Site details

Kea: Ayia Irini

PK	C1163
TITLE	Kea: Ayia Irini
WGS84	37.668887° N, 24.325899° E
Accuracy	Exact

LAT/LON	37.668887, 24.325899
LON/LAT	24.325899, 37.668887

DMS

37° 40' 7.9932" N

24° 19' 33.2364" E

W3W	tardy, showing, mason
UTM	35 S, 264148, 4172443
EGSA87	528593, 4168841

Elevation m	5
Elevation feet	16.4
Region	Cyclades
Subregion	Kea

GENERAL SITE TYPE Hab

TYPE

1.    Artifacts.   AE [1895], 235
2.    Artifacts.   Caskey [1962], 281
3.    Artifacts.   Caskey [1972], 400
4.    Artifacts.   Syriopoulos [1995], 1128
5.    hab.   Simpson [1981], 187    'It already had a fortification wall and substantial houses in the Middle Bronze Age;...'
6.    hab.   Caskey [1971], 362    This article affords a detailed discussion of every aspect of the habitation of Ayia Irini
7.    Pottery.   Simpson and Dickinson [1979], 305    Strong representation of most periods with an initial focus on Minoan pottery.
8.    Settlement.   Simpson and Dickinson [1979], 305    ' ... the site was already a fortified town with sophisticated architecture and wide Aegean connections; ... '
9.    Settlement.   Schallin [1993], 14    ' ... and was an important settlement in the Bronze Age Cyclades.'
10.    Wall.   Simpson and Dickinson [1979], 305    'New and more extensive fortifications were built at a stage contemporary with MM III, ... '
11.    Wall.   Simpson and Hagel [2006], 109    'The excavations revealed that the site already had a fortification wall and substantial houses in the Middle Bronze Age: ... '

SITE SIZE

- Simpson [1981]  p. 187,  Size: 11600 sq. m.  By direct measurement in Google Earth.

PERIOD (High Chronology)

1. Late Neolithic: (4500 BC - 3100 BC)
    a.    Soterakopoulos [2004]: 73, 'NN. ... '

2. Early Bronze Age: (3200 BC - 2100 BC)
    a.    Caskey [1971]: 363, 'Therefore evidence of habitation in the Early and Middle Bronze Ages is to be found today chiefly on the eastern and western sides, ... '

3. Early Bronze Age II: (3000 BC - 2700 BC)
    a.    Simpson [1981]: 187, N EB II-III MB LB I-II LH IIIA1-C PG …
    b.    Simpson and Dickinson [1979]: 305, ' ...; the site was certainly occupied in EBII, ... '

4. Early Bronze Age III: (2700 BC - 2200 BC)
    a.    Simpson [1981]: 187, N EB II-III MB LB I-II LH IIIA1-C PG …
    b.    Simpson and Dickinson [1979]: 305, ' ... and EB III, when it is most closely related to Euboea ... '

5. EH II: (2700 BC - 2200 BC)
    a.    Caskey [1971]: 369, 'Sauceboat fragments are plentiful, and an engaging theriomorphic pot ... was found with them. Undoubtedly they belong to the time of E.H.II/E.C.II.'

6. Early Cycladic II: (2700 BC - 2450 BC)
    a.    Caskey [1971]: 369, 'Sauceboat fragments are plentiful, and an engaging theriomorphic pot ... was found with them. Undoubtedly they belong to the time of E.H.II/E.C.II.'
    b.    Soterakopoulos [2004]: 73, ' ... ΠK (II, «Καστρί») ... '

7. Kastri: (2450 BC - 2200 BC)
    a.    Soterakopoulos [2004]: 73, ' ... ΠK (II, «Καστρί») ... '

8. Middle Bronze Age: (2100 BC - 1550 BC)
    a.    Simpson [1981]: 187, N EB II-III MB LB I-II LH IIIA1-C PG …
    b.    Caskey [1971]: 363, 'Therefore evidence of habitation in the Early and Middle Bronze Ages is to be found today chiefly on the eastern and western sides, ... '
    c.    Simpson and Hagel [2006]: 109, 'The fortification wall, built in late MB, was about 2 m thick.'
    d.    Schallin [1993]: 15, 'Ayia Irini was a prosperous settlement already in the MBA ... '

9. Middle Helladic: (2000 BC - 1600 BC)
    a.    Simpson and Dickinson [1979]: 305, ' ...; the next identifiable phase evidently overlaps with MM II and matuire MH.'

10. Middle Cycladic: (2000 BC - 1600 BC)
    a.    Soterakopoulos [2004]: 73, ' ... ΜΚ ... '

11. Middle Minoan II: (1850 BC - 1750 BC)
    a.    Simpson [1981]: 187, N EB II-III MB LB I-II LH IIIA1-C PG …
    b.    Simpson and Dickinson [1979]: 305, ' ...; the next identifiable phase evidently overlaps with MM II and matuire MH.'

12. Middle Minoan IIA: (1850 BC - 1775 BC)
    a.    Caskey [1971]: 368, ' ... a few small pieces of imported Kamares ware (M.M.IIA) are notable.'

