At the end of the Late Bronze Age (LBA) most Eastern Mediterranean urban centers were either destroyed or abandoned throughout the Near East and Aegean. Continue reading “The Late Bronze Age Collapse and the ‘Greek Dark Ages’ have economic, military, and climatic explanations”
Archaeological evidence from Bulgaria shows that ancient Thrace was part of the Cretan-Mycenaean culture
This post is a presentation of archaeological findings, from the territory of modern Bulgaria, which imply intense Mycenean presence in ancient Thrace. Continue reading “Archaeological evidence from Bulgaria shows that ancient Thrace was part of the Cretan-Mycenaean culture”
A Mycenaean tholos in Messina coastal plain, Sicily
During recent decades, the intense research in the field, realized by the Messina Cultural and Environmental Heritage Survey with the collaboration of some researchers of the Messina University, has provided the occasion to integrate archaeological, stratigraphic, and palaeoenvironmental data useful for reconstructing the geological framework of the coastal plain underlying the urban area of Messina and of its natural seaport. Continue reading “A Mycenaean tholos in Messina coastal plain, Sicily”
Bronze Age settlement of Scoglio del Tonno, Apulia, Italy; maritime routes connecting the eastern and central Mediterranean
Scoglio del Tonno is presently part of the urban area of Taranto (Apulia) and is among the most important sites of Bronze Age southern Italy. The period of interest examined here is the local Late Bronze Age (LBA), i.e., the Recent Bronze Age (RBA), ca. 1350-1200 BC, and possibly the earliest part of the Final Bronze Age (FBA), ca. 1200-1000 BC. Continue reading “Bronze Age settlement of Scoglio del Tonno, Apulia, Italy; maritime routes connecting the eastern and central Mediterranean”
Mycenaean Bridges; in constant operation for at least 3,000 years
The ancient bridges and their remnants located in the vicinity of Mycenae and Arkadico villages are considered to be the world’s oldest bridges. The bridges were built with massive irregular limestone blocks, called Cyclopean boulders, in the Bronze Age. Two of the four objects discussed here are still in operation, occasionally used for the needs of local agriculture. Continue reading “Mycenaean Bridges; in constant operation for at least 3,000 years”
Eastern Mediterranean influence and possible Colonization of Prehistoric Iberia
The main problem to evaluate the real knowledge of the Mycenaean contacts with Iberian Peninsula is the few excavations with levels of the Late Bronze Age IC and II, 1425-1150 BC. Continue reading “Eastern Mediterranean influence and possible Colonization of Prehistoric Iberia”