184
Documenta Praehistorica XLVIII (2021)
Introduction
Thessaly in central Greece is internationally renown-
ed for the many multi-layered settlement mounds
or magoules located not only in the vast plain, but
also in hilly areas. A chain of mountains comprising
the Lower Mt. Olympos in the north, followed by Mt.
Ossa, Mavrovouni, and ending with Mt. Pilion and
its adjacent hilltops in the south, separates the Thes-
salian Plain from the Aegean Sea. Especially the
western flanks of this chain of mountains provided
basic resources, such as flowing bodies of water,
some of them feeding lakes, or different kinds of
precious rocks like marble, gabbro and serpentinite.
Elateia 1 in northeastern Thessaly 8000 years ago>
relative and absolute chronology of a flat extended settlement
Agathe Reingruber 1, Giorgos Toufexis2, and Yannis Maniatis 3
1 Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology, Freie Universität Berlin, D
agathe.reingruber@fu-berlin.de
2 Ephorate of Antiquities of Larissa, Diachronic Museum of Larissa, GR< geotoufexis@yahoo.gr
3 Laboratory of Archaeometry, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Centre of Scientific
Research “Demokritos”, GR< y.maniatis@inn.demokritos.gr
ABSTRACT – Intensive and systematic surveys in the area south of Mount Olympos and west of Mount
Ossa revealed not only tell settlements, but also several flat sites from different prehistoric periods.
For one of the settlements, namely Elateia 1, a detailed relative chronological assessment was made
with the help of statistical evaluations of pottery assemblages. In addition, short-lived bone samples
confirmed and more precisely defined the exact chronological position of this 10-hectare site within
the Middle Neolithic period. The present study underlines the importance of statistical evaluations of
complete pottery assemblages, even those obtained through survey investigations, and their signifi-
cance for a better understanding of chronological, chorological and post-depositional processes.
IZVLE∞EK – Intenzivni in sistemati≠ni terenski pregledi na obmo≠ju ju∫no od gore Olimp in zahod-
no od gore Ossa so odkrili ne le naselbine tipa tell, ampak tudi ∏tevilna plana najdi∏≠a iz razli≠nih
prazgodovinskih obdobij. S pomo≠jo statisti≠nega vrednotenja zbirov lon≠enine smo za eno izmed
teh najdi∏≠, tj. Elateio 1, izdelali natan≠no oceno relativne kronologije. Najdi∏≠e, ki je veliko 10 hek-
tarjev, smo tako lahko s pomo≠jo kratko∫ivih vzorcev kosti potrdili in bolj podrobno opredelili na-
tan≠no kronolo∏ko pozicijo v obdobju srednjega neolitika. S pri≠ujo≠o ∏tudijo poudarjamo pomen sta-
tisti≠nega vrednotenja celotnih lon≠eninskih zbirov, tudi tistih, ki so bili pridobljeni s povr∏inskimi
preiskavami, in njihov pomen pri razumevanju kronolo∏kih, horolo∏kih in podepozicijskih procesov.
KEY WORDS – Thessaly; flat sites; Early Neolithic; Middle Neolithic; absolute and relative chronology;
pottery analysis
KLJU∞NE BESEDE – Tesalija; plana najdi∏≠a; zgodnji neolitik; srednji neolitik; absolutna in relativna
kronologija; analiza lon≠enine
Elateia 1 v severovzhodni Tesaliji pred 8000 leti>
relativna in absolutna kronologija plane raz[irjene naselbine
DOI> 10.4312\dp.48.22
Elateia 1 in northeastern Thessaly 8000 years ago> relative and absolute chronology of a flat extended settlement
185
ery with rotating deep ploughs not only destroys
clods of earth, but also (pre)historic finds and arte-
facts. The few flat sites known so far were either
discovered during extensive surveys or rescue ex-
cavations, or brought to the attention of the Epho-
rate by local people (Gallis 1992; Toufexis 2017.
28–30, 345–350; Anetakis et al. 2020). This was the
case at Elateia 1 in the area called ‘Bigmeni Petra’
(Μπηγμε′νη Πε′τρα) because of a 2.26m long ‘stand-
ing stone’ erected at the highest point of the site.
The Basin of Elateia
In the spring of 2017, we started systematic re-
search in the north-easternmost area of Thessaly,
south of Mt. Olympos and west of Mt. Ossa (Fig. 1).
There, over time, two basins had formed, those of
Sykourio and Elateia. The southerly Basin of Sykou-
rio had already been investigated in the late 1950s
to early 1960s by Dimitrios Theocharis (1962). He
was able to identify several sites, all of which he
classified as magoules. Six of them were presum-
ably related to a lake, the ‘Bara Toibasi’, today des-
iccated (Reingruber et al. 2021). A seventh site was
identified later in the very south of the Sykourio Ba-
sin (Gallis 1992). In the very
north, near the opening lead-
ing to the Basin of Elateia, a
magoula was founded upon
a natural hill during the Neo-
lithic period, which was in-
habited mainly in the Bronze
Age: Bounarbasi (Kilian
1976).
Less attention was given to
the Basin of Elateia, north of
Bounarbasi. It is crossed by
the River Pinios in the north,
whose course defines the
northern limit of the investi-
gated area. From the conflu-
ence of the Kalamitsa and Pi-
nios rivers in the north down
to the modern village of Ky-
pselochori the distance is c.
9km. In east-west direction,
from modern Elateia to Ma-
krychori, the distance is only
4.8km. On both of its lateral
sides the Basin of Elateia is
bordered by either a steep
mountain or by a chain of
hills: Mt. Ossa in the east se-
As such, they offered prehistoric peoples perfect
living conditions with abundant water resources,
fertile alluvial fans and soils, and direct access to
raw materials.
One hundred and twenty years ago the famous sites
of Sesklo and Dimini in the south-eastern part of
Thessaly were extensively excavated, and 60 years
ago two sites in the northeastern reaches, Nessonis
I and Gediki (Fig. 1), were investigated with small
trenches. Today, 60 years later, in an ongoing Ger-
man-Greek cooperation project under the auspices
of the Ephorate of Antiquities in Larissa and sup-
ported by the German Research Foundation, spe-
cial attention has turned towards systematic and
intensive surveys and non-invasive investigation
methods. During this research we discovered seve-
ral flat sites that had escaped attention in previous
times.
Flat sites are much more difficult to locate, due to
their comparatively thin cultural layer subjected to
erosion or, in contrast, due to their coverage with
thick alluvial deposits. They are extremely endan-
gered, especially since today’s agricultural machin-
Fig. 1. Eastern Thessaly with the basins of Sykourio and Elateia and some
of the Neolithic sites mentioned in the text.