13. Middle Minoan III: (1750 BC - 1675 BC)
    a.    Caskey [1971]: 363, ' ... the oldest segments were constructed before the end of the Middle Bronze Age, probably within the time of M.M.III in Crete.'
    b.    Simpson and Dickinson [1979]: 305, 'New and more extensive fortifications were built at a stage contemporary with MM III.'

14. Late Helladic: (1700 BC - 1050 BC)
    a.    Simpson [1981]: 187, N EB II-III MB LB I-II LH IIIA1-C PG …

15. Late Helladic I: (1700 BC - 1635 BC)
    a.    Simpson [1981]: 187, N EB II-III MB LB I-II LH IIIA1-C PG …
    b.    Simpson and Dickinson [1979]: 304, ' ..., when almost as much LH I-II as LM IA-B was imported; ... '

16. Late Minoan IA: (1675 BC - 1625 BC)
    a.    Simpson [1981]: 187, N EB II-III MB LB I-II LH IIIA1-C PG …
    b.    Simpson and Dickinson [1979]: 305, ' ..., when almost as much LH I-II as LM IA-B was imported; ... '

17. Late Helladic II: (1635 BC - 1410 BC)
    a.    Simpson [1981]: 187, N EB II-III MB LB I-II LH IIIA1-C PG …
    b.    Caskey [1971]: 366, 'Lower in the black mud and in the gray-brown there were small sherds of L.M.IB/L.H.II wares, a few plain jugs, and pieces of local coarse wares, including conical cups.'
    c.    Simpson and Dickinson [1979]: 305, ' ..., when almost as much LH I-II as LM IA-B was imported; ... '

18. LH IIA: (1635 BC - 1470 BC)
    a.    Caskey [1971]: 383, 'Pottery from the earlier strata of floor-deposits is of L.M.IB/L.H.IIA styles, whereas ... '

19. Late Cycladic II: (1625 BC - 1420 BC)
    a.    Schallin [1993]: 15, 'The prosperous times ended when earthquakes hit the island at the close of the early LBA, ... '

20. Late Minoan IB: (1625 BC - 1470 BC)
    a.    Simpson [1981]: 187, N EB II-III MB LB I-II LH IIIA1-C PG …
    b.    Simpson [1981]: 187, N EB II-III MB LB I-II LH IIIA1-C PG …
    c.    Caskey [1971]: 366, 'Lower in the black mud and in the gray-brown there were small sherds of L.M.IB/L.H.II wares, ... '
    d.    Caskey [1971]: 377, ' ... was a long history of architectural changes, not only in the great period which corresponds with M.M.III-L.M.IB but also before that ... '
    e.    Simpson and Dickinson [1979]: 305, ' ...; the connection with Crete grew stronger during the later MBA to reach its peak at the time of LM IB.'
    f.    Simpson and Dickinson [1979]: 305, ' ..., when almost as much LH I-II as LM IA-B was imported; ... '

21. Late Bronze Age: (1570 BC - 1200 BC)
    a.    Caskey [1971]: 363, ' ... undoubtedly occupied the whole site in the first part of the Late Bronze Age.'
    b.    Simpson and Hagel [2006]: 109, 'The walls continued in use ... in early LB, ... '
    c.    Soterakopoulos [2004]: 73, ' ... ΥΕΧ (I-IIIΓ).'

22. Late Bronze I: (1570 BC - 1400 BC)
    a.    Simpson [1981]: 187, N EB II-III MB LB I-II LH IIIA1-C PG …
    b.    Soterakopoulos [2004]: 73, ' ... ΥΕΧ (I-IIIΓ).'

23. Late Cycladic III: (1420 BC - 1200 BC)
    a.    Schallin [1993]: 15, 'In the late LBA only the Temple shows evidence of use.'

24. LH IIIA: (1410 BC - 1315 BC)
    a.    Caskey [1971]: 374, ' ... rest on a stratum containing imported Mycenaean wares of L.H.IIIA style.'
    b.    Caskey [1971]: 385, 'Above these levels there is a conspicuous change, the sherds being of L.H.IIIA and IIIB types.'
    c.    Syriopoulos [1995]: 1128,
    d.    Simpson and Hagel [2006]: 109, ' ... they were repaired early in LB III (i.e. in LH IIIA) ... '

25. LH IIIA1: (1410 BC - 1375 BC)
    a.    Simpson [1981]: 187, N EB II-III MB LB I-II LH IIIA1-C PG …
    b.    Caskey [1971]: 367, 'In the brief period of reoccupation, L.H.IIIA1, it was repaired and ... '
    c.    Schallin [1993]: 15, 'Another earthquake occurred at a time when LHIIIA1 pottery was in use, ... '

26. Late Bronze II: (1400 BC - 1200 BC)
    a.    Simpson [1981]: 187, N EB II-III MB LB I-II LH IIIA1-C PG …
    b.    Simpson and Hagel [2006]: 109, ' ... after the earthquake which devastated the site at the end of LB II.'
    c.    Soterakopoulos [2004]: 73, ' ... ΥΕΧ (I-IIIΓ).'

