Archaeology of Ancient Greece

Archaeology of Ancient Greece

Annotated Bibliography

Bennet, John, “Knossos in Context: Comparative Perspectives on the Linear B Administration of LM I-III Crete”, American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 94, No. 2 (April 1990): 193-211

Summary- This article chronicled the linear B tablets throughout the island of Crete from the Palatial Period up until the Venetian Period in order to analyze the power structures. Linear B is the writing of the administrations so this is what is used to establish if there was one main administration on the island or whether the main administration was off of the island. Another issue addressed was about the political boundaries of the different palace complexes on the island and how they were defined by the geographical boundaries. Though a map was provided, I think that it should have should the physical features to back up Bennet’s claim on geography having a big affect on the distribution of the palace centers. He concludes that the island did not have a single area that served as a natural center and that Crete was made up of city-states that formed without any outside interference. They were always fighting with one another until the island was under the power of the Romans or Venetians.

Biers, William R., The Archaeology of Greece: An Introduction. Cornell University: New York: Cornell University Press, 1980.

Chapter 1 (Introduction) - This chapter started by outlining the general fieldwork processes and the different kinds of artifacts. It started from the before the excavation to the actual digging and stratigraphy. The chapter was pretty basic without a lot of details about specific the Greek archaeology. There was also information about marine archaeology. Overall I thought the author should have added some information about the Greek excavations that was unique to their region. Perhaps more information about the groups that were doing archaeology in Greece at the time and some challenges they were...