Agathe Reingruber, Giorgos Toufexis, and Yannis Maniatis
186
parates it from the Aegean Sea, and the Erimon
and the Drachmani (Patoma) hills separate the basin
from the Thessalian Plain. From the latter, only a
few and short rivulets empty into the River Kalami-
tsa, which enters the basin through an opening from
the south. This river collects the water from both
sides of the basin and finally flows into the Pinios –
or rather, formerly flowed into it, as the Kalamitsa
has dried up, just like its tributaries from the hills.
Until 2017 only the western part of the Basin of Ela-
teia had been investigated through rescue excava-
tions carried out by Giorgos Toufexis at the foot of
the magoula Makrychori 1. This site is known for
its ditch system, the oldest of which is dated back
to the transition Early Neolithic (EN) to Middle Neo-
lithic (MN) (Toufexis 2017.167–172; Reingruber et
al. 2017).
Transects of our systematic survey were laid out
both east and west of the Kalamitsa River, but es-
pecially in its eastern part we encountered several
flat sites from different periods, the largest among
them being Elateia 1 (‘Bigmeni Petra’).
Location of the flat site Elateia 1
The flat settlement south-west of the modern vil-
lage of Elateia lies on the Late Pleistocene–Early Ho-
locene alluvial fan west of Mt. Ossa. The western
confinement of the site is determined by a natural
scarp up to 12m in height (between 63 and 75 masl).
It was formed by the alluvial fan ending there, cut
by the waters of the Kalamitsa River, which has mi-
grated up to 300m farther west over the millennia
(Fig. 2). Another natural boundary is given in the
north by the course of the Tsantarli streamlet (‘re-
ma’) that has also dried up in modern days. To the
south, the settlement area was probably bounded by
a standing body of water, but this needs to be clari-
fied through targeted drillings. To the east, a field
path separates this spur in a N-S direction from the
rest of the terrain, which rises continuously to the
flanks of Mt. Ossa. The settlement area thus delimit-
ed is considerable: 400x260m (about 10 hectares).
The rather small fields in this settlement area not
only belong to different field owners, but are also
cultivated in very different ways: three areas have
been lying fallow for years, so that a dense weed
growth prevents a systematic inspection (Fig. 2). Ge-
nerally, our return twice a year was worthwhile, as
very good field inspection was achieved in two diffe-
rent campaigns per year, one in early spring and
the other in later autumn. Thus, of the 10 hectares
81% has been investigated, the coverage of the site
being as complete and the finds collected as repre-
sentative as possible.
With the exception of the relatively empty areas in
the northeast, the rectangular walking units (‘fields’)
were comparable in size (approx. 900m2, depending
on the topography of the site). These units were sur-
veyed at a regular and constant pace, and the mass
finds (sherds, daub and at first sight unidentifiable
objects) were collected with their respective field
numbers in separate bags. All decorated sherds, like
the small finds, were measured three-dimensionally
with help of GPS-devices and bagged separately.
However, since sometimes decorations could only
be recognized after washing, some such sherds were
not measured with GPS, but they do contain the in-
formation about the field in which they were col-
lected.
The pottery from Elateia 1
The complete inventory and its distribution in
the area of the flat site
From 72 field units (designated with the letter F and
a three-digit number, e.g., F023), 11 489 sherds
were collected, of which only a very small propor-
tion (1.3%) had to be sorted out because they be-
longed to younger periods. Thus, the total sum of
11 337 prehistoric sherds (182.73kg) was available
for processing. The area remains – with the excep-
tion of modern agricultural use – only slightly over-
impacted, and therefore the settlement of Elateia 1
(‘Bigmeni Petra’) can be considered one of the best
preserved flat settlements of the early MN period.
The state of preservation of some of the sherds is
very good, considering that they are surface mate-
rial. However, 3741 sherds, one-third of the total,
are heavily worn, as if rolled by water. These sherds
appeared in certain areas, so that we were also able
to draw conclusions about post-depositional proces-
ses from the time after the settlement was aban-
doned.
The 11 337 Neolithic sherds were not scattered
evenly over the area. At least four clearly recogni-
zable focal points could be identified according to
both number and weight (Fig. 3): one is in the north-
western area with fields F049/F051, another in the
central-western area with fields F201 and F203,
while the most numerous sherds were found in the
southern areas (F148–F149 and F143–F145). A con-
centration of domestic activity in these areas is con-
Elateia 1 in northeastern Thessaly 8000 years ago> relative and absolute chronology of a flat extended settlement
187
firmed by the decorated sherds found there, prob-
ably not in a random scattering. Not only according
to their number, but also when calculated in per-
centage-per-total, the previously established focal
points can be validated and others proposed: the
highest percentage of decorated sherds appeared in
the almond grove, in F033 and F031 (Fig. 4). How-
ever, due to poorer visibility, fewer sherds (and finds
in general) have been collected here.
Both in number and decoration only a few sherds
were recorded in the northeastern part, in F053–
F054, although the visibility there was excellent. We
assume that this area was not part of the domestic
space and as such was not used for dwellings. In-
stead, in this open area gardening or animal keep-
ing may have been carried out (this is in line with
the occurrence of other finds categories, e.g., stone
tools).
The individual field units form the basis for the eva-
luation of all find categories. Due to the aforemen-
tioned differences in the distribution and frequen-
cy of finds, it seemed appropriate to group neigh-
bouring fields with similar characteristics into areas.
Thus, in the course of the evaluation of the finds
eight areas were defined starting from the north-
west (area NW) and ending in the southeast (area
SE). For the ceramic analysis, this meant that the
comparison of features was based on the number of
sherds-per-area, each of which accounted for 100%
within its area. This puts the unevenly high numbers
of finds from, for example, the SW area with 2994
sherds and the NW area with 679 sherds into pers-
pective. Only the area NE with a sparse 77 sherds
falls through this grid. Thus a uniform and consis-
tent type of presentation is maintained.
Pottery categories
The total of 11 337 sherds could be assigned to se-
ven pottery categories, which were determined on
the basis of aesthetic (colour) and technological cri-
teria, such as clay composition, temper, application
of a slip and surface treatment (Fig. 5). Two catego-
ries are relevant only when discussing secondary
changes: 81 sherds burnt in conflagrations, and
3741 sherds were heavily worn and rolled. These
3822 sherds (33%) were withdrawn from evaluation,
as the surfaces were too greatly altered and thus
no unambiguous assignment to a specific category
was possible. Without them, 7515 sherds remain for
examination (Fig. 6), which do not occur uniformly
Fig. 2. A high resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM) of the flat extended site of Elateia 1 with inten-
sively surveyed field units (DEM by Vaggelis Kremastas).
Agathe Reingruber, Giorgos Toufexis, and Yannis Maniatis
188
in all areas. The reasons for these differences will
play a determining role in the future analysis.
