NEUTRON-ACTIVATION ANALYSIS OF SELECTED SHERDS FROM PROPHITIS ILIAS (ARGOLID, GREECE) - A CLOSED LATE HELLADIC-II SETTLEMENT CONTEXT

In this paper we present the results of a chemical investigation by neutron activation analysis (NAA) of 34 sherds of Middle Helladic tradition from a closed Late Helladic II settlement context on the hill of Prophitis Ilias, Argolid, Greece. The sherds are divided by archaeological means into different ware groups (Aiginetan imports, Minyan ware and unpainted, not Aiginetan ware). The analyses revealed the presence of four chemical groups, three of which are assigned to be products of an Aiginetan, a northern (near Mycenae-Berbati) and a southern (near Tiryns-Asine) Argolid workshop. A further result is the good agreement between visual examination of the pottery and the corresponding chemical grouping. Especially, all but a few of the supposedly Aiginetan imports are correctly recognized by their texture. The production place of most of the other sherds is found to be either the northern or the southern workshop in the Argolid, leaving a small number unprovenanced. © 1994 Academic Press Limited.