Hellenic Society of Archaeometry  


Hellenic Society for Archaeometry
http://www.archaeometry.gr/eae/HSA.htm

Athens Greece, May 28-31 2003
National Hellenic Research Foundation
Lecture Hall "Leonidas Zervas"

Theme session:
"Archaeometry Studies in the Aegean: Reviews and recent developments"

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GEOARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH AT KOUPHOVOUNO WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE RESULTS OF CORING

  • P. James, S. Jackson, C. Mee, A. Clarke, C. Owen, A. Jones (Geography Department, University of Liverpool, P.O. Box 147, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK)
  • M. Kousoulakou (Fitch Laboratory, British School at Athens, 52 Souidias str., 106 76 Athens, Greece)
  • A. Flore Marziou (Universite de Nantes, Nantes, France)
  • B. Cavanagh (Department of Archaeology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK)
  • J. Renard (Universite de Clermont-Ferrand, Clermont-Ferrand, France)

The paper discusses the aims, design and problems of geoarchaeological research in the Kouphovouno Archaeological Project, and presents some of the results obtained in one part of this research - the analysis of sediment cores. The site, situated on the floor of the Sparta Basin, near modern Sparta, was one of the largest Neolithic settlements in southern Greece. It was occupied periodically for six millennia. The surface survey shows Bronze Age occupation also to have been significant, but there appear to have been periods of decline or abandonment, particularly between the 11th and 6th Centuries BC and after the 6th century AD. Much of the site comprises a tell (ca. 110m x 130m) in which the deepest archaeological horizon cored is over 4m thick. Whether, and for how long, the impact of Middle Neolithic Kouphovouno was restricted to an 'island' in an otherwise pristine landscape, may depend in part on any exploitation of the steep slopes of Mt Taygetos, which lie within 4km of the site.

Three broad geoarchaeological themes are being pursued at Kouphovouno:

  • the changing physical environment of the site and its surrounds;
  • the changing physical and chemical nature of the soils/sediments of the site, and
  • relationships between the physical environment and the activities of the people who inhabited the site - relationships which include the impact of people on, and the range of resources offered and constraints set by, the environment.
To address these themes, the following campaigns of sampling and analysis were designed:
  • Pre-excavation, archaeological, geomorphological, geophysical and near-surface soil survey;
  • Coring of the site and of the surrounding area. The core samples were analyzed for total P, organic C, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe and Mn; CaCO3; forward and backfield mineral magnetic properties; micromorphological characteristics and granulometry.
  • A multivariate analysis (including geochemical, mineral magnetic, micro-morphological) of the 'soil' matrix of every archaeological context exposed by excavation. In addition, the modern topsoil covering the archaeological horizons and the substrate for some depth beneath these horizons will be analyzed. A model of material flux through the tell - inputs, transfers, accumulation and losses - is to be tested.

The approaches used and problems encountered in each of the three stages are described. Sampling in stages 1 and 2 are complete and results are being analyzed; sampling for stage 3 began in 2001 and is ongoing. A selection of data from the cores is presented, and provisional conclusions drawn concerning site stratigraphy, geomorphological change in the area since before the Neolithic, the character of the anthrogenic horizons, and post-depositional, diagenetic change in the archaeological 'soils' of the site.

Last update on May 16, 2003
SPONSORS
MINISTRY OF CULTURE * MINISTRY OF THE AEGEAN * NATIONAL HELLENIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION * TECHNICAL CHAMBER OF GREECE * AMERICAN SCHOOL OF CLASSICAL STUDIES AT ATHENS * HOTEL HIPPOCAMPUS, NAOUSSA PAROS