The seven ceramic categories represented are all
monochrome. Monochrome surfaces occur in all
phases and subphases of the Neolithic and Chal-
colithic, and therefore this term cannot be used in
a chronological sense. The term ‘monochrome’ is
used here not in opposition to painted styles, but in
opposition to bichrome burnt pottery styles. To the
latter would belong the black-topped pottery of the
EN II and of the LN I with different colours on the
inner and outer surfaces (grey/black and light
brown, respectively), additionally with a black rim,
and no such sherds occurred in Elateia 1. Another
bichrome burnt category refers to reddish oxidized
surfaces contrasting with black reduced ones –
mostly the interior is black and the exterior red, or,
more rarely, the other way around. Such sherds are
represented in Elateia 1 with one piece each and are
statistically irrelevant, as is the black polished type
with only two specimens. These four sherds were
added to the category closest to them. With these
few exceptions, vessels were fired in an oxidizing
atmosphere resulting in reddish/brownish surfaces
both in- and outside.
Well over one-third of the sherds (43%) have red
surfaces with or without coating. Brown surfaces,
mostly light-brown, slightly less often dark-brown
and only very rarely grey-brown, make up 21%.
Very light surfaces were achieved by the application
of a slip (1%) or were made of a very light clay: kao-
lin. This category is represented by only 69 pieces
in Elateia 1, and thus is far less numerous (0.6%),
just as it is generally rare, yet at the same time wide-
spread during the EN/MN in Thessaly.
It is quite a coincidence that
the three main categories ‘red
burnt’, ‘red slip’ and ‘light-
brown burnt’ appear with the
same number of decorated
pieces (133–135 sherds – cf.
Tab. 1). In relation to the
number of decorated sherds
with intact surfaces (540
sherds), they account for 75%
of the total, and can thus be
regarded as standards for the
application of a decoration.
Within the respective catego-
ry, however, only 5–6% of
the red and dark-brown, but
about 11% of the light-brown
and grey-brown vessels were
decorated. Even more popu-
lar as decorative backgrounds
were the light-coloured coat-
ings: more than one-half of
all sherds of this type, almost
55%, were decorated, mostly
painted (60 out of 69). The
very light, kaolin-like surfaces
are also relatively frequently
decorated, at about 7%.
However, when looking at the
frequencies of decorations on
intact surfaces (7515 sherds),
the proportions are different:
the three main types are rep-
resented with almost 2% each,Fig. 3. Elateia 1, field units and frequency of Neolithic pottery (in kg).
Elateia 1 in northeastern Thessaly 8000 years ago> relative and absolute chronology of a flat extended settlement
189
whereas the decorations on a light coating repre-
sented just under 1%. They are thus much rarer and
not evenly distributed throughout the settlement
(see below). The darkish surfaces are also rather ra-
rely decorated, with well under 1%, mostly with im-
presso. A special position can be attributed to the
kaolin type: such vessels may have been considered
particularly aesthetic on the basis of their appear-
ance alone (similar to black-topped in EN II). Never-
theless, five out of 69 sherds were provided with im-
presso and plastic decoration, but at less than 0.1%
of the total they must be regarded as exceptions.
Looking at the categories by area, some aspects stand
out: most rolled/worn sherds occurred in the area
NE, but they are also common in the areas CNE and
CNW. In a representation without the rolled/worn
sherds (Fig. 6), it can be seen that in these two areas
red and light slipped sherds are also fewer, as the
coatings may have also been worn off. In the areas
with little rolled/worn material, the coatings are
also more frequent, especially in CSW. In the two
southernmost areas, the percentages of the single
categories are very similar: the ratio of red fired to
red coated is relatively balanced, but in the case of
the browns the light surfaces predominate. In the
NW and CSW areas, however, the dark-brown surfa-
ces are much more frequent. In the NW area, the
kaolin-like variety is absent and the light coatings
are rarer. In all areas, the grey-browns are constant-
ly represented with about 1% of the total, while the
light-browns tend to be more frequent in the south
rather than in the north of the settlement.
Whether these quite significant differences might be
of chorological and thus relative-chronological im-
portance remains to be discussed based on the eva-
luation of further factors, such as shapes and orna-
mentations. For the moment
we can summarize that the
SW and SE areas show very
great similarities, which also
exist with CSE area. The two
areas CNW and CNE also show
very similar combinations.
With minor differences (ab-
sence of kaolin in NW), the
NW and CSW areas are also
comparable.
Vessel shapes
Since in a surface survey
many different kinds of sha-
pes from all possible prehis-
toric and historical periods
can appear, a recording sys-
tem was designed that could
deal with this. In a first step
the diagnostic rims were sort-
ed according to the angle of
inclination of the vessel wall
(Tab. 2): closed with less than
90° (T10–T17) or open with
more than 90° (T20-T26). In
the case of bases three main
types were distinguished:
those with a ring (T41), sim-
ple flat bases (T42), and in-
ward raised bases (T44 and
T43). Special shapes were gi-
ven the code T50 (e.g., sie-
ves), and jointed features
(lugs, handles) were givenFig. 4. Elateia 1, field units and frequency of decorated sherds (in %).
Agathe Reingruber, Giorgos Toufexis, and Yannis Maniatis
190
the codes T60–T65. As many of the rims ended in
different kinds of lips, and also bases displayed dif-
ferent traits in detail, these were distinguished by
an additional code from a to z. With this combina-
tion of numeric and alphabetic codes all 3140 diag-
nostic sherds were systematically classified.
From a relative-chronological perspective, some types
are ubiquitous, while others are chronologically
sensitive. Shapes running throughout from the EN
to the MN are well-known in the inventories pub-
lished from sites in the Thessalian plain (e.g.,
Argissa and Otzaki: Reingruber 2008; Miloj≠i≤-v.
Zumbusch J. 1971). To these belong simple con-
vex shapes with rounded (T11a) or beaded lips
(T11b) and with a simple ring base (T41a) – they
were present in Elateia 1 in all eight areas. Con-
versely, others, e.g., collared necks of closed pots
(T16) or hole-mouthed jars (T17), are not as fre-
quent. However, it is not the individual vessel type
that is of particular significance here, but rather
the combination of types. In order to understand
which types are or are not relevant, it was first
necessary to carefully process the entire inventory
(as will be described in more detail in the final pub-
lication). Their various possible combinations
result in a ‘set of dishes’ that can differ in compo-
sition from area to area (see below).
Decorative styles and ceramic categories
A total of 635 decorated sherds from Elateia 1 rep-
resent 5.6% of the full inventory (when excluding
the rolled/worn sherds the number is even higher,
at 7.18%). Five main decoration styles have been
distinguished: two in combination with negative de-
coration (impresso and incision), two in combina-
tion with colour application (painted and scraped)
and one as positive decoration (plastic decoration).
Within each decorative style slight variations can be
identified, depending on what kind of implements
were used to apply the negative decoration, or which
colours were used on what kinds of slips.
There is a very clear preference for the impresso de-
coration in 442 examples (Fig. 7), followed by pain-
ting (91 examples with red and only four with white
paint). Scraped decoration is comparatively rare,
with 30 examples, and of an early style: sometimes
the distinction between painted and scraped is not
clear-cut. Incised decoration, with 10 examples, was
seldom used and cannot be considered as represen-
tative. Plastic decorative elements were applied more
often (43), but some of them may have been functio-
nal (15). On only a few pieces are these styles com-
bined, resulting in the ‘fusion style’ of impresso and
painted decoration.
