10.4 Greece

Greece is a rugged, arid country, 80% covered by mountains. It has well separated narrow strips of cultivatable land in valleys, which led to the development of isolated settlements cut off by harsh mountains, but often with access to the sea. This isolation was a major influence on Greek Culture for thousands of years and led to the great independence of the later major city-states. Archaeological evidence shows the inhabitants of these settlements, who were characteristically Mediterranean in appearance – dark-haired and lithe-limbed - developed seafaring and trading from the very start of the Neolithic Period (6,800-3,500 BC), and the vast coastline led them to become a major maritime nation. During this era, settlements extended all over Greece and the remains of the earliest planned towns and cities of Europe are found there. On the plain of Thessaly the two most important Early Neolithic Greek settlements at Sesklo and Dimini had their dwellings clearly arranged in well-designed streets and squares. Interestingly those Thessalians living away from the sea and not having access to beach pebbles, made sling pellets out of fired clay.

Fine secondary clay suitable for pottery occurred in every region, which fostered local styles. Around Athens the clay is distinctive because of its iron and calcium oxide content, giving pots a red/orange colour. Corinth clay gives a creamy white body colour. Such distinctions permit the source of pots to be determined by spectroscopy. In the early Neolithic Period (around 6,000 BC), Greek red/brown pottery was limited to simple bowls and jars, undecorated, but the best were highly polished. Slightly later, contemporary with early Cretan wares, the Thessalian potters made a red/brown monochrome ware, some being decorated in simple abstract painted patterns using vertical or diagonal lines. Towards 5,300 BC, the quality and variety of pots improved, now having distinct bases and sometimes feet. They were red or pink slipped, but some were painted black and red on white or cream (the latter found at Sesklo).

Spherical vase, black and red on cream
5,300-4,800 BC - source Archaeological
Museum, Athens

There were also monochrome burnished or slipped and burnished wares.

Large storage jar, Sesklo, 5,300 BC -
source Archaeological Museum, Athens

Large terracotta figures were made for ritual purposes that appear to depict pregnant women. Subsequently handmade burnished wares were made over a wide area, sometimes with a black or red slip. In the Middle Neolithic (5,300-4,400 BC), Sesklo ware predominated with elaborate red decoration on a white ground. Monochrome red slipped ware was popular, and male figures also appeared. Towards the end of this period black burnished wares appeared decorated in white with linear patterns. The cremated bones of the dead were often put into such jars, each buried in a separate pit. In the Late Neolithic (4,400-3,500 BC) pots are dark bodied with or without incised decoration or dark painted patterns with a matt finish on a light ground. Pottery was used as grave goods during this period and has been recovered from the burial pits. Later in this period, pottery from Dimini exhibited spiral and meander patterns.

Classic Dimini bowl, 4,800-4,500 BC -
source Archaeological Museum, Athens

This dark-on-light style carried on into the early Bronze Age. Surprisingly for such an early date a model of a building containing eight figures was found in one of the burial pits. Seals were used throughout the Aegean Region to impress on clay used to secure goods and so on. They were decorated with scorpions, lions and poisonous spiders to reinforce the “magic” threat if they are broken.