Ancient Methone, 2003-2013 (2 volume set): Excavations by Matthaios Bessios, Athena Athanassiadou, and Konstantinos Noulas

Ancient Methone, a Greek colony in the northern Aegean, has been under excavation since 2003 by the Greek Ministry of Culture. The discoveries extend the city's history by nearly three thousand years, into Greek prehistory. This 2-volume work presents the results of the project in selected artifacts, burials, and structures, covering the prehistoric settlement, Bronze Age burials, Early Iron Age Hypogeion shaft, Archaic and Classical periods, and the final days of the siege in 354 B.C. The interdisciplinary methods combine stylistic analysis, source-critical philology, natural history, bioarchaeology, materials analysis, and geochemistry to reveal the long-term history of a site crucial to Classical Greece and the north Aegean.

Format: Hardback
Length: 1516 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2023
Publisher: Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA

Ancient Methone, nestled in the northern Aegean region of Greece, stands within the historical province of Macedonia. From the late eighth century B.C., it served as a colony of the ancient Greek polis of Eretria, situated on the island of Euboia. Extensive excavations conducted by the Greek Ministry of Culture since 2003 at the site have unearthed remnants spanning from the Late Neolithic period to the devastating destruction inflicted by Philip II of Macedon in the fourth century B.C. These remarkable discoveries not only expand the city's history by nearly three thousand years but also delve into the rich tapestry of Greek prehistory.

This comprehensive 2-volume publication showcases the project's findings in a selection of artifacts, burials, and structures that represent the principal phases of Methone's existence, arranged chronologically. An introduction provides an overview of historical sources, excavations conducted from 2003 to 2013, and the unique significance of Methone's location. Part I delves into the prehistoric settlement at Methone, spanning from the fourth millennium to 1000 B.C., and explores the Bronze Age burials that dot the landscape. Part II focuses on the abundant artifacts and ecofacts discovered within the Early Iron Age Hypogeion shaft, shedding light on the cultural and economic activities of this period. Part III presents artifacts and architectural remnants from the Archaic and Classical periods, culminating in the final days of the city's siege in 354 B.C.

The profound significance of this work lies in its interdisciplinary approach, which seamlessly integrates stylistic analysis of artifacts with source-critical philology, natural history, bioarchaeology, materials analysis, and geochemistry. By employing these diverse methodologies, it unveils the long-term history of a site that played a pivotal role in the economic and political landscape of Classical Greece and the north Aegean region.

Weight: 5248g
Dimension: 226 x 294 x 91 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781950446285