Impresso decoration, i.e. the intervention with an
instrument or even just the thumbnail on the still
moist surface of a vessel, clearly predominates. Con-
trary to what is usually proposed (Miloj≠i≤-v. Zum-
busch J. 1971), impresso is not confined to the final
Fig. 5. Nine pottery categories as determined at the
flat site Elateia 1.
Fig. 6. Elateia 1, seven pottery categories (exclud-
ing the two secondary altered ones) in seven areas
(excluding area NE).
Elateia 1 in northeastern Thessaly 8000 years ago> relative and absolute chronology of a flat extended settlement
191
stage of the EN, but occurs
throughout the MN in differ-
ent variations (Mottier 1981.
Typentafel D.25–46). Either
the pricked impressions were
executed with a tool (more
seldom, with the fingernail),
and are in these cases rather
randomly displayed over the
whole surface (Fig. 8.7–8). Or
the pointed impressions were
made with the help of a
comb: This kind of decora-
tion was initially referred to
by Miloj≠i≤-v. Zumbusch as ‘Cardium decoration’,
since it was thought to have been executed with a
cockle shell (Cardium edule). In Elateia 1 a comb-
like instrument was used in 138 cases, and it can
have up to nine teeth. The arrangement of the orna-
ments is linear, and the overwhelming majority are
displayed horizontally on the vessel, often in paral-
lel rows (Fig. 8.1–2,13).
In Elateia 1 the varied methods of applying the im-
presso style (either with an implement, fingernail
or comb) are abundant in number and rich in diffe-
rent arrangements, indeed unmatched at any other
site so far. Impresso occurs on all categories of sur-
faces without exception, and can be regarded as
‘standard’. However, the red surfaces, with or with-
out coating, were preferred. According to the instru-
ment used, up to five different kinds could be iden-
tified, which will be analysed in more detail in the
final publication.
Within the other decorations, a preference for cer-
tain styles for certain categories is more discernible,
since red-on-buff painting was primarily executed on
light-brown slip (57 examples) and only 24 times on
plain surfaces, but never on grey-brown and kaolin
surfaces. Ornaments are usually arranged linearly
(13 parallel stripes, eight unidentifiable), running
horizontally or diagonally over the vessel surface.
Usually, the shapes are of the closed type (13 out of
20).
Well-known from the MN is the red-on-white paint-
ing, while less so the white-on-red painting: in Ela-
teia 1 the former outnumbers the latter by 67 to
four. In addition to linear patterns, single or repeti-
tive (e.g., chevrons), more complex patterns occur,
e.g., rhomboid (Fig. 8.3) and slightly curved lines,
creating entirely new overall motifs, e.g., the flame
pattern (eight times). The vast majority of these ves-
sels were also painted on the inside (28 times, e.g.,
Fig. 8.3–6), or they at least had a coating (20 times),
or the inner surface was burnished. The preserved
rims and bases show that in particular the bowl of
type T22d+T42a was painted (six examples).
White colour was already used as a coating in the
EN II: in Argissa it was initially used to cover thick-
walled vessels (Reingruber 2008.169, 214). Through-
out Thessaly it was comparatively rarely applied for
painted designs prior to the LN I. In the early MN the
parallel white and thin lines were usually applied
diagonally, probably on the shoulders of closed ves-
sels (Fig. 8.11), similar to the necked jars from the
‘pottery workshop’, building with rooms 11–12, in
Sesklo (Theocharis 1973.Fig. 5, 183–184, 281, Pl.
II.13, 16). In Elateia 1 the white-on-red is restricted
to the central-western and southern areas. This also
applies to the T16 vessel shape (see above), so that
there would be a good spatial correlation between
shape and decoration.
Scraped decoration is present on all unslipped cat-
egories, because the colour is basically the streaky
scraped-out light or red coating. In a few cases, in
which no polish had been applied after scraping, a
distinction between linear painted and scraped ware
is sometimes difficult to make. In most of the cases
(30) the effect of blurred and even serrated bounda-
ries between paint and background are obvious, as
if polished over (Vitelli 1984). Both combinations
occur: either darker brown and red surfaces are pro-
vided with light (scraped) coatings (light-on-dark:
13 times) or, the other way around, light-brown sur-
faces with darker scraped coatings (dark-on-light:
17 times). In Otzaki, both styles occur on the same
vessel, which is why Mottier suspected that they
were the result of irregular firing processes and not
of intentional colour contrasts. While in the lower
levels of that site the patterns are still very straight,
Category
no. of % from no. of dec. % dec. % dec. per % dec. 
sherds 7515 sherds from 540 category from 7515
Red burnt 2876 38.3% 134 24.9% 4.7 1.78%
Red slip 2064 27.5% 135 25.0% 6.5 1.80%
Light-brown 1228 16.3% 133 24.5% 10.7 1.77%
Dark-brown 1016 13.5% 49 9.1% 4.8 0.64%
Grey-brown 136 1.8% 15 2.8% 11.0 0.20%
Light slip 126 1.7% 69 12.9% 54.8 0.92%
Kaolin(type) 69 0.9% 5 0.9% 7.2 0.07%
Total intact 7515 100% 540 100% 100% 7.18%
Rolled\worn 3822 95
Total 11337 635 5.60%
Tab. 1. Frequencies of decorated fragments per category and in the total
material.
Agathe Reingruber, Giorgos Toufexis, and Yannis Maniatis
192
in the upper ones they are of-
ten blurred (Mottier 1981.33,
Typentafel F).
With this decorative techni-
que, thin lines, much less com-
plex geometric ornaments,
cannot be created, and at most
chevrons might result (two
cases). Shapes with scraped
decoration are thin-walled
and show sharp breaks (se-
ven out of 10). If rims and bases are preserved, they
belong to open shapes, occasionally to closed ones,
both with flat bottoms (Fig. 8.9–10,16). Strap han-
dles (T65b) were also scraped.
Plastic decoration is one of the oldest ornaments in
Thessaly (e.g., Reingruber 2008.Taf. 1.14). Here a
distinction must be made between individually ap-
plied decorative pellets, knobs or thin strips (43)
and pierced lugs (15). The former were found main-
ly on body-sherds (39) and only four in connection
with a rim (never with a base) that belonged to an
open shape (T21, T22). The chevron pattern, as
known in the painting, was rendered two times with
applied plastic strips (Fig. 8.15).
Since lugs are quite varied in design, they might
not have been solely functional in nature (to hold
a rope for hanging up the vessel), but possibly also
of aesthetic value. Lugs can be elongated or round,
sometimes angular in cross-section, and even tunnel-
like. One such piece is known from the EN (Nesso-
nis I, Theocharis 1962.Pl. VIII.3), and was vertical-
ly applied to the pot. In Elateia 1 lugs were never
found in connection with a rim or base. Judging by
the inner surfaces, they were attached to both open
and closed vessels, probably in the central zone of
the vessel.