27. LH IIIA2: (1375 BC - 1320 BC)
    a.    Simpson [1981]: 187, N EB II-III MB LB I-II LH IIIA1-C PG …
    b.    Caskey [1971]: 366, 'A number of small pots and sherds from the brown stratum and the upper part of the black are of L.H.IIIA2 style.'
    c.    Simpson and Dickinson [1979]: 305, ' ..., certainly post-LH IIIA2 material ... '

28. LH IIIB: (1320 BC - 1190 BC)
    a.    Simpson [1981]: 187, N EB II-III MB LB I-II LH IIIA1-C PG …
    b.    Caskey [1971]: 386, 'Above these levels there is a conspicuous change, the sherds being of L.H.IIIA and IIIB types.'
    c.    Caskey [1971]: 380, 'An isolated rubbish pit near the south-east corner of the bastion contained Mycenaean pottery of latest IIIB or early IIIC styles, ... '
    d.    AE [1895]: 235,
    e.    Syriopoulos [1995]: 1128,

29. LH IIIC: (1190 BC - 1060 BC)
    a.    Simpson [1981]: 187, N EB II-III MB LB I-II LH IIIA1-C PG …
    b.    Caskey [1971]: 380, 'An isolated rubbish pit near the south-east corner of the bastion contained Mycenaean pottery of latest IIIB or early IIIC styles, ... '
    c.    AE [1895]: 235,
    d.    Caskey [1962]: 281, A large krater ... Its shape and its pattern ... point to a late date, probably Mycenaean III C.
    e.    Caskey [1972]: 400,
    f.    Syriopoulos [1995]: 1128,
    g.    Simpson and Dickinson [1979]: 305, ' ... a major focus of activity until late in LH IIIC, ... '

30. Protogeometric: (1100 BC - 900 BC)
    a.    AE [1895]: 235,
    b.    Simpson and Dickinson [1979]: 305, 'A continuous series of post-BA material, beginning in PG, ... '

31. Geometric: (900 BC - 700 BC)
    a.    AE [1895]: 235,
    b.    Simpson and Dickinson [1979]: 304, 'N EB II-III MB LB I-II LHIIIA1-C PG A C '

32. Archaic: (700 BC - 480 BC)
    a.    Simpson and Dickinson [1979]: 304, 'N EB II-III MB LB I-II LHIIIA1-C PG A C '

NOTE

1. Schallin [1993] 8, Table 1 places LCII in the early LBA and LCIII in the late LBA.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. AE [1895]: Archaiologike Ephemeris, Athens, Greece. 1895, '', pg. 235.

2. Caskey [1962]: Caskey, John L.. ‘Excavations in Keos, 1960-1961’, Hesperia, vol. 31(3), pp. 263-283. 1962., '', pg. 281. Online here.

3. Caskey [1972]: Caskey, John L.. ‘Investigations in Keos. Part II: A Conspectus of the Pottery’, Hesperia, vol. 41, issue 3, pp. 357-401, 1972, '', pg. 400. Online here.

4. Caskey [1971]: Caskey, John L.. ‘Investigations in Keos. Part I: Excavations and Explorations, 1966-1970’, Hesperia, vol. 40, issue 4, pp. 358-396, 1971, 'Ayia Irini', pg. 362. Online here.

5. Schallin [1993]: Schallin, Ann-Louise. Islands under Influence: The Cyclades in the Late Bronze Age and the Nature of Mycenaean Presence.. Studies in Mediterranean Archaeology, no. 111. Jonsered 1993, '13. Ayia Irini', pg. 14.

6. Simpson and Hagel [2006]: Simpson, R. Hope and D.K. Hagel. Mycenaean Fortifications, Highways, Dams and Canals. SIMA vol. 133. Paul Åströms Förlag. Sävedalen, Sweden. 2006., 'Kea: Ayia Irini', pg. 109.

7. Simpson [1981]: Simpson, Richard Hope. Mycenaean Greece. Park Ridge, New Jersey: Noyes Press, 1981., 'Kea: Ayia Irini', pg. 187. Online here.

8. Simpson and Dickinson [1979]: Simpson, Richard Hope and O.T.P.K. Dickinson. A Gazetteer of Aegean Civilization in the Bronze Age, Vol. I: The Mainland and the Islands. Paul Åströms Förlag, Goteborg. 1979., 'Kea; Ayia Irini', pg. 304. Online here.

9. Soterakopoulos [2004]: Sotirakopoulou, Panayiota (Peggy). ‘«Η 'απουσία' της Μεσοκυκλαδικής περιόδου από τις Κυκλάδες. Νέα στοιχεία από την Αμοργό»’, Αρχαιολογική Εφημερίς 2004, 53-80., '16. Άγια Είρήνη.', pg. 73. Online here.

10. Syriopoulos [1995]: Syriopoulos, Konstantinos. Γενικος Συνοπτικος Καταλογος Των Περιεχομενων και των Δυο Τομων: Δευτερος Τομος. Athens: Athens Archaeological Society. 1995., '', pg. 1128.