Incisions made with pointed implements have been
common since at least the MN, yet they are always
small in number. The few specimens from Elateia 1
belong mostly to the light-brown category. Usually
this type of decoration occurs in conjunction with
impressions, framing them. Exclusively incised lines
as an independent type of decoration appear only
on 10 sherds.
Combinations of shapes and ornaments
For this preliminary analysis only a few but repre-
sentative shapes were selected that were either com-
mon already in the EN (T11b and T21b, e.g., Rein-
gruber 2008.521, Fig. 6.1–6.4; Miloj≠i≤-v. Zumbusch
1971.Taf. 1–14), or they appeared during the MN
(T16, T22d, T65b: Mottier 1981.Typentafel E–F).
In addition, the newly described base (T44a) was
evaluated. In Figure 9 one such combination of
shapes is exemplified for each area: The simple con-
vex bowl with beaded rim (T11b) occurs in all areas,
but in different frequencies, mostly in NW and CSW
areas. The simple open dish with beaded rim (T21b)
also occurs throughout the site, but more often in
the central four areas. The chronologically sensitive
base T44 occurs more often in the three western
areas and only rarely in the two southern ones. The
opposite is true for the simple open, slightly concave
dish with thinning rim (T22d) and strap handle
(T65b), which is frequent in the south and east. Col-
lared jars were widely used in SW and CNE.
In two areas (NW and CSW) only four of the shapes
discussed above appear, while all six are present in
the southern areas, and five shapes in two areas
Shape Shape Shape Shape
(description) (types) (description) (type)
Simple bowls, closed T11–T12 vs. simple bowls, open T21–T23
Structured dishes, closed T14–T15 vs. structured dishes, open T24–T25
Jars (with neck) T13, T16 vs. hole-mouth jar T17
Simple base with ring T41 vs. simple flat base T42
Inward curved base with ring T44 vs. curved without ring T43
Pierced lugs T62–T63 vs. handles T64–T65
Tab. 2. Closed (T11–T17) and open (T21–T25) shapes of vessels, bases
(T41–T44) and attached elements (T62–T65) as determined for the site
Elateia 1.
Fig. 7. Elateia 1, all five decorative styles (n=635
sherds).
Elateia 1 in northeastern Thessaly 8000 years ago> relative and absolute chronology of a flat extended settlement
193
(the area NE is not of statistical relevance). It re-
mains to be evaluated with other statistical methods
whether this distribution is of chronological rele-
vance and/or of functional significance. Namely,
within a settlement area of 10 hectares it is quite
possible that not all areas were used with the same
intensity and also not for similar activities. In this
evaluation, we suggest that in addition to functio-
nal significance, temporal importance may also be
relevant.
As pointed out above, some vessel types were deco-
rated more often than others and with specific tech-
niques and patterns. The analysis is based on 121
both decorated and diagnostic vessel fragments.
With one white painted exception, the closed shapes
are always ornamented with impresso and scraped
decoration (Fig. 8.16). However, while impresso ap-
pears on traditional convex shapes with ring bases
(T11, T12 and T41), the scraped decoration is asso-
ciated with vessels with carinated walls, concave
rims and flat bases. Often the walls of these vessels
are very thin and may have a strap handle: such
shapes are of a new appearance in the MN.
Impresso and scraped decoration, however, also oc-
cur on open shapes. As with the closed vessels, they
are represented on mutually exclusive shapes: Im-
presso is again applied to open bowls well known
since the EN II, and only rarely does impresso oc-
cur in association with the open concave shapes. It
is never present on pointed rims (those are mainly
painted or scraped) – a very clear dichotomy.
Chronologically sensitive are the bases T43 (15
examples) and T44 (31 examples). T43 is a flat base,
reinforced on the inside by an additional layer of
clay (Fig. 8.8). The base T44 has some similarities
with the ring base T41 (Fig. 8.14), yet together with
the body of the vessel it forms a slightly concave
shape (Fig. 8.2). Single such pieces have been de-
scribed already in Otzaki as
base shape II.4. There they
occur in the late EN (Miloj≠i≤-
v. Zumbusch 1971.53, Taf.
15.24–25, Taf. XXV.12) and
early MN (Mottier 1981.Ty-
pentafel D.4–22). In Elateia 1
they are usually decorated
with impresso, be it with a
comb-like instrument or a
pointed stick, yet never with
fingernails nor with a broad
instrument. These two shapes
seem to have been especially
designed for impresso pot-
tery. As they are very well
burnished inside, they could
have originally belonged to
open shapes in combination
with the straight or slightly
concave rims T21/T22 (Fig.
8), or, alternatively, with a
slightly closed variant thereof
(T11/T12).
Similar pairs of bases and
rims can be found within the
painted and scraped shapes,
too: Here, the flat base T42
can be best combined with
the open, slightly concave,
pointed rim T22d (Fig. 8.3–
6). The majority of the flat
Fig. 8. Elateia 1, Reconstructed pottery shapes and decorative styles (draw-
ings by Ellen Kühnelt; digitizing by Aggeliki Chalkia; photos by Frank
Lünsmann, Agathe Reingruber).
Agathe Reingruber, Giorgos Toufexis, and Yannis Maniatis
194
bases with decoration are red painted (14) or scraped
(3); in nine examples the paint also survived on the
inside, proving that they belonged to open shapes.
The combination of wares, categories, shapes and de-
corative styles reveals which vessels (as end prod-
ucts) belonged to the ‘standard repertoire’ (Tab. 3),
whereby combinations and exceptions are possible.
In all styles, the patterns are of a simple linear na-
ture, usually in the horizontal direction. Repetitions
of lines and geometric elements can result in com-
plex patterns. However, wavy patterns, circles or spi-
rals are not present in the Elateia 1 repertoire. It can
be assumed that most of the vessels were made,
fired, used and also disposed of on site.
An interesting finding from this evaluation is that
certain decorations were applied to certain shapes
(Tab. 3), meaning that from the outset shape and
style were planned together by probably the same
person, the potter as a specialist (Vitelli 1995). The
thus emerging standard vessels with impressed deco-
ration are: (1) the closed or open convex or straight-
walled bowl with a ring base (e.g., Fig. 8.13–14);
(2) the open bowl with a low or high arched base
(T43/T44) together with a straight or slightly con-
cave rim and usually decorated with comb-impres-
sions (Fig. 8.1–2).
Vessels with red painting are mostly open, with a
flat base, occasionally with a high ring base. The
carinated or concave thin walls with a flat base and
strap handle have scraped decoration, although this
kind of decoration occurs with single specimens on
different kinds of shapes. Plastic decorations and
incisions are mostly related to open convex bowls.
Both by the nature of the de-
coration and by the shapes,
impressed and scraped pot-
tery can be considered as two
mutually exclusive categories:
in Elateia 1 there are no cari-
nated, impresso-decorated
sherds, just as there is no
scraped pottery on tradition-
al ring bases. These two sty-
les are never combined as
they belong to the respective
ends (extremes) of the spec-
trum, the one (impresso) hav-
ing elements from the older
end, the other (scraped) con-
taining novel elements and
thus belonging to the young-
er end. This result is of great
importance for the relative
chronology of the site.
All the more remarkable are
the overlaps in styles, such
as the overlap between im-
presso and painted (so-called
‘fusion style’, Fig. 8.12). In
Elateia 1 these were an ex-
ception, with only two sherds
of this kind, whereas in the
later MN they became domi-
nant. This could be an indi-
cation that the occupation in
Elateia 1 ended early in the
MN.
Fig. 9. Elateia 1, areas and frequencies of certain pottery shapes (% per
area).
Elateia 1 in northeastern Thessaly 8000 years ago> relative and absolute chronology of a flat extended settlement
195
Relative chronological appraisal
In this first examination of the data recorded during
our fieldwork some preliminary insights shall be
proposed, which will be discussed in more detail in
the final publication. As illustrated in Figures 6, 8
and 9, we were able to distinguish specific characte-
ristics for each area, which relate to categories, tem-
per, shapes and ornamentations. These particulari-
ties were not evenly distributed throughout the site,
but instead showed distinct combinations of speci-
fic traits.
In the NW and CSW areas, the combinations of cate-
gories are similar, with the dark-brown surfaces be-
ing more frequent. The SW and SE areas show very
strong affinities, which also exist with the CSE area,
where the light-brown surfaces tend to be more
common. The two areas CNW and CNE also show
very similar combinations of pottery categories.
Figure 9 shows that the traditional shapes occur
mainly in the western areas (T11b especially in NW
and CSW), whereas the new shapes appear in the
southern and eastern ones. Further, T44 was spread
in the western part of the site. This chronologically
sensitive shape appears in all areas and indicates
that the site must have been founded at the transi-
tion EN/MN, since such bases never occur in the ear-
lier EN and they were not found in the later MN, at
least not in a stratigraphical context.
Regarding the decorative styles, all five of them are
plotted here without going into further detail (Fig.
10). Even on such a general analytical level it is pos-
sible to show that impresso, plastic decoration and
red painted ornaments were found in all seven
areas (there is only one sherd with plastic applica-
tion in the NE, and this area is not further taken into
account). If we look more closely at the distribu-
tion of the styles, we notice that in the NW, CNW
and CSE impressed decoration clearly predomina-
tes. Few painted sherds were found in the NW, and
no scraped sherds occurred there. Therefore, only
four of the five styles are present in this area. The
situation is similar in the CSW, although incised
ornaments were not found there.
Like no other category, the scraped ware can be
spatially very well delimited, since it occurs mainly
in the SE, but also in the CNE, CNW and SW, and
only sporadically in the CSW and CSE. Together
with the painted sherds, they convey a very consis-
tent pattern: the areas CNW, CNE, SW and SE are
those in which the two styles commonly occur. Since
it is known from archaeological literature that scrap-
ed pottery is a more recent feature of the MN and
impresso an older one (Mottier 1981), signs of a ho-
rizontal shift in the settlement pattern can be tra-
ced therein.
Despite (or perhaps even because of) the few in-
cised sherds, the division between the areas pre-
sents a clear picture: while in the two areas NW and
CSW incised lines appear as boundary lines for im-
pressed patterns, independent incised decoration is
more likely to be found in the other areas (CNW,
CSE, SW and SE).
Judging by both the distribution of shapes and of or-
naments some conspicuous similarities can be point-
ed out regarding the individual areas.
Category Decoration
Rim Rim Base Base Lug\
(type) (description) (type) (description) handle
Red burnt, red slip, impresso T11–12b\c closed, convex
T41a\e low ring –light-brown (all styles) T21b\c open, convex
Light-brown, red impresso
T22a\e open, concave T44
raised base
–burnt, red slip (comb, instr.) with ring
Light slip painting (red)
T22d, T23d, open, concave<
T41c, T42a
high ring, strap
T30d thin-walled flat base handle
Red slip painting (white) body-sherds only closed – – –
Light-brown, T21–T24,
open (all types)
flat base, strap
red burnt
scraped
T31\32y, T34
thin-walled, T42a, T42b
reinforced handlecarinated
Red slip, light-brown
plastic decor.
T21b\c\d open, convex – –(knobs)
Red slip, red burnt
plastic decor.
body-sherds only – –
pierced
(lugs) lug
Light-brown incision T21b open, convex
Tab. 3. Elateia 1, predominant combinations of category, decorative style, and vessel type.
Agathe Reingruber, Giorgos Toufexis, and Yannis Maniatis
196
● Especially in the NW and CSW, similar combina-
tions of categories, shapes and ornaments are pre-
sent. In these areas only four of the six examined
shapes and only four of the five decorative styles oc-
curred. As was argued above, simple convex shapes
and the impresso decoration both belong to the old-
er features of pottery production.
● A completely different picture emerges in the
southern part, where in the SW and SE (partly also
in CSE) a much broader spectrum of both shapes
and ornamentation can be seen. In particular, the
shapes typical for MN (concave rims and collar ves-
sels) occur there. They fit very well with the observ-
ed characteristics in terms of painted and scraped
decorations.
● The CNW and CNE areas also show a certain de-
gree of comparability, mainly
on behalf of categories and
shapes.
The earliest pottery features
appeared in Elateia 1 within
two foci in the western part
of the site, and it is proposed
that the original settlement
was founded around (at
least) two households in this
area. New dwellings were
built later on in the southern
areas, and the NW area was
probably abandoned as a liv-
ing space but may have been
further used for other purpo-
ses. The area CNW certainly
was still in use, as new styles
(scraped ware) appeared
there too.
Apart from a chronological in-
terpretation we should keep
in mind also the potentially
different kinds of uses of the
areas. As will be shown in the
final publication, based on the
geophysical investigations and
the evaluation of small finds
from this site, next to the
dwelling areas, other parts of
the site were used for the
transformation of resources,
e.g., grains were milled, pots
were burnt, animals were
slaughtered and processed: this was the case main-
ly in the areas CNW and CNE. Therefore, the fact
that in these areas open bowls or collared jars were
found may have to do with specific tasks carried out
here.
Water must have been a major reason for the choice
of this advantageous location by the first genera-
tion of settlers, and water may have been the rea-
son why the last generation abandoned this site.
Climate curves show that the absolute maximum of
a warm and humid climate was reached around
5800 cal BC, a peak that was never equalled again
in the entire Holocene of the last 11 600 years. Flo-
oding and the swelling of small rivers into danger-
ous flows may have been a problem. If so, we can
assume that the Tsantarli must have affected the
settlement, and indeed there are two indications of
Fig. 10. Elateia 1, areas and frequencies of all five decorative styles (%
per area).
Elateia 1 in northeastern Thessaly 8000 years ago> relative and absolute chronology of a flat extended settlement
197
this. As can be seen in the DEM (Fig. 2), there are
two large gullies in the central part of the western
escarpment, created by the drainage of excess wa-
ter1. During our pottery processing, we observed
heavily eroded and even water-rolled sherds be-
tween contour lines 76 and 74, in the areas NE and
CNW (Fig. 11). It is therefore possible that water
entered the settlement from the NE and crossed the
site towards the SW, where it formed the gullies.
The fact that a lot of water collected in this area is
also indicated by the animal bones, because it is pre-
cisely the bones from there that did not contain col-
lagen, because it may have been washed out by the
water.
Absolute chronology
Evaluation of the results obtained from short-
lived animal bones
During our surface surveys we were able to collect
117 animal bones, teeth and shells. Of these 39 ani-
mal bones were selected for radiocarbon analysis.
Priority was given to sheep-goat and cattle, whereas
pig was omitted. First, a collagen test was underta-
ken in the Laboratory of Archaeometry, NCSR ‘De-
mokritos’ in Athens. This involved treating tiny frag-
ments of bone with a mild acid (HCl, 0.6N) at 7°C
for several days and monitoring the dilution of the
inorganic part and the possible production of colla-
gen. The degree of preservation was rather poor, so
most of them failed to produce any collagen at all:
either they dissolved completely or they left a dark
sediment.
The 12 most promising samples with some quanti-
ties of collagen, although of lesser quality, were sent
to the ‘Klaus Tschira’ AMS laboratory of the Curt-En-
gelhorn-Centre Archaeometry gGmbH in Mannheim.
Unfortunately, several of them did not produce ma-
nageable quantities of collagen and were not further
processed, yet six bones were found with sufficient
datable matter. The collagen extracted was purified
by ultrafiltration (fraction >30kD) and freeze-dried.
It was then combusted to CO2 in an Elemental Ana-
lyzer (EA) and the CO2 was converted catalytically to
graphite on iron foils.
Table 4 shows the results of the six samples that
were finally measured with the collagen yield, the
C/N ratio and the percent of carbon combusted. Of
these, three contained less than 1% collagen, the li-
mit most of the laboratories accept for dating. These
dates were run in 2018, before the laboratory in
Mannheim lowered the limit to 0.6% collagen (re-
port by Dr. Susanne Lindauer, May 6, 2020). How-
ever, the C/N ratio of these collagen samples with
values between 2.9 and 3.3 indicates uncontaminat-
ed collagen and is regarded as highly reliable for
dating and isotope analysis by most researchers
(Brock et al. 2012.Fig. 4; Sealy et al. 2014). There-
fore, we do not exclude these dates from the gene-
ral assessment of the site, but refrain from placing
too much emphasis on them because of the doubts
raised by the low collagen yield: While one of the
dates is consistent with the results from the sam-
ples with higher collagen yield, two gave very high
or very low results compared to the others (Fig. 12).
These two dates could still be valuable, as they may
suggest human activity at the site not represented in
the pottery record: MAMS-37738 at 6400–6260 cal
BC (at 1 sigma interval) is of EN times and MAMS-
37740 of late MN (5670–5620), but no archaeolo-
gical materials from the surface of Elateia 1 can be
related to either of these periods. Pottery styles of
the EN (black-topped, early painted pottery) are ab-
sent and so are the late MN-styles (e.g., grey-on-grey).
It is not impossible that the site was repeatedly vis-
ited during these times, but we cannot confirm this
adequately yet. Pending the results from other bone
samples we consider these two dates for the mo-
ment as outliers. Moreover, from the same field units
(F148 and F149) results were obtained that comply
with the relative chronological appraisal.
Only three of the eight areas supplied bones that
were adequate for dating, and these are the areas
with the lowest proportions of water-rolled sherds
and presumably least affected by intruding waters.
The only date from area NW is – together with a
date from area SW – the oldest. From the latter area
a second date (exclusive of the two discussed above)
is somewhat younger and identical in result to the
single date from area SE.
The three consistent dates cover a maximum period
of 200 years: between 6000 and 5800 cal BC. When
judging by the medians of the three reliable dates in
Fig. 12, calibrated with the latest version of the pro-
gram OxCal v4.4.4, rounded to the nearest de-
cade2, this period can be limited to only 110 years
between 5980 and 5870 cal BC (this calculation be-
nefits enormously from the precise dates with small
1 We would like to thank the geologist Sotiris Valkaniotis for drawing our attention towards these features.
2 Last updated: 1/3/2021, © Christopher Bronk Ramsey 2021; atmospheric data from Reimer et al. (2020).
Agathe Reingruber, Giorgos Toufexis, and Yannis Maniatis
198
standard deviations of only c. ±30 BP, but is some-
what impaired by the wiggle in this part of the
curve). According to our previous evaluations of the
Aegean data sets (Maniatis 2014; Reingruber et al.
2017), this period marks the beginning of the Mid-
dle Neolithic (MN I) in Thessaly. This result fits per-
fectly with that of the pottery analysis.
Pottery analysis points to a horizontal shift inside
the settlement area: the oldest pottery styles appear
in areas NW and CSW, the youngest in SW and SE.
Although the absolute dates are too few to be sta-
tistically analysed in a model, they seem to support
this view; at least they do not contradict the sug-
gested horizontal shift. In view of their origin as sur-
face material this result is all the more significant
and encouraging. Based on the results we can even
conclude that the site was inhabited only during
four to five generations (calculating with 25 years
per generation in time).
Failed samples and post-depositional proces-
ses
Dating surface materials is admittedly not without
risk. The fact that no later archaeological material
than that from the MN was found on the surface of
Elateia 1, as well as the good conditions of some of
the animal bones, encouraged us to use them for
dating purposes. To our surprise and relief, all re-
sults fall within the same time-range. This fact once
more supports our appraisal of the relative chrono-
logy of the site and that indeed no younger activi-
ties took place on this spot. We were further reward-
ed by the fact that even bones that did not contain
any collagen are not useless, since they also carry in-
formation: their specific position may not be a mat-
ter of coincidence, but deter-
mined by post-depositional
processes. If no collagen-mat-
ter is preserved, this may be
an indication that it had been
washed out when standing
over longer periods of time
in water. As such, it must be
pointed out that from 12 sam-
ples collected from five fields
in the northern areas NW and
CNW (F046, F049, F051, F201,
and F213), only a single bone
contained enough collagen
for dating (F213-B1) – a ratio
of 1:12. On the other hand,
the bones from the southern
part of the site, south of the
almond grove, gave almost
three times as good results:
five out of 24 samples con-
tained datable collagen (ratio
of nearly 1:5). The fields from
which they derive in areas
SW and SE (F145, F148, and
F149) are among the higher
parts of the settlement, which
were presumably safe from
intruding waters.
We conclude therefore that
water did indeed pose a prob-
lem at the end of the site’s oc-
cupation and for several ge-
nerations thereafter since the
dwellers never returned. Mo-
Fig. 11. Elateia 1, field units and frequency of worn sherds with surfaces
as if rolled by water (in %).
Elateia 1 in northeastern Thessaly 8000 years ago> relative and absolute chronology of a flat extended settlement
199
reover, subsequent dense vegetation cover may have
been a reason why the area was not inhabited again
thereafter.
Conclusions
A process that started in the previous generations
of archaeologists and is still a challenge for our ge-
neration (and will certainly continue into the next)
is the integration of results obtained by relative
chronological appraisal into the system of a revised
absolute chronology. One such example where this
task is still ongoing is the re-interpretation of finds
previously considered to be of late EN date, where
the EN was expected to have lasted until 5800 cal
BC. With the firmly established 14C chronology the
time between 6000 and 5800 cal BC is demonstra-
bly of early MN. Indeed, pottery categories from the
EN were still in use in the MN, especially the red mo-
nochrome pottery (with or without a slip) and red
painted surfaces, although new shapes were added
to the repertoire. Therefore, on the basis of mono-
chrome pottery alone a reliable relative-chronologi-
cal dating cannot be obtained, and this fact is very
important to acknowledge in connection with older
appraisals dating back to the 20th century and the
first years thereafter.
Transitions between phases are never clear-cut: this
is a simple but sometimes forgotten truth. With only
a few exceptions, older styles continue into the new
phase (established by archaeologists). For example,
red coating and red paint on a (predominantly) light-
brown clay surface had been in use in Thessaly since
the EN II (c. 6300 cal BC). All such examples from
Elateia 1 preserved on diagnostic sherds can be
dated to the Middle Neolithic. Even though the ma-
terials were collected from the surface, they still be-
long to a settlement that was inhabited for few ge-
nerations only and that had not been damaged by
subsequent occupation events.
Based on the evaluation of the pottery and together
with the results from radiocarbon analysis, we are
now able to determine more precisely which pottery
categories and styles were in use coevally: the diffe-
rent categories correlate with certain decorative
styles applied to them. One such ‘standard’ is clay
with quartz temper, usually well smoothed and bur-
nished, often coated with a red slip after impressed
Fig. 12. Calibrated 14C dates from Elateia 1 with two potential outliers marked in red.
MAMS DEM BP +\– d13c calBC 1σ %C C\N % Collagen Context Area Material
MAMS-37738 DEM-3269 7464 26 –19.6 6400–6250 21.2 3.2 0.6 F148-B1 SW cattle
MAMS-37739 DEM-3270 7098 26 –21.4 6020–5920 27.8 3.2 1.7 F148-B2 SW n.d.
MAMS-45204 DEM-3403 7044 33 –13.9 5990–5890 32.9 3.3 6.1 F213-B1 NW n.d.
MAMS-37741 DEM-3272 6995 25 –20.6 5970–5840 28.8 2.9 1.3 F149-B5 SW large mammal
MAMS-37737 DEM-3268 6989 25 –18.3 5970–5830 19.3 3.2 0.5 F145-B3 SE cattle|
MAMS-37740 DEM-3271 6732 26 –20.5 5670–5620 19.7 3.3 0.5 F149-B4 SW sheep\goat
Tab. 4. 14C dates from Elateia 1 with samples containing insufficient collagen marked in red.
∴
Agathe Reingruber, Giorgos Toufexis, and Yannis Maniatis
200
decorations were applied to the still elastic surface.
A second, but much rarer ‘standard’ is lime-temper-
ed clay, usually with a burnished or polished sur-
face. Yet to such vessels a light slip and red colour
were added, or the slip was first added and then
scraped away. If the painted or scraped lines were
burnished over before the firing took place in an
oxidizing atmosphere, they obtained a blurred ap-
pearance.
We were thus able to identify certain style combina-
tions that can be anchored relative-chronologically
with the help of published inventories from exca-
vated sites: we could show that no materials pre-
dating 6100 cal BC and none postdating 5600 cal
BC were found in Elateia 1. Additionally, the nar-
rowing down of the sites’ occupation within a maxi-
mum of 200 and a minimum of 110 years with the
help of radiocarbon dates can serve to even better
grasp the more or less coeval pottery styles: for this
reason, the combination of styles as established at
this site is all the more significant.
The impressed ornaments belong to the oldest docu-
mented decoration in Elateia 1. This style therefore
cannot be confined to a specific phase of the EN (the
so-called Pre-Sesklo of the EN III): it continues with
new shapes and styles into the later MN. Indeed, the
overwhelming amount of such products belong to
the MN I and not to the EN III. Therefore, in the fu-
ture more thought should also be given to such
sherds when discussing their chronological position.
Two very different techniques in applying decora-
tion on pottery – to penetrate the clay on the one
hand and to add paint to it on the other – were
practiced coevally during the EN and early MN, first
without being combined. This finding could indicate
that the vessels were not produced at the level of
individual households, but by specialized potters.
Eventually, impressions were accompanied by red
stripes, and only later a ‘fusion style’ was created
with red-on-white paint added to impressed surfa-
ces. In Elateia 1 only one such sherd was found, but
in Otzaki this kind of decoration prevailed during
the later MN (Mottier 1981.Typentafel D). The case
is similar with the scraped surfaces that came in use
in Elateia 1 at a later stage during the site’s occupa-
tion.
For Elateia 1 a precise stratigraphical context is not
given, as all the sherds collected were from the sur-
face. In the case of the survey material we expected
some displacements due to cultivation and other hu-
man interventions or due to geomorphological trans-
formations. But to our surprise, neither was the ma-
terial randomly scattered nor was there a notewor-
thy mixing or blending that would have blurred the
picture, and only the eroded sherds may have been
carried over short distances by water. This made it
possible to distinguish, on the one hand, focal points
of activity and, on the other hand, different combi-
nations of categories, wares, shapes and styles in
certain areas. We therefore encourage accurate three-
dimensional measurements of finds during system-
atic surveys, as their informative value should not
be underestimated. At the flat site of Elateia 1, they
led to the creation of a model that shows not only
when, but also how the site was used 8000 years
ago. This model is complemented by non-invasive
geophysical surveys (forthcoming) and needs to be
validated by excavations in the future.
The research was conducted within the framework
of the project RE1699-2/2 funded by the German Re-
search Foundation. We thank Dr. Stavroula Srdolia,
Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities in Larissa, for
encouraging our work. We would also like to thank
Dr. Ronny Friedrich, Director of the ‘Klaus Tschira’
Laboratory in Mannheim, for comments on the AMS
results, and Dr. Emily Schalk for linguistic improve-
ments to the text.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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